Turtlestar's Destiny: Book 1

~Chapter 27: War~

~Chapter 27: War~

Turtlepaw's eyes caught sight of Meadowbreeze. She was hunched by the nursery, weeping. Goldenfur tried to comfort her, but it was no use. "They...have...my kits." Meadowbreeze wailed between sobs.

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"And we'll get them back." Larkstar's stern new made Turtlepaw jump. She watched the leader leap into hight rock, her eyes ablaze. She didn't need to announce a clan meeting, because everyone was already in the clearing.

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"Tonight is the gathering." Larkstar boomed, "We will report this incident to the other clans, and see if they will help us win the kits back. For now, I declare war on Thunderclan! Beepelt, Breezepaw, Falconpaw, Turtlepaw, Tigerstripe, Hollowstep, Snakeleg, and Frogpaw will go. We need the others to defend out camp." Turtlepaw leapt to her laws, along with the other Windclan cats who would be attending the gathering. Her heart raced, along with her mind. Would Thunderclan even show up? What would the other clans think? Would this start an all out war? "Probably." Turtlepaw thought grimly, following Larkstar and the rest out of camp.

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The Windclan cats walked silently through the night towards the gathering island. Turtlepaw wondered what had happened to Honeypaw. "I hope she's alright." she thought. Soon, they reached the slippery log, leading to the gathering place.

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Larkstar gathered her powerful haunches and sprang into the log, landing neatly and quietly. She then walked briskly across it. The others followed her example. Turtlepaw was the last one to jump off the log, and a wave of other clans' scent hit her. She wrinkled her nose. The other clans were so smelly!

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Windclan was the last clan to meet in the gathering place. Riverclan and Shadowclam mingled, as if nothing had gone wrong that evening. Thubseclan, however, stood to the side, some looking nervous, others suspicious. Turtlepaw realized that there were mostly apprentices in their patrol. "Smart," She thought, "They kept the warriors in camp. Wise choice. We'll be attacking soon...."

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The Windclan cats stuck together, staying away from the other clans. Riverclan and Shadowclan shot them suspisous looks, as if they were up to something. Turtlepaw spotted Icepaw's pure white pelt from amongst the Thunderclan cats. She growled, and Hollowstep rested his tail on her beistling shoulder, relaxing her a bit. "Save it for battle." he whispered.

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The clans parted as Larkstar walked through them, her shoulder blades rippling powerfully under her brown pelt. She unsheathed her claws, and climbed up the tree, settling on a branch and looking down at the cats with a piercing gaze.

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Reedstar of Riverclan cleared his throat, his long gray and white fur blowing in the wind. Turtlepaw and her clanmates sat down, still away from the other clans. "I guess we will start the gathering now," the tom said, "Riverclan is doing fine. Food is plentiful, and we have an acceptional amount of herbs. We also present two new warriors, Banktail and Sunstrike."

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The two toms puffed out their chests as the clans chanted their new warrior names. Reedstar stepped back, and was replaced by Quailstar. Her striking slender black and white pelt glimmered. "Shadowclan is doing well too. We also welcome a new warrior, Tigerfang." Once the chanting had died down, the leader continued. "Further more, Shadowclan has received a new apprentice, Emberpaw." There was a hint of pride in her voice as the small, black she-cat timidly walked forward, only to scamper into Shadowclan's ranks again. Turtlepaw noticed Hollowstep was watching with narrowed eyes.

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Quailstar stepped back, and to Turtlepaw's surprise, Larkstar stepped up. Her eyes were narrowed into slits, her tail lashing and chest puffed out boldly. "Windclan had but one thing to report!" the leader yelled, "And I'm quite sure Thunderclan knows what it is!" Murmurs went through the crowd. The Thunderclan cats stayed silent, casting glares at everyday who looked at them funny.

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Volestar growled deep in his throat, but Larkstar ignored this and continued. "Thunderclan attacked us bit long ago, and stole two of our kits!" A wave of outrage washed over the clans. There were tells ranging from, "How dare they!" to "I don't believe it!" Larkstar held up her tail, silencing the clans. She whipped around to face Volestar. "We will not hesitate to attack if the kits are not returned immediately!" she said in a little over a hiss.

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Volestar stepped forward, quite calmly considering the circamstamces. "We needed more territory." he growled, "And we expect to have it, when we do, the kids will be returned. Gathering dismissed-"

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"Wait!" Reedstar called stepping forward, "Riverclan will aid Windclan in this battle." The Riverclan leader cast a glare at Volestar, who simply flicked his tail. "Shadowclan will not participate in a battle as unworthy as this." Quailstar mewed, also glaring at Volestar. She hopped down from the oak. "Gathering dismissed!"

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Turtlepaw's mind was still working to process what had just happened. She jumped when Hollowstep placed his tail on her shoulder. "Let's go." her mentor whispered. Turtlepaw looked around. The last of Shadowclan was just disappearing through the undergrowth, and Thunderclan was already gone. Reedstar and Larkstar were sitting and discussing battle plans. Riverclan and Windclan cats were gathering around.

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"Hey Turtlepaw, over here!" Turtlepaw recognized her Riverclan friend Squirellpaw's cherry mew. She hurried over to the chestnut brown she-cat and plopped herself down. "I'm so excited! My first battle and we're fighting it together!" Squirellpaw mewed. Turtlepaw smiled weakly. Her friend stared at her. "Is something wrong?" "I-I'm just worried for Ebonykit and Mudkit...." "Oh...." Squirrelpaw trailed off, her expression darkening. "I'm sure they'll be fine. We'll get them back. I promise."

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