Aurorastar watched with wide eyes as Oak's body was laid in the middle of the clearing. Wounds covered her pelt, and a deep gash in her throat showed the killing wound to the small rogue she cat.
A timid looking dark brown and white tabby she cat stood behind Falcon, three tiny kits at her paws. Her light green eyes darted from cat to cat around the camp, as if she expected them all to leap at her and attack her kits. She quickly curled her soft tail around her kits protectively.
Aurorastar trotted over to the she cat, hoping she wouldn't scare her. The she cat flattened her ears against her head when she saw Aurorastar moving towards her, but a comforting lick on the ear from Cherry calmed her down.
"I am sorry about your loss," Aurorastar said, sympathy filling her gaze. "If you would like, we can settle you in the nursery with your kits. There are a few other queens in there that I am sure would help care for your kits while you rest."
Reluctantly, the she cat nodded. "My name is Flower," she murmured, giving a small yet polite nod. "And this is Robin, Wren, and Hawk." She pointed at two dark brown and black she cats and a stocky dark brown tom.
Aurorastar licked each kit to show friendliness and politeness. Flower gazed down at her small kits proudly, and her eyes shown with love.
Aurorastar led Flower to the nursery, picking up Robin gently by the scruff. Flower grabbed Wren, and Eclipsewing helped to bring Hawk, flicking her ears as the little tom squealed with protest.
When Flower and her kits were settled and the queens began caring for the four of them, Aurorastar and Eclipsewing exited the nursery. Aurorastar padded over to Nightglow. As she walked over, she passed Falcon and Cherry, who had their noses buried in Oak's cold fur. Aurorastar glanced at them with sympathy and grief before going over to talk to Nightglow about the patrol's experience at the DarkClan camp.
"It was like a nightmare," Nightglow shivered when her leader came over. "The cats looked like they were made of darkness, and blood covered their fur. Owlstar and Snowstar were nowhere to be seen, and Darkstar was also not in sight. We did, however, meet up with his deputy, Foxclaw. She is quite the fighter, I had to chase her off myself. We didn't get too much trouble with fighting though." Nightglow bristled her fur in terror. "By the time we had gotten there, Oak had already been killed. A few other bodies lay nearby, luckily only one of them was a Clan cat."
"Who was it?" Aurorastar asked anxiously.
"Hailpelt of WindClan," Nightglow answered, flattening her ears. "I hear his mother was WindClan and his father was RiverClan. Apparently he put up a good fight, because one DarkClan warrior lay nearly dead at his claws."
Aurorastar shivered. "Poor Hailpelt. I can't believe what Darkstar is doing. It's awful!" she snarled in anger.
"What are you going to do about it?" Nightglow asked. Her ears pricked when Aurorastar quickly told her about her plan.
"I'd like you to come on the patrol tomorrow," Aurorastar mewed. "The other Clans may take us more seriously when the deputy is there as well."
Nightglow dipped her head. "I would be honored. I will do whatever I can to help SunClan through this."
Aurorastar smiled. Nightglow is a good deputy and a loyal warrior. I just hope the rest of the Clan feels the same and that my plan will work. I will just have to wait and see.
The next day, Aurorastar led the patrol through SunClan territory, heading toward the StormClan border. She was followed by Nightglow, Starwhisper, Seaserpent, and Blackwhisker. Blackwhisker, though young, padded ahead with determination, his black and brown fur bristled. Seaserpent walked nearby, but her dark brown fur was smooth and glossy as she walked through the sunlight.
"Careful," Aurorastar called. "We are on StormClan territory now. And remember, don't show any aggression." She casted Blackwhisker and Seaserpent a warning glance.
"I smell StormClan," Nightglow growled as they walked a little deeper into their territory. Blackwhisker jumped suddenly as a slender black she cat jumped out of the ferns, her pelt covered with white streaks and her blue eyes sparkling. Behind her stood a white tom, a gold and white she cat, and a silver tabby she cat. Seaserpent cuffed Blackwhisker over the ear when she noticed the tom staring admirably at the black she cat in the front.
"Bravespirit," Aurorastar greeted the black she cat, recognizing her from Gatherings. Bravespirit dipped her head, muscles rippling under her sleek pelt.
"Welcome, Aurorastar. What brings you to StormClan territory?" Bravespirit tilted her head, blue eyes shining with interest.
"We should chase them out!" the white tom hissed, lashing his tail.
"Shut up, Iceshard," the silver tabby she cat growled. "They must be here for a reason, otherwise their leader wouldn't be here."
Iceshard flattened his ears. "You are way too bossy, Willowwisp." The silver she cat ignored the white tom's comment.
Starwhisper's tail curled in amusement. "Can we talk to Lightstar and Loststar? It's important."
Aurorastar recalled that StormClan was an unusual Clan compared to others. It was led by two leaders rather than one, and the leaders shared different responsibilities. StormClan also had no deputies.
Bravespirit nodded, quickly shooting a glare at Iceshard and Willowwisp before turning around toward's StormClan's camp.
"What do you think they want to talk about?" Aurorastar detected the soft whisper of the gold and white she cat.
"I don't know, but we will find out soon. Don't worry, Brightsun," Bravespirit replied, licking Brightsun's ear. Judging by the closeness and similar looks of the two she cats, Aurorastar guessed that Bravespirit and Brightsun were sisters.
"The StormClan camp is just up ahead," Willowwisp mewed, her voice in a friendly tone. Aurorastar dipped her head and followed Bravespirit into camp.
The camp was full of warriors, who shot curious glances at the SunClan cats. A few hissed with hostility, but the SunClan warriors ignored their rudeness.
A large white tom with yellow patches walked out to greet them. He dipped his head respectfully to Aurorastar, and she immediately recognized Lightstar.
"Loststar is out on patrol at the moment," Lightstar mewed. "I am afraid you won't see her until later. Bravespirit says you have importance to discuss." He wrapped his tail around his paws and fixed his golden eyes on Aurorastar expectantly. The rest of the StormClan cats gathered near their leader to hear what news the SunClan cats brought them.
"Has Darkstar come to you yet?" Aurorastar asked, trying not to snarl at the name of the treacherous leader.
Lightstar flattened his ears. "Yes. What does it have to do with SunClan?" His eyes blazed with anger, and a quick flash of fear crossed his face.
"Then you have heard of his proposal," Aurorastar growled. Lightstar gave a curt nod, and a chorus of snarls echoed through the camp.
"And will you join him?" she asked.
"StormClan will never join that heap of fox dung!" Lightstar spat. His words were followed by yowls of agreement from his warriors.
Aurorastar dipped her head. "SunClan feels the same. We do, however, need to figure out a way to stop him. He now runs over three Clans, possibly more. SunClan and StormClan alone could not defeat DarkClan."
Lightstar looked deeply troubled. "This is true. What do you suggest? You must surely have a plan."
"I do," Aurorastar mewed. "The Clans who have also refused Darkstar create a temporary alliance amongst themselves to defeat DarkClan."
Lightstar looked baffled. "But will that be enough? DarkClan has nearly ripped apart some of our patrols. How do we know we will also not be ripped like prey?"
"I cannot promise safety," Aurorastar said, shaking her head. "But I know that StarClan will guide us through this, and SunClan will do whatever it takes to destroy DarkClan."
"I will help," a dark brown tabby tom stepped forward, his amber eyes gleaming.
"As will I. I will stand beside my brother," a silver and white tom said, standing next to the brown tabby.
"I can't let Falconcry and Blizzardstorm have all the fun!" a fiery ginger tom cuffed the silver tom over the ear.
"I will fight for StormClan!" Bravespirit yowled, and many other cats joined in.
Bravespirit would make a good deputy if StormClan had one, Aurorastar remarked. She seems quite popular among StormClan.
Lightstar took a step forward, his gleaming eyes narrowed. "StormClan will fight alongside SunClan."
Lightstar's words were followed by yowls of approval. Lightstar raised his tail for silence. "We will meet you at the Great Oak on the full moon. Let us hope that other Clans join us, and that StarClan lights our path."
Aurorastar dipped her head, eyes sparkling. Fear us, DarkClan!
The moon was high in the sky by the time the patrol had reached their comforts of the SunClan camp. After visiting five Clans, they were exhausted, pelts ruffled and eyes glazed.
"How was it?" Eclipsewing's excited voice echoed through the hollow.
Aurorastar leapt onto Brightledge to address the whole Clan. They were already seated below, tails flicking impatiently.
"SunClan was successful!" Aurorastar yowled. Cries of joy and triumph followed. "StormClan, NightClan, and CloudClan will fight alongside SunClan!"
"What about ThunderClan?" A voice spoke below Aurorastar, and she recognized it as the voice of Swiftpaw.
Aurorastar shook her head. "Leafstar and ThunderClan have joined DarkClan." She waited a few moments until the yowls of anger calmed down. "DarkClan wanted another Clan to join them, but ThunderClan refused. For persuasion, DarkClan took Gorseclaw and Whitefire of ThunderClan as hostages. ThunderClan could not let their warriors die. They agreed, but after they did, DarkClan killed Gorseclaw and Whitefire anyway."
"DarkClan are cowards!"
"Why would they do something so horrible?"
"ThunderClan was weak!"
"We will not fall like they did!"
"No," Aurorastar said, "we will not! SunClan will remain strong, and we will drive out DarkClan!"
Hope you liked it! I know StormClan's organization can be kind of confusing. It was created by an RP friend of mine. Lightstar is the more powerful leader. He makes important Clan decisions, calls most meetings, organizes patrols, stuff like that. Loststar is in charge of warrior and apprentice training and ceremonies. They have no deputies, like it said in the chapter. Hope it's not super confusing! :)