Total Eclipse of the Storm

Chapter 1

"Stupid...stupid!" Eclipse muttered, rubbing the gash over her right eye.

She had been out hunting with a few other cats when she accidentally broke a twig, scaring off the night's catch. Scarlet, who forever hated her, had lashed out, slashing Eclipse directly over the eye and hoping for a fight. Though she was still steaming with anger, Eclipse had walked away.

Now, she sat by a large river as she stared down at her bloodied reflection. She sighed. She hadn't always been this way, hadn't always been seen as a killer. But, when her mother had been killed and she murdered the cat responsible, her father had deemed her ready to become his apprentice and the next leader of The Night Ghosts.

She sighed again, dipping her paw into the cold water and rubbing it on the gash. Just because she was supposed to be the next leader, didn't mean she wanted to be. But, what choice did she have really? She could run away, but where would she go? She could refuse, but then she'd be killed. Her paws were tied.

Suddenly, Eclipse caught the scent of another cat blowing across the river. She remained still, assessing who it was. It wasn't a scent she recognized, meaning that it wasn't a Night Ghost cat. She waited until the cat came a bit closer, before...

BAM! She leapt across the river and straight at the strange cat. The rolled and fought, a wild ball of fur and claws. Soon, she had the cat pinned down, where she got a better look at him. He was about her size, about 10-11 moons old. He had dark gray fur with a few lighter spots and bright yellow eyes. Almost the same color palette as her light gray and black tabby pelt. She hissed at him, her ears going back. He purred in amusement.

"Wow! You're pretty strong for not being a clan cat!" He exclaimed, still laughing.

She scoffed in disgust.

"And what's that supposed to mean?!" She exclaimed, narrowing her purple eyes.

His sparkled in amusement.

"Get off of me, little mouse!" He purred, shoving her shocked body off.

She stumbled a bit, but remained upright. Her already fluffy fur stood on end and she eyed the other cat. He stood, shaking the dirt and moss from his pelt before facing her.

"I'm Stormpaw! And apprentice in MoonClan, training to be a warrior!" He announced, puffing his chest out proudly.

Stormpaw? What an unusual name... And what was a Clan?

"Who are you?" He asked politely.

"I'm Eclipse." She hesitantly replied.

She sensed no negative intentions from this....Stormpaw....and decided to relax a bit. The fur on her neck began to lay flat, and she licked her paw as she drew it over her gash. She hissed, having for gotten it was there. Stormpaw's face gleamed with concern.

"Are you alright?" He asked, taking a step closer to her.

"I'm fine!" She hissed, taking a step back.

He continued forward, despite Eclipse's hissing, and looked closely at her injury.

"Hmm...looks pretty deep. You'll need to stop the bleeding....I've got it!" He yelled, taking off into the trees.

He returned a moment later with a mouthful of cobwebs.

"I've seen Redclaw do this before! Now, hold still..." He instructed, moving close to her face with the webs.

She jumped back, hissing in protest. Stormpaw rolled his eyes, looking at her.

"By StarClan, I'm not going to hurt you!" He said, puzzling Eclipse once again. "Now, come here so you don't lose anymore blood than you already have!" He insisted, stepping toward her again.

This time, she didn't move. She let him place the cobwebs on the wound, already feeling the bleeding slowing.

"There. Now you're done." He said, smiling at his work.

"Stormpaw! Stormpaw where are you?" A voice drifted through the trees and to the two cats sitting there.

Stormpaw sat rigid.

"Oh no! That's Thornstripe! My mentor! You need to go! Now!" He insisted, nudging Eclipse toward the river.

She nodded, leaping over the rushing water before turning back and looking at Stormpaw who disappeared into the trees. She shook her head, then ran back to her home.

~~~~~

"Aww look. The little kitten has returned after nursing her wounds." A red-ginger she-cat snickered as Eclipse's paws began to touch the hard stone of her home.

"Oh shut up, Scarlet." Eclipse retorted, walking straight past her and to the Food Pile.

Eclipse looked around her home, a stone hole made from strange red rocks and moss. It was in an old, abandoned Uprighter den, having been cleaned out by cats of the past. The Night Ghosts have lived here for longer than any cat could remember, and the bones of the cats that had been killed by the group were scattered around the Home Den like prizes.

Eclipse took a large rat from the Pile, dragging it to the edge of the Den. She eagerly took a big bite, realizing how hungry she was. But, before she could take another, a large white tom took the rat right out from under her. She stood, hissing as her fur stood.

"That's mine, Fang." She hissed, narrowing her eyes.

"Then come and get it!" Her older brother taunted, swishing his tail.

He was twice her size, being her elder brother, and she knew she stood no chance. But if she didn't fight back, she would have no dinner. She jumped at him, her fangs biting at his neck. He dodged her easily, laughing as she stumbled. She stood and shook herself, lunging again. This time, she managed to rake her claws across his flank. He hissed in pain, and smacked her, sending her flying across the Den.

Before she could stand and attack again, a large black scarred tom walked into the Den. The group fell silent, the only sound being the tom's pawsteps. Eclipse stood, and bowed her head to her father and leader.

"Scar." She said, her gaze on his paws.

"Eclipse. I heard you were in a fight with Scarlet today." He said, his gaze looking down on her.

She stood straight, nodding.

"And, yet, I only see injury on you. Did you not fight back?" He asked, his eyes flashing with anger.

Snickers from the other cats filled Eclipse's ears.

"Yes, I did. But-" "No buts! You should be ashamed. For tonight, you are banned from the Den, and you will have no Kill to eat." He said.

This was punishment for any cat that didn't win a fight. Eclipse bowed her head, and padded out of the Den. She endured the bites and clawing for the other cats as she left, a mark of shame. By the time she had exited, her pelt was matted and sticky with her own blood. She sighed, laying down just outside the entrance.

She found a few cobwebs and, remembering what Stormpaw had done, applied them to her wounds. She froze. Stormpaw...What was he doing? Why did he help her? What....what was this 'MoonClan' he spoke of? She finished putting cobweb on the last of her injuries before standing. She decided she would find out. She would find Stormpaw, and ask him her questions.

She glanced back one last time at the Den, before taking off into the woods, determined to find him.