COOKIES FOR ALL! Enjoy this chapter. :3
"What took you so long?" Sandstorm inquired as Firestar dashed at full speed to the camp. "I don't suppose you caught any prey?"
Firestar shook his head but didn't meow a word. He was tired and he felt that his meeting with Scorch should be kept a secret for the time being.
"It's been a long night," he told Sandstorm, gazing up at the cloud-covered moon. "I should get some rest for the adventures of tomorrow."
And with that, he padded back to his den.
The sunlight was weaker than the day before and a soft shower of snow had begun to fall. The apprentices were astounded by it and they tipped their heads back, hoping that a snowflake would land on their tongue. Firestar woke up early, just before dawn, and began to hunt. The weather was even colder and there was hardly even a baby mouse to catch in the forest. Somehow, Firestar managed to catch enough prey for the clan, himself and his new friend, Scorch. The day was pretty uneventful and it passed by like a leaf being carried by the wind. Night came quickly. The crescent moon hung in the sky and gentle, puffy clouds floated about. The time had come for Firestar to once again meet Scorch. He crept along in the shadows, careful not to be seen. A large vole hung out of his mouth.
"Firestar," came a hoarse whisper.
Firestar went directly to the snow-covered bushes and dropped the vole on the ground. He saw a dark shadow leap at the fresh-kill and tear it with it's gleaming white teeth. Scorch gobbled it down as if he had been starved for a year.
"Gee, thanks Firestar. That tasted great!" Scorch lay on his back, grooming his face lazily.
"I always keep my promises," Firestar mewed in reply.
The night was quiet. There was only the sound of chirping crickets and their own breathing.
"I want to know more about you," Firestar meowed.
Once again, silence filled the air, stretching between the two cats.
Finally, Scorch replied, "I will tell you later."
Firestar, itching to know the truth, struggled to keep quiet. To keep his mouth shut, he began to groom his ears.
"Well," Scorch meowed, "thank you again. I will see you tomorrow night."
The cats waved their tails in farewell and went in their different directions. Firestar moved stealthily, his paws tapping at the ground lightly. Crack! What was that? Firestar pricked up his ears, alert. Suddenly, a huge shadow blocked the moonlight. The dark shape growled at Firestar, his unsheathed claws just visible.
It was Crow.
Firestar sprung at Crow, teeth bared. Crow shook him off, almost effortlessly.
"Foolish cat," Crow spat.
"What do you want?" Firestar snarled.
"What do I want? What do I want?" Crow let out a harsh laugh. "You kill Scourge. Our leader. You've done me a favour by making me the leader of Bloodclan but my clan will not rest until Scourge's death is avenged!"
He leapt at Firestar, his curved claws ready for attack. Firestar dodged out of the way. Crow hurled himself at Firestar again, this time with even more anger. Firestar dodged his claws yet again.
Crow snarled, "Next halfmoon, we will have a battle. Tell your clans to come to your precious Fourtrees and we'll
destroy you all!"
Crow vanished into the shadows and left Firestar standing there in the clearing, bewildered. Crow was dangerous and he had to warn the clans. All the cats had to prepare for
combat once again. Without another second of hesitation,
Firestar raced back to the camp at full speed. He could hear the strong wind tugging at his ungroomed fur. Firestar
skidded around to the Thunderclan camp and staggered straight onto the Highrock.
"Cats of Thunderclan!" he called, "Come by the Highrock! Every cat and even every kit! This is an emergency!"
Thunderclan cats tumbled out of their dens, fur prickling and ears pricking up, alertly. The queen dragged her half-asleep kits out with a worried expression. The cats knew that
something was wrong.
"This is an emergency," he repeated, staring at the anxious cats spread out in front of him.
Graystripe and Sandstorm looked up at their friend and leader with wide eyes. Cloudtail sat with Brightheart who was twitching her tail, restlessly.
"I have just made an encounter with Bloodclan's new leader, Crow," began Firestar.
Just the very sound of his name made the cats quiver and hiss.
Firestar waited for silence before continuing. "He has
declared war once again against our four clans."
Horrified yowls echoed throughout the snowy forest.
"Yes," Firestar rose his voice over every other cats', "This will mean more training and fighting. Kits will be
apprenticed."
He paused to give Glowkit and Faunkit an encouraging gaze. "Crow demands a battle at the next halfmoon."
More horror. More yowls.
"How will we prepare?" Willowpelt wailed.
"It is leaf-bare!" cried an elder named One-Eye, "This is
outrageous! It is already quartermoon! Halfmoon will be in a day or so!"
Firestar sighed. He knew that this announcement would
create fury and havoc. "We can fight them unprepared or prepared. It is our choice. Bloodclan will come even if we protest."
The clan cats quietened as they realised that Firestar was right.
Firestar went on, "Crow said that they want revenge. They won't succeed."
There were a few meows of support.
"We will be ready. The ceremony for Willowpelt's kits to become apprenticed will be held today at dusk. Sandstorm, you will warn Riverclan about this. Graystripe, you will warn Shadowclan. I will go to Windclan to warn them myself."
Firestar meowed importantly, "We need to speed up the training of apprentices. They will be assessed tomorrow!"
In the centre of the camp, Ashpaw and Bramblepaw mewed excitedly and whispered to each other.
Firestar turned his head to a brown tabby. "Dustpelt, I want you to organise hunting patrols and if you can, speed up the apprentices training and supervise them."
Dustpelt gave his leader an obedient nod. Firestar purred, satisfied, and hopped of the Highrock. He signalled to Sandstorm and Graystripe to go to the different clans and ran off deep into the woods, leaving Dustpelt behind to keep everything in order while they were gone. Firestar dodged the twisted vines and hanging branches as he swerved towards Windclan territory.
"Tallstar! Deadfoot! Onewhisker!" he called out, dramatically.
A pale she-cat emerged from her den and flattened her ears at Firestar, suspicious. "Firestar? What are you doing here?"
Firestar meowed urgently, "Runningbrook! This is an
emergency. Bloodclan has declared war with us. Please get Tallstar!"
Runningbrook hissed and dragged long claw along the dirt. "Wait here Firestar. I'll get him right away."
He didn't have to wait long. Soon enough, half of Windclan had come rushing to hear of the awful news.
"What's this all about?" demanded Tallstar.
Firestar explained everything all over again about his encounter with Crow. By the end of his story, the Windclan cats were spitting with rage and disgust.
"The nerve of them!" hissed Tallstar aggressively, "If it's a battle they want, then it will be a battle they get!"
Yowls of support echoed in the background.
"We'll face Bloodclan at the next halfmoon at the Fourtrees," Firestar meowed, "Thunderclan is trying to speed up our apprentices' training and assign the kits to a mentor. Will your clan do the same?"
Tallstar inclined his head. "Windclan will try its best to produce the finest warriors in the forest."
Firestar sighed, relieved, and without a goodbye, pelted back to his clan camp. Sandstorm and Graystripe were already there, sharing news about the other clans.
"Firestar," Sandstorm greeted him with a friendly lick. "How much luck did you have with warning Windclan about the attack? Riverclan certainly showed their hostility."
"Yeah!" Graystripe chimed in, "Shadowclan almost clawed my face in when I came bursting through the bushes."
Firestar let out a purr of laughter. "Windclan was quite
cooperative. They agreed to meet the clans at the Fourtrees."
Sandstorm nodded. "Riverclan agreed too… finally."
"Blackstar is still suspicious," meowed Graystripe, "but I think that they'll still come. They can't take such a risk and miss out on the battle."
The three cats sat down in silence for a while, thinking about all the problems Thunderclan had been facing lately.
Firestar stood up. "We better see what everyone is up to. Maybe I should have brought some fresh-kill with me on the way back…"
Graystripe shrugged. "The hunting patrols have been sent out. There should be enough prey."
Sandstorm nosed the winter air. Snow drifted down from the clouds.
"Well, I'm heading back. I'm speaking to Willowpelt about the ceremony for her kits," Firestar purred and swished his tail in farewell.
Firestar trudged over the snow-covered ground and squinted through the clouded sunlight to the Nursery which was only a few fox lengths away.
"Willowpelt!" Firestar lumbered into the Nursery.
There he found Willowpelt speaking softly to her kits. She looked up and gave him a small smile.
Firestar panted, "Do you think the kits are ready to be apprenticed?"
Willowpelt held his gaze for a moment and meowed, "I think that they will be wonderful apprentices and even better warriors. Sandstorm will be their mentor and I have faith in her."
Firestar nodded relieved. "We will have the ceremony as soon as the hunting patrols are ba—"
A cheerful voice erupted from the corner of the camp.
"We're back!"
Firestar peeked out of the Nursery to see Cloudtail bouncing along in front of the hunting patrol with a fat vole hanging from his mouth. He dropped it into the fresh-kill pile and trotted to Firestar.
"Did you see how big that vole was?" Cloudtail purred, his eyes shining with pride. "I caught it with one swift paw! Like this!"
Cloudtail demonstrated his attacking skills with exaggerated motions. Firestar purred in amusement and nudged Cloudtail. "You shouldn't brag so much. No wonder the elders scuttle away when you're near!"
Cloudtail rolled his big blue eyes and bounded away to see what Brightheart had caught. Firestar gestured to Willowpelt and led her to the Highrock. He sprung up and called out, "Let all cats old enough to hunt for themselves gather here, beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting."
One by one, the cats emerged from their dens, watching Firestar with expectant looks.
Firestar meowed on, "We are here today to apprentice these two fine kits."
Firestar flicked his tail at Glowkit and Faunkit who were sitting at the base of the Highrock.
"Glowkit, you will now be known as Glowpaw. Faunkit, you will now be known as Faunpaw. Your mentor will be Sandstorm," Firestar saw Sandstorm give him a smile of
appreciation. "Sandstorm, your loyalty and determination has served the clan well. May you pass all that you have learnt to these two young kits and make them as strong as you are."
The two kits scrabbled over to Sandstorm in a great hurry to touch noses with their new mentor. They bumped their noses awkwardly against each other's and giggled nervously.
Murmurs of congratulations were passed to Faunpaw and Glowpaw as they strode confidently into the Apprentices den.
Firestar stepped down from the Highrock and padded up to Sandstorm. "How does it feel to be a mentor?"
Sandstorm's eyes were dancing. "It feels great! I have two apprentices!"
Firestar purred, happy to see that Sandstorm was so pleased. He was relieved that the clan seemed calm even though they were on the brink of a battle. Firestar knew what they had to face. Grabbing a plump mouse from the fresh-kill pile, Firestar settled beside Graystripe and enjoyed his meal.
Darkness enveloped Firestar as he stepped further into the woods. An icy breeze hit him in the face. There was something in the distance. A familiar warm scent filled Firestar's nose. He ran forward glad to see his old friend, Spottedleaf. Spottedleaf was Thunderclan's Medicine Cat before she was killed by a single Shadowclan cat. She often appeared in Firestar's dreams.
"Spottedleaf!"
"Firestar…" Spottedleaf nudged him softly on the shoulder. "A great war is coming. Prepare yourself for unexpected
discoveries."
The gentle tortoiseshell she-cat was slowly fading…
"No, wait!" Firestar reached out to her with a paw.
But Spottedleaf was already gone.
Firestar woke with a start, his ears pinned back and his bright fur trembling. He yawned and stretched his legs while he thought about Spottedleaf's words: Prepare yourself for unexpected discoveries. What could it mean? Firestar had already learnt so much during his journey from being a kittypet to clan leader! There couldn't possibly be any more shocking new discoveries… could there? Firestar shook himself awake and slunk out of his den, ready for anything that came his way. A white blur hurled itself at Firestar, knocking the breath out of him.
"Cloudtail!" Firestar yowled, "Never do that again!"
Cloudtail's white fur was now covered with snow. He purred cheekily.
"Show more respect for your clan leader, Cloudtail," came a voice.
It was Brightheart, her good eye scrunched up mockingly.
Firestar sighed. "Hop along now. I still need to organise hunting patrols and dawn patrols and—"
He stopped short as he remembered that he was supposed to meet Scorch at sunrise! Firestar swivelled his head to the warm glow of the sun. Obviously, it had already risen and it was now sharing it's heat with the forest.
"Um, Cloudtail. I've promised Cinderpelt that I'd gather some herbs for her. I'll see you later!" Firestar meowed hurriedly and dashed off before Cloudtail could get a word in.
He sprinted as fast as he could. He could feel his legs stretching out and his paws digging into the dirt as they landed. Oh no! He groaned as he realised that he had not bought food with him. Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, Firestar saw movement. A magpie! Perfect! He pressed his belly to the ground and crept swiftly towards the bird. The magpie was completely oblivious to the stalking cat and kept on pecking at the tiny seeds that were speckled along the forest floor. Firestar pounced and with a mighty leap and yowl, finished the magpie off. He bent down to pick the magpie up but another cat was already making his way towards it.
"Scorch!" Firestar meowed in greeting, seeing the slim tabby shuffling across.
"I thought you we were supposed to meet me at sunrise," complained Scorch.
"There's been a lot happening lately and if you don't want the food, that's fine with m—"
It was pointless to utter another word. Scorch was already attacking the magpie with hungry jaws.
Firestar rolled his eyes and continued, "Like I said, there's been so much happening lately. Bloodclan has declared war with us and—"
Scorch dropped the magpie. "Bloodclan?"
His eyes were huge and his whiskers were twitching rapidly.
"Yeah, you know them?" Firestar snorted. "Nasty clan. If you can call them a clan. Good-for-nothing fleabags, more like. Absolutely no respect for the warrior code. Absolutely none. They just won't give up! They're like those squirrels that keep trying to climb up to the top of the tr—"
"Firestar," Scorch interrupted him again.
He was shifting from one paw to another, uncomfortably.
Firestar didn't seem to notice as he went on, " - tree and you just know that they're not going to get there but they keep trying and trying and—"
"FIRESTAR," Scorch brought a claw down and thumped it hard on the ground.
Firestar stopped rambling and lookup up at Scorch's worried face.
"Firestar, I really need to tell you something…" Scorch's voice trailed off.
Firestar's ears pricked up in interest. Was this going to be the surprise that Spottedleaf had foretold?
"You can tell me, Scorch," Firestar urged.
"I'm not sure—"
"Please Scorch. I really need to know," Firestar insisted.
Scorch sighed and looked down at his dirt sodden paws. "Fine, if you really want to know… I'm the deputy of Bloodclan."
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