Rise of the Fifth {Warrior Cats}

Chapter 3

^ Mousepaw

Shadedstar was very good at thinking. He analyzed every aspect, thinking through everything before he did anything. That's why he decided to have the first clan meeting right away.
Only two days had passed when he jumped on a root outside his den. He didn't need to say anything since everyone was there.
"What are you doing?" Port asked.
"Calling a clan meeting." He replied, getting their attention. They all looked up expectantly.
"I haven't just been chosen as a leader for no reason. StarClan chose a leader because we simply must be more than a group of rogues; we have to become a clan."
"So should we set up border patrols?" Owlrunner questioned.
"We don't even have a border." Mousepaw muttered.
"I have already chosen Raccoonfur as my deputy, but we must do more. We have many tasks before us, but we'll start here. Mousepaw, step forward." Shadedstar announced.
The apprentice stepped forward with a curious expression.
"I, Shadedstar call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn."
Excitement grew on Mousepaw's face as she realized what was happening.
"Mousepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." Her voice didn't waver at all when she answered.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Mousepaw, from this moment you will be known as Mouseflight. StarClan honors your loyalty and enterprise."
The new warrior stood up straight as everyone called out her name. "Mouseflight!"
After a while Shadedstar hushed them. "There are many things we must do if we want to show ourselves at the next gathering, which is almost half a moon away."
"We won't just magically become a clan just like that." Owlrunner said. "They hate all of us."
"It will definitely take time, but I never said making a clan will be easy." Shadedstar told them. "We will have make every decision carefully because at every mistake we make no matter how small, each clan will be sure to point it out. Port, that's why I'm afraid you'll have to change your name to a clan one."
It made sense to Port. "Can I at least pick out my name?"
"Of course. I can give you some time as well; let me know in three days time. We will also need a clan name. Suggestions anyone?" He asked.
There was a silence where everyone looked at each other for ideas, but nothing came. It didn't matter though, Shadedstar already had an idea.
"I've been thinking of LightClan. This place is much brighter than my former home in the dense forests of TimberClan." He explained.
"I like it." Honeyfall told him.
There were no objections, and it was final.
"Next we need more cats, and a medicine cat. I was thinking we could ask around in the neighborhoods. A few kittypets might want to join us, and they may even know about a few rogues or loners in the area that we can ask." The dark leader said.
"Could we ask Ollie?" Honeyfall questioned. "He was always kind to us, and it couldn't hurt to ask."
Shadedstar was silent for a moment, unsure of what to say.
"Ollie is dead. I saw him in StarClan." He had completely forgotten to tell them, and he regretted it now.
They quietly remembered him for a few moments.
"What happened?" Mouseflight asked.
"He died on the road." He replied.
"I hope it wasn't painful." His sister sighed.
Shadedstar was pretty sure it would be painful, how could it not? Raccoonfur certainly knew because he winced at the news. After all, the gray tom had gotten his leg broken from a monster hitting him.
"I'm not quite sure how to get a medicine cat unless we somehow find one or a clan cat teaches one of us, but they all hate us." He explained.
"My sister Smokeleap is a medicine cat." Raccoonfur said. "I left on good terms with her so she might agree to teach someone."
"We'd have to do it secretly. I highly doubt that MoorClan would just give us medicine cat training." Owlrunner pointed out. "They probably think LightClan stole two of their warriors."
Cloudheart spoke next. "But what if they find out? We would be in a lot of trouble."
"There are no other ways to get a medicine cat unless we steal one, and I do not know how well that will work." Shadedstar said.
"I... I know a cat who might help us." Cloudheart murmured.
"Really? Do tell." Raccoonfur urged her.
"There's the BerryClan medicine cat apprentice." The white she-cat replied.
Honeyfall, a former BerryClan warrior, asked,"You mean Hawkclaw? How do you know him?"
Shadedstar had seen Hawkclaw before, and he didn't even think he was a medicine cat at first. The thick furred tom was gigantic with long claws and rippling muscles. He had been a warrior until the life of a medicine cat called to him when he got a sign from StarClan. He certainly didn't look like a medicine cat, but he had been for a while now.
"Well, w... we knew each other." She stuttered.
"How? You were in different clans?" Shadedstar asked, but he felt like he already knew.
"I met him at a gathering, and we really connected. We couldn't stop thinking about each other, and we met a few more times. Actually, we met a lot." She said.
It was hard to imagine sweet kind Cloudheart with the big strong brute of a medicine cat, Hawkclaw.
"You think he could train someone?" Shadedstar questioned.
"Possibly, if I ask him." She replied.
"Cloudheart and Raccoonfur, I want you to go to the MoorClan and BerryClan borders and try to talk to either Hawkclaw or Smokeleap." The leader ordered. "Next I think we should send out border patrols and actually decide the border. We really aren't that far from the other clans, and rogues could simply stroll right in here. I'll send Mouseflight and Owlrunner to decide the border after I'm done. Then Port and I will go out and try to recruit some cats for LightClan. Any questions or comments?"
No one had any objections so they all set off on their own tasks. Port showed Shadedstar to the nearest neighborhood.
Colorful twoleg dens, or houses, loomed ahead of them. They were spread out a little with fences separating a few. Shadedstar liked this neighborhood much better than some of the others he had been to because there were actually tree and some natural things.
"I think I can scent a cat... the trail is fresh." The black tom said. He and Port followed it, weaving through backyards and through trees. After a short pursuit the two cats came across a white and gray striped she-cat.
She jumped at the sight of them.
"Who are you? I've never seen either of you here before, and you smell weird." She said, examining them up and down. She seemed wary of them, and kept a distance.
"I'm Shadedstar and this is Port. Have you ever heard of a clan?"
"No, what's that? Are you those cats from the city?" She questioned, backing up.
"No. I come from a clan, which is a group of cats, and we live in the forest. We need more cats, and we wondering if you would like to join, or if you know of anyone who would." Shadedstar explained.
"I don't like living in big groups, no thanks. I can spread the word though." She replied.
"Thank you, we appreciate it. What's your name?" Shadedstar asked.
"Spring. I have to go now." Spring said, starting to walk back.
"Wait, tell who ever might want to join us to meet us at the edge of the forest by the bright yellow house in three sunrises." The leader told her.
"I will. Goodbye!" She scampered off, disappearing behind a few bushes.
"Well she seemed eager to leave. Should we keep asking cats?" Port questioned.
"Yes, we have to." He replied.
After walking through yards, jumping over fences, and crossing roads, they finally found two cats lying in the evening sun.
"Hello!" Port called to two young cats, a gray striped and white cat sitting next to a pale creamy cat with black paws, a tail, and face. They both had collars. They looked up curiously and whispered something to each other.
"My name's Port and this is Shadedstar." He said, then jumped off the fence they were on and into their yard.
"I'm Aloe, and this is my sister Twine." The darker one said.
"Where do you come from?" Twine asked. "Are you the Andersons' new cats?"
"No we don't have owners." Shadedstar said. He then explained why they were here.
The two looked at each other.
"It sounds great living in the forest and all," Aloe began. "However I'm going to have to take a hard pass."
"You're no fun." Twine scolded him playfully. "It sounds better than staying here. Alec said eventually you get neutered if you stay too long, and some cats get their claws taken off."
"What's neutered?" Her brother asked.
"You never listen when Alec talks. It means you can't have babies anymore." She sighed.
"Sure." Aloe smirked. "Perhaps you shouldn't listen to Alec when she talks."
"Alec is a boy not a girl. He got neutered." Twine said.
Aloe's eyes went wide. "What? I can't get neutered! Maybe the clan idea doesn't seem so bad."
Port chimed in,"You can have kits in LightClan, and we'll never take your claws away."
"It would be pretty cool to battle and hunt." Twine shrugged.
"It's much more than fighting and hunting." Shadedstar warned. "We need cats, but if you aren't willing to take it seriously then we won't bother to take you. I have to know that you will provide for your clan and defend it with your life."
After a careful moment of thought Twine said,"I will."
Shadedstar wasn't sure Aloe would say yes, but soon after he stated,"I will too."
"There are rules," The dark leader cautioned. "And you need to follow them. The warrior code is important and there are rules for a reason." He quoted his old mentor Rayflower without a thought.
"We promise." Twine repeated, and Aloe nodded.
"You will have to change your names to clan names, and go through training." Port added.
They nodded again, saying that they would do it.
Shadedstar felt relief flood through him. He would have to see how well Cloudheart and Raccoonfur did with the medicine cat deal, but at least they had two more cats to train as warriors.