What does love do for us? Better yet, what does hatred and infatuation do for us? There is enough bloodshed everywhere they look, ShadowClan, their conflicts bound for WindClan and RiverClan, when the very heart of their troubles lies within their own camp; their own dens, and their own friends. What does greed and ambition do for us? And hatred? Hatred does nothing but kill, but fight, but bleed. But Earthpaw has the eyes, the eyes of integrity and upon receiving a special vision from StarClan that foretells the oncoming plight, prepares to stop this turncoat, a traitor that the mysterious black warrior in the message mentioned, in his tracks. Who is the black tom he saw in Larkstorms pool? You may find that this story is seen from the view of a mere kit, someone we would not originally expect. In the beginning, the heart of everything ascended into light, remaining homeostatic, until forces of evil descended it into a cataleptic darkness. - Courtney Preston
Disclaimers to Erin Hunter for Warriors; majority of the characters are copyrighted to me.
The first two chapters take place in Earthpaws point of view.
I take honest critique/reviews, so hit me with your best shot! :D
ALLEGIANCES:
T H U N D E R C L A N
LEADER: Stormstar - lean black tabby she-cat with orange eyes.
DEPUTY: Sunstorm - big long furred orange tom with light green eyes.
Apprentice: Volepaw
MEDICINE CAT: Starlingfeather - old tabby she-cat with pale amber eyes.
MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE: Littlepaw - pale gray tom with white patches.
WARRIORS:
Coalfur - dark gray she-cat with amber eyes.
Apprentice: Berrypaw
Thrushfeather - light brown tabby tom.
Apprentice: Mosspaw
Swifteyes - lean brown tabby tom with green eyes.
Stormclaw - gray and white tom with amber eyes.
Oakfur - muscular brown tabby tom.
Dawnfeather - long furred she-cat.
APPRENTICES:
Mosspaw - ashen white she-cat with minty green eyes.
Berrypaw - light ginger she-cat with dark flecks.
Volepaw - pale solid brown tom.
QUEENS:
Hawkfire - black she-cat. {kits: Songkit, Firekit}
Lightstream - white she-cat with a pale gray muzzle. {kits: Basilkit, Shrewkit, Brownkit}
KITS:
Songkit - flame colored she-cat with hazel eyes.
Firekit - flame tabby tom with green eyes.
Basilkit - white she-cat.
Shrewkit - pale brown tom with amber eyes.
Brownkit - dark long furred chocolate tom with hazel eyes.
ELDERS:
Yewpelt - small yellow tabby she-cat blind in one eye.
R I V E R C L A N
LEADER: Cyberstar - gray tabby tom with pale blue eyes.
DEPUTY: Swishtail - ginger tom.
MEDICINE CAT: Willowpool - pretty white she-cat with dark gray muzzle and ears with icy blue eyes.
MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE: Trendilpaw - tabby she-cat.
WARRIORS:
Minnowtail - small light gray tom with blue eyes and a fluffy tail.
Apprentice: Olivepaw
Ruststrike - dark ginger tom.
Leopardfang - ginger tom with black spots.
Poppycloud - lean black and white tom with icy blue eyes.
Apprentice: Sedgepaw
Lightstep - small light gray she-cat with amber eyes.
APPRENTICES:
Olivepaw - brown tom with mossy green eyes.
Sedgepaw - brown tabby tom.
Winterpaw - muscular white tom with brown flecks.
QUEENS:
Thrushstorm - short brown tabby she-cat.
KITS:
Fawnkit - pretty white she-cat.
Coralkit - bluish gray tom with amber eyes.
ELDERS:
Beechfur - pale gray tom with similar pale blue eyes. {former medicine cat}
S H A D O W C L A N
LEADER: Ripplestar - brown tabby tom with amber eyes.
DEPUTY: Darkwind - dark black tabby tom with deep amber eyes.
MEDICINE CAT: Larkstorm - pretty mottled she-cat with brown eyes.
MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE: Softpaw - brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes.
WARRIORS:
Smokeshadow - dark gray tom with pale blue eyes.
Apprentice: Earthpaw
Molefur - wiry brown tom.
Kestrelstripe - pale brown tom with pretty green eyes.
Lizardtail - small black tabby she-cat with a thick tail.
Apprentice: Brightpaw
Cloudfeather - gray tom with a white chin and green eyes.
Sandfeather - pale yellow tabby she-cat.
Cloverwhisker - black tabby she-cat.
APPRENTICES:
Earthpaw - brown tabby tom with emerald green eyes.
Brightpaw - flecked gray tom with bright gold eyes.
QUEENS:
Midnightstorm - long furred black she-cat with ocher eyes. {kits: Smallkit, Blazekit}
Violetfur - dark cream she-cat with heather eyes. {kits: Nightkit, Barkkit, and Slatekit}
KITS:
Smallkit - small black tom with emerald eyes.
Blazekit - fluffy ginger tom with golden eyes.
Nightkit - big black tom with icy blue eyes.
Barkkit - black tom with four white paws.
Slatekit - gray tom.
ELDERS:
Flintfeather - once beautiful black she-cat.
W I N D C L A N
LEADER: Cedarstar - black tom with amber eyes.
DEPUTY: Severedtail - sleek chocolate she-cat with half a tail.
MEDICINE CAT: Ashfall - long furred gray tom with icy blue eyes.
MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE: Birchpaw - slim bengal she-cat with amber eyes.
WARRIORS:
Peppermint - black and white she-cat.
Apprentice: Gorsepaw
Ferndapple - light tabby she-cat.
Silentstorm - small brown tom.
Ravenwing - small black tom with stunning yellow eyes.
Apprentice: Harkpaw
Spiderfur - black she-cat.
APPRENTICES:
Harkpaw - light tan tabby tom.
Gorsepaw - mottled tabby tom with amber eyes.
QUEENS:
Weaselfang - little cream she-cat. {kits: Teakit}
KITS:
Teakit - dark brown tabby she-cat with minty green eyes.
ELDERS:
None
Through the Green-leaf night, the wind howled against the side of the Nursery. Its cry was thunderous; echoing in the sky before the sound had completely vanished. Smaller cries erupted eventually; little squeals that reminded the Clan of darkness that new life had just entered their world. The black queen crooned softly, her pretty ocher eyes pools of adoration for her new children. They searched to feed, their eyes closed, their bodies just bundles. The two kittens were toms, one a fiery orange and the other, a smaller black. What would she name them? She wondered; the corners of her eyes crinkling up in contemplation and concentration. It was only in those quiet minutes that she had discovered one that made a perfect fit, one for each. She glanced up to her mate, a darker gray tom, with a patch of white covering the entirety of his jaw. "We can call this one," her tail tightened around the ginger kitten, "Blazekit, and this one," the attention shifted to the runt, but the silence lagged on for too long. She'd thought she found the perfect name, but it didn't seem to fit him as well as she'd hoped, she didn't want to voice it, not when it would prove a waste. "Smallkit." The father's voice broke the hush, and his tone had been warm, hopeful, expectant. Midnightstorm nodded, her maw curling up into a delicate smile. She crooned to her kittens again, before meeting Cloudfeather's pallid green gaze, "They're perfect." The black queen meowed, but a tender whisper. Larkstorm let out a purr of agreement, and leaned down to sniff each kit gingerly. "They are indeed," she concurred, "I'll return in the morning to check on you. I would like you to eat these in the mean time," the mottled she-cat prodded a pile of borage leaves, leaves with thick green sheets, and pushed them closer to Midnightstorm. "They'll give you more milk." As Midnightstorm nodded dreamily, her eyes never wavering from her kits, the Medicine cat sauntered from the depths of the den and returned to her own cleft. The light of the morning sun just barely reached the nursery walls. Its rays brilliant like flames, cast over the prickly den, filtering in through a small gap that was used as an entrance; from within, mews erupted from the uneasy silence and sighs of relief surmounted such little squeals.
"They're so tiny!" Earthpaw, a ShadowClan apprentice, squeaked. His green eyes were burning with wonder and curiosity as he bent down to survey Smallkit more closely. "They're young," Violetfur commented gruffly, "How big do you expect them to be?" Earthpaw glanced up at her, his ear twitching uncertainly for a split second as if doubting her challenge. Bigger than that! Nonetheless, he answered bluntly. "I have no idea, but I've seen dew droplets bigger!" He laughed, and Midnightstorm flicked his nose with the tip of her tail. "Go tend to your duties, and let us rest." Her voice was deficient in emotion, but even so, she only watched Blazekit and Smallkit, the warmth of her love flowing out from her beautiful eyes. The apprentice sighed, and backed out. He obviously couldn't ignore what she said, since it was true. He had to clean out the elders den, rid them of fleas and ticks – all before sunhigh, and there wasn't anyone else willing to help him, he was nearly the only apprentice aside Brightpaw, since Softpaw was the medicine cat apprentice.
Halfheartedly, he slipped across the clearing to get fresh moss from Larkstorm; pushing away the sensations of ignorance.
Around the small fresh-kill pile was Smokeshadow and Molefur, who both calmly glanced up at him as he padded by. The thoughts that swarmed around the apprentices head were dazing, yes, but there was a flicker of doubt, no, of disgust and skepticism that passed through Smokeshadows pale blue eyes that he instantly noticed - that by which caught his attention just as promptly; for a mere heartbeat it seemed, and before Earthpaw could recognize such emotions, they, in all their entirety, had vanished. The lean gray Warrior only nodded gradually, a layer, like a cloud, veiled all sentiments able to be seen. Molefur had long since returned to his meal, and the apprentice padded faster after he turned away (notice he did not return the greeting nod), his spine prickling, as he felt the eyes of the dark Warrior go with him.
He was quick to think of something; therefore, his mind skipped to another troubling thought; he couldn't imagine why Midnightstorm was so absorbed with those kits; didn't queens have anything else to do besides moon over their children? Or was the new love for the little bundles that overwhelming? He would never know. He wasn't a blasted she-cat. Earthpaw, so engrossed with his new contemplation or rather, desire of such deep contemplation, hadn't noticed the mottled Medicine cat peer out from her den, herbs tight in her mouth, bundled securely within the folds of a leaf. "Earthpaw?" She meowed; her words muffled. "What do you need?" The sight of her startled him, and he dropped his gaze immediately. Think, think! "Uhh…" "Fresh moss, I suspect?" She eyed him curiously, as though she'd noticed the panic in his emerald orbs, much less, the relief. She'd known what he needed all along. "Go inside and get it yourself, you know where it is. I'm busy tending to Midnightstorm and her kits." She didn't hold him any longer, nor did he hold her. She continued on, her paw steps fading, leaving the brown tabby alone outside the stone cleft, before he slid inside to commence himself to his own duties. The lichen that hung about the entrance was thick, he noticed, as he crept inside the warm den. The ground was dirt, and there were depressions here and there where cats had come and gone, leaving a legend forever engraved into the floor. The moss was hanging in clumps just across the little clearing from a diminutive ledge, and he hurried off to take what he would need but something caught his eye.
It was a pond; though it sparkled with a serene beauty. Forgetting the moss, he slowly made his way to it. As if it were calling him. The water rippled slightly as he strode forth, his gallant appearance reflecting off of the waves. His image was disturbed, but in a moments time, the pool settled. He didn't know what it was that had interested him, he knew already this was where Larkstorm and Softpaw drank from, or rather, fed the ill the fresh water… His heart felt a yearning to lap up a taste, and in his mind, he imagined how delicious it would be, and how nice it would feel as it flowed down his throat, and into his gut. The ambiance about the den was light, and pure with each breath, and he could feel tender paws running through his short fur; he flinched at the cool touch but he didn't feel afraid, he leaned down, encouraged, and with a stroke of his pink tongue, sipped up one mouthful. As the falling droplets splashed back unto their ocean, a layer of fog and sparkle seemed to envelop the surface of it. It startled him, but Earthpaws courage and confidence aided him to stand his ground, unafraid, only curious and satiated with wonder. How beautiful was the sight of the glittery façade, he could only peer even closer, until his nose broke through the supercilious perimeter. Eyes wide with awe, he saw an image begin to rush by his olive moonstones, and for a second, he was terrified to his very soul.
Cries of pain filled the air; screams and shrieks following them, screeching so loud they made him bow. The sky was gray, and rain fell all around him; pounding down with the strength of StarClan. There was nothing in sight, and only the moist smell of the downpour could be sensed; nonetheless, traces of the musty marsh could be found even through such a thickness. As the rainfall commenced, the fog that had veiled the ground began to disperse and two large figures could be distinguished. Earthpaw shrunk back in fear as they clashed, rolling and snarling, their claws slashing air and occasionally, an ear or an arm. He recognized a dark gray tom, but the other, so black was he, he almost blended in with the darkness all around them… there was no moon that night. No glow to support their eyes. The apprentice tried to move, but his legs were stagnant and he braced himself as the two warriors hurtled his way! He let out a cry, and it was as though the black Warriors cry had merged with his. He didn't understand any of this. Was this meant for him? Was this from StarClan themselves? No… they had to be mistaken. It was a mere heartbeat that they stopped in midair, their faces frozen in anger, and in pain. That dark warrior was muscular, his short fur clearly silky, but his eyes, pools of emeralds much like Earthpaws own. "And they will never know!" A voice had cried, but then, moving, however slowly, the unknown tom came so close to Earthpaw, his scent familiar, though vaguely. Those emerald eyes reflecting the same emotions in his own; fear, but a courage unlike any other. A loyalty, and a hunger. When the tabby apprentice was sure he would crash into him, the shadowy warrior whispered words in a voice so silky, so velvety smooth, but powerful beneath the concealed sigh, it was nearly impossible to deny that they were rolling off the tongue of a cat, not a god. Alas, all he seemed to be was just that, another feline. The stranger reclined backwards. "Turncoat, Earthpaw." And then, with a puff his whole had become nothing but dust before any collision had taken place; shimmering like the surface of the pool. And then the scene around him was gone and only a distant voice of Softpaw could be heard through his ears.
When Earthpaw woke with a jolt to the call of his name. There peering down at him was Softpaw, his sister, her face twisted with worry and apprehension. "You're awake! He's awake!" She cried, and buried her muzzle in his side the moment she saw his eyes flutter, and open. He didn't understand what had happened… All he remembered was the moss, hanging on the ledge, and that glitter from the pool… "Wha- what happened?" He mumbled in a daze, shaking himself as he got to his paws. The images only they beginning to rush back to him. Oh! That black warrior! Knowing his sister probably had no idea of what he'd seen, since he was considerably certain it was a prophecy from StarClan. Softpaw let out a sigh of relief at his words, and scuffled the ground with her paws, her pretty amber eyes growing round with enthusiasm as she explained what she'd witnessed: "I saw you slip in and came to help, since Larkstorm dismissed me from the Nursery, and there you were! Out cold beside the water, nearly as icy as Leaf-bare wind!" Her tone was in awe, and he would have laughed at how she was, her fervor and passion often making a fool out of herself, but now wasn't the time. New troubles had rested themselves upon his shoulders. "Oh, well, I have to get back to my duties!" He sneakily whipped up, before he hurried to get the moss. He didn't have time to chat anyway, he Softpaw would keep him trapped for seasons if he didn't escape before she dragged him into a long conversation. Not only that, but he had to finish up his chores before midday and the sunhigh hunting patrol wouldn't wait for him to finish. With an outstretched paw, he swiped a wad and put it in his mouth, before hastily exiting the cleft.
He remembered it all so clearly, the musty odor, and the pounding of the two wrestling cats and that word, turncoat. What'd it mean? He wasn't sure what any of it had meant, he only knew that it had to be some kind of warning or prediction. It all came so fast! And why him and why now? Was it because he was the closest cat to send it to? Probably not. StarClan can reach Larkstorm and Softpaw at any time, I think. But him? A regular apprentice? What on earth could he do, besides watch? It wasn't even likely for their ancestors to send dreams to cats other than the leaders and Medicine cats. He wondered idly if he was special in some way, or maybe his destiny was woven into the black warriors, whoever he was. And they will never know... Those were the words the enemy had spat. Never know what? Earthpaw knew that minutes ago he'd been normal, going to get moss, and next thing you know he's got some message coming to him… had Larkstorm received it at the same time? Did anyone else know? As he padded across the clearing, he felt once again the sensation of being watched; or rather, eyes burning into his back with some dark energy. Turning warily, he caught the emotionless, eerie gaze of his mentor. But what he noticed instantly; his throat tightening to a crisp swallow, was that it was the same cat he'd seen in his dream, fighting the black warrior.
It was Smokeshadow.