Hey everybody, once again I'm sorry for the long time in between updates. I really feel terrible for making you wait so long. I know I deserve it if people stop following my story because I keep taking so long but if your still out there *cries to fans* please please stick with this story.
As I said before I chose to scrap any ideas for a sequel to this story BUT what I am going to do is at the end of this story I will include a bonus chapter which will take place approximately 16 moons after this story ends so you can see what is going on with all your favorite chatacters. PLUS I am writing a fourth book but it isn't exactly a sequel, more like a side story that will be taking place in Shadowclan about the time that the bonus chapter was released (so approximately 16 moons after the ending of this story).
I decided that I would do another contest so here it is...
The first person to review with the correct answer to this question will win a private message with the alliances to my 4th book included PLUS you will get the prologue to the next story.
"Which of the following is the name of my new kitten?"
A) Aurora
B) Demeter
C) Esmeralda
GOOD LUCK!
The small Thunderclan patrol continued toward their camp, following the well-worn paths of their ancestors. The sun had finally reached its peak in the sky and Shimmerlight felt a shiver pass over her as the morning frost became dew clinging to her ginger pelt which was beginning to thicken as leaf-fall neared its end. There was a chill clinging to the air and crumpled dead leaves were lifted momentarily from the ground as the wind caressed them with its crisp touch.
Swankit had grown quiet and still as Shimmerlight carried her and the queen knew that every heartbeat that passed with the patrol outside the confines of camp was another heartbeat closer to the kits death.
Shimmerlight picked up the pace, desperate to get the weak kit to the safety of the Thunderclan nursery. Birdstrike impatiently would get a few foxlengths ahead of the deputy before turning around and heading back to the queen, checking on the kit, wishing the queen would move faster but knowing that too much jostling at this time could kill the kit.
As the entrance finally came into view Birdstrike raced ahead, disappearing into the camp. Shimmerlight entered the camp much more carefully so as not to harm the kit in her jaws. She could see that her clanmates were already gathered around the highledge waiting to see the kit and to hear the whole story. Birdstrike and Drizzlelight were standing nose to nose arguing near the center of the gathered cats. Shimmerlight spotted Willowfall standing between her siblings, her silver tabby fur standing on end as she tried to get her brother and sister to reach common ground.
Swiftbreeze sat beside the newly named Hazeshadow who had just become accepted as a full medicine cat at the half moon ceremony. The two young toms whispered to each other and Swiftbreeze's pelt was pricked anxiously as it always seemed to be these days.
Bluecloud sat with Stoneshine, Squirreltail and Skyshine, the group watching Shimmerlight curiously as they had each known her and trained with her their entire lives, each knowing the time before the war. Lionstreak sat nervously on the other side of Bluecloud, with Petalblossom beside him; the ginger tom's scruff was fluffed out reminding Shimmerlight of the fluffy fur that used to resemble a mane he sported as an apprentice. His silver mate looked down at her paws, not sure exactly what her feelings were about Riverclan. She had been an apprentice when the war really started and could remember Riverclan cats being at her very first gathering, they seemed exactly like Thunderclan cats to her at the time, but moons of fighting tended to forge new opinion, especially in the younger cats.
Flowertail, Mossdapple and Lichenfur sat not too far from Swiftbreeze and each she-cat looked around uneasily as they looked at Swankit, her Riverclan scent thick in the air. Amberstar came down from her seat on top of highledge and trotted over to Shimmerlight. Her amber eyes narrowed and her tail tip flicking back and forth as a serious look crossed her face.
"What is going on Shimmerlight" Amberstar asked "Why are you in procession of this Riverclan kit?"
"Reedstar has exiled her because she didn't begin nursing after she was born. Two of their cats came to me at the border and asked us to take her."
"You cannot promise such things without my permission" Amberstar began and Shimmerlight bowed her head as she was scolded, the kit giving a pitiful peep as her hindlegs brushed the cold ground "But given the situation I can easily see why you couldn't resist."
"If I left her behind she would have died" Shimmerlight argued, curling her tail tip around the quivering she-kit "I figured if I took her I could at least give her a chance at life."
"You also understand that this is a very delicate situation" Amberstar continued carefully "Many of the younger cats in this clan have strong feelings towards Riverclan, and for good reason."
"I understand" Shimmerlight meowed "But I remember a time before this war, when Riverclan could even be considered allies even friends. This kit is innocent of any crimes her clanmates have committed, or are we to condemn her to death just because she was born into Riverclan. That would make us no different than those who cast her away for being weak."
"You know I would never condemn a helpless kit" Amberstar reasoned "Of course she may stay, if you can find a queen that would be willing to nurse her. I cannot guarantee that her life will be easy but I can give her a chance"
Shimmerlight bowed her head respectfully, hisses sounded behind them as a cat stepped forward.
"Is this really your decision?" Drizzlelight spat "Don't we all have a say in whether or not we take in that trash?" the she-cat's tabby and white pelt was fluffed out and her eyes blazed fiercely.
Amberstar turned her attention to Drizzlelight and frowned "As Shimmerlight already said, this kit is innocent of her clan's crimes. I see no reason not to let her join and give her a chance to survive."
"After everything those foxhearts have done?" Drizzlelight snarled "They forced us away from Sunningrocks, steal our prey and killed our clanmates."
"All you have known in your life is this war Drizzlelight" Amberstar stated, her tail flicking back and forth showing the leader's annoyance "So I shall excuse your outburst, but all decisions are mine to make. I will not see an innocent kit persecuted in my clan."
"Have you forgotten about what happened to Minkstripe? What they did to him?" Drizzlelight snarled "They killed your mate, our father. And you have been letting them get away with it. Minkstripe would never forgive you" the tabby warrior shook her head mumbling to herself "I don't know how he could ever love you".
The pale tabby leader narrowed her amber eyes, baring her teeth at her daughter and her fur stood on end "How dare you speak to me this way, you will respect my decisions Drizzlelight. It is my job to protect every member of this clan. One day maybe you will be wise enough to see that."
Without another word the bristling tabby queen turned around and stormed towards her den, vanishing behind the screen of lichen hanging over the entrance.
The gathered Thunderclan cats sat in a stunned silence, the crisp Newleaf air blew through the camp lifting dead leaves from the ground and carrying them away in a tornado like fashion. Shimmerlight lifted her ice blue gaze from the trembling kit at her paws and looked directly at Drizzlelight.
"Stoneshine" the ginger deputy began, not taking her eyes off the tabby she-cat in front of her "I think perhaps our younger warriors need a refresher on what it is like to be apprentices again. Take Drizzlelight to the training hollow. When she returns I expect the queens to be fed and the elders attended to."
Stoneshine nodded, his long gray pelt fluffed out as he signaled the tabby she-cat to follow him. Drizzlelight narrowed her amber eyes directing a hateful glare at the deputy before following after her new "mentor".
"Squirreltail, take Skyshine and Flowertail to patrol the Riverclan border bring Icepaw with you as well. Bluecloud, take Birdstrike, Moonypaw and Snowpaw and check the Shadowclan border"
Squirreltail waved her tail, signaling her clanmates to follow her out of camp while Bluecloud cast his mate a worried look before leading his patrol out into the territory.
Without another word Shimmerlight lifted Swankit gently with her teeth and stormed into the nursery. Petalblossom entered a moment after, heading to her nest near the back of the enclosed den. Rosekit and Sweetkit were sitting outside the nest alert and curious about the clan's newest addition. Shimmerlight set Swankit down beside Petalblossom and the pretty silver tabby guided the small kit to suckle. When Swankit began nursing the silver tabby looked up at Shimmerlight smiling.
"Everything will be fine, I will make sure she stays warm and is well fed"
Shimmerlight bowed her head respectfully "Thank you Petalblossom"
"Who is that momma?" Sweetkit, a delicate silver tabby like her mother, spoke up. Her shimmering blue eyes were locked on the small white kit who was currently kneading her mother's soft belly fur.
Rosekit, a little less tactful than her sister, walked confidently up to the small kit and lowered her nose taking a huge sniff of the she-cat's scent.
"Ugh, gross" the small pale ginger cried, scurrying back a few steps "What is that? Why does she smell so bad?"
A purr rumbled in Shimmerlight's chest as she watched Lionstreak's kits interact with Swankit.
"That's because she is from Riverclan" Petalblossom explained "She is going to live here in Thunderclan now."
"But why?" Sweetkit inquired "Why isn't she living in Riverclan?"
Before Petalblossom could reply Rosekit puffed out her chest "Well obviously it's because Thunderclan is the best clan in the forest. Of course she would want to come live here." A loud purr rumbled in Petalblossom's chest at her daughter's outburst.
"Of course sweetheart, that's it exactly. Why don't the two of you wake up Mothkit and see if the elders will tell you a story."
Shimmerlight exits the den as the two kits race over towards Willowfall's nest and looks around the now nearly empty camp. Lichenfur sat near the small fresh-kill pile, removing old pieces of prey and seemingly selecting the best one for herself. Lionstreak lay out in the mid-day sun meticulously grooming his long pale ginger fur trying to tame unruly ring around his neck which led to his name as a kit.
She spotted Swiftbreeze sharing tongues with Hazeshadow, the two brothers had just finished sharing a chewy blackbird, evidenced by the pile of black feathers surrounding them. The ginger queen confidently walked up to her kits and the two toms looked up at her with identical soft blue eyes when she reached them.
"Swiftbreeze" Shimmerlight began, flicking her tail to let him know to follow her "Lets go hunting."
Sunvine sat beneath an old willow tree, his sandy striped fur fluffed out as a gust of chilly leaf fall air brushed past him. His gaze turned to a small pond that was a fox length to the left, the shallow pool wrapped around the base of the willow tree providing it will water year round. A small stream fed into the shallow pond allowing access to small fish and amphibians but the small water body quickly froze near the end of leaf-fall even in the mildest of leafbares.
Sunvine smirked as his stomach gave a small growl; his former clanmates would be starving right now while he remained fully fed through the course of leafbare due to Riverclan's choice of prey and the fact that the large river that made up the border between Riverclan and Thunderclan rarely froze completely through.
Rustling caught his attention and the sandy gray tom turned to see four shapes moving towards him. The three younger cats sat down in front of the tom while the oldest of the bunch moved to sit beside Sunvine. The older she-cat pressed her dark blue pelt against the tom's and he fought not to cringe away in disgust.
"What is the meaning of this Sunvine?" the older blue she-cat asked curiously "We do not normally meet so far to camp."
"We have some delicate matters to discuss Pebbleleap" the striped tom responded "Mintflower's death has shaken me. Thunderclan cannot go unpunished, even if Reedstar is too senile to see this. How many more of our clanmates must be killed before he will feel pressed to do something about it?"
Driftflight leapt to her paws, her yellow green eyes blazing and her black pelt raised as the tom mentioned her mother "We have to make those foxhearts pay for what they did."
Foamsplash laid her tail across her friend's shoulder "They will be punished; Reedstar cannot allow them to get away with this. We won't let him" she looked to Sunvine her amber eyes blazing like flames.
"Tonight I will consult with Reedstar and I expect you full cooperation if the discussion become public. Thunderclan must pay for their crimes, and we shall be the ones to deliver that punishment" Sunvine continued looking at each of his followers with a sharp yellow glare.
"What about Swirlspots?"
Sunvine turned a harsh glare to the large white tom with amber eyes who had spoken "What about her Lightbounce?"
"Well" Lightbounce continued, looking down at his paws nervously, he had only ever come to these meetings with Sunvine to impress Driftflight "She is the deputy, shouldn't she be consulted as well."
A growl rumbled in Sunvine's chest and his claws unsheathed, digging deep into the soft ground beneath his paws "Swirlspots is a coward, a sniveling fisheater" realizing he had used a taunt towards Riverclan cat from Thunderclan he quickly shook his head "She is not what this clan needs, she is too soft hearted to deliver the punishment that Thunderclan deserves. She showed her true feelings last night when she spoke out about that weakling Swankit."
"But she disposed of her, just as Reedstar ordered " Lightbounce arugued, defending his deputy despite his fear of the smaller sandy gray tom.
"That's what she wanted everyone to think" Sunvine meowed nonchalantly before puffing out his chest "But I was smart enough to follow her and Spottedwhisker, I followed them all the way to the stepping stones where they met with Thunderclan"
Driftflight snarled at the mention of the enemy clan and Foamsplash listened in shock.
"There they gave the kit to Thundeclan's deputy probably divulging our secrets as well" Sunvine's yellow eyes glazed over for a minute as the thought of sinking his claws into Shimmerlight's throat filled his mind.
"So she is a traitor as well" Pebbleleap meowed, almost in disbelief "Reedstar must be alerted to her treason."
A cruel smile tugged at Sunvine's lips as he stood up "Oh, I plan to expose her tonight."
Sunvine sat outside Reedstar's den, it was built from weaving dog wood branches together with the vine like stems and limbs from a willow tree.
"Come in Sunvine" Reedstar's scratchy voice camp from inside the dark dank den and Sunvine stood up holding his head high as he vanished within the den.
Inside the den was dark, the floor was damp from the saturated soils beneath Riverclan's camp, the smell of rotting fish hung in the air and Reedstar sat with his back to the sandy gray tom, his thick blue gray pelt was slightly matted and dusty. Suddenly the large tom turned his head, meeting Sunvine's yellow eyes with his own.
"What do you wish to speak to me about Sunvine?" Reedstar hissed, his yellow eyes hard, as he began to groom himself.
"I have come to express concern for the lack of response towards Mintflower's death" Sunvine started "Thunderclan must be punished; they cannot be allowed to continue to kill our clanmates."
Reedstar flinched at Sunvine's words and his lips curled into a sneer "Our clanmates?" a growl rumbled in his chest and his yellow eyes glazed over in pain "You wretched squirrel, don't you think I know that you're from Thunderclan" the tom snarled "That you killed her!" he began to sway his head back and forth mumbling under his breath "My daughter, oh my beautiful daughter."
Sunvine bowed his head, flattening his ears to his head as Reedstar mumbled incoherently "I've said it before sir, I was ordered by Amberstar to take her life. She said if she couldn't have her then no one could."
Reedstar snarled lashing his forepaw forward and crushing a decaying fish carcass under one of his large front paws "That weasel" he growled "She promised her to me, she promised she would not interfere"
"She killed my family too Reedstar" Sunvine continued "She held my family prisoner until I killed Mothpetal. She said she would let them live if I did what she asked, when I returned they were all gone." He laid his tail carefully across the tom's shoulders "That is why I left, and why I joined you. Amberstar is a monster" he whispered into Reedstar's ear "She must be punished, all of Thunderclan must be punished."
"Yes" Reedstar agreed, nodding his head "They all will pay!"
What did Sunvine and Reedstar mean when they spoke about Mothpetal? What does Amberstar have to do with any of it? Post you thoughts and ideas in your reviews. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. RRR
Thanks for reading, Tigerflower08