This is chapter two of five... although technically, it's still the first. The fifth chapter is the epilogue, so the real story will be only three chapters long: beginning, middle, and end, even though it wouldn't be divided that simple, obviously.


Once, there were clans. The dawn and the dusk. Sunrise and sunset. Coming of day and night. There were clans when I was just a kit.


Chapter 1

"Reedkit," Sunkit started, "I bet I can make it to the fresh-kill pile faster than you! Three-two-one-GO!"

She sped out of the nursery, weaving between the rows of surprised warriors coming and going to drop their catch, and sped down all the way to her destination without even panting or breathing hard. "I'm first! I'm first!"

Streamfang padded out after her daughter, passing me as she shot her proud looks. "I can see that you're going to be a great warrior already," she purred, perhaps with a bit too much enthusiasm. "Reedkit wishes she were as good as you!" she teased.

I rolled my eyes, not even feeling jealous, padding forward to old-winner-face as she leaped up into the air in joy. This was just everyday since I opened my eyes- and today, I was five and three-quarters moons old. "We're almost apprentices," I reminded my sister.

"I know that," Sunkit snapped, wheeling around to give the watching brown tom a glance. "Right, dad?"

Robingaze had been completely silent before, but now, at his kit's remarks, he burst out into a slight chuckle. "Mhm, Sunkit. They better apprentice you soon, because we need the strong, capable warriors!" Glancing at my shrugging form, he added, "and Reedkit is a great companion."

Really? Just a sidekick? I felt like laughing. Sunkit, the greatest warrior of DawnClan? Right... they said that to every single kit that has ever lived. Just before I could make my thoughts heard, however, a yowl rang out across the camp clearing.

"Let all cats old enough to fight their own enemies gather beneath the Fallen Oak!"

Mousestar's shoulders rippled under the fading sunlight. "Blizzardmoon," she began, "you will be one of the warriors going to the Gathering tonight; among those are Rainspark, Palefeather, Pebbleskip, Stormblaze, and Owlstreak. The apprentices will not be going."

I felt irritated. This was the sixth time that the warriors and Falconcloud was going without me, and I felt left out- but the fact that Sunkit was also not an apprentice soothed me; at least if I couldn't go, then we weren't going together.

"Come on," Sunkit called over her shoulder, slipping past my flank and over to the shaded nursery. I sighed. "I don't wanna play mossball again..."

Just before I disappeared behind my sister, I saw Robingaze and Streamfang talking behind the warriors' den. I couldn't hear what they were discussing, but I did hear some of the words- "Mousestar is such a young leader," my mother sighed, "and the death of Willowstar is still fresh in our minds."

Robingaze frowned. "Exactly. Only five warriors for the Gathering?" He shook his head. "I don't trust Foxstar to be a good leader, either. Redstar died on the same night as Willowstar..."


It was past midnight when the Gathering patrol returned. It was raining also, a steady, pouring rain, so everyone was completely soaked over when they rushed into the camp, water dripping from their damp fur.

I wouldn't even have known it if it weren't for the meeting that Mousestar called out for... and honestly, I was glad that I was awoken. I was having a dream about catching mice as an apprentice, and being picked for patrols as a warrior- Reedrustle- but just then, something shook me. Hard.

"Stop it," I muttered, trying to shake off whoever it was, but the continuous trembling would not cease. Finally, just as I reached the end of my nerves, I gave up on struggling and instead shouted, "I'm coming to the patrol, I'm coming!"

I heard a familiar sigh. "Mousestar is having an announcement!" Sunkit hissed, sounding impatient. "Come on!"

Groaning, I tried to find the warm, soft fur of Streamfang's pelt, but it was nowhere to be found. Sunkit snickered something under her breath before exclaiming, "Everyone's out there. I'm not waiting for you." With that, she turned around and bounded for the gathering crowd outside.

Mutterings. Surprised whispers. I tried to get back into the comforts of sleep, but curiosity drew me out of my nest and out to where Moonstar was announcing something while shaking a fine drizzle out of her pelt- "We will not surrender to such tyranny!"

Murmurs of agreement below her suggested that the clan was following along well- but what was happening? Did Sunkit know? Scanning the sea of pelts for a bright ginger one, I finally found my sister pressed against the soft fur of Streamfang. Her teeth were chatting, but her eyes were excited. "No, we won't!"

I couldn't see Robingaze anywhere, so with a sigh, I plopped myself down on the tight spot next to Sunkit and asked, "Who's threatening us again?"

"DuskClan," she meowed, sounding almost happy that there was an enemy to fight. "Those evil fox-hearts! I'll show them when I become an apprentice!"

She stood up and lowered her head, placing her hind legs in a battle position, but just before she could unsheathe her claws, Streamfang cuffed her around the ear lightly. "Shhh," she muttered. "There's more to hear."

"DuskClan has declared that since they so obviously have the disadvantage in their own leaf-bare territory," Mousestar spat, "that we should give them a third of every piece of prey that we catch. I, as the leader of this clan, was disgusted at this offer, of course, but Foxstar threatened me."

I began to hear agitated mutters among the crowd. But the DawnClan leader was not finished. "He said that unless we agreed to such a thing, which I would never do, all patrols seen on the border- trespass or no trespass- will be attacked." She finished the last line with a clear scowl.

Yowling rang out all around the clearing- mostly from the five warriors that had gone to the Gathering, I noted. Most of the others were all sitting there in sheer disbelief, hardly daring to breathe. I belonged in the latter group. One third of all the prey we caught? In leaf-bare?

Finally, Falconcloud dismissed the crowd with a flick of his tail. "We will discuss what this means for the clan later," he announced, turning to watch as Mousestar hopped down from the Meeting Ledge.

Sunkit was growling lowly in her throat. "I know what this means," she snarled. "This means war."


Hm... tension rises with DuskClan in this first chapter, personalities are fleshed out, and various hints and questions are appearing everywhere.

Only five warriors to the Gathering? Both former leaders dying in a single day and night? Sunkit's desire to battle?

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