FIRST OFF! I do not own Warriors, only the characters I create. The story takes place at the end of Omen of the Stars. I hope you all enjoy, and please review. Lastly, welcome to NightClan.
Light filtered down through the criss-crossing branches above, turning the air a greenish hue. Wearily, a white she-cat padded out of the dark opening in the ground, her blue eyes squinting against the harsh light. Another cat, a jet black tom with green eyes, hung back in the entrance.
"Silvermist...I don't know. It's a bit bright out there." The tom mewed, glancing around nervously.
"Blacknight, we'll be fine. But we have to find our mother. She's been gone for too long." Silvermist meowed determinedly.
"But yesterday...all the caterwauling...and the strange scents..." Blacknight trailed off, and started backing into the tunnel again.
"I know, it scared us both." Silvermist walked back to her brother, pressing her pelt against his encouragingly. "We need to find her, though. We need to make sure she's okay." She started walking back into the forest, and Blacknight reluctantly followed her into the bright new world.
Lionblaze paced the clearing, sadness and frustration prickling his pelt. The sun had just risen over the top of the hollow, and the clearing was full of activity. Squirrelflight stood by the freshkill pile, beginning her first day as deputy by issuing orders to the ever growing group of cats. Brightheart was stretched out in front of the nursery, observing her three kits as they tussled in the dust. Purdy was curled up by Mousefur, still mourning.
Mousefur, Ferncloud, Hollyleaf, and Firestar's bodies laid in the center of the clearing, a clear sign of the struggle that happened yesterday. Lionblaze shuddered as he remembered the vicious Dark Forest warriors and their recruits who had burst into the clearing, caring not for the warrior code or the survival of their so-called Clanmates. The battle had been vicious, taking many lives and reducing the thorn barrier to a crumpled mess.
"Bramblestar's back!" Cherrypaw mewed excitedly, dashing in front of Lionblaze in her rush to greet the new Clan leader. Sighing, the golden tabby padded after her.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Bramblestar yowled bounding across the clearing and up the shallow path onto the Highledge.
Lionblaze greeted his brother, who had slipped in after Bramblestar, and together they took places near Hollyleaf's body, grief still echoing between them. Dovewing slid up to Jayfeather's other side, pressing herself against him as a silent comfort.
"Today, we begin anew, as all Clans do when they lose a great leader." Bramblestar lowed his head in rememberance of his former mentor and leader. "But we must move on. We are still strong! We will honor their memory, and their's alone! There will be no more talk of the cats who stalk the Dark Forest, for they are NOT the ancestors we cherish and turn to!" Yowls of agreement shook the morning air. "ThunderClan is strong! We will survive!" With a lash of his tail, Bramblestar jumped down to the clearing, the Clan caterwauling their approval all around him.
"Bramblestar!" Lionblaze jumped forward, his eyes dark with worry. The dark tabby paused before beckoning the golden warrior to follow him to the freshkill pile.
"Yes, Lionblaze?"
"Bramblestar, I believe it is time to bury our loved ones. And I think you should join." Lionblaze breathed, knowing full well that Clan leaders did not typically bury their Clanmates.
Bramblestar tipped his head to one side in thought before nodding. "You're right. This Clan needs to see that I am willing to do whatever it takes to make us strong again." Lionblaze dipped his head respectfully as Bramblestar turned back towards his fallen Clanmates. Lionblaze started over to join him when someone calling his name made him pull up short.
"Lionblaze!" Dovewing skidded to a halt beside him. "There are two cats almost at the hollow!"
"What?!" Lionblaze spun around, ready to fight for his Clan.
The thorn barrier rustled as a white she-cat pushed her way into the clearing, followed closely by a black tom. To Lionblaze, they looked almost familiar, but not close enough. A growl started deep in his chest as he slid his claws out.
The white she-cat stopped, her eyes widening in horror, but her eyes weren't focused on Lionblaze. They were trained on his dead sister.
"Hollyleaf! NO!" The she-cat dashed into the clearing, oblivious to the surrounding cats. The black tom stopped dead, his eyes full of grief.
"Oh no..." the tom muttered.
Curiosity surged in Lionblaze. "How do you know Hollyleaf?"
"Simple. I'm Blacknight and that's my sister Silvermist over there. Hollyleaf was our mother."
So how was it? Remember, leave your comments below! I love feedback.