Graypaw spotted Patchpaw and Cheetahpaw. "You guy's bored? I got a story. One of the warriors told it to me." And so, he began the story.
*Note:I did not write this, I'm just trying to lower the boredem.*
"Moonpaw padded along side her mentor, Brightheart. The black she-cat was Brightheart’s second apprentice, and wanted to be the best one she will ever have. They were on the hunting patrol with Graystripe and Bloodpaw. Brambleclaw had been with them earlier, but went back to camp to tell Firestar of a few new fox traps.
The wind picked up as a storm came closer. The scents of prey faded as all the animals ran to their burrows to hide from the coming rain.
Moonpaw sighed. “We should go back. All of the prey is hiding.”
Bloodpaw looked at her with sad red eyes. They had become apprentices yesterday, and the tabby was excited about catching a mouse.
Graystripe sniffed the air and nodded. “Moonpaw is right. All of the prey is hiding. For a newly named apprentice, you are pretty smart.” The old deputy purred at her.
“Yes, she is. Moonpaw was up past moonrise practicing her fighting skills. She even fell asleep at the sandy hollow.” Brightheart smiled down at her apprentice, her good eye shining.
Bloodpaw spat in annoyance. “What about me? Aren’t I a good apprentice, Graystripe?” His dark brown tabby pelt bristled out. He looked like the legendary Tigerstar, but with red eyes. It wasn’t a big surprise since Tigerstar was their father’s father.
Graystripe stepped back from the sudden hiss. “Y-you are a good apprentice, but you-”
“Look so much like Tigerstar that you are afraid to train me?!” he spat at the old deputy.
“No, you are too violent. Just yesterday you almost killed Sunpaw while play fighting!”
Bloodpaw growled and pushed ahead of them. Jumping into the bushes, he caught a mouse and padded back toward camp. He had ripped its gray body open and snapped its head clear off.
Moonpaw watched her brother and quickly followed him. Her brother, though creepy and mean, was actually very sweet. Knowing both his good and bad side, Moonpaw liked his good side better.
Every once in a while, Bloodpaw would talk about how ThunderClan had become weak with a kittypet for a leader and how a cat named Scourge will pay, but it didn’t happen often.
Willowpaw, Moonpaw’s secret crush, was in the center of camp mewing with Crowpaw. Moonpaw always hated Crowpaw because he and Willowpaw were in love. Willowpaw knew that she hated him, but they never spoke of it.
“Hey, Moonpaw!” Willowpaw called.
The black tom looked up and started away. Before leaving, he grabbed a thrush from the freashkill pile and ran to Sunpaw.
After Crowpaw was out of earshot, Moonpaw dashed across the clearing to gray and brown tabby.
“How did hunting go? Catch anything?” Willowpaw mewed as Moonpaw came closer.
Moonpaw sighed and rubbed against Willowpaw. “Bloodpaw got mad and yelled at his mentor… but he caught a mouse. He ripped its head off…” The black she-cat shivered at the thought of the mouse’s pain.
Reaching out with her tail, Willowpaw sighed with her. “He needs to learn that he’s as good as any of us. Even if you are the kin of Tigerstar, that doesn’t mean that he would turn into him.”
“Yea, but Graystripe acts like he’s scarred of Bloodpaw… and he can sense that.” Moonpaw sighed again. Grabbing a sparrow from the freashkill pile, she motioned for Willowpaw to eat with her. She smiled and followed Moonpaw to the darkest corner in camp.
The two ate in silence ad they looked around camp. Everyone was so peaceful, but where was Bloodpaw? Moonpaw saw Mousefur and Longtail on a large boulder next to the elders’ den, and Firestar and Sandstorm eating by the warriors’ den. Graystripe and his mate, Millie, were sitting outside the nursery watching their new litter play fight.
Willowpaw smiled at her new brother and sister. She had been Graystripe and Millie’s first kit, and she looked nothing like them; she only had Graystripe’s long fur and Millie’s soft eyes.
Mosskit looked up from under Dawnkit’s ginger fur and dashed across the clearing. Dawnkit, after falling over, jumped up and followed the gray she-kit. They tackled each other into Leafpool’s den. Moonpaw snickered as they came out screaming with Leafpool chasing them, playfully. Jayfeather, who had been standing next to the den, laughed when he heard the kits slam into their mother.
“I’m getting tired,” Moonpaw yawned. She had been training all day with Bloodpaw and really wanted some sleep.
Willowpaw got up and started to the apprentices’ den. “Let’s get some sleep then. You are going to need it so that I don’t smoke you too bad in training tomorrow.” Willowpaw smiled and raced across the clearing.
“What? You smoke me? That’s the other way around!” Moonpaw chased Willowpaw across the clearing. Moonpaw was faster than the other cats in ThunderClan and caught up to Willowpaw in no time. She tackled the gray and brown tabby, forcing both of them to hit the side of the clearing.
They both started rolling around camp pawing at each other, claws sheathed. Willowpaw aimed a blow at Moonpaw’s ear, making her loose balance and to go under Willowpaw. Kicking at Willowpaw’s stomach, Moonpaw managed to get her off and tackle her to the ground. She continued nipping at Willowpaw’s neck and pawing at her stomach.
Willowpaw laughed as Mosskit tackled her off of Willowpaw. Dawnkit jumped on Moonpaw’s shoulders, claws unsheathed, and bit her ear. Mosskit ripped at Moonpaw’s side, tearing out a chunk of black fur. Moonpaw yowled and threw both kits off.
Blood dripped from the wound on her side and from her shoulders. Willowpaw rasped her tough over the wound on her side. “You can’t use claws when you play fight, you kits,” Moonpaw half hissed.
“We’re sorry…” Mosskit mumbled.
“It’s okay. Besides, you fought like warriors,” Moonpaw meowed happily.
A soft growl came from behind them. Red eyes were glowing from the apprentices’ den as Bloodpaw stepped out. “Warriors? I’d hate to see the apprentices if you call that warrior fighting,” he spat.
Dawnkit jumped at Bloodpaw, going to bite his ear. The brown tabby swatted the small dark ginger kit away. He hit the ground hard and started yowling.
“You can’t expect to attack someone head on. You have to catch them off guard. Like this!” He jumped at Moonpaw pinning her to the ground instantly. He ran his paw down her stomach, barely touching her with his claws. He did that a few times, running them as fast as he could without cutting her open. “And that’s how you would kill a warrior. You rip their stomach open and leave them to bleed to death.”
The brown tabby jumped off and padded back to the Apprentices’ den. Tail flicking as he disappeared into the darkness.
Moonpaw spat at him before he disappeared. Dawnkit jumped up, hissing and shaking dust from his pelt. The small gray she-cat ran to her brother, licking his ear.
Cloud of Clear Sky and Raven of Dark Day came from the nursery den with Snowkit hot on their paws. Cloud dashed ahead of them, stopping next to Dawnkit. Raven, almost crashing into Willowpaw, spun around and rammed into Moonpaw.
Snowkit snickered at them. She nudged Dawnkit, making him fall again. “Sorry!” she mewed quickly.
Dawnkit jumped up, tackling the small white she-cat. He laughed and dashed away from her. Raven chased them around the clearing, blocking their way from the Nursery. Cloud slammed into Raven’s side just as Snowkit dashed past and into the den.
Moonpaw flinched when she heard Brook yowl at the kits. “Get outside and play!” she hissed.
Stormfur came out holding Snowkit by her tail. “Stay out here, Snowkit.” He placed her down. “And are you sure you don’t want a Tribe name?” The dark warrior licked his daughter’s forehead purring.
Millie stepped out of the nursery. Eyes flaring, she looked around at the kits. “I was about half way asleep…” she growled softly.
Willowpaw snickered at her mother. She dashed across the clearing to her side. “Be cool, mom. They were just playing.” She purred and ran back to Moonpaw.
Soft rain sprinkled on them; getting heavier and heavier. The two ran to the apprentices’ den. Bloodpaw was inside already, cleaning blood from his paws. A few bones lay at his paws.
“Don’t ask…” he murmured. Continuing to lick the blood off his whiskers and paws.
Water splashed through the den as Willowpaw and Moonpaw shook their fur. Bloodpaw jumped back, his fur spiked out.
“Your names should be Willowlake and Moonpool!” he spat in anger, licking his wet fur.
Moonpaw snickered at the names. She would rather be named Moonpelt or Moonfur instead. She started licking Willowpaw’s fur until it was dry; and Willowpaw licking her fur. A purr rumbled in Moonpaw’s throat, but she quickly stopped herself before anyone noticed.
“I’d rather be named Willowclaw or Willowtail,” Willowpaw suddenly mewed. They were lying in their moss beds now, and Bloodpaw was curled up in his.
His brown tabby head shot up as Crowpaw padded into the den. He lay next to Willowpaw purring loudly. Willowpaw turned her head to lick Crowpaw’s ear. His purr grew louder as Moonpaw’s sadness grew with it.
Bloodpaw jumped up growling. Every hair on his brown tabby pelt stood out in anger. When he growled, it was with pleasure and blood lust. “The shadows are coming…” he hissed softly.
The shadows? What did he mean? Before Moonpaw could ask, her brother shot out of the den just as Sunheart was coming in, covered in water.
“Where is Bloodpaw going?” Sunpaw asked in curiosity. “Is something wrong?”
Moonpaw shrugged. “He said the shadows were coming… what in StarClan’s name does that mean?” She turned to Willowpaw, but quickly looked away when she noticed Crowpaw looking at her.
All of the apprentices jumped up at Bloodpaw’s yowl. “ShadowClan are attacking!” he yowled.
Moonpaw ran out of the den and over to he brother. ShadowClan scent washed over her as she neared him, and she turned to the entrance. Firestar jumped down from his den, glaring at the camp entrance.
Cloudtail, who was dragging a piece of bramble to the warriors’ den, had stopped with spiked fur. Brightheart jumped through the warriors’ den, standing next to her mate.
Millie grabbed her kits, taking them to the nursery den. Dawnkit protested against it, but followed as Mosskit ran in. Raven ran to the clearing followed by Cloud and Snowkit. Stormfur ran over to them, but ran into Firestar when Raven jumped out of his way.
“Come back to the nursery, kits!” Brook called out to them.
Raven and Cloud looked up, but stayed where they were. Snowkit dashed across the clearing and to her mother. She rubbed into Brook’s fur, and ran into the den.
Whitekit was hiding behind her mother, Ferncloud, glaring at the two tribe named kits. Her green eyes glowed like fire at them
Stormfur, finally catching them by their tails, carried them back to the nursery den.
Just as he set them down, a small brown tabby jumped out of the barrier around the camp. His claws were unsheathed in attack and teeth barred. A dark ginger she-cat jumped over him, landing on his other side. From between them, a large white tom with black paws stepped out followed by a tortoiseshell and a brown tabby.
The brown tabby looked just like Bloodpaw, but with white patches and green eyes. He growled as he looked at the clan. “You call this a clan?!” he hissed. “All I see are a bunch of kittypets!” he spat.
Squirrelflight hissed in annoyance. “Why don’t you come down here and tell that to my face?!” she challenged, stepping out from the rest of the ThunderClan cats. Her ginger fur sparkled in the rain and light.
He hissed, running past the dark ginger she-cat at her.
“Wait, Tigertail!” the white tom cat with black paws yowled after him.
Tigertail ignored him, still running for Squirrelflight.
Moonpaw jumped in his way, taking the full blow from his charge. She fell to the stony earth, blood dripping from her shoulder. She arched her back to attack the fallen warrior, when he jumped up.
He turned to face the black apprentice, growling. “You dare attack the kin of Tigerstar?!” Blood dripped from a small cut over his right eye.
Moonpaw stepped back in confusion. She hissed and stepped fore ward. “We are of the same blood, mouse-brain!” She leapt at the tabby warrior, biting his ear. She weaved past his swinging paws to dig her claws into his neck and back. He yowled in protest, swinging his head around.
The rest of the ShadowClan warriors poured into the clearing. After a few heartbeats, she heard cats yowling and felt blood from others being flung around. The tabby warrior yowled again as Bloodpaw clung to his chest, ripping him open.
Something covered Moonpaw’s right eye, sudden pain pulsing through it. Blackstar’s scent wound around her, and she bit down harder on Tigertail’s ear. She wasn’t going to be pulled off, no way!
Holding as hard as she could to Tigertail, Blackstar pulled back on her cutting over her eye. Blood fell into her eye, and blinding her. She let out an ear piercing screech, falling to the ground. More blood fell below her as she twisted and turned on the ground. Her yowled grew louder until she couldn’t hear any of the other cats screaming.
Bloodpaw had dropped from Tigertail’s chest, and was staring at Blackstar. All the cats in the clearing had stopped and were staring at Moonpaw.
Squirrelflight pushed through the crowd with Brambleclaw on her tail. Willowpaw started through the cats, but was tackled by the dark ginger she-cat, Russetfur. Squirrelflight stood over her kit, lapping her tongue over her scar. Her tail wrapped around the black apprentice, giving her warmth.
Bloodpaw glares at Blackstar. His red eyes light up with rage and sparkled with a killing lust. “You hurt my sister… You…you… mouse-brain!” The tabby jumped at Blackstar, twisting and landing on his shoulders. He quickly dug his claws into the leader’s shoulders, and bit down on his neck.
His eyes blazing, Bloodpaw twisted, breaking Blackstar’s neck. The tabby jumped off of Blackstar, landing softly next to his sister. The leader fell to the ground, twitching nine times, and then laying still. Oakfur ran to his dead leader, looking down at his limp body.
All of ShadowClan had stopped fighting to look at their leader. A few hissed in rage, and some glared at Bloodpaw.
A high yowl broke out above the silence, making Moonpaw jump up. Graystripe had tackled Russetfur, for some reason, and was clawing at her face. He landed a blow to her ear and another to her muzzle.
The dark ginger she-cat jumped back, slipping over a wet rock, and landing sprawled out on the ground. She twisted past Graystripe’s paw and snagged his ear with her claws.
Moonpaw didn’t listen to the fight any longer. The yowl was what she was interested in. As she pushed her way through the throng of cats, Daisy tackled a brown tabby, Toadfoot, away from something. Toadfoot yowled running back to the other ShadowClan cats.
Daisy chased the brown tom cat up to the entrance and out into the forest.
Moonpaw slinked closer to where the yowl came from. All her emotions froze when she saw what was there. A brown and gray tabby body lie limp in the middle of the clearing. Her body wasn’t moving, showing that she wasn’t breathing.
Rage, the emotion Moonpaw used leas, started growling out of control. Every memory of her and Willowpaw hunting and training together, flashed by. Every second, every day, every possible thing they had done together.
Shadows from all over the clearing surrounded Moonpaw in a protective shield. She didn’t want any one to see her in her present state. All that she wanted was for Willowpaw to be okay; or, if Willowpaw was dead, to avenge her.
Russetfur had stopped fighting to look at Moonpaw. Her dark ginger pelt pricked with uncertainty. Graystripe had jumped back to his daughter. The gray and brown she-cat still wasn’t breathing.
The black shadows flashed across the clearing, flashing around Russetfur. Moonpaw ran with the shadows, jumping into the huge m*censored* just as the darkness around her faded.
All was quiet inside the darkness. Russetfur’s breathing, strong and panicking, was the only thing that broke the silence. She was floating in the darkness, closer to the edges. Even if she got close to the outside, all it would do was shock her; what a mouse-brain.
Moonpaw pushed off a small darker spot, ramming into Russetfur’s side. She yowled in surprise, but she smiled when she noticed Moonpaw was only a small apprentice. Black fur mixing with dark ginger fur as she bit down on Russetfur’s neck. Her sweet blood flowed easily into Moonpaw’s mouth.
Yowling broke from Russetfur, making Moonpaw jump back. She hissed, spitting out the acid tasting blood. Russetfur’s name should be Russetblood! Or, better yet, Rustedblood. Her blood tasted awful!
The ginger ShadowClan deputy jumped at Moonpaw, leaving a long scratch on her side. It sting, but quickly healed as the shadows swam in. Moonpaw smiled. She couldn’t be hurt while in the shadows!
More shadows surrounded the ginger deputy. She hissed in surprise, not being able to move. The dark shadows tightened around the screaming she-cat. Every ounce of life was being drained from her.
With one last meow of pain, Moonpaw tightened the shadows until she heard a loud snap. As soon as the snap was heard, all of the darkness faded away to go back to their homes. Russetfur’s dead body fell to the earth, leaving the other clan cats shocked.
Toadfoot grabbed Russetfur’s scruff, dragging her to the top of the hollow. “This isn’t over yet!” he hissed as both he and Russetfur’s body disappeared.
Tigertail and the tortoiseshell were taking Blackstar’s body, while the other ShadowClan cats were chased out. Tigertail lashed his tail in Bloodpaw’s direction, showing that he could still fight; but the she-cat flicked his shoulder and they disappeared over the hollow.
Willowpaw! Moonpaw ran across the clearing to the gray brown she-cat. Her breathing was shallow, but at least she was breathing. The black she-cat sighed. Her crush was safe, for now. ShadowClan would be back but they had to get a new leader and deputy before paw.
Sharp yowling came from the top of the hollow. Every cat looked up as a brown tabby tom came running into the clearing. “Firestar,” he called. “WindClan needs your help!”
Firestar stepped forward. “What is it, Onestar?” he mewed.
“Dogs! They are attacking!”
Whitewing, licking a cut on Ashfur’s ear, looked up suddenly. The gray warrior next to her laid his tail over her back in an attempt to comfort her. All of the cats looked uneasy, except Crowpaw. He sat in the entrance to the Apprentices’ den, smiling down at his paws.
Why was Crowpaw so happy…? Moonpaw buried her face into Willowpaw’s wet fur, drowning out the noise of the other cats.
Onestar was pawing at the ground. “There are three dogs, bigger than any we’ve seen! Their fur is thicker and they have bigger teeth!” The brown tabby tried showing the other cats how they acted by crouching down; waging his tail back and forth. He stepped forward and jumped in the air, landing a few tail lengths away on a small rock. Once his paws touched the rock, he flicked his paws under it and threw the rock across the clearing.
Moonpaw snickered. Onestar was acting like a kit and he didn’t even know it. Pounding on rocks was exactly like what Whitekit and Raven did.
“They have taken Crowfeather and Nightcloud. We couldn’t stop them, and the weird thing, they only attacked warriors and apprentices.” He looked away from the other cats. “When Crystalkit ran in front of a large brown wolf, it flicked the kit with its paw before jumping at another warrior… I just don’t understand!” The brown leader’s claws dug into the rock.
Moonpaw stepped forward. “Maybe because they have honor. I’ve seen dogs like that, and I didn’t attack them. A brown one saw me and just kept walking.”
A growl came from the Apprentices’ den. Crowpaw was glaring at Moonpaw through bright yellow eyes. He had always hated her, but Moonpaw never knew why. Maybe because she was a better fighter then him, or because Willowpaw was even her friend.
Firestar looked from Moonpaw to Onestar. “Are these dogs attacking now?” he mewed.
“Yes, they are. We need your help to get Crowfeather and Nightcloud back.” Onestar dipped his head to the ThunderClan leader.
The ginger tom flicked his tail. “Cloudtail, Sandstorm, Moonpaw, Birchfall, Bloodpaw, Poppypettal, Honeypelt, Hollyleaf, Lionclaw; I want you to go with Onestar to help WindClan.” He placed his tail on Moonpaw’s back. “Be careful and Willowpaw will be in great paws. So don’t worry.” The leader licked his kin’s scar before running to the camp entrance.
“Brambleclaw, you and Graystripe are in control until we get back,” Firestar meowed as he and the large patrol ran into the forest.
Onestar took a sharp turn, leading toward the WindClan border. Moonpaw ran at her brother’s side, making sure not to loose him. His pelt had a few patches missing, and blood replacing it.
As the WindClan border came into view, yowling and barking rose from the clearing. A large brown dog with long fur was throwing a smaller cat off. When the cat screamed, Moonpaw found out it was Breezewing.
Hollyleaf gasped quickening her pace. Lionclaw padded at her side placing his tail on her back. Onestar flicked his tail. “You can go ahead if you like.”
With that, Moonpaw and Bloodpaw dashed across the stepping stones that lead to the WindClan border. Moonpaw heard Hollyleaf right behind them, but was too busy starring at the brown dog in front of her. Its brown fur was darker over its whole body, but had brighter patches in its head, chest, and back.
Bloodpaw jumped up, landing on the dog’s back. He twisted in the air and bit down on its ear. Moonpaw grabbed its foreleg; digging her claws in.
Breezewing looked up in amazement from where he lay on the ground. He obviously hadn’t expected to see ThunderClan apprentices attacking a large dog.
Over from the WindClan camp came a lager snow white dog. Her blue eyes glowed as she grabbed Moonpaw off of the brown dog. Moonpaw saw the brown dog yip in shock, jumping for the white dog; only to be rammed into by Firestar and Cloudtail.
Bloodpaw had jumped off of the brown dog and grabbed the white dog’s tail. These dogs were a bit different from other dogs. Their muscles were harder along with their fur being ratted and torn. Most dogs that Moonpaw had seen had their fur well groomed and they were weak.
A blue dog dashed across the open field, slamming into the white dog’s side. She yipped and fell over. Her bark sounded furious, and it should be. This blue dog was obviously on her side and was attacking her.
He growled, flicking his tail to Moonpaw. The blue dog licked over her scar, making Moonpaw feel uncomfortable. Bloodpaw jumped to her side, hissing at the blue dog.
All of the fighting had just started, and had now stopped. There was something very strange about these dogs… but Moonpaw couldn’t lay her paw on it. They just acted different from other dogs.
The brown dog ran to her side. He licked her forehead and flicked her shoulder with his tail. His eyes, though soft and gentle, glowed a bright red. Moonpaw jumped back.
A larger black tabby dog came forward. He barked something to the brown dog, again, flicking his thick tail to Moonpaw.
The brown dog nodded. “This is going to hurt you, Moonscar,” he barked.
Moonpaw gasped. She could understand this dog! Before she could say anything, the brown dog dug his long, thick teeth into her neck. It didn’t hurt, but she still yowled.
A different pain surged through Moonpaw’s body. It was like her muscles burned, but no flame was around her. Memories that she never had flowed into her mind: attacking a huge black lizard, killing an animal that looked like a skinny horse, and being friends with a wolf named Stormfang.
She heard mews of horror and astonishment as the memories got stronger. The name “Moonscar” was repeated in her head by a large silver she-wolf. These weren’t dogs, they were wolves! That explains why their fur was thick and they had hard muscles. They even barked different.
When the pain was gone, she noticed that the other cats looked smaller. Stormfang, the brown wolf in front of her, smiled at her. Now he was about the same size as her! What was going on?!
“You are going to be a great Alpha Female, Moonscar. Just as CloudPack said,” Stormfang barked.
“Alpha Female?” Moonpaw echoed. “And my name is Moonpaw, not Moonscar.”
Stormfang snickered. “You are only a Short Fur? Ha! And how old are you? One thousand years?” He flicked her ear with a brown forepaw.
Moonpaw dodged it. “One thousand years?! No! I’m only six and a half moons!”
“You are very young for an Alpha Female… Oh well. It’s finally nice to meet you, Moonpaw. CloudPack has told us that you will come to lead HowlPack, and now you are here!” The brown wolf jumped up in excitement.
The blue wolf that had saved Moonpaw stepped forward. He licked Stormfang’s cheek and looked to Moonpaw. “I’m Bluesun, and I’m going to help you become a better wolf, Moonscar.” He bowed his head to Moonpaw.
Wolf? Moonpaw looked down and howled in alarm. She was a wolf! A black wolf at that. Darker stripes covered her fur making her seam as if she were a tabby cat.
Stormfang signaled to her. “Come, we must go back to HowlPack to tell them the moon has come.”
Moonpaw looked back to her clan. “What about ThunderClan?” she barked.
The brown wolf turned back. “They will be fine without you. Now come on! Shimmerfang doesn’t have long to live, and only the moon can replace her!” Stormfang tugged at her tail.
Bloodpaw was looking at her with bright bloody eyes. “Please don’t go…” he whispered.
“I’ll be back soon, brother. Keep an eye on Willowpaw, and tell her that I was killed in the fight. I don’t wish for her to worry about me…” Moonpaw licked her brother’s forehead and followed Bluesun, Stormfang, and the white wolf into the distance."
"And that," He finished, "Was all he told me." He then flicked his tail and cooly said, "Goodby, mates!"
Normal User
Normal User
Normal User
Normal User
