This is based on a theory Stone from Ww came up with… (Also known as SCWW. xD What genius naming! *shot*) I'm not sure whether it's taboo to put the link here or something, but I probably wouldn't anyway. Hehe. So here's the theory……

Epic Theory:

Tallstar-- A black and white tom with a long tail

Barkface-- A brown tom with a short tail

Their tail-lengths are more than a coincidence, I think Tallstar stole part of Barkface's tail!

And the reason why Barkface is still alive is because of the short tail. His heart wouldn't have o pump as much blood as a normal cat, so that means his heart wouldn't wear out as fast!

Makes perfect sense, right?

And from there is just got epicer and epicer…So without further ado, the fanfic! ;D

Prologue

A long time ago, in a time long before the story we know, the forest was a place of piece. WindClan, often the littlest of the four Clans, was the most prosperous. They lived under the rule of the great Windstar, the last of the original leaders.

It had been a dark moon. The Gathering that had lead them into it was ominous – ShadowClan were demanding more hunting grounds, and thanks to the ignorance of Owlstar of ThunderClan, WindClan were the power-hungry Clan's first victims. Frequent border fights had broken out since the Gathering, and casualties were growing on both sides.

Thankfully, under the leadership of the ever great Windstar, WindClan fought off attack after attack – their defences were impenetrable. However, it was not long before their medicine cat Thrushpelt received a sign from StarClan. Windstar's time was coming to an end.

It had been a painful day. ShadowClan had just been repelled from their fiercest attack yet. It seemed as if the whole Clan was coming to attack them. Windstar had contemplated asking ThunderClan for help, but he knew that broke the warrior code, and his leadership enough had been enough to get them by at the least.

A yowl of pain erupted through the camp. Cats of WindClan ran straight to the source – Windstar's den. Inside, to their shock, they found the Clan deputy Gorsefur.

"Gorsefur, what's wrong?" One cat asked. Gorsefur looked up, his eyed wide with shock and sadness.

"W-W-Windstar… She's dead." He stammered. A gasp went around the assembled cats, as Thrushpelt pushed her way towards their departed leader. She examined him for a moment, held her nose to their leader's flank, and turned to the crowd. She shook her head sadly. Truly, Windstar was dead.

"How will we hold off ShadowClan now?" A warrior, Thistletail, called out. "WindClan is doomed!" Panic broke out. Gorsefur and Thrushpelt tried to stop it, but in the end their own depression at the death stopped them. They would all have to wait until tomorrow, when Gorsefur could become leader…

A young apprentice, who Thrushpelt identified as Pebblepaw, pushed his way through the crowd towards her. She quickly redeemed herself, and approached him.

"Pebblepaw, did you want to see me?" Thrushpelt asked, her voice still shaky.

"Thrushpelt! Come quickly! Robinsong is having her kits!" Thrushpelt's eyes opened wide – there might be hope for WindClan after all! The two of them pushed their way back through the panicking Clan, followed closely by Gorsefur, who was by then almost too depressed to be cheered up by the newborn kits.

By the time they reached the Nursery, the noise was dying behind them. Most of the cats were inside of the leaders' den, to escape the heavy rain. They stepped inside to see Robinsong on the ground. Beside her was her mate, Runningleaf, trying to comfort her. It seemed fairly evident that Robinsong wasn't going to pay any attention to him, so Runningleaf turned to Thrushpelt.

"Please, please help her!" He said, but she was already at Robinsong's side. She indicated for him to get out of her way. Runningleaf willingly obliged.

"Barkpaw!" Thrushpelt barked. Her ever-attentive apprentice rushed to her side.

"Yes?" He inquired, his very long tail curling around his legs as he stood to attention.

"Get me some herbs – I trust your judgement. Hurry!" He ran off in a hurry to the medicine cat den. Thrushpelt dropped to Robinsong's side, muttering encouragements and talking her through as she helped her deliver the kits. It seemed like forever until Barkpaw returned with poppy seeds and some strengthening herbs.

"Good," Thrushpelt praised, "perhaps you can take over for now." Barkpaw's eyes grew wide.

"But… But I…"

"No questions! Do it." He nodded, and Thrushpelt left the Nursery. She returned to the leader's den, where things were starting to settle down.

"Looks like the whole Clan is in a panic." Gorsefur mewed from beside her. Thrushpelt jumped – she had almost forgotten he was here. It seemed the deputy had redeemed himself considerably. He padded to the spot where Windstar's body lay.

"Cats of WindClan!" Gorsefur called out. The talking died down immediately. "Windstar has died. She was a good leader, and a good friend to all of us." His eyes clouded with sadness, but he continued on. "But now is a time for change. Tomorrow, at sun-high, I will announce a new deputy. Until then, stay calm. WindClan will strike back against ShadowClan, and with me as leader we will win the war!" Cheering went through the ranks of the Clan.

"Thrushpelt, are you… Thrushpelt!" The medicine cat's eyes were wide. She suddenly snapped up.

"Danger…is coming… All of our…tails…are in grave…danger!" Thrushpelt collapsed, leaving the cats around in great confusion.

"Our tails are in danger? What in StarClan puts our tails in danger?" One cat asked.

"It must be ShadowClan's doing!"

"We're all doomed!"

"No matter. I will take over the position of leadership. Everything will make itself clear in time…I hope…" Gorsefur declared, and began to pad out of the den. It had stopped raining since, but the ground was still too damp. "It is too damp outside to hold the usual vigil… Windstar's vigil will be held in here." The Clan was confused – this had never happened before.

As the cats of WindClan were gathering around their leader's corpse, Barkpaw crept back into the leaders den. He approached Thrushpelt as inconspicuously as possible. As soon as she was alerted, she left with her apprentice to go back to the Nursery. It only took a couple of moments until the two of them returned with a startled-looking Runningleaf.

"WindClan!" Thrushpelt announced. The vigil immediately paused so they could hear what she had to say. "Robinsong has just had a kit. I am proud to announce that Barkpaw delivered it, and he will be given his full medicine cat name at the next meeting!" Cheers went around. Barkpaw looked up with pride – he hadn't been expecting this.

"What is the kit's name?" Gorsefur asked Thrushpelt. She gave him a short glare for cutting the cheering off, but answered anyway.

"Ah, yes. His name is…"