Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of Warriors / Warrior cats. The wonderful authors, who combined go under the name of Erin Hunter and her associates, hold the copyright to the Warriors / Warrior cats series. No infringement of these copyrights is intended. I am not making any money with the writing and posting of this story.

And last but not least all original characters are the property of V.R.W. also known as Pitje2, any resemblance to beings dead or alive is purely coincidental.

Stoneclan: the way to a new beginning
Prologue

The thunder roared in the sky and on the earth, rain poured from the heavens and the strong gusts made every drop Sting. The field was muddy, only the monsterroad remained clear of dirt, at the edges surrounding the once green and bountiful clearing bushes cracked and trees groaned in the wind. Were they mourning already? Bolts of lightning led up the field shortly and showed the devastation all around. Just as the light faded a toms voice called out. "Stoneclan to me!" A young shecat, perhaps 9 or 10 moons old squinted her eyes and ran towards the voice. As she came closer she could see a cat stumbling. "Palesun!" she mewed anxiously. Her hackles left deep imprints in the mud as she went for a final spurt. "Palesun what do we do? How should…" She took a sharp intake of breath as she saw her leader. The tom could barely stay on his feet and blood was gushing from tiny holes in his once cream-colored fur. "Willowpaw" he managed to say before toppling to his side. "Willowpaw there isn't much time" the bloodied and mud-covered tom craned his neck towards his clanmate. She heard heavy pawsteps approach and perked her ears, her gaze however stayed glued on her leader as he croaked: "I say these words in front of my ancestors" he paused taking a ragged breath and she felt fur next to her and heard a deep voice "Stay down Willowpaw, they might not see us then." Lying down she heard Palesun continue "…approve of my choice." Then the cream-colored tom lay still. Her eyes widened in disbelief and she couldn't help but shiver and thát was most definitely not from the cold. "It's okay." She heard the tom next to her say "He's losing a life. But he'll be back soon." "A-a- are y-you sure Mudwing?" She glanced over to the dark brown tom beside her, a lightning bolt illuminated his features before they succumbed to the darkness and a curtain of rain once more. Jerking her head back towards where her leader lay as she heard a sharp intake of breath all her senses were focused on him. His head was on the ground and as he spoke mud seemed to run into his mouth "Mountaintiger will be the new deputy." he concluded. Slowly turning his head towards his clanmates as yowling could be heard in the distance, his eyes were already glazing over as he spoke once more "Willowpaw…. Brown..lion, go back to the clan" another labored breath followed "this is my last life, nothing left to do here. Battle is lost, go. Go and tell them to move away." His body squeaked as he tried to inhale "Mountainlion must lead them away. Everyone. Run." His eyes widened slightly but no breath was drawn. The proud and fierce leader of Stoneclan was no more. "No" she all but whispered and buried her face in Palesuns flank as the yowling became louder and louder. "You have done great things Palesun, but it seems the nofurs were too strong. Stoneclan will honor you, may you walk with the best of Shineclan" dipping his head Brownlion nudged his leaders face gently, standing back up he gently talked to the young shecat "We must go Willowpaw. You heard what he said." She drew her face from the blood, mud and cream-colored fur and looked at the warrior standing next to her with eyes filled with grief. "We can't leave him here." "We have to, we won't make it back dragging Palesun, or any of the other fallen cats. Come." He was about to gently nudge her away from the corpse when he suddenly whirled around hackles high "Nofur!" He could see it through the rain, a being walking on his hindlegs, caring a stick which held thunder and was deadly to a cat. The being stopped and yowled again, turning around and around on his stick like legs. His ears twitched and his fur felt on fire, even though he was soaked through the bone. Looking backwards he could see Willowpaw having put her snout into Palesuns fur once more. "Willowpaw!" he called out sternly and when she didn't respond he pushed her roughly away from their dead leader. "Run to the clan now! You must tell them what happened here. You must!" Her eyes were still wide and she glanced down "but…" a sudden yowl cut her off and then she saw the nofur waving, hollering and making its way to them. Her eyes practically bulged as she started to understand what would happen. "Tell Beaverpaw I love her….now go. Run like a Shineclan warrior!" As she turned and sped off he called after her "don't look back! Keep running! Get to them!" Then he bristled his fur and faced the nofur. He trotted at first and then he sped towards it letting out his fiercest war cry.

And the thunder roared in the sky and on the earth…

Run paws, make me fly. As she heard a double thunder she shrank together before speeding up again. Racing across the mud almost reaching the edge of the clearing the watery soil made her lose her footing and she tumbled and slid, paws trying to regain their footing as they flayed desperately across the wet soil. Don't look back! keep running! Brownlions words echoed in her head and as she got her footing she tore through a bush, thorns scratching her skin. Get to the clan. I need to inform everyone. Her heartbeat went quick, breaths started to come in gasps but she kept going. Jumping across a fallen tree she almost tripped again but managed to stay on her feet. Run. The clan. Bearpaw. Mountaintiger. Must get to them. She could hear the trees groan under the massive downpour and wicked gales and briefly wondered if Shineclan was weeping at the loss of Stoneclans territory and so many lives. She was almost there now, just beyond those bushes there a clearing would be and some hollows carved in stone. They would be there, the remnants of Stoneclan. Suddenly panic struck her like a tidal wave. They would still be there wouldn't they?