Atliersky- Yeah, this is the build up to the battle and Thunder is strong so no matter what he'll pull through.
Warning again: This book is just gonna be sad really. Unless you've read DOTC then you know what I mean.
Alright, here starts the third book with a new POV dropped.
Swiftpaw narrowed his eyes as he watched Thunder help Cinderpaw all the way back to the SkyClan forest. He stayed in the tree throughout the night afterwards, wondering what he would tell Thistlestar.
I have to tell him the truth. It's the loyal thing to do, he thought. Besides, maybe if Cinderpaw hadn't been so stupid she would still be in the Clan.
Swiftpaw jumped from the tree and headed back towards camp as the sun started to rise. He pushed the tiredness he felt away. He didn't have time to feel tired.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of ginger and turned to see Brackenpaw headed towards him.
"Is Cinderpaw really gone?"
"Yes." He rolled his eyes. Was Brackenpaw that stupid? Where else would she be going?
"How come Thunder isn't back yet? He's been gone all night."
"Uh, he'll be back soon, I'm sure," Swiftpaw lied. He wouldn't tell anyone the truth of Thunder's intentions until he'd confronted his leader.
Thistlestar would decide what to do with the traitor.
The two apprentices entered camp and Swiftpaw looked around for Thistlestar. He assumed he was still in his den since he couldn't see the spiky gray-and-white tom.
He padded confidently over to Highrock and called out. When Thistlestar allowed him to enter he excitedly burst out, "Thunder betrayed us! He's helping Cinderpaw get away with the kits!"
Thistlestar's nostrils flared as he snarled in anger. "What?"
Swiftpaw nodded eagerly. "He said he was just spying on ThunderClan and now he's going back to SkyClan!"
"After everything I did for that ginger idiot!" Thistlestar growled as he started pacing before he paused and purred almost menacingly, "oh, he'll pay alright."
"Are you gonna kill him?" Swiftpaw breathed.
"No," Thistlestar meowed. Swiftpaw was confused at the gleam in his eyes as he meowed, "but I'll make his family and friends suffer, so that he may have the knowledge of knowing his betrayal was what caused his friends' suffering!"
Swiftpaw gulped. That sounded a little too extreme. But then again, Thunder was a traitor. Traitors deserve whatever they get.
Even if it means hurting innocent cats, that didn't do anything?
He was snapped out of his thoughts when Thistlestar meowed to him, "are you loyal to me?"
"O-of course," Swiftpaw stammered, wondering where this was going.
"Good. I think it's time you were made a warrior."
Swiftpaw brightened at that, ready to burst. Finally! After failing his fighting assessment twice, he thought he'd never be able to become a warrior.
"It takes only dedicated, loyal warriors to stay up all night and watch over those who need to be watched. I know some of the Clan doubt me…"
"I don't!" Swiftpaw meowed quickly.
"Of course," Thistlestar meowed. "From now on I want you to join Tigerclaw in being my eyes and ears for the Clan."
"Oh, okay," Swiftpaw meowed, feeling a tad bit nervous, but honored at the same time. He was now on good terms with his leader! "Are you gonna say anything about Thunder?"
"No, I don't want the Clan to take punishment lightly. Cinderpaw was lucky Thunder had a change of heart to help her."
Swiftpaw nodded. So they would keep what happened to Cinderpaw and Thunder quiet.
"Come along." Thistlestar led the way out of the den and jumped onto the Highrock. "Gather around everyone!"
Swiftpaw had noticed nowadays that Thistlestar would use that calling instead of the other one. Well, what's wrong with cats too young to see me become a warrior? It's not like we're throwing them into battle or anything.
Everyone slipped from their dens and crowded under Highrock. Goldenflower, who had recently moved to the nursery again with Tigerclaw's kits slipped out and looked at Swiftpaw, confused, before realization lit up her eyes and she purred.
Swiftpaw was just glad she didn't rush over, trying to groom him or whatever.
"ThunderClan, today we take in a new warrior."
Swiftpaw looked around, happy to see the Clan nodding in approval.
"I, Thistlestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors," Swiftpaw noticed a slight lip curl of disgust from his leader at the mention of StarClan, but he didn't think much of it. "To look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your code and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn."
"Swiftpaw, do you promise to uphold the code and protect and defend this Clan even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," Swiftpaw immediately replied. Here was the moment!
"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Swiftpaw you will now be known as Swiftclaw. StarClan honors your speed and loyalty and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan!"
Swiftclaw, the black-and-white tom repeated in his head. He finally had his warrior name!
He smiled as cats crowded around to congratulate him. He ducked away from his mother as she licked his ears, purring. Longtail, his half-brother and now former mentor, padded up.
"Great job. I knew you'd make it soon. I'm proud of you."
Swiftclaw purred. "Thank you." Longtail had been a really good and encouraging mentor. The apprentices came last.
"Congratulations!" Brightpaw purred, nuzzling him. His heart beat and he smiled at her, feeling elated.
Brackenpaw nudged his shoulder, grinning as well. "Good name too."
"I'll be a warrior soon," Thornpaw meowed, looking slightly envious, but he, too, seemed happy for him, butting his head against Swiftclaw's shoulder.
Before the Clan could move away back to their duties, Thistlestar called for attention again.
"I just wanted to remind you that there is no room for disloyalty in the Clan," He growled, threatening. Swiftclaw noticed him glare at Bluefur, who glared right back. Mossflower looked between the two bewildered and nervous.
Swiftclaw secretly admired the blue cat's courage.
"Now we must prepare for battle," he meowed. "It is leafbare, after all and the other Clans will be defensive. We especially have to be prepared for SkyClan to attack us at our weakest."
He means Thunder. He's probably back in SkyClan now, sharing all our secrets with his friends. Swiftclaw growled a little at the thought.
"SkyClan?" Mousefur muttered. "Those guys hardly bother anyone."
Thistlestar had heard and turned on the she-cat, who barely refrained from flinching. "Exactly. They act all good-hearted and innocent, but really they're just making us think they're no threat until they strike without us knowing."
Swiftclaw could see that some of the Clan was actually looking convinced.
"We'll start training everyone," Thistlestar decided. "With claws." As some of the Clan traded horrified looks, Tigerclaw smirked.
With claws?
"Whitestorm and Stonefur, I want you to fight each other," Thistlestar ordered. The two toms exchanged dubious looks. "Mousefur and Darkstripe can fight next."
Mousefur didn't look nervous, (Darkstripe wasn't that great a fighter) but she did look annoyed.
The elders sat outside their den, looking bewildered, but they kept quiet.
Whitestorm and Stonefur faced each other reluctantly.
"Can we watch?" Ashkit asked excitedly from the nursery. His sister, Fernkit stood beside him with Cricketkit, who would be apprenticed any day now.
"Yes, it's best to start learning as soon as possible," Thistlestar purred, indulging. Brackenpaw shot him an uncertain look before the apprentice looked away.
Brindleface hesitated for a moment before she beckoned the kits to her and they all huddled by her side.
Stonefur dropped into a crouch before he launched himself at the white tom. They collided, falling to the ground with a thump, snow puffing out.
Stonefur raised both his forepaws and slammed them onto Whitestorm, holding him down.
It knocked the air from the white warrior's lungs. He kicked out, throwing Stonefur off, who slipped on the snow. Brindleface had to pull the kits back before they got crushed. The kits squealed with fear and excitement, jeering the two warriors on.
"Finish him, Whitestorm!" Thistlestar called to his son as Stonefur collapsed to the ground.
Whitestorm was getting up again, rage burning in his eyes as he tackled his cousin.
He hit hard, smashing Stonefur to the ground. Stonefur grabbed Whitestorm's leg in his jaws and pulled until he fell. He lunged down to the white tom's neck and Swiftclaw tensed.
"Enough!" Thistlestar rushed forward and pushed Stonefur away. "You both fought well."
If the two cousins fought like that against each other, Swiftclaw wondered what they would be like against their enemies in battle.
Thistlestar, smiling with satisfaction, called Mousefur and Darkstripe forward next.
Thistlestar is right. We'll become better fighters if we train with claws, Swiftclaw thought. They only ever used claws when he would assess the apprentices before now.
But looking around, the black-and-white tom could still see doubt in some of his clanmates' eyes as Mousefur triumphantly pinned Darkstripe down, claws digging into his shoulders.
Gray Wing lied outside the warrior's den, grooming Turtle Tail as they watched the kits play.
"One, two, three…" Pebble Heart was counting while Owl Eyes, Sparrow Fur and Cloud Tail raced away to hide.
Cloud Tail looked around before he plopped down into the snow, flattening himself as much as possible before closing his eyes. Owl Eyes climbed a little tree. Sparrow Fur hid in the apprentice's den.
Gray Wing stood when he noticed the next patrol had returned. Ravenpaw was with Frost and Falling Feather. Gray Wing was happy to see the black tom more confident and at ease then when he had first arrived.
He stood to his paws and meowed, "Shattered Ice, Jackdaw's Cry and Gorse Fur, can you all hunt?" The two moor cats had started staying more in the Clan as if they were officially a part of SkyClan. Gray Wing would have to talk to Skystar about it.
"Is it time to eat?" Sparrow Fur asked, racing out of her hiding spot. Pebble Heart tagged her, stating she had found her.
"Eat?" Cloud Tail jumped up from his camouflage and raced over. Pebble Heart calmly tagged him too.
"Owl Eyes, you win! You can come out now!" Pebble Heart called.
"Hey, no fair!" Sparrow Fur pouted.
"Not yet, kits," Turtle Tail replied, shooing them away
"I'll come with you," Hawk Swoop offered. "We need more eyes than ever in leafbare."
Gray Wing had a feeling she was talking about more than hunting. After asking if it was okay for Pebble Heart, Gray Wing had shared the kit's dream about the fight with Thistlestar to Skystar and the whole Clan had been alert.
Skystar hadn't mentioned that it was Pebble Heart's dream to Gray Wing's relief, just that he himself had had it as if it were a rare sign of StarClan speaking to the SkyClan leader.
"Thunder!" Rainswept Flower suddenly exclaimed.
"What? Is it gonna rain?" Gray Wing didn't like that sound of freezing rain and snow at the same time.
"No, Thunder!" Ash Blaze meowed, jumping to her paws as the entrance rustled and in stepped the ginger tom.
Hawk Swoop followed, green eyes shining with joy.
"Thunder!" Gray Wing and Skystar exclaimed at the same time.
"You've grown," Hawk Swoop murmured.
It was true. The tom was bigger than Hawk Swoop and most of the cats now.
"I hope you don't mind me coming back," the ginger tom murmured nervously.
"You've come home?" Air Leap murmured, stepping forward and brushing muzzles with his brother. Their sisters followed and greeted him as well.
"Thunder…" Skystar stepped forward hesitantly.
"Who's that?" Petal asked, looking at a young gray she-cat beside him and then she gasped when she noticed the kits between the two young cats. "Who's kits are those?"
"Misty," Thunder murmured sadly.
Petal stared with wide eyes before she rushed forward and snatched up the tom-kit. Rainswept Flower grabbed the she-kit and followed the yellow tabby to the nursery.
"You found Misty's kits?" Skystar asked his son.
"No, ThunderClan did…" he trailed off. "We kept them for a little while, but when she was getting kicked out for her broken leg," he nodded at the gray she-cat, who's blue eyes were fixed on her paws. "Thistlestar wanted me to take her and the kits away to rot, so we came here."
Gray Wing shared a relieved look with his brother. So he was just helping a friend. He's still the same Thunder, after all.
"What's your name?" Fire Heart asked as he slipped through the crowd with Ravenpaw and Jagged Peak behind him.
"Cinderpaw."
"Come with me." Cloud Spots stepped forward, noticing her discomfort. "You too, Jagged Peak." The gray tabby followed after the two curiously, limping through the snow.
"At least Jagged Peak has someone who understands him now," Gray Wing mused.
"Wait a minute," Skystar meowed, eyes narrowed on Cinderpaw.
"What?" Half the Clan asked simultaneously.
"She's the apprentice I saved from the Thunderpath! The day I went to meet Thistlestar! I lost one of my lives, trying to get her out of the way, but it was too late."
"Wait, so Thistlestar tried killing one of his own apprentices?" Tall Shadow whispered.
"No, she must have come there out of orders," Skystar meowed. "The other cat who fetched me~Graystripe I think, looked shocked like she shouldn't have been there."
"And now because of his evilness she got crippled and kicked her out?" Tall Shadow spat in disgust.
Gray Wing shook his head to clear it of these revelations.
"Thunder!" Turtle Tail's kits raced to greet the ginger tom, but Cloud Tail followed more slowly, looking warily at Thunder.
"Who's this?" Thunder asked, eyeing the fluffy white kit, who had stopped a fox-length away.
"Oh, this is my nephew Cloud Tail. My sister in Twolegplace gave him to me to bring up in the Clan," Fire Heart explained.
"Huh, what have I missed?"
"Maybe if you hadn't run off, you would know," Wind Runner muttered and Thunder winced.
Gray Wing gave her a look, but he understood her bitterness. After all, Thunder had apparently watched her almost get killed.
"I'm sorry…" Thunder sighed.
"Maybe if you told us why you went to ThunderClan we would understand your motives better."
Gray Wing turned to see Leaf pushing his way forward. Thunder eyed his mentor awkwardly.
"Hi, Leaf."
"Hey, Thunder," Leaf said, smiling kindly.
Thunder took a deep breath and meowed, "if I told you, you could be in danger from Thistlestar."
"That's okay, we can handle him," Fircone meowed confidently.
"And yet half of his own Clan can't even stand up to him?"
Everyone blinked at him, confused.
"Fine, let's start from the beginning when I went out to hunt early one leafbare morning…"
Fire Heart awoke when he heard some shifting and then pawsteps. He lifted his head to see Gray Wing slipping out of the den and then he realized he could hear kit cries.
Earlier that day, Thunder had told his tale and had mentioned the mysterious she-cat. Who is she? He thought. Was she a spy or a cat who just helped from time-to-time?
Everyone had believed Thunder and had even been impressed by his will to act loyal to ThunderClan in order to get out of his situation alive.
Wind Runner was still a bit sour towards him though.
Worried, Fire Heart silently slipped after him. When he peeked in, Gray Wing was comforting Pebble Heart. Cloud Tail and the others slept on.
"Is he okay?"
Gray Wing jumped.
"Sorry, I had to see what was up. I thought it was Cloud Tail."
Gray Wing nodded. "He has dreams…" he nodded at Pebble Heart, who he had soothed back to sleep.
Fire Heart blinked. "We all do."
"No, prophetic dreams," Gray Wing hissed.
Fire Heart's eyes widened. "Do you think…?"
"Yes. He has a connection with StarClan."
"Does anyone else know?" Fire Heart asked and Gray Wing shook his head.
"You're the first I've told. Not even Turtle Tail knows."
Fire Heart nodded. "I'll keep it a secret. I promise."
Gray Wing smiled gratefully.
The icy wind whirled snow into Graystripe's face as he struggled down the ravine toward the ThunderClan camp, gripping a raven in his jaws. He had been lucky to find something as big as it.
A moon had passed since Thunder had suddenly disappeared after taking Cinderpaw away.
Frostfur had been happy, stating it was StarClan getting back at him.
Graystripe wondered why no one found fault in Thistlestar, who had given the order in the first place.
The gray tom's stomach suddenly growled. He hadn't eaten since the previous night. It was a harsh leafbare alright.
The gray tom pushed into camp, dislodging snow from over the gorse tunnel. The trees around the camp offered shelter, but the clearing was still deserted. Everyone preferred to stay inside and keep warm while the snow fell.
There were pawprints outside the apprentice's den and he smiled. Cricketkit~now Cricketpaw~ had joined his apprentice and his littermates in their den. She had been apprenticed to Mousefur.
He shivered when he remembered Thistlestar stating how he was trusting Mousefur to give her another chance to have an apprentice. His words had sounded threatening.
It wasn't even her fault! She was sick! It was…mine.
He headed into the heart of camp, setting his raven on the empty stump.
Graystripe was just turning away, ready to head back out, when a loud voice sounded behind him. He whirled around.
Tigerclaw was shouldering his way out of the warrior's den. "Graystripe!"
The furry tom waited patiently as the Clan deputy approached him.
"You don't need to go out hunting again," Tigerclaw growled. "Thistlestar has chosen you and Dustpelt to go to the Gathering."
Usually, Graystripe would smile in excitement, but now he was used to it once he realized Thistlestar always took him to the Gathering on purpose.
He wants Dustpelt and I to join his loyal supporters made up of Tigerclaw, Longtail and my brother, and now he's pulling Swiftclaw into our ranks as well.
Even if he didn't want to be a "loyal warrior" to his leader, he resigned. He didn't want to cause trouble.
"You'd better eat now," Tigerclaw added. "We leave at moonrise." He turned and stalked off toward the Highrock.
Graystripe went to wake Dustpelt and then led the way toward the fresh-kill pile. They shared his raven which was probably one of the best meals they'd had in a while.
Darkstripe emerged. "Hey, give me some." Graystripe rolled his eyes, but ripped off a piece for his brother.
They ate in silence.
Dappled Pelt sat by Cloud Spots and the other medicine cats at the Gathering later on that night. Spottedleaf was looking troubled as usual.
Dappled Pelt noticed Thistlestar still on the ground which was unusual for the ThunderClan leader, who usually liked to get the Gathering started.
He was scanning her clanmates group for some reason, eyes narrowed as if looking for someone specific. She shivered when his gaze caught on hers before he flicked his tail and jumped the Great Rock.
"What was that about?" Cloud Spots asked, having seen Thistlestar's strange behavior.
She shrugged and then whispered, "Hey Cloud Spots. I have to go to the Moonstone after the Gathering."
The white-patched black tom perked up. "Have you had a dream?"
She nodded. The other night after Thunder had returned, she had a dream where she was in the Moonstone cavern and the sacred rock was glowing more so than usual sending out vibrating blue lights everywhere like it was calling to her. She couldn't just ignore it.
"Hopefully, it's StarClan for once," she sighed.
The Gathering started. It was surprisingly peaceful. Strange.
Once it ended, Dappled Pelt hopped to her paws and looked expectantly at Cloud Spots, who nodded.
"Where are you two going?"
They turned to see Yellowfang.
"The Moonstone," Cloud Spots whispered. "It's important. Can you tell Skystar?"
"No, because I'm coming with."
Dappled Pelt blinked before she shrugged. "Alright, let's go."
The hollow was still full, although the Clans were breaking apart, ready to head home. No one even looked at the three medicine cats (former for Yellowfang, although she did help around the medicine den sometimes) until they reached the top of the slope toward WindClan's moor.
The trio crept away from the slope toward the moorland. They found a path through the snow that had already been treaded through. They followed it all the way along the moor, until they reached Highstones.
Dappled Pelt took a deep breath before she plunged into the dark tunnel. She could hear Cloud Spots and Yellowfang behind her.
Once inside, her eyes immediately caught the Moonstone already lit up since it had been a Gathering night. It always shone unless StarClan was angry.
She hesitated and Cloud Spots gave her an encouraging nod. She stepped forward and rested her nose against it. At once she felt herself being pulled somewhere else.
She opened her eyes, expecting StarClan's hunting grounds, but instead she saw…Four Trees? To her horror she realized it wasn't empty. She could hear screeches and blood stench filled the air. She trembled before starting forward.
Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a young blood-streaked cat racing away to the moor with two other cats following it and a third cat raced more slowly after them. Before she could get a better look the figures vanished.
In front of her, a few transparent figures appeared and she gasped when she recognized them.
There was Bright Stream, Moon Shadow, Fox, Fluttering Bird, Shaded Moss, Storm…
"Shaded Moss!" She called racing forth. "Bright Stream!" They didn't turn which meant they couldn't hear or see her. She halted before she came within clear distance, disappointed.
Instead she watched as they observed what was going on in the hollow below. The screeches had stopped. Dappled Pelt was about to move forward to see what was going on when suddenly more transparent cats appeared from the hollow.
She narrowed her eyes, but couldn't quite make them out, so she started forward to see the cats more clearly when she felt something lap at her paws.
She looked down and screamed in horror as blood covered her paws and then suddenly she was drowning in it as it became a whirlpool.
She fell into darkness and just before it ended a face loomed up in front of her, snarling and jaws open. It was clear as day, who the cat was.
She woke with a gasp, trembling and Yellowfang and Cloud Spots jumped to their paws.
"Dappled Pelt…"
The tortoiseshell turned and fled back up the tunnel. She burst out into the chilly night air and pelted across the rocks back onto the moor. She could hear her companions race after her.
She hardly noticed the WindClan patrol watching them pass by, but they didn't say a word, staring bewildered as to why there were medicine cats at the Moonstone at a time like this.
And maybe because Dappled Pelt looked like she was being chased by a dog as she raced across the snowy moorland all the way back to camp.
I have to tell Skystar what I saw!
I'm giving Swift a more important role. And Dappled Pelt received her first vision of the future!