Flight Of A Raven

Chapter 5

Shadows crept over a heather-covered moorland, battered by the relentless wind. The darkness condensed into a bird, flying over the grass. As the bird's shadow swept from above, an icy mist settled over the ground, frost creeping in. All life withered and died.  The stars, bright in the sky, faded, grasping at the frayed threads of life. Only one remained. It pulsed, emitting light, brighter than the moon, brighter than the sun. The world turned white, and an eerie voice echoed in the light.

"Beware the bird of night, for darkness is carried on the breeze. The mists of leafbare spread shadows, the seeds of doubt. Beware the bird of night! Beware the raven!"

Shadesong sat up in her nest, heart beating frantically. The darkness had come.

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A moon had passed, hanging in the night sky, bright and full. It was a misty night, frost coating the forest. The five leaders sat on the Great Rock, moonlight casting malevolent shadows over the Clans.

A broad-shouldered golden tom stepped forward. Ravenpaw noticed that the fur on his neck was prickling with anger.
"ThunderClan will speak first." Sorrelstar's deep voice echoed through Fourtrees. He turned his massive head towards Dawnstar, curling his lip at the other leader.
"RiverClan have tresspassed on ThunderClan territory!"

Outraged mews were hissed through the tide of RiverClan warriors, a surge of anger overpowering the tranquil Gathering. Dawnstar, however, appeared calm, the only sign that she was angered the slight narrowing of her eyes.
"What brings these accusations to RiverClan, Sorrelstar?" she asked, voice deceptively soft.

Sorrelstar snarled at her, spittle flying from his mouth. "RiverClan warriors were scented at Sunningrocks. That is ThunderClan territory!"

Dawnstar's whiskers twitched in amusement. "You are mistaken, Sorrelstar." she meowed calmly. "Sunningrocks has always belonged to RiverClan. While it is true that we allowed ThunderClan to hunt there for a while, the time has come for RiverClan to reclaim our rightful territory."

Just when it looked like Sorrelstar would pounce on the RiverClan leader, a croaking mew came from a ShadowClan elder, Ashsong.
"This battle has been going on for long before I was born," the grey she-cat yowled. "And each time a leader brings it up, needless bloodshed follows. Why not just split those StarClan-cursed rocks between you?"

The golden tom growled at her warningly. "And give more of my territory away?! You do not have a say in my Clan, ShadowClan cat!"

Ashsong remained unfazed. "I have survived more battles in my lifetime than the cats in your Clan, Sorrelstar. It would be wise of you to pay more respect to your elders! To my mind, you still have kit fluff behind your ears. For shame!" Ashsong reprimanded him sharply.

Sorrelstar hissed at the ShadowClan leader. "Rainstar, control your cats!"

The silver tom appeared exasperated. "Surely ThunderClan follows the Warrior Code, Sorrelstar. We must respect our elders."

Ravenpaw caught the gleam of unsheathed claws, Sorrelstar gritting his teeth in anger. "You will answer to me! I am leader!"

"Not my leader." Ashsong meowed defiantly.

It was the last thing she ever said.

Sorrelstar leaped at her, the flash of claws glinting in the moonlight. He tore his claws against her throat, blood bright red flying from his paws. Ashsong choked on her own blood, breath ragged while Pinefur worked to save her. Sunfall raced up to her with cobwebs in her mouth. Silvertail helped bind it to the wound, apprentices watching in horror.

Flamestrike and Smokeshine confronted their leader.
"How could you, Sorrelstar?" Smokeshine rasped  desperately. "She is an elder!"
Flamestrike added his two mousetails. "Warriors do not aim to kill in battle, and no cat should fight during a Gathering! Surely you know this!"

The tom's face twisted in rage. "You dare question your leader?!"
Smokeshine lifted her chin. "Yes. I dare."

Sorrelstar narrowed his eyes. "Well then." He said, seemingly coming to a decision. "I, Sorrelstar, leader of ThunderClan, hereby banish this cat. Smokeshine, you have until sunrise to leave the territory. If any of my cats see you  on ThunderClan territory, they are to kill you." He swept his gaze over the shocked cats of his Clan. "Is that understood?"

"Sorrelstar..." Flamestrike trailed off. "You can't! She's our only medicine cat!"

The leader bared his teeth at his deputy. "Am I to understand that you wish to step down as deputy?"

There was a short pause, before Flamestrike sighed. "Yes, Sorrelstar."
The golden leader sat straighter. "Then I say these words before StarClan, so that they may hear an approve of my choice. The new deputy of ThunderClan will be Brackenstripe."

Another brief pause, before -
"Flamestrike, you will go join the elder's den." Sorrelstar scoffed without ceremony. Flamestrike looked up to his leader's face as though searching for the cat he knew.

"No, Sorrelstar." Flamestrike swallowed. "I will not join the ThunderClan elder's den. I have seen how you treat your elders."

He looked to Birdstar, the SkyClan leader. "I wish to join SkyClan, Birdstar. May I become one of your warriors?"

Birdstar hesitated before dipping her head. "SkyClan would welcome you, Flamestrike. And you, Smokeshine?"
The pale grey she-cat shook her head.
"I wish to join RiverClan, Birdstar. Rushfur and I are old friends. But thank you for the offer."

She looked to Dawnstar, who's tail twitched in amusement. "You do realise that if you join RiverClan, you must admit that Sunningrocks belongs to us?" She purred warmly. "You may join RiverClan. We would welcome a cat like you." Her gaze travelled to Rushfur. "And I'm sure Rushfur would too." An undercurrent of amusement played throughout her voice, plagued by worry at the critical injury of a respected elder.

Meanwhile, Shadesong stalked towards Ravenpaw. "This is all your fault!" She snarled at the dark grey she-cat. "A misty leafbare night, frost covering the ground, seeds of darkness flourishing in a leader - I should have known! You brought this upon us!"

Stormstar leaped down from the Great Rock, looking startled. "Shadesong, what are you talking about?"

The medicine cat whipped her head to face her leader, eyes brimming with hatred. "I received another omen." She revealed. "Ravenpaw has brought darkness to the Clans!"

She faced the young apprentice with fear-scent coming off her in waves.
"Ravenpaw is a monster."

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Author's Note: Shadesong is very worried for her Clan, making her snappish and downright cruel to Ravenpaw. What she doesn't understand is that if you call a cat a monster too many times, a monster they may become...

Of course, she's got it all wrong. She took the 'leafbare mist' thing literally, and thinks that it was Ravenpaw's influence that made Sorrelstar willing to kill another cat.

Ashsong isn't dead yet. Notice how Flamestrike said 'Warriors do not aim to kill'? However, it is questionable whether she will survive. When it was written 'it was the last thing she ever said', it meant than Sorrelstar ripped out Ashsong's vocal cords. If she does survive, she will be rendered mute.

ThunderClan don't have a medicine cat... whatever shall they do?!