CLANLIFE
This is an account of all the stories (in correct order) that have happened to the cats of ThunderClan. These tales will begin just after a great flood that has destroyed most of ThunderClan and RiverClan. In these times the Clan leader Greystar was sick with greencough and sent his deputy, Lionheart, to the gathering instead. That day the Clan was struck with a massive flood and the cats could not return from the Gathering. When they finally were able to get back they found everyone who was left in the camp to be dead.
Our story begins one moon later.
SILVERNEST - Hills Beyond - Sunrise
Darkpaw darted through the underbrush, hot on the heels of a mouse feeling for its burrow. With a mighty leap Darkpaw found herself in front of the creature. It froze where it was and Darkpaw swiped at it.
"Wake up!"
Darkpaw's eyes snapped opened. Mudpaw, his skin clinging to his bones so that he looked cold and skeletal in the darkness of the forest. Here there was forest, but the hunt was bad and the weather was cold. It was nothing like what they were used to. But the worst part was they could smell the two-legs; everything seemed to carry some trace of their scent, but there was nothing to indicate that they were or had ever been nearby. They were used to traces everywhere; back home it was easy to identify where the two-legs had been, but here everything seemed contaminated by them.
There were also things they had never scented before, like gas and metal. But it all stank like two-legs. Nothing was clean.
Mudpaw and Darkpaw couldn't remember how many days had passed since they left BoneClan territory, but they both felt dizzy and weak. Darkpaw was now having dreams about hunting and prey, after which she always seemed more and more depressed. Mudpaw, on the other hand, was having vivid nightmares of BoneClan taking over ThunderClan.
"We have to keep going." He said softly.
Darkpaw's eyes were unfocused and despairing, but she bobbed her head anyways and got weakly to her paws. She looked dead, like one of the bodies in Carrionplace. The thought scared him and he thought back to his dreams. That wouldn't happen. It couldn't happen.
The two ThunderClan apprentices set off again. It wasn't long before they reached the end of the small patch of woodland they had been taking shelter in. Stretching out in front of them was land still covered by a thin layer of snow. As they walked they left paw prints in the cold white powder. They were off the edge of the map. No Clan cat had ever gone this far north before. In fact, no Clan cat had ever gone this far away from the Clans before.
Mudpaw froze suddenly. In the distance he could see something sparkling like light on water, but it wasn't water. It was solid.
"There's something there!" He said softly, his weak, scratchy voice filled with excitement.
Darkpaw nodded absently and the two of them broke into a run, though Darkpaw's eyes had still not focused and her mouth was hanging opened oddly. Mudpaw watched his companion sadly, sure that she would never survive this journey. It would be simply too much for her to take. Perhaps if they could reach the not-water everything would be alright. Perhaps if there were some cats out here who could help them.
They stopped, panting, in another patch of forest. Mudpaw wished he could see the not-water close up. He felt drawn to it as if somehow it was what they were looking for; salvation.
"Come on. We have to keep going." Said Mudpaw between gasps for breath. Darkpaw nodded and the two of them continued their flight to the not-water.
As far and fast as they ran, the sparkle on the horizon never seemed to get any closer. It was always there in the distance, too far away for them to really make out what it was. So as the day wore on they ran towards it, the overwhelming scent of two-leg pollution growing stronger and stronger.
They ran until Mudpaw realized they were on a thunderpath; a black line that stretched out from their feet right towards the not-water. He forced himself to run faster. Then as the sun began to slip down the sky he saw it; tall metal buildings, others made of glass that reflected the sun. The two apprentices stood in the middle of the thunderpath, staring in amazement at the silver two-legs nest.
"I- I've never seen one so big." Stuttered Darkpaw, her eyes finally coming into focus on the buildings rising up ahead of them.
"Silvernest." Whispered Mudpaw fearfully. "We have to go there."
Darkpaw nodded grimly. "There's something there. Something to do with BoneClan."
The two cats resumed their running. There was something at Silvernest. A secret that must be discovered. It was StarClan's will they come here, and they would fulfill their wishes.
-----
Lionstar hopped down from the Highrock. He had just explained to his Clan all that had happened that night at the gathering. Some looked stunned, others outraged. he desperately wanted to send in another search party, but they didn't have enough warriors, not alone at least.
"Mistyfur! Go to RiverClan with Shadowpaw, Hopepaw, Greyclaw and Amberheart to set up a search party with RiverClan." He commanded. Mistyfur nodded and gathered the cats she needed before setting off out of the camp.
Mistyfur lead the group worriedly towards Sunning Rocks. Lionstar was clearly worried about his Clan and found it hard to send such a large group of his cats into enemy territory, but it must be done. BoneClan had to be defeated, no matter what the cost.
Even if it was all of their lives.
-----
Mistyfur couldn't remember the journey into RiverClan territory, only that she was now sitting with her warriors in the middle of the camp, discussing the BoneClan trespassing with RiverStar, Stonefur, Dashfoot, Smoothwater and Spottedleaf. Mistyfur wasn't sure why Riverstar had invited the tortishell queen to their little meeting, but she was sure the she-cat had her reasons.
"Before we send in this party I need you to do me a special favor. Our queen, Spottedleaf," Riverstar was saying, "has a mate in WindClan. She gave birth to two kits, one in RiverClan the other was given to WindClan. We need the kit back. We can no longer trust those traitors to properly raise one of our kits."
The heads of the RiverClan party bobbed in agreement, but the ThunderClan cats exchanged nervous looks.
"Who is this kit?" Asked Mistyfur slowly.
"Jumpkit. She's a tortishell she-cat, and we must get her back." Pleaded Spottedleaf.
Mistyfur looked to her warriors. Greyclaw got to his paws quickly. He had always been the caring one, Mistyfur knew, the one who stood up to help anyone in need and she respected him for that.
"I'll do it." He announced.
Spottedleaf purred gratefully and also got to her paws. Everyone else remained sitting.
"You'll go alone. With luck you'll meet Whitestorm. He is a reasonable cat, you know." Said Riverstar, looking gratefully to Greyclaw.
Mistyfur smiled and touched noses with Greyclaw. "Good luck." She said, hoping he would be alright.
-----
Spottedleaf and Greyclaw walked silently, side by side into WindClan territory. They stopped to scent the air often, making the traveling very slow. They were also upwind from WindClan camp, so any warriors there could easily scent the two cats. They felt exposed on the flat terrain where the wind seemed to pierce like needles through their thinning pelt.
Then it came; a white shape leaped at them, striking Spottedleaf in the side and knocking her to the ground. They were close to the camp, Greyclaw knew. He could see a large patch of undergrowth where he knew the WindClan camp was. Greyclaw yowled loudly, hoping to attract attention from the camp so he could sneak in and kidnap Jumpkit.
His plan worked and a throng of warriors surged from the Clan camp towards him and Spottedleaf who was fighting the white warrior fiercely. In the confusion, Greyclaw dashed forwards, quickly closing the distance between him and the camp. He was just about there when a big white tom appeared in front of him. He stopped, shocked, and dropped what he was holding. Greyclaw hissed and unsheathed his claws, then cast a glance down at the bundle. It was a kit.
"Jumpkit?" He asked, looking up questioningly at the warrior.
Whitestorm, for it was indeed him, nodded. "Take her and run." He said quietly.
"Thank you." Said Greyclaw, leaning down and picking up the kit.
"Watch out!"
Greyclaw leaped forwards and spun around in mid-air. A big black tom soared through the air where he had been moments ago and knocked Whitestorm to the ground. "Traitor!" Snarled Redclaw.
The two WindClan warriors rolled around on the ground, biting and slashing at each other while Greyclaw stood, spellbound and unable to move.
"Daddy?" Whispered Jumprose softly and he felt the little kit shiver. Greyclaw knew she was scared, knew that she shouldn't see this, but he couldn't bring himself to move.
Redclaw was on top of Whitestorm, pinning Whitestorm to the ground. The white warrior hissed and lunged at his captor with his teeth, but Redclaw hissed and clamped his own jaws around Whitestorm's muzzle, sinking them deep into his flesh so that blood bubbled out between the slivers of bone and stained the warrior's white fur.
"Daddy." Whispered Jumprose again, though this time she sounded less questioning, more heartbroken and horrified. Greyclaw wished he could run away, yet he felt drawn to the battle, unable to move his eyes away.
A grown erupted from Whitestorm and he attempted to lunge forwards again, but to no avail. Finaly Redclaw released his muzzle, then when Whitestorm opened to yowl at him, Redclaw leaned forwards and tore out the tom's tongue. Then he leaned forwards, tearing the white warrior's ears with his teeth until they had both been shredded into unrecognizable scraps of flesh and fur. A cry of agony erupted from the white warrior. Then Redclaw laughed, cruel and cold. Another cry of agony split the air as Redclaw proceeded to rip out his warrior's claws. Then he chose the sharpest in the pile he had made and poked he cats eyes out like a bird might do to its dead prey. Another shriek split the air along with another laugh. Then Reclaw sat back on his hind legs, then lunged forwards. The cries were filling Greyclaw's head, mingling with the scent of pain and blood, making him dizzy.
"Daddy!" He snapped back to his senses at the kit's tormented cry. He turned, unable to bear anymore he turned and fled. He was deep into RiverClan terriotry before the scent of blood left him.
He stopped just outside RiverClan camp, dropping the kit to his feet and panting. Spottedleaf padded up behind him, badly wounded and limping, but alive. Greyclaw glanced at her and picked Jumpkit up again and they made their way back into the Clan camp.
"What happened?" Asked Mistyfur, getting to her paws as she saw the group return.
"Whitestorm is dead." Said Greyclaw weakly. He turned away, splattering the ground with his last meal before he took a few dizzy steps forwards, then collapsed, unconscious.
A/N: I love this chapter. It's so sad! I remember crying while I was writing it. Of course I don't expect you to; they're my characters (and there are so many of them it must be confusing to you, but I had a list) so I'm more attatched to them. But I love Jumpkit. Ooh, there's a sadder part later but I won't spoil it for you.