Suntalon: Thank you to my reviewers AGAIN THANK YOU GUYS SOO MUCH!
Chapter 5
As Lionblaze walked over the fallen tree he couldn't help but remember his first gathering as an apprentice…
Come on Hollypaw move faster were going to be late. Wow there are so many cats here how do they all fit?
With a sigh Lionblaze leapt over to the island. He padded through the bushes and just in time to hear the leaders calling the gathering to a beginning. Lionblaze stared up at the big oak and up at the four leaders, Onestar, Blackstar, Mistystar, and Firestar. Lionblaze listened as Blackstar began. "Prey is running well in Shadowclan, even though it is nearing leaf-bare we are all well fed." Blackstar dipped his head for Onestar to speak next. "Well" Onestar began "We had a little trouble with a fox that strayed onto our territory, but we chased it towards the twoleg barn, and prey is running well." Onestar nodded to Firestar. "All prey is running well, and we have three new apprentices, Amberpaw, Hawkpaw, and Heatherpaw." The other clans cheered their names, but the loudest voices were from Thunderclan. Firestar stepped back and nodded to Mistystar. "Thunderclan has been stealing fish from our waters!" Yowls of protest arose from all of the Thunderclan cats. The cats turned on one another hissing with their claws unsheathed. Lionblaze leapt up ready to fight when the distinct call of Littlecloud broke through the hissing "Look at the moon it is being covered, stop fighting it is not the will of Starclan!" everyone settled down, but got with the rest of their clan. "This gathering is over" hissed Blackstar. The clans separated and began to head off towards their territory. Firestar got all of the cats gathered and ready to go home.
The next day Lionblaze awoke to the sound of hisses and screeches. Lionblaze leapt up and raced out of the den. Lionblaze looked around wildly as though the dark forest was attacking, but instead he was facing Thornclaw and a bunch of cats. "They call us prey stealer, I think we should attack who's with me?" Thornclaw glanced around as cheers of approval came from his clanmates. His face suddenly darkened as he heard Firestar hiss "What is going on here? A battle army! Last time I checked I was leader, and not Thornclaw." Thornclaw's expression soon turned to determination. "Firestar, we are tired of just sitting around while the other clans embarrass us! We want to act, and we can't just let Riverclan get away with calling us names! We have to do something!" Firestar's face clouded, and then he shook his head and said "You guys are right, and seeing that most of the clan have decided to fight, then I will organize a battle patrol." Cheers of approval broke out, but Lionblaze could tell that Firestar wasn't happy about this soon to be battle.
Firestar silenced everyone and mewed "For the patrol I would like to take Brambleclaw, Lionblaze, Dovewing and Cherrypaw, Icecloud, Foxleap, Dustpelt, and Greystripe. On the back up patrol, I want Ivyclaw and Molepaw, Spiderleg, Squirrelflight, Leafpool, Rosepetal, and Millie." The crowd soon split into who was going, and who wasn't, who was the back up patrol, and who wasn't.
Lionblaze followed Firestar and the rest of patrol out into the forest. They raced towards the Riverclan border. They now crouched down, testing the air to see if there was a border patrol, carefully moving along, almost inching along. They crossed the stream, and emerged on the other side. Lionblaze leapt up suddenly as a battle screech was called, from a riverclan cat. Lionblaze looked to see Mistystar, and a whole line of patrols charging for attack. Soon the clearing was full of screeches. Lionblaze was locked in combat with Ripplefrost, a she-cat who had been at the gathering the night before. Lionblaze torn his claws down her side, and she soon flung him backwards into a tree. Lionblaze was stunned only for a second, and then hopped back up ready for battle. He whirled around as he heard his name being screeched, and he saw Cherrypaw fighting with a warrior who had pinned her down, and she was pleading for help as the warrior prepared to bite her throat. Lionblaze also saw Dovewing struggling to fight a dark tabby cat. Unsure what to do Lionblaze leaped at the nearest cat, who was Cherrypaw's attacker, just in time, as the dark tabby almost bit Cherrypaw. Lionblaze bowled him over and clawed at his stomach. Lionblaze thrust the tabby with all of his might, so that it raced back whimpering. Lionblaze saw Cherrypaw stagger to her paws, bleeding from a long gash in her side. Lionblaze saw that cats from both sides had retreated, and all that was left was Lionblaze, Firestar, Brambleclaw, Dovewing and Cherrypaw, and for Riverclan, Mistystar, her deputy, Beattlewhisker, and Icewing who soon retreated as Dovewing shook her away. Lionblaze snapped at Dovewing to help Cherrypaw back to camp, and then he charged into battle to fight against Beattlewhisker who was about to attack Brambleclaw. Lionblaze leapt claws extended right onto Beattlewhisker's back. He screeched in pain and sent Beattlewhisker heading back to camp. Lionblaze saw Mistystar being pinned down by Firestar, and Brambleclaw chasing another tom away. Lionblaze watched Firestar let Mistystar go without so much as a claw mark. Lionblaze was about to chase after Mistystar and claw her himself, but looked into Firestar's eyes, and knew that the reason the Firestar couldn't hurt Mistystar was because she was so much like her mother, Bluestar. Lionblaze padded back to camp slowly and sadly, because the battle had been a waste of time and energy that would be needed against the dark Forest.
*******Somewhere in Starclan*********
Bluestar watched the battle between Thunderclan and Riverclan coming to an end. Firestar had Mistystar, her kit pinned down, and he was about to deliver a blow when she screeched "NO!" some how what Bluestar had said carried through and came out of Mistystar's mouth. Firestar looked shocked as did Mistystar, and Firestar just stood back and watched as Mistystar retraced her steps, back towards her camp. Bluestar jumped as a raspy voice sounded from behind her "So there you have it the line is thinning between the Dark Forest and Starclan and the real world, and it is only a matter of moons until the transformation is complete, and until then we must hope that Jayfeather soon realizes what the prophecy means." Bluestar sighed and turned around, and slowly walked away, feeling just as Lionblaze did, there was no loss and no gain, battles were becoming a waste of energy, just as the Dark Forest wanted.