Chapter 18 - A Black Secret

Allegiances






ThunderClan:






Leader: Downystar: a handsome black-and-white tom






Deputy: Eagleheart: a ginger warrior with black paws, and a strong and sturdy young cat who lives up to his name






Medicine Cat: Bladestorm- a young golden tom






Warriors:






Crimsongale-a deep orange tom with piercing aqua eyes






Cattail- wise and young she-cat tortoiseshell with a dark brown colour on the end of her tail






Crowdance-a large, sleek, shiny black tom whose fur glows like a crow's






Gorsepelt- young black tom; sturdy and thickset






Tenorvoice- A large and sturdy white tom with equally white eyes.






Glasseyes-A small and adventurous she-cat; black and brown






Manglepelt-a gray and blue mottled furred she-cat; her body is permanently cracked to one side













Queens:






Gloryheart- A pretty roan she-cat, white paws.













Gloryhearts Kits: Dapplekit






Truekit






Wolfkit













Crippledjaw-a white, strained she-cat whose back has a cripple, only Crippledjaw also suffers from a permanently dislocated jaw.






Crippledjaws kits: Smokeykit






Owlkit






Elders-






Embersnout-a once-handsome, old but experienced ginger tom






ShadowClan






Leader: Ragingstar-rusty coloured tom with a sixth claw on each paw






Deputy: Boldstripe- A she-cat on the edge of retirement to the Elders; completely black pelt with one white, splotchy stripe going down her back






Danglepaw-Boldstripe's apprentice; a large gray pelted tom






Medicine Cat: Taintedheart-a tortoiseshell she-cat with a large scar across her belly. Long scars go from her temple to shoulders






Warriors-






Soilear-a pale nutmeg coloured she-cat with twin tabby ears






Frisklegs- a black cat with white ears and white on the tail






Redpaw-Friskleg's apprentice; a small, bright roan tom with yellow paws






Smalleye- a ginger, tom with long dangerous claws. Enormous paws on sturdy legs. Tiny eyes, hence the name






Pouncepelt- a sleek, brown tom with large hind legs






Whitefoot- a black senior warrior tom with completely white paws






Scringeclaw-a large tom with gnarled claws and a twisted leg






Apprentices:






Redpaw-a small, bright roan tom with yellow paws






Danglepaw-a large gray pelted tom






Queens:






Daisypelt-a beautiful she-cat with strong and muscular paws, nursing three kits






Elders:






Drowzytail-a black tom with a tail that seems broken






Gracelegs-a ginger she-cat with long, elegant legs, white face






Frownface-a white she-cat with blue eyes, she is deaf






WindClan-






Leader: Azurestar- a shiny, blue-gray pelted tomcat, with black ears






Deputy: Tiptail- a gaunt, black tom with part of his tail missing






Claypaw-a sturdy black tom with one white paw






Medicine Cat: Fuzzpelt- a golden she-cat






Warriors:






Ripclaw- a large tortoiseshell tom






Blinkpaw-a shy and generous white she-cat with two black paws






Queens:






Elders:






Threelegs-a tortoiseshell she-cat with only three legs






RiverClan-






Leader: Wildstar- a white, wise and generous tomcat whose name is the opposite of his calmness






Deputy: Foresttail- a young orange tom






Medicine Cat: Rabbitleaf- a quick-witted, old golden furred cat, forest green eyes






Warriors:






Redspeck- a roan tom






Caimanclaw-a young but determined black warrior






Apprentice, Demonpaw-a gorgeous silver tom with darker speckles






Queens:






Elders:






Loners/kittypets:






Bloodclaw-a traitorous roan tom; formerly of ThunderClan






Madclaw: an insane black lone cat






Scruffy- a young black and white kittypet






Rogues- a large band of rogue cats




















Chapter 18: A Black Secret




















Soft summer winds buffeted the thick, overhanging canopy of trees above the forested loam down under, where, through a large, heavy gorse tunnel came a clearing fit for more than a score or so of cats, feral felines that have been working in the ThunderClan life for their life; since birth as a kit.






Clan life was all around, cats bustling about, several gathering in groups and greeting each other before parading out on patrol, or in hunting parties for raiding a certain site of the territory.





Many walked about, carrying mouse bile in moss to brush out the elders fur and rid them of ticks, or other irritating and devastating insects.





In the center of the clearing, stood a tall rock in the shape of a paw, raised upright but curving downwards to land its claws on the opposing cats flesh, where the leader, a black and white tom, sat currently, addressing the clan before they ran off.





Cats of ThunderClan, all those old enough to catch their own prey gather below the Highrock for a Clan meeting.





As old and young, hunting parties and patrols gathered in impatiently, there was a suspicious stirring and murmuring amongst the crowd, and many were tilting their heads to hear what their neighbour had to say.





The glittering pelt of a ginger warrior strode forth, walking easily along like a prowling puma about to strike a smaller animal for prey. His large, black paws stood out like beacons on his unusual colouring, and every cat in all the clans respected him for his strength, and courage.





Stalking beside him was his big, revered apprentice by the name of Crimsonpaw. His head was held high with dignity and pride, and he was obviously quite twitchy and eager to become what StarClan had destined him to be- a full warrior of ThunderClan.





The words from the crowd of assembled cats died down as at last they realized what was going on.





Downystar did not warn us of this., complained the former Medicine Cat, Embersnout, as his ginger pelt brushed against Crippledjaw, the eldest nursery queen.





Her white form turned to look sympathetically at the old tom and she mewed under her breath to him, I know, Embersnout. But be proud. Today another warrior shall be in our midst.





This seemed to brighten him up, and he looked on with more excitement in his eyes as the clan deputy and his apprentice halted at the front of the crowd, facing the clan, with Downystar just in front of them.





Smiling warmly, the clan leader looked down at the ground, than raised his head to speak clearly, I, Downystar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. He glanced at Eagleheart, who dipped his head lightly, than continued, Crimsonpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?





He waited through the momentary silence until a swift reply came, I do.





Than by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name: Crimsonpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Crimsongale. StarClan honours your sense and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan.





He stepped up and rested his muzzle atop Crimsongales, who in turn licked his leaders shoulder formally.





As the cats of ThunderClan crowded about him, chanting his name as loud as the thunder their name spoke truly of, they raged about in glee and excitement for their new addition.





Gloryheart, sitting in front of the nursery with her three kits, Dapplekit, the brown one with mottled spots, and Wolfkit and Truekit, the blue and gray kits, chuckled happily with a mrow and looked down with a loving gaze at her kittens.





Wolfkit, the only male of his litter, gazed up at his mother with a deep shade of lightning blue orbits, questioning, When will I become a warrior, mother?





Her heavy gaze sought his expression, and she replied wholeheartedly, Someday. First you must become apprentices.





As the camp broke up to return to its duties, her kits leapt about, shouting and giggling as they rolled around and pretended to battle.





I am Trueheart of WindCLan, and Im gonna eat you! the youngest kit yowled playfully, batting at Dapplekit, who replied fiercely, I am Dappleflight of RiverClan! Rawr!





The last comment was Wolfkits mock growl and he spoke, I am Wolfstar of ThunderClan! Leader and revered by ThunderClan forever!





Silently, inside of Gloryhearts large, fluffy skull came the thought that echoed inside her entire minds eye of the great, battle scarred tom with short, blue and gray hair that her kit may be, and she remembered his words, I am Wolfstar of ThunderClan!





Sighing peacefully, and blinking for a long while, she opened her eyes and gazed boldly at her male kit, thinking, Maybe you will be.

















Only a few fox lengths away, sitting shyly to the right, underneath the fern bed that most warriors ate their filling fresh-kill, was a large black and brown she-cat, self-consciously licking her paw while glancing their way with huge, yellow eyes.





Her smudgy pelt made her mottled self-blend into the loam and meld with all colours of rock and stone, while hunting and fighting. Gloryheart, with a gracious smile across her roan muzzle, signaled with one white paw for her old friend to come over.





Breathing a sigh of relief, the brown and black she-cat loped over to eat herself alongside the queen.





Ahh, Glasseyes. Its been long since I have talked to you. Gloryheart began, looking at her friend warmly and with great cherishment.





Yes, I know. The clan grows bigger still, with leafgreens healthy season our kits growing faster and everything it just leaves no time for us. Pausing to gaze happily at the three kits, she asked indifferently, How are Crippledjaws kits doing?





Gloryheart shook her head to rid herself of a pesky horsefly and mewed with feeling, Two healthy kits, one smokey black and one gray, both males. The smokey black one is, well, Smokeykit, and the other is Owlkit.





Nodding her head enthusiastically, Glasseyes replied, So it is five kits. Three males, two females. Well, she heaved a foreboding sigh, and glanced wearily at Gloryheart, I must be going. Tenorvoice and Eagleheart need me on patrol. Bye!





Curtly nodding acceptance, Gloryheart watched with derision as her friend dashed off.





Every cat seems to have no time around camp& All my friends never even glance at me unless they feel so& Something is going on&






Gathering her kits up, the queen, though she lost her baby fat shortly after giving birth to her two moon old kits, mewed urgently to them, in barely a whisper, Wolfkit, Truekit and Dapplekit, she began, but was cut off by Wolfkit murmuring huffily, I am Wolfstar.





She glared at him and he stopped, and she began again, I need you to stay here. I have a mission. I want you to protect the tiny kits inside the nursery, you know you must take all costs into your hands.





Nodding eagerly, the kits dashed away to defend their nursery.





Now that I know my kits will stay there, I must go&






Leaping to her paws, the roan she-cat averted her eyes back and forth, checking about on the camp.





Noting that everyone was too busy to notice her, she prowled quietly to the gorse tunnel. Once through, she immediately jumped up her speed and flew through the undergrowth, dodging trees here and there.





She followed the directions of the patrols, and sniffed every marking spot; no fear-scent nor anger in any smell.





She silently crept up to the riverbed, across RiverClan territory, and saw something she thought might have happened-half the clan was on RiverClans territory!





She gulped nervously, wondering what could possibly be going on, when a voice hissed behind her, What are you doing here?

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