Dawning Era

Chapter One

Gray Storm glanced around the ThunderClan camp, dimly lit by the moonlight. Tonight was the gathering. The young tom looked up at the sky. The full moon was out. Perfect, for my first gathering!
Violet Dawn padded up to him, her soft fur shining in the pale moonlight. Her amber eyes were bright with amusement and she sat down next to him in the clearing. Gray Storm looked at his mother through hopeful golden eyes. " Are you coming to the gathering?", he asked her. Violet Dawn nodded. She nuzzled his cheek and Gray Storm felt the conform he felt from her when he was a kit. " I would never miss my kits's first gathering." Gray Storm dipped his head gratefully and rose up, heading towards the main dens.
" Gray Storm?", chirped a small voice inside the den. The smoky gray tom stopped. Silver Dawn? He looked back towards the darkness, searching for his sister's silver flecked face. Nothing. " Silver Dawn, is that---" A blur of yellow and white leaped out, and crashed right into Gray Storm sending him reeling away. " Mrrrrrow!" He yowled as he hit the floor. He glanced up, angrily. Quickly, his glance turned to a glare when he heard small laughter. " Lion Swoop!"
The yellow-cream tabby she-cat mrrowed in laughter. Gray Storm hissed faintly while getting up, shaking the dust from his pelt. " You mouse-brain! Now I'll have to go through another one of Violet Dawn's washings!", he snarled. Lion Swoop rolled her eyes. " C'mon Gray Storm. You're no fun anymore." The dark gray tom looked up from washing. " Because tonight is the gathering. We need to make a good impression on the other clans. No playing tonight," he told her sternly. Lion Swoop sighed.
I could have gotten a brother, but no I'm stuck with two sisters! His sisters, Silver Dawn and Lion Swoop were completely different. Silver Dawn was more soft spoken and kind, while Lion Swoop was loud, rowdy and cheerful. Gray Storm was more in the middle, playful at times but serious at others. Like tonight! Lion Swoop rolled her eyes and padded away, as he started grooming his fur.
A black she-cat padded to him, breaking him away from his thoughts. Gray Storm stopped lapping his fur and glanced over at her. " Hi Shivering Rose," he meowed between licks. The she-cat dipped her head. " Likewise, Gray Storm," she responded. " Are you coming to the gathering?" The tom nodded. " Yes." He looked around. " Shouldn't we be going now?"
Shivering Rose swished her tail in annoyance. " Hazel Burrow's gone missing again. Lightning Tail, Gooseberry and Owl Eyes went to search for him." Gray Storm blinked. " He's been gone an awful lot lately." He edged closer to her.
" Where do you think he's been going?", he whispered. Shivering Rose jumped away, fur bristling. Gray Storm winced, surprised at her sudden reaction. " What?", he demanded.
" I didn't come here to gossip about my brother's whereabouts. The last thing he'd want to do is pull off some scandal. But l'm sure he's smarter than that." Whisking her tail, she stalked away into darkness. Gray Storm watched her go, annoyed at her defense for her brother. I guess what's happened the last couple of moons has really taken a toll on some of us. Recently, Clover and Thistle had gone missing in the forest, while hunting. Nothing had been found of then for a quarter-moon now. Their mother, Milkweed, was in need of comfort ever since they had gone missing. Leaf did his best her and so did Morning Fire and Shivering Rose but nothing could be done. Thunderstar had been cautious on sending in and out of camp for the last quarter-moon to secure the remaining cats. With each passing day, there was less hope of ever finding them.
" ThunderClan!", yowled a cat from the great rock. Gray Storm looked over at his father. He leaped up eagerly when he realized what was happening. Yes we go now! Thunderstar's voice was full of authority.
I'm so lucky to have such a great cat as my father.
     " Hazel Burrow has been found," the great leader yowled from the rock. Below him, skulking was Hazel Burrow. The black and white tom lashed his tail back and forth in shame, his shining with guilt in the moonlight. Milkweed watched, relief shining in her gaze. Leaf was not, however. He glared at his son, anger brimming his gaze. Gray Storm understood why though. He's one of the most respected cats in the clan. And with his son vanishing each day, it doesn't make him look good.
     " While Hazel Burrow will stay in camp tonight, I summon the following cats to come to tonight's gathering." Gray Storm held his breath excitedly. He knew he and his sisters would go but he was excited that it was now finally going to happen. Thunderstar had called himself, Lightning Tail, Violet Dawn, Cloud Spots, Shivering Rose, Owl Eyes, White Pelt, Lion Swoop, Silver Dawn, Gray Storm and Yew Tail and Apple Blossom. Yes! I'm really going!
     They departed camp, and Gray Storm stuck close to his mother's side. Violet Dawn fell in beside Thunderstar. " Mm, what do you think the clans will think of our kits?", she whispered, half jokingly. Gray Storm fell back. Think of us? He flicked his ears. Surely, the other clans wouldn't be as cruel as Pink Eyes spoke of them?
     Lion Swoop bounded forward towards him, Silver Dawn at her side." Aren't you excited?", she asked him. Gray Storm nodded. " Very." Silver Dawn glanced around fretfully. " Do you think the other clans will like us?" Lion Swoop rolled her eyes." Who cares if they like us? They'll bow to me when I'm Lionstar!" Her voice was cheerful and Gray Storm could tell that she was joking, their quarrel from earlier forgotten. Silver Dawn didn't look so sure. Gray Storm nudged her. " It's okay," he meowed gently.
" What matters is what you think of yourself." Silver Dawn shuddered. " That's the problem, I can't think good of myself!"
     Gray Storm didn't say anything, his heart swelling with sympathy. Poor Silver Dawn.Sometime, Silver Dawn would have to build her own confidence and no could help her with that. He sighed, feeling bad for her. Maybe socializing with other cats will help her. Suddenly, there was a loud yowl that hit Gray Storm's ear. Lion Swoop bounded forward into the trees, Thunderstar after her. Gray Storm hissed under his breath. " We're here!", announced Lightning Tail. Gray Storm stopped, swaying on his paws. He gasped in shock when he saw the Fourtrees in front of him. Cats were chatting back and forth, under the branches.
Gray Storm had the feeling to squeal like a kit, but controlled himself. Violet Dawn stood next to him. " Go on, son. The world's waiting for ya. But be careful and don't run!" Gray Storm nodded to her and broke away from the ThunderClan cats and strode into the clearing, listening to his mother's warning not to run. Should I be more sophisticated? He walked carefully, not to intervene with any cat.
" Hi!"
A cat's voice behind Gray Storm made him jump. He spun around and saw a young gray tabby tom, about Gray Storm's age, or a bit older. His fur was short and sleek and his eyes were green. Gray Storm stepped back a bit and returned the gesture. " Hello," he responded cooling, after a moment's hesitation, not realizing what he was actually more shyer than he thought. Should've though this through more shouldn't I? The gray tabby flicked his tail. " Sand Pelt! Owl Song!", he called. Gray Storm blinked at him. Who's he calling?. The gray tabby turned to him. " I'm Rain Muzzle." He looked over as a mottled, golden-sandy colored tom came over, followed by a light brown splotchy she-cat with sleek fur.
" The golden tom is Sand Pelt," Rain Muzzle explained. " And the she-cat with the white paws and tail-tip is Owl Song. We're siblings." Gray Storm nodded as they came up to him. " I'm Gray Storm." Owl Song dipped her head. Sand Pelt shifted his paws. " Nice to meet you," he murmured. Rain Muzzle smirked and poked his brother with a paw. " Sand Pelt's really shy, sorry," he explained. Sand Pelt glared at him. " Am not! I'm just not comfortable to be talking with strangers, at our second gathering." Rain Muzzle snorted, much to Gray Storm's amusement. This isn't so bad.
Owl Song rolled her eyes. " You mean our second gathering. You stayed home last time because you trod on a thistle and bored Moth Flight with your complaints and whines to stay home. Poor Dew Nose couldn't come with us! Our mother!" Sand Pelt rolled his eyes and padded away. Rain Muzzle watched him go. " He's really awkward," he told Gray Storm. Owl Song flicked at her tail. Gray Storm calmly sat down, relieved to be enjoying the gathering." Who are your parents?", he asked them. Owl Song brushed her long, sleek tail. " Our parents are Dew Nose and Dust Muzzle." Gray Storm glanced around the clearing.
" Who are they?", he asked. Rain Muzzle answered, " The brown tabby she-cat over there is Dew Nose," he meowed pointing at a splotchy brown tabby she-cat with a white nose. Her name makes sense, he observed seeing her nose, which was a distinctive shade of white."And the fluffy gray tabby over there is Dust Muzzle. He's Windstar's kit." Gray Storm's eyes widened. " Whoa, you're related to Windstar?" Owl Song nodded. Wow, I'm talking to a leader's kits's kits! Then I am too...sorta. Kit of Thunderstar, kit of Skystar.
" Ah but enough of us!", Rain Muzzle pronounced. " What about you, Gray Storm?" The smoky tom stretched his legs. " Ah yes. I'm Thunderstar's kit." He stopped when he saw Rain Muzzle's and Owl Song's mouth fall open into a gasp. They're excited I'm the leader's kit! Proudly, he puffed out his chest. When he was about to continue, there was a great yowl from the rock.
" ShadowClan is here! The gathering shall begin!"
The yowl came from a light gray tom. Gray Storm realized he must be Skystar, his father's father. I'm related to him. But only terrifying stories he had heard from him, that he killed Milkweed's friend, caused a Great War, and rebelling against Gray Storm's father. He shuddered to think on how someone would treat their own kit. He was relived to be growing up in this era.
Five great leaders stood on the boulder. One was black, another was silver, and there was a wiry female leader as well. Skystar stepped forward and began his report. Gray Storm went on to listen eagerly to his kin. " SkyClan has been well this last moon, hunting and battle training. Sparrow Fur has given birth to Red Claw's two kits: Poppy Leaf and Hawk Claw." There were murmurs of congratulations rising up from the cats. Gray Storm looked over and saw a chestnut brown she-cat skulking back, near where the medicine cats stood. She watched her leader, her eyes misted. Gray Storm watched her, confused. Why would a medicine cat feel resentment for a new litter of kits?
Skystar backed away and let a silver tom go next. That must be Riverstar. The tom stepped forward, his brilliant green gaze shining with wisdom in the moonlight. " RiverClan has been blessed with fish full in the river, this past moon. Drizzle has come up with a clever idea on our newest technique of fishing." He turned his gaze towards a gray and white she-cat in the clearing. " Tonight, my kits are here, Flower Stream, Soot Spots and Ember Shell!" There was cheering going on and Gray Storm spotted three young cats standing next to a black and white she-cat.
" It's their first gathering too!"
Lion Swoop came up next to Gray Storm. He glanced at his sister. " Yep." He looked around, expecting to see a silver flecked face arriving with her. He frowned. Or not. " Where's Silver Dawn?" Lion Swoop shrugged. " Dunno. I lost her after I started speaking with Flower Stream and Dusk Nose. She disappeared behind Dew Petal and Shade Pelt." Gray Storm widened his eyes surprised at how well his sister was at socializing and meeting so many cats in so little time. But his concern didn't disappear. " Where do you think--" There was a sharp hiss from someone behind and Gray Storm and Lion Swoop spun around to face a silver tom. His fur was ragged and his eyes were blue were anger. Gray Storm gulped coward int away. Uh oh...
" Shh! Windstar's giving her report!", he growled. Lion Swoop held his gaze. Gray Storm apologized. " I'm sorry, we won't speak again," he meowed. The silver tom turned away. " You better not." A white she-cat prodded him. " Since have you cared so much about WindClan, Ivy Pelt? Mooning over Owl Song again?" Gray Storm remembered the splotchy she-cat he saw earlier. Ivy Pelt shook his head. " That's ridiculous, Dove Fur. I just complimented that she looked pretty," he protested. A she-cat flicked Ivy Pelt's and Dove Fur's ears. They muttered something and Gray Storm turned away letting out a purr of amusement. " Quiet you two, or you'll be scraping out bedding for the next moon!"
"...good hunting." Windstar stepped back and let Thunderstar go next. Lion Swoop shivered next to Gray Storm.
" He's going to announce our names!", she whispered excitedly." Oh.....oh." He excitedly turned forward and saw Thunderstar start his report, clinging on to every word he said. " ThunderClan has definitely had an interesting last moon. My kits, Lion Swoop, Silver Dawn and Gray Storm are here tonight for their first gathering!" Gray Storm held his breath as the clan cats shouted their names.
" Silver Dawn!"
" Lion Swoop!"
" Gray Storm!"
" Their trainers will be assigned soon. However," he beckoned his tail and Gray Storm noticed some cats lean closer. " Two of my cats have gone missing, Clover and Thistle." There were shocked gasps throughout the clearing and horrified shrieks.
" They're siblings!"
" How could they have gone so quickly?"
Gray Storm felt uncomfortable by the accusations clan cats were throwing at each other. Shadowstar raised her tail for silence. " Enough." The chatting started to die down, and Shadowstar began her speech. That was quick. " Frogs and Toads have fed our clan in the last moon." There were snorts of disgust coming from the non ShadowClan cats, including Gray Storm. Lion Swoop gagged. " The thought of that...ugh."
     Shadowstar raised her tail again for silence. " We have been finding strange scents on our borders." There was a murmur that rippled through the clearing. Suddenly there was a black tom that leaped up beside Shadowstar. " Wait there's more! We think this is...Slash's cats."
     Now there were yowls of terror and anger in the clearing and Gray Storm ducked away. Slash? He'd heard of the tom who'd plagued the forest before Gray Storm was born. Then he paused. He'd been Slash had tried to Gray Storm's mother into becoming his mate, despite their age difference. He had kidnapped Skystar's pregnant mate, Star Flower to threaten the clan cats into them giving him prey. And he, in the end, had caused Gray Wing to loose the battle against his chest sickness when he kidnapped his newborn son. And now he was back.
     Fear crept through Gray Storm's body. Lion Swoop thrust forward, yowling her anger. Beside her, a tan tabby she-cat yowled at the clan leaders. " He kidnapped us once, he will never again!" Gray Storm guessed that it was one of Skystar's daughters.
     " We spotted Splinter on our territory yesterday, along with some new cats we didn't recognize. As far as we know, he's recruited more cats and he's back for vengeance."
" My kits!"
" We must drive him out once and for all!"
" Kill him!"
" Have him blinded and killed!"
" Same thing, Juniper Branch!"
     Thunderstar held her gaze. " We must get back to our camps, now. If Slash is back, we must be prepared to drive him away once and for all."
     The clan leaders nodded then bounded off the rock and headed away. Done so quick. Stupid Slash. Lion Swoop snorted. " Stupid rogue, running our first gathering!" Gray Storm and headed away, through the crowd. Silver Dawn's probably terrified wherever she is. The clan cats below murmured in fearful voices as they bounded out of the clearing. Gray Storm followed Lion Swoop towards Thunderstar and where the rest of ThunderClan were gathering. " We must go. Slash has threatened us again." White Pelt bristled. " Can we so trust the word of Shadowstar?" Thunderstar glared at him. " Do you want to take that chance?"
***
     When they arrived at camp, Silver Dawn reunited with Gray Storm and Lion Swoop and headed for the dens. Thunderstar had called the most highest authority cats over to discuss the now sudden problem. Gray Storm ran into the den, yearning for his moss bed. Violet Dawn's out with Thunderstar right now...
     Just then, Milkweed glanced at him through the darkness. " Gray Storm, what's happened?" The dark gray tom looked at, his sisters at his side. " Slash is back. Splinter, too." Milkweed stared horrified. " No...not Splinter."
" Why not?"
     Milkweed glanced at him. Lion Swoop held the gaze of the older she-cat. " Do you know Splinter?" Silver Dawn backed away towards her own nest, near Owl Eye's. But Gray Storm and Lion Swoop stayed forward and faced Milkweed waiting for her response. But none of them were prepared for the queen had to say next.
" He's the father of my kits."
Gray Storm stared. " You mean of Thistle and Clover right?", Lion Swoop gasped. Milkweed nodded silently. She had kits with a rogue! Lion Swoop glared at her through the darkness. Gray Storm still struggled to comprehend what was happening and a truth that had just been revealed. Has this been a secret?
" It was when I was still a rogue, living on my own. I had a sister you see, Hawkweed. She introduced me to him, yes he appealed to me. He was kind and charming in a way I never saw a tom before." There was sadness in Milkweed's voice. Gray Storm felt uncomfortable listening to this. Did he betray her? So many questions he wanted to ask her.
" Anyways, Hawkweed left soon after that and I remained with Splinter in the pine forest." Lion Swoop gazed at her, curiosity in her eyes. " You mean ShadowClan's pine forest?", she asked. Milkweed nodded. " Life was good to me until I discovered I was pregnant." She briefly paused. Gray Storm watched the queen. Her shoulder's sagged in sadness of reminiscing her nostalgia.
" When I told Splinter I was expecting his kits, he disowned me. He drove me away," she murmured. Silver Dawn watched her, sympathy clouding her gaze. " Oh Milkweed....." She yawned, but sat in her best watching Milkweed the best she could. We're sleepy but we have to keep listening. Lion Swoop nudged the black and ginger she-cat. " Go on," she crooned silently. Milkweed went onto, " He wanted nothing to do with the kits. Worse Leaf-bare was just starting. I was depressed, but I went on to kit them. I never told my kits of their father. But I kept the memory of Splinter and Thistle."
" Interesting."
" ...Its a shameful story."
Gray Storm twitched his nose at the saddening story. " What happened next?" Milkweed briefly laid in her nest and concluded with, " One of the kits died. Her name was Bramble. She was a tortoiseshell and white she-kit with bushy fur. I still miss my daughter very much." Silver Dawn, Lion Swoop and Gray Storm were lost for words in their shock. " And so, I found the forest and here I am. I've loved living here, raising a new litter and meeting Leaf. But now that Clover and Thistle are gone, and with Slash back in the forest, they could've taken my kits..." There was a sob cracking the end of mew.
     " Splinter could've killed his own son and daughter without knowing it..", she murmured. Gray Storm leaned forward to comfort her. This is definitely more than I would've thought would happen on my first gathering. He swished anxiously. Lion Swoop looked at him. " You must tell Thunderstar, Milkweed. It might be the only to get your kits back." Silver Dawn nodded. " You've us now. Now if you don't, we will." Gray Storm was surprised at the determination in his sister's voice. Milkweed's reveal must've shaken Silver Dawn in a good way.
     " I've tried to hide this, all these moons...but you're right. I must tell Thunderstar and the rest. Even Clover and Thistle when they return." Suddenly, she stood up and Milkweed had a fiery glint in her amber eyes. " I'll reveal the truth," she told them, much Gray Storm's relief. This'll be our first step to getting them back and ridding away Slash to leave the forest and peace, once and for all.