Chapter 1: Who?
Ferns beside her rustled faintly as Dawntail walked along the border. The ferns were on the other side, it's no-Clan land there, she thought, none of my business. Not now, at least.
She carried on walking until she detected a wood mouse. instantly she dropped into the hunter's crouch and began to stalk. This will make a meal for Cloudshade. She carefully moved a few more tail-lengths and... Now! she pounced. But she was not the only one.
Silver and grey fur flashed as the new-comer dashed out of nowhere and landed neatly on her prey. The cat gave the mouse a swift killing-bite and noticed Dawntail, who was staring with range.
"Who in the name of StarClan are you?" Dawntail was almost snarling. This cat made her lose her prey. She started to look at the cat more closely. It was a small silver she-cat, with big, dark grey rings dappled on her fur. Like a leopard. But it's silver, not gold. It was not like any cat she had ever seen before. The pelt was unique. The cat had stunning amber eyes, that were also narrowing at her.
The cat blinked. "I could ask you the exact same question." She replied, motionless, her eyes showed nothing. Dawntail couldn't help admiring her hunting skills and her control over her emotions. Even Clan cats rarely have hunting talents like this.
"You crossed the border, took my prey, and now you are asking me?"
"Prey belongs to those who caught it." The cat replied, "If you hadn't noticed, the mouse was just between the two territories." Her whiskers twitched slightly as Dawntail's eyes widened with realization and gave her chest a few licks of embarrassment. "As for who I am... I guess you can call me Bluebelltail."
Bluebelltail? Isn't that a Clan name?
"Now, I've answered your question, will you answer mine?"
She considered for a second. It can't do any harm to tell her about the Clans and make her stay away from the border from now on. She looked into Bluebelltail's eyes, they were deep, but not dark.
"I am Dawntail, the ThunderClan deputy." She said, matching Bluebelltail's unemotional tone.
The silver cat's gaze flickered with interest.
"ThunderClan? One of the Clans?"
She had no idea why, a loner, would be interested in the Clans, so she waited for her to say more.
"I've heard about you. And- "She took a deep breath, "And I want to join."
"Join ThunderClan?" Dawntail stammered, mind spinning fast. What does this cat want?
"Yes, I want to join ThunderClan. Any Clan, for that matter. I can easily go for SkyClan or ShadowClan or WindClan or RiverClan and provide them a worthy warrior instead."
Dawntail stared in disbelieve. This cat knows the Clans very well, I'd better take her in.
"I guess you can come with me to our leader." She said finally. She flicked her very long tail, beckoning her to follow,
. . .
"Bluebelltail, ThunderClan welcomes you as a skilled warrior!"
There, she thought, another worthy warrior in the Clan, and we are growing stronger. ThunderClan is a bit short on warriors, since the fox fight and the outbreak of greencough before I was born, and the stoat attack I witnessed as an apprentice. We lost Mossfoot, Redpelt and Rockeye while giving a whole camp of foxes the message for trespassing with warriors from all five Clans; Ivyheart, Spotclaw, Brackenfall, Dewflight, Blackpelt, Stoneface, Leafstripe, Pinefur and Maplestar died of greencough in that harsh leaf-bare. Lightpelt chose ShadowClan when we were apprentices. Firedust was killed in the last stoat fight and I became deputy. Thrushclaw went over to ShaowClan as well when his mate, Robinflight was expecting kits. Then Willowstorm died fighting a dog...
She felt a stab of grief as she thought of her dead mother, Willowstorm, the yellow she-cat was snappy but caring. And she was Featherheart's littermate, no wonder why the medicine cat was in a bad mood since. At least we still have my littermate, Nightspirit, she chose the path of taking care of the Clan with herbs since the moment we opened our eyes and started to explore.
We also don't have Mistpaw...
The blue little she-cat became the ShadowClan medicine cat, Pebblefur's apprentice after being summoned by StarClan. While her littermates, Stormkit, Honeykit and Whitekit are still in the ThunderClan nursery. It's a great responsibility to have as Mistpaw was only four moons old.
Dawntail pulled herself back into the present. The Clan was cheering now, Bluebelltail was popular already. I wonder why she joined the Clan, though, cats don't just turn up from nowhere and claiming that they knew about the Clans. She seemed to have... a purpose here, but Dawntail can only sit back and wait to see what happens.
At least the nursery is going to be full. With Silverstripe, her three kits, and Squirrelwhisker expecting, ThunderClan should be growing before long. And I might move in sooner or later, with Flamecloud growing closer every day...
Flamecloud. The handsome dark ginger tom was coloured exactly like his father, only with his mother's tail. Of course, Foxstar's tail could certainly compete with a real fox'. Pity that her mate had died. Firedust was a good deputy.
Then there's Dusktail... Her littermate had exactly the opposite personalities as Dawntail, just like how Dawn was different to Dusk. The bright yellow she-cat reminded her a lot of Willowstorm. She was snappy, outgoing, optimistic, noisy and insensitive. She makes a good warrior though.
Good, not great.
Her sister was too rushing. She doesn't really think before she speaks, and her body was always a step ahead of her mind.
Dusktail was congratulating Bluebelltail now. She does seem worthy and skilful, but what's her real purpose?
She braced herself up and joined the cheering. Purpose or not, it can leave for later, what the Clan needs now was more warriors, and StarClan brought us one. And Bluebelltail deserve the welcoming and trust of the Clan.
The silver cat's amber eyes flashed at her, as if she could sense her doubt. How? She gazed back. My eyes aren't showing anything, I had made sure of that! But she couldn't help feeling that Bluebelltail knew something she doesn't want others to notice.
Her own amber eyes held the gaze. If you know what I am thinking, then you should be careful not to cross the line.
Bluebelltail blinked and huffed slightly, without any other cat noticing, then finally flicked the stunning gaze away. Her eyes are stunning, like they can see right through me. Dawntail let out a long breath as the tension finally stopped, realizing she had been holding it.
. . .
ThunderClan only have three apprentices in training right now, if Nightspirit doesn't count as one. There should have been four, but Shredpaw's littermate, Leafkit, was killed during a stoat attack.
WindClan already have more apprentices and kits than us. Dawntail thought grimly. The three litters were announced at gatherings, the first was eight moons ago, the other two followed closely in the next two moons. By the time when Hawkpelt's kits are apprenticed, every cat except for the mother and leader will have an apprentice to train, including the medicine cat, who had an apprentice for a moon.
ShadowClan already have four apprentices, and they have two litters, one of them were close to be apprenticed, and the other...
The other litter was born not long ago, to Robinflight and Thrushclaw. Thrushclaw. The only surviving kit from Ambermist's first litter. Another warrior to ShadowClan, because of love. Lightpelt already had a litter with Sunwhisker, giving birth to Brightpaw. Another loss. Lightpelt and Thrushclaw could have had kits in ThunderClan, providing ThunderClan more warriors, but she chose ShadowClan.
She shook her head, trying hard to not to think about her lost sister who chose a mate over her Clan.
But she was never happy here...
Although Hollypelt, littermate of Cinderstar and my own father, came from ShadowClan to ThunderClan when Willowstorm was expecting us.
RiverClan only have two apprentices but have two more litters waiting.
Then finally, SkyClan. SkyClan is thriving. Four apprentices, and two litters, with six kits in total. And they have no elders, leaving the apprentices focusing on their training completely.
Dawntail personally liked SkyClan cats. They were calm and skilled. And nice.
We can only hope that Squirrelwhisker's litter will be big enough for us to match up with other Clans' cats.
A good thing for being Clan deputy. You get to go to every Gathering and could keep track of how other Clans were doing.
The sun was slowly fading, the Clan was fed and was now sharing togues.
Bluebelltail walked across the clearing, catching Dawntail's eyes as she walked past the Highledge. Dawntail suddenly tensed.
For a heartbeat, Bluebelltail's eyes looked...
Silver?
The flash disappeared as quick as it came. Dawntail blinked and shook her head. It's been a long day. She told herself. I must have imagined it.
But the silver flash was so real.