Hi folks! This is the first of my summer projects. Below is some stuff you need to know about the fic before you read. Don't forget to review!
Full summary:
It's been many seasons after Hawkstar and Bramblestar changed the number of clans in the forest from four to two, and now they're both monarchies, ruled by Tigerstar's kin. StarClan have been forgotten, cats are dying left and right, and ShadowClan and ThunderClan are in the middle of a huge war, a war that just might be the end of both Clans... unless one young ShadowClan apprentice named Dawnpaw can bring back StarClan and the ways of the cats who came before. But, how is she supposed to do that when she's been promised to the next ShadowClan leader? AU. Better than it sounds.
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Intro:
This is a 'what if Brambleclaw and Hawkfrost had taken over fic', thought the greater part of this story takes place many seasons after the fact. The Clan structure is different, for starters, very few cats know about StarClan, and those that do are forbidden to speak of it. The Clans have also forgotten a lot of their heritage. In fact, it's so different, the Clans have a class structure.
-At the top is the Bloodline, which are the descendents of Hawkfrost or Brambleclaw. The Clan leader and deputy are chosen from this group by the previous leader. Both are always male. The leader also chooses every cat's mate, so the Clan gets the strongest kits. Cats of this rank are only allowed to be with cats of the next lowest rank, or they pretty much get killed. This rank is also only one of two ranks where cats are allowed to retire, the elders help make decisions. The tribe doesn't have a Medicine cat, they have a Healer. A Healer is like a Medicine Cat who knows nothing about StarClan. They are always the weakest female kit in the litter of the tribe leader. They are allowed to heal all cats from the Bloodline.
-Next highest in the tribe ranking is the Strength. These cats are the descendents of Brambleclaw/Hawkfrost's handpicked favorite and strongest warriors. Unlike the Bloodline, these cats can be removed from their rank, if they are deemed not worthy or weak. These cats do most of the fighting, though they also hunt. They train all of the
Clan's apprentices. These cats can mate within their own rank, or if chosen with one of the Bloodline. They can retire if they are directly related (mom, dad, sibling) to a cat who is the mate of a leader or deputy. They can get care from the Healer, but only if the leader allows it. Dawnpaw is of this rank.
-The lowest rank is called the Common. This rank is made up of the descendents of all the cats that Brambleclaw/Hawkfrost thought weak or simple didn't like for whatever reason. These cats do most of the hunting and fishing for the tribe, though they can fight. These cats receive no care from the Healer. No cat from this rank can retire, they must serve their Clan until they die.
In present times, the two Clans, ThunderClan (ThunderClan/WindClan) and ShadowClan (ShadowClan/RiverClan) are at war, a war for the control of the entire territory!
So yea, thanks for listening to my rambling, but I can assure you it will mean the fic will make SO much more sense when you read it.
Disclaimer: In a world where pretty fairies hop threw the meadow, Voldemort runs around giving out free hugs, and Tigerstar is a kitty pet, I own warriors. In this world, I own only the characters (with some exceptions) and the plot.
Note: Parts of this chapter are taken directly from Chapters 20 and 22 of Warriors: The New Prophecy Sunset and I didn't not originally write them.
Prologue:
"What was that?" said Brambleclaw.
Hawkfrost shrugged. "Some unlucky bit of prey."
The cry came again. "No!" Brambleclaw exclaimed, "That's a cat in trouble. Come on!"
He dived out of the ferns and pelted along the shore in the direction of the cry.
It came again, closer, but fainter, a horrible choking sound. Brambleclaw leaped across the roots of a tree and found himself face-to-face with Firestar.
The ThunderClan leader lay on his side on a narrow path between close-growing ferns. His limbs jerked feebly and his eyes gazed at nothing. Foam flecked his muzzle. Around his neck, half buried in his flame-colored-fur, was a thin, shiny tendril, leading to a stick driven into the earth. Firestar was caught in a fox trap!
Brambleclaw leaped forward to help him, only to be thrust aside by Hawkfrost's powerful shoulder.
"Mousebrain!" the RiverClan warrior hissed, "This is your chance, Brambleclaw. You're deputy now, if Firestar dies you'll be Clan Leader!"
Brambleclaw stared at him in astonishment. What is he telling me to do?" The he realized that Firestar was trying to speak.
"Birchpaw told me… Blackstar waiting on our territory… Had to come alone…"
Hawkfrost's eyes gleamed with triumph as he padded across to Firestar and bent down to whisper in his ear. "But Blackstar isn't here. We are. You're a fool, Firestar. You were too easy to trap."
Brambleclaw felt the ground dip beneath his paws; he couldn't grasp the details, only that the absence of Blackstar and the ShadowClan scent on Hawkfrost added up to something murderously evil.
"You did this," he said to his half brother. "You arranged for Firestar to be here, where there was a fox trap waiting."
"Of course," Hawkfrost sounded scornful, "I did it for you."
Firestar's sides heaved as he fought for breath. His gaze flickered from Hawkfrost to Brambleclaw and back again. Brambleclaw could see that, unless he loosened the wire right away, his leader would lose a life- perhaps more.
Hawkfrost stepped back. "The brave ThunderClan leader," he sneered, "Not so powerful now, are you? Come on, Brambleclaw, finish him off."
Brambleclaw felt as though his paws were frozen to the bare earth. Every hair on his pelt stood on end as he Tigerstar whisper in his ear: Kill him. No cat will ever know. You can be Clan leader. You can have everything you ever wanted.
He staggered as Hawkfrost gave him a vicious nudge, his tail lashing angrily. "What are you waiting for? This is what we have wanted all along, remember? Kill him now!"
Brambleclaw stood frozen on the spot. He knew that all he needed to do was to tighten the noose on Firestar's neck, and the ThunderClan leader would loss all his remaining lives at once. He could be leader!
His gaze met Firestar's. There was no pleading in his green eyes, only a fierce, proud question: What will you do, Brambleclaw?
Brambleclaw took a step forward, but his conscious held him back from going any farther. What was he thinking? This was the cats that had mentored him, lead his Clan faithfully for many moons, and stood up for him. He didn't always agree with him, but he couldn't kill him. 'All I want is to lead my Clan, but not like this.'
He could hear the voice of Tigerstar urging him on. Fool! Kill him now!
"No," said Brambleclaw fiercely, "I won't do it."
"Coward! I'll kill him myself!" yelled Hawkfrost pushing past him.
"Never!" yowled Brambleclaw.
Hawkfrost chuckled. "I thought you might say that. This is your last chance Brambleclaw. Kill him now."
"NEVER!"
"Have it your way," sighed Hawkfrost.
Hawkfrost let out a battle cry. Suddenly, the three cats were surrounded by an extremely large group of cats. Brambleclaw could scent ShadowClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and even ThunderClan. What cat of his own Clan would betray him like this?
"You're being very foolish, Brambleclaw," said Hawkfrost. "You and I are destined to rule the whole forest. Just kill him, and except that, and you will remain alive."
The voice of Tigerstar rang out clearly in Brambleclaw's mind: KILL HIM! DO IT NOW!
Brambleclaw took a deep breath. This was it. He had made his choice.
"Kill me then."
"Are you sure about that Brambleclaw?" said Hawkfrost with malice. "Maybe this will be enough to make you see sense."
Two cats that made up the circle that enclosed Brambleclaw, Hawkfrost, and Firestar parted and five cats pushed through. One of the cats was being roughly dragged along. Brambleclaw recognized the cats as Oakfur and Cedarheart of ShadowClan, Owlwhisker of WindClan, and Ashfur.
The final cat was Squirrelflight, who was being roughly shoved along by Ashfur.
"Do you still refuse, Brambleclaw?"
"Squirrelflight…" Brambleclaw murmured, meeting the eyes of his mate.
"You have a choice, Brambleclaw," said Hawkfrost. "Accept your destiny and kill your leader, or watch her die."
"Don't listen to him!" screeched Squirrelflight, "You're not a traitor! Don't give in to him!"
"Quiet, you!" snapped Oakfur.
Brambleclaw simply stood there. He loved her…he loved her so much it hurt. He couldn't watch her die… but if he killed Firestar, Hawkfrost would surely think of a way to make things even worse for the forest. If he chose neither, he would be killed, and ThunderClan would surely be doomed.
His gaze once again met the gaze of his leader. He was barely clinging to whatever life he was now on.
"Sa-save her…sa-s-save the Clan…" he stuttered.
"Well, Brambleclaw," said Hawkfrost, his tail lashing impatiently, eyes filled with hatred. "What will you choose? Choose wisely and you will have everything you ever wanted, including your pretty little she-cat."
"Wait!" yowled Ashfur, pushing his way through so that he was nose-to-nose with Hawkfrost. "You told me that if I followed you, I would get to be deputy, and take Squirrelflight back!"
"And you will," said Hawkfrost, "All in good time. Brambleclaw?"
Brambleclaw knew what he had to do. He padded slowly up to Firestar.
"I'm sorry," he whispered as he tightened the noose around Firestar's neck.
"Don't be…"
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A little short I know, but there is more comeing!
Patronus OUT!