The wind howled loudly at the moon. The Windclan cat were no where to be seen. They had all retreated to their dens. Usually they would sleep under the night sky. letting Starclan guard them as they slept. But tonight was different. The leader of Riverclan had fallen. This was the perfect moment to act. The camp was quiet. Deadly quiet. The dens however were alive. Hidden away in the warrior's den were every apprentice, warrior and the leader of Windclan, Sandstar, murmuring their battle plans. After a few minutes Sandstar nodded and the plan was ready. He excited the den and was closely followed by the others. The apprentices bounced excitedly but were soon hushed by there mentors.
The medicine cat, a brown tabby with white paws and soft green eyes padded up to Sandstar. "All of the herbs are ready for your return." He tipped his head. "I wish you luck."
Sandstar looked down at the smaller tom. "Thank you, Grassfur. Come, everyone! Those who are staying please stay awake until we return. If things go south Riverclan's first act may be to attack our camp. I'm relying on you to protect us." With that the group of warriors and apprentices left toward the lake. Each head, warrior and apprentice, held eye and prideful already savoring victory.
The journey wasn't as long as it might seem. Uncharacteristically each Windclan walked through everything single puddle of water they passed. Even rolling in it to help mask there sent. The apprentices murmured happily at the very back of the group. 'This plan is great. Riverclan will never see us coming." A black and white tabby meowed. "I don't know. Don't you think this is a little unfair and mean." A red and orange she-cat with wide amber eyes whined. The tabby growled. "Oh shut it, Blazepaw. We're at war you mouse-brained furball. This is the whole point."
The other apprenticed laughed. Blazepaw glared at the tabby. "Peace isn't won by killing other cats, Nightpaw. We shouldn't be fighting the other clans. Why don't we just talk. besides, it's a full moon still. Starclan will be angry."
"Who cares about Starclan. They don't care about us. If they did don't you think they would have decided who should rule the forest by now?" A calico she-cat with green eyes sneered. The other apprenticed murmured an agreement.
Up ahead, a brown and gold colored warrior sighed, listening to the apprentices. He wanted to stop the conversation. But then again when did that ever work. They'd only continue quieter.
"You know what, I don't even want to join Starclan anymore! At least the dark forest cats cared enough to interact with us before." Nightpaw argued.
Alright that was enough.
The warrior stopped and wheeled around to face the apprentices. He glared at Nightpaw menacingly. "Don't ever talk about Starclan and the dark forest like that! Do you know how many brave warriors died protecting this lake from those heinous monsters. have you never heard the stories." He looked at Blazepaw, his amber gaze softening. "Blazepaw is a very brave cat for speaking her mind about this situation in a respectful way." He dipped his head to his mentor. "I'm proud of you for that." His nose wrinkled with anger once again as he looked back at Nightpaw. "You should never disrespect any clan like that. Not even Thunderclan, Shadowclan or Riverclan got that?"
Nightpaw shank away from the larger cat. "Y-yes, Moorwind." Moorwind nodded. "Good. You're lucky I don't tell your mentors. Now be quiet. The Riverclan camp is just up ahead." He turned to walk ahead then stopped. "And roll around in some more water. They can probably smell your horrid stench from here."
Humiliated and with his tail dragging limply, Nightpaw walked over to a large puddle and laid down in it. Then rolled onto his back.
Blazepaw caught up with moorwind. "Thanks for that. You really put that piece of mouse-dung in his place." Her amber orbs were kind as she looked up at the larger tom affectionately. moorwind sneered. 'Don't expect me to do it again. Learn to take care of yourself mouse-brain." He touched her shoulder with his tail then got low to the ground. Blazepaw and the rest of Windclan did as well. They finally arrived.
The cats crept closer and closer to the camp. The Riverclan camp was very loud. Blazepaw was pressed up against her brother, Bushpaw. He shivered next to her. Oviously cold from the lake water him and many other cats had laid in for awhile.
Windclan waited until sunset. As soon as it got dark the camp began to get quieter and quieter. Once the loud shouts and yowls had died down to a small buzz, Sandstar yowled as loud as he could. And suddenly the Riverclan camp was alive again. The Windclan cats burst into the camp and began attacking the first cat they say. Blazepaw stayed by the walls of the camp. She didn't want to fight but knew it was for her clan.
meanwhile, Moorwind was locked in battle with two toms much larger than himself. One was brown with amber eyes. He recognized him as Shrewfur. The new warrior. The other was an older warrior. A black tom with dark amber eyes named Sparkwhisker.
The two Riverclan cats launched themselves at Moorwind. But the smaller tom was faster. He ducked under them, slicing Sparkwhisker's underbelly. Sparkwhisker fell for a moment then stood back up, swaying. Shrewfur was still well and fighting. He slashed at moorwind's muzzle. But once again Moorwind dodged. This time to the side. He tackled Shrewfur and the two fell to the ground in a heep of claws and fur. Both refusing to give up.
On the otherside of the camp, Blazepaw was approached by a young apprentice. She recognized her from two gatherings back. her first gathering she had met a friendly gray she-cat with bright blue eyes. Pearlpaw.
"Why are you here?" Pearlpaw growled, getting closer to Blazepaw. The Windclan apprentice backed away. "Please. I don't want to fight."
"They why are you here?" Pearlpaw growled aggressively and pounced forward. Blazepaw jumped back. She never thought the cheerful, talkative she-cat would ever have such a vicious side. Pearlpaw continued swiping at her with outstretched paws. Her claws shined in the moonlight. Eventually Blazepaw turned and ran with Pearlpaw on her tail.
Moorwind looked up for only a second to glance at his apprentice. He quickly spotted the pathetic apprentice being chased by another pathetic apprentice. The sight was actually quite amusing. Moorwind sighed and turned back to Shrewfur. Both warriors were exhausted. Sparkwhisker was laying in a pool of this own blood. It was unclear whether he would survive or not but by the rise and fall of his chest it seemed he was still alive. For now.
"Why are you here? It's a full moon this is supposed to be a peaceful night." Shrewfur pleaded. Moorwind didn't answer. Now that he thought about it he really didn't know why he was there. Forsaking Starclan like this caused guilt to tug on his heart. He paused for a moment, giving Shrewfur the perfect opportunity to attack. The Brown tom pounced on Moorwind, pinning him to the ground. The older warrior struggled, hoping he was stronger.
Shrewfur growled. "This is pointless. Leave."
Moorwind didn't move. He realized how right this enemy warrior was. He remembered how this had all started. Windclan and Riverclan had nothing to do with any of this. It was them.
Long ago, Shadowclan and Thunderclan had a very serious argument. Thunderclan believed that because Starclan's prophecies almost always related to them they should rule over the lake. They wanted to make one huge clan that spread around the entire lake. Shadowclan disagreed. They believed that the clan would be to big to rule and would fall. Thundeclan refused to listen and began taking Shadowclan's territory. Windclan and Riverclan were innocent bystanders.
"We shouldn't be here..." moorwind whispered. "What?" Shrewfur snapped and leaned closer. Moorwind pushed him off, sending the smaller tom flying and rolling on the moist grass. Moorwind glared at him but backed away, not saying another word. He looked around. A few Windclan cats were retreating. Moorwind backed out of the camp, shame sewn into his pelt.
Windclan was losing. The Riverclan were much more determined it win.
"Retreat!" Moorwind heard Sandstar yell. "Windclan retreat! We will finish this another time." He watched the strong leader glare at Lakestar then back away, into the darkness of night.
Once they returned to camp, Blazepaw immediantly fled to the apprentice's den, ashamed. I'm so useless. I could even land a hit on another apprentice. She was glad that Nightpaw and the others hadn't come back to the den yet. She could have some time alone. Blazepaw padded over to her nest and laid down, watching the other cats out of the entrance hole of the den. A few warriors were heading over to the medicine cat's den. Among them were moorwind, Glowpaw and a calico she-cat with blue eyes named brightrain. Blazepaw noticed a long slash along Glowpaw's ear. She looked over her own pelt. Sense the war everyone in every clan has gotten a nasty scar from one fight or another. Blazepaw sighed, realizing how perfectly groomed and nice she looked compared to the others. Even a kit or two would get a scar now and again from self defense.
Blazepaw had never been the type of cat who fought. She felt like she'd probably better off staying in the nursery. Her warrior name would never come.
And finally, all the clans have been covered. Okay, about the name thing again. So, yes I am going to have a chapter that explains how some words came to be known. probably in two chapters or so.
Don't forget to review.