Gamer4 in. Well, it's that time of year again. Welcome to my version of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol. (Yeah, I know, original, right?) Anyways, this will tell the story from the point of view of the cats in the Warriors series. I should warn you that this will have a bit of cats acting out of character, in the spirit of fitting the two stories together. There will also be some things that contradict the canon Warriors. (Like Tigerstar not only being alive, but not being evil.) Hopefully, this won't stop you from enjoying it.

Disclaimer: I own neither Warriors or A Christmas Carol.

A Warriors Christmas Carol

Prologue

Thistleclaw

Bluestar led her cats over a hill. Most followed joyfully: it was Christmas Eve, after all, and gatherings were always the best around Christmastime. It was the one time of year that it was almost a one-hundred percent guarantee that there would be no breaking of the truce, and even the most cold-hearted warriors seemed to warm up to the apprentices that would start playing around fourtrees. It was undeniably a magical time of year.

Indeed, only one warrior seemed unhappy as they walked down towards the place; Tigerclaw hadn't enjoyed the holiday in a long time. Tonight was even worse: his mentor, Thistleclaw, was in the medicine den with Spottedleaf, sick with Whitecough. Spottedleaf was struggling to keep him alive.

The gathering passed as most Christmastime gatherings did: the apprentices, even from different clans, started playing games with each other, in ways they definitely wouldn't be able to at any other time of the year. The elders didn't even seem to mind: they were exchanging stories, laughing and not even caring when an apprentice or two accidentally fell between them. Indeed, this would cause them to purr with amusement. The four leaders stood watching the scene, knowing they had to start eventually, but unwilling to force them to end a tradition that only happened once a year. Even Bluestar and Brokenstar seemed to be getting along, enough at least.

Tigerclaw, as he always did, stood to the sidelines, watching, but feeling nothing.

Finally, after much longer than normal, the four leaders called the gathering to order, and began speaking. A couple even had the generosity to wish the others a Merry Christmas.

After they had all shared their news, they jumped down to lead their clans back to camp. Bluestar yowled for Thunderclan to follow her. Tigerclaw, not at all sorry to turn his tail on Fourtrees, followed them.

He knew, even as he stepped into camp, that something was wrong. Spottedleaf stood near the center of the camp, looking at them sadly. It took Tigerclaw a second to realize what this meant. Spottedleaf motioned with her tail for Bluestar and Tigerclaw to follow her. She led them into the medicine den. Finally, she spoke.

"I'm sorry," she said to them. They looked behind her. There, laying down, and clearly dead, was Thistleclaw. "It turned to greencough earlier today. I didn't want to tell you on Christmas Eve. I thought I might be able to treat him, but he died while you were at the gathering."

Tigerclaw stepped forward and touched his old mentor with his nose. There was no denying it, he was dead.

"This can't be easy on you, Tigerclaw," Spottedleaf said, moving forward.

"It doesn't matter now," Tigerclaw said, looking at his old mentor's face. "He's as dead as dirt."

"Or as dead as fresh-kill," came a joking voice from the doorway. "What's going on?"

They turned to see Longtail in the entrance. His smile vanished as he saw Thistleclaw's body lying on the ground. "How-?" he stuttered.

"Greencough," Tigerclaw said, stepping out. "I need some air."

Outside, he left the camp, dragging the weight of what had happened with him. Once outside the camp, when he felt secure, he allowed a single tear to go down his face.

Well, that's all for now. So, what did you think? Please R&R, constructive criticism appreciated, flames are bad, though. Gamer4 out.