Watching the Tide }{ C Action/Romance

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

Title: Watching the Tide
Chapters: There's going to be eleven...plus the pro- and epi-logue...so if a moddie or the admin could switch this to sagas, that would be great.
Author: Rockywave
Pairing: Um, StarxGray? I think that's it. Also, RockxCloud.
Rating: PG
Summary: Star which Shines on Water has escaped from Sharptooth and found her kits and mate, Gray Sky before Dawn. They moved to the oceanside and started a new Tribe, The Tribe of the Rising Tide. But the peace cannot last...this is the first one in my non-canon trilogy about another Tribe and its being, called the Prophecy of the Ocean, which just happens to be the name of my roleplaying site. Great, eh?
Warning: Rather *descriptive* battle scenes, a lot of character death (mwahaha, feel the wrath of the evil Rockywave!), a little bit of basherfic-ness (and a whole lot near the end) and mild darkness.
Disclaimer: I'm refusing to read the magna until it gets as long as the actual books. Until that happens, I don't own Warriors.
Beta: N/A
Cover: N/A

Author's Notes: This is basically an intro to my next Tribe-related fic, Crashing Waves *points to personal text*. Enjoy and hopefully skip the dark-ish, very-fast-paced and hard-to-read prologue! I know Star seems like a woe-is-me cliche main character, but what do you expect from a cat that almost gets killed by some mountain lion? Oh, and the POV switches from Star to her daughter in the fourth chapter. And be warned, Chapter V is even smaller than Chapter IV in Talons of the Raven, but Chapter VIII is about that small. And when you get to Chapter VI, you'll see where I got my name, as this fic was a plotbunny. The next two fics are Crashing Waves *still giddily pointing to personal text* and Stormy Skies. I could just go on like this forever, couldn't I?

Prologue

Before any cat knew, it happened yet again.

It was the night after her healer had so cruelly evicted some of the forest cats and imprisoned one, just for the good of a prophecy.

Star which Shines on Water had always wondered what the forest cats' names were. Paw which Catches Squirrel? Paw which Bats at Crow? Fur of Lightnings' Storm? Claw of Bramble Bushes? Tail of Falling Feather? Pelt of Tawny Lion? All of her ideas sounded somewhat-to-downright silly, except for Pelt of Tawny Lion.

This wasn't the time to be wondering about their names, though, even sympathizing them.

Sharptooth was here. He was the it. His evil, black, glare. His massive paws, and size, for that matter. The strand of drool that dangled from his jaws. The blood splattered against his pelt. Everything about the cat was terrifying.

The forest cats had jumped into the nearly pitch-black cave, almost a nanosecond after Sharptooth.

Star hurried one of her kits, Shadow of the Tallest Mountain, down to the safety of the nursery hollow, along with one of her best friends, Brook where Small Fish Swim, who had Rock beneath Moonlit Pool.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mate Gray Sky before Dawn fling himself at Sharptooth. The gray tom was batted away, like a fly, and hit the wall of the cave. He lay still. Star rushed over to him, thrusting Mountain into Brooks' jaws. "Gray!" she cried. "Get up!"

"Star," he murmured hoarsely. "I'll be fine-don't you wor-get out of the way!"

"What is it?" she meowed. No sooner had the words left her mouth when she felt excruciating pain in her neck. She tried to scream, but not a sound came out.

Star tried to roll around to see what had happened, but a firm grip stopped her. Sharptooth had her! Her claws scrabbled at the ground, trying to free herself. Sharptooth was too strong. Star quietly accepted her fate to die as he took her, away from the Tribe, into the night.

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

Chapter I
Reunited

Star lay down in a cave. The kit mother had no idea where she was, let alone if Gray was "fine", as he said he would be. On a brighter note, she had escaped from Sharptooth. She shivered in the cold, wanting the warm cave back.

A familiar scent crossed her nose. Mountain vole! Star crouched down, and crept slowly outside the cave. There it was, washing its face. How did the prey-hunters do it? Oh, yeah. She sat up stiffly against the mountain. The vole scampered closer, and closer, until...

There was a screeching sound. A eagle swept down and caught the prey in its talons. That was the first thing I learned as a to-be, Star thought miserably. Always remember to look up!

After taking a drink, Star wearily trudged back to her cave. She missed everything and everyone in the Tribe, except for Stoneteller. She recalled how the Healer had brutally pushed Stormfur forward to Sharptooth, crying "Your time is now!"

In the cave was a cat, badly hurt, and some kits, two. Star couldn't throw out a wounded cat and little kits, so she began, "Hello, may I ask who you are and what you're doing."

The older cat turned his head. "Oh, I'm so sorry," he meowed in a weak and depressed tone, like he had no will to live anymore. "My kits and I were just exiled from the Tribe of Rushing Water. I'm Gray Sky before Dawn, this is Rock beneath-"

"Moonlit Pool," finished Star excitedly. "And the youngest kit is Shadow of the Tallest Mountain. Gray, it's me, Star!"

"Star!" Gray yowled happily, and rushed up to greet his mate. "You're alive! I thought-I thought that Sharptooth..."

"I know..." Star said. Her gratefulness the she felt at that very moment can't be expressed in words. "But-why were you exiled?" His eyes grew sad again.

"Stoneteller thought that I was bad luck to the Tribe," he began.

"Why would that cat think something beetle-brained like that!?" mewed Star.

"Well, my first night at the Tribe just happened to be the first night Sharptooth came," Gray continued. "And a few nights ago, they blamed me for luring you into getting-um, they think you're in the Tribe of Endless Hunting."

"But the kits?-"

"I told them I wouldn't leave Pool and Mountain parentless." explained the wounded tom. "So
Sheer said, 'Take the hairballs with you, then', and Stoneteller agreed." Star curled her lip in disgust.

"Well, we know we're not going back there," she said. "but we can't live in this cave for the rest of our lives. We need to live in a Tribe, Gray."

"You aren't suggesting-"

"Yes, Gray. We have to start our own."

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

Chapter II
The Long Trek (hopefully) Home

The small family was preparing for a long journey that would lead them to a place called the sun-drown-place. Squirrelpaw, Stormfur, and Brambleclaw had told stories about it back when they were in the Tribe.

This sun-drown-place had sandy beaches that felt good under ones' paws, lots of selections of prey-birds, mice, fish, voles, berries, bird chicks, and much more-, warm weather all year long, and spiky weeds for camp protection. It sounded perfect. But there was one danger that the forest cats always ended their tale with-If you go there, never get in the water!

The cats set out, each carrying one of their kits. "Goodbye, mountains," muttered Star, even though she knew it was ridiculous. She normally hated life in the mountains-so bleak, so cold-as far as she knew, the only way she survived was with her Tribe friends right beside her.

Mountain and Pool had to help out, of course, and not just be lugged around the whole journey by their mother and father. Pool was clutching tightly in her teeth dried herbs wrapped in a huge leaf, and a wad of cobwebs drooped from Mountains' jaws.

So Gray, Star, Mountain and Pool started off. The first all the way through thirtieth night weren't so bad. All they did was walk down a mountain and start up another, then doze off in a cave. It was the thirty-first day when they started to have some trouble.

The kits would be to-bes around now, if the family was still in the Tribe of Rushing Water. So when the outcasts took a break, Star began coaching Mountain on the ways of a cave-guard, while Gray started teaching Pool on the basic way of hunting-Clan and Tribe style.

Mountain was keeping watch on the skies overhead. This was Stars' way on seeing how much he knew after giving the simple techniques (always remember to look up, stay with the prey-hunters when they hunt, protect your Tribe from intruders). "Sit extremely still, and wait for a mouse to come by." he instructed. The white and gray tabby nodded and leaned against the mountain in a rigid position.

Her sharp ears picked up tiny claws pattering on the rocky floor of the mountain. Pool waited until it came nearest to her. Then she swiped out her paw, catching the mouse. Gray purred happily at his daughters' and to-bes' first catch. But Star and Mountain spotted an eagle swooping down from the skies. It was aiming straight towards Pool.

"Look out!" they yowled in unison. Pool whipped around to see what was the matter, but it was too late. The eagle caught her in its talons and began to fly off. Gray and Star could merely stare in horror at their daughter, but that wasn't enough for Mountain.

"No!" he growled, leaping up. The eagle gave a surprised cry as Mountain dug his claws into its feathery back. The eagle and Mountain wrestled for few moments, and finally the eagle let go of Pool and shook off Mountain. They both landed on their feet.

"You-you saved my life," breathed Pool.

"Of course I did." meowed Mountain. "I'm your brother, Pool! What did you expect, me to let that eagle fly off with you and hope for the best?"

After that, for a quarter moon, nothing really big happened to the traveling cats. But on the thirty-eighth day, something so serious occurred it would change the life of one cat forever.

The voyage was coming to an end. Star, Pool, Gray and Mountain were on the penultimate mountain. According to the forest cats, after the mountains was the sun-drown-place.

There was a tremendously steep cliff that they had to cross. It had a gap in the middle of it.

Gray and Pool went first. Star watched anxiously from the beginning of the ravine as her mate and daughter slowly padded across. Her heart was pounding in her ears.

In the part of it where the opening was, Pool stumbled, and her lower part tumbled into the wide crack. "Pool!" gasped Star fearfully. But the to-be didn't fall through. Instead, she wriggled up and continued onward.

Now it was Star and Mountains' turn. Star cautiously started off, Mountain right behind her.

As they were approaching the gap, Star heard a familiar growl. Sharptooth! Star started shaking in fear. She knew from bitter experience that Sharptooth was more than a match for the whole of the Tribe of Rushing Water, let alone two cats and two to-bes!

Like Pool, Star almost fell through the opening. But Mountain grabbed her by the scruff and tossed her over it. Exhausted by the effort, Mountain plummeted through it and landed with a sickening thud.

"Mountain!" cried Pool and ran, forgetting the fact that she could fall, down the pebbly path to where her brother lay. The tabby buried her nose into Mountains' almost black pelt.

"Pool..." rasped Mountain weakly. "Leave me here. I'd just...just be a burden to our family. Can't walk..."

"To die?!?" exclaimed Pool. "Oh, Mountain, you know we'd never do that. We can just carry you."

"But-"

"Shh." Pool meowed, brushing the tip of her tail against her brothers' mouth. "Save your breath." Pool dragged Mountain up to where her parents were.

"Is he?-" began Gray.

"No," replied Pool. "but he can't walk. Could you carry him?" Gray nodded and took his son in his jaws.

***

The morning of the forty-first day, they finally reached the base of the final mountain, and after they rushed through a little bit of bushes, there was the sun-drown-place, shining in the sunrise.

"Isn't it wonderful, Mountain?" mewed Pool dreamily. There was no answer from her brother. "Mountain? You awake?" Still silence. Star was beginning to feel uneasy. Surely her son had made it through?

"Gray." she said urgently, turning her head around to where Gray was. "Is Mountain alright?"

"I don't know how to say this, Star but-" Gray choked. "His breathing is shallow."

"Mountain!" shrieked Star in horror. I've lost my Tribe, almost my daughter and myself, and now I'm about to lose my son! thought Star bitterly. How cruel can the Tribe of Endless Hunting be? She rushed up.

"Mountain?" murmured Star. "Say one thing-anything!"

"Mom, I love you." Star didn't seem to be listening.

"It's my fault you're dying!" she cried. "If I hadn't been so paranoid of Sharptooth-"

Mountain, who had been fighting to stay alive the past three days, let it all go. His goal was to see his familys' new home, and it was gleaming brightly in front of him. Mountain closed his eyes, and died peacefully in Grays' jaws.

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

Chapter III
Arrival

The cats buried Mountain near to where they came first and kept a vigil for him. Star was heartbroken. He had made it so far, and just gotten a glimpse of his home. All she wanted to do was cry out to the Tribe of Endless Hunting, ask them why it had to be like that. But Star kept her word and didn't make a sound.

Star heard rustling in the shrubs behind them the next morning, when the vigil was over. It was obviously a group of cats. "Who's there?" she meowed, whipping around. "Show yourselves!" Some cats limped forward.

There were eight of them. The head of the group was a large tattered silver spotted tom, followed by a smaller gray she-cat. In the middle were two black she-cats, one with ice blue eyes, sheltering two kits that were around a to-bes' age, one a golden tom, one a black she-cat like her, but with green eyes. Taking up the back were two strong looking toms, one a golden tabby, and the other a solid brown cat. The leader stepped forward.

"I am Summit," he said. "And this is my friend Pebble. The black cat behind us is Evening, and her sister is Ocean."Ocean? thought Star. I guess that's what the sun-drown-place is called, then. "Her kits names are Sand and Shadow. Their father is Sun, and the brown one beside him is Oak. We'll be on our way now."

"Oh, no!" meowed Star. "Summit, we need more cats here. And I can't turn out kits. Stay here, with us."

"Who's us?" mewed one of the black cats, who must be either Evening.

"Just me, Star which Shines on Water, my mate, Gray Sky before Dawn, and my two-" Star stopped, remembering Mountain. "-I mean one kit, Rock beneath Moonlit Pool, but you can just call us Star, Gray, and Pool."

"What happened to the other one, er, Star?" asked Evening.

"He-died." she mewed sadly.

"When?"

"Two days ago." Sympathetic murmurs aroused from the group.

"We do need a place to live, Summit," mewed Pebble, nudging her friend.

"I guess we'll stay," Summit meowed. "That's why we came here, anyway. To live here."

Star took the cats back where Gray and Pool lay asleep. "Wake up," she hissed into their ears. They did.

"Huh? Who are THEY!?" exclaimed Gray.

"They're cats willing to join our new Tribe." replied Star.

"Oh." meowed Gray. "What are we going to call it, anyway?" Star smiled.

"The Tribe of the Rising Tide." she meowed, starting to set down the basic rules of the Tribe. "I shall be known as Teller of the Starry Sky, or Starteller. Gray, you will be Graysky. Pool, you will be Rockpool. Summit, Pebble, Sun, Ocean, Oak, Evening, Sand, and Shadow, you shall be Summit of the Highest Mountain, Mountainsummit, Smooth Pebble on the Beach, Smoothpebble, Ray of Burning Sun, Sunray, Wave of Calm Ocean, Oceanwave, Forest of Tall Oak Trees, Oakforest, Cloud in Evenings' Sky, Eveningcloud, Gold Sand on Shore, Sandyshore, and Dark Shadow of the Clouds, Darkshadow, in honor of the Clan cats who told us about this place. Tomorrow we mark our territory."

As the sun rose the next morning, so did the Tribe of the Rising Tide. Starteller leaped up onto a stone after explaining to the group of cats how the Tribe worked. "Today we set up our land," she declared. "Smoothpebble, Graysky, Oceanwave, and Rockpool, you shall be the prey-hunters of our Tribe. You find the best hunting spots. Oakforest, Eveningcloud, Mountainsummit and Sunray, you are the cave-guards of our Tribe. Find where our camp could be and places dangerous for the Tribe. Sandyshore and Darkshadow, you shall be the to-bes of our Tribe. Smoothpebble, be mentor to Sandyshore. Eveningcloud, be mentor to Darkshadow."

"What about you?" meowed Graysky. After what had happened, Graysky was worried to death about the well-being of Starteller.

"I'll go with the cave-guards," she replied. "After all, I used to be one." She jumped down and walked over to Sunray, Oakforest, Darkshadow, Mountainsummit, and Eveningcloud, who leaned in her face.

"I'm not sure how to train Darkshadow, Starteller." she whispered. "Could you find her a different mentor? I mean, I like the idea of teaching her and all, but-"

"Of course not." replied Starteller. "I'll help you out until you get the hang of it." Eveningcloud nodded. "Alright, cave-guards," she announced, louder this time. "What should we look for first? Any ideas?"

"I think we should try to find thorns and such," meowed Oakforest. "To keep out predators and enemy cats, you know?"

"I don't think so," argued Mountainsummit. "We have to find what we're up against first before trying to keep it out. There's no use putting out bracken to have some poisonous snake slither through unharmed and kill off half the Tribe." The two cats bickered for a moment.

"Silence!" meowed Star. "Oakforest, Mountainsummit's right. Case closed." Oakforest muttered something under his breath. The cave-guards set out.

"Do you think any of us will get hurt badly?" mewed Darkshadow worriedly.

"No," meowed Starteller. "But if you do, I'll be there to help."

"What in the Tribe of Endless Hunting is this?!?" exclaimed Darkshadow from the front. Star rushed over. There was a strange red creature. Its back was as hard as a rock, it had little stems for eyes and eight spiny legs. On the end of the seventh and eighth legs were pincers.

Starteller remembered stories about things that fit its description. They called them "crabs"."The Clan cats told stories about these sometimes." meowed Starteller. "I think it's called a-ow!" The crab had lodged itself onto Startellers' tail. She swung it around furiously.

"An ow?" mewed Darkshadow humorously. "So that's what it's called!" Starteller managed to shake it off.

"No," she said. "A crab."

"I don't think this crab would be a threat to our Tribe." mewed Sunray.

"Just an annoyance," put in Eveningcloud.

"Moving right along," meowed Starteller. Oakforest apparently saw or heard something disturbing, for he was shaking.

"What is it, Oakforest?" mewed Starteller gently. The brown dune-guard pointed with his tail.

"Th-that." he meowed shakily. A salt water crocodile!

"Eveningcloud, I'm scared." squeaked Darkshadow, hiding behind her mentor.

"We can drive it out," mewed Starteller. "We're dune-guards, right?" Silence. Starteller felt so scared for Darkshadow. The black to-be had just begun training, she wasn't ready for this!

"Darkshadow, go find the prey-hunters." she meowed. The fearful to-be nodded and ran off. The reptile spotted the group of dune-guards, and slithered towards the shore.

"Come on, Darkshadow..." mewed Mountainsummit. "Bring the rest of the Tribe..." Sunray and Eveningcloud pressed against each other, while Oakforest and Mountainsummit blocked them from the slowly approaching crocodile. Starteller leaped onto a nearby branch, looking down on her dune-guards.

"What are we, kits?" she meowed strongly and steadily. "Sure, we've never battled a crocodile before, and some of you maybe have never fought anything aside from a cat. But we are dune-guards, and we can find the most effective way of doing so. Now who's with me?" A chorus of "I"s rang throughout the beach. Starteller raised her head proudly and determinedly, as her tribe prepared for battle.

The crocodile hit shore. Mountainsummit was the first to take a move. Snarling, he leaped onto the scaly creature's head, trying to pierce its hard skin. Starteller and Eveningcloud attacked it next, followed by Sunray and Oakforest. Mountainsummit was the only one not partner fighting.

Starteller beat the crocodile with her paws. It gave a mighty swish of its tail, and Starteller felt like she was falling-because she was falling. She hit the water with a splash, and in a heartbeat she knew why the Clan cats' story always ended with a warning about the water. It hit her like shards of pure ice. It was shallow, though, and she quickly waded out of the water.

The cave-guards were losing the fight sorely. Oakforest was shaking blood off his muzzle, Mountainsummit laid motionless on his side, and Eveningclouds' pelt was smeared with blood. Starteller was extremely frightened. We're crocodile food! she thought, shaking with fear.

"There they are!" cried a voice, followed by the crunching of running paws on sand. Darkshadow and the prey-hunters! Startellers' hopes rose.

Oceanwave leaped forward, snarling, and clawed the crocodile's head. Rockpool nudged Mountainsummit, trying to get the cat to wake up. When it didn't work, she dashed off into the thin layer of forest and returned with some herbs and a pointed stick. Starteller had no clue what her daughter was planning to do with the stick, but she recognized the herbs as those that would help shortage of breathing. Graysky attacked it with great force. No cat could tell he was trained to be a prey-hunter, the way he battled.

Out of the corner of her eye, Starteller saw Rockpool charging at the reptile with the dull end of her stick in her mouth. The point pierced the crocodiles' tough skin, and blood spilled from the wound. Defeated, it crawled back into the ocean, growling and snapping.

"That was a close one." breathed Sunray.

"Good thinking, Rockpool." meowed Graysky.

"It was nothing." mewed Rockpool modestly, looking down at her paws.

"It wasn't just that, Rockpool." meowed a voice-Mountainsummit. "You saved my life. If I was in your place, I wouldn't have known which herbs were the right ones to use. Without you, I would be dead. Someday, you could be a great healer." Rockpools' ears pricked up.

"Healer? Me?" she asked.

"Maybe you should appoint her as...uhhhhh....Next Healer now, Starteller." mewed Darkshadow.

"How creative," muttered Oceanwave under her breath.

"Um, sure. But let's use 'Successor' instead.'" Starteller paused, trying to think up a ceremony. "O Tribe of Endless Hunting, our Tribe needs a replacement cat for me when I die. I call upon you to see and approve my choice. Rockpool shall be the Successor."

"Rockpool! Rockpool!" chanted the Tribe, loudest of all Graysky.

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

Chapter IV
A New Life

Rockpool, as the Successor, led the cave-guards to the spot that was perfect for a camp. There was a huge rock formation jutting out of the sand, and it had lots of holes in it. The hollow parts were perfect for cats to sleep in. Two near the top were particularly sheltered, which Graysky, who was leader of the group, thought was great for serving as a nursery and the elders' den. Another in the middle would be excellent for Starteller, as it could be accessed easily by all the cats. Three at the bottom would be good for the prey-hunters, cave-guards, and the to-bes, because the sun hit it just right in the morning, and they would all wake up at the same time.

Thoughts were spinning through the white-and-gray tabbys' head. So many questions on how to tend to her Tribe-it was too much for Rockpool. How could she even attempt to heal all the cats in her Tribe? So she knew one herb. It was impossible to know the rest!

"Congratulations, Rockpool." mewed a voice, jerking Rockpool out of her thoughts. It was Darkshadow, one of Rockpools' new best friends. "On, you know, becoming Next Healer."

"Thanks, Darkshadow. You did a pretty good job in finding those nests." replied Rockpool, referring to the gull nests Darkshadow had spotted.

"You too, in that salt water stream that's packed with minnows."

"Want to go hunting?"

"I'll have to ask Eveningcloud." The black to-be ran off. Rockpool lay down on a rock near the prey-hunters cave.

The day was so hectic, so confusing, she just started to breath in deeply, smelling all the scents of the sun-drown-place-salt water, gulls, and a loner cat that smelled of the Tribe of Rushing Water. Wait-a loner cat that had her enemies' scent?

Rockpool jumped up and leaped into the shrubs. She hit her target-a long-furred blue-gray-and-white tom. "Merrrroowwww!" hissed the cat. "Ambush!" He flipped over and knocked the breath out of Rockpool. She turned over to face the cat as he loosened his grip. Her green eyes met his blue, and it dawned on her that this tom wasn't an exile; probably just some cat who passed through their land.

"He-hello, I'm Rockpool." she sputtered.

"Hi, I'm Flyer." replied the tom.

"I-I thought you were another cat. Sorry."

"It's fine." Flyer stared at Rockpool for a moment more and his eyes narrowed. "You aren't from some Tribe of Rushing Water, are you?"

"Well, originally, yes, but they--" He let Rockpool get up and turned away.

"Wait!" she called. "Come back!"

"I asked to stay in their territory for one night, and they drove me out, even though it was obvious that I was no threat to them." he hissed.

"But they drove my father and brother out, too!" Flyer stopped.

"Why?"

"Because they thought we were bad luck charms. It's a long story, but I can assure you it was all coincidental."

"Do you think I could stay in your--" Flyer paused, not knowing what it was called.

"Tribe." meowed Rockpool. "The Tribe of the Rising Tide. I'll have to ask my mom and Healer, Starteller, she's called." There was a rustling in the bushes, and Darkshadow emerged.

"Hi, Rockpool, Eveningcloud said I could-" Her yellow eyes traveled to Flyer, and the fur on her neck bristled. "Intruder!" she hissed.

"Relax, Darkshadow, it's just a cat who wants to join our Tribe."

"But still--"

"Remember yesterday? You used to be a loner, too." Darkshadow snorted.

"True. You're the successor, after all." She stalked off to Startellers' den, Rockpool and Flyer following.

Rockpool felt eyes boring into herself and Flyer as they padded up the rock. Starteller had renamed it the Denrock. They all stepped into the black healers' den. Starteller merely blinked. "Rockpool. Darkshadow." she meowed. "Who is this?"

"He's a loner." meowed Darkshadow before Rockpool could say anything.

"Who wants to live in our Tribe." added Rockpool. "His name is Flyer."

"Of course he can stay." she mewed. "A Tribe needs more than eleven cats." Rockpool and Flyer exchanged happy glances. It was startling, the bond that had formed between them in less then ten minutes. "But of course, we need to give you a Tribe name. Like Rock beneath Moonlit Pool, Rockpool. You can pick it out, if you'd like."

"I'd like to have my name in it," he mewed, mostly to himself. "So, I don't know, Seagull who Flys through Clouds, erm, Cloudflyer?"

"Yes, that's good, er, Cloudflyer."

Rockpool, however, didn't know that Cloudflyer would be the worst and best thing that ever happened to her.

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

Chapter V
A Prophecy Revealed

Rockpool stretched near a huge rocky tidepool as a wave went out. It brought, Rockpool saw happily, many minnows and other fish, including a flounder. She swiftly caught three minnows, a small tuna, and the flounder, which she added to her prey pile consisting of a sandpiper and a vole. She carried her kill the higher ground so a wave wouldn't carry it out to sea.

She was about to head back to the Denrock when something appeared in the water. It was a huge wave that crashed down on her head, sweeping her into the icy water.

Rockpool yowled, fighting to keep her head above the water. At each breath, she could see cats; gray-brown cats, slashing and fighting her Tribe. She swallowed salt water and everything faded into black.

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

Chapter VI
Argument

"Rockpool? Rockpool. Wake up; I can't let you leave me!" meowed Cloudflyers' distant voice. Rockpool blinked her eyes open.

"Oh, Cloudflyer, did you think I'd die?" she purred weakly.

"Well, sort of. I mean, you've been unconscious for a quarter moon."

"What?!?" she exclaimed.

"It's true," replied her friend. " And Oceanwave had another litter."

"Really? What are their names?"

"Wave which Brings up Rocks; Rockywave and Lily which Blooms on Water; Bloomwater."

"Great; we need more cats." The two cats heard pacing outside on the small cliff outside Startellers' den.

"I think Darkshadow would like to see you." he mewed. "I'll just be--going now." They exchanged one last glance before Cloudflyer left. Rockywave felt something bubble up inside her. Was it--? No. It couldn't be. It was illegal, as far as Tribe rules went.

"Hi Rockpool!" meowed Darkshadow cheerfully. "I see you're finally awake."

"Hey Darkshadow." replied Rockpool. "What happened besides your two sisters' births?" Darkshadow looked surprised.

"Who told you that?"

"Cloudflyer." Darkshadows' lip curled.

"Oh. Him." she meowed flatly. "Of course. I should have known."

"What's wrong with Cloudflyer?"

"You're spending too much time with him." she growled. "And gee, I didn't see that. Cloudflyer and you have spent so much time together, I think you look a little heavier. Oh, what a mystery! How did that happen?" Rockpool froze.

"I'm not heavy with Cloudflyers' kits, alright! Its' just that now that we've settled, we're gaining weight because of the abundance of prey!"

"Oh yeah, that really solves it. Especially since you haven't been eating since seven sunrises ago!"

"Darkshadow, this is none of your business. I know it's against the rules, but the Tribe of Endless Hunting is on my side."

"Really? Do tell how you know this."

"They sent me a prophecy. There was a flood, so we all went to higher ground, and there were these grayish brown cats..." She trailed off, shuddering.

"Oh. I'm sure." replied Darkshadow. "It was probably just a figment of your wild and unruly imagination. I'm probably the only cat who knows that the Tribe of Endless Hunting is not real."

"Shut up, crocodile scat!" hissed Rockpool. "Just go away!"

"If you haven't noticed, I can stay here as long as I want."

"If you haven't noticed, I'm a successor and you're just a puny to-be who became so the day I became a prey-hunter." imitated Rockpool. Darkshadow bristled at this.

"I wouldn't get into a fight if I were you." growled the black cat. "I don't want to battle a sick cat."

"A sick cat can battle," replied Rockpool. "A wounded cat can't."

"Show me what you've got, then." snapped Darkshadow, leaping into the air. Quick as lightning, she jumped out of the way, sending her former friend tumbling onto the hard stone. Spitting and stunned, Darkshadow pushed herself up from the carved out rock. "So you want to fight, Rockpool?" she meowed. "You think you're so good. Let's see how well you take this!"

Darkshadow flung herself at Rockpool. Rockpool tried to do the same thing, but she caught herself and pinned the white and gray tabby to the ground. Rockpool yowled as Darkshadow sliced the bridge of her nose. "Cloudflyer can't save you now." she taunted. Rockpool felt total rage take over her body.

"A true Tribe member doesn't attack their Tribemates!" she growled. "Oh, I forgot, you're nothing but a loner!" With this she pounded Darkshadow off of her and flung her out of the Denrock. Ears flattened, Darkshadow glared at her as she ran off down the beach.

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

Chapter VII
Discovery

Rockpool wandered the shore gloomily. It had been fourteen sunrises since that day, and Darkshadow nor Starteller was speaking to her. Her mother immediately went to Darkshadows' side, because the to-be had told her she started the fight. And, of course, a mother would never believe her daughter. Suddenly, she heard a distant voice.

Cloudflyer! Before, Rockpool was wary, didn't want to break the rules, but, oh, she didn't care if the Tribe of Endless Hunting came down to her and openly told her to leave him. Her love was great, too great to be described in words.

Both eyes, amber and green, filled with love, let up the dark night. "Rockpool," he purred softly. "Where are you going?"

"Just wandering the beach, you know." she responded. "Catch a chick here, sharpen my claws there, you know." Cloudflyer looked at her questioningly.

"What else, Rockpool?"

"Nothing." she meowed quickly. "Nothing at all."

"Tell me the truth." he meowed seriously. "You even look different."

"I'm heavy with kits, Cloudflyer." she confessed to her lover. "Your kits." The longhaired tom gasped, and his eyes gleamed with love, worry, and joy. He pressed his nose into her pelt, and the gray and white cats, one tabby, the other splotched, seemed to shine on the beach. "And I want to find someplace that I can communicate with the Tribe of Endless Hunting."

"I'll come with you." volunteered Cloudflyer. Rockpool flicked her ear.

"I'm sorry, but you can't." she meowed.

"Why not?"

"Don't you think it would be suspicious if we both snuck out to hunt in the dead of the night, and just happened to stumble upon a place where we can share tongues with the Tribe of Endless Hunting?" explained Rockpool. "We could be exiled."

"But Startellers' your mother!"

"It doesn't help that she isn't speaking to me, Cloudflyer."

"Okay. You have a point." The tom licked her ear. "Goodbye, Rockpool. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." Rockpool watched as her mate walked off down the shore, the waves lapping at his paws.

***

Rockpool laid her head on her paws. She was weary from searching, and it was almost moonup. I guess only a few more lionlengths, and then I'll go back.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a huge mountain which edges hung over the ocean like a Sunsoaker leaning over a cat they wanted to be their toykitten. There was a trail carved into the mountain; obviously Sunsoakers once used their iron monsters to get such a smooth path. There were so many cliffs hanging off of it, but there was one large one; near the top.

Cautiously, Rockpool padded up the way. She came to the ledge, and decided to examine it. There were many salt water pools on it. Could this be the way? she thought. Dipping her nose into the pool, she closed her eyes. Nothing. Rockpool sighed. It was useless. She opened her eyes, gazing into the pool. To her surprise, a gray cat was shown in the pool. He looked so familiar...

"Mountain!" she exclaimed.

"Yes Rockpool, it's me." replied the all-too-recognizable voice. "Why are you here? I see you found the Mountain of Endless Cliffs, and the Cliff of Salty Pools."

"You know all too well, Mountain. You're a Tribe of Endless Hunting cat!"

"Even the Tribe of Endless Hunting cannot see some things. Tell me, sister, what brings you here?"

"I want to know...if I'm doing the right thing with Cloudflyer. Can you tell me that, Mountain?"

"You have great things destined for you, Rockpool." replied her brother. "But your relationship with Cloudflyer is a path that you can choose. Do what you like." And with a flick of the gray tail, he started to vanish.

"No, Mountain, wait!" cried out Rockpool. "What does that mean?" She thrust her nose into the puddle. But when the ripples ended, the pool looked normal. Well, what did I expect? she thought as she walked down the mountain. A clear response?

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

Chapter VIII
Flooding

Rockpool awoke in the prey-hunters' cavern. Last night, she had told Cloudflyer the news about Mountain. Now, it was her time to tell Starteller. Well, not about her being heavy with Cloudflyers' kits, but that she found the "Mountain of Endless Cliffs", as Mountain called it.

She jumped onto a ledge, climbing her way the Startellers' den. Pulling herself up, she saw the black cat pacing back and forth. "What to do, what do do..." she muttered. "The tide...herbs..." Then Starteller turned her head towards Rockpool, and she knew that her mother was aware of her presence.

"Mom, I know that you're not speaking to me," she began, "but I was out hunting last night, and I found this mountain. I-I thought there might be some prey on it, so I climbed it-the Sunsoakers probably carved it with their monsters. And then I came to this cliff with pools on it. I thought there might be fish in one, but when I tried to get one, I tripped, and my nose broke my fall, in the pool. When the ripples ended, I saw Mountain. He told me that I found the Mountain of Endless Cliffs, and the Cliff of Salty Pools. It's basically our replacement for the Cave of Pointed Stones. Thought you might like to know that." Rockpool jumped out of the Denrock, and onto the beach below.

She rushed to the rocky tidepool where she had hunted the day of the prophecy that came in the form of a somewhat tsunami. Rockpool gasped. It was underwater. The tide was, well, rising further up, not going down. Now she understood the sign the Tribe of Endless Hunting had sent her.

The tide would rise up, flooding the camp and forcing the Tribe to evacuate to higher ground, namely the Mountain of Endles Cliffs. There, the cats from her dream would wait for them, and then attack the Tribe of the Rising Tide brutally. She didn't know who these cats were yet, or why the wanted to kill, at least damage, the cats in her Tribe, but it would soon be revealed. Too soon.

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

Chapter IX
Fate Revealed

All was serene. The twilight before dawn was misty and cool, with a slight zephyr swirling around the Tribe of the Rising Tides' territory. The silence was broken abruptly, with the sound of a loud splash.

"Eagle droppings!" swore Rockpool as she watched the minnow dart away. She waited for the tide to come back in.

"By rock and leaf, I call a Tribe meeting." came a yowl from the camp. Rockpool jumped, then realized it was Starteller. Great, Rockpool, the tabby thought crossly. You were scared half to death by your own mother.

As a small tuna was washed in, Rockpool quickly it and sprinted back to camp. Or, splashed back to camp. It had been a quarter moon since the ocean had steadily begun to flood, and now every cat was knee-deep in salt water.

Rockpool sat down beside Oceanwave and Smoothpebble. "...and therefore, prey and herbs have disappeared beneath the flooding ocean. So, I ask Rockpool to lead us to the Mountain of Endless Cliffs, a place where we can communicate with the Tribe of Endless Hunting." said Starteller, from the top of the Denrock.

"I'm not sure about that, Starteller..."

"That's an order. Bloomwater and Rockywave might drown. Here, carry Rockywave." Rockpool winced, took the gray kit, and started padding down the flooded beach.

*.*.*

The Tribe of the Rising Tide was moaning about the long walk. Long, dragged-out splashes were heard from all around. Rockpool, trying to sound alert, although she was tired as the rest of them, meowed (around Rockywave), "It's okay, everyone! We're almost there. See that mountain over there?" She flicked her tail towards the Mountain of Endless Cliffs, its peak looming above the haze.

"Great time to be cheerful, Rockpool," growled Sunray, who was carrying his daughter Bloomwater.

"Yeah," put in his mate. "I mean, it's not like we're dying from exhaustion out here. Oh, wait, we are!"

"Shut up, mom." growled a voice from right behind her. Rockpool was surprised heavily-it was Darkshadow! "Would you rather you and my sisters die?!" Oceanwave responded by merely grunting.

"Thanks." murmured Rockpool, turning her head a bit.

"That doesn't mean we're friends." Darkshadow replied. It sounded like she had her teeth clenched, for every word was accented. "My mother was simply acting like a beetle-brain." Rockpool sighed. She missed the company and friendship of the young, sharp-tongued, smoky gray cat. "Just kidding!" she meowed brightly, making Rockpool jump startledly. "Friends?"

"Friends." Rockpool purred. Her tail twitched in happiness as she set paw on the mountain.

*.*.*

Rockpool dragged herself up the ledge that was the Cliff of Salty Pools. She gasped, and Rockywave dropped, mewing pitifully. The cats that the Tribe of Endless Hunting had prophesied were her previous Tribe members. All of them-Stoneteller, Sheer, Brook, Scree, Jag, Bird, Rock, Crag, Night, Wing, Flight, Hawk, Blue and Snow-were on the enormous cliff. "The Tribe of Rushing Water?!?" she squeaked. "Please don't hurt the kit!"

"How do you know we're going to attack, furball?" snarled Sheer. Sheer...Rockpool's mind flashed back to the moment they were exiled...

I am sitting beside Daddy and my brother in the center of cold rock. Two meany cats are sitting in the middle, glaring at us. One is a gray tabby, the other a brown tabby. "So, Gray," growled the gray meany cat. "Sheer and I have been talking, and we have concluded that Sharptooth is connected with you-you are like a destructive charm, for the night you arrived, Sharptooth did also." he is saying. I don't understand the big words he is using, but I know Daddy might be gone.

"Stoneteller, have reason." says Daddy. I think the brown meany cat is called Sheer, and the gray meany is Stoneteller. "What would Star say? Would she let you exile me? Would she let you leave Mountain and Pool parentless?" I also think Star is my mommy, my name is Pool, and my brothers' name is Mountain. My mommy hasn't been here since a few days ago. My mommy, says Daddy, went far away, but she'll always be with us. I don't understand that, either.

"We will exile you," snarls Sheer. "but if you insist, you can take the furballs with you."

"Gray Sky before Dawn, as Healer of this Tribe, I exile you and your kits from the Tribe of Rushing Water." says Stoneteller. Now Daddy is mad.

"Alright, Stoneteller." he meows. "Your loss. You're out of two prey-hunters and a caveguard." He is leading us away, further into the mountains.

"Whewe awe we go-in, Daddy?" I am mewing.

"I don't know, Pool. I don't know."

"I had a prophecy from the Tribe of Endless Hunting." she growled. "Why do you want to attack us?"

"A prophecy came to us, too." mewed a sleek gray cat-Stoneteller. "We must kill descendants of Gray and Star, for the sake of our Tribe."

"It's Graysky and Starteller." snarled Starteller, coming up from behind. "And that's the most beetlebrained thing I've ever heard. Why, exactly, do all your prophecies involve deaths?" By now, the whole Tribe was up onto the Cliff.

"And if you want them," growled Sandyshore. "You'll have to go through me first."

"And me." snarled Darkshadow.

"And us," chorused Oceanwave, Sunray, Oakforest, and Eveningcloud.

"And us," growled Cloudflyer and Mountainsummit.

"And me." finished Smoothpebble, her normally soft fur spiked out all around. Rockpool unsheathed her claws, and drew her lips back in a snarl at the Tribe of Rushing Water. She admired her Tribes' loyalty greatly, especially Sandyshore and Darkshadow.

Oakforest gave a mighty leap, and the battle began.

[Ghostfeather]

oooo...........YAY keep going. I love ur story! ;D

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

Thanks Ghostfeather! I'll be putting up Chapter 10 now.

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

Chapter X
The Battle

Rockpool clamped her jaws around the reddish brown toms' right hind leg, digging her back paws into his left. The cat let out a cry of pain and anger. "I'm Vine Twisting down Cave, and I'm going to kill you!" he threatened angrily, but Rockpool clung on.

She knew this cat was but a to-be, probably Hawks' son, but he was one of the many cats trying to slaughter her none-the-less. "You could have at least TOLD me you were going to attack me!" whined the to-be, Vine.

"What, did you think Sharptooth was going to come up to you and say, 'Be careful, I'm going to eat you now,'?" She let go of Vine, meowing, "This is why a prey-hunter to-be shouldn't attack a cat fully trained in both fields." The young cat limped away, drops of blood spraying out occasionally, skidding behind Hawk who Soars Above.

Afraid that she had hurt Vine more than she meant to, Rockpool wove her way into the mass of grappling cats. Yowls were ringing from all around-

"Traitor! Why are you fighting on THEIR side?" hissed a voice Rockpool recognized as Jag. Her tail went up in happiness as she recognized her kithood friend, Cresent Moon in Dark Midnight Sky, pulling Jag off Graysky and pounding him.

"You'll NEVER get to Graysky, idiotic Rushing Water cat!" hollered Eveningcloud angrily. Rockpool was surprised; Eveningcloud was normally a gentle, good-natured cat who rarely spoke up-the opposite of her sister Oceanwave.

"Nooooooooooo, Sandy-!" called Darkshadow, her cry abruptly cut off. Wait. Rockpool froze, her stomach twisting in grief. The intelligent, loyal to-bes must be dead.

"You KILLED them!" came a cry of fury and grief. Rockpool realized it must be Oceanwave. "DIE, Sheer!"

"No! Oceanwave, DON'T!" shouted Rockpool. "Sheer's much stronger than you think he is!" Fear for the fierce she-cat tingled in her paws as from the area where Oceanwave was came a sickening crunch, then a thud.

Suddenly, the weight of a strong cat weighed her down. Sharp claws pierced her skin, blood welling out. Pain pounded her body throughout, but she managed to choke out-"Sheer?!"

"You guessed it, eagle dropping." growled the cat who was pinning her down. "Now, how do you want to end? Should I throw you off the cliff, leave you to bleed to death, or rip your throat out?"

"Neither!" came a call. Rockpool lifted her head to she a black flash fly past, and the heavy weight of Sheer was lifted. Starteller!

Starteller hung Sheer over the edge of the cliff. Suddenly the whole of the battling Rushing Water cats were hushed, crowding around their cave-guard. The Rising Tide members hopes were rising; Sheer was second-in-command to Stoneteller, his death could mean their attackers' retreat! "You killed Sandyshore, Oceanwave, and Darkshadow," hissed the black she-cat. "Now, your time has come." The high, stormy waves crashed nearer and nearer to the dangling tabby.

"We'll see about that!" were his last words as her sank his teeth into Starteller's leg just as a killer wave hit him. Both were dragged down into the dark flood. Sharp thorns of grief pierced Rockpools' heart as she realized what had happened.

"STARTELLER!" she cried. "NOOOOO!" Hot tears stung at her eyes. Her mother, the only member of her family that she had felt a special connection to, was gone. Forever.

"Retreat, Tribe of Rushing Water!" called Stoneteller. "Retreat!" As the gray-brown cats dispersed, Rockpool shakily turned to face her Tribe.

"As the-" she tried to start. Rockpool tried to banish some of the pain. "As the new Healer of our Tribe, I must do something for the sake of Starteller, the Tribe of Endless Hunting, and all of you. A crashing wave has saved our Tribe from death, so I give us the name of the Tribe of Crashing Waves.
"I prosmise you that after this devastating attack, we will remain strong, even after the loss of both our to-bes and others. We will always remember Starteller, Darkshadow, Sandyshore, Oceanwave, and all the other fallen.
"But Rockywave and Bloomwater are ready to become to-bes, and I already am thinking of herbs to heal our wounds. We will never fall!"

"The Tribe of Crashing Waves!" echoed the renamed Tribe. The sun shone behind the clouds, and Rockpool knew that a new dawn was coming.

[Tigerfur]

This story is EXCELLENT Rockywave! ;D Don't keep us in suspense for to long, update again soon! ;D

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

That's Chapter X finished! I thought it would be the end of the fanfic, but I realized that Rockpool had to receive her nine lives and give birth to Cloudflyers' kits, so there's more coming.