Warriors | A Prophecy Reborn: Book 1. (The Legacy)

~The Legacy: Chapter 30~

Swiftflight, Tigerfur and Spiraltail had all rushed back to camp, disposing of the fox's body before leaving.
Swiftflight gently moved Creamfur to the middle of ThunderClan's camp.
"Is that Creamfur?" whispered one of the warriors, and Spiraltail saw her friend push her way past Spidertail and Redcall to run over to the body.
"How did this happen?" cried Specklefern. "What did you do?" she added, her scornful gaze falling on Tigerfur.
"She was crushed by the fox," Spiraltail explained quietly. "We fought it, but Creamfur got caught under it and..."
Reedtail sat near Creamfur's body, weeping.
"We have a Gathering tonight, and you let one of our warriors die?!" yowled Spidertail.
"It was nothing any of us could control," Swiftflight said defensively.
"Yes, but you couldn't have sent someone else out instead of this useless new warrior?!"
Spiraltail's ears flattened and she backed away.
Tigerfur snarled. "If you are unhappy with the way Stonestar leads ThunderClan, feel free to challenge him!" he hissed. "But be warned, I will be one of many who will not follow your rules, and I won't hesitate to take care of you if need be."
Spidertail lashed his tail and stormed back into the warrior den, ignoring everyone's stares.
Stonestar and Fernfeather padded over, examining the body.
"She defended her Clan," Fernfeather said.
"Indeed," Stonestar agreed. "We will hold her vigil now. I will hold a meeting before we depart."
Spiraltail was told to bring food to those in the Nursery with the help of Whitestripe, who carried a vole, two sparrows and one fat mouse.
Spiraltail brought a swallow and three mice for Fuzzyear and her new kits.
The two sisters entered the Nursery to find Darkkit and Stripedkit sleeping beside Specklefern, who cleaned them, and Daisypelt caring for one of the new kits.
Fuzzyear's three kits were with her while she slept. Only Specklefern and Daisypelt seemed to be awake.
Whitestripe quietly dropped two sparrows and a vole at Specklefern's side while Spiraltail grabbed her mouse and gave it to Daisypelt, leaving one other for the kits.
She put the two other mice next to Fuzzyear for her kits, and dropped the swallow near Fuzzyear for when she woke up.
Spiraltail was about to walk out when Daisypelt and Whitestripe stopped her.
"Spiraltail, don't you want to see Fuzzyear's kits?" Whitestripe said.
"I did see them," she replied sulkily.
"You didn't really see them though," her sister added.
"Come, young warrior," Daisypelt said calmly. "Don't worry about Spidertail. Ignore him and relax."
Spiraltail growled silently at the mention of Spidertail's name, but let out a deep breath and walked back over.
"Windcaller and Fuzzyear named this one Brackenkit," Daisypelt said. "He will make a fine warrior someday."
"That one on the left of Fuzzyear is a female," Whitestripe added excitedly. "She named her Frostkit."
Brackenkit was dark gray with odd markings, which were a lighter gray. He had not opened his eyes yet.
Frostkit was light gray with similar markings to Brackenkit, but her markings were a darker gray.
Spiraltail turned to the other kit. "What about that one?"
"Windcaller specifically chose his name," Daisypelt said. "He is Coldkit. Windcaller wanted to name him after his father, Coldcloud."
Specklefern smothered a laugh, then continued cleaning Darkkit and Stripedkit.
"They are almost ready to become apprentices," Specklefern stated. "They have been very gentle since Fuzzyear's kits have been born. But I think they'll do just fine."
Fuzzyear and her kits stirred, then sat up.
Coldkit was the first to open his eyes, revealing remarkable blue eyes with a teal glint hidden in the pupils.
His fur matched his mother's, save for the small black mark on his head. The mark resembled a star of a sort.
"What's that on his head?" Spiraltail asked Fuzzyear.
"He was born with it," Fuzzyear replied. "It's quite odd, but it extenuates his eyes and fur."
Stonestar yowled for a Clan meeting, and the only ones that came out of the Nursery were Spiraltail, Whitestripe and Daisypelt, as she had no kits. Fuzzyear would call her if she was needed.
"I thought he was calling a meeting before we left for the Gathering?" whispered Flamepaw from behind.
"Be silent for now," Swiftflight said. Flamepaw nodded and looked up.
"The warriors coming to the Gathering," announced Stonestar, before anything else, "will be Tigerfur, Swiftflight, Iris-Eye, Mossgaze, Redpelt, Spidertail, Whitestripe, Ashpelt, Spiraltail and Reedtail. Beeflower has decided to stay behind this night, but Rockhopper will be accompanying us. Daisypelt and Flamepaw will also come, as will our Medicine Cat and his apprentice."
"Obviously," Whitestripe quietly grumbled.
"Lastly, we have the matter of our new kits, Brackenkit, Frostkit and Coldkit," Stonestar went on. "And those that are yet to come," he added, looking in Willowleaf and Spidertail's direction.
"Darkkit and Stripedkit will soon be six moons old, and they will be ready for their apprentice training."
"Why are we doing this right now?" came Beeflower's gentle, but confused, yowl from the crowd. "We respect your decision, Stonestar, but mustn't we at least bury Creamfur?"
"We will sit vigil for her, and then we may bury her, but only after this meeting," Stonestar said stubbornly.
Beeflower looked concerned, but held her tongue, knowing what Stonestar might say in return.
Spiraltail noticed this, but said nothing. She wanted to see Snow and Horizon again, but she knew she must stay within ThunderClan borders for the next few days. Even if the threat of the fox was gone, the threat of ShadowClan was not, and who knew what RiverClan was up to.
This reminded her of Birdpaw, and the rest of WindClan, who were in hiding. Could they be working with Half-Sight? she wondered silently. It was barely possible. The only way he would get them on his side was if the deputy had suddenly had a change of heart and mind, deciding to side instead with the rogues.
Nevertheless, Stonestar went on, ignoring everyone's doubtful gaze.
"On the matter of WindClan's disappearance," Stonestar said unexpectedly, "we likely will not see them at the Gathering tonight. If ShadowClan dares to accuse us, remember not to react. That will be what Buzzardstar wants."
"I thought-" Ashpelt began, but silenced himself quickly.
Though, not quickly enough to hide it from Spidertail and Stonestar, specifically.
"What was that?" Spidertail hissed accusingly.
"Please continue what you were saying," Beeflower pleaded quietly. "As long as it stops him from speaking such nonsense while we have kits and a fallen warrior to worry about."
Ashpelt cleared his throat nervously, then continued.
"We heard that Webclaw was actually in charge of ShadowClan now, and that Buzzardstar was missing," he said.
"Where did you hear a story like that?" Redpelt laughed.
"It is not a story, it is fact!" yowled an unfamiliar voice from the entrance.
Walking into camp, fur matted and clumped together with blood and dirt, was the ShadowClan leader, Buzzardstar.
Red stains lay with brown dust on his white underbelly, and his black fur was covered in dead leaves and a stench Spiraltail could smell from her spot. He limped toward the ThunderClan leader.
"My worthless deputy kicked me out for one of your old warriors!" he hissed.
"Half-Sight?" The name rippled through the small crowd like water.
"Nonsense!" Spidertail howled from the back of the crowd. "He left and died to a monster!"
"I thought a Twoleg's mutt killed him?" grumbled Redpelt.
"Didn't a Twoleg pick him up and take him to a fox nest?" Windcaller inquired.
"You three are fools," Buzzardstar growled. "He ran away, like the coward he was, to my Clan and asked us to take him in! We already knew what he had done to your former deputy and medicine cat, so I declined!
"Now he's got his band of merry rogues to try and overthrow everyone in the lake! He turned my fool of a brother against me, and now he has taken my place while my foolish brother stays at his side as his deputy, worshipping him as though he is of StarClan!"
Stonestar obviously didn't know what to do at this point. He was probably heartbroken over Grayfur's death, and Buzzardstar's intrusion was clearly not helping the situation with Creamfur, whose body was still laying in the center of camp.
The sun was starting to go down, and the Gathering would start soon.
What chaos would that spawn?
After a long moment of silence, everyone still registering who it was that had come through ThunderClan's entrance, Willowleaf lifted herself from her spot beside Spidertail and yowled, "Get out of our camp!"
Buzzardstar looked both offended and amused.
"Stonestar," he said, turning to the leader, "you know of Half-Sight. He was your mentor, born into my Clan, then taken into yours. I did not reject him out of hate, but out of fear, as did you. I have left you and your Clan alone for longer than a moon now. The least you could do to repay me is help me regain my position in my Clan."
Buzzardstar spoke in a sincere voice. He meant no harm, even Whitestripe could tell, but what would become an advantage would also easily be used as a disadvantage.
Runningstar and Buzzardstar hated each other with a passion, but one thing they would agree on, before anything else, was the safety of every Clan, which was odd coming from ShadowClan.
Since Spiraltail had been alive, Buzzardstar was the only leader she knew who genuinely cared about the Clans. On rare occasions he would fight with Runningstar and Stonestar, but ThunderClan and ShadowClan got along mostly well.
"You may stay here with the rest of our warriors until the Gathering is over," Stonestar said finally. "After that, we will decide what to do. I am sure Whiteshine will take great pleasure in keeping an eye out for anything suspicious!" he half-joked.
"Thank StarClan," Buzzardstar sighed. He padded toward the spare den, led by Whiteshine, but stopped at the sight of Creamfur's body. "How did-"
"She was crushed by a fox," Spiraltail said, bowing her head.
Buzzardstar looked embarrassed, then nodded. "I am sorry for your loss," he said, directed to all of ThunderClan, then walked on with Whiteshine.
Continuing from where he last left off, Stonestar faced his Clan again.
"We will sit a short vigil before leaving for the Gathering," he announced, then jumped away from the Highledge, talking with Fernfeather as they made their way to the Medicine Den.

At last, those who had sat near Creamfur were almost asleep, mainly Reedtail, who was suffering in silence as she left her mentor's body to follow Stonestar.
Almost every cat was silent on their way to the island in the middle of the lake.
Spiraltail, wanting to make some conversation with her friend, rushed up beside her.
Reedtail was staring down at her paws as she walked ahead, only looking up every few minutes to make sure she was still following her Clanmates.
"I'm sorry about Creamfur's death," she said quietly to Reedtail, who still did not speak or look up. Her face was blank.
"There was nothing you could've done," Reedtail finally said in a very quiet voice.
"Maybe Stonestar will give you your own apprentice soon?" Spiraltail suggested, attempting to cheer her up.
"Then the apprentice will probably end up in the same position as Creamfur," Reedtail said depressingly.
"Reedtail, try to think of things on the bright side," Spiraltail prodded. "It's Leaf-bare, and prey is scarce. We can't afford to have warriors storming at each other, even if they have a reason."
Reedtail let out a deep sigh, then looked up, following her Clanmates alongside Spiraltail.
Spiraltail smiled, satisfied with her success, and padded alongside her friend happily.
Eventually, they made it to the island, crossing the log.
Almost all of RiverClan was present, and, to her surprise, ShadowClan was there, too.
But something seemed off.
Aside from WindClan's disappearance, and Buzzardstar's hideaway in ThunderClan, there was something... odd about this night.
At last, she saw what had looked so confusing at first.
Webclaw sat in Buzzardstar's usual spot, and, unsurprisingly, Owlfeather, the cat that had injured Grayfur in the attack, was sitting in Webclaw's spot.
Stonestar and Fernfeather took their usual spots.
"Have you any clue where Woodstar is?" Runningstar asked Stonestar. "We got here earlier, and usually WindClan is the first Clan to arrive. Something is wrong."
"I do not know what happened to him, nor where he or his Clan resides," Stonestar said, his eyes quickly shooting to Spiraltail and then back to Runningstar, "but we'll find them shortly."
"Please do," Runningstar whispered. "I worry for my littermates."
"I'm sure Frozenwind and Blizzardfoot are fine," Stonestar said reassuringly.
Runningstar nodded uncertainly, but simply looked over at Webclaw.
"And what of Buzzardstar? Have you seen him?"
Stonestar shook his head. "I have reason to believe he is dead."
"He was not on his last life," Runningstar pointed out.
"Lives can be stripped from a leader one way or another, either by choice or by death. I pray that his was by choice."
"How would he have died? And where lies his body?"
"I cannot say, but I must inform you to keep an eye on ShadowClan for now."
They shared a fearful look, then turned to their deputies.
Stonestar whispered something Spiralpaw couldn't hear, and Fernfeather nodded, glancing over at Ferngaze, who nodded back.
"We can wait no longer," Webclaw grumbled to Runningstar and Stonestar. "We must begin, whether WindClan is here or not."
Runningstar and Stonestar went to object, but decided not to make things worse by doing so.
Webclaw yowled to gather the attention of all the cats on the island.
Runningstar shot him a filthy look behind his back, but turned back to face her Clan.
Before Webclaw could speak, a RiverClan warrior yelled, "Where is Buzzardstar?"
"Buzzardstar was unable to come," Webclaw lied. "He is busy, and asked me to come in his place."
Spiraltail curled her tail in rising anger.
"Continue," Runningstar grumbled impatiently from her perch near Stonestar.
Webclaw cleared his throat, but was interrupted by yet another warrior, this time of ThunderClan.
"Why could Buzzardstar not make it to the Gathering?" yowled Spidertail sitting by Redpelt and Tigerfur. "What has happened to him?"
Webclaw snarled, reeking of hate. "He has fallen ill, if you must know," the ShadowClan deputy growled. "This is also the reason our Medicine Cat is not here, as you can see if you look with what eyes you claim to have."
Spidertail looked ready to fight, but sat still. Tigerfur nodded, approving of his self-control.
"As I was going to say," Webclaw said, sitting up, "ShadowClan's territory remains untouched from enemies, and unwelcome predators, including Twolegs." He shot a disgusted look at Stonestar and Runningstar, then continued.
"Our Clan is well-fed, and our kits are healthy. Our herbs are plentiful and our warriors are strong, ready for whatever happens."
Webclaw sat back, his tail dangling lazily off the branch. He nodded to Stonestar, indicating that he should go next.
Stonestar shook his head slightly, then sat up.
"ThunderClan's prey runs well, and we now have three new kits and three new warriors," Stonestar announced. "Brackenkit, Frostkit and Coldkit, and our new warriors: Whitestripe, Ashpelt and Spiraltail."
Spiraltail looked over to see Pebblesoot, a RiverClan warrior, get up and glare at each cat in the ThunderClan group. "Where are Creamfur and Grayfur?" he said.
Stonestar's face was blank, but his eyes were clouded with sorrow as he told the RiverClan tom.
"Grayfur died during an attack, and Creamfur was recently killed by a fox," he said, his voice unnervingly steady.
Pebblesoot dipped his head in remorse and allowed the ThunderClan leader to continue.
"Our elders and kits are well, and our defenses remain strong, our warriors loyal."
He smiled at Runningstar and let her speak next. The Gathering was going well so far, aside from Webclaw posing as Half-Sight's new puppet.
Runningstar rose as Stonestar sat down.
"The river continues to flow, and our Clan remains strong, loyal, and wise. We currently have no ill, and Mistfire is now the mother of two new kits, Fallenkit and Pikekit."
Runningstar's announcement was short and led straight to the point.
Excluding Webclaw and Buzzardstar's Clan, everyone looked satisfied. Runningstar sat down, looking to Woodstar's usual spot, but he was not there.
A small cloud flew over the moon and soon flew away, but those at the Gathering knew StarClan was not pleased with Woodstar's disappearance.
"I believe it is time we ended this Gathering," Webclaw grumbled. Just as the members of ShadowClan rose from where they sat, thunder rumbled from the sky.
Every cat on the island looked up, but there were no clouds in sight.
Murmurs began to fly around between each cat.
"StarClan is unhappy," said one cat.
"It must be a punishment!" cried another.
"We have angered our ancestors," mumbled another.
Stonestar rose to get the attention of the Clans. When nobody noticed him, he yowled for them to be silent.
"If our ancestors are angry with us, we must at least find out why," Stonestar said commandingly. "We should return to our camps for now. We will sort this out in our own Clans. Listen to your leaders," he added, staring at Webclaw, "and do your best to defend your Clans if anything happens. We shall depart and return to our territories."
Every cat stood from their spot and hurried to follow their leaders and deputies.
Spiraltail and Ashpelt lagged behind the others so they could speak to each other in private.
"What do you think Webclaw's up to?" her brother inquired.
"He is merely a puppet used by a rogue," Spiraltail stated with a dull expression.
"Should we check on Horizon?"
"When we are able to," Spiraltail agreed, "but, for now, we should keep an eye on Buzzardstar. If he is ready to fight to earn his Clan back, perhaps ShadowClan will become a useful ally to us. Otherwise, he is just another enemy for the later Leaf-bare."
Ashpelt nodded uncertainly, evidently wishing to speak with Horizon about what had happened at the Gathering this night, but Spiraltail's first priority now was her family in ThunderClan, and her Clan itself.
She remembered her nightmare from only last night.
The lake is doomed. Darkness lurks on the horizon.
She remembered Dawnclaw drowning in water.
Was this some sort of sign given to her by StarClan? Was Horizon really the enemy in this situation?
Water...
If a large storm were to come... the lake, and all the Clans living there, would truly be doomed.
She just needed to figure out how to stop it before it happened.