Hello everyone! Thanks so much if you are reading this! It means a ton to me! Sorry about chapter 1, my computer was being weird and turned it into a giant block of text. This chapter is longer! Stay tuned, clan begins chapter 3. And my biggest thanks to Crystal Silvera, whose writing inspired this story! Now, on with the show! -Graymist
Chapter 2
Sunshine awoke in strange moorland; warm at first, but with a hidden presence hanging in the air. To one direction lay a sparse patch of aspen trees, to the other spread an endless forest of silver pines. Sunshine bent down and examined the grass, finding that it was only made of threads of glittering stars. It looked so delicate in her paw, but was sturdy as she dug her claws into the thick stems.
"Hello," a voice purred behind her. Sunshine flew to her feet and faced the cat. She had a thick silver pelt composed almost entirely out of stars. Surprised, Sunshine only nodded to the cat.
"Who are you? Where am I?" Sunshine asked.
" I am Silverstar, and this," she gestured to the open moorland and forest with her sleek tail, "is StarClan."
"Whoa," Sunshine gasped. "So are you dead?"
"Yes. Long ago in this mountainside, tribes and clans of cats thrived. The cats that made these clans were warriors. The helped one another, hunted and fought side-by-side, and trained hard to receive their warrior names. Medicine cats learned the ways of healing, and learned from their ancestors in StarClan. I was the last leader of LeafClan, a clan with once great strength and skill, and watched as it disbanded. I had the hope of finding these cats once again to save the clan; but I failed, and was left to die. But now we have found you Sunshine, our new beginning."
Sunshine gasped, not believing what she was hearing. "You want me to become a leader? There is no way! LeafClan sounds amazing, but I don't think I'm ready for this."
"Don't worry," Silverstar purred. "You will have help. StarClan will stand by you every step of the way. You will make friends. Find the young tom Boulder, he will help you. Don't worry about fighting skills; you can build LeafClan, and choose the leader. We will always welcome you as a medicine cat. You are strong Sunshine, I know you can do this."
Swallowing back her fear, Sunshine nodded. "I will not fail you Silverstar! I will rebuild LeafClan, better than before!" Before she heard Silverstar's reply, Sunshine's vision blurred and the sound around her muffled as she plunged into darkness.
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Sunshine awoke to the bitter cold of leaf-bare. The newly formed frost bit into the pads of her feet. Quietly, she stood and paddled away from here frostbitten bed in the carpet of leaves. A cold gust of wind washed over her.
Yawning, Sunshine picked up the scent of fresh mouse. She silently followed her nose until she spotted the small rodent sitting outside its den, plump in preparation for its leaf-bares slumber. She waited for the perfect moment, springing forward and nipping it on the neck.
"Nice catch," a voice called behind her. Sunshine flipped around to see the brown tom from the day before, sitting among the crisp brown leaves. His sleek brown pelt with its black stripes shown in the cold sunlight. His piercing blue eyes twinkled. Sunshine smiled to herself. She had found Boulder.
The day warmed up as the two padded along side-by-side through the moorland. They had shared the mouse Sunshine had caught earlier, but by sun-high were both hungry again. Boulder was glad to have another cat to talk to. He had been alone for the past five moons, almost his entire life.
"So, uh, Boulder, where are you from?" Sunshine mewed, trying to strike up a conversation.
"I'm just a loner. I follow where the stars guide me."
"I have to ask you something." Sunshine stopped walking and sat on the carpet of leaves.
"Yes?"
"Have you ever heard of the clans?"
Boulder sat in silence for a moment, pondering the question. "No, tell me about them."
"Well, I don't know where to begin. A clan has a leader, whose name always ends in 'star. He is the one who conducts ceremonies, and chooses warrior's names. A leader receives nine lives from the clan of their ancestors, StarClan." The words poured from Sunshine's mouth, but were being spoken from another's mind.
"The leader appoints a deputy, his second in charge. Deputies have regular warrior names, and are in charge of organizing patrols. There is also a medicine cat, who learns the ways of healing, visits StarClan, and receives prophecies. When six moons old, a kit becomes an apprentice, changing the last part of their name from 'kit to 'paw. Until twelve moons old, an apprentice trains with his or her mentor and does all the necessary apprentice duties. At twelve moons old, they receive their warrior names.
"The clan follows a code, their rules and beliefs that have been established over time. The cats in the clans hunt, fight, and train together. They become a family."
"Sounds wonderful," Boulder smiled.
"Would you like to form our clan, LeafClan? Sunshine asked.
"How?"
"Our ancestors in StarClan will help us. Last night the former leader of a now disbanded LeafClan, Silverstar, came to me in a dream. She told me how, and that she would watch over us every step of the way. "
"I accept!"
Sunshine squealed in excitement! They were going to build a clan!