Thanks Talonclaw for your kind review! I hope that I can get more reviewers like you! And to WhenCowsFly, these next couple chapters should add a little more suspense to the situation. Feel free to critique my writing, just please don't be too harsh.
Chapter 14: Pinestar
Pinestar's elation at the gathering didn't last long. As soon as he woke up the next day, there was work to do. He had to direct patrols, go hunting, check on the queens,-which he found to be a little cruel, seeing as he couldn't check on Greyleaf - give the apprentices a surprise skills test, and a number of other favors that he had promised to do for cats in his clan.
It was well past Sunhigh, and the sky had started to grow dim when he eventually finished all of his chores. Finally, I can get some rest!
But it was not to be.
"Pinestar," Ravenclaw called, his voice teeming with anger and his dark pelt stiff with rage, "These filthy ThunderClan apprentices were caught stealing our prey!"
He shoved three young cats towards Pinestar. Two were toms, one dark grey and the other dark brown, and the third was a tortoiseshell she-cat. The she-cat and the grey tom were anxious, pelts slightly puffed and eyes darting from place to place. The brown tom, however, was not affected in the slightest. He stood as tall as he could and kept his golden eyes on Pinestar's. This blatant act of audacity irritated the Shadowclan cat. He's standing in front of a leader for a serious crime, he should show some respect!
"What are your names?" The leader asked, his voice sounding slightly miffed.
"I'm Brackenpaw," The defiant tom replied smoothly, "This is Dustpaw," He motioned to the grey tom. "And this is Molepaw." He flicked his tail towards the tortoiseshell. "We were able to eat two squirrels, four voles, and three mice before your lazy patrols could even catch a whiff of us. If you can't even defend your borders properly, how could you ever expect to lead a clan into battle? We probably could've attacked your camp and you would be too busy sleeping and eating to notice. I bet you couldn't even-"
Ravenclaw pounced on the foolhardy apprentice before he could finish his sentence.
Pinned to the floor with a paw on his neck, Brackenpaw struggled futilely, and eventually gave in to the fierce deputy, who then promptly hissed in Brackenpaw's face.
The other two apprentices looked on in horror. Their fur was even more fluffed up, their eyes were spread wide, and their pupils were reduced to narrow slits.
"That's enough Ravenclaw," Pinestar ordered, "Let him up."
The black cat obeyed, but he wouldn't let it be. "Pinestar, they have trespassed on our territory and eaten our prey! Their clan deserves to be punished, we must go to war!" He yowled.
By now, almost the whole clan had gathered to see the spectacle. I can't just refuse in front of the entire clan! They'll think that I have a soft spot for ThunderClan! And if they find out that I do, they might rebel!
With a heavy heart, Pinestar feigned anger and yowled, "Then we go to war! ThunderClan will pay for the crimes that they have committed!" He turned to the apprentices and growled. "Run back to your leader, and tell him what ShadowClan has to say. Tell Sunstar that he will have to face the full might of ShadowClan, and HE. WILL. LOSE!"
The whole clan yowled their battle cries as the three panicked apprentices bolted back to their home.
Chapter 14: Greyleaf
Greyleaf awoke to humid air and weak sunlight filtering in through the hole above. She tried to get up, causing the lump of gold fur next to her to shift and mumble.
"But I don't wanna wake up, Duskwater..." Goldenfur whined, his voice muffled by his tail, which was wrapped over his face.
Greyleaf chuckled. He looked so much like a kit, curled up in a tight ball, even though he was quite a bit larger than her. The sunlight caught his fur at places, making him look like he was a glowing angel. I have to admit, he looks pretty with all that dazzle.
Then, she got an idea.
"Goldenfur," Greyleaf whispered, bending her muzzle towards his ear, "You've gotta wake up, or you'll miss your dusk patrol."
"DUSK PATROL!" Goldenfur shot upwards, banging his head on the low ceiling, "I SLEPT THROUGH THE WHOLE DAY! ... Aw, tom." He added, rubbing his head, when he saw Greyleaf giggling at his reaction.
"I can't ... believe ... you fell... for it!" She mewed between laughing fits.
At first, Goldenfur looked angry, but then his face brightened and he joined Greyleaf. They laughed and laughed until neither of them could breathe. Taking deep breaths to calm down, they flopped unto the floor. Greyleaf's green eyes twinkled in merriment, while Goldenfur kept his closed, a broad smile on his face.
"We should get going," He said suddenly, "Before the clan misses us."
Greyleaf nodded, sad that they had to leave, but understanding that they had to.
Laughing and talking as they went, the two made their way back to camp. Little did they know that there was a shock that awaiting them.
Greyleaf and Goldenfur arrived at the hollow to chaos and confusion.
"War! WAR! You little thieves! Stealing prey from another clan! Why, if I had been your mentor you would all be cleaning my den for moons!" Runningleap yowled, his old amber eyes ablaze and his scruffy brown tabby pelt tense. Spottedfern tried desperately to calm him down, but her efforts were futile, and the spotted brown cat hung her head as her mate threw another volley of yowls towards the young cats.
The three apprentices stood in front of the leader, heads down, the clan gathered around them. Molepaw whimpered, her tortoiseshell pelt spiked in fear. Dustpaw looked much the same. Even Brackenpaw looked ashamed, with is usually proud brown head lowered and his tail tucked between his legs.
The rest of the clan was either stunned or enraged. The angriest hurling insults at the young cats. Greyleaf and Goldenfur froze in their tracks, disbelief written over their faces. How could this have happened?
"Calm down everyone," Sunstar called from his perch at a ledge that jutted out from the hollow's walls, his gold pelt glistening in he morning light, "I know that this is grave news, and that none of us are happy about it. But we must remain calm and not let our emotions get the better of us. Even I am battling my feelings. I have a personal grievance against them. Shadowclan caused the death of my mate, Duskwater." He sighed and looked towards the sky for a while, before continuing his speech, "But the past is the past, there's nothing we can do about it." Sunstar looked directly at the three apprentices. "You say that we're now at war with Shadowclan?" He asked, his eyes blazing with fury despite his words before.
The apprentices nodded gravely. All Greyleaf could do was watch, her mind screaming As her leader mewed the final words.
"Then so be it. War!"
How could this have happened!? And Pinestar, how could he? War, with Shadowclan. NO!
A traumatized Greyleaf was escorted to the nursery by Goldenfur and Blackfur. They both left her to her panicked thoughts, until the medicine cat came in and gave her some poppy seeds. She drifted away from the world, and into her dreams.
Greyleaf found herself in a large cave with a stone in the middle and a hole in the ceiling. Moonlight fell through the opening and struck the stone, causing it to light up in a dazzling glare. A wide, gaping opening in the smooth wall led to a dark hallway. I definitely don't wanna go down there. Greyleaf thought. She explored the area around her, curious as to where she was.
"Need a little help?" A voice called. It was deep and masculine. A Tom cat no doubt.
She stiffened. "Uh, yeah," Greyleaf mewed, turning around to face the newcomer.
She met the green eyes, so much like her own, of a fiery ginger tabby tom. Even though he was faded, and had stars in his fur, he had the air of someone important. Greyleaf felt that she should know him, but she just couldn't remember.
"My name is Firestar, by the way. And you're at the moonstone, the place where the clans used to speak to Starclan before we had to leave our home, and live by the lake." The cat said.
Something clicked then. "Oh, Firestar," Greyleaf meowed, "I remember now. You were the greatest of Thunderclan's leaders, and you helped lead the clans to the lake. It's an honor to meet you." She bowed.
Fierstar smiled and beckoned Greyleaf to stand. "You don't need to bow, Greyleaf. It's only me, and Bramblestar, Tawnypelt, Crowfeather, Squirrelflight, and Stormfur actually had more to do with leading the clans than I did."
"How does he know my name?" Firestar chuckled, and Greyleaf then knew then that she had just spoken her thoughts aloud.
"All of Starclan knows your name, Greyleaf. You are a very important cat." Firestar meowed.
"Me, important?"
He nodded gravely, his light mood replaced by seriousness. "Greyleaf," He said, "You have a very important decision set before you. What you choose to do will affect many cats. Your choice will also affect the clans. Choose wisely." Then, Firestar started to fade away, disappearing into the mists if time.
"Wait," Greyleaf yowled, "Don't leave me! I need to know about my choice. What is it? How will it affect the clans? What if I choose wrong?"
"Follow you heart, and you will save many." he whispered before disappearing completely.
She leaped at the place where Firestar had stood. "What do I do?" She whispered.
White spots crowded her vision, turning the cave into a huge cloud of nothingness.
Greyleaf woke up gasping. Her heart pounding away inside her chest. She heard cats bustling outside: hurried mews, pounding paws, medicine cat calling for herbs. Thunderclan was preparing for war. Greyleaf sat up and shivered, but not from the cold.
What do I do?
So, what do you guys think? Sorry for not updating in a while. I had a bad case of writers block. Anyways, I was reading some other stories and I saw that one writer put question of the days on her chapters. So, I'm gonna do that too. I wanna see what you guys think. So, without further ado,
QUESTION OF THE CHAPTER: What do you think Firestar was talking about? How would you react in Greyleaf's position?
Please read and review! Also, I still need idea's for kits. So review those too! Oh yeah! And vote on my poll too. It's on my profile.
Also, I know that there's a lot of also's just bear with me on this, I need some readers & reviewers on my other stories. Please check those out!