Darkpelt's Stories | Includes 12 Stories (Remade!)
Dec 22, 2015 20:05:20 GMT -5
Post by Rëdclaw on Dec 22, 2015 20:05:20 GMT -5
So my old thread of Darkpelt's stories is too old for me to update, so here is the new one!
Scroll to the very bottom to read the WIP fanfiction Featherstar's Reign!
Table of Contents:
Story 1: Rotstar's Fate
Story 2: Goldenclaw's Promise
Story 3: Heatherpelt and Rippleheart
Story 4: Clearstar's Secret
Story 5: Proudstar's Reign
Story 6: Pandaspirit's Life
Story 7: Ember The Kittypet
Story 8: Coco
Story 9: Trainer Tune
Story 10: The Story of Treekit
Story 11: Longkit's Travels
Story 12: Fallowtail and Reedfeather
Fanfictions/Other Stories:
Featherstar's Reign {Incomplete}
Love is Cruel - Ashfur
Love Hurts - Brightheart
My Broken Heart - Leopardstar
Rotstar's Fate
Rotstar was an insane cat - no Clan cat that ever lived in his reign could not admit that, even ShadowClan cats. This is a story from Darkpelt, a ThunderClan elder who was a warrior during Rotstar's leadership.
"So you want to hear the story of Rotstar, young'un? Rotstar was the leader of ShadowClan back when I was a young cat. Rotstar launched relentless attacks on all the Clans - each Clan suffered those moons. You're lucky that Jaggedstar is leader now. He's still battle-hungry but not nearly as bad as Rotstar.
Alright, alright, onto the story. Rotstar was born with three slash marks across his ears. Only one warrior ever shared the same marking - Ratclaw, Rotstar's most trusted warrior. Rotstar gained his anger and frustration from fear of being called weak. He had been bullied all his kithood, and he proved the bullies wrong by making his Clan strong.
By the time he was a senior warrior, he was so popular that cats were practically begging to have him replace the current deputy, Addertail. Moons later Addertail died from his wounds in a battle against RiverClan, and as predicted, Rotfoot, which was his name then, took Addertail's place. The ShadowClan leader then, Stonestar, was growing old and on his eighth life. Rotfoot had grown so used to his power as deputy that he helped Stonestar to StarClan. Not a single ShadowClan cat but Ratclaw knew what Rotfoot had done. They all assumed Stonestar had died from old age.
Rotfoot traveled to the Moonstone with Scarfur, the medicine cat, and received his nine lives. StarClan had been whispering about this new leader - they were afraid of his decisions.
Rotstar returned to his Clan energized and prepared to make ShadowClan the strongest Clan the Clans had ever seen. His first target was ThunderClan. At first, he only sent warriors across the border. Skystar drove them off with teeth bared. But Rotstar was not fazed - he kept going, strengthening patrols each time until it seemed like the entire Clan was across the border.
At this point Skystar had positioned a permanent watch on the ShadowClan border, which Rotstar never knew about.
"Hey, can you get that tick on my tail for a second? Thanks.
The battles between the Clans raged on, and Rotstar launched more and more attacks on every Clan. Skystar sent some of his swiftest warriors across onto ShadowClan territory to hunt. I remember a time when I was sent onto ShadowClan territory - I brought home three frogs.
Rotstar's reign of terror kept going until Clearstar, the RiverClan leader, pounced on the old cat and pressed his paw against the ShadowClan leader's neck. He said these famous words:
"Rotstar, stop. What are you achieving, attacking these Clans? You've done nothing but waste the strength of your warriors since you became leader." Clearstar raised his voice. "Stop fighting! Every one of you! I have something to say!" The RiverClan leader kept his paw pinned on Rotstar's neck as he raised his head. "Stonestar did not die from old age!" Some of the ShadowClan cats gasped. "Yes! Your leader killed him!"
From that moment, Rotstar's greatest secret was revealed. He still remained the leader, but his attacks ceased and he was often the last to speak at Gatherings. Thanks to Clearstar, the Clans were saved from Rotstar."
"Phew! That was a long story. Come again any time to hear it again!"
Goldenclaw's Promise
"Oh, so you've come to listen to another story? Just in time, I was about to tell Foxtail the story of Goldenclaw.
From the time when she was a tiny kit, Goldenclaw knew she wanted to be the best warrior for her Clan, ThunderClan. Most ambitious young cats have this characteristic, but her ambition attracted some.. unwanted attention. Goldenpaw was asleep on the anniversary of the beginning of her apprenticeship two moons before. That night Goldenpaw was approached, in her dreams, by a strange cat who called himself Eagleheart. Eagleheart was your typical brown tabby tom, with penetrative amber eyes. It was those eyes that hooked Goldenpaw - one moment they're soft and kind, the next hard and cruel. Goldenpaw was soon induced into the beginnings of the Dark Forest. Mapleshade saw the potential in this young cat and ordered Eagleheart to bring her in. Using the cool lies that would be used against the Clans in the future, Mapleshade lulled Goldenpaw into believing she was being trained by some magnificent hero and that she was becoming a better warrior for her Clan. Goldenpaw was promised one thing: 'Promise me that you will always put your training above everything else. Don't let anything get in the way.' To Goldenpaw, this was a harmless promise - just like Crookedstar would think seasons later.
From that day on, Goldenpaw upheld the promise and spent her entire apprenticeship in the sandy hollow. She stopped only to eat once per day. These fewer meals and constant training took a huge toll on her body - she was as thin as a twig and even though muscular, she was not getting enough nutrition. Not only that but she never spoke with anyone in her Clan other than her mentor, Dawnfur. The other apprentices noticed this change in their denmate and their relationships dwindled.
Goldenpaw received her warrior name, Goldenclaw. Eagleheart and Mapleshade continued training her at night, while she spent her waking moons outside camp, hunting or fighting.
By the time Goldenclaw was trusted enough to be let in on Dark Forest plans, she was virtually friendless. She was a huge asset to ThunderClan - but also unpopular due to her silence.
Goldenclaw never knew the true plans of the Dark Forest. She was lucky to have been invited to StarClan after her thin meal schedule and constant exercise finally broke the last string of her life."
Heatherpelt and Rippleheart
"Oh, you're back early. You want to hear about Heatherpelt and Rippleheart? Well, many moons ago, there was a WindClan warrior named Heatherpelt. Heatherpelt was a very loyal cat to her Clan. There were rumors that she would be picked as the next deputy. But all that changed once she met Rippleheart, a stocky RiverClan tom. They met at a Gathering - this particular Gathering was important as well, which included reports of rogue scents appearing out of nowhere and flashes of unfamiliar fur in the undergrowth. Then was not the best time to go off on a forbidden relationship, as you can see. But both cats betrayed their Clans as they continued meeting in a concealed hollow.
Heatherpelt had come to the clearing injured, due to a fight with dogs on WindClan territory. Rippleheart was worried sick about her.
"Are you alright, dear?" He gasped as he saw her brown tabby pelt appear on the edge of the clearing.
"I'm fine, thank you Rippleheart." She purred as she limped towards him and twined her tail with his.
"They continued on like this for several moons, until the day that Heatherpelt revealed she was expecting kits. Rippleheart was overjoyed. He could not see the consequences of their actions, and neither could Heatherpelt. There was also one particular WindClan tom who could barely peel his eyes away from Heatherpelt. Every cat in the Clan knew he was chasing after her. He ran to her side when she was injured, he soothed her if she was upset, and he even offered to be the father, even though they were not his kits.
"Harefur, that's so kind of you." Heatherpelt murmured as she settled into her nest in the nursery that night. Harefur did his job. He acted as a father towards those kits. Rippleheart knew nothing of Harefur.
Eventually the kits learned that Rippleheart was their true father, but Harefur was a father to them also. Heatherpelt tried desperately to prevent her kits from leaking who their father was, but to no avail. Stonekit, a sturdy grey tom, blurted to one of the warriors that day.
"Kestrelfeather! My father is Rippleheart, not Harefur!" He squealed happily. Kestrelfeather, who just so happened to be the deputy, stiffened.
"Alright, Stonekit. Let's get you back to your mother." His jaws clenched, Kestrelfeather padded towards the nursery, where Heatherpelt sunbathed as her other kits scrambled over her.
"Oh, hello Kestrelfeather." Heatherpelt meowed as she pulled herself up, Eaglekit and Wrenkit tumbling off of her.
"Come with me, Heatherpelt. Leave the kits here. Daisyclaw'll watch them until we get back."
"Alright." Heatherpelt replied, nervousness starting to rise.
The two cats left the camp and turned the corner.
"Heatherpelt, is it true what your son says? Is their father the RiverClan warrior Rippleheart?"
Heatherpelt shuffled her paws.
"Yes." She murmured. "I'm sorry, Kestrelfeather. Harefur was such a great father to them. Please don't punish my kits or Harefur. Punish me. I chose wrong."
"Your kits will stay safe. And they will stay in WindClan. But do not bring your kits to see Rippleheart anymore. Or yourself. Your punishment is an announcement of your betrayal to the Clan, and you will be caring for the elders for two moons. I don't want to see anything like this again." Kestrelfeather dipped his head and padded off.
Heatherpelt always was looked down upon because of her actions with Rippleheart - but now her three kits, who are now strong warriors known as Stonewhisker, Wrenwing, and Eagleflight, were the result of her meetings with the RiverClan tom. She had another litter of kits herself with Harefur, Doekit and Stagkit, and Wrenwing had a litter herself. Even though Heatherpelt lived a full life as a WindClan queen and warrior with Harefur, she never stopped loving Rippleheart."
Clearstar's Secret
"Ahhh, you've come to learn how Clearstar knew of Rotstar's treachery, have you? Well, lucky you, I was just about to tell the story to Nightfeather.
Clearstar is RiverClan's leader, as you probably know. You know Rotstar's story, how he killed Stonestar? Clearstar knew of that, and revealed it at a battle between the two Clans. Thanks to him, Rotstar's relentless attacks ceased. But how did Clearstar know of the death of the old ShadowClan leader?
Well, Clearstar had a brother. His brother disappeared at a young age. All of RiverClan searched for him, but no one could find him. Clearkit was heartbroken. His brother, Rockkit, was a grey tom. Their mother was named Mothtail.
As Clearkit progressed through the ranks, he continued to fret over the disappearance of his brother. The leader at the time, Splashstar, had said sadly that Rockkit was gone and there was nothing they could do. Clearpaw was an apprentice then. Mothtail died of greencough soon after his warrior ceremony. Clearpelt, which was his warrior name, was heartbroken all over again. His father is one of the RiverClan elders Hawkclaw.
Splashstar was growing old. The previous RiverClan deputy, Mossfoot, had died of battle wounds. Splashstar chose Clearpelt as his deputy. The next season, Splashstar went to StarClan. Clearstar visited the Moonstone with Willowfur for his leader ceremony. StarClan told him one thing:
"The rock hides in the shadows."
Clearstar didn't know what to make of this - what did rocks and shadows have to do with RiverClan? Clearstar spent the first moon leading his Clan, and by that point a new ShadowClan leader had risen - Stonestar. At a Gathering, Clearstar observed the ShadowClan leader as he told his Clan's daily news. Then it dawned on him.
Stonestar was the long-missing Rockkit.
Stonestar had the same grey pelt as his brother from so long ago. That's what StarClan must have meant! The rock was Stonestar, and the shadows were ShadowClan!
So that must have meant that ShadowClan stole Rockkit from an early age so he would not remember being in RiverClan, or having any RiverClan siblings or parents. At that same Gathering Clearstar pulled Stonestar aside.
"Stonestar, seasons ago when I was a kit, I had a brother named Rockkit. He was stolen from us at a young age. He had the same pelt as you - and StarClan gave me this message: "The rock hides in the shadows."
"So... you're saying that you're my brother?" Stonestar murmured disbelievingly.
"Yes. My long lost brother!" Clearstar breathed.
That night Stonestar had a dream. StarClan came to tell them that what the RiverClan leader said was true.
So, now we've got Clearstar and Stonestar in a brotherly relationship. But what does this have to do with Clearstar knowing Rotstar's murdering of the leader?
Clearstar always kept a close watch on young Rotfoot. From the day he saw the tom as an apprentice, Clearstar knew something bad was associated with that cat. The night that Stonestar was reported dead, Clearstar immediately assumed Rotfoot was the cause. Now you're saying that Clearstar guessed?
No, of course not! Clearstar had a dream from StarClan that night.
"The rotting soul has risen. The rock no longer stands proud."
Clearstar interpreted this as an agreement to his guesswork.
Rotstar had killed Stonestar.
Moons later, Rotstar launched the attack on RiverClan. Clearstar pounced upon the tom and revealed his secret to the Clans."
Proudstar's Reign
"Ahh, you're back! Want to hear about Proudstar this time? Proudstar, the well-known leader of WindClan, had a fairly harsh past, like Clearstar of RiverClan.
Proudkit was born to Mistflower and Reedtail. He had two other littermates, Swiftkit and Gorsekit. Proudkit was the most rambunctious of the posse, leading the pack while Swiftkit was the scout and Gorsekit was the warrior. Proudkit enjoyed taking control of the Hunting Stones and playing the hunter in the game Rabbit.
Little did Proudkit know, his apprenticeship would change his life drastically forever.
On the day that Proudkit and his littermates turned six moons old, the WindClan leader at the time, Mothstar, was prepared to leap onto the Tallrock, but was interrupted by three WindClan tunnelers tearing through the camp entrance and screeching to a halt before the gathered Clan.
"Mothstar! ShadowClan cats are invading the moor!" They panted, their muddy fur spiked up.
"Reedtail, Featherclaw, Grassnose, Foxfang, Rockfur! To the high-moor!" Mothstar yowled and jumped out of camp. Mistflower bundled Proudkit, Gorsekit, and Swiftkit into the nursery and then stood at the entrance, her spine fur rising. Birdfeather and Poppytail, the two WindClan elders, stood hissing at the entrance to their den.
"Finally, after what felt like moons, Mothstar returned. His warriors were bedraggled and limping. But there was one warrior who had not come home on four paws.
In Mothstar's jaws lay the ginger warrior Reedtail. Mistflower let out a low wail.
"Cats of WindClan!" Mothstar yowled. "Reedtail has died. He died a noble death; defending WindClan from ShadowClan. We will make ShadowClan pay for what they have done!" The cats of WindClan yowled in approval. They went to work sealing up camp and putting a double watch on the borders.
"Reedtail is dead?" Proudkit whimpered, snuggling close to his mother.
"Yes, my dears. Your father has gone to StarClan." Mistflower's voice was laced with sadness.
From that moment on, Proudkit nurtured a permanent hatred against ShadowClan. Just his luck, he became leader around the same time Rotstar had, and the long wars began between the two Clans.
Proudpaw, now an apprentice, was becoming a skilled hunter and fighter. He was being mentored by Mothstar himself, the Clan leader. More border clashes had been fought between WindClan and ShadowClan. Proudpaw boasted his first scar, a nick on his ear, from one clash.
By the time Proudheart was a warrior, ShadowClan had been growing in power. Stonestar had been leader for a good amount of time now. The WindClan deputy, Crownose, was growing old. He retired to the elder's den several moons later. Proudheart took his place.
Swiftpelt and Gorsetail were extremely proud of their brother. Proudheart was going to become leader of the Clan! All of WindClan knew how frail Mothstar was becoming. Mistflower was preparing to retire to the elder's den, and she still hadn't gotten over Reedtail's death yet.
Proudstar became leader the night after Rotstar. The newly named WindClan leader vowed to put ShadowClan in its place.
As soon as Rotstar attacked, WindClan retaliated - with full force. Swiftpelt and Gorsetail showered ShadowClan with a flurry of teeth and claws, while Foxfang and Rockfur darted between warriors, using their nimble speed and agility to escape blows.
Proudstar was a good leader throughout his lives - stayed strong even through the death of his mother and brothers. Mistflower died in the elder's den the night of the full moon. Swiftpelt went to StarClan when wounds from a battle refused to heal, and he lost too much blood. Gorsetail died in battle, fallen beneath the paws of a ShadowClan warrior. Most of Proudstar's kin had died due to ShadowClan - and this sparked a slumbering rage inside him to reawaken. The yellow-pelted tom launched his final attack on ShadowClan, sending all but three of WindClan's warriors haring towards the border. ShadowClan suffered dearly that day. Proudstar finally had his revenge."
Pandaspirit's Life
"Pandaspirit this time, eh? Good choice, she's one of my favorites. Pandaspirit is, as you know, the rogue who changes Clan cats' fur color, and, amazingly, eye color. She says her dyes are organic and safe.
But, onto the interesting stuff. Pandaspirit was born to a RiverClan queen, Ivyfeather. Ivyfeather also had a litter of kits before Pandaspirit, but this litter was different. Ivyfeather's older kits, Darkfur and Larknose, have a father named Thornpelt who is a RiverClan warrior. Pandaspirit, who was named Berrykit at the time, had two other littermates, Rosekit and Molekit. But their father was not Thornpelt, but Ashclaw, a WindClan tom. So Ivyfeather's second litter were half-Clan. She never told anyone, and Berrykit had a reasonable life within RiverClan, until one day Ashclaw found them at a Gathering and told them. They were apprentices then - old enough to fend for themselves. Because Ashclaw also raged against RiverClan for not giving him Ivyfeather. Thornpelt was appalled. Ivyfeather's life fell apart and her youngest litter were banished from the Clan. Berrypaw tried to stick with her littermates, but they went to become kittypets. Disgusted by her littermates' actions, Berrypaw renamed herself to Pandaspirit and learned more about her fixation with coloring. She learned that by squeezing berries she could execrate a type of juice from the berry that changed the color of her fur. Working on this more, she kept at it, and eventually developed a series of dyes that were permanent and in various different colors.
Later she developed eye coloring. Then, she finally decided to return to the Clans in the form of a rogue who would offer to change their fur color for free.
This was not accepted at first - many cats thought that she was trying to poison them. They had treated her family badly, after all.
But this was not true. Pandaspirit soon became known as the 'Dye-Cat' and thrived on the prey she was given."
Ember The Kittypet
"Ember the kittypet, yes? Well, Ember is a bright ginger tabby kittypet who roams the Clan territories. I can assure you, the Clans don't like that! Ember was born a kittypet, but she has had a fixation with the wild world. She still nurses that fixation today.
Ember was born to a Twoleg cat breeder. Her mother was a ginger tabby, and her father a dark brown tabby. Taking after her mother, little Ember had two littermates. Once they were old enough to be given to other Twolegs, Ember's Twoleg, George, took her. Ember lived with George for several seasons. But soon enough life over the garden fence tempted her. The wildflowers dotting the moor and the rustle of leaves on ThunderClan's trees brought the ginger tabby kittypet out of the safety of her Twoleg home and into the more dangerous land of the Clans.
She was curious and thoughtful. Ember attached an old collar bell onto a wooden stick and left it in the ground on RiverClan territory. Whenever a Clan cat rung that bell, she would offer to take them to her Twoleg home. Many Clan leaders thought this was suspicious - taking battle-trained Clan warriors to her own home. The Clan leaders soon forbid their warriors from going anywhere near that bell, especially Clearstar of RiverClan.
Ember was also living near BloodClan, that horrid excuse for a rogue group. She had the little kit Fuzzy to keep her company when George was not home, but she also had BloodClan right around the corner. Maybe she wanted Clan cats to help her get rid of BloodClan? We don't know for sure, because most Clan cats who had gone with Ember came back with softer hearts and the remains of a collar around their necks. So we do know that George turned our cats into kittypets.
Ember was a kind cat, but her way of taking Clan warriors to visit her nest rose more suspicion and hatred against kittypets. To this day, many Clan cats stay away from the bell - afraid of meeting the same fate as those who have rung it."
Coco
"Coco! Ah, Coco. Coco seemed to think she had the authority to change cats' names - and that she did. Coco became a resort for cats who really didn't like their warrior name. Before Coco, only Clan leaders had the power to change names. Most cats now believe that she had been sent by StarClan. But that's just a myth.
Coco's pelt is black with white paws and underfur. She was born to a rogue named Holly, who was pure black, and Icey, a white tom. Coco had two littermates, Flower and Snow. Flower was grey and Snow white, like her father. Icey and Holly raised their daughters in the woods near Twolegplace. The happy family traveled the territories together, until one tragic day.
Holly had come across a deep hole running underneath the Thunderpath that runs through the edges of ThunderClan and ShadowClan territory. The rogue family was mindful of the Clans and kept out of their territories, but at the time a clumsy dog was running after them, its yellow pelt easily visible and its tongue flapping. Holly had no choice but to run through the tunnel. Coco, Flower, and Snow followed their mother, with Icey at the rear. But in the tunnel they met a ShadowClan raiding party. The rogues were trapped between a Clan and a dog. Panic flashing momentarily in her eyes, Holly spun around and led her kits and mate out of the tunnel, just barely passing the dog. The dog ran splat into the ShadowClan warriors, which distracted it from its cat prey. Holly stood, panting, at the edge of the Thunderpath, hoping for a gap to come soon. As soon as it did, she darted across, her kits following. Icey started running, but paused at a screech from Holly.
"Icey! Watch out! A monster!" The black she-cat stared at the white tom, desperately hoping for him to come to his mind.
Icey started running again, but he was too late. Holly crumpled down in grief as she heard the thump as the monster hit the tom's body.
"H-Holly?" Flower whimpered, snuggling up close to her mother. "Where's Icey?"
"Icey is gone, dear." Holly whispered in reply, grabbing her kits close to her and licking them. "He has left us to join the star-cats."
After the burial of her mate, Holly carried on as normal, traveling. Though it was a lot different without Icey.
Time passed and Coco and her littermates matured. Coco became an excellent hunter, always catching food for her siblings and mother. The family lived on like this for several seasons, until Holly made an unexpected announcement.
"My dear daughters. Life without Icey has become too difficult for me to bear. I'm going to become a kittypet. I hope you are successful in your life and I hope I see you again some day."
Coco was always haunted by her mother's leaving. Coco tried to stick around Twolegplace to see her mother, but stray cats and monsters, the confusing sights and smells kept her away. She carried on with her sisters until they found toms of their own and left to start their own families.
Coco did not want a mate. Coco decided that she would help cats by changing their names. She didn't know how this would help her, but it did. Many Clan cats came and changed their names. Cats from ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and even ShadowClan. The black she-cat used her new ability to keep her mind off her grief that has been raging inside her ever since the death of her father. Coco became a well-known and well-liked cat (though not by leaders!) and she still visits Fourtrees today."
Trainer Tune
"Trainer Tune now! You kits don't stop, do you? Anyways, Tune is a rogue she-cat who gives training and skill to rogues outside the Clans, like our Maplestripe. No one knows why she does such things and she is not well liked among the Clan cats.
Tune was born to unknown parents on the night of a full moon. She told cats that her mother named her Tune because she could hear the song of the birds the moment Tune came into the world. Tune had one sibling, a close sister named Song. Tune has a brown tabby pelt with white underfur. Song was a dark brown. Tune and Song were as close-knit as twigs in a nest. The sisters' parents hunted for them until they were old enough to hunt for themselves. By the time Song and Tune were full grown, Tune had developed a knack for hunting and fighting. Tune became a skilled hunter under the extra training of her parents and her mock battles with her father were fantastic. Tune continued training under her parents until they could train her no more.
"My dear daughter. You've learned all the skills I know. I have one last thing left to teach you, and that is the selflessness to teach others your skill. Over time these skills you have learned will earn their keep and serve you well. I only ask that you share it with others."
Tune vowed to keep that request of her parents and continued using them to serve her family. On her mother's deathbed, Tune promised her that she would use the skills she learned and spread them among the rogues of the forest. Her mother's eyes glittered with happiness before the light died and her body fell still. Tune and Song kept check on their grief to take care of their father, who was growing frail in his old age. Song never gained the skills Tune had learned, but she never envied her sister and helped to share it like Tune had promised to their mother. The sisters' father died in his sleep a moon later after his mate's death.
Song and Tune were shocked by the sudden deaths of their parents, but they handled it well. They continued traveling through the forest together, sharing the skills of hunting and fighting to other cats. Tune swore she could feel her parents' happiness as she spread her knowledge and technique. Soon Tune came across Fourtrees. She decided this was a good place to permanently settle, and that she did. She was not far from her parents' graves if she wished to return there; and also lots of rogues passed through this area. Song and Tune dug a hidden den behind the Great Rock and started their little business of sharing.
The two sisters knew of the Clans. Their parents had told them many stories of them. They always hid when a Clan cat came around. They figured that the Clans wouldn't want a pair of rogues giving out hunting and fighting techniques to other rogues. And this is how it has been since day one; Tune sharing knowledge and technique with her beloved sister right beside her. No one has seen Song for quite some time now, it is theorized that the she-cat has passed or moved away. Tune doesn't exactly tell us. So you can always think of Tune as the rogue she-cat who shares her skills to other cats."
The Story of Treekit
"I'm sure you've heard of that legendary cat Treekit. He was a kit when you were born, if I remember correctly. Anyways. Once you finished your apprenticeship, Treekit had disappeared. He would have been Treepaw then. But no one was exactly sure what happened to that cat. Skystar sent me on an expedition with three other warriors to find Treepaw. I was the only senior warrior out of the patrol so our leader put me in charge. Anyways, as soon as I stepped into ThunderClan territory, I felt as if I was being watched. Nervously I kept glancing around, but I couldn't find anything. Not a scent nor sound. Neither could the rest of my patrol. We explored for days, and no matter where we went in the territory, we still felt as if we were being watched and we still couldn't find Treepaw. I was busy one morning early in greenleaf, when one of the younger warriors, Ashclaw, burst into the tunnel. "Shadepelt is being attacked!" He screeched. I could see the fear flaring in his eyes. Skystar beckoned me and a few other warriors and we dashed out of camp. Shadepelt was curled on the ground, a large gash running along his flank. Ashclaw quickly told us what happened. "We were hunting, and Shadepelt was just about to pounce on a mouse, when all of a sudden a brown blur ran past us and Shadepelt was on the ground, yowling in pain." Skystar fixed the young cat with a penetrating gaze. "Did you catch any of this cat's details?"
"No, Skystar. Not even his scent is here."
That scared us. That there was a strange cat in the territory, able to move at immense speed and leave behind no trace. From that day on, most cats were afraid to sleep, hoping that the strange cat wouldn't send them to StarClan in their sleep.
This back-and-forth game went on for many moons. Just before I retired, Skystar sent launched an attack on the strange cat. Many cats had been sent to Cloudleaf in this time and ThunderClan was sick of it. A battle line of ThunderClan cats lined up in front of the camp. We stared hard, daring the strange cat to show itself.
It felt like moons before something moved in the forest.
"Ahh, so you've found out about my new assistant." A terrifyingly familiar voice drawled. Out stepped Rotstar. "How did he get in here?" I had hissed. If the ShadowClan leader could get past ThunderClan boundary lines without being detected, Preyheart had better step up the patrols. Anyways. Rotstar's black pelt appeared from the shadows, as silent as a mouse. The ShadowClan leader fixed a burning glare on Skystar. Our leader stepped out of the line and sent another glare back. "Well, Rotstar? What do you have to say for yourself?" Skystar growled.
"Oh, nothing really. I just thought you'd like to meet someone." Rotstar responded, his voice deadly soft. "Oh, Treeclaw! Won't you come out?"
Treeclaw stepped out from behind a tree, his once glossy brown pelt now ragged. Baring his pointed yellow teeth, the tom glared at the warriors.
"I'm in league with Rotstar now." He hissed. "From day one, it was all about the others. No one ever paid any attention to me. So I left. Rotstar has been a better mentor to me than any of you ever could." The now-adult brown cat unsheathed his claws.
"Now? Now I want revenge."
Skystar's eyes flicked to Treeclaw. "Oh, Treeclaw. Shinefur misses you so terribly." He mewed tactfully. "Fiercetooth does too. Too bad you can't see them now."
Treeclaw's eyes sparked with surprise, then sadness. "S-Shinefur? Fiercetooth?" He whimpered softly. Neither of the two cats were in the battle line, luckily.
"Focus, you fool!" Rotstar snarled at him. "This is your chance for revenge!"
Treeclaw whipped around and glared at the ShadowClan leader. "You taught me how to fight, and how to be a strong warrior." He mewed to Rotstar. "But I've also learned something else. I've learned that family and friends mean more than battles." With a hiss, he leaped, landing on the ShadowClan cat's back. Rotstar let out a snarl. "You have betrayed me!" Lunging forward, Rotstar flung Treeclaw off of his back. Before the brown tom could recover, Rotstar darted at him and gripped his throat in his jaws. Skystar let out a snarl and flung himself at Rotstar, but it was too late. Treeclaw fell gracelessly to the ground, his eyes glazed.
"You have killed a promising warrior." Skystar snarled. "At least he learned his lesson. Clearly, you have not. ThunderClan, attack!" After that, we all ran at Rotstar, dragging him down and flinging him across the border.
"And never come back!" Ashclaw yowled as he left.
Well, that's the tragic story of Treeclaw. Come back another time for another story!"
Longkit's Travels
"Welcome back! Here for another story, I see? Well, remember the time when Longkit went missing? Well, this is that story!
Longkit was always a shy kit. Being part of Shinefur's second litter, he was never his mother's favorite. His littermate, Bramblekit, was always well-behaved and handsome, while Longkit was the rag-tag troublemaker that Shinefur had to go and catch before he toppled the fresh-kill pile. Treeclaw's disappearance and death happened only two moons after Longkit and Bramblekit were born, so it is still fresh in his mind. His older brother, Fiercetooth, was too busy to play with him. You were also too busy to spend time with your younger siblings. Shinefur also never revealed who the father of you and your siblings were. Some think it's Skystar, but he's never revealed it.
Longkit was always depressed because of Shinefur's treatment of him. One of his older siblings is dead, his other two older siblings are never around to play with him, and his littermate is treated better by their mother than he is. So one day, Longkit snuck out of camp at moonigh.
"I'm going to go to Snakerocks and catch an adder. Shinefur will have to pay attention to me then!" The little grey kit had whispered. It was leaf-bare when that happened, and when Shinefur woke up the next morning, she was frantic.
"Where's Longkit?" She shrieked. Pelt bushed, she had run around the camp like a fox looking for prey.
"Hold on there, Shinefur." Cloudleaf had mewed. "Running around like a badger isn't going to find Longkit. Calm down, and Skystar will send out a search party." The ginger medicine cat's calm but forceful tone had calmed the frantic queen. Skystar had chosen you to go find Longkit. He was frozen in the snow, just barely breathing. Shinefur had to be pushed out of the medicine den several times so Snowheart and Cloudleaf could help him.
After that, Shinefur apologized to her son for all of the neglect she had given him. They reunited and Longkit became a happy apprentice."
Fallowtail and Reedfeather
"One night in late greenleaf, two kits were born. Their names were Graykit and Willowkit. Their mother, Fallowtail, had mentioned to no one who the kits' father was. The two sisters spent about half of their kithood in RiverClan, until one day, the WindClan deputy, Reedfeather, walked straight into the RiverClan camp and demanded them back.
"I have come to reclaim what is mine." The WindClan warrior had mewed, a challenging gaze fixed on Hailstar, the RiverClan leader.
Fallowtail was huddling in the nursery, but Graykit and Willlowkit jumped out of the way of their mother's body and into the clearing.
"Ew, he stinks!" Graykit complained.
Discontented murmurs spread throughout RiverClan. Reedfeather fixed his gaze on the two kits, his eyes softening.
"I have come to take my kits home." Reedfeather walked up to the two sisters and stood by them, as if daring any cat, even their mother, to try and take them away.
One RiverClan warrior, Rippleclaw, flashed an angry gaze at Fallowtail. "Half-Clan?" He spat, stalking up to the queen with his tail tip flicking angrily.
Fallowtail's eyes dropped to the floor. Ottersplash pulled Rippleclaw back with a warning snarl.
Hailstar padded up to Reedfeather, eyeing the WindClan deputy coldly.
"You can't take these kits. They belong to RiverClan." He mewed.
"They are also part WindClan. They belong with their father."
Graykit scampered away from Reedfeather and stared up at her mother. "He can't be my father, can he? He stinks!" She complained, her body shaking with nervousness.
Fallowtail's gaze hardened as she gazed at her daughter. "Yes, my dear. He is your father. But you will not be living in WindClan, not if I can help it." Her eyes boiled with rage as she gazed at the WindClan deputy.
"These kits are mine." Reedfeather mewed coolly. "My Clanmates will fight for them as much as I will."
"And they are mine also." Fallowtail snarled lowly. "Do not touch my kits."
"They belong with their father!"
"They belong with their mother. Toms can't take care of kits." She growled, stalking closer. "These are my kits, Reedfeather. You gave up the right to be called their father long ago."
"They will fare better in WindClan. RiverClan is weak, all the Clans know you gave up Sunningrocks without a fight." The WindClan deputy hissed, pushing Graykit and Willowkit back with a paw.
"Fallowtail!" Willowkit mewled desperately.
"Don't worry, my dears. Your father doesn't deserve to keep you. I will not let my kits be raised by an inferior Clan." Hissing, she stalked close. The RiverClan deputy, Shellheart, bundled Graykit and Willowkit out of the way.
Hailstar blocked an apprentice, Crookedpaw, out of the way. "This is Fallowtail's fight." He warned.
Reedfeather let out another growl. "Those kits belong with their father. They are mine." He warned, tail flicking.
"No, Reedfeather. Kits need their mother. Stay away from them." With a yowl, she leapt, landing on the WindClan deputy's back. Reedfeather let out a screech and bucked. Fallowtail clung on, her sharp claws hooked into the warrior's back.
Fallowtail let out a snarl as she held Reedfeather down. "I will do whatever it takes to protect my kits. You do not deserve to be called their father." With a hiss, she let him go. The WindClan deputy took one last glance at the two littermates and ran.
"Ottersplash, Timberfur, make sure he leaves the territory. We will put on an extra watch for the next few nights to make sure Reedfeather doesn't try to steal the kits in the dark. I want two warriors in the nursery at all times." Hailstar ordered.
Rippleclaw let out a low snarl as he stalked past. "Half-Clan."
From that moment on, WindClan struggled to gain the kits. But Graykit and Willowkit, even if they were half-Clan, always had the heart of a RiverClan warrior."
Upcoming: Featherstar's Reign (In-Progress Fanfiction)
Other short stories will be added as I (slowly) work on Featherstar's Reign!
Featherstar's Reign
Other short stories will be added as I (slowly) work on Featherstar's Reign!
Featherstar's Reign
“Are you ready, Featherfur?” A voice meowed, a tom’s voice, his pale brown tabby pelt hidden in the night.
Featherfur, a pretty silver tabby she-cat, hesitated before replying.
“Yes, Quailpelt. I am.” Featherfur was ThunderClan’s deputy. The ThunderClan leader, Brackenstar, had joined StarClan earlier that morning. The old ginger tom was struggling against a resistant case of greencough, and none of Quailpelt’s herbs helped. Featherfur’s grief never seemed to cease; she wondered if she would be plagued by it forever.
Quailpelt nodded and disappeared down Mothermouth. The dark cave stood, silent and empty, like a hungry shadow. Reluctantly Featherfur followed, trotting quickly to catch up with the medicine cat. Quailpelt moved quickly and silently across the cave floor, Featherfur tried not to think about the miles of rock above her head. Occasionally she could feel tunnels on either side of her, but when she turned to look, she saw nothing but shadow. Tail twitching anxiously, ensured Quailpelt was in front of her by feeling for his tail.
Soon a very, very soft glow could be seen, and Featherfur could just make out her medicine cat’s outline against it. The Moonstone stood, dark and ominous in the center of the cave, and a single star twinkled through the hole. Soon the moon made its way across the sky and light poured in, drenching the Moonstone in cold light.
“Remember, Featherfur. What happens to you now you must never tell any cat about. This burden is for you to share alone.” Quailpelt mewed, touching the deputy’s shoulder with his tail. “Lie down and touch the stone with your nose.” He instructed as he settled himself beside the glowing rock.
Featherfur nodded, wincing as the cold stone floor chilled her belly. She closed her eyes and pushed her nose against the stone. It seemed to throb with warmth, as if she was at her mother’s belly as a kit once again. When Featherfur opened her eyes, she found herself standing in a lush forest clearing, with bright greenleaf trees all around her. Squirrels darted between the branches and birdsong could be heard. She turned her head to see Quailpelt beside her. The pale brown tabby tom sat down and curled his tail over his forepaws, waiting patiently.
Soon she could see a familiar ginger pelt.
“Brackenstar!” She gasped. The former ThunderClan leader, who had looked so frail and bony, his body wracked with coughs, was now young and strong again, no signs of the greencough that had killed him.
“Welcome to StarClan, Featherfur.” Brackenstar purred as he padded up to her.
“I am proud to pass down the leadership of ThunderClan to you. I always knew you were the right choice when I chose you to become my deputy, and now is the day for you to prove it to yourself.” He mewed, his green gaze locking onto her blue one.
“With this life I give you courage. You must have courage to lead your Clan along difficult paths, however scary they may be.” Brackenstar’s nose touched Featherfur’s and she clenched her teeth was a wave of pain flowed through her body.
Brackenstar stepped back. A new cat appeared behind him, and Featherfur realized that more of StarClan had come - however she couldn’t recognize any faces. This cat was a ginger and white, her amber eyes warm and kind. “My name is Brighttail. I was a warrior of ThunderClan many seasons ago.” She mewed. “I give you a life for certainty. If you are not certain of your decision, it may affect your Clan in more ways than one.” The ancient cat’s pale nose touched Featherfur’s. The silver tabby’s claws curled into the grass as her body convulsed. That’s only two lives.. how much more can I stand?
“You can do it, my dear.” An achingly familiar voice mewed, distracting Featherfur from her ebbing pain.
“Goldenbird!” Featherfur whispered, her blue eyes fixed on the golden tabby pelt of her mother in front of her.
“You’re doing wonderful, Featherfur. I’m so proud of you.” Goldenbird meowed, her golden tail touching her daughter’s shoulder briefly.
“I give you a life for the love of a mother. Treat your Clan as if they were your kits.” Goldenbird touched her nose to Featherfur’s. The ThunderClan deputy purred as a soft warmth rolled through her body.
Goldenbird had stepped back, strength glowing in her eyes. In front of her now was another familiar pelt, the grey tabby pelt of her father.
“Stormclaw, I miss you so much!” Featherfur meowed, yearning to curl up at her father’s side.
“I’m glad.” Stormclaw purred. “I give you a life for determination. Don’t give up if things start to go wrong, for it will always turn out to be good in the end.”
The grey tabby warrior touched his nose to his daughter’s head. Featherfur felt a fierce urge to keep going run through her body, and she struggled to keep her paws rooted to the ground.
Stormclaw had settled back beside Goldenbird. Now a pure black tom appeared before her, his amber eyes glowing.
“Ravenwhisker!” Featherfur mewed. The former elder’s ragged black pelt was now strong and healthy, and his old scars had disappeared.
“You have done well, Featherfur.” Ravenwhisker began. “I give you a life for listening to the elders. Elders are the wisdom of the Clan, they have been around for longest and have experienced more than any other warrior. Without them, there is no Clan to teach.” The black tom’s nose touched her head. Featherfur’s body tingled, and she sturggled to control herself.
That’s five lives. I have four left.
In front of her now was a familiar white pelt.
“Snowpool!” Featherfur exclaimed, gazing at her sister with happiness.
“Congratulations, Featherfur!” Snowpool mewed, bouncing slightly on her starlight paws.
“I give you a life for compassion. Be sure every cat gets the sympathy they deserve, for no cat should be left alone.” Her white pelt glowed as she touched her sister’s nose. Featherfur’s claws tore at the grass and her body shook.
Snowpool padded away and sat beside her parents, and out of the mist came a small black and white cat.
“Patchpaw!” Featherfur mewed as she recovered from Snowpool’s life.
“I wish I could have lived to become a warrior.” Patchpaw mewed sadly.
“But you’ve done great without me, and I’m glad you’re becoming ThunderClan’s leader!” The little cat mewed.
“I give you a life for mentoring. There is always more to teach than battle skills, and every cat can always learn more.” Featherfur stooped to let her former apprentice touch her nose. She always felt like she failed him, the day the badger took his life. It haunted her for moons after. But now, seeing the strength in his eyes, she knew he forgave her.
“Thank you, Patchpaw.” Featherfur mewed, resisting the urge to nuzzle the apprentice.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered.
“What for?” Patchpaw asked. “You have nothing to be sorry about, you couldn’t have stopped the badger.” He turned and disappeared into the ranks of StarClan. She heard his voice, echoing in her head.
“I forgive you.”
Featherfur let out a sigh. A huge weight seemed to have been taken off her shoulders.
“Wake up, Featherfur!” A voice mewed cheerily.
“Stonestripe!” Featherfur exclaimed as she looked at the pale grey tabby tom in front of her. Her former mentor looked very healthy, the sickness that had taken him was no longer seen.
“I’m very proud of you, Featherfur. You have proved your loyalty to ThunderClan many times over.” He touched his nose to her head.
“I give you a life for faith. StarClan will always be there, but we can only help you if you choose to let us.” Featherfur rocked forward as the life jarred her.
“You’ll be okay.” Stonestripe whispered as he walked away and joined the ranks of StarClan.
Who will give me my last life?
An unknown cat appeared before her, his fiery orange pelt translucent with age.
Featherfur gasped and bowed, her chin fur brushing the ground.
“It is time for you to receive your final life.” The cat mewed. It was Thunderstar, the founder of ThunderClan.
“StarClan has been waiting a long time for you. ThunderClan will thrive under your leadership, however there will be challenges you must overcome. When all seems lost, look to the stars.” He mewed, his voice deep. Featherfur could see the forest behind his ancient pelt.
“I give you a life for loyalty. You must always be loyal to your Clan, but you can never demand it from them. Your warriors must decide where their loyalty lies.” Thunderstar’s nose touched hers. Featherfur stiffened as the life passed through her body. As she relaxed, Thunderstar threw his head back and yowled to the sky.
“Featherstar! Featherstar!” The rest of StarClan joined in, yowling her name to the stars. Featherstar waited patiently for them to quiet before speaking.
“I promise to make ThunderClan a respected force among the forest Clans, and if I can be half the leader Brackenstar was, that’s good enough for me.”
Thunderstar’s fiery amber gaze locked onto hers.
“Remember, Featherstar. You can always improve.” With that, StarClan spiraled away, the last of their lingering scent fading soon after.
“Shall we head back to the Clan?” Quailpelt mewed, reminding Featherstar that he was there.
“Yes, we shall.” She mewed. With renewed strength of nine new lives in her body, she felt she could run for seasons.
Quailpelt closed his eyes and disappeared. Featherstar took a deep breath, taking in the remnants of StarClan’s scent.
The silver tabby she-cat opened her eyes and found herself at the foot of the Moonstone, which was no longer starlit now that the moon had passed.
Quailpelt was getting to his paws beside her; Featherstar stretched before heading out of the tunnel.
“It’s getting to be dawn, Featherstar. The faster we get back to camp, the better.” Quailpelt mewed as he followed behind her.
“We might run into a WindClan patrol,” She warned him, flicking her silver-striped tail.
Soon the light strengthened and Featherstar could see the pale outline of the mouth of the cave. She trotted towards it, squeezing her eyes shut as the light blinded them.
“Let’s skirt the moor best we can.” Featherstar mewed as Quailpelt emerged from Mothermouth behind her.
The two cats set off at a brisk pace, making the widest possible curve around WindClan territory. There was a hunting patrol in the distance, but they didn’t spot the ThunderClan cats.
With the moor disappearing in the few trees behind them, Featherstar and Quailpelt emerged at the Thunderpath. Monsters roared by, shaking the ground. Gagging on the stench, Featherstar waited for a gap.
“Now!” She yowled, haring across.
She ran like a Clan of foxes were chasing her. With Quailpelt hard on her paws, they tumbled over the edge of the Thunderpath just as another roar grew louder.
“I’ll never get used to it.” She muttered, licking her chest fur.
“That was close.” Quailpelt meowed, giving his fur a good shake.
“Too close.” The silver tabby replied.
Fourtrees lay ahead of them now, Featherstar could just barely see the tops of the great oaks.
Soon they came into the empty clearing. The Great Rock rose like a wave over the cat-scented ground, its large gray form shadowed by the rising sun.
Featherstar trotted a little faster when she smelled the ThunderClan scent marks. The dawn patrol had passed, and by the scents she could distinguish Willowflower, Sandpelt, and her apprentice, Dawnpaw.
Dawnpaw was Patchpaw’s littermate. She had quickly gotten over her brother’s death, and she spent a lot of time with another apprentice, Flintpaw, from another litter.
“We’ll be getting kits in the coming seasons.” Featherstar purred as she crossed the ThunderClan scent lines.
“I don’t know how Flintpaw doesn’t notice. Dawnpaw’s been mooning over him for the past two moons.” Quailpelt mewed, his tail waving.
The scents of the dawn patrol faded and Featherstar spotted Snakerocks in the distance. She trotted onward, and was soon able to see the camp entrance.
Quailpelt followed, and the two nosed their way in through the thorn tunnel.
“Welcome back, Featherstar!” One cat yowled.
Featherstar dipped her head in response, her eyes shining. Quailpelt had disappeared into his den, the fern tunnel shuddering as the brown tabby tom moved through it.
Featherstar climbed to the top of the Highrock and disappeared into the leaders’ den. Brackenstar’s scent still lingered, and the former leader’s nest was still in the den.
Letting out a grunt of effort, Featherstar clawed the old moss away, sneezing a little as a bit of dust drifted from it.
“Featherstar?” A voice behind her mewed. “Do you need help?”
“I guess I wouldn’t mind some, Cloverheart.” Featherstar replied, flicking her tail to invite the white she-cat.
With Cloverheart beside her, Brackenstar’s old nest was soon cleared out.
“Thanks for your help, Cloverheart.” Featherstar mumbled around her mouthful of most.
“No problem, Featherstar.” Cloverheart replied as she whisked out of the den, a bundle of moss tucked under her chin.
The new leader padded awkwardly from her den with the moss in her jaws. She carefully made her way down the rockpile and towards the camp entrance. She dropped the spoiled moss outside the camp wall and turned to follow Cloverheart back inside camp.
I need to choose a deputy.
She glanced around at her Clan, her blue gaze resting thoughtfully on each cat.
Adderfur’s strong and loyal, but he doesn’t always see that peace can be better than battle.
Featherstar let out a sigh as she grabbed a small shrew from the fresh-kill pile.
I have till moonhigh to make my decision.
The ThunderClan leader had just finished her shrew and was licking her jaws when Brambletail pounded in, his fur spiked.
“WindClan has attacked our patrol!” He gasped, panting.
Featherstar leapt to her paws, forcing her fur to lie flat.
“Volepelt, is Thrushpaw battle-ready?” Featherstar meowed, thinking quickly.
“Yes, Featherstar. He’s had three moons of battle training.” The pale brown tabby warrior replied.
“Good. You, Thrushpaw, Leafwhisker, Reedtail, Whitefoot and myself will accompany Brambletail back to where the patrol is fighting.” The silver tabby she-cat mewed. “The rest of you, stay behind. WindClan may try to bring the fight to our camp.” She instructed before darting into the thorn tunnel and out into ThunderClan territory.
Brambletail’s dark brown tabby pelt flashed between the trees as he led the way to where the patrol was fighting.
Soon Featherstar could hear the yowls of warriors, and ear-splitting screeches sending prey running.
The backup patrol pounded into a clearing, where three ThunderClan warriors grappled with several WindClan cats.
Gorsefoot’s claws were locked into a pale grey tabby’s back, his eyes burning with fury. Brambletail let out a battle cry and rammed the WindClan warrior, sending him tumbling under Gorsefoot. A mottled brown tabby leapt on top of Brambletail, sending the dark brown tabby plunging underneath a mess of fur.
“Stay near me!” Volepelt hissed to his apprentice before he slipped off into the undergrowth, Thrushpaw followed, pressing back against the brambles.
Featherstar unsheathed her claws and let out a yowl of fury, leaping on top of a grey tabby tom. The WindClan cat squirmed beneath her as he struggled to wriggle himself free, but the ThunderClan leader’s greater weight kept him pinned.
“ThunderClan crow-food!” The grey tabby tom spat, aiming weak blows at Featherstar. “A mouse could do better than you, Featherfur!” He snarled, throwing himself up, unbalancing Featherstar.
“I see your bird-brained Clanmates didn’t tell you the news,” Featherstar hissed, flying at him with outstretched claws. “I am leader of ThunderClan now!” The grey tabby tom, Rabbitclaw, didn’t flinch, his wild amber gaze fixed on Featherstar’s blue ones.
“Brackenstar should have made a different choice.” Rabbitclaw snarled. “I won’t have to worry about ThunderClan anymore, not with a mouse-hearted leader like you!” With a great leap the WindClan cat rammed into Featherstar’s chest, knocking the breath out of her.
Featherstar let out a low snarl, her tail lashing angrily. “At least ThunderClan cats know how to fight!” She pushed upward with a powerful heave, throwing Rabbitclaw off. Her claws unsheathed, exhilaration flew through her body as she slashed, swipe after swipe, her claws scoring through the WindClan warrior’s fur. Rabbitclaw let out a hiss of pain and leapt away, teeth bared. With a fierce glare he charged her, bowling her over into the undergrowth. Featherstar spat out grey tabby fur as she sunk her teeth in Rabbitclaw’s shoulder and gripped with her claws, hauling him off.
Suddenly Rabbitclaw disappeared as a streak of brown flashed at the edge of her vision.
Brambletail!
Featherstar leapt to her paws as Brambletail battled the WindClan warrior. With a snarl of rage she joined the fight, matching Brambletail blow for blow. The ThunderClan leader jumped high into the air, squashing Rabbitclaw beneath her.
“Run, WindClan mange-pelt,” Featherstar hissed, her claws glinting. “ThunderClan cats don’t like scrawny mice on their territory.” Rabbitclaw got the message and hared away as soon as he was released. Featherstar looked up to see the rest of her Clanmates had chased away the WindClan cats.
“No, Thrushpaw, come back!” Volepelt yowled, his fur spiked with blood and his chest heaving. “They’ve been beaten, you don’t need to tell them that!”
Thrushpaw trotted reluctantly back to his mentor. A fresh nick on his ear showed from his first battle, and a scratch scored across his shoulder.
“Got your first battle scars?” Sandpelt shoved Thrushpaw jokingly. The brown apprentice flicked his nicked ear.
“Yeah.” He swished his tail. “How’d Dawnpaw do?”
“I fought like a warrior.” Came a voice behind him. Thrushpaw whirled around to see his creamy-colored denmate standing beside him, blood trickling from a gash on her leg.
“Did you see me slash that WindClan cat’s nose? He ran like a horde of badgers were after him!” Dawnpaw squealed, prancing around Thrushpaw.
“Alright, let’s get back to camp and have Quailpelt treat your injuries.” Featherstar mewed, raising her voice so her Clanmates could hear her. Through the trees the silver tabby she-cat saw the last of the WindClan cats race over the hills and towards their camp.
The camp was buzzing with activity when Featherstar returned with the battle patrol.
“Come on, Foxkit, out of the way of the warriors.” Blackfeather mewed gently, waving her tail at her son to herd him back into the nursery.
“But I want to help!” The little pale orange tom complained, struggling to escape his mother’s grip.
Featherstar didn’t hear the rest of the conversation as her attention shifted to the rest of the camp. Cats had started to reinforce the dens and camp entrance. Pride for her Clan suddenly flowed through her body, making her claw tips tremble.
Oakstripe padded forward, his dark brown tabby tail waving.
“We decided we should reinforce the camp in case WindClan broke through the patrol.” He mewed, pointing with his tail-tip at the cats weaving bramble stems into the thorn barrier and fern leaves into the nursery.
Adderfur was busy with a thorn branch, tugging it into place between the bramble vines. Blackfeather’s mate, Starlingwing, was busy weaving a large fern leaf into place, then stuck his head inside the nursery and asked “Is this okay?”
Featherstar nodded gratefully to the warrior and padded off towards the medicine den. Whitefoot was resting in a spare nest with her leg stretched out. A gash ran along it and Featherstar struggled not to wince at the blood oozing out of it. Sandpelt padded in, blood dripping from a gash in her ear.
Quailpelt was busy tending to Reedtail, who had a bite mark on his neck.
“There you are. Come see me tomorrow so I can check it. I might need to add another poultice.” The ThunderClan medicine cat instructed the warrior as the black tom left the den.
“Thanks, Quailpelt!”
“Oh, hello Featherstar, didn’t see you there. Do you have any wounds needing treatment?” Quailpelt mewed as he spotted her in the shadows. The pale brown tabby mixed a poultice of marigold and started to apply it to Whitefoot’s wound while waiting for her response.
“No, don’t worry about me.” She mewed, flicking her tail. “The other cats need treatment.”
Quailpelt let out a sigh before turning to Sandpelt’s ear. “Whether you want me to or not, Featherstar, I’m going to take a look at you.” The pale brown tabby medicine cat secured a poultice of goldenrod with a cobweb before turning to his leader.
“You’ve got a scratch near the base of your tail,” He pointed out sniffing the wound carefully before mixing up a small poultice.
“Rabbitclaw gave it to me.” Featherstar snorted, wincing slightly as the poultice was applied.
Quailpelt secured the poultice before sending Featherstar away.
“Thanks, Quailpelt.” Featherstar called over her shoulder before padding into the center of the clearing, where Brackenstar’s body still lay. The setting sun cast a shadow next to Brackenstar’s unmoving form. I still need to choose a deputy for ThunderClan! She leapt up on top of the Highrock and prepared to call her first summons to the Clan.
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!”
Cats who didn’t go to the battle emerged from their dens, and those who did looked up from licking their wounds. Thrushpaw seated himself next to Dawnpaw, who shifted a bit closer to her brown denmate.
“Our battle patrol has beaten the WindClan cats trying to cross our borders.” She began, the sun turning her silver fur creamy.
Cheers rose up from the cats below and she waited for a few heartbeats before raising her tail for silence.
“Brackenstar was a wonderful leader. We shall mourn him forever.” She leapt down and touched her nose to Brackenstar’s cold ginger fur one last time.
“The vigil for Brackenstar is tonight.” She mewed to the rest of the Clan before continuing.
“However, before drawing this meeting to a close, I have one more announcement to make. I say these words before StarClan, that the spirit of Brackenstar will hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of ThunderClan is Brambletail.” She rested her head on the shocked warrior’s head and he licked her shoulder in turn.
“I am honored, Featherstar.” He began, his amber eyes blazing. “I promise to do my best to protect our Clan.”
“I know you will.” She mewed, flicking her tail. The silver tabby leader settled on the Highrock for the vigil, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The moon rose on the other side, and night took over the sky.
By moonhigh only the kits and apprentices had gone to sleep; the rest of the warriors and elders stayed up for the vigil.
“Thank you for giving me the chance to become a warrior.” One young warrior, Squirrelnose, mewed sadly, as Brackenstar had been her mentor. The moon was nearly full, Featherstar realized she had to select cats to go to the Gathering the next sunrise.
Featherstar lay down at her former leader’s head and rested her nose in his cold fur. “I am proud to have served you as your deputy.” She whispered. “I promise I will try my hardest to be as good a leader as you were.” Sadness engulfed the new ThunderClan leader as she closed her eyes to mourn the dead cat.
The next morning, Flameclaw and Larktail were preparing to bring Brackenstar’s body out of camp.
“May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep.” She recited the phrase, her tail drooping sadly. The Clan watched as Brackenstar’s ginger fur disappeared through the tunnel for the last time. Overcome by grief, Featherstar struggled to root her paws to the ground.
The dawn patrol came and went, successfully organized by Brambletail. Oakstripe, the patrol leader, reported nothing on the WindClan border.
“Those mouse-hearts are trying to be all innocent.” Kestrelfur spat, lashing his tail. “I bet they’ll dare place their filthy paws on our territory when we’re asleep.” The pale brown tabby warrior hissed. Featherstar raised her tail to silence him.
“We will continue to keep a watch on the WindClan border, but we shall not neglect ShadowClan or RiverClan either. Kestrelfur, don’t go looking for trouble. I want you to go hunting near Snakerocks with Dappleclaw, Flintpaw and Redstripe.” Quickly she ordered the patrol so the ambitious young warrior would have something to distract him.
Sweeping her tail, she beckoned Brambletail into the den.
“The Gathering is tonight. I want your opinion on who should go.” She began, seating herself on her nest and curling her tail around her paws.
“Definitely Dawnpaw and Thrushpaw,” Brambletail began, thinking. “They fought well against WindClan yesterday. And their mentors should probably come too.” Featherstar nodded, her blue eyes gleaming in the darkness. “Don’t forget the elders. Flameclaw wouldn’t miss one for a mousetail.”
Brambletail nodded before beginning to recite the list.
“Sandpelt, Dawnpaw, Volepelt, Thrushpaw, Starlingwing, Poppywhisker, Dappleclaw, Flintpaw, Redstripe, Reedtail, Whitefoot, Cinderwing, Gorsefoot, and Cloverheart.”
“Good choice. Get some rest now, you still have the sunhigh patrols to order.” Featherstar curled into her nest, her mind pondering what she should say at the Gathering. Instead of being at the foot of the rock below, this Gathering, she’d be on top of it, adressing all four Clans below. Closing her eyes, the ThunderClan leader let herself retreat into the darkness.
“It’s time to go to the Gathering, Featherstar.” Featherstar groggily opened her eyes. Brambletail was standing over her, one paw gently prodding her in the ribs. Great StarClan, did I sleep the entire day? Alarm suddenly flooded through the leader. Shaking her pelt and quickly grooming it, the silver tabby slipped out of her den after her deputy and called to the cats below.
“The Gathering is about to begin! ThunderClan, let’s go!” She called, padding swiftly out of the camp entrance.
One ear flicked back, Featherstar trotted swiftly through the forest, the soft paw steps of her Clanmates echoing behind her. Soon the Fourtrees clearing came into sight, and Featherstar paused at the top of the hill, waiting for the rest of the Clan to arrive.
“Let’s go!” She called, kinking her tail high over her back. ThunderClan swooped into the clearing, mixing in among the other Clans. Sandpelt directed her apprentice, Dawnpaw, to a secluded spot in the hollow, with Thrushpaw following her. Sandpelt slid off and disappeared among the mass of cats. Starlingwing sat down next to a lean grey tabby ShadowClan tom, exchanging words comfortably.
Featherstar leapt up the rock, digging her claws in wherever they would fit. Several cats gazed at her with confused expressions.
“Where’s Brackenstar?” A RiverClan cat whispered worriedly to her Clanmate.
Ivystar of RiverClan gazed down at her with a puzzled expression. “So Brackenstar finally joined StarClan, didn’t he?” The pale grey she-cat mewed, warmth sparking in her eyes.
“Sadly to say, yes.” Featherstar responded, fluffing her fur out against the cold.
“Let the Gathering begin!” The WindClan leader, Dewstar, yowled, his grey tabby pelt thin against his bones. “WindClan has been given plentiful prey this greenleaf, and we hope StarClan will continue to treat us kindly throughout leaf-bare.” Dewstar began, his gaze raking the cats below. “There was a fox on WindClan territory not long ago, but our warriors have chased it away.”
“Where’d the fox go?” One ShadowClan cat yowled, his tail twitching.
“It went towards the Twolegplace.” Dewstar replied, silencing the tom. Nodding to Ivystar, the RiverClan leader stepped forward.
“RiverClan’s prey has been full this moon, as well. We hope the river will not freeze this leaf-bare.” She began, fluffing her pelt. “Two RiverClan apprentices, Darkpaw and Troutpaw, have finished their training and are now known as Darkpelt and Troutleap.” The two young cats, two brothers, beamed proudly as the Clans obediently chanted their names.
“Darkpelt! Troutleap!”
“Darkpelt! Troutleap!”
Ivystar flicked her gaze to Stormstar, the ShadowClan leader.
“ShadowClan is well. The warm season has been kind to us and we hope to continue to feed ourselves throughout leaf-bare. We have a new litter of kits thanks to Silverfeather and her mate, Thornstripe.” The Clans quieted as Stormstar stepped back and let Featherstar take his place.
“It is with sadness I must announce that Brackenstar has joined StarClan.” Featherstar began, her ears twitching uncomfortably from all of the eyes staring at her. “I have replaced him as leader. He was a wonderful leader.” Several cats in the other Clans murmured agreement.
“He was peaceful. We hadn’t had a scuffle with ThunderClan in moons. I hope Featherstar will be the same way.” One WindClan cat whispered to his Clanmate.
“Brambletail is the new deputy of ThunderClan.” Featherstar mewed strongly when the murmuring died away. Cheers for the dark brown tabby warrior rose in the air.
“Brambletail! Brambletail!”
Featherstar changed the subject. “The warm season has fed ThunderClan well and we hope to have a plentiful leaf-bare.” With that she dipped her head and backed away from the edge of the rock. The other leaders jumped down from the Great Rock and began to mingle with the Clans. Featherstar scrambled down after them and sat near the base of the rock, her gaze flicking from different groups.
Dewstar was sitting with two WindClan warriors, listening intently to some ShadowClan cats telling a story about the Carrionplace. Splashcloud, the RiverClan deputy, was sharing tongues drowsily with a pale ginger ShadowClan tom.
Featherstar padded over to a group of RiverClan and WindClan cats. She spotted Cinderwing among the group.
“The fox let out a snarl and I had my claws out. Quickly I slashed its nose and darted out of reach.” The other cats leaned in eagerly as the storyteller, a ShadowClan tom by the name of Eaglewing, explained his battle with the fox.
“The fox turned and ran, yelping all the way.” He sat back, satisfied with his story. One of the RiverClan cats whispered to his Clanmate.
“The fox must have hit you somehow. I won’t believe it.”
“Well, it’s true! I got out of there without a scratch!” Eaglewing responded, his tail tip twitching.
“Let’s not let this escalate.” Featherstar quickly stepped in before the bickering between the young warriors got any more heated.
Eaglewing sat back and curled his tail over his paws again.
The cats looked up as Ivystar’s call rang across the clearing.
“RiverClan, it’s time to go!” Forlornly the RiverClan cats padded away from the group after their leader.
Featherstar gazed sympathetically at Cinderwing. “It’s time we head back too.” The silver tabby leader raised her head.
“ThunderClan, back to camp!”
Featherstar’s gaze flicked around the clearing, making sure her entire patrol was coming. Brambletail was soon beside her, and the silver tabby counted quickly. The full moon was lowering and her eyes started to droop with tiredness.
“Back to camp.” She mewed half-yawn.
Featherstar padded into the camp, barely able to keep their eyes open. Dawnpaw and Thrushpaw had slipped into the apprentices’ den to tell the story to their denmates.
Tail drooping with exhaustion, Featherstar stumbled into her nest and closed her eyes, gratefully letting the black wave engulf her.
A sound from the camp woke Featherstar. Her jaws parted in a yawn, the silver tabby she-cat slipped out of her den to sit on top of the Highrock while Brambletail sorted the dawn patrols. The cats named swiftly left camp. All that remained of the fresh-kill pile was a thin squirrel and a mouse. Featherstar sat back, letting Flintpaw take the prey to the elders’ den. Thrushpaw’s littermate quickly dropped off the prey and darted out of camp after his mentor, Dappleclaw.
“I’m going to go hunting, Brambletail.” Featherstar gave her thick silver fur a shake and padded towards the camp entrance while the Clan deputy nodded.
Greenleaf was coming to an end, and Featherstar could start to feel the chill biting at her skin. Fluffing her fur, the silver tabby padded out into the forest, relishing the fresh scents of the trees and prey. Sniffing carefully, she caught Flintpaw’s scent, along with Dappleclaw’s.
The ThunderClan leader made her way carefully away from the scent, hoping she wouldn’t run into the two. The breeze buffeted her fur gently, and the silver tabby padded softly through the forest. When ShadowClan scent touched her nose, Featherstar padded more carefully, walking along the border, occasionally marking the weak spots.
Suddenly a voice sounded from the shadows.
“What have we here? A solo patrol, done by the ThunderClan leader?”
Suppressing a sigh, Featherstar whirled around to meet a pale ginger ShadowClan tom with a smaller grey and white tom beside him.
“What do you want, Cedartail?” Featherstar growled, facing the ginger warrior.
“Just showing my apprentice the borders.” Cedartail responded, flicking his tail at the small cat beside him. “This is the ThunderClan border, Pigeonpaw. And that’s Featherstar, the ThunderClan leader.”
Pigeonpaw’s nose wrinkled as though he had caught a gross stench. “I’m glad I don’t live in ThunderClan!” The apprentice growled, shaking his head to clear it of the smell.
Cedartail cuffed the grey and white tom crossly. “Don’t say that in front of the ThunderClan leader!” Featherstar could see that the cuff was half-hearted and that Cedartail probably didn’t mind his apprentice insulting ThunderClan in front of her.
“But why? They stink like badgers!” Cedartail threw an apologetic glance at Featherstar when more pawsteps caught her attention.
“Cedartail, can’t ShadowClan keep its apprentices under control?” Featherstar’s mind whirled with relief as she heard the reassuring voice of Oakstripe.
“Of course it can. We just make sure each apprentice knows the scents of the other Clans.” The pale ginger ShadowClan tom responded, his tail flicking. “Come on Pigeonpaw, we still haven’t reached the Carrionplace yet.” Cedartail disappeared into the undergrowth with the grey and white apprentice following, sending a disapproving look at Featherstar as he went. Her tail flicking, Oakstripe turned to Featherstar.
“Cocky ShadowClan apprentice. Nothing special.” The ThunderClan warrior sighed, and began to pad along the border.
Featherstar felt her body quiver whenever her gaze fell upon Oakstripe’s dark brown pelt. Shaking the feeling away, she followed her Clanmate, marking the border as she went.
“How was the solo patrol?” Oakstripe asked, slowing down so Featherstar could keep pace with him.
“It was nice and peaceful until I ran into Cedartail and that ShadowClan apprentice.” The silver tabby she-cat replied, fluffing her fur slightly.
“We might as well hit the RiverClan border while we’re at it. They still have Sunningrocks, but I’d rather not risk a battle this late in greenleaf. We need to stock up for leaf-bare.” Oakstripe mewed, his tail tip flicking. Occasionally their fur brushed. Featherstar looked away, feeling heat rise in her ears.
“It’s hard to keep the patrols from attacking when they see RiverClan cats on the rocks.” Featherstar replied, forcing her fur flat again. “It’s so tempting, they’re like fish out of water.”
Oakstripe let out a soft purr and nodded. “I remember when I ran over the border and accused a RiverClan cat of trespassing when I was an apprentice.” The dark brown cat’s chest rumbled with purrs as he thought of the memory.
“You gave Larktail such a fright.” Featherstar responded, flicking him with her tail. “You were lucky those RiverClan cats didn’t shred you.” Oakstripe puffed out his chest. “No cat shreds me!” Purring, Featherstar nudged him. “Come on, we’re almost at the rocks.”
Oakstripe shook his head as he purred. Suddenly he stopped in his tracks. RiverClan scent, fresh, flooded the border, and trampled ferns gave away where the enemy patrol had crashed through their territory.
“They’re heading straight for the camp!” Panic lighting her gaze, Featherstar raced away, hoping Oakstripe was following. Soon she heard the puffs of the dark brown tom as he caught up.
Screeches could be heard and Featherstar whirled around the battle and dashed into camp. Brambletail was standing in the center of the clearing, his fur spiked.
“I sent Reedtail, Squirrelnose, Adderfur, and Willowflower out to meet the RiverClan patrol. Kestrelfur, Cinderwing, Frostheart, and Redstripe are the backup patrol. RiverClan brought a small battle patrol.” He informed quickly. Featherstar nodded. “Oakstripe is out with Reedtail’s patrol now.” She mewed. “I’m going out too. The rest of you, stand guard. Sandpelt, guard the nursery. Cloverheart, take the elders’ den.” Featherstar mewed, then hared out of camp. The yowls of RiverClan cats and battle cries of ThunderClan cats echoed in her ears as her paws pounded the forest floor. Just as she reached the battle, Kestrelfur’s yowl pierced her ears.
“Attack!” The second patrol hared down from the ravine and plunged into the battle. Featherstar spotted a silver tom and leapt on top of him, her claws digging into his shoulders. The tom writhed and bucked beneath her, and the ThunderClan leader lost her grip and was plunged into the undergrowth. Fury blazing, Featherstar raced to her paws and charged him, ducking beneath his legs and bucking as she felt his belly on her spine.
“Having trouble out of the water, fish face?” She snarled, whirling as he fell and hooking him with her claws.
The RiverClan warrior tore himself free and whirled to fight, aiming a blow at Featherstar’s nose. She didn’t duck in time and screeched as the claws tore her nose. Blood dripping, she lunged for him, hooking her claws in his shoulders and forcing him onto his back. The warrior writhed beneath her, spitting furiously. “ThunderClan maggot-heart!” With a powerful lurch he threw Featherstar off and whirled around. Panting, Featherstar screeched, racing at him and then leaping high over his head. Panic swirled in the tom’s eyes and he fled, pelt bushing. Featherstar scanned the battle, her heart lurching as she spotted a burly RiverClan cat with a paw on Oakstripe’s neck. Hissing, the ThunderClan leader raced forward, slamming into the tom, knocking him sideways. Oakstripe scrambled to his paws, breathing heavily.
“Thanks,” he grunted as he lined up beside her. Swiping paw for paw, the two drove the RiverClan cat deeper into the brambles until he shrieked, racing away with clumps of fur hanging from his pelt.
“We make a good team.” She mewed, wishing she had time to say more. By now the battle was slowing. Featherstar darted forward with a hiss as she spotted Splashcloud, the RiverClan deputy. Reedtail spun and pinned him.
“Take your filthy paws and leave ThunderClan territory.” Featherstar snarled, glaring at him. “Now.” Reedtail stepped back and watched Splashcloud disappear into the undergrowth as he fled.
The silver tabby ThunderClan leader flicked her gaze from warrior to warrior, assessing injuries. Adderfur’s shoulder was bleeding from a scratch, and Cinderwing’s ears took a beating.
“Let’s get back to camp so Quailpelt can treat your wounds.” Featherstar mewed, padding off into the undergrowth towards camp.
Back in the camp, warriors who had not fought were antsy, tails twitching uneasily.
“We have won.” Featherstar reported, waiting a moment for the cheering to die down. Quailpelt slipped out of his den with leaf bundles in his jaws, padding from cat to cat to treat them.
“RiverClan may try an attack like this again. I want patrols to be extra viligant when patrolling the RiverClan border.”
Brambletail nodded, his dark brown tabby pelt pricked. What provoked RiverClan to do this?
Featherstar sighed. Her peaceful walk in the forest with Oakstripe had been interrupted. Her flank ached from a scratch, and one of her claws hurt. Shaking off the pain, the silver tabby padded into her den and curled up in her nest.
She closed her eyes and rested for a moment, when a voice interrupted her.
“Featherstar?”
Her heart skipped a beat as the familiar voice reached her ears.
“Yes, Oakstripe?” She opened her eyes and lifted her head to see the handsome dark brown tabby tom. His amber eyes gazed at hers with warmth.
“Are you okay? You took quite a beating from that RiverClan cat.”
Featherstar purred and sat up in her nest. “I’m okay. But what about you? Your paw’s got a nasty bite mark on it.” She mewed, pointing at it with her tail.
Oakstripe wiggled it experimentally. “Oh, it’s nothing.” He mewed, gazing at her with laughter.
“Okay, we both go to the medicine den then.” She responded, flicking him teasingly with her tail and slipped out of the den. Oakstripe purred and followed.
Quailpelt hurried to meet Featherstar as she emerged.
“There you are!” He exclaimed, his tail tip twitching. “Everyone but you and Oakstripe are treated. Come now, let me get you something for that scratch.” The medicine cat disappeared momentarily into his den and reappeared with a leaf in his jaws. “I’ll put this marigold poultice on your scratch, and then I’ll check your wrenched claw.” He explained, chewing the herb and plastering it over her wound. She twitched uncomfortably, feeling the sticky leaf attach itself to her fur. Quailpelt bent down and inspected her claw. “Just a wrench. Don’t walk on it, and don’t use it for anything. No pressure on it. I’ll give you some herbs to help heal it.” He instructed, placing more chewed herbs on it.
Featherstar nodded. “Thanks, Quailpelt. Don’t forget about Oakstripe.” She mewed, glancing over her shoulder at the warrior, who was standing patiently at the entrance to the den.
Featherfur, a pretty silver tabby she-cat, hesitated before replying.
“Yes, Quailpelt. I am.” Featherfur was ThunderClan’s deputy. The ThunderClan leader, Brackenstar, had joined StarClan earlier that morning. The old ginger tom was struggling against a resistant case of greencough, and none of Quailpelt’s herbs helped. Featherfur’s grief never seemed to cease; she wondered if she would be plagued by it forever.
Quailpelt nodded and disappeared down Mothermouth. The dark cave stood, silent and empty, like a hungry shadow. Reluctantly Featherfur followed, trotting quickly to catch up with the medicine cat. Quailpelt moved quickly and silently across the cave floor, Featherfur tried not to think about the miles of rock above her head. Occasionally she could feel tunnels on either side of her, but when she turned to look, she saw nothing but shadow. Tail twitching anxiously, ensured Quailpelt was in front of her by feeling for his tail.
Soon a very, very soft glow could be seen, and Featherfur could just make out her medicine cat’s outline against it. The Moonstone stood, dark and ominous in the center of the cave, and a single star twinkled through the hole. Soon the moon made its way across the sky and light poured in, drenching the Moonstone in cold light.
“Remember, Featherfur. What happens to you now you must never tell any cat about. This burden is for you to share alone.” Quailpelt mewed, touching the deputy’s shoulder with his tail. “Lie down and touch the stone with your nose.” He instructed as he settled himself beside the glowing rock.
Featherfur nodded, wincing as the cold stone floor chilled her belly. She closed her eyes and pushed her nose against the stone. It seemed to throb with warmth, as if she was at her mother’s belly as a kit once again. When Featherfur opened her eyes, she found herself standing in a lush forest clearing, with bright greenleaf trees all around her. Squirrels darted between the branches and birdsong could be heard. She turned her head to see Quailpelt beside her. The pale brown tabby tom sat down and curled his tail over his forepaws, waiting patiently.
Soon she could see a familiar ginger pelt.
“Brackenstar!” She gasped. The former ThunderClan leader, who had looked so frail and bony, his body wracked with coughs, was now young and strong again, no signs of the greencough that had killed him.
“Welcome to StarClan, Featherfur.” Brackenstar purred as he padded up to her.
“I am proud to pass down the leadership of ThunderClan to you. I always knew you were the right choice when I chose you to become my deputy, and now is the day for you to prove it to yourself.” He mewed, his green gaze locking onto her blue one.
“With this life I give you courage. You must have courage to lead your Clan along difficult paths, however scary they may be.” Brackenstar’s nose touched Featherfur’s and she clenched her teeth was a wave of pain flowed through her body.
Brackenstar stepped back. A new cat appeared behind him, and Featherfur realized that more of StarClan had come - however she couldn’t recognize any faces. This cat was a ginger and white, her amber eyes warm and kind. “My name is Brighttail. I was a warrior of ThunderClan many seasons ago.” She mewed. “I give you a life for certainty. If you are not certain of your decision, it may affect your Clan in more ways than one.” The ancient cat’s pale nose touched Featherfur’s. The silver tabby’s claws curled into the grass as her body convulsed. That’s only two lives.. how much more can I stand?
“You can do it, my dear.” An achingly familiar voice mewed, distracting Featherfur from her ebbing pain.
“Goldenbird!” Featherfur whispered, her blue eyes fixed on the golden tabby pelt of her mother in front of her.
“You’re doing wonderful, Featherfur. I’m so proud of you.” Goldenbird meowed, her golden tail touching her daughter’s shoulder briefly.
“I give you a life for the love of a mother. Treat your Clan as if they were your kits.” Goldenbird touched her nose to Featherfur’s. The ThunderClan deputy purred as a soft warmth rolled through her body.
Goldenbird had stepped back, strength glowing in her eyes. In front of her now was another familiar pelt, the grey tabby pelt of her father.
“Stormclaw, I miss you so much!” Featherfur meowed, yearning to curl up at her father’s side.
“I’m glad.” Stormclaw purred. “I give you a life for determination. Don’t give up if things start to go wrong, for it will always turn out to be good in the end.”
The grey tabby warrior touched his nose to his daughter’s head. Featherfur felt a fierce urge to keep going run through her body, and she struggled to keep her paws rooted to the ground.
Stormclaw had settled back beside Goldenbird. Now a pure black tom appeared before her, his amber eyes glowing.
“Ravenwhisker!” Featherfur mewed. The former elder’s ragged black pelt was now strong and healthy, and his old scars had disappeared.
“You have done well, Featherfur.” Ravenwhisker began. “I give you a life for listening to the elders. Elders are the wisdom of the Clan, they have been around for longest and have experienced more than any other warrior. Without them, there is no Clan to teach.” The black tom’s nose touched her head. Featherfur’s body tingled, and she sturggled to control herself.
That’s five lives. I have four left.
In front of her now was a familiar white pelt.
“Snowpool!” Featherfur exclaimed, gazing at her sister with happiness.
“Congratulations, Featherfur!” Snowpool mewed, bouncing slightly on her starlight paws.
“I give you a life for compassion. Be sure every cat gets the sympathy they deserve, for no cat should be left alone.” Her white pelt glowed as she touched her sister’s nose. Featherfur’s claws tore at the grass and her body shook.
Snowpool padded away and sat beside her parents, and out of the mist came a small black and white cat.
“Patchpaw!” Featherfur mewed as she recovered from Snowpool’s life.
“I wish I could have lived to become a warrior.” Patchpaw mewed sadly.
“But you’ve done great without me, and I’m glad you’re becoming ThunderClan’s leader!” The little cat mewed.
“I give you a life for mentoring. There is always more to teach than battle skills, and every cat can always learn more.” Featherfur stooped to let her former apprentice touch her nose. She always felt like she failed him, the day the badger took his life. It haunted her for moons after. But now, seeing the strength in his eyes, she knew he forgave her.
“Thank you, Patchpaw.” Featherfur mewed, resisting the urge to nuzzle the apprentice.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered.
“What for?” Patchpaw asked. “You have nothing to be sorry about, you couldn’t have stopped the badger.” He turned and disappeared into the ranks of StarClan. She heard his voice, echoing in her head.
“I forgive you.”
Featherfur let out a sigh. A huge weight seemed to have been taken off her shoulders.
“Wake up, Featherfur!” A voice mewed cheerily.
“Stonestripe!” Featherfur exclaimed as she looked at the pale grey tabby tom in front of her. Her former mentor looked very healthy, the sickness that had taken him was no longer seen.
“I’m very proud of you, Featherfur. You have proved your loyalty to ThunderClan many times over.” He touched his nose to her head.
“I give you a life for faith. StarClan will always be there, but we can only help you if you choose to let us.” Featherfur rocked forward as the life jarred her.
“You’ll be okay.” Stonestripe whispered as he walked away and joined the ranks of StarClan.
Who will give me my last life?
An unknown cat appeared before her, his fiery orange pelt translucent with age.
Featherfur gasped and bowed, her chin fur brushing the ground.
“It is time for you to receive your final life.” The cat mewed. It was Thunderstar, the founder of ThunderClan.
“StarClan has been waiting a long time for you. ThunderClan will thrive under your leadership, however there will be challenges you must overcome. When all seems lost, look to the stars.” He mewed, his voice deep. Featherfur could see the forest behind his ancient pelt.
“I give you a life for loyalty. You must always be loyal to your Clan, but you can never demand it from them. Your warriors must decide where their loyalty lies.” Thunderstar’s nose touched hers. Featherfur stiffened as the life passed through her body. As she relaxed, Thunderstar threw his head back and yowled to the sky.
“Featherstar! Featherstar!” The rest of StarClan joined in, yowling her name to the stars. Featherstar waited patiently for them to quiet before speaking.
“I promise to make ThunderClan a respected force among the forest Clans, and if I can be half the leader Brackenstar was, that’s good enough for me.”
Thunderstar’s fiery amber gaze locked onto hers.
“Remember, Featherstar. You can always improve.” With that, StarClan spiraled away, the last of their lingering scent fading soon after.
“Shall we head back to the Clan?” Quailpelt mewed, reminding Featherstar that he was there.
“Yes, we shall.” She mewed. With renewed strength of nine new lives in her body, she felt she could run for seasons.
Quailpelt closed his eyes and disappeared. Featherstar took a deep breath, taking in the remnants of StarClan’s scent.
The silver tabby she-cat opened her eyes and found herself at the foot of the Moonstone, which was no longer starlit now that the moon had passed.
Quailpelt was getting to his paws beside her; Featherstar stretched before heading out of the tunnel.
“It’s getting to be dawn, Featherstar. The faster we get back to camp, the better.” Quailpelt mewed as he followed behind her.
“We might run into a WindClan patrol,” She warned him, flicking her silver-striped tail.
Soon the light strengthened and Featherstar could see the pale outline of the mouth of the cave. She trotted towards it, squeezing her eyes shut as the light blinded them.
“Let’s skirt the moor best we can.” Featherstar mewed as Quailpelt emerged from Mothermouth behind her.
The two cats set off at a brisk pace, making the widest possible curve around WindClan territory. There was a hunting patrol in the distance, but they didn’t spot the ThunderClan cats.
With the moor disappearing in the few trees behind them, Featherstar and Quailpelt emerged at the Thunderpath. Monsters roared by, shaking the ground. Gagging on the stench, Featherstar waited for a gap.
“Now!” She yowled, haring across.
She ran like a Clan of foxes were chasing her. With Quailpelt hard on her paws, they tumbled over the edge of the Thunderpath just as another roar grew louder.
“I’ll never get used to it.” She muttered, licking her chest fur.
“That was close.” Quailpelt meowed, giving his fur a good shake.
“Too close.” The silver tabby replied.
Fourtrees lay ahead of them now, Featherstar could just barely see the tops of the great oaks.
Soon they came into the empty clearing. The Great Rock rose like a wave over the cat-scented ground, its large gray form shadowed by the rising sun.
Featherstar trotted a little faster when she smelled the ThunderClan scent marks. The dawn patrol had passed, and by the scents she could distinguish Willowflower, Sandpelt, and her apprentice, Dawnpaw.
Dawnpaw was Patchpaw’s littermate. She had quickly gotten over her brother’s death, and she spent a lot of time with another apprentice, Flintpaw, from another litter.
“We’ll be getting kits in the coming seasons.” Featherstar purred as she crossed the ThunderClan scent lines.
“I don’t know how Flintpaw doesn’t notice. Dawnpaw’s been mooning over him for the past two moons.” Quailpelt mewed, his tail waving.
The scents of the dawn patrol faded and Featherstar spotted Snakerocks in the distance. She trotted onward, and was soon able to see the camp entrance.
Quailpelt followed, and the two nosed their way in through the thorn tunnel.
“Welcome back, Featherstar!” One cat yowled.
Featherstar dipped her head in response, her eyes shining. Quailpelt had disappeared into his den, the fern tunnel shuddering as the brown tabby tom moved through it.
Featherstar climbed to the top of the Highrock and disappeared into the leaders’ den. Brackenstar’s scent still lingered, and the former leader’s nest was still in the den.
Letting out a grunt of effort, Featherstar clawed the old moss away, sneezing a little as a bit of dust drifted from it.
“Featherstar?” A voice behind her mewed. “Do you need help?”
“I guess I wouldn’t mind some, Cloverheart.” Featherstar replied, flicking her tail to invite the white she-cat.
With Cloverheart beside her, Brackenstar’s old nest was soon cleared out.
“Thanks for your help, Cloverheart.” Featherstar mumbled around her mouthful of most.
“No problem, Featherstar.” Cloverheart replied as she whisked out of the den, a bundle of moss tucked under her chin.
The new leader padded awkwardly from her den with the moss in her jaws. She carefully made her way down the rockpile and towards the camp entrance. She dropped the spoiled moss outside the camp wall and turned to follow Cloverheart back inside camp.
I need to choose a deputy.
She glanced around at her Clan, her blue gaze resting thoughtfully on each cat.
Adderfur’s strong and loyal, but he doesn’t always see that peace can be better than battle.
Featherstar let out a sigh as she grabbed a small shrew from the fresh-kill pile.
I have till moonhigh to make my decision.
The ThunderClan leader had just finished her shrew and was licking her jaws when Brambletail pounded in, his fur spiked.
“WindClan has attacked our patrol!” He gasped, panting.
Featherstar leapt to her paws, forcing her fur to lie flat.
“Volepelt, is Thrushpaw battle-ready?” Featherstar meowed, thinking quickly.
“Yes, Featherstar. He’s had three moons of battle training.” The pale brown tabby warrior replied.
“Good. You, Thrushpaw, Leafwhisker, Reedtail, Whitefoot and myself will accompany Brambletail back to where the patrol is fighting.” The silver tabby she-cat mewed. “The rest of you, stay behind. WindClan may try to bring the fight to our camp.” She instructed before darting into the thorn tunnel and out into ThunderClan territory.
Brambletail’s dark brown tabby pelt flashed between the trees as he led the way to where the patrol was fighting.
Soon Featherstar could hear the yowls of warriors, and ear-splitting screeches sending prey running.
The backup patrol pounded into a clearing, where three ThunderClan warriors grappled with several WindClan cats.
Gorsefoot’s claws were locked into a pale grey tabby’s back, his eyes burning with fury. Brambletail let out a battle cry and rammed the WindClan warrior, sending him tumbling under Gorsefoot. A mottled brown tabby leapt on top of Brambletail, sending the dark brown tabby plunging underneath a mess of fur.
“Stay near me!” Volepelt hissed to his apprentice before he slipped off into the undergrowth, Thrushpaw followed, pressing back against the brambles.
Featherstar unsheathed her claws and let out a yowl of fury, leaping on top of a grey tabby tom. The WindClan cat squirmed beneath her as he struggled to wriggle himself free, but the ThunderClan leader’s greater weight kept him pinned.
“ThunderClan crow-food!” The grey tabby tom spat, aiming weak blows at Featherstar. “A mouse could do better than you, Featherfur!” He snarled, throwing himself up, unbalancing Featherstar.
“I see your bird-brained Clanmates didn’t tell you the news,” Featherstar hissed, flying at him with outstretched claws. “I am leader of ThunderClan now!” The grey tabby tom, Rabbitclaw, didn’t flinch, his wild amber gaze fixed on Featherstar’s blue ones.
“Brackenstar should have made a different choice.” Rabbitclaw snarled. “I won’t have to worry about ThunderClan anymore, not with a mouse-hearted leader like you!” With a great leap the WindClan cat rammed into Featherstar’s chest, knocking the breath out of her.
Featherstar let out a low snarl, her tail lashing angrily. “At least ThunderClan cats know how to fight!” She pushed upward with a powerful heave, throwing Rabbitclaw off. Her claws unsheathed, exhilaration flew through her body as she slashed, swipe after swipe, her claws scoring through the WindClan warrior’s fur. Rabbitclaw let out a hiss of pain and leapt away, teeth bared. With a fierce glare he charged her, bowling her over into the undergrowth. Featherstar spat out grey tabby fur as she sunk her teeth in Rabbitclaw’s shoulder and gripped with her claws, hauling him off.
Suddenly Rabbitclaw disappeared as a streak of brown flashed at the edge of her vision.
Brambletail!
Featherstar leapt to her paws as Brambletail battled the WindClan warrior. With a snarl of rage she joined the fight, matching Brambletail blow for blow. The ThunderClan leader jumped high into the air, squashing Rabbitclaw beneath her.
“Run, WindClan mange-pelt,” Featherstar hissed, her claws glinting. “ThunderClan cats don’t like scrawny mice on their territory.” Rabbitclaw got the message and hared away as soon as he was released. Featherstar looked up to see the rest of her Clanmates had chased away the WindClan cats.
“No, Thrushpaw, come back!” Volepelt yowled, his fur spiked with blood and his chest heaving. “They’ve been beaten, you don’t need to tell them that!”
Thrushpaw trotted reluctantly back to his mentor. A fresh nick on his ear showed from his first battle, and a scratch scored across his shoulder.
“Got your first battle scars?” Sandpelt shoved Thrushpaw jokingly. The brown apprentice flicked his nicked ear.
“Yeah.” He swished his tail. “How’d Dawnpaw do?”
“I fought like a warrior.” Came a voice behind him. Thrushpaw whirled around to see his creamy-colored denmate standing beside him, blood trickling from a gash on her leg.
“Did you see me slash that WindClan cat’s nose? He ran like a horde of badgers were after him!” Dawnpaw squealed, prancing around Thrushpaw.
“Alright, let’s get back to camp and have Quailpelt treat your injuries.” Featherstar mewed, raising her voice so her Clanmates could hear her. Through the trees the silver tabby she-cat saw the last of the WindClan cats race over the hills and towards their camp.
The camp was buzzing with activity when Featherstar returned with the battle patrol.
“Come on, Foxkit, out of the way of the warriors.” Blackfeather mewed gently, waving her tail at her son to herd him back into the nursery.
“But I want to help!” The little pale orange tom complained, struggling to escape his mother’s grip.
Featherstar didn’t hear the rest of the conversation as her attention shifted to the rest of the camp. Cats had started to reinforce the dens and camp entrance. Pride for her Clan suddenly flowed through her body, making her claw tips tremble.
Oakstripe padded forward, his dark brown tabby tail waving.
“We decided we should reinforce the camp in case WindClan broke through the patrol.” He mewed, pointing with his tail-tip at the cats weaving bramble stems into the thorn barrier and fern leaves into the nursery.
Adderfur was busy with a thorn branch, tugging it into place between the bramble vines. Blackfeather’s mate, Starlingwing, was busy weaving a large fern leaf into place, then stuck his head inside the nursery and asked “Is this okay?”
Featherstar nodded gratefully to the warrior and padded off towards the medicine den. Whitefoot was resting in a spare nest with her leg stretched out. A gash ran along it and Featherstar struggled not to wince at the blood oozing out of it. Sandpelt padded in, blood dripping from a gash in her ear.
Quailpelt was busy tending to Reedtail, who had a bite mark on his neck.
“There you are. Come see me tomorrow so I can check it. I might need to add another poultice.” The ThunderClan medicine cat instructed the warrior as the black tom left the den.
“Thanks, Quailpelt!”
“Oh, hello Featherstar, didn’t see you there. Do you have any wounds needing treatment?” Quailpelt mewed as he spotted her in the shadows. The pale brown tabby mixed a poultice of marigold and started to apply it to Whitefoot’s wound while waiting for her response.
“No, don’t worry about me.” She mewed, flicking her tail. “The other cats need treatment.”
Quailpelt let out a sigh before turning to Sandpelt’s ear. “Whether you want me to or not, Featherstar, I’m going to take a look at you.” The pale brown tabby medicine cat secured a poultice of goldenrod with a cobweb before turning to his leader.
“You’ve got a scratch near the base of your tail,” He pointed out sniffing the wound carefully before mixing up a small poultice.
“Rabbitclaw gave it to me.” Featherstar snorted, wincing slightly as the poultice was applied.
Quailpelt secured the poultice before sending Featherstar away.
“Thanks, Quailpelt.” Featherstar called over her shoulder before padding into the center of the clearing, where Brackenstar’s body still lay. The setting sun cast a shadow next to Brackenstar’s unmoving form. I still need to choose a deputy for ThunderClan! She leapt up on top of the Highrock and prepared to call her first summons to the Clan.
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!”
Cats who didn’t go to the battle emerged from their dens, and those who did looked up from licking their wounds. Thrushpaw seated himself next to Dawnpaw, who shifted a bit closer to her brown denmate.
“Our battle patrol has beaten the WindClan cats trying to cross our borders.” She began, the sun turning her silver fur creamy.
Cheers rose up from the cats below and she waited for a few heartbeats before raising her tail for silence.
“Brackenstar was a wonderful leader. We shall mourn him forever.” She leapt down and touched her nose to Brackenstar’s cold ginger fur one last time.
“The vigil for Brackenstar is tonight.” She mewed to the rest of the Clan before continuing.
“However, before drawing this meeting to a close, I have one more announcement to make. I say these words before StarClan, that the spirit of Brackenstar will hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of ThunderClan is Brambletail.” She rested her head on the shocked warrior’s head and he licked her shoulder in turn.
“I am honored, Featherstar.” He began, his amber eyes blazing. “I promise to do my best to protect our Clan.”
“I know you will.” She mewed, flicking her tail. The silver tabby leader settled on the Highrock for the vigil, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The moon rose on the other side, and night took over the sky.
By moonhigh only the kits and apprentices had gone to sleep; the rest of the warriors and elders stayed up for the vigil.
“Thank you for giving me the chance to become a warrior.” One young warrior, Squirrelnose, mewed sadly, as Brackenstar had been her mentor. The moon was nearly full, Featherstar realized she had to select cats to go to the Gathering the next sunrise.
Featherstar lay down at her former leader’s head and rested her nose in his cold fur. “I am proud to have served you as your deputy.” She whispered. “I promise I will try my hardest to be as good a leader as you were.” Sadness engulfed the new ThunderClan leader as she closed her eyes to mourn the dead cat.
The next morning, Flameclaw and Larktail were preparing to bring Brackenstar’s body out of camp.
“May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep.” She recited the phrase, her tail drooping sadly. The Clan watched as Brackenstar’s ginger fur disappeared through the tunnel for the last time. Overcome by grief, Featherstar struggled to root her paws to the ground.
The dawn patrol came and went, successfully organized by Brambletail. Oakstripe, the patrol leader, reported nothing on the WindClan border.
“Those mouse-hearts are trying to be all innocent.” Kestrelfur spat, lashing his tail. “I bet they’ll dare place their filthy paws on our territory when we’re asleep.” The pale brown tabby warrior hissed. Featherstar raised her tail to silence him.
“We will continue to keep a watch on the WindClan border, but we shall not neglect ShadowClan or RiverClan either. Kestrelfur, don’t go looking for trouble. I want you to go hunting near Snakerocks with Dappleclaw, Flintpaw and Redstripe.” Quickly she ordered the patrol so the ambitious young warrior would have something to distract him.
Sweeping her tail, she beckoned Brambletail into the den.
“The Gathering is tonight. I want your opinion on who should go.” She began, seating herself on her nest and curling her tail around her paws.
“Definitely Dawnpaw and Thrushpaw,” Brambletail began, thinking. “They fought well against WindClan yesterday. And their mentors should probably come too.” Featherstar nodded, her blue eyes gleaming in the darkness. “Don’t forget the elders. Flameclaw wouldn’t miss one for a mousetail.”
Brambletail nodded before beginning to recite the list.
“Sandpelt, Dawnpaw, Volepelt, Thrushpaw, Starlingwing, Poppywhisker, Dappleclaw, Flintpaw, Redstripe, Reedtail, Whitefoot, Cinderwing, Gorsefoot, and Cloverheart.”
“Good choice. Get some rest now, you still have the sunhigh patrols to order.” Featherstar curled into her nest, her mind pondering what she should say at the Gathering. Instead of being at the foot of the rock below, this Gathering, she’d be on top of it, adressing all four Clans below. Closing her eyes, the ThunderClan leader let herself retreat into the darkness.
“It’s time to go to the Gathering, Featherstar.” Featherstar groggily opened her eyes. Brambletail was standing over her, one paw gently prodding her in the ribs. Great StarClan, did I sleep the entire day? Alarm suddenly flooded through the leader. Shaking her pelt and quickly grooming it, the silver tabby slipped out of her den after her deputy and called to the cats below.
“The Gathering is about to begin! ThunderClan, let’s go!” She called, padding swiftly out of the camp entrance.
One ear flicked back, Featherstar trotted swiftly through the forest, the soft paw steps of her Clanmates echoing behind her. Soon the Fourtrees clearing came into sight, and Featherstar paused at the top of the hill, waiting for the rest of the Clan to arrive.
“Let’s go!” She called, kinking her tail high over her back. ThunderClan swooped into the clearing, mixing in among the other Clans. Sandpelt directed her apprentice, Dawnpaw, to a secluded spot in the hollow, with Thrushpaw following her. Sandpelt slid off and disappeared among the mass of cats. Starlingwing sat down next to a lean grey tabby ShadowClan tom, exchanging words comfortably.
Featherstar leapt up the rock, digging her claws in wherever they would fit. Several cats gazed at her with confused expressions.
“Where’s Brackenstar?” A RiverClan cat whispered worriedly to her Clanmate.
Ivystar of RiverClan gazed down at her with a puzzled expression. “So Brackenstar finally joined StarClan, didn’t he?” The pale grey she-cat mewed, warmth sparking in her eyes.
“Sadly to say, yes.” Featherstar responded, fluffing her fur out against the cold.
“Let the Gathering begin!” The WindClan leader, Dewstar, yowled, his grey tabby pelt thin against his bones. “WindClan has been given plentiful prey this greenleaf, and we hope StarClan will continue to treat us kindly throughout leaf-bare.” Dewstar began, his gaze raking the cats below. “There was a fox on WindClan territory not long ago, but our warriors have chased it away.”
“Where’d the fox go?” One ShadowClan cat yowled, his tail twitching.
“It went towards the Twolegplace.” Dewstar replied, silencing the tom. Nodding to Ivystar, the RiverClan leader stepped forward.
“RiverClan’s prey has been full this moon, as well. We hope the river will not freeze this leaf-bare.” She began, fluffing her pelt. “Two RiverClan apprentices, Darkpaw and Troutpaw, have finished their training and are now known as Darkpelt and Troutleap.” The two young cats, two brothers, beamed proudly as the Clans obediently chanted their names.
“Darkpelt! Troutleap!”
“Darkpelt! Troutleap!”
Ivystar flicked her gaze to Stormstar, the ShadowClan leader.
“ShadowClan is well. The warm season has been kind to us and we hope to continue to feed ourselves throughout leaf-bare. We have a new litter of kits thanks to Silverfeather and her mate, Thornstripe.” The Clans quieted as Stormstar stepped back and let Featherstar take his place.
“It is with sadness I must announce that Brackenstar has joined StarClan.” Featherstar began, her ears twitching uncomfortably from all of the eyes staring at her. “I have replaced him as leader. He was a wonderful leader.” Several cats in the other Clans murmured agreement.
“He was peaceful. We hadn’t had a scuffle with ThunderClan in moons. I hope Featherstar will be the same way.” One WindClan cat whispered to his Clanmate.
“Brambletail is the new deputy of ThunderClan.” Featherstar mewed strongly when the murmuring died away. Cheers for the dark brown tabby warrior rose in the air.
“Brambletail! Brambletail!”
Featherstar changed the subject. “The warm season has fed ThunderClan well and we hope to have a plentiful leaf-bare.” With that she dipped her head and backed away from the edge of the rock. The other leaders jumped down from the Great Rock and began to mingle with the Clans. Featherstar scrambled down after them and sat near the base of the rock, her gaze flicking from different groups.
Dewstar was sitting with two WindClan warriors, listening intently to some ShadowClan cats telling a story about the Carrionplace. Splashcloud, the RiverClan deputy, was sharing tongues drowsily with a pale ginger ShadowClan tom.
Featherstar padded over to a group of RiverClan and WindClan cats. She spotted Cinderwing among the group.
“The fox let out a snarl and I had my claws out. Quickly I slashed its nose and darted out of reach.” The other cats leaned in eagerly as the storyteller, a ShadowClan tom by the name of Eaglewing, explained his battle with the fox.
“The fox turned and ran, yelping all the way.” He sat back, satisfied with his story. One of the RiverClan cats whispered to his Clanmate.
“The fox must have hit you somehow. I won’t believe it.”
“Well, it’s true! I got out of there without a scratch!” Eaglewing responded, his tail tip twitching.
“Let’s not let this escalate.” Featherstar quickly stepped in before the bickering between the young warriors got any more heated.
Eaglewing sat back and curled his tail over his paws again.
The cats looked up as Ivystar’s call rang across the clearing.
“RiverClan, it’s time to go!” Forlornly the RiverClan cats padded away from the group after their leader.
Featherstar gazed sympathetically at Cinderwing. “It’s time we head back too.” The silver tabby leader raised her head.
“ThunderClan, back to camp!”
Featherstar’s gaze flicked around the clearing, making sure her entire patrol was coming. Brambletail was soon beside her, and the silver tabby counted quickly. The full moon was lowering and her eyes started to droop with tiredness.
“Back to camp.” She mewed half-yawn.
Featherstar padded into the camp, barely able to keep their eyes open. Dawnpaw and Thrushpaw had slipped into the apprentices’ den to tell the story to their denmates.
Tail drooping with exhaustion, Featherstar stumbled into her nest and closed her eyes, gratefully letting the black wave engulf her.
A sound from the camp woke Featherstar. Her jaws parted in a yawn, the silver tabby she-cat slipped out of her den to sit on top of the Highrock while Brambletail sorted the dawn patrols. The cats named swiftly left camp. All that remained of the fresh-kill pile was a thin squirrel and a mouse. Featherstar sat back, letting Flintpaw take the prey to the elders’ den. Thrushpaw’s littermate quickly dropped off the prey and darted out of camp after his mentor, Dappleclaw.
“I’m going to go hunting, Brambletail.” Featherstar gave her thick silver fur a shake and padded towards the camp entrance while the Clan deputy nodded.
Greenleaf was coming to an end, and Featherstar could start to feel the chill biting at her skin. Fluffing her fur, the silver tabby padded out into the forest, relishing the fresh scents of the trees and prey. Sniffing carefully, she caught Flintpaw’s scent, along with Dappleclaw’s.
The ThunderClan leader made her way carefully away from the scent, hoping she wouldn’t run into the two. The breeze buffeted her fur gently, and the silver tabby padded softly through the forest. When ShadowClan scent touched her nose, Featherstar padded more carefully, walking along the border, occasionally marking the weak spots.
Suddenly a voice sounded from the shadows.
“What have we here? A solo patrol, done by the ThunderClan leader?”
Suppressing a sigh, Featherstar whirled around to meet a pale ginger ShadowClan tom with a smaller grey and white tom beside him.
“What do you want, Cedartail?” Featherstar growled, facing the ginger warrior.
“Just showing my apprentice the borders.” Cedartail responded, flicking his tail at the small cat beside him. “This is the ThunderClan border, Pigeonpaw. And that’s Featherstar, the ThunderClan leader.”
Pigeonpaw’s nose wrinkled as though he had caught a gross stench. “I’m glad I don’t live in ThunderClan!” The apprentice growled, shaking his head to clear it of the smell.
Cedartail cuffed the grey and white tom crossly. “Don’t say that in front of the ThunderClan leader!” Featherstar could see that the cuff was half-hearted and that Cedartail probably didn’t mind his apprentice insulting ThunderClan in front of her.
“But why? They stink like badgers!” Cedartail threw an apologetic glance at Featherstar when more pawsteps caught her attention.
“Cedartail, can’t ShadowClan keep its apprentices under control?” Featherstar’s mind whirled with relief as she heard the reassuring voice of Oakstripe.
“Of course it can. We just make sure each apprentice knows the scents of the other Clans.” The pale ginger ShadowClan tom responded, his tail flicking. “Come on Pigeonpaw, we still haven’t reached the Carrionplace yet.” Cedartail disappeared into the undergrowth with the grey and white apprentice following, sending a disapproving look at Featherstar as he went. Her tail flicking, Oakstripe turned to Featherstar.
“Cocky ShadowClan apprentice. Nothing special.” The ThunderClan warrior sighed, and began to pad along the border.
Featherstar felt her body quiver whenever her gaze fell upon Oakstripe’s dark brown pelt. Shaking the feeling away, she followed her Clanmate, marking the border as she went.
“How was the solo patrol?” Oakstripe asked, slowing down so Featherstar could keep pace with him.
“It was nice and peaceful until I ran into Cedartail and that ShadowClan apprentice.” The silver tabby she-cat replied, fluffing her fur slightly.
“We might as well hit the RiverClan border while we’re at it. They still have Sunningrocks, but I’d rather not risk a battle this late in greenleaf. We need to stock up for leaf-bare.” Oakstripe mewed, his tail tip flicking. Occasionally their fur brushed. Featherstar looked away, feeling heat rise in her ears.
“It’s hard to keep the patrols from attacking when they see RiverClan cats on the rocks.” Featherstar replied, forcing her fur flat again. “It’s so tempting, they’re like fish out of water.”
Oakstripe let out a soft purr and nodded. “I remember when I ran over the border and accused a RiverClan cat of trespassing when I was an apprentice.” The dark brown cat’s chest rumbled with purrs as he thought of the memory.
“You gave Larktail such a fright.” Featherstar responded, flicking him with her tail. “You were lucky those RiverClan cats didn’t shred you.” Oakstripe puffed out his chest. “No cat shreds me!” Purring, Featherstar nudged him. “Come on, we’re almost at the rocks.”
Oakstripe shook his head as he purred. Suddenly he stopped in his tracks. RiverClan scent, fresh, flooded the border, and trampled ferns gave away where the enemy patrol had crashed through their territory.
“They’re heading straight for the camp!” Panic lighting her gaze, Featherstar raced away, hoping Oakstripe was following. Soon she heard the puffs of the dark brown tom as he caught up.
Screeches could be heard and Featherstar whirled around the battle and dashed into camp. Brambletail was standing in the center of the clearing, his fur spiked.
“I sent Reedtail, Squirrelnose, Adderfur, and Willowflower out to meet the RiverClan patrol. Kestrelfur, Cinderwing, Frostheart, and Redstripe are the backup patrol. RiverClan brought a small battle patrol.” He informed quickly. Featherstar nodded. “Oakstripe is out with Reedtail’s patrol now.” She mewed. “I’m going out too. The rest of you, stand guard. Sandpelt, guard the nursery. Cloverheart, take the elders’ den.” Featherstar mewed, then hared out of camp. The yowls of RiverClan cats and battle cries of ThunderClan cats echoed in her ears as her paws pounded the forest floor. Just as she reached the battle, Kestrelfur’s yowl pierced her ears.
“Attack!” The second patrol hared down from the ravine and plunged into the battle. Featherstar spotted a silver tom and leapt on top of him, her claws digging into his shoulders. The tom writhed and bucked beneath her, and the ThunderClan leader lost her grip and was plunged into the undergrowth. Fury blazing, Featherstar raced to her paws and charged him, ducking beneath his legs and bucking as she felt his belly on her spine.
“Having trouble out of the water, fish face?” She snarled, whirling as he fell and hooking him with her claws.
The RiverClan warrior tore himself free and whirled to fight, aiming a blow at Featherstar’s nose. She didn’t duck in time and screeched as the claws tore her nose. Blood dripping, she lunged for him, hooking her claws in his shoulders and forcing him onto his back. The warrior writhed beneath her, spitting furiously. “ThunderClan maggot-heart!” With a powerful lurch he threw Featherstar off and whirled around. Panting, Featherstar screeched, racing at him and then leaping high over his head. Panic swirled in the tom’s eyes and he fled, pelt bushing. Featherstar scanned the battle, her heart lurching as she spotted a burly RiverClan cat with a paw on Oakstripe’s neck. Hissing, the ThunderClan leader raced forward, slamming into the tom, knocking him sideways. Oakstripe scrambled to his paws, breathing heavily.
“Thanks,” he grunted as he lined up beside her. Swiping paw for paw, the two drove the RiverClan cat deeper into the brambles until he shrieked, racing away with clumps of fur hanging from his pelt.
“We make a good team.” She mewed, wishing she had time to say more. By now the battle was slowing. Featherstar darted forward with a hiss as she spotted Splashcloud, the RiverClan deputy. Reedtail spun and pinned him.
“Take your filthy paws and leave ThunderClan territory.” Featherstar snarled, glaring at him. “Now.” Reedtail stepped back and watched Splashcloud disappear into the undergrowth as he fled.
The silver tabby ThunderClan leader flicked her gaze from warrior to warrior, assessing injuries. Adderfur’s shoulder was bleeding from a scratch, and Cinderwing’s ears took a beating.
“Let’s get back to camp so Quailpelt can treat your wounds.” Featherstar mewed, padding off into the undergrowth towards camp.
Back in the camp, warriors who had not fought were antsy, tails twitching uneasily.
“We have won.” Featherstar reported, waiting a moment for the cheering to die down. Quailpelt slipped out of his den with leaf bundles in his jaws, padding from cat to cat to treat them.
“RiverClan may try an attack like this again. I want patrols to be extra viligant when patrolling the RiverClan border.”
Brambletail nodded, his dark brown tabby pelt pricked. What provoked RiverClan to do this?
Featherstar sighed. Her peaceful walk in the forest with Oakstripe had been interrupted. Her flank ached from a scratch, and one of her claws hurt. Shaking off the pain, the silver tabby padded into her den and curled up in her nest.
She closed her eyes and rested for a moment, when a voice interrupted her.
“Featherstar?”
Her heart skipped a beat as the familiar voice reached her ears.
“Yes, Oakstripe?” She opened her eyes and lifted her head to see the handsome dark brown tabby tom. His amber eyes gazed at hers with warmth.
“Are you okay? You took quite a beating from that RiverClan cat.”
Featherstar purred and sat up in her nest. “I’m okay. But what about you? Your paw’s got a nasty bite mark on it.” She mewed, pointing at it with her tail.
Oakstripe wiggled it experimentally. “Oh, it’s nothing.” He mewed, gazing at her with laughter.
“Okay, we both go to the medicine den then.” She responded, flicking him teasingly with her tail and slipped out of the den. Oakstripe purred and followed.
Quailpelt hurried to meet Featherstar as she emerged.
“There you are!” He exclaimed, his tail tip twitching. “Everyone but you and Oakstripe are treated. Come now, let me get you something for that scratch.” The medicine cat disappeared momentarily into his den and reappeared with a leaf in his jaws. “I’ll put this marigold poultice on your scratch, and then I’ll check your wrenched claw.” He explained, chewing the herb and plastering it over her wound. She twitched uncomfortably, feeling the sticky leaf attach itself to her fur. Quailpelt bent down and inspected her claw. “Just a wrench. Don’t walk on it, and don’t use it for anything. No pressure on it. I’ll give you some herbs to help heal it.” He instructed, placing more chewed herbs on it.
Featherstar nodded. “Thanks, Quailpelt. Don’t forget about Oakstripe.” She mewed, glancing over her shoulder at the warrior, who was standing patiently at the entrance to the den.
That is currently the entire story so far.. I will continue to update this thread with it as I work on it!
Other Stories
These are other stories told by real characters in the books. They are not told by Darkpelt.
Love is Cruel: Ashfur Speaks
Love Hurts: Brightheart Speaks
My Broken Heart: Leopardstar Speaks
[/span]These are other stories told by real characters in the books. They are not told by Darkpelt.
Love is Cruel: Ashfur Speaks
I knew that something was up between Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw. I didn't know what - at first they were as close as a kit to it's mother, then they're quarreling left and right. I never really liked Brambleclaw. He's bossy, and ambitious, and reminds me too much of his father. Tigerstar killed my mother! And he's the reason why my father is dead, too...
The look that dark tabby gave me when I was given Birchpaw as an apprentice scared me. Was he really going to go the heights his father went for the deputyship? Every cat in ThunderClan knew that Firestar had to appoint one at some point. He can't go on believing that Graystripe is dead. An apprentice was the key to becoming deputy. Birchpaw was the only kit in the Clan then; when Firestar gave him to me, it crushed Brambleclaw's chances for another few moons.
Squirrelflight was the sunshine. I felt something, something more than a friendship with her. I wanted to become closer. And for a while, we did. Squirrelflight harshly rejected Brambleclaw's attempts to become friends with her, and so did he. Honestly, it was both of them that drove each other's friendship apart. And I couldn't really care less. For a few moons, it felt like we were getting closer. I was getting ready to ask her to become my mate. I loved her. I do still love her, now in StarClan. But then Brambleclaw stole her from me. She was the love of my life. She chose that bossy furball over me, and I was heartbroken. So when word came around that Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw had kits, I knew my perfect revenge on her.
I guess she has an excuse to hate me now. I tried to kill her kits, she told me that they weren't hers, and it was turmoil. Then her foster daughter Hollyleaf killed me to prevent me from spilling the devastating secret. My death was for no reason, as that mouse-brained black she-cat told the Clans herself anyways.
I still love Squirrelflight. I just wish that she had given me more thought. Brambleclaw was not worth it. She even lied to him about the kits' true birth parents! I wonder if she would have given me another chance when they broke up. But I was dead then, thanks to Hollyleaf.
I wish Firestar never made me Lionblaze's mentor. I don't like him, considering he was Squirrelflight's foster son. At the time, he was the offspring of the cat I love and the cat I dislike. The offspring of the cat who chose someone else over me. Jealousy stabbed at my heart like thorns. None of the other she-cats in the Clan shone like Squirrelflight.
I will always love her, even if she does not love me back.
The look that dark tabby gave me when I was given Birchpaw as an apprentice scared me. Was he really going to go the heights his father went for the deputyship? Every cat in ThunderClan knew that Firestar had to appoint one at some point. He can't go on believing that Graystripe is dead. An apprentice was the key to becoming deputy. Birchpaw was the only kit in the Clan then; when Firestar gave him to me, it crushed Brambleclaw's chances for another few moons.
Squirrelflight was the sunshine. I felt something, something more than a friendship with her. I wanted to become closer. And for a while, we did. Squirrelflight harshly rejected Brambleclaw's attempts to become friends with her, and so did he. Honestly, it was both of them that drove each other's friendship apart. And I couldn't really care less. For a few moons, it felt like we were getting closer. I was getting ready to ask her to become my mate. I loved her. I do still love her, now in StarClan. But then Brambleclaw stole her from me. She was the love of my life. She chose that bossy furball over me, and I was heartbroken. So when word came around that Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw had kits, I knew my perfect revenge on her.
I guess she has an excuse to hate me now. I tried to kill her kits, she told me that they weren't hers, and it was turmoil. Then her foster daughter Hollyleaf killed me to prevent me from spilling the devastating secret. My death was for no reason, as that mouse-brained black she-cat told the Clans herself anyways.
I still love Squirrelflight. I just wish that she had given me more thought. Brambleclaw was not worth it. She even lied to him about the kits' true birth parents! I wonder if she would have given me another chance when they broke up. But I was dead then, thanks to Hollyleaf.
I wish Firestar never made me Lionblaze's mentor. I don't like him, considering he was Squirrelflight's foster son. At the time, he was the offspring of the cat I love and the cat I dislike. The offspring of the cat who chose someone else over me. Jealousy stabbed at my heart like thorns. None of the other she-cats in the Clan shone like Squirrelflight.
I will always love her, even if she does not love me back.
Love Hurts: Brightheart Speaks
If Cloudtail truly loved Daisy more than me, he definitely showed it. That pesky kittypet only saw my Clan as something to protect her and those kits of hers. It seemed like that the entire time Daisy was in ThunderClan while she still had young kits, Cloudtail mooned over her. He didn't even seem to realize how much he was hurting me. Cloudtail was devastated when Daisy said she wanted to leave. I wonder how he would have reacted if I said I wanted to leave. He probably wouldn't care.
I had to stay strong for Whitepaw. I couldn't let my daughter know how hurt I was by her father's actions. I wonder if Whitepaw noticed. Cloudtail surely didn't.
I think Daisy loved Cloudtail, too. If Daisy hadn't forced away her feelings because of me, then Cloudtail might have taken her as his mate, and completely forgot about me. I wonder if he would have done that.
I'm glad that Leafpool made Cloudtail realize how much he was hurting me. He was too caught up in his dreaming over Daisy to realize. I just hope that he doesn't do that to me ever again, not with our new litter. We're grandparents now, because Whitewing had two beautiful daughters.
Love can really hurt sometimes.
I had to stay strong for Whitepaw. I couldn't let my daughter know how hurt I was by her father's actions. I wonder if Whitepaw noticed. Cloudtail surely didn't.
I think Daisy loved Cloudtail, too. If Daisy hadn't forced away her feelings because of me, then Cloudtail might have taken her as his mate, and completely forgot about me. I wonder if he would have done that.
I'm glad that Leafpool made Cloudtail realize how much he was hurting me. He was too caught up in his dreaming over Daisy to realize. I just hope that he doesn't do that to me ever again, not with our new litter. We're grandparents now, because Whitewing had two beautiful daughters.
Love can really hurt sometimes.
My Broken Heart: Leopardstar Speaks
I wasn't sure if being deputy allowed kits for she-cats. There's nothing in the warrior code against it, is there? Whiteclaw was my apprentice, and he was the one cat I loved. My father was the greatest father a cat could have, because I never knew my mother. Mudfur meant kindly, but he never understood the need I had to become deputy. He never knew about my love with Whiteclaw. Then Graystripe came. That sorry excuse for a warrior crossed into my territory after taking WindClan home. Thanks to him and that kittypet Firestar, my Clan has less territory to hunt in and a border fight. Whiteclaw and Graystripe were fighting near the gorge. I shrieked as Graystripe sprang away, his paws swinging as he struggled to catch Whiteclaw's flailing body. To no avail, my crush fell to his death. Heartbroken and angry, I took the patrol back, vowing to myself to never have my heart broken again.
When Graystripe requested to join RiverClan for his kits, I was leader then. I didn't mind the kits, they became strong warriors, before they left on that journey. But I didn't want Graystripe in my Clan. He was the killer of my apprentice, and the love of my life. I took any chance I got to blame him for something. It was getting pretty obvious that he really didn't like it here. He's a forest cat, ready to hide under his precious trees. You have no idea how relieved I was when I was finally able to exile him.
Then Tigerstar came. I hadn't really bothered with the deputyship problem in ThunderClan, I think it surprised us all when the dark tabby became ShadowClan's leader. Then he proposed the idea of TigerClan to me. It annoyed me a little that he named the Clan after an ancient Clan and himself, but then again, I was captivated. A part of me felt guilty for my disloyalty to Whiteclaw, but he was just so... perfect. Strong, powerful, captivating.. No wonder he had two other mates. I knew that I shouldn't have let him take control of RiverClan. But love for him blinded me.
StarClan seemed determined to keep my heart broken, because my second love was killed in the battle against BloodClan. I struggled to hide my feelings from my Clan, and removed ShadowClan from my camp. I guess love was just never meant to be.
When Graystripe requested to join RiverClan for his kits, I was leader then. I didn't mind the kits, they became strong warriors, before they left on that journey. But I didn't want Graystripe in my Clan. He was the killer of my apprentice, and the love of my life. I took any chance I got to blame him for something. It was getting pretty obvious that he really didn't like it here. He's a forest cat, ready to hide under his precious trees. You have no idea how relieved I was when I was finally able to exile him.
Then Tigerstar came. I hadn't really bothered with the deputyship problem in ThunderClan, I think it surprised us all when the dark tabby became ShadowClan's leader. Then he proposed the idea of TigerClan to me. It annoyed me a little that he named the Clan after an ancient Clan and himself, but then again, I was captivated. A part of me felt guilty for my disloyalty to Whiteclaw, but he was just so... perfect. Strong, powerful, captivating.. No wonder he had two other mates. I knew that I shouldn't have let him take control of RiverClan. But love for him blinded me.
StarClan seemed determined to keep my heart broken, because my second love was killed in the battle against BloodClan. I struggled to hide my feelings from my Clan, and removed ShadowClan from my camp. I guess love was just never meant to be.
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