A Warriors fan fiction about where Erin Hunter left off.
Prologue
The old gray and white warrior stood up when he saw the ginger tom approaching. Four other cats followed him: a gray almost blue she-cat, a black and white tom, a golden spotted she-cat, and a dark brown tom. They all had agreed to meet each other tonight. As they all settled beside the thick tree the gray and white warrior decided to start the meeting.
"Greetings to the cats from the Clans. Welcome to Skyclan territory. We all know why we're here. To save the Clans."
"Greetings Cloudstar."said the ginger tom. "We all have talked about it and agree with what you proposed. I think its time that Skyclan joined the other Clans by the lake. Especially with the Twolegs taking up more and more of their territory."
"Yes, Firestar. We will need to share the news quickly and before daylight otherwise we will not be able warn them in time. I call this meeting to an end. I will go tell Leafstar now."
Cloudstar raced off, as did the others at the meeting. When Cloudstar finally got to Leafstar's dreaming place it was almost morning. I have to hurry. He noticed Leafstar in the clearing looking very confused. When Cloudstar stepped out of the cover of the trees she visibly relaxed.
"Hello, Leafstar. How are things in Skyclan?" he said trying to sound as relaxed as possible.
"Not good. Twolegs are taking up a lot of our hunting territory. I don't know what to do." Leafstar confessed.
"The other Clans and I have been talking about this and we have come to a conclusion that in order to save Skyclan, as much as the other Clans Skyclan, should join the other Clans by the lake."
Cloudstar waited for Leafstar's shock to subside. "We have never been around the other Clans. Not only that but we'll lose a lot of our warriors."
"I know, but this was the only way to save all the Clans. There is a great trouble coming to the lake and the Clans need all the help they can get. Let's face it your territory won't last long especially with the Twolegs tearing it up. I have had this happen to me before, and even I tried to wait it off. The fact is they are not going to stop taking your territory so in the end you will have to leave. The lake has plenty of territory and the prey is plentiful. The other Clans have also tried to live like you are right now, but they had to leave eventually. Can you do the same?"
By the time he finished speaking the clearing had begun to fade. Cloudstar hoped that the other Clans had reached their cats in time. Meanwhile…
Bluestar followed Firestar until she was at the Starclan's Fourtrees and she wished Firestar luck. Firestar went into Bramblestar's dream clearing, and saw him in the middle of it. Firestar went forward and joined Bramblestar in the clearing.
"Greetings, Bramblestar." he said dipping his head.
"Oh, Firestar its great to see you again. How are things in Starclan?" Bramblestar said also dipping his head to his former leader.
"Bramblestar I have some urgent news to share with you. Although it would take to long to tell you all the details, I will have to talk fast."
Firestar shared all that the leaders had talked about. His story was finally coming to an end and Firestar started to feel himself fading away. He had to share one last thing with Bramblestar first. "Bramblestar, a fifth Clan is coming to the forest. Do not be afraid of them for they are friends of Thunderclan, and know who I am." That was the last thing Firestar said and everything faded away.
The same pattern went on with the other Clans until eventually the living cats all woke up.
Chapter 1
Jayfeather awoke rather early and stretched his tired limbs. He checked on Briarlight and saw her steady breathing and let out a breath of relief when he saw she was still alive and sleeping. Briarlight has been getting worse over time, and he was relieved she lasted this long. Jayfeather hated to leave Briarlight in her time of sickness, but he needed to get out of the den. He'd been stuck in there ever since he first noticed Briarlight getting worse with the exceptions of getting out to make dirt or to get fresh kill from the fresh kill pile.
He shook himself and walked out the clearing into the woods. He enjoyed his walks out, even though he was blind and could see nothing. He knew where everything was because when he shared dreams with Starclan he could see. He walked to the lake and drank from it. He got up and walked around the forest a while more until he eventually thought that he should go back to the Clan. Briarlight may need my help. He raced into the clearing after that and made a beeline straight to his den.
To his surprise he heard Briarlight walking around the den, but it sounded like her legs were wobbling beneath her. He walked up to her and helped her back to her nest. "What are you doing? I told you to stay in your nest, you mousebrain!" he chastened her. Jayfeather heard Briarlight hacking and heard her vomit on the floor. He got some soaked moss and cleaned up the mess while also giving Briarlight some herbs to help heal her upset stomach.
She's getting worse by the minute. Jayfeather thought. At the same time he knew he could do nothing to heal her, but he didn't like to see her suffer. When Briarlight's breathing steadied and she was asleep again Jayfeather decided to get up and get some fresh kill for both of them. He went to the fresh kill pile and picked out a vole for Briarlight and a mouse for him. He heard all of the cats in the clearing moping around the fresh kill pile. No one was speaking and if they did speak it was for a short while and ended with little happiness. What is Thunderclan coming to, Starclan? He too was not as grumpy and sarcastic as he used to be. They were all still mourning for the death of Firestar, but joyous of their new leader, Bramblestar, at the same time. With these two feeling being pushed together it left even more despair for what they have lost. Even Bramblestar felt this way, but not of despair he felt Bramblestar's anxiety spilling out of him. Bramblestar feared that he would never live up to Firestar's legacy
Jayfeather tried to probe his mind. He got in without much of a fight; Bramblestar wasn't blocking his thoughts like Firestar or Leafpool. He tried to put the pieces of Bramblestar's mind together. He eventually figured out that Bramblestar had seen Firestar in a dream and he received a message from him. He figured out enough to know that Firestar had said something about a fifth Clan. Jayfeather then stopped reading Bramblestar's thoughts, and remembered what Firestar had told him about a cat named Skywatcher telling him of the prophecy. Which he knew before Firestar had told him because he had walked in Firestar's dreams and that is how he found out about the prophecy of the Three.
Jayfeather decided it was time to get back to Briarlight she hadn't had anything to eat all day. Jayfeather went inside and absentmindedly put the fresh kill next to Briarlight so when she woke up she could eat. Meanwhile he was pondering on what Firestar had said. When would the fifth Clan be coming? What would they act like towards the other Clans? Did they even have a proper Clan? Where would they live? There was hardly any territory left for four Clans. How could they possibly have room for one more? Jayfeather fell asleep with these questions flowing through his head.
Jayfeather woke up to find himself in a warm clearing. He realized he was in Starclan and sniffed the air. Who would visit him this time? Maybe it would be the grumpy medicine cat, Yellowfang, or maybe his former leader Firestar. He soon realized he didn't recognize this cat. The gray and white coat on this cat wasn't familiar to him. Maybe this is a cat from the fifth Clan.
"Greetings, Jayfeather, medicine cat of Thunderclan. Firestar has told me so much about you. You have special powers, walking in other cat's dreams, reading other cat's thoughts and feelings. Am I right?" The gray and white warrior inquired.
"Yes, you are right. I am one of the Three. Firestar has spoke with you." Jayfeather said surprised. Pulling his senses together he said more demanding, "How does he know you? And who exactly did you say were and where are you from?"
"Patience. And I will tell you." He said teasingly.
Jayfeather did not know what there was to tease about. He certainly didn't find anything funny.
"To answer your first question, Firestar knows me because a long time before you were born I appeared to him various times. I told him to reform my lost Clan, and he did a brilliant job. To answer your second question I am Cloudstar, leader of Skyclan. I have come all the way from my Starclan hunting grounds which is many miles away." He said and continued, "My Clan was exiled from the forest when the other Clans would not share their hunting grounds with my Clan for the Twolegs were destroying our part of the forest. We then had to move on and there was a pack of rats that came and killed off many of our cats. Later, many cats started eating Twoleg food and eventually became kittypets. Then my Clan was lost and many of the cats forgot their origins. At least until Firestar started the Clan again and now my Clan is back and plentiful. Sadly, though the same thing that has happened to the forest is happening to Skyclan again, and now they have to move. So to survive the other leaders and I have decided that the only way to keep all the Clans from the danger that lurks is if Skyclan joined the other Clans."
Jayfeather took a minute to let this new information sink in, and then he asked, "When will Skyclan start their journey to the Lake?"
"Right now, I can not say, but soon I hope." He looked around and saw the mist rising and said, "I must leave you now." Then his eyes clouded over and he said, "A dark threat is coming. All the Clans must stand together to face the coming storm. Be prepared for no cat is safe and danger lurks around every bend."
Jayfeather wanted to know more information. Why do Starclan cats have to be so mysterious all the time? Is it that hard to just tell me something straightforward instead of telling me some stupid prophecy and expecting me to figure it out. Then everything began to fade and he woke up.
He checked on Briarlight before he left. He needed to Lionblaze to talk about what he had learned the night before. He finally found him talking to Cinderheart, his mate. Cinderheart was about to have kits and Jayfeather could feel brother's joy and fear. From Cinderheart he could feel pure joy and peace. Jayfeather gave her a curt nod and beckoned Lionblaze over with his tail.
"What is it now, Jayfeather? I thought we left this prophecy stuff behind us after the battle with the Dark Forest." His brother said.
Jayfeather gave him a glare from his blind blue eyes and bristled a little bit. He told himself to calm down, and said, "We did, but this time the prophecy isn't about us. Although this it isn't even a prophecy more like a warning about what's to come." He felt rather than saw Lionblaze's confusion. So Jayfeather explained everything to him making sure not to leave out any important information.
When Lionblaze heard what Jayfeather had to tell him he nodded, and said, "I wonder what this new Clan will be like. I'll be interested to meet this new Clan when they come or whenever they come." It looked like Lionblaze was going to ask something, but he didn't get a chance to when Cinderheart called to him from across the clearing. Lionblaze said, "Sorry." Then left.
Jayfeather sat down and heard his brother running across the clearing yelling, "Coming." While his brother was busy with his mate, Jayfeather went to find Dovewing. She deserved to know about what was going on. They had always shared Starclan's secrets with each other. Ever since they found out that they were the Three.
It didn't take long before he found her. She ran up to him filled with joy. Jayfeather heard her slow down and she sat down so full of joy it took a while to calm herself down. "Jayfeather, I'm so glad I found you. I have to tell you something," she squealed a little bit and continued. Although Jayfeather already knew what the big surprise was because he was searching Dovewing's mind. He let her continue and decided that he would still act surprised. "I'm about to have Bumblestripe's kits!"
Jayfeather sat up straighter and tried to at least act happy that Dovewing was having kits. I mean seriously aren't there enough kits to bother you and disturb slumber around here. As if Brightheart's new litter didn't bug me enough already, especially Snowkit. He shuddered a little bit remembering a time when Snowkit got into his den and shredded all of his herbs; it took him all of Newleaf to recollect all his herbs. He stopped himself quickly before Dovewing noticed. "Good for you. But there is something important I wanted to talk to you about." He said.
"What's wrong? What do you want to talk about?" she asked confusion showing on her face.
"Follow me and I'll tell you." He said and then started trotting to a corner where he sniffed the air to make sure no one was there.
When he heard Dovewing approach, a little out of winded because her belly was so full of kits, she took a minute to regain her breath. "What.. was.. it.. you.. wanted to.. talk to.. me about?" she said panting.
"Well, I had a dream from Starclan last night." He started.
"Why is that supposed to surprise me, you're a medicine cat. You always have dreams from Starclan."
"Because the cat that visited me wasn't from our Clan, but from another Clan, a fifth Clan, he said he was from Skyclan."
"Skyclan? That doesn't sound like a familiar name."
"No it doesn't. This cat told me that they were driven from the forest a long time ago, and that they're coming to the Lake. Although he said he doesn't know when they will be arriving."
"What is this cat's name?" Dovewing asked.
"He told me his name was Cloudstar, and that Firestar knows him."
"Wait Firestar knows this strange cat?"
"Yes. Cloudstar told me he visited Firestar a long time before we were born and that he told Firestar to rebuild his Clan."
"I'm assuming Firestar rebuilt it."
"Yes, he did."
"Dovewing, Dovewing, where are you?" Bumblestripe called from across the clearing.
"I've got to go. Bumblestripe doesn't know about the 'news'." She said as she ran away as fast as she could with the kits in her belly.
Jayfeather heard her go and decided it was time to talk to Bramblestar about this. He got up and crossed the clearing to Bramblestar's den. He jumped onto the rocks almost slipping on the slippery surface. When he finally the top of the Highledge he heard Bramblestar stirring in his den.
"Hello, Jayfeather," he said when he saw Jayfeather came in. "What do you want to talk to me about?"
"I want to talk to you about dreams."
"Dreams? I haven't had any… important dreams."
"Bramblestar, don't lie to me or yourself. I know that this dream has been on your mind for days, and I have also had strange dreams telling me of a fifth Clan coming to the forest."
"Huh… You're right. I think it's time to be honest. I can't keep this a secret forever not with a whole new Clan coming to the Lake."
"Last night I had a dream with one of the cats from that Clan. His name was Cloudstar and this new Clan's name is Skyclan. He said they were kicked out of the forest long ago."
"Firestar never mentioned that when he spoke to me."
"There is something else he didn't tell you. He helped to rebuild that Clan when Cloudstar kept appearing to him."
"That's why he was gone for so long before I was made a warrior. Everyone wondered where he went off to."
"Yes. Not only that, but that is also the place where he received the prophecy of the Three."
"Really." Bramblestar said pondering over the new information. After a few minutes he got up stretched his back and jumped up onto the Highledge. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting." Bramblestar's voice echoed off the walls.
Jayfeather heard all the cats gather to hear what Bramblestar had to say. "Thunderclan, I have something that I need to share with you. There are more than four Clans in the forest. There are five. The fifth Clan was driven out long ago and is now coming here to join us by the Lake."
Jayfeather heard cries of protest and confusion. To them there have always been four Clans and this new Clan must make them very worried. Jayfeather could feel Bramblestar's irritation stirring the air. He felt Bramblestar's tail swish in the air for silence. The cats eventually settled down.
"Please listen to what I have to say. Firestar knew these cats and helped to start them again. They are friends of Thunderclan and we will help them to settle in here."
The cats shied away at his words and Jayfeather felt the cats' distress and worry. He was worried also. What will these cats be like? He wondered. Then he realized the meeting was over and the cats were heading back to their dens. He figured it was time for him to head back as well. He hadn't checked on Briarlight all day.
When he got back to his den Briarlight was still asleep. She was doing that more and more these days. Oh my Starclan. She's starting to sleep as much as Sandstorm and Graystripe. Jayfeather knew he shouldn't joke about something so serious, but he couldn't help himself. He left herbs next to Briarlight for when she woke up. She knew the routine. The day had tired him out so figured he should get some shut eye to. If tomorrow is going to be anything like today I better get a long nap.
He closed his eyes and drifted into a long dreamless sleep.