Chapter 33: WaveClan Found!
The HeatherClan cats continued along the river until they reached the ditch. They began to search for signs of WaveClan.
Suddenly, Birdflight exclaimed, "Hey! Look at this! It's a badger burrow!"
Sandpelt perked up. "Get away from there!" She wrinkled her nose. "That garlic stinks, and it could hide any scent of badger!"
"Sorry," Birdflight murmured, flattening her ears.
"Yes, that was quite mouse-brained of you," Silverstar interrupted. "But lets check it out. Carefully!"
One by one, the cats shuffled in to the burrow. "Hey!" mewed Greynose. "WaveClan scent!"
Indeed, the band could smell the faint scent of WaveClan, almost smothered by the garlic.
Silverstar continued to lead the way through the small passage, and found herself in a large cavern.
And it was filled with cats! One by one, they hissed and stalked towards them.
"We're HeatherClan cats!" Greynose meowed.
"We're here to help you come back!" added Birdflight.
The hissing paused, then a big cat padded forward. "Is this true? We can go back?"
"Well..." Silverstar meowed. "We need your help to defeat the Dark Forest cats, and the cats following them, including and NightClan and FearClan. Right now we have CloudClan and StormClan as allies.....and WaveClan."
"Is it safe?" an unidentifiable cat mewed.
"We'll let you stay with us," Silverstar meowed. "We have room. We'll care for you and protect you."
"Then let's go!"
The HeatherClan cats all sighed with relief.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
HeatherClan Book: Chapter 32
Chapter 32: The Search- Part 3
Silverstar woke to a paw prodding her gently. She yawned, then opened her eyes to see a unfamiliar orange face staring at her.
She leaped up, a warning growl rumbling in her throat, but Birdflight immediately leaped down from her perch in the birch tree and soothed her mother, "It's alright, they're with us."
The young apprentice looked taken aback at Silverstar's fierceness, then mewed tentatively, "I'm Robinpaw, remember?"
Silverstar relaxed as the night's events flooded back to her. "Hello," she meowed. "I'm Silverstar. And you must be Dovepaw." She nodded to the silvery gray cat behind Robinpaw. The apprentice dipped her head shyly.
"Where's your mother?" Sandpelt had padded up to Silverstar's shoulder. "We need to speak to her." Sandpelt's words were firm, but her voice was kind.
"Over there," meowed Robinpaw. She pointed with her tail towards a hollow log a few foxlengths away.
Silverstar summoned her warriors with her tail, and together, they headed towards the hollow with the apprentices right behind them.
The cats entered the log, and found Iceshard waiting for them. "Sit down," she meowed.
Graynose bristled. "You don't tell us what to do in our territory," he spat.
Iceshard shrank back. "Sorry," she mewed quietly.
Silverstar, Sandpelt, and Birdflight sat down as Graynose hissed in annoyance and stalked out.
"Sorry," Sandpelt apologized for her former apprentice. "He can be as grumpy as an elder in the morning. Especially with an emp---"
She was cut off by another hiss from outside. "I'm going hunting," the cats heard.
"---ty belly," Sandpelt finished.
Iceshard's eyes sparkled with amusement. "I know exactly what it feels like." She purred.
"Okay, let's get down to business," meowed Birdflight. "What's your whole story?"
The band listened patiently as Iceshard explained about Lightningstar's death, and her moons spent with Brightstar as his supposed mate. Her voice shook with grief as she described Finchkit's unruly death. But then she gave them a valuable piece of information. "Lightningstar didn't really die. StarClan needed Brightstar to believe he was dead, so they only took one of Lightningstar's lived, then put him into a season long slumber so he could wake at the right time. He would gladly invite you into StormClan to plan how to kill off FearClan."
The HeatherClan cats were shocked. Lightningstar was alive! But then they remembered their mission.
"We have to find WaveClan," explained Silverstar. "They're our only hope at defeating FearClan, NightClan, and the Dark Forest cats."
Robinpaw and Dovepaw looked interested. "We know something that could help you," mewed Dovepaw softly. "Just yesterday we encountered a fish-smelling cat by the river. She was collecting a bunch of leaves, and looked scared that we discovered her, and she ran away before we could stop her."
"WaveClan!" Birdflight exclaimed.
"What did she look like?" asked Iceshard.
"She was a pale tabby," Robinpaw recalled. "With slightly darker ripples down her flanks. She smelled distinctly of herbs."
There was a scuffling sound, and Graynose came back in. He had two voles and a rabbit in his mouth. "Here," he mewed. "There's enough for all of us." He paused. "And the cat you were talking about is Leafstream."
"Leafstream!" Silverstar gasped. "The WaveClan medicine cat!"
"We tracked her," Dovepaw mewed through bites of the rabbit. "So we know relatively where she's living."
"And where ever she is, the rest of WaveClan will be!" Sandpelt exclaimed. "Thank you. All of you."
"Yes," Birdflight agreed. "You've been a great help."
"Could you show us where Leafstream went?" asked Silverstar, munching on a vole bone.
The two apprentices looked to their mother. "Yes, you may show them," Iceshard meowed. "But I will go with you. Also, we cannot go with you the whole way. Brightstar will be sending out patrols to look for me soon, and we don't want to be caught."
Silverstar gave a terse nod. "Let's go."
"Now?" asked Birdflight.
"What better time could there be?" asked Sandpelt. "We just ate, so we're full, thanks to Graynose."
Her former apprentice dipped his head. "Also, we're rested. So, let's go!"
"Wow, his mood changed fast," Robinpaw remarked to Birdflight as they padded along. "A moment ago, he was as grouchy as an elder. And now, he's as happy as a kitten in a patch of catnip."
"Yeah," Dovepaw agreed. "I wonder if h---"
But Dovepaw never got to finish her wonder, because just then, the ground beneath her paws disappeared.
"Help!" Dovepaw yowled. Robinpaw raced to where her sister's voice was coming from.
"She's buried in an old badger set!" she meowed, pawing frantically at the loose dirt. "Help me!"
The HeatherClan cats, along with Iceshard, raced over and began to dig. Slowly but surely, Dovepaw clambered out, coughing out dirt.
"Are you okay?" Birdflight asked.
"I'm fine," Dovepaw managed to say, before another coughing fit shook her body.
"We need to clear the dirt from her throat," Graynose meowed. "Robinpaw, you're the smallest. Reach your paw down your sister's throat and scoop out as much dirt as you can.
Trembling, Robinpaw reached out a paw and lowered it into Dovepaw's mouth. Gently, she cleaned out the dirt. Soon, Dovepaw could breathe freely again.
"Thanks," she gasped. "You saved my life!"
"It's what we do," Sandpelt mewed, purring with relief.
"But you can't travel much farther now. We should go back to camp," Iceshard meowed.
"Could you point out the direction we should go?" asked Silverstar.
"Yes," meowed Robinpaw. "Keep going until you reach a small river. Then, follow the river downstream until you reach a ditch. The scent is strongest there. You should be able to find WaveClan."
"Thank you," Birdflight mewed gratefully. "We won't forget the help you've given us."
"And I won't forget that you dug me out of that badger set!" Davepaw shuddered.
"Well, we should go now," Silverstar meowed. "May StarClan light your paths!"
"You too," Iceshard mewed.
"Bye!" meowed Robinpaw. "See you later!"
And so, the cats parted, and the HeatherClan cats continued their journey.
Silverstar woke to a paw prodding her gently. She yawned, then opened her eyes to see a unfamiliar orange face staring at her.
She leaped up, a warning growl rumbling in her throat, but Birdflight immediately leaped down from her perch in the birch tree and soothed her mother, "It's alright, they're with us."
The young apprentice looked taken aback at Silverstar's fierceness, then mewed tentatively, "I'm Robinpaw, remember?"
Silverstar relaxed as the night's events flooded back to her. "Hello," she meowed. "I'm Silverstar. And you must be Dovepaw." She nodded to the silvery gray cat behind Robinpaw. The apprentice dipped her head shyly.
"Where's your mother?" Sandpelt had padded up to Silverstar's shoulder. "We need to speak to her." Sandpelt's words were firm, but her voice was kind.
"Over there," meowed Robinpaw. She pointed with her tail towards a hollow log a few foxlengths away.
Silverstar summoned her warriors with her tail, and together, they headed towards the hollow with the apprentices right behind them.
The cats entered the log, and found Iceshard waiting for them. "Sit down," she meowed.
Graynose bristled. "You don't tell us what to do in our territory," he spat.
Iceshard shrank back. "Sorry," she mewed quietly.
Silverstar, Sandpelt, and Birdflight sat down as Graynose hissed in annoyance and stalked out.
"Sorry," Sandpelt apologized for her former apprentice. "He can be as grumpy as an elder in the morning. Especially with an emp---"
She was cut off by another hiss from outside. "I'm going hunting," the cats heard.
"---ty belly," Sandpelt finished.
Iceshard's eyes sparkled with amusement. "I know exactly what it feels like." She purred.
"Okay, let's get down to business," meowed Birdflight. "What's your whole story?"
The band listened patiently as Iceshard explained about Lightningstar's death, and her moons spent with Brightstar as his supposed mate. Her voice shook with grief as she described Finchkit's unruly death. But then she gave them a valuable piece of information. "Lightningstar didn't really die. StarClan needed Brightstar to believe he was dead, so they only took one of Lightningstar's lived, then put him into a season long slumber so he could wake at the right time. He would gladly invite you into StormClan to plan how to kill off FearClan."
The HeatherClan cats were shocked. Lightningstar was alive! But then they remembered their mission.
"We have to find WaveClan," explained Silverstar. "They're our only hope at defeating FearClan, NightClan, and the Dark Forest cats."
Robinpaw and Dovepaw looked interested. "We know something that could help you," mewed Dovepaw softly. "Just yesterday we encountered a fish-smelling cat by the river. She was collecting a bunch of leaves, and looked scared that we discovered her, and she ran away before we could stop her."
"WaveClan!" Birdflight exclaimed.
"What did she look like?" asked Iceshard.
"She was a pale tabby," Robinpaw recalled. "With slightly darker ripples down her flanks. She smelled distinctly of herbs."
There was a scuffling sound, and Graynose came back in. He had two voles and a rabbit in his mouth. "Here," he mewed. "There's enough for all of us." He paused. "And the cat you were talking about is Leafstream."
"Leafstream!" Silverstar gasped. "The WaveClan medicine cat!"
"We tracked her," Dovepaw mewed through bites of the rabbit. "So we know relatively where she's living."
"And where ever she is, the rest of WaveClan will be!" Sandpelt exclaimed. "Thank you. All of you."
"Yes," Birdflight agreed. "You've been a great help."
"Could you show us where Leafstream went?" asked Silverstar, munching on a vole bone.
The two apprentices looked to their mother. "Yes, you may show them," Iceshard meowed. "But I will go with you. Also, we cannot go with you the whole way. Brightstar will be sending out patrols to look for me soon, and we don't want to be caught."
Silverstar gave a terse nod. "Let's go."
"Now?" asked Birdflight.
"What better time could there be?" asked Sandpelt. "We just ate, so we're full, thanks to Graynose."
Her former apprentice dipped his head. "Also, we're rested. So, let's go!"
"Wow, his mood changed fast," Robinpaw remarked to Birdflight as they padded along. "A moment ago, he was as grouchy as an elder. And now, he's as happy as a kitten in a patch of catnip."
"Yeah," Dovepaw agreed. "I wonder if h---"
But Dovepaw never got to finish her wonder, because just then, the ground beneath her paws disappeared.
"Help!" Dovepaw yowled. Robinpaw raced to where her sister's voice was coming from.
"She's buried in an old badger set!" she meowed, pawing frantically at the loose dirt. "Help me!"
The HeatherClan cats, along with Iceshard, raced over and began to dig. Slowly but surely, Dovepaw clambered out, coughing out dirt.
"Are you okay?" Birdflight asked.
"I'm fine," Dovepaw managed to say, before another coughing fit shook her body.
"We need to clear the dirt from her throat," Graynose meowed. "Robinpaw, you're the smallest. Reach your paw down your sister's throat and scoop out as much dirt as you can.
Trembling, Robinpaw reached out a paw and lowered it into Dovepaw's mouth. Gently, she cleaned out the dirt. Soon, Dovepaw could breathe freely again.
"Thanks," she gasped. "You saved my life!"
"It's what we do," Sandpelt mewed, purring with relief.
"But you can't travel much farther now. We should go back to camp," Iceshard meowed.
"Could you point out the direction we should go?" asked Silverstar.
"Yes," meowed Robinpaw. "Keep going until you reach a small river. Then, follow the river downstream until you reach a ditch. The scent is strongest there. You should be able to find WaveClan."
"Thank you," Birdflight mewed gratefully. "We won't forget the help you've given us."
"And I won't forget that you dug me out of that badger set!" Davepaw shuddered.
"Well, we should go now," Silverstar meowed. "May StarClan light your paths!"
"You too," Iceshard mewed.
"Bye!" meowed Robinpaw. "See you later!"
And so, the cats parted, and the HeatherClan cats continued their journey.
Monday, March 12, 2012
HeatherClan Book: Chapter 31
Chapter 31: The Search- Part 2
Silverstar and the other three cats trekked towards WaveClan territory. Silverstar noticed someone following them, but she wasn't sure who they were. Still, they were HeatherClan cats, so she didn't want to attack them. But she did want to find out why the cats were following the band.
When they got to the birch tree close by the border, Slverstar held up her tail for the other cats to stop.
"This is very close to the enemy's territory," she meowed quietly. "Birdflight, why don't you climb the birch tree and tell us if there are any FearClan patrols?"
Immediately, Birdflight scaled the tree and mewed, "No patrols. It's all clear." There was a moment's pause. "No, wait. There are a couple cats approaching. Three, no, four of them." She hopped down from the tree. "What should we do?"
Silverstar thought hard, than meowed, "Well, since we need help, you cats can come out now." There was a small mew of surprise, quickly silenced by the sound of a paw cuffing an ear.
"We know you're there," Graynose meowed.
"There's no use hiding," Sandpelt added.
There was a bit of grumbling, then out came two mud-covered cats.
"Jaywing?" Silverstar meowed in surprise.
"Hi, Aurorapaw!" Birdflight greeted her friend, then added, "What are you doing here?"
Aurorapaw scuffled the ground in embarrassment as her mentor mewed, "Goldenfur sent us. She wanted to make sure we saw you cross the border safely."
Silverstar blinked in gratitude while Sandpelt snorted. "It's easy to cross the border," she meowed. "But not easy to avoid the cats that live across the border."
"Also," Graynose added. "How can you protect us with only your knowledge of herbs?"
Aurorapaw studied her paws and murmured, "I hadn't thought of that.
But Jaywing wasn't so easily swayed. "We have teeth and claws too," he spat, his fur bristling. "We can fight!"
"Be quiet!" Silverstar interrupted. "There are enemy cats coming right at us, and we're wasting out energy on arguing!" Indeed, the FearClan cats were now in plain view, padding purposefully towards the HeatherClan cats, as though they knew they could not lose.
Silverstar tensed as they drew closer, until they were nearly standing on the border. Her heart sank as she realized who they were.
"Snaketail!" she hissed. "And Iceshard!" The two warriors were Brightstar's deputy and Brightstar's mate.
"We are pleased to see you too," Snaketail sneered mockingly. "This is Robinpaw, and this is Dovepaw." He gestured towards the two younger cats behind him, who narrowed their eyes.
"You wouldn't mind if we claw your ears off, would you?" Iceshard snarled, then leaped at the cats. Snaketail joined in, claws flashing, and with only a heartbeat's hesitation, so did the apprentices.
Birdflight noticed something peculiar. Iceshard, along with their apprentices, had their claws sheathed and their lips curled over their teeth, inflicting no damage whatsoever to the HeatherClan cats. In fact, they seemed to be the ones Snaketail was tripping over the most. Birdflight's suspicion was confirmed when Iceshard pinned her down and hissed in her ear, "We're on your side! Pin Snaketail down and we'll finish him off!" Birdflight barely had time to nod when Silverstar dragged Iceshard off.
"Pin Snaketail down!" she yowled. Silverstar was busy fighting the big tom, but Sandpelt and Graynose dragged him off of her. All of the cats scored scratches down his, flank, trusting Birdflight. Suddenly, Iceshard charged.
"Look out!" Aurorapaw yowled to her friend. But Birdflight calmly stepped aside and let the white she-cat pounce on her Clanmate. With the apprentices right behind her, she gouged out Snaketail's eyes as the HeatherClan cats watched with silent fascination. Finally, it was over.
"I can't see!" Snaketail wailed. "What have you done to me? I thought you were a FearClan cat!"
"I wasn't," growled Iceshard. "You were tricked. Robinpaw, Dovepaw, and" ----- she looked pained ----- "Finchpaw were Lightningstar's kits, not Brightstar's. After he was killed, I convinced Brackenstar to let me be a spy. Brightstar will pay for killing my mate and my kit." Her voice filled with grief, but then she raked her claws across Snaketail's face, making him open his jaws in a yowl of pain and fury. "His whole so-called Clan will pay, starting with you!"
Jaywing sniffed him over. "You are blind," he pronounced. "You better come with us."
Silverstar nodded in agreement. She looked shaken. "Take him back to camp and keep him prisoner," she told the medicine cats. "Perhaps you coming here was some use after all." She then turned to Iceshard and her kits. "You may stay, but you have a lot of explaining to do in the morning."
And so, after Silverstar posted Graynose as the guard, she tucked her nose under her tail, and fell into a deep sleep.
Silverstar and the other three cats trekked towards WaveClan territory. Silverstar noticed someone following them, but she wasn't sure who they were. Still, they were HeatherClan cats, so she didn't want to attack them. But she did want to find out why the cats were following the band.
When they got to the birch tree close by the border, Slverstar held up her tail for the other cats to stop.
"This is very close to the enemy's territory," she meowed quietly. "Birdflight, why don't you climb the birch tree and tell us if there are any FearClan patrols?"
Immediately, Birdflight scaled the tree and mewed, "No patrols. It's all clear." There was a moment's pause. "No, wait. There are a couple cats approaching. Three, no, four of them." She hopped down from the tree. "What should we do?"
Silverstar thought hard, than meowed, "Well, since we need help, you cats can come out now." There was a small mew of surprise, quickly silenced by the sound of a paw cuffing an ear.
"We know you're there," Graynose meowed.
"There's no use hiding," Sandpelt added.
There was a bit of grumbling, then out came two mud-covered cats.
"Jaywing?" Silverstar meowed in surprise.
"Hi, Aurorapaw!" Birdflight greeted her friend, then added, "What are you doing here?"
Aurorapaw scuffled the ground in embarrassment as her mentor mewed, "Goldenfur sent us. She wanted to make sure we saw you cross the border safely."
Silverstar blinked in gratitude while Sandpelt snorted. "It's easy to cross the border," she meowed. "But not easy to avoid the cats that live across the border."
"Also," Graynose added. "How can you protect us with only your knowledge of herbs?"
Aurorapaw studied her paws and murmured, "I hadn't thought of that.
But Jaywing wasn't so easily swayed. "We have teeth and claws too," he spat, his fur bristling. "We can fight!"
"Be quiet!" Silverstar interrupted. "There are enemy cats coming right at us, and we're wasting out energy on arguing!" Indeed, the FearClan cats were now in plain view, padding purposefully towards the HeatherClan cats, as though they knew they could not lose.
Silverstar tensed as they drew closer, until they were nearly standing on the border. Her heart sank as she realized who they were.
"Snaketail!" she hissed. "And Iceshard!" The two warriors were Brightstar's deputy and Brightstar's mate.
"We are pleased to see you too," Snaketail sneered mockingly. "This is Robinpaw, and this is Dovepaw." He gestured towards the two younger cats behind him, who narrowed their eyes.
"You wouldn't mind if we claw your ears off, would you?" Iceshard snarled, then leaped at the cats. Snaketail joined in, claws flashing, and with only a heartbeat's hesitation, so did the apprentices.
Birdflight noticed something peculiar. Iceshard, along with their apprentices, had their claws sheathed and their lips curled over their teeth, inflicting no damage whatsoever to the HeatherClan cats. In fact, they seemed to be the ones Snaketail was tripping over the most. Birdflight's suspicion was confirmed when Iceshard pinned her down and hissed in her ear, "We're on your side! Pin Snaketail down and we'll finish him off!" Birdflight barely had time to nod when Silverstar dragged Iceshard off.
"Pin Snaketail down!" she yowled. Silverstar was busy fighting the big tom, but Sandpelt and Graynose dragged him off of her. All of the cats scored scratches down his, flank, trusting Birdflight. Suddenly, Iceshard charged.
"Look out!" Aurorapaw yowled to her friend. But Birdflight calmly stepped aside and let the white she-cat pounce on her Clanmate. With the apprentices right behind her, she gouged out Snaketail's eyes as the HeatherClan cats watched with silent fascination. Finally, it was over.
"I can't see!" Snaketail wailed. "What have you done to me? I thought you were a FearClan cat!"
"I wasn't," growled Iceshard. "You were tricked. Robinpaw, Dovepaw, and" ----- she looked pained ----- "Finchpaw were Lightningstar's kits, not Brightstar's. After he was killed, I convinced Brackenstar to let me be a spy. Brightstar will pay for killing my mate and my kit." Her voice filled with grief, but then she raked her claws across Snaketail's face, making him open his jaws in a yowl of pain and fury. "His whole so-called Clan will pay, starting with you!"
Jaywing sniffed him over. "You are blind," he pronounced. "You better come with us."
Silverstar nodded in agreement. She looked shaken. "Take him back to camp and keep him prisoner," she told the medicine cats. "Perhaps you coming here was some use after all." She then turned to Iceshard and her kits. "You may stay, but you have a lot of explaining to do in the morning."
And so, after Silverstar posted Graynose as the guard, she tucked her nose under her tail, and fell into a deep sleep.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
HeatherClan Book: Chapter 30
Chapter 30: The Search- Part 1
Silverstar woke with a start. Gasping for breath, she streaked out of her den, barely noticing it was dusk, and checked the warriors' den, making sure everyone was still alive. Then, she softly woke the chosen cats up, along with Goldenfur, and led them to the medicine cats' den, where they wouldn't be disturbed.
Jaywing was waiting for them there. He waited patiently as Silverstar explained everything to the three cats she had chosen. All of them were nodding in understanding when she had finished. Birdflight was especially excited.
"My first warrior mission!" she could barely suppress her eagerness, and began skipping around the group of cats. "Silverstar, you're the best!"
"Keep your voice down," Graynose reminded her.
Birdflight fell silent, but continued to skip around. Silverstar didn't exaggerate when she mewed that Birdflight was bouncing off the walls.
"We leave now," Silverstar informed them. "Goldenfur will be in charge of the camp. Birdflight, you may tell your brothers about your missions, but don't wake anyone else. Then, tell them to come to me."
Within minutes, all of Silverstar's kits had bounded into the medicine cat den. Moonrain stared at his mother a bit forlornly.
"I'm sorry," Silverstar mewed, stroking her kits' pelts with her tail. "But you'll both be able to go on the next mission possible."
Immediately, Rainwhisker's eyes lit up, and Moonrain started purring. "Will it be a FearClan attack mission?" Rainwhisker asked.
"We'll see," Silverstar murmured back, then gave each of them a goodbye lick. They returned to their dens.
"Right," meowed Jaywing. "Aurorapaw, the herbs!" he called. Instantly Aurorapaw appeared, jaws full of undoubtedly bitter herbs. Jaywing sniffed them, making sure they were the right ones. "Great job," he praised his young apprentice.
Aurorapaw purred with delight. Silverstar suspected the grumpy Jaywing had grown on her. She watched as Aurorapaw ran into the herd storage, probably to mix more herbs for the medicine cat.
When Aurorapaw left, Silverstar realized that everyone had eaten their herbs except for her and Birdflight. Quickly, she swallowed them, grimacing at the disgusting taste.
Birdflight hesitantly took a small bite and immediately choked and spit it out. "You have eat them," Sandpelt told her. "It'll give you strength." Grimacing the whole time, Birdflight finally managed to get the herbs down her throat.
"Goldenfur, tell the Clan where I've gone," Silverstar instructed her deputy. "If we're not back in three days, send a patrol to look for us. We'll be towards the far border of WaveClan, near the Twolegplace." Silverstar figured Brightstar wouldn't bother going there while he was working on his evil plan to conquer the Clans.
That's where WaveClan would go, Silverstar had thought. But we'll have to avoid FearClan, who are patrolling WaveClan's territory.
And so, with Silverstar thinking about her dream, the four cats set out into the the unknown.
Silverstar woke with a start. Gasping for breath, she streaked out of her den, barely noticing it was dusk, and checked the warriors' den, making sure everyone was still alive. Then, she softly woke the chosen cats up, along with Goldenfur, and led them to the medicine cats' den, where they wouldn't be disturbed.
Jaywing was waiting for them there. He waited patiently as Silverstar explained everything to the three cats she had chosen. All of them were nodding in understanding when she had finished. Birdflight was especially excited.
"My first warrior mission!" she could barely suppress her eagerness, and began skipping around the group of cats. "Silverstar, you're the best!"
"Keep your voice down," Graynose reminded her.
Birdflight fell silent, but continued to skip around. Silverstar didn't exaggerate when she mewed that Birdflight was bouncing off the walls.
"We leave now," Silverstar informed them. "Goldenfur will be in charge of the camp. Birdflight, you may tell your brothers about your missions, but don't wake anyone else. Then, tell them to come to me."
Within minutes, all of Silverstar's kits had bounded into the medicine cat den. Moonrain stared at his mother a bit forlornly.
"I'm sorry," Silverstar mewed, stroking her kits' pelts with her tail. "But you'll both be able to go on the next mission possible."
Immediately, Rainwhisker's eyes lit up, and Moonrain started purring. "Will it be a FearClan attack mission?" Rainwhisker asked.
"We'll see," Silverstar murmured back, then gave each of them a goodbye lick. They returned to their dens.
"Right," meowed Jaywing. "Aurorapaw, the herbs!" he called. Instantly Aurorapaw appeared, jaws full of undoubtedly bitter herbs. Jaywing sniffed them, making sure they were the right ones. "Great job," he praised his young apprentice.
Aurorapaw purred with delight. Silverstar suspected the grumpy Jaywing had grown on her. She watched as Aurorapaw ran into the herd storage, probably to mix more herbs for the medicine cat.
When Aurorapaw left, Silverstar realized that everyone had eaten their herbs except for her and Birdflight. Quickly, she swallowed them, grimacing at the disgusting taste.
Birdflight hesitantly took a small bite and immediately choked and spit it out. "You have eat them," Sandpelt told her. "It'll give you strength." Grimacing the whole time, Birdflight finally managed to get the herbs down her throat.
"Goldenfur, tell the Clan where I've gone," Silverstar instructed her deputy. "If we're not back in three days, send a patrol to look for us. We'll be towards the far border of WaveClan, near the Twolegplace." Silverstar figured Brightstar wouldn't bother going there while he was working on his evil plan to conquer the Clans.
That's where WaveClan would go, Silverstar had thought. But we'll have to avoid FearClan, who are patrolling WaveClan's territory.
And so, with Silverstar thinking about her dream, the four cats set out into the the unknown.
HeatherClan Book: Chapter 29
Chapter 29: Who to Take?
Silverstar paced in her den contemplating who to take with her in search of WaveClan. Finally, she got too tired and decided that sleep would help her more than pacing around would.
The night was dark. Silverstar was sitting on the single cloud in the sky. For a heartbeat, she thought HeatherClan had been attacked, and that she had been murdered by the cruel and heartless Brightstar. But then she realized that she was supposed to watch what was happening below her.
She saw herself, slinking through the shadows, followed by a band of three cats. She recognized the faint but distinct scent of Birdflight, Sandpelt, and Graynose. That's who I should take! she thought. She was about to make herself wake up, but saw something happening underneath her.
"Hey! Look at this!" Birdflight exclaimed. "It's a badger burrow!"
"Get away from there!" Sandpelt wrinkled her nose. "That garlic stinks, and it could hide any scent of badger!"
Birdflight flattened her ears. "Sorry," she murmured.
The Silverstar with the patrol seemed to agree with Sandpelt, but Silverstar on the cloud had enhanced senses. "No!" she wanted yowl. "WaveClan is right in front of your noses!" But she couldn't make a sound.
"Let's rest here," Graynose suggested, leading the four cats into a ditch.
"Rat!" Silverstar suddenly hissed from her cloud.
Birdflight looked towards the sky, as if she'd heard her mother. Then she looked away as the Slverstar with her yelped. "Rat!" yelped Silverstar, echoing her own words.
Rats streamed into the ditch by then hundreds, swarming over the cats and delivering lethal bites. The four cats threw themselves into battle and fought with their best, taking out ten rats in two heartbeats.
But by then, it was too late, and soon, unharmed, Silverstar was looking at her kit and Clanmates' torn bodies bleeding to death...
Silverstar paced in her den contemplating who to take with her in search of WaveClan. Finally, she got too tired and decided that sleep would help her more than pacing around would.
The night was dark. Silverstar was sitting on the single cloud in the sky. For a heartbeat, she thought HeatherClan had been attacked, and that she had been murdered by the cruel and heartless Brightstar. But then she realized that she was supposed to watch what was happening below her.
She saw herself, slinking through the shadows, followed by a band of three cats. She recognized the faint but distinct scent of Birdflight, Sandpelt, and Graynose. That's who I should take! she thought. She was about to make herself wake up, but saw something happening underneath her.
"Hey! Look at this!" Birdflight exclaimed. "It's a badger burrow!"
"Get away from there!" Sandpelt wrinkled her nose. "That garlic stinks, and it could hide any scent of badger!"
Birdflight flattened her ears. "Sorry," she murmured.
The Silverstar with the patrol seemed to agree with Sandpelt, but Silverstar on the cloud had enhanced senses. "No!" she wanted yowl. "WaveClan is right in front of your noses!" But she couldn't make a sound.
"Let's rest here," Graynose suggested, leading the four cats into a ditch.
"Rat!" Silverstar suddenly hissed from her cloud.
Birdflight looked towards the sky, as if she'd heard her mother. Then she looked away as the Slverstar with her yelped. "Rat!" yelped Silverstar, echoing her own words.
Rats streamed into the ditch by then hundreds, swarming over the cats and delivering lethal bites. The four cats threw themselves into battle and fought with their best, taking out ten rats in two heartbeats.
But by then, it was too late, and soon, unharmed, Silverstar was looking at her kit and Clanmates' torn bodies bleeding to death...
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
HeatherClan Book: Chapter 28
Chapter 28: The Sign
Silverstar awoke with a jolt. Panicked, she stumbled out of her den and raced for Jaywing's den.
"Jaywing!" she hissed urgently.
"Wha? Whatisit?" he meowed blearily.
"I had a dream about the Dark Forest cats! They're building an army!" Silverstar couldn't mask the fear in her voice.
At this, Jaywing woke up completely. Only pausing to call for Aurorapaw, he turned to Silverstar and meowed, "Tell me everything that was in your dream."
Quickly and softly, Silverstar relayed the dream to the two medicine cats. Aurorapaw's eyes widened at the thought of Dark Forest cats building an army, but she kept silent.
"This is bad..." Jaywing muttered.
"But with an army so big, how can we stop it before it begins?" Aurorapaw mused.
"I want to call a Clan meeting," meowed Silverstar. "But I'm afraid they'll be too scared, and might act before they think. That will lose if they attack, and cats will die, even if the four Clans unite. But it is nearly impossible to make Tigerstar stop without a fight. His ambition is too great!"
"We also have the problem of FearClan and NightClan. They'll keep attacking, and they're helping Tigerstar, too," added Aurorapaw quietly.
"So we only have CloudClan and StormClan as allies." Jaywing concluded
"I..." Aurorapaw hesitated. "I had a dream, too. At first I didn't think it mean anything, but now I think it does."
Silverstar looked interested. "What was it?" she asked.
"Well, I was standing at the edge of the sundrown place, looking down at the water. I thought it was just an image I had imagined from the stories my mother told about it. But now... I think it was a message from StarClan. See, as I watched, the waves grew smaller and smaller, as if the water was retreating, and drying up. I watched until it was almost gone. Then, slowly but surely, the water came back, the waves regaining their strength and power, until the ocean was full again." Aurorapaw finished, staring expectantly at Jaywing.
"WaveClan..." he breathed. "FearClan didn't finish them after all. We can still bring them back!"
Silverstar purred. "Well done, Aurorapaw."
She called in Goldenfur, explained everything to her, and huddling together, the four cats began to concoct a plan...
HeatherClan Book: Chapter 27
Chapter 27: The Dream
Silverstar was standing on the border between StarClan and the Dark Forest. On one side, StarClan cats hunted and played, slept and shared tongues. On the other side, however, she could see that bodies were churning, yowls splitting the air.
What are they doing? she thought.
A silvery cat padded over to her from the StarClan side. "They are building an army, Silverstar," she hissed.
As Silverstar looked closer, she saw that, indeed, they seemed to be practicing. But then she noticed some cats that weren't dead yet. "Berrypaw?" she gasped. "And Nightfall, too!"
There seemed to be cats from all the Clans, even WaveClan! She recognized Snaketail and Blackpaw from StormClan, Nightshade and Flamepaw from WaveClan, Bumblestripe and Adderpaw from CloudClan, all of NightClan, and all of FearClan. But there were much, much more. Silverstar caught a glimpse of Tigerstar, the dark warrior, training Berrypaw. Hawkfrost, she realized with a jolt, was the one yowling battle techniques at Nightfall! Brokenstar was training the WaveClan and StormClan cats. A mangy tortoiseshell was coaching NightClan. The name Mapleshade sprang into Silverstar's mind as she watched the FearClan cats fought amongst each other.
Shocked beyond measure, Silverstar turned back to the StarClan cat, whom she recognized to be Spottedleaf, a great medicine cat of ThunderClan. "How will we fight them?" she whispered.
Spottedleaf shook her head firmly. "You won't," she meowed. "You must find a way to stop the fighting before it begins!"
And with a whisk of her tail, she was gone.
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