Disclaimer: The Warriors series belongs to Erin Hunter. All characters in this story are original characters and belong to their creators.
Allegiances
ThunderClan
Leader
DustStar: Dark Grey She-Cat with white bottom jaw, throat, and forepaw; yellow eyes
Deputy
Redear: White she-cat with one ginger ear; green eyes
Medicine Cat
Harewhisker: Small chocolate tuxedo tom with green eyes
Warriors
Darkstrike: Large solid black tom with grey eyes
Petalpelt: Tortie she-cat with petal shaped ginger patches; yellow eyes
Stripetail:Silver and white tom with a black striped tail; blue eyes
Apprentice: Mothpaw
Jaysong: Sleek blue classic tabby tom; blue eyes
Apprentice: Quailpaw
Foxtooth: Ruddy tom with a bushy tail and one long fang; yellow eyes
Longleap: Long Legged grey she cat with white belly; green eyes
Apprentice: Tigerpaw
Ravenfeather: Small long haired dark grey tom with a white chest; grey eyes
Leafshade: Silver Classic Torbie with White she-cat; blue eyes
Barkfur: Chocolate classic tabby tom with green eyes.
Hopelight: Tortie she-cat with a scar on her right ear; Copper eyes
FrostHawk: Mostly white tome with black and grey patches; Light blue eyes
Flamepetal: Reddish-brown she-cat with black stripes around paws and tail; orange eyes
Dusktail: Dark grey tom with black paws and ears; amber eyes;
Hollyheart: Dark grey classic tabby she-cat whith a white chest;blue eyes
Apprentice: Icepaw
Hazelsky:Small spindly grey she-cat with petal shaped white patches; Hazel eyes
Amberblaze: Ruddy she cat with amber eyes
Whitebreeze: White and grey mackerel tabby she-cat with blue eyes.
Featherdapple: Golden dappled she-cat with light blue eyes
Apprentices
Quailpaw: Brown spotted tabby she-cat with amber eyes
Mothpaw: Brown mackerel tabby tom with yellow eyes and tufted ears
Tigerpaw: Ginger mackerel tabby she-cat with yellow eyes
Icepaw: White tom with light grey stripes and black paws; light blue eyes
Queens
Honeyfrost: Dark cream she-cat with white underside; blue eyes (expecting Darkstrike's kits)
Elders
Juniperpelt: Large solid blue tom with grey eyes
Starlingwing: Solid black long-haired she-cat with blue eyes
ShadowClan
Leader
Sorrelstar: Tortie and white she-cat with amber eyes
Deputy
Owlflight: Brown mackerel tabby tom with darker ears and cream underside; yellow eyes
Medicine Cat
Briarshine: Smokey grey classic tabby she-cat with unruly fur; blue eyes
Warriors
Lightfoot: Light cream spotted tom with green eyes
Thistlewhisker: Dark grey long haired classic tabby tom with curly whiskers
Cherrypatch: Mostly white she-cat with a ginger patch on her back and a ginger striped tail
Apprentice: Eaglepaw
Frostheart: Very pale silver tom with a white chest; blue eyes
Mosseye:Solid grey she-cat with striking green eyes
Beetlenose: Dilute tortie and white she-cat with a black nose and blue eyes
Poppyfoot: Dark brown striped she-cat with copper eyes
Apprentice: Redpaw
Patchface: Tortie she-cat with ginger patches on her face; green eyes
Icestep: Solid grey tom with white paws and blue eyes.
Twopelt: Split brown and ginger Bicolor she-cat with odd blue-green eyes.
Apprentice: Sparrowpaw
Apprentices
Redpaw: Dark ginger she-cat with amber eyes.
Sparrowpaw: Brown she-cat with white muzzle and underside and a darker brown tail; green eyes.
Eaglepaw: Large reddish-brown tom with a white muzzle and paws; yellow eyes.
Queens:
Willowtail: Long-haired slender light grey tabby she-cat; blue eyes (Mother to Lightfoot's kits, Palekit, Stonekit, and Spottedkit)
Applewish: Dark brown classic tabby she-cat with white paws; amber eyes (Expecting Frostheart's kits)
Elders
Whitenose: Small white tom with a black spot on his nose; Blue eyes
Pineclaw: Slender light brown mackerel tabby tom with a white muzzle and claws that don't retract; Amber eyes
Darkleg: Large tan she-cat with dark brown forepaws.
Duststar, Jaysong, and Leafshade trotted along the Shadowclan border, the pungent scent of a recent patrol seemed to cling to every tree, rock and grass blade.
"Can't we just cross the border?" Jaysong asked irritably, "There's only three of us, it's not like we can take on the whole camp."
"No." Duststar replied and stopped to sniff carefully at a scratched tree trunk, the overwhelming scent nearly made her eyes water, they were getting closer. "This is a very delicate matter and we have to be as respectful as possible."
The Thunderclan leader beckoned the two cats onward and increased her pace, several paces later the trio of cats stopped. Just across the twoleg path Duststar spotted three Shadowclan cats, one was a broad brown tabby tom with darker ears and cream underside whom she recognized as being the clan's Deputy.
"Owlflight!" Duststar called and all three cats turned towards her. The three dipped their heads and whispered among themselves before Owlflight walked up to the border signaling with his tail for the others to stay back.
"Duststar, to what do I own the honor of meeting you here today?" the brown tom questioned. His honey smooth voice irritated Duststar to no end, he may have fooled his own leader but she knew of the Deputy's less charming nature.
"I wish to see Sorrelstar, may we have an escort to your camp?" the grey and white she-cat said resisting the strong urge to roll her eyes.
"Can't it wait until the full moon?" Owlflight quipped warily eyeing the blue and silver cats the Thunderclan Leader had brought with her.
"What? You think three cats are gonna take on all of Shadowclan? Are you mou-"
Duststar covered Jaysong's mouth with her tail effectively silencing him, she turned and hissed at the tom and he lowered his head and backpedaled until he fell in line behind Leafshade.
"Please forgive my warrior, he is young and doesn't fully know his place yet." Duststar apologized and shot another annoyed glance at the blue tabby. "What he meant to say is we have an urgent matter that can't wait until the Gathering."
"Very well." Owlflight purred obviously amused at the interaction between the leader and her disciple, the Deputy turned tail and motioned for the cats to follow.
Owlflight lead the trio and the other Shadowclan cats flanked them, the air was thick with tension as the six walked in silence. Leafshade looked to her left, beside her walked another brown tom though his fur bore no markings save for his white muzzle and paws. His stern gaze was fixed firmly ahead of him, his yellow eyes not wavering in the slightest. On her other side was a mostly white she-cat, her snowy coat was only broken by her ginger striped tail and a single ginger patch on her back, her green eyes seemed to want to take in every sight. She seemed friendly enough.
Leafshade turned her head slightly towards the Shadowclan she-cat, "Hi, I'm Leafshade, and the tom behind me is Jaysong."
"I'm Cherrypatch," the she-cat chirped not missing a beat "And that's Eaglepaw, he's my apprentice." She finished flicking her tail to the brown tom at Leafshade's side.
"Apprentice!" Leafshade balked looking back at Eaglepaw, he was nearly twice her size and four times the size of any of Thunderclans apprentices. "An apprentice, but hes huge!" Leafshade whispered back to Cherrypatch, her eyes wide, she wondered how many more jumbo 'paws they had at the camp.
"Yeah" Cherrypatch responded dropping her voice to match Leafshade's "You didn't hear it from me but he's been an apprentice for five seasons, he can't pass his warrior assessment. His first mentor gave up on him and I'm the only one who would train him. He's a nice tom though, he would make a great mate but no one wants to be seen with a 'paw."
Leafshade glanced over at Eaglepaw with a feeling of pity, most apprentices were warriors by the end of two seasons, three if the apprentice struggled a bit with their training, but five? He must have seen kits being born, apprenticed, and given their own warrior names all while he was still gathering moss and hunting for ticks.
Leafshade was so lost in thought that she scarcely realized that they had reached the Shadowclan camp until she felt her paws slide down the small slope into the hollow. She felt hot beneath her pelt as all eyes fell on her and her companions, she looked back at Jaysong whom seemed to have the same reaction as he shifted uneasily from side to side.
"Ah, I thought I smelled Thunderclan!" a tortie and white she-cat exclaimed as she crossed the hollow and touched noses with Duststar.
"Sorrelstar! It's always a pleasure to see you although I wish it were on better terms." Duststar said leaning into the Shadowclan leader's touch. It was an ill-kept secret that the to leaders were very close friends, it was even rumored that they were littermates that had been raised in separate clans.
"One of my Queens kitted." Duststar stated, " We welcome three new kits , but we lost Honeyfrost in the process." the Shadowclan leader's face darkened upon mention of the fallen queen. "We've come to ask you if one of your Queens would be willing to suckle her kits for a couple of moons, with your blessing of course.
"My condolences to you and your whole clan. Of course I would give permission for one-"
"Sorrelstar, may I have a word with you please?" Owlflight interrupted stepping in between the two leaders. The brown tabby leaned towards Sorrelstar and whispered in her ear, the Shadowclan leader listened intently and nodded. Owlflight took his place back beside Sorrelstar, his face bore a look of insufferable smugness.
"As I was saying,I would gladly give permission for one of my queens to care for the kits if Shadowclan is granted hunting rights on Thunderclan territory up until the Twoleg path just beyond the Half-Bridge." Sorrelstar said.
Jaysong bristled and Leafshade touched her tail to his shoulder warning him to keep his mouth shut, her own hackles had risen but she knew better than to try to start fight in another clan's camp. The two Thunderclan warriors looked towards their leader anxiously anticipating her response.
"Agreed, I will inform my warriors and we will reset the scent markers at dawn." Duststar said dipping her head in agreement.
"Thank you Duststar, Shadowclan appreciates your generosity." Sorrelstar thanked sincerely and turned to her Deputy. "Please fetch Willowtail and Applewish from the nursery."
The brown tabby nodded and walked away from the group, he disappeared into the nursery and emerged soon after followed by a heavily pregnant reddish-brown tabby. She stretched and shook dried pine needles from her pelt, her swollen belly swayed side to side as she moved. After her came a long-haired light grey she-cat, three kits rushed out of the nursery behind her and she nudged them towards the fresh-kill pile. The queens walked towards their leader, Sorrelstar met them halfway, the Thunderclan Cats followed behind.
"Applewish, Willowtail," Sorrelstar began nodding respectfully to both, "Thunderclan needs a Queen to suckle some kits who's mother has died during her kitting."
"And have my kits be born on Thunderclan territory?" Applewish sneered, her upper lip curled up in disgust. "No thanks." The red-brown tabby turned tail and waddled back to the nursery, a silvery-white tom followed her carrying a mouse in his jaws.
"Please excuse Applewish, she's crankier than ever now that she so close to her kitting" the other queen apologized for her denmate, her voice was soft and warm. "I really wish I could help, my kits are nearly weaned but I don't think I should be away from them for that long."
"They can come visit anytime they like!" Duststar exclaimed, her yellow eyes pleading.
"yes, and I personally will see to it that Palekit, Stonekit, and Spottedkit will be well looked after. It will only be for a couple moons." Sorrelstar added.
Willowtail looked at the ground, her tail tip flicked back and forth as she thought. She looked up at the two leaders, her blue eyes shone with compassion, "Okay, I will go, just let me say goodbye to Lightfoot and the kits."
"Of course, try not to be too long though." Sorrelstar said to the grey queen as she turned and walked back towards the warrior's den.
"Thank You Sorrelstar."
"I'm more than happy to help Duststar,I know you would've done the same for m- Shadowclan." Sorrelstar replied gently and the Thunderclan leader looked at her knowingly.
"Sorrelstar!"
The leaders and Thunderclan cats looked in the direction the voice came from, a light cream spotted tom trotted over to them.
"What is this this about Willowtail going to Thunderclan!?" he shouted, his tail lashed angrily behind him.
"Thunderclan has requested her help in a matter and we both agreed." Sorrelstar said calmly.
"But what about our kits!" the tom demanded, stamping his forepaw on the ground.
"Your kits have you, and me, and the rest of Shadowclan, Duststar has aid she will allow you to bring the kits to see Willowtail."
"BUT MOTHER!..."
"But nothing Lightfoot! It was a mutual decision. This is your only warning, do not think that being my son gives you special privileges in this clan. The decision has been made and you will accept it end of discussion!" Sorrelstar snapped, her eyes blazing fury at the cream tom.
Lightfoot held her gaze defiantly for a few moments before turning and storming away pushing past his mate wordlessly as she came to join the Thunderclan group.
"Come on, let's go, I'm sure those kits are starving."Willowtail said dully and walked towards the camp entrance.
The Thunderclan cats followed after, Duststar trotted to her spot at the front of the troop hopefully leading the Shadowclan queen to a nursery of squealing kits.
Harewhisker woke with a start, his head felt heavy and his pelt felt grimy like he hadn't groomed properly in a moon. He yawned and stretched in his nest, he lifted a white paw to his muzzle and began to lick the grit from between his toes. A shadow in the corner of his den caught his eye and his head snapped toward it, nothing but gentle running of stream and a pile of moss greeted him. He let out a breath relieved and turned back towards his paw.
"Beware..."
Harewhisker rolled backwards out of his nest, his fur bristled out in all directions, his heart threatened to burst out of his chest. He looked up with wide green eyes, a tall white she-cat with amber and blue odd-eyes look back at him from the other side of his nest. He sat up his pelt lying flat again.
"D-Daisyeye?" the brown tuxedo tom questioned his voice no louder than the quietest mouse.
The she-cat chuckled, and step forward to rub her muzzle against the tom's cheek. He leaned into the touch marveling at how it conveyed a great warmth yet was ice cold.
"Yes my dear Harewhisker, it is me. I am very proud of you and Honeyfrost is deeply grateful that you were able to spare her kits."
"I can't help but think that if you had been here you would have saved them all." Harewhisker sighed, looking away from his former mentor.
"Nonsense, I was there with you, and you couldn't have done any better. It was her time, it was decided long before her birth." Daisyeye said and gave the medicine cat a loving lick between his ears. He shivered at the coldness and purred at the warmth that surged through him.
"What do you mean?" Harewhisker questioned, surely Starclan wouldn't bless a cat with life knowing that they planned to take it back so tragically.
"There's a prophecy, and Honeyfrost's death set the events in motion." The former medicine cat said, her face suddenly becoming very stern, "Beware of the cat who turns in circles for only the white faced warrior can bring help from the mountains to banish his evil."
"The cat that turns in circles? What does that mean?" Harewhisker asked but the she-cat was already starting to fade away leaving only the scent of cold air and a lingering warning.
"Remember the white faced warrior..."
"Harewhisker!"
Harewhisker jerked awake again, a paw prodded his side and he looked up at it's owner. Another tall she-cat looked down at him, her green eyes were full of concern.
"I think there's something wrong with the kits." Longleap said shifting uncomfortable on her paws.
The medicine cat rolled out of his nest not stopping to stretch or groom, he rushed past the grey she-cat and into the nursery, he knew immediately. The two dark kits were sleeping peacefully but the third..., he nudged the cream kit with his nose, his small body already devoid of warmth, he had been gone for a while.
"I'm gonna sit vigil with this kit in my den tonight, I don't think Darkstrike knows how many kits there were and he's already lost Honeyfrost, I think knowing about this would destroy him." Harewhisker said to Longleap, the she-cat nodded in agreement.
"The other two are fine, just continue keeping them warm. Duststar should be back soon."
Harewhisker picked up the cream kit, his limp body weighed barely more than a mouse. He brought the kit to his den, laid him in his nest and curled in next to the tiny cream body. He licked the tom's soft downy fur, smoothing it until it laid down. Harewhisker shook his head, the little tom looked just like his mother when she had been kitted only he would never know any of the joys his mother had. At least they'd have each other in Starclan.
The brown and white tom pressed his muzzle to the kit's body and whispered those words that all his medicine cat ancestors had uttered before him.
"May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep little one."
Finally got the next chapter out, I promise things will start moving along a little faster next chapter.
Also I'm on Warrior Cats Amino under the name Harewhisker, follow me there if you want to see my art including some of the characters from this story.