Post by Dani on Dec 24, 2009 0:55:49 GMT -5
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!
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!