Prologue
"Whiteclaw, you promised that you would tell me the history of our clan, right? And you also said a warrior never lies, right? So could you tell me it pleeeaaase?" begged the small kit. She had tabby fur and round blue eyes.
"Alright! But only if you stop pestering!" snapped the elder. She didn't mean it though. She just adored kits and their many questions. In fact, she missed it. "Here it goes."
"Long ago, when the Clans of the forest where just beginning to come together, there lived a tom named Galeheart. He was an amazing WindClan cat, and was loyal to Windstar, the first ever WindClan leader. He was the fastest runner, the best hunter. And better yet, he had a connection with StarClan that no other warrior ever had. He was also very large for a cat and was always feeling left out. So one day he left."
She couldn't help but purr at the kits startled face.
"He traveled all the way to the mountains, where he found a tribe of cats called Tribe of Mountain Peaks. They were all his size and their leader Larknose quickly accepted him. He even became second in line to become leader.
"But the peace and happiness of his life was not going to last. A clan called MountainLionClan attacked the tribe, killing Larknose in the process. Galeheart was devastated"
"I would be two," squeaked the small kit, her eyes wide.
"But he couldn't be sad for very long. He had to go to the moon crystal to share tongues with Larknose, and get him to approve his leadership.
"He made the trek by himself. When he met with Larknose, Larknose told him something important; you must turn the tribe into a clan to survive.
"So that's what he did. He became Galestar and received nine lives. He turned the tribe into a clan, MountainClan. Our clan.
"But that was not the end of the clan's problems. MountainLionClan as still out there.
"When they're leader heard that Galestar had received nine lives for becoming a clan leader, he wanted nine lives too. So he attacked. He ripped right through MountainClan territory, and when he reached the camp, he threatened Galestar's kit, saying that if he didn't show him where he got his nine lives, he would kill the small kit. What was Galefrost to do but show the treacherous leader where to go?
"But the MountainLionClan leader was foolish unsought to go into CrystalCave alone with Galestar and while he was asleep, Galestar tore out his throat.
"That's when MountianClan attacked. They chased away some mountain lions and had to kill others until finally they were all okay, except Galestar. He had eight of his lives in the battle and he was dying of a great battle wound."
"What happened!?" shrieked the kit. "Tell me!"
"If you shush, I will!" snarled the elder. "Where was I? Oh, yes. The medicine cats tried their best to heal him but without luck. They could do nothing else for him. With his dying breath he said 'My Clan will live long and will defend those who are weak. StarClan will help them every step of the way.' Then he died."
The kit was frozen her eyes on something distant.
The elder continued.
"Eelnose, the deputy, made those words law as soon as he became leader. That is how the history of MountainClan came to be."
The kit looked up at the elder.
She quietly mewed, "One day, I'll be exactly like Galestar."
She said it with so much emotion; the elder knew she was speaking seriously, not just boasting.
"I know you will," she whispered to the small kit. Their gaze held until there came a call.
"LongKit! Come to the nursery! It's time to sleep!"
"I guess I have to go," the she-kit mewed. "Good-bye, Whiteclaw."
The kit ran out of the elder's den as the former medicine-cat stared after.
"She will be great one day," the elder whispered, then curled up into a small ball and fell into a deep sleep.