Chapter 12
Three leaders and an outcast stood on the island. SkyClan had come to a decision and it was to proceed with saving RiverClan from Darkstar's rein and saving Deepfrost clan. Sparklebelly stood at the foot of her leader, ready to support her clan's choices.
"So, you're proposing we all risk our lives against a cat who's already proven himself not beatable? Have we forgotten WindClan's loses Crowstar? Have we forgotten the death of one of the eldest cats around the lake? Have we so easily forgotten Hollywhisker" Jumpstar challenged the leader with teeth bared. Sparklebelly's pelt burned with rage and she unsheathed her claws.
"I'm proposing we stop this monster before both RiverClan And ShadowClan are gone forever. Just as easily as he took Ravenstar's last life he can take one of yours he's made that clear. Now is the time to attack. They have less members among them. If RiverClan sees we are fighting for them we may just have a chance against them."
"ThunderClan will join you once more. We are strong, we have many young and healthy warriors amongst us. The seasons have been fair to us. This a plague on all of us. Not just SkyClan and ShadowClan." Silverstar meowed. Her warriors cheered in support of her, all but one Tangleweb. The tom looked agitated and flicked his tail irritably. Sparklebelly Narrowed her eyes at the tom suspicious of why he wasn't in support of his lead? If every other cat was? Whatever the case they now had the support of ThunderClan.
"I will leave it up to my warriors, All those who would like to join ThunderClan,SkyClan And ShadowClan step forward. I will lead the attack. We have new kits coming into this clan soon we are vulnerable and small Unfortunately unlike ThunderClan the seasons were not so kind to our kits." Jumpstar hissed. The once fair and understanding leader just seemed to be dragging his claws with every pawstep. Antleap, Tornface, a young apprentice and Birdsong stepped forward while Racoontail, Cherryleaf and Softwing fell silent.
"Very well a patrol of my warriors will join you in this battle. There is only a few of us but Raccoontail must protect our queens at our camp. I'm sorry Crowstar I will not risk the future of my clan." Jumpstar meowed fairly.
"then we are all in agreeance. We will meet in a half moon to discuss our plan of attack. The warrior code states in times of need the Clans must work together and fight as one to defeat a common enemy. Thank you Jumpstar and SilverStar, from all of SkyClan." Crowstar meowed bowing his head
The gather was at an end and the leaders jumped from their post to return to their own clans.
Sparklebelly found herself once again dragged into her dream world of the Dark Forest it seemed like Nightcloud hadn't visited her for moons. When it was only a half moon she had trained with her last. Nightcloud has introduced her to Juniperstar and a cat named Redwillow from when Hawkstar had first come to the lake territories with Leafstar. Juniperstar was once a part of ShadowClan. Redwillow's identity remained a secret to her.
"Welcome." Nightcloud greeted the she-cat with open paws. Sparklebelly dipped her head to the ghostly almost see through she-cat.
"Tonight, you will face an old enemy. Tonight, you will prove your worth. Not just as my warrior but as the strength and heart of your Clan, as its deputy." She meowed. And with a whisk of her tail revealed a ghostly tom. Less ghostly than Nightcloud but almost evenly matched and behind him a cat who she knew all too well. Duskclaw.
Sparklebelly started to hiss and dug her claws deep into the earthy forest floor. Her neck fur bristled and he was ready to tear the toms throat out. She was ready to kill him for a second time! The Place Of No Stars was too good for THIS tom. He was hardly see through at all if she didn't know any better she would believe he still breathed!
"Now then Nightcloud, shouldn't you control your apprentice? After all he is kin." The words left the sleek gray toms lips. The word kin had a special pleasantness.
"HUSH Slatefur, remember to respect your elders. Or I'll remind you." Nightcloud hissed turning on the tom swiping at him as a warning shot. "What this mouse-brained tom means to explain is the reason you were chosen and you're here. Darkstar is not your enemy." Nightcloud spoke. Sparklebelly was instantly taken back by the she-cars words. 'Not my enemy! Is this she-cat crazy!?'
"Darkstar's motives are provoked by yours truly." The she-cat purred as she touched her tail a crossed Sparklebelly's body in a seductive manor. "He doesn't realize it but he is yet just still a pawn. What have the Clans ever done for you? Create borders so that you cannot love? Punish you when you've simply done nothing wrong at all? Make you follow a way of life that ends in scuffles and border battles? Wouldn't you much rather live around the lake as One. In unity as Kin. However still uphold the warrior code?" Nightcloud questioned. Before the deputy could respond the old she-cat continued. "Moons before you were born Redwillow, Slatefur, Juniperstar and many of us here all lives alongside the lake, a cat came to us that nearly destroyed a Clan, your Clan." Nightcloud meowed.
Sparklebelly had heard nursery tails of how Leafstar, hawkstar, Bramblestar, Rowanstar, Mistystar and Onestar had fought a vicious group of cats called The Kin. Onestar leader of WindClan had lost his final life in the battle and SkyClan retook its place amongst the clans against what remained of The Kin. The cats were defeated inevitably but she never knew she would be standing before them!
"So where is Darktail then?" Sparklebelly demanded now realizing what Nightcloud was trying to get at.
"Ah see that's just the thing Darktail never believed in the warrior code or StarClan so he doesn't walk with us. However, his ShadowClan recruits do which is just as good I suppose. However, our goal is to bring The Kin back to the clans. This mouse brained 'Clan purity.' Darkstar proposes is from this idea. Yet he is still merely a pawn." Nightcloud spat the toms name. "You can be with Grimheart, I know it's what you truly want. If you fight alongside us you can have him as one CLAN!" Nightcloud meowed.
"You cats are crazy! I'll never join your insane group of cats! No living cat would!" Sparklebelly hissed jumping for Nightcloud. The she-cat dodged the deputies attack with ease.
"Oh, but that is where you're dearly wrong deputy. Cats you speak with everyday are a part of The NEW Kin. You only know such a small portion of what we show you Sparky." Nightcloud hissed. "Last chance! Join us, or die in the battle against us!" She growled extending her claws. Sparklebelly kept her stance of aggression and refused to give the she-cat another word.
"You have betrayed me just as my own mate, and yours will again. you're no better than the cats you worked here to fight against. LEAVE THIS PLACE!" Nightcloud growled swiping at the she-cat pain seared through Sparklebellys muzzle. Blood splattered in front of her and on her muzzle.
When Sparklebelly opened her eyes, she was back in SkyClan camp her muzzle dripping with massive amounts of blood. The deputy's anger returned to her, now that she knew what was really going on. She was attentive for what Nightwhisper and the others had to say. The she-cat got to her paws to speak with her medicine cat.
A tom in the clearing raised his head and his bold head and yellow piercing gaze stood out in the darkness of the night. His flat muzzle parted to smell the air, his eyes fixed on Sparklebelly. The tom got to his paws quickly.
"Are you okay!? What happened!?" the tom demanded licking the she-cats large gash between her muzzle and eye.
"It's a long story, you may listen if you come to Nightwhisper's den." Sparklebelly meowed with a dark gaze. The tabby tom flicked his stumpy tail for the young she-cat to lead the way.
Sparklebelly padded on to the medicine cats den she had always known and always seen. The place almost felt like her den sometimes. Ferns covered the little hole in the ground that led to the den. As she padded down the small slope she found herself in the familiar stone floor. Pockets filled the walls of the dirt and stone den that held the three medicine cats herb store. She took everything in about the den she had never.
In the corner, all laying in a circle was Nightwhisper, Brightstone and ShadowClan's medicine cat Cloudjump. The all white tom stood out in the darkness of the den all but his deep black tail which seemed to be missing in the darkness. Sparklebelly padded to the eldest Medicine cat. She prodded the tom in the side with her paw until his snoring stopped.
"Is there a reason you're waking me after moon high?" The tom grumbled irritated. However he was now fully aware. "well!" the tom demanded.
"I know what Nightcloud is up to. Do you remember that nursery tale? The one with Darktail? The Kin and how Hawkstar and Leafstar lead us to our territory? Nightcloud and her followers in the dark forest are working with Darkstar to bring The Kin back! They're training living warriors in different clans to gain their support in returning that awful group of cats! She told me if I joined them and we became one Grimheart and I could become mates and that the warrior code would still stand as one clan!" Sparklebelly fell out of breath.
"whoa, whoa whoa, you trained in the Dark Forest!" Grimhearts jaws gaped open. "This all makes sense now. The reason I left the Dark Forest was for the same reason. I learned of what they were doing so naturally I wanted to take down this little establishment from inside my Clan." Grimheart meowed justifying his prior hostility.
"I see. Nightcloud called upon you both because she realized you two were both special. She tried to pit you two against each other to create a clan quarrel." Nightwhisper meowed. Cloudjump and Brightstone rose their heads groggily.
"what's going on?" Brightstone yawned. The tom quickly blinked away his sleep when he saw the gash drying on Sparklebelly's muzzle. The tom quickly ran to his herb store and made a poultice and some cobwebs for the wound.
As Cloudjump joined the conversation and Brightstone dressed Sparklebelly's wound, Nightwhisper re explained what he had just been told moments prior and what his knowledge of the situation was. The cats now knew why they were here and what their destiny together was. Nightwhisper concluded that his leader supported this idiotic idea. What the medicine cat didn't know was if he was meeting with Darkstar or if he himself was a Place of No Stars warrior. Either way they all had a dreadful feeling.
Sparklebelly wondered what her leaders motive was for being a part of this group of horrendous cats. Sparklebelly knew now that Sharpeye lost his life in cold blood likely because the leader opened up to his deputy about his plans and didn't want his secret to get out if he disagreed with him. Sparklebelly would have to pretend to be in support of this insane idea. She would have to do exactly what she was angry at Grimheart for, Pretending to be the Villain for the sake of her clan.
"So now what?" Grimheart broke the silence. The medicine cat looked thoughtful for a moment. "to be honest? I don't know. We wait till he meets with the other leaders when they're ready to take down Darkstar and we will see what happens. If our leader truly is a traitor he wouldn't fight his allies." Nightwhisper made the assumption. All the cats nodded their agreements
'If Crowstar is truly a traitor he will prove that on the battle field in a few sun rises. After all like Nightwhisper said, he wouldn't fight a battle he supports?' Sparklebelly thought, but was she ready to take over an entire Clan? If her leader was a traitor? She was only seven seasons old. Hollywhisker wasn't made deputy until after her kits were born! She had been a warrior for more seasons than Sparklebelly could probably count on all her paws!
"Sparklebelly?" Brightstone looked at the she cat with concern in his soft gaze. "Are you alright? You seem distant? Did Nightcloud do more to you than just leave you with a muzzle wound?" The tom meowed moving closer to sniff the she-cat for other wounds.
"No I'm fine I was just lost in thought I guess." Sparklebelly meowed to the tom. Nightwhisper stared at her intently as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. The tom only gave a polite nod to the she-cat. 'Was that a nod of approval?' Sparklebelly wondered. The cats talked the rest of the of the night about what their plan of attack was against a poetical surprise.
The half moon was at hand all of the leaders and their warriors met on the island. The island was crowded with cats of all Clans on it when usually just a few cats from each Clan were chosen to join the gathering.
The leaders discussed what their plan was, how they were going to execute it, which clan had which part in the battle, ThunderClan would attack head on with brute strength. SkyClan would attack from above Trees hidden amongst their leaves. And then WindClan would come from down wind for their attack. ShadowClan would quickly and stealthily make their attacks from the Shadows of Undergrowth and bushes. Each leader chose their deputy, medicine cat and their strongest warriors to take place in the battle.
" then we are all in agreement? ShadowClan will sneak into the territory just before our attack. WindClan will come from the other side closer to the RiverClan border and attack from downwind. My warriors will attack first head on, with simple strength to distract the warriors from the sneak attacks from ShadowClan and SkyClan." Silverstar meowed. All the leaders gave a nod of approval.
Deepfrost now sat atop the log amongst the other leaders as ShadowClans rightful standing leader. The other Clans had started referring to him as Deepstar rather than Deepfrost regardless of not having his nine lives ceremony yet. His own warriors called him Deepstar. Sparklebelly was amazed at the support the tom had. Deepstar had even chosen a deputy. Everyone surprised by his choice, Grimheart. Again. Though it made sense. The tom had been Deepstar's biggest support other than SkyClan and his own kin Cloudjump.
"In two sunrises we will attack at sun high. When their warriors are likely to be on patrol. I trust all the Clans will be there." Crowstar meowed shooting his gaze toward Jumpstar.
"I may not have many warriors right now Crowstar but I can assure you the ones I have are strong and we stick to our words." Jumpstar hissed and the SkyClan leader.
" we will see." Crowstar meowed hopping from his place on the log and beckoning his Clan-mates with his tail. Sparklebelly padded close behind him Deepstar pulling up the rear and behind him Grimheart.
The cats ran back to their own territory. Crowstar seeming on edge and irritated by the WindClan leader, but it really wasn't his fault… Leaf bare is harsh on every cat. They lost their leader of so many seasons and even kits to Green Cough. How could Crowstar be so hostile towards him? Or was it just an act? Grimheart snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Do you think we will actually be able to pull this off? I mean we don't know who is an ally and who isn't anymore…" the tom trailed remember what he had seen the SkyClan leader do.
"Honestly I don't know. Nightcloud only told me that there was unknown enemies amongst us. Not who they were. All we can do is fight for the survival of the Clans." Sparklebelly and the tom spoke low.
"Well we are both special and I don't think StarClan would of made us this way if we were doomed to fall…" the tom meowed trying to sound as optimistic as possible.
Sparklebelly couldn't be optimistic. She had even seen a cat who had slaughtered Jaddedkit right in front of the whole Clan and Darkstar had allowed it! Which is even worse! Sparklebelly knew that Nightcloud and all of the other newly founded Kin had a lot of back up behind them. Despite their abilities how could they win a war they didn't even know was happening yet? Questions raced through the two cats heads as they hurried back to their camp.
By the time Sparklebelly had gotten back her paws felt heavy as if she would collapse right on her paws. ShadowClan took their place in the makeshift camp they made inside SkyClan's camp. Grimheart padded up to the she-cat while his clan mates settled in for sleep.
"We will win." The tom purred to her his eyes sparkling. He licked the she-cat on the cheek. "Come on sleep next to me tonight I promise these ShadowClan cats don't bite anymore." The tom purred in amusement.
Sparklebelly padded over to the ShadowClan cats the lay down with them. She heard murmurs of approval from Deepstar, Honeybee and her mate and even Deerspot who knew almost nothing about her. Finally the she-cats eyes were open to what ShadowClan was supposed to be. She curled up into Grimheart and took one last look around the camp.
'We will win this. There's no way we won't.' The she-cat thought as she was dragged off into a sweet slumber. The most peaceful slumber she had in so many seasons.
Dawn had come and the battle plan was just only a short day away. Cloudjump, Brightstone, Nightwhisper and even Sparklebelly with what little knowledge she knew about herbs helped the medicine cats prepare every cat with the battles herbs they would need, the battles herbs they should take before the battle for strength and preparing herbs for travel.
Three dawn patrols had just returned with prey that could feed almost the entire Clan. Now there was only one patrol left to return. The one Grimheart had led with his Clan-mates.
"Sparklebelly you've helped quit a bit. Why don't you being us all some fresh kill to share. I'll share that squirrel with you." Cloudjump meowed cheerfully pointing his tail to the Squirrel Dovefeather placed on the fresh kill pile.
"You got it!" The she-cat purred definitely ready to eat! She felt like she had been sorting through herbs all morning. Granted she had been.
The she-cat picked up the squirrel and carried it back to the medicine cats den, Nightwhisper close behind her with a large pigeon to share with Brightstone.
The cats sat down to eat their meal avoiding talk about the battle at all cost. Nightwhisper proceeded to complain about how Dappleflower's kits were growing into normal annoying kits. All the cats found his intolerance amusing. He truly was ready to become an elder!
After the cats had finished their discussion and meal sun high was soon approaching. They had given all the fighting warriors the herbs they had needed for strength and sorted through their herbs, now all that was left to do was put together the herb piles that would be taken with them to the fight.
Brightstone started showing Sparklebelly what each herb did. She was learning even more now! She didn't know if she would remember it but what the tom had taught her so many moons ago still stuck so she was hopeful to have more knowledge of herbs medicine cat or not it's always good to know a little about herbs!
"You know if you weren't meant to be a leader you'd make a fine medicine cat apprentice." Nightwhisper commented raising his brow to Brightstone. The tom huffed at his comment.
"What?" Sparklebelly purred. "The old bat has been pestering me about an apprentice for moons now! I told him I just don't see any of Dappleflowers kits being my apprentice. However Turtletuft is expecting kits I forgot to tell you!" Brightstone instantly perked up from the annoying comment Nightwhisper made.
"Turtletuft expecting kits? And she nor Cedarhallow never told me?" The tortoiseshell she-cat felt hurt as she asked the questions. Why wouldn't they have told her? That's her kin and Sparklebelly felt rather close to Cedarhallow.
"Oh don't be upset she only told me two sunrises ago I'm sure she's just not ready to announce it yet. She's very afraid to after what happened to Jaggedkit. That stays in this den!" Brighstone meowed.
Every cat she knew was having kits and Sparklebelly was here following some sort of mouse brained prophecy and destiny! She turned her gaze to Grimheart as he entered the camp with three mice in his jaws.
'Could he ever be my mate? But it's against the warrior code… he's still a ShadowClan cat even if he's in SkyClan right now' Sparklebelly thought blushing. The tom caught her gaze and smiled. Grimheart decided to pad up to the she-cat.
"Nervous fur ball?" The tom purred flicking she she-cat with his paw over the ear.
"Nervous? Please! I once fought the deputy of ShadowClan! Twice actually! And here I am to tell about it." She meowed blushing. The time gaze softened as she was able to joke about the past he so dearly regretted.
Almost as if the she-cat read his mind she brushed up against him. "It wasn't your fault I know that now." She purred. Sparklebellys trust in the tom made his heart swell.
Without realizing it the two noticed the three medicine cats were staring. The two blushed and took a few paces back from each other.
"Well you should probably get back to helping your clan then!" Sparklebelly meowed embarrassment burning off her pelt. The tom nodded and padded off back to his Clan.
'Maybe after all of this is over…..'