Hello all! The sequel to Dusk is here, and if you haven't read it first I highly suggest you do so unless you want to be terribly confused. More info is at the end of the chapter, including a refresh on what happened in Dusk! :D
A crisp crescent moon glowed above the dark treetops, casting an eerie light among the forest. A tortoiseshell she-cat slipped out from the undergrowth delicately, whiskers quivering in anticipation. A reddish tom followed her, glancing at her uncertainly as they padding into a wide clearing that emptied into a lake. The she-cat's breath caught in her throat.
"Isn't it beautiful?" she whispered, nudging the tom with her shoulder. The russet tom looked uncertain as he glanced at the silver waters.
"Are we sure about this?" he murmured, glancing up at the sky. Then he looked at her, and concern flooded his eyes. "Is this really what's going to happen to them?"
"Do you dare question our knowledge?" another, rougher voice cut in. The tom and she-cat turned to see another pair of cats advancing towards them. These cats walked more slowly; one was a dark gray she-cat that looked old and burly - though her amber eyes shone with youth - and a black tom followed, limping on a twisted paw. The tortoiseshell dipped her head at the broad, dark she-cat.
"Of course not, Yellowfang," she replied evenly. "You and I should know it better than anyone." Yellowfang snorted and plopped down by the lake beside the other she-cat, glaring at the waters coldly. The crippled black tom sat beside her, draping his tail over her back comfortingly.
Was Yellowfang always like this? The tortoiseshell wondered. Old and cranky? She stared at the old medicine cat, narrowing her eyes at the somber figure.
"Deadfoot," the red tom announced, looking over at the other tom seriously. "We must choose now, before they wake. Would you like to begin?"
Deadfoot nodded and rose to his paws, shifting his weight to balance his odd paw. Then he touched the lake's waters delicately, and through the surface, the image of a young, dark gray tom, curled in sleep appeared. His flanked heaved up and down gently in undisturbed sleep.
"Crowpaw," he murmured. "I want to choose him." The tortoiseshell nodded.
"Your son," she commented. Deadfoot nodded sharply, raising his chin.
"I want to go next," Yellowfang grunted, pushing herself to her paws. Then she touched the water herself, and Crowpaw's image disappeared. He was replaced by a sleeker, larger cat. This one the she-cat recognized. She looked up at Yellowfang quizzically.
"Are you sure?" she asked doubtfully.
"I'm positive," Yellowfang snapped, though there was truth behind her sharp tone. "She's proven herself over and over. She's a ShadowClan cat at heart."
"And beside, it doesn't matter what Clan they're from," the red tom added rather quickly, not moving his gaze from the sleeping she-cat in the water. "They're all going to have to take this burden together."
The other cats let his words sink in before nodding thoughtfully.
"Okay," Yellowfang rasped. "Tawnypelt it is."
"Oakheart," Deadfoot meowed softly, nosing to the large red tom. "Would you like to go?"
Oakheart swallowed before stepping forward and dabbing his paw into the water lightly without a word. Tawnypelt faded from view and was replaced by a large tom in a den lined with smooth stones and shells. The tom rolled over uncomfortably, revealing a white belly in contrast to his dark tabby fur.
"I would like to choose Hawkpaw," Oakheart said in a low voice, like he regretted it as soon as the words escaped his mouth. Deadfoot looked at him curiously.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "You don't sound confident in your choice."
Oakheart shook his head. "I'm not. I wanted to choose Feathertail - I told Silverstream I would. I want both of them. But Feathertail…" he glanced at the tortoiseshell doubtfully before sighing deeply. "...She's not RiverClan."
"You're out of luck," Yellowfang said quite rudely. "She's a ThunderClan cat, like Tawnypelt is of ShadowClan. Your only chance of Feathertail going on that journey is if Spottedleaf chooses her."
Oakheart looked up at Spottedleaf imploring, eyes wide. The tortoiseshell she-cat stepped back as all eyes turned to her and shook her head sadly.
"Oakheart, I'm sorry," she whispered. "Feathertail is a great cat, and StarClan would be honored to have her on this journey. But I have already chosen who I'd like to represent ThunderClan. I'm sorry," she repeated quietly, stepping back. Oakheart's eyes softened, and he stepped away from her.
"You all agreed with me before." he faced the other cats angrily, tail lashing. "It doesn't matter what Clan they're from; they take this journey together. And who says we have to have exactly four cats, huh?"
"Oakheart," Yellowfang said gruffly, yet with a sense of wisdom edging into her voice. "The four of us are all new to StarClan in the great scheme of things - even you. We were given a mission. I wouldn't push the limit."
"Well, I'm going to," he said, jutting out his chin and sitting down in some sort of rebellion. "Silverstream is counting on me, and I helped raise that cat."
"This isn't about what Silverstream thinks!" Yellowfang snarled, leaping to her paws and shoving her flat face at the RiverClan deputy. "This is about the future of the Clans!"
"With all due respect, Yellowfang," Deadfoot added quietly. "I don't think one cat going on a journey is going to destroy the Clans anymore than they're going to be destroyed already."
Yellowfang turned and glared at him for a long moment before a growl rumbled in her throat. "Fine," she spat.
"Thank you," Oakheart meowed simply, flicking an ear at the old ShadowClan medicine cat. He turned to the tortoiseshell she-cat and nodded brusquely. "Spottedleaf?"
Spottedleaf - the final cat - took in a deep breath and stepped forward, swishing her paw over the surface of the water. Hawkpaw's sleeping body dissipated, and was replaced by the final cat. Yellowfang and Oakheart's hackles settled as they glanced at the water in mesmerizing. Deadfoot purred.
"An excellent choice," he meowed approvingly. Yellowfang nodded wistfully.
"Him," Spottedleaf said, eyes dazzling in her reflection on the water and the sleeping cat below the surface. "I choose him."
At the same moment, in the heart of ThunderClan's warrior den, Brambleclaw jerked awake.
Yay! The sequel is here! This was just the prologue, so my apologizes about the short length. A couple things:
1. Perhaps the most important, I will not be able to update on a schedule or regular basis. I'm lucky to have free time nowadays, and fan fictions aren't my top priority! :p I will really try to update when I can, though.
2. Regarding the characters, I will upfront say that Tigerstar will act very differently in story vs Dusk. Not only was Dusk from his POV, but what happened with canon Firestar after he became leader was he became a duller, more perfect character. So Tigerstar will be more flawed in this story. Just a heads-up. :)
3. Also with the characters, here is a list of what has changed from the original series so far (in case you didn't read Dusk and just don't want to but want to read this for some reason):
- Tigerstar is good, and he is ThunderClan's leader
- Firestar is evil. He was ShadowClan's former leader
- Ravenflight(Ravenpaw) was evil and tried to kill Sorrelkit and successfully killed Goldenflower. He died in battle.
- Darkstripe and Longtail were both good. Both lived and are close friends of Tigerstar.
- Brokenstar wasn't strictly evil like he was originally, but he was flat-out crazy. He died in Darkstripe's act of defense
- Graystripe was originally a Firestar supporter, but eventually saw through him (much like the real Longtail)
- Deaths that were different: Redtail (crushed by rocks), Lionheart (killed by Blackfoot/star), Brindleface and Thornpaw (slain in battle), Bluestar (killed by Fireheart/star), Goldenflower (killed as bait for dogs by ravenpaw/flight), Stormpaw (Stormfur; killed by Firestar), Graypool (killed by Firestar), Spottedleaf (killed by dogs + drowning), Brokenstar (killed by Darkstripe), Ravenflight (killed by Ashfur, Ferncloud, Brambleclaw and Feathertail), and Firestar (killed in battle).
- Cats that lived that didn't make in in canon: Snowfoot (Snowkit), Mistlewing (Mistlepaw; Snowkit's sister), Darkstripe, Swiftclaw (Swiftpaw), Whitestorm, and of course Tigerstar.
Woo I think that's it! A lot of stuff and I doubt I got all of the deaths but that's an overview. Thanks for reading, and commenting, whether it be constructive criticism or love, is always welcome. :)