Recap:
"There! Straight ahead!" A tiny hole shimmers and warps. Moroca flings Kojinleafs body at the blips. She vanishes. The hole seals up.
Trapped!
Goldensun smashed into the space where the blip was. Like hitting cold steel. Rubbing his nose. Ignoring the blood. "Alright," he looked to the right and left, gathering his thought round himself like a cloak. "We need to find another way ou-"
His voice is cut off by Marshpaw's gasp. "Oh! Goldensun, look!" She pointed at the sky. The skywas slowly changing colour. A bright blood red. Flames of Hell. A stark white. Gates of Heaven. Green, yellow, orange, grey, purple, pink. Then they mixed. Swimming, swirling like a great hurricane of paint. Then it settled. The skywas a pitch black. Stars wink out, shining like beacons of hope.
They start to grow.
They span and dance down, like leaves on the wind. Tumbling and swinging. The stars grow larger and larger. Take shape. Felines dance in a holy circle. Leap and twirl like ballerinas. The smell of ice and wild things take control. Drive the flames back. The world grew clear. The spirit cats dance faster, to some imaginary beat. Beside Goldensun, something began to grow. It mushroomed out, then settled down. The blip is reopening!
The spirit cats started to hover, still dancing in a holy circle. They spun higher and higher. "Quick! Go!" Marshpaw's cry shattered the peacefulness. Goldensun blinked. The spirits leave. The black flames grow higher, ready to kill.
Moroca is charging at them both. He banged into them. And they fall into the blip. Colour. Glittering. Goldensun felt ropes rap round his skin, noticing for the first time his fur is all gone. The ropes pull at him, trying to tug him in different directions. Then they vanish in a shower of pure magic. Fur appears. Goldensun saw Marshpaw riding the magic, her fur growing back, ash going, and blood washing away. Then to Moroca.
The barrel of a cat is changing. Robe pulls at his sides, and his barrel body melts into a slim white figure. Large blue eyes blink open in a ping of magic.
Then sound came to greet them all. Then the hit. Goldensun, Marshpaw, and the strange purely white cat staggered. Ground shock hurts!
Then noise. Lots of it. Cats gather round them, crying with relief. "I thought you were all dead!" Yowled Starflame, licking Marshpaw. "We saw the blip close up."
"Then it re-opened!" Gasped Snowfur, eyes wide. "It was amazing!"
"Clan Crossing has changed," murmured Lavenderstar, quieting the Clan. They were all standing next to a gushing water fall. Almost twenty four feet high. The water is crystal clear. Gingerkit, Silentkit and Redkit were all playing at the top, pretending to be warriors of the old.
"By the power of the Sun, I punish you!" Yowled Redkit, taking a swipe at Gingerkit. Must be playing a SunClan cat, mused Goldensun. SunClan, MoonClan and StarClan. The sky cats of the old.
In front of the waterfall, was the meeting rock. Then Lavenderstar's den. At the right of the water fall, was the large warriors den. Made from rock and leaves. Then the left was the apprentices den, made from leaves.
On the far side was the nursery, made from softer leaves, twigs and mud. And at the very top of the waterfall, was the Medicine cat den. Totally made out of rock, about six feet tall, with a hollow log at the back.
Goldensun looked at his leader. "Is, Kojinleaf alright?" he asked softly, as the cats celebrated happily.
"Yes, just. When she came through the blip, she was all right. The magic in that thing must have healed her. Everyone is fine," she nodded.
"Goldensun! Who is this?" Yowled someone. Birdsong was dragging the white cat in her jaws. She threw him at Goldensun's paws.
"Who are you?" Growled Goldensun. "You who were, Moroca, who are you now?"
The white cat shook his head, looking terrified.
"Answer me!"
"Puh-Pure –huh-heart," the little cat mewed shakily. "I wuh-was tuh-trapped there tuh-too. Don't kill me!" He bowed his head, nose touching the dirt.
Goldensun smiled. "Looks like we have another, ForestClan warrior!"
Pureheart's face split into a happy smile.
A few moons passed by. The neighbouring Clans didn't bother ForestClan much. Lightstar was the leader of, DesertClan. Reedstar was the leader of LakeClan. And Roughstar was the leader of MountainClan. All their territory was large. ForestClan had most of the woodland. DesertClan had flat sandy turf, the furthest away from ForestClan. MountainClan was the closest to ForestClan, and they had most of the mountain ranges behind the woods. LakeClan was roughly in the middle. They had grassy plains and a huge lake. They had the most rabbits and deer. So DesertClan always picked wars on them. DesertClan only had vultures and mice.
Life was very relaxed.
Pureheart
It was time for, lavenderstar's kits to be made apprentices. It was a beautiful night. StarClan was very close that night. The waterfall merrily splashed down. Kojinleaf was watching from her high pointed den, Dreampaw at her side.
The three little kits were in a neat row. Spiritkit, Gingerkit and Redkit's pelt were glowing in the dull, full moon light. "Nightpaw, Rainbowpaw, step forward," Lavenderstar yowled, her patchy fur a silver hew. She stood tall on the meeting rock.
"You two have been trained hard under the warrior code, for six full moons. Mistyflower and Lynxheart have trained you well. Under the full moon, I give you your warrior names. May StarClan hear me, and approve.
Nightpaw, do you swear to uphold the Warrior code, and protect the Clan with your life?"
"I do," Nightpaw's purring was heard all over the camp.
"You will stand your night of silence, under the name, Nighttail. May your great stealth protect the clan in hard times," she leaped down, and touched noses with, Nighttail. The black tom cat padded to one side.
"Rainbowpaw, come forward," the white she-cat bounded towards her leader. "Rainbowpaw, do you swear to uphold the Warrior code, and protect the Clan with your life?"
"Yes," Rainbowpaw held her head up high.
"You will stand your night of silence, under the name, Rainbowlight. May your happiness, and joy be shared in hard times of loss," she pressed her nose to, Rainbowlight's. The she-cat gave a happy cat smile, and joined, Nighttail.
"Both of you need apprentices. Gingerkit, Redkit and Spiritkit, come here. When the six moons rise and die, you will be made, warriors. Before that time, you must learn the ways of a true cat. Gingerkit, is now, Gingerpaw. Redkit, is now, Redpaw. And Spiritkit is, Spiritpaw. Train hard.
Redpaw, your mentor is, Rainbowlight. And Gingerpaw, your mentor is, Nighttail. Rubypelt, you have no, apprentice, so Spiritpaw will be yours," looking happy, Rubypelt bent and touched noses with, Spiritpaw. The others did likewise.
Pureheart watched in amazement. He had forgotten how Clan life was like. It had been so long ago. He blinked his deep blue eyes, watching the cat's part. The new warriors headed straight to the camp entrance, not being able to talk. Rubypelt was speaking to the new apprentices, telling them they would take them out tomorrow and show them round. Pureheart padded up to her. "Rubypelt! May I come along? I still haven't seen all of, Clan's Crossing yet," the red she-cat smiled and nodded.
"Yes. Go tell, Lavenderstar. We can be the morning patrol."
"Alright," he bounded away. He gave a small mew at her den entrance.
"Come in," he entered. "Hello, Pureheart. What do you need?"
"I've come to tell you, that we have the morning patrol ready. Rubypelt, Rainbowlight, Nighttail, myself and the new apprentices are going."
"Very well. Thank you for telling me that," she waved a tail in good night. He padded back out. He crossed the middle of the clearing, and went into the warrior's den. He found his bed among the sleeping bodies of cats. Curled up. Dozed off.
The morning sun greeted them all, as the patrol headed off. Nighttail and Rainbowlight were wide-awake, pelts gleaming with the night's frost. It was nearing leaf-bare. Gingerpaw, Redpaw and Spiritpaw were looking everywhere. Gingerpaw kept going off to sniff at something new. Nighttail was having a hard time getting him to stick close.
Rubypelt, more experienced, growled to Nighttail. "Get the damn kit under control!"
"I'm trying!" Nighttail panted. "Gingerpaw! Get back here! That's where the bee colony it!" There was a loud screech, and Gingerpaw shot out of some bushes, tail on end.
"Nighttail! There were fluffy, buzzing things. I tried to hit their dens, but they attacked me! Look!" He held up his swollen tail.
"Gingerpaw, I told you to stay put!" Nighttail mewed. "When we get back to camp, we'll go to, Kojinleaf. This will teach you a good leason in listening!"
"Yes, Nighttail," he bowed his head, letting out whimpers of pain. Spiritpaw was more quieter. He followed after, Rubypelt, and took in her words. Redpaw, was like, Spiritpaw, silent, but got nervous easily.
Pureheart learnt that the whole forest was theirs. The bee hives were very dangerous. When the bees were sleeping, Kojinleaf would take honey from them. There was a fungi patch as well. Kojinleaf told everybody /never/ to touch them. Some were good, by a lot were very bad. It was a place to pray and relax in. It smelt very nice! They stopped there for a while. Rubypelt told everyone that toadstools with pink spots were ok to smell, but ones with brown were bad to smell. Some of the weeds that grew there were sharp and hurt to step on. Others were soft to touch, and calmed down your breathing.
There were hundreds of flowers in the herb patch. Ones were purple, and were said to be called, lavender. Some were marigold; others were poppies and daises.
There was a small river cutting the forest in half. It held a few fish, and it froze over in the heart of, leaf-bare.
Rainbowlight showed the best place to hunt mice. There were all kinds of hollow logs, and lots of mice made homes in them. She showed a hunters crouch, and pounced expertly on a fat mouse. She told her apprentice to kill at once, so it didn't scare off more prey with it's mews of pain. They warriors made the apprentices show what they thought a hunters crouch was. All failed miserably. But they told them it was ok to fail the first time. They were only rookies!
Pureheart learnt to blend in with the grasses, like the lions of old did in the savannah. Redpaw did it perfectly, while his brothers fooled about.
Nighttail went round the boarders, marking them fresh. He told Gingerpaw to smell. Gingerpaw said he could smell the forest, prey, and other funny smells. Like cats. Nighttail said they were MountainClan cats. They were the ones at the back of, ForestClan territory. He said that they couldn't smell, DesertClan cats from here, but they smelt like sandy turf. The LakeClan cats were like the river smells, muddy but fresh.
The started back for camp.
"How was that, Pureheart?" Mewed, Rubypelt.
"It was great. It's like I'm an apprentice too!"
"Where do we train for fighting, Nighttail?" Asked, Gingerpaw, his sore tail forgotten.
"Behind the waterfall!" Nighttail looked excited. Gingerpaw's eyes widened.
"Wow! How do you get passed all the water?"
"Maybe I'll show you tomorrow. You've learnt a lot today. Take a brake. Relax for the afternoon," Nighttail purred.
"Ok."
Rubypelt froze suddenly, sniffing the air. Rainbowlight and Nighttail stopped. Pureheart cocked his head. They could hear voices. The kits halted. Spiritpaw flattened his body to the ground. "Those voices aren't from camp!" He whimpered
Rubypelt made a shushing noise.
"Great, I think we're lost," mewed a soft voice.
"Mother, we're been walking through this place for ages!" Cried a younger voice.
"D-don't worry, I know the way!" Meowed a flushed voice.
"Sundream, give it up. My paws are aching from this. Lets rest for a while," the soft voice spoke again.
"Alright," Sundream mewed.
The ForestClan cats crept forward. A group of four come into view. A she-cat with a tortoiseshell pelt and deep green eyes was washing two kits. Unknown the ForetClan cats, this queen was the only kit of, Spottedleaf, the former medicine cat of, ThunderClan. A cat with a pure golden pelt, black tipped paws, ears and tail was panting slightly. Her gold green eyes were flitting all over the place.
One of the kit's fur was mostly white yet with a strange silvery sheen that made it seem like captive moonbeams. Her pawswere a black that stretched up her legs to fade into her coat. Black tipped ears as well as black tipped tail marked her like her mother. Her eyes were a strange indigo/black that seem to hold the light of stars captive. She is bigger than her sister.
Her fur is mostly white yet with a strange golden sheen to it, that made it seem like captive sunbeams. Her pawswere a golden/amber that stretched up her legs to fade into her coat. Black tipped ears as well as black tipped tail marked her like her sister. Her eyes are a strange amber/gold colour that seemed to hold the light of the sun captive.
All the cats were strange.
What were they doing here?
Pureheart's chest tightened, and stomach dipped painfully. Rubypelt's musles tightened, ready to attack. She let out a warrior battled growl.
Sundream pricked her ears at the sound.
"Now!" All the cats shot from the bush, ready for a battle!
TBC!
… what's to say?
TTFN!
-Ixi