BambooClan: A Story of Survival

Prologue

Upon this night, even the stars, reflected upon the lake, were eerily still, as if the warriors of StarClan were standing shocked at what their descendants were about to do. 

"Reedstar, what are you thinking?" a ginger she-cat hissed, whipping her head from one cat to another. Beside her, a tortoiseshell tom bristled and crouched defensively. 

A brown tom raised his head and spoke for the first time in the whole argument, solemnly: "It's a good idea. I vouch that we go ahead with this plan." 

"And what sort of trouble will it bring, Slatestar?" A light brown she-cat challenged. "Surely the problem of prey shortage for all clans can be solved another way." 

"Sagegrass, do you think it'll be possible to handpick a couple of warriors and expect they'll listen to us?" Reedstar said in a quiet, fierce voice. His eyes were cold. "It is a huge problem and requires a drastic solution. Fear will ensure their obedience." 

"They'd obey more willingly if they aren't forced into it!" Sagegrass spat, but a black tom flicked her mouth with his tail. "Ravenstar--" she hissed. 

"Be quiet," he mewed coldly, cutting her off. "You will only make it worse." The WindClan leader turned to Reedstar and nodded. "You do have a point. When do you propose we go ahead with this plan?" 

"Never." The ginger she-cat spat. 

Ravenstar moved over towards her. "Dawnstar, how do you think you and your clan will survive? Leaf-bare is fast approaching, and you know your clan has too many warriors." He swept his gaze over the clearing and the small groups of cats assembled there. They were watching him silently -- some smugly, some shocked, and others angry. 

"You do not have to bring your cats to the Gathering, Dawnstar," Reedstar pressed, padding closer menacingly. "If you will not do this, we will convince the warriors that remain that ThunderClan is the origin of this deception." He pushed his muzzle into her face. "We will destroy your clan when you could've saved it." 

Owlheart, the tortoiseshell who was Dawnstar's deputy, gave Reedstar a shove, away from Dawnstar. Both of the ThunderClan cats seemed dazed; fear was flickering in their eyes. 

Reedstar scrambled to his feet. "So it is settled?" 

One by one, the other leaders nodded, their eyes showing that they understood the intensity and sincerity of Reedstar's threat. Their deputies stood rock-still, though Sagegrass's eyes still flashed in anger. 

The RiverClan leader nodded. He lifted his gaze to Silverpelt where the warriors of StarClan resided, and shivered as if he could feel their accusing gazes on him. "The next Gathering will take place in a half-moon, when the moon is at its fullest." He looked down at the assembled cats. "Choose carefully which cats you bring, and I will do the talking when we meet here on the island again." He motioned to Ripplecloud, and his deputy padded after him slowly. 

Sagegrass bounded over to Ripplecloud and hissed something, but Reedstar turned and spat at her. The WindClan deputy shrank back, and the RiverClan cats disappeared into the shadows. 

*******

A quarter moon later, the bushes rustled once more on the island, and Badgerfur, the ShadowClan deputy, stepped timidly into the moonlight. She tasted the air doubtfully. Sure enough, there was WindClan and ThunderClan scent nearby. "Sagegrass, Owlheart," she mewed, her voice unusually loud in the silence of nighttime. "Are you there?" 

Sagegrass stepped out with Owlheart close behind. Badgerfur narrowed her eyes at the two of them. "If we're going to be united as deputies, hiding in the shadows from me won't help." 

Owlheart gave a nod of acknowledgement; Sagegrass was all impatience. "Is Ripplecloud here yet?" she asked.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he couldn't make it," Owlheart commented quietly. 

There was a moment of silence as all three cats contemplated the thought of Reedstar's cold resolve. 

There was a slight movement in the bushes, and Ripplecloud padded out. Seeing the other deputies, he bounded over to them. "Quick," he hissed. "I can't be gone for too long. Also, you'll have to roll yourselves in mud before heading back. Your scent in our territory is faint, but still strong. We can't risk it being any more noticeable." 

"Alright. We'll get right to it." Sagegrass stood up and faced the other cats. With no prelude or dramatic pause, she mewed, "We're going with them." 

"With who?" Owlheart queried. 

"Mouse-brain." Badgerfur hissed. "She obviously means the warriors." She turned to Sagegrass and gave a nod of respect. "I'm with you. We should do this. They'll need us to lead them to wherever StarClan may take us." 

"Will our clans be alright without us?" Ripplecloud ventured. 

Owlheart, finally caught up to what was happening, spoke again. "Do you want to serve as a deputy under Reedstar? Knowing what he has done, and being the only one with this knowledge?" The ThunderClan deputy bowed his head. "Dawnstar is a noble leader, though. I should hate to leave her service." 

Sagegrass said nothing, only looking to Ripplecloud to see the compliance in the RiverClan deputy's eyes. Then she nodded. "It is settled then. The night of the Gathering, we will meet at the stream that borders WindClan and ThunderClan just before sunrise." 

One by one, each of the deputies nodded. Then, at a distant yowl, undoubtedly from a RiverClan patrol, they scattered.