The Heart Of A Warrior

Chapter five: Before

                                                                             Five moons earlier
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   The sun rested along the horizon, shading the sky with cascades of bountiful colors. The wind whisked through the trees, ruffling the ear fur of a bright orange figure, his sharp green eyes sweeping across the clearing of cats below. Once the sun finally succomed to the depths of twilight, Sunstar yowled the ceremonial words from the top of the Highledge. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting!"
   Which was unnecessary. Every cat was itching to find out who would go, and they were already crowding eagerly beneath the Highledge, looking up with shining, eager eyes. Like kits.
   Sunstar continued, "As you all know, the gathering is tonight. I have decided which cats are to go." A buzz of excitement rose from the clearing. This would be an important gathering. A cat called out, "What are you going to say about Shadowclan? We should teach them a lesson once and for all!" That caused a commotion. The cats were yowling their agreement.
   "Yes, Shadowclan had trespassed one too many times! We have to show them that this is our territory!"
   "They don't respect borders! We need to give them a clawing they won't forget!"
   "Let's tear them apart!"
   The cats howled in agreement, completely drowning out Sunstar. Finally, Sunstar let out a thunderous caterwaul. "Silence!"
   His warriors looked at him, their opinions clearly not settled. He could tell through their narrowed eyes that they wanted revenge, nothing else. Harsh revenge that would only result in wounds and blood- red, dark blood strewn everywhere, staining the forest with its fateful color. Clearing his throat, Sunstar continued to speak.
   Sunstar yowled from the Highledge, "Stonetail and I have discussed this. I shall confront Shadowclan at the gathering tonight, but we are not going to forget about the truce! Shadowclan would love it if we broke the sacred full-moon oath. No blood shall be spilled under the warriors of Starclan! However, if Shadowclan continues to trespass after the warning I will give them tonight-" Sunstar's voice dropped. "Then we will attack. No clan has the right to trespass on Thunderclan territory!"
   The clearing started break into a frenzy, but Sunstar let out another yowl before his cats could drown him out completely. "I have decided who will go." The clearing fell into a hushed silence. Yes, they were like kits tonight, fixing their eager gazes upon him. Sunstar didn't want to bring those who fight pick a fight, but he also wanted strong warriors with him tonight. Shadowclan had to think they were strong. Still, he hadn't made the decision on who would go, and who would stay. All he knew was that he would hear a lot of protests when he finished.
   "Stonetail and Willowbreeze, of course, Thrushwing." He paused. Thinking carefully, he added, "Whitetail, Robinstorm, Specklewhisker, Greypaw, Longfur, Poppyflower, Fernleaf, Bearpelt, Treepaw, Bouncepaw, and Brackentooth! We will be leaving at moonrise."
   With that, Sunstar leaped off the Highledge and padded over to his deputy, Stonetail. At first a silence settled over the camp, then he felt angry gazes boring into his back, causing the fur on his spine to prick. He turned with a challenging gaze, ready to meet the stare of a protesting warrior, but they all turned away as he spun around to glare at them. Yet he could hear them whispering among themselves- all the cats who wanted to pick a fight. Shaking his head, he went up to Stonetail, his deputy. He had been meaning to talk to him about what he should say for a while, but he was sure Stonetail would be exasperated that he was asking right before they were about to leave. Stonetail was still rather young, but he had a commanding authority about him that drew respect from even Sunstar. But what Sunstar saw surprised him. Stonetail was standing amongst a knot of cats, snarling at Hollyfang. They seemed to be in an argument. Sunstar coughed meaningfully. Hollyfang turned to look at him with a furious glare: he wasn't registering that it was his leader. Sunstar narrowed his eyes in return at Hollyfang before speaking. "Is there anything going on here that I should know about?"
   Stonetail spun around to snap before seeing it was him. A flash of respect shone in his eyes then he dipped his head and meowed, "No, Sunstar. We were just clearing up some things, that's all." Sunstar didn't reply, just dismissed Hollyfang with a twitch of his ears and signaled for Stonetail to stay. With a swish of his black tail Hollyfang left, giving a last glare at Stonetail before disappearing into the warriors' den. Sunstar turned his green gaze to Stonetail. "What was that all about?"
   Stonetail's eyes were blazing with fury. "Later," he meowed. "Not here."
   Sunstar twitched his ears in agreement. "Fine. Round up the cats leaving for the gathering- we are leaving soon." Never mind asking him now, not while he was in that state. Sunstar bounded across the clearing, marveling at how smoothly his muscles responded to the movement compared to fairly recently. Although young, he had already lost eight lives. Only one remained- the lives he was on. Less than a moon ago he had been plagued with a heavy fever. It had taken him a long time to recover, even after the power of Starclan healed the disease. The memory of death had clung to him like a bur, never truly leaving. Each time he lost a life, the sight of Starclan playing in the bushes without a care in the world left him sighing with longing. Sometimes he wanted to simply leave, go and never come back. Death was something to be afraid of, though not death itself. For as a leader you had to come back. Come back to a clan filled with turmoil while the forest whispered darkly from every side. He pushed the thought to the back of his mind. No time for that now: he wanted to lay down in his den, away from the chaos and think.
   Sunstar settled into his mossy nest. He sniffed it. An apprentice had changed his bedding earlier today, and a freshly caught sparrow laid in the corner of his den. He absent-mindedly plucked out the feathers with his teeth before spitting out a mouthful of them as they tickled his throat. Restlessly, he began pacing across his den, his tail flicking nervously. Sunstar looked out of his den, at the sky. If he delayed any longer they would be late for the gathering. Sunstar left the bird and leaped down the rocky path leading to his den and landed smoothly among the throng of cats, sending a small avalanche of pebbles in his wake. Warriors and even the apprentices were pacing back and forth and glancing every so often at the rising moon. A few looked up as he landed but most didn't even send him a sidewards glance. The warriors who were leaving looked rather grim while those staying had an expression of anger, but they changed the look to indifference whenever he rested his sharp gaze on them. The only cats not touched by the warriors' dread was the apprentices, whom were all hardly more than kits themselves. They appeared more excited than worried. Bouncepaw and Treepaw were chatting excitedly while Cherrypaw complained to Greypaw on the fact that he was going instead of her.
   "It's not fair!" Cherrypaw was whining as Sunstar passed her. He turned his head to give Cherrypaw a warning glance through his green eyes, and he saw her freeze open-mouthed as he did. Sunstar continued through the throng of cats with his head and tail held high. He certainly held their attention now as he came up to his deputy. He could feel their excited gazes boring into his back as he called out "Remember, no one breaks the truce. Shadowclan- and all the other clans for that matter- would love it if we broke the warrior code. Apprentices, stay near your mentors and if you are asked anything by a cat from another clan, keep your mouth shut." Sunstar broke into a run, calling over his head, "Lets go, Thunderclan!" With that, Sunstar spun around and disappeared into the thorn tunnel, followed by his eager cats, their nervousness vanishing, their veins pumping with energy as they yowled into the twinkling sky, yowling at the cold smile of the moon.
   The wind whipped his fur as Sunstar tore through the forest. His long legs ate up the earth, churning pawfuls of dirt. He could hear his cats dashing after him, skillfully dodging their way around trees and bushes. Pride swelled up in his chest. Stonetail was running beside him, his tail streaming out and his and his fur and whiskers flattened by the wind. He was breathing hard by the time Sunstar reached the crest of the hill, where he could watch the island begin to buzz with activity below. Sunstar skidded to a halt, and he signaled with his tail for his warriors to do the same. He watched Shadowclan warriors fill the island, their chatter reaching even where he stood.
   The cold seemed to go right to his bones. Shivering, Sunstar finally signaled with a point of his tail for his warriors to head to the island, Sunstar at the lead. On the run, Thunderclan seemed like one being, running together, thinking the same thoughts, feeling the same feelings. He loved that emotion of as it filled his heart, warming it to the point where he felt no cold- a feeling of pure freedom. Like this, Sunstar couldn't imagine anything possibly going wrong. He could almost taste it: his longing for peace.
   Reality woke him far too soon. As his warriors reached the tree-bridge, Sunstar put on a look of indifference as countless pairs of narrowed eyes glared at him from the opposite shore. Sunstar held his chin up and his tail waving as he leisurely padded across the slippery tree trunk. Nervousness pulsed through him as he did. The last thing he needed right now was to humiliate himself and his clan by toppling over. Luckily, his pads were used to this by now, but the trunk was so slick it was a wonder he didn't plummet into the dark, unforgiving water below.
   As he reached the other side, blistering gazes scorched into his fur. Ignoring them, Sunstar padded to the Great Tree with his tail held high. He weaved his way through Shadowclan warriors- no other clan appeared to be here yet, but the clearing seemed filled to the brim. He bounded up the tree, catching pawhold after pawhold. He settled himself on one of the middle branches, of with Sunstar landed on graciously, flicking his tail as he did so. No sooner than had Sunstar taken in a deep breath a voice spoke. "Ah, Sunstar. How's the prey running in Thunderclan?"
   Sunstar forced a purr. "Thistlestar." He nodded briskly to the Shadowclan leader, who was perched on a branch to his left. "Oh, just fine. How is it in Shadowclan? Are times so desperate you must take to stealing prey?"
   Thistlestar looked at him as if he were a kit trying to put the blame on another cat. He narrowed his eyes menacingly and let out a mocking purr, "Us? Sunstar, I never thought you would lower yourself to that level. It was you who stole prey from us, don't deny it. Why is Thunderclan so suddenly desperate?" Thistlestar's voice positively dripped with sarcasm. He was trying to get Sunstar riled up, but it wouldn't work. Sunstar turned away, refusing to respond. He flexed his claws in and out on the brittle trunk, earning him a call in a rather sweet voice from Thistlestar, "Don't forget the truce. Would Starclan forgive you for attacking a poor, defenseless leader?"
   Sunstar stared straight ahead. Thistlestar was clever, cleverer than him with words. He shut Thistlestar out, and instead lost himself in his thoughts. Where was Riverclan, and Windclan? He looked up at the moon. If they didn't arrive soon, he wondered, would they start the gathering without them? With two clans missing? Clearly the cats below were thinking the same thing, turning to one another and muttering. Actually, only Thunderclan. Shadowclan looked rather smug as they watched the Thunderclan cats like a cat who had cornered its helpless prey. A few Shadowclan cats were glaring up at him. Sunstar returned their glares, looking each of them in the eye until they looked away.
   Sunstar had been too busy watching the cats below to notice a rustling in the far side of the clearing. The Riverclan and Windclan cats silently filed into the clearing. The sight of them surprised Sunstar. He didn't see a cat among them without an injury of some sort- nicked ears, torn claws, pale pink scars.
   Riverclan appeared to be a little stronger than the Windclan cats. They formed a circle around the ragged group of Windclan warriors, shooting furious glares at the Shadowclan cats, who simply smirked back at them. Sunstar cast an angry glance at Thistlestar, silent now, who watched the scene below with hungry eyes.
   Sunstar turned the information in his confused head. Obviously, Riverclan and Windclan were in a truce. Had they attacked or defended? Shadowclan... they had more cats then ever. Fear pulsed through him for a heartbeat, but he forced a look of indifference on his face as the Riverclan leader, Ripplestar, bounded up the tree and settled in a branch nearly right beside him, exchanging a curd nod; the Windclan leader, Heatherstar, was no where to be seen: instead a large bluish-grey tom with a unique brown spot on his right flank stood in her place. Sunstar recodnized him to be Mudpelt, the Windclan deputy. Mudpelt sat on the branch below him and Ripplestar. But what had happened to Heatherstar?
   Thistlestar threw the other three leaders a sinister look as stood up and yowled that the gathering was about to begin. Instantly, the clearing hushed. Sunstar looked down, at the cats below. Riverclan and Windclan stood on the far side of the clearing, leaving Thunderclan pressed up against the Shadowclan warriors. It looked so crowded down there you couldn't even squeeze a mouse into the back. He shifted, grateful for his space.
   Sunstar started, suddenly realizing. The Shadowclan warriors attending the gathering nearly filled up half the clearing- the size of the three other clans combined. Many of the Shadowclan cats below he did not recognize. Was Shadowclan taking in rouges, perhaps...
  By the time Sunstar quit his pondering, Thistlestar had hissed something to Mudpelt. Mudpelt hissed something in reply before climbing higher, until he landed on a branch above him, Ripplestar, and Thistlestar. Sunstar felt a flicker of annoyance at this, but said nothing. Mudpelt's strong, lean muscles rippled as he paused at the top and raked his gaze over the cats below. He had a nasty claw wound on his right foreleg, but he ignored it as he meowed.
   "I'm sure you're wondering where Heatherstar is tonight," he began, and Thunderclan began murmuring loudly below, cutting him off. Bearpelt and Robinstorm stood up, about to speak, but stopped and grudgingly sat down again as Sunstar shot a glance at them. Mudpelt continued, "She is sorry she could not make the gathering tonight, but certain circumstances forced her to stay at the camp." The mutters started up again, but Mudpelt yowled for silence.
   "Quiet! As for all else, we have had a brief skirmish with Shadowclan-" at this Mudpelt flashed a look as Thistlestar. "-and of course, they were easily defeated." That amazed Sunstar. Leaders don't say those kind of things at gatherings... but he was no leader. And judging by the wound of which no warrior was spared, it hadn't been easy, either. Sneaking a glance sideways, he wondered about Riverclan's involvement. Ripplestar was sitting calmly, but the fact that his tail-tip was twitching gave away his anger. Mudpelt was young and impulsive, too. Sunstar knew Ripplestar and Heatherstar to be as close to friends as opposing clans can be, and he supposed Ripplestar was not as fond of Mudpelt. Thistlestar just sat calmly with his tail wrapped around his paws, staring at Mudpelt with a hint of amusement as the young tom continued.
   "Starclan has blessed Windclan this greenleaf. Owlfeather has given birth to three healthy kits: Dawnkit, Harekit, and Applekit." At this, Sunstar noticed a Windclan tom sit up straighter and puff out his chest so much Sunstar thought he would burst, his eyes positively glowing with pride. Mudpelt turned his head for a heartbeat and met Sunstar's and Ripplestar's gazes before facing the audience once again. "As for you, Thistlestar," he meowed loudly, meeting Thistlestar's icy gaze, "I trust that you will stay off Windclan's hunting grounds from now on. And we thank Riverclan for their help."
   With those words Windclan yowled in agreement, Riverclan muttered among themselves- presumably for getting that little of thanks- and Shadowclan lifted their heads and stared boldly at every cat who dared look their way. Mudpelt turned and nodded to Ripplestar, inviting him to speak, while completely ignoring Thistlestar, who still sat calmly. But Sunstar was close enough to him to notice the fire in his dark eyes, and he looked at Mudpelt as if he would have liked nothing more than to slit open his throat. When Ripplestar began to speak Thistlestar turned to watch him with just as much rage as he had with Mudpelt, jolting Sunstar back to the present.
   Ripplestar was old, getting older by the moon, and Sunstar could see his yellow teeth cracked with age as he spoke. As Ripplestar meowed from the Great Tree, Windclan, along with Mudpelt, got a flash of anger in their eyes, while Riverclan stood up and yowled their agreement. Thistlestar shot furious glares onto Ripplestar's grey flank, but if Ripplestar noticed, he didn't let on. "As spoken by Mudpelt, Riverclan indeed helped Windclan. Our regular border patrol spotted the skirmish. Surprisingly, it was very near Windclan's camp. With our aid, Shadowclan was defeated.
   Riverclan has noticed Shadowclan warriors inside our borders," Ripplestar added through glittering eyes. "Is there a reason, Thistlestar? I warn you here and now, if you trespass in Riverclan territory again, you will feel our claws." Finally Ripplestar turned to Thistlestar, who simply smirked at him. Ripplestar glared at him back and faced the cats below once more. Sunstar himself was hopelessly confused. But this information was interesting, too. So, Shadowclan was crossing borders in every clan. But he kept on a cool expression as Ripplestar continued to speak.
   "We have flourished this greenleaf, and prey is running well. We have two new warriors, Bluemoss and Thundermist." Ripplestar paused as Thunderclan, Windclan, and Riverclan yowled out the warriors' new names, and a few of them even stood up and waved their tails. Shadowclan, however, remained deathly silent. "And one new apprentice, Flashpaw."
   Again, Thunderclan, Riverclan, and Windclan yowled the new apprentice's name. Sunstar looked down at a sandy-colored young cat, hardly more than a kit, who he supposed was Flashpaw. Flashpaw looked rather timid among all the caterwauling cats surrounding him, looking nervous, but slowly he puffed out his chest and his eyes began to swell with pride.
   Ripplestar meowed something else, finishing his report. Sunstar then stood up as Ripplestar signaled for him to go next and padded up to the front branch of the Great Tree. He felt unprepared. Sunstar noticed his cats eagerly watching him, Riverclan and Windclan looking on with interest, and Shadowclan continuing to look smug or flash him heated glares. Now was no time to appear weak. So Sunstar swallowed the nervous lump in his throat and began to meow loudly, in a calm, addressing voice, catching the attention of every cat in the audience. He felt their gazes pricking his fur as he spoke.
   "Thunderclan, too, has found Shadowclan cats and scents in our territory. They were chased off, and no cats of ours were harmed. In fact, we felt little resistance. Any hint of it was vanquished immediately. We have increased patrols along that border, and we warn you, Shadowclan, if you trespass after this gathering we will no longer simply send your warriors off. Thunderclan will show no mercy to your cats, not anymore. I repeat, Shadowclan- if your imcompetent warriors trespass again, Thunderclan will make you wish you never set paw on our territory."
   Following his words was met with a display of reactions. Thunderclan burst into emotion below, yowling their heads off in agreement while shooting triumphant glances at the Shadowclan warriors. Most of Shadowclan remained in their constant vigil, shooting smirks and taunts at the other cats. However, a few were looking unsettled, their fur ruffling along their spines as they shifted from paw to paw. Riverclan looked highly interested and pleased, watching the Thunderclan warriors squaring off against the much larger amount of Shadowclan cats. Windclan simply watched in tense silence, their tail twitching as they glued their gaze onto the Shadowclan warriors.
   Sunstar called for silence.
   He continued speaking. This time, his words contained a poisonous barb as he spoke. "We welcome Redwing into our clan, and her kits soon to arrive."
   Sunstar remembered that. Redwing had formerly been a Shadowclan cat, and not just any- she was Thistlestar's daughter. With no siblings, no family, she eventually ran from the Shadowclan borders. Shadowclan had furiously searched often for her, demanding to have her released. Sunstar doubted they cared about Redwing individually- they just didn't like having lost something to someone else. They'd also demand her kits, Sunstar was sure.
   At the time, Stonetail had been an ordinary warrior. Sunstar didn't know the exact details of her story, but he knew that Stonetail had found her living as a rouge on the outskirts of Thunderclan territory. Instantly, he took a liking to her. While meeting up in secret, they were attacked- a badger, probably- and Redwing's shoulder had been wounded badly. It had never quite healed after that. After the fight, Stonetail finally decided to take her to Thunderclan's medicine cat, Willowbreeze. The clan was shocked, of course, at this betrayal to the warrior code. But Sunstar issued her to be healed, and soon Redwing grew healthier. She was kind, so many cats faced the fact that she was liked here, so she should stay. However, most cats hated Stonetail for what he had done. Stonetail didn't care, though. Sunstar hadn't banished him, instead he set him to work as an apprentice, including the horrid task of checking up on the elders daily and changing the nests of every cat in the clan each quarter-moon, until he deemed him to go back to warrior duties.
   After Sunstar's former deputy had died from a case of whitecough that had eventually turned to greencough, Sunstar chose Stonetail to be deputy. Because he was noble, and though he broke the warrior code, he wasn't broken by other cats' taunts. Sunstar liked that about him. Stonetail soon earned the clans' respect, and it was found Redwing would be bearing his kits soon. In fact, now, very, very soon.
   Sunstar shook away his thoughts and opened his mouth to continue speaking. "And we welcome two new Thunderclan apprentices: Bouncepaw and Treepaw."
   Just as it had been with Riverclan and Windclan, Thunderclan, Windclan, and Riverclan all yowled their approval, while Shadowclan continued their stony silence. "Prey has been plentiful this greenleaf for us as well. When leaf-fall comes underway, Thunderclan will remain strong."
   Sunstar padded back to his former branch and sat down, every cat in the audience resting their gazes on him. Then eyes turned to Thistlestar, wondering what he would say. Sunstar followed their gazes. His eyes were glued to Thistlestar, who stared hungrily at the Thunderclan, Riverclan, and Windclan cats below, as if imagining them as his next meal. But Thistlestar wasn't standing and speaking. Instead, he sat in stony silence, like his warriors below. The Shadowclan cats, Sunstar noticed, were tensing up, flexing their muscles like one does before a battle. Battle? It was the full moon- no battle could be fought under the truce without arousing Starclan's fury. At the same time, Sunstar wondered with a shiver, would Thistlestar care?
   Now Thistlestar stood, his thick muscles bulging and rippling as he glared at the cats below. Looking up, Sunstar saw the clouds darkening, reaching out for the full moon with clawed fingers.
   The cats began to get restless.
   As Thistlestar spoke, his words rang across the island, clear and powerful. "Cats of all Clans, first we say Shadowclan has greatly increased in numbers. And, be that a blessing, our territory cannot support us. So, we trespassed and stole prey. Can you blame us? Sunstar, Ripplestar, Mudpelt, I suggest this: If you want us off your territory, give us your land. All of it. Join Shadowclan in ruling the forest, or die trying."
   Sunstar expected the cats below to burst into protest. Instead, Thistlestar's speech was met with silence. Utter silence. The cats below were frozen in trying to wrap their minds around his words. Sunstar, too, was astounded. One Clan? Never, in the history of clans, was that accomplished or, allowed. It simply wasn't Starclan's will.
   Just then, thunder boomed across the purple sky. Lightning danced down on its spindly legs, turning the sky a blinding white. Dancing light waves rolled through the raging storm. Looking up fearfully,  Sunstar saw the purple sky curling up like an adder around the silver moon, thundering and wailing. The tree Sunstar sat on started to quiver. The wind began to pick up, blowing frozen, chilly air onto Sunsar's face. His surprise turned to anger, simmering like the sun on a dry woods. Nothing would change- The Clans will remain four. The storm could only prove that Starclan disagreed with Thistlestar.
   His mind made up, Sunstar watched Thistlestar through narrow slits of eyes. Thistlestar was standing tall and strong, his fur thrashing around wildly, waiting for the audiences' protesting. Then the noise rose, until Sunstar felt a drumming inside his head. It was mayhem. Shadowclan was standing up their back legs, yowling and baring their teeth at the remaining clans, who faced them with unsheathed claws and with their lips curled back. Thunderclan, Windclan, and Riverclan screeched with either fear or anger. Thistlestar yowled above the noise.
   "Riverclan, Windclan, Thunderclan! I offer you the chance to leave, now, in peace. Shadowclan offers you the chance to leave... or die trying!"
   Just then, rain started to pour, thrumming onto the earth in its furious wake. The Riverclan cats began to look unsettled. Windclan and Thunderclan, however, remained in their defensive posture. Sunstar didn't see how Thistlestar could be heard, but somehow he made himself heard over the hissing rain and thunder. "Ripplestar! Sunstar! Mudpelt," (Thistlestar hissed Mudpelt's name as if it was an insult to address him without the name 'star) "It is your choice! Blood shall be spilled today, and if you refuse it will be from your cats. Their deaths will be your fault."
   Sunstar stood up, hardly aware of Ripplestar and Mudpelt beside him, tensing their muscles. The cats in the clearing hesitated to watch their leaders' reactions. With a nod at Stonetail, Sunstar threw back his head and let out a thunderous caterwaul. "Never, Thistlestar! Thunderclan will not back down!"
   "Nor Riverclan!" Ripplestar hissed, lashing his tail.
   "Windclan will never retreat!" Mudpelt yowled, his eyes glinting.
   Thistlestar purred. "As you wish. Shadowclan, attack!"