Ebonystar woke high in an oak tree with sunlight warming her sleek, black fur. As her amber eyes blinked open she saw a tortoiseshell she-cat perched in front of her near the end of the thick branch. As the she-cat turned towards her Ebonystar gasped. "Goldenbelly? But, you, you died,"
"How dim are you? You're in Starclan!" Goldenbelly snapped.
The leader of Skyclan purred. She had missed Goldenbelly's sharp tongue.
"It's so great to see you! I've missed you so much!" Ebonystar exclaimed.
Her mother's gaze softened slightly. "Oh my daughter I have missed you too,"
"This must be a message from Starclan, what do you need to tell me?" Ebonystar asked excitedly.
The tortishell she-cat hesitated. "I am not supposed to be speaking with you right now. But, I had to warn you. There will come a time when grief will be all you know. You cannot let it tear apart your clan Ebonystar!"
Ebonystar opened her jaws to respond but before she could dark shadows charged across her vision.
"No!" Goldenbelly wheezed. "They are coming." Her voice faded as Ebonystar sank into darkness. "Be strong! Remember that -" Her mew was cut off as a rasping voice pierced Ebonystar's ear fur.
"You will have nothing left little she-cat. You won't hide from us! You'll come running to us to seek revenge upon those who have wronged you. Ha! No cat can hide from the darkness inside themselves…"
Ebonystar jerked awake. Her heart pounded with fear. What was going to happen to her clan! She had seen her mother, but then that voice telling her no cat can hide from the darkness inside themselves… Ebonystar shivered,she couldn't tell anyone about this dream. How could she? No one would trust her.
Shaking off her dream, Ebonystar padded out of her den that was supported by the large oak tree in the camp. She looked around her clan, Skyclan, with pride. The black shecat scanned the clearing for her mate, Eaglestep, and her kits Copperkit, Fieldkit and Onyxkit( Sloekit instead of Onyxkit?). When her amber gaze spotted them her heart felt lighter. She trotted up to the splotched brown and white tom who was giving badger rides to Fieldkit. Her mate glanced up and shook Fieldkit from his shoulders.
The amber-eyed shecat purred a greeting " Eaglestep! How are the kits?"
" They woke me up before sunrise this morning begging for badger rides.' He groaned. " But I love them anyways" Eaglestep mewed affectionately.
Ebonystar sighed with joy and closed her eyes, she wished she could freeze this moment and come back to it whenever she wanted. The sun had just risen above the tall, leafy trees and lighted on the clearing causing dappling shadows across her clans pelts. Dawn patrol was coming into the clearing pushing their way through the young pines that formed the tunnel into camp. Beefoot and Foxflower paced into the clearing looking annoyed with their apprentices Sandpaw and Frostpaw. Sandpaw and Frostpaw were arguing about who had gotten to the Shadowclan border first.
" I got there first right Beefoot?" Asked Sandpaw, a handsome, yellow tabby tom.
" If it makes the both of you be quiet, then yes you were there first!" Snapped Beefoot.
Frostpaw a near white coated she-cat gasped " No! I did"
" You are driving everycat crazy! Go burn off some energy hunting for ticks in the elders den"
Grumbling, the young cats ran off. Ebonystar went up to Foxflower who had led the patrol.
" How did it go? Any scents of Shadowclan straying over the border?" said Ebonystar.
" No none. Everything's fine. We saw a fair amount of prey there and I was wondering if I could take a hunting patrol up there later or join one?" Foxflower asked.
The leader of Skyclan gazed at her thoughtfully, " I suppose. Snowripple organized a hunting patrol towards that area later, if Frostpaw is feeling up to it take her too" .
" Of course. Sounds great! Thanks Ebonystar!" Foxflower answered.
"Actually I think I'll come too. I will have Pinemist lead it he, is our newest warrior and I want to see how he does." Ebonystar meowed.
"Okay. Do you want me to tell him?"
"Yes, please and send Snowripple to my den."
"Sure Ebonystar."
Ebonystar sat outside her den waiting for Snowripple. When a muscular, thickfurred white tomcat strolled into view she stood up. He arrived at her den and dipped his head.
"Ebonystar. You wanted to see me?" Snowripple asked
"Yes we have to decide who will be going to the Gathering tonight. Obviously Pinemist since he is being announced as a warrior,Tanglefoot, you and I but who else do you think.?"
"Well Oakpaw and Frostpaw went last time so Frogpaw and Sandpaw would be good choice," Snowripple advised.
"Yes and I think we will send Slatewind,Foxflower, Doeflight and Swallowpelt," Ebonystar decided.
"Okay. Is there anything else?" The white furred tom asked his leader.
"Just inform the cats who we decided on that they are going to the Gathering. Also tell Foxflower that instead of going on that hunting patrol to do a little battle training with Frostpaw," The black-furred shecat paused for a breath thinking for a moment.
"Oh yes! I am taking Foxflower's place on the hunting patrol by the Shadowclan border and I wanted to add Pinemist to it. Just so I could see how he is doing," said Ebonystar.
"Very that is all I am going out on a border patrol," Snowripple responded.
Ebonystar loped behind Pinemist letting the cream colored tom lead the way to the Shadowclan border. He was doing an extremely thorough job she thought to herself, doubling back if he thought he caught an unfamiliar scent or sight. The patrol slowed to a walk. Archclaw fell in step beside her.
" I think I taught him well, don't you?" He said with a tone of self-congratulation. His leader looked over at him, she had never really liked Archclaw even though he was Eaglestep's brother. Archclaw was a touch to arrogant and self-absorbed for her taste. Luckily, Pinemist did not take after in temperament but had all of his mentors tracking and hunting skills.
"I suppose you did," Ebonystar murmured. Archclaw seemed satisfied with this response.
" It's going to be a nice night for a Gathering," The tiger striped tom meowed.
His leader glanced around, yes she silently agreed. The leafy, light green oak trees gave way to dark, spiky pines as they neared the Shadowclan border. It was just past sunhigh and the bright sun was beating down comfortably on their backs. The sky was clear with no clouds in sight. But Starclan can send clouds to cover the moon if they are displeased at the gathering Ebonystar reminded herself. She shivered a little in the warm air. She hoped that didn't happen.
They had reached the border and Ebonystar hurried forward to walk beside Pinemist, glad she had an excuse to separate from Archclaw
"Pinemist! You are doing well!" exclaimed Ebonystar.
" Thanks Ebonystar!" Pinemist looked around to make sure Archclaw was out of earshot before saying, embarrassedly
" I was nervous when you said you wanted to watch me. I thought I had done something wrong."
"No!No! To be honest I wanted to go hunting around here and decided I may as well look in on you and see how you were doing as a warrior," Ebonystar replied.
"Oh ok," said Pinemist.
"Hey I think I saw a vole under that bush over there," mewed Ebonystar.
" Thanks I'll go see if I can catch it!"
Ebonystar was almost over the border now she noted and took a step back opening her mouth to taste the air. Suddenly a familiar scent bathed her mouth growing stronger as she padded toward the border. No. It couldn't be. Over the border? What would he be doing in Shadowclan's territory? He must have had good reason, maybe he saw a kit in trouble. But, then Eaglestep would have mentioned that of course…. wouldn't he have. Pinemist had caught his vole and was coming over here! She must distract him or he would notice!
"Uhh, Pinemist! Hey umm go back to camp with Archclaw I will be right behind you I am just going to catch to try and catch a mouse, my kits love them." Ebonystar called to him.
"Sure Ebonystar. We will see you when you return. Good luck catching your mouse!" Pinemist said.
"Archclaw!" Ebonystar heard him cry "We are going back to camp,"
"Let's go," Archclaw mewed.
The black-pelted shecat felt her lips pull back into a snarl. She couldn't believe Eaglestep! He was lying to her all the time! How could she know he wasn't lying about everything. The kits! Were they safe with him?! Ebonystar cast the thought away. Eaglestep truly loved Copperkit, Onyxkit and Fieldkit even if he didn't love her.
The leader of Skyclan breathed deeply deciding to catch at least something if not a mouse to bring home as a treat to her kits. Ebonystar caught sight of a magpie sitting in a maple tree and stealthily started to climb towards it.
She edged out onto a strong branch just above where the magpie sat. Her eyes narrowed and she flexed her claws preparing to drop onto the magpie. The bird seemed to sense her presence and with a loud squawk, spread its wings to take off. She was too fast for it. With a leap that the Skyclan cats are famed for, she sprang off her hind legs and landed squarely on the birds back, killing it with a bite to the back of the neck. Pleased, Ebonystar jumped down from the tree and buried her prey.
The black-pelted cat slunk over to the Shadowclan border praying that no patrols came this way. She crouched by the bush where Eaglestep's scent was. Ebonystar opened her jaws and tasted the air. Yes, the scent grew stronger the closer she went to the Shadowclan border. Eaglestep had definitely crossed the border here many times. There was no way Shadowclan didn't know about this. Ebonystar was furious. What was he doing!? He could be passing information about Skyclan! She paused; it felt like her heart was shattering. Eaglestep was the love of her life and he had betrayed her. Ebonystar shook her head, trying to clear it. First, she had to talk to Eaglestep and be sure there was no misunderstanding.
Ebonystar stalked into camp with her magpie dangling from her jaws and sought out her kits. She saw them playing with Moosekit while Plumcoat looked on. They seemed to be playing an intense game of moss ball. She purred as Copperkit batted the ball to Onyxkit, squealing with joy. Ebonystar bounded across the clearing and greeted Plumcoat.
"Plumcoat, have you seen Eaglestep?" She inquired.
"He went out a while ago to hunt. He will probably be back soon," mewed Plumcoat.
"Thanks. And thanks for watching my kits for a while too," Ebonystar said to her friend.
She walked over to her kits who had abandoned their game and wandered over to say hi to her. The amber-eyed she-cat bent down and lay the magpie in front of them.
Copperkit bounced up to her. "Ebonystar! Is that for us!"
"Yes little one. I caught this for all of you!" Ebonystar responded cheerfully.
She spent some time with her kits, all of them purring when Fieldkit somehow got feathers caught in her claws. The sun sunk lower in the sky her kits started to yawn and stumble towards the nursery. As Ebonystar said good-night to them, licking them softly on their fluffy heads, she heard pounding pawsteps at the entrance of camp.
Eaglestep had returned from his jaws he held a large starling which he dropped onto the fresh-kill pile with pride. Ebonystar stood up and made to walk over to him but Snowripple stepped towards her.
"Ebonystar, it is time to leave for the Gathering," Snowripple mewed.
Frustration pricked at Ebonystar, she had wanted to talk to Eaglestep before Skyclan left for the Gathering. Now it would have to wait until they returned.
Snowripple rounded up the cats attending the Gathering and led the way through the young pines towards the Thunderclan border. The moon had risen high into the velvety black night shining down on the group of cats as the padded towards the Fourtrees. Ebonystar found herself next to Slatewind, a young gray and black tom who had been made a warrior a few moons ago.
"Do you think Shadowclan will be there?" Slatewind asked.
Ebonystar glanced at him surprised by his question, "I don't see why they wouldn't be."
" course. All of the clans come to the Gathering," He meowed sounding flustered.
Ebonystar shot another look at him. He couldn't know about Eaglestep crossing the border, the warrior would have come to her and said something. maybe something else was going on? She had always made a point to get to know everybody in her clan. However, since she had her kits her focus had been more on them rather than every cat in the clan. Slatewind was quick to act and confident that he was in the right most of the time. This made him a superb fighter and forced him to think on his paws.
Ebonystar nodded to Slatewind and sped up to trot beside Snowripple.
"Snowripple what do you think of Slatewind?" She mewed
"Well, he is an excellent fighter and I believe he is fiercely loyal to the warrior code and Skyclan," the white tom responded. "Why do you ask?"
"Well he asked-"
Ebonystar was cut off by the excited yowl of Frogpaw. "We're here! Skyclan have arrived!" The young cat screeched.
Every head at the Fourtrees turned to peer through the trees to see what the racket was.
A hotheaded Riverclan apprentice sneered back loudly."Oh yes we can hear you! I'm sure you must be such an asset to your clan in battle, announcing your arrival to your enemies!"
Frogpaw shrank back in embarrassment as a white shecat came forward and cuffed the Riverclan cat around the head.
"Waterpaw! Stop this at once! Come over here and socialize like the well-mannered cat I'm trying to teach you to be! Clearly you need some work!"
This time it was Waterpaw's turn to shrink back into the crowd, though he threw a mocking glance at Frogpaw before he disappeared.
Ebonystar gazed down at the Fourtrees for a moment wondering if the Shadowclan cats knew that Eaglestep was crossing their border. She felt at tail touch her shoulder and she started bewildered.
It was Snowripple. "Ebonystar? Shall we go down now?"
For a moment the black she-cat felt overwhelmed. Then she pushed it away the dream and whatever was going on with Eaglestep could wait
She took a breath and signaled for her clan to flood into the Fourtrees.
AN: Some of these chapters are just as long as this one. Should I split them into seperate chapters?