A New Era
Haiiiiii! This Chapter is actually called Rage of the Leaders; or Lack of It, but there wasn't enough room and it seemed to long. If you've been paying attention, you'd know that it wasn't greencough that killed everybody. It wasn't a coincidence either! It was… well… I can't tell you, but you'll find out who/what it was in this chapter! The Great StarClan will tell you themselves! Oh, and that includes Firestar, Blackstar, Leopardstar, Onestar, Brambleclaw, Russetfur, Mistyfoot, and Ashfoot. Will they be angry? Will they be forgiving?
(I still haven't read Long Shadows!! -_-. Some sixth grader at my school is hogging it! And it's been a week! But, hooray for wikipedia…)
~Crystal Cavern
Chapter 5: Rage of the Leaders
Sleep drifted over Leafpool, Barkface, and Littlecloud.
Usually, a (dead, *cough cough*) cat from your own clan will come you in your dreams, but since this considered all the clans, StarClan spoke to the medicine cats in a group.
Littlecloud waited. He sat on starry grass, waiting for starry cats. Beside him, the images of Leafpool and Barkface started to appear.
"What are you two doing in my dream?" Littlecloud hissed.
Barkface lashed his tail. "I could ask you the same thing!"
Leafpool, though, was strangely calm. She sat wand waited for her ancestors to appear. She didn't notice the other two medicine cats too much. It was not because of the fact that she didn't care, but because she was much too absorbed in her own thoughts.
"I am not in your dream, Barkface, you are in mine!" Littlecloud argued.
"You mean, you're in my dream,"
"No, I'm not! This is a top secret question! I will not let WindClan meddle with ShadowClan!"
"Meddle?! What are you talking about?! ShadowClan were the prey-stealers!"
"ShadowClan are strong, WindClan are weak!"
"Weak?! How dare you!"
"Your agility is perfect for running away!"
"Take that back! ShadowClan were the ones who've had a horrible past!" Barkface was enraged. "You have to admit it, Littlecloud! Brokenstar! Tigerstar! Who else is next?! Your history of leaders is shameful!"
Littlecloud flattened his ears, his pelt bristling. "You WindClan cats are hopeless! Stubborn! Every last one of you!"
"It is ShadowClan who is stubborn!"
"Look who's talking! Look who's the one who doesn't want to lose an argument! That's proof!"
"Littlecloud! It is I who is right, and you who is wrong. Step down already!"
"Barkface," Littlecloud reasoned, "I demand that you get out. This is my dream, and the news is for ShadowClan and ShadowClan alone."
"Actually, this concerns all the clans, Littlecloud." A voice, none other than ShadowClan's previous leader, rang through the clearing.
"Blackstar?" Littlecloud asked, unsure. "Is that you?"
Barkface gave him a see-I-told-you-so look mixed in with a sarcastic no-it's-actually-haunted-crowfood-talking-to-you look, but Littlecloud, fortunately, didn't notice. He was too busy looking around.
"Blackstar? Where are you?" Littlecloud asked, bewildered. "Why can't I see you?"
Blackstar didn't answer. This time it was Russetfur's voice. "Believe, Littlecloud…"
"I don't understand!" He wailed.
"Just keep your tongue still! Give us some time! His spirit has weakened us!" Russetfur snapped.
Littlecloud obeyed, but his tail-tip was twitching in annoyance and uncertainty.
Leafpool, who was jerked to attention at the sound of Blackstar's voice, tried to muffle a laugh with a purr of amusement.
Barkface, meanwhile, was sitting and waiting patiently. He was the first to notice a group of specks in the distance. He held his tongue, though, in fear that Russetfur would claw it off. She could be quite short-tempered sometimes.
After a while, he made out the individual cats, and he was shocked. He smelled Firestar and Brambleclaw from ThunderClan, their scents not completely gone yet, Mistyfoot , Leopardstar, and Russetfur, a little bit angry, Blackstar, Onestar, and Ashfoot, calm, and Bluestar, Yellowfang, and Spottedleaf, who were more starry than the rest. But there was one more scent that lingered on the pelts of the former deputies and leaders that had died more recently. Barkface couldn't identify it, but he was sure that it smelled familiar.
Leafpool and Littlecloud were aware of what was happening now, since the light breeze carried their scents. They now knew what he knew: that all the deputies and leaders of the clans were dead. They knew his secret, and he knew theirs. Leafpool was as surprised as he was. Littlecloud, not so much. Mothwing… well she wasn't here. The thought made him panic. Why wasn't Mothwing here? Moreover, why did all the important cats, (not that other cats weren't important) die? When? Why? Moreover, did Littlecloud and Leafpool recognize the odd scent too?
As they approached, Leafpool bounded over to Firestar. She looked pale all of a sudden, her eyes tired. She had hid it well.
"Firestar, did I do the right thing?' She asked. "Did I handle the situation well? Why did you leave us all of a sudden?" Her voice was pleading.
The starry leader did not reply.
Simultaneously, Littlecloud had gone over to Blackstar and Russetfur, asking the same type of questions.
Barkface stayed where he was. He was a surprised, yes, but he has self-control. Onestar padded over to him. He said "You have not been well, Barkface, I'm sorry."
Ashfoot came beside Onestar. "As am I." The gray she-cat sighed. "I'm sorry we couldn't send any signs."
A yowl sounded from Mistyfoot. All cats turned her attention to her. She stepped back. "Leopardstar wishes to speak."
Leopardstar replied, "Mistyfoot, in StarClan, we are equal, so you don't have to continue serving me." When Mistyfoot nodded, Leopardstar continued. "First off, I just want to make it clear. You all know a secret."
Littlecloud shifted his paws uncomfortably. They did. The clans were leaderless and deputy-less. There was going to be bloodshed and chaos, he could tell. To his surprise, that was not what Leopardstar meant.
"As you can see, Mothwing is not with us today." Nor will she ever be. She added to herself. "That is because she does not truly believe in StarClan."
Littlecloud gasped. Leafpool winced. Barkface waited.
The former RiverClan leader continued. "I was shocked as well when I learned of this, but she has served RiverClan well, so we will let her continue as our medicine cat." Leopardstar looked hard at Barkface and Littlecloud. "I trust that you two will not speak of this to anyone, and that includes among yourselves." Leafpool, I trust. She added silently.
Brambleclaw spoke next. "We will now begin our meeting. Leafpool, you will briefly recap Littlecloud and Barkface on ThunderClan. You will share with them our secrets, strengths, and weaknesses. Then, you two," he looked over to Littlecloud and Barkface, "will tell each her and each other the same thing. Leave nothing out. It is the will of StarClan. Then, we will give you your personal instructions. You will carry them out, and make the choices there is to make." Brambleclaw paused.
Leafpool gulped, but luckily, Brambleclaw wasn't finished yet.
"You can tell whoever in your clan you think necessary about this." He looked hardly at the three stiff medicine cats. "Except the other clans' secrets. I trust that you will guard the secrets well, and bring them with you when you die and join us. Any questions?"
Leafpool gave her chest fur a quick lick. "May I tell Mothwing, Willowshine, and Jayfeather about the secrets? They deserve to know, and they can help us."
It was Ashfoot who answered. "Yes… you may. But the terms still apply to them."
Barkface twitched his ear nervously and reluctantly stepped forward. There was doubt in his heart. Was it the right thing to ask? He took a deep breath and said, "What is that scent on you?"
Brambleclaw looked at Bluestar, Yellowfang, and Spottedleaf, who had not spoken a word yet. They nodded. Brambleclaw looked back at the three medicine cats. He hesitated. "I-it's…" He paused again. When he made up his mind, he quickly said, "Bluestar will tell you."
Bluestar bristled. "No, I won't."
Yellowfang spat, "Brambleclaw, you're a coward! Tell them yourself!"
Leafpool purred… Same old Yellowfang…
Spottedleaf sighed. She stepped forward, and said, "It's Scourge…"