Thank you to all who reviewed! Thanks to all those who read, as well. The rest of this week, I'll try to do an update every day! I got a couple of requests for a preview of Deceived. So after the chapter below, I will introduce the prologue. And I apologize for the shortness of my chapters. It's longer on my writing program, but the Fanfiction website layout is larger so it appears shorter. And, since I haven't done a disclaimer the past few chapters, here it is.
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of warriors whatsoever.
~Brightsun
The WindClan warriors huddled in the inner circle, terrified and shocked at the sight of these enemy warriors in their camp. The circle of warriors still surrounded WindClan, but a few more came in and piled fresh-kill into their jaws and dashed out, unnoticed. Jayfeather headed into the empty medicine den. ThunderClan pressed closer with snarls of outrage until Ashstar got fed up with the staring contest.
"What is the meaning of this!" She demanded in a tight, strict voice. Firestar answered by leaping on her, scratching her back with razor sharp claws. Ashstar shrieked, trying to thrash him off
"We're giving a surprise visit." He spat in her ear. He then raised his head and yowled, "ThunderClan, attack!" His warriors closed up the last of the circle and hissed threats. Firestar wrestled with Ashstar, her having no success. Poppyfrost came out of the medicine den and snatched two large, plump rabbits.
WindClan was fighting furiously, but losing. They were obviously still tired and slower then usual from the plentiful prey. Brambleclaw and Crowfeather were writhing on the ground in tight combat. Leafpool glanced their way, worried. She still had feelings for him. She then charged back into the battle.
My gaze was drawn back to Ashstar and Firestar. She was winning, and coming close to sinking her teeth into his neck. But he was faster. His neck stretched out and it caught Ashstar's neck, he pulled and she fell in and he bit deeper. She shrieked and went limp in his jaws.
He tossed her away gently and dived off Tallrock, into the mass of screeching cats.
I tore my gaze away from the Starpool. "Tallstar! Where's Ashstar gone?" I hissed. He nodded toward the area where we'd given her the Nine Lives of a Leader. I sprinted away, dodging rocks and trees. There was a brilliant light and her body lay there, unmoving and silent.
She began to stir and moan. I touched my nose to her wound. "Ashstar, you have been killed. Be still and the healing will proceed faster." I willed the wound to close. Lights flashed and stars gathered around her neck. They pooled into the wound and closed it. I did a double-take and sent her back.
I leapt over rocks and bounded across the fields back to the pool. The battle was still raging in the gentle ripples of the water, unchanged. I opened my jaws to ask Tallstar of the stars in Ashstar's wound, but he was already speaking.
"The Healing Ceremony of a Leader looks different to a StarClan cat, rather than a living." He meowed. I nodded. Oh. That had not been confirmed. You learn something new every day. Ashstar was stirring and gasped, her eyes glowing with relief.
Firestar observed the fresh-kill pile. Nothing remained except a chunk of rabbit meat that was cut cleanly, left by a ThunderClan cat who wanted to torture them.
"ThunderClan! Fall back!" He yowled. They streamed out, none of them having a bleeding wound except for Firestar. WinClan cats sneered at them, as they thought they had won. The sneering stopped as they looked at the fresh-kill pile. The elders, who had come back to camp, started to complain and gripe and moan.
Crowfeather started to organize patrols, more hunting then border. He looked up at Ashstar.
" When do we want to send an invading patrol?" He asked, turning his head back to his Clan while he said it.
"Never." Ashstar croaked, rubbing her throat with a gray paw. "Onestar told me never to attack back."
Cats had left so I reached in and dabbed the Starpool with my paw. The images rippled and faded slowly, leaving only silky blue water in its place.
There you go, one chapter of Onestar's Regrets placed and read. I will now carry on with the prologue of Deceived! Thanks to Cinderpaw, Shiningspirit, and Sparklespazz for reviewing and asking! Please enjoy!
Prologue: In StarClan
A small framed gray tabby she-cat stood by the Starpool. Her deep green eyes were wide with sadness. A dark gray tom sat beside her. A white tom and a blue-gray she-cat came to sit beside them.
They were staring at a fluffy white tom in the pool.
"Cloudtail!" The gray tabby wailed. "Why?" She sobbed in her throat. Her white tom companion entwined his tail with hers.
"I don't know, Brindleface," He whispered.
The blue cat stepped in. "Whitestorm, Brindleface," She scolded. "Stop acting like fretful parents!"
Whitestorm looked at her, somewhat amused. "We are fretful parents, Bluestar." He twitched his whiskers softly.
The dark tom spoke. "We must punish him, though I hate to do it to my former mentor."
Bluestar nodded ruefully. "Yes, we must, Rainwhisker."
Brindleface cried out again, pressing so close to Whitestorm, he almost fell over. He regained his balance and stroked her with his tail comfortingly. Bluestar and Rainwhisker nodded in sympathy.
Cloudtail had just done the stupidest thing he had ever done. He climbed up the Great Oak at the Gathering and announced StarClan didn't exist. Shocked gasps had come from all the Clans, but Mothwing didn't seem to mind.
Rainwhisker's head shot up. "I've got it!" He yowled. "The perfect punishment!"
Daisy P.O.V
I'd never stopped loving Cloudtail. Not even a heartbeat. My fur tingled whenever I thought about him, my mind racing, my heart pounding, my fur standing on end.
But back when I'd met him, no one had told me he was hers. When I found out, I thought my heart would burst and my fur would go green with envy.
Oh, Brightheart thinks we're fine now, but just wait. I'm improvising. I'm just waiting. The day will come, but I just have to wait. Soon...