5 Years Later

Shellstar shifted in her nest, letting out a soft sigh. Ever since she became an elder at 70 moons old, she was having a harder time finding ways to spend her days and she was often bored most of the time. At 93 moons, she didn't have much else to do other than sleep. Yet sleeping in different positions hurt her back and hips too much.

She perked her head up when she heard Stormstar calling to the clan. "Let all cats join under the Beachcliff for a clan meeting!" the new leader was yowling. All cats? That meant that the meeting was really important if everyone had to be present.

Shellstar stood up and stretched, not taking her time for once. She was eager to hear her old-time friend's words. However, they came as more of a shock than she expected. "Now that you are all gathered, I have important news. After being the leader for 20 moons, I will now be retiring," Stormstar concluded and similar gasps of shock echoed.

Stormstar turned her gaze to someone in the crowd, and Tigershine stepped forward. He was made deputy soon after Stormstar received her name. For the past 20 moons, he had been doing a good job. Now Shellstar hoped he would continue his streak of goodness during his leadership. He had certainly been a good role model to the kits that were running along the beach, although none of them were his own.

"Tigershine, I now name you the leader of Shoreclan. May Starclan grant him a long and prosperous reign," Stormstar purred and leaped down from the Beachcliff to approach him. Tigershine waltzed to the front of the crowd and purred elegantly. The two exchanged licks to the others' shoulders.

Tigershine parted from the past leader and made his way onto the Beachcliff, smiling warmly. "At 76 moons old, I would have never thought to be the leader. In fact, I never thought I would be at all," he joked.

Small chuckles erupted in the crowd, but they died down when Tigershine glanced around and cast his amber gaze onto specific cats. His irises paused on a particular cat, and he cleared his throat softly. "Ripplefang, will you please step forward?" he asked, and the tom he was speaking to did as he was told. The warrior in front of the crowd was a silver Bengal tom, regal-looking with his sleek coat and muscular body. He would make a strong deputy, Shellstar thought to herself wistfully.

"Ripplefang, you will now be Shoreclan's deputy and my most trusted advisor as well as my friend. Do you agree to this?" Tigershine asked and dipped his head.

Ripplefang nodded back to him curtly and replied gruffly, "I do." Although the tom had a harsh exterior and an ever harder-to-read expression, there was a glimmer of kindness in his eyes. Tigershine and Ripplefang had something going on, perhaps admiration for one another.

The names of the new leader and the new deputy rose into a chant, causing tears to brim on Shellstar's eyes.

She would've never thought that she'd get the chance to see so many generations while walking along the shores.