A/N: Chapter 1 is finally here! I'll be working on Chapter 2 as soon as I can, and hopefully get that posted sometime around next week. If I have the time, that is.
Springflower: Glad you like it so far! :D It's only going to get more good as it goes on, though. :D
Enjoy Chapter 1!
~Frost (my new penname :D)
Chapter 1:
Stormstar woke up in his moss nest, blinking open his sleep-glazed blue eyes. He yawned, sitting up and beginning to straighten his stormy-grey pelt. The soft pawsteps padding into his den made him look up, his tail flickering slowly behind him.
"Good morning, Stormstar," Jaycloud mewed, dipping her head to the Clan leader. "Hello, Jaycloud," greeted Stormstar, smiling a little as he gazed at his deputy. "What brings you here?"
"Sorry if I was interrupting anything, Stormstar, but something happened to one of our apprentices." At this, Stormstar pricked his ears forward. "What happened?"
Jaycloud shifted her paws slightly before answering, "Fleetpaw was attacked by a fox yesterday, Pebblestone said that they were doing some hunting before she got attacked."
"A fox? In our territory?" Stormstar demanded with Jaycloud nodding slightly in reply.
"Warn future hunting and border patrols of the danger. We don't know if the fox has kits or not," Stormstar instructed.
"Yes, Stormstar," Jaycloud dipped her head in acknowledgement before she padded out of the dark den and into the main camp clearing.
Stormstar sighed, flicking his ear before he soon rose to his paws, padding out into the busy clearing.
"Alright, I need Speckwind, Ashtail, Maplecreek and Ripplepaw to go on a border patrol. Watch out for that fox we scented yesterday, as well," added Jaycloud, her bright blue eyes flickering to each cat on the patrol.
Nodding, the assembled cats padded out of the camp and into the forest, the sunlight weakly pouring into the entrance of the StormClan camp.
"Oh, Stormstar, if you would be willing as to join a border patrol, that would be very helpful," Jaycloud asked, turning around to look at her leader. Stormstar nodded in reply and asked, "Who are the other patrol members?"
"Let's see, Thistlepond, Mousestreak, and Blackstone will be accompanying you." Jaycloud informed.
"Alright," Stormstar nodded, glancing around. Thistlepond, who had been standing near the deputy, then padded forward and suggested, "I could find the others if you would like, Stormstar."
"That would be helpful, Thistlepond," nodded Stormstar. With a slight dip of the young warrior's head, he padded away from the leader and deputy and into the warriors' den.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you this before, Stormstar, but Fernripple wanted to talk to you about something urgent," Jaycloud recalled, looking at the stormy-grey-furred leader once more.
Stormstar nodded slightly. "Alright, I'll talk to her after we finish this patrol." Jaycloud nodded, then turned away to assign more cats to more patrols or to do some "chores" around the camp.
Soon after, Thistlepond emerged from the warriors' den with both Mousestreak and Blackstone following closely behind. Stormstar nodded in greeting to the two warriors before flicking his tail at them and then at the camp entrance. "Let's go."
With Blackstone bringing up the rear, Thistlepond and Mousestreak covered both Stormstar's flanks with the leader at the front, they set off into the shady forest, the sky covered with clouds with only a few spots of the sunshine trying to break through the thick clouds.
Hmm, it's unusually cloudy today, Stormstar thought with a quick glance at the sky.
"Where should we head first, Stormstar?" Blackstone asked. Stormstar frowned, thinking for a moment before he replied. "We'll head over to the border with DuskClan before we go to the border between us and RavenClan."
The other members of the patrol nodded in agreement before they turned slightly to the left, following their leader. They continued the long walk in silence when they finally reached the border. Mousestreak looked around, his eyes glinting as he scented the air before turning around to face his Clanmates. "DuskClan's scent seems stale, they haven't remarked the border since a few days ago."
Stormstar frowned before he commented, "Hmm, curious. The Gathering is in a few more sunrises, though. We'll be able to hear what is happening with DuskClan until then, but for now, we need to check the border we have with RavenClan and remark this one."
Mousestreak nodded in understanding before he went to go remark their side of the border. When he was done, he returned to cover Stormstar's right flank with Thistlepond to the side of him. With a sharp flick of Stormstar's stormy-grey tail, the patrol sent off once more, but now, towards the direction of RavenClan's territory.
Stormstar glanced around to check if they were near the border or not, he stopped to scent the air, narrowing his blue eyes as he did so. The others stopped as well, frowning, puzzled.
With a growl, he turned to face the cats behind him. "Fox. It's that same one the other patrol caught the scent of yesterday." The responses were the same. All of the patrolling cats narrowed their eyes, even Thistlepond unsheathed his claws and was looking around warily.
"Be careful now. The fox might be around here somewhere and won't hesitate to attack us if we let our guard down, even for a moment," advised Stormstar before he padded into some bushes. Thistlepond and Blackstone exchanged unease glances before they followed Stormstar with Mousestreak bringing up the rear, silent as usual.
Once they were nearing the border, the cats stopped once more. Instantly, a streak of red-and-ginger fur darted out from some bushes and tackled Mousestreak to the ground.
Baring its sharp teeth, the fox growled at the black tom and aimed its fangs at his throat. Were it not for Thistlepond recovering from his shock at the sudden attack and timely tackle, Mousestreak would've been in the fox's jaws, limp as a piece of fresh-kill.
Mousestreak unsteadily rose to his paws with the aid of Blackstone at his flank, supporting him while watching the fierce tussle between Thistlepond and the fox.
A few minutes into the battle, the grey tom had the fox pinned and was pushing the fox into the ground. Hearing another growl behind Blackstone, the jet black warrior quickly looked back, his teeth bared in warning.
Great, there's two foxes now, Blackstone thought as amber eyes blinked back at him, the rest of its body still hiding in the undergrowth. Just as he was prepared to leap for the second fox, a streak of stormy-grey fur was seen as Stormstar launched himself at the newcomer, his claws outstretched.
Yelping, the fox tried to dodge Stormstar's swift leap towards it, but it was to no avail. Stormstar's claws met the fox's flank while the snarling leader flipped the fox over onto its back, his claws plunging into the belly.
The fox whimpered and tried to get out of the stormy-grey cat's grip, its teeth finally meeting one of Stormstar's paws. Stormstar yowled and jerked his paw back, along with adding some more claw marks to the fox's belly and sides.
Quickly reacting to the leader's brief moment of pain, the fox wriggled free out of his grasp and limped away, blood flowing from its various wounds. Turning around, Stormstar faced his other two patrol members, Thistlepond still battling off the other fox.
"You two alright?" Stormstar asked, padding over to Blackstone and Mousestreak. They both nodded before Mousestreak casted a quick glance toward Thistlepond. Noticing, Stormstar assured quietly, "Thistlepond will be fine, he's a strong warrior." As if on cue, the fox suddenly let out a loud yowl and quickly ran away, leaving red pawprints as it darted away from the cats.
After Thistlepond let out a warning yowl to the retreating fox, he padded to his leader and Clanmates. "Is everyone alright?" he inquired, looking around at everybody. "The question is, are you all right?" Blackstone demanded, glancing over Thistlepond's body.
Thistlepond looked down at his ruffled and bloody fur and blinked. "I'm alright," he nodded after a moment of looking over himself.
"We better head back to camp, so Fernripple can look over your wounds, Thistlepond," Stormstar intervened briskly, flicking his tail from side to side. Thistlepond nodded, Blackstone and Mousestreak doing the same. With a slight jerk of his head, Stormstar padded back in the direction of the StormClan camp.
Once they entered, the cats already in the main part of the camp clearing, stopped what they were doing and gazed at Stormstar's patrol with wide eyes. Instantly, the cats rushed forward, questioning what had happened and why were Thistlepond and Stormstar injured.
Suddenly, a voice rose above the din of the Clan's multiple voices. "All right, let me through!" The cats in the middle moved off to the side so that the medicine cat could reach the battered border patrol.
With an experienced and quick glance at the patrol, she instructed, "Okay, I need the severely injured, in this case, Thistlepond, to head into my den, so I can look him over. Stormstar and Mousestreak, I need you two to stay here, since your wounds are minor and very little. However, Blackstone, go get something to eat and rest up. You aren't injured at all so you won't need any treatment."
Blackstone and Thistlepond nodded, the former padding to the warriors' den while the latter heading into the medicine den, as instructed.
"As for the rest of you," Fernripple turned around, looking at the rest of the Clan, "go with your separate businesses. Can't you see that these cats need treatment right away? However, once I'm done, you can ask all your questions. Now, go."
Jaycloud stepped forward and yowled loudly to emphasize the tortoiseshell medicine cat's order. "Alright, everyone, go! These cats need rest, not all your clamoring questions!" Muttering, the Clan broke up into small groups, resuming their chores around the camp.
Jaycloud dipped her head to Fernripple, then to Stormstar slightly before she padded away to stand beside the fresh-kill pile, monitoring the Clan while Fernripple took care of Stormstar, Thistlepond, and Mousestreak.
"Alright, let me go get some marigold and cobwebs for your wounds before I go to treat Thistlepond," Fernripple remarked before she padded into the dark recesses of her den.
Swiftly, as Fernripple had spoke to Stormstar and Mousestreak, she appeared in the entrance once more, the herbs that she had told the cats a minute ago, in her jaws.
Padding over to them, she dropped the marigold and cobwebs at her paws before she picked up a small bunch of cobwebs and beckoned to Mousestreak to come forward first.
The young black warrior did so, and as Fernripple treated his small wounds, Stormstar watched quietly and patiently. "Alright, you're good now, Mousestreak. Go get something to eat and rest up," Fernripple declared as she stepped back from the tom to observe his pelt once more. "Thanks, Fernripple," the tom smiled before he padded away.
"Alright, Stormstar, you next," beckoned the medicine cat with her tail at the stormy-grey leader.
Stormstar stepped forward and allowed the experienced tortoiseshell medicine cat treat his various wounds. Recalling what Jaycloud had told him earlier, Stormstar said, "Jaycloud said that you needed to talk to me about something, Fernripple."
"Oh, yes. But I'm afraid that will have to wait, urgent as it is, until I treat Thistlepond," Fernripple sighed, dabbing some marigold onto the wound on Stormstar's paw. Stormstar nodded, frowning in thought as he wondered what could be so important. Maybe StarClan told a message to Fernripple, Stormstar pondered.
"Alright, you're good. After I treat Thistlepond, we'll talk in your den," Fernripple added, picking up the remaining marigold leaves and cobwebs with a slight nod to Stormstar. "Alright, Fernripple."
Turning away from the medicine cat, Stormstar headed to his den, but stopping at the fresh-kill pile first to pick up a plump mouse in his jaws. With a quick glance around the clearing, the leader padded into his den, the mouse dangling from his jaws.
As Stormstar started eating the mouse, his thoughts once again, drifted to what Fernripple had to say that was so urgent. Dimly, he noticed that he had finished eating his vole, what was left of it was lying in front of his paws.
As soon as he heard pawsteps approaching his den, did he snap back to reality, glancing at the remains of the mouse before he picked them up and buried them near the back of the dark den.
"Greetings, Stormstar," Fernripple meowed, dipping her head to the tom slightly before she proceeded to sit down in front of the leader. "So, what was the urgent news you had to tell me?" Stormstar asked, looking at Fernripple, frowning.
As if in reply, Fernripple took a deep breath, sighing and flicking her long tail before she finally answered. "Last night, StarClan came to me."
Stormstar blinked and tilted his head questioningly at the medicine cat, silently urging her to go on. "Well, to be specific, Stonedust was the one who came to me. He said that StarClan has issued a new prophecy."
"A new prophecy?" inquired Stormstar, pricking his ear as he heard those words. Fernripple nodded in reply. Frowning, Stormstar urged. "Go on."
"Well, the way Stonedust said the prophecy was a little confusing, but, yet it makes sense in a way. If I seem to remember correctly, the way that he said it was: Peace will shatter and a trusted warrior will become your deadliest enemy." Fernripple said quietly, closing her amber eyes as she recalled the ominous prophecy.
Peace will shatter and a trusted warrior be your deadliest enemy, Stormstar thought over and over again. "This is troubling, indeed. Did Stonedust say who this new enemy will be?"
Fernripple shook her head, opening her eyes to gaze at her leader once she heard the question. "No, he just said a trusted warrior. And that could be anyone in the Clan, or maybe even in one of the other Clans."
Stormstar frowned before he sighed, his gaze drifting to his paws. "I will think about this. Thank you for telling me, Fernripple." With a slight gesture of his tail, Fernripple nodded once before she stood to her paws and headed out of the leader's den.
Stormstar sighed. A new prophecy, at this time? Things must be really troubling for StarClan to issue a prophecy so soon. As his thoughts wandered, he yawned, his eyes darting back towards the entrance to his den. Well, guess I'll think some more about this tomorrow. With that last thought, the stormy-grey leader tiredly curled up in his moss-nest before fitfully falling asleep, the moonlight streaming into the camp and into his den.
A/N: Well, hope you liked this chapter. :3 Chapter 2 will be up soon, if I have the time to write it before I post it. As always, review, please!
~Frost