"Rusty! Back for another visit, huh?"
The fire colored tom looked around until he spotted a large tabby cat laying on an old dresser on the other side of the room. His eyes were suddenly bright as he recognized Firestar. He got up and jumped down to the floor, landing rather gracefully on his feet for such a large cat. Rusty leaped down onto the floor to meet him.
"Sorry, but I can't stay long, Tabbs." Answered Firestar apologetically. He took a quick glance around. "Is Bane here?"
Tabbs didn't look to surprised. The tom turned around and went behind a pile of boxes for a few minutes, leaving Firestar itching to know who or what was behind there. Finally Tabbs returned a pure ebony cat with golden eyes followed him, looking tired but content.
"Bane! Thank, Starclan." He sighed as he saw her. "I need to talk to you, come on."
"Wait, wait, wait." Bane said looking at him suspiciously. She had helped him rescue his lost friend, witnessed an actual clan fight, she really didn't want to see anymore. Besides, she had other things to worry about. "If this has to do with your wild cats, I don't want to hear it."
Firestar's face sunk and he sighed heavily. He was tired and felt rather helpless, he didn't want to have to try and convince Bane to come, but he had too, for the sake of the clan. If Bane refused to come, they'd be slaughtered, he could not allow that to happen. He had to make Bane understand.
"Bane, please, just hear me out." Firestar pleaded. "I need you, all of the cats could die if you don't help."
"Firestar, I can't go anywhere!" Bane said fiercely. Her fur bristling. "I have things to do here!"
"Like what?" Firestar spat. "Lay around? Flirting with every tom that passes? You've nothing to do in your lazy lifestyle. You could at least help someone who needs it."
"How dare you!" Bane started toward Firestar. "You don't remember how I helped you find your precious clan member? But that doesn't count does it? You've done so much more dangerous things and what I did was nothing, was it?"
"You couldn't even imagine what I've had to go through." Firestar answered, his fur starting to bristle. "I appreciate you finding Gingerfur, but this is about something more important! Lives are at stake and your too lazy to even want to help!"
"Why you, stupid, disgusting, you have no idea what..." Bane trailed off when a sudden voice interrupted her.
"Mama?" Came three sleepy voices. Three kittens look around the edge of one of the boxes to stare at the three cats. In a second Bane had turned her attention away from Firestar as she hurried over to her kits who came out to greet her. She licked their heads, purring as they cuddled into her side. Firestar noted that the black queen looked so much more content than he'd ever seen her.
"This is why I can't leave, Firestar." Bane said softly.
Gingerfur was really feeling rather terrible, even her hunting was off. She'd been out there for quite a while and all she found was a mouse, she needed to do much better, especially if she was going to feed the clan. There was too much on her mind though. How could she tell Firestar so easily to send three apprentances to find ten unknown cats. How did she know if they were even still alive? That was the thing, she didn't know.
"Gingerfur!" Called a sudden voice behind her.
Gingerfur sighed and turned, not wanting to be interrupted right now? Her gold eyes narrowed as she recognized the cat bounding toward her. Cloudtail. Suddenly they widened as she realized what he was there for. Firestar or Sandstorm must've told him about Whitepaw. This made her feel even worse, how could Starclan do this? First Brightheart, now Whitepaw? It wasn't fair!
"Cloudtail." She dipped her head as the white warrior came up beside her.
"Cinderpelt told me." He said steadily. "About this..this prophecy. That Whitepaw is a part of it. Is it true?"
"Yes, Cloudtail." She carefully, hoping that he wouldn't take it so hard. "Indeed she was chosen by our warrior ancestors to find the council and help save the clans."
Cloudtail's eyes narrowed, his tail flicked back and forth unhappily. "Your sure?"
"Very much." She said, forcing the words out of her mouth. She wanted to deny it, Cloudtail had to feel helpless. She couldn't meet his eyes. She knew they were angry, but also scared and afraid of what could happen to his daughter.
"Surely it could've been just a dream!" He exploded, pleading with her to tell him it wasn't true. "Doesn't Starclan usually send messages to the medicine cat or leader? Why would they choose you?"
"Because of my connection with the Great Stars." She said, trying to keep her voice calm and quiet. They couldn't start fighting, it wouldn't help anyone. "Cloudtail I'd give anything if it wasn't true."
"Oh sure." Cloudtail growled nastily. "You and every other cat! All you care about is these stupid woods! You could care less about who will get hurt! Were supposed to be warriors! Why don't we fight? Instead of just sending some hard working apprentance to chase after unproven prophecies!"
"Look! I'm just as upset as any cat about them leaving!" She hissed. "It isn't just your daughter! These things are huge, Cloudtail, huge! They'll rip apart half the clan as fast as you'd eat a mouse in Frostimes!"
"We'll see." Cloudtail stalked past her angrily, his tail flicking back and forth. Gingerfur stared after him, hoping he wasn't going to do something stupid. The white and ginger colored cat sighed and shook her head, defeated. Her eyes looked to the sky, blood red as the sun started to set. She shivered uncomfortably as she turned and started toward camp.
"Cats of Thunderclan!" Came the strong voice of Firestar. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Highrock for a clan meeting!"
Instantly cats poured from dens. Cinderpelt, Leafpaw and Sandstorm already stood at the base of the rock. Soon all the cats had gathered, all of them murmuring to each other, knowing that the meeting had to be about the wolves. Some of them noticed a black queen sitting alone next to the rock, sort of hunched over, glaring at them.
"As you know, wolves have come to the forest. So far they have only taken on Windclan's territory, but there is no doubt they shall be moving into the other territories soon. Starclan has spoken and shown us that we are not alone. For now we can only hold our ground and make sure each cat is back here by nightfall! No apprentance may travel without another cat!"
He stopped to let this sink in. The clan seemed to be too shocked to respond. The thought of the wolves possibly getting closer frightened them to no end. Firestar's fur prickled with unease, his clan was not usually this quiet, it disturbed him greatly at how much fear these wolves had produced in only a few days.
"Now, if Whitepaw could please come to the rock!" He yowled and a gasp of surprise came from the clan. No one had expected this except Whitepaw and her mentor, Brackenfur. She'd had a brief talk with the golden brown tabby tom on his way to see Bane. He leaped down to meet the young white cat. "Brackenfur are you satisfied that this apprentance is ready to become a warrior of Thunderclan?" When the tom nodded her went on. "Whitepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan with your life?"
"Yes." Said Whitepaw quietly but firmly.
"Then by the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior name. Whitepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Whitefur. Starclan honors your courage and faith and welcomes you as a full warrior of Thunderclan."
He rested his muzzle on the top of her head. Whitefur then licked his shoulder respectfully and backed away, pure happiness shining in her green eyes. Brackenfur looked on in pride as the clan cried out her new name.
"Whitefur! Whitefur!" The clan yowled, as they all had been sympathetic with the she-cat when her mother had died. She was one of the most loved cats in the clan. Her father stood near the back, he did not chant, but simply watched her, eyes filled with pride and happiness for what seemed like the first time in a long time.
As the chant died down, Firestar spoke. "Whitefur, according to tradition you must keep silent vigil and watch over the camp tonight."
Whitefur nodded and took up her spot in the middle of the clearing, alert and ready. The cats started to disperse and go their respective dens. A single white cat stared at the she-cat, as she turned her head he dashed out of the gorse tunnel into the night.
Oh, you guys didn't think I forgot did you? I feel so bad I haven't been updating, but I promise to be more constant now. Here's a good long chapter for you now.
You guys no the drill, you review and I'll keep posting. Reviews make me want to keep writing :). Anyway, hope you guys are enjoying. Don't worry, we'll get onto the action soon, too. Enjoy!
Frostimes - the Stars' version of winter/leafbare?if anyone can tell me exactly what the seasons were i'd give you cookies!