Disclaimer:
I do not own Warriors.
Alright! New story time!
Sequel to Cries in the Night/A Different Choice, and I'm ready to start it off! So, let's get started!
But first... I seriously think that I need to do an alliance. I never do them, but I've lost track on who's alive, who's dead, who has an apprentice, who's a queen, who's who's mate. I mean, there are two cats that I created, that were only mentioned ONCE in this entire thing, because I forgot about them. And they're old enough to be warriors! So, this is just to help (me and) everyone. If you want to skip the alliance, be my guest, the real chapter will be under it. I'll only be doing ShadowClan and ThunderClan, mainly because I'm to lazy to make up warrior names and decide who's dead or not. Don't worry, this is the only time I'm doing it.
The name of this story may not make sense now, but just wait. It'll start to make sense over time.
THUNDERCLAN
LEADER: Ashstar ~ dark gray tom with darker flecks and blue eyes
DEPUTY: Thornclaw ~ golden-brown tom
MEDICINE CAT: Leafpool ~ brown she-cat with white paws and underbelly and amber eyes
APPRENTICE: Marshflower
WARRIORS:
Squirrelflight ~ ginger she-cat with white paw and green eyes
Brackenfur ~ golden-brown tom
Sorreltail ~ tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with amber eyes
APPRENTICE: Swirlpaw
Cloudtail ~ long-haired white tom with blue eyes
APPRENTICE: Skypaw
Brightheart ~ white she-cat with ginger patches
Spiderleg ~ long-limbed black tom with brown underbelly and amber eyes
Birchfall ~ light brown tabby tom
Berrynose ~ cream-colored tom (How have I not killed him off yet?)
Cinderheart ~ gray tabby she-cat
APPRENTICE: Rabbitpaw
Lion ~ golden tom
Holly ~ black she-cat
Jay ~ gray tom
Foxfleet ~ reddish tabby tom
APPRENTICE: Soaringpaw
Toadfoot ~ black-and-white tom
Rosepetal ~ dark cream she-cat
Briarpatch ~ dark brown she-cat
APPRENTICE: Petalpaw
Bumblepelt ~ very pale gray tom with black stripes
Poppyfrost ~ tortoiseshell she-cat
Whitewing ~ white she-cat with green eyes
Redclaw ~ ginger tom with green eyes
Dock ~ dark gray tom with pale blue eyes
Coldnose ~ white tom
APPRENTICE: Speckledpaw
Thistlefoot ~ pale brown tom with white paws
APPRENTICE: Pinepaw
Willowstorm ~ long-furred brown she-cat
Mudear ~ brown tom
Scorchnose ~ reddish tom
Whiskernose ~ creamy-brown she-cat
Honeyfern ~ golden-brown she-cat
APPRENTICE
Rabbitpaw ~ golden-brown tom
Skypaw ~ creamy white tom
Petalpaw ~ creamy white she-cat
Soaringpaw ~ gray tom
Speckledpaw ~ tortoiseshell she-cat with darker flecks
Pinepaw ~ gray tom with darker flecks
Swirlpaw ~ gray she-cat with darker flecks and green/blue eyes
QUEENS
Blossomfur ~ tortoiseshell she-cat (Adopted mother of Sparrowkit, Tornkit, and Sunkit)
Daisy ~ cream-furred she-cat
ELDERS
Sandstorm ~ ginger she-cat
Dustpelt ~ brown tabby tom
Ferncloud ~ gray she-cat with darker flecks
Millie ~ tabby gray she-cat
SHADOWCLAN
LEADER: Oakstar ~ small brown tom
DEPUTY: Rowanclaw ~ ginger tom
MEDICINE CAT: Flamefur
WARRIORS:
Applefur ~ mottled brown she-cat
Crowfrost ~ black-and-white tom
Ratscar ~ brown tom with long scars across his back
APPRENTICE: Frozenpaw
Snowbird ~ pure-white she-cat
Tawnypelt ~ tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
Olivenose ~ tortoiseshell she-cat
Owlclaw ~ light brown tabby tom
Shrewfoot ~ gray she-cat with black feet
Scorchfur ~ dark gray tom
Redwillow ~ mottle brown-and-ginger tom
Tigerstripe ~ dark brown tom
APPRENTICES
Frozenpaw ~ white tom
QUEENS
Wingsoul ~ gray she-cat with green eyes (Mother of Graykit)
Dawnfoot ~ cream-furred she-cat (Mother of Flashkit)
RIVERCLAN
LEADER: Mistystar
WINDCLAN
LEADER: Onestar
"Until the day she has earned her warrior name, this kit will be known as Sparrowpaw." Ashstar's eyes flicked out toward the crowd. "Willowstorm, you are ready for your first apprentice. You are an exceptional hunter, and I hope that you pass on your skills to your apprentice." Sparrowpaw smiled, and ran down to her new mentor. They quickly touched noses, and then the Clan started calling out their names.
"Sparrowpaw! Tornpaw! Sunpaw! Sparrowpaw! Tornpaw! Sunpaw!" Sparrowpaw felt her heart seem to soar at the sound of her name being called out over the Clan. When the calling died down, the Clan started to depart.
A dark gray tom moved his way through the crowd, toward the exit. Sparrowpaw looked to him, her eyes wide, begging. She put a paw forward, wanting to stop him, but Willowstorm looked to her, telling her with her eyes not to go after him. Sparrowpaw narrowed her eyes, and started running toward the tom. He looked over the clearing, his eyes filled with grief and slight longing. "Dock!" she called, running forward.
"Sparrowpaw! Wait!" Willowstorm called, but she ignored her mentor. The gray tom stopped his walking, and froze to the spot. He looked forward, not wanting to look back again. For if he did, he might stay.
"What is it Sparrowpaw?" Dock said, she knew that he was struggling to keep his voice even, almost emotionless.
"Please don't go," she whispered. "We only have you left." Her mind switched back to the stories he had told her. The stories of her reckless, but loving, mother, the one that she was named after. She'd died before she was born, but she knew that she was named after her, for some unforeseen reasons, but she knew that her father had loved her more than anything. And it almost killed him when she had died. He had had an air of grief around him in the last few moons, but she knew that he had had it since returning to the Clans.
"Wrong Sparrowpaw. You have your brothers. And your mother," Dock whispered. His voice was somewhat even, but she could hear it shaking, only slightly. She knew that it hurt him to think about Sparrow, that's why he rarely told her or her brothers about their mother.
"But, she's-"
"She's in StarClan. She may not have known about it, but StarClan would have brought her there anyways. They would have found her, I know they would have."
"Come on Sparrowpaw," a new voice said. Sparrowpaw turned her head, and saw her brother, Sunpaw. Sunpaw had a golden pelt, and was the biggest of the three kits. His amber eyes, swirling with pain, looked up to Dock. "Good-bye," he whispered, avoiding eye contact. Sparrow heard the pain in his voice, and she knew that she wasn't the only one dreading her father's leave. He started to lead his sister back to Willowstorm.
"Dock, please," Sparrowpaw begged. "Don't leave. Please." She turned back, ignoring her brother's nudging to continue moving. "Don't leave us."
"Sparrowpaw... You must understand. I chose this, because I know it will be best in the long run. I don't belong here. You wouldn't have come here if your mother hadn't died. But I see you among your clanmates. I am not liked, by kin, yes, but by the others, no. I am a murderer Sparrowpaw. I don't deserve to live in this place, among the kin of the one I killed. But you are young. You can make up for what I did, by being the best warriors you can be. Sunpaw, take care of her and Tornpaw. I have to go now," Dock said. He started walking back again. His voice had been shaking, he was forcing himself to leave. Sparrowpaw watched as her father left. She frowned, and looked away. Sunpaw led her back to Willowstorm, he then quickly walked toward his own mentor, Bumblepelt.
"It's not fair," she whispered. "He's leaving, just like that." She looked up to her mentor. Her eyes twinkled with sympathy.
"Don't fret," Willowstorm meowed. "I have a feeling you'll see him again."
"How do you know?" Sparrowpaw whispered.
"There's no way he'll stay away from you three forever. You're his kin, and kits. The only thing that he as left of his mate."
"And he's gone," a new voice whispered from behind them. Sparrowpaw looked to the voice, and listened to what it was saying. Ashstar, his mate Squirrelflight, and kit Redclaw, stood together at the base of Highledge.
"I knew he was going to do this, but... I never thought..." Ashstar meowed. He looked to his mate, whose green eyes were hurt. "We'll be alright. I know we will."
"Keep your promise," Squirrelflight whispered. She turned her head toward Redclaw. Redclaw looked at his mother, his eyes twinkling with pain and remembrance.
"Of course. I'll never leave, I promise," Redclaw meowed. "I'm going to go on a patrol, is that alright?"
"Of course, take one of the new apprentices and mentors with you, alright?" Ashstar meowed. He gave a quick glance toward Willowstorm and Sparrowpaw. Redclaw nodded, and walked over to the two she-cats.
"Can you spare time to go on a patrol?"
"Always," Willowstorm smiled. The three of them walked out of the clearing, and into the forest. Sparrowpaw's eyes widened in amazement. The three continued to walk. "Let's go toward the ShadowClan border," Willowstorm suggested.
At hearing the name ShadowClan, Redclaw's ears pricked up. He smiled, and nodded. "If we're lucky, we might even see some ShadowClan warriors," he chuckled. He seemed to be talking more to himself then anything.
"Just remember you're not the mentor this time," Willowstorm meowed. "I'm the one with the apprentice this time." Sparrowpaw smiled, she loved it. She wasn't a kit anymore, she was an apprentice.
"What was that Willowpaw, I wasn't listening," Redclaw chuckled, tossing a mischievous glance toward Willowstorm, whose eyes sparked with fury at the name Willowpaw.
"Just remember one thing Sparrowpaw," Willowstorm meowed. "All old cats are grumpy."
"You never did respect your elders. Where did you hear that from?" Redclaw seemed annoyed by this, Willowstorm smirked, knowing something that he didn't.
"As I recall I was told by a ginger tom who was making fun of Berrynose. He had recently gotten his first apprentice as well," Willowstorm meowed, smirking.
"Oh, I did?"
"Yes," Willowstorm sighed. The group continued to walk. Sparrowpaw was quiet as they continued. Suddenly, a terrible smell overwhelmed the group, Redclaw and Willowstorm were unfazed by it, but Sparrowpaw felt her nose crinkle in disgust.
"Oh, what's that nasty smell!" she yowled as the smell overwhelmed her. "This is never going to come out of my nose!"
The two older cats purred in amusement. "That would be ShadowClan scent, and you'll do well to remember it," a new voice said. Sparrowpaw looked up, surprised by the new voice, and saw a small patrol of cats that she had never seen just a few foxlengths away. A large tabby tom with amber eyes had his eyes glittering in amusement.
"I thought that ShadowClan wasn't one to make jokes, Tigerstripe," Redclaw smiled.
"We usually don't, with other Clans," Tigerstripe meowed, his face growing serious, and voice loosing its playfulness. His amber eyes became stone-like. "But, as we're taking out my apprentice on her first patrol, I thought I might be a little more relaxed."
"Coincidence, I'm taking my apprentice on her first patrol as well. Just made an apprentice earlier," Willowstorm meowed. She seemed relaxed, but her eyes seemed wary of the other scents of ShadowClan cats on patrol.
"Tigerstripe, don't talk to that ThunderClan filth," a new voice hissed. Sparrowpaw looked. A brown tom walked up, his eyes narrowed at the others. He was the one that Willowstorm was wary about.
"Just because you don't have any friends, or kin, in ThunderClan doesn't mean that we don't Ratscar," a new voice meowed, her voice was gentle, and loving, but sharp toward the tom. A gray she-cat was walking up from the bushes, she had many scars, but she looked proud, and strong. There was something in the back of her eyes, that deceived her though, something that Sparrowpaw couldn't understand. Redclaw's eyes glimmered in longing. She stood next to the tom named Tigerstripe. For the first time, she noticed a young gray she-cat by the tom's paws. She couldn't be much older than herself, maybe even younger. "It's good to see you Redclaw."
"You too Wingsoul," Redclaw nodded. "Speaking of kin... Sparrowpaw, meet Tigerstripe and Wingsoul. Wingsoul is your father's sister." Sparrowpaw's eyes widened, she looked over the she-cat, who's eyes met hers, she seemed just as surprised as her. "Wingsoul, this is Dock's kit, Sparrowpaw."
"She looks nothing like him," Wingsoul whispered, turning away. She looked down to the apprentice at Tigerstripe's paws. "She must take after the mother." The apprentice looked up to her, she was curious, but obviously trying to stay serious. Her amber eyes drifted toward the gray she-cat, they seemed to soften, and she smiled proudly.
"Sparrow," Sparrowpaw corrected. Wingsoul looked down to her, confused. "Sparrow, that was her name. Dock's mate was Sparrow. I-I'm named after her, since I was the only she-kit out of my littermates."
"Also speaking of kin," Wingsoul meowed. She looked again to the apprentice. "Graypaw, this is Redclaw. The one I told you about."
"It's nice to meet you," the apprentice snarled. She was trying to stay serious, not trying to talk. Tigerstripe and Wingsoul purred in amusement. Sparrowpaw jumped in surprise, she had not expected such hostility.
Redclaw looked surprised. "You're Graypaw?" He looked up toward Wingsoul. "So, that's your daughter."
"It took a lot of persuasion on our part, but we convinced Oakstar to let Tigerstripe mentor her. After... Russetstar..." she stopped herself, and took a glance at Graypaw, knowing something that she wasn't going to reveal. Wingsoul's eyes clouded with unknown grief. She looked out into the forest. She closed her eyes, and then looked back. "I'm scared Redclaw. I feel something's coming."
"Here we go again," Ratscar hissed in annoyance. Wingsoul snuck him a cold look, but they softened once again when she looked toward Redclaw, as if forgetting what Ratscar had said.
"I don't know why I feel it. But I do," Wingsoul sighed. "She's out there. She still wants to kill me, I know it."
"She's gone. We haven't seen her since she-" Ratscar snarled, but one cold glance from Wingsoul silenced him. Graypaw looked toward the older she-cat, curiosity gleaming. Sparrowpaw blinked, she seemed different now, than when she had first spoken. She had sounded cold hearted, and cruel. Now, she looked innocent, and curious. Almost like a kit, who was listening to elder stories.
"Don't say it," Wingsoul hissed quietly. She took a glance toward Graypaw, and her eyes showed immense pain, but not toward the she-cat, toward something else. "She doesn't need to know, not yet." Graypaw frowned, disappointed that she could not know what was going on.
"I'll tell her, eventually," Ratscar snarled. "She needs to know. You can't protect forever. She needs to know what she'll be up against if she decides to return."
"You be quiet! I told you, she'll learn when she needs to know. You're just mad a Tigerstripe, because Dawnfoot didn't choose you to be her mate!" Wingsoul snarled. Ratscar's eyes flashed in pain from the comment. Tigerstripe blinked, but remained unfazed. Graypaw looked toward Ratscar, a smirk on her face, she seemed to enjoy her mother's snapping. But her eyes were still sparkling with disappointment and curiosity. "Let's move," she said. "I'll see you later Redclaw. It was nice meeting you Sparrowpaw." The four ShadowClan cats disappeared into a bush again.
"That was the sister Dock told us about?"
"Yes," Willowstorm nodded.
"What didn't Wingsoul want Ratscar to say?"
"It's nothing," Redclaw meowed, shaking his head, his eyes alarmed. He looked to the apprentice. "I've promised not to reveal the secret to anyone other than my kin, not to any descendants of my kin, or anyone else. It's something that we would only care for. Come on, we need to go, they'll start to worry if we don't get started." Sparrowpaw frowned in disappointment, so both of them couldn't know something. She had more in common with this kin then she thought. The three cats started moving once more.
"I don't think you're ready."
"I am ready."
"Show me. How do you know that you're ready?"
"You have prepared me for my training. I'm ready for it to begin."
"That's good, but how do I believe you?"
Green eyes glinted, focusing on the yellow eyes of the other cat. "Because, I will kill for you. I will do whatever it takes to bring down the one that tried to destroy us. I will take down ShadowClan by your side. I will kill the filth that infiltrates it. I will do whatever you say, mother."
"Falconstrike, why were you named so?"
"A falcon is evil. They care about food, they will kill those innocent with no remorse. Their eye sight is great. They will see things others will not. They are fast, and can fly over great distances. I will be like the falcon, rise my way up to victory, by destroying and seeing those who need to be eliminated, running as far as I can without getting tired. I will strike down my opponents like they need to be."
"And who is our greatest enemy inside of ShadowClan? The one who will kill us?"
"The one with souls for wings. Wingsoul will kill us. She betrayed you, my leader. My mother. And then the grandson of Tigerstar. He stood by her, wanting you to die. To be chased out. To be weak. He was never to be a strong, faithful leader as the great Tigerstar was."
"Correct." There was a pause. "One more thing. Who is the other. The filth that you must... clean up? The one that I have warned you about your entire life?"
"She is the filth, the crossbreed of trash and a trueblooded ShadowClan member. She is Graypaw. She must die the worst death, because of her parents."
"Your training will start tomorrow, go rest now Falconstrike. Go and rest, for you will need it."
"Yes mother." The one with green eyes walked away from the one with yellow eyes. He found himself a shaded area, twisted in the roots of the trees. A half moon, high above. As he fell into slumber, he found himself in a strange place.
It was completely black, other than the dark grass underfoot. A pool sat beside him, surrounded by a small wall of pebbles and short stones. He looked around, confused. He could not wake up, no matter how much he wished for it. He felt a chill run through his fur from the eeriness of his surroundings.
He looked around, nervously. "Hello? Is anyone there? Mother?" he called into the darkness.
Moments later, a gray she-cat walked in. "Who are you?" he snarled, unsheathing his claws, eyes narrowed.
"I'm a friend, if you choose for me to be," the she-cat mewed. Her voice was powerful, yet comforting, almost. "Keep your claws unsheathed, or I will attack you. I am far more powerful than you, so you might as well give up now." Falconstrike kept his claws unsheathed, but his eyes narrowed. Slowly, he sheathed his claws, and hissed in frustration. "My name is Swirlpool."
"Where am I?"
"Far from where you should be," Swirlpool meowed. "You are out of StarClan's reach. I am lucky that I know where you are, for the rest don't know."
"Star... Clan?"
"Your ancestors. The ones that no longer live among you. You will come here, as will almost every cat born to the Clans, once they are gone."
"What about you?"
"I am a friend, kin, if you will let me be. I have been asked a request by someone. I am here to help you."
"Help me?"
"Yes," the she-cat meowed. "Your mother asked me long ago, to keep watch over you. To keep you safe. So here I am. I will lead you toward the right path. If not, horrible things will come to pass. Things that I don't want to happen. That you won't want to happen, if you listen to me."
"What will happen?"
The she-cat motioned for the pool. "Go ahead and look," she meowed. Carefully, he padded over, staying out of the circle of pebbles, not taking his eyes off of her. He looked into the pool. Ripples began to break the surface, and soon enough an image came.
He was striking a claw against the neck of a gray she-cat. It hit her, hard. He retracted his claws, blood still on the tips of his fur. He stood there for a moment, and so did the she-cat. Suddenly, the she-cat started coughing, she fell to the ground slowly, and bled to death. He smiled, confidently and cooly, both the older version of him, and the one who watched him.
"I killed a cat, so? That's what I have to do, to avenge my mother," he meowed.
"If she was your mother," the she-cat meowed. "She isn't your mother. I know who is though, your true mother."
"What are you talking about? Why won't I want that to pass?" he asked. She started fading.
"My time is limited. I must go," she whispered. She blinked, as did he, and she was gone. He found himself awake, dawn was arising. He looked around, unsure. His mother padded over toward him, and looked down.
"Up, my son. We must start your training," she snarled. He nodded, and got to his paws, the dream fading.
Swirlpaw's eyes opened. She looked around, dawn was just beginning to rise. She yawned, and looked around. Only her brother, Pinepaw, was missing. She carefully walked into the clearing, dawn patrols were starting. Pinepaw sat at the entrance, he looked to the brightening sky.
"What are you doing up so early? Is Thistlefoot taking you for an early patrol?"
"No, I just like to look at the sky," Pinepaw muttered. His eyes flashed to her. "What do you think Pinenose was like?"
"Pinenose? Oh, I don't know. Blossomfur has told us that he was a great warrior. He died saving Whiskernose after all. Nobody would sacrifice their life like that, unless they were truly good," Swirlpaw muttered. "I wish that I could meet him."
"You and me both," Pinepaw smiled. "I had a strange dream last night."
"Huh?"
"Well, I don't really remember it well, but in my dream, I saw a bunch of cats that I had never seen before. Some stopped to talk to me, other acknowledged me, but continued on their way. What do you think that was?"
"I don't know," Swirlpaw whispered.
Pinepaw nodded. "What about you? What did you dream last night?"
"Oh... I don't remember... But there was a tabby in my dream. I talked to him, but that was about it. I don't even remember what we said," she laughed. Pinepaw was confused by her laughing for a moment, and then joined in. "Looks like we're just to forgetful."
"At least we remember how to hunt and fight," Pinepaw added. Swirlpaw nodded, and continued to laugh. The two looked at each other.
The two littermates had had a close bond since they were small. They didn't know why, but they were automatically just closer than they were to their other brother or sister. They knew everything about each other, their goals, how they trained the day before, how they felt about their mentors. Everything. Swirlpaw stopped her laughing, and smiled. "The one I'm most curious about is Swirlpool, Pinenose's sister. The one that I'm named after. I hope that when I'm in StarClan I'll meet her. She sacrificed herself to save her brother." She thought for a moment, before continuing. "If that happened to us, would you sacrifice yourself to save me?"
"Of course," Pinepaw nodded. "You're my best friend, and sister."
Swirlpaw nodded. "Good, because I feel the same way."
"Pinepaw! Come on! It's time to train!" a yowl came. Thistlefoot was near the entrance. He nodded to his mentor, and looked back to Swirlpool.
"I'll see you later," he meowed.
"Bye," Swirlpaw nodded. She closed her eyes, and thought of her dream once more. That strange tom... He seemed familiar. He had green eyes, was a tabby brown tom, whose backpaws were gray. She felt like she knew him, or had heard about him. She wasn't sure how, but she knew that much. She shrugged it away, maybe it was just a dream. She quickly padded to the fresh-kill pile, to eat before having to go out training.
To also mark the new story... It's my one year anniversary since I've joined FanFiction! :)
I can't believe it's already been a year!
I promise that I'm not going to be giving up any of my stories. I'm going to continue to update, I swear! And if I am going to disappear before my second anniversary, I promise to warn you people.
I just want to thank everyone for reading/reviewing my stories. You guys are the reason that I continue to write these stories, even if you guys can be a little pushy sometimes ;) But I know that's somewhat my fault.
Thanks everyone!
And here's to another great year!