Sinister Winds }{ Unfinished, Violence, ShC/TC

[Blizz]

Title: Sinister Winds
Chapters: 5
Author: Blizzardclaw
Rating: PG
Summary: An elderly ShadowClan she-cat harbors a sick secret... but the only one who bears witness to it will take the secret to the grave. Meanwhile, things are changing in the forest, and a dark new deputy with powerful allies has risen.
Warning: N/A
Disclaimer: Warriors is not mine... unless you want to buy it for me. =D
Beta: Blackheart
Cover: [x]

Author's Notes: This is my first; and longest Warrior's fan-fiction. And it's finished! It's divided into three parts: Sinister Winds, The Shadow Of Thunder, and The Rise Of Hope. A huge thank-you to Blackheart for editing it! It's originally hosted at Sinister Winds, and if you want to read it there be my guest, the site has complete allegiances and character profiles. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy!

SPOILER: Click to show

Testung/spoiler]

-- Prologue --

The moon hung in the air; but couldn’t been seen through the dark, but not stormy clouds. The night air was cool, and the bite of forming frost could be felt. It was no time for kits to be born...

A scraggly gray she-cat poked her head in the nursery of ShadowClan. Her eyes were narrowed, and they sparkled with an emotion that could only be described as evil.

She found within the nursery; her apprentice, and a dead queen.

“Vielheart! Oh Vielheart, Ebonyfur’s kitting, it went all wrong, I tried, I really did-” sobbed Quickpaw, the medicine cat apprentice, as his mentor entered the nursery. An edge of fear in his voice. “Their was so much blood and, and, the kits, I saved the kits!”

The medicine cats eyes narrowed, “Come with me Quickpaw- now.” The reply to the near hysterical apprentice was cold and short, offering no comfort. She turned to address the other queens. “I shall come for Ebonyfur’s body in a minute.” She turned around and went to the medicine cat’s den, an old sheltered wood-liced tree that was hardly taller then the she-cat but with a hollowed out den at the base and the herbs resting the branch shelves. “You! You killed her!” Snarled the older she-cat, rounding on her apprentice.

“I, didn’t, I tried-” Quickpaw’s voice choked.

“You will never become a medicine cat, you are a disgrace to ShadowClan! I’ll be back to deal with you later.” She turned and headed back to the nursery.

Quickpaw’s heart beat faster, tears streamed down his face, his mentor’s words seared into him like fire, although he should have been used to them by now. Today it had been the first cat who he had failed. The first one who had died at his paws. Ebonyfur had been his mother. He had kept a close relationship to her, and losing her was devastating, it didn’t make it any better that it had been at his paws.

He squeezed his eyes shut, the bloody scene of his mother hovered in the darkness, he opened his eyes and something else scarlet caught his eyes... death berries. The yew were deadly poisonous, one could kill a cat, he looked up at the sky, in Silverpelt a new star glistened, it beckoned to him. He grabbed the yew berries with the strength of bitter determination and slunk nearer to the tree, so he wasn’t as visible. He heard his mentor coming and cast one last look at the yew berries, before swallowing them.

His mind felt as if it where going to explode. Pain lashed through him, his legs twitched involuntarily, and he found it hard to keep his eyes open, he gasped for air, his lungs failing him. Vielheart had her back to him, a silver kit mewed helplessly at her feet. She glanced around, and just as Quickpaw took his final shudder, he saw her rip into the silver kit, take a large mouthful, and swallow.

“So much better live.” He heard her mumble.

With a final shudder and a gasp, he lay there in the dust, his paws covered with his kin’s blood, a single yew berry left in front of him, as a clue to what had happened.

[Blizz]

-- Chapter 1 --

Youngstripe stretched as the dim morning sun seeped through the stringy foliage above him that acted as a roof of the ShadowClan warriors' den. It had not even been three moons since his naming ceremony, yet already he had been given the responsibility of an apprentice.

He looked over at the warrior’s den, Bloodstorm and Hookfur were still sleeping, twitching and growling in their sleep, everyone else must be out already. When he came out of the den however, he was surprised to see Twighlightstar standing on the black tree stump from where he usually addressed the clan,

“As many of you may or may not know, Steadyfang was killed this morning on a border skirmish with ThunderClan.” Twighlightstar sighed, Youngstripe thought he looked tired. “So it is my duty to appoint a predecessor as soon as possible, we need a strong cat to be deputy when ThunderClan is growing stronger everyday. We need a cat who will not falter to fight, and can defend us.” the clan murmured uneasily, some looked at the others expectantly, it was true that ThunderClan had more warriors, but the ShadowClan warriors where very strong and muscular. “I appoint Reedtail as the new deputy of ShadowClan.” Cheers and growls of approval went up from the cats below, the loudest coming from Reedtail’s brothers, Bloodstorm, Bendclaw and Fiececlaw.

Youngstripe wasn’t so sure though. It was true that Reedtail was strong and smart warrior, but he had a sinister feeling about her. He resolved he was being overly suspicious and went up with everyone else congratulating the she-cat, who held her head high and defiant. Every once and a while calling out something nasty about ThunderClan.

[Blizz]

-- Chapter 2 --

Just as soon as he was heading for the entrance of the nursery to check on his mate, a ball of fluffy black fur pounced at him.

“Arg! Ambush! Mrrow!” Cried Youngstripe playfully, batting his apprentice away with sheathed claws.

“When are we going hunting? Can we practice our fighting?” asked the jovial black she-cat apprentice, Crushpaw. “Of course, just after I check up on Silversk-”

“Ah, Youngstripe, I think your putting your mate before your apprentice, do you not think Vielheart can take care of her by herself?” the ruddy coloured deputy had come up behind the two cats. Youngstripe whirled around in alarm, noticing it was his deputy he dipped his head reluctantly in a respectful greeting.

“I’m just worried about her, that's all. I mean no disrespect to Vielheart.” That wasn’t entirely true, he hated everything about the medicine cat, her odd smell, and her patchy coat, her cooing voice and creepy stare, he did not at all feel comfortable leaving Silverskill on her own. That and she was due to kit soon, and ShadowClan queens had the highest number of kittings gone wrong. He shuddered, thinking and young Thrushpaw, the little apprentice had broken the warrior code, and had kits, but something had gone terribly wrong and the apprentice had died.

Reedtail narrowed her eyes, “Tend to your apprentice Youngstripe, and that's an order.” she turned her back and swankered arrogently away.

Youngstripe grumbled something and Crushpaw’s eyes opened with surprise, “You shouldn’t say things like th-”

“Oh give it a break Crushpaw, you saw the way she talked to me.” but Youngstripe declined the temptation to disobey the deputy's direct orders, and with a last longing glance at the nursery, he padded out of camp, Crushpaw following in his wake.

The ground in ShadowClan was marshy, and other cats found it uncomfortable, but Youngstripe was used to it, and it didn't bother him, he had come to know it as a nice feeling, the feeling of home. There were dry patches though. They were mostly used for training, and hunting occasionally. On one such dry patch was where Crushpaw and Youngstripe stopped. From there they could faintly hear the thunderpath and they could see the old dead oak tree that never had leaves, it's scraggly black branches cutting into the blue sky.

"Today we'll practice fighting moves, all right?"

"Okay!" Answered the excitable apprentice eagerly. She pounced on the larger ShadowClan warrior unexpectedly, knocking him over, for a second Youngstripe lay in the dust, a glazed expression of thoughtfulness on his features.

He was still worried about Silverskill, his mate. Crushpaw snorted impertinently, she prodded a claw at him "Come on, honestly I don't know why Reedtail bothered, it's plain to see what's still on your mind!"

Huh? Er, sorry Crushpaw I just can't stop-"

"Oh forget it, I'm going hunting, see you back at camp." Crushpaw sprinted off into the marshes without a backward glance. Youngstripe gave a guilty sigh and decided he should hunt too. His mind was on Silverskill, but he knew without proof that he had worked with Crushpaw, Reedtail would be angry.

He headed closer to the ThunderClan border where it was drier and easier to hunt. He pricked his ears, listening not only for prey, but for ThunderClan cats. Then he heard the squeak of mouse and there it was, a little plump brown mouse, too distracted by it's task to open the nut in it's paws, the small creature hadn't noticed him.

He crouched down, then slowly, keeping his paws treading lightly, crept towards the mouse. His hind legs bunch up, and he sprang. The mouse tried to scurry off but Youngstripe caught it and held it down with one paw, sinking his claws into the creatures neck, until it ceased squirming. He knew one mouse was hardly enough to satisfy Reedtail, but impatience made him not care. He bounded back towards the camp.

[Blizz]

-- Chapter 3 --

Youngstripe felt his face go warm as the stupidity of his measly catch caught up with him as he entered the ShadowClan camp. He quickly hurried over to the fresh-kill pile in hopes of not being noticed, when Twighlightstar approached him.

Dropping the mouse and giving the older gray tom a respectful nod Youngstripe looked at the ground.

"That's a small catch for such a young, strong warrior like you." the leader criticized, but when Youngstripe looked up to meet the wise tom's gaze he didn't see anger, or even disapproval but understanding.Twighlightstar gave a small chuckle, "Add that to the fresh kill pile and go see Silverskill, but make sure you go out hunting later, or I won't be able to choose you to go to the gathering tonight."

"Thank-you Twighlightstar! I promise I'll catch more later." Youngstripe had forgotten that tonight was a full moon, and at Twighlightstar's hint that he would be going his heart quickened, tonight would be interesting, he wondered if Twighlightstar would bring up the death of his deputy, Steadyfang.

The old, scarred blue-gray she-cat had been fierce, brave and kind, Youngstripe had mourned at her death. He padded over to the fresh kill-pile and dropped the scrawny mouse, beside him Bendclaw, the ruddy coloured brother of Reedtail smirked as he saw Youngstripe's catch,

''And you call yourself a warrior! I've seen ThunderClan kits catch better then you! I bet Reedtail will be interested in this." the arrogant warrior scoffed. Youngstripe glared at the obnoxious older warrior,

"Tell her what you want you stupid lump of a kit." Then sighed tiredly. He turned his back on the warrior and started toward the nursery, when he felt searing pain down his back and vicious claws dig into his flesh.

"Gerff!" cried Youngstripe in pain and rolled over, crushing his opponent into the ground. But Bendclaw was stronger and it hardly knocked the wind out of him.

"Who's the kit now Youngstripe?" The big tom was still latched on to Youngstripe's back as he sunk his teeth into the younger cat's neck. Just as Youngstripe felt razor sharp teeth close in the on his spine the weight was wrenched off of him and he feebly got up, blood dripping from him into the dust. Twighlightstar had managed to get Bendclaw off of Youngstripe and Reedtail stood by him her eyes betraying slight amusement.

"Bendclaw? Youngstripe?” His eyes were angry. “Reedtail. Did you see what happened?" he asked his deputy.

"Yes Twighlightstar, and my brother is innocent. Youngstripe here taunted him, then leapt on his back, foolish young warrior, good thing he was up against Bendclaw, or there could have been an injury." the deputy lied.

"Youngstripe! This is inexcusable behavior, I would expect more from you." hissed Twighlightstar to Youngstripe.

"But I- yes Twighlightstar, it won't happen again." Youngstripe saw it was useless to argue against the word of Reedtail. Twighlightstar dismissed him with a flick of his tail and Youngstripe slunk to the nursery, his tail dragged in he dust and blood crusted his ear. Twilightstar's anger and disappointment had hurt him more then Bendclaw's teeth. With a sinking heart he realized he wouldn't be going to the gathering tonight.

He snuck a glance at Reedstar; and a chill went down his spine as his eyes met the gloating dark green eyes of the new ShadowClan depudy.

[Blizz]

-- Chapter 4 --

Youngstripe padded into the nursery, he hesitated at the entrance, the warm smells of milk and kits unfamiliar to him. "Silverskill?" he called tentatively.

"Come in Youngstripe." answered an exhausted voice from within the nursery. He entered, three queens where in the nursery, Newwillow, Calicotail and Silverskill, his mate.

Youngstripe noticed Calicotail looked exhausted, her tail drooped and her breath shallow. Newwillow suckled two kits, even though her belly was still very swollen.

"Calicotail had a hard time kitting last night." said Silverskill in explanation.

"And I swear those herbs Vielheart gave me made it even worse." The queen's voice was humored but Youngstripe felt suspicion burn inside him. He went over and sat beside Silverskill, licking her ears.

"I'm just too old, no more kits for me, I think." Calicotail continued, she was old, due to join the elders soon. "I think I'll stay in the nursery though, help any queens who need it. Newwillow, you must be tired, I'll suckle them now, they are my kits." she guided the two kits to her belly.

"Only two?" asked Youngstripe. "There where three, Vielheart says the third died, she took it and buried it." Calicotail sounded bitter, but she brightened up. "Mind you, my kitting wasn't half as bad as Ebonyfur's."

"Ebonyfur's?" Silverskill asked. "You three weren't kitted yet, but I was a friend of Ebonyfur, she was a ShadowClan queen. Vielheart had been out collecting herbs when Ebonyfur started kitting. Quickpaw, Vielheart new apprentice came and tried his best, but there was so much blood. Poor Ebonyfur, a large litter too."

"How many?" asked Newwillow.

"Eight, two stillborns, five ruddy coloured kits and one silver."

"Eight!" Silverskill's eyes widened in amazement, "The clan must have been so happy to have so many kits, Ebonyfur must had trouble raising them all!"

Calicotail shook her head sadly, "Ebonyfur died, there where too many. The silver one disappeared, and five others lived, and are still in this Clan today. But I remember it well, Ebonyfur was Reedtail's mother."

Youngstripe shivered, it was an unpleasant story, he wished he had never heard it.

[Blizz]

-- Chapter 5 --

Youngstripe sighed as he saw the last tail of the cats headed for Fourtrees disappear through the camp entrance. He headed, tail drooping, for the warriors den, the days events had been confusing, he needed to think about them.

But as he curled up in his moss nest his head was still swamped with thoughts, about Silverskill, Reedtail, Ebonyfur and kits. Youngstripe was talented at figuring things out, he concentrated on this thoughts, surely old Calicotail's story had been just that, a story? He had heard of kittypets who gave birth to more kittens, but eight, for a forest cat?

A shiver ran down his spine as he remembered the chilling words of Calicotail, "But I remember it well, Ebonyfur was Reedtail's mother. It was the saddest thing I'd ever seen." The way the Calicotail had said it, it was impossible to dismiss her tale as fiction. Youngstripe thought about what she had said, it had no meaning that Ebonyfur had a hard time kitting Reedtail, Reedtail must have been big, that was all.

But still suspicious thoughts clouded his mind like trails of smoke, why had Reedtail lied to Twighlightstar, even if it was her brother she was defending? And Silverskill, he sent a silent prayer to StarClan that her kitting would go well, as he closed his eyes, desperate for sleep.

But Youngstripe wasn't in for a peaceful sleep, as he crossed the border between the waking world of solids, and the black void of dreams. An almost unaudible, urgent, yet kind voice beckoned him awake.

"Youngstripe, awaken, sinister winds are blowing." Youngstripe opened his eyes reluctantly to see a small black cat in front of him, but he glowed with a dark radiance, his pelt stood on end, and the wild fire of fear lit up his bright green eyes.

"Who are you?" asked Youngstripe sleepily.

"Such is not important, we have little time, come, there are things both here and in the waking world you must see now, pray we have enough time."

"Waking world?" Thought Youngstripe, it occurred to him he was dreaming, "Your from StarClan?" The small black cat ignored his question.

He took off at breakneck speed, Youngstripe struggled to keep up, but the urgentness of the cat's words lent speed to his paws. There was literally something dreamy about these lands, a silvery white mist hung over everything, glittering with light, yet from no sun or moon Youngstripe could see.

The leaves and trees seemed to have a certain translucence to them, but Youngstripe had no time to admire the land as he raced after the other cat. He arrived at a clearing, and all turned suddenly quiet, no longer were there sounds of Youngstripe and the black cat racing through the trees.

"We are here, you may call me Quickpaw, Youngstripe."

Youngstripe opened his mouth to ask where here was, or why here was here, or maybe who Quickpaw was, but he stopped, feeling that all would be revealed in due time, hadn't Quickpaw said they didn't have time though? Suddenly a wind picked up, blowing the mist away, Youngstripe saw he was on the top of a cliff, shadowy forests lay before him, as far as the eye could see.

He let the wind billow through his fur, a sense of belonging came over him. But the wind grew stronger, stronger then he had ever known, until he was forced to dig his claws into the ground to stay upright. He looked up, four twinkling stars loomed over head, StarClan help me, he thought as the winds didn't subside, suddenly the four stars flashed out.

Youngstripe fought to stay calm, a she-cat's voice whispered, "Rough winds lay ahead Youngstripe, follow the Thunder in your path, but do not abandon hope, for that is what you are. Now wake!" Youngstripe felt very tired, tired of running, tired of Reedtail's commands, tired of everything he had ever done. He closed his eyes.