Hey guys, Flamerunners back! I would like to leave a special shout out to JustToTalk and morsemadison532 for your support! I'll keep writing if only for you guys! Sorry I'm getting cheesy! I hope you liked the last chapter! Please review! If you anyone wants me to put in any specific characters let me know, and I'll try to add them! (I'm definitely "not" going to add Firestar (hint hint ) In case that wasn't clear I'M ADDING FIRESTAR LATER ON! (oops you didn't hear that from me)
Disclaimer. Flash: "You'll never catch me, Dash! (Turns to look and sees dash sobbing) Um… Dash, are you ok?"
Dash: "Our great friend Savanna doesn't own (sob sob) warriors! It's owned by Erin Hunter! (Still crying)
Flash: "Don't cry she still owns us!
Dash: "Ohhh yeah! (Turns to look to the sky) Hey Savanna could you do me a solid and make me beat Flash?
Flash: What?! No!" (Suddenly Dash jumps on flash and pins his paws. Flash struggles but can't get out of the pin)
Flash: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! SAVANNA WHY!
Me: "You are very welcome, Dash! (Turns to Flash) Because I'm EVIL! MUAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"
Dash: oops I forgot to say thanks,
Me: (still laughing maniacally) HA HA HA HA HA! (My mother walks in)
Mother: Savanna quit it and get on with the story.
Me: "Yes ma'am."
Chapter 2
Flash's pov
"Have you ever heard of Starclan?" When those words came out of my grandfather's mouth, I froze. I couldn't move, my tail didn't twitch, I didn't shuffle my paws. I just froze. He looked at me in concern.
"Flash, are you feeling, ok?" he asked me in a worried voice.
"I'm fine." I replied. For some strange reason when he said the word "Starclan", it shocked me. The feeling that it gave me was frightening and I didn't want to go anywhere near something that would make feel like that again. I also knew though, that it would consume my thoughts, wondering what it was and what connection it might have to me, so I found myself asking, "What's Starclan?" grandfather sighed, and spoke.
"What little our youth know of the ways of the warrior."
"The what?" I queried, questions and possible explanations danced through my head but I waited respectfully for Firewind to speak.
"I'll get to that" he chuckled. Then he began, "Starclan is where the spirits of fallen warriors go when they die." I tilted my head,
"Warriors?" He sighed then replied,
"Just let me start at the beginning." He took a deep breath, and then began. Long ago all the cats of the savanna lived separately, lions lived in small prides, while tigers and leopards lived alone. Our kind were often loners as well, but were known to make small groups of three to four. Unfortunately, this meant that the savanna was consta-. My grandfather broke off as Dash gave a huge snore. I rolled my eyes. My brother had the worst timing.
"Please go on!" I begged. Firewind huffed.
"Hopefully there won't be any more interruptions!" although he sounded firm, I could tell by the slight twinkle in his eye that he was more amused than anything. "Now then! As I was saying, the savanna was under constant attack from different groups trying to steal each other's land and hunting territories." I nodded, my brain absorbing this knowledge. Grandfather continued, "The lions were the ones who had the idea that the different species should gather together with their own kind, thus forming four tribes. It took many revisions, arguments, and compromises but finally everyone agreed." My grandfather paused to see how I was taking all this information.
"I'm fine." I said answering his unspoken question. In truth my head felt like it had jackrabbits running around in it
"They then split into their selective clans. The lions took the north where the small hills complemented there hunting styles, and called themselves Sunclan. The leopards took the east where there were small mountains which facilitated ambushing prey, they called themselves Moonclan. The tigers went west, where a river, originating from the mountains, widened and deepened. There they could swim and called themselves Rainclan. Finally, our kind took the south where nothing but flat open savanna stretched for several miles, and we were able to run freely. We are Lightningclan." He said proudly. "In the center, a neutral gathering place was marked out for all the tribes to meet at the time when the moon is brightest.".
"That was a lot of information in a short amount of time." I said slowly digesting it. He nodded and said,
"Maybe it would be best to save the rest of this conversation for another day." He said as he started to get to his paws.
"No!" I almost yelled, quickly I turned to see if my mother or Dash had woken up. I breathed a sigh of relief when all Swift did was twitch an ear. "Please stay," I whispered. I was desperate. I needed to know more. This strange new world that I had been given a taste of was tantalizing me. He raised an eyebrow but sat back down. I sighed in relief as he started talking again.
"Where was I?" musing, he thought for a minute. "Aha!" he exclaimed "I've got it! I just got through telling you about the territories!" I nodded once to show that it was indeed where he had left off. "The tribes lived mostly in peace. Yes, they fought over boundaries and borders, but everyone lived by a set of moral rules called the warrior code. So, for the most part there was peace." I grew thoughtful. I had never known anything but peace. What would it have been like to live under the constant threat of attack by our competitors?
"Unfortunately, then the trappers came."
"The what?" I questioned.
"The trappers." he answered me. "They were spoilers who came and started trapping cats from all the tribes."
"But why!" I blurted out horrified.
"Well at the time the clans thought that they were killing the cats they took." Now I was confused, that was what they were trying to do wasn't it? Before I could ask Firewind said, "They were actually trying to save our different breeds." I pondered on this for a moment,
"Save?" I asked slowly. "What was happening?" He paused so long I wondered if he was signaling that the conversation was over, but finally he began again, quietly.
"That knowledge is too heavy for you to carry now. You must trust me to carry it for you until you are ready."
"Ok," I said slowly "but how would being trapped help us?" Grandfather grinned.
"It forcibly restored peace to our different clans, which allows us to raise our young." I was silent. The thought of young cheetahs not making it to adulthood made me appreciate my family more than in that moment.
"You'll learn more when you're older, but I'll tell you this, we are grateful to be living like the captured cats." I blinked.
"Ok…?" Then I asked him about what I really wanted to know. "Please grandfather, what is Starclan?" He looked up at the night sky and sighed.
"See all those stars up there?" he pointed with a paw to a bright belt of stars, "every one of those is a cheetah, leopard, lion, or tiger that lived by the warrior code and has passed on to the next life." I sat gaping up at the sky, the stars seeming to twinkle and dance while a sliver moon floated high above us. "They come to tribe cats when they have a prophecy or advice to pass on." Silence stretched on until grandfather said "Come on Flash, it's time for moon sleep."
"Wait!" I said,
"Yes?"
"How would you know for sure if you were supposed to be in a clan?" He smiled and replied,
"Starclan would bless you with a soul mark." I tilted my head in question, and he answered my unspoken question. "A soul mark has two functions. First, it identifies the bearer as a clan cat."
"And…"
"And," there was a long pause as he seemed to be considering whether he should be telling me more, "It shows you who your perfect mate would be."
"My mate?" The words were just a barely formed breath. I had never even thought about taking a mate, and all that might mean.
"The mark appears on your left front shoulder, and is a unique to you and your mate."
"Do you have one?" He looked down sadly before saying,
"No, they fade when your soul mate dies." Before I could ask any more questions, he herded me up to my feet and ordered me to bed. I nodded in agreement, stood, and walked to a tall clump of grass before circling around a few times. Flopping down I began to drift off before something occurred to me. Lifting my head, I whispered.
"Grandfather?"
"Yes?" He replied,
"How do you know so much about the tribe cats?" He chuckled and replied,
"I used to be one." For the second time that night I was frozen. Firewind used to be a tribe cat! Different thoughts danced in my head but I felt sleep overtaking me, and I gave in to its soft embrace. The first thing I saw was light. Through my closed lids I could see that it was day already and groaning I opened my eyes. Then I sat bolt upright. I was in an unfamiliar place. It was a large dip in the earth with soft warm sand at the bottom it. I was sitting in the middle of the sand, and was feeling quite warm and safe. Glancing around I saw that the earth had been scooped away from the sides to make sleeping places for cats. I looked up and saw trees and stones surrounding the hollow. Over all this was a secure place for cats to live.
"Hello Flash." A deep voice startled me and I jumped about ten feet in the air courtesy of my super strength. While I was at the top I saw flat savanna with trees and animals dotting the plains. When I landed, I faced a large full grown male cheetah with stars in his pelt. . I couldn't stop myself from cowering from my obvious superior, but I didn't feel exactly afraid either. Then he smiled and said,
"You look good son." My mouth felt open. Son!
"Father?" I asked cocking my head to the side. He grinned even wider.
"It's good to see you." He sat quietly, knowing I needed a minute to gather my thoughts.
"Wha…- what's your name?" I managed to stammer out.
"Stormflash." He replied, "and I wish I could catch up with you son, but my time is limited. Right now, you are in Starclan.''
"What?! The place for warrior dead cats?! You were a warrior?" I squeaked, and he laughed, and then leaned in.
"Listen closely because I only have time to tell you this once," I nodded profusely to show that I understood. "You have been chosen by Starclan to be a part of the prophecy that will save the tribes."
"What!" I would have said more but he cut me off with his tail.
"Listen!" He hissed. I nodded, then he started to speak.
"Four will come together and unite to save the clans from this terrible plight.
One will be a backstabbing traitor; another will be a selfless savior.
One will give their life for the fight, the last will stand for what is right.
These four will differ from their clan but they will be the ones to stand.
Listen to the far away strangers, for they will help you with these dangers. Who the four will be no one knows, but they must come together to banish shadows."
."
For a moment I just stood there taking it in, memorizing it. I turned to my father "What did that mean? Who's going to die? Who's the backstabber? Who are these strangers?" He smiled a mysterious smile. "That's for you to find out." I narrowed my eyes playfully, and he smiled saying "You must go now, but know this too. We are the ones who gave you your powers." My eyes widened,
"My powers?"
"Yes," he said smiling, "the ones we gave you to fulfill the prophecy." My jaw dropped.
"I'm in the prophecy?!"
"Yes, I just said that." He replied in an amused voice. Then he padded over to me and standing right in front of me he said, "I'm sorry that I had to leave you and your mother and your littermate." I blinked up at him,
"What?"
"I died and came here. I didn't take care of you." I looked up at him and replied
"You couldn't help that." He gazed at me, part cautious relief, part thankfulness. Then he dipped his head and rested his noes on my forehead. His touch was hot and cold at the same time. It burned and froze and yet I couldn't pull away. When he backed away, he looked me up and down,
"There!" He purred with satisfaction "now you look the part."
"What do you mean?" I asked, craning my neck, trying to look at my fur.
"Good bye Flash." I looked up,
"Good bye Stormflash," and then quietly, "good bye father." He smiled and then the world disappeared into a swirl of color. Slowly I began to feel the grass of my nest and hear the chirping of birds when a shriek from my mother split through my reverie and I leapt to my paws. I saw my mother and my brother looking at me with horror while grandfather looked on with fascination. I was confused. What was everyone staring at? Then in the same shrieking voice my mother said,
"What happened to your fur?!"
Whew done! This one didn't have much action, (I had to get the explaining done) I'm very sorry! (Dodges rotten tomato) Next chapter will have some good action, I promise! Please Please PLEASE REVIEW! Virtual cookies to whoever can guess who the "strangers" are (::)! Review, even if its only to type good job, or add some action! Ok I'm counting on you! See you next time!
-Savanna West