Atliersky- Yeah, well, ThunderClan is pretty much like Brokenstar's ShadowClan. There were so many of them, why didn't they overthrow him? And Thistlestar has his gang that actually respect him and he's convinced most of them that most things they do is for the greater good. Just like SC believing kits should be warriors and get thrown into battle too young. Or they're just scared.
Let's hope that nobody messes up the meeting too...
Yes, the black she-cat spying is the important rogue, but she and the tom are canon characters in DOTC if you can guess. Same goes for the cats with dog teeth collars if you know who I mean...
Graystripe headed into camp, carrying a pigeon. He was followed by Brackenpaw, who held a sparrow. The sun shone from a brilliantly blue sky. The snow was gone and buds were swelling from tiny green leaves on the trees. The prey was returning, filling the forest with birdsong and chattering.
"You can add that to the pile," Graystripe meowed, nodding at his apprentice. The golden tabby apprentice nodded and headed away.
It would be time for his and his littermates' final assessment soon. If they passed they'd be warriors. Graystripe worried for Brightpaw though. The young she-cat was still nervous after the dog chase she and Cricketpaw had gotten into the other day. Fortunately, Mistyfoot had rescued them on time.
He could see the gray she-cat crouched beside Bluefur, darkly exchanging whispers with each other. Mistyfoot had claw marks on her cheek that she said had come from the dog, but Graystripe thought the claw marks looked too small to come from a dog.
Meanwhile, Cricketpaw was as energetic as ever as if she hadn't almost gotten ripped apart by a dog.
She and Cinderpaw would have made great friends.
Graystripe shook off the grief. He needed to focus on the now and make sure Brackenpaw made it to warriorship.
Ashkit and Fernkit tumbled out of the nursery as their mother threw old bedding out. Snowkit waddled after them, but Speckletail pulled him back in before emerging herself.
Goldenflower followed her mother with her own bedding, her belly swollen with kits. Tigerclaw's kits.
Graystripe wondered if someone so tough and scary like him could actually be a good father. Or maybe he would just make his kits like him at a young age.
"Graystripe!"
Speaking of…
Tigerclaw was padding towards him. "I want you to take a patrol to check the RiverClan border."
"Who do I take?"
"Whoever. Or should I hold your paw?"
"I'm good," the gray tom quipped and before he could say anything else, Graystripe snatched up his pigeon and hurried to the fresh-kill pile.
Stonefur and Runningwind were sharing fresh-kill while Swiftclaw lounged beside them, bored.
"Who wants to patrol?" He asked.
Swiftclaw immediately leaped to his paws. "You have no idea how bored I've been lately! But I guess that's Clan life. Nothing fun except Gatherings and battles."
Runningwind stood up, too, and after a moment Stonefur followed suit, frowning a bit at Swiftclaw's words, but said nothing to the young tom.
"Come on then," Graystripe meowed cheerily and led the way out of camp.
They set a brisk pace through the trees, and Graystripe noticed the bright green fronds that were unfurling from the ground. Flowers were pushing through the soggy foliage. Birdsong filled the air, and the forest smelled fresh.
He slowed as they reached the edge of the forest. Ahead, the river was babbling loudly, freed from the ice.
"Seems like the river's unfrozen," he commented.
"Yes, now we don't have to worry about RiverClan taking from us," Stonefur meowed.
"Yeah, they can keep themselves and their slimy fish on their side," Swiftclaw declared proudly.
The land sloped down toward the river, which was swelled with melted snow. It moved fast, bursting over the banks and rising on the grass. The tips of reeds were caught in the surface current. Farther upstream, Sunningrocks had become a gray island, surrounded by water.
The river was flooded.
"Great StarClan!" Graystripe gasped and the others nodded in agreement. I wonder what happened to RiverClan's camp.
The land was lower on the RiverClan camp, so the floodwaters must have spread even farther. The small island would be completely underwater.
Runningwind approached the edge of the water. "This isn't so bad," he said. "At least it'll keep RiverClan from crossing the river."
The others nodded. "We'd better report this," Graystripe meowed, but he was sure Thistlestar wouldn't care unless it threatened ThunderClan's land.
They headed back and as soon as Thistlestar heard he called a meeting.
"The river is flooded. If it reaches our land it'll be dangerous. So apprentices only leave with warriors and kits stay in camp. The rest of you take caution and report to me after your patrols if the water looks like it'll head our way."
"RiverClan will have fun with the flood," Darkstripe sneered.
"Yeah, good thing they can swim," Longtail added and he and Dustpelt snickered.
Graystripe didn't understand how they were allies only a few moons ago, fighting WindClan but were now making fun of them.
Well, it is every Clan for themselves in these situations, he thought.
He wasn't the only one who looked disapproving. As expected, Bluefur was gazing sharply at their leader, who glared back before the she-cat turned away.
Graystripe gulped.
"I swear it's normal now. Rogues just stroll in and ask to join and Skystar goes 'Oh, sure. Why not?'"
Fire Heart listened as Shattered Ice complained to Dappled Pelt as they neared Sunningrocks. The tortoiseshell had wanted to pick herbs and Cloud Spots had urged her to take two warriors with her at least since the river was flooding now.
At least the snow is gone.
Shattered Ice was talking about two new rogues called Thorn and Dew, who had requested to join earlier that day. Skystar, of course, had accepted.
Fire Heart had a feeling, he was just hoping to recruit more warriors in case the battle did happen.
"Oh, shut up. We need the warriors," Dappled Pelt sighed. "And Skystar does not sound like that."
"Yeah, respect your leader's choices," Fire Heart added.
Shattered Ice scoffed. "Of course, you'd side with him. After all, without him where would you be?"
"Dead," Fire Heart said simply.
Dappled Pelt smirked when Shattered Ice stopped talking after that.
"Or back in Twolegplace," Fire Heart continued. "Because really, River Ripple rescued me from actually drowning, and if you guys had refused to take me in, he probably would have just taken me back home."
"Right you are," Dappled Pelt said as they came across the needed herbs. She settled down and started plucking them while Shattered Ice and Fire Heart kept watch.
"But I'm just saying," Shattered Ice suddenly said, picking up the conversation from before. "Wind Runner and Gorse Fur are friends because they teach us new things and how to hunt rabbits. Meanwhile, Thunder brings back two kits and a cripple."
"Hey," Fire Heart snapped in Cinderpaw's defense. Between her exercise routine with Jagged Peak, her battle training with Tall Shadow and her hunting time split between Hawk Swoop and himself, he had really befriended the young ThunderClan she-cat. She was bright and still full of energy despite her weak leg.
"Yeah, that was rude Shattered Ice. Shut up!" Dappled Pelt snapped. "Jagged Peak will help her since he's gone through the same thing and then she'll be better in no time."
"Okay," Shattered Ice muttered. "But the kits~"
"Are like any other kits. We take care of them for six moons of their life and then they learn to contribute. The end! Besides, you had your doubts about Cloud Tail at first."
"I'm still not completely sure about him," Shattered Ice said. "I mean how will he hunt in newleaf? He sticks out like…well, snow!"
"Falling Feather can help him," Fire Heart suggested. "Maybe she can be his mentor. Or Frost if his apprentice is a warrior by then."
"Of course." Dappled Pelt smiled encouragingly at him. "Shattered Ice just likes to think negatively."
Before Shattered Ice could say anything a wail ripped through the air. The three SkyClan cats were up in an instant.
"It came from RiverClan!" Dappled Pelt gasped and without thinking she jumped into the river and paddled madly across to RiverClan's side.
"Are you crazy?" Shattered Ice yelled after her, but she was already hauling herself up onto the opposite bank before she disappeared into the reeds.
"Yeah, guess so." Fire Heart shrugged. Shattered Ice looked at him before uttering a soft curse and flinging himself into the current. Reluctantly, Fire Heart followed. He wasn't a swimmer, but he didn't want to get left behind by his clanmates.
They all crouched in some reeds and looked around. Suddenly, Dappled Pelt darted away and Shattered Ice followed. Fire Heart raced after them, heart pounding.
He crashed into Shattered Ice as they entered another bed of reeds. "Hey, what's the big deal?" The older warrior muttered.
"I thought we were caught! What, with the way you suddenly took off like that?"
"Well, guess what? RiverClan will know we're here anyway because I was gonna check on them."
"What?!" Both toms yowled before they quieted down.
"No need for that," Dappled Pelt said and took off. The other two followed, exchanged bewildered looks. "I'll just say I had to talk to Mudfur if they're unfriendly right now and said I brought you two for safety. After all, it's flooding time!"
"Crazy," Shattered Ice muttered.
When they came upon the camp the trio gasped. It was completely submerged.
"Well, they're dead," Shattered Ice shrugged and turned to leave when they heard a wail again and looked up to see RiverClan on a hill. "Ah, there they go."
Fire Heart rolled his eyes as Dappled Pelt darted towards them. "What's going on?" The tortoiseshell asked. The RiverClan cats stared at her with curiosity. Or hostility in cats like Blackclaw and Beetlenose's case.
"My kits!" A tortoiseshell queen, Mosspelt wailed.
"I'll find them," Leopardfur promised.
"Dappled Pelt?" Mudfur pushed through the crowd and padded to the SkyClan cats. "What's wrong?"
"Yes, what're you doing here, prey-stealers?" Rippleclaw glared heavily at Shattered Ice.
For once Shattered Ice didn't retort as he exchanged an uneasy look with Dappled Pelt and Fire Heart.
The RiverClan cats noticed and some actually started to look concerned.
"Is everything okay in SkyClan?" Mudfur asked urgently as any fellow medicine cat would.
"Is your camp flooded too?" A warrior, Mallowtail stepped forward, casting a concerned look over their soaked forms.
"Is it Thistlestar again?" Reedtail asked.
"No…" Fire Heart muttered, wondering why they would care if Thistlestar was hurting them. Not long ago they were allies.
Just then, there was a cry in the distance. Dappled Pelt immediately launched herself in the flow and slid downstream all the way to the actual river.
The RiverClan cats blinked.
"Crazy!" Shattered Ice yowled after her for the third time. He turned on Fire Heart. "Stay here with them. I'll go after her!" And with that he jumped into the flow, too, and paddled after his friend.
Fire Heart felt a bit uncomfortable with the enemy Clan.
"Wow, they can swim," Voleclaw randomly commented to break the silence.
Please hurry up, Fire Heart thought.
River Ripple stretched as he padded from his nest among the reeds. It was another beautiful day now that the thaw had come.
The only problem was the flood. The water had risen so far it lapped at his paws as soon as he exited the reeds.
The river was many fox-lengths away.
He took it in stride and casually walked towards the river for a drink. And maybe he would risk fishing too.
Once he reached the shore, the water was up to his belly. Suddenly, a log swept pass with three kits on it.
He did a double-take.
Before he could react a flash of tortoiseshell fur passed him, whooping. A gray-and-white tom followed, looking annoyed, but not scared.
Dappled Pelt and Shattered Ice.
He paced quickly along the bank to keep up with them, wondering what they were doing on RiverClan territory chasing after kits.
Not that it's necessarily a bad thing. If they hadn't spotted the kits they would have drowned.
Just then, the log split and the she-kit fell into the water with a squeak. River Ripple gasped before he launched himself into the torrent. He dived down as deep as he could, but it was hard when the strong water kept moving him around.
He finally glimpsed the kit and lunged forward grabbing her scruff before he let himself resurface.
He looked around to see Shattered Ice with the gray tabby kit, but Dappled Pelt was still paddling after the ginger-and-brown one.
River Ripple struggled to the shore and set the kit beside the other one and Shattered Ice before he jumped back into the river to help Dappled Pelt rescue the last one.
Come on! We can't lose him now! River Ripple thought determinedly.
Dappled Pelt pushed forward, trying to grab the kit, but a rock loomed out of nowhere and she crashed into it.
"Come on! The river was clear this whole time until now!" She muttered in annoyance as River Ripple passed her.
He kept moving his limbs even as they burned with the effort until he could sink his claws into the remaining piece of rotted wood. The tom-kit squeaked and jumped towards him, but slipped towards the water.
River Ripple snatched him up and started swimming back towards where he came from.
Dappled Pelt had joined Shattered Ice on the bank and now the two SkyClan warriors watched anxiously as he made his way back.
"Come on, come on," Shattered Ice muttered as he reached forward and grabbed the kit, allowing River Ripple to struggle onto the pebbly shore.
"Yes! We did it!" Shattered Ice sighed in relief and sank down to rest, looking worn out similar to River Ripple. Dappled Pelt was checking the kits over.
"They'll be fine, but we have to get them back home."
"Where's mama?" The gray tabby squeaked.
"We'll bring you to her," River Ripple purred.
"Who you?" His brother asked.
"No one important," Shattered Ice muttered.
Dappled Pelt rolled her eyes. "I'm Dappled Pelt and that's River Ripple. And he's Shattered Ice." She flicked her tail at the annoyed gray-and-white tom.
"Okay, great. Can we go now?" Shattered Ice snapped and stalked away, tail tip twitching.
"He's mean," the she-kit mewed. Dappled Pelt and River Ripple chuckled before they guided the kits after Shattered Ice.
"C-cold," the brown-and-ginger tom-kit squeaked.
"We're almost there," Dappled Pelt promised.
"Up here!" They looked up to see Crookedstar.
Once they reached the Clan, Mosspelt flung herself at her kits, eyes shining with relief while Leopardfur eyed them suspiciously.
"Why did you help us?"
Dappled Pelt was too tired to argue but Shattered Ice snapped, "Do you think we'd let kits drown? Just because we don't like you doesn't mean the kits deserve to die!"
Dappled Pelt looked at her paws as Crookedstar and Leopardfur stared.
River Ripple cleared his throat. "I should get going." But didn't immediately leave.
"Thank you," Mosspelt murmured to the three of them and they nodded.
Fire Heart was surrounded by some RiverClan cats, looking uncomfortable when they were approached by Loudbelly.
"Hi," the brown tom said.
"Um, hi?" Dappled Pelt looked wary. River Ripple wondered what that was all about.
"Is SkyClan okay?"
Dappled Pelt exchanged a look with Shattered Ice and whispered, "they already asked that."
"It's just," Loudbelly began. "Silverstream said you ran away from one of our patrols like you were scared of something."
Dappled Pelt stiffened and a faraway look entered her golden eyes as if she were remembering something horrible.
"That!" Shattered Ice hissed fiercely. "Is none of RiverClan's business!" The gray-and-white warrior glared at Silverstream over the brown tom's head.
The silver tabby looked away.
"Can we leave now?" River Ripple turned to see Fire Heart had joined them, looking frazzled now.
"Yes. Let's," Shattered Ice growled.
"Well, thank you again," Crookedstar meowed, dipping his head to the SkyClan cats and River Ripple.
"Course. No problem," the silver tom meowed amicably.
"Is there any way we can help?" Fire Heart suddenly asked. His clanmates gave him a look which he ignored.
"We don't need help!" Blackclaw yowled. "Now get!"
Shattered Ice opened his mouth to retort when an elderly gray she-cat pushed her way forward and muttered, "of course we need help. We can barely catch prey and all the fish are swimming away if not taken by the twolegs."
"Graypool is right," Mosspelt murmured and gave her kits a concerned look.
Dappled Pelt exchanged a look with Fire Heart while the RiverClan cats shuffled their paws, looking embarrassed to have other clancats know about their problems.
"Well, we can catch prey on our land for you," Fire Heart suggested.
"Yeah…" Dappled Pelt agreed hesitantly while Shattered Ice huffed.
"And I can catch fish for you," River Ripple offered.
"That…is much appreciated," Crookedstar meowed gratefully.
"Let's go," Shattered Ice muttered and the four of them left.
River Ripple walked with them along the river towards their territory.
"Feeding another Clan? Are you insane?" Shattered Ice was complaining to Fire Heart and Dappled Pelt. "Skystar won't like it if he finds out! They may not be ThunderClan, but they're still an enemy Clan!"
"Oh, well, we can't turn back now that we made the offer," Dappled Pelt shrugged.
"This'll be fun…" Fire Heart meowed.
Shattered Ice stared at him before he stalked ahead, muttering, "crazy."
The TC and SkC drama about the meeting will start next chapter. Meanwhile, these three will help RC like nice cats.