Author's Note: I finally wanted to upload a fanfic here. I don't know if this will be any good. It's set after ThunderClan, ShadowClan, RiverClan, and WindClan have disappeared and in an entirely new territory. It centered mainly around Willow, a one-eyed she-cat, who is chosen by StarClan to create a Clan. Willow will face many challenges, from establishing a new warrior code to finding cats for her Clan. It's rated T. But it probably won't be that bad. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors! Erin Hunter does. I do, however own my original characters such as Willow.
Chapter 1: Voices
Lightning crackled dangerously overhead.
The wind howled and tore at the mighty oaks and clinging bushes. Rain fell from the sky in sheets, hitting the pavement and splashing off. And downhill did the water run, racing to the once gentle stream that was now a torrent of water.
Out of nowhere, a lithe she-cat crashed through the undergrowth and onto the Thunderpath where the Twoleg's monsters were seen to prowl. The color of the Thunderpath complimented the depressing onslaught of falling water. The gray tabby she-cat blended in perfectly with this backdrop. But silently she cursed the yowling wind, the hammering rain, and malicious lightning.
And she knew she was a pitiful sight to behold. Rainwater and mud plastered her fur to her skin. It made her appear thinner than she was, and she definitely was already underweight. Her ears were tattered from long forgotten battles. Then there was a single empty space where an eye was designed to be...
There was a sort of hollowness inside of her. Ever since she had been viciously attacked by a ravenous fox and lost that irreplaceable right eye. It flawed her appearance. She could barely stand to look at herself in a pool of calm water now for fear of what she might see. And she was ashamed of that.
Lost in thoughts, she failed to notice the water puddle until it was too late. She tripped over a pebble, meowing in shock as she rolled over into the water. Her legs flailed in the air until she stopped moving. Then, she hastily leaped back. She swiftly tried to shake the water droplets from her pelt and gave her fur a few licks.
Gross! She was not expecting to be more soaked than she already had been. Mentally, she blamed it on her clumsiness and horrible balance. What's worse, though, she concluded was that she probably stunk worse than a wet dog.
Impatiently, she strolled as casually as possible under the shelter of an oak but found it offered no refuge from the rain. What did it matter though? She was already extremely soaked from whiskers to tail tip. Growling, she tipped her head to the sky.
Did this storm have an end?
"Sometimes," a voice sounded to her right, her blind side. She whirled around to face the cat, but there wasn't anything there. Her fur flattened. There was no scent of any stranger. Finally, her muscles relaxed, and she found herself grooming again. But it didn't help. She shivered. The current coldness of the atmosphere and the condition of her pelt did nothing to help her body temperature. And she was freezing!
The rain came to a sudden stop. Although thunder did still rumble threateningly in the background and lightning occasionally lit up the sky. Inwardly, the she-cat thanked whoever was looking out for her.
"Because we do listen, Willow."
It was that voice again!
Willow's fur stood on end. She screeched, turning in the direction of the voice. A shadow in the corner of her eye caught her attention. She scanned the forest for the feline shape but found none. "Who are you?" Willow hissed.
There was stillness in the air that lingered several heartbeats. Willow gritted her teeth in exasperation. "Answer me!" She yelled. "Who are you?" A light wind chilled her.
Miraculously, the clouds parted and a sunbeam drifted down to illuminate Willow's form. She squinted in the sudden light, her eyes widening in wonder. She uncoiled from her defensive posture, sitting up straight. "W-who are you?" Nervously, she gave her shoulder a lick. A purr of amusement buzzed around Willow, yet she couldn't distinguish the source. A little while away, she heard the bubbling of the stream, but that wasn't it. Willow determined by now she was either crazy or this was some act of an unknown force.
The wheels of her brain twirled and she was caught unaware as the voice spoke again, "Find us, Willow," it told her. "Follow the stream. We abide in the cave by the pines."
An abrupt chill shot through Willow as the presence left her. A whirlpool of leaves danced around in the gloomy light. The gray she-cat inhaled a shaky breath.
"Follow the stream-"she repeated, strolling down the hill in the direction of the said landmark.