Chapter 1: The Gathering
Author's Notes: A special thanks to Seinablaze88 for being my first reviewer (when I found that someone finally reviewed my story, I was ecstatic)! Well anyways, please read and review!
With scents of the numerous cats mingling beneath the great tree swirling around him, Lightningpaw padded around and tried without luck to join in on a conversation with a warrior from another clan as his nervousness held him back. This was his first gathering and he was excited to finally meet a cat from another clan aside from the brief meetings and scuffles during border patrols. With a sudden burst of courage and tail high in the air, he fell upon a group of apprentices. "Must be lucky today," Lightningpaw thought as he sniffed out the musky pine smell of Shadowclan, the fishiness of Riverclan, and the smell of rabbits of Windclan originating from the trio of cats who were chatting without a care in the world. Lightningpaw did a double take. Ok, maybe it was only the dark gray Riverclan she-cat talking up a storm while tan Windclan tom added a few points here and there while the black Shadowclan she-cat sulked and half listened, but you get the point.
"Hey, I'm Lightningpaw, may I join you guys?" asked the grey tom as he stopped behind the still vigorously talking Riverclan."Oh Starclan, when is she going to stop talking!" thought Lightningpaw as the Riverclan apprentice continued rambling on and on. The thick-furred Riverclan she-cat slowed down for a moment and took a deep breath. "No you may not." stated the black brooding Shadowclan apprentice dismissively with a glare before the other cat but that went unheard by the Riverclan cat as she moved over to let him into the circle. After a quick thanks courtesy of Lightningpaw, the hyperactive Riverclan apprentice started talking again."Okay now for introductions!" meowed the talkative she-cat with flourish. "Really Creekpaw? Now's not the best time for that. The leaders are about to speak! Pay more attention to your surroundings!" whispered the midnight she-cat with annoyance. "That was mean Shadepaw!" meowed the Creekpaw with mock hurt in her voice. "Quiet down you guys!" interrupted the neglected Breezepaw as he tried without luck to play the peacekeeper. But before he could continue, a booming voice echoed throughout the hollow.
"Thunderclan is doing well! Though it is leaf-bare, the prey is still running and every cat goes to sleep well fed! Also Honeymoon has given birth to three strong kits that will continue to uphold the legacy of Thunderclan!" was loudly stated by the tabby Thunderclan leader, Lionstar. The tom then looked to Sharpstar of Shadowclan and was awarded with a heated glare from the leader of the mysterious clan. "Cats of all clans!" boomed the pitch-black leader, "Thunderclan has been stealing prey from Shadowclan's territory!" Gasps of shock and growls could be heard in the near silence that proceed the accusing statement. "Last night, a patrol led by Redheart found traces of Thunderclan scent lingering in our territory among piles of prey bone near the border!" "We have not even stepped one paw-length into that appalling land of yours and yet you believe that we hunted there! That is absurd!" defended Lionstar while quaking in fury. "STOP!" shouted Poppywhisker into the tension filled air. "Stop this nonsense! This is not the time to be arguing for there is a danger that threatens life as we know it!" This brought a chilling silence to the entire hollow.
"The other medicine cats and I have all been given a prophecy during our last half-moon meeting with Starclan!" Poppywhisker shouted to the crowd of stunned cats. "We were told not to tell the clans until the gathering in that it will affect all of the clans equally." Continued Windclan's medicine cat, Flowersong. "Well then what is the prophecy?" questioned Windclan's leader as the rest of the cats in the hollow leaned forward with ears pricked while dreading what could be said. As one, the four medicine cats stated the prophecy in a mystical voice. "The clans will face the forefathers of an enemy who made a cat lost face. This enemy will be their greatest one yet. To prevent this ill fate, one from each united will save their homes but only if they bear the shadow of the names of the earliest ones that came before. Each one shall carry the power bestowed upon them with a heart of gold, lest this great power be the death of the clans."Fear-filled whispers of 'death of the clans' and greatest enemy sprang up everywhere as all the cats bunched together, all previous wrongdoings forgotten, as they tried to find a feeling of safety in the suddenly dark night. "Thunderclan! We're leaving!" shouted Lionstar, taking one fourth of the cats with him. "Shadowclan! Follow me" stated a shaken up Sharpstar with a thin mask of calm as the rest of the cats dispersed to their homes. The clouds lifted and the cry of a wolf could be heard in the still night air.
Please Review!
P.S Still looking for a Beta. If anyone wants to beta this story, please PM me or write a review saying that you want to!