Magicstar's Story

Chapter 25

Firestar yowled on top of Highstone, "All those old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Highstone for a clan meeting!" Magicclaw was seated beside her, looking over their clan. Scourge had made his choice, he killed a clanmate, there was nothing else to it.

Whether he knew it or not, he was at war with the clans.

Magicclaw unsheathed and sheathed her claws against the bare rock, she still blamed herself for the death of Leaffeather, and she remembered the message he had given her on his deathbed. The message Scourge had given him, to give to her. She honestly didn't want to hear what her father had to say, but she listened, out of respect for the senior warrior. She remembered the message, it still sent shivers up and down her spain. He wants to see you and your littermates again, Magicclaw, he wants you to join him so he can take over the forest, she could hear Leaffeather's voice, strangely, along with her father's, and he told me that he'll rule the forest, along with his kits and for all the generations to come- his family will rule.

"All you alright, Magicclaw?"

She was snapped out of the memories by Firestar's voice, she relaxed, whatever her father was planning, she could face it with courage- beside her clan - not her father's.

"Yes, I'm fine." Magicclaw replies, glancing at Deadshadow who sat belong the Highstone, she was grateful for the support of her mate. Although, she sometimes wonder what he really thought of being the daughter of the cat who killed a clanmate. She sighs, she remembered Ivyheart's death, the old Fireclan deputy that had been her mentor when she first came to the clan. She had died fighting a group of rogues that had broken into the camp moons ago, who now, Magicclaw suspected to be part of her father's clan. Or whatever he calls them, she thought.

"Cats of Fireclan, you all know that Leaffeather has died, and he had a message for Magicclaw. He wanted her to abandon us and join him, since he is her father, but she chose to stay," yowls of approval rang through the hollow, making Magicclaw's heart warm with gratitude, "In three sunrises, we will be meeting him with his clan, and fight. He will not have claim over the forest without a fight!"

Magicclaw stood beside her leader, she felt small next to her leader, she was hardly pass Firestar's shoulder. "Cats of Fireclan, you already know about the message Leaffeather has told us. My father, leader of the rogues, wanted me to leave and join him. I'm saying this to you know, for if I betray my word: You may kill me in cold blood, or banish me from the clan," she ignored the look of horror her mate gave her, she had made her choice. She looked around for Paleshadow, meeting the gaze of the cat who had invited her to join the clan, and who was also her best friend- other then Firestar, the medicine cat, and her mate. "I will fight beside you, I will fight for my clan, not my father's! His rogues killed Ivyheart, and he, himself, killed leaffeather. I will not stand by the cat who killed our clanmates!" Yowls of rage filled the air, along with cheers. Magicclaw stiffened, she listened closer to the cheers, they were cheering her name!
"Magicclaw! Magicclaw!"

She was stunned, she didn't think that her clan would be accepting of her once they found out she was the daughter of the rouge that had killed their deputy and a senior warrior. There will be more to come, a voice spoke softly in her ear, come, there's something I must show you.

After the meeting had ended, Magicclaw went into the forest to clear her head. She had debating on going out alone- possibly taking a warrior with her, or Deadshadow- she knew that some of her clanmates would suspect things, but she didn't care at that point, she needed to be alone. She followed the forest trail to the river, the one she had fought her first battle at. Iceclan still believed they laid claim over the rocks. More battles to come, Magicclaw thought, stifling a shiver that crawled up her spine. It seem dumb to fight over rocks that were on Fireclan territory, it's connected to the land now, not in the middle of the river, so why is Iceclan still fighting for it? Magicclaw knew the answer, she had heard many stories from the elders when she was an apprentice, although she still went and listened to them from time to time, the clans used to be two groups.

She remembered Blacklighting's words: Dark and Fire, Ice and Sky, used to fight over the territories, they believed they had the right to the forest, moor and river. Then one day, they had a sign, from their ancestors above- telling them to stop spilling blood and risking the lives of the innocent! They agreed to split their territories, two became four. That would be as far as Blackwing would get with the story, Magicclaw remembered with a purr, they would always ask questions, never getting to hear the end of it.

Reaching Sunningstones, Magicclaw sat there and stared out over the river, she wondered what the clans were doing now. She hoped they were preparing for what was to come, she knew her brother in Darkclan and sister in Skyclan would be preparing, but she didn't know if Iceclan was, they weren't connected in anyway. It wasn't the first time that Magicclaw wondered if she actually had kin in the different clans, her mother was a good swimmer, and she had a clan-cat name, and during the time Magicclaw was giving birth, she had visited her- along with Ivyheart. Does that mean her mother was a clan cat, that believed in Silverclan- and had once belonged to one of the four clans? Magicclaw had no answer for that, it would reveal itself in time.

When she was ready.

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The sun had started to set by the time Magicclaw returned to camp, her kits were waiting for her, and her former apprentice- Froststripe -had become a warrior soon after they returned to camp the day before, Firestar knew that her deputy's apprentice was ready. Thinking back to it now, Magicclaw remembered seeing something else in her leader's eyes, something darker, or was it knowing the future? It made her feel uneasy, but she trusted Firestar. She went over and nuzzles each of her kits in turn, they'll be apprentices soon. Magicclaw's eyes clouded, so much time had pass- and she hardly had spent time with her kits!

She turned and looked at Froststripe, something about the way he stood reminded her of the former deputy Tigerheart, who had peacefully died in his sleep, proclaiming her as the new deputy. Thinking back to it now, she wondered how Firestar had truly felt about it.

"Are you alright, Magicclaw?" Froststripe asked, tipping his head to the side, she nodded, not wanting to worry the young warrior. He opened his jaws to speak, but then Snowpaw called him over, dipping his head in respect, he bounded over to join her at the freshkill pile. Magicclaw stifled a purr of amusement, seems like there would be more kits soon.

Nudging her kits over to the den she shared with Deadshadow, she tucked them into their nest, only Yellowkit seem restless. He kept twitching- unable to get comfortable. Settling down in her nest, Magicclaw pawed Yellowkit closer, he curled up against her belly and was soon fast asleep. Laying her head on her paws, Magicclaw closed her eyes, hearing the rustling of leaves as Deadshadow came and joined her. Curling his body around her and Yellowkit. Poppykit and Berrykit crawled closer to them until they were all curled up together.

It's so peaceful here, right now, at least, Magicclaw thought, she wished it could stay like this forever. She knew it wouldn't. Soon, blood will spill, and she may be the only one that can stop her father's mission to take over the forest. Letting out a soft sigh, she curled her body around her kits and fell into a fitful sleep. Filled with the sounds of wails of pain and loss, blood spilled at her paws. Coating them in a think coat of red, the scent almost choking her. Silverclan, help me! Magicclaw wailed, black fur laid limp at her paws, tufts of black fur were under her clans, did she kill someone? Letting out a small whimper, Magicclaw let herself fall into the blood, closing her eyes, she tried to block out the wails.

Once she woke up and saw the walls of her den, her kits and mate beside her did she relax. Closing her eyes once more, she fell into a more pleasant sleep.