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[e c h o ] x s t a r_________wait.ing for xxchanges

Echostar's eyes lit up, both in relief and joy at Crescentpaw's answer. The weight on his shoulders seemed lighter, the burden lifting slightly. His tail waved and curled around his legs, a warm feeling rushing through him at the thought that finally his Clan would have an official medicine cat once more. Just say the words... Give him his name and then this ordeal will finally be over... We won't be weak anymore... It occurred to him there that some cats would be upset with his decision, still hanging onto the hope that their former medicine cat would return to them. He flicked his tail, eyeridges creasing downward into a frown. They have to get used to it... We can't wait!

He parted his jaws slowly, neck and head lifting as his forepaws shifted closer to the edge of the Big Boulder. Now was the time. Blood roared in his ears, heating in his veins in excitement as he prepared the words. Before he could though, before he could even utter the end of the ceremonial speech, a distressed half-cry spouted from Crescentpaw. Startled, Echostar gazed down at the young tom as he glanced up at him, eyes misted over with a distraught expression before he turned away. The Bengal followed Crescentpaw's gaze, his own eyes traversing the mass of cats to the back. What had made him - ?

His blood ran cold.

A sinking feeling burned in the pit of his stomach; his paws felt like the boulder's surface would disappear from underneath him. His mouth dried, throat spasming slowly; up and down up and down without moisture. His tongue dragged across the cavern of his mouth, over the ridges of its roof. A shiver tingled down his spine; his head lifted higher, as if to gain a better view at the figure at the back. Swallowing, he called, voice a mixture of grief and astonishment.

"Flightfoot?"

Starclan I spoke to soon...