Starpaw glanced around, sniffing the air for a moment, before creeping up through the bush. That is when she spotted it, just a tail length away, the brown fur of the mouse she was looking for. Keeping perfectly still, she paused as the mouse nibbled on a seed, before she pounced, killing it with one swift blow. She covered it with dirt, then padded away, looking for more prey.
After the badger, things had been getting a bit hard. Moonpaw especially took it hard, and had to take time off of training to recover. Bramblepaw was upset, but so far it didn't seem to interfere with his training, so it continued. Smallclaw and Fernwill were recovering, slowly, but surely. Sandtail had taken Smallclaw's injuries pretty badly, and needed a few days before she was able to go on patrol and hunt again.
Starpaw herself was uninjured, miraculously, from the Badger's attacks. She was bruised, and sore for a few days, but she was well. Bluepaw often asked her how she handled it, but Starpaw said she didn't remember much about it. Shadestalker said she was amazing, taking down a full grown badger like that. She was complimented by most of the cats, actually, even Tigerstripe complimented her for it, though he was stressed that his son was so injured.
Starpaw shook her head to clear her thoughts. She was starting to worry more and more lately, even though it has only been half a moon since the badger incident. Signs of rogues invading their territory and such have become greater and more frequent, and it is leaving the clan on edge for perhaps another attack. It was worrying everybody.
Starpaw sniffed the air. She'd taken out two mice and a sparrow, but she wanted to catch as much as possible. Since the incident, she had been visiting Smallclaw and Fernwill every day, and had even become friends with Smallclaw, even if he was still somewhat cold to her. Fernwill told her that Blazestar was seriously considering her warrior ceremony soon, thanks to taking down the badger. After hearing that, Starpaw went straight to Blazestar and told him that she didn't want to be a warrior before Bluepaw. He agreed to have their warrior ceremony at the same time then, since she was so adamant about it.
She didn't want to leave her sister behind.
Currently, she was hunting near the border between Sunclan and Mistclan. She pricked her ears at the sounds of movement, and looked over across the river. She saw a Mistclan patrol, lead by their deputy, Fernpelt. Behind her was Raggedclaw, a reddish-brown tom, and a she-cat Starpaw didn't remember. She was white, with light brown ear tips, paws, and tail tip. Behind them were their two apprentices, Hawkpaw and Robinpaw. Seeing Hawkpaw reminded Starpaw of the now deceased Hawkpaw of Sunclan, and her heart constricted. She nodded in greeting to Fernpelt, and looked curiously at the new she-cat.
"Who is that?" She asked, her voice a bit pained. She coughed lightly, to clear it. Fernpelt didn't seem to notice.
"A potential new Mistclan cat, if she can keep up with her training." She said. The she-cat in question looked up, and nodded her head to Starpaw.
"I'm Mina- err... I mean Dustpaw. Nice to meet ya!" The she-cat said. Starpaw giggled, Dustpaw obviously want used to her new name yet. Raggedclaw seemed stiff, and Starpaw nodded to him.
"We heard about the badger. Sorry to hear about that apprentice." Fernpelt said. Starpaw nodded, not replying with her voice. She'd rather not speak of it at the moment. Fernpelt looked at her for a moment.
"Listen, I heard something interesting from a she-cat kittypet, the brown one that lives at Twoleg place. Her name is Robin, she said she'd been seeing some disturbing things lately. I would recommend you go and ask her about it." Fernpelt said. Starpaw nodded to her, and the Mistclan patrol walked on, Robinpaw looking back and giving Starpaw a sympathetic look. Shaking her head lightly, Starpaw walked along the border, heading to Twoleg Place. She was going to ask this Robin about what she'd been seeing, but she was also, secretly going to see if she could see that she-cat again, the brown tabby that she believed to possibly be her mother.
-
Twoleg place, as always, smelt odd. She paused at the boarder of Sunclan territory, since to get to Twoleg Place, she'd need to cross into Mistclan territory actually. She looked back and sniffed the air. She could smell kittypets, but not any clan cats at the moment, so she took a dash to the fence and leaped up, climbing up, and balancing herself on the fence.
She saw on the other side that the fence had bushes lined up on two of the three walls, the back wall was left bare, but green grass grew everywhere. An entryway into the Twoleg Den was open slightly. Not sure what else to do, Starpaw called out.
"Robin? Robin!" She called.
"Who are you?" Was what she got. She turned to see a dark gray she-cat with black tabby stripes and brown eyes walking up to her, balanced perfectly on the fence. Around the she-cat's neck was a green ribbon with a yellow tag on it. A kittypet.
"I'm looking for a kittypet named Robin-"
"I heard you the first time!" The kittypet snapped at her. Starpaw noted her way of speaking was odd, the way she pronounced things was weird.
"Could you tell me where-"
"I asked you a question first!" The kittypet cut her off again. Starpaw paused for a moment.
"I am Starpaw, an apprentice of Sunclan. Can you tell me where Robin is?" She asked. The kittypet looked at her strangely.
"Well, not here, miss Apprentice. This is Princess' place. Robin stays over at that place there." Using her tail to point, the kittypet pointed to the Twoleg Den next over. Starpaw nodded.
"Thank you, er..." She paused.
"Tsuki. And if I catch you in my yard I'll claw your hide off!" The kittypet, Tsuki hissed, before dashing off. Starpaw wondered if balancing on these twoleg fences was a skill all kittypets had, since she was having difficulty with it. She looked over at the twoleg den, wanting to see the she-cat that lived there. If she remembered correctly, the she-cat from her dream, her mother's name, was Princess as well.
She shook the thought off, and continued to the net twoleg den, staying on the fence, she looked to see if the entryway to the den was open. It looked closed, but she decided to call out for Robin anyway. She waited a few minutes, but no reply. She was about to call out again, when a familiar voice called out to her.
"Oh! The beauteous she-cat returns!" She turned and saw the familiar hide of the tom cat that she had chased off Sunclan territory the same day she'd met Mistfrost. She started a hiss at him, but he didn't seem deterred this time.
"Perhaps this is fate? That you and I have met again! Oh wondrous!" She was about three seconds from striking at him. And she was confused. She'd never heard any cat talk like that before. She unsheathed her claws, and bared her teeth. Her fur was bristled, in an attempt to get him to leave, but he seemed off in his own little world.
"Oh, glorious one, what might be your name? I am Jasper, so that you may know what to call your new ma-" He didn't get any farther. She'd snapped and slashed at him, cutting his nose. He squealed and backed up so fast he lost his balance and fell off the fence into the yard. He gave a strangled yowl, before darting off and over the fence into another twoleg's den.
"Nice one!" Starpaw turned back to the twoleg den in front of her, as the familiar form of the brown she-cat with twin white dashes came out. Green eyes bright with playfulness, the she-cat seemed to be laughing.
"It is always good to see that flirt getting shot down. I guess you are looking for me, huh?" She asked.
"Only if you are Robin." Starpaw replied, her fur smoothing out. She kept her claws unsheathed, and gripping to the fence. She didn't feel like falling at the moment. The she-cat leaped up and balanced perfectly on the fence.
"Well, yes, Robin be I. Who be you?" She asked. It took Starpaw a moment to realize what she said.
"I am Starpaw, apprentice of Sunclan. I had heard you'd seen something strange the past couple of days. Could you tell me about it?" She asked. Robin nodded.
"Of course, but do you wanna come down? You'll tear your claws out if you keep gripping the fence like that." She said, jumping down without waiting for an answer. Starpaw jumped down as well, noting that they were not in her side of the fence, but rather, were now near the Mistclan border.
"What I've been seeing the last couple of days I consider strange. I know about clan cats, I used to be in a clan, and a friend of mine told me how her brother is a clan leader." Robin said. Starpaw stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.
"I saw a white tom cat, I think I heard his name is Whitemist? He was leading a group of loner cats towards the forest, towards Sunclan, though I am guessing now that it wasn't your clan that he was taking them to?" She asked. Starpaw shook her head no. Robin nodded, and looked over at the forest, sitting down.
"It was a fairly large group, really. About five or six cats, all looked fairly powerful. I'd be careful, I've seen this kind of thing before. I'd say he's planning a revolt." She said. Starpaw nodded.
"I guessed that much myself as well. I just cant prove it." She said. Robin nodded.
"You might not be able to, but I know someone who could." She said. Starpaw looked at her curiously.
"You've probably never seen him before, his name is Whitestripe. He lives around the Riverclan border and Small Land. Riverclan tolerates him because he doesn't hunt that much, and he used to be one of them. These days he is an older loner just roaming around. If anyone knew anything about what is going on in Riverclan, aside from Riverclan and Starclan, would be him." She said. Starpaw nodded.
"Thank you." Starpaw got up, intending to leave, but Robin blocked her path.
"I get the feeling there is something else you want to ask me." She said. Starpaw hesitated.
"The she-cat, Princess..."
"What do you want to know?" Robin asked, her tone was full of amusement. Starpaw hesitated again.
"Is she... Has she ever.... Does she have any kits?" Starpaw finally asked. Robin stared at her for a moment.
"She did. She'd had quite a few actually. None of them are around here anymore though, her Twolegs gave them all away, or she had them taken to Thunderclan." She said. Starpaw nodded, and dashed off. This time, Robin didn't stop her.
-
Starpaw went straight to Blazestar the moment she got home, barely even stopping to put the fresh kill in the fresh kill pile. She told Blazestar what Robin had said, aside from the things about Princess.
"This is disturbing, but if what Robin said is true, it is a problem for Riverclan. We cant get involved in other clan's affairs." He told her. This left a bitter taste in Starpaw's mouth, and made her feel like she was letting Spottedwing down.
She plopped down outside the apprentice's den, wondering what to do next. She knew she had to see this Whitestripe, but how to accomplish that without getting in trouble? She was brooding it over when Bluepaw came over, two mice dangling in her jaws. She gave one to Starpaw and kept the other, munching on it.
"Mouse for your thoughts?" She asked.
"You all ready gave me the mouse." Starpaw giggled, but took a bite.
"So what is eating you?"
"Riverclan. I figured out that Whitemist might be planning to over throw Spottedstar, but Blazestar said we shouldn't do anything." Starpaw explained. She looked over at the nursery. Flamekit was wrestling with Lightningkit, while Palekit cheered them on. Starpaw sighed, and turned back to her mouse. Bluepaw chewed thoughtfully.
"Well, Blazestar doesn't need to know we are helping Riverclan, does he?" Starpaw almost choked, and gaped at her milk-sister. Bluepaw was looking at her seriously. Starpaw sighed.
"If we get caught, we may never be warriors." She muttered.
"Then let's not get caught. So, any ideas?"
"One." Bluepaw swished her tail around, excited.
"Well?" She asked. Starpaw looked around to make sure no one was listening.
"A kittypet, Robin, told me of an ex-Riverclan cat, named Whitestripe. She said he'd know what was going on." Starpaw mewed. Bluepaw nodded.
"Think we should go tonight?" she asked. Starpaw hesitated. She was going to visit Nightpaw tonight.
"Err..."
"Got something else planned?" Bluepaw mewed, her voice amused, but knowing. Starpaw flattened her ears, and looked down.
"Y-yeah."
"Does it involve sneaking out and then cleaning yourself before returning?"
"How..?"
"I notice, we sleep in the same den after all." She mewed, licking her shoulder. Starpaw looked away.
"Gonna tell me what you are doing?" Bluepaw asked. Starpaw hesitated.
"You wont get mad?"
"Of course not!"
"You wont tell ANYONE? Not even Fernwill?" She asked. Bluepaw nodded her head. Starpaw looked around, before lowering her head and whispering; "I've been going to Small Land and talking with Nightpaw."
Bluepaw blinked a few times, before tilting her head to the side, then to the other side.
"Isn't that against the warrior code?" She asked. Starpaw shrugged her shoulders.
"It isn't like I am giving away clan secrets, we just play. He is fun." She said. Bluepaw nodded.
"I promised not to tell, so I wont." she said. Starpaw blinked gratefully.
-
Starpaw huffed a bit, jumping down from the Great Rock. Nightpaw looked at her curiously.
"Something up?" He asked. Starpaw shook her head.
"Nothing really. I wont be here tomorrow."
"Why?" Nightpaw asked, almost whining. Starpaw flicked her tail across his flank.
"Sorry, but Bluepaw and I have something we need to do." She said. Nightpaw looked a little hurt, but nodded.
"Don't get in trouble." He said. Starpaw nodded.
"I'll try not to." she said. Nightpaw nodded again, and rubbed his head against her neck, making her feel warm, but confusion hit her, when an image of Smallclaw suddenly came to her mind.
-
Starpaw shifted through the foliage, Bluepaw trailing right behind her. Ears pricked for sound, they treaded carefully towards Small Land. Robin had said Whitestripe often is seen between the border of Riverclan and Sun-Drownclan, and sometimes at Small Land. Starpaw shook her head, and jumped forward, crossing the river and shaking her wet fur when she was on the other side. She looked behind her to check on Bluepaw, who was shaking her fur violently.
"You're lucky, with your thick warm fur!" Bluepaw shivered from the cold. Starpaw giggled, and the two kept forward, uneasy. Traveling in Sunclan territory was one thing. If they were caught, they could say they were making dirt, or night hunting, since they couldn't sleep. If they were caught on Riverclan territory....
Pushing that thought from their minds, they trudged on, Starpaw keeping a lookout on everything. They were half way to Sun-Drown Place, when Starpaw smelt something unfamiliar. It was a cat, and sort of smelled like Riverclan, but at the same time, different. Starpaw pushed her sister into a bush, and the two hid, waiting, as they heard padding. They heard low mews, three cats were walking past. Starpaw peeked out and saw them.
The smallest one was the black one she'd seen earlier, his red mark seemed bright. He was talking to a brown cat with a white underside, and white tabby stripes and yellow eyes. Next to them was a slim tom, dusky tan, with a bright yellow and dark dusky brown, splotch that reached over most of his body. His eyes were forest green.
"Whitemist is planning..."
"I'm aware, but what would..."
Starpaw could just barely make out their conversation where she was. When one of them said Whitemist's name, Bluepaw jumped a bit, causing the bush to shift. Starpaw cursed Starclan when the cat's conversation stopped, and suddenly the sound of the paw steps became closer and closer, until through the leaves, Starpaw could see their paws.
"We can smell you, Sunclan cats, come out." They heard a voice say. Starpaw and Bluepaw looked at each other uneasily, before crawling out in the center of the group.
"Who are you?" One of them asked, the brown one with white stripes. His tone was kind.
"Starpaw, apprentice of Sunclan." Starpaw said. She nodded to Bluepaw.
"Bluepaw, apprentice of Sunclan."
The brown tom nodded.
"Why are you here? This is Riverclan territory." He asked. Starpaw nodded.
"We were worried about Riverclan, and a kittypet told us a loner named Whitestripe might be able to help." Starpaw explained. The brown tom looked to his companions for a moment, and nodded. Starpaw noticed he looked fairly old, as well.
"I am Whitestripe, ex-warrior of Riverclan. These two are loners from beyond your territory." He said. The two other toms nodded. The black and red one spoke up first.
"I am Bloodleaf. I used to be part of a clan called Hillclan, but left due to differences in beliefs." He said.
"And I am Turtleclaw. My mate, Pantherheart, and I left our clan, Lakeclan, for reasons of our own." He said. Starpaw nodded.
"Why are you here now? Whitemist is planning to attack Riverclan, isn't he?" She asked. Whitestripe nodded.
"He is gathering loners and rogues, and is planning to attack Riverclan and take over." He said.
"How? Spottedstar still has all nine of her lives right?" Bluepaw asked suddenly. Whitestripe nodded, but it was Bloodleaf who spoke up.
"He plans to give her a grave enough injury, that even Starclan can't heal it." He mewed. Starpaw shivered. Whitemist was planning to cause an injury that would kill Spottedstar nine times, rapid succession. The thought alone was horrifying, and a fate she wouldn't wish on anyone, not even her greatest enemy.
"We dropped out of Whitemist's plan when we learned that he wouldn't even spare kits, if they got in the way." Turtleclaw said.
"You mean, he is planning to attack the clan camp?" Bluepaw asked. Turtleclaw nodded.
"Most of the rogues will go after any able bodies warriors that continue to put up a fight, and if his plans are correct, he plans to kill all the elders, once he takes control. If the queens wont cooperate, he'll start killing kits." Turtleclaw said. Starpaw and Bluepaw were struck speechless. How could Whitemist plan such a thing?!?
"Some of us instantly left the group, once we heard that part of the plan. I left because my mate, Pantherheart, is having kits soon. I couldn't possibly harm another queen's kits, not when mine are soon to be born." Turtleclaw said. Starpaw nodded. He did have that look of a father about him.
"We know Whitemist is planning his strike soon, but we cant be sure of when." Whitestripe said.
"Are you gonna try and stop him?" Bluepaw asked. Whitestripe nodded.
"I haven't been a Riverclan warrior in some time, but I still feel kinship with them, and I have a personal vendetta against one of the rogues. The problem is that Spottedstar wont listen to us, and we haven't enough help to stop him." Whitestripe said.
"But then, Riverclan wont have enough time to react!" Starpaw mewled. Whitestripe looked sad, and looked away from her.
"Regardless, I am going to stand up to Whitemist and his pack of rogues before they reach Riverclan. Hopefully, the noise will be enough to alert Riverclan of the incoming danger." He said. Turtleclaw nodded.
"As do I. I have a mate to think of, but I wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully at night knowing that cur is killing defenseless kits." He said. Starpaw nodded.
"I might be able to get help, do you know when Whitemist plans to strike?" She asked.
"Tomorrow, I am guessing. It is the half moon, and the medicine cats will be leaving. He plans to strike when they are away." Bloodleaf said.
"Why when the medicine cats are gone?" Bluepaw asked. Somehow, Starpaw all ready knew the answer.
"So there is no cat to help the wounded warriors, and when Riverclan's medicine cat returns, she'll be forced to heal the rogues." Turtleclaw said. Whitestripe grimaced.
"Who could you gain help from, your clan?" Whitestripe asked. Starpaw nodded.
"Blazestar doesn't want to hear about Riverclan, so I wont bug him about it. I have some friends that might be able to help though, if they are willing." Starpaw mewed, "I'll see if they'd like to help."
Whitestripe nodded.
"I'd hurry. It wont be long now." He said. He sniffed the air, before taking a step back to the bushes.
"You all need to go home, time is short, but I am sure someone will notice two missing apprentices, and I don't think Riverclan will like loner's on their territory. They barely tolerate me." He said. Starpaw and Bluepaw nodded, getting up, and walking towards the Sunclan border.
"I'll try to get help." Starpaw said. Whitestripe nodded, before dashing off. Bloodleaf looked at Starpaw for a moment, nodded, and took off towards Sun-Drownclan's territory. Turtleclaw trotted beside them until they reached the river.
"Starpaw, Bluepaw, I have a question." Turtleclaw asked. Starpaw and Bluepaw looked back, just as they'd stepped in the river.
"Yes?"
"My mate is close to kit bearing, and I worry she might not make it without a medicine cat. Would your clan leader, Blazestar, be willing to shelter us, at least until the kits are born?" Turtleclaw asked.
"I don't know. You could ask him. He patrols a lot so..." Starpaw said. Turtleclaw nodded, looking great full
"Thank you." He said, before dashing off. He seemed to be headed for Twoleg Place.
"We'd better get back. Who are you gonna ask for help?" Bluepaw asked as they trotted back to camp.
"Nightpaw and Darkpaw might help us, but I doubt I can get them. Robin, maybe, and I think Mistfrost, Venomheart, Bramblepaw, and maybe Whitestorm. If I am lucky, I might be able to talk to Robinpaw and Hawkpaw of Mistclan, and get them to help." She said. Bluepaw nodded.
"Let's hope we can get some help, and that it'll be enough." Bluepaw mewed, looking at the sky. Starpaw nodded.
"You'll help?" She mewled uncertainly. Bluepaw ran her tail across her flank affectionately and nuzzled the side of her head.
"Of course mouse brain!"
-
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Yeah, the chapter if kinda long, ne?
New characters, Turtleclaw, Bloodleaf (though, he isnt really 'new', he made a prior appearance), and Whitestripe.
Next chapter, Whitemist attacks!
We will also learn the identity of the one who killed Mistystar, which I am sure some people are wondering.
Turtleclaw's mate, Pantherheart, will make her debut as well. As for her kits, they wont make an 'official' appearance till book 3 (btw, the clans are gunna do a looooot of 'baby-making' between books 2 and 3)
PLEASE REVIEW!!!
ALSO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUBMIT CHARACTERS, MESSAGE ME!! I DO accept OC's to appear in this fanfic!!