This fanfic will mostly be from Storm's POV, with a chapter of Shadepool from time to time.
The sun slowly peeked through the tree tops, melting away the purple dawn. Normally, Storm would have stared at the beauty of the morning, but he had a Clan to worry about. Many BloodClan cats were resting because Camo refused to let them do anything until their wounds were healed. Storm realized that he should probably send out some hunting patrols. There wasn't much prey on the fresh-kill pile.
"Blackfire!" he called to his deputy.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Can you lead a hunting patrol? I'll take one too."
She nodded, "Okay."
"Frost, Dusk, and Ivy, come with me: hunting patrol!" the deputy beckoned.
Storm narrowed his eyes; these were all cats of the now-disbanded Poison Ivy Sisterhood. They were still uncomfortable working with the other BloodClan warriors, apparently.
"Actually," he interrupted, "I want Frost to come with me; bring Venom too."
Since Venom's former mentor, Whisker, died in the battle with SkyClan, Frost had taken over his training. It was Storm's way of saying that he trusted the sisters.
"And Blackfire, you should bring Viper with you too," Storm continued.
Blackfire dipped her head, and Viper hopped up to join them. Storm would get them used to BloodClan gradually, starting with one BloodClan she-cat. Hopefully, they would eventually get to a point where one sister could easily be comfortable in a patrol with all pureblood BloodClan warriors, toms and she-cats.
When Blackfire's patrol left, he meowed, "Claw and Splash will come with us too."
Storm led his patrol into the forest. He spotted a mouse, scurrying through a pile of leaves. It froze for a moment, and Storm lunged. He landed right behind the mouse. Fortunately, Claw hooked his claws into its neck, killing it.
"Uggh," Storm grunted, forcing himself to his feet.
Claw laughed. "Smooth," he meowed sarcastically.
Storm sighed. He had a lot on his mind, and it was messing with his hunting. He watched as Frost showed Venom how to stalk a bird. The apprentice learned quickly. Storm realized that if BloodClan used the same techniques as SkyClan, Venom would probably be a warrior already. The thought caught him off guard. How did he think of that? He didn't know anything about how SkyClan operated.
He felt another presence behind him. Storm turned around to see what Claw was up to. His son wasn't there. Instead he saw Skywatcher, beckoning to him with his tail.
"Excuse me," he meowed to Splash, who was sitting next to him, watching the training, "I have to go make dirt. I'll be back soon."
Splash nodded slightly, her blue eyes barely pulling away from her son's training. Storm padded over to the bushes where Skywatcher was hiding.
"What do you want?" he whispered.
"Did your mind just receive knowledge that you did not know before?" Skywatcher asked.
"Yes," Storm replied, startled.
"Good," Skywatcher meowed, "That means my powers worked."
"Whoa!" Storm gasped, "You have powers?"
Skywatcher nodded, amusement glimmering in his pale eyes, "Of course. I am in StarClan."
At the word 'StarClan', an odd feeling crackled along Storm's spine.
"What is StarClan?" he asked.
"It is where the spirits of Clan cats go when they die."
Storm's eyes widened, "Are the BloodClan cats that died in the SkyClan battle there?"
"The ones who deserve to be," Skywatcher stated simply.
Unwillingly, Storm shivered.
"Now," meowed Skywatcher, "I have something to teach you. For BloodClan to become a true Clan, you must follow the customs of a true Clan."
"Which are?"
"Instead of being warriors when they have killed their first cat, apprentices become warriors when their mentor and the Clan leader think they are ready to be warriors. And when cats become apprentices, warriors, or even deputies, there are certain ceremonies you must perform," Skywatcher explained.
"But we already have certain ceremonies," Storm objected.
Skywatcher sighed, "Yes, but they are not correct. These ceremonies must be given under the guidance of StarClan."
"Well, what are the words to these ceremonies?"
"I can not tell you yet."
"Why?"
"The time is not right. I will explain to you later."
Before Storm could protest, Skywatcher disappeared. A feeling of emptiness filled the clearing. Storm sighed, and he padded back to his warriors, his tail trailing on the ground.
