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.
THERE AND BACK AGAIN - ShadowClan Camp - Sunhigh
ShadowClan camp was centered by a large boulder that jutted out of the ground at an angle. It was atop this rock where Whitestar spoke from and in the shadow of its overhang that he slept.
The Clan leader was now positioned at the summit of the boulder, waiting for his small Clan to gather. When they had, which didn't take very long, he called to them; "Cats of ShadowClan, we've been here too long; this is not our home. Our home is the land that BoneClan took from us and that ThunderClan, not us, is now fighting to reclaim. We must return to reclaim our territory." He announced. His words were met with unsure yowls of agreement. Despite their uneasiness, Patchpelt had to admire ShadowClan's loyalty.
"Patchpelt will lead us down the road she took here. When she came it took nearly a moon to reach us, but now we will be ready for the journey. We must leave immediately to protect our land from BoneClan's evil." Again the cries rose, but this time the lust of battle got the better of them and more then one cat sounded wholehearted.
"Now, feast on the fresh-kill we have, for we will not be returning." Announced Whitestar, twitching his tail in a silent signal to Patchpelt before he leaped down from the rock.
When the crowd had gone to gorge themselves, Patchpelt met the ShadowClan leader under the overhang of the great stone.
"Patchpelt, your friend..." He began, but did not have to finish.
"She'll live. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Replied Patchpelt quietly, sitting down in the cold dirt.
Whitestar looked at her worriedly. He didn't want Darkpaw slowing his Clan down. "You don't really believe that, do you?"
Patchpelt purred, amused, but shook her head. "No, but she'll be fine."
The Abyssinian tom nodded, but still seemed doubtful. Patchpelt made no farther move to reassure him; Darkpaw would be fine and she knew it. It didn't matter if Whitestar believed or not.
-----
It was getting late and the sun was sinking slowly down the sky when Whitestar summoned his Clan and left the camp. Without a word the grim cats followed him through the forest.
Patchpelt was padding up front next to Whitestar with Leopardspot and Curledleaf behind her. Every few minutes she would glance back past the ShadowClan deputy and Medicine Cat to check the condition of Darkpaw, who was padding slowly along between Greyfoot and Softpelt, the two cats who had saved her. They would look up and smile weakly at Patchpelt and nod a silent promise to protect the poor ThunderClan apprentice.
"Halt!"
The cats turned to see Scar bustling importantly towards them with Annihilation trotting lazily behind him. When he reached the Clan he looked exhausted, though triumphant having finally found them.
Leopardspot hissed and stepped forwards, unsheathing his claws, but Whitestar twitched his tail and his deputy fell back with the rest of the cats.
"What is it, Scar?" Demanded Whitestar, his expression as cold as ice.
Now Annihilation arrived at his side, glaring down at Whitestar and digging her claws into the earth. Scar glanced hastily from Anni to Whitestar and cleared his throat importantly, though his discomfort was obvious. "Um... well, we-"
But Anni cut him off with a blow to the side which was only meant to push him out of the way. "We want to come with you. If we help fight this BoneClan we can be sure you'll win and never return to our city."
Whitestar looked back at Leopardspot for reassurance, but the ShadowClan deputy took this as permission to step forwards. "No! We don't need scum like you coming with us! We can fight our own battles!"
"Then why did you run away in the first place?" Demanded Darkpaw, stepping forwards. Patchpelt silently cursed the apprentice. What was she thinking?
Leopardspot was shocked by the question, but recovered easily. "Why you little..." And in a moment he was streaking through the air, his claws unsheathed. Darkpaw leaped to meet him and the two cats fell to the ground, hissing, spitting and swiping at each other.
Whitestar and Patchpelt could only gape in awe at the two cats. Annihilation rolled her eyes and looked away as if bored by the whole situation while Scar's eyes remained locked on the battle, his claws unsheathed with the lust of war. Finally Whitestar managed to croak, "Enough! Break it up, you two!"
The cats leaped away from each other, Leopardspot backing into Whitestar as if for protection and Darkpaw doing the same to Patchpelt.
"Darkpaw is right," Said Greyfoot, stepping between the apprentice and the deputy. "We lost once and we need help to prevent that from happening again. I say we let them come."
Whitestar nodded thankfully to Greyfoot and looked back up at Anni and Scar. "Yes, you can come."
-----
By nightfall it has started to rain. Patchpelt was sure they would make fast progress as long as they kept to the road and ate well. Of course, it was hard to find any food whatsoever out on this hills beyond; prey was scarce in the hills, expecialy this close to the road. Occasionally, however, a mouse or skunk might attempt to cross the road. The skunks were harder to catch, but the cats still managed to catch enough fresh-kill to feed them all.
Anni and Scar turned out not only to be wonderful hunters, but could also carry kits and run at the same time.
Even in the rain the traveling wasn't that bad, though Leopardspot was always grumbling about Darkpaw. They made quick progress and Patchpelt was sure that this time they might even reach the Clans in a matter of days.