FrostClan: A Dark Tomorrow

~*~Introduction~*~

Generations have passed since we last saw our clan and many changes, of which you are aware, have taken place. It's time to start again, in a world that is different to were we left off.

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~*~Prophecy~*~

Frost ruled by Flames no more,
generations of turmoil and darkness.
In a time when creeping green threatens the frost,
a vicious sleet will fight back the choking moss.
A descendant of the darkest star,
a new winter frost shining in the sun

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~*~Rank's~*~

Leader: Harrierstar[M]
Deputy: Veiledmist[M]

Med cat: Emeraldeye
Med cat apprentice: Mintpaw

Warriors: Hellspire, Relicheart, Shadowcore, Foggypath, Dusksoul, Smokemask, Goldenhawk, Rogueheart, Malicehaze
All male, like lions they rarely hunt and instead either patrol the borders or laze about.

Hunters: Quartzprickle, Ashenrose, Lostheart, Earthshatter
All female, they do all the hunting. (mostly during the afternoon.)

Apprentice Warriors: Owlpaw, Rip-paw, Shadderpaw, Lavapaw, Golden
Young toms aged 6 moons.

Apprentice Hunters: Featherpaw, Eclipsepaw, Enigmapaw, Sleetpaw, Deltapaw, Mitepaw (male)
Young she-cats aged 8 moons.

Queens: Icewing, Fatalspawn, Fallenshadow
She-cats with kits can never go back to hunting duties.
Kits: Cursekit[F], Mangokit[F], Pinkykit[F], Sourkit[M], Miasmakit[F], Black-kit[M], Bluekit[F]

Elders: Ghostsong[F], Oldstep[M]
Retired Warriors, Hunters and Queens

Harrierstar stared down at his clan, gathered under dark of the moon at his calling. The camp had changed drastically from when we had last seen it. Instead of a High-rock a large burnt stump(Scorched-Stump) was used as platform. The leader's den was underneath in an old badger den. The Medicine-Cats den was a tangle of gorse and juniper, the underside cleared for a den. The Warriors and Hunters were separated. The Warriors under a holly bush resting under a overhang of rock, the Hunters under a Rose bush, the thorns on the inside had been chewed off and the gaps filled with honeysuckle. The Nursery was still the same, a tangle of briar thorns, more honeysuckle and oak leaves. The Elders Den was made out of the fallen tree which had ended with the creation of Scorched-Stump, as it had fallen in front of the leaders den, trapping the leader of the time in there and slowly starving him to death.

Harrierstar's gaze was set on the Nursery as Icewing, his mate of the time led a troop of kits out into the clearing. He reached for their names. Sleetkit he recognised, his own daughter with her mothers bright blue eyes her fur similar in feel to his own, but sleeker. Shadderkit and Deltakit. The tom was black with brown and grey markings and mismatched eyes, one blue one green. The She-cat was black and tan with brown speckles and large brown eyes. Normally she'd be too young but the hunters were under stress for more members so he'd chosen her. The last was Lavakit, he'd known the mother, a young she-cat who had fled after her son was born and left him to the tender care of Icewing, already busy raising her own and the orphaned Shadderkit and Deltakit. It only seemed right to put the four of them in training together, Harrierstar was sentimental like that, and he considered them all his kits, as their own fathers hadn't come forward. Lavakit was a golden tabby and his stripes gave him his name.

"We are gathered here tonight too put the paws of four young cats onto the path to adulthood." He meowed, this was one time all the clan got along, warriors and hunters alike buzzed with excitement. "As you know, two moons ago rogues wearing the scent of FlameClan attacked one of our hunting parties, and the loss of those hard workers has been a terrible blow. Quartzprickle, Ashenrose, Lostheart have done a good job training the apprentices that survived and hunting for us all as well." He meowed, stroking the ego of the three hunters, the best way to keep them happy. "I am sure two extra paws too train will be no problem. Sleetkit, Deltakit Step forward."
The two she-kits stepped forward, Sleetkit bubbling with barely contained excitement. Deltakit seemed more anxious then excited and she bowed her head as she stepped forward. "From this moment on you will be known as Sleetpaw and Deltapaw until such a time as you earn your hunters name." He meowed and touched his nose to their heads, they licked his shoulder in return. "Now go stand with your hunt sisters." He reminded them and they bounded off towards the other she-cats.

"Shadderkit, Lavakit step forward." the two toms stepped forward, much braver then the she-cats from the very beginning. "Until such a time as you earn your warrior names you will be known as Shadderpaw and Lavapaw." He touched his nose to their heads and they licked his shoulder. "Relicheart, you have been a reliable and powerful warrior. You will be mentor to Lavapaw."
"Foggypath, your wit and quick paws have been useful in many battles. You will be mentor to Shadderpaw"
He sent the two apprentices to greet their new mentors.

Relicheart, the massive tom, stepped forward toward the glittering gold kit that stood along side the darker, much more dim-spirited Shadderpaw. The glowing eyes of the lion-like warrior were glued upon his new apprentice and he nodded to Harrierstar before touching noses with Lavapaw. His large paws ground up the packed soil between his toes, the thick tuft of shaggy black fur catching dirt like a spider's web collects flies. His scarred grey nose was pressed against the down-soft face of the newest warrior-in-training, with satisfied snort, a wry grin appeared on the weathered warrior's face.

Shadderpaw couldn't care less about who would be mentoring him. The only though that crossed his mind was the fact that he wouldn't be crammed up in that small nursery with all those other, 'lively as hell' kits, trampling all over him over a stupid ball of moss. Though the fact that he wouldn't be able to lodge about anymore was also a total drag. Great! Now they'll expect me to do stuff. At least battling's been scarce these moons. His faded eyes flashed around gloomily, catching sight of the skittishly small she-cat dappled with dark and light markings. Oh great, don't get so worked up, Deltapaw.

The small she-cat was breathing in short, heavy gasps, trying to maintain herself. Though most would have expected her to be shaking with excitement, her clan knew well enough to know that she was actually was having a miniature anxiety attack. The fact that she was now a huntress apprentice terrified her and even though she was quite skilled at tracking in the dark, she knew she was too passive for her own good. A complete pushover. Ears bent back and tail swaying between her legs, she pattered quickly over to the noble looking she-cat who sat more towards the Scorched Stump, though still in the back. W-well...at least Quartzprickle's on my side. She then gulped and squatted down beside the thick-furred she-cat whose pelt seemed to as prickled as a hedgehog's.

Crystal, almost clear, pale blue eyes stared annoyingly at the whole scene. Though she half-heartedly cheered on the young members of the clan's promoting, she scanned the area, a grim look of bitterness hanging on her face. She sneered at the crimson and black tom who stared at her, his dark charcoal gaze wicked and lazy. The two were rivals, almost hated enemies. The only thing that kept the white and silvery pricked hunter from hunting down Hellspire was the fact that her father would disapprove. She always sought out his approval. Even if it meant getting herself into a jam.

Hellspire sat with his thick tail curled over his back haunches, dark eyes glittering cruelly at the she-cat whom he had spent his entire lifehood with, always competing. He gave a sighing yawn, and a messy lick around the lips of his unkept maw, baring his fangs and drawing his paw over his belly; a sign that he was hungry. Staring straight at Quartzprickle, he knew a hunter couldn't deny a warrior of his meals. With a victorious hiss, he watched as she got up from her spot, grabbing a mouse from the fresh kill pile, and heading toward him with a huff.

Sleetpaw was already badgering the older she-cats with questions. Eventually they got tired of her and sent her to the still shared apprentice den to choose her nest. The Warrior Apprentices got the spaces near the middle, where it was warmer. Sleetpaw grumbled and looked around at the nest, in the nursery she had been near the middle, befitting the kit of the leader. She grinned to herself and took up position only just encroaching in the middle, but not close enough to warrant annoyance. She circled around a few times, claiming it as her own before padding back and heading for the elders. The Clan had split up again, The hunters quickly handing out the days prey.

Mintpaw was completly boared haveing to watch this stupid cerimony but it did remind him of his apprintice cerimony. He got up and started walking back to the med. cat's den to check the stock of herbs.

(You spelled bored wrong, you spelled cermeony wrong, there needs to be a comma before but in the first sentence.
Just some advice :3)

Featherpaw padded into the apprentice's den, mumbling some choice words about a certain warrior. She curled up angrily in her nest. It was as far as it could be to the back, away from all the other apprentices. She cast her fiery glare at the wall. Her face probably would've been beautiful if she hadn't been scowling constantly.

Emeraldeye stared at a pile of of herbs, studying them carefully. He pulled out a withered leaf and shredded it slowly, not wanting to accidently damage the others.

Cursekit stared into camp from the forest. Nobody cared that she was there; they probably wanted her to just be eaten by a fox or badger. Mabye they hoped a hawk would swoop down and carry her off. Too bad for them. I'm gonna live, just so I can be shunned. Terrific, She thought, wondering if it was right for a cat to be sarcastic to themselves.

Veiledmist padded slowly through the forest, his thin, gray figure barely noticeable. His darkened face was gaunt as he stared into the sky.

Shadowcore chuckled as he saw Featherpaw storm about. It was amusing to see her storm around, and she was so easy to piss off! He only had to make one clever remark. The dark-furred, self-centered young tom stretched out, sunning himself happily while eating a fat vole.

The gray-furred tom looked with some distain on the new apprentice he was supposed to train. Foggypath snorted. This one might be difficult. Maybe I can get the lazy out of him at least during training. Foggypath himself tended to be fairly lazy, except in the case of battles or training. His molten gold eyes moved from Shadderpaw to the nursery, where one of the queens was silently retreating.

Fallenshadow padded back into the nursery after watching the ceremonies. The space would be less crowded for awhile now, at least until she had her own kits. Even as she thought that, she half-wished she could still be a hunter. Even with her belly swollen, the beautiful she-cat still looked slight and swift. But then, Shadowcore had wanted kits, and she didn't want to say no. She never could say no. Some of the others thought she was simply a pushover, but in her mind, she was just avoiding getting into trouble with the warriors. She sighed and curled up, her feather soft tail brushing her nose.

Ashenrose's face was its usual blank mask as she dropped a piece of prey at the paws of yet another tom. Her claws just barely slid out as she thought, Idiots. They should really learn that it's possible for them to just walk a few tail-lengths and pick up something to eat themselves! Then she looked toward the apprentices' den. We'll need to take them out hunting soon.

Owlpaw watched the two hunter apprentices as they went into the apprentices' den, which the young tom had sat down next to. His light blue eyes narrowed just a fraction, not even noticable unless you were right up in his face. But otherwise, he just watched, not saying or doing a thing.

Despite her efforts, Featherpaw couldn't sleep. She usually liked to nap at any time of the day, but right now she couldn't even get her eyes to close. With an angry growl, she padded out of the den, passing a hunter on her way. "I'm going out," She hissed, stalking off before she could get a response.

(I've got bad WB right now. All I can write well is gore and violence. Damn.)

Fatalspawn chuckled with amusement as the swirl pelted Queen watched all the new apprentices' different reactions. Seems like a good group...though that shy one looks a little...uh small. And that other one- Always stomping around and such. Nothing a little training can't fix...

"Hey!" Mangokit grumbled. "Why can't we become apendances?" She padded over to her mother, gently batting at her tail.

Pinkykit chuckled. "Maybe because you don't know how to say apprentices?" she teased, sticking out her tongue.

"Hey!! I can talk!!"

"Barely"

"Hey!"

"Hush! No need for that, now! Pinkykit, Mangokit can talk just fine. Mangokit, you need to learn to be more patient. Your time to be an apprentice will come when the time is right. Now both of you stop bickering." Fatalspawn explained. .....Those kits will be the death of me. *sighs*

Deltapaw faltered as Quartzprickle snarled at the large, muscular tom across the clearing. Her oddly bright chocolate brown irisis glittered nervously in their pale blue sea of the rest of her eyes. She shakily got to her paws and scuttered over to the apprentices den, gingerly weaving around the others sleeping so that she wouldn't disturb them. Looking around for a nice spot, she drug over a clump of bedding to mark a spot near the farthest part of right side of the den so that she may come back to the spot with enough bedding for a proper nest. As she set down the fluff in the area she desired, a slight nudge caught her to freeze up, a soft nose pressed against the back of her neck.

"No. Move, that's going to be my spot, Del."

The voice had caught her off guard at first, but by the bored tone and true lack of interest, she spun around to see her littermate, Shadderpaw.

"O-oh, of course. Right!"

Shadderpaw watched as his sister swiftly plucked up her bedding and charge backwards out of his way so that he could move his bedding into place. After settling in, he tucked his paws into his belly, resting his chin on the soft, plush vegetation. Sighing, he watched after his sister as she struggled to find a spot to sleep. He then groaned and snorted with the same bored expression. "Bring your bedding over here, won't you? If you keep dragging it around, it'll get all dirty and unusable. Set it next to my nest, the spot over on the other side closer to Owlpaw's." He sighed, giving her a half-hearted grin as she barreled over the nest to attach her portion of moss to her brother's nest. He then scooted over a bit to make room for her to curl up next to him, her muzzle pressed to his flank. Not what I had in mind....Oh well. At least I'll have more warmth. He sighed once more, curling his tail around the side of her body, though he could feel her twitching. Probably the thought of being so close to another tom besides me. Whatever, its not like Owlpaw ought to care.

Hellspire watched as Quartzprickle stormed off into the hunters den, a sly grin upon his face as he bit into the prey, the succulent juices and tender meat savoring as he munched on it hard and slow. His gaze then was tranferred to the apprentices den, where he watched as the two littermates curled up together. Hmmm!!! Shall I make things interesting?! I think so!!! Bunching up his muscles, he got off his lazy rump and padded forward towards the den. Sticking his head in, he chirped," Yo. Kits, up and out! Time for you duties!"

Hearing a soft whimper, Shadderpaw lifted his head to stared at the smug warrior through slitted eyes. "What a drag..."

"Quartsprickle!" The leader's voice called the hunter from across the clearing. He had his muscles bunched underneath him as though he was read for someone to spring at him, you didn't stay leader as long as he had without being prepared at all times. He waited for the young she-cat to come to him, neatly eating a mouse as he did.

Sleetpaw was doing her best to entertain her favourite elder. Ghostsong had plenty of stories to tell and if the she-cat was good she got to hear one. Unfortunately she wasn't able to persuade the pale old molly today. "You've got duties. Now scram before you wake up these two fox faces." Ghostsong hissed under her breath, weakly flicking her tail at her denmates.

Yawning, her large tufted ears twitched at her father's summoning. Getting to her paws, she trotted out of the den and towards the strong tom who led the clan. Despite her disliking towards other toms, she looked up to her father with the up most respect. Catching sight of Harrierstar, she hurried over and sat down beside him, dipping her head slightly in questioning. "Sir?" The question rolled off her tongue like water off a duck's back, bitterness still lacing her tone from earlier.

Relicheart grinned at the sight of Sleetpaw's struggle with Ghostsong. A deep chuckle rumbled free of his throat and he bellowed," Well, there you have it, kit. You're bound to get a good tongue lashing instead of a story from that old bat. Come here, and I'll tell you a grand old tale from the forest's past." Her swept his lanky tail around, clearing a spot beside him for the small she-cat. Waiting for her response, he began to shake his chest, bits of grass falling from his massive black mane that hang around his neck, belly and down his spine. Once his mane was cleared, he drew up his enormous paw and began cleaning in between his toes, his long black claws extended in the air and the long tufts of black fur hanging from the back of his paw, his olive green eyes glistening in the sun.

Featherpaw entered the forests, breathing in the cool air of the night. She gazed up at the stars, sighing as she watched them twinkle. If Starclan is the residing place of my warrior ancestors, then what about hunters? she thought. This question crossed her mind constantly. I'll just have to act like a warrior, she decided. The troubled young she-cat leaped nimbly at a tree, clawing the bark as if it were an intruder.

Cursekit padded into the nursery, shaking like a leaf in the wind. She didn't like the other kits. "H-Hi Mangokit," She squeaked.

"Now I know things have been stressful as of late, you losing so many of your hunt sisters and all. But I need you to pull a bit more weight. It will be your duty to introduce the new hunter apprentices to your ways. Keep them close and teach them quickly. We need them out there as quickly as possible. Winter is Coming." He meowed as he finished the last of his meal.

Sleetpaw padded over cautiously. "What do you know about stories?" She asked suspiciously, tipping her head and watching the tom through narrowed eyes. You could never be too careful around toms bigger then you.

Relicheart bellowed another roaring laugh, his bright eye tearing up with giggles. "Why, aren't you a testy one. No matter, I don't trust others easily either. But I've been know to be quite the story teller." Glancing past Sleetpaw, he caught sight of Curseit and Mangokti. "Aye, why don't you two join us as well? I'm sure you'd enjoy a little tale of The Hawk, the Weasel, and the Jewel."

Quartzprickle nodded and mewed,"I know. With the cold weather rolling over, there will be less prey to hunt and even use for teaching hunting skills. We'll work as fast as we can, but we'll need time. Time not spent on dragging prey from the fresh kill pile to a lazy tom's nest. If we are to have enough time to teach the hunter apprentices, then the warriors will need to at least be able to pluck their own prey from the piles of leaves." Her icy cold gaze never fluttered as she made such a statement, her long whiskers twitching and her prickled pelt looking sharp as needles.

"J-J-Join you?" Cursekit mewed, shaking even harder. She shakily padded over to the large, powerful tom and sat down. Her blood-red tail flicked back and forth nervously as she glanced around the clearing.

"Well then, if your not here then you can't bring them their prey now can you?" Harrierstar growled. He'd always gotten his own prey, not out of respect, but because he could choose the best pieces. He twitched his ears at hearing Relicheart's laugh. "And, keep the older toms away from your sister, she's even prettier then her mother." He turned to face his older daughter. "And that's an order Quartzprickle."

"Now that's a weird story title." Sleetpaw meowed, eyes half lidded in boredom, Ghostsong told stories better, even Oldstep was better. She drew a paw over her ear and reminded herself to recheck her nest in the den, make sure no-one stole it.

Lavapaw looked up into the eyes of his mentor as their noses touched. His golden pelt rustled on his back, slightly fluffed up, he was a little nervous. He had finally been made a warrior apprentice. A warrior apprentice! He was one step closer, to becoming a warrior. The thought sent a shiver of excitement up Lavapaw's spine. His tail swished through the air, and he was about to open his mouth to say something to his mentor but his eye was caught by movement near the apprentice's den. His den! Without a word, the golden tom bounded towards the den, to have his pickings of the nest.

Lavapaw saw a few of the nests were taken, as he stood in the opening of the den. But there was still good spots open, near the middle. Lavapaw picked his way around the other apprentices, to rub the pads of his paw in the soft moss of an untaken nest. It was very close to the exact centre of the den. He rubbed his fur in it, feeling the soft green in his pelt. Then, once his scent clearly marked the nest he bounded back out. One paw, crushed someone tail on his way out, in an excited clamber. "Sorry." he said without thinking, turning his head towards the dark form, he couldn't make out who it was in the dim light. He shrugged and bounded out of the den, just in time. "Story?" he asked, Lavapaw took a seat in front of Relicheart, his tail curling around his paws. Even as a kit, he had always badgered the elders for stories. He particularly liked the ones, about heroes. Such as the tail about how Rosethorn, had saved the lives of her kits. Or how Darkstar had come back from the dead to help his clan.

Relicheart looked up at Lavapaw and mused,"Come on over! I've seen how you pestered the elders in the past." The lion-like tom dipped his head and mewed,"Yes, an odd title, but with true meaning. See if you can understand any of it." And with that, the story began.

" In the beginning, there was only one hawk in the world and he lived in the forest. His mighty wings allowed him to soar higher than any bird and his eyesight was much keener too. However, as he gliding between the clouds, the other birds were much closer to the ground, and always plucked up any rodent they could see, leaving the hawk with nothing to eat.

One morning, the hawk caught sight of slight scuffling and he swooped down to see if he could catch something. When he got closer, he noticed it was a fat mouse nibbling on a seed by a near cave. Excited that no other bird had seen the fat, little creature, he dived down, hooked beak open. But at the moment he was to snatch it up, something as fast as lightning darted out of the cave and caught the mouse, crushing its spine beneath in small, but powerful jaws. The lithe white creature looked up at the hawk with his beady eyes, the hawk now perching itself in a small shrub.

Setting the mouse down, the white creature bent down and began lapping at the pool of blood, its tiny snow white paws getting drenched in the crimson liquid. When its thirst was quenched, it sat up on its hind legs and spoke to the hawk, which shocked the bird of prey even more.

"Swift hawk, your sight is keen and your talons are sharp, yet no prey fills your belly. Why?"

The hawk cleared it throat, the feathers ruffling around his neck.
"As swift as I may be, other birds are swifter and swipe the land clean of prey. Therefore, I have none."

The pure white rodent yawned, its long fangs gleaming, flicking its long, feathery tail upward, like a ghostly flame.

"Dear hawk, as you can seen, I am the weasel who lives in this cave with the other mice. I guard them from danger and every moon or so, i feed
upon one of them. Food is no worry to me. However, I cannot leave this cave for too long, for if I was to be eaten, the mice would surely never leave
and would rule over. I shall make an offer to you; you soar high and far beyond these lands, and I cannot leave. If every day, you return to this spot, I
shall send out three mice from my cave for you to eat in exchange for a story of your ventures. And you shall never go hungry."

The hawk couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I accept your offer, good weasel, for I have many tales."

So for many moons, the hawk would leave and return to the same shrub, sharing his storied with the white weasel. And in exchange, he would collect the three mice that the weasel sent out of his cave, the group of rodents fat from protection and unaware of their fate.

And the weasel was happy to hear stories of seas, mountains, and volcanoes. And of many creatures the white creature has never heard of.

It would seem to others that the hawk and the weasel had quite a good friendship, but most believed it impossible for a predator to be friends with what some thought of as prey.

One day, very much like the day the hawk first met the weasel, the hawk had finished his story and the weasel had disappeared deep into his cave like every other day. However, the hawk was a bit full up and had yet to finish his meal. As he gobbled up the last morsels, the hawk wondered where the weasel wandered off to and he decided to explore the dark cave. Tucking his large wings in, he scampered into the darkness, his talons clicking against the cold stone.

After walking a couple minutes, he entered a large cavern which twinkled like the night sky, tiny flecks of light dancing around. In the center was a small nest where a beautiful jewel born of crystalized smolders laid. At first sight, the hawk knee he had to have it for himself. As he wandered closer to it, he heard thunder rumble outside, the sign that a storm was coming. He gently picked up the gem with his beck as the patter of rain sounded. He then started his way out of the cave, the storm getting stronger as he neared the exit. As he left the safety of the cave, the rain rolled off his feathers as if he were a duck.

Suddenly, a white flash of snarling teeth and claws shot out of the cave and latched itself onto the hawk's back.

"Curses! You wretched beast! Thief! You dare steal the prize possession of my cave?! After what I done for you?!"

Aware that the rain could harm his flying, the hawk feared that the weasel would kill him, so he quickly opened his wings and took off into the air. Black clouds rolled overhead and lightning crackled. As he neared his nest, the angry white weasel had slipped down his back and clung to his tail. A shocking bolt of lightning darted down from the sky and slapped the hawk's tail, searing the ends of his feathers. But as the hawk escaped with his life, the weasel plummeted to the forest floor, completely charred and dead.

For many season, the hawk lived happily in the forest; the small cave providing him with plenty of prey, and his lovely jewel giving him the most beautiful sight when he curled up in his nest to sleep.

One day, the hawk was returning from a good hunt. As he neared his nest, slurping down the last of the mouse's tail, he noticed a bit of movement in his nest at the top of the highest tree. Worried, he quickened his speed, and to his keen eyesight, he saw the white body of a weasel wriggling through his bedding. Confusion raced through his head as he reached his nest, and hearing the hawk's sharp cry, the weasel clamped its jaws around the glittering jewel. The hawk lunged at the weasel's long tail, but to his dismay, his beak went straight through it. Alarmed, he figured it had to be the ghost of the weasel who died due to his own greed and the bird lunged at the gem, knowing he wouldn't fall through it. The weasel then leaped off of the tree, jewel held within his fuzzy maw. The hawk dived down and at the moment his beak touched his jewel, the ghost slashed his face and vanished. The moment the hawk opened his eyes from the attack, he saw the jewel shatter into a thousand piece against a boulder that sat beneath the tree. Heartbroken, the hawk promised that he would find the ghost and somehow rid it from the world of the living. The hawk was the ancestor of all other hawks that live today. The reason hawks live alone is because they share the same sorrow as their ancestors; and the reason that attack us cats is because from far away, they believe we to be the weasel who cause their ancestor so much grief..."

Even Deltapaw and Shadderpaw had stopped to listen in on the story. Their fur fluffed up at the thought of seeing a white weasel.

"Scary! I-I wouldn't want one of those on my back!"

"Shut up, Deltapaw. Its not real. Though, come to think of it, it does kind sound like that one warrior from the past..."

Quartzprickle hissed in annoyance, but said nothing else, getting up and walking away to grab herself a meal. As she munched on a squirrel, she listened to Relicheart's tale, even more rage bubbling up. The she-cat was extremely fiery, unlike her seeming icy pelted body.

"I don't get it, who was in the wrong? The Hawk for stealing the gem or the Weasel for being jealous and trying to kill the Hawk?" Sleetpaw asked, thoroughly confused. She shook her head. "It seemed like the Hawk really loved that jewel, in fact it seemed a bit unhealthy."

"Woooooaaaah," Mangokit's eyes sparkled. "So cool!"

"I thought it was scary." Pinkykit mewed. "But also very good."

"Well I thought it was very well thought of." Fatalspawn's voice came up from behind. "A good story line. And also a good lesson."

Quartzprickle snorted. "Such a load of crap!" She had gotten up and wandered over to the group, her eyes as daggers. "There was no hawk jewel or weasel! The whole story was based off a love triangle gone wrong during the early years of the clan! The so-called weasel protected the jewel who was connected to the smolders, then a hawk comes and takes it away. The weasel dies, but its ghost comes back to punish the hawk for its betrayal, destroying the thing the hawk sees most dear! It was about Cherrywing, the weasel, Jewelfire, the jewel, Hawkscar, the hawk, and even Smolderstar."

Smokemask sat silently. His face, as always, a grim, grey mask. He was glad Harrierstar had not troubled him with an apprentice. He did not need to be accompanied by their childish bickering. His ears flicked as his gaze travelled around the clearing. It seemed the entire clan was gathered in the camp. Did no one care about patrols? Perhaps he should lead one.

Smokemask stood up, and quickly padded over to Harrierstar. He dipped his head in greeting, "Shall I lead a patrol?" he asked.

Dusksoul accepted the prey from the she-cat without comment. He sat down at the base of a tree, his tail wrapping around himself as he dug into the plump mouse.

"That's a stupid story." Lavapaw said, bluntly. He admitted, Relicheart was a good story teller. But he didn't like the story much.

So long... it's been so long...

A small black and silver apprentice walked along the large black elder, a gleeful expression on her face as he told her a story that was supposedly about him when he was a warrior. The way he was walking told everything about him- his head was held high in the air, and his trot was sort of a bouncey one, and he looked around the camp as if he owned everything. "Yup. I had just become a warrior and they gave me an apprentice! That just goes to show how much potential that she saw in me! And it wasn't wasted either, because that night, on the vigil, a badger attacked camp! Everyone cowered in fear, and guess who killed it before it did any harm? That's right: Me!" Burntwhisker wasn't the best storyteller ever, but he got by.

"Whoa, really? You killed it all by-" Enigmapaw was cut off by a thickly accented shout from a short distance as a short Siamese cat padded up to the pair.

"Don't believe 'im. You know, he says stuff like this all the time... there's no merit in his words." Scoffed Croi, rolling his eyes, and Burntwhisker huffed indignantly.

"How would you know, you weren't even there!" It was true, Croi had only arrived in the clan recently, not long enough to make any friends, and he was trying to intergrate himself in the clan's daily life.

Upon Croi's arrival, however, Enigmapaw had mysteriously disappeared into the forest.

"What's her problem?" Mumbled Croi.

"Your FACE!" Yelled Burntwhisker.

"Wasn't Smolderstar cursed or something? With rage and darkness, he was poisoned at his ceremony or something." Sleetpaw meowed. "Oldstep told me that one." Sleetpaw turned to loom at the other she-cat, snarking from a distance.

Harrierstar looked up from picking clean his prey's bones to look at Smokemask. "Yes, and you may choose your warriors. Oh and take the new apprentices with you, give them a feel for the territory." He meowed, faintly amused. He knew Smokemask disliked apprentices.

"Shut your trap Burntwhisker, or I'll shut it for you." Ghostsong growled, her voice raspy, like dust. But there was fire in her words. The old she-cat wasn't done yet.