Chapter 1
In the moons following Dovestar's end of tyranny and Rainstar's new era of peace and trying to make it up to everyone for the damages Dovestar caused and despite the divide between the clan Stormclan prospered peacefully as kits were being born into the clan. Brightsky had her kits naming them Autumnkit, Finchkit, Cloverkit, Owlkit, Shadowkit and Wrenkit. She named Autumnkit after her dear brother Autumntail. Not only did Brightsky have kits; who happened to be Rainstar's kits as well, so did Cloudsky; having her new mate; Strikestone's kits naming them Lightkit, Leafkit, Heatherkit, Brindlekit, Echokit and Ivykit. It was safe to say that Stormclan was great with the amount of kits they had in the Nursery because when they were older they would be apprentices and one day fine warriors.
Sorrelcreek's kits Spottedkit, Redkit and Oakkit became apprentices named Spottedpaw, Redpaw and Oakpaw with their mentors being Fadingmist, Flamestorm and Arcticsky. Whitepaw, Jaypaw and Winterpaw earned their warriors names after a battle with some rogues as they protected their territory. Whitepaw became Whitedream, Jaypaw became Jaysnow and Winterpaw became Winterdusk.
Despite the numbers growing in the clan there was still the division that divided the clan up into two. The group who was waiting for Rainstar to fail so they could rub it in his face. The other group stood behind Rainstar and defended him each and every day despite that he was spending all his time to make it up to the others.
Rainstar was certainly happy and fine with all of it, as well as everyone else other than the cats who were against Rainstar and Whitedream as well was not fine with it or even happy. At first he would try to stick with his family and defend Rainstar but after awhile he lost all motivation to do so not even believing his own words seeing that nothing was changing.
The tom hated the constant tension that was always inside the camp. It often brought him anxiety and as much as he wanted to be over everything and move on.
He couldn't...
It was just not easy for him to do.
He thought that once he was a warrior it would be different but he was wrong. Nightmares constantly came by every night of all the bad things his father, Dovestar, had done and it didn't help that others saw him constantly as a duplicate of Dovestar. He had his fur and eye color and the words that constantly sprayed out of Sweetpoppy's mouth was that he and his family were just the same as Dovestar and it didn't help him.
Soon enough he was just plagued by the reminiscence of his father's lies and reminded of the tom in every way and it sucked. It sucked because Duskpaw and Doepaw were his two good friends and now they seemed like they didn't want nothing to do with him so now he was constantly alone minus for his siblings who got on his nerves half of the time.
It was also happening that he would have nightmares where he woke up in a creepy dark, foggy forest where he would feel as if all unfamilar eyes were on him, he could even feel that he knew this place and kept only thinking it was because his nightmares were usually taken place here and it always felt real.
Especially tonight.
He woke up finding himself in this creepy forest in which he could barely see his own paws thanks to the fog. The water in the lake now black as night crashed against the shores of the land that Whitedream grew up to, but the forest was transformed into this dark, foggy, sinister forest that one would see in his nightmates, ironic. He waved his paw around him trying to rid himself of the fog that caused him to cough repeatedly. The thing was it felt more like toxic than just any normal fog. It plagued the land killing everything around him, he looked around as he gasped for air as another wave of the fog consumed him. His usual bright green eyes, dull with any emotion. The trees surrounded him, no leaves on them, as he felt the dead, crunchy grass underneathe his pads as he took one step further from his spot ready for this to end.
It wasn't the first time he had this nightmare and he knew what was coming next.
Pawsteps.
And he knew who they belonged too.
" My son.~" Whitedream stopped his movements and turned his head to see the one cat he didn't want to see standing there as if he was still alive. Familiar white fur that seemed more darker, the same cold green eyes that were dull of any life and surrounded by a pool of darkness and that damn collar around his neck, " It's such a great sight to see you here. You are starting to see your destiny Whitedream and that's to rule the forest like I did." He purred evilily as he circled him.
" No! Never will I ever become what you were!" The Stormclan warrior snapped paw hitting the ground as his claws began to scrape against the ground, " You deserved to die and now the clan is better than ever!"
" No not the way things are. The clan is divided and its so much fun to watch the clan slowly, oh so slowly, fall apart." The ex-Stormclan leader laughed, " Honestly it's better seeing how you all have betrayed me." He added with a hint of anger in his tone as he continued circling him.
" You betrayed us, you betrayed our trust Dovestar!" The tom wanted to slash this cat's ears but he knew it was just a dream.
It wasn't real.
His father was dead for good.
Nothing could happen here.
" No! I wanted Stormclan to be strong! Feared by others seeing how Redstar allowed cats to walk all over us. But I know you won't believe my words or open your eyes to the truth, just as you believe that this is a dream." He snickered licking his paw before his claws unsheathed, " Let me show you just how real it is." He purred getting ready before pouncing on him.
Whitedream felt a raindrop hit his nose that awoken him from slumber. He jolted awake and looked around before feeling a small sting coming from his shoulder noticing the small deep gash on his shoulder before looking up at the small hole in the den, he would have to remember to tell someone about that. It had rained last night and it even looked like it was gonna rain today. He sighed shifting his paws over his face wondering if he should even bother getting out of his nest but he did and rose to his paws arching his back to stretch as he yawned before sitting up and walking out of the Warriors Den.
Immediately his siblings Jaysnow and Winterdusk headed his way and he turned immediately hiding the wound on his shoulder as best as he could, " Finally Whitedream you're awake." Jaysnow sighed as he rolled his eyes turning towards the dark gray fluffy tabby tom who was standing beside him; the tom yawned loudly which wasn't shocking Winterdusk was a cat who always looked like he just woke up and he barely talked, " Oh I wish I could sleep in but sadly we got work. It's not raining so we can actual go hunting." The tom pointed out looking up at the gray, cloudy sky as he began to turn around, " Go grab something small to eat before we go." He added.
The white tom nodded as he headed towards the Fresh Kill Pile and licked his lips hungerily when he got close enough to smell the prey. Most of it was fresh, while alot of it was old which was fine and it was still good.
Things were peacefully in the clan, except the inside drama of the clan being divided, there was no problems with Lightclan, in fact with Rainstar being leader and with said tom being good friends with Fawnstar they never exactly fought they mostly spoke to one another and tried to come up with peaceful solutions. So things were peaceful all over ever since Dovestar's demise and lost of power but Whitedream just couldn't push the thought away that something was gonna happen. He didn't know what it would be but he just had that feeling in his gut that told him trouble was brewing their way.
He had to remind himself that tonight was the Gathering. He knew Fawnstar and Rainstar got along well and were good friends from back in the day of when the two clans first settled here and on the nights of Gathering there shall be no fighting but he had to believe that cats will still be upset and untrusting of Stormclan over the things Dovestar did. He had killed their previous leader Dreamstar and plotted to take over Lightclan territory and done so many awful things.
Even Whitedream and the rest of them couldn't forgive themselves for all of it. Sweetpoppy and them the most angry about it all and having Rainstar as their leader. They seen him just a guilty because Leaders and their deputies were close and they believed that Rainstar knew of everything and was just playing that he didn't. The white tom believed in his brother even though he didn't show it or much emotions for that matter. He usually stuck to keeping everything to himself.
He grabbed a fisk from the pile and began to walk away when he heard his name and turned to see Ivoryshade standing there, " Whitedream what happened to your shoulder?" She asked as she walked up to him and sniffed at the small gash to check if it was infected or anything.
" Oh I think I had a thorn in my nest or something." He explained with the fish still in his mouth.
" To make a big gash like this?" She asked confused and with a little disbelief in her tone.
" Yes it had to be, i'm fine." Whitedream stated shrugging not even feeling any sort of pain from said wound. It was a small nick at the most and he didn't even want to remember or know how he truely got it. He couldn't believe his own words believing he got it some other way.
" Um, ok if it starts bothering you let me know." The cream coated she-cat told him as he nodded and headed off with his prey in his mouth. He sat down immediately getting started on gulping it down quickly so he could join his brothers.
He was older than the two out of their litter despite that Winterdusk acted alot older than him. He was a mute mostly sticking to only ever saying three words while Jaysnow was a chatterbox and a little childish honestly. He was part of the second litter of kits that Cloudsky and Dovestar had, though Cloudsky's third litter was between her and Strikestone. Lightkit, Leafkit, Heatherkit, Brindlekit, Echokit and Ivykit were just a bundle of happy kits who weren't born in a harsh time as he and his younger brothers had been. In fact they didn't share the same father so they were lucky they didn't have Dovestar's blood in them. They were truely innocent and it made Whitedream jealous.
He heard of Sweetpoppy and her small group whisper about them, about him and how he looked like Dovestar. Which they were true he looked exactly like Dovestar, minus the necklace and scars. Of course he wasn't the only pure white cat in their family. Arcticsky was pure white too but she had stormy blue eyes instead of green so it wasn't the same. He tried to ignore it and kept thinking that he was nothing like Dovestar and he never would be.
Once he was done eating he joined Jaysnow and Winterdusk out on a small hunting patrol. It was best to get some hunting done before it started to rain hard, but that changed when he felt the light rain start to pour down but he honestly wasn't gonna let some rain stop him from providing for his clan.
His fur damp from the rain he leaned down against the ground until his belly was resting against the wet grass as he aimed to get a squirrel that was not that far. Despite it raining the squirrel was standing there looking around, possibly for prey he wondered. He prepared himself both mentally and physically before launching onto the squirrel killing it in one fair bite. He closed his eyes thanking Starclan for the prey that they gave to Stormclan before opening his eyes and picking up the now dead squirrel.
" You caught a squirrel good job.~" Jaysnow purred happily proud of his older brother for catching a wonderful catch.
" I guess its just a squirrel." Whitedream shrugged, " I'm setting it here and going for the river. You're staying in this area correct?" He asked.
" Yeah i'll watch it for you while I catch something here. I'm sure Winterdusk is somewhere over by the river as well catching some fish." The gray tabby tom said his own dappled tabby fur soaked by the rain.
" Gotcha i'll head over there now." He said as he turned and headed through the forest as the rain continued to rain down maybe it wasn't best to keep going they could get sick. He didn't think alittle rain would hurt but he knew it could make them sick and he rather his siblings not get sick. He didn't show it alot but he did care and love them.
He made his way to the river and he didn't see Winterdusk anywhere but he just felt like someone was there as if they were watching him. He decided to focus on fishing instead, but thought it wouldn't be such a good idea with how the river was thanks to the downpour. The rapid currents were strong and he thought to go look for Winterdusk to tell him they should head back to camp so he headed further down the bank just when he heard a yelp and saw a brown-and-white she-cat on the other side of the river she had wounds all over and he immediately questioned how she got them but before he could ask she fell into the water. He jumped in after her and fell into the rapid waters.
He rose his head and looked around for the she-cat and saw her pop her head up and begin to struggle. Whitedream paddled up to her; thanks to his amazing swimming skills, as she went under and so he dived underwater to get her. He bit into her scruff and yanked her up from under the water, " Keep your head up!" He growled as she did so still struggling. The rapid waters carried them down the stream. He noticed a part of the grass that was lower than the rest so he grabbed onto the edge with his paws, " Go!" He growled as he noticed that the she-cat was unconscious, probably due to shock and fear. He cursed as he tried to pull himself up but something fell into the stream and caused a wave and it came and crashed down over the white tom as he let go and the rapids overpowered him and dragged both of them under. He pushed his head above the water, " Damn it!" He growled and took a deep breath only to be dragged back under. Terror gripped his chest. The water began to drag him down as his fur became heavy due to the water. He began to get too tired to fight anymore, he felt numbness spread through out his body and he had to wonder. Was this how he was gonna die? He felt his paws go still and allowed the water to cradle him, ready to join Starclan. It's not your time Whitedream! Don't give up! A voice called out in his head and for just a glimpse second her heard laughing and saw Dovestar in that forest he kept seeing in his dreams as if he was greeting him and he froze not wanting his face to be thr first thing he saw in the afterlife, just as he was about to give in to the darkness he felt teeth sink into his neck and pull both of them up.
" Come on Whitedream move your legs, don't give up on us!" A voice grumbled through white fur as he opened his eyes halfway to see dark gray fluffy tabby fur that he remembered belonged to his brother Winterdusk, it had been awhile since he heard his brother speak more than three words. Once they were out of the water he coughed up some water and turned to see Winterdusk with Jaysnow standing there as well. He smiled and tried his best to move his paws but honest he couldn't feel a thing at the moment. With the help of Jaysnow they both finally got them out of the water and onto soft ground once more. He continued to cough up water as Jaysnow worked on getting the water out of the brown-and-white she-cat's throat. Once he recovered he stuggled onto his paws shivering at the cold but he wasn't worried about himself. He nearly collapsed but he fell on a cat; his vision blurry but he could recognize brown tabby fur.
" It's ok Whitedream." Strikestone's voice said giving him some support and reassurance but not alot. He was just very tired at the moment and he almost greeted death. He could barely register as to what was going on but he heard coughing; that wasn't his own and could it belonged to the she-cat he had saved and saw her barely open her eyes, " She's alright but we need to take her to Shadewhisper and Ivoryshade." Strikestone explained, " Jaysnow you're very quick go take her to camp. Winterdusk, you and me will help Whitedream." He added as the other nodded with Jaysnow picking up the she-cat and heading back to camp. Winterdusk went to the other side of the white tom and they hurried to camp as quick as they could.
Once they got to the camp and into the Medicine Den they lead him to a nest and laid him down as Ivoryshade got to checking him out since Shadewhisper was busy with the she-cat. Whitedream could barely keep his eyes open, he needed rest, he wanted to rest. He finally let the exhaustion take over and fell asleep.
When he woke up he was in that forest with, not surprised, Dovestar waiting there for him. He stood up and sighed, " Why must I keep dreaming of this place? Why is it you are here i'm honestly tired of constantly being reminded of you." He growled irritated not even caring to hide that he was sick of this stupid shit.
" Oh come now, arn't you happy to be seeing your father?~" Dovestar laughed, " You were almost greeted by death but you get to live another day. Honestly it's your fault dumbass for saving that pathetic she-cat." He said rolling his eyes as he started to head his way.
" I wasn't about to just let a cat die i'm not like you!" He snarled, " I will never ever be like you, why don't you go bother someone else!"
" Because you hold hatred, jealousy, sadness, all the works, heh. All the negative feelings that help me grow stronger despite being dead. The others have all moved on and no longer even think about me. You're the only one who is still thinking about all the things I did. You're the only one they whisper about, I mean you got my good looks thats for sure." He laughed whipping around as his tail hit Whitedream's face.
" I may look like you but that doesn't mean I AM you!" Whitedream added as he felt dizzy and could feel a tug; as if someone was pulling him out of this nightmare.
" Will you be a shooting star or will you be a fallen star?" Dovestar asked as everything faded for Whitedream.
When Whitedrea woke up he heard a growl and saw dark brown tom fur and recognized that it was Mountainsplash. He could barely make out the tom's white muzzle but once he blinked a couple of times his vision got better and he sat up, " Hmmm...?"
" Stop thrashing about in your sleep!" Mountainsplash snapped, " Your tail was swatting me!" He added irritated about being woken up.
" U-umm, sorry Mountainsplash." Whitedream apologized as the dark brown tom simply tched and turned laying his head back down. Whitedream guessed he was in there for some reason he wasn't sure about but whatever it was, was bad enough that he was sleeping in the Medicine Den.
" Ah Whitedream you're awake.~" Shadewhisper purred turning towards him, " How are you feeling?" He asked as the white tom sat up.
" Feeling fine." He told him before remembering about the little she-cat, " How's that she-cat?"
" She's fine, she's already up." The Medicine cat explained, " She's been asking about you, because you know, you saved her." He added, " Her name is Sora and despite her wounds and everything she has been through she's strong and moving about." He smiled, " Maybe Rainstar will let Sora stay in Stormclan she has potential.~" He added going back to sorting his herbs as Whitedream made his way out of the den.
He was glad it wasn't raining no more and that the sun was setting over the horizon. Coloring the sky orangish-red and he watched the sky for a moment before he heard his name. He saw Cloudsky hurry his way with Jaysnow, Winterdusk, Arcticsky, Brambleberry and Rainstar hurrying his way, " Oh my dear kit i'm glad you are alright.~" Cloudsky cried clashing into him and holding him close to her.
" You scared us by jumping in that rapid waters man!" Jaysnow added stepping beside them as he wacked his brother on the head.
Winterdusk just grumbled a response as he patted Whitedream's head happy to see that he was alright. Arcticsky and Brambleberry cried happily that he was alive as Rainstar smiled placing his paw on Whitedream's shoulder.
" I'm so glad you are awake and well Whitedream." The Stormclan leader said, " You were very heroic in saving the she-cat and as you can see that she is awake and walking around perfectly fine despite her wounds and what trauma she went through." He smiled looking over at Sora as she talked to Duskpaw and Doepaw, " I have asked if she has a home to return to and she told us she doesn't so I am gonna ask her to join us." He explained to him as Sora seemed to have noticed him and headed over to where they stood.
" Thank you mister for saving me." She smiled brightly at him, " Whats your name?" She asked.
" Whitedream and it was, uh, no problem really." He said not use to being thanked and all that, he had more important things that bothered him, " How did you get hurt and why were you there in the first place?" He asked as he could immediately catch onto the change of demeanor in the younger cat.
Rainstar seemed to notice it too and looked at them, " She can tell us whenever she's ready but I have other things to do right now." He said before going to his place on the Highledge, " Cats who can catch their own prey gather underneathe the Highledge for a clan meeting." He called as most cats gathered underneathe.
Whitedream joined the crowd stepping beside Winterdusk and Jaysnow and Sora right on the other side of him since she didn't know what was going on, " Umm...Whitedream whats going on?" She asked looking at the white tom.
" Shh and you'll see." Winterdusk shushed them as he glanced up at the other tom ready for him to start.
" Today we nearly lost one of our warriors who bravely dived into the rapid waters to save a young she-cat who has no home to call her own. I feel Stormclan is in need of some more strong and brave cats and this she-cat has shown me that. Sora, step forward please." He said as she began to do so but Mountainsplash shot up.
" Oh yeah warriors who'll be easy for YOU to control just like Dovestar did! Stormclan has strong and brave warriors already, but most of them are idiots for believing in you!" He snarled as Jaysnow shot up with Arcticsky and Brambleberry following him.
" Are you seriously still singing the same sad, annoying song?" Jaysnow growled, " We're sorry that you all have lost loved ones but we can't change the past and we just got to move on and learn from the mistakes." He added.
" You weren't the only ones who were hurt and feel betrayed! I mean, we lost our father and figured out all the bad things he did and now we have to live with all the things he's done!" Arcticsky snarled tail flickering with anger. Her stormy blue eyes burning with anger, " Seriously it's time to stop this." She added with exhaustion in her tone.
Anyone could tell she was just tired of all this and they all suffered from Dovestar's actions. He would be remembered for generations for all the bad things he had done and his kits and family had to live with it all.
Whitedream couldn't help but stay silent, he had his eyes close trying to go to another place. He much rather do that then stay there and hear them argue about the same old thing. He wished that Sweetpoppy and them would just forgive and stop this but he could understand it alittle bit as to why they were angry. He could feel the normal anxiety begin to rise and cause him to want to throw up but he didn't want that to happen especially when they were in a Clan Meeting with everyone there.
" M-maybe he's right." Sorrelcreek said softly as the others looked at her shocked, " I will miss and always love my brother but he wouldn't want us to fight like this besides I have tried to keep Spottedpaw, Redpaw and Oakpaw out of this and not have them feel like they need to decided between. Stormclan will be much stronger together than divided and I believe Rainstar isn't anything like Dovestar and he's proved it to us many times." She explained looking at her mate, " Don't you feel the same Wildfire, everyone?" She asked.
" I...I guess I can understand what you're saying my love. I think it's time to end this hatred once and for all." Flamestorm agreed stepping up and looking at the leader, " Rainstar I apologize greatly for my words and behavior and ask that you forgive us."
" Yeah...I agree too." Wildfire followed with Sorrelcreek as well Rainbird, Doepaw and Duskpaw nodding in agreement to what they were saying as well.
" Well not me." Sweetpoppy snarled claws sinking into the ground as Mountainsplash stayed beside her with anger and hatred burning in his eyes.
" Me either, I won't ever follow you Rainstar." Mountainsplash followed behind stomping his paw on the ground. Whitedream could hear the sigh come from his brother.
" Sweetpoppy, Mountainsplash you do what you feel is right. Follow me or don't i'll continue to try and make it up to you." Rainstar said looking down at the she-cat, " Right now is not the time. Sora if you wish I would like you to join Stormclan. I'm not about to force you to if you don't want to but you are strong and fierce and we would love to have you." He stated.
" I would like to join you and your clan Rainstar. Whitedream saved me and I would like to join you all." She said.
" Good and I would like to give you your new name if you wish to have it. Sora from now on you are Soaringpaw and Whitedream will be your mentor." He explained as Whitedream shot up.
" H-huh!?" He asked shocked, " M-me Rainstar?" He asked sure if he heard the gray tabby tom correct.
" Yes you Whitedream, you have shown me today that you are strong, loyal and brave for jumping in the river and I hope you show her what you learned from Leopardsplash." Rainstar explained as Soaringpaw looked at her new mentor, " I expect you to teach her the warrior code and the territory and such." He added as Whitedream nodded slowly pressing his muzzle towards the she-cat's, " You'll start training tomorrow, we have the Gathering tonight and you both are going if you're up for it?" He asked.
" I'm fine to go!~" Soaringpaw said happily.
" As am I."
" Good, Soaringpaw stick with Whitedream tonight and he'll explain to you the Gathering." Rainstar said as he jumped down from the Highledge and headed towards where his deputy was.
" Well I guess I should start explaining and showing you around camp." The white tom said nervously not having expected to be made a mentor so soon.
Leopardsplash came up to them and smiled, " Just relax, breath and take kit steps one pawstep at a time, it'll be alrght just show her the camp." She smiled trying to ease her old apprentice as he nodded.
She sort of knew about his anxiety and his issues, since she had been his mentor. She had always been around when he would have a panic attack and she was around when the news od Dovestar came to the surface. She was one cat he could trust; not that he couldn't trust his family; but it was more as he felt more secure to do so with Leopardsplash. Sure he felt he was always burdening everyone with his issues so he tended to keep them to himself but the dappled, golden tabby she-cat was always smart to notice what he was doing.
" O-ok come on let's show you around camp as I explain the Gathering." He said as turned and headed for the Apprentice's Den. Stormclan's camp wasn't that big, but it was big enough for them. They never was a clan that needed much big space as Dovestar wanted.
" Well to start with where Rainstar addressed the clan was the Leader's Rock and the Highledge where he addresses the clan as he just did and that's where he sleep." He explained. There was a pile of rocks in front of a bigger rock that had a hole a long smooth rock acting as a ramp to the hole. Rainstar often stood on the pointy long rock beside the makeshift ramp when he addressed the clan, " You know where the Medicine Den is. It's that tree trunk so if you ever need to Shadewhisper and Ivoryshade will help you. They are usually in their den unless they're gathering herbs." The warrior continued as they made their way to the Medicine Cat's den.
Next to it was a tree trunk that looked like it was once connected to the trunk seeing it was right beside the trunk, " This is the Warrior's Den, where warriors like me and Leopardsplash sleep at." Whitedream explained looking at the she-cat to make sure she was listening.
" As the story was that the tree trunk fell due to a bad storm back in the day or that's what they say anyway.~" Leopardsplash giggled chiming in, " But honestly it was like that before we set up camp here." She corrected. The tree trunk had a hole that lead inside the hollow trunk.
Beside it was a bush with an opening, " This is Elder's Den, it's where our Elders; cats who have served Stormclan for centuries go when they retire to rest for the rest of their seasons. Mosspelt and Brackenwish are the only Elders we have." He said just as the small, frail, blue-gray she-cat came out of the opening.
" Hello Kiddos." Mosspelt greeted with a smile as Leopardsplash greeted the friendly Elder.
" How are you doing Mother?" The dappled, golden tabby she-cat asked gently nuzzling her mother.
" She's your mom?" Soaringpaw asked curious.
" Yes, she's also Mistywater's, Rainbird's. They're my sisters." Leopardsplash explained as a light brown tom limped out of the den with his broken hind leg disfigured due to his accident.
" You seem so young to be an Elder?" The apprentice questioned looking the the tom before noticing his leg and gasped, " W-what happened to your leg?"
" Well my story is a sad one but I will say it was because I crossed the Thunderpath and didn't see the monster coming and it ran over my leg. I spent my time as a warrior but I had to reture early due to my leg." Brackenwish explained.
" I-i'm sorry to hear that." The brown-and-white she-cat apologized glancing down.
" It's quite alright, i'm honestly glad to be able to give Mosspelt some company. Like I said I got the chance to be a warrior and now I choose to rest for the rest of my days." He smiled lifting her head up with his paw, " Just enjoy being an apprentice and be a strong warrior." He added as she nodded.
" Come on let's continue on, we're just circling the camp and we're nearly done." Whitedream explained waving off the two Elders before going to the entrance of camp. The ends of the trees made a small opening-like to the camp, it had dead leaves laying on the ground, " This is the entrance to camp. You leave and come back from here, apprentices must have a warrior accompany you when you leave camp just in case. We've had apprentices be killed due to them leaving camp and be unable to protect themselve." He explained as Soaringpaw flinched abit which made Leopardsplash smack him with her tail.
" What he means deary it's for your safety we never know what could happen." Leopardsplash corrected trying to sugar coat it but Whitedream had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at that. She must knew the dangers that came with being a wild cat and being in a clan.
" Anyway, we always have two camp who sit outside camp and keep watch but they must be changing shifts. Every warrior must play their part in guarding the camp, soon enough you'll be doing it." The white warrior sighed already feeling pretty tired and done with today. They made their way to the other fallen tree, " This is the Apprentice's Den, this is where you sleep. The other apprentices will be sleeping there as well so don't worry you won't be alone." On the other side of the Apprentice's Den was a big bush with an opening with two long stones pointing upwards, " Finally this is the Nursery where the Queens and their kits sleep at until the kits become 6 moons old and become apprentices, then the Queens, if they choose to, will go back to their Warrior duties." He explained before stopping, " That's about it really any questions?"
" So what is all I gotta do in the clan?" Soaringpaw asked looking at the two cats.
" Well right now worry about training and learning the territory and the clan life. Once you know those then you'll be learning how to hunt and fight to protect and provide for your clan. Perhaps one day there will be a battle between Lightclan or someone else."
" Lightclan?" She asked.
" Yes that's the other clan that lives in the forest alongside us." Leopardsplash smiled, " There has always been two clans."
" Two clans? Have you all always been here?" The apprentice asked curiousity clawing at her pelt.
" Well no actually, it's been a few seasons since we've settled here but before we lived elsewhere sadly it was taken from us by Twolegs. They tore the forest up and turned it into a Twolegplace. We weren't the only ones that effected so was Lightclan so our leaders at the time, Redstar and Dreamstar lead the two clans together to the forest we are in now." The dappled, golden tabby she-cat said giggling turning towards Whitedream, " Whitedream wasn't even born then and back then I was only an apprentice. I remember it all so fondly. Me, Rainbird and Mistywater alaways played with the Lightclan apprentices at the time when we could and we would hunt with them." She purred happily.
" There will sometimes be disputes between us and Lightclan and it might make a fight breakout but we're in a time of peace so we don't have to worry. Lightclan is gonna be at the Gathering tonight, the Gathering is a time of peace so you may chat and sit with Lightclan cats but don't speak to them about our secrets like training or even important information, but you'll be sticking with me." Whitedream stated ruining the happy, fond moment Leopardsplash seemed to try to make.
" When's the Gathering?" Soaringpaw asked.
" We leave at sun down, so there's plenty of time before then you must be hungry. I'll go grab us something to eat. Whitedream can start explaining how the clan life is and all you need to know while we eat." Leopardsplash offered as she stepped away towards the Fresh Kill Pile.
" Ok here let's sit down." He commented taking the lead in leading them away from the center of camp and near the Nursery, " Ok so as I said before as an apprentice you are mostly focusing learning hunting moves and battle moves. You will go on patrols after you learn the territory more which I'll be teaching you all that, that's my job as your mentor."
" What are the patrols like?"
" Well we have border patrols, where we go to remark our boundaries then we have hunting patrols where we go to hunt for the clan. We do have practice patrols but we don't have those alot and those are mostly where we practice our battle moves or us mentors decided to group practice which we'll be doing those soon enough." It's was really easy and he didn't know why she was asking so many questions but he just let it go because he knew she was new to all this, " Look it's not hard once you get use to this life but it's not easy either, but I don't know where you come from but now that you're apart of Stormclan you will need to devote your life to the clan." He told her looking at her seriously.
" I-I know that, you saved my life and I want to devote it to your clan." She said looking down at her paws, " My mom was a kittypet named Cheril and I don't know who my father was...but I got out one day and went to the forest after hearing stories of wild cats. I met this group of cats who said they were clan cats and I started hanging around them but um...my mom found out and...I-I can't i'm sorry." She said closing her eyes tightly showing the older tom she was troubled by her past.
He believed it had something to do with her wounds and how she ended up by the river and he knew of how bad demons could be and his were especially worse so he decided not to push her, " Well don't feel like you have to tell me or anything really." He shrugged as Leopardsplash came back with fish in her jaws.
" Ah finally i'm back we can share this.~" She purred sitting down looking at them, " Soaringpaw is this your first time trying fish?" She asked looking at the brown-and-white apprentice.
" Yeah i've never had it before."
Whitedream looked at the she-cat and nudged her, " Well take the first bite." He said as he brought his paw up to his mouth to lick his paw before washing his ear.
Soaringpaw leaned down taking a small gulp of the fish before swallowing. She gained some sort of sparkle in her amber eyes before licking her lips happily, " That's so good, I have tried wild cat food but not this before. It's better than anything I've ever had before, better than the brown pellets I use to eat." She purred as Leopardsplash giggled.
" I'm glad you like it as a Stormclan cat you'll learn how to fish and swim in the river, though I guess you'll want to wait for that." The dappled golden tabby she-cat said remembering that she just had a near death experience by drowning today.
" Y-yeah...but i'm sure when we start learning it'll be fine I could tell Whitedream is a great swimmer from how he jumped in and saved me." She complimented causing the tom to blush and turn his head to avoid her gaze.
" I-it was nothing don't worry about it." He studdered as she giggled.
" You're easily flustered arn't you?~" Soaringpaw teased as he growled abit.
" N-no!"
" Yes you are don't lie.~" Leopardsplash teased giggling feeling like she should chime in as he felt his pelt burn with embarrassment as his ears drooped, " I know you Whitedream you were my apprentice and I can read you like an open book."
" L-let's just eat already i'm starving!" He exclaimed trying to change the topic as he leaned down taking a bite out of the already bitten fish as the two she-cat giggled at him.