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.

WARRIOR BLOOD - Metalstar's Den - Moonhigh

Amberheart opened her eyes. It took a minute for them to adjust to the darkness and even then she could hardly make out her paw in front of her face. Twitching her whiskers and scenting the air she managed to discover that she was in an underground cave where the dirt walls had been packed down. The scent of BoneClan filled her nostrils, especially the cold metallic stench of Metalstar. It was only when she heard the cold voice of the she-cat that she realized that the BoneClan leader was present here.

"Nice claws." She said and Amberheart could make out a shape outlined with ginger fur against the sky which could be seen though a small hole which served as an entrance to the deep pit in which Amberheart was now trapped in.

"Thank you, Metalstar." Replied the cat who's scent Amberheart recognized as the BoneClan deputy, Bloodtooth.

Metalstar purred, amused by her deputy's words, though Amberheart couldn't see why. "No need to be formal," Said the black she-cat, "old friend."

The scent of unease seemed to disappear, replaced by a sense of comfort. "Of course." Said Bloodtooth and Amberheart could imagine him smiling.

"But I did call you here for a reason."

He was worried again now, but Metalstar seemed more excited. Amberheart wondered if this had anything to do with her and quickly squeezed her eyes shut and pretended to be asleep.

"What's that?" Asked Bloodtooth making no effort to disguise his worry.

"We have the blood." Amberheart's ear twitched and that voice echoed in her head; 'We can't kill her. Yet.'

"Wonderful." Amberheart chanced a glance back at the two cats. In the darkness she could see nothing but the faint glint of Metalstar's claws. "Just wonderful."

-----

Fear struck Amberheart's heart. She had fallen asleep. Opening her eyes wide she looked up and realized that she was no longer in the cave, but instead under the cloudy sky. She was back in the pit where Cloudpaw had been killed by Rigidpaw and Liquiformash. She shivered at the memory, praying they wouldn't do something similar to her.

In the light of the fire she could easily make out the shapes of Liquiformash, the huge grey tom; Rigidpaw, his murderous apprentice; Metalstar, the BoneClan leader and her deputy, Bloodtooth and his new claws.

"Are you sure it's her?" Asked Rigidpaw, looking back at Bloodtooth unsurely.

He nodded. "Of course."

There was no wind, but a light rain was falling over the marsh. The rain was still not enough to put out the fire which was billowing deeply colored clouds of gray smoke. Amberheart scented the air, but the reassuring scents of the BoneClan trespassers had been washed away in the rain. She was alone.

"Let's do this." Came Liquiformash's rumbling voice. He stepped forwards and seized Amberheart by the scruff of her neck and dropped her to the ground next to the fire. "Metalstar."

The BoneClan leader stepped forwards and looked down at Amberheart who gazed back up at her fearfully. She could tell by their expressions that all the other cats were unsure about this, as if Metalstar was the only one who really believed whatever they were doing was right.

"Are you even sure this is going to work?" Asked Rigidpaw, rolling her eyes even though her fear-scent filled the air along with the rain.

Metalstar turned and nodded to her. "Of course. This is alchemy."

"And alchemy was invented by the two-legs!" Spat Rigidpaw. "Long ago when the Clan of the big cats walked the earth."

Metalstar heaved an exasperated sigh as if she had explained this countless times before and turned to face the apprentice directly. "Alchemy was not invented by the two-legs. It is the ancient art of turning metal into gold and, as it was, alchemy was invented by the HellCats."

Amberheart couldn't stop herself; "HellCats?"

Metalstar turned back and glared at her, raising a paw to split her stomach but decided against it and lowered it. "It's a darker art used to produce the Elixir of Life and the reason the HellCats were banished to the Underworld."

Amberheart stared at the BoneClan leader. What kind of lore was this? It wasn't anything she'd heard as a kit, of course, all she'd learned was the Clan lore. But what in the name of StarClan was alchemy? "What in StarClan's name are you talking about?" Demanded Amberheart, realizing that Metalstar couldn't kill her. She needed her for something, though Amberheart was yet to learn what that was.

"Why should I tell you?" Snarled Metalstar.

"She deserves to know." Said Bloodtooth, stepping forwards.

"Have I ever got what I deserved?" Hissed Metalstar, rounding on her deputy who shrank back fearfully.

"You'll get what you deserve when my Clan comes for me!" Yowled Amberheart.

The BoneClan leader sighed and gave up, turning back to Amberheart she said simply, "Warrior Blood."

"Warrior Blood?" Echoed Amberheart.

Metalstar nodded. "Since the HellCats were the inventors of alchemy, only the blood of one of their own can be used to make the Elixir. There is too much tainted blood these days. But there are a few..." Her voice trailed off, but Amberheart got the point.

"And I'm one of them?"

The black cat didn't answer her question, but began pacing around the fire. "The Elixir allows one to live forever, as long as they drink only it."

Amberheart gasped and got quickly to her paws. "No! I won't let you! Greyclaw will save me!" She snarled, though she had nowhere to move. They were all around her and the fire was at her back.

Metalstar leaped forwards, slashing at her side. Bloodtooth slipped a small wooden bowl across the ground to catch the blood that flowed from her newly formed wound.

"Perfect." Purred Metalstar. "Now to test it." She reached her paw forwards, letting the fire flicker around her claws. After a few minutes she moved them away, dipping her paw into the bowl. A few more minutes passed while Amberheart fell to the floor, whimpering pitifully. Then Metalstar slowly withdrew her paw from the bowl and looked at the claws, her eyes growing wide.

A yowl split the air and she leaped at Bloodtooth, pinning her deputy to the ground. "Fool! You brought me the wrong blood!"

Bloodtooth's voice quivered as he spoke, though he tried to stay calm. "I- I'm sure of it. I felt it. I know."

Metalstar released him and looked back over at Amberheart. "I say we spill it all." She took a step forwards and raised her paw, but at that moment a cry cut through the air. "Metalstar!"

The cats turned to see a small white tom appear at the rim of the pit. "Snapclaw and Nightpain's kits are coming!" He called down to them.

Metalstar growled and glanced over at Amberheart. "She can wait. Liquiformash, drag along the prisoner. Come, Tearpaw." She said, hopping up to join the white apprentice who looked back down at Amberheart and shivered.

"So she's the one?"

Metalstar grinned, teeth flashing in the light of the fire. "She's the one."

A/N: Just so you know, the elexir of life is not a Harry Potter thing. JK Rowling did NOT make it up, which doesn't necessarily make it real either. I just love mythological-ish stuff like that.