Prologue
A lithe tortoiseshell cat padded through the thick reeds beside the river, freezing to silently smell the air before padding on.
It flicked its feathery tail and padded up to a large, thick tree, sliding through the undergrowth to reveal a large den shaped hole where three kittens eagerly sat, glancing up. For a second fear flashed along their faces, but they smiled in relief when they saw it was only their mother.
"Nettle!" one squeaked. It was a mini-replica of Nettle – a small tortoiseshell she-kit with bright green eyes. "Did you find any food? We're hungry!" Nettle looked at the little kit sadly. "I'm sorry, Raven. I didn't find any prey at the moment."
"Aww!" another tortoiseshell sighed. It was a small tom with bright yellow eyes. "But we're hungry!" "I know, I know, Lantern," Nettle sighed. "But I can't really do anything now." "Can you go and hunt again?" the last kit, a little calico she kit piped up. "No, Adder, not now. I've left you alone for long enough today."
The three kits all let out a chorus of "aww!" but soon curled themselves up next to Nettle, nuzzling their heads into her fur.
Raven purred, digging her head into Nettle's soft, warm pelt. She let out a low, soft purr of contentment. Nettle bent down and licked all their heads in turn.
"Nettle, tell us a story!" Adder squeaked, her two yellow eyes gleaming like the sun. "A Starclan story!" The two other kits bounced up and down, purring in agreement.
"A Starclan story, eh?" Nettle said, smiling at her kits. She stretched her legs out luxuriously, before curling her tail around her kits.
"Let's see . . . well-" "Wait!" Raven yowled, her eyes wide. Nettle glance at her in surprise. "Hush, now. What is it?" "Tell us the story of the clans," she squeaked, her eyes bright with excitement.
"Oh come on, we here that all the time," Lantern complained, earning him a sharp whack to the ear from Raven.
"How about I tell you a story my mother told me? I never told you kits this one before." The kits gazed up at her. "Tell us, tell us!" Adder squealed.
"Alright, settle down," she said soothingly, and the kits tucked themselves up, staring up at her expectantly. "So a long time ago, these two cats named Feather and Holly lived at the barn.
"They were playful and curious, and always got in trouble by the older cats. One day Holly snuck out at night while Feather was sleeping. She went to Windclan.
"She saw the clan and was filled with excitement. She raced back to tell Feather all about it, but the young cat was foolish. The Windclan cats had scented rogue scent, so they declared that if they found a loner on their territory, they would kill it."
The kits stared up at her in in shock. "Really?" Adder whispered. "What happened? Did they get-" "Hush, let her finish!" Raven growled at her sister before looking back at Nettle.
"So, Holly came back and told Feather about it. They then went to tell an elder loner named Turtle. Turtle told them that they were foolish, and that they should stay away from Windclan's borders. Turtle said that they were going to get themselves into big trouble if they did something like that.
"Feather promised she wouldn't, but Holly didn't care. Holly wanted to see Windclan again, and maybe mess with them. Feather was scared, and wasn't sure if she wanted to go with Holly, so Holly said she would go without her.
"Feather was scared for her friend, so she went with her. They snuck up to Windclan, but Windclan cats had scented them. They attacked, and killed poor, foolish Holly. Feather escaped, and ran to the barn. She yowled as loud as she could, "``Holly is dead!``"
Raven, Lantern and Adder stared at their mother with wide, fearful eyes. "Is that all?" Lantern asked. "No, let me finish. So Turtle came up and said to young, sad Feather, I said not to go, and you went anyway. Always listen, no matter what.
"So from that day on, whenever Feather was told to do something, or told not to do something, she would listen. She became such a great cat, that when she died, Starclan took her in, even though she wasn't a clan cat. Now Feather sits in Starclan, directing cats to do the right thing silently. That's why cats know right from wrong, and know when something isn't right."
The kits gaped at her. "Really?" Raven asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Doesn't seem likely Starclan would take in a barn cat."
"You are right to have your suspicions, Raven," Nettle purred. "But cats are so loyal because of Feather. They know when to do the right thing."
"So basically this story explains that Feather gave us the power to listen?" Lantern asked, tilted his head. "Not much of a lesson." Nettle purred licking his ear. "It may seem that way. I was doubtful myself when my mother told me, but now I understand it completely. One day you'll understand it, too."
Raven and Lantern glanced at each other dubiously, but Adder was shaking with excitement. "That was the best story ever! Tell it to us again!" Nettle laughed, and opened her mouth until her ears pricked, and her fur prickled.
"Nettl-" "Hush!" the queen snapped. She glanced up, out the den. The three kits sat, their eyes wide as they huddled up, confused.
The forest around them was silent for a few moments, except for the soothing swish of the leaves and a few birds chirping happily in the treetops.
Then the kits heard it. It was distant – but it was obvious what it was. There were voices. The voices were far, so the small family couldn't exactly make anything out until the voices came closer, like the wind was carrying them.
" . . . If these birds spot us, they'll make sure to warn all the prey!" a voice growled, sounding annoyed. "Well if you keep yapping, of course they'll know were here!" another voice snapped. "Silence, both of you!" a third voice growled, and the two others fell silent.
Nettle slid out the den, beckoning with her tail for her kits to follow. They glanced at each other before slowly making their way out after her. She nodded to them and slid around the tree trunk, peeking out.
The cats came into view. One was a short, stocky dark gray tabby tom with two dull yellow eyes. He was twitching a lot as if he were nervous.
The one next to them was a silver long-furred cat with brown eyes. His face was pushed it, making it look almost flat. He walked with a sense of pride.
The third cat . . . was huge. It was bigger than both of the two other cats with broad shoulders and long, sleek orange fur. He had two bright green eyes.
"It's not like we'll need a vole or something. We'll just hunt in the river if they do spot us," the orange tom said flatly. "But Sunblaze," the tabby complained, "I really feel like having a vole today."
Sunblaze whipped around, thrusting his face into the tabby's. "Silence, Darkfeather! I don't care what you want; the point is that we get any prey for the clan period!"
"The clan?" Raven whispered quietly to Nettle. She nodded to her kit. "We have been living in Riverclan territory for a while now," she murmured. "Why?" Lantern asked in a hushed voice. "I thought that we are supposed to stay away from clan cats."
"We are," she murmured, keeping her eyes on the bickering toms, "but we needed a safe place to stay." "Why couldn't we stay at the barn?" Adder demanded. Nettle growled, turning to give a sharp glare to her. "You know why! The barn isn't safe – you want to end up like your brother Mole, killed at such a young age?"
The kits cringed, remembering their 4th sibling who had been attacked by a mad rogue. Nettle turned her head away, back to where the toms were loudly picking their way through the undergrowth.
"I hadn't smelled Riverclan around here – it was very stale, so I figured they didn't patrol here a lot. They'll pass through, hopefully they won't scent us, and then we'll go back in the den."
"Well, if you have to fight, I know you'll beat them!" Raven said encouragingly. "And we'll be right by your side, fighting with tooth and claw!" Nettle hissed. "No you won't. You'll run or hide, and I mean it!"
Raven huffed, annoyed, but nodded. Nettle's tail twitched hesitantly as she watched the warriors before bristling. "They're coming this way," she said, stiffening. "We have to move."
The three kits glanced at each other, fear and excitement tickling their paws. The voices grew closer. "This is pointless. There is nothing over here! I don't quite understand," a voice growled. "Silence, Shadyice. There should be prey around here."
A deep throated growl built up. "Sunblaze," a voice snapped – it was Darkfeather. "I smell rogue scent over here, in this den. A rogue must've lived in here."
There was silence for a moment before Shadyice let out a long hiss. "Rogues on Riverclan territory? They are fools!" A loud screech came overhead, and immediately it struck a chain of screeches from the birds.
"You mouse-brain! Now we have to hunt fish!" Sunblaze growled. "Now anyway, rogues? They're smart, they must've realized our scent was stale so settled here."
"Smells fresh," Darkfeather murmured. "It couldn't have gotten far. It's probably somewhere hunting with ease, thinking everything's safe." he laughed bitterly. "Wait till we come out of no where and teach it a real lesson-"
"Shut it, Darkfeather," Sunblaze growled. "We need to find that rogue before it steals all of Riverclan's prey!"
Nettle stood, pressing against the tree trunk. "We have to go now. This way." She began to step out, but Raven hissed, making her freeze. "Not that way! There's not enough cover over there – they'll see us!"
Nettle glanced at her kit, impressed. "True, Raven. Let's go this way," she said, pointing her tail to the direction of the barn far off.
Nettle slowly and silently trudged in the undergrowth, careful to keep her fur as flat as possibly so it wouldn't brush against the bushes. Her tail flicked ever so slightly, a warning to her kits that they had to keep moving.
The kits tried to stay as silent as their mother. They made their way across with silent paw steps. Adder and Lantern trudged on in front of Raven as she stopped for a brief second to look up. The sun was still pretty high – surely they had enough time to travel somewhere else that was suitable for a home?
Raven began to move on, but glanced over her shoulder. She could make out Darkfeather sniffing around the ferns, and Sunblaze a little off, reaching up to inspect a short tree. She wasn't sure where Shadyice had gone, and that made her nervous. Was he sneaking up on them?
Raven was too busy glancing around in fear that she didn't realize the mistakes she was making. Her fur bristled out, swishing the leaves of the bushes, and she didn't watch her paw steps, clumsily stumbling after them. Nettle stopped to glance at her with a glare, before turning and padding on.
Raven shook her thoughts clear and began to relax, slowly trudging on. But again the fear of them spotting them was creeping up her back. By now they had gotten far enough where Sunblaze was out of view, but Darkfeather was still sniffing around.
She stared, and then her paw slipped, making her land on the dry leaves and twigs with a large snap!
Nettle froze. Adder froze. Lantern froze.
Raven froze.
"There!" a voice yowled. Raven glanced over her shoulder, and her green eyes narrowed it horror as she saw Darkfeather racing towards them, Sunblaze not far behind, and Shadyice following too. All of their faces had rage and determination written across it.
"Raven!" she heard Nettle screech, but it seemed distant as the three toms closed in faster and faster . . .
Sharp teeth fastened around her scruff, tossing her backwards, making her land awkwardly on her leg, behind Adder and Lantern.
"Hide!" she growled to them. "Hide now!" The kits didn't need to be told twice. They ran, diving into a bush not far. They peeked out to see Darkfeather pouncing on Nettle.
Nettle threw him off sharply with her claws as Shadyice sped in, tackling her. Darkfeather leapt in, clawing at any part of her he could.
Nettle growled, and clawed Shadyice viciously, making the tom stagger away in a volley of yowls. Darkfeather latched himself on Nettle's back, biting her scruff and digging his claws into her sides.
Nettle screeched and reared backwards, falling on her back. Darkfeather hissed as he head slammed against the ground and let go of her.
Nettle leapt to her paws, growling, challenging any one of them to come at her. Un-expectantly, Sunblaze leapt, his weight crushing Nettle. She hissed and wiggled free of him.
Darkfeather leapt at her, and she swiftly ducked, sending him flying straight over her. He landed on his paws, but skidded a little bit, slipping on his stomach at an awkward angle.
Sunblaze lashed out, clawing her flank before pulling away. She growled and leapt at him, but mid-air, Shadyice tackled her, ripping at her fur. She hissed and bit onto his paw hard, making him yowl and fall away, panting.
Nettle sprang to her paws. Darkfeather was limping awkwardly now, slowing him down, and Shadyice's paw was bleeding pretty badly. Sunblaze wasn't really hurt except for a few scratches here and there – but he wasn't really a fast fighter.
Nettle, though cut up and bleeding slightly, was still filled with adrenaline. She lashed her tail, daring them on again.
Sunblaze leapt, clawing her muzzle, making her stagger backwards, stunned momentarily. He kicked her legs, making her double over, than grabbed her scruff and shook her viciously. Nettle howled in pain.
Raven couldn't watch. "No!" Adder screeched. Immediately Sunblaze stopped his shaking at Darkfeather and Shadyice glanced at the bush, seeing the three kittens for the first time, peeking out and silently watching.
"No!" Nettle screeched. "Run!" The kits hesitated, but as Darkfeather took menacing steps toward them, they knew better than to stick around.
They turned and fled, and heard a sharp yowl. Raven risked glancing over her shoulder to see Darkfeather chasing after them. She shrieked and ran faster.
"Where do we go?" Adder screeched, her paws beating against the ground. "Let's go around him!" Lantern said. "It might confuse him." he stopped dead in his tracks, and Raven and Adder glanced at each other, and stopped too.
Darkfeather came rushing towards them, his eyes glinting with cruelty. "Easy prey!" he yowled as he tried to seize them, but as he reached out, they ran square at him and ducked under him, sliding out and continuing to run.
They ran past the clearing where Nettle was still fighting off Sunblaze and Shadyice . . . or just Sunblaze now, Raven thought in horror, as they saw the gray tom running after them along with Darkfeather.
"Keep running!" Lantern yowled, suddenly at her side, and then racing ahead. Adder panted behind her, and Raven glanced at her sister. She was already slowing down, but there was a look of fierce determination on her face.
She knew the older, faster cats were closing in. And where were they heading to, anyway? For all they knew, they could be heading into Riverclan camp.
The bushes swiveled as Shadyice came leaping out. Raven squeaked and ducked, Adder mimicking her. He hissed and smashed into Darkfeather, whimpering.
The two quickly got to their paws and chased again. They heard a loud crash and the sound of a branch creaking dangerously before snapping.
The kits didn't stop to see where it would land. They scrambled in three different directions, making the warriors confused. One went after Lantern, while the other went after Adder.
Raven knew she couldn't risk to stop running just because they had left her, so she bounced along, fear making her heart pound heavily against her chest.
She stopped for a brief second, panting. She glanced around her. The forest was quiet. She was worried about her siblings. Where were they?
She heard the trampling of paw steps as Adder and Lantern burst into view. "Run," they squealed, shooting past her. She followed, her heart beginning to beat again. Adder and Lantern slowed so they were in pace with her.
She could feel Shadyice's and Darkfeather's eyes on them as they chased after. Raven sped up, running as fast as she could. Part of her thought that she didn't hear them chasing them anymore, but she ran on.
She ran through a clump of reeds, but heard someone call her. It sounded like Adder. She was about to stop and go back until the ground under her seemed to vanish. She looked infront of her and saw herself sailing towards the . . .
The water...of course.
She shrieked and fell in with a splash. Pain shot up her front paws, but it disappeared quickly. She looked up and saw Adder and Lantern staring down at the water with wide, shocked eyes.
A soft current pushed her up, and she gratefully took in a gasp of air. "I c-can't swim!" she shrieked. "Neither can we!" Lantern retorted, but there was fear in his voice.
"Just paddle!" Adder squeaked. "Surely it can't be too hard!" You're not in my situation right now, are you? Raven thought bitterly, but before she could make a sharp retort, a small wave pushed her down.
Her eyes widened as she realized she was going lower and lower. She trashed wildly, but that didn't seem to make it help. Is this the end? She asked herself. Am I going to die?
Raven sunk lower and lower, and closed her eyes, giving in. It was useless, she couldn't swim. Maybe Starclan will take me in, she thought. Maybe they took Mole in because they felt sorry that he died so young, and now he lives with Feather. Maybe they'll feel bad for me, too, and I'll live with him and Feather.
Yes, that would be nice, she thought. That would be very nice . . . she faintly heard the swish of water next to her, but didn't open her eyes. Maybe it was a Starclan cat taking her in.
Teeth fastened around her scruff, and she felt herself floating upwards. Was it taking her up to Starclan?
Suddenly she felt air blow around her, and in instinct, she took a large breath, swallowing the air. She felt herself being dragged out of the water and put onto a dray surface.
"Raven!" she heard voices squealing though they sounded distant. Was that Adder and Lantern? Or was that Feather and Mole?
She slowly opened one eye to see the sky high above her with clouds lining the sky. She weakly tilted her head to see reeds beside her.
So I'm alive? She lifted her head to see Adder and Lantern looking at her with concern. "Are you alright?" Adder asked nervously.
Raven studied them. Neither one of them was wet, which she found off. Obviously one of them had to get her out the . . .
It hit her like an impact. A stranger had saved her. She turned around to see a tall, dripping wet, brown tabby she-cat with two bright blue eyes.
"Hello, kit," she murmured. "No need to be frightened." Raven shivered. "Who are you?" she hissed suddenly feeling hostile. She smelt like Darkfeather and Shadyice.
"I'm Skyflower," she said, resting her tail softly on Raven's shoulder, and she quickly jerked it off. She backed up, growling. "I didn't need your help," she spat, her spine tingling with fear. The cat snorted. "I would expect you to be a bit more grateful that I saved you."
Raven hissed. "You're a Riverclan cat. Your clan mates tried to kill us, and tried to kill . . ." her voice faded. Skyflower tilted her head. Raven's heart seemed to pound against her chest. "Nettle!" she squeaked, and turned, racing through the reeds.
She heard Adder and Lantern squeal and follow her, and Skyflower let out a confused hiss. She raced in the forest her heart thudding. Was she okay?
She burst into the clearing to see Sunblaze holding Nettle by the scruff still, cuts and blood dripping off her. She looked badly beat up, and Raven was able to tell that she was using the last bit of her energy to claw Darkfeather and Shadyice away whenever they got too close.
Sunblaze began shaking her, and Raven let out a wail. But the toms didn't seem to notice, and kept on harassing her.
She heard a bush rustle and looked over to see Skyflower come through and look at her, than look at her clanmates torturing Nettle.
"Help her, please!" Raven wailed. Skyflower said nothing but nodded, and padded into the midst of the fighting.
"What do you think you are doing?" she growled. She glared at the three toms. "Hi, Skyflower," Darkfeather said, looking somewhat nervous.
"What are you doing out here?" Shadyice asked, shifting his paws. "I was hunting,"
she growled, "but it seems I have bigger issues on my paws."
"We found this rogue," Darkfeather growled. "And now we are chasing it out." "More like killing it!" Skyflower snapped. "You know the warrior code, don't you? You only fight to defend your clan, and don't kill unless it's necessary. It's obvious she's had enough – let her go."
Skyflower glared at the three toms. Darkfeather's head went down, and his tail drooped in submission. Shadyice's ears went back and he glared at her, but said nothing.
Sunblaze still held Nettle tightly in his scruff. "Well, Sunblaze?" she growled. He dropped her down and looked at Skyflower. "The warrior code tells you to defend your territory until the enemy retreats – she wasn't retreating."
Skyflower rolled her eyes and took paces to him until they were infront of each other. "That's enough fighting," she said. Nettle quickly scrambled away, pressing herself against a nearby tree, panting.
Skyflower shook her head. "You know better than to torture her like that."
Sunblaze simply laughed, and with claws unsheathed, her hit Skyflower aside like a dead piece of prey. The she was thrown onto the ground, and for a second she laid motionlessly.
"No!" Raven heard Adder whispered. "She was our only hope!" "Like you know anything," Sunblaze snarled to Skyflower who was weakly trying to get to her paws.
Sunblaze looked at Darkfeather and Shadyice. "Well, don't just stand there," he growled. "Kill the rogue."
Raven's eyes widened and she raced forward, but Sunblaze had already grabbed hold of Nettle while Darkfeather scratched and claw at her.
Raven leapt at the cats, but Sunblaze quickly lashed out, hitting her aside. She felt sharp pain burn on her side, and bit back a screech. She glanced up to see Adder and Lantern rushing towards her.
She looked over and saw Nettle being tossed into a tree. She hit it with a hard impact, and slid down, landing in a crumpled ball of fur. A puddle of blood began to pool around her. She wasn't moving.
"No!" Raven choked out. Darkfeather nervously made his way over and sniffed her. Raven expected her to lash out and claw him to death, but instead she didn't move.
He looked at Sunblaze. "Dead," he said. Raven heard Adder and Lantern whimper. Shadyice looked at the kits. "Should we take care of them too?"
Raven forget her pain and shrunk back with Adder and Lantern. "No," Sunblaze said, licking a paw. "They'll die without a mother anyway. Come, let's get some fish before we go back."
As they passed the kits, Darkfeather stopped and looked at them, sneering, before following the two other toms.
"You killed her," a voice snapped, and they turned to see Skyflower looking up at them. She growled. "That wasn't necessary."
"So what?" Sunblaze said. "You wanted to them to steal all our prey?" His tail flicked. "Fallenstar should be thanking us." Then he turned and left with the other two.
Skyflower weakly got up and walked over to the kits. "Fallenstar isn't a mouse-brained," she murmured. "And he sure won't be thanking them for attacking me."
She looked at the kits. "I'm sorry." She looked at Nettle's body. "Maybe you should come to Riverclan with me. A queen could care for you and –"
"Shut it!" Raven snapped. "We don't need your pity. We don't need your help! Your clan murdered her!" Adder and Lantern growled in agreement.
Skyflower's tail lashed. "I tried to help," she snapped. "And you didn't do anything good enough!" Adder growled. "We don't need your help!" Raven repeated.
Skyflower hissed. "I know you are upset, but stop being stubborn. You do need our help!"
Raven shook her head. "No, we don't." She flicked her tail and began to march off, her siblings following. She stopped and looked over her shoulder, calling, "We may be small and weak now, but when were older and stronger, we'll get revenge."
Yes, she thought, we'll get revenge. Riverclan'll wish they'd never messed with us.
