Maplestrike's Survival

MAPLESTRIKE'S SURVIVAL
HEIRARCHY
TO BE ADDED
PROLOUGE
A black and white she-cat raced through the thunderstorm, holding her precious bundles tightly. A tree rumbled behind her, thunder crashing down on it and it fell, making a loud thud. She blinked open her eyes from the rain, staring at the path it had made across the gorge. She plunged onto it, her two kits mewling as they were hit by her legs. A silver tom stood on the other side, waiting, his fur ruffled by the harsh wind. “Here!” Lightningfur called over the howling wind, setting them down in front of Riversplash. He blinked his large blue eyes at her, “What are their names?” She nuzzled him. “The tomkit is Brokenkit, and the tortoiseshell kit is Maplekit. Raise them well, and let them know that their mother loves them.” She licked his ear before turning and sweeping off over the log and back into her own territory. He turned his gaze down to the two shivering scraps of fur. He snatched them in his mouth and pelted off towards his camp. Dawn began to appear and the thunderstorm started to fade away. Once he reached camp, his fur was soaked, along with the kits. “Hickorywish!” He called, setting them down in front of his matted fur. A brown-and-black tortoiseshell she-cat came bounding out to him, spotting the kits. Dewstep swept outside, her belly swollen from her kits due any day now, “Where did you find them?” She gasped, rushing over to them. “They were mewling in the middle of the moss patch. They were soaked, and I couldn’t just leave them there.” Dewstep and Hickorywish exchanged glances, while Smokestar trotted out of his den stiffly. “Dewstep will take care of them. Right?” He glanced at his mate, and she nodded, “But, I think Riversplash should name them.” He nodded, his tail-tip flicking sympathetically over the dark tomkit, “This will be Brokenkit. And this-” He swept his tail over the tortoiseshell she-kit, “Will be Maplekit.” “Beautiful names for beautiful kits.” Dewstep meowed with a swift glance at Riversplash. “Can you come help me clear out the old moss for these kits, Riversplash?” He nodded, casting a worried glance over the kits before trailing after her. Hickorywish sat with the small bundles, curling her tail around them. “Are they your kits, Riversplash?” He was stunned by the question after they had reached the nursery. “Yes- please take care of them.” She sighed, dragging out the dull moss, “I won’t ask who the mother is-” She paused, dropping the moss, “But I will care for them as I will my own.” “Thank you, Dewstep.” He nuzzled his sister, snatching the old moss and dragging it outside camp.
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“Riversplash! Riversplash!” Brokenkit called, trampling over his sister and out of the nursery. The silver tabby warrior turned his head in time to see his son leap onto him with thorn-sharp claws. He dropped his mouse in pain, and rolled over. Brokenkit squealed, "You're squishing me!” Dewstep charged over to him, followed by Maplekit, who strode stiffly across the clearing. Riversplash stood up, nosing Brokenkit to his paws. “Why did you do that?” Dewstep growled. “I was playing with him. Dewstep, you have to calm down. They’re not as young as Duskkit and Mottledkit.” She sighed, “I guess I’m not ready for them to be Apprentices yet.” Just then a ginger pelt burst through the camp wall, bigger than a cat. “Fox!” Tornface screeched, jumping out of the way. It lifted it’s ginger and black muzzle into the air, then raced for Dewstep and the kits. It lunged for them, but Riversplash swept into it’s head, knocking it away. “Don’t you dare touch them!” He spat, tail bristling with rage. It yipped aggressively and tackled the silver tom. He screeched, a flurry of claws and fur, before a loud yowl edged the clearing into silence. Once the dust cleared away, they all saw the blood that spattered the ground, Riversplash laying in it, and the fox escaping. Maplekit whipped over to her father, “Ri-Riversplash? Are you alive?” She croaked, Brokenkit pelting up beside her. He coughed up blood replying quietly, “Yes I-I’m alive. I have something to tell you two. Smokestar isn’t your father, I-I am, and Dewstep isn’t your mother.” He sputtered more blood, staring at the fearful, shocked kits, “Your mother is-is in RiverClan, she is called Lightningfur. I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you longer. I love you both, take-” He looked full of pain before falling silent, soon Jackalclaw spoke up, “Riversplash! The noble Warrior of ThunderClan! Taking a mate, not only the deputy, but in RiverClan! Not even including that he had kits with her! How pathetic!” Brokenkit hissed, claws unsheathing. Jackalclaw went on and Brokenkit’s amber eyes grew angrier and angrier. He whisked around, snapping at the Warrior, “At least he had enough guts to admit it!” “You are just a sorry excuse of a Warrior! No one likes you!” Maplekit snarled, standing at her brother’s side. Jackalclaw stepped forward, teeth glinting, “I’ll teach you some manners, kit!” He lunged at the defiant tomkit, only to be knocked away by Sandypaw, the Medicine Cat Apprentice. “Back off! You shouldn’t have even had the idea to attack a kit!” Jackalclaw snarled, backing away. All was silent as ThunderClan stared at the kits. Their gazes switched from Riversplash, to the kits, to Jackalclaw, then back to Riversplash. Rain fell, the forest mourning for the lost of the noble ThunderClan warrior.
CHAPTER ONE
 ThunderClan stared at RiverClan with fierce gazes. Lightningfur and Tornface stared at each other, finally one spoke. “Well Tornface, I thought this would be a pleasant meeting, you know, to come and tear ThunderClan apart.” Lightningfur meowed. Maplepaw’s ears went flat to her head. Raccoonpelt nudged his apprentice. Tornface snarled back unexpectedly “Good luck with that Lightningfur!” The she-cat yowled, standing up “Attack, RiverClan!” Before Maplepaw could even stand up, Nightstorm had tackled her. He bit into her shoulder and she squeaked. Lillyfur threw herself onto the gray tom, as Maplepaw stood up coughing. Kestrelpaw had appeared on her left side and Mottledpaw to her right. She ran forward jumping onto Shatteredstar’s apprentice, Mosspaw. She bit into his shoulder and he cried out in pain. He scrambled beneath her grip and squirmed out of her grasp. She bit him on the back leg before he ran off into the shadows. She was surprised RiverClan actually decided to land an attack on ThunderClan, after the sickness killed a lot of their cats. Her amber gaze flickered around to find Kestrelpaw stuck under Lightningfur’s grasp. The slim she-cat ran forward hopping on a rock and leaping down at Lightningfur mercilessly. Maplepaw snarled as they rolled over and over. The RiverClan cats had retreated so the ThunderClan cats stared at them. She tore into Maplepaw’s shoulder and she hissed clawing deeper into her face. Lightningfur and her broke apart panting and staring at each other. Lightningfur was bleeding around her eye from the claws of the small tortoiseshell apprentice. The RiverClan deputy spat and turned away after her clan. Maplepaw felt a pang of sadness realizing she didn’t love her as Riversplash had said, “Thanks back there!” Kestrelpaw made her jump but she turned away, head down. Mottledpaw slipped onto a branch watching silently. “Hey, Maplepaw, you did good staying loyal to your Clan, even against your mother.” Raccoonpelt praised her gently. “Let’s just go now, okay?” Maplepaw mumbled striding into the bracken towards camp. Mottledpaw slipped down behind her, stalking up to her side. Her ears lay flat against her head as the chatter of the warriors behind them grew louder and louder. She bounded the last few rabbit-lengths’ away, Mottledpaw at her side. Raccoonpelt padded over to his mate, Foxbit, and his two kits, Smallkit and Heatherkit. Tornface stalked over to Smokestar and began to speak quietly. “Very well.” Smokestar nodded and launched himself onto the highrock. “Let all those old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the highrock!” The huge grey tom sat perched above, his piercing blue eyes followed Kestrelpaw and Mottledpaw as they settled themselves in the front of the crowd. “Today we are here to make two apprentices warriors.” He began the ritual but Maplepaw wasn’t listening. It wasn’t fair! She was as older than both of them and fought twice as hard today! “I, Smokestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn.” His cold blue gaze rested softly on Kestrelpaw’s flame colored pelt, then on Mottledpaw’s brown-and-white pelt. “Kestrelpaw, Mottledpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?” Maplepaw turned her amber gaze away in boiling anger as Kestrelpaw’s quivering mew sounded, “I do,” Mottledpaw echoed him with less enthusiasm, “I do.” Smokestar flickered with happiness and turned his gaze to the stars, “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names, Kestrelpaw from this moment you will be known as Kestrelpelt, StarClan honors your honesty and bravery and welcomes you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.” He paused to take a breath of cool, fresh air before speaking again. “Mottledpaw, from this moment you will be known as Mottledclaw, StarClan honors your strength and loyalty and welcomes you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.” As Smokestar finished speaking the Clan rose their voices in the cold night air. “Kestrelpelt! Mottledclaw! Kestrelpelt! Mottledclaw!” Everyone’s yowl sounded except Maplepaw’s and Raccoonpelt’s, who stared at Maplepaw with a face full of guilt. “As a tradition, you must sit in silent vigil while the Clan sleeps peacefully.” Smokestar called, slipping off the highrock soundlessly. Kestrelpelt and Mottledclaw were making their way over to Maplepaw, but as soon as she saw them she stood up and started padding away. Kestrelpelt meowed, trapping her tail to stop her, “Hey, Maplepaw!” She snarled whipping around and flashing out her claws at his white muzzle. Mottledclaw looked amazed as he saw the crimson blood soaking into Kestrelpelt’s fur. She snatched her tail from him and stalked away leaving the two new warriors staring after her, bewildered.
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 Maplepaw stretched before walking out of the empty den. A fresh coat of snow lie outside and she spotted Kestrelpelt and Mottledclaw instantly. She felt a little guilty about what she had done to Kestrelpelt last night. But she said nothing as she stalked past them, her head high. Mottledclaw looked as if he wanted to say something badly, but he couldn’t. Jackalclaw stalked up to face her. “You touch a full-bred Clan cat like that again half-blood, and I’ll make sure you’ll never become a warrior!” He snarled in her ear before padding off, almost knocking her over as he passed. She turned to stare at him, boiling in pure hatred of Tornface's brother. She hissed spitefully “Last time I checked you weren’t leader!” Jackalclaw’s tail lashed and he whipped around charging at her, pinning her down. At that moment Raccoonpelt came out of the den bristling. “What do you think you’re doing Jackalclaw?” He spat at the pale ginger tom. He looked up climbing off Maplepaw. “Yes, that’s what I would like to know.” Smokestar rounded the corner of the highrock with Kestrelpelt and Mottledclaw trailing behind him. Jackalclaw looked around desperately and then stared into Smokestar’s blue eyes. “Oh, I was only showing Maplepaw some battle strategies.” He lied too well for Maplepaw’s own good. “Well maybe do it a bit easier next time.” The gray leader meowed. Was he actually believing that lie? Maplepaw bristled but said nothing, instead she passed them with a look of annoyance. Mottledclaw turned to follow her but Smokestar called him back. “Oh no, your a warrior now, so you have to do warrior duties. Raccoonpelt has to take her out to train anyway.” Mottledclaw glanced back at the large tortoiseshell she-cat before turning back. Raccoonpelt gave a suspicious look at Jackalclaw as he went by to follow her. She bounded into the forest, not waiting for her mentor to reach her. Almost running into Sandyfoot, the Clan’s medicine cat. “Woah, Maplepaw slow down!” The white tom scolded her through a mouthful of herbs. Tears wet the fur on her cheeks and as Sandyfoot saw them he asked, “What’s wrong, Maplepaw?” “It’s not fair! I should have been made a warrior along with Kestrelpelt and Mottledclaw! I’m as old as them and I fought twice as hard as them in the battle yesterday!” Maplepaw cried to him crouching down low to the ground. Sandyfoot dropped his herbs and bent his head to lick her ear, “Oh, Maplepaw, I’m sure Smokestar will make you a warrior soon. How about I go talk to him about it?” He offered quietly in her ear. “Thank’s, Sandyfoot.” She was oddly closer to the medicine cat than most of the Clan. After her mother had ‘abandoned’ her in ThunderClan and her father had died, he had taken care of her with the help of Dewstep, her foster mother. He smiled picking up his herbs and walking off, nodding to Raccoonpelt as he went by. “Were you bothering Sandyfoot again?” Raccoonpelt asked when he had gone. “No!” She began to protest, but stopped. Her ears lied flat to her head and she retorted “At least he cares if I’m made a warrior!” She leapt off her tawny pelt rippled in the dull sunlight. Raccoonpelt flinched at her words. She was right, he hadn’t stepped up and told Smokestar she should be a warrior. He sighed padding off to hunt. Maplepaw stood silently on a rock, gasping for breath after running from her mentor. She peered down into the gaping hole in front of her, listening to the roaring river. “Oh, Mother! Why don’t you love me?” She cried out, echoing across RiverClan territory. She spotted a silvery-blue flash of fur in the brush across the gorge. A small cat soon appeared on the other side, his huge amber eyes staring at her. “Who are you?” The tom growled. Her eyes glowed in annoyance as she hissed back “I’m Lightningfur and Riversplash’s daughter!” The yellow-eyed tom gazed at her in astonishment and meowed “I’ll be right back!” She turned away and began walking as he disappeared almost to run into him again. She stared at him in awe as soon as she saw him up close. His blue-grey pelt sparkled like the fresh coat of snow on the ground and his yellow eyes gleamed delightfully. “Your Maplepaw, right?” He asked “I’m Jaywing! I became a warrior yesterday!” She looked at him thoughtfully before speaking “Yeah, I’m Maplepaw, and I’m about to become a warrior too.” She raised her thick spotted tail in amusement. “But you aren’t so keen as to remember not to trespass on enemy territory.” She pointed out and he bowed his head in embarrassment. “It’s alright, but you should leave before anyone else sees you.” He nodded and leaped over the hill pausing before turning back to her, “Can I come see you tomorrow? When you’re a warrior?” She nodded and he leapt off in delight back over the slim rock wall that cut through the gorge. She raced back to camp to meet Kestrelpelt, Houndtooth, and Cinderdust leaving on patrol. Kestrelpelt paused to speak to her but she walked past him and he followed his patrol silently, his head bowed. Sandyfoot and Smokestar approached her as she entered camp and she waited for them. “Sandyfoot has told me you’re ready to become a warrior. I also think so, and I apologize for not making you one yesterday.” He went on, “We will have the ceremony after everyone returns from their patrols.” She nodded and leapt away in delight to the fresh-kill pile. She snatched a sparrow and headed towards the flat boulder by the apprentices’ den. She spotted Duskpaw in the den sleeping and hissed under her breath. When she bit into the skinny bird, she got a mouthful of feathers that she spat out. I should have picked a vole instead. Maplepaw bit into it again, this time tasting the delightful meal. Soon the patrol had returned and she groomed herself quietly until Smokestar called out the sayings. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the highrock!” He yowled staring at the assembling cats. “I made a mistake yesterday. I appointed two new warriors, Kestrelpelt and Mottledclaw, but forgot to appoint an apprentice that deserves it just as much as they do.” He yowled as they settled down, Maplepaw in the front. “Maplepaw, step forward please.” He meowed as he hopped down to her level, Maplepaw padding over to him, eyes gleaming in excitement. “I, Smokestar, leader of ThunderClan call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. For she has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn.” He yowled, echoing through the air then turning his blue gaze to look deep into her amber eyes. “Maplepaw, do you promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?” Her voice quivered as she spoke these two words that would lead her to her destiny. “I do,” When he spoke this time, he spoke with trust, “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name, Maplepaw from this moment you will be known as Maplestrike, StarClan honors your strength and bravery and welcomes you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.” He touched noses to her forehead and she stooped down to swipe her tongue respectfully over her leader’s shoulder. “Maplestrike! Maplestrike!” The cats yowled into the air. She stood and the ThunderClan cats crowded around her giving her looks of delight and luck. Once they passed Jackalclaw shoved past her taunting behind him, “Just because you’re a warrior now doesn’t make you any safer in this Clan, half-blood!” She shivered in fear. Was he really going to kill her? She stared a moment longer before padding off to stand vigil for the night as the cats retreated from the cold into their dens. Duskpaw gazed at her from the his den before turning away. She rolled her eyes and sat silently till morning, when she could speak again.
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Maplestrike found time between hunting and her patrols the next few moons to slip away to the gorge to meet Jaywing. When she appeared all was silent until a familiar blue-gray shape appeared out of the brush. “Hello, Maplestrike, how are you?” He meowed after they greeted each other. “Fine, and you?” She asked. He smiled delightfully “Good,” He looked down, embarrassed, “Maplestrike, I’ve been meaning to tell you something, but couldn’t figure out how to say it. These last few days have been the best since I became apprenticed,” He looked up and into her amber eyes, “Maplestrike, I know we may come from different Clans but I really like you, and I want you to be my mate.” He meowed looking at her hopefully. She was bewildered. She liked him a lot, but wasn’t expecting him to ask her such a dangerous thing, especially when they came from different Clans. She half-smiled, “Jaywing, I like you too, in fact I love you, but we come from enemy Clans. What if a cat from one of our Clans catches us?” He looked down in thought then looked up meowing thoughtfully, “We can meet at the thunderpath, it will mask our scent!” She looked down for a moment then turned to him. “Ok, Jaywing. I’ll be your mate.” He smiled and rubbed his muzzle against Maplestrike’s, standing up. “I have to go back now, but I’ll meet you at the thunderpath tomorrow at sunhigh.” Before she could answer he leapt over the hill and across the stone path. She sighed padding back to camp silently.
CHAPTER TWO
Maplestrike yawned stepping out of the warriors’ den. Mottledclaw behind her, “You know you two still haven’t made up, right?” He meowed as they padded, side-by-side to the fresh-kill pile. She shrugged, “Well neither has he, so I’m not breaking the static between us right now.” She ate quickly and started to pad for the entrance, it was almost sunhigh, and so far, things were going well for her and Jaywing. “Maplestrike! Come join the sunhigh patrol!” It was Jackalclaw. She lied her ears flat to her head then they perked up, “Can’t, I’m going hunting!” She called as she bounded away through the archway. He narrowed his eyes but gathered Duskfall, Lillyfur, and Dewstep for the patrol. She swept quickly through the thick coat of snow on the ground. Snowflakes falling, masking her tortoiseshell pelt. She smelled the faint scent of the thunderpath and raced faster. Jaywing waited at the side of the hedgerow, “Maplestrike! Are you ok?” He looked worried. “Fine, what’s wrong?” He let out a sigh of relief, “Oh, nothing, you were just a bit late, and I was getting worried.” She sat down curling her tail over her paws. She lied her muzzle flat to his with chest and he licked her ear. “Are you ok?” He asked again. She looked into his yellow eyes, seeing his worried gaze. “Nothing, just Jackalclaw that’s all.” His fur bristled and he unsheathed his claws, “Did he hurt you?” He demanded. She shook her head, “No, not at all, he’s just a pain that’s all.” She sighed. He let his fur lie flat again before lying down. She lied down beside him and they shared tongues. A brown and white cat bristled in the bushes but said nothing, What is Maplestrike thinking? She could get herself killed! When they had finished she nuzzled him goodbye and he leaped away. She stood up, but Mottledclaw waited till his scent faded into the distance before jumping out of the bushes at her. “Maplestrike! What are you thinking?” She whipped around, bewildered, lashing out her claws almost hitting his face. “What are you doing here?” She spat at him. “I wanted to come hunting with you and found, this!” They stood nose-to-nose, “Let me guess you’re going to tell Smokestar! Well I don’t care! I’m going to RiverClan anyway!” She snapped before leaping away towards the gorge. “W-Wait!” He meowed following her. She was about to cross the stone bridge when Mottledclaw held her tail down. “Get off! If I go to RiverClan then I’ll be with my mother and my mate!” He hissed, “Your mate is forbidden for you to have, and your mother doesn’t love you!” Her eyes widened as he said that and she bounded across the stone path, tears falling. Mottledclaw stood there, regretting every word he had just said. She fled through the territory till she reached their camp. A paw sat on her shoulder and she froze. She looked back seeing the brown and white coat of Mottledclaw. “If you’re leaving, then I’m coming too.” She looked back towards ThunderClan territory then to the camp entrance. “Let’s go, then.” She took a deep breath and padded towards camp. She almost ran into a patrol as they came out. The patrol leader raised his bristling tail, the other two cats were also bristling, “What are you and your friend doing here?” She recognized the deep, rough voice of Meadowgaze. The two cats behind him were Lionflight and another warrior Maplestrike didn’t know. “I am Maplestrike now, we would like to join RiverClan, ThunderClan is not our Clan as we have learned.” Meadowgaze looked at her for a moment before signaling to the golden tom to take her to see Lightningfur and Shatteredstar. “Follow me,” Lionflight hissed padding back into camp leaving the other two cats patrolling. He walked toward a shaded area underneath the overhanging highrock. He led them down into a tunnel and stopped before a curtain of vines. “Enter, Lionflight,” The rasping voice of Shatteredstar sounded. “Your ThunderClan friends too.” The golden tom entered the cave and dipped his head, the black-and-ginger spotted leader, “Shatteredstar, these two cats want to join RiverClan.” Lionflight meowed stepping out into the dimly lit cave. As Maplestrike and Mottledclaw peeked out she sighed in relief that her mother wasn’t there. They stepped out side-by-side and sat down neatly staring at the blotched tom. “I am Maplestrike, and this is Mottledclaw, we did not like ThunderClan’s ways so we want to join RiverClan,” Shatteredstar looked at them, tipping his head into the light, and finally, Maplestrike saw his torn ears and scarred muzzle. At gatherings she hadn’t noticed, even in the moonlight, but now she was up close and that was all she could see. “Well, I will have Redclaw supervise you both for a few days, and if you pass my test, then you may join RiverClan.” Shatteredstar meowed. Maplestrike nodded “Thank you, Shatteredstar.” He nodded and Lionflight led them out of the den. “I’ll go tell Redclaw then, he won’t be very happy having to babysit two warriors that are no more than apprentices.” Lionflight taunted them. Mottledclaw turned away and Maplestrike followed to see Jaywing entering camp with fresh-kill in his mouth. He hadn’t noticed the tortoiseshell she-cat yet. Mottledclaw padded up to the ginger warrior that walked out of the warriors’ den next to Lionflight. “So, Shatteredstar has put me on babysitting duty? Watching these two? Well, I would expect a more exciting job, being a senior warrior and all.” Redclaw complained. Maplestrike saw the black stripe along his back then saw one blind eye. Jaywing had dropped his thrush on the pile and looked up seeing Maplestrike looking at the two warriors. He padded forward but hesitated, realizing that none of his Clan knew about their relationship. He gave her a suspicious look before padding off to join Larkflight, Lupinpelt, and Nightfrost on a hunting patrol. Redclaw growled, “Come on, then, I better show you the territory, apprentices.” He laughed to Lionflight more than the two warriors before standing and padding towards the entrance. Maplestrike and Mottledclaw followed slowly, feeling hot under the confused gaze of many RiverClan cats. Maplestrike mumbled in Mottledclaw’s ear, “I haven’t seen my mother yet.” She spoke too soon seeing the black and white she-cat returning with Meadowgaze and a brown apprentice. As she saw Maplestrike she stopped her and got in her face. “What is this rat doing here?” She spat to Redclaw, not taking her eyes off her daughter. Before Redclaw could speak Maplestrike snapped, “Well this rat of your daughter is going to join your Clan!” Lightningfur snarled, but Maplestrike padded on, her head and tail high. Mottledclaw followed her as Redclaw stayed back to explain to his deputy. Maplestrike padded to a clearing where a tree stood in the middle and sat down. “Wonder what that was all about.” Mottledclaw meowed. Before she could reply a silver-blue shape leaped out of the brush. “What are you doing here?” It was Jaywing. “I’m finished with ThunderClan, and Jackalclaw! So Mottledclaw and I are joining RiverClan!” He looked at her then smiled. “I’ll meet you at sundown. I’ll bring you with me, Redclaw won’t mind.” He meowed confidently. “But I’m in the same Clan as you now, and how do you know Redclaw won’t care?” Maplestrike felt confused. Jaywing became more serious, “Yes we are but It would be odd if we just started ‘liking’ each other right away.” He meowed before smiling, “I know Redclaw won’t mind because he is my father, Larkflight’s my mother.” She felt dumb but he touched his nose to her’s before hearing a rustling noise. Moments later Redclaw appeared, but Jaywing had already bounded away. “Right then, let’s go.” He meowed before padding off with the two cats trailing behind him.
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Jaywing padded up to Redclaw a little after sundown. “Redclaw, can I take out one of the ThunderClan warriors hunting?” Redclaw looked up from grooming his pelt. “Well, Jaywing, I’m not sure you’re ready to take on an apprentice yet.” He meowed loudly, glancing at the two ThunderClan cats, “But you can learn, take out one of them, and I do mean one.” Jaywing nodded padding over to Maplestrike and then leaped out of camp. They bounded to the tree and sat down staring at the purple and orange sky. They curled their tails together as the sparkling stars of their ancestors shown. They touched noses delicately, before speaking. “I love you, Maplestrike, you know that, right?” The tom’s fur shined silver in the moonlight, the gathering would be in a few days. “Yes, and I love you.” She meowed, “But, I’m worried about Jackalclaw.” She looked into his deep blue eyes with concern. He closed them and sighed, “Well at least he can’t hurt you here.” He meowed before standing up, “Let’s go hunt by the border.” She nodded and they swiftly leapt away. Maplestrike stopped at the border, caught a squirrel, and looking across the gorge. She spotted Tornface, Sandyfoot, and another cat who she hoped never to see again, Jackalclaw. She stared at them unable to speak because she was holding her squirrel. Sandyfoot spotted her, but didn’t say anything, he turned his gaze to his paws. They were heading towards the cave, where the foxes use to live. Now It’s where leaders received their nine lives and go for answers from StarClan. “Hey, Tornface!” Jaywing’s friendly meow echoed across the gorge. Maplestrike froze as the three of them turned to look at the two cats. “How’s it going?” Tornface meowed. “Good, and you?” Jackalclaw spotted Maplestrike and grinned spitefully. “Not the best of news, I’m afraid, Smokestar lost his last life due to a fox attack. It stole two of Whispershine’s kits.” Maplestrike winced, Whispershine was a sweet she-cat, her kits were too. She wondered which ones were taken. Tornface snapped her out of her thoughts, “Well, I better get going, good seeing you, Jaywing.” Maplestrike rushed towards camp after they had gone, Jaywing stumbling to catch up with her. She peered through the ivy archway before stepping in. She spotted Redclaw standing over Mottledclaw, who was huddled, looking scared for once. “You don’t come near the Warriors’ den Mottledpaw.” Redclaw spat and turned away laughing to Meadowgaze and Nightfrost. She dropped her squirrel onto the prey pile and headed over to Mottledclaw. “Hey, you ok?” She mewed gently. “No! You left me alone and they taunted and picked on me because of my origin!” He hissed lowly. “I-I-I’m sorry.” She murmured. “Forget It.” He growled and walked into the Apprentices’ Den. Stagcall, who had just received her warrior name, walked past them, murmuring an apology for Redclaw. “Thanks, Stagcall.” Mottledclaw’s meow was cheerful suddenly. Maplestrike glared at her suspiciously before ducking into the den after Mottledclaw.
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“Alright, Maplestrike, Mottledclaw, now you each have to fight one of our strongest warriors for your last session in trust for you to be able to join RiverClan.” Shatteredstar meowed, standing in front of them. “Maplestrike, you will battle…” He peered around the other gathered cats, “You will battle Nightfrost. Mottledclaw will battle Lionflight. Maplestrike and Nightfrost may begin.” She stood up as he tackled her swiftly. She threw her hind legs into his stomach, flipping him over. She jumped up and sprinted over knocking him down again, and digging her claws into his throat. Blood bubbled as he choked and flailed his claws, nicking her ears a few times. Lightningfur almost jumped forward, but Shatteredstar yowled, “Enough! Maplestrike passes! Nightfrost, go to Nutmeg and Curlpaw to fix your neck. “Mottledclaw, come fight Lionflight now.” Mottledclaw unsheathed his claws and lept at the golden tom, biting down hard on his ear. Lionflight raked his claws across his belly, blood dripping from Mottledclaw’s stomach. Then the brown tomcat dug his fangs into Lionflight’s throat and his claws raked deeply across his stomach. Tearing it open blood pulsed from it, drizzling from his mouth “That’s enough, Mottledclaw! You pass! Carry Lionflight to Nutmeg and Curlpaw!” Lupinpelt and Larkflight carried him towards the Medicine Cat den. “RiverClan, gather around, we are here to accept two old members of ThunderClan as two new members of RiverClan. Do you, Maplestrike and Mottledclaw, accept to be loyal to RiverClan, and leave everything behind in ThunderClan?” Shatteredstar stared down at them, his icy eyes boring into their pelts, “I do.” Maplestrike felt as if she were becoming a warrior all over again. “I do.” Mottledclaw repeated with a glance at Stagcall. “Then by my name as a leader, you are welcomed into RiverClan as full warriors, we invite you to join our family with open paws. Also, you both will attend the Gathering tomorrow, along with Lightningfur, Nutmeg, Curlpaw, Poppyheart, Meadowgaze, Robinfeather, and Dawntooth.” Shatteredstar meowed as he leaped down to stand in front of Maplestrike and Mottledclaw. She nodded and whispered into his ear, “Thank you.” He nodded and walked off to join Lightningfur who was waiting to for him to go check on Lionflight and Nightfrost. She narrowed her amber eyes at Maplestrike before throwing her head around to face where she was heading. “Congratulations!” Stagcall’s cheery meow was high-pitched as she walked up. The pretty she-cat was deep brown with a lighter brown underbelly, paws, and muzzle. Her green eyes glowed happily as Mottledclaw replied warm-heartedly, “Thanks, Stagcall.” Maplestrike rolled her eyes and almost ran into Jaywing as she was turning around. “Hey there, Maplestrike.” He meowed looking down at her with wide, gleaming eyes. She thrust her head upward to look into his blue eyes. “Hello Jaywing.” She blinked her amber eyes happily up at him. “Come on, now you can sleep in the Warriors’ den.” She smiled and entwined her tail with his as they walked to the den. Mottledclaw seemed to have chosen a nest beside Stagcall, so she lied down in a nest near the entrance. Jaywing licked her ear before padding off to his nest at the end. She lied her head down on her paws and closed her bright eyes, almost instantly falling into a deep sleep. Suddenly she found herself standing in the middle of ThunderClan camp, all the cats surrounding her. Except, Tornface wasn’t standing on the Leader’s Ledge, it was Jackalclaw. She sank down into a ball of fluff as Jackalclaw stepped forward to stand on the edge. “Attack the half-blood traitor, ThunderClan!” Jackalclaw yowled into the freezing night air. She looked closer at the leaping cats and saw fear in their eyes, blood stained their coats. She shut her eyes in fear, but felt no cats’ claws or teeth meet her fur. Instead, when she opened her amber eyes she saw a cat she never met before. “Hello, Maplestrike, I suppose you don’t remember me.” He meowed softly. Maplestrike managed to let out an answer, “No, I don’t” The dark gray tom nodded, his black ears perked, “I am Marshstar, founder of RiverClan, and I came to warn you.” Maplestrike cut in, “Why are you coming to me and not Shatteredstar or Nutmeg?” Marshstar sighed, “Because, you are the only one who can stop Jackalstar.” “Jackalstar? What do you mean? Tornface is the new leader of ThunderClan!” Maplestrike meowed in distress. “No, he won’t be, Jackalclaw will kill Tornface and Sandyfoot tonight, then gain his nine lives. You must stop him from leading ThunderClan into destruction, or the all Clans will be destroyed.” Maplestrike felt heavier with all this weight on her shoulders. “I will Marshstar, I promise.” With those words the long-haired gray tom faded away and Maplestrike felt a paw jabbing at her side. It was Dawntooth, “Get up! Your going on sunhigh patrol.” He hissed, then bounded to the camp entrance. Maplestrike’s paws ached like she had just ran through the forest and back to camp again. She walked slowly after the patrol, yawning a few times. Larkflight fell back into step beside her, holding a small Pigeon. “You wanna share when we get back to camp?” she asked softly. “Um...Sure.” Maplestrike was caught off guard by her soft voice. Larkflight smiled and trotted forward, the bright sun of Newleaf shone in Maplestrike’s eyes. Newleaf was finally here! She stopped as Dawntooth spat, “Intruders!” As he spoke a huge brown tom swept through the swampy lowlands and across the border. Another brown and black tabby veered off and sprinted towards Larkflight, who stood frozen, still holding the Pigeon. Maplestrike leapt at the brown tabby and knocked him out of the way. She gouged her claws into his shoulder, but he was too huge. He threw her off and jumped up, his long fur bristling. She recognized the ShadowClan deputy in a second, Hazelclaw! He charged at her, Maplestrike doing the same as they ran head to head in a ball of fur. Maplestrike gouged her claws over his blind as he bit into her shoulder. Then all the weight was lifted off her as Redclaw knocked him off her. Reinforcements had came! She jumped up and ran to help Redclaw as he struck his claws out several times. She began bounding over before she was thrown across the clearing by a ginger and cream tom. The breath was knocked out of her as she landed and rolled around a few times. She lied there until he leaped on top of her, gouging his claws deep into her neck. She felt a pang of rage and with all the power of TigerClan, she threw him off a few tail-lengths away. She jumped up and charged towards the stunned tom. Gripping his scruff with her fangs she sent him towards Jaywing and Darksoul. They split apart from their battle and out of the way of the huge tom. Darksoul stared at her in shock before he went fleeing into the bushes along with Flamemask. Maplestrike and Jaywing raced towards Grizzlystar who had Lightningfur pinned to the dirt. Her fur was stained in blood and matted with dirt. “No!” Maplestrike yowled as he struck his claws into her chest. She leaped at Grizzlystar, her claws outstretched. She knocked him clean off her mother and clawed at his face, anger taking her over. He thrashed his legs until his body fell still, then convulsed, then fell still again. Redclaw pulled her off of him, “He’s losing a life. Come talk to your mother before she hunts with StarClan forever.” He whispered and she flipped around and running to crouch by her mother. “I’m sorry. I wish I could’ve known you better.” Lightningfur started to meow but Maplestrike cut her off, “No, Mother. You did what was right, you kept me safe. Thank you, and I love you for that.” Maplestrike meowed, smiling, tears running down her face. Lightningfur smiled painfully, “I love you too, Maplestrike.” Turning to Redclaw and Jaywing she added, “Take care of her for me. I was glad to serve RiverClan as deputy.” Her breath shortened and Maplestrike began to groom her mother’s black and white pelt. Getting choked up with tears, she kept grooming her mother’s pelt until it was soft and beautiful. Redclaw picked her body up, “We should get back to camp.” As he meowed the last words, Grizzlystar jolted awake and off the ground. “Dare steal prey from ShadowClan territory again, and the next time it will be Shatteredstar!” He snarled before running off onto his own territory. Redclaw started padding off in the direction of camp, Jaywing walking beside Maplestrike. “I’m sorry.” He murmured nuzzling her comfortingly. She shrugged, head down as they walked into camp, dismally. Shatteredstar smelled the blood, drawing him outside to see Redclaw carrying Lightningfur’s body. “ShadowClan attacked, Grizzlystar killed Lightningfur, but Maplestrike took one of his lives in return. No one else is dead, just injuries.” Jaywing stalked over to Shatteredstar and began reporting about the battle. Redclaw gently lied Lightningfur down in the clearing, letting the Clan pass and pay their respects. They were quick for the most part, sharing tongues and words. As they all left, Maplestrike and Redclaw lied down next to her quietly, not yet joined by Shatteredstar. The moon was almost high, therefore he had to appoint his new deputy. He climbed up the tree trunk, bouncing onto the willow branch, calling out the sayings dismally, “Let all cats old enough to swim gather here beneath the Meeting Branch!” The cats sat down staring up at him with wide eyes. Redclaw and Maplestrike remained with Lightningfur’s body. “The battle today with ShadowClan was harsh, injuring many cats, and killing Lightningfur, Maplestrike has also taken one of Grizzlystar’s lives. I say this in front of Lightningfur’s spirit so that she may approve my choice. Redclaw will be the new deputy of RiverClan!” Redclaw looked up with wide, blue eyes, “I will do my best to serve ShadowClan in Lightningfur’s place, but I could never be as good as she was.” Shatteredstar nodded continuing, “Also, Darkfoot’s kits, Cardinalkit, Lizardkit, and Squirrelkit are ready to become apprentices! Please step forward you three.” The three kits stepped forward delightfully, Squirrelkit a dark ginger she-kit, Lizardkit a black-and-white tom with green eyes, and Cardinalkit, a bright ginger she-kit with black paws. “You three have all reached the age of three moons and are ready to receive mentors. Lizardpaw, until you receive your warrior name your mentor will be Robinfeather.” He paused to wait for Robinfeather to weave through the crowd and sit beside her new apprentice, then turned to Squirrelkit. “Squirrelkit, with your new name being Squirrelpaw until you receive your warrior name, your mentor will be Dawntooth. Pausing once again for Redclaw to come and sit beside Squirrelpaw he finally turned to Cardinalkit. “Cardinalpaw, until you receive your warrior name, your mentor will be Maplestrike. All three of you being excellent warriors, you should be good mentors as well.” The three warriors touched noses to their new apprentices as the crowd cheered their names, “Cardinalpaw! Lizardpaw! Squirrelpaw!” Thrill rushed through Maplestrike as she realized that she had just gotten an apprentice, then turned to her mother’s body and went to go join it, for the last time.
CHAPTER THREE
“Maplestrike are you coming or not? We’re not waiting for you, we need to go to the gathering.” Redclaw mumbled as she gulped down the rest of her squirrel, “Yes! Coming, Redclaw.” She meowed and bounded over to the group as Shatteredstar turned and began leading the way quickly to the Great Ledge. They were swift, jumping over fallen trees in one leap, and over small boulders with barely a hesitation. They were almost there, just having to pass the cold, roaring river. They jumped in, paddling strongly against the waves. She jumped in almost missing the ground and falling in. She caught herself quickly, and paddling swiftly to the waiting cats. Shaking her thick fur, she bounded away with the RiverClan cats, coming to the sandy hollow, where the Great Ledge lied in the middle, lit up by the moon. ShadowClan and WindClan waited there, chatting in small groups. “Where is ThunderClan?” Maplestrike meowed to Mottledclaw as they walked to settle down in a open space. “I don’t know.” Mottledclaw replied looking around. Maplestrike suddenly remembered Marshstar’s prophecy. Would Jackalclaw be the one representing ThunderClan on that ledge tonight? A WindClan apprentice erupted her thoughts, “Are you Maplestrike? Lightningfur’s daughter?” She was a small white and gray patched she-cat. “Yes, who are you?” She shuffled her paws anxiously, “I’m Icepaw, Spottedstar’s daughter. I heard RiverClan had a battle with ShadowClan. Did you win?” Maplestrike fought to find words, Mottledclaw staring at her. “Um-Yes, I’d say so. I was on patrol and all of a sudden Dawntooth yelled ‘Intruders!’ and Grizzlystar came bounding at us. Hazelclaw, the ShadowClan deputy, went for a clanmate and I knocked him out of the way. We fought until reinforcements came. Then Redclaw helped me, I got up and went to go help him but… Flamemask knocked me across the clearing! I got up and fought him next, grabbing his scruff and throwing him between Jaywing and Darksoul!” She flicked her gaze to the black and white tom boasting about something or another. “Then I saw Grizzlystar pinning down Lightningfur and…” She trailed off quietly as ThunderClan ripped through the forest at full speed. Kestrelpelt among them, the fiery pelted tom’s limbs were showing through his shiny pelt. “Look! What’s Jackalclaw leading them for? Where’s Tornface?” Mottledclaw snarled standing up at their arrival. Maplestrike stood up, Redclaw padding over to stand by her. Narrowing her amber eyes, she watched as Spottedstar, Grizzlystar, and Shatteredstar sat beside each other waiting for the ThunderClan leader. Hazelclaw sat down beside Redclaw and Ravenbranch. The leaders cleared the jump in one try onto the ledge. Jackalclaw leaped up last, his muscles rippled. Houndtooth came to join the deputies, hissing as he passed the two warriors. Redclaw’s ears swivled backwards angrily. “May I start?” Jackalclaw’s meow was harsh but cool. Then Maplestrike saw it, the star on his pale ginger forehead, the star that a leader held as a mark of being accepted. Marshstar had been right, Jackalclaw is the new leader of ThunderClan. The Clan cats stared anxiously up at him as he began speaking. “Cats of all Clans! I know you may think Tornface should be up here instead of me. But sadly, when we reached the cave, a rock slide occurred and killed not only Tornface, but Sandyfoot as well. Yes, I know, Sandyfoot never took on an apprentice, but we have decided Lillyfur will be our new Medicine Cat! ThunderClan’s new deputy is Houndtooth, and from now on, I will be referred to as Jackalstar. We also have a new warrior! Duskfall, was my apprentice previously, and now he is a faithful full-bred, ThunderClan warrior.” He grinned, glancing at Maplestrike. “Spottedstar?” The small white and gray tom stepped forward. “WindClan has three new kits! Aspenshade has become a elder and Graypaw has become Quietstream’s apprentice and is taking on the rank of Medicine Cat Apprentice! Grizzlystar, would you like to go next?” The huge brown tom stepped forward once and was on the edge of the Great Ledge, unlike Spottedstar who took a few big steps. “Yes, well we had a battle with RiverClan and they’re prey stealers yesterday!” He snarled, whipping his head around to face Shatteredstar. “We never stole prey from your swamps! Did you try to even think of all the possibilities before you accuse my cats of stealing your crowfood?” Shatteredstar stepped forward to meet him eye-to-eye. Grizzlystar stared in boiling anger but whipped his head around. “I also lost a life in this battle. But it doesn’t make ShadowClan any weaker!” He stepped back, his gaze burning into Shatteredstar’s pelt as he stepped up. “Yes, we had a battle with ShadowClan today. Grizzlystar took the life of Lightningfur, RiverClan’s now former deputy, Redclaw has taken her place as deputy. A new warrior took a life of Grizzlystar’s. We also have three more apprentices, Cardinalpaw, Lizardpaw, and Squirrelpaw.” Grizzlystar snorted pushing past the other leaders and jumping off the ledge. Spottedstar hesitating and almost falling off, after him came Shatteredstar. Jackalstar leaped down gracefully as Shatteredstar padded over to the RiverClan and ThunderClan’s border. The cats walked to him, half-ready for the journey home. Then Spottedstar bounded over swiftly, followed by Ravenbranch. “Shatteredstar, may I speak to you and Redclaw please?” Shatteredstar nodded and followed the two WindClan cats to the base of the highrock. Redclaw stalked over quietly after Shatteredstar. They sat in a semi-circle, heads bowed talking lowly to each other. Soon they broke and said their farewells drifting off to their Clans. Shatteredstar bounded off towards the river, the RiverClan cats breaking apart after their leader. Maplestrike didn’t stop like she had before, she bounded straight into the river with the other cats. Swimming easily, she trotted onto land, shaking her fur again. Waiting for her clan mates, she spotted Redclaw with a nervous look on his face. She hesitated to go ask what was wrong. But by then they had begun bounding through the forest again, feeling the wonderful night breeze against their faces. Soon Shatteredstar and Redclaw led them through the moonlit clearing and into camp. Nightfrost stood guard in the middle of camp. His body was covered in scars from Maplestrike, he snarled at her as she passed. Cardinalpaw, Lizardpaw, and Squirrelpaw bounded excitedly out of the Apprentices’ Den. Cardinalpaw ran to Maplestrike happily mewing, “What happened? Was Tornface there? Is he the new leader of ThunderClan?” “No, Jackalstar is.” She meowed bitterly. “But wasn’t Tornface the deputy? Shouldn’t he become leader?” Cardinalpaw questioned, tilting her head that of a dog. “Yes, he was supposed to. But he is dead, so is Sandyfoot.” Cardinalpaw’s blue eyes widened, clearly shocked. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the highrock!” Shatteredstar’s pelt glimmered against the moonlight. “You all must have heard a little bit about the gathering by now. Jackalclaw has claimed that a rockslide killed Tornface and Sandyfoot, and has become leader himself. Spottedstar and myself have our suspicions of a ShadowClan and ThunderClan alliance. Spottedstar and I have decided that when the time comes, we would fight together if they attack. But for now, we will double the patrols along their borders.” Redclaw bounced up onto the ledge beside Shatteredstar. “Yes, tomorrow I want every able-bodied warrior and apprentice up early. We need hunting and patrol parties as soon as possible. One more announcement, go ahead Dawntooth.” The ginger deputy gestured to the huge warrior, “Yes, my mate, Poppyheart, is expecting my kits and will be moving to the nursery.” The crowd of cats murmured their congratulations. “If that is all, I would like to speak to my Senior Warriors now.” Shatteredstar slipped into the shadows of his den, resting underneath the ground calmly. Redclaw, Dawntooth, and Nightfrost trailed after him dully and Cardinalpaw bounced over to Maplestrike. “What are we doing tomorrow?” She mewled like a kit. “We are practicing battle training tomorrow, and going on extra patrols. Now go get some rest.” She nudged the ginger apprentice towards her den, bounding over to hers. “Maplestrike! Wait! I need to talk to you!” The small brown Medicine Cat was racing after her. “Come to my den please.” Maplestrike felt a prickle of alarm at the Medicine Cats worried gaze. They trotted over to the stone den. It was a huge cave with vines draping over the entrance. They slipped in quietly, “Sit down.” Nutmeg sat down in one of the nests, curling her long brown tail over her paws. Maplestrike settled down on the moss, “What do you need, Nutmeg?” Her voice showed a bit of alarm. “Oh, don’t worry, your not going to have kits, yet. It’s just… that StarClan sent me a vision last night. It was about you.” Maplestrike sat up immediately as Nutmeg went on, “You were there. In the nursery with three kits, Jaywing was sitting there too. But another cat was there. He was in the shadows, but his eyes stuck out like no other cats’ in the forest. It was Jackalstar, he was grinning at you.” Her green eyes were wide with distress. “I hope you don’t mind I told Jaywing, when you were at the gathering.” Maplestrike was utterly stunned, “N-n-no, I d-don’t mind.” She managed to stutter out, “Thank y-you for t-telling me, Nutmeg.” She dipped her head to the Medicine Cat before brushing her way through the tunnel and out of the den. She burst into the clearing and pelted over to the Warriors’ den. Her pelt was dappled by the moonlight as she crept inside and into her nest. She stared at Redclaw’s pelt, rising and falling like normal as he slept. Maplestrike didn’t want to sleep, not yet. She wanted to think about how she was going to stop Jackalstar. She obviously couldn’t do this alone, she needed help. She closed her eyes, waiting for sleep to overcome her. Soon she was washed up into ThunderClan territory again, Marshstar lying in front of her. “Well? Have you figured out a way to stop him yet?” His meow echoed as he sat up. “Well… that’s what I wanted to ask you about, can I get permission to tell my friends so they can help?” Marshstar’s cackle was that of a crows as his tail tapped the ground harshly. “You… you want your friends help? What’s the point in that? I told you and you alone for a reason. He’s your biggest enemy, like your brother!” Maplestrike flinched at his harsh tone, “No, he isn’t. He may be my enemy, but Brokendust is a one of a kind murderer” She meowed. “Maybe I should’ve picked Jaywing or Mottledclaw instead.” He scratched behind his ear with his back claws. “Then why don’t you just pick them now!” She growled closing her eyes, waking up as the first light of dawn shone into the den. She stood up, her body feeling stiff. She stalked outside, sitting by the large fallen tree that seperated the Nursery from the rest of the camp. Her ginger patches looked golden in the sunrise. “Hey lovely, why are you up so early?” The silver tom had crept out of the den like a shadow and appeared beside her. His pelt glimmered as he sat down, his bright yellow eyes gleaming. Should I really involve him in this? “Oh, um, I have to go talk to Nutmeg.” Jaywing looked at her amber eyes, “She’s probably still asleep…” He looked at her worriedly, “She told you about her sign from StarClan, didn’t she?” Maplestrike nodded, “What are we going to do? I know Jackalstar, he’s evil, Jaywing. Nutmeg’s prophecy doesn’t help make this any better. I don’t want you to get hurt…” She trailed off before Jaywing brought his tail up to her chin. “I’m the least of your worries, Maplestrike. We are going to have kits eventually. Nutmeg’s vision stated it clear as day. We just have to be ready for them.” She bowed her head, burying it into his shoulder. “When is eventually though?” She muttered. “I have to get Cardinalpaw.” She moaned quietly and stood up, racing to the Apprentices’ Den. The ginger apprentice was bigger than when she had became her mentor. She barely fit in her small moss nest, her haunches hanging out uncomfortably. She lifted her head hearing Maplestrike enter, getting up and padding over to her. She stretched, her jaws parting in a huge yawn, “Must we get up this early every morning?” She even sounded older, “Yes we must, plus, Redclaw’s already begun organizing patrols. Hurry up, go get something to eat and meet us over there.” Cardinalpaw groaned, striding over to the fresh-kill pile. Maplestrike pelted across the large clearing to the Warriors’ and Apprentices’ gathered around the ginger deputy. “Okay, I want Mottledclaw, Stagcall, Morningfire, and Robinfeather on the dawn patrol. Go now!” He growled, looking exhausted as the felines raced away into the reed entrance. “There will be two sunhigh patrols. One towards ThunderClan’s border and one towards ShadowClan’s. Jaywing, Squirrelpaw, Lizardpaw, and Nightfrost, you will take the ThunderClan border. Maplestrike, Lupinpelt, Meadowgaze, and Mosspaw with take ShadowClan’s border. Evening patrol will be Lionflight, Darkfoot, and Dawntooth. Dusk patrol will be Maplestrike, Jaywing, and myself. Understood?” The Warriors’ and Apprentices’ nodded. “For now, the evening patrol cats will go on a hunting patrol. Maplestrike! Send Cardinalpaw to Nutmeg, she wants her to help gather herbs.” Maplestrike nodded, bounding away as Redclaw continued on about training and such. “Cardinalpaw! Change of plans!” Maplestrike paused in front of her as she was finishing her Magpie. “What is it? Which patrol am I on?” Maplestrike sat down, grooming her fluffy tail. “You’re not on a patrol…” Cardinalpaw cut her off, “So I’m off for the day?” She meowed excitedly. “No, you’re not. You have to go help Nutmeg and Curlpaw gather herbs.” Maplestrike straightened up, puffing out her chest. Cardinalpaw’s excited look instantly dropped to a look of disgust. “Help gather herbs? No way!” “You’ll do it for three reasons. One, Nutmeg said so, two, Redclaw said so, and three, I said so. So you’re doing it whether you like it or not. Maybe later if you did good and you’re not to bushed, we’ll do battle training.” Maplestrike hopped away to do a solo hunting mission. “Haha, have fun, sis!” Lizardpaw sneered racing after Dawntooth to join his sister in training until his patrol. Robinfeather was out on Dawn patrol so he would share Dawntooth for the morning. Cardinalpaw groaned, quite annoyed, she raced over to join the two felines to go gather herbs.
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“Let all cats old enough to swim across the river gather here beneath the highrock!” Shatteredstar yowled leaping down from the highrock to let Nutmeg take over. “W-We are gathered here today to give Curlpaw his Medicine Cat name, I have decided that I am too old to carry on this job, and will retire from the job of Medicine Cat.” She turned her beautiful green eyes to the starry night sky, “I, Nutmeg, Medicine Cat of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of the Medicine Cat, and with your help, he will serve his Clan for many moons!” She turned her head abruptly towards the pale ginger apprentice. “Curlpaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a Medicine Cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?” Curlpaw stared at her, the most serious look on his face then any other cat there. “I do.” Nutmeg showed pride in her blue-green eyes. “Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a Medicine Cat. Curlpaw, from this moment you will be known as Curlfall. StarClan honors your courage and intelligence and welcomes you as a full Medicine Cat of RiverClan.” She leaped down to rest her muzzle on his head, as he stooped down to lick her shoulder. “I’m so proud of you.” She muttered. “Curlfall! Curlfall!” Maplestrike led the chant, the other RiverClan cat’s joining in. Her tortoiseshell pelt glimmered in the moonlight, Redclaw glancing at her, eyes narrowed. Shatteredstar leaped onto the highrock, “We still have Nutmeg’s Elder ceremony, so quiet down!” He yowled above the noises. They died away as Shatteredstar began speaking the ceremony, “Nutmeg, Is It your wish to give up the name of a Medicine Cat and go to join the elders? “I-It Is.” Nutmeg hesitated, glancing back at the Medicine Cat den. “Then your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest.” Nutmeg bowed her head in respect, padding over to join Firestripe and Patcheye. “Nutmeg! Nutmeg!” Redclaw padded to the entrance waiting for the rest of the evening patrol to join him. Maplestrike padded over, trailed by Jaywing. They set off immediately, as soon as they were a good ways from camp, Redclaw lashed his tail, coming to a stop. “When did this...relationship… If that’s what you would call it, start between you two?” The two felines were caught off guard. “H-How’d you know?” Jaywing beat her to the question. “I saw you two this morning. I may be old, but I’m not blind!” He rolled his eyes in disgust. Maplestrike was about to speak until the scent of WindClan caught her attention. It was mixed with the odor of blood. She spotted a lithe golden tom with black stripes, his coat stained with blood. “Help! Help! ThunderClan and ShadowClan are attacking WindClan!” Redclaw whipped his head around to the WindClan apprentice. “Jaywing! Go get reinforcements! Maplestrike, let’s go!” The apprentice raced ahead, Maplestrike and Redclaw trailing swiftly on his tail. Soon they could hear screeching, fighting cats, the strong stench of blood as well. They whipped through the heather walls, which were now broken and torn apart. Redclaw immediately jumped onto a feline who was about to do the final blow to a light brown she-cat. Maplestrike searched for Spottedstar among the felines. She caught him out of the corner of her eye tussling with a huge gray ShadowClan cat. She leaped onto the gray tom, her claws tearing into his ear, shredding it. He leaped off Spottedstar long enough for him to scramble away. She stared at the huge gray warrior, remembering Wolffang from a few gatherings ago. He shook the blood from his ears snarling, leaping at her. She ran under him, her claws sliding across his stomach, tearing it open. He fell face-first into the dirt, blood trickling from his mouth, cascading from his stomach as he twitched on the ground, dead. She didn’t bother looking at him again, but leaped back into battle. She searched for reinforcements, but they hadn’t arrived yet. They were losing, more enemy reinforcements were pouring into the camp. She was all of a sudden knocked out of the way by a black she-cat. She stood up, seeing Ravenbranch struggling under Jackalstar’s grasp. She hissed, launching herself at him too fast for him to think. She held the huge bewildered tom to the dusty earth, winded, he gasped for breath. She yowled, collecting some of the cats attention and slammed her claws next to his throat. “You killed them! Admit it! You killed Tornface and Sandyfoot!” He choked in surprise, his tail lashing. She put her other set of claws to his throat, “Tell the Clans! Now, or you lose your first life! She felt him raise his hind legs for a kicking attack, “Try it, and you’ll be dead so quick you won’t even be able to kick me.” She whispered in his ear, digging her claws a bit deeper into his throat. “Now, Jackalstar!” He choked, “Alright! I did it! I killed them! I killed Tornface to become leader and Sandyfoot because he saw me! I didn’t intend to kill him! I told him to go ahead! Then I said it was a rockslide that killed them! Please, just let me go!” The cats had all stopped fighting at those words, their eyes wide in shock. “Not a chance.” She muttered, digging her claws right through his throat, taking a life. She stepped off him, her amber eyes dark and cold. The ThunderClan reinforcements arrived, staring at Maplestrike towering over Jackalstar’s convulsing body in shock. “No!” Jaywing launched forward towards Darkfoot, Grizzlystar tearing open her throat, blood pouring out. Redclaw pelted over, tackling Grizzlystar, digging his claws into Grizzlystar’s face as he screeched in pain. “Darkfoot! No! No!” Jaywing sat by her, his eyes wide with terror, his claws digging into the earth angrily. “Jaywing, I love you, Redclaw, Squirrelpaw, Lizardpaw, and Cardinalpaw. Tell them that?” “He doesn’t have to, I’m here.” Redclaw mewed silently. “Come here.” She croaked, Redclaw waiting for Cobaltspark to hold Grizzlystar down to walk forward. “You were there for me, no matter what, thank-” Blood gurgled at her throat, unable to finish her sentence, she lied there, breathless. “No! Don’t Go!” Jaywing cried out sadly. Redclaw curled his tail around him bowing his head. That moment, Jackalstar jolted awake. He jumped up, Spottedstar stood next to him utterly stunned. Jackalstar lashed out his claws to his face, but Spottedstar ducked away. The WindClan cats surrounded him, hissing and spitting viciously. ThunderClan’s hackles raised, their teeth bared. Were they really going to protect their cold-blooded, murderous leader? Then Houndtooth let out a battle cry and the ThunderClan cats rushed forward. All heading towards the pale ginger tom. He jumped up, racing to the entrance. “I swear on StarClan… I’ll be back for you, Maplestrike.” He vowed before disappearing, the ThunderClan felines on his tail. “What should we do with this one, eh?” Cobaltspark held down Grizzlystar with both paws, Grizzlystar of which was squirming to get out of his grasp. “Let me handle this.” Jaywing got up as Maplestrike put a paw to balance her while she stood. He strode over, his muscles rippling in the moonlight. “So, Grizzlystar, how many lives you have left?” Jaywing meowed cooly, unsheathing his claws. “None of your business!” The ragged, brown tom spat, still squirming. “I know that If you were on your last life… you wouldn’t be anymore.” He snarled striking his claws across the tom’s chest. “Stop! Please!” Hazelclaw stumbled over blindly, blood covering his vision. “I-I’m not ready to become leader!” Jaywing snarled, beginning to pace. “Darkfoot would know what to do!” He spat angrily. Maplestrike sighed, “She would tell you to do the right thing.” She soothed, calmly. “I know, but he killed her! I could avenge her right here, right now!” She flicked her tail over his shoulder, stepping beside Grizzlystar. She slammed her claws beside his throat, making him flinch. “Touch RiverClan, or any Clan’s territory again, and I’ll kill you!” She flicked her tail, stalking proudly out of the camp, the RiverClan felines following one-by-one.
Category:Cats
Category:Clans
Category:Unfinished Stories
Category:Stories