Warriors: Broken Shore

Chapter 1: Across the River

Broken Shore

Chapter One

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Across the River

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"Nicely done, Dove."

The statement makes the large tom look up at the elder who had been watching him as he felt the rabbit he had pounced on go limp in his paws. "I did it correctly this time, Silentstone?"

"Yes. however, stealth plays greater importance in hunting, so keep in mind, you are a larger cat. Staying lower to the ground and using the taller grass around the forest to hide in would make hunting more successful." Silentstone says, his yellow eyes watching Dove nod then pick up the rabbit and walk back towards him. "You're making quite a lot of progress though."

Dove's ears flicker at the comment as the elder cat stands and spoke, "Now, find the camp." The younger cat pauses for a brief moment before glancing around the area they stood in - he easily could if he hadn't had the scent of his prey filling his nose, but he assumed that was the point - to find Farclan's camp without the help of scents. He started to walk forward, keeping his eyes on his surroundings to see if he could find anything familiar to when he had been led into the territory - and soon enough, he could see the sandy, tan shore of the lake, and finally, the dens of Farclan.

The two cats padded into the camp, Dove letting his rabbit fall into the small pile of prey that rested in a small den. He perks his ears, turning when he hears his name.

"Dove," He turns to see Lakestar and two other cats padding towards him, coming from the leader's den.

"Yes, Lakestar?"

"I know Silentstone has been taking you out every day now, but I want you to know Farclan's borders well," Lakestar says, tone calm. "Strawfall and Auburnclaw will be taking you."

Dove looks at each cat and both give a nod, the grey tom doing the same before Lakestar pads away from the small group of three.

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"This is the Dayclan border," Auburnclaw strides towards the river that flowed from the forest and into the lake, "They're shore-cats like Farclan-" He states rather happily, his ginger fur bouncing with every step he takes, "-and our ally."

"For now," Strawfall mutters before speaking up, "Dayclan is lazy and care-free, if they see Farclan is failing to advance on Ivoryclan soon, they'll join Lynxstar's side." He kept his head low as they walked into the trees, keeping close to the river, "It's just Dayclan's 'tactics'-" he growls, making his folded ears flop.

"Yet Farclan allies with them?" Dove questions.

"Yes, because Lakestar is a tolerant leader - and Dayclan as yet to change sides while under his leadership," Strawfall sighs softly, and Auburnclaw hummed in an amused tone.

"They know Farclan is at it's best," he licks the cat's ear lovingly before turning back to Dove, 

"And this is the Ivoryclan border," he tilts his head to the river and what lies on the other side. It looked all the same as the rest of the forest, yet it was darker and more fog cluttered the territory. "Ivoryclan is not an ally- they are our enemy clan, and have been ever since the beginning." A sigh rests under the large tom's words, his green eyes flicking up to look at a few dead branches that were resting over the river.

"Yes," Strawfall pauses his walking, his ears perking a little, "We should be careful of their patrols, they try to pick fights whenever possible."

"Why?" Dove asks, stopping beside the pale cat.

"Only Starclan knows," Strawfall starts the pace up again, "Come on, Lakestar wants us to show you the fields." Dove and Auburnclaw follow close behind the much smaller tom, but a voice interrupts them.

"I see Farclan is housing a rogue," the voice, belonging to a tom, drawls from shrubbery on the other side of the river.

Strawfall steps in front of the other two cats protectively, hissing out, "We're not looking for trouble, merely on patrol."

The bush shakes and soon a tom crept out - he seemed scrawny, though his long black fur hid his thin stature well.

"Oh I'm not planning on taking on two warriors and a squirrel, not from Farclan, but Honeydawn and Lynxstar would love to give a name to this new face," the tom went on, ignoring the second hiss from Strawfall.

"Just stay on your side of the river, Ratbelly, and we'll stay on our's," Auburnclaw puts a paw in front of his small comrade as if to stop him from doing anything too brash.

The cat just rolls his blue eyes and disappears into the territory again, his dark pelt bleeding into the shadows of the forest.

"Was- was that an Ivoryclan cat?" Dove questions, head low and eyes focused beyond the river.

"Yes, Ratbelly - one of their senior warriors," Strawfall huffs, "And the most irritating thing on the side of Fawn Forest."

Auburnclaw nudges his fellow warrior and starts to walk away from the river, "Come on, we need to let Lakestar know that Ivoryclan knows about Dove." 

Strawfall nods and soon the small group is moving again, towards the tan shore of the lake just visible beyond the trees.

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"We need a way to break it, this chain of fighting has to stop," Mellowdawn voices her concern to their leader, standing just inside the entrance of Lakestar's den.  "I don't think Farclan can do it much longer, Lakestar."

"Has Starclan sent any signs to you?" Rainwater asks the medicine cat, who swiftly shakes her head.

Lakestar lets a sigh be heard to the other two cats, his narrow eyes looking downwards, "Lynxstar won't negotiate with me, I've tried several times but he won't listen to any reasoning I give. We may have to keep fighting - until Lynxtar gives or one clan is gone."

An uncomfortable silence falls over the three for a few, long moments before the leader finally speaks again.

"Go tend to your duties."

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AN: Yeah...I'll try to make future chapters a little longer, but I hope you enjoyed nonetheless!

I'm always open to constructive criticism, by the way, it helps with my writing, so if you have any - feel free to comment :)