OMG I am soooo sorry everyone that I haven't been updating! I have been crazy busy! (That and I had four teeth pulled) Well I shall start the story now so that you may continue. Also I shall be willing to post the names of the three other clans and their leaders, deputy's and such then I will. And I will be willing to answer any questions you have about the story since it is placed in the future! Enjoy the next chapter! :3
The rise of Marshstar
Chapter 2
Quakestar twitched in his nest, deep in a dream. He only just closed his eyes when he opened them to Starclan forest. Great Starclan! He thought. Have I passed on or what? I still have five lives left. He began to pad wearily along the trails of glittering green grass and under the giant shimming oaks and birches. He felt the eyes of his ancestors watch him closely, but they refused to come out of hiding. Quakestar growled nervously and quickened his pace. Soon he raced through the shimmering brush and halted in front of a glowing pool of water. He twitched his ears and glanced around the pool. Suddenly a massive gust of wind lashed through the clearing, nearly knocking him off his feet. He yelped in surprise and dug his claws into the earth. Starry figures formed all around him.
"Briarstar…" He whispered as the first figure stepped forward. The cat's fur was thick and was the color of bark. His tail looked like a plume of feathers. He dipped his head in greeting to Quakestar. He opened his mouth and began to speak.
"Quakestar, the past leaders of Skyclan and I have decided that you will take on an apprentice." Quakestar pricked his ears and opened his mouth in protest but Briarstar silenced him with the flick of his tail. "We will have nothing of it. You will have an apprentice." He growled.
"Who should I apprentice then?" Quakestar leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. Another starry figure stepped forward and dipped her head in greeting. Quakestar's eyes widened in surprise. "Leafstar…" He mewed. "It has been awhile." He quickly dipped his head in respect for the past leader of Skyclan.
"Greetings Quakestar. I want you to apprentice my kin, Marshkit. He will be one of the greatest leaders Skyclan will have ever known. You must help him." She stared at him, looking deeply into his eyes. He took a step back and shook his head.
"Are you sure?" He rasped. Leafstar tipped her head in question. "I mean Thistlekit is more outgoing and would be fit for the job-" Leafstar leaped forward, she was a whiskers length away from Quakestar.
"No! Not Thistlekit! He is too ambitious! He will destroy Skyclan along with the other clans as well! He wished for power not peace!" She spat at Quakestar. He reeled back in surprised. "We had a vision! There were to forests! One where there was darkness, covered in Thistles and the other was a forest bathed in light with the floors of marsh. Marshkit is the one! The forest of light shall rise and choke out the forest of darkness." Leafstar yowled. The stars swirled around Quakestar and he struggled for footing. He dug his claws deep into the earth. Wind ripped at his fur and his claws were torn from the earth. He flew backwards. Panic rose from within as he tried to grab onto something. He gasped in pain as a force slammed into him. He awoke in his nest. He gasped for breath and slowly rose from where he laid. He stretched each muscle in turn. He felt like he had been hit by a bolder.
"I have to Treeheart." He murmured to himself. He slowly padded out of the cave which was the leaders den. Expertly he leaped down and jogged to the medicine den. Poking his nose in he whispered the words, "Treeheart" and a golden tabby with brown markings leaned out to greet him.
"Quakestar! What is the matter old friend?" Treeheart mewed tipping his head in surprise.
"Starclan." Quakestar hissed. Treeheart nodded and padded out of the den. His footsteps where nearly soundless as he lead Quakestar to the whispering cave. Quakestar treaded lightly around the stream and slid next to the wall of moss that glowed dimly in the cave. Treeheart sat on the other side of the stream.
"Well?" he prompted. Quakestar flicked his ears toward the entrance, listening for any other cats that could be walking by. Confirming that no one was outside he took a deep breath. "I was visited by Starclan last night." He blurted out. Treeheart narrowed his eyes in interest.
"Who did you see?" he pressed. Visits from Starclan were a very serious matter and must be treated as such. "Second of all, what did they tell you?" Quakestar twitched his ears.
"I saw the past leaders of Skyclan, including Briarstar, and Leafstar. They told me "The forest of light shall rise and choke out the forest of darkness." They said that Marshkit will be one of the greatest leaders ever to exist. They said I should make him my apprentice. Should I?"
"I would think so. You were a great mentor to Freezefang and Swiftfoot. What could go wrong?" Treeheart said with enthusiasm. Quakestar dipped his head.
"With all due respect Treeheart, you must remember that was before I became leader, and I AM blind." Quakestar reminded him. Treeheart snorted and leaned close.
"Oh come now Quakestar! You trained Freezefang and Swiftfoot so well that they can hunt in night and day, they can fight anywhere too. You will be a great mentor." Treeheart encourage. Quakestar nodded and gave a sigh. "He reminds you of her doesn't he? Quakestar, you can't change what happened. She died for a good cause. Take Marshkit as your apprentice." Treeheart's tail tip brushed Quakestar's shoulder. Quakestar nodded and stood.
"Your right, I think Marshkit will make a good apprentice. Besides, I can't go against the will of Starclan." Quakestar purred. He strolled out of the cave. Treeheart watched him go. His leader seemed happy, but he knew it was to mask the hurt that dwelled deep inside him.
Quakestar padded over to the rock pile, sniffing around to see where his deputy Lightheart was. He picked up his scent and found him sniffing around the freshkill pile. "Lightheart. Don't send out the patrols yet. It's time that three kits become apprentices." Lightheart nodded his head and picked a mouse from the pile. Quakestar found that most of the clan was in the clearing waiting for patrols. Quakestar leaped up onto the Rock pile and began to speak.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Rock pile for a clan meeting." Marshkit pricked his ears as he heard Quakestar say those words. It's time! Thought Marshkit. He turned his head and glanced at Thistlekit and Shallowkit.
"Now you will walk out there like sensible apprentices. No running." Mewed Rosefur who had caught Thistlekit trying to run out of the nursery. Marshkit twitched his ears and flicked them toward the Rock pile. "Alright, let's go, NO RUNNING." Scolded Rosefur. Thistlekit hissed with annoyance. Marshkit padded out quickly and took a seat beside his father.
"Listen to your mentor carefully, and treat him with respect." A voice whispered. Marshkit nodded to himself. Rumblefoot was bent down and whispered into Marshkit's ear.
"I want you to know I'm proud of you." He mewed; Marshkit glanced at Rumblefoot and purred.
"I'll do my best." Marshkit mewed. Rumblefoot nodded happily and turned to face Quakestar who was beginning to speak.
"I gather you here today because three kits have turned six moons old. Thus they shall be made apprentices." Grinning Quakestar continued. "Thistlekit, Shallowkit, Marshkit! Step forward." Marshkit padded up to the base of the Rockpile. His fur felt hot and he was nervous. "Shallowkit!" Shallowkit's ears shot up in surprise. "From this moment on you shall be known as Shallowpaw. Smokefur, your knowledge of hunting skills makes you the perfect mentor for Shallowpaw. Train him well." Smokefur dipped his head and padded forward, touching noses with his apprentice Shallowpaw. Then Quakestar turned to Thistlekit. "Thistlekit, from this moment on you shall be known as Thistlepaw." Thistlepaw's eyes widened in anticipation, he so dearly wanted to have Quakestar as his mentor. "Inkheart, your skills in battle proved you to be the perfect mentor for Thistlepaw." Thistlepaw's eyes widened in shock, but he stepped forward and touched noses with Inkheart anyways. Marshkit wasn't all that surprised that he didn't get Quakestar. "Marshkit." Quakestar mewed, Marshkit glanced up at him. It was Marshkit's turn to become an apprentice. Who will be my mentor? Marshkit wondered. "From this moment on you shall be known as Marshpaw." Quakestar mewed, leaping down from the Rockpile. "And you shall be my apprentice." Marshpaw's eyes widened with surprise. He leaned forward and touched noses with Quakestar. The clan cheered for the new apprentices. Rumblefoot and Rosefur cheered the loudest. Shallowpaw dashed over to Marshpaw.
"Congrats on getting Quakestar! I already like my mentor Smokefur!" Shallowpaw squeaked. Marshpaw purred and nuzzled his brothers ear.
"That's good to know. I wonder if Thistlepaw likes his mentor. Inkheart was the perfect choice for him!" Deep down though Marshpaw knew that his was glaring at him, his amber eyes burning holes in his pelt. Marshpaw turned and looked at Thistlepaw. What he saw scared him. His brother's eyes were full of hatred.
"You will have many enemies young one, but be strong and you make it through." The voice whispered in his ear. His heart pounded in anticipation. "Trust me when I say this, Thistlepaw will never be your ally. Never trust him." Marshpaw took a pace back. As he watched his brother blood pooled from his brothers paws, covering the ground. Black trees sprouted from the ground and slimy grass grew beneath them. And hanging from the trees, where thistle's, holding dead cats. Great Starclan! This is a NIGHTMARE!