I just realized I forgot to add Purdy to the Clan allegiances before he died. Ah well, to late now. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Sorry for taking so long to update
Disclaimer: I do not own warriors
[x]
"Hello, Ivystone," Ivystone blinked open her eyes to see a massive tabby tom in front of her. Beside his was a nearly identical tom. The one that had spoken had amber eyes while the other tom had intense blue eyes.
"Who are you?" Ivystone said bravely, rising to her paws. She wasn't in a place she recognized. The trees were like the ones she had seen in ShadowClan territory from across the border but the branches were high, blocking out any light?
"Oh? You don't recognize us? I am Tigerstar and this is my son, Hawkfrost." The first tom, Tigerstar, purred rustily, flicking his tail toward the tom with the blue eyes.
"We have come to you to train you to be a stronger warrior." Hawkfrost meowed. Tigerstar shot Hawkfrost a furious look. Ivystone stalked up in front of Hawkfrost, her amber eyes blazing with fury.
"And what's that supposed to mean? That I'm a horrible warrior?" Ivystone snarled, right up in Hawkfrost's face. The tabby stepped back in alarm. "No. I don't need the help from you or your traitorous father. Just stay away from me." With that, Ivystone spun around and began padding away.
"You fool!" She heard Tigerstar snarl lowly, and then heard him padding after her. "That's not what he meant, Ivystone. He just meant that we can show you battle moves that no other warrior could dream of." Ivystone looked back, almost taken in by his soft voice and welcome in his eyes.
"No. You tried to kill Bluestar, Firestar. You killed many cats. No cat should want to listen to you. You are disgusting. Not fit to be called cat." Then Ivystone turned her head again, walking once more. She tried to block the look of shock and rage shown on Tigerstar's face. She had more important matters. This was a dream, obviously, but why couldn't she wake up?
Ivystone moved forward, hesitantly now, toward a wall of mist. As soon as she moved through it a beautiful voice welcomed her. "Good job, Ivystone. Bluestar told me to let you leave them on your own. I'm Spottedleaf." A pretty tortoiseshell touched noses with Ivystone.
"Greetings, Spottedleaf, I have heard much of you," Ivystone whispered, dipping her head.
"Oh have you?" Spottedleaf's voice rumbled in amusement. "Well, come on, I have some cats I want you to meet." Spottedleaf turned around and bounded away. With an annoyed sigh, Ivystone bounded after her. She wasn't waking up anyways so she might meet some new cats.
"About time, Spottedleaf!" A gray she-cat with a flat face yowled.
"Oh be quiet, Yellowfang," Spottedleaf purred, her amber eyes twinkling. "Ivystone, this is Yellowfang. And that's Bluestar, Lionheart, and Whitestorm. I think you already know Firestar and Brambleclaw."
"Greetings, Ivystone," Bluestar purred, darting over to Spottedleaf and Ivystone.
"Hello, Bluestar," Ivystone dipped her head in respect. She widened her eyes when she saw Firestar and Brambleclaw.
"Good job, Ivystone, you and your sister are becoming great warriors." Firestar praised, his green eyes shining. "Ivystone, we have a message that you must pass onto Jayfeather and Hollystar. Claw of a lion, fang of a wolf. Nation of bloody lives."
With that the figures of the cats began to fade away. "Wait! What do you mean?" Ivystone called but there was no response. Their images were replaced with snapping teeth and glinting claws. That vision was quickly replaced, too, with darkness.
[x]
"Here you go, Daisy." Ivystone meowed, dropping a fat mouse in front of the queen. Ivystone cast a nervous glance behind her but only saw Cinderheart's kits playing in the straw. For StarClan's sake, Ivystone, snap out of it! Ivystone snarled inwardly at herself. It didn't help.
"Hey, Ivystone," The voice made Ivystone jumped and spin around to see Bumblestripe.
"Don't sneak up on me!" Ivystone flashed, angry at her jumpiness. The tabby let out a deep breath to calm herself. "Sorry, I didn't sleep well last night." To her relief Bumblestripe nodded in understanding. "Do you know where Jayfeather is?"
Bumblestripe nodded again, looking a bit dejected. "Yes. He was just speaking with Kestrelwing," Bumblestripe gestured to the barn entrance with his tail.
"Thanks, Bumblestripe, and sorry again. After I'm done speaking with him perhaps we can share a mouse," Ivystone apologized again, feeling guilty.
"Of course, I'll see you then." Bumblestripe meowed and with that, Ivystone brushed her muzzle against his shoulder before bounding away towards the barn entrance.
The cold air bit into Ivystone's lungs as she stepped out of the barn. Ignoring the sting, Ivystone took another deep breath, relishing the freshness. "Jayfeather?" She asked when she saw Jayfeather ahead of her, lapping water from a puddle.
"How can I help you, Ivystone?" Jayfeather asked, rising to his paws.
"I had a dream last night that I was told to tell you," Ivystone began and then quickly recounted the dream. When she finished, Jayfeather stared at her with an odd look in his eyes.
"Odd that StarClan has been sending dreams to you and Doveleaf," Jayfeather murmured, so low she wasn't sure if she heard right. "Thank you, Ivystone, I'll tell Hollystar. Could you get some prey for Longtail? He got back early this morning with the other cats and is exhausted."
Ivystone dipped her head. "Of course." She meowed before turning around and slipping back into the barn. Prey didn't come as easily as it did the night before, the mice were spooked from all the cats, but hunting was still easier than it was in the forest. "Longtail?" Ivystone announced her visit when she approached Longtail. The pale tabby had his head on his paws and looked tired and sad. "Longtail, I brought prey for you."
"Thank you, Ivystone," Longtail mewed as she dropped the mouse. Longtail took a bite out of the mouse slowly than, as if remembering how hungry he was, quickly devoured the rest.
"Any time, Longtail," Ivystone dipped her head before backing away, her eyes already searching for the cat she wished to see. "Squirrelflight!" Ivystone called to the ginger she-cat. Squirrelflight looked up from where she was talking with Leafpool to see Ivystone. Ivystone beckoned with her tail and saw Squirrelflight say good-bye to her sister before bounding over.
"Hey, Ivystone, what do you need?" Squirrelflight asked, her green eyes duller than usual.
"I…I just wanted to say that I saw Brambleclaw…I a dream. He says that he missed you," Ivystone looked up from studying the ground to see Squirrelflight's ears prick and a glow return in her green eyes.
"Thank you, Ivystone," Squirrelflight whispered, her fluffy tail curling. "I wish he had gotten to meet our kits."
"Me too. But he'll see them from where he's watching in StarClan," Ivystone reassured. Squirrelflight's belly was huge these days, Cinderheart said she should give birth within the next moon. But, being a restless cat, she hardly spent any time in the nursery.
"Thank you again, Squirrelflight, I'm going to get some sleep." Squirrelflight flicked her tail once in farewell and then turned to pad over to Cinderheart and Sorreltail.
"Ivystone, come over here!" Hollystar called. Ivystone stifled a sigh and bounded over to the black she-cat. "You, Bumblestripe, Hazeltail, and Lionblaze will be leading the way back to camp. You're job with be to try to clear out the path so the elders and queens can pass easily and if you get to the camp in plenty of time, start clearing out the branches."
"Yes, Hollystar," Ivystone meowed, prickling with excitement.
"Good. Then go eat and then you will be going," Ivystone nodded, turning towards the makeshift fresh-kill pile. She grabbed one of the many plump mice and settled down beside Briarpatch to eat.
"You're so lucky you get to go!" Briarpatch purred, "I wish I could go!"
"I wish I could too," Doveleaf said, swishing her tail over the straw. "Good luck!"
"Thanks," Ivystone mumbled around her mouse, glad for the excuse not to speak much. "I better go."
[x]
"The rest of the Clan will be coming shortly after us so we have to hurry," Lionblaze mewed, grabbing a small branch in his large jaws and dragging it to the camp entrance. They had reached the camp fast as there had been little to clean up. The camp, on the other paw, was a mess.
"Bumblestripe, help me with this branch," Ivystone panted, tugging at the large branch. It was the one that had landed on, or almost on, Doveleaf, and was too big for her to move by herself.
"Got it," Bumblestripe purred and also grabbed the branch.
"Bring it out here!" Hazeltail called from outside the camp. Grunting with effort, Bumblestripe and Ivystone dragged it out of the camp. By the time Bumblestripe and Ivystone had gotten rid of the big branch, Hazeltail and Lionblaze had cleared most of the rest of the small branches in the camp.
"They're here!" Lionblaze yowled as the brambles started rustling.
"You cleaned this place of well, good job," Hollystar purred, arriving first, and looking around the camp. "Tonight we will hold a proper vigil for Mousefur and Purdy, but first I have an announcement to make." Hollystar jumped up onto the Highledge. The sun caught her black fur, surrounding it in a sparkling yellow, making her only a silhouette on the rock. "Let every cat old enough to catch their own prey gather for a Clan meeting!" Hollystar yowled as the last of the cats pushed into the clearing.
"Get that burr out of your pelt, Thistlepaw," Cinderheart hissed, flicking at the apprentices ear. "Redpaw, you're a mess!" Ivystone glanced at Cinderheart curiously. Did Cinderheart know what was about to happen?
"Thistlepaw, Redpaw, and Leafpool, please come forward." Hollystar beckoned her songs. So this was why. "Thistlepaw, Redpaw, and Leafpool, you all worked very well yesterday clearing out the camp in the storm and your mentors and I have decided that it is time for you to become warriors. Thistlepaw, Redpaw, Leafpool, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your Clan even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," The brothers said together, quivering in excitement.
"I do," Leafpool meowed, her amber eyes blazing with excitement.
"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Thistlepaw, from this day forward you will be known as Thistleheart, StarClan honors your bravery and hard-work you have shown ThunderClan. Redpaw, from this moment forward you will be known as Redstep, StarClan honors your thoughtfulness and determination. Leafpool, please remember that this decision has not been made lightly, you have worked hard to prove to me that you are capable to be a warrior. So I determine you name, Leafpool." Hollystar stepped forward, resting her head on each of the new warriors in turn.
"Thistleheart! Redstep! Leafpool!" Ivystone chanted with the other warriors. The warriors den was certainly getting crowded! At least Sandstorm, Dustpelt, and Graystripe leaving had opened up more room.
"Now it is also time for Cinderheart's kits to become apprentices. Lizardkit, Snakekit, Amberkit, Wolfkit, and Dewkit, please step forward." Hollystar nodded to the large litter of kits. Snakekit, Amberkit, and Lizardkit managed to walk with dignity but Wolfkit and Dewkit were trembling with anticipation.
"Lizardkit, from this day until you earn your warriors name you will be known as Lizardpaw. I will take you as my own apprentice." Lizardpaw darted forward, touching noses with Hollystar.
"Snakekit, from this day until you earn your warriors name you will be known as Snakepaw. Spiderleg, you are ready for another apprentice, you will mentor Snakepaw." Snakepaw stalked forward coolly to greet Spiderleg, but even he wasn't able to hide the excitement in his eyes.
"Amberkit, from this day until you earn your warriors name you will be known as Amberpaw. Ivystone, you are a young warrior but you have already showed your worthiness for an apprentice many times. You will mentor Amberpaw." Amberpaw padded towards Ivystone and quickly touched noses with the young warrior. Ivystone swished her tail in excitement. She couldn't believe she was already a mentor! She couldn't help casting a glance at Doveleaf who, of course, looked envious.
"Dewkit, from this day until you earn your warriors name you will be known as Dewpaw. Poppyfrost, you will mentor Dewpaw, I trust you to pass all your skills on to her." The tiny, newly named apprentice walked forward slowly and hesitantly. After another moment, Dewpaw's speed increased and she enthusiastically touched noses with Poppyfrost. Ivystone tilted her head from where she stood beside Amberpaw. Why had Hollystar skipped over Wolfkit?
"Now, I know you all think I forgot about Wolfkit, but I didn't. Wolfkit, from this day until you earn your warriors name you will be known as Wolfpaw. Jayfeather, is it your wish to take on Wolfpaw as your apprentice?"
"It is," Jayfeather replied, stepping forward.
"Then I entrust this young apprentice in your care. Make him the best medicine cat you cat." Hollystar finished as Jayfeather touched noses with an excited Wolfpaw.
[x]
"What will be doing today, Ivystone?" Amberpaw asked, staring up at Ivystone with inquisitive eyes.
"It's been a tough day, Amberpaw, so you just go into the apprentices den and get some sleep. We'll be up early so I can so you the territory," Ivystone purred, pleased at Amberpaw's enthusiasm.
Amberpaw's ears drooped. "Okay, then," She replied sulkily but almost immediately perked up again. "I bet my littermates will be in the den too! See you, Ivystone," And with that the ginger she-cat dashed off. Ivystone watched Amberpaw's gray tipped tail disappear into the apprentices den before she too padded off to get some rest.
[x]
"Come on, Amberpaw!" Ivystone called, rattling the apprentices den. A heartbeat later Amberpaw shot out, bits of moss stuck to her ruffled fur.
"Go ahead and eat. Might as well clean yourself up while you're at it," Ivystone meowed, flicking a piece of moss off of Amberpaw's shoulder.
"Thanks, Ivystone!" Amberpaw replied, trotting over to the fresh-kill pile where Dewpaw was already crouched.
"Ivystone! I hear you are taking Amberpaw to learn the territory. Want to come with me and Dewpaw?" Poppyfrost asked, coming up beside Ivystone.
"Sure, Poppyfrost. And congratulations."
"You too. Especially since you haven't been a warrior for long," Poppyfrost meowed and licked her slightly ruffled chest fur.
"Ready, Ivystone!" Amberpaw said, bouncing up to Ivystone.
"Good. Dewpaw and Poppyfrost will be joining us too…" Ivystone started.
"I'm ready," Came Dewpaw's soft voice. Ivystone turned around to see Dewpaw's pale gray eyes watching her. No matter how many times she saw this cat the gray eyes, nearly white, still startled her. On any other cat it might look odd but on Dewpaw it gave her a beautiful, exotic look.
"Let's go, then," Poppyfrost leapt to her paws and bounded towards the camp entrance. As they burst out of the camp, Ivystone noticed that slender Amberpaw had an easier time keeping up then Dewpaw did. Although Amberpaw could easily have outpaced Dewpaw, she kept pace with the smaller she-cat. Poppyfrost skidded to a halt.
"This is the abandoned two-leg nest," Ivystone informed, nodding to the broken down nest. "Two-legs haven't been here in seasons. This was also where the sick cats were sheltered moons ago when there was a serious outbreak of green cough."
Amberpaw shook her head in disgust, "I am never going in there." She growled.
"I smell mouse," was all Dewpaw replied, her nose twitching.
"Very good, Dewpaw!" Poppyfrost purred. Dewpaw looked up, her expression proud.
"Come on, lets go," Ivystone murmured and this time she led. She had to agree with her apprentice, she never wanted to go in the two-leg nest either. She had only gone in a couple times, and non of them voluntarily. "Watch out for this tree," Ivystone warned the apprentices. She neatly jumped over with Poppyfrost at her side and turned to watch Amberpaw and Dewpaw. Amberpaw came first, scrabbling furiously, with Dewpaw behind her. Dewpaw's jump was a bit more graceful, although she too had to scramble to get over.
"We're at the ShadowClan border. Go forward slowly so you don't step over on accident. See if you can guess where the border is." Poppyfrost meowed, nodding at Ivystone. Both warriors stepped back as to give their apprentices full range of the scents.
"Is this is?" Amberpaw asked after only a few moments had passed. The apprentice was crouching down near an old tree stump, her mouth open.
"Yes it is, good job," Ivystone meowed, flicking Amberpaw's flank with her tail. "ShadowClan!" Ivystone stiffened and after a moment drew Amberpaw back.
"Stay behind me," Poppyfrost hissed. Amberpaw and Dewpaw obediently scooted behind her but still peeked out.
[x]
"Well, what do we have here?" A sly voice asked. A moment later a gray she-cat with black paws popped out of the sparse undergrowth. "What are ThunderClan cats doing so close to the border?"
"We are not trespassing, Shrewheart," Poppyfrost replied with a sigh. "We are just showing our apprentices the border." Shrewheart opened her mouth to reply but was abruptly interrupted by another cat, a tom.
"Lay off it, Shrewheart, we were just showing Ospreypaw the border too." Smokefoot meowed, stepping aside to reveal a light brown tom. His amber eyes were defiant as he stared at the ThunderClan cats, not showing any uncertainty.
"Greetings, Poppyfrost, Ivystone. This is my apprentice, Ospreypaw." Smokefoot nodded to the young tom who nodded jerkily.
"Nice to meet you, Ospreypaw. This is my apprentice, Amberpaw, and Poppyfrost's, Dewpaw." Ivystone said neutrally. "We'd better go. See you at the next gathering," Ivystone nodded once before spinning around and quickly disappearing in the ferns. Only the pawsteps of her Clan-mates told her they were still behind her.
"Why were you so kind, Ivystone?" Amberpaw asked, staring up at her mentor with round eyes.
"It wasn't kindness, Amberpaw, it was politeness. We didn't want to quarrel with ShadowClan." Ivystone said.
"Especially because Russetstar hasn't made any advances on our territory. Yet." Poppyfrost added, casting a look back at where the border was. Ivystone looked up at the sun and sighed. Sunhigh had already come and gone, there wouldn't be enough time to go around the rest of the territory.
"Poppyfrost, I'm going to take Amberpaw hunting back closer to camp. We spent more time then planned here at the ShadowClan border," Ivystone said and, to her relief, Poppyfrost nodded in agreement.
"I think me and Dewpaw will do some hunting too," Poppyfrost meowed, her thoughtful eyes on Dewpaw. "Yes, we will. We'll see you back at camp!" With a wave of her tail Poppyfrost trotted off beside Dewpaw, already murmuring instructions.
"Come on, Amberpaw."
[x]
"That was a great catch, Amberpaw! Birds are hard to catch and that one didn't see you coming until it was under your claws." Ivystone purred, dropping her catch into the fresh-kill pile. Amberpaw's hunting was coming along well already and she had caught a thrush.
"Thanks!" Amberpaw mumbled around her thrush, her orange eyes glowing with the praise.
"Go ahead and take some prey to the elders and then eat something for yourself." Amberpaw nodded, bending her head and somehow snatching a plump mouse by the tail without dropping her thrush. The apprentice bounded off to the elders den.
"Hey, Ivystone, how's it going?" Doveleaf asked with a shrew at her paws.
"Great, how about you?" Ivystone replied. Doveleaf just nodded, her mouth full of shrew.
Ivystone settled down next to Doveleaf, watching the gray she-cat curious. Was Doveleaf still jealous that she hadn't gotten an apprentice? After a few moments of silence Doveleaf rose to her paws.
"I'm going to get some sleep. See you in the morning," Doveleaf meowed, retreating towards the warriors den. Ivystone watched her shape disappear and then rose to her paws. With a heavy heart, she padded towards the camp entrance where Cloudtail was sitting guard.
"Going out, Ivystone?" The white warrior asked, standing up.
"Yes, Cloudtail, I just need some fresh air," Ivystone responded, flicking her tail.
"I'll watch the forest for you," Cloudtail promised, sitting down again. Ivystone nodded her thanks before disappearing into the forest.
Ivystone picked up her pace, enjoying the feel of twigs and leafs brushing up against her fur. Soon she was speeding through the forest, her paws thudding lightly on the soft ground. She leapt over a log. Her paws stumbled on pebbles. Instantly she realized that her paws had brought her to the part of the lake nearest to the WindClan border.
"Hi! Who are you?" A bright voice interrupted Ivystone's contemplation. The tabby turned her head to see a young tom, dark gray and white.
"Hello, I'm Ivystone," Ivystone responded, dipping her head in greeting.
"I'm Eaglepaw!" The young tom purred, waving his tail. He stepped into the lake so the water brushed over his paws. "I see a fish!" Eaglepaw exclaimed and with an excited mew, jumped forward. Ivystone laughed, hiding her puzzlement.
"You can't just splash towards it! You have to get it suddenly," Ivystone laughed. Odd that a WindClan cat didn't mind water.
"How do you know?" Eaglepaw asked, looking at her curiously.
"Nettlenose of RiverClan shared that bit with me once at a gathering." Ivystone explained. Eaglepaw nodded.
"What's it like hunting in the forest? Don't the trees get annoying?" Eaglepaw said, casting a look towards the forest.
"I've grown up with the forest. It's as much home to me as the moor is to you," Ivystone said simply. Eaglepaw looked thoughtful for a long moment.
"Maybe one day I'll hunt in the forest…" He murmured, almost to himself. "Of course, we do have the forest bit of territory but Crowfeather thinks WindClan cats should stick to the moor." The tom looked at the sky. "Gotta go. Bye, Ivystone!" He announced and darted away with WindClan speed.
Are all WindClan cats that curious? Ivystone thought, caught between amusement and irritation. With that last thought, Ivystone curled up on the rocks, suddenly so exhausted that she didn't care about the cold seeping into her fur.
[x]
"Hello, Ivystone, welcome back." Tigerstar meowed as Ivystone blinked open her eyes.
"Oh. It's you," Ivystone growled, her voice lathered with annoyance. The tabby stood up, stretching each leg in turn.
Tigerstar purred in amusement. "Yes, it is I. I'm terribly sorry about our last visit. Hawkfrost isn't good with other cats. It's just me today. So, do you accept my offer? Will you let me train you?" Ivystone stared at Tigerstar for a long moment. Her amber eyes were intense, causing even a great warrior like Tigerstar shift, somewhat uncomfortably.
"For now," Ivystone finally responded, her tone holding no promises.
"Wonderful!" Tigerstar purred, an odd look entering his eyes. "See you soon, Ivystone," Tigerstar said, his form fading.
"Ivystone," A voice snapped at Ivystone. Abruptly the image changed and she was in the lighter, better feeling forest where Ivystone had met StarClan. "Ivystone!" The voice came again.
"What?" Ivystone pawed at the ground. Couldn't she just have some nice, relaxing dreams where dead cats didn't visit her?
"I must speak with you," Yellowfang replied, lashing her gray tail.
"Of course you do," Ivystone muttered lowly. "What do you need to say?"
Yellowfang glared at Ivystone briefly. "It's about the prophesy," She started, watching as Ivystone's ears pricked. " Do you have any idea what it means?"
"None whatsoever." Ivystone meowed to Yellowfang's disappointment.
"The prophesy is about cats living in a river of blood. They can be considered deadlier than BloodClan," Yellowfang sighed. Ivystone's head snapped up.
"What? BloodClan the cats that attacked the Clans in the old forest?" Yellowfang nodded. "Tell me more! Who are these cats?"
"That is all I can tell you, Ivystone…" Yellowfang started to fade. "And if you know what is good for you, stay away from Tigerstar…"
[x]
I loved the ending of this chapter. I also loved my spontaneous decision with the prophesy. I knew I needed a dangerous group of cats coming in but didn't know how to bring them in. I was reminiscing in old memories of .com about 4 years ago when I remembered the perfect group of cats.
Eaglepaw meeting Ivystone, too, was completely spontaneous. I decided that Ivystone needed to meet a cat at the lake and Eaglepaw stood out to me on my personal document of allegiances.
Please review. I wish for at least 2 reviews without which I won't post the next chapter.