Talons of the Raven }{ UF Action/Adventure

[;R.o.c.k.y.w.a.v.e;]

Title: Talons of the Raven
Chapters: 10
Author: Rockywave
Pairing: Raven(not paw, it would be slash)xGray, mesa own.
Rating: PG
Summary: Talon, named after her father Ravenpaw, grows up in a cozy barn, where she is taught the ways of a loner. But when a powerful and elite group appears, Talon is blind to the horrors they are willing to do and naively joins. When she discovers the truth, is it too late for her to escape?
Warning: Some mild violence, though I tried not to make it descriptive like the real DH, mild Brambleclaw/paw bashing.
Disclaimer: Until Firestars' mother knows where the heck he is, I don't own Warriors.
Beta: N/A
Cover: N/A

A/N-I know compared to Chapter 3, Chap. 4 is puny, but what the heck. wh00t! This is in the Dawn Patrol! Quote Thistleclaw from my humorous fic, "Yay!...A reason to say yay! Yay!" HOLY [insert swear word of your choice hear, to quote Maximum Ride]-1,000 VIEWS!

Chapter 1

I stretched in the pale twilight, the faint morning rays warming my jet black pelt. My brothers Thunder and Tangle were still sleeping, along with my parents Ravenpaw and Sparrow. There was no sign of Barley, so I assumed he was out hunting (no time was too early for the old tom to get some food).

I was about to go back to sleep when I heard hurried thumps against the dry moorgrass and the rustle of leaves. My dark ears flicked back instinctively. I was sure the heavy noise was pawsteps.

It was far too early for the cats who called themselves "Clans" (I knew about them because my father used to be in the "ThunderClan") to be out on the "dawn patrol", or even to snatch up some prey.

Warily, I crept out of the faded old barn. My eyes flickered for any movement. I spotted a silver cat disappearing into the weak bushes around Barleys' farm, which lead to the "ShadowClans' " territory. Without thinking, I leaped inside the withered shrubs.

I peered though the foliage and saw the silver tom, along with a mottled dark ginger she-cat with menacing hazel eyes, that for the moment glowed with impatience. "Really, Boulder," said the orange cat, an edge in her snappy voice as she glared at the gray cat. "I'm thinking this 'powerful cat' doesn't exist. You said he'd be here by now."

"Just hold on a little bit more." replied the muscular tom. "I assure you, Russetstar, he will show up." As if on cue, suddenly two cats emerged from the tunnel under the Stormtrail. One was very big, a white tom with accented black stripes. He overshadowed a smaller cat. The only thing I could make out was that his pelt was jet black, just like mine.

"So," mewed the smaller one. "What do you want with me?"

"We need your help in taking total control of-" I didn't like where this conversation was going. In a heartbeat, I sprinted back to the barn, and crashed into a black blotched pelt.

"Oh, sorry, Barley." I panted. I gazed up at my fathers' friend, and I noticed a scrawny vole dangling from his jaws.

"Hi, Talon." meowed Barley. "What are you doing up so early?"

"Same as you." I replied. "But since it's whitehill season and all-" Barley cut me off and nodded understandingly.

"Come on." he said, signaling towards the barn. "I bet your family's up by now."

[;R.o.c.k.y.w.a.v.e;]

Chapter 2

Sparrow raced up to me. "Talon!" the brown tabby exclaimed. "We were starting to worry about you."

"Mom," I groaned, flashing my mom the "You're-so-overprotective" look. "I'm four seasons old. I'm not a little kit anymore. It's not like I went to join a 'Clan' or anything. I just went hunting!"

"I agree with Talon, Sparrow." said Ravenpaw gently. "You have to accept that kits grow up."

"But going in the fields to go hunting, when there's plenty of mice in the barn! There's rats, and dogs, and Nofurs, and-" Ravenpaw brushed his white tipped tail against his mates' mouth.

"Calm down. Barley does it all the time."

"But Barley has more experience!"

"Stop it, you guys." I said. "Barley went with me, right, Barley?" At first Barley shot me a confused look, but then he understood.

"Of course." he meowed. "No need to get worked up, Sparrow." Now Thunder was caught up in it.

"Aw, is da coot wittle kitty goin' out huntin' wifout her mamas' permission?" he cooed tauntingly. I gave him a sharp jab in the ribs.

"Da wittle kittys' big brofa is gonna get his behind kicked if he doesn't back off!" growled I darkly. The dark gray tabby backed away.

"This talk is officially closed." declared Barley.

"But Barley-" mewed Ravenpaw.

"What?"

"It never was official..." Barley looked at his paws, grinning sheepishly.

"Sorry." he murmured. "I always wanted to say that." Suddenly, my exceptionally sharp ears picked up pawsteps again, this time not Boulders' and Russetstars' rushing to meet the rogues, but a very plump mouse scuttling across the ground. My stomach grumbled hungrily.

Instinctively I dropped into the hunters' crouch, trying to locate the rodent. I saw it, and began to move quickly against the straw-covered floor. The fat creature never knew of my presence, I killed it that swiftly.

My fresh-kill swinging from my jaws, I padded over to Tangle and set it down. "Wanna bite?" I mewed. My pale brown tabby brother nodded and took a mouthful.

"Umm." he said around his food. "Good mouse." Tangle leaned in to my face and lowered his voice. "I saw that look Barley gave you." he said quietly. "What were you really doing?"

"Can you keep a secret?" Tangle nodded solemnly. So I told him all about the mornings' outings, at least up to the point where I started to run back home.

"And Barley was with you?!" he exclaimed, wide-eyed. Tangle forgot to keep his voice down, and Sparrow looked suspiciously at her son.

"Of course not." I said loudly. "If he was, I would have caught that rabbit." Tangle caught the cue. Sparrow shrugged to herself and went back to grooming her brown tabby pelt. I lowered my voice again. "No, you fly-brain." I hissed sharply. "I ran into him on the way back, that's all."

Suddenly two cats approached the barn, and Barley sprinted out the back exit. They entered, and I could see one was a small black cat, no bigger than a two and a third season old kit, and the other was a ragged pale and dark ginger tortoiseshell.

As I studied the cats, deja vu crept over me. The black tom looked exactly like the one by the Stormtrail. No, I reassured myself. He has a white paw. The tense knots in my stomach loosened, and I let the fur on my neck lay flat. "Hello," said the black cat. "I'm Scourge, and this is Moorgrass. We just were looking for some possible members of my Clan, and I thought this farm could hold some willing to join."

"We're running short, you see, and we have an important meeting to attend to later on today." added Moorgrass. I stepped forward.

"Um, I'll go." I said. Life as a loner was boring anyway, and I always wondered what it was like to live in a Clan.

"You'll do nothing of the sort!" snapped Sparrow.

"Let her go, Mom." said Thunder. "It isn't very dangerous." Sparrow snorted.

"Fine." she scoffed. Sparrow flicked her tail in my direction. "Go." I padded after the two cats.

"Good choice." meowed Moorgrass. "BloodClan is the most powerful Clan." BloodClan? The name sent a chill down my spine, but never the less I followed Scourge and Moorgrass out of the inviting field into an dirty alley as monsters screeched past. I could see bright yellow and green eyes tracing their leader and me.

"Who is that?!" spat a tabby.

"Hush, Snake." said Scourge in his brittle voice. "This is the one cat who was willing to join our Clan."

"Really?" said a deep voice. Out stepped a massive white and black tabby. My blood froze in my veins. It was the cat from the Stormtrail. "Welcome to BloodClan, young cat."

[;R.o.c.k.y.w.a.v.e;]

Chapter 3

"So, what's your name?" asked Scourge, with a slight taunting tone in his voice. "Wait. Lemme guess. Fluffykins? Nighty?"

"Talon," I said, relieved that my name fit BloodClan standards.

"Good." replied Scourge. "We won't have to change it, then. Like Moorgrass. Her name used to be Daffodil." The small leader chuckled. "Well, now that that's over, I'll show you around the place." I traced after him as he walked around the alley.

"That's Hawthorn and Storm over there. " he said, introducing me to the last two cats in BloodClan. "Oh, no. Russetstars' going to want us there soon-come on." I stopped in my tracks. Russetstar! The cat from the Stormtrail! With a pang of regret, I realized that I wasn't sure I had made the right choice.

As Scourge lead the huge Clan out of the Nofurs' denplaces and into the forest, I could hear voices from the other side of the undergrowth where they stopped.

"I'd rather die!" mewed a young cat, maybe a two and two third season old one.

"Join me now or you will die." hissed a voice who I recognized as Russetstar.

"At least I'll go to StarClan as a loyal warrior!" replied the cat determinedly.

"Stay, then and die with these other mousebrains." spat Russetstar coldly. Scourge, who was watching all this, signaled for his Clan to move out into the clearing. I followed the rest of the Clan as they spread out into a huge semicircle around two of the Clans, which I figured must be lead by an oddly spotted tabby at the head of the group, along with Russetstar. "You sure you still want to fight?" Russetstars' voice was smug.

She saw two other Clans at the opposite end of the forest. One was apparently lead by a white tom. He stepped forward. "Russetstar," he began, "Who are they?" The cat flicked his tail towards us.

"They are BloodClan." announced Russetstar. "Because I know you don't have the sense to join on your own, I brought them to convince you. You see, Whitestar?" Russetstar continued. "I have changed the number from four to two."

"If you want to fight, we shall fight." said Whitestar quietly.

"Fool!" spat Russetstar. "All I wanted to do was talk with you and Tallstar. Well, I guess the sight of your dying Clanmates will be enough. BloodClan," he said, turning to Scourge, "Attack!" None of my Clan moved. We wouldn't take orders from this evil she-cat. Perhaps some of them, like Bone and Ice, would've if she was their leader, but she wasn't. "Attack! I command you!"

"As the leader of BloodClan," he replied coolly. "My warriors are at my command, not yours. They attack when I tell them, and no sooner." Russetstar gave him a hard stare. Suddenly Whitestar stepped forward.

"If you've believed any promises by her, you're mistaken." he blurted out.

"Oh," said Scourge. "Russetstar told me she had enemies. Why should I think of you over her?"

"Cats of all Clans, including BloodClan," began Whitestar. I could tell a seriously long speech was coming on. And it was. Whitestar revealed the truth about Russetstar. Apparently, she had once been part of ThunderClan.

She had murdered the deputy, Redtail, and after the next deputy, Lionheart, died, Russetfur was made the deputy. But she wanted to be leader. Once when she tried to kill Bluestar, Cinderpaw had come instead, leaving her with a crippled leg. Then Russetstar called upon a rogue gang to make it look like they had killed Bluestar. But Whitestorm, along with Fireheart, had stopped her in time. While in exile, she had killed a warrior called Runningwind. Then before they knew it, Russetfur was leader of ShadowClan. Russetstar still wanted revenge, so she took advantage of a dog pack that got loose. Bluestar lost her last life driving the leader of the pack over the gorge.

I let out a sigh of relief, though it wasn't audible. Surely now Scourge wouldn't make us fight on this cats' side! Then Scourge spoke. "Russetstar told me about the dog pack." he meowed. He..he knew?!? I thought, shaking. "She didn't tell me it was a failure. Anway, my Clan will fight when I choose. There shall be no fight this day."

"Traitor!" roared Russetstar, jumping at Scourge. I tried to turn my head away. Russetstar would be dead in a heartbeat. I turned my head away, I couldn't look. I heard the ginger cat let out a shriek, and then another and another, maybe even eight times. Then silence. Was the battle over? Was the leader dead? I glanced over and saw Russetstar laying down, motionless. Blood stained the clearing, all of it welling from a slash on the leaders' belly. Suddenly the body gave one last shudder and one more yowl and lay still.

A few cats pushed past Whitestar, not wanting to look at the gruesome sight anymore. A pretty long-legged tabby gave a scared meow and raced out of the clearing, barely missing the black spotted tom that reminded me heavily of Barley. Barley! Oh, why did I ever leave home? I thought with a pang of regret.

"I don't think that was-" mewed Whitestar. His voice was quivering, but it was obvious he was trying to keep it steady.

"Shut up, you!" screeched Bone, and clamped his jaws around the white toms' neck. Withen moments he was dead also.

Scourge stepped forward, his white paw stained red with Russetstars' blood. "See what happens to cats who understimate BloodClan?" he said, flicking his tail towards Russetstar and Whitestars' bodies. My leaders' voice was scarily calm. "Your Clanmates here thought they could tell us what to do. They were wrong, and it cost them their lives."

"We don't wish to boss your Clan around," meowed a voice, a tom. From the crowd stepped out a ginger cat with green eyes, who probably was the Fireheart from Whitestars' story. "Russetstar brought you here with lies, and Whitestar apparently thought you were little kits when he told you the truth, and we're sorry. You can hunt all you'd like before you leave."

"Leave?" said Scourge disbelievingly. "Us? Fly-brain, we aren't going anywhere. The pickings are better here. BloodClan is taking over here from now on."

"You have three days to leave or battle my Clan. Meet my Clan here at dawn on the fourth day with your decision." As Scourge spoke, I remebered a story Barley had told my brothers and I when we were little kits. It was very long, but I can tell you this much-his sister almost died because Barley was taking care of her when she was sick.

I believed in his tale utterly until I was seven moons old. Then I thought he was just making it up to keep us in line, and eventually forgot about it.

With a pang of horror, I realized that Scourge was that cat in the story who cruelly decreed that Barleys' brothers should kill his sister, called Violet.

There was something else that dawned on me-I must escape. But how? When? And where to?

[;R.o.c.k.y.w.a.v.e;]

Chapter 4

Scourge leaped up onto the top of a Twoleg waste container; his face sinister yet confident. "Did you see the way those cats were fighting?" he purred. "We might even walk in on a battle between them. Half of them probably won't even notice that they're fighting against us and not another Clan!"

"Yes," agreed Hawthorn. "But what if that Fireheart leads them together? He's most likely our greatest threat. He seems to have a lot of cats on his side, and he looks strong." Scourge leaned down.

"Well, Hawthorn, you seem to admire that cat." he hissed. "Perhaps you would like to join them?"

"No, Scourge."

"Then do not question the strength of your leader."

"Yes, Scourge."

"The next time you shall be exiled--that is, if you're lucky. So shut up unless I ask you to speak."

"Yes, Scourge." I flinched. If this was Barleys' farm, such an idea about the characteristics of an enemy would have been greatly appreciated. But that thought was in the back of my mind-for I was thinking about how I would escape.

I had a hunch of where I would escape to-the ThunderClan, Firehearts' Clan. And I knew I would escape in the dead of the night, because my spot to sleep in the dirty alley was away from most of the cats, and near the opening.

The problem was-the two sly brothers, who were virtually my uncles, Snake and Ice, were near me. If I was lucky, I could get out with merely waking them. If I wasn't--I gulped, trying to push the thought away. If I wasn't, they would bring me to Scourge. And I knew what happened to three cats--my virtual aunt Violet, Russetstar, and Whitestar--who Scourge delt with.

Thoughts of getting out of here whirling through my head, I silently, trying to blend in with the crowd, stalked off as Scourge dismissed us.

[;R.o.c.k.y.w.a.v.e;]

Chapter 5

I raced across the alley, breathing heavily. I had woken Snake and Ice. They were chasing me.

"Why me?" I huffed. "I'm virtually your niece!"

"Right." snarled Ice. "Violet was our sister, and we killed her. Why not the same to our 'niece'?"

I was about to say that Violet wasn't really dead when I realized what they were trying to do to me. They were tricking me into keeping looking over my shoulder, talking, while a Stormtrail was coming up, so I would get hit by a Fiercegrowl. I skidded to a halt, just in time. I was a clawspan away from rolling onto the gravelly way, into the path of a Fiercegrowl going at breakneck speed.

The two toms chuckled evilly and exchanged a look. The stared at me, cornered and helpless. Snake leaped at me, claws extended.

I shut my eyes tight, preparing for the pain. Nothing happened. I slowly blinked my eyes open in wonderment. Surely Snake had hit me by now?

I was in the alley. My nose let out a short exhale. So it was all a dream. Correction; a nightmare.

But even in the relief of knowing that it was a dream, there was still an uneasy feeling in my stomach. Could it be...an omen?

I shook the thought off immediately. It couldn't be; this ''StarClan'' only gave signs to Clan cats--that is, the forest-dwelling Clan cats.

So I started to leave. Blood was pounding in my ears. Snake and Ice weren't completely asleep; they could be waken up at a noise sounding a little more than a pasteup. I stepped lightly, my paws making a sound only able to be heard by me. So far so good.

I guess I was thinking too positive; for the next second I stepped on a metal cylinder, sending it skidding; all the way making a low grinding sound.

Snake and Ice leaped to their feet. I knew too much from my nightmare--before they could realize what I was attempting to do, I sprinted off.

"Hey, look." I heard Snake faintly. "That Talon cat is escaping!"

"Well, don't just stand there!" snapped Ice. "Find her and kill her!" At this my heart only thumped harder. Soon I heard the swift twins' paws thudding against the cement. I saw a Stormtrail quickly getting closer. My nightmare! I nearly choked on the thought, if that's even possible. It was actually coming true!

Later, Snake leapt at me, like my dream. But I wasn't about to just lay there, doing nothing to defend myself but cringe in fear. I stood on my hind legs and swiped out my front paws, sending Snake sprawling in a heap.

As I was contemplating what I had done, I felt pain in my back. Ice was clinging to me. I flipped over and ran as fast as I could to the forest. I had fought enough.

Soon enough, I darted into the dark woods, wondering what awaited me in the territory of the Clans.

[~*~*Dovefur*~*~]

this is REALLY good! i love it~

[Shadowstar]

That was soooo good! You should continue, I loved it!

[rosiepool]

[glow=red,2,300]It's really good, but in chapter 3 you were kinda copying the real Darkest Hour. Umm...It's really good though!!! [/glow]

[rosiepool]

[glow=red,2,300]Oops...I didn't notice it was under rewrites. My bad... Well, good story anyway! ;D[/glow]

[;R.o.c.k.y.w.a.v.e;]

Thanks everyone! I'll try to post Chapter 6 now. And Rosiepool, it's okay. P.S. Love your avvie

[chellurton]

Yes, definitely continue. This is a very good story.

[;R.o.c.k.y.w.a.v.e;]

Chapter 6

I collapsed against the roots of a tree, breathing hard. I had just ran all the way through ShadowClan territory and into ThunderClans' forest-without stopping. As if that wasn't painful enough, I constantly bumped into trees while at it. What do you expect from a cat who grew up on the open moor and then lived in a easy-to-navigate alley? Honestly, I have no idea how the ThunderClanners maneuver so fleetly through this tangled undergrowth.

I licked a spot on my pad where a sharp coniferous needle had pierced it. Suddenly I stopped mid-lick, my leg still stretched out. I suppose I looked rather ridiculous, but that wasn't of any importance. I heard voices.

"Honestly, Firestar, I saw a strange cat! I swear by StarClan!" said a voice that was somewhat familiar. I froze. The "strange cat" was most likely me. And wait-Firestar? Sounded sort of like that Fireheart from the meeting. Didn't Clan leaders adopt the last name of "star?"

"Alright, Bramblepaw," replied Firestar. Bramblepaw-the cat who was Russetstars' son! "Show me the way." I heard pawsteps coming my way. At first I was scared to face them, but then I decided that if I ran, they would think I was spying for BloodClan. I took a deep breath, and stepped out into the direction of the two cats. I was about to explain why I was here when Bramblepaw snarled at me.

"A BloodClanner!" he growled. "What are you doing on our territory?" The brown tabby didn't wait for me to answer. "Can I attack her, Firestar?" But the ginger leader didn't answer. He seemed to be studying me closely. And in person, Firestar seemed to be very familiar. Suddenly I burst out-

"You're the cat who used to visit us as kits!" Bramblepaw looked utterly confused. But Firestar, on the other hand, looked amazed.

"You're...Talon?" I nodded.

"And Talon is....?" said Bramblepaw.

"Ravenpaws' only daughter." replied Firestar. He turned back to me. "But how, exactly, did you end up in BloodClan?" I told him the entire story.

"And, well, I'd like to join your Clan."

"Go ahead. Follow us to the camp." Firestar gave a flick of his tail and padded away.

"But what about training?" whined Bramblepaw.

[Shadowstar]

Lol Bramblepaw XP And I love Firestar "Go ahead."

CONTINUE

[;R.o.c.k.y.w.a.v.e;]

Chapter 7

I would like to say that I got a really warm welcome from the ThunderClanners once we arrived in camp, that I was admired for escaping from BloodClan. Unfortunately, that would be lying.

As we went down the ravine that lead to camp, I noticed many cats suddenly perk up and turn my way. The cats who didn't were either elders, kits, or asleep. As a "welcome to ThunderClan" gift, I received many hostile glares, a hiss or two, and even a hospitable comment-"Leave. Now." from a mottled brown she-cat.

Firestar led me up a sizable rock in the center of the camp. He looked rather excited. Bramblepaw, on the other paw, went sulking to the edge of the camp. "Cats of ThunderClan, join beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting." called Firestar. A couple of cats who were napping in dens got up, reluctantly, I might add, and padded into the center of the camp. Also forward came a queen and her hyper little kits-a tortoiseshell she-cat, a black tom, and a gray tom. "Many of you have noticed I have brought with me this cat." The ginger tom motioned to me with his tail. "Some of the older warriors will remember Ravenpaw. He really disappeared due to his fear of Russetstar, and he now lives with Barley and his mate Sparrow in the barn. He had three kits with Sparrow. This cat, Talon, is one of them. She joined BloodClan, but had no idea that they actually were ruthless, bloodthirsty, and hungry for more territory."

Firestar went on about my life, and then came to what I had been waiting for. "I expect that all of ThunderClan will accept Talon as a warrior; permanent or temporary. Whatever she shall do, during her time in ThunderClan she shall be known as Raventalon, in honor of her father."

"What!?" yowled a golden tabby tom. "Firestar, have you gone mad? We can't accept a loner into our Clan!" He spat out the word "loner" as contemptuously as he would have said "Twoleg". The fur on my neck instinctively bristled, and I was ready to show that tabby who I really was when Firestar lashed his tailed angrily.

"Thornclaw!" the flame-colored tom spat, narrowing his eyes. "Raventalon is not just a loner. She carries ThunderClan blood-my good friends blood, at that. Are you saying that outsiders don't belong in a Clan?" I was completely confused at that last sentence, but then I remembered that Firestar had been a kittypet.

"Of course not!" meowed Thornclaw indignantly. "I just think that...that..." The tom gave a snort as he realized that he had no argument. With that, he pointedly turned his back and sulked over to a pile of fresh-kill. The rest of the Clan seemed to take this as a cue to leave from the meeting, and padded off to their own business.

That is, except for one cat. He was a gray tom, with a black stripe down his back. His eyes were deep amber pools and focused on me. I awkwardly skidded down the Highrock to meet this tom. "So you're Ravenpaws' daughter, huh?" he murmured. He seemed to be in another time. "I was good friends with him when I was an apprentice. My name is Graystripe, by the way. I'm the deputy." I nodded in acknowledgment. "Well, anyway, welcome to ThunderClan!"

I mewed, "Thanks," and then awkwardly padded away. I walked by the pile of fresh-kill, and it seemed a water vole was calling my name. I leaned down to pick it up, but then shook my head and walked away so it would tempt me no longer. I was in a Clan now. I could no longer eat whenever I felt hungry.

I heard the trotting of pawsteps behind me. I pricked my ears up and swiveled my head towards the noise. It was Graystripe again. "Hi again," he meowed. "It's almost moonhigh. Why don't I show you where the warriors' den is?" I shrugged and followed the tom over to a bush around it several cats lay, attempting to fall asleep.

"Hey," meowed a dark brown tabby rudely. "Can't you see we're trying to sleep here? Your stinking loner scent is keeping us all awake!"

I hissed and unsheathed my claws, trying my hardest to look formidable. "Want me to give you something that will really keep you awake?"

"Ooh, scary, aren't you?" retorted the tom, sarcasm dripping from each word. I gave a snort, pointedly turned my back, and walked over to an empty moss-lined den.

"That's Dustpelt," muttered Graystripe. "He's just a stupid furball. You ignore him." That was the last thing I heard before falling into the sweet blackness of sleep.

[Minty]

Yeah, I've actually been waiting for another chapter! Hooray! Continue soon!