The Truth of the Clans

Raventail's Demise Chapter 3

Silence flooded the air as Ravenkit woke up from his dream. In the end, no cat had noticed him or Darkkit sneaking out. Sparrowstar hadn't announced any of the changes to the Clan yet, Ravenkit prayed to Starclan that he had been dreaming the whole time. Suddenly, he realised that he couldn't feel his mothers soft and warm fur. He looked around the den but still couldn't see her. He silently crept out of the den to avoid waking up Darkkit and hoped to find Nightpatch outside. The sun was just rising above the horizon turning the ground into a golden light colour. Ravenkit soon picked up his mother's scent and followed it. It led outside of camp, Ravenkit hoped he wouldn't have to eavesdrop again. But his wish was soon turned down as he spotted Sharpfur and Nightpatch quietly talking.

" You have to convince Sparrowstar to end this alliance! I won't be able to bear seeing my kits and Clan suffer!" Nightpatch begged. Ravenkit felt sadness hang over him like a cloud, so it hadn't been a dream. Sharpfur had probably told Nightpatch already.

" I've tried... I don't want this too, he never even asked for my opinion! We will just have to try to get through this..." Sharpfur tried to comfort his mate. This change was going to be hard and Ravenkit hoped this wasn't the end of Ravenclan.

"  But what about the kits!? If their apprenticeship gets skipped they could be killed in battle with no training!" Nightpatch wailed. Ravenkit hated watching his mother suffer, he wanted to go up to her and comfort her.

" I will keep an eye on them, Sparrowstar is going to announce the changes today and I think he's going to make them warriors too." Sharpfur sighed. Ravenkit felt his heart drop. Nightpatch was right! Without learning any skills how would Ravenkit and Darkkit survive? How could any Clan leader be so mouse-brained with an idea like that!? As he saw Nightpatch and Sharpfur trot towards the camp, Ravenkit hurried back to his nest. He heard Nightpatch enter the den and she prodded him with a paw to wake up.

" Ravenkit, I need to tell you and your sister something," Nightpatch explained. Ravenkit nodded although he knew what it was about. Nightpatch woke Darkkit up and looked at them, her eyes dark with sorrow. " Sparrowstar is going to make you warriors today." Nightpatch began. 

" We know, we sneaked out of camp and saw Sparrowstar and Sharpfur ally with Badgerclan," Darkkit confessed. Nightpatch didn't seem troubled that they had left camp, she just nodded in sadness.

" I know you will be great little warriors. But please promise me this. You will always stay true to the warrior code and stay true to your hearts." Nightpatch asked, nearly begging. 

" We promise." Darkkit and Ravenkit both meowed together. Nightpatch's green gaze lit up with love and sorrow, she purred and wrapped her tail around Ravenkit and Darkkit.

" All cats brave enough to climb the highest trees, gather for a Clan meeting!" Sparrowstar yowled. Nightpatch nodded to Ravenkit and Darkkit and they slowly padded out of the nursery. This is the last time Ravenclan is truly a Clan. Ravenkit sighed. As they padded to the log Sparrowstar was sitting on, the rest of the Clan were just getting out of there dens a lot of them yawning. Sharpfur was already sitting on the small rock next to the log.

" I call you here today Clanmates to inform you have a great change. Ravenclan and Badgerclan will now be allies!" Sparrowstar announced. Shocked gasps rose from the cats and Ravenkit heard some cats yowl in protest. " I know that this change may anger you but hear me out. Together Ravenclan and Badgerclan will destroy Rippleclan and Moonclan, we will be the strongest Clans that ever existed!" Sparrowstar yowled. His speech seemed to please the Clan as cats were yowling in agreement. " Of course this means a few big changes to how we work too." Sparrowstar grinned. Cats muttered in confusion and Ravenkit felt his body begin to shake.

" Ravenkit and Darkkit, step toward the great log," Sparrowstar instructed. Ravenkit gulped and hesitantly took a step toward Sparrowstar. "I, Sparrowstar, leader of Ravenclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these kits. They have been loyal to Ravenclan for six moons, and with the new rule of kits not becoming apprentices, I shall make them warriors." Sparrowstar meowed. Once more, gasps rose from the Clan, Ravenkit heard cats growling at the leader too.  " Ravenkit and Darkkit, do you promise to protect the Clan with your life?" Sparrowstar asked. Ravenkit wasn't sure if he could call Ravenclan a Clan anymore, but his mother nodded at him.

" I do." Ravenkit and Darkkit both meowed.

" Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you are warrior names. Darkkit from this day forward you will be known as Darkpatch, Ravenkit will be known as Raventail. Starclan honours your loyalty and bravery and we welcome you as a full warrior of Ravenclan." Sparrowstar meowed. At first, no cat cheered, but then Sharpfur and Nightpatch started cheering then more cats joined in." One more change is that we will have small gatherings with Badgerclan. Meeting dissmissed!" Sparrowstar leaped down from the log and turned away. Raventail sighed, from now on the Clan would suffer. And he wasn't sure if he would live to tell the tale...