Hey hi hello!

So this fanfic is one I've been working on a while but never really got motivated to finish, and seeing as though I have only four chapters written for it you can see where I could use some inspiration ;D. I'm posting it here to hopefully force me to finish it and its future installments.

Anyway here's chapter two: I hope you enjoy it! This is where the story starts to spice up so if I didn't get you interested before, I hope I do now! :D

Chapter 2

The clearing startles me at first. It's this huge rectangular-shaped expanse, enough to fit a large number of cats. It's surrounded on the left and back by dense conifer forest, by a mountain at the front, and on the right side there's a slight stretch of plain that drops off into a steep hill, guarded at the bottom by a frozen river. At the head of the clearing, right before the mountain, rests a slab of stone that curves upward, forming a ledge. A single tree grows out of a hole in the center of the rock.

The stars overhead begin to glitter more violently, and suddenly I see a sort of haze fall from them. At first I think its fog, but its moving too fast and too uniform to be fog. And fog doesn't shimmer and have bits of what looks like stars in it. The mysterious haze lands, I guess, and swirls right in front of me. It forms into a familiar shape, and begins to get color until finally, I see a cat.

I jump back. It's a huge, burly tabby tom with a thick brown coat. He sits back on his haunches and flexes his powerful forepaws. His mouth forms a smile, and then I notice how odd it looks. I look closer and notice his jaw is twisted. He doesn't seem offended by me staring; he just waits and watches, majestically looking me over.

"Greetings, Star," he says finally. His voice is deep and wise, with a touch of amusement. "I am Crookedstar, former leader of RiverClan."

"RiverClan?" I manage to wheeze out.

"In a forest, very far away, there dwell five organized groups of cats called Clans. There are ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, WindClan, and SkyClan. It would be fruitless to say what they are known for as you have no chance of ever meeting them. But that is why we are here."

"Why who are here?" I say, still confused.

"When a warrior cat dies, their spirit goes to an extradimensional dream realm known as StarClan. There they watch over the Warrior Clans, and advise them when needed."

"And so you're from StarClan," I gather, and for the first time I notice specks of shimmering dust in his fur. The only name I can put on them are stars.

"Yes indeed," he responds. "You see, StarClan recognized the need to give the Warrior Code to new cats in new places. There are plenty of cats in the world who live without honor, idly wasting their lives. We decided to travel abroad to give this area our wisdom and knowledge.

"The Warrior Code?"

"A simple and authoritative set of laws that binds the clans together and keeps them from living like rouges and loners. It gives them a sense of honor, and a purpose."

"And so you're here to set up new warrior clans?" I say, finally catching on.

"Indeed."

"But why us?"

"Why not you?" He fires back.

"So, in other words, you chose at random," I guess, slightly offended. He must guess this because he gathers himself.

"You should consider yourself lucky. This opportunity will not come to many."

"So what do you want me to do?"

"'Want you to do'? Nothing. I'm offering you the chance to join the Warrior Clans."

My mind wanders to Harvey. "Have you invited cats from all over this twolegplace?"

"Not just twolegplace, but some loners from the forest, too. And from another twolegplace on the other side of the forest.

"What will the clans be called? Will we get special names, too?"

"Indeed. Everything you need to know will be explained at the full moon."

"The full moon! So Harvey was right!" I say, exasperated.

"Harvey?"

"Another cat you probably invited."

"Oh, he must be the one Willowbreeze talked to."

"Willowbreeze? You guys have odd names."

"Names you will also have if you join."

I sit and think for a few moments.

"Don't feel pressured to make a decision now; the full moon isn't for another four days. Come back here then," says Crookedstar.

"How will I know how to get here?"

"Go to the edge of the forest at nightfall when the day comes; you will be shown a way."

I think on this. "Am I just dreaming? Is this not real?"

"Yes, you're dreaming. And it's real. Why do people put those two in mutually exclusive categories?" he says with a verve of superiority. "Go back to sleep and come at the full moon, then you can make a decision."

Suddenly, he begins to fade. The forest becomes a blur, and then everything goes black.

I awake in my bed. Morning has risen; sunlight dances on the floor. I notice that my housefolk left the door open for me, which was stupid. I mean, I'm grateful, but they'll die of hypothermia. It may be leaf-fall still, but here it's cold and snowy all year round. I don't know how they can stand it.

I pad into twolegplace distractedly; my mind on other things right now. I can't help but focus on Crookedstar's message. Now I know that Harvey was right. But the question is, what am I going to do?

What am I going to do? The simple question bounces around my head as I storm across the thunderpath. Once again, Fletch is waiting for me by the park.

"What has your tail in a twist?" he says, noticing my somberness.

"I had the dream," I blurt. "Harvey's."

He knows what I'm talking about because a shadow flits across his eyes. "Me, too."

This catches me by surprise. "Wait, what?"

He blinks intensely, and sighs. "A cat named Firestar visited me and told me to…"

"…go to the clearing in the forest," I finish. "A cat named Crookedstar told me."

We sit in silence, staring at each other, trying to read each other's minds.

"What are you going to do?" he says silently, echoing my thoughts.

"I don't know."

He leans in. "Yes, you do." And I know I do, too. But I'm not ready to face that just yet. I open my mouth to speak, but he interrupts. "And you know what I'm going to do, too. "

"Yes," I choke. "Fletch, I'm so scared."

My voice comes out, but it's not mine. It's a small kits voice, and it brings me back to an incident almost four seasons ago.

It was during one of the worst leaf-bares, when blizzards and storms terrorized the twolegplace, forest, and everything beyond. I was only six moons old then, Fletch only eight. But even then he was a strong protector, and a fearless adventurer. We had only met a couple weeks before, and we had a hard time getting to know each other. But that changed that night.

I had wandered into twolegplace at sunhigh, and only a few hours later a huge blizzard started. I tried to go back home, but the snow made it hard to see and I got lost and ended up in the forest. I couldn't see anything, so I settled at the base of a cedar and tried to keep warm. Except I couldn't; my fur was matting down from the snow, and the wind chilled me to the bone. I was losing energy and I could feel my heart rate slowing, and I knew that I was probably going to die. So I feebly tried to call for help. It was a miracle he heard me, because my voice was giving out. He was at my side in an instant.

"Whoa! Star! You're cold!" he had said. Without further need of explanation, he wedged me between a packed snowdrift next to the tree trunk and his body. I felt his warmth leech into my veins, giving me hope.

"Fletch, I'm so scared," I had squeaked.

"I know. I am too."

This had caught me by surprise because I never saw him as the kind of cat to be scared by too much. "Really?"

"Really. But do you know what?"

"What?"

"I'll stay by you the whole time and I'll never leave."

I remember looking into his deep aqua-blue eyes, so rich and full of life and strength, and I had to believe him. And I did. I curled up and slept, and when I awoke, the storm was gone, and he was still there, guarding me. Ever since then, he's never abandoned that promise.

Once again, his eyes look into mine, and even though that was ages ago, I can't help but feel that I'm walking into the same situation again.

Fletch pads over next to me and presses his strong frame against my slight one. "I know. But I'll stay by you the whole time and I'll never leave."

I close my eyes because I know he will.

"So," he breaks, looking down at me. "Are you coming with me tonight?"

"What?!"

"I'm going into the forest tonight. Will you come with me?"

"But you have another three days!"

"I know. But I need to settle in first. Will you come with me?" he repeats.

"Fletch, you know I'd love nothing more than to be at your side, but I think I need to take that trip alone."

He understands. "I know you'd like to have a final few days with your housefolk."

"Yes." I won't deny it, because it's true.

We waste a final day together in twolegplace, trying to enjoy these final moments together. When it finally comes time to say goodbye, I find myself at a loss for words.

"Fletch," I say, choking up.

"Hey! Don't be sad. This isn't goodbye! I'll see you in just a few days!" he says, brushing his tail tip on my spine.

"I know." I lose myself in his scent for a few more moments until he decides that it's time to go. I watch him stalk off into the night, and I realize that our adventure, whatever it may be, has gotten real.

I bound into the house, wanting more answers. I decide that the only way I'll be able to get them is by talking to Crookedstar again. I pad over to by bed and settle down, willing sleep to come. The moment I close my eyes, darkness pulls me under and I know that they'll come.

Once again, I appear in the forest at the clearing. Crookedstar is waiting there for me.

"You have made your decision already," he comments.

"I know what I need to do," I say back.

"Very intuitive," he says, looking me up again, as if judging me. "Yes, that'll be perfect."

"Perfect for what?"

He doesn't even hesitate. "A Medicine Cat."

"Say who in the what now?"

He sighs surreptitiously. "A medicine cat is the clan's healer. They are solely in charge of keeping the clan alive and healthy. They also interpret signs and messages from StarClan and act as their oracles and messengers. Debatably the most important position in the clan."

"So no pressure?" I smile weakly.

"None at all," he smiles back.

"So I'm to be your medicine cat."

"One of five," he says, sitting back. "Your friend Harvey is another."

"Harvey?! But he's…" I begin

"Crazy?" Crookedstar leans in. "Star, Harvey has been influenced by StarClan since his birth. He's been seeing us his whole life. He's going to be one of the most talented medicine cats in the world."

"I thought you said StarClan just now came here?"

"We did. But he's had lost ancestors that live here, hasn't he? Haven't you?"

"Yes," I respond, realizing what he means. "So, since I haven't, will I not be a good Medicine cat?"

"Not necessarily," he says. "StarClan is only part of it. What has been your main interest your whole life?"

I think back to countless times I've fiddled with my twolegs' herbs, and even some of the instances where I've reset bones and healed diseases. "Healing," I respond.

"Exactly. That's a medicine cats' life," Crookedstar reassures.

I pause a moment. "So is that why you're here tonight? To guide me?"

"Yes. I can't help you with medicine business, but I can help you with clan counseling. The other cats we invited will not be visited tonight."

"Who'll help me with medicine?"

"Brambleberry, my faithful medicine cat from my days as leader," he says with a glint in his eyes.

"You were a leader?" I ask, surprised.

"Yes. Leaders obviously lead a clan. They are granted nine lives by StarClan and are addressed with the last name of 'star'."

"Nine lives? Wow! You guys are special," I comment. "Even more than the medicine cats."

"I'd say that the two positions are on the same tier," he says playfully.

"It's time for me to go," he says after a few silent moments. "I will continue to visit you until the full moon."

"Okay. Thank you Crookedstar," I say, because I am.

"You're always welcome. And I will always be at your side."

"Really?"

"I promise. And I will always keep my promises," he chokes, his eyes darkening. It's obvious that these words are more than I know them as, at least in his life. They seem attached to some dark memory that form storm clouds behind his eyes. But I don't think that's a window I can open yet. Once again, my vision blurs and I descend into nothingness.

Chapter two everyone!

Now if you didn't already realize I am biased toward RiverClan and that's why I used Crookedstar here; he's my absolute most favorite Warriors Cats character and his super edition is literally my most favorite fantasy novel in the world. Why? Cause I'm a sucker for romance tragedy (hint hint)

I'll post chapter 3 tomorrow and start to write chapter 5 so I can hopefully churn out content every week. Please leave a review if you can so I'll know where I can improve!

Arrayave :D