The Past Returns...

Written by Clawz

Chapter 1; Part 1

A brown tabby she-cat pranced along the barren moorland.  Her ears flattened against her head as she caught the scent of a mouse on the breeze.  Heatherwhisker soon saw the rabbit a few fox-lengths away.  She sped forward without hesitation and caught the rabbit by the scruff.  As soon as the body went limp Heatherwhisker heard a voice behind her,  "Nice catch!"

"Thanks."  her reply was muffled by the rabbit in her jaws as she turned.  She froze as soon as she saw who the cat was.  It was Grayfang of RiverClan!  Heatherwhisker's gaze turned hostile as she arched her back and hissed,  "What are you do here, RiverClan warrior?"

"Okay, you can drop the act."  the large gray tom purred and swiftly pranced up beside her.  Heatherwhisker purred in reply as she dropped the rabbit.  The rough WindClan breeze brushed Grayfang's wonderful scent into her nose.  "I'm so happy to see you again."  she whispered, dazed.  These two warriors had  became warriors only a moon ago and they were already deeply in love.  The two cats laid together for along just to talk and look at the Silverpelt, but there was a cat watching them.  Nettlefang, another cat who was in love with Heatherwhisker.  The thin, dark gray tabby snarled and padded off back to the WindClan camp.

After,  Heatherwhisker reached camp she saw Nettlefang sitting with his tail curled around his paw and a mischievous twinkle in his amber eyes.  "Hello, Heatherwhisker."  he purred softly.  "What are you do up so late?"  Heatherwhisker questioned the gray tom.  "Nothing," he replied.  With that,  Heatherwhisker flick her tail and dropped her prey into the fresh-kill pile.  Heatherwhisker's jaws broke into a yawn as she settled beside her Clanmates,  Owltail and Weedleaf,  who were the medicine cats of WindClan.

Jaggedstar's call sounded from a large gray rock.  Two apprentices accompanied him.  Nightpaw and Sandpaw were going to become warriors.  After all the cats were gathered under to Greatstone the ceremony began,  "I, Jaggedstar leader of WindClan call upon our warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices.  They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." the dark tabby turned towards Nightpaw.

"Nightpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."  Nightpaw nodded firmly.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name.  Nightpaw, from this moment you will be known as Nightheart. StarClan honors your, courage and loyalty and we welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan."  Then, Jaggedstar presses his muzzle into the newly named warrior's bowed head.  In return, Nightheart licks the dark tabby's shoulder.

Then, Jaggedstar turns to Sandpaw, "Sandpaw do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." replied the sandy she-cat calmly.

"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name.  Sandpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Sandclaw.  StarClan honors you for your quick-thinking and fierce battle skills and we welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan." 

After the ceremony was finish and the WindClan cats had chanted the two warriors' names Jaggedstar told the warrior that they would sit their silent vigil tonight.  Heatherwhisker was proud of her kin.  She remembered her warrior ceremony well.  The joy of becoming  a warrior can never be forgotten. 

Heatherwhisker yawned and stretched.  Her sharp claws scarred the soft earth as she trotted to the medicine cat den.  Heatherwhisker paused at the entrance as she heard the two cats speaking in low tones.  "StarClan told me this, 'An old Enemy with Rise in a New Form.  The Clans will be covered in Thorns and Blood if they do not prepare themselves.  Some cats will Join the Thorns and Blood.  The Thorn and Blood Cats will wear Fanged-Collars, so Prepare for a War..."  At that moment Heatherwhisker froze.  Heatherwhisker didn't understand her mind   Heatherwhisker's thoughts were interrupted by Owltail's stern meow,  "We must tell Jaggedstar, Weedleaf."  Owltail's light tabby apprentice nodded. 

Heatherwhisker picked up a freshly caught rabbit from the fresh-kill and headed for the nursery.  Breezeflower was lying on her side as her kits fed.  Doveheart was purring with her eyes half-closed.  "Excuse me,"

Doveheart opened her amber eyes slowly and purred, "Thank you, Heatherwhisker,"  The pregnant queen scooped the mouse toward her with on paw and began to eat in.  "How are your kits doing, Breezeflower?' 

"Wonderful!" the black-and-white queen purred. 

"Heatherwhisker, you're going to lead the morning hunting patrol." called Rabbitears, the deputy.  "Okay, Rabbitears!  See you guys later."  Heatherwhisker mewed then headed out of the nursery to see Gorseleaf, Nettlefang and Badgerstep at the camp entrance.  "Ready to go."  Nettlefang purred.  "Ye-" Heatherwhisker stopped as she saw Nettlefang quickly pad over to Jaggedstar and whisper something in the tom's ear then pranced back.  "Now we're ready.  Let's go,"  Heatherwhisker mumbled and flick her tail.

Nettlefang padded up beside Heatherwhisker as soon as Gorseleaf and Badgerfang raced off to hunt.  "What do you want, Nettlefang?"  she growled. 

"I saw you with that gray RiverClan warrior last night."

Heatherwhisker stopped in her tracks,  "So that's w-what you t-told Jaggedstar..." she choked.  "Yes, but I don't know what he's going to do with you yet."  the tom's amber eyes gleamed wickedly.  "There are animals worse out there than badgers and foxes..."  she said unsheathing her claws.  Oh, so you want to fight."  he growled.

"Yes."

Warriors:  The Past Returns...

Chapter 1; Part 2

The Fight!

    Nettlefang lashed his tail as he circled Heatherwhisker.  "Poor, Heatherwhisker betrayed her Clan..." the thin gray tom snickered and curled back his lips, preparing for the fight.  To Heatherwhisker's relief Gorseleaf and Badgerstep were racing towards the two younger cats.

    "What's going on here?" Badgerstep growled dropping his rabbit.  He was staring curiously at Nettlefang, who had now stopped curling his lips.  The gray-and-black tom hissed sharply at the young cats, "You know that fighting Clanmates is against the Warrior Code.  If Jaggedstar knew you both would be in big trouble."  Heatherwhisker and Nettlefang stared at their paws and said nothing.

    After the four cats reached camp and dropped their share of prey into the fresh-kill pile it was dark, and only the stars of the Silverpelt were glittering in the sky, as the moon was nowhere to be seen.  Heatherwhisker watch her Clanmates drift into a deep sleep.  "Heatherwhisker, may I speak with you?"  Jaggedstar's gruff voice carried across the clearing.  The tabby she-cat froze.  Ever muscle in Heatherwhisker's body was telling her not to follow him, but she could not disobey her leader.  Reluctantly,  Heatherwhisker follow the dark tom into his den, dragging her paws as she went.

   "I know you were meeting that tom from RiverClan a week after it started,"  he began.  The tom's gleamed with a hidden emotion that Heatherwhisker couldn't read.

    She shifted uncomfortable in the moss.  How does he know?

    "What's wrong?"  Heatherwhisker asked detecting the sadness in his eyes.

    "Well... Grayfang was killed by a fox on the RiverClan border."  the large, ragged tom mewed, standing to lead Heatherwhisker out of his den.

    Heatherwhisker decided that she needed some poppy seeds to help her sleep.  The pain that washed over her was uncontrollable as she padded to the calm den.  Entering the den the scent of herbs soothed her a little.  She looked around and caught the sad eyes of Weedleaf in the darkness.  "Owltail has joined StarClan, but it was his time."

    Then, after hearing those words Heatherwhisker noticed the limp body of Owltail.  "I've heard that one of Breezeflower's kits, Rainkit, has been wanting to be a medicine cat apprentice." she purred hoping to cheer the medicine cat up.

    "Rainkit will be an apprentice tomorrow."  the tabby voice was lighter, but still weighted like a stone.  He grabbed his mentor by the scuff and began to drag the limp body into camp.  "You may rest in here if you like I can tell something is bothering."  Weedleaf said, muffled by the tabby fur in his mouth.

    Heatherwhisker dipped her head in relief,  "Thank you, Weedleaf."  She settled herself down after getting some moss.  As she began to fade, Heatherwhisker heard Weedleaf's grieve-stricken yowl.

***

    Rainpaw's eyes glowed with pride as sat next to her new mentor, Weedleaf.  Her brother,  Gr*censored*paw, had already left to explore WindClan territory.  She couldn't wait to be a true medicine cat.

MOONS LATER...

    "From this moment on you will be known as Rainears.  May StarClan light your path."  the silver tabby purred as her mentor said these words.  Half of the moon shown in the sky making Rainears look darker than normal.  She was gazing at the young ShadowClan medicine cat, Redscar.  She purred to herself at the thought of meeting him here later tonight.  Rainears had learned that Redscar loved her when they both were apprentices. 

    "You promised... You promised you would meet me here after you got your Name."  the dark ginger tom whispered with pleading amber eyes.

    "I promise,  Redscar."  the silvery she-cat purred and with a flick of her tail she disappeared behind the ferns.

    Rainears's heart hopped like a rabbit as she heard Weedleaf breathing softly.  Rainears raced to the Moonpool.  Her eyes gleamed in the pale light as she caught the sight of a dark ginger figure.  "I promised you, Redscar." Rainears said pressing her head into his chest.

    It had been weeks since Rainears had met with Redscar and now she was beginning to feel very tired.  Her stomach was also getting plump.  As she padded into the medicine cat den Rainears realized that she was expecting kits.  Weedleaf gazed at her like he knew what was wrong, "Are you all right,  Rainears?  You're are a little young to be so plump." Weedleaf's eyes flashed with concern.

    "I'm fine, Weed-"  she cringed at a sharp kick in her belly.

    Now Weedleaf looked really worried,  "Rainears!-

    "I'm fine!"  she snapped at him.

    "Now, stay still Nightheart."  Rainears hissed through her clenched jaws.  The silver she-cat gentlely pulled out the thorn in the tom's pad.  While, Weedleaf began to smooth smashed marigold onto Nightheart's pad.

    After the tom left Weedleaf padded over to Rainears.  He let his tail rest on her shoulders, "Rainears, are you okay?"

    The younger she-cat gazed at him for a moment before replying,  "No, I'm not fine, but I don't want to talk about it."  Then, she whisked out of the den and headed for Jaggedstar's den.  She knew she needed to leave today, because her kits were going to come. 

    "Jaggedstar," she called popping her head into the den.

    "Come in, Rainears."  Jaggedstar purred while looking up at the silver cat.

    The she-cat was welcomed by the smell of moss and feathers.  As soon as Rainears sat down she told Jaggedstar what she needed. 

    "I might be gone for a couple of days,"  she paused as she saw her leader open his mouth but he closed it as soon as Rainears spoke again,  "and why I will be gone is my business."  Jaggedstar dipped his head at that and then she left his den.

    A full moon gleamed like a cat's eyes when Rainears had finally left.  The silver she-cat's belly was very heavy with the forbidden kits.  Rainears was panting heavily by the time she found an empty fox den in her territory.  Panting, the silver cat settled down and began kitting.  A large ripple p*censored*ed through her stomach as the first kit tried to make its way into the world.  Hours p*censored*ed before the first kit finally made its way into world.  Rainears licked the black she-cat's fur to get the blood flowing.

    After two more hours Rainears was finally lying with her three, suckling kits.  She named the two black she-cats,  Hollykit and Ivykit.  Rainears named the dark ginger tom, Redkit.  The silver she-cat padded back into camp with the three kits hanging from her jaws.  Her clanmates that were still awake stared at her with unblinking and shocked eyes.

    "What's this?" Weedleaf voice was questioning as he pushed p*censored*ed his clanmates.

    "A queen had her kits out in the forest but she couldn't take care of them."  Rainears lied.

    "In that cast.  Gr*censored*fire that the three kits to Icefeather and tell her what has happened.  Rainears I need to speak with you in my den."

    After Gr*censored*fire scooped up Rainear's kits she followed Weedleaf into the den.  "You're lying," Weedleaf was almost snarling.  "I know you're hiding something."