I apologize for this, but I hope this will be the last rewrite of Into the Wild! Let's hope I can actually get to Fire and Ice this time
Anywho, let's get into this! I did base the prologue off of the prologue in the last rewrite, but I updated the prose and dialogue!
The silver, frosty moon was a wedge in the sky tonight. The cold nipped and clawed like a badger, tearing the landscape into ruins. The pale moonlight bounced off a collection of silver boulders large and small, the river that ran beside it quietly murmuring. On one side of the river lay a flatland decorated with willow trees and the occasional birch or alder, streams running amok throughout the land. On the opposite side sat a huge forest, the trees seemingly tall enough to scrape the sky and the undergrowth seemingly enough to choke out any who dared live there.
Soon, crowds of cats poured from either side of the river, one group coming from the flatlands swimming gracefully to the rocks, and another group arriving from the forest. The cats in each group crept forward in tandem with pawsteps as silent as an owl's flight. Their eyes were narrow chips of aggression, the patrols circling each other and trading insults and taunts. The tension was palpable, and soon something would have to give.
A sleek cinnamon tomcat and a smaller calico tom flicked an ear, plunging the once silent battleground into battle.
The cats launched themselves at each other, their claws-sheaths gleaming in the moonlight. The rocks soon became a hissing, yowling, tussling ocean of violent felines.
Amid the fighting, a huge dark brown tabby tom smacked a smaller cinnamon colored tom right in the face, dazing him. The split second was enough for the tabby, his long fur a blur as he bowled the other tom over. The cinnamon tom snarled as the hulking tom pinned him down and placed a huge paw over his throat, talon-reinforced claws ever so slightly poking into his fur.
"A killing blow, Tigerclaw?!" He snapped, darker ears pinned down, "I should of known you ThunderClan cats were rotten snakes!"
The tabby curled his lips in disgust, eyes narrowing. "Never. And I won't waste my breath on you fish-faces! You all know good and well that Bluestar said this land was ThunderClan's!"
"Ha! Fat chance in VoidClan!" The smaller tom chuckled, a smirk tugging at his lips. This smugness made Tigerclaw growl, claws digging into the tom's neck.
Before he could teach the arrogant tom a lesson though, a pale gray molly cried out, "Look out, more RiverClan cats are coming!"
Tigerclaw whipped his head around, eyes wide as saucers as he stared at the new cats. Many were already across the river, launching themselves in battle with triumphant yowls. Most of the ThunderClan cats yowled in shock, the battle becoming even more frantic as they were ganged up on by two, three, even four RiverClan warriors.
Tigerclaw snarled and turned his head back to the tom, his lips peeled back in rage. His pale amber eyes were ablaze with fury, his claws digging more into Oakheart's throat.
"And here I thought you were above such tricks, Oakheart!" Tigerclaw snapped. Oakheart simply smirked and opened his mouth as if he was about to retort, but both toms with interrupted by a molly's desperate yowl.
Both looked up to see a pale brown molly being pinned down by a large silver tabby tom, his lips curling into a snarl as he watched the molly underneath him squirm and hiss. He drew himself upwards to his full height, raising a paw in the air.
"Time to die, ThunderClan scum!" He hissed, jaw reaching for her throat. The molly let out a panicked yowl, her wide yellow eyes turning to Tigerclaw in a wordless, yet no less powerful plea for help.
The dark brown tabby tom felt the burning instinct to protect clanmates rise within him, his mind blocking out all other stimuli.
The world around him became nothing more than a blur as he launched himself off Oakheart, screeching in righteous fury. His chest and front legs collided with the silver tabby's side, knocking the wind out of him. Tigerclaw slammed him int the ground, placing a paw over his head to keep the tom from getting up. He shouted over his shoulder to the molly, "Run Mousefur, run!"
She took off as soon as the words left his mouth, dodging the remaining fighters, limping slightly, and sprinting into the woods.
Tigerclaw watched her go, only to feel a stinging pain on his left cheek, the tom's claws tearing the flesh. The tabby tom growled lowly at the RiverClan warrior, who was now readying his muscles for another attack. Tigerclaw yowled a battle cry and charged at him, catching the RiverClan cat off guard. The tabby sank his teeth into his tail, eliciting a loud cry of pain. The warrior attempted to run for it, but Tigerclaw held on, digging his claws into the cat's haunches, blood dripping onto the sand.
Finally, with an ear-piercing yowl, the RiverClan warrior rolled on the ground, dislodging the large tom from his tail, and dashing to the other side of the river. Tigerclaw watched him go with a smug smirk, tail twitching with satisfaction.
Just as Tigerclaw was about to throw himself back into the fray, the calico tom came running to the imposing tabby, his fluffy ginger tail hung low. He was badly injured, a collection of scratches running down his sides and shoulders and a torn ear that trickled blood.
"Tigerclaw!" The small tom yelled over the yowling, "This fight is pointless! We're outnumbered!"
"No, Redtail! ThunderClan won't ever be beaten; This is our territory!" Tigerclaw snapped. His ears were flattened angrily, and his tail lashed in fury. "How dare you! After this, RiverClan will think they can take whatever they want!"
Redtail's muzzle drew into a snarl as he snapped, "Tigerclaw, listen for once, you battle hungry mouse-brain! We're outnumbered and most of our warriors are injured! We cannot afford to lose any more cats this winter! We need to retreat!"
Tigerclaw growled but saw his point, falling silent as the small white tom leaped onto a tall, lopsided boulder, tail hung low in defeat.
"Retreat ThunderClan! Retreat!" Redtail yowled to his warriors. The ThunderClan cats gaped in surprise before tearing themselves away from their opponents and running into the forest. Redtail and Tigerclaw followed soon after, although the large tabby tom paused to look back at the battlefield.
The RiverClan cats were cheering, yowling triumphantly and chattering excitedly. Oakheart stood on the same rock Redtail had, overlooking his warriors with pride. He shot Tigerclaw a snide look before his head turned back to his clanmates.
Tigerclaw narrowed his eyes, his tail lashing in disappointment and a growl building in his throat. He huffed, and then leapt into the forest, following the scent of the ThunderClan patrol.
…
Hours later, the moon was starting to dip down, although it hadn't touched the horizon yet. In the forest, there was a gorge, and this was the place ThunderClan called home.
The gorge was filled with gentle snoring and soft whispers of sleeping cats, the noises coming from large woven bushes and small caves that scattered the camp.
On a steep cliff that jutting from the gorge walls, a tall, well muscled gray molly with darker colorpoints sat on the very edge, her vivid teal eyes affixed to the night sky like a moth to a lamp.
She was searching for something, ears straining to hear something, some sign of anything. Yet there was nothing to see beyond the speckles of white that dotted the black sky, and nothing to hear besides the sounds of the forest and the sleepy murmurs of her clanmates.
"Bluestar?" A soft, feminine voice inquired from the foot of the cliff. The gray molly turned her head to the calico molly who spoke, dipping her head in greeting.
"Spottedleaf." She said curtly, "How's the patrol? Will they pull through."
The delicate molly leapt up the cliff in just a few bounds, tail waving. She padded to where Bluestar was seated and sat on her haunches. The older molly saw out of the corner of her eye that Spottedleaf appeared quite exhausted, exhaustion clear in her eyes, yet she knew the young calico wouldn't rest until her clanmates were healed.
"Everyone will be okay in a day or so. I told them not to strain themselves though, and report to me if there's any sharp pain or bleeding." She answered after a beat of silence, her mouth turning up into a small, hopeful smile. "Mousefur's shoulder was strained, and Tigerclaw suffered a lot of injuries, but they'll make it too."
Bluestar nodded.
"Good. We couldn't have made it through this winter without you, Spottedleaf."
The petite calico molly lowered her head to stare at the brown cliff rocks beneath her paws, lips tightening as she let out a breath through her nose.
"I... I would've have liked if... Featherwhisker were here." She murmured, eyes shutting in pain.
Bluestar placed a tail over her shoulder for comfort, although Spottedleaf barely seemed to register it. Poor kit, not two years old and already the sole druid of ThunderClan. Bluestar stared at the night sky, eyes narrowed.
Why did StarClan let so many of their numbers die over the winter? She had experienced plenty of cold, harsh winters in her life, yet none of them had come close to the cruelty of this season.
"Are you asking StarClan for answers?" Spottedleaf suddenly asked.
Bluestar nodded, eyes still glued onto the sky. Her tail moved from Spottedleaf's shoulder to wrapped around her paws, lips pursing in worry.
"This winter has been so harsh..." She muttered. Finally, her head turned to Spottedleaf, "Has StarClan sent you any signs as of late?"
The calico shook her head sadly. "No, not since winter began...". Her expression then turned to one of playful cheer, flicking her leader with her fluffy tail.
"But what are you worried about? Winter's over, and we have plenty of kits on the way, and Graykit's about to become an apprentice! Plus, herbs are starting to grow back, and I'm sure prey will come with it!"
Bluestar's tail began to lash and her eyes narrowed. "Still," She said lowly, "We're low on warriors, and Sandpaw's at least three moons away from earning her name. We need more cats if we're to survive."
Spottedleaf's ears drooped, and her guilty amber eyes wandered to the sky. Just as soon as they did however, her eyes widened, her hackles bristled, and her tail puffed out like a pinecone. Her jaw flopped open, garbled words in the voice of a thousand ancestors tumbling out of her maw.
Bluestar shifted, eyebrows jumping slightly. An omen?
Spottedlaf gasped, her head jerking away from the night sky. She was still shaking, but she seemed conscious now. Bluestar stared as her expression turned from bewilderment to excitement, her eyes lighting up and ears perking.
"Bluestar! I've received a message from StarClan!" Spottedleaf gushed, "We have guidance! They said fire alone will save our clan!"
The leader, however, was horrified by these words. Her eyes widened and her ears flattened in fear, murmuring to herself, "Fire?! But... fire is a scourge upon clan territory!"
Bluestar's icy eyes turned to the calico and she asked, "Are you certain that's what you heard?"
Spottedleaf paused, furrowing her brows as she recalled the words their ancestors had told her.
"Well... I don't know... But this is what I heard from them."
Bluestar's eyes searched for any sort of untruthfulness in Spottedleaf's gaze, but she seemed genuine and earnest. The gray molly sighed.
"Well, if that is what you heard, then I suppose it's so... fire alone will save our clan..."
THUNDERCLAN:
Leader: Bluestar- Tall blue mink point molly with teal eyes and a scar running down her shoulder
Apprentice: Sandpaw
Deputy: Redtail- Small white tom with ginger ears and a ginger tail, yellow eyes
Apprentice: Dustpaw
Healer: Spottedleaf- Petite calico molly with amber eyes
Lorekeepers: Patchpelt- Black and white tom with pale blue eyes
Rosetail- Cinnamon calico molly with bright green eyes
Warriors: Lionheart- Huge golden classic tabby tom with long fur and green eyes
Apprentice: Graypaw
Tigerclaw- Bulky, scarred dark brown mackerel tabby tom with pale amber eyes
Apprentice: Ravenpaw
Whitestorm- White tom with a large silver patch on his back and yellow eyes
Brindleface- Cream molly with dark green eyes
Darkstripe- Dark gray tabby tom with a very pale underbelly and green eyes
Mousefur- Short pale brown molly with a white chin and amber eyes
Apprentice: Firepaw
Runningwind- Lanky pale brown tom with a white belly and chin, pale greenish yellow eyes
Longtail- Tall lilac classic tabby tom with yellow eyes
Caretakers: Willowpelt- Brown tortoiseshell molly with pale copper eyes and classic tabby stripes
Fuzzypelt- Spiky-furred black tom with nicked ears and yellow eyes
Apprentices: Sandpaw- Bulky cream molly with a white belly and a ginger tail, dark green eyes
Dustpaw- Short dark brown mackerel tabby tom with a white locket on his chest and yellow eyes
Ravenpaw- Lanky black tom with a white locket on his chest and yellow eyes
Graypaw- Silver classic tabby tom with yellow eyes
Firepaw- Ginger ticked tabby tom with dark green eyes
Permaqueens: Speckletail- Huge golden and cream tortoiseshell molly with heavily scarred ears and a long scratch along her back, hazel eyes
Queens: Frostfur- Gray molly with a white underbelly, muzzle, and paws. Amber eyes
Goldenflower- Golden and cream tortoiseshell molly with green eyes
Kits: Swiftkit- Black and white tom with yellow eyes
Lynxkit- Calico molly with golden replacing the ginger, dark blue eyes
Cinderkit- Gray and cream calico molly
Brackenkit- Golden classic tabby tom with a white muzzle
Thornkit- Golden classic tabby tom with a white belly
Brightkit- Golden molly with a white belly and paws
Elders: Smallear- Dark gray tom with folded ears, amber eyes
Sparrowpelt- Dark brown tom with yellow eyes
White-eye- Pale brown molly with a white chin and one greenish yellow eye, other eye missing
…
SHADOWCLAN:
Leader: Raggedstar- Huge dark gray tom with heavily torn ears and a long scratch on his right foreleg, yellow eyes
Deputy: Barktail (Brokenstar)- Stocky gray tom with a kinked tail, amber eyes
Apprentice: Whitepaw
Druid: Yellowfang- Heavily scarred ginger molly with dark amber eyes
Cloudynose- Pale gray and white tom
Lorekeepers: Nightpelt- Black tom with a large nick in his ear
Apprentice: Brownpaw
Moonlightwhisper- Skinny, lanky black smoke tom with green eyes
Warriors: Frogtail- Dark gray point tom with aqua eyes
Lizardstripe- Dark brown lynx colorpoint molly with dark blue eyes
Apprentice: Littlepaw
Flintfang- Short dark gray classic tabby tom with yellow eyes
Apprentice: Poppypaw
Foxheart- Ginger molly with a white muzzle and belly and a darker brown, green eyes
Jaggedtooth- Silver classic tabby tom with pale blue eyes and an underbite
Tangleburr- Brown tortoiseshell colorpoint molly with blue eyes
Blackfoot- Huge seal colorpoint tom with yellow eyes
Russetfur- Small cinnamon molly with dark green eyes
Apprentice: Drizzlepaw
Oatclaw (Clawface)- Scarred dark brown tom with amber eyes
Stumpytail- Dark brown tom with a stump for a tail and yellow eyes
Caretakers: Rownberry- Ginger molly with yellow eyes
Wolfstep- Pale gray tom with a darker back and green eyes
Boulderpelt- Silver tom with green eyes
Apprentices: Brownpaw- Dark brown tom with yellow eyes
Dawnpaw- Small ginger mackerel tabby molly with blue eyes
Littlepaw- Small cream mackerel tabby tom with blue eyes
Poppypaw (Tallpoppy)- Mostly white calico molly with dark green eyes
Drizzlepaw (Wetfoot)- Dark gray spotted tabby tom
Whitepaw (Whitewater)- Huge, bulky white molly with amber eyes, one eye is blind
Permaqueen: Deerfoot- Brown tom with white paws
Queens: Darkflower- Black molly with yellow eyes
Fernshade- Dark gray and cream tortoiseshell with green eyes
Kits: Oakkit- Pale brown tortoiseshell tom with pale blue eyes. Kit of Fernshade and Wolfstep
Ratkit- Dark brown tom with a dark back and green eyes. Kit of Fernshade and Wolfstep
Badgerkit- Pale gray tom with a white belly and legs, yellow eyes. Kit of Fernshade and Wolfstep
Midnightkit- Small, skinny black tom with green eyes. Kit of Darkflower and a loner
Elders: Ashfang- Old, grizzled dark gray tom with yellow eyes
Scorchwind- Gray and ginger tortoiseshell tom with dark yellow eyes
…
RIVERCLAN:
Leader: Stormstar- Huge pale gray mackerel tabby tom with a mangled jaw and green eyes
Deputy: Oakheart- Cinnamon colored mackerel tabby tom with dark green eyes
Druid: Mudfur- Pale brown tom with hazel eyes and white paws
Lorekeepers: Softwing- Golden tabby with molly with patches of white and green eyes
Mallownose- Brown tom with blue eyes and a pale belly
Apprentice: Pebblepaw
Warriors: Whitefang- Brown and white tom with hazel eyes
Apprentice: Silverpaw
Beetlenose- Black smoke tom with green eyes
Ivytail- Silver classic tabby molly with green eyes
Swallowtail- Cinnamon molly with blue eyes and a white underbelly
Apprentice: Shadepaw
Blackclaw- Black smoke tom with yellow eyes
Apprentice: Icepaw
Skyheart- Pale gray smoke molly with blue eyes
Apprentice: Mosspaw
Sedgecreek- Gray molly with pale green eyes and a white chest
Stonefur- Gray tom with scarred ears and amber eyes
Leopardfur- Pale brown spotted tabby molly with white paws
Caretakers: Whiteclaw- White tom with black patches and amber eyes
Petaldust- Lilac smoke molly with hazel eyes
Dawnbright- Fawn and cream calico molly with pale blue eyes
Voleclaw- Gray smoke tom with pale green eyes
Apprentices: Silverpaw- Silver marble tabby molly with green eyes
Shadepaw- Dark gray molly with pale blue eyes
Mosspaw- Calico molly with green eyes
Icepaw- White molly with amber eyes
Pebblepaw- Pale gray tom with dark hazel eyes
Permaqueens: Greenflower- Brown mackerel tabby molly with green eyes and a white chest
Queens: Mistyfoot- Dark gray molly with a white belly and tail-tip, pale blue eyes
Kits: Cricketkit- Brown tom with green eyes. Kit of Greenflower and Mallownose
Wavekit- Brown mackeral tabby molly. Kit of Greenflower and Mallownose
Splashkit- Brown tom with a white belly and tail tip. Kit of Greenflower and Mallownose
Ripplekit- Brown mackerel tabby tom with dark blue eyes and a pale belly that connect to a white chest. Kit of Greenflower and Mallownose
Reedkit- Black smoke tom. Kit of Mistyfoot and Blackclaw
Primrosekit- Gray smoke molly. Kit of Mistyfoot and Blackclaw
Pikekit- Gray tom with a black back and a white belly. Kit of Mistyfoot and Blackclaw
Perchkit- Gray tom with a black back. Kit of Mistyfoot and Blackclaw
Elders: Graypool- Silver marbled tabby molly with pale green eyes.
…
WINDCLAN:
Leader: Tallstar- Tall black tom with a white muzzle, belly, chest, and front paws. Yellow eyes
Deputy: Deadfoot- Black tom with a twisted left forepaw. Dark copper eyes
Druid: Barkface- Short dark brown spotted tabby tom with one green eye and one copper eye
Lorekeepers: Sorrelshine
Wrenfeather- Pale brown spotted tabby molly with pale yellow eyes
Apprentice: Rabbitpaw
Warriors: Cloudrunner- Pale gray tom with yellow eyes
Stagleap- Gray spotted tabby tom with pale amber eyes
Apprentice: Fleetpaw
Ryestalk- Pale gray spotted tabby molly with dark green eyes
Woolytail- Gray tom with a white locket on his chest, white paws, and a white tail tip. Pale amber eyes
Apprentice: Tawnypaw
Bristlefang- Dark gray molly with pale yellow eyes and a spiky ruff of fur
Mudclaw- Skinny dark brown classic tabby tom with golden eyes
Apprentice: Whitepaw
Tornear- Skinny lilac classic tabby tom with aqua eyes and a huge nick in his ear
Webfoot- Dark gray spotted tabby tom with white paws
Caretakers: Doespring- Pale cinnamon molly with dark blue eyes and a pale belly
Flytail- Mostly white tom with gray and brown patches on his back and amber eyes
Apprentices: Rabbitpaw (Onewhisker)- Pale brown classic tabby tom with a very pale muzzle, and yellow eyes
Tawnypaw- Lilac classic tabby molly with green eyes
Fleetpaw (Runningbrook)- Lilac mackerel tabby molly with blue eyes
Whitepaw- Mostly white molly with gray patches on her back and tail
Queens: Morningflower- Gray tortoiseshell molly with amber eyes
Ashfoot- Bulky gray spotted tabby molly with pale blue eyes and a white locket on her chest
Kits: Gorsekit- Ginger lynx point tom. Kit of Morningflower and a loner
Quailkit- Gray tom with a ginger patch on his back. Kit of Morningflower and a loner
Warblekit- Tortoiseshell molly. Kit of Morningflower and a loner
Crowkit- Black tom with a white locket on his chest. Kit of Ashfoot and Deadfoot
Eaglekit- Gray spotted tabby tom. Kit of Ashfoot and Deadfoot
Downkit- Gray spotted tabby tom with black stripes. Kit of Ashfoot and Deadfoot
Hillkit- Black tom with a light gray belly and a white locket on his chest. Kit of Ashfoot and Deadfoot
Elders: Crowfur- Black tom with green eyes
Dawnstripe- Cream mackerel tabby molly with dark copper eyes