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.

OATH - Barley's Farm - Moonrise

Heavy breathing told Flash that this cat was still alive. He'd been scared for a while, thinking such a mangled creature must be dead, but he'd realized that he couldn't be when the tom had started screaming. After he'd fallen silent again the tabby tom had been worried, but he was now relieved that the black and white feline on the floor before him had still not crossed over yet.

Tallstar knew he wasn't dead. He wasn't sure what had happened, but here he was, wherever here was. He could hear himself breathing and could feel another cat close by with his whiskers, but his nose was no longer working; all he could smell was blood. All he could taste was blood, all he could remember was blood.

Someone had done something to him. What?

Someone... Who?

It happened a while ago. When?

He was somewhere. Where?

Someone had hurt him. Why?

The questions swirled around in his head, making him dizzy. Tallstar groaned, feeling as if he was lying on water. He opened his eyes and found he couldn't see. Couldn't see but could feel. And he felt pain.

A scream. The other cat screamed.

Why?

"Why?"

"You- you-" The other cat was stammering; it was scared. Of what? "You have no eyes!"

No eyes? What kind of mutated creature had no eyes? What was this insane cat talking about, and why couldn't he see? Tallstar blinked, trying to clear his vision, which apparently was impossible to clear. He raised a paw to rub his eye, which closed instinctively. As he pressed his paw against it the flesh sank into what felt like an empty hole and then came the stomach-churning revelation; it was him, Tallstar, who had no eyes. They were gone! Stolen! His poor, precious eyes were gone! His breath quickened as panic consumed him. The cat seemed to scent this, as he moved back from the former WindClan leader nervously.

"No... don't go. Don't... leave me." He said, whimpering pitifully though he didn't understand why. He was sad about something, something more horrible then losing his vision. "Redclaw."

He wasn't sure where the name came from, but the second he spoke it his thoughts were unlocked. His deputy had tried to kill him and went off to help Metalstar. He'd always been helping her, but had left Tallstar alive because the cats trusted him more. But now Redclaw didn't need him anymore. There was something going on in BoneClan territory.

A sudden yowl split the air, it seemed to come from all around him, filling the air with pain and hopelessness. Tallstar wished he had died. StarClan must need him for something though; he still had a purpose, a reason.

"I'll kill him." He announced. "I'll kill Redclaw."

Flash didn't understand what was going on, but he knew enough of the Clan affairs that Redclaw was the WindClan deputy and it must be him who had done this to Tallstar, for that was what he said. "I'll take you to him." Offered the tabby tom. "Then you can kill him."

Tallstar nodded gratefully. "Tell me your name."

"Flash."

The crippled tom nodded thoughtfully. "Flash... the runaway kitty-pet. You're a good cat. Thank you."

Flash nodded, unsure what to think of being praised by a cat who looked like Tallstar. To say the least, he didn't look good; his fur was torn out in spots and his tail... well it would be impossible to use a simlie nor a metaphor to describe it, so let's just say it didn't look much like a tail. His ears had been torn to ribbons and the flesh around his empty eye sockets spotted with blood. No, Tallstar was definitely not a very good looking cat.

While his good looks were beyond repair, his loyal personality was still intact, so he made one last promise, sure that it would be the last he would ever make.

"I swear I'll kill him. I swear in StarClan's name that I will stop Redclaw's heart, and then I'll come and chase him out of StarClan."

And it was indeed the last promise Tallstar ever made.