Cry of the River Book 1
The five Warrior Clans are going extinct. Gatherings and Moonpool visits are inacessable, with leaders falling left and right. The lake territories are being wiped out to the brink of extinction by new, large predators that h...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"And you're sure she's the cat?"
A Starclan cat crouched next to the sunlit pond, her white pelt half-covered by enveloping, glowing green grass. Her starlit ears twitched in annoyance at the repeated question.
"Of course. We believe we have found the right cat this time. She's remarkable. She just-"
A third Starclan cat interrupted, their starry pelt swirled with stars that were dimly lit and faded. Their paws sent up less sparks as they moved, their apparatus less apparent among the pond's weeded edge.
"That's nonsense! This cat is part kittypet. She can't represent the clans," the cat's voice was condescending and scornful.
It was Ivyfall, Windclan's deceased deputy. Yet even as he spoke, his tail twitched- as if he knew that some cat would call him out soon.
"You just died recently, Ivyfall. Do not pretend to know a thing about Starclan's acceptances. After all, we've had legendary leaders both kittypets and rogues... Loners or tribe cats alike." Whiteleaf's voice was tinged with a growl as she spoke.
"And you dare doubt her for something her mother has done? She's Clanborn. So you're just reaching for an argument." Her green eyes and white pelt helped her spirit to glow even brighter, and her halo of white light seemed stronger than the others.
"So that's what we're making her? A leader as a kit?"
It was Rainstar who snapped this time, and on his own deputy at that. "No, you hare-brain. We're going to wait until she reaches us, then give her an endowment. These cats don't want to repeat the same mistakes as last time." His thick grey fur bristled slightly, and Whiteleaf found herself hiding a chuckle.
If ever a cat admitted with their eyes that they dislike their deputy, it's Rainstar.
"Starclan is much cleverer than to throw nine lives away at first glance," the dark Windclan leader finished.
Whiteleaf nodded, agreeing with the newly-deceased leader.
"Oh, sure- but they aren't so smart about other things...." Many cats shot glares his way. Finally Ivyfall had the sense to stay quiet. But his tabby silvery-and-white tail still swished against the grass. With a breeze tugging their whiskers, the medicine cat bent closer to the circle of cats around her. The ferns shielded their group. Whiteleaf finally felt a sense of comfort and privacy settle beside the seeing-pool.
"The point is that Starclan fixes their mistakes, and looks to a brighter future. If we can do that, it'll prove that we've made the right choice this time." Some of the cats whispered behind her, until one blurted out, "but he was onto something; what right does a kittypet's kin have to save the clans? Why not a clan cat?"
