First of all, I would like to thank all of you who have reviewed and given me such nice comments. Thanks! I hope you enjoy this next chapter. For those of you who read but didn't review, it's okay. I'm thankful that you just read my story. ^_^ Credits go to Erin Hunter for the Warriors series that inspired this. Thank you for writing Erins! Without further ado, let's jump right into the story. Yes, it was hard, being the only Clan.
A long sigh blew out of Mistyfoot's nostrils. Her blue eyes were unfocused as dreams and thoughts spun behind her eyelids. The RiverClan deputy was worried, and rightly so. The water level rise on ThunderClan's territory was a huge cause for worry. Was RiverClan safe? They could swim anything of course, but she didn't want to risk losing cats.
And neither does Leopardstar. The RiverClan leader had appointed a sentry of one cat for every hour of the day. The current sentry was Pebblepaw, and Mistyfoot knew that the apprentice didn't like it. Then again, the two apprentices' warrior ceremonies were not far off. These cats would be the first warriors Leopardstar had made since the Clans left. It would be a very symbolic meeting. Pebblepaw and Minnowpaw were trying to prove themselves in every way possible. They deserved their names.
No sound filtered through the thick covering of the warriors' den. It was the middle of leaf-bare, and the RiverClan cats were learning hunger once more. Mistyfoot knew her own ribs were showing through her pelt, and gave one last sigh before rising to her feet in one graceful move. The Clan needed to be fed.
As Mistyfoot padded out into the icy clearing she sniffed at the air for warriors. There was only one scent; Beechfur, guarding the camp. With a heavy sigh she plopped down once more. She couldn't leave the camp undefended! Even though there were no Clans to threaten them any wild animal could decide to launch an attack there. Mistyfoot heaved another sigh. Her day was just going great.
The evening, Mistyfoot slowly bit through the silver fish she had gotten from the small fresh-kill pile. She savored each bite before passing it back to Willowpaw. Prey had become so scarce that the cats had started to share prey.
Mistyfoot fondly recalled the stories Stormfur had told her when she had pressed him for more details on Tribe life. Feathertail had been chosen by StarClan along with other warriors to find a badger, listen to her foretell the forest's destruction, and come back. They had encountered a type of Clan called a Tribe on the way back to the forest. Being with the Tribe had ultimately killed Feathertail, but Stormfur remembered everything and had told her of a custom in the Tribe where the cats shared prey. It was funny to think that RiverClan had adopted this custom and not gone with the other Clan cats.
Well, all of them stayed except for one. Stormfur went with the Clans because he wanted to be with the she-cat he had met and fell in love with in the Tribe – Brook Where Small Fish Swim. It was a sad story, especially since Stormfur had been her brother Stonefur's apprentice. But the thought of Stonefur was a bit too painful for tonight…..
Mistyfoot raised her head as Leopardstar picked her way through her warriors to stand in front of her. Immediately she rose to her feet, dipping her head in the deputy's gesture of respect to his or her leader. Leopardstar inclined her head – her way of saying hello – and then meowed "Your turn on sentry duty,".
Mistyfoot dipped her head in acknowledgement and took another bite of the fish. She rose to her paws and raced out of camp, eager to stretch her legs and her muscles.
The cold water of the river slid across her pelt as she swam across the channel to the river bank. It was only the cold that made Mistyfoot feel uneasy; the water was her friend, as it was to every RiverClan cat.
The gray she-cat padded up onto the opposite bank and didn't bother shaking herself dry when she raced away in the direction of the sentry post. The water spun off her coat in silver droplets, showering the hard ground with cold water as she ran. Mistyfoot knew that the water would freeze on the ground – it was that cold. Her thick coat had developed quickly to withstand the cold, though, so RiverClan wasn't suffering from that.
Mistyfoot reached the lookout spot in minutes. She swiped a glance at the ThunderClan territory and saw no difference – it was still covered with water. She could hear a faint hum in the distance knew, and knew it was the twolegs draining the forest. She sighed deeply, probably for the hundredth time that day. The twolegs sadly hadn't stopped doing whatever they were doing to the rest of the forest, but they hadn't bothered RiverClan. Nevertheless, hearing the twolegs made Mistyfoot think of asking Leopardstar to reconsider her decision.
But Leopardstar never would change it. She was too proud to admit that she had been wrong. But I can't hold that against here. She's still one of the best leaders RiverClan has ever had. Forget about Tigerstar. The alliance Leopardstar had formed with Tigerstar had caused her brother's death, but once more sharp needles of pain were spreading through her body, so she forced the thought out of her mind. It was like trying to swallow a tough piece of fresh kill – it just got harder and harder as time passed to send the thought away.
Mistyfoot sighed again and waited for her duty to end. She trained her blue eyes on ThunderClan's territory and never looked away.
A small meow startled her. Mistyfoot's gaze flicked upwards to see Dawnflower's pale gray coat and gentle but concerned amber eyes.
"Mistyfoot?" meowed the RiverClan warrior hesitantly.
Mistyfoot hastily stood up. "Duty over?" she asked briskly.
Dawnflower nodded, then added "Minnowpaw and Pebblepaw are having their warrior ceremony now, actually. We're leaving nobody on sentry so everybody can be there,".
Mistyfoot quickly masked the surprise flooding into her eyes. No sentry? She shook her head, nodded, masked her surprise, and led the way back to camp, feeling as though something bad might happen with no cat to watch the flooded territory.
When she entered the camp she was greeted by the sight of her Clan sitting down in front of the Bluerock. Leopardstar must have just called the meeting. She quickened her pace and sat in the deputy's spot at the front of the Clan. The rest of the cats fanned out behind her, and then made way for Pebblepaw and Minnowpaw.
Minnowpaw's coat was sleeker than ever, and the silver shone with new radiance. Her brother's dark brown coat looked light brown, so groomed was it. Light reflected off of both of their coats, and they looked blinding against the thin ice on the ground. Both of their eyes were flooded with excitement as they led the way to the Bluerock at the head of a procession of cats.
Right behind them were their mentors, Voletooth and Mosspelt. Voletooth's eyes were wide with pleasure, and Mosspelt looked as though she was holding back several loud purrs from erupting from her. Right behind them were Minnowpaw's and Pebblepaw's parents, Reedwhisker and Graymist. The four cats took a seat next to Mistyfoot while the two apprentices continued forward.
Leopardstar leaped off of the Bluerock and padded forward to stand in front of the apprentices. Her golden tabby coat and unusual spots made her look like a predator in the sunlight. Her amber eyes were gleaming with pride as she gazed up at the blue sky. No stars showed, but the full moon was showing through into the daytime. The full moon! Mistyfoot's pulse quickened. This ceremony was extra special.
Leopardstar began to speak, the ancient ceremonial words slipping easily off of her tongue.
"Cats of StarClan, I bid you to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand and follow the ways of your noble code, and I ask you to fill me with the power to make them warriors RiverClan will be proud of,".
Her gaze slid to the two apprentices, and she continued to speak.
"Pebblepaw, Minnowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to defend and fight for this Clan even if it may cost you your life? Will you go through thick and thin to prove the warriors of RiverClan are never to be underestimated? Will you throw forbidden love aside and keep your loyalty to this Clan no matter what?".
Mistyfoot flinched at the last part. She was halfClan herself. Her mother had been Bluestar, her father Oakheart. Half RiverClan, half ThunderClan. It had been hard to prove herself to her Clanmates after that information had been made public.
Pebblepaw and Minnowpaw both replied strongly "I do,".
Leopardwind nodded at them, as if in encouragement, and spoke the last part of the ceremony.
"Then by the power vested in me by StarClan I give you your warrior names. Pebblepaw, from this moment onward you will be known as Pebblequake. StarClan honor your commitment and endurance, and we welcome you as a full warrior of this Clan,". Leopardstar stepped forward to rest her head on the new warrior's own head, and Pebblequake licked her shoulder respectfully before stepping back. Leopardstar turned her attention to Minnowpaw.
"Minnowpaw, from this moment onward you will be known as Minnowstream. StarClan commend your faithfulness and loyalty, and you are welcomed by everyone as a full warrior of RiverClan,". Once more, Leopardstar rested her head on the new warrior's neck, and Minnowstream respectfully licked her shoulder before stepping back.
The chant rose from the ranks of RiverClan, gaining in volume until it was defeaning. "Pebblequake! Minnowstream! Pebblequake! Minnowstream!". To Mistyfoot, it was like they were yowling their existence to the stars. We're still here. We'll always be here. We're not weak. We're strong.
Mistyfoot was filled with happy thoughts and pride as she converged with the rest of the Clan onto the new warriors. Leopardstar hadn't mentioned their vigil, but it was a given; there was no need to mention it.
A quiet meow caught her attention. She flicked her head around and met Leopardstar's gaze. Leopardstar meowed "Can you go check on the flooded territory? I'll send a replacement at sundown,". Mistyfoot nodded, unquestioning, and left the camp.
The cold water, as usual, shocked her, and Mistyfoot was filled with a new alertness. Ceremonies were great, as they marked the progress and development of her Clan, but what was done was done; that was in the past. She had a duty to fulfill now.
It took her very little time to reach the sentry spot. She was filled with a daze as she sat and stared off into space. The territory would be the same, as always. It was a given. She sat still for a couple minutes, and then decided to quickly check. She flicked her gaze to the ThunderClan territory, and kept her gaze on it.
What she saw was not good. In seconds she was on her paws, fur bristling and eyes filled with astonishment. The water was dissipating quickly – too quickly. No twoleg machine could do that. She noticed that it was being sucked backward, but by what?
Her gaze searched the trees, and what she saw terrified her even more. Twolegs running and yowling with fright, and other forest animals fleeing as well. Nothing scares twolegs! This can't be happening! Her thoughts were getting jumbled, and she forced herself to calm down. Her blue eyes followed the line of trees, and then stopped when she saw what was coming for them.
RUN! The one thought, the one command, was her existence.