Hey guys. So I've been hiatus but I'm back and reestablishing my enjoy.
1
The leaves trembled as the winds of leaf-bare coursed silently through them. As the winds brushed through the lush forest, they stirred a sleeping cat's fur. He wiggled his nose as a leaf broke and brushed gently over it. He sat up and stretched, shivering and fluffing up his long gray fur. The cat yawned and opened his yellow eyes, his head still clouded with sleep. Frozenstar walked to the front of the small cove of his den and looked past the brambles that shielded it from the camp. He sighed and looked back at his sleeping mate, Lilyfire and purred before padding silently out into the camp stretched before him. He sat outside his den and looked up at the treetops overlooking the camp, swishing gently. He licked his messy chest fur and watched as the camp was bathed in the milky dawn light.
Frozenstar stopped washing when he saw the clan's Medicinecat sitting outside her den, washing her ears. The black, white spotted she-cat beckoned Frozenstar over with a flick of her speckled tail. He sat beside her and looked up at the disappearing stars and mewed, "Greetings Starsky." She looked at him with dark blue eyes still gleaming of stars. The smell of fragrant herbs hung around her like an extra pelt. Though Starsky was gentle and a great medicine cat she did seem to have that sharp tongue. She spoke to him in a wistful, low mew, "Good morning Frozenstar. This day shall be a solemn one. Excuse me, I must go back to my den and wake that apprentice of mine." She stood up and shook her short fur and turned back to her den, her tail flicking behind her.
He stared after her, his ears flicking in slight annoyance. Starsky had always been brisk and sharp tongued, but today the deeply respected she-cat seemed more distant and off than usual. Frozenstar shrugged his shoulders. Must be some odd Starclan thing, he thought as he made his way to the warriors den. The gray tom poked his head through the bramble den and located his best friend and clan deputy, Willowfur curled beside Grazefoot and Sunbreeze, two senior warriors. He picked his way amongst the sleeping warriors and nudged the white, gray-patched tom, whispering, "Willowfur…wake up please." The deputy flicked his dark ears and flicked open one amber eye and hissed, "What in Starclan's grace do you want Frozenstar? Its early dawn!" the tom tried to curl back in his nest but Frozenstar flicked his fluffy tail over his tired friend's nose and whispered, "Do you forget old friend that you are clan deputy?" Willowfur sighed and slowly got to his paws, stretching his lithe body, his ears still flicking in annoyance.
"Great Starclan, Frozenstar you always are up this early. Perhaps you should've stayed in your nest with Lilyfire." Willowfur mewed as he followed his leader out of the den. Frozenstar purred, "If I had, Willowfur, the patrols would've never gotten done until sun-high." Willowfur growled playfully and nudged Frozenstar. Frozenstar purred again. He and Willowfur had been friends since they were kits, Frozenstar only two days older than his loyal deputy. Willowfur sat outside his den and gave his chest fur a few quick licks and then stood to his paws, shaking his head, "Well I best stop being a lazy mouse and get the dawn patrol out and some hunting patrols busy. See you later Frozenstar." He flicked his tail at his leader and turned back into the warriors den, whispering tired warriors names and making them stir from their nests.
Frozenstar got to his paws and went to the fresh-kill pile, picking out a small mouse for him and Lilyfire. He then padded back to his den, the mouse safely tucked in his gray jaws. He walked through the bramble screen to see Lilyfire sitting up in the mossy nest licking her tortoiseshell and tabby fur. She stopped licking as soon as his scent told her, that she wasn't just with their small kit safely tucked by her belly, anymore. She purred in greeting, her green eyes sparkling with moons of love. She nodded her head and mewed softly, "Hello Frozenstar." She got up and padded over to him, touching noses with him. She smelled of milk and her familiar scent that made Frozenstar slightly dizzy and purred lovingly. "How is our young Sandkit?" He asked, glancing at the tiny, sandy brown shape mewing softly in the mossy nest at the corner of his den.
Lilyfire looked at him, her eyes starting to cloud with worry. She glanced at Sandkit before meowing softly, "Well Starsky said she was lucky to pull through the cold night, considering how small and sickly she is. But Frozenstar I'm still afraid she won't make it like our first kit. I mean we've had such bad luck it's like Starclan wishes us no surviving kits." She sighed and nuzzled closer to him. Frozenstar scooted closer to his mate and said quietly, "Perhaps our luck will change." They met each other's gazes, both looking a little more reassured. Lilyfire suddenly broke away and snatched up the mouse Frozenstar had brought and purred, "I knew I smelled mouse. I'm starving" He watched her take the mouse and settle back down beside Sandkit, munching hungrily at the small morsel. He sat by the entrance, starting to hear the camp begin to buzz with activity. What if I'm wrong? Please Starclan; don't let us loose another kit. He thought before padding back out of his den, his appetite not as big as before.
He saw the elders were as recovered as Willowfur for losing Thunderheart, an old clan elder and Willowfur's father, who had died from green-cough only a moon ago. He nodded to them before meeting the Medicine cat's apprentice, Solarpaw by the fresh-kill pile. The weird tom with odd yellow tabby markings and wide gleaming green eyes glanced at Frozenstar as he tried to find something in what was left of the fresh-kill and said in a deep, raspy mew, "Greetings Frozenstar…is there something I can help you with?" Frozenstar tried not to be spooked by the tom's odd green eyes and mewed, "Tell Starsky that I'd like her in my den before moon-high tonight please." The white tom nodded deeply before plucking two small shrews from the pile and whisking back to his den.
Frozenstar watched him leave then turned and padded to where Willowfur was sitting with a newly warriored ginger tom, Flamecloud. Frozenstar suddenly remembered Flamecloud's mother Orangefeather, who had died defending her clan against Iceclan only four moons ago. He knew how much it had hit the clan and Flamecloud and his littermates and shuddered at how precious all his warriors were. He nodded to both of the cats then beckoned Willowfur to him. Willowfur flicked his ears at Flamecloud and padded towards Frozenstar. Frozenstar dipped his head at the patched deputy before saying, "Willowfur. I need you to lead the next border patrol for signs of Iceclan. I smelled them by our shared border with them and I'm curious to know if any of their warriors are trespassing on our land again."
Willowfur looked at him in dismay, but he nodded and beckoned young Flamecloud to follow him through to the bramble tunnel. Frozenstar spotted Grazefoot, a senior warrior and one of the biggest cats Frozenstar ever saw. The warrior padded slowly towards him, with his usual slight limp since he had been born without a left claw. He dipped his big tabby brown head to Frozenstar when he met him in the clearing and mewed anxiously, "Frozenstar. I've got grave news to report from my night watch last night." His yellow gaze seemed trouble and Frozenstar nodded his head, pressing the warrior on, "I suppose it's not as bothersome as I'd think but perhaps we should look into it Frozenstar. I've smelled rogues inside our territory and the scent seems to have moved closer around the camp. I fear for the clan. But I may have confused the scent with some harmless kittypet's but I still worry."
Frozenstar tried to make his fur lie flat along his spine but the fear that his clan might be in danger spooked him. He nodded to the waiting Grazefoot, "I trust your judgment and your nose, Grazefoot. You and two other warriors go and investigate where you find the scents. If the scent is still around, stale or fresh, report back to Willowfur and tell him to warn other patrols that rouges may be inside our territory. And Grazefoot if you happen to find danger, fight if necessary but only if necessary" He told the tabby warrior with a stern, warning gaze and Grazefoot nodded, letting the tom go with a flick of his tail.
He turned and padded to the fresh-kill pile, which held scrappy bits of prey and he hoped that Willowfur had sent out extra hunting patrols to restock the pile. He looked up at the sky and prayed that leaf-bare would soon end. He turned back and padded silently to his den. Inside the cave, Lilyfire still slept, Sandkit curled around her belly, each shaky breath from the kit seemed too much for her. Frozenstar watched her, his yellow eyes worried for his kit. Lilyfire seemed to sense him and opened her eyes, groaning as the pale leaf-bare sun began peeking through the bramble screen. Frozenstar purred, "Seems you have slept through half the patrols already." Lilyfire growled playfully and rolled her green eyes, "You stupid furball…I kitted last night, I'm tired and weak. What do you expect? "
Frozenstar purred, "I was only joking. How is Sandkit by the way? " Lilyfire's cheerful gaze suddenly evaporated and was replaced with deep worry. "She is weaker than ever…Starsky feels she won't make it through the day. I'm going to lay with her…watch over her" Lilyfire explained in a croaky mew. Frozenstar licked her ear but didn't say anything. What can I say? Frozenstar nuzzled his mate before walking towards the front of the den saying, "I'll be out hunting…send someone out if things turn for the worst" he mewed before padding out, not wanting to look at the look of terror on his mate's face.
As he made his way out of the bramble wall, he saw a border patrol already heading into the undergrowth, their tails the last thing he saw before heading deeper into the forest. He padded quietly through the cold, gray trees, hearing the soft breeze billow through his gray pelt. He froze when he saw a small vole scuttling along the roots of Talltree. Frozenstar immediately dropped into the hunter's crouch; keeping quiet and still, the vole not even looking up from its food scavenge. Frozenstar breathed deeply one last time before launching onto the vole. The vole didn't have a chance to hurry and way and he killed it swiftly. He silently gave thanks to Starclan and scraped dirt over the tiny, brown body and headed deeper into the woods.
As he made his way through the tall trees, he smelled something, not the smell of prey but the smell of…Cat! Frozenstar froze where he stood and brought his eyes around the trees, trying to search for a pelt. He sniffed more closely and didn't recognize it as clan scent but the smell of carrion and dirt. He wrinkled his nose in disgust and followed the scent; ears alert for danger and keeping his paws quiet and steady he padded forward, looking around for signs of intruders. This must be the scent Grazefoot picked up last night! Frozenstar thought angrily.
Suddenly he heard a faint mew in a small clearing up ahead and he ducked his head and stalked the sound, his ears straining to hear what the cats could be talking about. As he stalked closer, he saw three large cats, the scent of rouge shrouding their pelts like cobweb. They seemed to be in a deep discussion of some sort, Frozenstar got as close as he could without being detected. He wouldn't dare take on three cats alone and wished he had taken a patrol with him. He was thankful for the slushy snow to camouflage him and listened closely. One of the cats, black with an odd gray stripe going down his back, seemed to be the leader by the way the other two cats cowered before him. Frozenstar looked on, unable to do anything.
A dark brown tom with fur missing from one of his shoulders was shaking, his fear scent nearly masking his rouge stench, the other gray tabby tom was less scared of the leading cat, but his black ear kept twitching each time the leader spoke. Frozenstar twitched his nose angrily, what in starclan's name are those mange-pelts up to? The brown tom seemed to tremble even more as he spoke up, "But Steel why must we try and mess with these cats? I mean they sound monstrous compared to us!" Frozenstar stiffened as the shaky tom spoke; they are talking about the clans!
The black tom spoke, annoyance covering his jagged voice, "Nonsense Long-shadow! They sound soft to me. Nothing but spineless, soft kittypet's. I could kill them all singe pawed! Don't be fox-hearts." His fierce green gaze raked across both of the other toms, who were unable to meet his green gaze. Frozenstar hissed softly at Steel's offending words and wished he could rip his ears off. The tom with the black ear croaked up, finally meeting Steel's gaze, "Steel I agree with Long-shadow. I mean there are only three of us and at least thousands of those forest cats. Who's to say they won't kill us before we even step up to them. We've already insulted them by lounging in their territory. Why don't we just stop this nonsense and go somewhere else?"
Steel hissed and shook his head, sniffing the air. He suddenly froze; his eyes strayed until they focused on Frozenstar's watchful, yellow gaze. Frozenstar breathed in sharply, waiting for the black tom to attack, but the tom simply glared at Frozenstar through the snow covered brambles as if sending a warning. Steel turned back to his companions and said, "Let's get back to twoleg place and discuss this more…privately." And headed past the two relieved rouges and they followed him excitedly, without hesitation through the thick brambles.
Frozenstar stood up with his head swimming with confusion and fear. He wanted to know what danger lay ahead for his clan but new the answers to things were never easy to find. He sighed and headed back to hunting as he was before. But the rest of his hunt wasn't successful. His thoughts were troubled by what the rouges had been talking about. Attacking the clans! Let them try! He thought fiercely, trying to reassure himself but his thoughts still troubled him. As he headed back to camp he carried what prey he could manage in his jaws. The vole and two sparrows hung limply, already freezing from the frosty air. He pushed through the bramble wall and set his prey onto to the small fresh-kill pile, hoping the hunting parties brought more than what he could get.
As he turned around, he saw the young queen, Birdflight, waddling heavily towards him. The queen seemed troubled when she finally reached him. When she caught her breath she spoke, her gentle mew shaky in the leaf-bare winds, "Frozenstar. The nursery needs repairing. The winds have been so brutal that a hole is forming in the wall of the den. Wolfblaze is beginning to cough and we all fear for ours, as well as the kits, safety." When the queen had finished speaking, Frozenstar flicked his tail to two of Flamecloud's litter mates, Ambereyes and Blazedfur. They two young cats hurried to him, eyes gleaming with something to do finally. "I want you two to go find some bracken and thorns and anything else to patch up a hole in the nursery wall and make sure its tightly secure so that we don't get any more cats sick this leaf-bare. Do both of you understand?" he mewed briskly to the two warriors who nodded fiercely before pelting towards the bramble tunnel to find their supply.
Birdflight nodded her thanks and waddled quickly back to the warriors den. Willowfur suddenly burst through the tunnel and hurried over to Frozenstar, his eyes wild with worry and anger. "Frozenstar! It's about the rouge scent Grazefoot had scented earlier! The border patrol I had lead scented them by the border near Two-leg place. It's faint but it was their! We are worried about the clan's safety." The patched deputy shifted his paws restlessly in front of him. Frozenstar glanced around the camp to see curious eyes starting to gather around him and Willowfur. Frozenstar padded over and jumped onto Highstump and yowled fiercely, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join me by the high stump for a clan gathering!"
The rest of the clan rushed over and looked up, all had curious, confused looks on their faces. "Willowfur has just given me some grave news. He has reported that a group of rouges have been scented by our borders. And earlier today as I was hunting, I smelled to same scent. I went to investigate and saw three rouges talking in a clearing, they were plotting to attack all four of the clans!" He listened as all the cats yowled angrily at the news. Sunbreeze, a senior warrior, yowled loudest among the rest, "Rouges! On our territory! Frozenstar we should shred them!" The rest of the clan yowled in agreement. He finally spoke when the clan was quiet again. "Listen to me. I will be keeping a watchful eye on these cats." He paused and looked at Willowfur and nodded, "Willowfur, I want you to double the border patrols and I want a double watch at night. Is that clear?" Willowfur nodded solemnly at his clan leader, his claws digging into the soft ground.
Frozenstar swept his gaze around the clan before jumping down and started to head for his den, darkness beginning to cover the camp, but suddenly he felt a tail sweep over his shoulder. He turned to see his medicine cat standing in front of him, her dark blue eyes wide and alert. "A message from Starclan!" She hissed, her black specked tail lashing through the evening air. She hunched over and looked up at Frozenstar, her mew low and haunting, "A leaf will go onto the winds of greatness, but it will be stopped in the wind by the blazing fire, and danger will haunt it's less than flawless journey"
So to anyone who's read this before, I'm so sorry for being gone. To new readers I hope you enjoyed.