Helloooo everyone, I feel like it's been absolutely ages since I've been on FanFiction, damn it's been a long time since I've posted anything. I don't really have a reason, except it took me a while to write this chapter, and if you follow my other main story, Fionna IRL, I've had massive writers block.
Anyhoo, like I said, I know it's been forever since I got my first chapter for this story up, but like I said in the first chapter, this will not be a fast uploading story. I know some writers can get chapters up like, every week or something, and I really take my hat off to them, but between school, writing on this other website I'm part of, writing other fanfics and just general life l really just don't have time to write a good long chapter very often. So, you'll probably be lucky if I get a chapter up once a month, but it will probably take me longer than that.
But, whatever, I've talked for long enough, on with the story!
Crowkit nosed his way out of the nursery, sniffing the cold air before hurrying across the camp to the prey pile. He picked out a small squirrel and trotted back over to the nursery. He dropped it outside the entrance and poked his head inside the den.
"Leafkit! Hey, Leafkit!" He saw his sister raise her tortoiseshell-and-white head, her eyes still heavy with sleep. "I got us a squirrel. Come on!" She brightened, and hopped out of the nursery.
"Great!" She crouched down and started tucking into the squirrel with Crowkit. When they finished, Crowkit swiped his tongue over his jaws and jumped onto four paws.
"I can't believe today is the day!" He said. "We're finally gonna be leaners!" Leafkit laughed fondly, and head butted him.
"I know, mouse-brain!" She sat back on her haunches, licked her front paw and drew it over her ear. "You're not the only one who's been looking forward to today." Crowkit licked her between her ears.
"I just wish you were becoming a fighter's learner." Leafkit had been born with one of her front legs completely missing. Though she was otherwise perfectly healthy, it meant she could never train to be a fighter.
"I don't!" She said. "Always running over the mountain, getting exhausted and torn up in battle! I'd much rather be able to have knowledge of berry's and herbs and a connection to LightClan." Crowkit shrugged.
"Well, if it works for you, I guess I'm happy for you," He touched his muzzle to hers. "I will miss you in training sessions though." Leafkit purred in amusement.
"I bet you'll get so many injuries from battles that you'll be in my den so much you'll be sick of me!" Crowkit hissed playfully, and batted her lightly with sheathed claws.
"I bet I'll give the other clan members more wounds then they'll give me. I'm gonna be the best fighter this clan has ever seen!"
The kits heard a rustle coming from the great tree, and turned to see their chief, Mosslight, emerge from her den, a large hole in the trunk of the great tree. She climbed down and walked over to the prey pile, and picked out a piece for herself.
"Wouldn't it be amazing to be Clan chief?" Crowkit murmured. Leafkit looked at him.
"You've got quite a long way to go, 'Crowlight'."
"Oh, no I didn't mean…" Leafkit's mouth fell open in mock shock and horror.
"Crowkit! You're not thinking of overthrowing Mosslight, are you?" Crowkit cuffed her gently over the ear.
"That's not what I meant."
The kits padded around the camp, unable to sit still with excitement. Finally, at half-way (A/N sun-high) Mosslight hopped up onto the branch that jutted out of the trunk of the Great Tree, and called out.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Great Tree for a Clan meeting." Leafkit whipped her head around to stare at Crowkit, her eyes filled with excitement and nerves.
"Finally!" He whispered, and they scampered over to where the cats were gathering under the Great Tree. They sat down next to their mother, Shellstorm, and she immediately began fussing over them.
"Crowkit, Leafkit, are you completely unable of grooming yourselves?" She hurriedly drew her tongue over both of them in a hurried attempt to smooth their fur out. Crowkit pulled away from her.
"My fur is fine!" Shellstorm purred softly at Crowkit.
"I just want my kits to look their best for their learner ceremony."
"As I'm sure you're aware," Mosslight began from where she sat on the Great Tree. "Crowkit and Leafkit have reached their sixth moon, and are ready to become learners." She nodded to the kits, signalling for them to come forward. Crowkit's fur bristled with nerves as he walked forward, all the cat's eyes fixed on him and Leafkit.
"Oakfur," Mosslight called out. The dark brown healer padded forward, his head raised with pride. "You are a great healer with your intelligence and your kindness and gentleness in mending wounds. You shall be teacher to Leafroot," Leafroot hopped over to Oakfur and touched noses with him. "Oakfur, you have a great knowledge of herbs and a strong connection to LightClan. I trust you will pass all you have learned onto Leafroot." Oakfur dipped his head respectfully and the two of them disappeared back into the crowd. Crowkit felt very alone standing there by himself.
"Swallowflight," The beautiful brown she-cat came forward and sat next to Crowkit. "You are ready for your first learner. You are an amazing hunter, and brave in battle. I know you will be a great teacher to Crowroot," Crowroot felt his heart pounding as he touched noses with Swallowflight. "Swallowflight, the whole Clan knows your courage and loyalty. Do your best to pass these qualities onto Crowroot." Swallowflight nodded and lead Crowroot back into the crowd.
"Leafroot! Crowroot! Leafroot! Crowroot!" The Clan chanted their names. Crowroot looked over at Leafroot and met her eyes and smiled. After the crowd dispersed Swallowflight turned to him.
"How about we go out into the forest and get to know the territory?"
"Already?" Crowroot was surprised. He had thought he'd have to do some boring learner chores first, like clearing out the senior's den or something.
"Why not?" Swallowflight ears twitched in amusement at his surprise. Crowroot hopped onto all four paws.
"Let's go!"
Crowroot trotted out of the camp entrance after Swallowflight, his head and tail held high. When he got outside the camp he drew in a deep breath, his mouth open slightly. The scents of the forest bathed his tongue, like the scent's the fighters and learners brought in on their pelts when they came home from hunting, patrols or training, but fresher and untainted.
"You coming?" He looked up in surprise. He hadn't noticed Swallowflight walking further into the forest while he had been tasting the air. He scampered after her, his fur bristling with embarrassment. Swallowflight let out a little mrrow of laughter.
They walked through the forest until they came to a steep hill. Crowroot panted heavily, working hard to keep up with his teacher. When they came to the top he saw it dropped away just as steeply on the other side. He could smell something else, a different scent. It smelled mustier than the scents he was used to, and slightly bitter.
"This is the border between us and MoonClan," Swallowflight said. "Can you smell their clan scent?" Crowroot nodded, trying to memorise the scent of MoonClan.
They walked along the border for a little bit, before Swallowflight veered off down the side of the hill. Crowroot hurried after her, but misjudged how steep the hill was and rolled head over tail down the hill. Swallowflight laughed lightly.
"You alright?" Crowroot flicked leaf off his ears and spat dirt and scraps of bark out of his mouth.
"Yep," he hopped up. "Where're we going next?"
"We're going up to the SnowClan border, and then back to camp. It's getting close to low-light and I don't want you getting exhausted." Swallowflight must have noticed his tail drooping because she said: "Don't worry. The forest isn't going anywhere; you'll always be able to come out here again. And besides, aren't you excited to see Leafroot again? You two seemed inseparable when you were in the nursery." Crowroot brightened.
"You're right."
They walked upwards, and Crowroot felt the ground getting steeper underpaw. The mountain ground was always sloped, but it was getting steeper and steeper as they reached the summit. After a little while, the trees began thinning and the air was getting colder. Crowroot noticed a white blanket of snow on the ground a little way up ahead, and again smelt a different clan. This time it smelt… well, he supposed the only way to explain it was cold. And fresh, almost a bit like grass. It made him shiver slightly. He saw his teacher sniffing the air.
"There's a SnowClan patrol heading this way." She said. Crowroot dug his claws into the earth.
"Will we get to meet them?" His teacher nodded.
"I see no reason not to." Crowroot's ears pricked up in excitement. His first time out of the camp and he would get to meet fighters from another clan! Soon, a group of cats came into view. A silver tom cat stepped forward.
"Swallowflight," He said. "What are you doing here?" His tone wasn't hostile, just guarded. Swallowflight dipped her head in greeting.
"Frostwhisker," She looked up again. "I was only showing my learner the boundaries. I smelt the patrol coming and he was eager to meet cats from another clan." Frostwhisker nodded, slightly suspiciously. A white she-cat with different coloured eyes head butted him in the shoulder.
"Lighten up, Frostwhisker! Don't you remember when you were a learner?" The cat turned to Swallowflight. "It's good to see you again, Swallowflight." Swallowflight nodded in agreement.
"It does feel like many moons, Whitestrike."
"Well, we've got to be getting on with the border patrol." Frostwhisker turned to leave.
"And I've got to get my learner back to camp," Swallowflight said. "Goodbye Whitestrike, Frostwhisker." Frostwhisker nodded curtly.
"Come on, Whitestrike." He started walking away.
"I hope to see you at the next Meeting." Swallowflight nodded before Whitestrike turned to follow her clanmate. Swallowflight turned and started heading back to camp and Crowroot hurried after her, not wanting to be left behind.
"I didn't know other clan's fighters were so… reserved." He said. Frostwhisker's attitude had confused him slightly. He knew the clans weren't close friends, but he hadn't expected a fighter to act so cold.
"He's not always like that," Swallowflight said, her eyes fixed on the forest ahead. "At Meetings where every clan is more relaxed he can be friendly, just not when he's on a border patrol."
"Oh." Crowroot nodded.
After a while the two of them got back to the clearing. Crowkit gladly walked in, his paws aching from walking around the forest for so long. The territory was so much bigger than he'd imagined (A/N the territories in this are waaaaay bigger than the ones in the warrior books.)
He looked around, trying to see if he could see Leafroot. He looked over at the healer's den, and saw her head poke out, her mouth filled with dark green leaves. She brightened when she saw him, but didn't come over to see him. Instead, she hurried over to the senior's den, flicking her ears to signal for him to follow her. Crowroot looked up at Swallowflight for permission. When his teacher nodded her approval, he ran across the clearing to his sister. He pushed his way into the senior den.
"…Oakfur said I had to," He heard his sister mewing. "I just need to rub a little onto your back leg and he says the stiffness will go away."
"Well, if Oakfur says to…" Crowroot heard the voice of Littlestep as he entered.
"Yes, he does. Now will you let me?" Littlestep sighed, and nodded.
"Why, hello Crowroot," Robinfeather greeted him. "How's life as a learner?" Crowroot dipped his head deeply in a respectful greeting.
"It's good so far. I saw the territory and met some SnowClan fighters." Littlestep hissed.
"You can't trust SnowClan. They've got hearts as cold as their territory."
Leafroot spat out the pulp of leaves she had been chewing and looked up at Crowroot.
"SnowClan fighters?" She said, her eyes wide with amazement. "What were they like?"
"Well, one of them was a silver tom, Frost something or other."
"Frostwhisker," Robinfeather corrected. "I knew his mother, Blizzardshade." Crowroot nodded.
"Frostwhisker, that was it. The other one was a white she-cat called Whitestrike. She seemed friendlier than Frostwhisker," Crowroot watched as Leafroot dipped her paw in the leaf pulp and rubbed it on the top of one of Littlestep's back legs. "What did you do, Leafroot?" He asked.
"Oakfur showed me the stores of the healer den, and taught me a few basic herbs and berries. I learnt mouse bile for ticks, but every cat knows that, juniper berries for stomach-ache and oak leaf for infection." Robinfeather purred.
"You'll make a fine healer someday." Leafroot's fur bristled slightly with embarrassment.
"There you go," She drew back from Littlestep. "You're all done."
The two learners left the senior's den, and Leafroot sat down to wash the remains of the leaf pulp off her paw. When she was finished she turned to Crowroot.
"I can't believe you go to meet SnowClan fighters!" She sighed wistfully. "I wish I got to do stuff like that."
"You get to meet the other clans' medicine cats!" Crowroot said. "And you and Oakfur get to go into any cat's territory and you won't get your fur ripped off. If anything, you'll get to meet more cats than me." Leafroot brightened again.
"I guess so."
Before long, it was time to go into the dens for the night. Crowroot headed towards the learner den. He pushed his way through the branches that were used to build the den. Inside it was warm, the floor covered with grass that the fighters and learners had torn up from the mountain side. He saw Softroot raise her head as he came in.
"Hey, Crowroot," the soft grey she-cat said. "There's a free patch of grass over there." She nodded to a spot of shredded grass near the back of the den. Crowroot dipped his head in thanks and lay down in the patch of grass that had no other cats' scent on it. He curled up, his tail tucked over his nose. He was almost asleep when some of the other learners came in.
Brackenroot and Mouseroot were two of the oldest learners in the clan, almost fighters, along with Softroot. Brackenroot was a good looking, strong cat and knew it. He was slightly arrogant and could be annoying at times, but was good fun most of the time.
Mouseroot followed Brackenroot around most of the time, looking up to him almost in the way a kit would look up to a great warrior.
Brackenroot noticed Crowroot for the first time.
"Hey, Crowroot!" He said. "Welcome to the learners den!"
"Thanks, Brackenroot." He replied. He rested his head back down, wanting nothing more than to just fall asleep. Fortunately, the other learners seemed to feel the same way. Brakenroot curled up beside Softroot, his sister, and Mouseroot lay down close to where Crowroot was. The three other learners, Hawkroot, Snakeroot and Falconroot, came in a few moments later, and curled up quietly in their own patches of grass.
Crowroot wriggled around, trying to get comfortable. The learner den seemed quiet and empty after the nursery, which had been unusually full, especially since Brightclaw had moved out of the fighters den when her belly started to get heavy with kits. He also missed Leafroot and his mother, Shellstorm. Eventually, though, he managed to drift off.
He was woken in the morning by Leafroot poking her head into his den. His eyes flickered open and he saw faint light filtering in through the branches. When he saw how bright the light was, he jumped up in surprise, not wanting to be late for his duties.
"Quiet down, squirrel-brain," He heard Brackenroot mumble. "It's still early." The learner rolled over and fell back asleep. Leafroot purred quietly in amusement, and Crowroot followed her out of the den, his pelt bristling with embarrassment.
"What is it?" He hissed, trying to keep his mew soft so he didn't wake every cat in the clan. It was still early new-light, and he didn't want to start his first day as a learner by waking up the fighters.
"I have something to tell you, is all." Crowroot stifled his yawn. Leafroot seemed really excited, and he didn't want to spoil her happiness.
"What?"
"Brightclaw had her kits last night!" Crowroot instantly felt more awake.
"Really?" He said. "How is she? How many kits did she have?" Leafroot purred happily.
"She's fine. She had two beautiful kits, a boy and a girl. She called the boy Flamekit and the girl Shadekit," She looked down for a moment. "I didn't get to do much, Oakfur did practically everything. I just brought him soaked moss and stood by watching." Crowroot head butted her.
"Don't get down. You've only just become a learner. It's not like Swallowflight would let me fight a MoonClan warrior single pawed yet." Leafroot brightened.
"You're right." The learners heard a rustle, and turned to see Squirreltail emerging from the fighters den. She stretched, and licked a few grass stems off her long, russet pelt. A few moments later her mate, Jaggedscar, followed her out. They brushed muzzles, then walked side by side to the prey pile.
"Aren't you sad you'll never get a mate?" Crowroot asked curiously. It was one of the sacred rules that healers must never fall in love or have kits.
"Not really," Leafroot yawned and stretched. "Besides, Oakfur says that since you're caring for the whole Clan, it's like they're all your kits." Crowroot tilted his head to one side.
"Does that make me your kit?" Leafroot purred, and cuffed Crowroot gently over the ear, balancing on her hind legs.
"Squirrel-brain." She said fondly.
"Crowroot!" Crowroot looked up from his conversation with his sister to see Swallowflight standing near to Branchtail, the clan deputy. Crowroot nodded goodbye to Leafroot, and trotted over to his teacher.
"You up for a hunting lesson?" She asked him. Crowroot's ears flicked with excitement.
"You bet! Who else is coming?"
"Sandypetal and Jaggedscar, and they're bringing Brackenroot and Softroot with them," She answered. "It would do both you and the other learners good for them to try teaching you some hunting teniques." Crowroot nodded.
Sandypetal, Jaggedscar, Brackenroot and Softroot walked up to them.
"You two ready to go?" Sandypetal asked, and Swallowflight nodded.
The six cats left the camp, and emerged into the forest. Crowroot shook himself, fluffing out his pelt against the cold winds that blew down from SnowClan's territory. The group of cats walked to a small clearing, the floor littered with dead leaves. The learners were taught battle moves here, as well as stalking techniques.
"We're going to try to find some birds today," Sandypetal mewed. "Brackenroot, can you tell Crowroot what the most important part of hunting birds is?" Her learner puffed out his chest.
"As well as making sure not to stand upwind of the bird, you need to be extra careful not to make a sound or any sudden movements that might alert the bird, because it will fly away at the first sign of danger." Sandypetal nodded her head in approval, and Jaggedscar stepped forward.
"And Softroot, would you show him the best way to stalk a bird?" Softroot nodded.
"You have to keep yourself low to the ground, but remember not to go so low that your belly fur brushes the leaves, and keep your tail straight out behind you," She sunk to the ground. "And when you move forward, slide your paws forward, keeping them close to the ground," She slid forward, smoother than a snake. "Make sure not to go too fast, and then at the last moment, you pounce!" She pushed off the ground with an impressive jump, and trapped a falling leaf in her forepaws.
"Very good, Softroot!" Jaggedscar praised his learner.
"Do you think you're ready to practice bird stalking, Crowroot?" Swallowflight asked him. He nodded, and pressed himself to the ground, trying to copy what Softroot had showed him.
"You're too low," Sandypetal pointed out gently. "You're going to rustle the leaves with your belly fur." Crowroot lifted himself up slightly. He slid his paws forward, careful not to disturb any leaves with them, and after stalking for a bit, pounced on a leaf that had just fallen to the ground.
"Not bad for a first try," Jaggedscar nodded. "You're movement could've been smoother, but you're balance was good."
"Yes," Swallowflight agreed. "You do need to work on the smoothness of your stalking, but that will come with time and everything else was good." Crowroot nodded, pleased with the praise.
"Can we go hunting now?" Brackenroot kneaded the ground impatiently. Sandypetal fixed him with a hard look.
"We'll go when Swallowflight feels her learner has sufficiently learnt the bird stalking crouch," She sighed slightly. "Today's patrol is about Crowroot's learning, not your desire to hunt, Brackenroot." Her learner dipped his head.
"Sorry." He muttered.
"Well, if Crowroot feels ready, I see no reason why we can't go hunting. My teacher used to always teach me that one of the best ways to learn to hunt is to hunt actual animals, not just leaves," Swallowflight said, and turned to Crowroot. "Do you want to try bird hunting?" Crowroot nodded, his paws tingling with excitement.
The patrol walked out into the forest, their mouths open to try and find a bird. After a little while, Sandypetal signalled with her tail to the right. They followed the scent trail, and before long Crowroot glimpsed a robin pecking at the bottom of an old oak tree. The cats crouched a little way away from it, keeping themselves downwind.
"This one is yours, Crowroot," Swallowflight whispered. "Remember what Softroot showed you." Crowroot nodded, and crept forward.
He kept his belly close to the ground and slid slowly forward. The robin was focussed on finding seeds at the base of a tree, that it didn't even notice him as he got closer and closer. When he was far enough away to jump for it, he tensed his muscles, preparing to pounce. He took a deep breath, extended his claws, and jumped.
His forepaws landed squarely on the bird, and he bit down on its neck, causing it to go limp. He picked it up in his mouth, and turned around to face the others, tail flicking with pride.
"That was amazing!" Softroot stared at him with her mouth open. "I remember my first attempt at hunting wasn't half as good as that! The bird flew away before I even had the chance to pounce!" Swallowflight weaved her way out of the bush the other cats were sheltering beneath.
"That was very good," She purred proudly. "Keep up like that and you'll soon be one of the best hunters in the Clan!"
They hunted for a while longer, but Crowroot didn't manage to catch anything else. They walked back to camp, and Crowroot held his head high as he walked in carrying his robin, his tail flicking back and forth with pride.
"You can take that robin straight to the seniors, Crowroot," Swallowflight murmured to him. "If I recall correctly, Mistleaf was always partial to a fresh robin." Crowroot nodded, and headed over to the seniors den where Robinfeather and Littlestep were lying outside the entrance, basking in the afternoon sunshine.
"Hello, Crowroot!" Crowroot dipped his head to Robinfeather's friendly greeting. "Did you catch that robin yourself?" Crowroot carefully placed the robin at his paws.
"Yes," he said. "Swallowflight said I should bring it to Mistleaf." Robinfeather nodded towards the den.
"She's in there. If she's asleep, though, don't wake her. She won't thank you for it if you do." Crowroot nodded, and picked up his robin. He went into the den, and saw the blue-grey pelt of Mistleaf, her flanks rising and falling as she slept. He left his robin on the shredded grass beside her, and backed out of the den.
TWO MOONS LATER
Crowroot nosed his way out of the learner den, flicking his ears as a few water drops splashed onto them. It had been raining most of the night, and everything in the camp was soaked. He fluffed out his pelt to try and protect him from the cold air. He saw Leafroot counting berries outside the healer den, and turned to walk over to her, but was stopped when he heard someone calling his name.
"Crowroot! Crowroot, wait!" He turned to see a small, creamy ginger kit running up to him.
"Hey, Fawnkit," He greeted the kit. Fawnkit and her brothers had often played with him and Leafroot when they had been in the nursery, and they had stayed close friends even after Crowroot and Leafroot became learners. "What is it?" The kit paused to catch her breath.
"We're becoming learners!" She burst out. "Me, Batkit and Icekit! We're becoming learners today!" Crowroot purred.
"Great!" He said, remembering how excited he had been on the day of his learner ceremony.
"I can't wait to learn to hunt and fight and everything!" The tip of her tail was flicking with excitement. "Maybe we'll even get to go on patrols together sometime!" Crowroot smiled at her enthusiasm.
"We probably will be able to." She purred.
"Fawnkit! Come have a piece of this sparrow!" Fawnkit's dark grey brother, Batkit, called to her.
"Ok!" She called back. "I'll see you later, Crowroot!" Crowroot dipped his head to her, and she ran off to join her brothers.
Crowroot walked over to Leafroot, who was wrapping up packages of leaves, berries and petals.
"Hey, Leafroot," He mewed. "What're you doing?"
"Strengthening herbs," She replied. "It's the half-moon tonight, and Oakfur and I are going to the LightWater pool." Crowroot nodded. He had heard about the pool of water that formed at a deep part of the river and held within it memories of every event that had ever happened, and the spirits of cats that had passed on. Supposedly, the healers were the only ones who could unlock the secrets of the pool, unless LightClan gave permission to another cat, such as when a deputy became a chief.
"Did you know that Fawnkit, Batkit and Icekit are becoming learners today?" He asked, and Leafroot purred.
"Yes, Batkit woke me up before it was even new-light to tell me," she carefully folded a big leaf over the small pile of strengthening herbs, using her muzzle to accommodate only having one front paw. "Apparently Softroot, Brackenroot and Mouseroot are becoming fighters today as well."
"Really?" Crowroot wasn't very surprised. Brackenroot had been bragging about how well he did in his final assessment for the whole of yesterday. "How did you find out?"
"I heard Oakfur talking to Mosslight and Branchtail about it last night."
"I can't wait until I become a fighter." Leafroot purred.
"You'll be the best fighter this Clan has ever seen." Crowroot licked her in-between her ears.
"And you'll be the greatest healer. I bet legends will be told about the great healer, Leafroot." Leafroot laughed.
"Except I hope I don't stay a 'root forever. I'd like to gain my full name at some point." Crowroot chuckled, then heard Swallowflight call him.
"Crowroot, new-light patrol!"
"Got to go." He brushed muzzles with his sister as a parting, and trotted out of the den over to Swallowflight, who was standing with Eaglestripe and Poppyfall, and their learners, Hawkroot and Snakeroot.
"… patrolling the SnowClan boarder," He heard Eaglestripe say as he got closer. "Mosslight says they've marked every blade of grass along the border."
"You don't think they're planning an attack, do you?" Poppyfall said nervously. Eaglestripe's tail twitched.
"I don't know. But they did seem more reserved and less friendly than usual at the last Meeting."
"Well if they do attack I'll be ready for them." Hawkroot, Eaglestripe's learner, hunched down into an attack crouch, his tail lashing back and forth. Eaglestripe cuffed him gently over the ear.
"We don't even know if they're going to attack. Mosslight just wants us to be careful." Hawkroot straightened up as Crowroot reached them.
"Hey, Crowroot!" Hawkroot greeted him.
"Morning, Hawkroot." Crowroot replied.
"We're going on a patrol of the SnowClan border," Swallowflight said. "Mosslight wants us to check for scents on our side and remark the border markers," Crowroot nodded. "We also might be trying to catch something for the seniors and mothers on our way back."
The cats rose to all four paws, and walked over to the fallen tree that marked the entrance to the camp. The giant oak had fallen so long ago that no cat could remember a time when it was still standing. It had a gap beneath it, big enough to let a cat through, and marked one edge of the clearing. The rest of the clearing was surrounded by earth walls that had piled up over time until they were high enough to form a sheltered clearing. The dens were dug out into the sides of the clearing, except for Mosslight's den, which was a large hole in the trunk of the great tree; a tall, thick trunked tree that grew at the edge of the clearing.
Crowroot followed the other cats, his muscles working hard as they walked to the SnowClan boarder. Even though he had only recently become a learner, his body and legs were already hard muscled and sinewy from the long treks across the territory.
The scents and sounds of prey made Crowroot's mouth water, but he had to remind himself that they were on a border patrol, and would be hunting on the way back.
After walking for a while, they reached the border. Crowroot wrinkled his nose at the unusually strong smell of SnowClan, which smelt like they had recently marked the border, probably earlier in the day.
"Swallowflight, Crowroot, you take this part of the border," Eaglestripe started giving instructions, pointing his tail to the left. "Poppyfall and Snakeroot, you two take the other side," Poppyfall dipped her head to the senior warrior. "Hawkroot, you and I will take the centre stretch of the border," his learner nodded. "Remark the border, and if you scent anything unusual on our side of the border, report back immediately."
Crowroot followed Swallowflight to the end of the border, and the two started sniffing their way along the border, and remarking it on their side. After they had made their way a little way along the border, Crowroot smelt something strange on their side of the border.
"Swallowflight, come here!" He opened his mouth slightly to better smell the scent. His teacher hurried over from where she was marking a tree, and smelt the clump of grass that had the strange scent on it. She wrinkled her nose.
"Well, it's definitely not SnowClan, that's for sure. It's too sour to be their clan scent, but it's definitely a cat, and there's not just one of them."
"What could it be then, if it's not a clan cat?" Crowroot felt a flicker of fear in his stomach. What if the strange cats were enemies? "Could it be a band of rouges or loners?" Swallowflight looked up from smelling the clump of grass.
"I don't know," She shook her head slightly. "But we should inform Eaglestripe at once. Come on!" Swallowflight started running along the border, and Crowroot followed her until they came to Eaglestripe and Hawkroot.
"Eaglestripe," Swallowflight took a moment to catch her breath. "We scented something on our side of the border."
"SnowClan…?" Eaglestripe wondered. Swallowflight shook her head.
"No, it's not the scent of any clan I know. Come and see for yourself." The four cats made their way along the border. Eaglestripe and Swallowflight walked next to each other, and Crowroot and Hawkroot fell in step behind them.
"Isn't this exciting?" Hawkroot whispered to Crowroot, his eyes shining with anticipation. "Strange cats on the mountain!"
"If they invade camp it won't be so exciting!" Hawkroot sighed.
"You're no fun, Crowroot. Don't you want to have a chance to prove yourself in battle?" Crowroot shrugged.
"I guess. I just don't like the thought of the clan being hurt." The two stopped talking as they reached the place where Swallowflight and Crowroot had scented.
Eaglestripe breathed in the strange scent, his tail tip flicking. After a few moments, he spoke.
"Well, it certainly isn't the scent of a clan. It's probably a group of loners who won't bother us, but make sure to mark–"
Before he was able to finish speaking he was interrupted by the sound of Brackenroot racing through the trees, calling out to them.
"Eaglestripe! Eaglestripe!" The learner reached them, and stopped to catch his breath. "Mosslight… needs you… back at camp… band of rouges… she… she wants all the… the fighters in camp." Brackenroot was panting from the long run through the forest to reach them. Eaglestripe looked concerned, and turned to Hawkroot and Crowroot.
"You two go and alert Poppyfall and Snakeroot. Go with them back to camp, and tell them what Brackenroot's just told us." The two learners nodded, and dashed off towards where Poppyfall and Snakeroot would be marking the border.
Crowroot's heart was pounding inside of him, not just from having to suddenly run at top speed across the mountain. Rouges were in their camp! He guessed they were the same cats they had scented near the border, and wondered what they wanted. Perhaps they were just passing through, and needed a place to stay for the night.
Poppyfall and Snakeroot came into sight, and Hawkroot called out to them. They walked over to the two learners.
"Rouges in our camp!" Hawkroot blurted out.
"Mosslight wants every cat back in camp to see what they want!" Crowroot said. Poppyfall's eyes widened, and nodded. The four of them started running back to the camp.
It was a long and hard run, and by the time the camp came into view, Crowroot's heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest, and his lungs were screaming for air. They ran through the camp entrance, and Crowroot saw the rouges for the first time.
They were a big group, about the same size as SkyClan, but seemed to be filled with only warriors, and a few learners and kits. No cats older than a senior warrior were among their ranks. They all were sat close together, being inspected by the curious clan cats. Crowroot nosed his way through the warriors until he was beside Leafroot, who was sat next to Oakfur who was speaking hurriedly to Mosslight and Branchtail.
"Do you know who they are?" He hissed to Leafroot. She shook her head, her eyes wide with fear.
"I have no idea. They just came into camp and the big one there," she nodded towards a powerful looking tabby with numerous scars and fierce amber eyes. "He demanded to speak with our chief, but Mosslight didn't want to speak until the whole clan was here, unless he declared a battle."
Mosslight stepped forward with Oakfur and Branchtail before his sister could say more, and the big tabby stepped a little way away from his band of cats as well, flanked by a skinny dark tom cat and a beautiful silver tabby who looked to be about Crowroot's age.
"Greetings," Mosslight said, polite but guarded. "My name is Mosslight, and I'm am chief of SkyClan. This is my deputy, Branchtail," She motioned to her left with her tail. "And this is our healer, Oakfur." Oakfur nodded his head to the other cat.
"I am Flint. This is Nettle," He nodded to the dark tom. "And this is Rain." The pretty silver tabby dipped her head.
"And what are you doing on our territory?" Mosslight's tone wasn't accusatory, simply curious.
"We have travelled a long time, and lost many cats," his amber eyes glinted as they swept over the crowd of SkyClan cats. "Some died of hunger or thirst, others were killed, and some were left behind," Mosslight tipped her head to the side. "Unlike your clan, Mosslight, we don't waste our time on the weak. Those who are old, sick, or… unable to fight," his gaze rested on Leafroot, who arched her back and hissed. "Are left behind. Only the strong or young are allowed to remain."
"What is your point?" Mosslight asked.
"We are merely looking for a new place to stay." Mosslight narrowed her eyes.
"And what does that have to do with us?"
"We want your mountain."
Oooo, cliffhanger! Do you guys like it? Hate it? Have no feelings whatsoever on it? Let me know! Also if you have suggestions for stuff, like fighter/warrior names for the learners, please let me know, because let me tell you, it's very hard coming up with soooo many names for the cats in the clans.
Talking about cats in the clans, I looked back at my first chapter stuff, and I realised I don't have nearly enough fighters in my clans, so I did add some more, but instead of posting another information chapter, I'm just gonna continue writing and you guys will probably get to know the new cats soon. At least I added them at the second chapter and not, like, at the 100th. IDEK if this story will get to 100 chapters, but WHATEVER!
Anyways, 2x out!