A/N: Alright, so here's the next story in the WTDB series! Technically, this is THIRD book, or even a novella, but my stories will make more sense if this one comes first. :) To the new readers: If this is the first of my stories you have read, you might want to go read my first story, When The Dawn Breaks for this one to make much sense. Also to new readers: If you're confused about the Clans, I mixed in OCs with the original Clan cats. The Clan alliance is at the end of the chapter, and it will probably be updated once I get to talking with Swirlspot ^.^ Alright, enough waiting! READ ON!
The warm sun shone brightly off Icestrike's white pelt as he crouched beside a fern. He opened his mouth, breathing in the scent of the mouse a few tail-lengths ahead of him. Unaware of imminent death, the mouse continued to nibble on a seed.
Icestrike silently crept forward, keeping his tail off the ground as he did so. The mouse, sensing a presence behind it, turned. Icestrike leaped, killing it with a swift blow to the head. Picking up the warm, limp body, he turned, walking around a large bramble bush.
On the other side was his mate, Tawnypelt. "Nice catch." She purred warmly. "The best for you, my dear." Icestrike said, crouching down and placing a ear near her swollen belly. "And for the kits, of course!"
Tawnypelt purred, sinking her teeth into the mouse's body. "It's nice to get out of the camp once and a while. Sitting in the nearly the same place all day and watching the same cats do nearly the same thing gets boring."
Icestrike stretched out beside his mate and chuckled. "I agree. I think Firestar and Greystripe aren't putting me on as many patrols as they used to since... you know."
Tawnypelt nodded silently, licking the long scar that stretched from Icestrike's head to his shoulder. "I'm so glad you're fine, though." She said firmly, nudging a portion of the mouse over to the white tom.
"Yeah. Except for the whole I'm-blind-but-I-have-cat-spirits-inside-me-that-help-me-see thing." Icestrike flicked his tail in amusement.
"Of course. Except for that. Which isn't that great, since EVERY blind cat has cat spirits inside them." Tawnypelt blinked her amber eyes, laughter shining out of them.
Icestrike merely grinned, before standing and shaking the leaf debris from his pelt. "Ready to head back?"
"Sure." Tawnypelt stood and shook as well, licking several unruly fur tufts down before following her mate through the thick undergrowth. While she would have prefered to walk beside her mate, she followed, allowing his broader shoulders to blaze a trail through the undergrowth.
As she walked, Tawnypelt ran over the cat spirits, or, as they were called, the Star Dwellers. Icestrike had allowed them to enter his body so he could find them another energy source, like the Moonstone. StarClan had the Moonstone now, and wouldn't let the Star Dwellers absorb energy from it, and the Star Dwellers were slowly dying from lack of energy.
But it had been a month or so since the Battle, and Icestrike would have to go off and search for a new energy source for the Star Dwellers. Frankly, it worried Tawnypelt. She couldn't go, she was heavy with kits. But Firestar would probably send another cat, and Tawnypelt wanted to be the one to go, even if she couldn't.
"Tawnypelt." Icestrike broke the tortoiseshell from her thoughts. "We're here!" She nodded, entering the tunnel as Icestrike stood aside to allow her through first.
"Hey, Tawnypelt!" Birdstone, Icestrike's sister called around a mouthful of herbs. Tawnypelt waved her tail in reply, sighing as she lay down in the shade by the nursery. "How was your outing?" Dawnfeather asked, her own stomach large with kits.
"Great!" Tawnypelt replied. "Kinda tiring, but a very nice change from... this." She waved her tail at the camp. Dawnfeather laughed. "I'll have to see if Mudpelt will take me out some time."
Icestrike licked his mate on the head before heading over to Cinderpelt. "Can I talk with you?" He asked quietly. The grey medecine cat nodded, motioning with her tail to enter the medecine den.
He did so, sitting down near the entrance and wrapping his tail neatly around his paws. "What do you want to talk about?" Cinderpelt asked, taking Birdstone's herb bundle and picking it apart to sort.
"Well, as you know, I have the Star Dwellers. They're getting weaker, I can feel it, and I have to find another energy source for them." Cinderpelt nodded, tossing three leaves into a pile. "And I know that when I do go, Tawnypelt will want to come with. It's just how she is. But with her ready to kit soon, I don't know what to do."
Cinderpelt straightened, shoving a herb pile aside with her paw. "Well, if she did somehow go, I'd probably come with, unless you would want Birdstone. But I talked to StarClan last halfmoon after I had dreamed. I asked them about the Star Dwellers, but they didn't seem to want to talk. What they did say, though, was that spiritual energy that the Star Dwellers thrive on is generated by water and a special kind of stone, such as the stone that the Moonstone's made of."
Icestrike leaped to his paws excitedly. "So we could find a lake or pond and let them go there? Or find another rock!"
"No." Cinderpelt shook her head slowly. "It's not that easy. It's a special kind of water, and a special kind of rock. I don't know what kind of water or rock, but I'm guessing it's not river water, since RiverClan has one."
Icestrike blinked his cloudly blue eyes with frustration. "Foxdung! I should have known it wouldn't have been that easy!"
"Cinderpelt, here's the rest of the burdock and horsetail! Oh, Icestrike! What are you doing here? Are you sick?" Birdstone bounded in, meowing around another bundle of herbs in her mouth.
"Hey, sis." Icestrike greeted. "How would you like to go on a journey?"
"Would I!" Birdstone gasped dramatically. "Of course! Are you FINALLY going to get rid of the Star Dwellers?"
"Yeah. I'm not getting rid of them though, I'm helping them."
"When are you leaving?" The she-cat asked, laying the herb bundle at Cinderpelt's paws.
"I'm not sure." Icestrike said frustradely. "I could either go now, and hope I find a place before Tawnypelt has her kits and I return, or I could wait until after she has her kits."
"Cinderpelt, since I'm going, couldn't Tawnypelt?" She whirled on Cinderpelt. "We could stop when we need to." The elder medecine cat tilted her head slowly to one side. "I don't know..."
Icestrike chuckled. "Alright, you two figure it out, I'm going to go talk to Tawnypelt." Is it true?
Ok, Protos, that was sudden. And what do you mean?
The Dweller chuckled quietly. The rumor that has suddenly started around. That you are going to find us a new source?
Icestrike grinned. I don't know, you tell me. You ARE in my head ,after all.
The white tom could feel the head Dweller's faint annoyance. Alright, alright. Yes, I'm going to find you a new source.
Happiness flooded him, the emotion generated not by him, but by the many Dwellers that were residing in his body along with him. Sitting down beside Tawnypelt, who was chatting with Dawnfeather and Flamelight, the latter queen with her newborn kits as well.
The peace of the camp was interrupted by Firestar calling out; "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather at the Highrock!"
Icestrike supported his mate as she stood, then together, they walked over to the gathering group of cats. The flame-colored tom who stood upon Highrock waited until everyone had sat down, then began to speak.
"As you all know, tonight is the Gathering. The cats who are coming along are; Graystripe, Cinderpelt, Longtail, Dappletail, Spiderleg, Frogspot, and Mudpelt." Icestrike felt his fur prick with irritation when his name wasn't called. He probably didn't say my name because he doesn't want a blind cat at the Gathering!
As if sensing his thoughts, Tawnypelt pressed herself against him in a soothing way. His fur flattened, then pricked again in embarassment of his kittish ways.
As the Clan dispersed, Icestrike headed over to the fresh-kill pile to grab a piece of prey. He had, after all, only had a bite or so of mouse earlier that day. That reminds me, Icestrike thought, I never spoke to Tawnypelt about the journey.
That in mind, the white tom grabbed a squirrel and sat back down beside his mate. "Tawnypelt, I want to talk to you," He began. The queen yawned. "Ok, but I'm tired, so make it short?" She licked his cheek.
"It's about the whole Star Dweller problem." Tawnypelt sat up. "Are you going to find a source for them?"
"Yes," Icestrike said, nudging a pebble at his paws. "I don't think I can take you along."
Tawnypelt's fur fluffed out, but her gaze was calm. "Why not? I can handle it."
"I know." Icestrike nudged the pebble to his left. "It's not that. It's the kits. And I don't know if we can spare either medecine cat to come along with us, since I don't know how far I have to go."
"The kits will be fine. The Clans were united once again during the Battle, so we're still at a peaceful stage. I doubt anything major enough to require two medecine cats will happen."
Icestrike nodded in agreement, knocking the pebble into the bramble-and-mud wall of their camp. "I also have already spoken to Cinderpelt and Birdstone about this; we can bring Birdstone."
"You've spoken to them first and not your mate?" Tawnypelt said, flicking her tail. "I wasn't sure if I was even going to go now. I considered waiting until after your pregnancy to go, but then you would have kits and..." Icestrike replied, trailing off.
"I know." Tawnypelt said, eyes twinkling. She nuzzled Icestrike. "I think everything will turn out fine in the end."
A/N: Please read and review!
The Clan alliances is almost exactly the same as last time, since this story picks up right at the ending of WTDB. :) Hope you enjoyed! P.S. I added the Wild Ones' alliance, just in case. They won't be a main thing in this story, if in it at all.
Thunderclan:
Leader: Firestar - Flame-colored tom with striking green eyes. Short-furred. Familial relations: Mate of Sandstorm, father of Leafkit and Squirrelkit.
Deputy: Graystripe - Light grey tom with darker grey stripe down his back. Yellow eyes, long fur. Familial relations: Half-brother of Longtail and father of Stormfur and Feathertail.
Medecine Cat: Cinderpelt - Grey she-cat with a crooked hind leg. Blue eyes, short fur. Familial ties: Sister of Brackenfur and Thornclaw, sister of Brightheart.
Apprentice: Birdstone.
Warriors:
Longtail (Not blind) - cream tom with dark stripes. Short fur, blue eyes. Familial relations: Half-brother to Graystripe and Dustpelt.
Brackenfur -Brownish-orange tom with darker brown stripes. Short fur. Amber eyes. Familial relations: Brother to Cinderpelt and Brightheart.
Skysong - A golden she-cat, green eyes and long fur. Familial relations: Mate of Dustpelt, mother of Thornpaw.
Dustpelt - Dark brown tabby tom, amber eyes, short fur. Familial relations: Mate of Skysong, father of Sunpaw. Half-brother of Graystripe and Longtail.
Spiderleg - Black, long-legged tom with brown legs and underbelly. Short fur. Amber eyes.
Apprentice: Thornpaw. Familial relations: Mate of Flamelight, father of Frogspot.
Cloudtail - White tom with blue eyes and long fur. Familial relations: Mate of Brightheart, father of Whitekit. Apprentice: Sunpaw.
Browntail - Very light brown tom with white underbelly. Green eyes. Familial relations: None. Apprentice: Lightpaw.
Mudpelt - Brown tom with dark brown points (1) and dark blue eyes. Short fur. Familial relations: Mate of Dawnfeather, brother of Frostfur, half-father of Icestrike, Birdstone, and Storm.
Dawnfeather - Tall white she-cat with black points and a black mask. Light blue eyes, short fur. Familial relations: Mate of Mudpelt, mother of Icestrike, Birdstone, and Storm.
Frostfur - Light grey she-cat with black stripes. Amber eyes. Long fur. Familial relations: Sister of Mudpelt, mother of Lightpaw and Sunpaw. Mate of Ashfur.
Ashfur - Grey tom with blue eyes. Short fur. Familial relations: Mate of Frostfur, father of Lightpaw and Sunpaw. (2)
Icestrike - Large white tom with blue eyes and long tail. Short fur. Familial relations: Mate of Tawnypelt, brother to Storm and Birdstone, son of Dawnfeather and halfson of Mudpelt.
Brambleclaw - Dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes and a large scar on one shoulder. Medium-length fur. Familial relations: Brother of Tawnypelt, half brother of Hawkfrost and Mothwing.
Tawnypelt- Tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes and medium length fur. Familial relations: Sister of Brambleclaw, mate of Icestrike, half sister of Mothwing and Hawkfrost.
Frogspot- Dirty yellow tom cat with green-yellow eyes. Long fur. Familial relations: Father, Spiderleg, mother, Flamelight.
Queens:
Sandstorm - yellow-orange she-cat. Yellow eyes. Short fur. Familial relations: Mate of Firestar, mother of Squirrelkit and Leafkit.
Flamelight - Orange-red she-cat with green eyes and long fur. Familial relations: Mate of Spiderleg, mother of Frogspot. (3)
Brightheart - White she-cat with ginger patches and a torn-up face. Blue fur. Familial relations: Mate of Cloudtail, mother of Whitekit, sister of Cinderpelt, Brackenfur.
Apprentices:
Thornpaw - Young she-cat with brown fur and golden streaks. Long fur, green eyes. Familial relations: Daughter of Dustpelt and Skysong.
Sunpaw - Light cream tom with blue eyes. Short fur. Familial relations: Son of Ashfur and Frostfur. Brother to Lightpaw.
Lightpaw - Gray she-cat with amber eyes. Short fur. Familial relations: Daughter of Ashfur and Frostfur, sister to Sunpaw.
Kits:
Squirrelkit - Tortoiseshell she kit with green eyes and one white fur. Familial relations: Daughter of Firestar and Sandstorm, sister to Leafkit.
Leafkit - Tabby with white chest and paws, she-kit. Short fur. Familial relations: Daughter of Firestar and Sandstorm, sister to Squirrelkit.
Bearkit - Black tomkit with brown muzzle and blue eyes. Long fur. Familial ties: Son of Flamelight and Spiderleg. Brother to Rainkit.
Rainkit - Light blue-grey shekit with black paws and blue eyes. Short fur. Familial ties: Daughter of Flamelight and Spiderleg, sister of Bearkit.
Whitekit - White shekit with blue eyes. Long fur. Familial relations: Daughter of Brightheart and Cloudtail.
Elders:
Dappletail - Dappled tortoiseshell she-cat and white patches. Blue eyes, long fur. Familial relations: NONE.
Shortear - Raggedy, black tom. One brown eye, one blue eye. Blind in brown eye. Short fur. Familial relations: None.
(1) : The points on a cat are the ears, tip of tail, paws, and muzzle.
(2) : Frostfur is NOT his mother in this story.
(3) : In case you're wondering how such a nice she-cat managed to create such a sour, rather nasty tom, it's this: It was their first kit at the time, so they didn't really know how to train it right...
Riverclan:
Leader: Leopardstar - Tan she-cat with brown spots. Short fur, amber eyes. Familial relations: None.
Deputy: Mistyfoot - Silver-blue she-cat with blue eyes and short, sleek fur. Familial relations: None.
Medecine cat: Mossfur - Dark grey long furred tom with green eyes. Familial relations: Brother of Wingpelt. Apprentice: Dapplepaw
Warriors:
Stormfur - Longhaired dark grey tom with amber eyes. Familial relations: Brother to Feathertail, son of Graystripe.
Feathertail- Slender light grey she-cat with a thick, plumy tail and light blue eyes. - Familial relations: Sister to Stormfur, daughter of Graystripe.
Hawkfrost - Dark brown tabby tom, long legs, white underbelly, bushy tail and blue eyes. Familial relations: Half brother of Tawnypelt and Brambleclaw, brother to Mothwing, mate to Swiftflight.
Breezefar - All black tom with amber eyes. Long fur. Familial relations: Mate to Splashwhisker, father to Lichenkit.
Wingpelt- Golden she-cat with white legs, underbelly, chest and throat and sky blue eyes. Medium fur. Familial relations: Sister to Mossfur.
Pebbleleaf - Light grey she-cat with black specks all over her fur, save for her white belly. Green eyes. Long relations: Mate of Muskratfall, mother of Wolfsky. Apprentice: Curlpaw
Muskratfall- Dark brown tom with white paws and muzzle. Yellow eyes, short fur. Familial relations: Mate of Pebbleleaf, father of Wolfsky.
Wolfsky- Grey tom with brown paws. Golden eyes, long fur. Familial relations: Son of Muskratfall and Pebbleleaf.
Larkspring-Dark grey tom with green eyes. Short fur. Familial relations: Father of Curlpaw and Dapplepaw, mate to Smallbranch.
Smallbranch - Tall, light brown she-cat with blue eyes. Short fur. Mate to Larkspring. Mother to Dapplepaw and Curlpaw.
Queens:
Swiftflight - Small, short-tailed white queen with yellow eyes. Short fur. Familial relations: Mate of Hawkfrost, mother of Beekit.
Splashwhisker - Sleek black queen with white paws, underbelly, and chest. Amber eyes. Familial relations: Mate of Breezefar, mother of Lichenkit.
Apprentices:
Dapplepaw - Small, grey tom with a brown spot over his eye. Green eyes. Short fur. Familial relations: Son of Smallbranch and Larkspring, brother to Curlpaw.
Curlpaw - Tall, dark brown she-cat with a white streak along her side. Blue eyes, short fur. Familial relations: Sister to Dapplepaw, daughter of Smallbranch and Larkspring.
Kits:
Beekit - Small black tomkit with white tail. Golden eyes. Familial relations: Son of Swiftflight and Hawkfrost.
Lichenkit- Small, golden shekit with yellow eyes. Familial relations: Daughter of Breezefar and Splashwhisker.
Elders:
Shadepelt - Dark grey she-cat with white splotches over her. Pale yellow eyes. Short fur. Familial relations: None
Heavyfoot - Calico tom. Amber eyes, short fur. Familial relations: None
Windclan:
Leader: Tallstar - Large, black tom with short, thick fur, white muzzle and paws, long tail with white tail tip, and amber eyes. Familial relations: None
Deputy: Mudclaw - Dark brown mottled tom with yellow teeth and eyes. Short fur. Familial relations: None
Medecine cat: Barkface - Dark brown tom with short tail and yellow eyes. Familial relations: None
Warriors:
Goldenshine- Young female cat, light cream fur and orange eyes. Long fur. Familial relations: Daughter of Embereye and Webfoot, sister of Applefall.
Applefall- Young russet tom with white markings. Long fur. Familial relations: Brother of Goldenshine, son of Embereye and Webfoot.
Foxwhisker- Young ginger tom with yellow eyes. Short fur. Familial relations: Son of Sprucefur and Fallsky.
Crowfeather - Dark grey tom with blue eyes and short fur. Familial relations: None
Webfoot - Dark grey tom with orange eyes and short fur. Familial relations: Mate of Embereye, father of Goldenshine and Applefall.
Embereye - Russet she-cat with long fur and yellow eyes. Familial relations: Mother of Applefall and Goldenshine, mate of Webfoot.
Onewhisker - Light brown tabby tom, with amber eyes and medium length fur. Familial relations: None
Tornpelt- Black tom with strange ginger markins on his face. Short fur. Familial relations: Brother of Beetlepounce, mate of Lakefur, father of Cliffkit.
Nightflash - Tall, slim black tom with yellow eyes. Missing one ear. Short fur. Familial relations: Mate to Beetlepounce, father to Cliffpaw.
Fallsky - Tall she-cat with calico fur. Short-furred. Blue eyes. Familial relations: Mate to Sprucefur, mother of Foxwhisker.
Sprucefur: Large, black tom with white underbelly. Slightly curly fur, amber eyes. Familial relations: Mate to Fallsky, father to Foxwhisker.
Queens:
Beetlepounce - Small, slim white queen with grey paws. Green eyes, short fur. Familial relations: Sister to Tornpelt, mother of Cliffpaw, mate to Nightflash.
Lakefur - Silver-grey tortoiseshell queen with amber eyes. Long fur. Familial relations: Mate of Tornpelt, mother to Sparrowkit.
Kits:
Sparrowkit - Small, brown kit with white markings. Green eyes. Familial relations: Son of Lakefur and Tornpelt.
Apprentices:
Cliffpaw - Tan she-cat with black and white points. Blue eyes. Familial relations: Daughter of Beetlepounce and Nightflash.
Elders:
Morningflower - Light tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes and long fur. Familial relations: None
Nightclaw - Grey tom with blind, green eyes. Familial relations: None.
Shadowclan:
Leader: Blackstar - Large, white tom with black paws and amber eyes.
Deputy: Russetfur
Medecine cat: Flowerfur - Short, long-furred she-cat with white fur and cream patches. Green eyes. Familial relations: Sister to Oakfur. Apprentice: Bugpaw
Warriors:
Oakfur - Tan tom with white patch over left eye and white tail. Green eyes. Familial relations: Brother to Flowerfur, mate to Leaftail, father of Smallpaw. Apprentice: Brindlepaw
Leaftail - She-cat with a brown tail, long fur, white body, green eyes. Familial relations: Mate to Oakfur, mother of Smallpaw, sister of Darkfur. Apprentice: Raccoonpaw
Darkfur - Black tom with long fur, green eyes, and white head. Familial relations: Brother to Leaftail. Apprentice: Smallpaw
Redshade- Young she-cat, green eyes, grey, short fur, with reddish legs. Familial relations: Daughter of Softwind and Fursprig, sister of Marshrose.
Marshrose- Young she-cat with gray fur and reddish markings. Yellow eyes, short fur. Familial relations: Sister of Redshade, daughter of Softwind and Fursprig.
Quickstride- Young tom with brown fur and white legs. Familial relations: None (Died in a battle and when Quickstride was born)
Tallpoppy - Cream she-cat with brown muzzle and blue eyes. Short fur. Familial relations: Mate of Wingtip and mother of Brindlepaw and Bugpaw.
Breezeleaf - Small, brown she-cat with white patches. Green eyes. Familial relations: Mate of Brownweed, mother of Raccoonstripe and Smalltail.
Robinspin: Brown tom with white underbelly and tail. Golden eyes, short fur. Familial relations: Mate of Whitetail, father of Sprucekit.
Wingtip - Black tom with white toes. Golden eyes, long fur. Familial relations: Mate of Tallpoppy, father of Brindlepaw and Bugpaw.
Brownweed - Brown tom with blue eyes. Short fur. Familial relations: Mate of Breezeleaf, father of Raccoonstripe and Smalltail.
Softwind - Small, quiet she-cat with light grey fur. Green eyes. Long fur. Familial relations: Mate of Fursprig, mother of Redshade and Marshrose.
Fursprig - Tall, long-furred tom with green eyes and red-brown fur. Black markings. Familial relations: Mate of Softwind, father of Redshade and Marshrose.
Queen(s):
Whitetail - White she-cat with black patches and golden eyes. Long fur. Familial relations: Mate of Robinspin and mother of Sprucekit and daughter of Tearcloud.
Apprentices:
Brindlepaw - Tortoiseshell she-cat with grey patches and amber eyes. Long fur. Familial relations: Daughter of Tallpoppy and Wingtip, sister of Bugpaw.
Bugpaw - Small, greyish she-cat with amber eyes and long fur. Familial relations: Brother to Brindlepaw, son of Tallpoppy and Wingtip.
Kits:
Sprucekit - Dark grey tom with cream paws. Blue eyes. Familial relations: Son of Whitetail and Robinspin.
Elders:
Tearcloud - Grey she-cat with dark grey eye patches. Short fur. Yellow eyes. Familial relations: Mother of Whitetail
-Wild Ones.-
Leaders: Falcon and Storm- Red-brown tom with yellow eyes. Long-furred. Grey she-cat with black points and green eyes. Short-furred. Familial relations: None
Medecine cat: Flame - light orange tom with yellow eyes. Long-furred. Familial relations: Sister of Blaze.
Warriors:
Hurricane- large grey tom with scar over his green eyes. Familial relations: Father of Dash, Claw, and Fang. Brother of Bella.
Bella - cream she-cat with blue eyes and brown stripes. Short-hair. Familial relations: Sister of Hurricane, aunt of Dash, Claw, and Fang.
Browner - Chocolate-colored tom with amber eyes and squashed-in face. Long-furred. Familial relations: None.
Dash - Young grey she-cat with amber eyes. Short-furred. Familial relations: Daughter of Hurricane, niece of Bella, sister of Claw and Fang.
Blaze - Dark orange-brown tom, short-furred with amber eyes. Familial relations: Brother of Flame.
Claw - Young black tom, with green eyes and short fur. Familial relations: Son of Hurricane, nephew of Bella, brother to Fang and Dash.
Fang - Young black tom, with amber eyes and short fur. Familial relations: Son of Hurricane, nephew of Bella, brother to Claw and Dash.
Wave - Older she-cat, black with amber eyes. Short-furred. Familial relations: Mate of Hurricane, mother of Fang, Claw, and Dash.
Queens:
Cloud - Calico she-cat, light blue eyes. Short-furred. Familial relations: Mother of Cricket.
Kits:
Cricket - Black and brown tom-kit, with light blue eyes and short fur. Familial relations: Son of Cloud.