#swiftflame

some longstar au icons!! i did not draw these, I used picrew to create them! here’s the link

https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/1255960/complete

kay, top-bottom, left-right

blizzardspots, sandkit/sandpaw, silverkit/paw

longtail, dustkit/paw, swiftflame,

firestar, squirrelflight/star, sandstorm

   “Longtail!” Cinderpath yowled from the medicine cat den. His head popped up, blood splattered around his muzzle from the prey at his paws. “He’s awake!”

   He skidded to his paws, rushing toward the medicine cat den. He slipped inside, laying his eyes on his apprentice, his amber eyes open wide.

   “Swiftpaw.. oh, StarClan,” Longtail brushed his muzzle against Swiftpaw's. “How do you feel?”

   “Ugh.. sore,” Swiftpaw groaned, resting his head on his paws. He gazed at Longtail, “How’s Brightpaw..?”

   “She’s Brightheart now,” Longtail replied. Firestar, recently named so, had renamed the she-cat the new name. Taking away the cruel one she was given. “And.. I’m.. I'm sorry, Swiftpaw. It’s my fault this happened.”

   “It’s in no way your fault!” The tom rasped, “I chose to go. Brightheart chose to go. We got the result of what we did,” He placed his paw atop of Longtail's. “It’s not your fault, Longtail. Please, don’t blame yourself.”

   “.. Thank you,” He murmured.

   “Swiftpaw.” Firestar's voice sounded from the entrance to the den, “It’s good to see your awake and doing well. How about that warrior ceremony, hm?” He cocked his head with a smile.

   “Of course!” Swiftpaw beamed.

   “Help me get him out of the den, than,” Cinderpath flicked her tail toward Longtail, who nodded. Swiftpaw slowly rose to his three paws, leaning on Longtai's side. “Does it hurt?”

   “A little bit,” Swiftpaw mewed, hissing in pain. “But it’s not too bad.”

   “Hm. Good.” Cinderpath trotted out of the den, brushing past Firestar with a friendly smile. Firestar than turned, following his medicine cat out of the den. Longtail and Swiftpaw slowly padded out of the den, making their way into the clearing.

   “Cats of ThunderClan!” Firestar yowled, the cats starting to pool below the rock. “This apprentice has worked and persevered for moons to make it to this ceremony. He has earned this more than any apprentice I’ve ever seen,” He smiled brightly. “Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your clan even at the cost of your life?”

   Swiftpaw stood proud, Longtail at his side. “I do.”

   “Than by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name,” Firestar gazed down at him. “From now on this cat will be called by the name Swiftflame. StarClan honors your resilience and courage, and welcomes you as a full warrior of ThudnerClan.”

   “Swiftflame! Swiftflame!”

   “Because of care advised by Cinderpath, you will not hold vigil tonight. But just know,” Firestar jumped from the high rock. “Holding a vigil or not does not make you any less of a warrior. And once you have fully healed, you will be one of our best, I know it.”

   “I won’t let you down, Firestar.” Swiftflame gave a determined look to the leader, to which received a dip of the head.

   “May StarClan guide you. Clan dismissed.” He ended. He touched his nose to the black and white toms head, “Cinderpath'll get you back to the den. For now, I’d like to speak with Longtail.”

   Cinderpath padded up, leaning the tom on her side. Than, Firestar turned his green gaze on him.

   “Is something wrong, Firestar?” Longtail questioned.

   “Not at all,” Firestar brushed his tail across Longtail's back. “The exact opposite, actually. I’ve got a kittypet who wants to join the clan,” He mewed. “Of course, she’s allowed. But she'll need someone to show her the ways of hunting and fighting.”

   “So.. you want me to mentor her?” Longtail meowed.

   “Well, she’s around your age, so I wouldn’t call it mentor.” He twitched his whiskers, “But I would like you to teach her, if you could.”

   “Of course I will,” Longtail flicked his tail.

   “Good,” Firestar smiled. “Come with me and pick her up, then.”

   “Oh, uh, now?” He flattened his ears.

   “Yes, silly,” Firestar flicked his ears, hopping to his paws. “Now come on.”

   Longtail shrugged, padding after the ginger ThunderClan leader. Within the blink of an eye, they appeared at the Twoleg place broder.

   “Firestar! I was wondering when you'd show up,” A pretty white and gray she-cat smiled from the fence. “Oh? And who’s this? They look sort of beat up.” She cocked her head, gazing at Longtail with her soft yellow gaze.

   “This is Longtail,” Firestar glanced at Longtail. “He’s one of my most skilled warriors.”

   “Hm,” The she-cat hopped down from the fence, her fluffy fur brushing against the grass, “It’s nice to meet you, Longtail. What happened to your ears, huh?”

   “.. A little scuffle,” He replied, narrowing his green eyes at the she-cat.

   “I think they're kinda cool,” She shook out her fur, her bell jingling loudly around her neck.

   “Uh, thanks?” He flattened his ears.

   “It’s a compliment.” She twitched her whiskers.

   “I’m sure you two'll get along nicely,” Firestar rose to his paws. “Longtail's going to be training you.”

   “Oh, this'll be fun, than.” She smiled, "Blizzard, by the way.”

   “.. Nice to meet you, Blizzard.” Longtail murmured.

   “Alright, let’s get that collar off and get back to camp.” Firestar padded over to her, sinking his teeth into the blue collar. With a few tugs, the collar popped off. The three cats turned into the forest, padding back towards camp.

   “Ah, you must be Blizzard,” Whitestorm greeted with a dip of the head. “Whitestorm. I’m the clans deputy. It’s nice to meet you.”

   Blizzard dipped her head back, “You too.”

   “Mind staying for the ceremony, Whitestorm?” Firestar meowed, “Than you can take your patrol out.”

   “Of course, Firestar,” The tom turned back into camp, flicking his tail to the rest of his patrol. He hopped up on his spot on the High Rock, Firestar swiftly following.

   “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the High Rock for a clan meeting!”

   “Over there,” Longtail whispered to the she-cat, gesturing with his lengthy tail to the middle of the clearing.

   “Thanks.” She mewed softly, brushing her tail across his side. The white she-cat padded over to the middle of the clearing, settling down under the High Rock.

   “This cat has requested to join our clan,” Firestar gazed down at her. “And under the eyes of StarClan, I have allowed it. She will be taught the ways of our clan by Longtail,” He turned his gaze on him. “He is a trusted, loyal warrior of this clan. I could think of no better cat.” He gave a soft smile, turning back to the clan. “She will be known as Blizzardspots.”

   “Blizzardspots! Blizzardspots!” The clan cheered, though quieter than usual.

   “Clan dismissed,” He jumped off the High Rock, joining up with Graystripe outside the nursery. The two, along with Sandstorm, had recently become mates.

   “So, what are we doing, teach?” Blizzardspots turned to him, her yellow eyes blazing with excitement.

   “I suppose we could go out hunting,” He meowed softly. “Have you ever hunted before?”

Two moons had passed, and the cats they’d lost hadn’t returned. And at the last gathering, they learned other cats had disappeared too—specifically Tawnyfang, Stormfur, Feathertail and Crowpaw. The cats that Brambleclaw was meeting with.

   Longtail padded into the medicine cats den, spotting Leafpaw working with herbs on the inside.

   “Leafpaw, I—“

   “Ah, I don’t—!” The little she-cat yelped. Than she turned, seeing Longtail standing there, “Oh.. Longtail.”

   “.. Are you alright, Leafpaw?” Longtail mewed, “You’ve seemed jumpy the last two moons.”

   “I’m okay, thank you,” Leafpaw murmured. “Do you need something? Cinderpath should be back soon.”

   “I’m sure I can talk to you about it.” Longtail flicked his tail, “It's two things, actually. First of all I was here to ask if you could check on Blizzardspots, she’s seeming really.. lethargic lately.”

   “It’s normal, Longtail.” Leafpaw mewed softly. “She’s had kits, It can take a toll on her body. She'll feel much better once she can get out of that nursery and move around.”

   “If you're sure,” He murmured. “And I wanted to ask you about Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw.”

   Her ears flattened tight to her skull, “W-why would I know anything about that?”

   “Well, you're her sister.” Longtail's eyes narrowed, “Leafpaw, if you know anything, you need to tell me so I can let Firestar know. The two of them could be unsafe out there alone.”

   “T-they're not!” Leafpaw hissed. She adverted her gaze, than sighed. “I know why they left. I know where they're headed. And they’re not alone,” She settled down with her paws tucked under her chest. “The other cats the clans have lost are with them. And they’re headed to the sun drown place. Though, it seemed someone is injured—though I’m not sure who.”

   “.. How do you know if someone’s injured?” He raised an eyebrow. “You're not with them.”

   “Sometimes I can feel Squirrelpaw, like she’s near me,” Leafpaw meowed. “If she’s getting in trouble, she’s scared, she’s hurt or if she’s in trouble.”

   “Interesting.” He murmured, “So they’re headed to the sun drown place? What is that?”

   “I’m not exactly sure. I’ve never heard of it.” Leafpaw meowed, and he could tell her words were sincere. “I-it feels good to get all that off my chest.” The she-cat chuckled.

   “I’m sure it does.” Longtail smiled, “Thank you for telling me this, Leafpaw.”

   Leafpaw dipped her head, turning back to fiddle with her herbs. Longtail trotted out of the medicine cats den, being met with Cinderpath as he did so.

   “Longtail.” She dipped her head, “Where you harassing my apprentice?” Cinderpath rasied an eyebrow playfully.

   “Not at all.” He dipped his head back, “Only chatting with her. I'll be out of your way, now.” Longtail rounded around the medicine cat, making his way into the leaders den.

   “Firestar,” He dipped his head. “I have some information.”

   “Hmmm?” The leader hummed, slowly lifting his head. He'd been a bit tired lately, secluding himself in his den, sometimes coming out to sun or take part in patrols. It was obvious he was worried about his daughter. In which Longtail didn’t blame him.

   “I know where they're headed,” Firestar gazed at him, his expression puzzled. “Leafpaw told me. They’re headed to the sun drown place, and there’s other cats with them. We’re not sure when they'll be back but.. we believe they should be safe.”

   “Oh thank StarClan.” Firestar sighed. “Though.. there’s a new issue.”

   “Oh?” Longtail cocked his head.

   “Myself, Graystripe and Sandstorm went hunting late last night,” Firestar mewed, “And we spotted monsters, in the forest. They weren’t moving, for now.. but they’ve left the Thunderpath.”

   “What?” Longtail flattened his ears, narrowing his eyes. “How.. could they have done that? Monsters don’t leave the Thunderpath.”

   “That’s what we were thinking.” Firestar nodded his head in agreement, “But I’m not sure what they’ve going to do. We need to have cats keeping a look out from now on.”

   “I'll post them tonight.” Longtail dipped his head.

   “Oh, and how are the kits doing?” Firestar mewed. “They’re already four moons old.. can you believe that?” He choked a laugh. “Time flies when they’re kittens, y'know.”

   “Yeah.” Longtail smiled, “I can’t believe it at all. Though Blizzardspots seems excited,” He twitched his whiskers. “She loved them, we both do. But they’re a bit of a handful for one cat.”

   “Since they'll be apprentices soon,” Firestar sat up, stretching his paws. “Who did you want to mentor them? If you had any ideas.”

   “Hm.” He hummed. “Swiftflame for Silverkit. He definitely needs a strong paw, and Swiftflame would be able to handle it,” Longtail mewed. “Sorreltail for Sandkit.” He continued, “And.. Brightheart for Dustkit. She’s half blind, she'll be able to help him learn skills and become a warrior, even being blind.”

   “That sounds perfect.” Firestar smiled. “They're the kits of two great warriors. I’m sure they'll become just the same.”

   “I agree.” Longtail purred, “I’m going to take out a hunting patrol, is that alright?”

   “Perfectly.” Firestar brushed past him and slipped out of his den. Longtail did the same, making his toward the warriors den. There, Swiftflame, Brightheart, Ashfur and Cloudtail were settled.

   “Hey.” Swiftflame mewed, “Something up?”

   “No.” Longtail flicked his tail, “I’m taking the four of you on a hunting patrol. Sound good?”

   Cloudtail got up, stretching his paws, “Sounds great,” He purred. “C'mon.”

   “And I wanted to talk to you two,” Longtail meowed. “Swiftflame, Brightheart.”

   “.. Oh.. uh, of course.” Brightheart murmured, following Longtail out of the camp. The rest of the patrol trailed behind the two cats. “What is it, Longtail?”

   “My kits are to be apprenticed soon,” He meowed. “I want you two to mentor one. Each.”

   “Woah!” Swiftflame gasped, “Really? You want—us? To be mentors?”

   “You deserve it!” Cloudtail meowed, slipping in between the two cats, “I mean, I already had apprentice. About time Firestar gives you apprentices, too!”

   “So, who’s mentoring who? And what about the last kit?” Swiftflame raised an eyebrow. 

   “Swiftflame, you'll mentor Silverkit. Brightheart, I want you to mentor Dustkit,” He meowed softly. “Dustkit.. he’s completely blind. I know you're only half blind, but.. I assumed you could help him much more than say I could. And like Cloudtail said, you deserve an apprentice just like any other cat,” Longtail flicked her ear with his tail. “And Sorreltail will mentor Sandkit.”

   “.. Thank you, Longtail,” Brightheart dipped her head. “For believing in me. And trusting me.”

   He stretched out his neck, rasping his tongue over the top of her head, “Of course. Anyone can be a warrior, no matter if you have a disability or not.”

   “Okay, okay,” Cloudtail rolled his eyes playfully, “Enough of this sappy stuff, can we hunt already?”