Author's Note: Rewriting! I have had some people email and message me asking for me to continue this story, so I'm going to try to make a couple people happy. I've been rereading the series lately and I decided that this was a good time as ever to get this going. This is a revised version of the first chapter and I've begun work on the second chapter, after which I will begin work on writing the third chapter.
And as a note, this was set before The Power of Three was released, so I know the issues with Squirrelflight and the kits, but I do nooooot care. There will be spoilers for people who have not started past the Power of Three series as I will be picking some events that happen and are revealed to use within this story. And, with that said, here we go.
XxX
Gentle starlight glittered across Moonpool as star-dusted paws padded heavily across the well-worn ground, cats slowly filing into the hollow as though none wanted to be there to discuss what hung in the air. Pelts began to bristle as starry eyes stared in shock at the glittering pool, watching five shadowy shapes dart through its reflection. The room filled with wails and hisses as four of the shapes circled and turned on the fifth, swarming until it seemed to become one large, writhing mass in the reflection.
"How can this happen? These creatures, these vile creatures should not exist," whispered a blue-furred she cat, her eyes glittered with horror as she watched four shapes step away from their prey, the fifth shadow lying motionless between them.
A wail echoed through the hollow and many cats lowered their heads as the grieving queen watched as the reflection of the kit from her first litter was swarmed by three of the still standing shadows, the largest of the four settling a distance away. The mournful keening continued coupled with other hushed mewls of sorrow. A young tortoiseshell she-cat stepped next to the pained she-cat, brushing her tail soothingly across her shoulder as she solemnly watched the reflection before them before turning her soft gaze to the cat who spoke before.
"Our promise of peace means nothing, now. There was no way that we could have foreseen this, no cat could have. There is nothing we can do, Bluestar, we must leave this in the paws of the Clans," she mewled, turning her attention to the black and white tom as he leapt to his paws, fur bristling as his long tail lashed angrily.
"Is there nothing we can do? I refuse to stand by and watch these monsters slaughter my clan!" he snarled, yowls of agreement echoed through the cave as other star-furred warriors clawed at the ground.
They silenced at the caterwaul of an older she-cat, her yellow eyes sourly scanned her clanmates as she drew her lip back in distaste. She heaved herself to her paws, her unkempt gray fur moved thickly across her old muscles as she padded to the lip of the pool, eyes softening with sadness as she bowed her head, her rasping mew whispering through the stones.
"There is nothing we can do, Tallstar. All we can do is watch and pray for our clans."
XxX
Cats wearily stumbled through the thick brambles that protected the entrance to the ThunderClan camp, cats separating as some made their way to the meager fallen-leaf stricken fresh-kill pile, others padding slowly towards the dens for rest. Dawn patrol reported to Firestar in his den on Highledge where he'd been sitting with Brambleclaw, speaking in low murmurs. The large tabby flicked his ears at the patrol in greeting and stepped to the entrance to let the patrol speak.
"We met a ShadowClan patrol at the border. Those mangy fools attacked us, but they called us murderers and kidnappers before charging." Dustpelt sighed, seeming to favor his left hind leg as a trickle of blood seeped from his flanks. Berrypaw and Spiderleg mumbled agreement, scratches riddling their haunches and shoulders. Firestar nodded in understanding, sweeping his tail around to curl over his paws as shoulders tensed.
"I figured this, thank you for dealing with them. Please go to Leafpool and let her see about that wound and get some rest." Firestar ordered, twitching his whiskers to dismiss them as he sank into deep thought. Dustpelt dipped his head in response and limped to Leafpool's den with the other two following slowly behind.
"Firestar, your fox trap wound has not healed yet and Twolegs are slowly coming closer and closer to the camp and ShadowClan is only adding to our issues. We have got to do something about them soon." Brambleclaw hissed, his tail tip twitched with annoyance as he thought of their neighboring clan. His own sister lived in the clan, but he could not overlook the dark hearted warriors that resided in the forest with them for her.
In the past moon, ShadowClan had become extremely hostile towards ThunderClan. Every day, cats reported ShadowClan attempts to extend borders, creating the need for a constant guard patrol. With every patrol, more and more cats returned with scars and weary minds.
"Yes, but tonight is the night of the Gathering. We will discuss their actions at that time, but nothing else. I do not want a single claw raised in retaliation against them unless it is to protect the clan or the borders. For now, please pick the cats to attend the Gathering, but be sure to leave a few warriors in the camp. We can't trust leaving the camp unguarded." Firestar mewed as he pawed at the ground, returning to his deep thoughts as Brambleclaw slipped from the den and into the clearing.
"Cloudtail, will you gather Thornclaw, Brackenfur, Birchfall, Brightheart, Cinderpaw, Molepaw, and Whitepaw? We'll be setting out for the Gathering soon." Brambleclaw meowed as he passed the white warrior at the fresh kill pile, pausing for a moment as his eyes flickered to the gray warrior sprawled in a sunny patch of the clearing. "Ashfur too, by the way, tell him to attend, as well." He meowed before stalking towards the nursery to see his. Squirrelflight was currently nestled inside, her round belly a tell-tale sign of her soon-to-be kitting. Her tail curled with delight as he entered, giving a warm purr as she brushed her muzzle against his. He wouldn't admit it, but he didn't want to leave the blue-eyed warrior in camp with her after he had so freely showed vehemence towards him and his mate.
"I wish I could go with all of you, I'd give that mouse-brained Blackstar a piece of my mind." She growled, nudging her mate indignantly as he purred in amusement.
"We know; that's exactly why we're making you stay here." He purred, twining his tail with her dark ginger one. Leaning into her warm pelt for several heartbeats, he finally gave a weary sigh and mewed farewell, slipping through the sharp brambles tendrils that protected the nursery.
He passed Berrypaw as he slid from the medicine cat's den, giving his apprentice a warm praise for his act in the dawn patrol. Berrypaw's eyes sparkled as Brambleclaw gave the young cat a knowing smile, twitching his tail towards where Firestar was gathering his warriors. Berrypaw grinned, bouncing over to where Whitepaw stood next to Cloudtail, fluffing out his chest as he excitedly detailed the early morning scuffle with ShadowClan.
Firestar caught Brambleclaw's eye and waited till his deputy stood beside him before raising his tail to signal for the patrol to shuffle through the thorn encased entrance. Cats cast wary glances in the direction of ShadowClan as a stiff breeze carried the hostile clan's scent towards them, tails fluffing out and pelts prickling with unease as they padded beneath the familiar leaves of the forest.
Firestar led the patrol through WindClan territory this time, just to keep it safe.
XxX
The tree bridge loomed over the cats as they reached the crossing point to the Gathering. Firestar nimbly leapt onto the gnarled trunk of the old tree, weaving his way through the branches as his clan slowly filed after him. Brambleclaw nosed his young apprentice up into the branches, following closely behind. They hopped nimbly from the tree bridge to the island; making their way briskly in the clearing within the center of the island.
The thick tension sunk its claws deep into each ThunderClan cat's pelt as they settled with RiverClan and WindClan friends, purposefully avoiding any ShadowClan warriors. Brambleclaw glanced around the clearing, catching Tawnypelt's eye from where she sat with her clanmate, Rowanclaw. The fur on her shoulders prickled as they held each other's gaze, but she still nodded a warm greeting to her brother. A creeping sensation tickled up his spine at his sister's behavior, noting the other ShadowClan warriors and apprentices shooting fearful glances at the ThunderClan warriors, eyes glittering with open hostility as the cats milled about. Littlecloud was one of the few along with Tawnypelt that didn't hiss at the passing ThunderClan warriors, but he couldn't help but notice the uneasy glance the ShadowClan medicine cat gave Leafpool as she bounded towards him and the other medicine cats.
As the leaders leapt into the tree branches and the deputy's settled at the roots, every cat felt wary.
"Cats of all clans," Firestar began, "StarClan have brought us here again beneath the light of the full moon. Onestar, will you begin?"
"Thank you, Firestar." Onestar dipped his head, padding forward to balance on the largest branch as he addressed the gathered cats. "Hunting goes well in WindClan territory, the rabbits run bountiful and our warriors are as strong as ever with the full bellies. We are also proud to announce the arrival of new life; a strong son borne from Nightcloud and Crowfeather." He meowed, pausing at the chorus of mews that rang through to congratulate the gray-black warrior that sat stiffly in the clearing.
Brambleclaw couldn't help but notice the pained expression that shook Leafpool and Crowfeather's quick glance towards her before she bowed her head, wrapping her tail tightly around her paws. No cat within WindClan or ThunderClan had forgotten the cats' attempt to run from the clans in moons past, their desperate attempt to sate their forbidden love for each other by abandoning their homes to be with one another. However, the two quickly returned after running into Midnight with her grave warning of a vicious badger attack that was ripping apart the ThunderClan camp at that moment and had vowed to never see each other again.
Onestar's eyes flickered between the two before bowing his head with the end of his report and returning to his branch with Leopardstar, who took his place with a neat leap.
"RiverClan has also fared well in the past moon. The streams and lake are alive with fish and the Twolegs have kept a fair distance from the camp. The Twoleg poison from our territory has been cleansed away and all of our warriors are strong and healthy." She meowed, casting a pointed gaze across the cats below her as she emphasized the strength of her warriors before returning to her place beside Onestar. Firestar padded onto the branch, raising his head proudly as he began the report.
"Prey within the forest runs strong and my wound from the fox trap is nearly healed. I am proud to announce that my daughter, Squirrelflight, and Brambleclaw are expecting strong kits to arrive soon." He nodded at his deputy, who lifted his head and gave his chest a few good licks to hide his pride.
"I am also proud to announce four new apprentices; Molepaw, Honeypaw, Poppypaw, and Cinderpaw!" Firestar meowed as Cinderpaw and Molepaw puffed out their chests and with purrs of excitement. Cats cheered the apprentice's names before turning back to the ThunderClan leader. Firestar gazed proudly at the two apprentices before his face turned grim, eyes flitting towards Blackstar. The fur along his shoulders bristled angrily as the ShadowClan leader curled his lip at his gaze. "There are disturbances within the clan, however, our patrols along the ShadowClan border-"
He was cut short as Blackstar shoved his way onto the branch, knocking Firestar off balance. Firestar's hind legs slipped from the branch, his forepaws scrabbled at the branched as he yowled in fury, heaving himself to the branch as angry caterwauls erupted from the clearing below. Firestar arched his back in anger, spitting furiously at the ShadowClan leader as the large white warrior lashed his tail across his muzzle. Onestar leapt onto the branch, maneuvering himself between Firestar and Blackstar as he whispered quickly into Firestar's ear.
The flame-pelted warrior's back relaxed, but his ears remained flat against his head as the fur across his shoulders rippled with anger. He whipped around, stalking angrily back to his branch as Onestar settled beside his old friend, casting Firestar wary glances as the legendary warrior's eyes danced with a feral light. Brambleclaw willed his own fur to smooth back over his shoulders, but hissed in anger as he glanced at Russetfur's smug expression as she spat at him.
"Time is hard for ShadowClan. Prey is plentiful, but Twolegs are still prowling around our territory. I am afraid to report that there have also been…disappearances. Warriors and apprentices of our clan have disappeared from our camp. We thought that perhaps the Twolegs prowling within our territory were perhaps capturing them, however," At this point, the black-pawed leader shot a disgusted glare at Firestar, ignoring the fiery cats savage hiss, "we have found bodies, if we could even still call them that. Every cat that we have found have been ripped open and eaten. In the beginning, we thought that a pack of foxes had settled in our territory, but around every cat's body was a ThunderClan scent." He spat at Firestar, the fur on his neck bristling.
"How dare you, you fox-hearted liar!" Cloudtail yowled, his white fur bristling and the tailed fluffed out to double his size, causing every cat near him to scramble away from the warrior in fear. "You low-life, crow-food eating rat! How dare you accuse us of cannibalism!"
"I don't see what else it could be!" Rowanclaw hissed, leaping to his paws as Tawnypelt lowered her eyes to her paws next to him. Rage rippled through the clearing as ThunderClan and ShadowClan warriors yowled at one another. RiverClan and WindClan cats scrambled to the edge of the clearing, their eyes wide with surprise and fear at the fearsome warriors that bristled in the center of the clearing. Cloudtail snarled with rage as he leapt towards Russetfur, claws glinting in the moonlight as the two cats fell into a screeching tumble of fur and teeth. Firestar's caterwaul ripped through the air, causing every cat to freeze as it echoed through the island with the anger and power of a warrior of the ancient LionClan. It was then that the cats in the clearing noticed the dark, heavy clouds that screened the moon.
"Stop this! ThunderClan has not and will never resort to cannibalism. I can swear this upon my remaining lives as a leader that we would never resort to something as lowly as devouring cats from another clan, even if we didn't have a mouse tail to split between the entire clan." Firestar meowed darkly, his voice daring some cat to speak against him as his tail lashed angrily. He shot Blackstar a crippling glare before raking his claws through the branch that he stood on before waving his bristling tail and glanced up towards the covered moon, every cat flinching as a fearsome crack of thunder shook the trees surrounding the clearing. "This Gathering is over, StarClan has spoken."
Brambleclaw stood next to the tree as his leader landed neatly next to him from the branches. Every cat hurried quickly through the island as the thunder crashed again, roiling clouds spreading to cover the wide grounds of Silverpelt above them. Harsh, menacing shadows stretched across the ground as lightning cracked through the sky, sending cats skittering across the tree-bridge as StarClan shook the earth in their anger.
No cat, however, noticed the four shadows crouched within the darkness of the tree branches surrounding the clearing, their eyes glinting dangerously with every flash of lightning.
XXxXx
"I told you that you should have cleaned your meals more neatly. 'Go put them in the lake!' I said, 'Don't leave them just laying around!' I told you. But you wouldn't listen!" A lean, dark tom hissed furiously. His black fur glittered darkly in the moonlight, gray chest fur glowing silver in the full moon's cast after the clouds had shifted away. The muscles in his long spider-like legs rippled as he narrowed his eyes at the she-cat that paced before him; his white eye glinting dangerously behind the thick, gray scar that marred the right side of his face, matching the same angry fire that glittered in his unscarred black eye.
The dark mottled she-cat hissed at the larger cat as he raised a massive paw, ignoring his wickedly curved claws that gleamed like tiger claws in the moonlight. She dashed towards the large cat, rearing back onto her hind legs as she leapt past the raised paw, shoving the warriors scarred face into her thick chest fur as she bit into his ear with lightning-fast reflexes, batting his face and neck with sheathed claws as the larger cat sat stunned at her speed. She leapt back, skipping skillfully backwards on her paws as he swung his still-clawed paw towards her. She stood tall on her hind legs, forepaws tucked defensively against her stomach as she bared her teeth with a warning hiss.
Her thick, heavy tail lashed behind her as she twitched her whiskers at him, hissing her anger with slitted eyes. "Shut your mouth, or else I will give your stupid face another scar, you damn pussycat! I don't listen to the likes of you, so don't you dare think you can talk down to me like I'm a kit."
"Well, maybe if you stopped acting like a kit and dispose of your meals properly, then perhaps I would treat you with a little more respect." He hissed, taking a step towards the mottled cat, hissing as she leapt towards him yowling. He crouched as she launched herself over onto his back, tumbling over in a twist in an attempt to dislodge the spitting she-cat, but even under his extreme weight, she clung onto his pelt as she yelled every obscenity she could think of.
"Mother, Father, please! Shadowhorse is falling asleep and, perhaps instead of standing here yowling like thick-skulled mongrels, we should find a nice badger set or something to settle in for the night and you may continue your fight there, outside of our sight." A younger gray tom snapped, glancing towards his twin sister as she drifted uneasily on the mossy ground, narrowing his dark violet eyes at the older cats. He did not flinch as the dark brown she-cat whirled on him.
"I told you before, you pathetic excuse for a cat; I am not you bloody mother. Your mother had enough sense to leave you two cretins before you were old enough to glue yourselves to her side. He may be your father, but I was stupid enough to stick around to keep you two alive while this idiot struggled to feed himself." She hissed darkly before turning on her paws to stalk away into the undergrowth. The young gray cat stood staring at where she had disappeared for a moment before turning to glare at his father.
"Icetail, couldn't you make her mad after we'd settled somewhere to sleep? Now Rockfire's is going to be jittery the entire night and we will have to be the ones to listen to." He snapped, turning to pat his sister on the stomach to wake her. Icetail simply scowled, shaking his massive head as he let out a frustrated sigh.
"Do not blame me, Shadowbat. Rockfire has a temper worse than any cat I've ever seen. Besides, she'll cool down after a while. Then she'll her usual cold self again." He stated distastefully, curling his lip at the direction the mottled cat had disappeared before following the raging cat through the forest. Shadowbat roused his sister to her paws, ignoring her sleepy hiss as she narrowed crimson eyes at her brother before padding tiredly after their father.
"Fine, as long as we find some peace for the night. I'm rather getting hungry as well, but I think we should let those cats calm down before we try anything. I can settle for these foul little creatures creeping through the forest." Shadowbat said, snorting as his father shook his head. His father didn't eat the way they did and couldn't understand their disgust with mice and squirrels. He had a taste for something much more filling, something that Rockfire had sustained he and his sister with when they had been pitiful mewling scraps, forced to starvation when their father had failed to properly feed them. She had presented them with a constant source of food, a source them with days-worth of food as long as the catch was good.
After all, you always feel hungrier after a fight of tooth and claw.