Once upon a time, far, far away from the lake clans there were four different clans: Marshclan, Hillclan, Lakeclan and Shadeclan. Marshclan`s territory lay in the Marsh's, Hillclan took control of the Hills, well, better known as the moor, Lakeclan settled by a small lake and Shadeclan took the shelter of the forest. In the center of their territory`s lay a meadow that took so long to get to that the four clans came the night before the full moon and stayed until the morning after the gathering. Many seasons went by, Shadestar died, followed by Hillstar, Marshstar and Lakestar, and then the leaders after them died and so on, but clan life continued.
Our story picks up a moon after young Swamppaw becomes an apprentice with his sister Flintpaw. Come, with me as we journey to the west, where Marshclan`s camp lay at the edge of a marsh...
"Swamppaw! Wake up!" Swamppaw woke up to hear someone whispering in his ear, then the pain came after a jab in his stomach. "Get up now!" His sister growled once more. Swamppaw opened his eyes. Flintpaw was leaning over him, as he opened his eyes she let out a sigh of relive. "Thank Starclan!" She meowed, "I thought Petalbloom herself would have to wake you up!" Swamppaw whinced at his mentor`s name, Petalbloom was most senior warrior and Swamppaw knew she hated him. Padding out of the den he saw his mother, Flowerfern, and his father, Whistlewind, groming each other before morning patrols. Flintpaw came up behind him, grooming herself, a short time later the deputy, Frogleap, Flintpaw`s "perfect" mentor, came up to them. "Flintpaw, we`re going on a hunting patrol with Flowerfern and Sandheart," he told her. "Great!" Flintpaw`s tail shot up, "When are we going?" She asked. "Right now, do you want something to eat before we leave?" Flintpaw nodded and went to eat a sparrow.
After Flintpaw`s patrol left Petalbloom padded up to Swamppaw. "Let`s go and practice your stalking again," she meowed. Great! Swamppaw thought, just great, Flintpaw gets to impress our mother and I have to practice stalking...again. However, just as they were about to leave Hazelberry and her apprentice Lightpaw, padded up to them with Whistlewind. "We`re going to patrol the border with Lakeclan, do you two want to come?" Petalbloom considered this for a moment. "Ivycloud and Eclipsepaw went to practice battle moves, so if you don`t come we have to wait for someone to get back." Petalbloom pondered this a moment more before nodding, but as they headed towards the tunnel Petalbloom held Swamppaw back for a moment. "Remember, patroling is still new to you, so don`t embarrass me." Swamppaw nodded. "Good, come on." As she disappeared thru the tunnel Swamppaw stayed behind for a minute, maybe if you took me on more patrols like Frogleap does with Flintpaw, I would have more experience.
Padding at the rear Swamppaw kept his scents alert for any intruders, coming to a halt Hazelberry gathered her patrol around her. "Me and Lightpaw are going to renew the scent markers over by the stump, Whistlewind, you go over by the rocks over there and Petalbloom you and Swamppaw can go by that pine tree." Padding over to the pine tree Swamppaw started scenting the air, walking around, he soon picked up Lakeclan scent just as four Lakeclan warriors padded out of the ferns. "Intruders!" Swamppaw yowled. The Lakeclan warriors looked puzzled, your on our territory, he thought, what`s so puzzling about that? Looking behind him, Swamppaw noticed that the rest of his patrol was sitting a few frog-leaps away. " What are you doing?" he asked, "they are on our territory, attack!" No cat moved, not even Lightpaw. Swamppaw stared hopelessly behind him. Finally Hazelberry spoke up, "They`re not on our territory Swamppaw, your on their territory." Swamppaw looked at his mentor to defend him, but Petalbloom was just staring at him with a look of mixed horror and embarrassment. Great, I`ll never hear the end of this. Scenting the air he realized to his horror that he had, in fact, stepped over the Lakeclan border. Scenting his way back to his side of the border he muttered a brief "sorry" to the Lakeclan warriors. When he was back on his own territory Hazelberry spoke to the Lakeclan warriors, "I`m so sorry, it was an honest mistake, you know how apprentices can be." The Lakeclan warriors nodded and stalked away.
The patrol walked back to camp in silence and the whispers of wind in the trees seemed to be mocking Swamppaw and his mistake. Swamppaw turned to Whistlewind only to find that his father wasn`t looking at him. Why did Whistlewind have to come? Swamppaw asked the starry ranks of Skyclan, their warrior ancestors, Why am I such a terrible apprentice? Returning back to the camp, Hazelberry went off to report to Lizardstar while the others went to eat and go to their dens. Swamppaw turned to his mentor, waiting for his lecture. Petalbloom`s eyes were lit with fury, "You stupid, stupid apprentice!" she growled, " You are the worst apprentice in the history of apprentices! You are an embarrassment and don`t think you`ll be going on a border patrol for a moon! Now go to your den, I sentence you to no eating for the rest of the day!" she snarled as she padded to the warriors den.
By nightfall the whole clan had heard of Swamppaw`s terrible mistake, the warriors, queens and elders talked behind his back, the leader and medicine cat just flashed him a look of pity without saying anything and the apprentices just ignored him, even his sister! The only clan members that treated him the same were the kits, that was, until the queens took them away. That night as Swamppaw tried to fall asleep his stomach growled every time. Finally his eyes dropped and he fell asleep...that is until his belly growled again. As Swamppaw opened his eyes he realized he was no longer in the apprentices den, instead, he was in the meadow where the clans met. Standing in front of him was Marshstar. "W-what`s happening?" Swamppaw asked. "You are dreaming young Swamppaw," Marshstar told him, "Now listen carefully:a great darkness is coming, you and three other cats must meet here in 2 days time to get your mission or the world you love will come to an end."
"What?" Swamppaw exclaimed,why was Marshstar telling him this? "Just please trust me, a terrible fate awaits if you don`t." With that mist swirled around Marshstar and he disappeared. Teriffied Swamppaw woke up in the apprentices den, dawn hadn`t yet come and the other apprentices were still asleep. Lying in his den, Swamppaw pondered what Marshstar had just told him, he knew that he might not survive,it`s not like anyone would miss me, he thought bitterly. By dawn he had made his decision, I must save my clan, even if they don`t care about me and I could use a little break from my clan, if I die, it`ll be a noble death: I`m going.
Well, that`s the end of the first chapter. Glad I finished it, anyway I`ll try to have the second chapter up soon, thanks for reading!