Chapter #1 – Play with fire
Okay so this is only the first chapter please R&R so I know if you want me to write more. Hope
You like it!
The soft trickling of a stream, and the sound a frog and a cricket off in the distance were the peaceful noises of twilight, along with hooting of owls in the trees. The stars never shown so bright like they had now, far away jewels representing warrior ancestors long before their time as they dazzled Silverpelt. The grass wavered in the fields, outlined in a starry silver light as a warm breeze ruffled through.
A smoky gray she-cat with darker splotches was making her way toward a stone hollow, filled with scents of many cats. The she-cat was small; her fur was rather short and her eyes unusually blue.
"Cricketpaw," A dark red tom meowed, padding up beside the she-cat. "Your father scent me to look for you. Where have you been? I looked for you everywhere!"
Cricketpaw said nothing, just brushed past the tom making her way to the stone caverns entrance. The she-cats fur was slightly standing on end in the dark air, dimly lit by the stars. "I want to talk to you, you cannot just walk away." The tom rasped, stalking up to her side and nudging her away from the camp entrance. "Where were you?"
The she-cat looked the tom straight on, her eyes cold and angry, "You're not ThunderClan's leader, I don't have to listen to you, or do as you say." Sarcasm pinched her voice as she swatted him aside with her tail. "You'll never be a leader." She added growling before pelting making her way back toward the camp exit.
"Where have you been?" She lifted her head to see the worried look on her fathers face as she crept down into the hollow. "I thought you'd ran away, and I'd never see you again."
The blue/gray tom was sitting in front of her; he was completely still except for his hot breath on her head and his fur bristling.
"I'm here now, and that's all that matters." She meowed, brushing her pelt against her fathers. "I was only exploring the territory anyway, now that I'm apprenticed I have to know my territory well!"
"Nice try small one, but that isn't going to work on your leader." The tom meowed. "Now what really happened?"
Cricketpaw swallowed carefully, facing her leaders burning amber eyes. "I'll tell you later, when not everyone is listening." She flicked her tail toward the cats that were starting to surround them. "Alright!" The tom nodded. "But what about Weaselpaw, he's looking for you out there."
Before she could reply the red tom was emerging into the stone hollow, his dark ginger pelt standing out in the dark. "Oh good, she came back!" He meowed hesitantly, flashing her a look to go along as if nothing had happened.
"Found me, you must all be mouse-brained, was I lost?"
She suddenly felt embarrassed as the Clan cats started murmuring amongst themselves, saying things like 'what is she talking about?' and 'I thought it was already explained to her that we all though she had ran away?'
"Er… well anyway I'd like to hold a Clan meeting." Her father meowed, climbing to the top of the High-ledge. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the high-ledge for a Clan meeting."
No one needed to move, everyone was already gathered around the High-ledge and now were looking up at their leader with hungry eyes, eager to hear what he was about to say.
"I must apologies, I was so caught up in finding Cricketpaw I forgot to organize the dusk patrol and the dawn patrol for the morning." He yowled, his gray pelt turning silver in the dappled moonlight screening through the bramble thickets that shadowed their camp.
"I think Toadpelt, Scartail and Tanglepaw are fit for a patrol over night," The tom purred, while three chosen toms made their way toward the entrance to their dens. "Before you go to rest until dusk, please stay for the rest of the meeting,"
The tomcats nodded, sitting down where they were.
"Icepool, Poppyleaf and Birchfall can go on the hunting patrol tomorrow as well as Foxbelly, Snowbird and Brambleclaw can go on the dawn patrol tomorrow, Snowbird will be leading the patrol, Scartail for the dusk patrol and Birchfall for the hunting." Her father meowed, his eyes gleaming as he watched over his Clan. "That's all, you may go back to your duties."
Cricketpaw watched as her mother padded up to stand beside her father, pricking her ears she waited to hear what they were saying. "It's a beautiful night isn't it, Rippedstar?" Her mother meowed, pressing her light golden yellow pelt against her fathers. "I'm so glad Cricketpaw came back, she had me so worried. Weren't you worried? That she had ran off." He purred, the wind rubbing against their pelts.
"Of course I was, but I knew she'd never stray to far."
"I didn't know that, I don't know anything about her. I never talk to her barely anymore, StarClan must be upset with me, I feel as though I'm ignoring my daughter." Rippedstar meowed. "It's a good thing she has you, Dustpool, otherwise she'd be one sad cat."
Her mother let out a purr of amusement, resting her tail on her fathers shoulder, "You think I'm the one who sorts out all her problems? It's you, you're her hero I'm just the one she comes to when you're not around."
"Exactly, I'm never around. I'm always sorting out new patrols, and busy keeping my Clan in order while I'm letting Cricketpaw fall through the cracks." Rippedstar retorted, sorrow in his voice. "I feel so bad, I haven't been a very good father."
Cricketpaw's heart throbbed, she wished she could tell her father that she didn't feel as though she was being ignored, but something was holding her back, keeping her sitting hidden behind a wall of brambles.
"You've got bees in your brain, Rippedstar. But if you really feel as though you're neglecting to spend time with her then why not appoint a deputy. Larchfur isn't coming back, he's somewhere far away, he's dead Rippedstar." Dustpool meowed.
Cricketpaw couldn't help but remember how a hawk had carried off Larchfur, her father had been sent a sign that the tom was still alive but he still hadn't returned home. All the Clan cats were starting to feel as though they were weaker then the other Clans without a deputy, but her father still argued Larchfur would return. By appointing a new deputy her father wouldn't have to carry on with the duties of a leader and a deputy.
"But I know he's out there, and is journeying back here. Larchfur wouldn't give up that easily." Rippedstar retorted. "I mean, do you really think he's dead?"
"Look I miss Larchfur just as much as you do, but ThunderClan needs a deputy, and you need to pick one before moon high, which is soon." Dustpool purred, flicking her tail toward the moon, which was more then half way up the pitch-black sky. "But Larchfur will always be the only tom I feel safe with as my deputy, he's the strongest tom in the Clan, nevermind the fact he's a great hunter and the best friend any cat could ever dream of having!" Rippedstar argued, his neck fur bristling. "What about Larchfur's son, he's the next closest thing to his father, and Graythroat had had an apprentice, he the biggest tom in the Clan now and he may be young but he's more then ready to be deputy." Dustpool suggested.
"Graythroat? But he looks nothing like his father except for his size; he's a clown of his mother. He doesn't even have his fathers fighting or hunting skills!"
"Don't be so harsh, Graythroat is an extremely skilled fighter." Her mother retorted. "But if you don't agree with me then out of these five cats; Scartail, Birchfall, Foxbelly, Brambleclaw and Pineclaw who would you choose to be deputy?"
"Well I guess I'd choose… Birchfall to be deputy. He's still quite young as has many moons ahead of him, and he was my apprentice." Rippedstar meowed. "He has had apprentice too."
Dustpool flicked her tail with amusement. "Well you think about while resting, maybe StarClan can tell you who to choose."
Cricketpaw watched as Rippedstar and Dustpool padded into their den, their tails entwined and pelts pressed together tightly.
She longed to be sleeping in her nest, close beside the warmth of Weaselpaw and Tanglepaw, but she couldn't summon the energy to get there.
After what seemed like a few heartbeats but was really much longer she hauled herself to her paws and drug toward the entrance of the apprentices' den. Creeping down the narrow path into the hollow, she looked for the familiar dark red fur of Weaselpaw and the black, white and gray tortoiseshell patterned fur of Tanglepaw. She found the two toms lying near the back of the den, one on each side of her nest of moss.
Padding toward the mossy bed, she looked over the shapes of her den mates, the steady breathing of all several cats told her they were all asleep. Settling down in her nest, her tucked her paws beneath her before wrapping her tail up around her nose as the frosty coldness of the night caught her nose.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the High-ledge for a Clan meeting!" She lifted her head to hear her fathers yowl ring through the camp. It was still dark out; the stars still twinkled in Silverpelt as she lazily wriggled out of her nest.
She could feel Weaselpaw beside her, his bristly fur brushing against hers slightly, while Tanglepaw was behind her, his hot breath on her flank as they emerged into the clearing.
Rippedstar's amber eyes glared in the moonlight as waited for the restless cats to circle around the High-ledge.
"It is time for ThunderClan to appoint a new deputy in Larchfur's place," He yowled, but before he could say any more murmurs broke loose, the silent clearing was now filled with meows and confusion. "Silence!" Dustpool hissed from where she sat at the bottom of the ledge.
The cats stopped talking after a few heartbeats and Rippedstar began, his gaze traveling through the warriors, apprentices, queens and elders. "I say this before StarClan, so that the spirits of our ancestors, and Larchfur's spirit, wherever he may be, to hear and approve my choice.
Ashtail will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."
The cats all turned their heads to see the black she-cats face; her eyes were lit with shock as she cleared her throat. "I will not let you down, Rippedstar!"
"Ashtail, Ashtail!" The Clan hollered after several heartbeats of shocked silence.
She pricked her ears to hear her mother whisper something in her fathers ears, "You made a good choice, Rippedstar." Dustpool purred, nuzzling Rippedstar's flank.
After the noise had died down she padded up toward Tanglepaw, the tom was just making his way toward the apprentices' den. "So you must be happy, your mother is deputy!" She purred. "You must be happy, your father is leader!" The tom meowed sarcastically. "What's your point, why aren't you happy that your mother is ThunderClan's deputy?"
"The same reason your not happy that she's ThunderClan's deputy, don't play stupid Cricketpaw. You and I both know she's half ShadowClan, the only reason Rippedstar picked her is so she wouln't feel left out, you saw the look on the other cats faces. They were star struck!" Tanglepaw hissed, flopping down on his nest.
"So, be happy for her. The only reason I'm not happy for my father being leader is because he was appointed leader before I was born, sure I'm happy but the excitement has moved on, it's normal now." She retorted, lying down beside the tom.
"Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow." Tanglepaw growled before shutting his eyes. "Good night." She sighed exasperatedly.
Cricketpaw was emerging from the apprentices' den the following dawn; she inhaled the cool but warm fresh air. She watched through squinted eyes as Tanglepaw padded up to his mother with a grim look on his splotched face.
"Good morning, Cricketpaw!" She turned to see her father and Graythroat making their way toward her, both with fresh-kill dangling from their muzzles. "Morning, father… Graythroat." She meowed, dipping her head to her leader. "I was hoping you wouldn't mind going on the evening patrol with Graythroat and Ashtail?" Rippedstar purred, setting down his plump newleaf mouse at his paws. "No, of course not, sounds promising." She meowed, flicking her tail in amusement. "Great. Oh the dawn patrol is back, I have to go see what they have to report." Rippedstar replied. But before her father could reach the patrol, Ashtail had already greeted them and was listening to what they had found.
She couldn't help but notice that disappointed look on her fathers face as he watched Ashtail take over his duties. "You'll get use to the extra help." She purred, trying to comfort her father. "I hope so, I would feel differently if had of been Larchfur greeting the dawn patrol, but Ashtail will be different." Rippedstar sighed before brushing past her to join Ashtail.
The sun was hovering over the mountains where the Tribe lived, white snow tipping the ends points; misty clouds were beginning to fade away as the sun was soaking through the clouds. The oak, maple, ash, beech and poplar trees that surrounded the outside of their camp were budding with tiny leaf buds just waiting to sprout.
The warm sun was soaking through her pelt as she searched for the familiar morning dove that usually soared over their camp at this time, but it's white feathers and easy glide were no where to be seen in the bright orange sky this morning. Instead she caught sight of a crow, circling overhead, she guessed it had spotted a mouse.
Cricketpaw bounding through the forest, searching for anything new and interesting. Her paws tingled with anticipation at the familiar scents of prey as newleaf made its way toward their home, everyday it was getting warmer and prey was more plentiful while the worries of greencough and blackcough were gone with leaf-bare.
Her paws had led her to the border that separated ThunderClan from ShadowClan, her nose wrinkled at the smell of the ShadowClan cats. Cricketpaw started to veer of in the opposite direction when the sound of rustling in the bushes behind her startled her. She whipped around, her eyes meeting the golden amber ones of a ShadowClan apprentice.
"You're awfully close to the border, don't you think, Cricketpaw?" The flame colored pelt of the tom bristled, Cricketpaw had meant him a few times at gatherings. He wasn't nice, and his personality was bitter. "I was going to turn back when I heard you spying on me." She spat, clawing at the earth beneath her. "Spying, I'm doing my job." He retorted, leaning in to challenge her. "Job, your job is to spy on me?" She growled, leaning in toward him, challenging him back. The two cats were so close their noses were touching, both wrinkled up with hatred while their eyes burned. "Ha, my job is making sure trespassers like you don't walk on ShadowClan's precious territory!"
"Well that's a mouse-brained job, you must be so useless that Russetstar has to make you watch the border just to keep you out of her way. I mean think about it, you're the only Clan who has an apprentice watching it, how is an apprentice going to jeep a full-grown warrior back? Explain that, Flamepaw?"
The dark ginger tom drew his bottom lip back in a snarl, "Well what has daddy got you doing, anyway? What's he going to do, make you Clan deputy just to make you fell like the Clan wouldn't go on without you?"
"My father follows the warrior code, unlike ShadowClan he would never appoint a deputy that hasn't had an apprentice first." She hissed. "Are you saying ShadowClan don't follow the warrior code?" Flamepaw challenged, pressing his nose tightly against hers so she had to take a step back. "I'm saying you mangy pieces of fox-dung are spoiled, you think everything has to revolve around you! Just so you know, ThunderClan have a deputy so don't even think about launching an attack because if you're part of the attacking patrol, no doubt about it you'll run off with your tail between you legs." Cricketpaw snarled.
Suddenly Flamepaw lifted his front haunches getting ready to spring, but before he could she watched tom slink back in horror as he watched something behind her. Whipping around she faced the massive shape of Graythroat, who stood solidly beside her father, Ashtail and Tanglepaw.
"What are you guys doing here?" She meowed, ducking her head with embarrassment as she met the hostile eyes of her father. "Tanglepaw told me you were close to the ShadowClan border and came back to get me because he knew you wouldn't listen to him." Rippedstar growled, hissing at Flamepaw who was already racing back toward ShadowClan's camp.
She glared at Tanglepaw, anger piercing her heart. "You thought I was going to go on ShadowClan's territory, for what?"
"We figured you were meeting someone." Graythroat replied. "Yeah, someone like Flamepaw." Tanglepaw added, a growl in his voice.
"I didn't plan on meeting anyone, especially not Flamepaw, I swear that by StarClan!"
Rippedstar sighed after holding her gaze steadily for several heartbeats. "I believe you then, Tanglepaw had me so worried you were meeting a ShadowClan tom." The gray tomcat admitted.