Chapter 1 Fallenstar's POV

Fallenstar stalked an eagle, with her special technique. She was the only cat who could catch an eagle alone. Yet still, she was shunned. Why? Because the clan thought after she broke her spine, she would be a cripple, paralyzed. Yet here she was, stalking, pouncing, shapeshifting, flying just like other cats. Well, she was more powerful than all of them. She knew that was the real reason they shunned her. They were scared to lose the Mandate of Heaven that Heavenclan grants. For if a wisestella is beaten, the cat who beat them gets the "throne". They get all new powers to lead justly and kindly. Though most abused this power, Fallenstar did not. She used to be loved, respected. Until she became too powerful. Cloudstar exiled her from the clan, saying "Cripples are not pure enough to be in Starlightclan." Her own mother, whose old name was Cloudfall, pushed her off a mountain and exiled her for sake of being wisestella. The thought was a piercing claw in her side. I hope they know that they were wrong and feel bad. Because once a cat is exiled, they can never come back. Fallenstar would be alone. Forever. Because Starlightclan was immortal. Well, she did have one friend. Smokeshadow, a foreigner. He came to Starlightclan speaking of "clans". He was raised up in the hierarchy, until the other enlightenedstella realized what he knew. No other cats believed him, but the enlightenedstella were granted the knowledge of the Tribe and the clans and knew that cats would join the foreign peoples and destroy the other cultures. Smokeshadow says his name was Smokepaw, apprentice of "Oakfur of Shadowclan" and fell off a cliff during an endless journey to find a new land. I wasn't granted the knowledge of the other peoples, well I was, but the other leaders snatched the knowledge away and erased those memories, but Smokestar talked about missing his parents a lot. I miss my father, but to hell with my mother. Lightningshade was so kind and loving. Suddenly I remembered that day. The one I had been trying to remember recently since Cloudstar took it away from me.

Memory:

Fallenflight was stalking her eagle. The eagle that would feed the clan for a day on its own. She leaped, unfurled her wings and flew higher into the clouds. The eagle paid no mind as it had its eye on a mousehole. Then, she dived. She was faster then the fastest falcon, like a falling star. Faster even. She hit the eagle, muzzle first, and shocked it to death. She looked up from her special kill, happy that no one had yet figured out that she used the water sparksnake's electricity to shock it. They thought it was all in the speed. Lightningshade suddenly appeared against the gray sky. He was shaped hawk, of course with the bright white star mark so no one would kill him, and when he landed he transformed back into his cat self. He laughed when he saw my catch.

"I see you've been using your special technique."

"Well, it's hard not to when you see an easy eagle to prey on. It had no idea I was there. It was a perfect catch," I boasted, smiling.

"I'm sure you're mother will be proud, my honey bear." He said. Then we flew off to camp. As the memory faded, I wished that those easy times still existed. I wished my mother wasn't so selfish and proud. I caught the eagle, and headed toward the exile's cave. No cat knows about it but us. The exiles. Most of us are here for the same reason I am. Selfish and heartless cats shunned us for being better. I entered the cave, and Smokeshadow came to greet me.

"You used your special technique. It's amazing how you do it and how you can bear keeping the secret for that long."

"I'll teach you one of these days." I said lightly. I think I forgot to mention that me and Smokeshadow are mates. He nursed me back to health after Cloudstar broke my spine. He is always by my side. And now, we have two beautiful littlestella named Shadowkit and Flightkit, because in our culture, we name our kits after the last parts of our names. And, if there's more than two, you name them after you're friends' last part. I have a brother named Shadefire, and my mother's name was Cloudfall. It's common to have two kits. Two is the average. We do have one queen here that was exiled for having seven kits. SEVEN, for stella's sake! The cats here regard me as leader, although there are others who are older and more experienced.

"Now, let's go over the cats and what they're here for so we may never forget the selfishness of Starlightclan." I said loudly to catch all of the exiles' attention.

The list

Miststar

Older enlightenedstella who was exiled for eating a bite of eagle

Seagrass

Lunarstella who was exiled for being born next to the sun drown place.

Deerlight

Lunarstella who was exiled for being named after a foreign creature

Runningdeer

Lunarstella who was exiled for being named after a foreign creature, Deerlight's mother

Snowdrift

Exiled for catching a leader in the act of adultery.

Icypeak

Exiled for having extra winter powers in addition to the regular ones

Alderbark

Exiled because he was the first (and last so far) lunarstella to see a tree

Jay's Wing

Exiled for being a ghost of a future cat. WAIT A PRETTY LITTLE SECOND! Was Jayfeather the ghost or Jay's Wing?!?!

Stoneheart

Exiled for being stony

Winterfrost

Exiled for being named after a season (like it was her fault!?)

Heatherflower

Exiled for having seven kits in one litter (Flowerkit, Whitekit, Darkkit, Lionkit, Shiningkit, Sparrowkit, and Sparkkit. She named them after their pelt color when she realized she had no true friends.)

Wolfthorn

Exiled for being raised by mountain wolves and learning martial arts

Aspenlight

Came with Winterfrost as a loyal friend

Windymeadow

Came with Icypeak as a loyal sister

Diresong

Exiled for having a power called Deathsong that, when Diresong sings, can destroy anything.

Rainysky

Our medicine healer. Exiled for believing in the fact that no cat is immortal.

Stellaflight:

Hawkpaw

Exiled for breathing

Mosspaw

Exiled for accidentally grazing her claws lightly on an enlightenedstella

Wishpaw

One of the Stellaflight born to 2 exiles. Sister: Hopepaw

Hopepaw

One of the Stellaflight born to 2 exiles. Sister: Wishpaw

Kits:

Flowerkit

Whitekit

Darkkit

Sparkkit

Sparrowkit

Lionkit

Shiningkit

Shadowkit

Flightkit

Fernkit

Brackenkit

Bushkit

Bramblekit

Lightkit

(The mother of the last five really liked bushes)

Frostkit

Barkkit

Snowkit

We found Snowkit alone on a ridge and so Winterfrost and Alderbark adopted her. Winterfrost is also mother to Frostkit and Barkkit.

"We are the exiles. We alone know that Starlightclan is not perfect. And that there is a darkness coming. We have heard rumors among the few rogues in the mountains that there is a clan ready for battle. They live in a deep underground cave and are granted the power of the earth." I finished.

"Fallenstar, I have had a sign from Heavenclan. We will be asked by Starlightclan to help in this war. They have called it the endless war of the stars. I want to ask your opinion on helping them." Rainysky meowed. I thought about it for a moment, then spoke my thoughts.

"We will help them if they ask. They may be too proud and selfish to accept our help. But we will not turn down cats in need. We are not our ancestors, ad they have ignored pleas of help from certain organizations. Do you all remember the Frost Assassins? They destroyed our lives by asking us to help them in their rebellion that was occuring at the time. The only reason there is sin is because they introduced the idea of unpureness to the wisestella at the time. And everyone of you here, or your parents, or siblings, or even friends," I looked directly at Aspenlight, "Know the price of an unpure heart." I spoke this from my heart, with passion.

"May I speak, Fallenstar?" A voice mewed from the crowd. The crowd parted to reveal a small ginger tom with white spots.

"May I ask who you are?" I said, interested in the newcomer.

"I am Copper, a traveling herb merchant from a place many days travel away from here. I was drawn here to deliver a message, because I have a special connection to the cats of all night skies." He meowed confidently.

"You may speak, Copper." I answered, the strange name rolling of my tongue. Copper. Such a pretty name. It sounds like the color of the sunrise.

"I can see you have all faced endless troubles from cats who are proud and heartless. I have come to warn you. Do not trust all of Starlightclan. They may seem in dire need, but this is not your battle. You are a neutral party in this war. Blackholeclan is not all bad. Beware and know, that the Heavens and the Earth each have flaws of their own." With that, Copper turned tail and started to leave.

"Wait!" I called. He turned to look at me. "To where are you going?"

"To my home with my friends. The Schoolkitties, as some call them. We have our own story to carry out." He exited the exile's cave. Concerned murmurs echoed through the cave. I wondered what this "Copper" meant myself, but did not voice my opinion because I know leaders have to look strong to their cats otherwise doubt and fear will arise.

"Copper spoke wisely. Each have their flaws. We shall only help those who ask and act as a neutral party. We will try not to get involved in the chaos."

I wonder if Lightningshade knows of the darkness. I wonder if he is safe. I hoped for the best, but I knew there was no guarantee that he was healthy.

"Okay every cat, we will carry on normal duties. I have us covered for food. Now, we need cats to be willing to watch, train, and babysit. If you all would like, we could add more prey to our Leafbare stash."

Everyone went to my second in command, Wolfthorn for organization of occupations for the next half of the day. I can rest happily. I do need a nap. Fallingstar walked over to her woven vine den. It was amazing how the vines grew from the rock ceiling and unfolded a small space, which they had decided would hold the leader's nest. She ducked through the entrance, noticing the Stellaflight had added feathers and extra moss to her nest. She soon dozed off in a peaceful sleep.