The Legacy of the Three: Chapter Twenty Three
Leafstorm .
The mottled tom paced in the Cross, eagerly awaiting his mate. The moonlight made his mottled golden-brown fur a mottled silver; for a moment the tom admired his fur, purring to himself, then he remembered that his mate would be coming soon. Impatiently, he began to thump his tail on the ground. Where's Grassfeather? She was supposed to be here at dusk, and now it's moonhigh.
"Leafstorm!" A high voice breathed from one of the tunnels. Immediately, Leafstorm hurried over to the tunnel that his mate was emerging from and began to purr. His tail was high up. He could not wait for his mate any longer; her pale gray fur, almost silver... her green eyes...
Grassfeather pounced on him as she entered the Cross. Leafstorm yowled in delight and allowed her to bowl him over. The tom's eyes narrowed in confusion; Grassfeather seemed much heavier then she had three days ago. Was there a surplus of rabbits on the moor? "You seem heavier," Leafstorm mewed, his voice muffled by her fur.
She stood up and took a step back from him, her eyes shining with delight and a strange emotion that Leafstorm couldn't place. "Of course, furball!" Grassfeather laughed, her green eyes playful. She flicked her pale gray tail towards her bulging stomach. "Haven't you been noticing? Leafstorm, I'm going to have our kits!"
Leafstorm smiled at her; a twisted, almost forced smile. Oh, StarClan, how can I ever be a loyal warrior when I have halfClan kits? He reminded himself that his father was halfClan, but that wasn't the point. He wasn't discriminating against halfClan cats; he was a quarter WindClan, but he didn't think he could bear watching his kits grow up in another Clan. "That's great, Grassfeather!" He mewed, licking her cheek affectionately. "Wh-what did you tell the Clan?"
Grassfeather shrugged and flicked her tail on his muzzle. "A she-cat doesn't have to say the father of her kits, rabbit-brain. Most fathers just want strong kits, so they mate with the she-cat and leave. For our Clan, at least. She-cats who don't reveal the father of their kits isn't uncommon."
"Oh," Leafstorm mewed, feeling relieved. "Alright, then. That's good. In ThunderClan it really isn't like that, I mean, Cinderheart's father didn't know his father - "
Leafstorm pulled through that night with Grassfeather. It wasn't as blissful before; it was more awkward. By the end of their meeting, Grassfeather could tell that Leafstorm felt uneasy about the kits. Instead of staying in the Cross for the night like they usually did, they said their goodbyes as the first streaks of dawn began to light up the sky.
I've betrayed my Clan. I don't want to raise half-breeds... Leafstorm thought as he exited the tunnels, where all of his troubles seemed to start.
Upon returning to the camp with a rabbit clutched in his jaws, Leafstorm immediately trotted to the warriors' den to get a wink of sleep. Some other warriors were in there, but Leafstorm noticed that Honeytail, Squirrelflight, and Rosepetal were all gone. Must be on the dawn patrol, He thought with a shrug, settling down to go to sleep.
He was in a strange place. It wasn't StarClan, that was for sure. Dark trees surrounded him, and mist shrouded the rank-smelling forest. There was no scent of prey or cats; just the scent of decay and... evil. Curiously, Leafstorm padded forward, confused on where exactly he was. He kept walking forward, weaving through the trees, until he came upon a clearing. His ears pricking with interest at the scent of cat-scent, Leafstorm bounded into the clearing, curious as to what he would find.
A spiky-furred, huge gray tom sat in the middle of the clearing, his amber eyes glowing softly. "What do we have here?" He purred, almost to himself. He got to his paws and circled Leafstorm, a grin on his face. "Ah, I see. Lionblaze's son, aren't you? The special one? What are you doing in a terrible place like this?"
Leafstorm shrugged, trying to keep his eyes cool. "Just seeing what this place is," He mewed, sounding unconcerned. "I'm not even sure where I am, to be honest."
The gray tom's face split into a wide grin. "You have probably heard bad things about this place, Leafstorm," Leafstorm was surprised that the tom knew his name. That must mean I'm famous and special, Leafstorm thought with a grin. "It is the Place of No Stars; or, the Dark Forest. My name is Thistleclaw. We're kin, in fact. You're my great-great-grandson."
"Funny," Leafstorm mewed. "I've never heard any mention of us being kin."
"Well, we are," growled Thistleclaw, lashing his tail as if it didn't matter. "Anyway, I'm so happy you're here, Leafstorm. Has StarClan been mentoring you, to help prepare you for the coming trouble? Or have they even told you about the other three cats you must find?"
Leafstorm shook his head, bewildered; why was a dark warrior like Thistleclaw questioning him like this? If Leafstorm wasn't so interested in what the gray warrior had to say, he'd have left by now. StarClan brought me here for a reason, and I'll find out what it is, Leafstorm thought, determined.
"They haven't?" Thistleclaw seemed very concerned. "Oh, you poor cat! Maybe... I can help," Thistleclaw's face lit up with a smirk. "I can give you training to prepare for the danger coming. I can save your loved ones. You may think you're a good warrior, Leafstorm, but there's still much for you to learn."
Leafstorm curled his lip. "Yeah?" He asked, unsheathing his claws. How dare a lowlife cat like Thistleclaw insult him like this! Leafstorm probably could take him on any day! "Like what? I have a power that you don't, and I could easily defeat you and all of your little cronies scurrying around here."
Thistleclaw snorted. "Ha, maybe so, but what if you have to fight a cat with powers as well? A cat that can control your move, or a cat that moves with astonishing speed, who can easily dart through your slow-motion trick? Or what even a cat that can turn into any cat he wants, including yourself? What will you do then, if you have to fight your own power?"
The mottled brown and gold warrior growled. "I'd like to see them try!" He laughed harshly. "But what are you offering me? If I train with you, what do you get out of it? Is this some kind of trick?"
"Not at all," Thistleclaw smiled, looking innocent. "I'll just get the joy of training with my kin. But you, Leafstorm... you'll be the most powerful warrior in the forest! Even more powerful than your father!"
Leafstorm widened his eyes. The offer tempted him. "Really?" He asked. The ThunderClan warrior was about to say he agreed when a frantic voice started to call his name. Thistleclaw hissed in annoyance as Leafstorm hopped up and dashed from the clearing, wondering who the cat was.
"Leafstorm, over here!" The voice called. Leafstorm approached it cautiously. The cat was a StarClan warrior; it was obvious because of the glow of their fur. She was a blue-gray she-cat with striking blue eyes. "Follow me, young one!" She called and bounded away into the forest.
Leafstorm glanced back towards the clearing; Thistleclaw had gone. Confused, Leafstorm sprinted after the blue-gray she-cat. "Hello?" He called, annoyed. "What do you want?"
The dark trees started to thin as the mist dissolved away; everything was replaced by starry trees and lush forests. With a jolt, Leafstorm realized that he was in StarClan territory now, and the Place of No Stars was behind him. The blue-gray she-cat observed him from on top of a tree, her blue eyes narrowed.
"Don't trust him," She mewed simply.
"Wha - ?" Leafstorm started to mew, but a black wave reared up and crashed over him; throwing the tom into darkness.
"Leafstorm, wake up, it's urgent,"
Leafstorm blinked open his eyes immediately. Emberwing's amber eyes filled his vision, and Leafstorm flinched back out of habit. The older warrior was prodding his side gently, trying to wake up the sleeping mottled tom. "Emberwing?" Leafstorm asked, confused and tired. "Wh-why did you wake me up...?"
Emberwing stood up and flicked his dark gray tail towards Jayfeather's den. "Lionblaze is really ill in there. They say its greencough. Jayfeather wants you in there immediately." When Emberwing mentioned his father, Leafstorm sprang up from his nest and observed the warrior, wide-eyed. After he finished, Leafstorm didn't hesitate sprinting towards the medicine cat den, his fur on end. Lionblaze was fine yesterday, what had happened?
He nearly crashed into Lilystripe as he dashed into the medicine cats' den. "Hey!" She yowled angrily as herbs spilled all over. "What in StarClan, Leafstorm! What are you doing in here? You're going to get sick!" The dark tabby was looking at Leafstorm crossly. Flustered, Leafstorm helped the medicine cat apprentice gather the herbs together.
"What do you mean?" He growled as he was picking them up. "My father's ill, and I've come to see him. Surely his sickness can't be that bad?"
"I - " Lilystripe mewed as she hurriedly stuffed her herbs into the stone wall. "Leafstorm, there's more cats in there, you know. The greencough has spread like wildfire, literally, it happened overnight..." Leafstorm didn't allow her to finish; he was already in the den where his father was before she finished her sentence.
Lionblaze looked nothing like the warrior Leafstorm had fought in the forest a half-moon before. Honeytail and Cinderheart were huddled there, crouched around Lionblaze. Out of the corner of his eye, Leafstorm saw that Dewtail, Berrynose, and Amberflower were huddled at the edge of the den; their coughs feeble.
On the other side of the den lay Emberfoot, the tom who had begged Jayfeather to take care of his sickness because WindClan didn't have the cure. The Clan was hesitant, but Emberfoot spoke of a terrible horror unleashing on WindClan. Jayfeather had questioned Emberfoot on what Kestrelflight was doing, but Emberfoot had said that the WindClan camp was in such horror that Kestrelflight and Whiskerfur had died. The ThunderClan cats, taking pity, accepted him into their camp only for treatment.
"Lionblaze?" Leafstorm rasped. His father looked up at his son sadly with dull, tired eyes. Leafstorm whipped around to face Jayfeather, who was treating a coughing Dewtail. "Why aren't you doing anything?" He snarled. "Your own brother is dying, but you're not even curing him!"
Jayfeather turned around and bared his teeth at Leafstorm. "You don't think I'm trying, fox-brain? I'm doing everything I can, alright! But half the Clan is coughing, and I can't do anything about it! Herbs can only do so much!"
"Then go pray to StarClan or something!" Leafstorm yowled at the blind medicine cat. "Your apprentice is just standing around! If herbs can only do so much, stuff more in his mouth!"
"I need to save some for the other cats," growled Jayfeather, pointedly turning his back to Leafstorm. "Lionblaze is my brother, but it's leaf-bare, and we hardly have enough catmint as it is. His and my destiny are over."
"The Clan will be flayed without his fighting skills!" Leafstorm hissed into Jayfeather's ear.
"Yeah? I thought you were even better, or are you just extremely arrogant?" snarled Jayfeather. "Look, if you're so upset about your father dying, how about you go talk to him? Or be useful and help around the camp? There's nothing I can do about a dying cat, even if it's my brother."
Leafstorm hissed and returned to his father's frail body. Honeytail was comforting Cinderheart, who was gasping and sobbing as Lionblaze grew weaker with every cough. "Leafstorm," The great golden warrior managed to rasp, looking up at his son with his amber eyes.
"Don't die," whispered Leafstorm, crouching down to murmur into his father's ear. "Lionblaze, I thought you were invincible... please don't die. I still need you here. Jayfeather and Dovewing need you... Cinderheart needs you... Honeytail needs you... ThunderClan needs you, Dad, you can't die!"
Lionblaze coughed feebly. "There's something I must tell you..." He whispered. "A-a great danger... coming to the forest... be strong..." His paws flailed as he tried to collect the energy to finish what he was saying. Leafstorm let out a low wail and pressed his muzzle to his father's fur. "I'm not dead yet," Lionblaze muttered fiercely, "Listen to me. I saw you training with Thistleclaw..." He coughed; this cough weaker than the last, "Don't be tempted. Find the other three... protect..." Cough. "ThunderClan. You are my son..." He opened his jaws to cough, but he didn't have the energy. Suddenly, his rasping breaths died, and his eyes rolled back; glazed.
"No!" wailed Leafstorm, shaking his father. "Lionblaze, please wake up!" When his mother and sister realized what had happened, they dashed over to Lionblaze and let out low yowls of grief. The great warrior who had saved the Clans around the lake countless times was gone.
The whole Clan had grieved over Lionblaze. Leafstorm and his family had sat vigil with Lionblaze all night, but Jayfeather couldn't. Emberfoot was well enough to leave, but there were still cats that were close to dying. In the middle of the vigil, Jayfeather dragged out Amberflower's limp body. Brightheart's wails could be heard from the elder's den.
It was sad, too; Bramblestar had assessed Featherpaw and Flamepaw today, and they were ready to become warriors. Bramblestar had promised, so in the midst of the grieving Clan, Bramblestar had conducted the ceremony. Leafstorm was still very upset about his father, but he decided that he would support Featherpaw and Flamepaw, too.
The Clan was already gathered in mourning for Dewtail and Lionblaze, so Bramblestar didn't need to call a meeting. He simply leaped up to the Highledge and yowled, then made his way down the ledge so he could give the two siblings their warrior ceremony. Leafstorm spotted Dovewing, her face fresh with grief over Lionblaze, supporting her kits. Her eyes grieved, but a flicker of pride emerged in them when she looked at Featherpaw and Flamepaw.
"Flamepaw, step forward," commanded Bramblestar. With an arrogant raise of his nose, the ginger tabby stepped forward. "I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Flamepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," Flamepaw raised his nose even higher in the air.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Flamepaw, from this moment you will be known as Flameclaw. StarClan honors your strength and bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Bramblestar declared, his amber eyes flashing as he rested his muzzle on the warrior's shoulder.
Flameclaw's blue eyes glittered as the Clan greeted him with his new name. "Flameclaw! Flameclaw!" He went over to sit with Leafstorm, nodding to him in a motion that declared they were equals now. Flameclaw annoyed Leafstorm constantly although they were friends; the mottled tom wasn't looking forward to having him in the warriors' den.
"Featherpaw, step forward," mewed Bramblestar. The petite apprentice stepped forward, her blue eyes blazing with excitement. "I, Bramblestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in his turn." Bramblestar's eyes were warm when he looked at Featherpaw. "Featherpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," Featherpaw's high-pitched mew rang across the hollow.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Featherpaw, from this moment you will be known as Featherwing. StarClan honors your enthusiasm and kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Featherwing bounded forward to lick Bramblestar's shoulder as the Clan joyously called out her name. Featherwing was popular because of her sweet and caring attitude, and Leafstorm didn't think she had one enemy in the Clan.
At that moment, Ivypool and Foxleap's kits came tumbling out of the nursery. Larchkit and Fernkit looked onto the ceremony with huge eyes; the two were five moons now, so it would almost be time for them to be apprentices. Leafstorm hoped that Bramblestar would choose him as a mentor, he had taken a special interest in Larchkit. Larchkit was a serious-minded tom, and Leafstorm knew he would be easy to train. "Featherwing! Flameclaw!" called Fernkit, Larchkit joining in.
Blackkit, the kit of Amberflower and Moleclaw, followed them cautiously. He was bound to have his apprentice ceremony anytime soon. The kit was a mostly black tom with a strange white streak across one eye. Leafstorm thought his appearance was interesting, but Blackkit seemed very shy; and Leafstorm didn't usually do well with shy cats.
"Hey," Featherwing mewed from behind him. Leafstorm whirled around and smiled at his friend.
"Hey, Featherwing!" He narrowed his eyes playfully. "Aren't you supposed to be keeping vigil?"
Featherwing's blue eyes lit up. "Oh, gosh!" She exclaimed, then quickly covered her mouth with her tail. The silver tabby was about to mew something, but cut herself off and rushed to the camp entrance, Flameclaw following. He carried a note of seniority to the other cats that Leafstorm didn't like. Sure, they were friends; but they were both arrogant, which caused them to clash a lot. But there was one difference, Leafstorm thought; Leafstorm could back up his arrogance while Flameclaw couldn't. He snickered to himself.
The warriors ceremony had been a nice distraction to every cats' grieving, but now the cats of ThunderClan were beginning to sit vigil for their friends again. From the corner of his eye, Leafstorm saw Bluestrike rise and hurry over to the medicine cat den, coughing. Her and Dewtail had been a little more than close, and Leafstorm suspected it was a coverup for her grieving. Coward.
As the mottled tom gazed at his father, he wondered what his father had been trying to say to him. How did he know he was in the Dark Forest? And how did he know which cat he had visited? I wasn't even training, Leafstorm thought bitterly, I was just talking to him. My father has nothing to get worked up over.
But Leafstorm knew deep in his heart that Lionblaze did not waste words; so his final mews must have meant something.
A yowl coming from Moleclaw interrupted his thoughts. Leafstorm glanced wildly around and saw enemy cats smelling of WindClan and RiverClan dropping from all directions. Immediately, Leafstorm unsheathed his claws; ThunderClan was under attack, and they had just lost their greatest warrior!