Summary: Many moons have passed since the clans fought against the Dark Forest, a the next generation stepping up, and peace has fallen between them. But, when a frightening prophecy appears, terror strikes the clans and history may repeat itself.
Chapter Four
Tiger lifted her head as Cloudpaw's scent wafted into the medicine cat's den. He held a mouse in his jaws, flicking his tail in a greeting to her as he walked over, setting it down. Tiger thanks him gently before taking a bite, keeping her eyes trained on the tom. He sighed, rolling his eyes.
"For the last time, I swear I'm not that Sparrow or Crow cat, whatever his name was," Cloudpaw grumbled.
"Sorry," Tiger mumbled, taking another bite of her meal, "it's just, you looked exactly like him."
"There are many white toms with amber eyes, I'll have you know," Cloudpaw huffed, "I mean, Snowpelt looks just like me!"
"No, he's fluffier," Tiger said emotionlessly, ignoring the glare the older tom sent her from the other side of the den. Snowpelt continued on with the lesson he was giving Sandpaw about herbs, thick tail twitching with pride as his apprentice got every herb correct.
"Well, then, there's Whitestorm!"
"Who's that?"
"An ancestor. In fact, he's one of my ancestors. He's related to Amberpool, who's my mother." Cloudpaw purred happily. "Maybe that's where I got it from."
Tiger lashed her tail around in acknowledgment, continuing on with her meal. Cloudpaw sighed, mumbling his goodbye as he turned and left the den. Once in the camp, he stretched, claws digging into the ground, kneeding. He trotted over to Antpaw who was sitting with Seedfur and his mentor, Dirtpelt. As Antpaw dragged a large bird out of the fresh-kill pile, Seedfur and Dirtpelt shared a vole, discussing Antpaw's training. Seedfur, who had been Dirtpelt's own mentor, purred when he spoke about a battle move that she'd taught him when he was an apprentice himself.
"Want to share?" Cloudpaw asked, looking at the black bird Antpaw had pulled out. Antpaw nodded, plopping down and began plucking feathers out of the bird.
"How is she?" Antpaw asked, spitting out a bunch of feathers.
"Tiger?"
"Yeah," Anptaw took a bite form the bird, chewing as he spoke, "I mean, she's been in there for three suns. What do you think Cherrystar's going to do?"
Cloudpaw shrugged, taking a bite as well. "I don't know. Maybe she'll send Tiger off. Or ask if she wants to join the Clan."
"That's crazy!" Antpaw said, "A rogue in ThunderClan!"
"It's possible," Cloudpaw hissed, tail lashing, "I mean, Firestar was a kittypet and he was one of the greatest leaders there ever was!"
"But that's a kittypet," Antpaw said, "rouges are a different story. Not only that, but she was an alley cat. Now alley cats are from a totally different land!"
"And you know that how, Antpaw?" Seedfur spoke up, giving the tom a hard look. He swallowed hard and looked down, going back to eating his meal. Cloudpaw let out a purr of amusement, going back to the bird as well. They continued eating as Seedfur and Dirtpelt finished their vole, going separate ways. Cloudpaw huffed, resting his head on his paws as Antpaw finished the rest of the bird.
"When do you think we'll be warriors?" Cloudpaw huffed, looking to where Cherrystar was sitting outside of her den, talking with Dewclaw and Molewhisker. Antpaw shrugged, licking his muzzle clean. "What do you think your warrior name will be?"
"Ant ... Ant ... Antfoot sounds cool!" Antpaw said, ear's springing up. "That would mean my paw steps are so soft and quiet that even an ant couldn't hear them."
"Yeah, too bad RiverClan can hear you from all the way on the other side of the lake when you hunt," Cloudpaw scoffed.
"Oh yeah, then what about you?"
"Cloudnose probably," Cloudpaw grumbled, looking to his pink nose, "cause of this."
Antpaw laughed and stood up, stretching. "Anyways, I have a night patrol. I'm going to go get some sleep while I can."
"Okay, see you later," Cloudpaw purred. Antpaw had always been the smallest and slowest to learn in the litter. Cloudpaw remembers how Antpaw was always tinier then him and Sandpaw. Even now, as apprentices, the medicine cat and warrior apprentice s bigger then their brother. Cloudpaw stretched out, claws digging at the dirt below him as he arched his back.
"Cloudpaw," Molewhisker called from atop the Highrock, flicking his tail for his apprentice to jump up. Cloudpaw swallowed thickly, but listened to his mentors command and trotted over, jumping up to the cliff. He settled down, tail curling around his paws. Cherrystar looked him over, amber eyes examining him. He felt his pelt warm up with embarrassment as she leaned towards Dewclaw, whispering something.
"Cloudpaw," Cherrystar said, clearing her throat, "we understand that you were the one who found Tiger, correct?"
"Yes," Cloudpaw said, nodding, "Sandpaw and I were walking back from collecting herbs and hunting and I smelled something dead. I thought maybe a warrior left something behind by accident and went to cover it, but found her."
"Do you remember smelling anything other then her?" Dewclaw asked, tail twitching.
"I smelled crow food, but other then that, no," Cloudpaw shook his head, "sorry I can't be of anymore help."
"No, you told us just what we needed," Cherrystar purred, standing, "thank you for helping. Dewclaw, Molewhisker, if you'd please join me."
Cloudpaw jumped down the Highrock at his dismissal, looking up to watch his mentor and deputy disappear into the den behind their leader. Cloudpaw sighed, worried about what Tiger's future would be. He didn't think it would be reasonable to send her back to wherever she came from, back to whatever did that to her. But, at the same time, leaf-bare was coming soon and they were already having to worry about the extra mouths of Lilyspot's kits. Not having enough prey for the Clan would result in mayhem.
"Cloudpaw," a light voice came from the side and he turned to see Seedfur standing there, tail flicking, "you seem worried. Want to go hunting?"
"Sure," Cloudpaw said to the older she-cat, walking with her out of camp.
"How about near the Sky Oak? You can practice climbing too."
"What, are you my mentor now?" Cloudpaw scoffed, flicking his ears. "Has Molewhisker gotten so worried over Lilyspot that he decided to move in to the nursery with her?"
Seedfur laughed, flicking the toms ear affectionately. "That's funny. I'm afraid that my sister wouldn't let him do that for even a moment. He's important to the Clan, especially with leaf-bare coming soon."
"You're right," Cloudpaw huffed, claws unsheathing and retracting as he walked. Seedfur noticed how uneasy the tom was and she sighed, looking at him with worry filled eyes.
"Are you okay, Cloudpaw? You've seemed awful distraught ever since you found Tiger."
"I'm just worried about her."
"You don't even know her, Cloudpaw," Seedfur said, "there's nothing that you should be worrying about."
"I think it's just whatever did ... that to her is what I'm worried about." Cloudpaw sighed as they reached the Sky Oak, sitting down and peering up at it. "What if it comes to the Clans and does the same to us?And if it already hurt Tiger, what makes us think that it won't do the same? It seems logical for us to welcome her into the Clan, but with leaf-bare around the corner, that would mean more mouths to feed, but also, it would mean more paws that are hunting."
Seedfur sat there for a moment, tail flicking in though. "You sound older then you are, Cloudpaw," she finally said, running her tail down his back, "and that frightens me a little. You remind me of your father when you speak like that."
"I never thought Dirtpelt would speak like that," Cloudpaw purred. Seedfur's ears twitched and she grunted in acknowledgement, her own mind trailing off. She smiled suddenly, looking back to the tom.
"How abut that tree climbing, hm?"
Cherrystar lay in her den, Molewhisker standing at the mouth of it with Dewclaw next to him. The she-cat sighed, tail lashing as she thought deeply of her decisions.
"It's dangerous, Cherrystar," Molewhisker said, giving his sister a hard look, "if we send cats out no, that could start a war with those alley rouges. With leaf-bare near ...,"
"Yes," the leader sighed, "but if we do nothing, then they may think it is alright for them to invade our territory. Also, Tiger siad that they would be back and we can't risk being attacked suddenly."
"How do we know she's not lying," Molewhisker hissed, his pelt fluffing up.
"You're past is blocking our decision," Dewclaw said, narrowing his eyes at the tom, "just because she looks like him and smelled like death doesn't mean-"
"Let Dovewing speak with her then," Molewhisker growled, glaring at Dewclaw, "she still has her power, doesn't she? She can see who this Tiger really is."
"Dovewing is old and had served our Clan well enough," Cherrystar growled, making the two toms look back to her. "I am your leader and we are going to do what I say. Dewclaw, I want you to take out Seedfur, Greeneyes, Dirtpelt, Whiteface, and Antpaw. Follow the crow food scent and if you find the cats, tell them they are not welcomed. Be ready for battle, though."
"Are you sure you want to send Antpaw?" Dewclaw asked. "He is the youngest apprentice."
"If I send Cloudpaw, his emotions may cloud his decisions. Antpaw it is."
Antpaw shook in his pelt as they walked out of ThunderClan territory. He had never been this far into the forest and it was frightening, especially since it was night. Instead of going on the night patrol, Dirtpelt told him they were going out on a patrol with Dewclaw to warn some rogues to not trespass on ThunderClan territory. Antpaw suspected that they were looking for the same cats that attacked Tiger.
"The scent is getting stronger," Seedfur said, who had taken the lead, being one of the best trackers in the Clan. They'd gotten closer to the Twoleg homes and the smell of ShadowClan was wafting over to them. They weren't on the territory, but they were near it. Seedfur hissed as she stopped at a hole in a Twoleg's fence. The smell of rogues came from it strongly and Dewclaw nodded, taking the lead.
Inside was a Twoleg thing. It was large, hill like, with many different things pilled in it. It smelled of crow food and the dirtplace, and made his nose curl up. Dewclaw was affected as well, lip curling up in disgust as the small patrol of cats weaved their way around the large piles and out onto a hard path. Dewclaw looked around, scenting the air.
"Not too far," he flicked his tail to a large, gray building, "I think they are over there."
The cats walked across a darker, hard path, Antpaw not liking the way it felt under his paws. They reached the building, pulling themselves under a gray fence that had holes in it, Antpaw's heart beating fast with fright and excitement.
"Stay close," Dewclaw said over his shoulder as they walked forward. Soon, cats emerged from the building, from holes in the walls and around the corners. Antpaw was shaking in his pelt.
"May I help you?" A deep voice came from the cat who stepped forward, a reddish-brown tom with cold green eyes stepped forward. His muzzle was criss crossed with scars and ears torn. His claws were out and scrapped around on the ground or the hard path. Antpaw swallowed hard.
"Hello, my name is Dewclaw," the deputy said, nodding to the tom, "I'm guessing you're the leader of this group?"
"That's nothing for you to be worried about," the tom growled, looking at all the cats, "now answer my question."
"We're here because we smelled your cats on our territory and they attacked one of us," Dewclaw said, looking at the cats that stood behind him. The tom looked over his shoulder and the cats scattered, except for one, a white tom. The leader flicked his tail and the tom stepped forward, walking up to stand next to him.
"Crow, did you attack one of their cats?"
"No, sir," the tom said, glaring to Dewclaw, "but we did look for Tiger. We found her dead though, just like we told you."
"That's a lie!" Antpaw shouted, a tail flying over his muzzle to shut him up. The two toms looked to the small apprentice, Crow's eyes widening as the red-brown toms narrowed.
"Don't worry," the leader said, "I won't do anything rash."
Dirtpelt growled lowly in a warning before removing his tail from his sons mouth. Antpaw spat out some fur before looking at the two large, strange toms with big eyes. "W-we found a she-cat named Tiger o-on our territory badly hurt. S-she said some c-cats attacked her a-a-and we're hear to tell them t-to stay off of ThunderClan territory."
"Ah," the leader said, "so you're from one of the Clan?"
"Yes, I didn't get your name, by the way," Dewclaw said, taking the lead once more and letting Antpaw calm down.
"Pine Needle, but you can call me Pine."
"Yes, Pine," Dewclaw says, "we are from the Clans and we do have Tiger. She was gravely injured and is still recovering. We are deciding what to do with her since she is our prisoner at the moment, but we assure you no harm will come to your member."
"Prisoner," Pine scoffed, rolling his eyes, "she's my daughter. I wish to have her back at once."
"Well," Dewclaw said, "I'm sure something can be arranged. Once her wounds are healed-"
"She's needed here," Pine said, "she's done some ... unforgivable acts and we need her to pay the consequences."
"Unforgivable?" Antpaw squeaked, eyes widening.
"Yes, kit," Crow hissed, glaring to the tom, "keep your ear's open."
Antpaw winced, forcing himself not to take a step back, to not show he was afraid. Crow looked eerily familiar, and it made Antpaw uncomfortable. The apprentice tucked his tail away and looked to the ground, letting the older and more experienced cats deal with the issue.
"Tiger killed her brother not too long ago," Pine said, "they were on a mission for me and she killed him because she knew he'd get the leader status once I passed."
"I see," Dewclaw said, ears twitching, "well, we will return her once-"
"You will return her tomorrow," Pine said, cutting to tom off, "or you will regret it."
Dewclaw narrowed his eyes at the tom and turned swiftly, going to leave the area. Antpaw took one last look to Crow, who was now whispering in Pine's ear, before running to catch up with his group, his heart hanging heavily when he realized who Crow resembled.
Cloudpaw lay in the medicine cat's den, chin on his paws as Sandpaw tended to the cuts on his back. His brother was purring in amusement and Tiger was watching them with a tilted head, trying to hold back a laugh herself.
"How was I suppose to know there would be a bramble bush below it," Cloudpaw hissed, looking to the side as Sandpaw laughed.
"Why were you in the tree in the first place?" Tiger asked, ears twitching.
"I was practicing."
"Tree climbing?"
"Yes, we-ow!-we learn how to battle from trees and hunt. It's something ThunderClan cats use to their advantage. ShadowClan cats are good at hunting and fighting in the dark, WindClan is balanced and fast, and RiverClan knows how to swim great."
"That's ... interesting." Tiger looked outside of the den, suddenly going into deep thought.
"There," Sandpaw grunted, stepping back from Cloudpaw, "you're good. Just don't go rolling around in some dirt. I don't want to have to treat infected wounds."
"Yeah, yeah," Cloudpaw grumbled, standing up and stretching. He looked to Tiger who watched with fascination as Molewhisker grabbed a mouse form the fresh-kill pile, bringing it to the nursery. Blackstripe and Amberpool were sharing tongues while Cherrystar and Snowpelt talked softly. Dovewing emerged from the elders den, stretching out, her blue eyes looking straight ahead, blind. "If you want," Cloudpaw said to Tiger, "we can go out and share a vole or something."
"I don't think I'd be welcomed out there," Tiger said, "Cherrystar said something about letting me leave when my wounds are okay. I'm leaving tomorrow I think."
"Well, it wouldn't hurt to get something to eat, would it?" Cloudpaw chuckled, flicking her uninjured ear with his tail. She looked over, blinking and then smiled and nodded. Tiger looked to Sandpaw who nodded, before standing up and shaking her pelt out. Herbs stuck to it, covering her wounds. The two trotted out of the den and Tiger looked around, taking in the scene.
"This is the fresh-kill pile," Cloudpaw said, point to it with his tail, "this is where all the prey goes once we bring it back to camp. That's Cherrystar's den, above the Highrock. She makes announcements there. Then that, over there, is the warriors den. It's were the sleep. Then the apprentices den, where Antpaw and I stay, and that over there, with the gray old she-cat in front, is the elders den. Lastly, there is the nursery, where the queens and kits stay."
"Kits?" Tiger said, ears twitching.
"Well, yeah, but we don't have any right now," Cloudpaw nosed through the pile before pulling out a squirrel, "Lilyspot is expecting Molewhisker's kits, though. That's why he visits so often."
Tiger nodded and settled down as Cloudpaw dropped the squirrel. He purred happily as he laid down as well, taking a bite from the prey. Tiger did as well, swallowing the bite quickly, licking her jaws happily. Cloudpaw looked up at the sky, nervous. It had been a while since Dewclaw went out with the patrol to get the alley cats off their territory. Now, they were just waiting for the patrol to return. It was waiting with their breath held, to see if their members were injured or not.
The entrance rustled and the patrol entered. The warriors glanced Cloudpaw's way,their eyes moving to Tiger and flashing with fright before they trotted off ot the warriors den to rest. Dewclaw was lashing his tail and he bounded over to Cherrystar's den, disappearing inside. Antpaw was shaking as he walked over, looking to Tiger with wide green eyes. The ginger tom swallowed hard, grabbing a mouse and settled next to his brother.
"How did it go?" Cloudpaw asked, giving Antpaw a weird look.
"F-fine. We talked to their leader." Antpaw mumbled, taking a bite form his mouse.
"Where did you go?" Tiger asked. Antpaw jumped at her voice and she narrowed her eyes at him.
"T-to the alleys to talk to the cats who attacked you. They were on our territory so we had to tell them to not come back," Antpaw pushed his half eaten mouse around as Tiger's eyes widened in fright, her ears flattening back as her tail tucked away. "The leader, Pine, h-he said he was your father. He also said that you-"
"Tiger!" A yowl came from the Highrock and the three apprentices looked up to see Cherrystar standing tall, looking down. She flicked her tail and Tiger looked back to the other two who swallowed thickly. Tiger got up and approached the Highrock, feeling her heart beat fast. If they'd spoken to Pine, she knew that he told them about her brother. "Come up here, and be careful." Cherrystar said, turning back into her den.
Tiger scaled up the cliff, grumbling as pebbles slipped beneath her paws. She landed on the Highrock, slowly walking into the leaders den. Cherrystar sat calmly, tail wrapped around her paws. Dewclaw sat next to her, his tail lashing with anger. Tiger looked at the both with wide, frightened eyes.
"Dewclaw tells me," Cherrystar started, "that when they visited, they found out that you are the leaders daughter. Also, you killed your brother on a mission of some sorts. I need to know if this is true or not."
"Yes, I am his daughter," Tiger said, tail flicking nervously, "but I did not kill my brother. Not on purpose, that is." Cherrystar and Dewclaw looked to each other before Cherrystar nodded to Tiger for her to continue. Tiger shuffled her paws for a moment. "We were on a mission to tell a few Twoleg pets that they couldn't trespass on our territory. One of them was a golden tabby, just like my brother. it was dark and we made a plan to sneak up on both sides. Only, it was him, my brother, Lion. He was standing in the middle of the yard because he'd gotten there before me and scared the tom off. I-I didn't know I was just-"
"Following orders," Cherrystar finished as Tiger hung her head.
"But you still killed an innocent life," Dewclaw said, holding his head high.
"We've both thought long and hard about what I'm offering you," Cherrystar said, clearing her throat, "Dewclaw was unsure at first, but after visiting your old group, we've both agreed. We wanted to know if you wanted to join ThunderClan."
"M-me?"
"You're the only one in here, aren't you?" Cherrystar purred with amusement. "If so, you'd have to learn our ways, learn the warrior code if that's the path you pick. It's not an easy life, it may be harder then the alley cat way. There are times where apprentices and warriors don't go to bed with a full stomach, and those times are arriving soon. Once you join, there is no turning back."
"Also," Dewclaw said, "you are expected to listen to your leader and deputy. We don't know how the alley cats lived, but we will not tolerate any misconduct."
"Yes," Tiger said, nodding, "I understand. I am ... thankful for your offer and I ... I would be honored to become part of your Clan." Tiger bowed her head to the two and Cherrystar nodded.
"Good, we will have your apprentice ceremony in the morning," Cherrystar said, flicking her tail, giving the she-cat a small smile, "and welcome to the Clan."
ThunderClan
Leader: Cherrystar - small ginger she-cat
Deputy: Dewclaw - gray and white tom
Medicine Cat: Snowpelt - fluffy white tom with amber eyes (Apprentice: Sandpaw)
Warriors:
Molewhisker - large cream-and-brown tom (Apprentice: Cloudpaw)
Seedfur - pale ginger she-cat
Amberpool - gray she-cat with white paws, muzzle, right ear and amber eyes
Greeneyes- brown tom
Dirtpelt - dark brown and ginger tom (Apprentice: Antpaw)
Whiteface- black she-cat with a white dash on her forehead
Blackstripe- black tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Apprentices:
Cloudpaw - white tom with amber eyes
Sandpaw - ginger-and-brown tabby tom
Antpaw- ginger tom with white ears
Queens:
Lilyspot - dark tabby she-cat with white patches
Elders:
Dovewing - old gray she-cat with blind blue eyes
Other:
Tiger - dark brown tabby she-cat with scarred nose and pelt
Cats Outside Of Clans
Crow - pure white tom with amber eyes
Mini - tabby she-cat with icy blue eyes
Mani - tabby she-cat with cool yellow eyes
Pine - reddish-brown tom with scared muzzle and torn ears
