DIVIDED

by Icy Wings of Solace

Many season cycles after the Great Battle, war breaks out in the four Clans. In order to stop the war, StarClan gathered all cats of the clans together. What will Poppyseed do when she finds out her Clan will be torn apart? Though all might seem fine, a prophecy looms and the Clans may not be so safe after all. **Book One of the Separation Trilogy**

4. Chapter III - The Division

Chapter III

The stars suddenly seemed to shine brighter, Poppyseed noticed. Just as she was admiring the nighttime sky, a gasp radiated from the cats. Poppyseed quickly looked to the middle of the Island.

Four starry cats stood on the top of the shady, unused rock in the middle. One with a pelt like fire, one with a pelt like a lion and one with eyes like a jay's feather. The last one was a she-cat with a pelt similar to the first cat.

"We know your War has been going on for many moons." The first one stated. "We have watched you from StarClan." The others all nodded.

"We have come to the conclusion that this cannot be solved easily. Yet if we leave it unsolved, your Clans will be destroyed from within." The blue-eyed cat meowed somberly.

"So, a solution has been formulated." The she-cat called. Cheers went up in the Clans; yet Poppyseed was irresolute about this solution. What if there were consequences?

"The solution is to re-group the Clans. There will not be ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan or WindClan anymore."

There was a horrified and stunned silence. Applewhisker was the first to speak; "How will that happen?" He asked, an indifferent look on his face.

"You see," The lion-like one continued, "Each Clan will be split into two smaller ones. However, there will be a mix of cats from each Clan - that is, ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan and WindClan."

A suppressed murmur swept through the cats' ears.

Will that work?

"We promise that there is no other choice." The she-cat cried. "It's either this - or you will be fighting forever!"

Poppyseed sucked in a breath. "What about lea-" She slapped her tail over her mouth when she realized she shouldn't have thought aloud.

"Continue." The fiery-pelted tom cocked his head to one side.

"Well, I was thinking, what about leaders and deputies and medicine cats?" Poppyseed remarked, flicking her tail uneasily, negligible body braced against the chilling wind.

"First, we need to form the Clans. Everyone please gather around us." The blue-eyed one said, disregarding her. Poppyseed's ears drooped. Of course she couldn't talk to StarClan cats like that! It was very rude of her to do so.

"Seperate." The word was sharp. Poppyseed took one last beseeching look at her friends, then walked straight across the Island. The starry cats started to weave around them, and little by little, there were eight groups of cats clearly spaced out.

Poppyseed looked at the cats around her. A young kit mewled quietly, his tiny body shivering. His mother next to him was sick-looking. The warrior naturally wrapped her tail around him, which calmed the kit down. Applewhisker shared a nervous look with her from the edge of the big group.

Next to her, the ginger tabby she had fought the day before was clustered with a group of lonely cats. She looked hopeless, as if she knew she wouldn't survive.

But. There is a chance now. Hopefully these new Clans will mend our troubles.

A/N: Thanks a lot for the reviews, guys! Please remember to follow and favorite and share this with your friends!

:3 Kay