Chapter 28: The clan stalked by darkness...
Breezestar padded through the thunderclan forest, then he remembered. It was his forest. It was two sunrises after Darkclan had succeeded in taking territory from shadowclan and thunderclan, the borders had been set and the new territory was theirs. They had taken a small stretch of pine trees from shadowclan and the Greenleaf twolegplace along with the clearing, a stream that ran to the lake and then a small part of thunderclan woodland. It was good, a stream for the Riverclan cats, the clearing to remind the windclan cats of home, pines for shadowclan cats and woodland for thunderclan. Everyone felt at home. He sat beside the small stream watching Minnowtail and Icewing catch fish. Minnowtail was the more skilled cat. Her delicate paws hooking a small fish out of the water, scattering droplets everywhere. He didn't mind Minnowtail, suddenly she had proved herself a brilliant healer, she knew all the herbs and treatments and she had the patience and careful grace of Spottedleaf. Breezestar presumed that Starclan had taught her these teachings, not that he minded, it just meant they were closer to becoming a stronger clan.
Breezestar had never been this happy before. The cold Leafbare wind didn't even make him blink. The clan seemed happy, contented. He saw Blossomfall leading a hunting patrol from Thunderclan territory, it seemed to have gone well. She was carrying a squirrel about the size of an apprentice. She had Thornclaw behind her carrying a sparrow. He waved a tail to the spotted she cat, she grinned in reply. The two of them had become very close recently, Breezepelt didn't even care for the completion of other males, he knew that Blossomfall liked him.
He padded up to the former thunderclan warrior. "so, how's it going?" she mewed.
"Good! Icewing and Minnowtail are catching us some fish and Harespring has just brought back a HUGE rabbit!" Breezepelt grinned.
Blossomfall smiled at him then did something unexpected. She touched her nose to his and purred. Breezepelt was momentarily wide eyed then purred. "Thank you Breezestar, you saved us all" she whispered. "especially me, you do care about me don't you?"
Breezepelt purred. "Of course I do Blossomfall." He rubbed his head along her cheek.
"Breezestar! Breezestar!" Breezestar pricked his ears and turned to a panting Ratscar. He waited until the deputy had got his breath back and his breathing had returned to normal. "We've found a camp!"he flicked his tail beckoning Breezestar to follow. Breezestar nodded to Blossomfall and the three cats walked into Thunderclan territory. "Here it is!" called Ratscar.
Breezepelt walked into a large clearing, with several bushes with large, heat retaining leaves that would be ideal to shelter in, a large rock with a hole inside opening up to a larger opening under inside the rock. Probably the best part was, that there was a underground tunnel. Breezestar warily crept into the tunnel and to his delight found there were several larger openings underground, perfect for large dens. The best part was, that it didn't look like a camp, most of the dens would be safely hidden underground. It was brilliant. He crawled back out of the tunnel without much effort and grinned at Blossomfall and Ratscar. "Let's go and get the clan, they're going to love it!"
It was sunhigh when they had gathered the rest of Darkclan, Breezestar's clanmates loved it, the trees would make a sheltering canopy in the summer, and the large hazel bushes would keep them hidden. Also the camp had a natural defence of a covering of brambles nearby, it was the perfect place.
Breezestar leaped onto the large rock and raised his tail for silence. "Welcome, to the new camp of Darkclan!" the Darkclan cats yowled with excitement.
"This will be largerock, where we will hold meetings and rituals." He waved his tail at Minnowtail. "Any ideas on where you want your den?" he asked.
Minnowtail narrowed her eyes and looked around. "The opening under largerock will be perfect" she replied.
Breezestar nodded. "Ratscar and I explored the underground tunnel earlier on, there are enough dens for us all. The largest will be the warriors, it is nearest the entrance in case of attack. The apprentices will be the second one along. Then the queens could either be the other cave down there or one of the hazel bushes. The elders...I'm not quite sure, but none of us are old yet, that can wait."
All the warriors nodded. "Now feel free to explore, then tonight we will have a feast! Thanks to the hunting patrols that did very well today. We have bits of territory that are like each clan, giving us the chance to use our unique skills, this makes us stronger. Tonight, we will all go to the dark forest, and with their help, Darkclan will be the most feared clan around the lake!"
All the Darkclan warriors yowled their support. Breezestar grinned, his clan was going to be one of the legends.
It was moonhigh, Darkclan had feasted and everyone's bellies were full to the brim. Now, with the cold of Leafbare seeping in to all the cat's coats, they leaked into their dens filled with newly gathered moss. Breezestar flicked his tail to Blossomfall, she followed. "Where is your den? You never said." Blossomfall enquired. Breezestar grinned. "There's a abandoned fox den behind largerock, its only one tunnel leading to a opening, so there won't be any surprises in the night."
Blossomfall nodded. He led her down into the small opening. His den was filled with fresh smelling moss. Smelling of the ancient wind of the moors. It reminded Breezestar of his old home, then again..it never was home. He settled down into the nest with Blossomfall by his side, they curled up together, keeping each other warm.
Breezestar rejoiced when mist swarmed around him, smelling of swamps and blood. He knew he was in the dark forest, he felt like a lost kit returning home. "Greetings Breezestar." Growled Tigerstar. Breezestar dipped his head to the supreme leader of the dark forest. "Is Darkclan here?" Breezepelt growled, his ears pinning back, angry if they didn't arrive. "there's no need to worry, your clan is here, all of them, except Minnowtail. That mouseheart is being taught by Yellowfang the ways of the medicine cat."
Breezepelt flicked his tail with indifference. "As long as she does her job, I don't care what stupid mousehearts teach her."
Tigerstar eyed him and pinned back his ears. "I suppose so, but watch her... she might turn your warrior's loyalties away from you and from the dark forest." He flicked his thick fluffy tail. "Come on, we are having a session."
Tigerstar led Breezestar through the murky forest, the mud sucked at his small, black paws and the tree roots threatened to trip him up.
He was led into the clearing where they held meetings, he saw all his clan training. Ratscar was fighting Thistleclaw, Nightcloud was tackling Snowtuft, Hollowflight was wrestling with Hawkfrost and Mapleshade was overseeing a group fight between Thornclaw, Blossomfall and Harespring and Furzepelt.
Breezestar was paired with Brokenstar, which he thought was quite a privilege, the large tom with a damaged tail was one of the most skilled fighters, suggesting that Breezestar was turning out the same. Brokenstar narrowed his eyes and got into a pounce position, Brokenstar was very muscular, due to his constant training, however he was even more faded than last time, Breezestar was barely able to make out his outline. Breezepelt launched into the air and slashed the warrior's back, before he could escape the danger of Brokenstar's claws, Brokenstar chomped on his back leg and pulled him to the ground. Breezestar suddenly realised that to win this fight he needed to use his speed. He wrenched his leg out of Brokenstar's jaws and twisted under the larger warrior's legs, he nipped the tendons and wrenched his leg out from under him. Then before Brokenstar could react, he had his paw on his neck, ready to slash. "Enough" growled Tigerstar.
Breezestar released Brokenstar, the dark shadowclan warrior spat at him. Clearly not impressed that he lost. Tigerstar yowled, signalling for everyone else to stop fighting. The cats looked at him then untangled themselves from their opponents.
Tigerstar leapt onto the huge rock that was in the centre of the clearing. His amber eyes gleamed brightly compared to his body, which was now extremely faint. "cats of Darkclan, your clan is different, unique compared to the other clans. You train at night and day, and if you put your belief and trust into us... you will be the strongest warriors to ever walk the earth."
"For Darkclan!" shouted Hawkfrost.
"For Darkclan!" yowled the Darkclan warriors along with the dark forest cats.
"For the dark forest!" yowled Hawkfrost again.
"For the dark forest!" yowled all the warriors.
Minnowtail sat with Yellowfang, they were on the border of Starclan and the dark forest, they could hear the yowls of support coming from the dark warriors.
"My whole clan is training there...turning their backs on Starclan.." whispered Minnowtail.
Yellowfang nodded solemnly.
"I thought if I became the medicine cat, or healer as they say, I could keep their connection with Starclan." Minnowtail whispered bitterly.
"The dark forest has its own clan now, named after their hearts and their home. Tigerstar is whispering into the ears of Breezestar, guiding him to do what he wants, Darkclan bases its rituals to the dark forest, they believe in them now. Not us." Yellowfang hissed.
"Thanks to you I can heal them, but I don't have the power to bring them back into the light, they will train in the dark forest, they might even change the warrior code." Minnowtail gasped.
Yellowfang licked her chest fur, forcefully shoving it down with a rough tongue. "there is a prophecy that Starclan believes could be the key to peace."
Minnowtail turned her head to look at her. "What?"
"There is also a prophecy that speaks of the rise of the dark forest." Yellowfang continued.
"What are they?" whispered Minnowtail.
"a great evil is coming, welling up from the heart of every clan ,four will be forgotten, the ashes from the blaze will rise and combine to create a new storm" Yellowfang said, her voice sounded ancient and she looked like someone else was using her tongue.
"That's the dark forest one, what's the other?" Minnowtail urged.
"Five, the rulers of the stars, the kin of Thunderclan's strongest blood will rise to battle the ghosts of the forgotten past. They will face great terror and tragedy to defeat the shadows that deceive us in the dark." Yellowfang whispered.
"So your saying that five cats with thunderclan blood will defeat the dark forest?" Minnowtail asked.
Yellowfang shook her head. "That is the prophecy, but we don't know if they will succeed."
Yellowfang suddenly stiffened. Her eyes grew distant, her gaze reaching the stars. "the phrophecy..."
Her yellow gaze shot at Minnowtail. "The five... some are coming...some are on their way!"
Minnowtail's eyes widened. "What some are being born!?"
Yellowfang's eyes burned like fire. "The prophecy is beginning!"
DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNN!
OHHHHHH some of the five are being born! yayness!
There is only about two more chapters of this book, then I'm going to start THE NEXT ONE!
I promise it will be far better than this book!
Can't wait!
Till next time!
Neon xxx
