Warrios Fanfic

[Dani]

I worked very hard on this Fanfiction, but I still think it sucks, even after Sashah edited it;) (thanks a lot buddy!)

WARRIORS
Fortunate Sorrows


Chapter 1
Fireclan

I ran into the camp of Fireclan in a flash,"Snowstar!" I bellowed. She came running out of her den, leapt off the great rock of our camp, and fell in front of me lightly. "What is it, Zashpaw?" She said irritably, starring at me with her peircing eyes of ice. "There were too many, I couldn't handle them!" I scrambled for my words but just blathered out a sentence. "What were too many?" she asked trying to calm me. "The Streakclan members! They are coming for the camp and I can't stop them!" I yowled. Her icey white fur bristled fearfully. "I haven't dealt with Autaunmstar in....moons." Autaunmstar had once been her comrad, but he had betrayed her for power. "Deltastar may help," I suggested. She hissed at me; the leader of Moonclan was her sworn enemy and she refused to work with him. "Well then what about Twilightstar?" I suggested finally. She could not resist even her sister, could she? "Maybe she will help.... but why? Why would the mighty Twilightstar evr help the weak and laim Snowstar," she growled sarcasticly. "That's why, because you're her kin, please Snowstar, we need to send out a patrol to get help!" I coaxed her on and on until she agreed. Sparkheart, Darkfaith, Safaripaw, and I went to the boarder of the Midnightclan and finally crossed it with a short leap, for there was a tiny stream that ran through the boarder. We walked until a growl rose and we sighed in unison. "Twilightstar, we found rogue warriors," one of them, Mudsphere, hissed to her. Her black fur clashed horribly with her dark amber eyes. "We are not rogues," Sparkheart retorted calmly. "Well you fight like them," another one, Zapline, laughed. "You better back off you Midnightclan scum!" Safairpaw hissed with his teeth clenched. I pulled my lips back in the begining of a snarl. Twilightstar flicked her tail to the two warriors for silence. "Please, whatever is it that you may need?" she asked coldly. "We need your help," Darkfaith stated simply. "Help? Midnightclan does not have the time to help the weak," Twilightstar advanced one step then took it back and hissed turning around. "End of discussion," she growled back to us. "Well what about Twilightstar?" Safaripaw mimicked in a high pitched voice. I hissed at him,"They're kin, how can they hate eachother just.... so much?" I sighed. Darkfaith rested his tail on my shoulder blade. "There, there little one, you were only trying to help," he sighed with me again. "Now we must return, or Snowstar with have our tails," Sparkheart smiled changing the subject. "She'll have our tails anyways for not returning with the whole of Midnightclan," Safaripaw hissed under his breath. I assumed I wasn't supposed to hear that. I sighed, war had been going on between the clans ever sence Autaunmstar had left Fireclan for power. The four leaders had been driven almost to insanity at the thought of any more battle, but it happened all the time.

Redsky, the Fireclan medicine cat, came running to Snowstar. Snowstar turned her head away from Ashpaw, her apprentice, and to Redsky, "What could it possibly be Redsky?" she groaned exasperatedly. "I know, I know, it's just that I can't find Eucaliptuspaw anywhere!" he fretted. Eucaliptuspaw was the medicine cat apprentice, and Redsky's daughter practicly, well, friend if you asked them. Stormcloud, one of the Queens, came running, "Snowstar!" She was sobbing and her tail was bleeding as she dragged it from the nursery. "Stormcloud what is it?" Snowstar tried to calm her friend, "It's Soundkit! He's dead!" she yowled. The camp grew silent as she sobbed to Snowstar about how one of the warriors clawed him against the wall and threw him around like a ball. I winced at some of the gruesome parts of her tradgic story, a kit of the same age as Soundkit doesn't deserve that. Songkit, his sister, came limping out of the nursery, "Mommy, where's Soundkit?" she moaned. Stormcloud dragged herself back to the kit, picked her up in her mouth, and went into the nursery without a word. Snowstar showed gleaming eyes of empathy for the old Queen and her now one remaining kit. Ebonyheart came galloping into the entrence, he was the Moonclan's medicinecat. "Snowstar!" he huffed urgently. "What is it Ebonyheart, why do you interupt our clan's regrouping?" she had a hint of snarl in her impatient and exhausted voice. "Deltastar has fallen very ill with green cough, and our deputy, Taloncreice, has fallen etremely ill, with black cough, we do not know who to turn to, Deltastar told us you would know," he pleaded. Snowstar looked shocked at the thought of Deltastar dying, even though she hated him, he was a good warrior, and a worthy leader, she would not just let him die. "Well, have you waited for Starclan to give you a sign?" "For so long," he answered. She sighed, "Well.... maybe you should take charge?" I snapped my head to look up at her and Ebonyheart started stammering. "But, I've never led anything! Not even the trips to the moonpool! I can't just all of a sudden lead Moonclan!" he insisted. Snowstar smiled, "Well I think Starclan will show you the way, now go, and lead your clan." She smiled and flicked her tail, then returned to Ashpaw. Redsky came running to Stormcloud, maybe the two mourners could help look for Eucaliptuspaw. I sighed and started to lick the gash on my side. Sparkheart rasped her tongue over Darkfaith's ear lovingly. He smiled, "Purrr my lovely Sparkheart."


******THIRD PERSON CHANGE!*******

She could see that the love was surrounding her, not welcoming her. Her heart was a place, empty, but no one desired to fill in the hole. She trudged back to the apprentices den and sighed once. She looked in and saw Safaripaw laying on his side, motionless. She walked over and nudged him, "Safaripaw?" her voice cracked in her grief. His head moved and he grunted,"Zashpaw, oh... get Redsky." She nodded and ran out, she scrambled for her feet, her head swinging widly, where is he? she thought. His red tail slunk into the medicine den just before she could lose him. "Redsky!" she ran and barged into the den. He looked at her, bewildered at her choice of entrance, "Zashpaw," He nodded and she told him about Safaripaw, he nodded and took some leaves from the store and came running after her. Safaripaw weezed as they entered, his dark brown pelt spilled blood on the ground, his forest green eyes looked pained as Redsky put the herbs on his wounds. Zashpaw sighed in agony at the thought of her friend being dead and gone after all they've been through. "You have to be ok Safaripaw, we'll be warriors, like, so soon!" she laughed. Safaripaw chuckled and smirked,"You always were the cheery one Zashpaw." He hissed as Redsky nudged his stomach, "Sorry" he whispered. Safaripaw nodded as if to say, Me too. Zashpaw sighed, she couldn't believe that Safaripaw was slipping, or atleast had been slipping like that so soon in his life. "I know were all very busy, but will Fireclan please gather below me for a clan meeting?" Snowstar's voice boomed from outside. Zashpaw came running with Redsky and Safaripaw limping along. They looked up at her as all the cats emerged and gather below the rock for her announcement. "What could it possibly this time?" Darkfaith hissed under his breath, "Shh!" Sparkhear scolded. "My fellow toms and she-cats, there is one apprentice, here today, who has fought bravely, in the battle we have just wittnessed. This apprentice shall become a warrior very soon," Snowstar announced. Everyone looked back to Safaripaw and me, but she only said one, who is it? "Safaripaw, come up here," Snowstar called. Safaripaw lit up and all the cats smiled. Zashpaw crashed, what!? she thought. Why him instead of me! He was cowering in the apprentices den while I saved him from Foxheart! She steamed as Safaripaw limped past her with his head high. She ground her teeth and flexed her claws. "Safaripaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and always set your life on the line for your clan and leader?" she asked him. "I do," he replied smiling *hug*ely. Zashpaw's heart was pounding with jealousy. "Then Safaripaw, I now call upon you as Safariwake!" she bellowed in her announcement voice. Zashpaw walked away from the ceremony, as all the cats came to congradulate his great success in making her look like a fool, she thought. Why him? Hadn't she proved herself worthy to Snowstar yet? Sagewhisker, Zashpaw's mother, came running. "Oh, Zashpaw, I'm sorry..." she sighed. "I don't need your pity! My father would've let me know that I was ready!" she hissed. Sagewhisker pinned her ears back in misery, "Well your father wasn't the wisest cat in the clan!" she retorted. Zashpaw growled,"Well at least he knew when the rightful apprentice should be appointed!" She turned away from her mother and left into the Littlepaw, a new apprentice, practicly just from the nursery, was sitting talking with Ashpaw as Zashpaw came walking in. "Beat out again, Zashpaw?" Ashpaw smirked evily and Zashpaw snarled at him. "Shut up you little snot!" she said furiously. He bowed his head and stuck out his tongue in submission. Littlelight just fondled the mouse she was supposed to be eating. "You eat it, Littlebrain," she sighed. Snowstar came into the den suddenly. "Is there something wrong, Zashpaw?" she looked at the apprentice meaningfully. "No, Safariwake will make a fine warrior..." she insisted. "But, will you?" she asked. "I don't know how to answer that question Snowstar? I- I'll be true to my clan, and always follow the Warrior code, but.. I don't know how... to answer...that- that question?" she looked hopelessly at her leader. Snowstar chuckled, "All you have to do is beleive in yourself, and do what you think is right, ok?" she smiled and nodded curtly before leaving. Zashpaw sat down and sighed. Eucaliptuspaw walked into the apprentices den huffing. "Where were you!?" Littlepaw blurted out. "Where have you been?!" Ashpaw followed up with. Zashpaw shook her head and smiled at her friend. "Hey Eucaliptuspaw, whats going on in the medicine den?" "You don't know the half of it! Redsky is fretting over all the injuries saying he can't do it all by himself, then he says that I should get some rest so I don't get to help him!" she whined. Zashpaw chuckled under her breath,"You'll be fine, I'm sure of it," she smiled. They all laid down, and one by one started to doze off until all was quiet.... "Zashpaw!" the voice startled the young apprentice awake and she jumped up bristling. "Snowstar?" she looked at the pure white she-cat leader infront of her. "Come, your ceremony is today," she smiled. Zashpaw gawked as she walked out to find a gathering taking place. She walked up an sat down in front of Snowstar. "Zashpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and always set your life on the line for your clan and leader?" Snowstar asked the same question to her. "I do," she smiled. "Then I call upon you as Zashsong, you are our new warrior, you will sit vigil tonight," she walked back to her cave. and Zashsong smiled. Safariwake came running, "That was great! Now we can still be friends, right?" "Ofcourse!" she replied happily. They smiled and nuzzled eachother happily, and playfully. Eucaliptuspaw smiled and came running after Safariwake, "You guys! I just got word from Firefeather," she smiled. Firefeather was her father, and probably the fiercest fighter in the whole of Fireclan. "What is it?" Zashsong asked. Eucaliptuspaw smiled, "He said that Shadowsong was seen on our territory!" Shadowsong was a warrior from Sreakclan, and Darkfaith's brother. Zashsong gasped, "Are you serious?" The gossip started as the word was spread, it finally reached Snowstar. "Shadowsong? On My clan's territory!?" she boomed. Icefire, the deputy, came out tail between legs after her leader, "Yes Snowstar," her voice was raspy, as it always was. "Well he'd better hope that Darkfaith won't catch it, I'll report it at the gathering," she growled looking at the moon raised in the sky. She yowled for the cats to gather as they made a fine line. They almost marched perfetly to the gathering, as Snowstar's mood became worse and worse. They jumped onto the small log that led them to the Great Island Of Thunder. They were the last there, but the most dainty welcomers. Snowstar ran straight for the branch on the tree. She sat there next to Deltastar and Autaunmstar. Icefire sat happilly between Taloncreice and Stonetail. "Welome," Deltastar announced. Snowstar narrowed her eyes at him, he looked completely fine. She gazed down at Talonriece and held in a snarl, healthy and bright as day. She took the first talk immedietly, "Well, we have two more warriors, Zashsong, and Safariwake. We were visited by Ebonyheart saying you two," she pointed her tail at the leader and deputy of Moonclan, "were extremely ill." Deltastar's eyes widened, he hissed viciously at his medicine cat, who happened to be right below him on the right, "How dare you! Why did you give them false sayings! You said you were going to retrive more burdock root from them because the supply on our land ran out!" Ebonyheart looked unphased but unsure. Redsky stepped forward, "He did get burdock root, but not with my permission, he stole it slyfully once he realized a way to get in. Now I have to search for more," he hissed. Eualiptuspaw joined in and snarled at the theif. "This is outrageous!" Taloncriece declared furiously. "I'm sorry to shake up the meeting, but I thought you should know," Snowstar glared at the silver tom. Deltastar nodded, "Thank you for informing me." He went next, "That was quite some news, which is probably why we have none, the prey runs well and the streams are full," he smiled. He sat back down and looked at Autumnstar. He walked up, "Well, most of our prey runs wildly, but some we can't get anymore. We have a new apprentice, Summerpaw, she will be mentored by Springpath," he nodded to the dappled she-cat and her apprentice. The medicine cat nodded with a glint of happiness in her eyes. He sat back down and flicked his tail towards Twilightstar. She got up and stood tall, "We had a run in with a few Firelan members, but worked it out," she smiled. Snowstar gasped and looked at Autaunmstar, she remembered that Zashsong had warned her about Streakclan members but they never came? she thought. She gazed out over the crowd and finally found the she-cat. She narrowed her eyes, was Zashsong up to something? The warrior seemed smiling, and no guilt hung in her gaze. She let Twilightstar finish. "I have one more announcement," she stood. The whole crowd looked at her with piercing eyes of impatience. "One of my warriors told me that Streakclan members were attacking her and coming to the camp," she started. The fourth that made up Streakclan began glaring at her. "But they never came, Zashsong." All eyes turned to the she-warrior. "Why did you lie to your leader?" The cat seemed to gape, "I did not! They had attacked me first, and I ran. They had been following me!" she insisted. One of the cats from Streakclan, Shadowwhisp, spoke up, "Because we were driving you off our territory!" Gasps errupted from the Fireclan warriors. "Is this true!?" Snowstar growled. Zashsong ground her teeth, "I did it to feed our clan!" Shadowwhisp scoffed, "You've been doing it for the past moon!" he hissed. Snowstar snarled in rage, "This is Madness Zashsong!" The warrior growled. "You would have done the same! Our prey runs short! I have been feeding the whole of Fireclan!" she boomed. Snowstar's eyes glazed over, with suprise. She turned to Darkfaith and Sparkheart but they frowned in defeat. She looked down at Icefire and she sighed. "This gathering is over!" she hissed. She leaped to the ground and gathered her clan as the others watched silently. They walked back, without a word. No one spoke as the night fell, and everyone fell asleep.

Everyone awoke, at somewhat the same time. Everyone walked out, did what they could, and went on working. Life as a Fireclan member had changed that gathering. Songkit beame Songpaw, Stormcloud merged into the Elder's den, and all was the same. Littlepaw became Littlelight, Ashpaw became Ashflare. Nothing changed, except minor things. But one day, everyone awoke with a slight tingle. Nothing seemed to be right, but no one could really judge what was going on. Everyone seemed edgy, skeptical. No one knew what would happen, for once. Then, something happened. They notied one person was gone, for the seond time. Eucaliptuspaw.

The clan searched for their medicine cat apprentice. Zashsong continued to grumble, because the clan began to starve. There was barely enough food for the clan. So she decided it was time to go back to her old duties, her old idea. She slowly crept out of the camp, at night. It was completely forbidden, but she had to feed her clan. She looked around and slowly hurried towards the Streakclan border. She took a deep breath and sighed as she walked slowly past the harshly scented borders. She caught three mice, that could feed Stormcloud, the only elder, and two warriors. If the clan wished to share, Stormcloud, and four warriors. That was much more than what was being fed nowadays. Stormcloud started to turn down food first, for she noticed that the rest of the clan needed it. She crept back into the camp and put the mice down, on the two squirrels that had been caught at the silverpelt hunt. She walked slowly back into the warriors den, only to meet eyes with the furious Ashflare. He shoved back out of the den and walked over to the kill pile and glanced between her and the mice. "You stole that food Zashsong!" he hissed. Like I didn't know that! her mind growled. "You want to starve next?" she growled. He snorted, "Like you want to, but that's wrong!" he hissed. "You really want the clan to die, don't you!" she snarled quietly. "But!..... You do all the wrong things for the right reason Zashsong, for the right reason, I'm proud of you, but the wrong things, I'm hating you," a shadow took his figure, then passed over. "Go to sleep," she said plainly. He shook his head, "I'm not leaving until that food does," he glared. She unsheathed her claws, "I don't want to do this," she hissed. He made a hmph motion with his head. She snarled, then ran at him. But he felt no claws, no teeth, no shove. He whirled around, to see her long tail, dissapear into the bushes. No! His heart screamed. Yes his anger replied. His unspoken, and shy love, was overrun by his fury. He let her go.


Chapter 2
Lost Causes, and Lost Love

Ashflare growled as he brought back the small shrew from the dawn patrol. Only he and Littlelight had brought back anything. No one had noticed that Zashsong had gone, except him. But he didn't let anyone know. Littlelight asked him about her, but he just said he didn't know. Littlelight sat down her small crow on the pathetically sized pile. He sighed and frowned. He slowly walked back to the warriors den and laid down. Littlelight walked in and laid down next to him, "Are you ok? I can see it when your down, you can't hide that from me." she smiled. "Yea, but sometimes I feel like I want to," he chuckled. Littlelight frowned and sighed, "So what's bothering you?" He looked at the ground with eyes of sorrow. He plucked at the grass that was so close to him. "Zashsong ran away last night," he muttered. Littlelight gasped, and frowned, "I'm sorry. We need to tell Snowstar," she said gently. She got up and walked out. Her small white pelt shimmered in the sunlight. Ashflare smiled and followed her. "Snowstar?" Littlelight called into the leader's den. "Come in," Snowstar called out. Littlelight walked in and Ashflare followed slowly. "Zashsong is gone Snowstar," Littlelight sighed. Snowstar's eyes widened. "Another?" she scowled. Ashflare frowned and nodded. "Why is my clan fleeing from me!?" she growled. Ashflare shrugged and Littlelight followed. Snowstar growled as they left, "Why does the world work against me?" she muttered quietly. "Why does everyone hate me?" she muttered even quieter. She started to walk slowly out of the den and looked around the camp. Sparkheart galloped up to her from the entrence, followed by Darkfaith and Safariwake. "Snowstar, Zapline attacked Rosestripe! She needs help!" Sparkheart gasped huffing. She looked flustered, like she had been fighting off other warriors, like Zapline and Rosestripe were the only ones left at the sight. Snowstar snarled and ran past the dappled she-warrior. She heard hissing and spitting as she came closer to the fight. She emerged into a large clearing that covered the border between Fireclan and Midnightclan. She saw Rosestripe, huffing and fighting with gash that covered one of her eyes. Zapline, was also covered in scratches. But he was over his border; Snowstar boomed a roar and leaped for him. She pinned him down and hissed, "Go back to your side of the border or I'll get nasty!" she snarled. Zapline growled but his terrified yes betrayed his tough attitude. Snowstar got up as he squirmed and fled past the border. She looked at Rosestripe as the warrior was bleeding from her eye. She frowned with sympathy. Rosestripe just smiled though, "He ran.... like a kit," she huffed taking breaths in between words. Snowstar smiled warmly and started to walk back with the she-cat. The camp roused as the two walked in followed by the rest of the patrol. Snowstar gathered the clan for a meeting. "As you may have seen, one of our warriors is severly injured. She was attacked by a warrior from Midnightclan, I'm sure Twilightstar was unaware of it, but I will inform her at the next gathering," she started. "I've been informed by a couple of Fireclan members that Zashsong has gone missing," she said. "She ran away last night," Ashflare spoke up. Snowstar nodded, "Thank you for your information Ashflare, you too Littlelight," she said turning to look at the small white warrior. Littlelight smiled with a bit of pride, then remembered the sad time it was. She faked a frown, but inside was hopping. Just last sun high Ashflare had said he loved Zashsong, and Littlelight loved him. Her competitive spirit took hold of her feelings. She trotted out of the den and left Snowstar and Ashflare to talk. She looked around and saw Darkfaith fighting with Sparkheart. "You said you saw her leave!" Sparkheart yelled. "I did none of the sort! Look, if you wanna go find your little warrior friend, fine! But I won't go looking for a lost cause!" he hissed. Littlelight perked up her ears and walked over. "Zashsong may be gone, but I have a feeling she might come back," Littlelight smiled at Sparkheart. It was a lie but Sparkheart jumped with joy. "Just because you mentored the little fur ball doesn't mean that I'm going to give a rats, dung about her!" Darkfaith hissed. Sparkheart spat, "You think you're tough, well news flash buddy, you're not! You're just some lucky kittypet who I happened to find starving in a barn!" she hissed. Darkfaith cringed and his tail lashed on the ground. His eyes were hurt. He turned around and walked back into the warrior's den. Sparkheart sighed exasperatedly, "Now he's soft!?" she grumbled and mumbled as she walked past the den and out of the camp. Littlelight frowned then rolled her eyes, "They allways smootch, and allways fight, they're not even worth keeping," she scoffed. She walked into the medicine cat den. "Redsky?" she asked. He hissed then apologized, "I'm a bit high strung. I can't find any burdock root for the stock and Ebonyheart came back," he pointed to one of the slots. It was completely empty. "This is tyranny!" Littlelight screetched. "We have to complain to Deltastar!" she hissed. Redsky sighed, "We can't, it's not his fault, you heard him at the gathering," he shrugged. Littlelight hissed, "He might be lying to save face Redsky, please! Just at least tell Snowstar." Redsky shook his head, "I can find plenty of Yarrow around here, close to the camp even, but I'm thinking about having someone watch the den, whenever I'm gone, day and night," he sighed. Littlelight smiled as a symbol that she would take the job. Redsky grinned, "I appreciate it, but I don't think I need it, just watch it while I go get some yarrow, it's so hard not having Eucaliptuspaw around," he frowned and ran off. The sorrow flowed from Redsky to Littlelight, she did miss the kind apprentice. "I know," she sighed. She sat down in the den and watched the back of it. There was a passageway, but Ebonyheart wouldn't be welcome back into the camp of Fireclan, ever again. She laid her head daintly on her paws. Suddenly a russle sounded from the front of the den. She stumbled and jumped to look around. Ashflare smiled at her, she smiled back. "I just wanted to visit you Littlellight," he rubbed his paws together and smiled wider. She sat down and looked at him warmly. Her heart rose as he looked lovingly at her. "I really love you Littlellight," he said shyly. "I really love you Ashflare," she replied happily. Ashflare snapped his head up and gazed at her with a wild grin. They intertwined their tales and Littlelight purred. Her heart fluttered at the thought of Ashflare finally loving her as much as she loved him. "You know love is a silly thing," a voice said. She whirled around just before Ashflare and gasped. A small figure stood there, its a familiar eyes penetrating their gazes. Zashsong. Her ice blue eyes glared at Ashflare and he glared back. Littlelight pulled her ears back. "You love her?" Zashsong's firm voice asked. Littlellight could clearly see that the conversation was Ashflare and Zashsong strictly. "Yes," his eyes flared with defiance. "Good," she smiled, not a normal smile, a wicked cruel smile. She dissapeared as if the wind had swept her away. Littlelight looked up confusedly at Ashflare, he just smiled back down.

Chapter 3
Gone with the Wind

She knew their lies, she knew that every single thought they had put more hate on her back. Everyone hated her, everyone hated the runaways. No matter whether it was the smallest kit, or the most valiant leader, everyone hated the runaways. After Zashsong left her clan, they probably knew her as the scum, as the traitor, as the rogue. Ashflare had fallen madly in love with Littlellight, which made everything twenty times harder for her. She loved the smoky grey tom, and would give the world to save him. But Littlelight had the same thoughts on Ashflare, and Zashsong always had known that. She ran across the small plateau. She looked left and right, she'd found food, she'd found shelter. But the love in her heart had been picked away, and finally torn out by the last conversation she had had. She refused to cry though. Warriors don't cry, she told herself over and over. But nothing took the pain away. She sat down on the grassy land and sighed. This territory was past the clans, she was far from home. She looked at the mountains, they called to her, they would give her shelter, they would find new homes for her. But her place was here, her place was never to move, just to stay here. She ran back to the camp of Fireclan, but peeked into the medicine den, Yarrow must be hard to find, Littlellight and Ashflare still stood in the den purring. She sat down and smiled. Ashflare looked behind him and jumped. "Why'd you come back?" he said after an impressive jump up with Littlellight. "I missed you" Zashsong chuckled sarcasticly. "I want answers Zashsong!" he hissed. "You don't need answers" her voice stiffined. He scoffed, "Hardly! I need all the information I can get, the clan wants you back Zashsong" he hissed. "Hardly!" she mimiced, "Fireclan thinks of me as a rogue, ask a round, pretend you think of me like that, you'll find out that no one wants me back" she growled. Littlelight looked at the ground and her eyes showed fear. "Littlellight, something you'd like to say" her voice pierced the smallw hite cat's mind. "Darkfaith said that he didn't are for you... But Sparkheart was desprate to find you" she said her high pitched voice cracking. Zashsong smiled and flicked her tail towards Littlellight, "Proof, if you want some more, ask my father" she spat. She knew her father, Cloudspirit, has always hated her. He loved Flarepaw more than anything, but the female kit was useless, that's why, Peachheart, her mother, had left him, but maybe not his heart. Ashflare looked confused, because no one knew how much he hated her, but her. "Cloudspirit left Fireclan when Peachheart left, Zashsong your parents are gone" Ashflare growled. "I KNOW!" she snarled. Littlelight stumbled back and pinned her ears back. "Snowstar informed the whole clan that you were gone, Redsky should be back soon, you need to stay or leave" Littlelight spoke up. Her glare focused all on the little she-cat. It seemed to much for him and she started to drop one tear. "Warriors don't cry, so you're not a warrior? Typical, only real warriors hold in their feelings, only real warriors don't cry" she hissed at the small cat. Littlelight ran out of the den, that left Zashsong and Ashflare, all alone. "So you think you got what it takes?" she asked. "For what?" Ashflare scoffed. "To leave..." she said softly. He looked bewildered. "I can't leave my clan! I don't leave these people Zashsong!" he growled. "Whats all the ruckus?" Darkfaith walked in. Ashflare turned around, "Nothing" he smiled. The large warrior left and Ashflare turned back around, she was gone.
I couldn't tell why she felt that way, she felt it every day, and I couldn't help her I just watched her make the same mistakes again, whats wrong whats wrong now? To many problems, don't know where she belongs. She wants to go home, but nobodys home, it's where she lies broken inside, with no place to go, no place to go, to dry her eyes, broken inside. Zashsong felt the tears slip down her cheeks. Be strong, be strong now Zashsong sobbed. Her feelings she hides, her dreams she can't find, She's losing her mind, she's fallen behind, she can't find her place, she's losing her faith, she's falling from grace, she's all over the place, yeah. Zashsong sobbed, "Warriors don't cry!" she yelled. Open your eyes, and look out side, find the reasons why, you've been rejected. To many, to many problems, She hissed and stopped the tears, "Warriors don't cry" she said over and over. "I'm a warrior, and warriors. Don't. Cry" Zashsong hissed. Her heart was gone though, gone with the wind.

Chapter 4
Warriors Don't Cry

Snowstar sighed, everything was going imperfectly to her plans. She wanted to figure out how to find her two missing cats, but where could they be. Obviously and medicine cat apprentice wouldn't run away with a full fledged warrior. It made no sense! She thought hard day and night usually. Then came up with an idea. They probably went off in two diffrent directions, so it had to be that the search parties needed to start splitting up. She heard commotion from the nearby den, the medicine cat den. Redsky went out often to fetch for supplies, he'd begun burrying the important things that Ebonyheart might steal, and he had Littlelight and Ashflare watching the den every time he left. They were seremonial heard servants. (Meaning they were called upon as herb servants by ceremony.) She walked in nad gasped. Littlelight and Ashflare glared at Zashsong. "Zashsong!" she yelled and the calico she-cat. Her eyes looked unphased, and unwavering."Zashsong stay!" he cried. She unsheathed her claws and dug them into Redsky's belly. "Get off!" she snarled. He jumped back, bleeding with fearful eyes,. "Zashsong!" Snowstar cried. "My name is not Zashsong! It never was!" she hissed. Snowstar was confused, as well as the whole audience. "My mother named me Windkit, my father felt it necessary to change the name, for my mother wasn't worthy of naming a wreth like me, so I went by Zashkit, any questions?" she snapped. "Then, Windpaw, must I have another ceremony for your name?" Snowstar offered. Anything to get her warriors back. Windpaw scoffed, "Hardly! I know what I want, and I'm pursuing it!" she snarled. She flew off. "That she-cat is fast as the wind" Ashflare growled. But inside he admired her, something about it twinkled in his eyes. "Herb servants, your duty is done, Fair winds" Redsky releved them of their duties. "Fair winds Redsky" they said in unison. They left the den and Snowstar ordered them to go hunt. She sat down by the kill-pile. She looked at the camp entrence, and ran out. She looked around, and sniffed the air. East, she thought. She ran that way and soon left the clans territories. She came to a plateau. She saw a alico figure in the middle. Windpaw. She ran swiftly, and silently, but she wasn't downwind, and she knew that. Windpaw, dissapeared in a blur suddenly. Snowstar hissed in defeat as the warrior pinned her down. "You think you have nine lives?" Snowstar laughed. "No, but I have eight claws" Windpaw growled. "Windpaw, just come on back, it'll all be ifne" Snowstar reassured. Windpaw scoffed full-heartedly, "Like, I would ever go back to that wrot of a heap!" she growled. Snowstar hissed and slipped out from under Windpaw, "Let's not fight" she smiled. Windpaw stood in her place, her head high with disgust. "Windpaw, Fireclan needs you, Fireclan wants you, now please come back" her voice was sympathetic, but firm. "Snowstar, I'm going to the mountains, to find a new valley, a new life. Starclan has left nothing for me hear" she hissed. Snowstar could feel the sorrow, the loneliness in Windpaw's eyes, but a lockdown held the she-cat's heart, she needed help, she didn't want help. "Open your eyes Windpaw!" she snarled. "You just can't figure out what you've left behind!" she yelled. Windpaw snarled defiantly, "I've left nothing behind!" she boomed. She ran off. Snowstar refused to let her do this. She yowled and ran after her. She could still get the scent. She followed and follwoed,s uddenly the she-cat was out of her sight, No. No no no! Her mind screamed with anguish. She still had the scent though. She pushed faster. The multi-colored tail came into vision. Snowstar grinned with victory. She pushed faster and saw Windpaw's legs. Suddenly, the calico she-cat stopped, and flew back behind her, with a wide grin. "That was dirty!" Snowstar skid to a hault and looked behind her. Windpaw had run to the side. She followed her.

Chapter 5
Luka



Snowstar began to grow tired of running. Her lungs burned and her tongue was dry. How was Windpaw still doing this?! she thought. "Windpaw! Hault!" she lunged for her tail, and landed on it. Windpaw hissed and pulled her tail away, but didn't run away. Snowstar grabbed her tail again and pulled hard on it The cat came with the tail, but her eyes potrayed no pain. "Why should I come back to a terrible place like that!?" she hissed. "Because we need you back or we'll all die!" Snowstar snarled. Windpaw scoffed, "What will happen?" Snowstar sighed, "Redsky had a vision, a message from Starclan, A beautiful calico she-cat came to him, and said that, The daughter of Day shall save the son of the clouds. She said that the smallest light, will grow the largest in heart. And the crescent Moon, shall shed blood into the valley of the clans" she said desprately. Redsky had said that the beautiful she-cat had said her name was Spottedleaf, Zashsong's great, great, aunt. Windpaw scoffed, "And I think the moon is a harmless feature! Starclan, is of no importance to me!" she hissed. "Spottedleaf told the message!" Snowstar cried. Windpaw's green eyes widened with supirse. She knew the name, her valiant medicine cat ancestor, who had died by an unknown hand. Windpaw shook her head, "She's dead, she only speaks to Firestar" she choked out. "Who is Firestar!?" Snowstar prodded. "Her lover, the one that she yearned for before her death, the one that yearned for her before her death" Windpaw answered. "Now thats information, maybe they live in a diffrent valley, Fireclan has no record of a Firestar, but maybe" she shrugged. "The mountain is past the hills, we would be coming in on Shadowclan territory, they are much like Streakclan" Windpaw said. "How, who... who, what is Shadowclan? Another group from the other valley" Snowstar suggested. "Indeed, I have to go find Firestar, He needs to help me with the message" Windpaw ran off. Snowstar gaped and ran after her. "Wait, we don't need strangers, Windpaw!!!" she cried out racing faster and faster after the she-cat. She finally ran beside her, "That clan might as well be rogues, or een Kittypets, we don't know anyting about them Windpaw!" she yelled."I have to try!" Windpaw insisted. "No you don't!" Snowstar rammed into Windpaw's side. The calico cat was nocked to the ground with full force from the leader. She fell to the ground, motionless. Snowstar gasped, "Windpaw?" she whispered. The she-cat didin't move, "Zashsong!?" she cried, nothing. Suddnly Windpaw was gone in a flash of multi-colored fur. "Windpaw!" Snowstar yelled. She ran after the apprentice, yet again. Snowstar gaped as she heard the sounds of a nearby Thunderpath. "No!" she cried. Windpaw was already safely on the other side though. Snowstar shook her head, she was just nervice. She raced across and for what seemed like an eternal hell, she heard a loud siren, that almost defeaned her. She got up the slope on the other side and ran for her life, like the creatures were all coming for her, off the thunderpath. She saw the mountains in the distance, but Windpaw, was no where. The journey would be made. By both cats. Snowstar was sure of that. Windpaw, wanted Snowstar to turn back, the Tribe cats would not.... her mind trailed off. Stop! She skid to a hault. Trib cats? Windpaw hissed in deafeat as she heard Snowstar's paws pack deep into the falling snow. Windpaw raced on into the mountains, slowly asending into the tall crescent shapped mountains.
A dark figure came flying at her, and she stopped. She fell to the ground with the cat on top of her, it was a cat right? Yes of course, she thought. It growled at her, it's violet eyes gleamed in the sunset. It's fur was dark as the night, and his claws as sharp as the moon. "I am Nightwhisper, aand you are treading on thin ice, in ym territory!" he hissed. Snowstar scoffed. "And I am Snowstar" she boomed, throwing him off and pinning him down within one heartbeat, "Leader of Fireclan!" she declared. Nightwhisper's eyes widedned. "Pardon` Ma`dam" he chuckled. Snowstar released him and snorted. "Like you've got any rankings, how does a rogue like you have any warrior's name!" she hissed. Nightwhisper seemed to grow with a flame of fury surrounding him. "I SHALL ALLWAYS BE A WARRIOR!" he snarled. Snowstar could see that a deep flame of loyalty, burned in his heart. She pitied him and looked at him with sympathy. "I know the feeling" she sighed. Nightwhisper shrinked back to his normal size again. "When I was a warrior, people knew me as Snowflight, and I was loyal, but I wanted to be deputy so bad, that I was willing to kill the former deputy, Shadowwhisp. After Shadowwhisp was gone, the former leader, Moonstar, wouldn't apoint a new deputy, all the ones had died, for all five of her lives she had lost already. Once Moonstar had figured out I had killed Shadowwhisp, she thought I had killed all five former deputys, but I hadn't. I was banished to rogueman ship, when I would live in solitary, forever. But then, a small voice came along," -She chuckled-"Zashpaw, she found me, and we battled, but the winner, was none other than the apprentice of which I was just following. She brought me bak, as a prisoner, and Moonstar, was devistated. She dissapeared and I was appointed new leader, for my courage, and understanding. I appointed Icefire as my deputy, and now it's all a blur. I need to find, Windpaw now. Please Nightwhisper, let me go" she hissed. "Windpaw, Zashpaw, are you chasing two diffrent warriors?" he asked confused. "Her warrior name was Zashsong, but her real name is Windpaw, so i decided to give her another chance at it, right?" I chuckled. I ran off and I saw the dark blur beside me that was Nightwhisper. Violet eyes stared at me from the blur and I smiled.

Chapter 6
NightWhisper


I stared at her, her white pelt beautiful like snow, and her shining blue eyes like the moon. My shaggy black fur looked hideous compared to her groom straight snowy fur. Lik Yin and Yang, we were. Only, she had no instrest in me obviously, a lonely rogue like myself. My past was haunted and too much darkness blocked my heart. She seemed troubled, but still clean as her fur. Her tail lashed back and forth as she glared at me. I cocked an eyebrow and stopped, "What?" I asked. "You.... you seem so, out of it. What am I saying I don't even know you, sorry" she said. We moved on without another word. She kept smiling at me, and we gazed into each other's eyes, for what seemed like forever, until the grassy hills turned to hard stone. I stopped ubruptly, "Thbis isn't my turf Snowstar, I can't go on with you" I lied. I was afraid of the moutnains, desprate to run and flee as we spoke. "What?" she asked confused. A wonderful she-cat, name Luka lived here, I had loved her, but even she had kicked me out of the terrible thing she calls a tribe. She had rejected me, when I had asked to bear kits with her. That part of my heart, was shattered, and I didn't want to see her at all. "It's... complicated" I said. She rolled her eyes and unsheathed her claws, "Come on!" she yelled. I groaned but ran with her up the slope. We were immediatly attacked by four cats. Luka's tribe. I hissed. "Nightwhisper!?" One, Shadowriver, spat. He had always been my competition for Luka. I hissed. "Welcome bakbuddy!" he growled. His black tail lashing. Snowstar yowled, "Back off, fo dung!" I smiled at her. Another, Moonraven, rolled her eyes. "So protective of your mate Snowstar!" she hissed. I gaped, they knew each other. "Moonstar!" she gasped. "It's Moonwhisp, Snowpath!" she growled. "It's Snowstar!" she growled. They stared at eachother, trying to crumble the other's will. "Your Moonstar? Ha!" I laughed. She glared at me, freezing my heart and my paws. "She killed Shadowhisp! And Tawnywhisker, and Appleblossom, and Riverclaw, and she especially destroyed, Violetbumble!" she hissed. "I only killed Shadowwhisp! Why can't you understand that!" Snowstar snarled. "Because no one else would kill them! I don't trust you Snowstar, and I never have, I never will, and never can!" she screamed. "I never did trust you, you always had a look of hatred in your eyes, you just looked like a killer! I'm sorry!" she hissed. Snowstar seemed suprised. Snowstar, a killer? She was so nice though.... I thought. "Windpaw found me though, and Fireclan banished you!" Snowstar hissed. "No...."Moonwhisp whispered. "I ran away" she choked out. Snowstar gasped like she didn't know. She had told me, and always knew that Moonwhisp had run away, it wa sin her nature to leave at a hard time. The third stood in the back, a scrawny brown cat. "Um... Luka will be mad if we don't get bak soon" she spoke up. "Mudpelt, we an't jsut leave them, let's report them to Luka and take them prisoner" Moonwhisp suggested. Shadowriver nodded and they both advanced. Snowstar leaped into the air and Moonwhisp puled her tail back down. Snowstar landed lightly on her toes and tripped Moonwhsip. The clever outcast flipped back up and slashed across Snowstar's fur. Snowstar recoiled and Moonwhisp pounced, pinning her down. "You've grown in strenght, but I can still beat you"she chuckled. Shadowriver ran at me like a rhino, I simply stepped out of the way and watched him whirl around. He ran for me again. I stepped out of the way, but he grabbed me on the way by he threw me on the ground and pinned me. "I thoguht they were smarter than this" Mudpelt snickered. "I guess not" Moonwhisp laughed. We slowly were taken into th heap, or camp. Cats from all over stopped what they were doing to gaze at us. Luka came down from her den to glare at me and look curiously at Snowstar. I didn't meet Luka's gaze, I hated her and she hated me, thats where our story had left off. I wanted it that way. "Shadowriver, who are these loners?" Luka asked calmly. "They were climbing up the eastern slope when we found them on the border patrol" he answered. Snowstar snorted, "I'm no loner, I'm Snowstar, leader of Fireclan, and this is my companion, Nightwhisper, faithful warrior" she hissed. Luka grinned, "Nightwhisper, back so soon?" "Back off fox face!" Snowstar defended me. I smiled wryly at Luka. She scoffed, "You think you're great, being a leader and all, but Moonwhisp has told us all the stories of your betrayal, you are nothing!" she hissed. Snowstar snarled at Moonwhisp and lunged at her. Moonwhisp was taken by suprise and Snowstar pinned the warrior down. "Thin you can take me? Think again!" she hissed. Moonwhisp growled but couldn't beak free under Snowstar's powerful musscles. "Snowstar, let Moonwhisp go" I said gently. Snowstar growled but got off and walked to stand next to me. Luka glared at her, she was angry that one of her best warriors couldn't beat her. Snowstar held her head high. Luka looked like she was thinking, "Put them in the fighter's den, you two will be surrounded by trained warriors, hae fun" she smiled. They pushed us in and I could see Shadowriver, and another cat, Blacktail, on gaurd outside. I sighed, not getting out anytime soon if I knew Luka. "Look, let's just do nothing so they think were worthless" I muttered to her. She nodded. We sat down next to eachother, and did absolutely nothing, but ate and slept. Finally, at the third day of our prisonship, Luka called us out. The whole tribe stared at us as we walked out slowly. "I find you of no use..... except for you Nightwhisper, Yu must father your kits" she said. I gasped, "But you said you would never!" I hissed. "I know... But it happened anyways. There are two apprentices which need a mentor, I was thinking about it... and actually Snowstar will mentor Ivypaw" she nodded. I was taken aback and Snowstar hissed, "I won't mentor some tribe cat!" she yelled. "I'm getting out of here, I have somewhere to go!" she insisted. She ran for the entrence Luka stopped her and stood in her way. Snowstar snarled and rammed her into the wall. She ran out and I gasped. I watched as the beautiful she-cat ran out of sight.


* * *

I ran and ran, not looking back. I never would go back to that place, even for Nightwhisper, never again. I stopped in a small hollow for the night, and sighed. Visions of Ashflare, of Littlelight and Icefire flooded back itno my mind. I missed my clan more than a kit missed her mother. Thousands of visions than flooded into my mind, of Twilightstar. I missed my sister...I always acted like I hated her, but the gatherings were what brought us together. I thought about my mother, Lunarheart, and my father, Solarflare. I could feel tears slip from my eyes. I was a rogue for years, and I couldn't handle this? It made me laugh, and it stopped the tears. I got up and ran out of the hollow. The moon cast shadows among the forest, and let me sneek quietly through the mountains. I finally emerged on the other side, by sunrise, but I was too tired, to even find a decent sleeping place, I crawled under a rock and closed my eyes, getting ready for the journey to find Windpaw.




Chapter 7
Ashflare


I walked into the camp with a fresh vole in my mouth. I dropped in onto the fresh kill pile and sighed. "Ashflare?" Littlelight came over. She sat down next to me and continued without my answer,"When Zashsong appeared in the medicine den, she asked you if you loved me, you said yes..... did you mean it?" She had brought up the most confusing and awkward tpic but I smiled, "Ofcourse, Littlelight" I answered. I'd never lie to her I thought. She smiled, "Good, because.... I love you too, so much" she got up and walked away. I felt terrible, because I had lied, I didn't really love her, she was my friend, not my mate. I loved Zashsong, and that would never change. I saw Redskyt walk over to Littlelight and talk to her. She looked at me with sorrow and ran out of the camp. Redsky went bck to the medicine den and I ran in. "What did you tell her?" I gowled. He turned around and looked mad, "You told her that you loved her!? Everyone knows you love Zashsong, it's easy to see!" he hissed. I gaped at him, "Like you knew! You didn't have to tell her!" I tried to defend myself. "She needed to know! Or you would be the one to break her heart, even worse in her perspetive!" I snarled madly and ran out of the camp. I finally found Littlelight's scent and followed it. She sat down at the shore of the borde with Twilightclan. "You lied to me" she hissed. "Two times" she murmured. "Can't we just be friends?" I sighed. "But I love you!" she whirled around and looked at me with the same passion that I looked at Zashsong with. "I'm sorry Littlelight, I don't" I said. She turned back around to the lake. "Fine... but I need to tell you something...." she said. I cocked an eyebrow, "What is it?" She took a deep breath and looked around. "I'm Snowstar's daughter, right?" she asked. I rolled my eyes, "Yes, why?" She sighed, "Because I'm not..... I'm Redsky's daughter..... that's why he told me, he couldn't stand to see me so happy when I shouldn't be... he coldn't stand to see you lie to me" she hissed. I gasped, "But he's a medicine cat!" She hissed, "You don't think everyone already knows that!" I backed away. "My mother is Icefire......" she said. I ran back to the camp and ran into Snowstar's den. "Snowstar!!!" I yelled. She wasn't there though. "Where's snowstar?" I asked Icefire. She sighed, "I don't know, we've been looking for her all day!" I looked at her sternly, this is the she-cat that mated with a medicine cat, it was sick to me. "I have to tell her something, it's urgent... about Littlelight" I narrowed my eyes. Her eyes showed a split second of complete horror, then was fine again. "If we find her I'll send her to you right away, but until then, why don't you go on border patrol with Sparkheart and Darkfaith" she said. I walked over to the two senior warriors and smield, "Let's go shall we?" They nodded and we walked out into the forest. We passed the Streakclan border and all was quiet. We passed the Midnightclan border and three warriors met us. "Well if it isn't Ashpaw!" one of the senior warriors hissed. "It's Ashflare you twit!" I hissed. "Get over it, come on Crowtail, Sparrowfeather" The leader hissed. Crowfeather growled but walked on. I hissed, "Whats wrong with Midnightclan! They're always so... ugh!" I groaned. Sparkheart laughed, "Don't get so messed up because of a couple of idiots, we just ignore them" she laughed again. I grumlbed, "It's not that easy!" She smiled warmly, "You can't get caught up in something as meaningless as them, other warriors hide things from us, and we have to live with that, no matter how terrible it may be" We walked on and I though to myself, What if Snowsta never knew? She nursed Littlelight, everyone saw it! But... Icefie must have used some kind of heb from Redsky's den to stop the milk, oh Eucaliptuspaw had told me about this! Parsley was it? My thoughts were interupted as we walked through the camp and Icefire came running up to me. "Did you see Snowstar, we still can't find her!" she seemed extremely worried about her leader. "No, we saw no sign of her either, we only found menasing Midnightclan membes" I growled. I walked past her and I could feel rage flow from her. "You're not even concerned about your leader!" she hissed. She seemed to ignoe. "May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below me" she stood ont he ledge that Snwostar allways stood on when calling a meating. "I think you all know the issue of Snowstar's dissapearance, I'm willing to give it two more days, than I will travel to the moonpool and receive my nine lives, I'm sorry but Fieclan needs a leader" she said. The cats disspursed as fast as they had gathered, they needed news about their leader, and they got it. Just not pleasant news. "I don't care about our leader!?" I walked up to Icefire. "You are just waiting in agony to become leader aen't you!?" I hissed sarcasticly. She sighed, "I already told my clan I was sorry." I gaped angrily at her when she reffered to Fireclan as "her clan". I wanted to claw her to pieces, she seemed as though two days were two weeks! She didn't care, she just wanted to hear the ring of Icestar, whenever a gathering took place! I spat a ball of spit at her feet, "Fine than, you can wait all you like, 'Icestar!" I yelled. I walked away and sat in the warriors den. Does no one care about our leader anymore? Littlelight walked in and sat next to me. "If I tell you whee Snowstar and Zashsong are, will you not tell Fireclan of our secret?" she asked. My eyes widened, "You know where they are?!" She looked at me and nodded, "Will you not tell?!" she insisted. I nodded and we ran out. Darkfaith had been narrowing his eyes at us, but I could tell he couldn't hear out whispers. We went into the clearing and she stopped, "Ok.... Zashsong has run away, she doesn't know where to go, she's just looking for Firestar, Spottedleaf told her too... Snowstar has followed her, meeting Nightwhisper, an old banished warrior on the way, and runnign into a tribe of cats-" I cut her off at the tribe of cats. "How do you know all this!?" I gasped. She smiled warmly, "Becuase I can walk in other peoples dreams, I never told you?" she actually looked suprised. I gaped at her, "That's.... amazing!" "Now let's get back to camp" she smiled.We walked back slowly and the wind ruffled her snow white fur. I saw all the cats gathered beneath the ledge and Icefire stood atop it. "A warrior reminded me of the urgency of this clan, he reminded me that this clan needs a leader, I shall be setting out for the Moonpool tonight!" she insisted. I gasped as she looked at me. Allt he cats turned their heads to glare at me. "When I return I shall appoint a new deputy, before Midnight" I gaped at her. She went into Redsky's den and I saw them talking and smiling at eachother, through the opening. I growled and st in the warriors den yet again. "Why is it that You get all the silence when people around you just won't shut up?" A voice said. I bristled than sighed as a dark grey figure came out. Ghostwhisker. "Beause I ignore them, iot's not that hard" I said. He smiled, "Looks like it to me, that Icefire girl won't hsu tup, you don't ignoe her, or Crowtail" he said. I felt myself grow hot with embarassment. "Whatever" I murmured. He chuckled and sat back down int he darkness. I fell asleep slowly and opened my eyes in a small clearing.
"Ashflare" Littlelight murmured walking into the clearing. "Ashflare" Zashsong murmured as she walked into the clearing. "Ashflare" Snowstar walked into the clearing. A large calico cat came into the clearing, silent. She looked a lot like Zashsong. "You must choose one of these cats, your leader, your love, or your dear friend. One you will save, the others, will parish" the calico cat said. I gasped, "Whoare you! Who a-are you to tell me this!?" I stuttered. She smiled warmly, "I am Spottedleaf, welcome" she said. A small black she-cat with green eyes walked into the clearing. "Than choose another cat, this one you will kill the last one you will see die by another's hand" she said. I growled but she answered my un asked question, "I am Hollyleaf, welome." I looked at them and sighed, "You she-cats need to go home, I don't know where I am but Starclan is supposed to talk to Medicine cats" I said. I whirled around and the same cats were there. I widened my eyes, "You must choose" Spottedleaf insisted. "Fine! I'll save.." my rushed voice turned to timid. Oh my Starclan, I thought. This isn't fair to choose who dies, this just.... "I'll save!..... uh- uh ummmm" I felt my heart beat faster than anything. I pointed at Zashsong. "Who will you kill?" Hollyleaf prodded. "Now this one is unfair!" I said. "You should choose who dies or not! You can't lay this on me!" I yowled. Hollyleaf sighed, "The warrior code states that Starclan may help with important decissions, it never says we know everything" she said. I nodded curtly and lifted my tail to point at Snowstar, than stopped. She was my leader, I couldn't do this to her. But i had neglected Littlelight too much I.... I pointed my tail at Littlelight and Hollyleaf smiled. She leaped onto Littleight and scratched her unbeleivably until Littlight looked skinned, "Than so be it" she said. Zashsong glowed as Snowstar was stomped on by a badger that came out of the bushes. Zashsong smiled at me and ran to my side, "Thank you for saving me, Please... call me Windpaw" she said. I cocked an eyebrow and she smiled and nodded. Her glow faded along with her as my eyes opened and showed me the inside of the warriors den. I sighed and walked outside. I looked at Ice fire, or sence last night, Icestar, on the high ledge. She called a meeting and all the cats gathered lazily. "As you knowm I've now become Icestar, we will mourn the loss of our leader, but I must appoint a deputy" she said. Some respectable senior warriors grinned and glowed with the thought of deputy. "That deputy, shall be Sparkheart" she said smiling. The she-wariror smiled and walked up to the ledge. "Thank you Icestar, I'm glad to be deputy" she smiled. Icestar nodded curtly as if to dismiss her clan. I walked up to her and glared straight into her ehart, "You wench!" I hissed. She glared back at me, "You snivveling fool! This clan may have hope for their lost leader but I don't! I've seen this happen for moons at a time, they never come back" she shot back. I unsheathed my claws, "Why would she leave!?" I sighed. Icestar even looked a bit sad as she shook her head, "I just don't know anymore, With Eucaliptuspaw gone, and Zashsong long gone, Snowstar leaving is too much for this clan, the gathering is tonight, but I don't want to mention anybody leaving but Snowstar, this clan will keep quiet, is that understood?" she growled. I wanted to yell NO! but my heart told me not too, she was the leader now, she evan had nine lives, she had the right. I sheathed my claws and nodded slowly, "Yes, Icestar" I said with clenched teeth. I walked out of the den and out of the camp. I hated this place, maybe that's why everyone left, because they couldn't stand all the rucus that people made over normal things. I admit, three cats running away is not normal, but the deputy becoming leader everyonce and a while, is deffinitely normal.


* * *
I thought about what had happened once I was at the gathering. I could see two cats making their way into the clearing, from Twilightclan. All the cats made a pathway for them, oh no. I thought, Thats Lunarfrost and Solarflare. Lunarfrost's eyes showed the hate she had for everyone except Solarflare. Solarflare.... his muscles showed he shouldn't be afraid of any cat, or anything. His permanent scowl showed that all the cats that had a bad attitude around him obviously got pummled to a pulp. Dark blue attached to ligth brown as the two walked evenly side by side. They walked by and an aura of evilness and mystery surrounded them. Lunarfrost glanced at me and I looked at the ground. The look in her icey blue eyes could freeze over the dark forest and make Starclan beg for mercy. They were mates obviously and had one kit. Eclipselily. She. Was. EVIL. She made sure that everything stayed out of her way, she hated evan her leader. To be continued cause it's toooo long!

[Dani]

Here's the rest!!

Combined with her father's strength and scowl, and her mother's piercing blue eyes, she is the spawn of Scourge. She walked by and s*poo poo*ed her tail along my back sending hairs sticking straight up in alarm she winked at me. I felt my stomach flipped, she likes me!? Oh Starclan I don't want her kits, they'd have that same scowl as she does. I sat down and let the gathering begin with a yowl from Icestar. "My fellow warriors, As you've noticed I am here in Snowstar's place, I'm no longer Icefire, I am Icestar, and my deputy is Sparkheart" she said. Gasps went up in the clans, but none from ours. "Snowstar has run away as well as two other cats. Fireclan does not know why, for our prey runs well,a nd no disease spreads throughtout our territory, we are worried for our lost friends" she looked extremely sad. I glanced over at Twiligthstar but evetually held my gaze on her. Eyes of dispair ventured onto her face, they seemed to ask, why is my sister missing, why do these thigns happen? I pitied the she-cat, she lost her sister, that wound might never heal. Twilightstar slowly rose to talk to us, "The prey runs well, and we have a new warrior, Sagetail" her vocie cracked with sadness and the rest of Midnightclan seemed to whimper in sorrow with her. Sagetail, stood tall though, happy to finally be out of apprentice hood, but even he slunk low when he reached his leader's gaze. She sat back down and I thought, dear Starclan she's gonna cry. But she held firm through the whole Gathering, as Deltastar, and Autaunmstar all made their announcements. We walked back slowly and pretty much sulked for our lost leader, Icestar never planned a vigil, she had lied to her clan. Redsky seemed happy for her, but he was a triator anyways. I was going to keep my promises though. I couldn't tell anyone about Littleight, not yet. When she least expected it, when I had her full trust, I would snitch her infront of the whole of Fireclan.
I figured now would be the time, my fury needed to be fed, now. I rushed up to the high ledge. "Fireclan! I know I'm not your leader, but I have important news" I called out. Allt he cats gathered including Littleight, Redsky and Icestar. "You all no your precious warrior, Littleight? And your great Medcine at, Redsky, and ofcourse our new leader... Icestar" I sounded to bitter to be true. Redsky just looked dissapointed, like he was planning his new life as I spoke. Littleight looked at me with dispair, and hsook her head, her eyes told me eveyrhting I needed to know, Don't do this. "Littlight is a lie!" I hissed. Gasps rose just as they had from the gathering, but they seemed louder. "Littlgith is the kin of Redsky, and your precious Icestar!" I growled. Icestar seemed to swell with anger. Littlight looked filled with sorrow, Redsky hadn't hanged. "He lies! You're willing to beleive him!?" Icestar gaped. "It is against the warrior code for Redsky to even love me! That is nonsense that he talks like that!" she growled. I glared at her, "That didn't stop you now did it!?" She looked taken aback then turned to Redsky. "It's true" he sighed. Gasps seem to grow louder and louder with every last one. "I'm sorry Fireclan, I can't be your Medcine cat, I'm a fool. Icestar...No ..... Icefire, you can't deny this" he pointed to Littlight with his tail. "I can be your medicine at!" A familiar voice called from the entrence. We all turned our heads to see a dark blue familiar apprentice, Eucaliptuspaw. ries of joy and happiness filled the air as the cats ran over to greet their new medicine cat. Redsky slunk to his den. I followed him, "Just tell her that Eucaliptuscliud, is what I wanted" he smiled. I sighed, "Why are you smiling, this clan wants nothing to do with you!?" He tuend his smile to me, "Becaus ei'm so proud of her, of Eucaliptuspaw, she was always so great at doing everything, someytimes she would remind me to change some thigns tha were wrong.... I lvoed her like a daughter too, just as much as I love Littlight" he smiled. He ran out the back of the den, but I didn't follow him, let him go.



Chapter 8
Windpaw



I finally walked into the camp, being led by a warrior named Brambleclaw, and a medicine cat named Jayfeather. I couldn't tell what was wrong, but something in their eyes showed a hint of confusion, and sadness. "Firestar!" Bramblelaw called out. A large blazing colored tom walked out of a large den. He jumped down from the rocks to where we wear. He stared at me with awe. "Spottedleaf sent me" I said simply. Gasps rose in the crowd of the warriors. He narrowed his eyes, "Where are you from, what is your name?" he asked calmly. "I come from a lake far off, there are four lans, Moonclan, Midnightclan, Streakclan, and my clan, Fireclan" I answered. He seemed intrested but didn't interupt. "My name is Windpaw, but I am a warrior, I know how to fight" I threatened a fiery tom that was glaring at me. "How do we know we can trust you!?" A bitter voice called out. "Spiderleg, I think we can trust her.... she looks just like Spottedleaf" he had a passion in his eyes. "You loved her" I guessed strongly. He nodded, and smiled at a yellow she-cat, "But I have mated with Sandstorm... why did Spottedleaf send oyu, what did she want?" he asked the question like he was prepared to hanbd over one of his nine lives if the calico Starclan warrior asked for it. "I'm not sure, she said I should just seek you out, she told me if I saw her, I would know that that was the warrior I needed" I said with a shrugg. Firestar smiled, "Well you can stay at our camp for as long as it takes" he said. I nodded and broke free from Jayfeather and Brambleclaw. "But don't be too rough with my warriors, I might not be able to stop some of them" he chuckled glancing aat Spiderleg and another tom. Allt he warriors stayed in a circle around me and I made my way to one of the dens. A large female cat came to stand infront of me, "This is the nursery, I don't think you have any business with our kits" she growled. "It's ok Milly" a large grey tom called. "But Greystripe!" she inssted. Greystripe shook his head, "Hello Windpaw, I'm Greystripe, Thudnerclan is glad to have you" he smiled. "When do we hunt?" I smiled at him. He grinned and Brambleclaw came over "You can go with Greystripe, me and Lionblaze" he said. He called over the fiery tom who had been glaring at me. We walked into the forest, this was much like my home, easy to hunt. I jumped into a tree, and the rest of the patrol gaped at me. I leaped into the air and snatched a black bird from the sky. I landed on my toes and dropped at their feet, "Like I said, I'm afull grown warrior" I smiled. That was my best show though, I couldn't catch any mouse with as show off ease as that. I buried it and we walked on. A mouse crosse our path and me and Lionblaze snatched it at the same time. I flicked it and let him have it. The other warriors all caiught atleast one piece of Prey, but I had gotten two. We took it all back and dropped it on a large pile. I sat by the pile and curled up ready to nap, "You'll be sleeping in the warrioprs den" Lionblaze glared at me like he had when I had entered and talked to his leader. I nodded, "So be it" I got upa nd stretched and walked with him to a larger den thant he nursery. We walked ina nd I was surrounded by cats. I slept in the corner, practicly gaurded by Brambleclaw and Lionblaze.
We woke up early and I ate my fill. I sat down at the pile and narrowed my eyes at all the warriors, none of them seemed to be the she-at that Spottedleaf had asked for. "Have oyu found her yet?" Firestar joined me but I shook my head. "No, are you sure a cat didn't just pass away?" I asked. He looked like an idea had ust sprung. "Yes, Hollyleaf, a brave she-cat, just died a couple of moons ago, do you think she was the cat?" he asked. I thought and nodded, "Probably, but Spottedleaf had said that she would've been alive.... Maybe they are in another cla?" I suggested, He nodded, "Most likely, we will take you to Windclan straight away" he smield. He gathered up Jayfeather, Brambleclaw and Greystripe and himself as we all set out for the neihgboring clan. Once we staretd to get into high hills they started to go slower, we were probably in Windlan's territory. A riveling patrol found us and took us to the camp, "Better not try any treaties Firestar, Onestar is really up in the steams lately" one warrior, named Crowfeather said. Firestar nodded, "Thank you Crowfeather, I'll watch out for that" he chuckled. We walke dinto the camp and Onestar confronted us, "What's the meaning of this?" he soudned irritable. "We have brought an apprentice from a far off clan to look at your she-cats, Spottedleaf of Starclan sent her here" Firestar soudned convincing, but Onestar looked even more annoyyed. "Fine, we'll elt her look, but I'll keep Windlcan on high alert!" he hissed. I walked out and looked at most of the she-cats, but only one made me smile. "Firestar, it is that one!" I pointed to a black she-cat. The warrior stopped dead Crowfeather growled and went over to her, "Wait, whats wrong with Nightcloud?" he hissed. I shrugged, "Spottedleaf said the she-cat would give me my warrior name, and than I would fufill a prophecy sent to me by Spottedleaf" I smiled. Nightcloud crept up, "Your apprentice name?" she askwed warrily. "Windpaw" I smiled widely. "Than from here on out you shall be called...... Windwatcher" she said. I smiled and dipped my head, "Thank you Nightcloud, you will serve for much importance in Windclan" I said. She smiled sheepishly and backed up to stand with Crofeather. A small black tom stood infrotn fo her and growled, "Get out of our camp you wretch!" he hissed. A vein must have burst because I found my self on the tom and yowling in his face, "You snivveling kit!" I snarled. He looked etremely scared but shoved me off. I flipped back and landed ligthly on ym feet, I ran at him and he dodged me, I reatched out my claws and raked down his side. Jayfeather an Brambleclaw pulled me back. I snarled and growled as the cat shivered. Crowfeather snarled and ran at me. I jumped out of their grasp and landed on him, "You think you're so brave, go fight two badgers, and lose the love of your life while running away from everything that you know!!!" I yowled. Crowfeather seemed sad, "I know what that's like...." he hissed. I got off him with wide eyes. He pulled me out of the camp, "Thunderclan's old Medcicine at, Leafpool? I loved her more than anything int he world" he sighed, his voice choked with greif. "I left my clan and my life, to be with her, I know what it's like" he looked at the ground sorrowfully. "But you don't know what it's like to see your love..... loving someone else" I hissed. He looked up, "But Leafpool does" he bit his lower lip. I frowned, "You don't know what it's like, to see all the world crashing down on top of you, not knowing what to do, only running from it all, fear clouding your every move. My leader ran after me, and now Fireclan is without a leader, My world was crushed because I ran away" I sighed. "Then why'd you do it?" he asked. "Because...... I beleived" I said simply. "I beleived that Spottedleaf was right, that once it was all done the world would go back to normal" I felt a tear escape my eyes. "But I know thats all just a lie!" I snarled. Tears streamed down my face, "I know what you mean.... I have four kits, Because Leafpool had kits, and never told me" he growled. I could feel his sorrow, but tom's don't cry right? "You need to get back to your clan" I sniffed. He shook his head, "No, I just want to talk to you" he chuckled. "I never found anyone who had the same agony, searing their heart until I met you..... Windwatcher, you-" he was cut off when Firestar growled behind him, "Windwatcher, I think we should go" I looked desparingly at Crowfeather. He frowned at me, and I saw his eyes water. "Whats wonrg Crowfeather?" I heard a cat ask him as we walked away. "Nothing, just...... just love."
I walked back with the Thunderclan cats to the camp. "Well Windwatcher what was the prophecy that Spottedleaf sent oyu" Firestar asked. I shrugged, "She told me that as soon as I got my warrior name she would tell me. I will sleep well tonight" I smiled. The moon was rising so Firestar nodded and left me to go to the warriors den. I closed my eyes and fell asleep slowly.
I found myself in a forest and I looked around. Spottedleaf appeared smiling, "Good work Windwatcher, Nightcloud had allways been the cat that knew your true name, thank you" she said. I nodded, "What is the prophecy for me?" I asked eagerly. She laughed quietly, "You must find one cat from each clan, that will help you rebuild Fireclan. Two she-cats and two toms. Go now Windwatcher, fufill your duties" her voice faded as well as her body. I nodded and smiled. I usually woke up right about now, so I was confused to be somewhat stuck in the dream forest. Suddenly a black she-cat with blazing green eyes emerged from the bushes. "Hollyleaf?" I guessed. She nodded, "I must tell you one thing, your leader is trying ever so hard to find you, and she will, her newfound companion, Nightwhisper, a long forgotten warrior, will arrive with her and you must stay long enough to find the four cats, Snowstar and Nightwhisper will do anything they can to bring you back, even lie to Firestar. I will help you though, two of the cats are my brother, Lionblaze, from Thunderclan. He is suspicious of you, confused about a porphey of his own, and sad about my recent death. You must persuade him to aid you, the other cat, Willowshine, the Riverclan Medicine cat. Do not underestimate her, she will want to help you, but a clan can not go more than a moon without a medicine cat, it is impossible for them to survive, Leopardstar will do anything she can to make her medicine cat want to stay and fufill her duties" she said. I nodded,"Thank you Hollyleaf, and I just have to figure out who the other two cats are?" I asked. She nodded, "It is best to try to fiind them at the gathering, tomorrow night, if you have a good feeling about a certain Windclan cat or Shadowclan cat, talk to them, introduce yourself and start slow, then work your way up to your big question. Good luck Windwatcher. May Starclan light your path" she said, her body fading.
Now I woke up, and it seemed like in the middle of the day. I ran out to Firestar and ran into his den. He looked up at me, "Yes Windwatcher?" he coked an eyebrow. "I talked to Spottedleaf, and Hollyleaf" I smiled. He jumped u, "What did spottedleaf say?" he asked eagerly. "She said that I had to find one cat from each clan and they had to acompany me back to my home to help rebuild Fireclan, Hollyleaf said that one of the cats is Lionblaze, but he is too confused and overwelmed about his life to want to help me, but I have to pursuade him, She also said that the other cat is Willowshine, from Riverclan. She will want to help me, but Leopardstar will do anything she can to make her medicine cat want to stay" I summed it up. He nodded, "I think I can help with Lionblaze, not so sure about Willowshine,a nd you will just find the cats from Widnclan and Shadowclan?" he asked. I nodded. We both walked out of the den and went over to the fresh kill pile to sit down next to Lionblaze. Firestar nudged him and Lionblaze looked up at me. I smiled, "I need to ask you a *hug*e favor" I started. He cocked an eybrow and glanced at Firestar then back at me, "Go on" his voice was irritable but undertsanding. "I finally got the prophey from Spottedleaf and I also talked to Hollyleaf, your sister?" I went on. His eyes widened and then he looked sad. "She said that you and three other cats will help me rebuild my lan... will you?" I asked. He looked up at me, "And Hollyleaf asked you to do this?" he asked. I nodded. "If my sister wants it to happen, then i'll do it, but I don't like it" he murmured. Firestar smiled, "We need you and Jayfeather to come to Riverclan with us for a moment, Hollyleaf saidd that one of the other cats is Willowshine" he said glancing at me then back at his warrior. Lionblaze nodded and went off to get his brother. "That was much too easy, maybe it would've been harder if it hadn't involved Hollyleaf" I muttered. Firestar chuckled, "Lionblaze is a great warrior, I hope to see him lead Thudnerclan one day" he smiled. I nodded, "I agree." Lionblaze came back out of the medicine den with Jayfeather and they both walked over. Jayfeather and Lionblaze were murmuring to eachother but I didn't eave's drop. Suddenly a yowl came from outside the camp. "You little snot!" I heard a familiar voice cry. Snowstar? "Get off of me you crazy feline!" Spiderleg cried. "Spiderleg!" Firestar gasped. He ran out of the camp and I heard him yowl a war cry. "Wait stop!" I called. I ran out and saw my leader bristling standing next to a jet black tom with violet eyes. "Nightwhisper?" I guessed from Hollyleaf's story. "You know him?" Snowstar asked. "No!" Nightwhisper and I siad in unison. "But Hollyleaf told me you two were coming" I said. "Hollyleaf?" Snowstar echoed confusedly. "My sister" Lionblaze growled from behind me. Firestar sighed, "I am Firestar, and I beleive you might be Windwatcher's leader" he guessed. "Yes, my name is Snowstar, leader of Fireclan!" she boomed. "Show off" Spiderleg spat. Snowstar snarled at him, "Fox dung!" "How is it possible that four other clans, just like us are so far away?" Firestar ignored their argument. "Our ancestors are Skyclan, they divided itno four clans, that turned itno Moonclan, Midnightclan, Streakclan, and Fireclan" I said. Skyclan? I had no idea what I was saying,words were just flowing out of my mouth. "Skywatcher..." Firestar mumbled. I cocked my eyesbrows. "But I just helped them rebuild, what about Leafstar, what about all the things I taught them!" he hissed. I recodnized Leafstar, that was my mother's mother. "Leafstar?" I gasped. "You know her?" Firestar stared at me. "She's my kin" I nodded. Firestar stared at me with disbeleif. "She's with Starclan though now" I said. His eyes were horror struck, they asked, She died... nine times... already? I nodded too him. "She was a great leader, Fireclan tells tales of true bravory to the young ones" I said encouraging him. He looked to the side, a pale yellow she-cat stood there, staring at me, a tear slipping from her right eye. "We rebuilt Skyclan, I thought they would hold there own" she murmured sadly. "My ancestors haunt my dreams, and my medicine cats have told me many things.... but you were never in any of them!" Firestar rounded on me, his eyes ablaze with a fire of hate, anger and confusion. "I never made Leafstar the leader!" I hissed. I couldn't stop it now, Starclan was speaking through me, "You made her the leader, but that was wrong! She didn't have the stability to hold Skyclan up!" I snarled. Firestar huffed with fury, "Than who should've been leader!?" he shouted. "There should've been an Echostar!" I snarled. Right then and there, Starclan shut off, and left me to deal with their mess. His eyes became bewildered, "But she was only fit to be a medicine cat, she could never be a leader?!" he retorted. He looked down and shook his head. I heard gasps come from all around us. Firestar looked up and to my right he gaped, and almost fell to the ground. I looked to my right, therre stood, the ghostly form, of Spottedleaf. She smiled at me, "You have done well young one" her voice seemed so much more real, so much more alive, then inn the dreams. She turned to Firestar, "I ask you a favor, Fireheart" she reffered to his warrior name, the name she knew when she was alive. He nodded. "I need you to gather the cats from the other three clans, and make them go with Windwatcher" she said softly. "Anything, Spottedleaf" Firestar mumbled. She bent over, and licked Firestar on the ear. His ear suddenly, turned white, and sparkled in the moonlight. "I will allways love you" she said. She then turned to Sandstorm, and nodded in recognition. Sandstorm nodded back. She turned back to me and smiled. "I've never had a connection, even with a medicine cat, not even with Firestar, as well as I have with you" she said, noting our friendship. "May Starclan light your path" she said fading. I turned to Firestar, "Will you help me now?" I asked. He smiled and glanced at his sparkling ear, "I will." We headed out with Lionblaze that very moment. We headed for Windclan, "Shadowclan might be the hardest, but Windclan is deffinitely second hardest" Firestar murmured. I nodded. As we got to the border I stopped at a voice. He....ath it said. I cocked an eyebrow, but we crossed the border. He....ath it echoed. I growled and shook my head, trying to clear it. Lionblaze stared at me like I had three eyeballs. We got to the camp, suprised that we met no patrol He...ath....er it said. It's just a jumble of letters, I thought. It makes so sence! A light brown she-cat stared at us and called for Onestar. Heather! the voice cried. I stared at her. Heathertail! it shouted. Was she the Windclan cat? "Firestar? What do you want?" Onestar called. "I'm sorry to visit you again, but we need one cat from your clan" he said. "For what?" One star spat. "To help rebuild Fireclan" I said for myself. "Which cat do you want?" Onestar said cautiously. Heathertail!! Heathertail!! The voice was deffening. "Heathertail!!" Ishouted. The brown she-cat's eyes popped open. She pinned her ears back and hissed at me. "I'm not leaving my clan!" she snapped. She glared atLionblaze, and he glared back. "Yes you are" Onestar said. She frowned but didn't disobey her leader, and walked up to stand far away from us. We thanked Onestar and headed out for Riverclan.
We got to the camp and Leopardstar said the same thing that Onestar said. "Willowshine" I said. The medicine cat came out, fear in her eyes. "Leopadstar" she begged. "We need out medicine cat!" the leader protested. "You Mothwing, right?" Lionblaze snapped in my defense. Leopardstar glared at him, but knew he was right. She flicked her tail, from Willowshine to our group. The medicine cat, head down, trudged over to us, and stood next to Lionblaze. We walked on and went to Shadowclan camp. The patrol was fierce, "Leave now!" Rowanclaw snarled. "We just need to talk to Blackstar!" Firestar insisted. The warrior growled, but let us itno the camp. Blackstar glared at us, "Firestar? What do you need?" he asked cautiously. "I need a cat from your clan" Firestar glanced at me. I didn't know the cat, no voice, nothing. Suddenly my vision went black. I gasped, I couldn't e anything, just blackness. Suddenly a small light appeard, a star. I had my vision back quickly and I yelled the name out, "Blackstar!" I cried. The leader's eyes widened. "I'm not leaving my clan!" he snarled. "Skin them!" a voice said. "Quiet Russetfur!" he snapped. Firestar stared at me. "Do you really expect me to leave Shadowclan to help rebuild a clan no one has ever heard of!" he snapped. "You have to leave Blackstar... Spottedleaf appeared in our camp, just before we left, she told me that you needed to come with us" Firestar pleaded. Blackstar scoffed, " Lies!" he cried. Suddenly I saw Blackstar's eyes go white. Gasps arose as they stared at me. "You fool!" a voice cried from next to me. I looked to my right, Hollyleaf. Lionblaze's eyes were glazed over as he stared at his dead sister. "You will leave with Windwatcher right now!" she cried snarling at a respected leader. Why was Starclan helping me so much? Blackstar walked over to us and made Russetfur Russetstar, while he was gone. Hollyleaf nuzzled her brother, "Be strong for me, respect the warrior code, as much as I did" she said, fading. "Don't go!" Lionblaze pleaded. She dissapeared, just as Spottedleaf had. "Let's go back home, I have to get Snowstar and Nightwhisper" I annoucned as we walked back into the Thunderclan camp.
We headed out and found our way to the moutnains. Nightwhisper seemed paranoid, not wanting to leave the brambles, and grassy ground. We saw the sun go down and stopped in a hollow. Nightwhisper and Snowstar curled up together. Firestar and Lion, curled up together. Heathertail sat and watcher the hollow with Willowshine. Blackstar glared at me as he layed down. "I don't want to be doing this" he hissed. I looked around the hollow and suprisingly found a large Holly leaf and set it at his paws, as if to tell him he needed to do it. He fell asleep fast. I simply layed down, and stayed awake all night. We headed out in the morning, make more and more progress. We started heading downhill when a grey figure came running at me. Ashflare. My eyes watered. "Zashsong!" he cried. I frowned, that wasn't my name anymore. "He came over and nuzzled me. "My name is Windwatcher" I said simply. He sighed, "I don't care what your name is, I'll love you no matter what" he smiled. He looked behind me,"Who are these cats, Windwatcher?" he asked. I introduced them as I pointed to them with my tail. "Snowstar!" he came running to his leader, and mentor. We walked into the Fireclan camp, and stared at the desolation. The camp was destroyed. I screamed and almost fainted. Snowstar gasped and covered her eyes as we walked through the camp. I heard a loud voice, "I need you to be strong, we'll find food for them, they won't die Littlelight" it said. I walked into the nursery,a dn there layed Littlelight, ribs bulding. Two little kits layed near here, limp. Eucaliptuspaw was feeding her food and herbs. She turned on me and smiled. "Snowstar! Zashsong!!" she cried. "Eucaliptuspaw!" I sighed looking at the friendly shape of my friend. "Ah ah ah, Eucaliptuscloud" she corrected. "Where's Redsky" I asked smiling. She frowned and her eyes watered, "He starved, and I think these two kits and there mother might be heading in that direction too.." she glanced abcka t Littlelight and the two kits. "What are their names" I asked. "Hollykit, and Spottedkit, two she-cats" she said. I gasped and I could feel the tension, of the other clan cats behind me. Eucaliptiscloud cocked an eyebrow, "What?" she asked. "Nothing" I hurried out of the nursery. Icefire came out of the leader's den. She stared at Snowstar. She cried out in joy and ran to her leader. "Icestar!" someone cried from the entrence. It was Sparkheart, skin and bones. She gasped as she saw Snowstar and me. "Icestar?" Snowstar gaped down at her deputy. Icefire gulped, "Fireclan needed a leader, I'm sorry" she muttered. "It's allright, it was the right thing to do, you are wise to forget about me and help your clan" she nodded. "No! I never forgot about you, I grieved for you every moment" she frowned. "The gathering didn't go well though" she cringed. "I don't think Starclan approved of your leadership" I said. Icefire glanced at me. "You are all starving, that is the punishment. Sparkheart has just brought back four mice, that is the pirze of our true leader's return" I said turning to Saprkheart as she revealed her prize. "Where is Darkfaith?" I asked. A tear ran down her face and she wailed loudly. Icefire bit her lower lip and bowed her head in defeat. "So many have died!" Sparkheart cried. "Who all?" Snowstar choked out. "Darkfaith, Stormcloud.... Soundpaw......... Redsky" Icefire looked like she was trying to cough up a hairball as she said it. I thought about Darkfaith. A good friend, one of my best. He had been my mentor, my loving and caring mentor. My eyes watered. I thought about Stormcloud. A wonderful mother, loved all the kits, the aprentices, like her own. Never caring how you looked, or how you acted. She love you the same. I thought about Soundpaw. A curious, but quiet little kit. She had been so happy all the time, bringing you up to her spirits, and nothing could stop her. Why bring a kit into the world just to make her suffer? I thought about Redsky, the tear slipped. It was too much, I started choking and spluttering and the tears just fell. "Don't go.... Don't leave me" I said to myself, no, to Redsky. He'd died for his clan, for the good of Fireclan. I couldn't stand it. He didn't deserve something that terrible. He deserved so much better. I bit my lower lip so hard, I could taste the blood. Redsky was the most loyal cat I had ever met, no doubt. Anyone who could even think of something terrible about Redsky, was rotten to the core themselves. I didn't notice that Ashflare had put his tail on my shoulder to comfort me until he said something, "He was a great medicine cat." I couldn't stand the simple act of kindness. It was useless though, nothing could bring back my beloved older brother.





















Chapter 9
Lionblaze







I stared at Windwatcher. She was in agony. I could tell just by the way her shoulder's crumbled like clay, and the way her eyes showed the scars of a forgotten love, and the way her tears cooly dripped to the ground, creating a pool of sorrow. Sorrowpool. What did that mean? "Sorrowpool" I murmured. "What?" Icefire cocked an eyebrow. "Sorrowpool" I echoed. "That's a Moonclan cat!" she said. I gasped, we needed another cat. "We're not visiting another clan!!" Windwatcher screamed. My fur stood up straight. "Where is the body!?" she shouted at Icefire. "In the ground, right outside the medicine den" she said. Windwatcher slowly made her way to the medicine den. She walked in and I heard a sobbing noise. I ran into the den and saw her, looking in a whole. "The body's gone" she murmured. Who would have done such a heartless thing!? I thought. Windwatcher was torn to pieces, like someone ripping off the beutiful petals off a water lily. That's what I thought of Windwatcher, a gental water lily, drifing in a river. Beautiful and sturdy. I didn't know what to do though, the lily had died, and it was drowning, as it drifted to the bottom of the river. Suddenly I heard laughing, cackling. I looked up and a large brown tom was laughing at her. I snarled. "Oh windwatcher, you're such a fool" he laughed. She looked up and her gaze was heartbreaking. "Ha!" he mocked her. "You look like th eliving dead, chin up" he grinned. I had had enough, I lunged and he side stepped. "Idiot" he chuckled. "Anyways, I'm hear to tell you about your brother." Her gaze was still dead, but she cocked her head a bit more upwards, towards him. "You want his body right?" he grinned. "Why are you on our territory?" her voice cracked despairingly. "Oh get over yourself, you are too depressing for words!" he shouted at her. I lunged from the back and pinned him down, I was on his back. "Leave now!" I growled. "Lionblaze, ease up a little" he chuckled lightly. "How do you know my name?" I asked. "You don't remember me?" he laughed. For a second I was dead, litterally on my way to Starclan. Then a chill crept over my body, and stayed, like a rain cloud. Tigerstar. "Your dead!" I cried. "Ha ha, I have powers of my own you fool" he cackled. "Tigerscar, you need to leave" she murmured. "You were... reborn?" I choked. He grinned widely, evily. "Even Starclan wouldn't let that happen!... How!?" I gasped. "Your little friend, Spottedleaf wanted to give me another chance, thats why she even made Windwatcher" he laughed. "To stop me" he cackled. Firestar was standing int he back entrence of the medicine den. He had heard everything. His eyes were ablaze. "Kittypet!" Tigerstar shouted at him. "You heartless killer!!!!" Firestar screamed. "You killed Bluestar!!!!!" he snarled. I had heard stories, about the amazing, legendary Bluestar. Who had delivered every last one of her nine lives to her clan. She had died to save her clan from Tigerstar's dogs. I slammed his head into the ground with my paw. "You monster!!!" I screamed. Windwatcher watched in disbeleif. Her eyes were wide. "Tigerscar.... you saved me" she murmured. I cocked an eyebrow. "That's right, I did save you from the river, you know why? Cause I need you. I know you have the potential to destroy me, but you also have the potential to help me, and make the whole forest, ours" he said. I stuffed his face in the ground. "Shut up!!" I growled. Tigerscar threw me off. "Wondering how long I was gonna stay in your grasp?" he asked. I grumbled but got back up easily. "Only if Starclan went mad would she help you!" I spoke for her. Windwatcher looked at the ground. "You know it's your choice" Tigerstar said. Windwatcher glared at him with daggers of fire. "Starclan help your tortured soul" she said calmly. And turned around to walk back to camp. "Wait please Windwatcher! I need you, and I love you, please join me to make the forest a place of honor!" he cried out to her. She sneered abck at him and walked into the medicine den. "Looks like your S.O.L. little buddy" I chuckled. I got off of him, "Leave this forest, you deserve it!" I hissed. "It doesn't deserve me!" he snarled jumping up. "I'll be back Firestar, and you'll be sorry. I'll kill you like I did Bluestar" he glared at his rival. There battles and feuds had been legendary to the whole of the lake. But finding that he had come back, and in a far off forest, scarred me. I didn't know what to do if a deadly alliance happened, like last time, or a pack of dogs came, or if something even worse happened to these peaceful clans. I went back with Firestar, as Tigerscar ran off. I glared at the ground and saw the ats staring at me and Firestar, as we walked towards the group. Sandstorm stared at Firestar with a pitied look. She was murmuring to him, "What happened?" He was hissing lowly abck, "Nothing, you don't need to know." I lowered my head and looked at Snowstar. "What are we supposed to do?" I asked. "We have to rebuild Fireclan, we need to find the food and help them" she gazed at her clan, with sorrow. "Snowstar, I suggest we send out a larger hunting party than usual" Icefire murmured. Snowstar wouldn't even look at her, "That's a good idea" she said. She sent the whole bunch of us to scatter and search the whole area. I caught about two moles, and a mouse. I was overjoyed with my large pile of prey. I took it back to the camp. Firestar came with three mice and a squirrel. Snowstar and Icefire both brought two squirrels. Sandstorm and Nightwhisper brought two blackbirds each. Windwather brought a blak bird, two moles, four mice, three squirrels, and a large ferret type thing. I gasped. Her catch alone could feed the whole of Fireclan. "Thats impossible!" I cried. "Not with Starclan" her voice was not her own. It was familiar, friendly, soft... warm. Hollyleaf. A tear slipped from my eye. Windwatcher looked at me funny, obviously Hollyleaf had entered and left without telling her host. "Are you ok?" she asked softly. "Yea I'm fine" I nodded. I walked to the kill pile, which was crowded by the whole clan. There were like savages, devouring the kill we worked so hard for. We all gathered around the empty pile once they were done. Only bones and s*poo poo*s remained. I sighed and sat down looking at the spot where all the food had been.Don't be selfish! I thought. You didn't need prey at all, they had been starving for two days!!! I almost hit myself, but I resisted. I growled and Windwatcher rested her tail on my shoulder, for comfort. She saw Ashflare, and jumped up to talk to him. I could hear what they were saying, "Are you fathering Littlelight's kits?" Windwatcher asked softly. "No, I would never, it was Darkfaith, he confessed to Sparkheart that he loved Littlelight, and Littlelight loved him back... partially. They had Holylkit and Spottedkit, and she's actually expecting another kit. If she has another one, and we don't have enough food, all four of them will die" he said. "Hollykit!" I heard a screech. Littlelight. She was outside th enurseyr, barely walking. "Where is Holykit?" she collapsed and Eucaliptuscloud came running. "Windwatcher, Lionblaze go find Hollykit!" the medicine cat cried. We nodded and ran out of the camp. We found her right away, lying, motionless. A red liquid surrounded her mouth and a pile of berries sat net to her. Deatberries. "She ate deathberries" Widnwatcher gasped. I looked at the pile of berries, there was a hair on it. "She was forced to eat death berries...." I murmured. What kind of monster would force a kit, not two moons old, to eat death berries? It dawned on me. Tigerscar. I snarled, "HOW COULD HE!" Windwatcher bristled, how could she not understand who it was? "Calm down!!" she shouted at me. " NO!! YOU FOOL IT WAS TIGERSCAR!!!" I snarled at her. Her glare flamed like Firestar's pelt. "I hate you!" she said simply. I couldn't flinch, I jsut growled. "You were allways the one who hated me.. .I wish the cat had been Crowfeather instead of you!" I hissed. She picked up Hollykit's body, by the scruff of the neck, and carried her, gently back to Littlelight. I followed her and she layed the body next to Littlelight. "Noo!!" Littlelight moaned. "I'm sorry" Eucaliptuscloud pushed the body from the queen's view. "I have food here, and you need to eat" she said. Littlelight mourned and dare not take the food for Spottedkit. "Please! the other will die too if you do not!" Eucaliptuscloud demanded. Littlelight sobbed endlessly, and took the food. She wrapped her tail around the small tortise-shell she-kit. She hissed at me, "LEAVE!!" she snarled. Spottedkit trembled from her mouther's bellow, then she smiled at me, and I knew that Spottedleaf had embended a part of herself in this small kit. I smiled back and walked out. I looked at Windwatcher who was staring into the medicine den. I sat down next to her. "It's so lonely" she murmured. "Redsky served his clan well, it'll be ok" I murmured. The wind whistled through the brambles that surrounded the den. I sighed and looked her in the eyes, "I don't know what to tell you. I didn't know much about your brother, and I can tell it wasn't a happy ending... But I beleive he was an overacheiver, and the best medicine cat that Fireclan has ever seen" I smiled. She shook her head, " no... he could never do enough to impress us. He tried so hard to make a wonderful impression on Snowstar, but she could never get enough. He worked so hard, and it was all for nothing" Windwatcher murmured. I felt pity consume me, "I'm sorry" I said simply. I couldn't just tell her anything. I had to tell her something that would make her feel better, me feel better, and Redsky, in Starclan feel pridefilled. I couldn't think of anything. Tell her that Redsky was the medicine cat that Fireclan will allways remember a voice said in m ear. Hollyleaf. I smiled and told her with feeling. A tear dropped in the dirt under her paw. Her claws uunsheathed and she dug them into the dirt. I looked up and gasped. She was grounding her teeth, and tears were flooding down her face. Her eyes were shut and she was sobbing. "I need you so much Redsky! Don't leave me! Your the only kin I have left!" She sobbed. Ashflare came over and his eyes made him look like he was begging for happiness for her. He sat down next to her. She shoved her head in his chest, "It's not FAIR!!" she cried. "I know... Starclan isn't fair sometimes" Ashflare murmured. Eucaliptuscloud glanced at us, and sort of glared at Ashflare, then sighed and looked back at Littlelight. I heard a squeeling and a scream, then a grunt, and a mewling. "The kit!" Littlelight cried weakly. Littlelight had another kit!? All three of us whirled around and bolted for the nursery. "What ar you going to name her?" Eucaliptuscloud smiled at the mewling kit. "Honeykit... and she will be the best apprentice that she can be... one day" Littlelight stroked Honeykit with her tonge. Spottedkit bumped into Honeykit and the newborn started to wail with fear. Spottedkit, startled from the noise began to wail also. Littlelight sighed and brought them in close to nuzzle them comfertingly. "Hush my darlings" she murmured. It seemed as though the birth of Honeykit, had washed away the grief of Hollykit's death. "That was amazing" Ashflare walked over to Eucaliptuscloud. "How can she stand to handle two kits all at once, blind, newborn kits!" he asked the medicine cat. "Old age and treachory overcomes youth and enthusiasum" Eucaliptuscloud chuckled. "I beg to differ!" a squeaky voice said. We all turned to the apprentices den to see a white miky cat glaring at us. "Calm down Hopepaw, we didn't mean it in a bad way" Windwatcher smiled at her. "I'm gonna be a warrior in a few days!" she gloated. Ashflare cocked an eyebrow, "More like a couple moons Hopepaw, but don't worry, it will happen sooner than you think" he smiled. "Have you thought of a cool name yet?" Hopepaw waddled over to Ashflare. I realized it, Ashflare must be Hopepaw's mentor. "I was thinking of something like... Hopestar" Ashflare grinned. The apprenticed squealed with delight. I heard a rustle as another apprentice crept out, her dark grey pelt stained with tears, but the she-cat's glare was fixed on Hopepaw. "Songpaw!" Ashflare smiled at her. Songpaw scowled at him. "Cheer up" Hopepaw smiled. That explained her name. Songpaw snarled at her denmate, "Shut up Hopepaw!" Ashflare hissed at them, "Calm down! And stop fighting!" Songpaw rolled her eyes. "You're attitude needs to shape up!!" a voice growled at Songpaw. It was Robinflight, a fellow warrior. "My attitude is fine, and it would be better if you would teach me something!"Songpaw hissed at Robinflight. Was she the young she-cats mentor? "I've taught five moons worth of training! only one more and you will be a warrior! So stop squabbling!" Robinfligt hissed. "Robinflight!" Snowstar called. "It is time to make Songpaw a warrior"she murmured. Songpaw suddenly burst with excitement. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath me" Snowstar called. Fireclan crept out and came to the middle of the camp. "We have a new warrior among us, and we must congradulate her" Snowstar smiled. "Songpaw" she called. The apprentice almsot bounced up to sit beneath her. "From now on you shall be known as Songwhisper" she said. She glanced at Nightwhisper, the traveler she had come with, and he smiled back pridefully. "I hope you shall be respected as a warrior, and as a future hero" Snowstar laid her muzzle on the apprentice's head. "Thank you Snowpath' Songwhisper murmured. She gasped and Snowstar froze. Windwatcher gasped, "That was her rogue name" she murmured to me. Songwhisper took a step back, "I- I.." she stuttered. "You can only remember me as a rogue?" Snowstar challenged. "No! I remember you only as a faithful leader!" Songwhisper shot back. "Have I been mocked as much to only be remember this way!?" Snowstar cried out to her clan. Fireclan murmured worriedly, and sent daggers at Songwhisper. Nightwhisper stood net to Snowstar, bristling down at the clan. "Snowstar has done much for you! She has run your clan! And you should respet her as much as her kin" Nightwhisper snarled. "Thank you, I also forgot to recodnize Nightwhisper, he is now a senior warrior of Fireclan" she smiled at him. Fireclan was silent. I glanced bac at the warrior. She was gone. "Songwhisper!?" Snowstar cried out. I heard a rustle, and the thorn tunnel shook. She had escaped her humility by fleeing the camp. "After her, we don't want her wandering off and getting hurt!" Snowstar cried. "Lionblaze, Windwatcher, Nightwhisper, come with me we shall find her" she cried quickly. We ran out of the camp and bolted after her scent trail. "She's heading down to the river!" Snowstar cried. I didn't know, but these cats didn't seem like Riverclan swimmers. Would we find Songwhisper?
Whew, now that that's over, what do you think?