Warriors: Dawn Of The Forest

Chapter One

Fernstar slammed her paw down onto the ice of the gathering pool. The slap quieted the few cats that were still speaking. The other two leaders turned expectantly after finishing their reports.
"An apprentice of ours refused to train and ran away." Fernstar sighed, watching the other two leaders recoil in fear.
"The last time that happened was with Wolfstar!" A warrior screeched from the cats clustered around the frozen pool of water. Many others joined him, anxious and fearful caterwauls echoesing through the gathering space. The leaders attempted to hush their respective clans, rapidly waving their tails for silence.
"We've found ForestClan scent on our territory and seen a cat lurking in the outskirts bordering the swamp by the twolegplace." Snakestar affirmed, flicking his long brown striped tail curiously.
"And what did this cat look like?" Fernstar growled, fur on her shoulders beginning to fluff up in fear.
"Orange tabby she-cat with brown stripes, one brown paw and yellow eyes."
She did go rouge.
Icestar of TundraClan stood, her light blue gray pelt looking like snow in the moonlight. "She has also been seen in the snowlands, an odd bunch of cats with her."
"Thanks, Icestar. But," Fernstar raised her head, a bit nervous to suggest such a thing.
"We should send out a joint patrol to locate her. It is imperative we don't have another WolfClan war." Fernstar boldy spoke. As expected, her proposal was met with hostile gazes and one or two angered yowls of protest. Icestar and Snakestar bushed their tails, and Icestar snarled. "We will do no such thing!" The light blue gray shecat snapped, gathering her Clan with a flicked of her tufted ears.
"But-" Fernstar frowned as Snakestar too gathered his Clan, shaking his head softly.
"Until it becomes fatal, we will not intervene in ForestClan business." He drawled, beginning the trek off the mountain. Fernstar hung her head in defeat, frowning. ForestClan waited anxiously as Snowfur, her loyal deputy and former WolfClan warrior stepped down onto the icy pool.
"It's their fault they wouldn't listen." He murmured, touching his nose to Fernstar's ear gently.
"I must speak with you when we return." Fernstar whispered, to which Snowfur nodded. Fernstar gathered her Clan with a flick of her tail, and they trekked down the mountain and into the redwood forest where they made their home. The second the cats arrived at camp, most broke off into knots and spoke in worried tones. Fernstar trotted to her den with Snowfur following close behind.
"So, it's true Berrypaw has left ForestClan and become rogue?" Snowfur sighed, sitting down in the mossy floor.
Fernstar nodded solemnly.
"There is something more to it than that, though. Icestar said she was with others." Fernstar said, flicking an ear.
Snowfur leaned forward, pushing his ears forward expectantly.
"How many WolfClan warriors are out there?" Fernstar inquired, eyes widening a little at Snowfur's response. "Most, if not all of them. They probably added more cats to their ranks, so I'm guessing they have around 50-60 cats. A little bigger than ForestClan. That is, is they haven't stolen more kits from twolegplace."

Fernstar was shocked into silence. "What do you mean?"
Snowfur's eyes darkened and he subtly shifted his weight nervously.
"WolfClan stole kits. Took them from their mothers and raised them in a clan full of brutal and ruthless cats. All of those kits, were basically trained to protect Wolfstar at all costs."
Fernstar shivered. "Pure evil." She spat, clenching her eyes shut. Snowfur nodded.
"Even though I was raised there, I was never as brutal as the others. In fact, that's I how I got my scar." Snowfur lifted a front paw to expose a scar on his chest that stretched to his upper abdomen. Fernstar winced, only ruthless cats would do such a thing.
"I should probably tell the Clan what we know about Berrypaw and the remaining WolfClan warriors." Fernstar muttered, striding out of her den and jumping onto the tallrock.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the tallrock for a Clan Meeting!" She caterwauled, inwardly wincing. How would they react?

Cats slithered from the den like a river, congregation below the tallrock.
"As you all may know, Berrypaw ran away a moon ago. We heard from Icestar and Snakestar that she is lurking by twolegplace, and that.. she may have the reminding WolfClan warriors with her." Fernstar stated, watching the warriors break into fearful caterwauls. One voice spoke above the rest.
"We should track her down and kill her!"
Many cats were shocked into silence, but a few yowled their agreement.
Eaglewing barged His way to the front.
"That's against the warrior code. We will not do such a thing!" Fernstar gasped.
Eaglewing's lips curled into a snarl.
"Defending a traitor, eh? Some leader you are." He spat, lashing his tail.
To Fernstars utter surprise and sadness, a few echoed their agreement.
"We.. We can't! She was our clanmate!" Fernstar tried, eyes fulling with tears.
"Yeah, was!" A cat snarled from the audience.
Eaglewing spat. "We should've killed her when we had the chance!" He yowled, lashing his tail repeatedly.
"Get. Out. Go to the warrior's den." Fernstar seethed, angry and sad tears dripping down her fur.
Eaglewing arched his back in defiance. "Typical! Cowering the face of the truth! First protecting a traitor, wonder what else'll happen!" He snarled. Fernstar leaped down in front of Eaglewing, drawing herself up to her full height. At this angle, Eaglewing could clearly see the scars she still bore from Wolfstar's rebellion. He wasn't undeterred.
He unsheathed his claws.
"I'd suggest you leave to the warrior's den before I personally shred you." Fernstar hissed, green eyes narrowing and her fur bristling.
Eaglewing spat once more before retreating to the warrior's den, 4 or 5 other warriors following him. Fernstar clawed at the ground with long black claws angrily.
Snowfur sat by her, laying his tail over her shoulders comfortingly.
Eventually, Fernstar retired to her nest and slept, albeit uncertainlly.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The sun was barely visible as Fernstar woke up Dawnpaw.
"Let's go and train." She said quietly as to not disturb the other cats sleeping. Dawnpaw nodded and followed the larger leader into the red sand training clearing. "Today, we are going to do some basic battle practice." She informed the tom.
Dawnpaw nodded groggily.
"Okay." He yawned, stretching out so much his tail curled over his back.
Fernstar then demonstrated a basic forepaw strike.
"Good, good. Now when in a real battle, you wanna aim it well and put a lot of strength into it. It can incapitate a cat if hut in the right spot. Fernstar said, smiling. Over another hour, nine different battle moves were taught.
"How about a mock battle?" Fernstar suggested, looking at Dawnpaw.
"Yes!" He smiled, bouncing on his toes.
Fernstar chuckled, and stepped backwards. "Begin." She hissed, drawing herself into a battle crouch. Dawnpaw mimicked her, looking surprisingly ferocious. Suddenly he leaped, sending Fernstar sprawling. The mottled gray leader pummled his underbelly with sheathed claws and powerful hind legs. Suddenly, she grabbed his shoulders with her forepaws and shoved him backwards, kicking his chest and darting up. Dawnpaw was very surprised, and she took that hesitation to lunge in with a forepaw Slash. Dawnpaw banked sharply to the left and pushed his leader over. Fernstar rolled, and managed to get back on her paws. Dawnpaw attempted to hook her back legs out from underneath her, strongly grabbing the tendon. Fernstar stumbled, and Dawnpaw took her unbalanced nature to leap on her shoulders. Dawnpaw's smaller size made it difficult to dislodge him. Fernstar slammed her back into the ground, hearing a faint hhuufff from underneath her.
"Battle's over, Dawnpaw. You put up quite the fight!" She congratulated her apprentice, flicking sand off of his fur with her tail.
"Thanks!" Dawnpaw rasped, eyes bright and happy. They returned to camp, and ate. As Fernstar headed to her den, Berryfawn, a former SandClan cat-turned medicine cat quickly raced up.
"Fernstar, come quick! Thistlekit skipped out of camp and he says he was attacked by a WolfClan warrior!"