Warriors: Wings of Change
Marcelle's Version
Character Descriptions for this chapter
CloudClan
Leader: Swiftstar - small tawny tom with black and white spots, blue eyes. Fastest tom
Deputy: Redfur - reddish longhaired she-cat with bright amber eyes
Medicine Cat: Snowstorm - pretty pure white she-cat with icy-blue eyes
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Warriors:
Ashcloud - very pale gray she-cat with a brown stripe along her back and amber eyes
Apprentice: Thunderpaw
Tawnyheart - white and tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow-green eyes
Brackentail - golden brown tabby tom with darker striped tail and green eyes
Apprentice: Streampaw
Graywhisker - Snowstorm's younger brother; dark gray tabby tom with pale blue eyes
Loneflame - big ginger and white tom with big blue eyes
Apprentice: Fastpaw
Skyflower - long limbed light brown and white tabby she-cat with bright green eyes
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Queens:
Rushingwater - pale gray and white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes
Amberkit - pretty golden tabby she-cat with green eyes
Stealthkit - sleek long limbed silver tabby she-cat with black stripes and icy-blue eyes
Thrashkit - handsome musculardarkgray tom with brown flecks and stripes; amber eyes
Spottedfur - pale short-haired she-cat with unusually dark spotted fur and amber eyes
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Apprentices:
Fastpaw - Swiftstar's only son; black and white long-limbed tom with very long tail and pale blue eyes
Thunderpaw - pale ginger tabby she-cat with lighter stripes and bright green eyes
Streampaw - pretty black and cream she-cat with silver-gray stripes and green eyes
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Elders:
Dewdrops - former medicine cat; once beautiful silver speckled and white she-cat with blue-green eyes
Whitespot - oldest tom; large smoky long-haired tom with one white spot and yellow-green eyes
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ThunderClan
Leader: Rumblestar - large dark brown tabby tom with green eyes and very sharp claws
Deputy: Scarface - battle scarred mottled brown tom with one black paw and amber eyes
Medicine Cat: Rainstorm - pretty silver-gray she-cat with dark blue eyes
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Rogue Warriors:
Leader: Skull - huge black and white tom with scars all over his body and amber eyes
Deputy: Rage - large dark gray tabby she-cat with a big scar down her face and blue eyes
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ShadowClan
Leader: Deadstar - big smoky almost black she-cat with one dead ear and yellow eyes
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WindClan
Leader: Sunstar - orangey gold tabby she-cat with white striped tail and pale green eyes
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RiverClan
Leader: Blazingstar - huge golden tabby tom with big amber eyes
Chapter One
"Amberkit? Stealthkit? Thrashkit, where have you all been? You have missed out on the fresh-kill that dawn patrol fetched an hour ago!" A sleek silver tabby she-cat meowed, her temper beginning to escalate.
"Aw, mother, we were just tracking down a mouse sent, but you had to go and scare it off!" Stealthkit complained, a hint of laughter in her voice. Thrashkit gave his sister a playful shove with his shoulder. They giggled, bringing the silver tabby she-cat's temper to a boil.
"How many times do I have to tell you to address me by my warrior name! It's Rushingwater, not mother." Rushingwater's tabby striped tail twitched restlessly, "And where's Amberkit?"
"She followed the mouse into the forest. Guess she didn't hear you calling," Thrashkit answered. His enthusiasm slowed to a halt.
"Don't fear! Amberkit is here!" The pretty golden tabby she-cat delicately placed the freshly killed mouse in front of her litter-mates, a priceless smile shined across her face.
Rushingwater seemed surprised, and not in a good way. "You went into the forest? Without a warrior! Do you know how dangerous it is out there?" Rushingwater began her lecture, and the three kits felt their fur burn with Rushingwater's sharp tongued scolds.
"Sorry, mother." Muttered Stealthkit.
"You mean, Rushingwater," Thrashkit corrected his sister.
After Rushingwater's reign of terror, she sighed and smiled. "Nice catch though, Amberkit. I'm sure you'll make a wonderful apprentice. Amberkit purred with pride, while her brother and sister gave her envious looks. "Now stay out of trouble. As for the mouse…go ahead and eat it for your afternoon snack." Rushingwater padded away toward the medicine cat's den.
"Wonder why she's headed for Snowstorm's den?" Amberkit asked.
"Who? The medicine cat?" Stealthkit gave a hug yawn as she scratched her ears.
"Duh." Thrashkit answered sarcastically.
"Whatever," sighed Amberkit. She grabbed the plump mouse into her jaws.
"We should give the mouse to Spottedfur. She is excepting kits after all." Thrashkit suggested.
"Why? I'm hungry!" Stealthkit started to complain.
"Don't start that again, Stealthkit," growled Amberkit. "Good idea, bro - I mean Thrashkit. Whatever Spottedfur doesn't finish we can eat."
"Aw, mouse dung." Whined Stealthkit. Thrashkit flicked his ears to their den, the nursery. The cozy location as under the shade of a great oak tree. Next to the three boulders which shielded them, and under the thick roots of the tree is where the milky smell of the nursery came from.
Thrashkit lead the way, until Stealthkit fought to be leader. Amberkit was always right behind them, looking over them. Nothing was going to take her littermates away from her. She sighed, still with the mouse in her mouth.
As soon as they entered, Stealthkit bursted out, "Spottedfur! We bring you a fresh mouse!" Stealthkit really didn't waste anytime getting to the point.
Amberkit placed the mouse in front of Spottedfur. "Oh, wow! It's a fat one, and it smells delicious!" Spottedfur gave an approving smile. "It's nice to already have you doing apprentice duties."
"Duties?" Stealthkit questioned.
"Work, jobs." Thrashkit answered.
"Shush you two. Stop quarrelling, you'll upset the kits!" Amberkit hissed at her siblings. Then the three kits stomachs growled.
Spottedfur laughed. "Alright you three. Why don't you help me eat this mouse, okay?"
"Okay!" They all agreed happily.
After the three kits shared the snack with Spottedfur they rested themselves comfortably outside the den to warm their fur. The day was actually warm and there was light shining through the tall trees.
Amberkit turned one ear to the direction of footsteps heading toward their way. Stealthkit and Thrashkit raised their heads and called, "Hello, Whitespot! Hi, Dewdrops."
The old smoky gray tom smiled and took a seat between Stealthkit and Amberkit. As for Dewdrops, she found a warm spot next to Thrashkit. Amberkit's younger brother made a face as soon Dewdrops sat beside him. She and Stealthkit held in their laughter.
"You kits should hurry up and became apprentices, so you can to apprenice duties. My back has been sore all day and frankly I can't stop itching. Must be ticks," Whitespot said in a jolly tone.
"Lucky I'm still young enough to look after this old guy," Dewdrops teased. Stealthkit and Thrashkit giggled.
Amberkit asked, "Can you tell us a story?"
"Yeah! The one about how the sun was swallowed by the sky!" Meowed Stealthkit.
"No, tell us the one about Tigerstar and Firestar!" Retorted Trashkit. The two debated amongst themselves.
Amberkit sighed, "I want to know why we aren't Thunderclan anymore."
Whitespot's wise green gave Amberkit a piercing gaze. She could sense anger and sorrow just from the look the came of his fierce glare. He almost looked as if he was still a young reckless warrior for a moment. Dewdrops tail twitched. "I guess it's about time I tell you kits about the great separation." Whitespot cleared his throat before he began. "You see, Swiftstar had a brother. His name was Crimsonflame. They were really close, and Crimsonflame was the deputy of Flamestar back then. All in one night, the leader mysteriously drowned. So the day after vigil, Crimsonflame was going to the moonpool with Dewdrops to receive his nine lives, but that's when the Rogues came and took him down.
"Dewdrops barely got to safety. When she came back to camp, and Swiftclaw - that was the leader's name before - was enraged. He took on five out of the nine rogues without backup. He was too fast for any of them to lay a paw on him. All the blood spilled on him wasn't his. That night, instead of his brother receiving the nine lives it was Swiftclaw.
"After the gallant fight that sent the rogues away, the clan unanimously chose him to become the next leader. But the death for his brother crushed him. He wasn't thinking straight when he chose Rumblebelly as deputy. That's when the clever conspiracy sprang into action.
"Two days after Rumblebelly became deputy, he brought in so many rogues into Thunderclan camp. The whole clan shivered with fear. We were clearly out numbered." Rage ran like a storm in Whitespot's eyes, like he was remembering a terrifying memory.
"Then what happened," Stealthkit and Thrashkit implored to know what happened next. Amberkit knew how they felt, her own belly churned with anticipation.
"Hush, let Whitespot continue," hissed Dewdrops.
"It was a night of great bloodshed. We lost several warriors that night, and Swiftstar managed to fend off all the dozens of rogues while the rest of his clan ran for uncharted territory. I know, I lost two of my littermates that day, " Whitespot sounded wistful. He inhaled slowly and continued, "After Swiftstar took as many lives from the rogues as he could he began to aim for Rumblebelly. The rogues didn't dare to face our leader's smoldering wrath. Each blow Swiftstar gave Rumblebelly was filled with pure hatred.
"When the so called 'rogue warriors' - that's what Rumblebelly called them - were going to help Rumblebelly, Rainstorm rushed in and took Swiftstar's quick claws. Swiftstar was taken aback for a moment, that's when the all the rogues clawed and bit him to the ground. Snowstorm came to his rescue. Rainstorm pleaded for no cat to hurt her. Snowstorm successfully dragged our leader out of Thunderclan camp.
"Our clan left with blood stained pelts and devastated hearts. Dewdrops helped Snowstorm carry Swiftstar's bloody body out of our old territory. He lost his first life bravely, and maybe he would have succeeded if it weren't for a little she-cat."
The three kits jaws were dropped to the ground. Dewdrops gave a tough smirk, but her eyes where cloudy as if she were witnessing the awful past, too.
"We fled," Whitespot kept going, "Way out of Thunderclan territory. Out of your very own home!" He snarled, then started coughing badly.
Dewdrops came to his side and helped him get to his feet. "I was worried about this. You kits stay back, I need to take Whitespot to Snowstorm right away.
"We'll do it!" Stealthkit and Thrashkit was already on their feet leading Whitespot away.
Amberkit's mind still lingered to the story. She wondered out loud, "Who's Rainstorm? Is she close with Snowstorm? Wonder why she'd let her go out of all the cats who died?" It was too late when Amberkit realized she was speaking out loud.
Apparently Dewdrops heard every single word. The look in Dewdrops eyes was sharp, but Amberkit could still see the sadness that mixed up in there. "I think that's enough stories for you kit." The grouchy she-cat trotted off to see if Whitespot was okay.
Still questions popped into Amberkits mind. She shook her head and ran after her brother and sister. They both just left the medicine cats den, smiling like there's no tomorrow. " Is Whitespot okay?" Amberkit asked worriedly.
"Snowstorm said he will be. She's a great medicine cat, and our clan is grateful to have her as our medicine cat!" Stealthkit beamed.
"You said it! And Swiftstar is amazing! He took off all those cats to save his Clan!" Thrashkit added.
"You guys don't you think - ," Amberkit was cut off by the warriors coming out of their dens - which she just noticed they were standing in front of - and making a large circle around the great boulder.
"Hey, Swiftstar is talking on top of the big rock!" Stealthkit meowed.
"Don't you know anything! He's probably telling the Clan to gather because he has something to tell us!" Trashkit was being a smarty-tail.
Thunderpaw and her mentor Ashcloud passed by, they headed toward the rounded cats. Amberkit caught up to the pale ginger she-cat apprentice and asked, "What's going on?"
"Swiftstar's going to -," Thunderpaw began, but Ashcloud silenced her with a brief growl. Amber stopped and looked for her brother and sister. They were already taking their seats next to Spottedfur and Snowstorm. Amberkit had no option, but to follow.
"There you are, Amberkit. Just in time," Spottedfur purred as she took her seat between Stealthkit and Thrashkit. Amberkit gave a sideways glance to the pretty pure white she cat, who had not taken her eyes off the leader once the whole time.
"It is time for CloudClan to introduce the new apprentices," Swiftstar was saying, "They are six moons old and are ready to be apprenticed." The small but mighty leader's piercing blue eyes gazed proudly down at his clan. "First off, Amberkit. Please step up."
Amberkit wasn't excepting this at all, but she took confident strides to the center. Trying to hold her breath, but remembering to also breathe. She could feel the Clan cats stares burn into her pelt. Uncertainty turned into excitement as soon as Swiftstar began her ceremony.
"By naming apprentices, we show that CloudClan will survive and remain strong. Amberkit, from now on you will be known as Amberpaw…. Graywhisker, you are ready for an apprentice. You will be Amberkit's mentor." So soon as Swiftstar ended his sentence, a dark gray tabby tom stepped out of the crowd and stood in before Amberpaw.
He whispered, "touch your nose to mine." Amberpaw didn't hesitate for a second, she did as he said and gave a light touch to his nose, and he licked her ear.
"May Starclan help you guide your way in training to become a proud warrior," finished Swiftstar. Graywhisker and Amberpaw nodded their heads and took their place once more in the crowd.
Amberpaw never felt the new rush before, but she liked it. The clan cats cheered, "Amberpaw! Amberpaw!
When she sat back down, Graywhisker said, "Great job, Amberpaw." She liked him already. Amber paw gave her thanks and watched her littermates take their apprentice names.
Stealthkit was up next, and she was as cocky as ever with her tail straight up, good thing her nose wasn't any higher or else she wouldn't be able to see her own mentor. "Stealthkit, from now on you will be known as Stealthpaw…. Redfur, you are ready for another apprentice. Let your knowledge flow into this young one as well. Redfur, you will be Stealthpaw's mentor."
The dark ginger she-cat coolly took her place. Amberpaw could see Stealthpaw a little intimated by her new mentor, but held her breath and touched her nose to Redfur's.
"Stealthpaw! Stealthpaw!" The cats cried.
Finally Thrashpaw shakily took the spolight. He stared at the leader with big amber eyes. "Thrashkit, from now on you will be known as Thrashpaw….Skyflower, you are ready for an apprentice. You will mentor Thrashpaw." Swiftstar went on, "My StarClan guide you all, and may the knowledge of your mentors lead you to the path of your own destiny." Thrashpaw touched noses with Skyflower. And the crowd roared, "Thrashpaw, Stealthpaw, Amberpaw!"