THUNDERCLAN CAMP
As the cats entered camp, Bravepaw noticed the older clan cats and some of the warriors whispering, with undisguised looks of unbelief on their faces. The rogue cat kept her head high, trying to look as proud as her shaggy pelt made possible.
Velvetfoot made her way straight to Bladestar's den, and moments later Bladestar exited with Velvetfoot close on his tail.
"We found her as we were reaching the ThunderClan border,"Elmfur meowed respectfully.
"More like she found us," Redpaw whispered with a smirk to Bravepaw.
Looking at his leader, then back at the rogue, Bravepaw saw the distant look in Bladestar's eyes and the memories that must have been flooding in. The look was for only a brief moment before it turned into an expressionless stare.
"She says she needs to speak with you, Bladestar." Elmfur added softly.
"Come, into my den." Bladestar meowed. "Elmfur, I would like you to join us also."
As soon as the trio's pelts had disappeared into the den, small groups of cats formed and continued discussing, (Though this time in less hushed voices. )
"What is she doing back here!?" Kickleg meowed.
"Wasn't she banished seasons ago?!" Another one exclaimed.
Bravepaw felt his confusion growing as he realized most of the senior warriors and elder cats seemed to know Bladestar even had a sister!
"Edgeclaw! He would know!"
Edgeclaw had been sitting quietly below the high rock watching as the events had taken place, a slow smile formed on his face as he saw Bravepaw and Redpaw eagerly make their way towards him.
"Did you know Bladestar had a sister?!" Bravepaw questioned.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I did," He meowed casually with a smirk on his face.
"Well, why did she leave?" Redpaw asked.
Edgeclaw breathed a deep sigh, "Well, I was just a kit myself when Lilypaw fell in love with a rogue. Of course no one knew about it, she kept it a secret for quite some time. It was the morning of her final assessment when her mentor found her meeting with him in the woods." Her mentor told her that she would have to stop seeing him, because it was against the warrior code. Though Lilypaw told him she would never stop seeing him. Her mentor was then forced to tell our leader, which was Fangstar at the time. It was a big mess I'll tell you that. Lilypaw was brought before the whole clan when Fangstar told her she would either have to pick between her rogue mate, or her clan. She was a stubborn little thing though, and refused to stop seeing him. Some of the elders say it almost broke Bladestar's heart, that he begged her to stay, he even begged Fangstar in front of the whole clan. But Lilypaw just kept saying that she had to follow her own path. After that she was banished, and we'd never seen hide or tail of her since, until now." He finished, licking his paw.
"Why hadn't we ever heard of Lilypaw?" Bravepaw asked.
"Well it's not something that you would necessarily want to bring up." Edgeclaw meowed, "I think most of the cats were hoping that if they didn't talk about it, it would become just a sad memory that only the elders would know."
"Oh… that makes sense, I guess," Bravepaw meowed, "I wonder what she's here for."
They all turned their heads as Elmfur exited the den and made her way towards the freshkill pile and picked out some prey, she didn't talk to anyone, just carried the prey swiftly back to Bladestar's den.
"Well I don't know about you, but I'm famished!" Bravepaw exclaimed.
"You two go ahead, I've already eaten." Edgeclaw meowed.
"Last one to the freshkill pile is a rotten fox tail!" Bravepaw called out as he dashed over toward the pile.
"Oh yeah! Well first one there has badger's breath!" Redpaw countered.
The two picked their prey from the pile, then went and sat in the shade to enjoy their well-earned prey.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Highrock." Bladestar meowed as the cats started already forming in the center of the camp.
Elmfur and Lilypaw, started making their way to a spot right below the large ledge, when Bladestar motioned for them to come to join him on the Highrock, they kept a few paws distance to the side of him, then waited there as he addressed his clan.
"I'm sure by now that all of you know that Lilypaw here is my sister. She left the clan very many moons ago. She now goes by the name of Saige. She changed her name when she chose to leave with a rogue over staying with her clan. But all of that is of little consequence now, she has come back here, but only because she needs our help. I think it would be better for all of you to hear what the problem is from Saige herself." He then signaled her to come up beside him.
She still held her head high as when she walked into camp for the first time since she had been banished, but Bravepaw noticed she was obviously uncomfortable being in front of her old clan again.
Bladestar rested his tail comfortingly on Saige's shoulder and she looked at him with eyes full of love for her brother that she had left so long ago. Seeming to regain courage from her brother's support she began,
"I know you all must've never expected to see me again. Believe me, it was a shock for me too. After I left with Charles we moved far away from here. It took me three days journey to get here. I have a family now," Her face grew animated as she continued," Two of the greatest kit's possible! But… But something has interfered with our way of life. Other rogues have been attacking us, they've wounded Charles so bad that he has been stuck inside our dwelling, his fever has started to rise, and I don't know what to do! One of our friends has been trying everything he can but it doesn't seem to be enough. The rogues have been attacking us, and telling us that if we don't clear out they'll make it so that we will always be in fear every time we leave our camp. I don't want my kits to grow up having to worry that they'll be attacked from behind every tree."
Taking a shaky breath, she then meowed, "So I have come to ask if any of you would come with me and help me defeat the rogues."
A stone silence came across the clan for a brief moment as everyone turned heads to look at one another, murmuring in hushed voices, seeing who would be the first one to say something.
Bravepaw saw the panicked look which Bladestar's sister gave to their leader.
When it seemed as no one would say a word, a loud meow came from a cat in the crowd.
"I will go."
Without even turning to see who had volunteered, Bravepaw knew who had called out, Edgeclaw.
Edgeclaw made his way to the front and continued, "I will go if you allow it, Bladestar."
"Thank you, for volunteering, Edgeclaw," Bladestar meowed, "I'm very pleased that you are willing to go."
"Anyone else here who would be willing to go?" Their leader asked hopefully into the crowd.
"You can count me in." added Kickleg, as he dipped his russet head.
Berrybranch's meow chimed in, "Me too!"
"May I go too?" Owlpaw asked. (Kicklegs apprentice)
"I'm honored to see such enthusiasm to help my sister from my Clan," Bladestar meowed, "But if you are to be going Owlpaw, something must be done first. Your warrior ceremony," He grinned, "I've been meaning to have your assessment sometime soon, being as you've been an apprentice longer than the others. But seeing your eagerness and willingness to serve your clan and others, I think we should have the warrior ceremony right now."
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
The sun had not yet made it's rising as Velvetfoot, Grayleaf, Bravepaw, and now, as of yesterday, Owlclaw, were making their way into the deeper parts of the forest to start their morning hunt for prey.
"Bravepaw you may come over here with me," His mentor meowed, "We're going to try more on the RiverClan end of our territory."
They continued on quietly, ears alert for any signs of unsuspecting prey.
A mouse nibbled on a berry, unaware of the danger lurking from behind it. Bravepaw thought for sure the mouse would hear his heart thumping from miles away. But he crept up slowly, remembering everything Grayleaf had taught him. The mouse, realizing the stalker, tried to make a quick getaway, but it was too late. Bravepaw ran a few paces before he jumped on the mouse and delivered the killing bite. His first prey, "Thank you Starclan for this prey," He breathed silently.
"That will be a nice asset to the freshkill pile," His mentor meowed proudly as she came up beside him, "I'm sure with as straggly looking as Saige is we'll need all the prey we can find to fatten her up!"
Bravepaw mused to himself, "Oh yeah, that was right, this was Saige's and some of the warrior's last day with them. Then they would be off to try and help defeat the rogues that threatened Saige's home. Things will sure be different without Edgeclaw and the others around. I just hope they all come back home safely!"
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Author notes/ Thanks for everyone who has reviewed this story! I'd like to give a BIG shout-out to WildxPaws for reviewing my story and following it! Did I mention I like reviews? ;) If you're not too busy, please leave me one Thanks!