Hey everyone!
Just a short little chapter today. Mainly cause I only got one review last chapter (Thanks for the review, Wolf!) :(!
Hopefully, the amount of action in the chapter makes up for the shortness. I'll post the updated allegiances at the end of the chapter though, including ShadowClan, RiverClan and WindClan!
I've got a terrible case of writer's block right now. :( Can you give me a review with a tiny little suggestion to help it ease up? I'd be eternally grateful if you did! Pretty please? *Big Puss-In-Boots eyes*
Anyway, I'm really glad you all like the story so much! It's hard not to be optimistic all day with your positive feedback! :)
This chapter is dedicated to my good friends Wildheart and Echofang, who I roleplay with online.
Okay, I'm finished droning on now! Here's the actual chapter!
Frostshine prodded Featherheart on her belly. "First patrol as a warrior! Come on, Featherheart!" He meowed excitedly, as if it was his first patrol too. Featherheart rolled onto her back and purred. "Morning Frostshine. I'll come soon as I can!" She mewed, and got up to stretch. She looked out of the entrance of the den. It was past sunhigh, and she'd had plenty of sleep after her vigil.
Featherheart padded out of the den, freshly groomed and well rested. Frostshine, her mate, waited outside the den for her. "Come on then, let's go!" He meowed and ran off. Featherheart caught up easily and halted him with her tail. "Wait. I want to show you something." She whispered, then beckoned with her tail in the direction of the tunnels. Frostshine, slightly confused, nodded and waited for his mate to take the lead.
The red tabby she-cat and the silver tom both rushed to the tunnels, where Featherheart signalled for Frostshine to halt. "See this tunnel?" She mewed and pointed her tail at the entrance to the tunnels. Frostshine nodded slowly. "Well, when Dawnsky, Moonwing and Rainshine were busy fighting the fox, I went in here."
Frostshine stared at her in bewilderment. "What? Why?" He wondered out loud. He then smelled the faint scent of fox around the entrance and understood.
"It doesn't matter about that. Anyway, follow me. I know the way, and there's something I think you might need to know." Featherheart meowed and disappeared into the dark, endless tunnels.
Eventually Featherheart and Frostshine arrived in the large cave that the she-cat had been in just yesterday. Her mate glanced in amazement at the walls, carved from the river; the river itself, and the hole in the roof. "Why didn't you tell Skystar about this?" Frostshine whispered. His voice echoed around the walls of the cave. Featherheart stayed silent as wisps of faint light began to appear in the cave.
Nightwish appeared in front of the two young warriors, eyes filled with warmth. "Featherheart, I see you have brought your mate, my kin. Welcome, young Frostshine." The dark she-cat meowed to the cats. Frostshine's blue eyes filled with a mixture of amazement, disbelieving, wonder and confusion. "Your... Your kin?" The silver tom meowed. Nightwish purred. "Yes. Your mother, Amberstorm, was my distant niece. She doesn't know about me, but I have been watching over her, your siblings and you. I know that you have a great destiny, Frostshine. Believe me."
Featherheart blinked. "And according to you, I do too. What in StarClan are our destinies?" She meowed. A sound echoed around the cave, coming from a narrow tunnel across the river. Nightwish vanished, and Featherheart and Frostshine were left alone in the cave.
An auburn cat stumbled out of the tunnel. A cat both Featherheart and Frostshine knew. In fact, their whole clan knew her.
"Foxtail!"
Foxheart, her ribs showing under her fox-coloured fur, bared her teeth, but her green eyes betrayed her longing to rejoin ThunderClan. "Featherpaw, Frostshine, what are you doing here?" She meowed, "Oh, and didn't you listen? I go by the name Foxheart now."
Featherheart rushed over to her, leaping over the river, and pressed her muzzle into her friend's fur. "Why in StarClan did you go? Foxheart, I missed you!" She meowed. Foxheart stiffened and shrugged her off. "We can't be friends. I am with ShadowClan now. They forbid me to befriend ThunderClan cats." Was Foxheart's reply. She emphasized her fact with a snarl.
Featherheart, taken aback, stepped backwards and tumbled into the icy cold water of the river. "But why? I'm friends with Hazelpaw!" She meowed quietly. Foxheart bared her teeth. "Just leave it, Featherpaw. We can't be friends."
"It's Featherheart now, and you still haven't explained herself." Featherheart snarled back. Foxheart rolled her green eyes. "Listen, mousebrain, real friends would've come with me to ShadowClan. Real friends are more loyal to their friends than their clan. You chose ThunderClan, the clan that hates me, over me. I would have come with you if you got exiled. I thought you were true friends. I was a true friend to you. Clearly I was wrong." She meowed, hurt and anger burning in her eyes.
Frostshine bared his teeth. "Any truly loyal cat would stay with their Clan, even if it meant leaving their friends. I thought you were a true friend as well, but at the moment I can see you were just being selfish. If this is the real cat I knew, then you deserve to be exiled. Our whole friendship was a lie." He meowed, hurt.
Foxheart hissed. "I'll make sure to organise a special death for you, Frostshine, when the Dark Forest rises. You have insulted and offended me. Abandon any hope you have of further friendship. You're no friend of mine."
Featherheart noticed the glimmer of longing, lingering in Foxheart's green eyes. And as her gaze turned to Featherheart, there was a flicker of jealousy in her eyes. Was Foxheart jealous of her relationship with Frostshine?
Foxheart flattened her ears. "Next time I catch you in my tunnels, you'll be ripped to shreds, I promise." The auburn cat threatened, and scampered back through the tunnels in ShadowClan territory.
Featherheart hissed after her, tail flicking. To a more mature cat, this was simply the end of a small friendship. But to her, this meant war.
Dawnsky prowled through the dead trees of the Dark Forest to meet her secret mate, Echoshade, ShadowClan medicine cat apprentice. She met the black tom licking his white paws near the dark river in the clearing. She purred a greeting. "Hey, Echoshade."
Echoshade looked up. "Oh, hi Dawnpaw." He mewed casually. Dawnsky rolled her eyes. "It's Dawnsky now. How are you?"
Her mate looked impressed. "A warrior now, eh? I'm just glad I got a chance to learn warrior skills. It's so unfair that I didn't get to become a warrior, just because of my twisted paw!" Echoshade complained, and held up a shriveled paw. Dawnsky threw him a look of pity. "You would have been great as a warrior, and the Dark Forest proved that. I just can't wait till the Dark Forest defeats StarClan once and for all, and you can prove yourself to every other cat!"
Echoshade purred now. "Yes, that day can't be far now. Hey, Dawnsky, I just wanted to tell you, I've noticed lately at the Gatherings you've been mooning over Rainshine. How come? We'll be proper mates really soon."
Dawnsky scuffed him on his ear. "I'm trying to get him to the Dark Forest. Of course I would never choose that furball over you!" She meowed as if it was all a big joke to her. Echoshade rolled his eyes. "If you say so."
"Come on, Echoshade!" Wolffur, Echoshade's Dark Forest mentor called from near the Bloodboulder. "Okay, Wolffur! See you later, Dawnsky!" The black tom half limped, half scampered off to the pretty silver she-cat.
Featherheart looked at the lush forest surrounding her. This part of StarClan was familiar to her, but if she was training with the Living StarClan, where was Squirrelstripe and the others?
"Featherheart..." A soft voice whispered to Featherheart from behind her. She turned, quick as lightning, but there was no cat, no movement, no anything.
"Featherheart..." The voice whispered again. "Featherheart, you are alone in this journey. You will be betrayed by your best friends, your mate, your medicine cats, your whole clan. You will be betrayed by your family, all of your family. Trust no cat. Betrayal lurks behind every tree, in every badger set, everywhere. StarClan cannot help you. Only you and you alone can save the clans. Trust no-one!"
Featherheart whimpered. Was the voice right? Would her own mate betray her? Trust no-one... The whisper echoed in her ears.
"The stars will be gone by dawn, but a feather on the breeze will make then bright once more." The same whisper came again and repeated the prophecy.
"The stars will be gone by dawn, but a feather on the breeze will make them bright once more." This time the whisper was joined by other voices, of toms and she-cats, of elders and kits.
"The stars will be gone by dawn, but a feather on the breeze will make them bright once more!" The noise echoed around invisible walls, filling her ears with the din. Featherheart couldn't stand it anymore. She yowled.
Featherheart opened her eyes, still yowling. Many warriors in the den had woken and were staring at her. She stared right back, her ears flat on her head. She panted and rushed out of the den. As she ran through the gorse tunnel, she looked at the dawn sky. It was usually purple, but it was growing a reddish tinge. Featherheart whimpered. At that moment, she'd never felt more alone.
Did ya like it? Hopefully you did! Review please! ^.^
Anyways, here's the allegiances as promised! Breezefeather OUT!
THUNDERCLAN
Leader: Skystar: white tom with sky-blue eyes
Deputy: Goldenheart: A gold tom with long claws
Medicine cat: Ravenpelt: Mottled black she-cat with a white tail-tip and amber eyes
(apprentice, Petalpaw)
Warrors: Sharpfang: a brown tabby tom with green eyes
Mudfeather: A fluffy brown she-cat with a white chest, one white ear, green eyes
Amberstorm: A black she-cat with amber eyes
Owleye: a white tom with wide green eyes
Patchfoot: A tortoiseshell and white tom with amber eyes
Blackear: A white tom with black ears (apprentice, Breezepaw)
Mousefoot: A tawny she-cat with wide green eyes
Dustyfur: An old light gray tom with one torn ear and blue eyes
Nutfrost: A tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes (apprentice, Nightpaw)
Birdfeather: A fluffy gold she-cat with white paws and leaf green eyes
Tansyfur: A golden and white tabby she-cat with mismatching eyes
Whitefoot: A tortoiseshell tom with white paws and yellow eyes
Darkbird: A fluffy black tom with blue eyes
Tawnypatch: A fluffy tortoiseshell and white she-cat with blue eyes
Silverstripe: A silver tabby she-cat with a dark grey tail-tip and amber eyes
(apprentice, Stonepaw)
Frostshine: A silver tabby tom with one white paw and blue eyes
Dawnsky: A dark ginger tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Rainshine: A silver tabby tom with amber eyes
Moonwing: A silver and white tabby tom with green eyes
Featherheart: A fluffy dark ginger tabby she-cat with white paws and blue eyes
Apprentices: Petalpaw: A white she-cat with silver spots all over her pelt, amber eyes
Stonepaw: A blue-grey she-cat with silver paws, green eyes
Breezepaw: A white she-cat with green eyes
Nightpaw: A black tom with green eyes
Queens: Bluefrost: a blue-gray she-cat with one darker gray paw and amber eyes Mate: Goldenheart Kits: Expecting
Kits:
Elders: Halfpelt: An old brown tabby tom with clumps of fur falling out, blue eyes
Rosedrop: A pretty golden tabby she-cat with green eyes
SHADOWCLAN
Leader: Flowerstar: A pretty tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes
Deputy: Robinwing: A tawny brown and white tabby she-cat with green eyes
Medicine cat: Blackstripe: A grey tabby tom with black stripes and blue eyes
Apprentice, Echoshade
Warriors: Whitenose: A grey tabby tom with a white nose and yellow eyes
Sparrowflight: A tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes
Goldenfang: A golden tabby tom with darker flecks and blue eyes
Apprentice, Hazelpaw
Fernstream: A mottled grey she-cat with green eyes
Smalltail: A ginger tom with a white chest, stumpy tail and amber eyes
Willowleaf: A ginger tabby she-cat with green eyes
Apprentice, Bumblepaw
Shrewfoot: A smoky grey tom with amber eyes
Duskbreeze: A dark ginger she-cat with amber eyes
Stonefall: A brown tabby tom with green eyes and white streaks
Leafwhisker: A tortoiseshell she-cat with a red tail and green eyes
Harewhisker: A tawny tabby tom with long whiskers and amber eyes
Raggedtail: A fluffy blue-grey she-cat with a white chest and blue eyes
Apprentice, Poppypaw
Branchtail: A black tom with amber eyes
Redwing: Dark Ginger tabby she-cat with yellow eyes
Foxheart: A dark ginger she-cat with a bushy tail and green eyes
Apprentices: Hazelpaw: A tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes
Echoshade: A black tom with amber eyes and white paws, one twisted
Bumblepaw: A brown tabby she-cat with white stripes and green eyes
Poppypaw: A mottled grey tom with white ears and blue eyes
Queens: Sunwish: A tortoiseshell and white she-cat with yellow eyes. Mate: Shrewfoot.
Kits: Yellowkit, Hollykit, Whitekit
Hollowpelt: A white she-cat with yellow eyes. Mate: Branchtail Kits: expecting
Kits: Yellowkit: A tortoiseshell and white tom with yellow eyes and a white paw
Hollykit: A smoky grey she-cat with yellow eyes
Whitekit: A tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes and a white mark on her nose
Elders: Ambereye: A white she-cat with one amber eye and one blue one
Spottedfur: A leopard spotted grey tom with green eyes
RIVERCLAN:
Leader: Spottedstar: A leopard spotted brown tom with amber eyes
Deputy: Frostwhisker: A silver tabby tom with blue eyes and white patches
Medicine cat: Ivyspots: A tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes and white streaks
Warriors: Leopardclaw: A leopard spotted brown she-cat with blue eyes
Brownstripe: A brown tom with a darker stripe down his back and yellow eyes
Lionfur: A gold she-cat with long hair around her neck and amber eyes
Apprentice, Sweetpaw
Jaggedclaw: A black and white tom with long, sharp claws and green eyes
Silverpetal: A silver tabby she-cat with amber eyes
Kestralwing: A brown tom with wide green eyes
Apprentice, Briarpaw
Sandstripe: A sandy colored tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Tabbyclaw: A grey tabby she-cat with green eyes, former kittypet
Greystream: A smoky grey tom with blue eyes, former loner
Treeleaf: A black she-cat with leaf green eyes and a white ear
Mistflow: A blue-grey tom with amber eyes
Mintfoot: A tortoiseshell and white she-cat with yellow eyes
Snowfeather: A white tom with grey patches and amber eyes
Swiftbird: A black and white she-cat with long fur and green eyes
Stormlight: A ginger tabby tom with long fur and blue eyes
Apprentice, Honeypaw
Apprentices: Briarpaw: A brown tabby tom with green eyes
Sweetpaw: A golden tabby she-cat with green eyes
Honeypaw: A dark ginger tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Queens: Leapfoot: A grey tabby with blue eyes. Mate: Mistflow Kit: Tigerkit
Leafstorm: A brown tabby with amber eyes. Mate: Jaggedclaw
Kits: expecting
Kits: Tigerkit: A grey tabby she-cat with yellow eyes and dark stripes
Elders: Littlebird: A small tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes
Puddlestep: A blue-grey she-cat with green eyes
Longpelt: A long-haired brown tabby tom with one yellow eye
WINDCLAN
Leader: Windstar: A blue-grey she-cat with yellow eyes and silver streaks
Deputy: Blueclaw: A blue-grey tom with green eyes and white paws
Apprentice, Brownpaw
Medicine cat: Grasswhisker: A brown tom with light green eyes and a white tail-tip
Apprentice, Willowpaw
Warriors: Thistlefang: A White tom with black feet and amber eyes
Apprentice, Rosepaw
Heatherpetal: A golden tabby and white she-cat with wide, green eyes
Nectarclaw: A light brown tabby tom with yellow eyes
Flamewish: A ginger tabby she-cat with blue eyes and a white tail-tip
Apprentice, Birdpaw
Blacktail: A tortoiseshell tom with a black tail and green eyes
Apprentice, Berrypaw
Clawfoot: A ginger she-cat with white marks on one foot and amber eyes
Honeytail: A gold tom with a white belly and a long tail, green eyes
Rowanbranch: A light brown she-cat with green eyes
Apprentice, Mousepaw
Wildspirit: A mottled grey she-cat with blue eyes
Apprentices: Willowpaw: A brown tom with darker flecks and blue eyes
Berrypaw: A blue-grey tom with a white paw and yellow eyes
Mousepaw: A mottled brown she-cat with a white tail-tip and amber eyes
Brownpaw: A white she-cat with a brown foot and tail-tip, blue eyes
Birdpaw: A dark ginger tabby tom with a white tail-tip and amber eyes
Queens: Mottledfang: A mottled grey she-cat with green eyes. Mate: Thistlefang
Kits: Goldenkit, Branchkit, Molekit
Stripes: A grey tabby with brown eyes, former kittypet. Mate: Nectarclaw
Kits: Greykit, Brownkit
Lilystream: A tawny brown she-cat with yellow eyes. Mate: Honeytail
Kits: expecting
Kits: Goldenkit: A white she-cat with golden eyes
Branchkit: A mottled grey she-cat with amber eyes
Molekit: A long-limbed white tom with black spots and brown eyes
Greykit: A grey tabby she-cat with brown eyes
Brownkit: A tawny brown tom with a long tail and green eyes
Elders: Ruffledtail: A large grey tom with chunks of fur falling out