"Hurry up, slowpoke! Ivytail's going to tell us a story!"
"I'm coming! Oh, Tumblekit, watch out!"
"Oomph!" the black and white bundle of fluff collided head on with a large black tom. Rather than hissing and throwing a fit, the tom stared them down with warm amber eyes, purring, "Well well, what's the hurry, you two? There's not a fire in the camp is there?"
"No Blackstorm, sir," Tumblekit bowed to the warrior in apology as his brown and white brother brought up the rear.
"We're going to listen to Ivytail's story!" chimed Kestrelkit, bobtail waving in excitement. Blackstorm smiled, "Then I suppose you better get going. I thought I heard Cloudkit and Skykit in there, begging Ivytail to begin."
Kestrelkit gasped, "They're going to start the story without us! Come on Tumblekit!" The bobtailed kitten sped off across the hollow, his black and white sibling close behind as they called a farewell to the senior warrior. The duo shoved past the heather patch, relieved to see Ivytail not yet start. Her amber eyes lit up at the kits' entrance, her naturally coiled tail swishing over her white paws. Two smaller kits, both white furred in color, sat just in front of the elder. Their heads turned at their denmates arrival and both cheered.
Tumblekit and Kestrelkit found their seats beside Cloudkit and Skykit, now looking up expectantly at the silver, black and white elder. She chuckled, "Now that everyone's here, I suppose I can start the story. Any preferences?"
"First four leaders!" cried Cloudkit.
"The day the sun disappeared!" Skykit shrieked, bouncing up and down.
"Brokenstar's reign!" Tumblekit yowled.
"The Great Journey!" Kestrelkit squeaked. Ivytail purred, silencing them with a swish of her tail. "So many choices; how about a new story instead?" All four heads bobbed in agreement, settling down in comfort to listen to the story.
"Back in the past, a long time ago, before the Great Journey, all four Clans lived in peace..."
"This isn't going to be one of those boring stories, is it?" Tumblekit piped up. The others silenced him, "Shhhh!"
"...during this time of peace, a certain warrior of WindClan- Rageswipe he was called- believed the Clans were too peaceful and WindClan specifically was too weak. He knew that WindClan was frowned upon by the other Clans and titled the weakest Clan of the four. He wanted power and the only way to get power was to become leader. So in the dead of night, he murdered both the deputy and leader. In the morning, when their bodies were discovered, Rageswipe proclaimed himself the new leader and named one of his followers- Scarface- as deputy. Once power was bestowed to the newest WindClan leader, Ragestar, called war on the Clans. Every day became a battle skirmish as WindClan tried to expand their territory into the others' lands. He summoned all those who wanted power at the gathering and was proud to find that many of these cats wanted to join his quest for power. Battles worsened and cats were nearly killed everyday. The medicine cats couldn't help keep up with the wounds and tried to talk their leaders out of these meaningless battles. Hareflight- WindClan's medicine cat at the time- spoke out against Ragestar and was killed in cold blood by the great leader himself.
A moon later, a young kit was born in WindClan during the time of bloody war. She was named Hopekit in hopes of the terrible battles ending. Once apprenticed, Hopepaw spoke out against Ragestar. She would've been killed if not for the efforts of her mother. Her mother volunteered to take the blame and instead of her kit being killed, Ragestar murdered Lilyblossom. Hopepaw was traumatized and quieted her verbal attacks.
The wars continued and very quickly, WindClan conquered RiverClan. Many were captured, tortured and killed. Only a few escaped and those who did, seeked shelter in ThunderClan. WindClan warriors moved into the watery lands and claimed them as their own. Hopepaw- now Hopelight- continued to watch idly as others were brutally killed, the ground forever stained crimson. The bloodshed would last for many moons to come unless someone challenged Ragestar's authority. She ran away in the middle of the night, seeking shelter in ThunderClan like RiverClan had done. She was surprised to see many ShadowClan warriors there, meaning that Ragestar had successfully conquered ShadowClan's marsh. With a little help from a few of the other warriors, Hopelight was able to convince the members of ShadowClan, RiverClan, and ThunderClan that she was on their side.
The following morning, the bruised and battered remains of the three Clans attacked WindClan. More bloodshed joined the crimson spattered earth as several felines fell- both from the three conjoined Clans and WindClan. Hopelight surged through the battling clumps, eyes narrowed furiously as she spotted her leader pinning ThunderClan's leader- Deerstar. She stopped and watched in horror as Deerstar- like the many valiant warriors opposing Ragestar- was savagely murdered. Swallowing her tears, Hopelight burst from the shadows and tackled her leader. She hissed and fought back with the fury of a lion. Both were biting and clawing, tearing fur from each other's pelt. With a final cry, Hopelight brought her claws across Ragestar's throat, ending WindClan leader's final life.
Rain fell, washing away the blood stains. At finding their leader dead, all WindClan cats bowed to Hopelight. Even the other Clan cats paused to bow down. Their chants became heard above the rainfall, 'Hopestar! Hopestar!' The other Clans recognized the she-cat as WindClan's new leader. As Hopelight indeed became leader, wars dwindled and peace was restored to the Clans..."
"Wow! That's a great story!" Skykit chirped, pouncing on her brother. "Rawr! I'm Hopelight,come to end your evil reign on WindClan, Ragestar!"
"You will never defeat me!" Cloudkit roared back, playfully. Giggles and squeals later, all four kits found themselves wrestling outside in the clearing, leaving the smiling elder in peace.
"I've never heard that one before," Fleetfoot spoke from his nest, lifting his crown to speak with Ivytail. "You made it up, didn't you?"
"What's wrong with that?" Ivytail purred, smiling in triumph. "They've heard the other ones multiple times. I gave them a new story and look- they're already acting it out. Ragestar and Hopelight may have not existed, but they make a for a great action tale. Don't you agree?"
A nod came from the sandy brown tom. "Um, Ivytail?"
"Yes?" the silver, black and white she-cat murmured, setting her head on her paws.
"Do you think...maybe...could you...tell me another made up story?" Fleetfoot mewed, head bowed in embarrassment. A purr rumbled in Ivytail's throat. "Yes, Fleetfoot, but in the morning. I need some sleep."
"Yes, Ivytail," Fleetfoot curled back up in his nest. "Good night."
"Good night."
-Snarky (Rosekit of MapleClan)