The New Clans

Prologue

It was a cloudy night, with the promise of rain. About 7-9 cats were quietly walking, as if they made a sound they would die. ''Fish' star!'' mewed a large gray-black tom, unease in his gaze. ''Shush Ripple' blaze!'' hissed a sleek calico, a hint of anger in her voice. A black tabby tom turned around and looked at the calico. ''Be quiet Pale' fang. What is it Ripple' blaze?'' asked the black tabby tom. ''I smell a Bog clan patrol Fish' star.'' mewed Ripple' blaze. ''Of course you do mouse brain! We're by the border!'' hissed Pale' fang. ''Well it's behind-!'' He mewed, then suddenly screeched as a cat landed on his back, claws extended. ''REEF' CLAN ATTACK!'' yowled Fish' star. As soon as he yowled 20 cats leaped from the trees. Fish star recognized a dark brown tom as Beetle' branch, Bog clan's deputy. ''Why are you on bog clan territory?'' growled Beetle' branch. ''We are on OUR side of the border!'' ''It's ours now!'' Hissed the cream tom. This couldn't be right! Rubble' star said that the rocks between the end of the pine forest and the end of the forested wetlands was the boundary between the two clans. Did Rubble' star know about this? ''You just want prey!'' hissed Fish' star.

 Beetle' branch pounced on Fish' star, hissing. He struggled to get out of Beetle' branch's grip, but every time me moved Beetle' branch clawed at him.  A young tom's voice called out, saying: " I'll save you Fish' star!". He realized the voice was Storm' paw's voice, Ripple' blaze's son and Light' sea's apprentice. Storm' paw was running towards Beetle' branch when a bog clan warrior sprang out of the bushes and killed Storm' paw with one fell swoop. Beetle' branch was shocked at the sight of one of his fellow clanmates killing the reef clan medicine cat apprentice, and Fish' star took the chance to push Beetle' branch off of him. Beetle' branch stumbled backwards as Fish' star got up. Fish star suddenly looked around, seeing that his clanmates were outnumbered. Fish' star knew bog clan won this time.  ''REEF CLAN RETREAT! REEF CLAN RETREAT!'' screeched Fish' star. The confused reef clan cats scrambled away, bleeding and patches of fur missing. As the wounded clan ran they heard the yowls of victory from the bog clan warriors. Fish' star would go back to retrieve Storm' paw's body soon to have a proper burial.

When the patrol arrived in camp a bloody mess, many cats gasped. ''What happened Fish' star?'' mewed a white she-cat with light gray stripes. ''Bog clan moved the border over past the rocks.'' he mewed quietly. A growl sounded behind him, coming from a light brown tom, a reef clan elder: ''Why didn't you stop them then?'' ''There were to many Thorn' fang.'' said Ripple' blaze. ''Ripple' blaze sit. I need to get your ear.'' said the white she-cat, who was the medicine cat. ''We are lucky to have you Light' sea. You are a great medicine cat.'' purred Pale' fang as she padded into the medicine den. ''Are all the warriors and apprentices who were on the patrol here?'' mewed Light' sea, noticing something off. Fish star looked away as Pale' fang told both Ripple' blaze and Light' sea the terrible news. ''Storm' paw died from a hidden bog clan warrior.'' Mewed Pale' fang, quiet enough that only Ripple' blaze, Light' sea, himself and Pale' fang could hear it. A tear ran down Light' sea's face as they both stared in horror. ''No other cat is dead?'' asked Ripple' blaze, the sadness obvious in his voice . ''Storm' paw was the only one.'' mewed Pale' fang,  knowing that it was hard for them. ''May star clan light his path.'' said Ripple' blaze.

|~* Many moons later... *~|

It had been almost 21 moons since the battle, and not much had changed. Except 6 moons ago 3 kits were born to him and Pale' Fang. Mint' kit, Honey' kit and Black kit were in the nursery getting ready. As he climbed up onto the wet rock, he gazed at his clanmates, wondering what other surprises would be in their future.....