Moonlight shone down onto the soft ground at the ShadowClan border. A cream she cat with black stripes waited nervously, her short fur providing no shield against the chilling breeze. Where is he? The ShadowClan she cat thought, growing worried. She wasn't at the last few Gatherings, and he hadn't met her in very long.
She was aware that he'd taken an apprentice, but his apprentice had been made a warrior not long ago, so where was he? Suddenly, the cream-and-black she cat heard pawsteps approaching her. Spinning around, the ShadowClan warrior came nose-to-nose with pale brown tom with yellow eyes that glowed in the pale light.
"Daisystripe…" The ThunderClan tom began, taking a step back. "My brother broke the code." The ShadowClan cat, Daisystripe, tilted her head. "Mouseclaw, what do you mean?" Daisystripe's voice grew soft and worried.
"Daisystripe, Squirrelnose died of greencough. I really am sorry. He did love you, he truly did." Mouseclaw insisted, as Daisystripe's green eyes welled up, and her hot tears fell on the thin grass.
"No! No, no, no, no, no," Daisystripe wailed, staring down at the ground. She then glanced at her stomach. "I c-c-can't do t-this alon-ne…" Suddenly realizing what Daisystripe meant, he flattened his ears in surprise. "Are you kidding me?" Mouseclaw breathed.
Daisystripe only sniffled.
"Daisystripe, do you realize how much trouble you'll be in when his kits are born? You both broke the warrior code!" Mouseclaw exclaimed. "This is serious!"
Daisystripe scoffed, her voice thick with hurt. "Says the tom who stares at Darkflame in a mooning manner."
Mouseclaw flinched. "I have no interest in having kits. Plus, all she cats in my clan have mates, or are too young. Now, I suggest you stop taking out your hurt out on me, and listen to me."
Daisystripe rolled her eyes, but her ears were pricked. Noticing, Mouseclaw, began. "I can feel that these kits, will cause trouble. ThunderClan and ShadowClan are both short on kits. I cannot guarantee that my clan won't fight."
Daisystripe's eyes seemed to put up a wall. "What are you saying, Mouseclaw?" The ThunderClan tom bore his lips back half-way.
"I'm saying that I will fight for my brother's kits to their rightful clan." And with that, Mouseclaw lashed his tail and bounded off to his camp. Daisystripe whined fearfully under her breath, trudging back to her camp, head hung low. Squirrelnose is gone, he's really gone… The love of my life, is dead, and now I'm with his kits… This will not end well, oh StarClan… Daisystripe prayed.
(That next morning)
A clan meeting stirred Icekit from his sleeping. He stretched his back and prodded Cragkit awake. Without waiting to see if Cragkit woke, he trotted out to see Fallenstar hauling herself on top the FallenTree. (No, it is not named after her, she's named after it, you'll find out in her backstory, which will be after Hollowstar)
"The dawn patrol found prey, inside our territory, reeking of WindClan. I've put up with those skinny fleabags treachery for far too long. I plan to launch an attack. And soon. WindClan will not be plump and happy, while we starve. ShadowClan will fight! We will stay strong. I need strong warriors. Bloodyfur, Maggotheart, Talonsting, Rockfall, Darkflame, Dapplefur, and Fangpaw. We'll get the helpless cats, and then destroy their herb stores." Fallenstar growled, carefully choosing the cats. Fangpaw looked like he wanted to crawl in a hole and never come out, while Shreddedpelt looked scared. Icekit furrowed his eyebrow.
Fallenstar seems too excited to rush into battle. She should wait, declare it at a Gathering, and see what they have to say for themselves. You don't just attack helpless kits and elders and queens, and definitely not a medicine cat.
Willowleap looked at Fallenstar with a sick look in her eyes. "Icekit, Cragkit, come and sleep, it's still very early for little kits." Willowleap's voice sounded strained, but Icekit only seemed to notice it.
"No, mama! I'm a big tom! I'm not slee-" Cragkit was interrupted by an enormous yawn, earning a giggle from his mother. "Now, now. You all need a nice long sleep for where we're going." Willowleap meowed softly. Icekit perked his ears.
"Where exactly are we going?" Icekit asked. He was normally the smart one, and had forced himself to become more observant since Clawkit's death. Willowleap smoothed down a ruffle on Cragkit's head.
"We are going away from this stinking, cursed clan, Icekit, now rest up, we leave when the patrol leaves." Willowleap hushed, resting her chin on her paws.
(Meanwhile, a few days ago in RiverClan)
Solo hunting is so much better than getting nagged by Wrenshadow. I work better alone.
Shadepaw thought as she snatched a fish out the river expertly.
Suddenly, familiar shouts and hisses pricked Shadepaw's ears.
Stuffing her fish in the reeds, Shadepaw darted behind cattails.
"No, I will not forgive you! Just because I don't want anymore kits, does not give you reason to knock up a young she cat!" A she cat snarled, spinning around. Shadepaw widened her eyes, recognizing Cloudypool and Shellwhisker.
Shellwhisker narrowed his yellow eyes, but Cloudypool hushed him with a growl. "No! Don't even begin to defend yourself! You're a complete fish-brain! You stupid pile of fox-dung!"
Shellwhisker scoffed. "I give you love and care, and a strong son!" Cloudypool huffed. "Are you implying that Mistpaw isn't as strong as her brother?" Cloudypool sounded horrified.
The mottled tom took a menacing step forward. "I'm implying, that I'm not so sure I'm the father of Mistpaw. At least Pebbletail has my markings, and a tinge of my eyes, but Mistpaw's eyes-" Shellwhisker was stopped as Cloudypool hissed, a stunned look in her blue eyes.
"I-I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about." Cloudypool lashed her tail. "You said that our love was eternal, then you go and get Flowerpelt pregnant! I doubt she could love you like I used to!" Cloudypool wailed, her eyes wet with tears.
Shellwhisker began walking suspiciously up to Cloudypool. "What's the matter, want me back?" He teased in a crude voice.
Cloudypool looked offended. "W-what?! No! You're a cheater, and a low-life. I hope you rot in the Dark Forest!" Cloudypool yowled. Shellwhisker came muzzle to muzzle with her, his eyes narrowed and small. "My dear, sweet Cloudypool. Any last words?" Shellwhisker asked ambitiously.
The silver she cat tried to take a step back, but the foaming river was right under her paws. Sure, she could swim, but then she'd be on ThunderClan territory, and that would only cause more trouble.
Looking her former mate right in his eyes, she growled,
"I know you were the one behind Ashthroat's death moons ago. You just had to kill your own brother to be deputy, didn't you? You slaughtered him like a fox, and smothered him in fox scent! You just loathed the thought of your brilliant brother being leader one day, didn't you? Ashthroat was a brilliant deputy… You mentored Streampaw, but everyone seems to have forgotten, then Oakstar chose Beechtail, instead of you. You obviously forgot that Beechtail mentored Pebbletail's brother, Vinepaw." Cloudypool wasn't finished.
"I know you also tried to kill Beechtail! A few moons ago when we came across a badger, you tried to get it to kill him! I saw you!" Cloudypool screeched. Shellwhisker just pinned her down, Cloudypool's white ears getting wet from the water. "You done now?" The mottled tom sounded bored.
With a yowl, Cloudypool slashed Shellwhisker's shoulder, snagging a clump of fur. "Yes, I am. I have family waiting for me in StarClan, unlike you!" Cloudypool looked satisfied. Shellwhisker growled in satisfaction.
No! He can't kill Cloudypool! Shadepaw thought, beginning to reveal her hiding place and attack him. A hard, blue stare from Cloudypool stopped Shadepaw in her tracks. Shellwhisker fangs fastened in her neck, biting down. Shadepaw felt sick as she saw the shine in her eyes drain from the kind queen, and the fact that Shellwhisker looked joyous doing it. Sucking his fangs of the crimson color, Shellwhisker enjoyed the taste of her blood.
Much better than my pompous brother at least. Such a shame, she was quite a looker.
Shellwhisker licked his lips, and his eyes turned soft as he grabbed the dead queen's scruff and yanked her out of the river. A giant gash on Cloudypool's head from a rock in the river, gave Shellwhisker an excuse for her death.
Shellwhisker dragged Cloudypool back to camp, attempting to look as sympathetic as possible. F-f-for a c-c-cold-blooded ki-killer.
Shadepaw thought, creeping out of the cattails when Shellwhisker was out of sight. Shadepaw grabbed her fish and trudged back to camp. Her legs shook like rippling water as she entered the medicine den.
"Shadepaw! Dear, what happened?" Honeysnow exclaimed, examining Shadepaw from head to tail. The black she cat took a shaky breath. "A-a WindClan warrior attacked me…" Shadepaw lied.
Honeysnow looked suspicious. "I don't see any injuries." Shadepaw gulped. "I-I, uh, er, I leaped in the river and swam away. I feel like a coward…"
Shadepaw wasn't lying. I saw a clanmate murdered… and I did nothing to help her…
"It's alright dear, here's some juni-" Honeysnow stopped when Shadepaw let out a whine. "Er, I, uh, wouldn't t-thy-thyme work better?" Shadepaw stuttered, her green eyes shaking. Honeysnow nodded, placing the herb at the young apprentice's paws. "Here, try to sleep. I put a poppy seed in there as well." The white flecked she cat meowed, leaving Shadepaw to cope.
A/N
I will be changing my author notes, to a little change. I will be referred to as Pix.
Pix: I'm a still a little blocked so updates will be slow and I'm probably gonna publish a new story.
Whiteclaw: What about me? When's Destiny getting updated?
Pix: Whiteclaw, you're on permanent hiatus… I'm rewriting your story…
Sky: What about me? I'm working hard to get back to ShadowClan!
Kestrel: Yeah! Don't abandon us!
Pix: I, uh, heh…
Lance: But, Sky, stay with me!
Hawkpool: Oh, you poor abandoned kits. I'm just obviously more popular than you!
Whiteclaw, Sky, Kestrel, Lance: NO FAIR, PIX!
Pix: *runs off*
~Pix and the forgotten cats