So here is chp. one...plz read and review!
Disclaimer- Silverstream would have lived if I had written the warriors series...
Chapter One
Fireheart moaned as a paw prodded at his side. He shifted and then opened his eyes to see the damp blue-gray fur of Bluestar pressed against his nose. He turned his head and looked up at Yellowfang who stood over him.
"You dozed off," she said quietly. Fireheart staggered to his paws and glanced around the camp. Frost clung to the damp ground and the sky was gray and misty. The camp was quiet and even the forest did not make a sound. It was as if everything was mourning for Bluestar's death.
"Did anyone see?" Fireheart asked Yellowfang warily. A sympathetic look could be seen in her eyes as she shook her head.
"Only me," she replied stiffly. Whitestorm lay on the other side of Bluestar's body, his eyes merely slits as he gazed at his limp leader's body. The brave she-cat had died in the battle against the rouges, but Tigerclaw had said that she had died fighting. The deputy had tried to get to her to help her, but he was not fast enough. He said that the leader of the rouges cut her down with a nasty bite at the throat.
Fireheart glanced up as a shadow fell across the medicine cat, but it was only Tigerclaw. The massive tabby looked somber, but Fireheart could see a flash of excitement in his eyes. He could not blame him, the deputy was about to go and share tongues with StarClan and receive his nine lives and name.
"Yellowfang, are you ready?" Tigerclaw growled, gazing at the medicine cat. Yellowfang sighed and turned to the deputy.
"I'm ready when you are Tigerclaw," she said, dipping her head in respect. Tigerclaw nodded and then whirled around and stalked over to his friend, Darkstripe.
The dark brown tabby tom straightened as Tigerclaw said something to him and pure pride flashed through his eyes. Fireheart sighed and turned toward the warrior's den. He knew that Darkstripe would be deputy now, and Fireheart was not his favorite cat. The red tom knew that with Darkstripe as deputy, that he would have a difficult time.
He was about to pad into the warrior's den when a mew from behind him stopped him in his tracks. He turned as Cloudpaw rushed up to him, his eyes wide with shock.
"Is Tigerclaw going to be our new leader?" the apprentice asked, gazing up at Fireheart. The red tom nodded and glanced up as Tigerclaw approached.
"Tell Mousefur that she is to take out the dawn patrol. Take Cloudpaw hunting, I don't want to fall behind just because our leader died," he said over his shoulder as he padded to the entrance of the camp. Fireheart glared at the huge tabby, wishing that Bluestar was still alive. The tabby was strong, but his arrogance would get in his way at times. He did not approve of kittypets and still despised Fireheart and Cloudpaw.
Cloudpaw gazed up at Fireheart, excitement in his eyes.
"Can we go now?" he asked, kneading the ground with anticipation. Fireheart shook his head.
"I'm exhausted and I need to tell Mousefur about the patrol. We'll go later." Devastation clouded Cloudpaw's eyes, but Fireheart turned away. He had enough to deal with already, he did not need to worry about his apprentice's feelings too.
The red tom pushed his way through the entrance of the warrior's den and spotted Mousefur lying near the back. The dusky brown she-cat was sleeping peacefully and Fireheart did not want to wake her, but he had to do what his new leader asked.
Fireheart prodded the she-cat's side, ignoring her irritated grumble. It took three prods before she finally opened her eyes.
"Great StarClan what do you want?" she growled, sitting up and swiping a paw over her ear. Fireheart ducked his head apologetically.
"Tigerclaw needs you to go on dawn patrol," he said. Mousefur studied him for a moment and then stretched.
"Well all right Fireheart. I'll take Longtail and Swiftpaw," she said getting up and padding over to the pale tabby tom. Fireheart nodded.
"Could you take Cloudpaw too? The extra training would do him good." Mousefur nodded as she prodded Longtail hissing at the pale warrior. Fireheart turned and padded over to his nest of moss. His best friends, Greystripe and Raventail lay on either side, both fast asleep. Fireheart purred as he settled himself in between them and gently began to groom his pelt.
Exhaustion pulled at his paws and the bites and scratches of the previous battle stung. He wearily remembered thinking that he would need to visit Cinderpaw to get something for them before sleep finally took him.
Fireheart padded through the forest warily, his paws heavy and his eyes drooping. He knew that he was dreaming but the exhaustion secede to leave. The forest where he stood was still as if the forest slept on, unaware of the new presence. Fireheart glanced around, vaguely wondering if any StarClan cats would come when suddenly darkness erupted from in front of him.
He yowled in shock and took a step back, all exhaustion forgotten. The darkness began to creep toward him, covering the forest with thick, inky blackness. Fireheart turned and fled, running blindly through the forest. The darkness expanded, enveloping all in its path.
Suddenly, the ground under paw turned black and the trees that Fireheart race by disappeared into the darkness. He could feel the darkness close around him, swallowing him in its clutches. Suddenly he was falling, falling into the nothingness of the darkness. Fireheart yowled loudly but he never stopped as he plugged down into the abyss.
"StarClan where are you?" he yowled. Fireheart looked up to the sky above in hopes of seeing the stars of his warrior ancestors, and though the sky was still there, dark gray clouds covered the stars from view. A single star shown out from a gap in the clouds, its light weak and useless. Suddenly a voice erupted from all around Fireheart as he fell.
"Darkness is coming Fireheart. It will consume everything but fire must be the one to save the clans from its clutches. StarClan is powerless against the Tiger that prowls the forest."
Fireheart lunged up startling Raventail. The black warrior leapt away, his eyes alight as if he were fighting off intruders. His fur was bristled with shock and his eyes were filled with concern. He licked his chest quickly and padded slowly up to Fireheart.
"Fireheart. Are you okay?" His voice was shaky and is eyes stilled looked uncertain. Fireheart sat down, staring at the ground to wide, fearful eyes. He jerked his head into what seemed like a nod but made no other gesture that he heard his friend.
"Oh, okay Fireheart," Raventail said. "I'll take out Cloudpaw for you. He has been all around the camp since dawn waiting for you. I'll tell him that you're ill."
Fireheart grunted and did not look up as Raventail left. The warrior's den was empty and sunlight leaked through the opening. It was strong, but not strong enough to warm the despair that spread through Fireheart.
Trouble was coming, that much was true. Fireheart could not think of what the 'tiger' that StarClan had talked about could be unless it was Tigerclaw. Fireheart felt an uncomfortable lurch in his stomach as he realized that the formal deputy was already on his way to receive his nine lives from StarClan. Tigerstar would be a powerful leader, prideful yes, but surely not evil. He had always led the clan through hard times and being leader should not change that. Fireheart had always looked up to him and wanted to be just like him. He knew that Tigerstar did not like him because of his kittypet roots, but surely the leader would get over that as time pasted.
Fireheart shook his head. No, it was Darkstripe that he was worried about. The dark tabby warrior had always hated Fireheart and Fireheart's own distrust toward the dark warrior made him think that Darkstripe must be the danger that StarClan spoke of. The dark tabby did look a lot like their ancestors from TigerClan, and he was Tigerstar's deputy. The more and more that Fireheart thought about it, the more certain he became that Darkstripe was the 'tiger' that would destroy the clans.
Fireheart stood and stretched and padded out of the warrior's den and into the sunlight. The camp was calm, and few cats could be seen in the clearing. Dappletail was sunning herself over by the elder's den while Bramblekit and Twanykit stood at the entrance to the nursery, their eyes wide as they took in all of their surroundings. Mousefur and Longtail sat side-by-side, eating some fresh-prey while Swiftpaw, Longtail's apprentice, lazily poked at a beetle. Fireheart padded up to the fresh-kill pile and took a mouse. He turned and padded to a quiet spot near the medicine cat den, wanting to eat without being disturbed. He began chewing his food, barely tasting it.
But what was the fire that was supposed to save the clan? Bluestar had once told him about another prophesy that said that fire would save the clan, but surely fire would destroy the forest. How could it save it?
A shadow fell across Fireheart and he looked up to see Darkstripe standing over him. The dark tabby's lip was drawn back over his teeth and his eyes flashed with smugness.
"You slept in late," he growled. "I saw that Raventail took out your apprentice."
Fireheart sighed and nodded his head, staring at the half eaten prey between his paws. Darkstripe's eyes narrowed at the ginger warrior's easy defeat. He lashed his tail.
"You will come on patrol with me, Runningwind, and Dustpelt. Cloudpaw can come with us I suppose." His voice became mocking as he said the white apprentice's name and Fireheart scrapped the ground angrily. He nodded and glanced up as Darkstripe padded away toward Mousefur and Longtail. He exchanged a quick word with Longtail and then turned and padded away.
Fireheart turned his head and spotted Raventail and Cloudpaw padding into the camp, the young apprentice's mouth full of prey. Fireheart purred at his apprentice's enthusiasm and quickly finished his prey in a few ravished gulps. He stood and padded over, nodding to Raventail.
"Well done," Fireheart praised as Cloudpaw set his prey down in the fresh-kill pile. Cloudpaw looked up, pride gleaming in his eyes. He shrugged.
"It was easy really. I mean I am the best hunter out of all of the apprentices, probably even better than some of the warriors," he said smugly. Fireheart bit back a sharp retort and instead turned to Raventail. The black tom shrugged at Cloudpaw's pride.
"He did hunt well," he said quietly. Cloudpaw's eyes sparked with acknowledgement, but he said nothing else as he picked a starling from the fresh-kill pile and padded over to were Swiftpaw sat. Raventail watched him go, his expression unreadable.
"He needs to learn a little humility," Fireheart growled irritably. Raventail glanced at Fireheart and cocked his head.
"He is still young. It's good for him to believe in himself and to feel proud of what he does," the black warrior said. Fireheart felt startled that Raventail would stand up for the headstrong apprentice. With an uneasy ting, Fireheart realized that Raventail had never had an apprentice. Fireheart himself had had two, Cinderpelt becoming crippled on the Thunderpath and then Cloudpaw. Graystripe had also already had an apprentice, Brackenfur. Raventail was the only one of the three friends to not have an apprentice.
Fireheart pressed his muzzle comfortably against Raventail.
"I know but sometimes I wished that he had a little more respect for the warrior code," Fireheart said. Raventail nodded with understanding and then stood and stretched.
"Well the elders need to be fed," he said, picked a vole and a swallow from the pile. Fireheart shook his head.
"Don't worry about it. I can get Cloudpaw to do it," he said. Raventail shook his head.
"No let him eat. He has had a long day. It's no trouble, really." Fireheart watched as the black tom padded off toward the elder's den. Usually feeding the elders was the job of the apprentices, but Raventail was too humble to care that he was doing an apprentice job.
Fireheart turned and spotted a patrol padding into camp, Whitestorm at the lead. The large warrior padded up to Darkstripe, dipping his head as he went. Darkstripe sat a little straighter that the senior warrior's gesture and nodded to his courtly. Whitestorm gave his report and then padded toward the fresh-kill pile.
"Darkstripe wants you," Whitestorm said, picking up a shrew from the pile Fireheart glanced at the dark warrior, but Darkstripe was busy watching Swiftpaw and Cloudpaw play wrestling.
Heaving himself up, Fireheart padded over to the dark warrior. The sunlight was already beginning to weaken as the sun shrank below the horizon. Darkstripe turned as Fireheart sat down in front of him.
"Cloudpaw needs to be instructed on his fighting. He fights like a kittypet," Darkstripe growled, glowering at Fireheart. Fireheart glanced over to where Cloudpaw and Swiftpaw fought and watched as Cloudpaw skillfully wrested Swiftpaw to the ground. Swiftpaw commented cheerfully as Cloudpaw leapt off of him and they started a new game. Fireheart turned back to Darkstripe to see him looking irritable. The ginger warrior dipped his head.
"Yes Darkstripe," he mumbled. Darkstripe glared at Fireheart as he turned and padded toward the warrior's den. Stars could be seen sparkling from above and the moon glowed with fullness. Fireheart glanced up at the starry pelt above.
It seemed like seasons ago that he had had the dream from StarClan and Fireheart could hardly suppress the feeling of mistrust every time that he looked at Darkstripe. After everything that happened today, Fireheart was sure that the tiger that StarClan that talked about had to be Darkstripe.
Fireheart spotted the other patrol walking into the camp. He watched as Darkstripe called to Runningwind and Dustpelt. Fireheart hurried toward them, signally to Cloudpaw. The cats clustered around Darkstripe, waiting for the signal to leave. The dark warrior studied each of the cats, his eyes lingering on Fireheart. The ginger warrior held his head high. Darkstripe had no reason to dislike him and Fireheart was not about to give him a reason.
Darkstripe nodded to Dustpelt and turned to lead the patrol out of camp when he froze. His eyes narrowed at first and then they widened with surprise. Fireheart stepped forward, wondering what the dark warrior was looking at when he spotted him.
Tigerstar, standing proudly in all of his triumphant, his pelt gleaming in the darkness and his eyes alight with all of the wonders of StarClan.
Yup so that's all that i have right now. next will be them going to the gathering... O.O lol plz review...i really want to know what u think! xD
