This is the story of a young cat who was born in WindClan. It takes place before the time of Bluestar, before the memory of SkyClan's leaving faded from their tales.
Blackblizzard, a young warrior of WindClan, just had his entire life uprooted. His father died the night of his warrior ceremony, his mother has murdered the youngest of his kin, and the remaining kit of the litter has gone insane. Can Blackblizzard save his little brother's mind, and can he keep his own mind and heart from shattering in the process?
Disclaimer; I do not own Warriors. I do, however, own all the characters. They are mine. Steal them and I'll eat your soul.
CLAN ALLEGIANCES;;
WindClan;;
Leader;
Darkstar- Dark gray tabby tom
Deputy;
Wailingcry- Sandy colored she-cat
apprentice;Windypaw
MedicineCat;
Whiteface- Black tom w/ a white muzzle
Warriors;
Nativebrush- Gray brown tabby tom w/ ice blue eyes
Softfeather- Pale gray tabby she-cat
apprentice;Kindredpaw
Snowclaw- White tom w/ long hooked claws
Crowtalon- Black and white tom w/ ice blue eyes
Wirepelt- Dark brown tom
Jaggedtail- Brown tabby tom w/ a broken tail
apprentice; Shadedpaw
Tranquilpool- Blue gray she-cat w/ bright green eyes
Brightcourage- White tom w/ tortoiseshell patches
Emberfang- Dark gray tom w/ gigner flecks
Moonwhisker- Silver tabby she-cat
Frostedpetal- Silver tabby she-cat w/ a white muzzle
apprentice; Blackpaw
Apprentices;
Windypaw- Gray brown tabby she-cat w/ golden orange eyes
Kindredpaw- Fluffy tortoiseshell she-cat
Blackpaw- Tall black and white tom w/ golden orange eyes
Shadedpaw- Blue gray she-cat w/ dark blue eyes
Queens and Kits;
Petalwhisker-A pale blue gray she-cat (w/Brightcourage)
Bravekit & Pebblekit
Hollyreign- Beautiful tortoiseshell she-cat w/ golden orange eyes
ThunderClan;;
Leader;
Duskstar- Pale brown she-cat w/ golden eyes
Deputy;
Foxheart- Narrow-snouted ginger tom
MedicineCat;
Fallingpetal-Pretty tortoiseshell she-cat
Warriors;
Hollytail- Black she-cat
Wildwhisker- Dark tabby tom w/ light tabby stripes
apprentice; Softpaw
Shortsnout- Small gray tabby w/ crooked snout
RiverClan;;
Leader;
Runningstar- Long-haired dark gray tabby tom
Deputy;
Swiftheart- Beautiful black she-cat
MedicineCat;
Rookfeather- Sleek black tom
Warriors;
Spiderbite- Pale brown tabby tom
apprentice; Silverpaw
Elders;
Yarrowpelt- Pale yellow tom
ShadowClan;;
Leader;
Shatteredstar- Long-haired ginger tabby she-cat
Deputy;
Grasswhisker- White tom w/ long whiskers and dark green eyes
MedicineCat;
Savingwhisper- Dainty black she-cat w/ pale blue eyes (blind)
Warriors;
Earthpelt- Dark brown she-cat
apprentice; Snakepaw
Whitebird- Snow white she-cat
Cloudspeckle- White tom w/ gray splotches
apprentice; Owlpaw
Tawnyheart- Golden tabby tom w/ green eyes
apprentice; Riverpaw
Chapter One; The First Break
Soft dawn light danced acrossed the flanks of the pile of cats. WindClan took great pride in the fact that they slept outdoors, to be closer to their Warrior Ancestors. Sometimes Blackpaw couldn't help but wonder if it was because his elder Clan-mates were far too lazy to bother themselves with ever building dens. The apprentice was raising his black and white head, blinking blurrily around him at the clearing that made up WindClan camp. As he stretched he felt his back claws dig into the soft flank of his best friend Shadedpaw. He smirked triumphantly as she let out an indignant snort and sat up, fully awake.
"What was THAT for?" She hissed indignantly, twitching her pretty blue gray ears. Blackpaw only snickered behind his paw. Looking irritated Shadedpaw began to groom herself. Still, Blackpaw knew she was only playing. Her dark blue eyes were glinting playfully at him.
"You shouldn't complain." Kindredpaw, Blackpaw's sister, said to her. The pretty tortoiseshell she-cat stretched and yawned. "You two snore like a bunch of badgers. We couldn't hardly sleep at all, right Windypaw?"
Windypaw, Blackpaw's other sibling, made no reply except to twitch her whiskers in slight amusement. Blackpaw rolled his golden-orange eyes at his sister, and opened his mouth to give her a sharp retort. Only he never got that far because he was attacked from the side! Blackpaw felt alarm tear through him, his claws slid from their sheaths. He bared his teeth at his enemy...
...and realized it was his father. Blackpaw let his fur lie flat quickly as Nativebrush choked out an, "Hey! Ow, let go kit you're clawing my pelt off!" Blackpaw hastily retracted his claws ans his gray-brown father rolled off of him and gave a quick shake of his fur. Bright blue eyes danced with mirth, and Blackpaw felt his shame quickly burn away, "You're going to make a fine warrior."
"Thank you." Blackpaw replied, ducking his head in slight embarassment. Kindredpaw bristled a bit indignantly, and shoved Blackpaw roughly to the side. The black and white tom struggled to hide his amusement by ducking his head and staring at the ground.
"And what about me?" Kindredpaw quipped at Nativebrush, whose whiskers twitched in amusement. "I could tear Blackpaw's fur right off his back!"
"Really?" Blackpaw said, forcing himself to sound serious. He towered over his sister, who had gained her slight build from her mother. Kindredpaw didn't reply, just attacked him with no warning. Blackpaw let out a snort of laughter, as she really couldn't knock him over. Then she unsheathed his claws, "HEY! OW!"
"Ha! Not so funny now!" Kindredpaw said, backing off.
"You shouldn't do that Kindredpaw." Windypaw chastised quietly, as always she wasn't really looking at the two cats but staring at a butterfly some tail-lengths away. Blackpaw sometimes wondered why his sister wasn't in training to be a medicine cat. She always had her head up in the clouds, and was very gentle. Especially compared to Kindredpaw.
"She's right." The gentle meow made Blackpaw spin around in surprise. Darkstar stood, with his dark green eyes twinkling with bright amusement. Still, he looked dead serious as he added, "WindClan does not need cats wounded within our own borders Kindredpaw."
"D-Darkstar!" Kindredpaw meowed, alarmed at the sight of the dark gray tabby. Darkstar's whiskers twitched with slight amusement as she stammered out her apology. Nativebrush purred, and dipped his head respectfully to his Clan leader.
"Is there something you'd like me to do Darkstar?" Nativebrush meowed, the gray tabby inclined his head to the warrior.
"No Nativebrush. Thank you." He turned his dark green gaze on the three apprentices. Even Windypaw was watching Darkstar intently, "I wanted to speak with you all about your assessment yesterday. Your mentors say that you all have done well. You will be made warriors at sun-down."
"YES!" Shadedpaw yowled, exploding upward so that she stood on her very tip-toes in triumph. "Finally!"
"All of us?" Windypaw said dreamily, "The apprentices den will be so empty though..."
"Yes, but Bravekit and Pebblekit are ready to become apprentices. WindClan will have to just rely on the two of them for the duties. Some of the younger warriors may have to help them out." Darkstar mused, Blackpaw winced at the thought. He had been looking forward to the day that he wouldn't have to do apprentice chores, but Darkstar seemed to be hinting that his family and his friend would be continuing this ordeal.
"Warriors?" The musical voice made Blackpaw purr with delight. The pretty tortoiseshell Hollyreign, his mother, had just stepped up to Nativebrush's shoulder. She was heavy with the promise of kits, but had waddled over to join them. "It's much too soon."
"Mom!" Kindredpaw protested, ducking away from the she-cat as she tried to wash her ears fretfully. Blackpaw only rubbed his muzzle against hers.
"We'll be okay. Besides, we'll have dad to look after us." Windypaw chimed from behind his shoulder. Hollyreign dipped her head in assent to this, but turned her golden-orange gaze on Darkstar fiercely.
"You better take good care of those kits Darkstar. Or I'll have your tail." Hollyreign growled, and something told Blackpaw that she was dead serious even though Darkstar was his Clan leader. The gray tabby dipped his head.
"You have my word Hollyreign." He replied, "I will try my best to keep your kits in good health."
Then, almost as if to break the tension that settled in a dark cloud around them Kindredpaw let out an exasperated cry of, "We are NOT kits!"
"You better be ready Blackpaw." Blackpaw twitched his ears in pretend irritation as his mentor fretted over him. Frostedpetal seemed to think this was an extra special warrior ceremony or something. As the light drifted away from the clearing he felt his nerves bundle up ever tighter in his stomach. "Come on!"
"Coming!" Blackpaw yowled, taking his place at her side. He knew he looked handsome. Moonwhisker was looking at him as if he had walked out of StarClan itself. He held his head a little higher.
"You look nice." Shadedpaw meowed, and Blackpaw had to do a double-take when he saw her. Her blue-gray fur, which was usually sticking up in a slight disarray because of her wild antics, was smooth and shimmering in the fading sunlight. He heard his breath catch in his throat in surprise, "What, I can clean up too you know."
"Yeah but..." Blackpaw started but Kindredpaw was excitedly stepping on his tail. Distracted, Blackpaw shifted his gaze to her instead. She was smiling at him warmly, and eagerly. Windypaw, just beyond her shoulder, was staring off into space again.
"Will all cat's who can gather their own prey meet here beneath the WindyTree for a Clan meeting." Darkstar's summons roused any other cat's from the camp that hadn't already been in the clearing. Soon Blackpaw was overly aware of the warm bodies of his Clan-mates behind him. Darkstar continued, with a warm smile of encouragement at the apprentices, "Today we have good news. Our four apprentices are finally ready to become warriors!"
Cheers of congratulations rose from all around them. Blackpaw thought he heard Brightcourage yowl something along the lines of, "'Bout time!" When the cheers died out Darkstar was staring solemnly down at the four cats below him.
"I Darkstar, leader of WindClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code, and I ask you to commend them as warriors in their turn." Darkstar had shifted his gaze to the sky, but now he was staring at them again. Blackpaw surpressed the urge to squirm uncomfortably as Darkstar continued, "Windypaw, Kindredpaw, Blackpaw and Shadedpaw, do you swear to uphold the warrior code, to protect and to serve your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." Windypaw said solemnly, her usually distant gaze trained on the dark pelted Clan leader.
"I do!" Kindredpaw yowled, then looked embarassed as mrrows of laughter followed her enthusiastic reply.
"I do." Blackpaw meowed, his heart was pounding so hard in his ears that he could hardly hear himself. He felt Shadedpaw stiffen beside him. For a few heartbeats she said nothing, just stood stock still in complete panic, then, finally she murmured.
"I do..."
"Then by the powers of StarClan I will give you your warrior names. Windypaw, from this moment you will be known as Windywhisker. StarClan honors your kindness and intellect as they welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan." Darkstar rested his head upon Windywhisker's. Then the leader turned to the squirming tortoiseshell that was Kindredpaw. "Kindredpaw, from this moment you will be known as Kindredheart. StarClan honors your courage and energy as they welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan."
This is it. Blackpaw thought, his heart pounding so badly that he shook. Darkstar dipped his head to the cat and continued, "Blackpaw from this moment you will be known as Blackblizzard. StarClan honors your hunting skills, and cleverness as they welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan."
Blackblizzard... Blackblizzard thought, he couldn't be more happy with his name. As Darkstar rested his head upon Blackblizzard's the young tom respectfully rasped his tongue over the leader's shoulder.
"Last but most certainly not least, Shadedpaw from this moment you will be known as Shadedjay. StarClan honors your humor and love as they welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan."
As soon as Shadedjay licked Darkstar's shoulder the entire Clan seemed to explode. "Windywhisker, Kindredheart, Blackblizzard, Shadedjay!" They yowled, proud of their new warriors. Blackblizzard lifted his head high. The praise his Clan showered on him made him feel better than he ever had before.
Darkstar continued with the Clan meeting by giving Bravekit and Pebblekit their apprentice names. Bravepaw was given to Nativebrush as an apprentice, which seemed to overjoy Hollyreign to the state of near comatoses. Pebblepaw was given to Crowtalon, who accepted her with a silent nod of gratitude.
"Our four new warriors will sit silent vigil tonight, to guard the camp until dawn." Darkstar meowed, and jumped down from the place where he did his summons. Blackblizzard watched his leader move away for a moment, before settling down in the center of the clearing. He didn't know if Kindredheart would make it through the vigil without talking. She was bouncing up and down with hardly contained excitement.
"I'll make up four nests for you all when you're done." Brightcourage, a tortoiseshell tom who had sired Shadedjay, whispered to the four cats. Blackblizzard smiled a little as Shadedjay nodded her head eagerly at her father. The tom sidled off and Blackblizzard was left with the other new warriors of his Clan to contemplate the responsibility of the oath he had just taken.
It seemed like moons had passed when the sun finally tinged the sky pink. Blackblizzard felt himself sigh with relief, though he daren't break the code of silence quite yet. He never felt more exhausted than he did right now. The black and white tom almost screamed in joy as Brightcourage led them away from the spot in the center of the clearing.
"You can talk now if you wish, but I'm suspecting you'll be too tired. Here are the nests I saved for you." The tom meowed, his eyes twinkled as he added to Windywhisker, "Crowtalon insisted that you share the nest next to his."
Windywhisker ducked her head in embarassment at the tom's teasing. Blackblizzard only collapsed into the moss nest. It was cold, but quickly warmed up with his body heat. Shadedjay dropped heavily into the nest next to his, and Kindredheart slept next to Windywhisker. "It's all so exciting..." Shadedjay breathed.
"Mmmm..." Blackblizzard replied, on the verge of sleep. Alarm woke him up suddenly, with curiousity, "Shadedjay?"
"Mmmhmmm..." She meowed, her blue eyes beginning to close.
"Why did you hesitate so long...when Darkstar asked if you would uphold the warrior code..." Blackblizzard watched her eyes open. She stared at him levelly for a few moments, until the tom cat started to squirm nervously, "I-I mean...what I meant was...it was a little..."
"I hesitated...because I was contemplating on the meaning of the word life." She replied. Blackblizzard was surprised by the sheer intensity of her dark blue eyes. For a moment the tom wondered if he should say something, but before he could reply Shadedjay curled up into her nest. She fell asleep soon after that, and Blackblizzard curled his tail over his nose and fell into a deep sleep.
Dreaming...
Blackblizzard darted through the moorland. His paws tore up as the thick grasses cut at his paws. Like he was an enemy. The enemy. Blackblizzard slid to a stop, his bright golden-orange gaze wide with frantic fear. Cats ran from him, screaming in terror. Pain radiated from his heart, "Please believe me!" He yowled, though he wasn't sure what it was exactly that he wanted the cats to believe.
"Traitor, murderer!" Came the reply and Blackblizzard cried out in agony.
"You just don't understand!" He yowled back, "And neither do I!"
Blackblizzard woke up with a start. His heart was racing as though he had been running through the entire forest. Still, the remnants of his terrifying dream were drifting away as he noticed the outline of his father against the cloudy sky. "Nativebrush!"
"You were yowling your head off." Nativebrush said, his ice colored eyes twinkled merrily, "Shadedjay wanted me to wake you. I'm leading the border patrol and she wanted you to come with us..."
"Sure!" Blackblizzard sprang to his paws, and gave his father a wicked grin, "Better be careful I don't show you up. You're getting old you know!"
"Hey, I resent that." Nativebrush replied as he followed Blackblizzard into the clearing. Blackblizzard ran up to the blue gray she-cat that was Shadedjay and purred with excitement.
"Our first patrol as warriors!" He meowed, puffing his chest out in pride. Nativebrush shook his head, but his whiskers were twitching in amusement. It was then that Blackblizzard noticed Bravepaw. The tom was dark gray, with a white chest and paws. The little cat's blue eyes were identical to Shadedjay's, and Blackblizzard suddenly remembered that they were kin.
"It's my first patrol EVER!" The tom boasted, and Blackblizzard tried to hide his smile by turning his head away. Nativebrush was, yet again, shaking his head and sighing forlornly at this.
"Just pay attention to what your mentor says." Shadedjay purred, nudging Blackblizzard as though to remind him of the times he'd ignored Frostedpetal's orders. In response to this the big tom just shrugged her off, but he twitched his whiskers to let her know he was teasing her. "Hey, Nativebrush wait up!"
The tom was already half way out of camp. Blackblizzard, Shadedjay and Bravepaw had to run to catch up to him. He should have noticed Whiteface, the medicine cat, hurrying to the nursery. He should have made note of it, but Blackblizzard was too excited to.
The wind howled viciously, and Blackblizzard wondered if they should start heading back. Nativebrush was several fox-lengths ahead of the younger cats, eager to finish the patrol most likely. Thunder rumbled overhead, threateningly. Blackblizzard tilted his muzzle to the sky and surpressed a small shiver of delight. Storms were relentless in fury, but awe-inspiring in power.
"It's mouse-brained to be out here." Shadedjay grumbled, Bravepaw looked at his sister completely startled by this. Blackblizzard felt a flash of admiration for the apprentices attitude.
"But what if some cat has trespassed or something? We need to patrol to catch em' right?" Bravepaw shivered with slight anticipation at this, but Shadedjay only snorted moodily.
"The trespasser would be mouse-brained if they were out here too." She grumbled. Blackblizzard twitched his ear, wondering why she was in such a fould mood. He opened his mouth to say something when a moving shape caught his attention.
"NATIVEBRUSH!" The white warrior, Snowclaw, barrelled past Blackblizzard. The smaller cat slammed into Nativebrush, who blinked down at him as though he were completely bewildered. Snowclaw scrambled to his feet, he was panting hard as if he'd run the entire distance from camp. "It's Hollyreign, she's kitting!"
"Hollyreign!?" Nativebrush said, he stood stock still, and stared at the white warrior. "Snowclaw will you take over the patrol? I have to get back to camp, please!"
"I'd be glad too, just let me catch my breath..." Snowclaw replied, his white chest heaving with effort. No sooner had the words escaped the cats maw than Nativebrush leapt into action. He tore off and Blackblizzard watched his father streak off into the moorland.
That is why he saw it. As Nativebrush neared the crest of the hill the most amazing thing Blackblizzard had ever seen happened. A bolt of white fire forked it's way from the sky to the earth, right where Nativebrush was. Snowclaw let out a yowl of alarm and Blackblizzard froze. His heart was pounding, surely the bolt had missed the tom? What were the chances that something as small as a cat would be struck by lightning.
Nativebrush wasn't moving. "DAD!" Blackblizzard shrieked, and somehow his yowl spurred himself into action. The new warrior flung himself acrossed the moorland, overly sensitive to the violent sky overhead as it opened up with the coldest rain he had ever felt. Blackblizzard slid to a stop, scattering mud everywhere, as he halted by Nativebrush. The scent of singed fur made Blackblizzard gag, "Nativebrush!"
"StarClan no..." Snowclaw breathed behind him.
"Bravepaw, stay away from there. Just stay by me okay?" Shadedjay was murmuring softly. Blackblizzard hardly heard her, or Snowclaw. Or the wailing that exploded from Bravepaw's maw. His heart was pounding, so hard in his ears. Pounding was all he could hear. He felt as though the world should have come to a screeching halt. Because his father Nativebrush was dead.
That's the finish of chapter one! Please R&R! I worked rather hard on this one actually so...yeah.
