Chapter 1-Arrival of the Unseen Maple
"Now I suggest you keep back a good distance there Matthew," England said with concern written all over his face as he opened one of his spell tomes. "Who knows what would bloody well happen."
Canada was visiting England after another chaotic World Meeting where, as usual, hardly anything got done. England figured that if some of the spiritual energies of the world was restored, then it would be made easier for the Nations to get anything accomplished as he prepared a magic circle in his basement. Of course his spells were as unpredictable as his bad cooking so the younger nation kept away in what he thought was good distance with Kumajiro, his polar bear, sitting by his side.
"Now I haven't used this spell in quite a while so I may be rusty…oh and I do have a problem with raccoons in the rubbish bins as of late so you never know if those bloody pests would scare me into messing up."
"B-but will it actually work, Arthur?" Canada asked nervously as he fiddled with a red maple leaf pendant around his neck that he bought last summer as a good luck charm.
"Of course! I used it once centuries ago when I felt my power wean suddenly back at Stonehenge so it will be fine!"
Of course Canada thought that would be the least of his worries.
The Brit started the incantation and the circle began to glow. Canada saw that it wasn't its usual bright emerald glow but a pure white with the look of stars in it. He also saw it was actually working…until a loud banging sound came from outside and scared the two of them as well as made England mess up with the chant!
That's when things went wrong as the light suddenly shot towards Canada and he disappeared along with it.
"Bloody raccoons…" England muttered after things settled down and he noticed that Kumajiro was there, but not Canada. "Where's Canada, Kumajiro?"
"Who?" the bear asked as he tilted his head to the side and England glared at him, not wanting to play this game.
"You know bloody well who! Matthew! Your owner! The one who feeds you!"
"Oh him," he replied with no concern. "He went away with the light."
England stared and then it clicked in as he got suddenly nervous and he dropped his tome on the floor. "Good Lord…I think I messed up…quite badly this time…America and France are not going like this…they are both going to have my head if I don't figure out a way to get him back!"
All the while, he didn't notice the tortoiseshell cat behind him before she disappeared.
X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-WARRIORS/HETALIA-X-X-X-X-X -X-X-X-X-X-X-X
Canada seemed to be falling through some sort of celestial tunnel. As he fell, he felt some major changes go through his body as he shrunk down to the size of a cat, his clothes and glasses, minus the pendant, disappeared, and he started to grow fur, whiskers, a tail, and pointy ears! Before he knew it, he landed on some soft earth covered in leaves.
"Young lone maple," a female voice suddenly heard in his head as he started to come around. "You must bring on the light!"
It soon faded as everything began to come into focus.
"Ooooh…what happened to me?" he asked as he got up and lifted his hand to nurse his headache, only to see it was a cat's paw instead.
He gasped in surprise and soon saw some water nearby so he looked to see that he turned into a golden cat with brown streaks on his back and sides! He saw he still had his indigo eyes, the airborne curl, and his maple leaf pendant, but he didn't have his glasses or the rest of his clothes! He soon looked up to also realize even more that he was no longer in England's basement, but outside near a large lake!
Before he had the chance to explore, he heard a battle cry come from behind him and he jumped out of the way in time to see a cream-coloured cat with half a tail missing and eyes blazing leap into the lake! The other cat soon ran back to shore out of the shallows and was about to attack again when another larger cat with long white fur blocked him.
"Stand down Berrynose until we know this one is really hostile or not!" the newcomer ordered and the other one, Berrynose, began to argue. "But Cloudtail! He's an intruder on our territory! He could be a spy!"
*A-are they talking about me?!* Canada thought nervously as Cloudtail turned to meet his gaze with his blue eyes and soon began to sniff him causing him to jump back. "M-maple!"
"It's all right. I'm just checking to see if you are truly our enemy. I can smell twoleg scent on you but I can also see you're not a kittypet."
*Twoleg? Kittypet? OH! That's probably what they call humans and housecats here!* He realized quickly, but then he tried to figure out a way to win their trust, even if it's only Cloudtail. *O.K Matthew…think fast.*
Canada took a deep breath to calm himself as an idea came up. "Yes I'm not really a housecat, or a kittypet as you call them, despite wearing this pendant for good luck. I'm actually a travelling loner. I didn't mean to intrude on your territory."
Berrynose didn't look convinced but Cloudtail did. "I see…But what does bring you here to ThunderClan territory?"
Canada took another deep breath as another story came to his mind. "I heard rumours of wild cats and I wanted to learn your ways to survive better. It gets pretty dangerous travelling sometimes. W-with dogs and rough alley cats among other things, if you know what I mean. I also heard that you and possibly others may need some help after some sort of event or tragic incident since, somehow, I can hear things others can't."
Cloudtail looked at him with interest. "I can see what you mean. What is your name?"
*Oh no…come on, think, Mattie, think!* he thought in his head then came up with an idea as he glanced quickly at his streaks and pendant. "I'm usually known as Matthew but if I was given a name like yours out of respect for your ways, then I would like to be known as Maplestreak."
The two warriors blinked in surprise before the white one smiled and nodded. "Very well, Maplestreak. Why not you come back to our camp and meet our leader? I'm sure he would let you stay and help us and possibly the other Clans?"
"Cloudtail are you mouse-brained?!" Berrynose soon spoke in anger and suspicion. "He could reveal our secrets to the other Clans!"
"I-I promise I won't!" Canada said hastily and Cloudtail saw the honesty in his eyes as he turned back to the other warrior.
"Remember that Jayfeather got a sign from StarClan last night saying a lone maple leaf would help us. I find it no coincidence that Maplestreak appeared this soon after the sign. I have faith that he would help us."
*Jayfeather? StarClan? Oh maple this is getting more confusing,* Canada thought as Cloudtail rose and beckoned him to follow, which he did.
"Um…Who's Jayfeather?" he soon asked. "And what's StarClan?"
"Jayfeather is our Clan's medicine cat," Cloudtail soon explained, understanding his outsider-like curiosity. "He heals the sick and the hurt as well as help lead dying cats on their way to StarClan. StarClan is a Clan of honourable cat spirits who died, like warriors, queens, apprentices, and kits, but still watch over us in Silverpelt, which is the band of stars in the sky you see every night. They often give signs and visions to medicine cats to help their respective Clans and guide them. They also share dreams with our leaders and give them nine lives as well as the name of 'star', like our current leader Bramblestar, and newly named medicine cats and apprentices at a special place we call the Moonpool. Though it's only leaders who get the nine lives. Of course I do admit I don't have complete belief in them but after some…recent events, I am starting to believe a little bit each day."
Canada nodded in understanding. He also figured it was probably a StarClan cat who spoke to him earlier. He also notice three other cats waiting for them, which got him to get a bit more nervous when he realized that the patrol was a bit bigger.
"Who is this, Cloudtail?" A female grey cat with green eyes asked curiously as a small brown tom sniffed him in wonder and said. "I don't know that scent! Is he a prisoner or a friend?"
"It's alright Oakpaw and Dovewing," Cloudtail said gently. "This is Maplestreak. He's a travelling loner who wishes to learn our ways to try to survive better as well as help us."
A golden tom looked at him with interest. "He does look trustworthy."
"I agree Lionblaze!" Dovewing replied with excitement as Oakpaw just smiled, happy to hear that Canada was indeed friend and not foe.
"I don't think so," Berrynose muttered bitterly, causing Canada to flinch but it didn't go unnoticed to the older warrior.
"Enough Berrynose!" Cloudtail snapped which quieted the cream warrior and soon led the patrol, and Canada, to what seemed to be a quarry and Canada was surprised by the strong cat smell that hit his newly formed scent glands.
"Is this your camp?" he asked and Cloudtail nodded, looking quite impressed. "I bet you smelled it already?"
He nodded and soon followed them into the camp, then gasped in surprise at the numerous cats that were there. *Oh maple…Greece would love to come here as a cat himself!*
Soon a ginger she-cat with a white paw and a fluffy tail came over. "I see you brought a guest Cloudtail. Who is this young tom?"
"This is Maplestreak, Squirrelflight," Cloudtail responded respectfully which caused Canada to assume she was most likely second-in-command. "He's a travelling loner that seems to be quite helpful."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Canada greeted with a slight bow, hoping he didn't sound to nervous.
"My how polite!" Squirrelflight said in surprise, then looked at his eyes. "He has such trusting eyes, I feel that he could help us. I'll take him to Bramblestar and the rest of you can share tongues with the others if you wish. You've done well."
With that the patrol dispersed, with Berrynose giving Canada a bitter shove and a hate-filled look of great distrust before going to a tortoiseshell she-cat who sat near one of the dens to whisper in her ear. "W-was it something I did?"
She sighed. "No, it's just…we got off a horrible war and the losses we've suffered are still heavy on everyone, including me. I lost two of my kin, one I treated as my daughter even though she was my niece, and the other was my father who was our last leader."
Canada looked at her with deep sympathy, now feeling the sense of grief sweeping through the Clan as he soon looked around. It made others tense, some also sad, some looked like they were holding back tears. It tugged at his heart as his ears drooped, making him yearn to help them heal.
"I'll try to help in any way I can," he soon said after he returned his gaze to her. "May I please see your leader?"
She nodded and they both went to a cave in some rocks with a great ledge looking over the camp, and despite it being his first time as a cat, Canada had no trouble leaping up along the boulders to the ledge where the deputy was waiting. "This is the Highledge where our leaders address the clan. And this cave here is the leader's den. Bramblestar should be inside now. And as you probably had guessed, I'm the Clan's deputy. My role is to help our leader organize patrols, hunting parties, and take over as leader when he loses all nine lives if I don't retire or die before then."
He nodded in understanding before they went inside the den and he soon saw a dark tom with amber eyes sitting in a mossy nest and another young cat, a pale golden she-cat, just dropping off a rabbit before leaving.
"Welcome young cat," the tom spoke, "I am Bramblestar. I heard that there was a guest in our clan."
"Yes sir," Canada responded with a respectful bow. "My name is Maplestreak. I'm a travelling loner."
Impressed by his politeness, Bramblestar soon asked, "What brings to our clan, Maplestreak?"
"I heard that you needed a healing heart to help strengthen your Clan and the other Clans from the latest war and losses, in return I'd like to learn how to hunt, fight, and survive like a Clan cat in order for my travels to seem less dangerous."
After saying this, he thought in his head without showing any kind of fear or nervousness on his face, *Oh maple, please believe me!*
The leader looked thoughtful and after an encouraging smile from his deputy along with a quick glance of Canada's eyes, he nodded. "I will accept your help then. Welcome to ThunderClan! Come with me to the Highledge so I'll announce your arrival immediately."
He soon did follow after letting out a quick sigh of relief as Bramblestar soon called in a loud and deep voice, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!"
In an instant, many cats soon gathered around from the various dens and places they "shared tongues" around the camp and sat beneath the ledge. Canada easily picked out the patrol that brought him here, as well as two cats from one den that seemed to be disabled in a way; a grey tabby tom was blind while a pale grey she-cat seemed to have lost the use of her hind legs. It impressed him to see this was a Clan that allowed disabled cats to have a place to help their Clanmates despite not being able to fight or hunt properly.
Bramblestar soon began. "As you all know, in light of the war we have endured that cost us our brave leader, Firestar, as well as several warriors like, Hollyleaf and Ferncloud…"
At that Canada noticed a dusty brown warrior bow his head and hold back tears at the name, making him assume that Ferncloud was this poor cat's mate.
"…our medicine cat, Jayfeather, had earned a sign of hope, the light-bearing maple leaf since he also saw our enemies, the Dark Forest Cats, were not planning on giving up."
At that the blind cat nodded, making Canada surprised at who Jayfeather was as he heard murmurs of agreement sweep through the camp.
"Today Cloudtail's patrol has brought us this young cat who promised to help us and the other Clans, if the other Leaders agree when I speak with them at the Gathering, heal and grow stronger again, in exchange I agreed he would stay to earn training and learn our ways so he may survive better on his travels."
Bramblestar soon turned to him. "Would you like to say a few words, Maplestreak?"
Canada soon felt nervous, worried he may be too quiet for all to hear, but Bramblestar seemed to have faith in him so he took a deep breath and began.
"Cats of ThunderClan…I usually go by two names but in respect for your ways you my call me Maplestreak," at this he was secretly surprised on how clear he was, despite his naturally quiet voice. "When I entered the camp, I felt the grief you all had for your lost ones hang like a thick fog. It cut deep into my heart so I am willing to help in whatever ways I can as thanks for letting me stay and learn before being on my way again. I do not know how long I will stay, but I do know that each day I'll do my best to help, hunt and fight in gratitude towards your acceptance of me."
At first there was silence, as all the cats looked at him in surprise, then they all soon called out his adopted warrior name and welcomed him, helping him relax before it died down long enough for Bramblestar to speak again.
"I will now assign a warrior to help train him. Lionblaze, you've been without an apprentice since Dovewing became a warrior. Would you like to help with Maplestreak's training?"
"Yes I would," Lionblaze responded with a smile.
"Then that's settled. Maplestreak will also share the apprentice's den, despite looking older than 6 moons, until I feel he is trained up enough to be in the warrior's den. This meeting is now over."
Soon the cats dispersed and Canada went to meet some of the other Clan members as Jayfeather suddenly motioned Lionblaze aside.
"Lionblaze what does Maplestreak look like?" he asked and Lionblaze answered, "He's a young golden tom with brown streaks on each flank and along his back. He is wearing a red leaf-shaped pendant and has an unusual curl of fur above his face as well as gentle indigo eyes that seem honest."
Jayfeather stiffened. "You say he's gold with brown streaks? Then he is it!"
Lionblaze was confused until his brother finished.
"He's the light-bearing leaf from my vision!"
X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-WARRIORS/HETALIA-X-X-X-X-X -X-X-X-X-X-X-X
Author's Notes:
O.K here we see it all kick off and England is going to be in deeeep trouble with the rest of the FACE family for sure!
Also as you notice I got them to say both their Nation names as well as their human names, mainly for the heck of it.
Here's these two so far in case anyone doesn't know:
Canada-Matthew Williams
England-Arthur Kirkland
And some of this does come from the last book in the Omen of the Stars saga so there will be spoilers. I got the Cloudtail scolding Berrynose thing from the first book of the saga and the apprentices you see here are fan made since it the fic does take place some time after the last book.
And I know that Canada already has a cat look but I'm using this look since I'm planning on putting the Cat Nations in the other part of the story. And I think you all can guess how the lost spirits are coming back.
Enjoy and review!
Warriors is © Erin Hunter
Hetalia is © Hidekaz Himaruya