Post by Darkstar on Feb 26, 2007 20:32:52 GMT -5
Title: The Broken Prophecy
Chapters: Going to have around thirteen - twenty.
Author: Darkstar
Pairing: Non-Canon/OC
Rating: PG
Summary: Hard times call for hard decisions, even for StarClan themselves. When they put a young, barley out of apprenticehood cat in charge of a clan, who knows what could go wrong?
Warning: May contain rather severe violent scenes.
Disclaimer: Copyright Darkstar, 2006 - 2007
Beta: N/A
Cover: coming soon
Author's Notes: the story starts out akward, but it stabalizes later. Vinepaw may seem like a Mary Sue right now, but he won't be later on... He isn't truly the main character after all. Also, to understand what's going on, pretend the New Prophecy never happened.
The snow fell steadily, creating soft white blankets on the frozen ground. Huddled together in a ditch near the Tarpath were five skinny, underfed cats. A young apprentice yowled loudly for the hunger pained him greatly. A good-sized brown tom sat, watching, waiting. Trying his best to keep the remaining cats of ZephyrClan safe. Since StormClan, DuskClan, and StreamClan had each raided them, there were but five left of the once good sized clan. They were driven from their home, and now the other clans had divided up their territories for themselves.
The clans had grown ruthless and no longer followed the warrior code. They had changed the former clan names just to make themselves different. A monster roared by on the Tarpath, making the cats cringe in the ditch. It was freezing cold in the leaf-bare evening, making it practically unbearable for the clan cats. Vinepaw looked up at Mudstar with fear in his eyes, the brown leader looked away, not wanting to see his clan like this. They were all sentenced to a slow, cold death.
"Mudstar," meowed Blackclaw, the deputy who had recently been blinded when a StormClan warrior clawed out both of her eyes, "Mudstar, we need to move on. We need to find shelter and prey."
Mudstar sighed, his body jerked with sobs that he tried to keep inside himself. He looked at his underfed clan and then turned to Blackclaw, "It's hopeless. For one, we cannot travel in this weather, and second, where would we go?"
The blind deputy flexed her black colored claws. Stoneriver, the medicine cat, was near death. Mudstar knew that she was an old cat, not fit to travel. He hated to see her suffer like that. Had StarClan completely abandoned all of the clans forever? The Mudstar remembered, from the faintest hint of a memory in his mind. The prophecy that had been sent to them so long ago; Mudstar was just an apprentice.
"Four turn against one another, blood will stain the ground, and only the ashes of fire can save the forest." He muttered out loud.
The she-cat Windpelt, who mentored Vinepaw turned to her leader as he heard him talking to himself, "Are you still believing that, Mudstar? StarClan abandoned us, that prophecy is nothing to us anymore."
The brown colored leader looked at her through weary amber eyes, "I suppose you are right." He whispered, his voice hoarse with cold.
Stoneriver jerked and gave an unearthly shriek, "They are coming!" She yowled, then her eyes dulled and she died. Mudstar's eyes were a picture of fear. What had Stoneriver seen before she died that had terrified her so much. All of the cats were quiet for a moment, before Windpelt hissed, "We're all going to die!"
Mudstar just shook his head. They were coming. But what were they? Who were they? No stars shone in the leaf-bare sky as he looked up. Even the moon was covered in clouds. "Why have you left us StarClan!?" he yowled.
|x| |x| |x|
The next morning the cats awoke to find that the snow had stopped. Mudstar was the first to arise, in hopes to catch something to feed his clan. Not even rats scurried as he searched the ditch. He set his paw down and then drew it back, realizing that he had treaded on Stoneriver's body. He glanced in fear, her eyes were forever frozen with a look of pure terror. The leader carefully stepped over her and continued his hunt. He smelled the air, and his lips curled at the stench of the Tarpath.
Nothing. Not a bit of prey anywhere. He noticed some two-leg trash that had been thrown on the side of the rode. It smelled of meat, and he licked his lips. His eyes dulled as he found a simple piece of paper that smelled delicious. He let out a angry hiss and ran back to his waking clan.
"Vinepaw, I want you to roll in the grass and snow, coat your scent. Then I want you to run quickly to StormClan and steal some prey from their fresh-kill pile." He snapped out orders to the young apprentice.
Blackclaw turned to Mudstar, "Stealing prey? Vinepaw could be killed!" she hissed.
"It's our only hope, Blackclaw. Besides, I'll go with him..." He told her calmly.
After the two had disguised their scents, they ran off, leaving Blackclaw and Windpelt alone together. They ran and ran through the forest until they reached the StormClan camp. Mudstar whispered, "We were lucky we didn't run into any patrols."
Vinepaw just nodded, and the two began to sneak towards the over flowing fresh-kill pile. Mudstar's eyes narrowed, where had they gotten this prey? Most of the kill was snow rabbit, from ZephyrClan lands. What had happened to the clans? They had completely forsaken the warrior code.
"Go snatch a rabbit, Vinepaw. I'll grab one to. When I say go, we go. Alright, go!" Mudstar meowed before the two ran up to the pile.
"Stop there, intruders!" a dark hiss came from behind them. Mudstar turned around just in time to meet Tigereyes' lethal claws. The brown leader let out a shriek of pain as Tigereyes' claws notched his ear and tore flesh from his shoulder.
Vinepaw scrambled to help his leader, but it was too late, the well-fed and strong warriors of StormClan surrounded the two ZephyrClan cats. Vinepaw looked to his leader as they were led away from the fresh-kill pile and into a dark hole that smelled of death. Brambles and sticks were placed over the entrance and three cats were left to guard them.
"Let us out!" Vinepaw hissed bravely at the warriors, but they never even turned around. Mudstar looked at the apprentice with terror in his eyes, "We're crowfood."
Whitestar, the StormClan leader, stood on top of the Greatrock and glared as Mudstar and Vinepaw stood beneath, heavily guarded by warriors. Fiveclaw, who was the deputy of StormClan, leaped down from the enormous stone and hissed at Mudstar, "Who are you, and what were you doing in our camp?"
Mudstar glared at the gray and tan she-cat with a rebellious light in his eyes, "Mudstar of ZephyrClan, and that is Vinepaw, an apprentice. We were just stealing food from your fresh-kill pile." He stated all this as though it didn't matter at all.
Yowls came through the crowd, "Execute them! Kill those thieves! Filthy foxdung!"
"You are the ones who are foxdung, you drove our clan away from our lands!" retorted Vinepaw, who promptly was knocked to the ground by the warrior Stormlight's paw. She glanced at the apprentice was a dark smirk on her face, and extended her claws to do serious damage, but Mudstar managed to block her.
The ZephyrClan leader yowled as Stormlight's claws struck his cheek and then his side. Whitestar glared at the warrioress, who then backed down and padded into the crowd. Vinepaw looked at Mudstar and whispered, "Thanks." Whitestar descended from the Greatrock with a ruthless and cruel look in his eyes. He nodded to the cats that were still yowling for the two ZephyrClan cats to be executed.
"Mudstar and Vinepaw, for attempt at a raid on our clan, we now sentence you to death--" He was cut off by Mudstar's yowling hiss, "Raid?! What raid?! We are two starving cats, how could it be a raid!?"
Whitestar struck Mudstar on the muzzle, and chest at the same time, sending the cat hurling backwards onto the frozen snow-covered ground. "Kill them." He hissed to the warriors.
Within seconds of Whitestar's command, all the StormClan cats were upon the two. Most of the warriors went after Mudstar, while the apprentices went after Vinepaw. The apprentice Ironpaw clawed at Vinepaw's chest and raked his small, but deadly, claws down Vinepaw's unprotected belly, but not enough to cause real damage. Mudstar fought best he could but soon Raventalon's claws slashed his throat, killing Mudstar instantly. Vinepaw shrieked in horror and squeezed out from under Ironpaw. Quick as a flash he leaped to his paws and ran into the forest, deeper and deeper. He used his best judgment and scent to find where Blackclaw and Windpelt were.
Blackclaw ran out to him, using her scent instead of sight. "Blackclaw, they killed Mudstar!" wailed the apprentice. The blind deputy shook her head in despair. "I cannot be leader. I am a blind cat. Vinepaw, you have trained well, and are quite old enough to become a warrior. Windpelt is also unable to take on the job, because as of now she is expecting Mudstar's kits. Vinepaw, I give you the name of Vinefoot. But now the clan...or what is left of the clan, chooses you as our leader. And we hail you by your new name, Vinestar."
Vinestar's eyes widened, "Wha- I must be the youngest clan leader ever!" he exclaimed.
Windpelt ran out to him, "Vinepaw, you're home!"
"Vinestar, now, Windpelt. Blackclaw just made me our clan...er...band leader. We aren’t really a clan anymore, with only three cats. I suppose we are rogues. Blackclaw, I want to abandon my leader name and keep my warrior name Vinefoot. But I will keep my job as rogue leader, and Windpelt will take on Deputy position after she has her kits."
"Vinefoot! Vinefoot!" meowed Blackclaw and Windpelt together, cheering for their new, young leader. It was quite a suprise to Windpelt at first, because Vinepaw was her own apprentice, and she never expected him to become a leader, nor at that young age.
But there was still a problem. With Windpelt carrying Mudstar's kits, and Blackclaw a blind elder, the need for food was even greater. Vinefoot turned to Blackclaw, "Do you know anything about StarClan?" he asked, in a tone that showed wisdom that went far beyond his age.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I do," meowed the blind she-cat, "What do you want to know?"
Vinefoot gave a great sigh, "I have heard that past leaders have had nine lives. Where do they go to get them?"
"Why, the Moonstone! Do you mean that you want to go and get nine lives from StarClan?!" exclaimed Blackclaw.
The rogue leader nodded to her, "Yes, in which direction is it? I will get my nine lives and return to you. While Mudstar and I were in StormClan, I found where some prey was buried. It's just inside their borders, so I'll get it and hurry back. It's enough to last you a day or so, but that should be enough time."
"North-east," she replied, "Good luck Vinefoot."
The young leader ran off and returned with a vole and part of a squirrel dangling from his small jaws. He set them down by the two she-cats and let them eat first. They left part of the vole, and a little bit of the squirrel. Vinefoot decided to leave it all for them and to eat on the trip.
"Goodbye, I'll return soon!"
And with that he jumped on to the frozen Tarpath. There were no monsters in sight, and most cats knew that monsters don't walk on the Tarpath while it is snowing and cold. It took him a while to get to the Mothermouth. He entered slowly, walking down the passageway until he saw the Moonstone, glowing in the moonlight. The trip had taken him all day, Vinefoot knew it would be well worth it. He wasn't sure of what to do, so he walked up to it, but accidentally touched his nose against the Moonstone.
He soon felt the urge to sleep, he did not fight it, he knew why it must be coming. He let himself drift off. Moments later he found himself in a place he knew so little about. He was at the Fourtrees, where the clans used to gather. It was overgrown with weeds and vines, for no clans had gathered there in such a long time. He looked up to the skies, with wind ruffling his fur. The stars began to move and descended down from the skies.
The stars were the StarClan cats. Vinefoot's eyes filled with joy as he saw Stoneriver, much younger then she used to be and quite well fed. He smiled as she padded up to her, scents of ice and fire, and the wild places of the nights, and of memories that were past, and things to come in the future, all mingled with one another. She stopped just a fox length away from him. Then all the StarClan cats began to speak, their flaming fur and icy eyes creating light bright as day.
"Welcome, Vinefoot." It was one voice, but with all the cats speaking. "Are you ready to receive your lives?"
Vinefoot stared at them for a second, then squeaked with the faintest suggestion of speech, "Yes."
Stoneriver padded up to him, with a wise smile on her face. She stopped right before him, her eyes were blazing and her white and black pelt looked like cold fire. Vinefoot looked at her through wide eyes as Stoneriver placed her nose on Vinefoot's head. The young rogue gasped as the feel of fire ran through him, it was like nothing he had felt before.
"With this life I give you knowledge," Stoneriver spoke in a tone that sounded like the roar of all the rivers in the world. "Use it as you take care of the cats you hold dear."
Vinefoot almost fell backwards at the force that hit him. Haze and lightning whirled through his mind, and he gasped at the roaring pain. It soon died down and he shook like he had never shook before. Stoneriver had left and joined the crowd of StarClan cats, then a cat unlike any that Vinefoot had ever seen walked out from the crowd. He was a flame colored cat , with a pelt that shown as bright as the sun, and fire in his eyes that blazed. The cat touched his nose to Vinefoot's forehead, "With this life I give you endurance. Use it well as you go endure hardships in your clan."
The young cat felt the urge to yowl as pain like fire and the feeling of the worst dread and sorrow filled his mind and touched his body. It also soon faded as the other had, and just before the ginger cat turned away, Vinefoot managed to whisper, "Firestar?"
"Yes, Vinefoot, it is I." He said simply, and with a flick of his tail he vanished into the starry clan. Mudstar had mentioned from time to time that he was a descendent of Firestar. Vinefoot had always wondered how it could be true, since Mudstar was in ZephyrClan, but it seemed clear to him for some reason.
A black she-cat who was no older then an apprentice stepped out of the ranks. Vinefoot immediately knew her, she was his love, but had died in the war. Mudstar had given her a warrior name before she died: Nightfire, if Vinefoot remembered clearly.
"Nightfire," he murmured, taking in her wild scent as she brushed up against him. He looked up at her as she pressed her nose against Vinefoot's nose.
"With this life I give you love," she whispered, "Use it to care for the cats you protect."
Vinefoot felt no pain as the life poured into him. He felt as though he was waking up from sleeping, he felt what he had felt for Nightfire while she lived, but it ended with a jolt of pain. His eyes widened and he looked at her with a puzzled look.
"Vinefoot, remember, love sometimes comes at a price."
A dark ginger tabby stepped out of the StarClan ranks. Vinefoot knew him immediately, he was Oakleaf, his father. Delight shown in his eyes as he pressed his nose to his son's forehead.
"My dear Vinefoot, with this life I give you protection. Use it well as you protect your loved ones." He murmured to him.
Vinefoot cringed at the ferocity that rushed through him. He felt himself fighting battles and smelled the forest all around him. It warmed him, yet chilled and pained him. It soon ebbed and he opened his eyes to find himself still in the clearing. Oakleaf padded away, glancing over his shoulder at him with a look of fiery love.
Then Vinefoot saw his sister, Amberpaw. His heart raced as the brown and white she-cat padded up to him, he smiled at her, but she didn't respond. She simply touched her nose to his and whispered, "My brother, with this life I give you tireless energy. Use it well as you fight for your loved ones."
Vinefoot instantly felt himself racing through the forest, his heart pounded, and out of breath, even though he hadn't even moved his paws. There was more energy then pain in the life that Amberpaw had given. But as the others it all faded. He felt as if he were about to die.
Mudstar then approached Vinefoot. He had a slight look of sorrow in his eyes as he spoke, "Welcome, Vinefoot, apprentice of ZephyrClan, my warrior, and loyal clan cat. Since you have chosen to lead as a rogue leader, we can only give you six lives," Vinefoot's bright amber eyes dulled, but then Mudstar spoke again, "But when ZephyrClan once again becomes a clan, you can return to the Moonstone for your remaining three lives." He pressed his nose against Vinefoot's forehead, "With this life I give you courage, strength, and nobility. Use it well as you lead your Clan in the ways of StarClan and the warrior code."
Vinefoot felt pain as he had never felt before. It was like all the other lives combined into one strong force. He felt himself fall backwards, but was actually standing on his paws. Mudstar remained even after the life had faded, leaving Vinefoot trembling in the middle of the clearing.
The StarClan cats silently stood to their paws. Mudstar turned to Vinefoot, "Since you have chosen to keep your warrior name, instead of the leader name given by StarClan, we hail you by your calling, Vinefoot. You have received six lives, and StarClan grants to you the guardianship of the remaining ZephyrClan cats, and all to come. Defend them well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity."
"Vinefoot! Vinefoot!" Exclaimed all the StarClan cats together. The dream ended, and Vinefoot awoke to find himself lying by the Moonstone. But before he could get to his paws, Mudstar and Stoneriver appeared in front of him.
"Remember, Vinefoot, four will turn against one another, blood will stain the ground, and only the ashes of fire can save the forest."
A vision launched itself into the young leader's mind, seeming to posses his entire body. He saw Firestar, a former ThunderClan leader, and then he saw Mudstar being born far later. Then he saw Windpelt and two kits, but a tidal wave of blood and fire washed over them. Vinefoot attempted to call out to them, but could find no voice.
It ended and he scrambled out of the Mothermouth as fast as his paws could take him. The prophecy was true, and it was coming. But the ashes of fire? What could it mean? He had heard as a kit, while listening to some of the elders of ZephyrClan, about the long ago leader called Firestar, who had been the fire that would save his clan. But now the ashes of fire could save the forest...he would have to think over the meaning.
Chapters: Going to have around thirteen - twenty.
Author: Darkstar
Pairing: Non-Canon/OC
Rating: PG
Summary: Hard times call for hard decisions, even for StarClan themselves. When they put a young, barley out of apprenticehood cat in charge of a clan, who knows what could go wrong?
Warning: May contain rather severe violent scenes.
Disclaimer: Copyright Darkstar, 2006 - 2007
Beta: N/A
Cover: coming soon
Author's Notes: the story starts out akward, but it stabalizes later. Vinepaw may seem like a Mary Sue right now, but he won't be later on... He isn't truly the main character after all. Also, to understand what's going on, pretend the New Prophecy never happened.
Prologue
The snow fell steadily, creating soft white blankets on the frozen ground. Huddled together in a ditch near the Tarpath were five skinny, underfed cats. A young apprentice yowled loudly for the hunger pained him greatly. A good-sized brown tom sat, watching, waiting. Trying his best to keep the remaining cats of ZephyrClan safe. Since StormClan, DuskClan, and StreamClan had each raided them, there were but five left of the once good sized clan. They were driven from their home, and now the other clans had divided up their territories for themselves.
The clans had grown ruthless and no longer followed the warrior code. They had changed the former clan names just to make themselves different. A monster roared by on the Tarpath, making the cats cringe in the ditch. It was freezing cold in the leaf-bare evening, making it practically unbearable for the clan cats. Vinepaw looked up at Mudstar with fear in his eyes, the brown leader looked away, not wanting to see his clan like this. They were all sentenced to a slow, cold death.
"Mudstar," meowed Blackclaw, the deputy who had recently been blinded when a StormClan warrior clawed out both of her eyes, "Mudstar, we need to move on. We need to find shelter and prey."
Mudstar sighed, his body jerked with sobs that he tried to keep inside himself. He looked at his underfed clan and then turned to Blackclaw, "It's hopeless. For one, we cannot travel in this weather, and second, where would we go?"
The blind deputy flexed her black colored claws. Stoneriver, the medicine cat, was near death. Mudstar knew that she was an old cat, not fit to travel. He hated to see her suffer like that. Had StarClan completely abandoned all of the clans forever? The Mudstar remembered, from the faintest hint of a memory in his mind. The prophecy that had been sent to them so long ago; Mudstar was just an apprentice.
"Four turn against one another, blood will stain the ground, and only the ashes of fire can save the forest." He muttered out loud.
The she-cat Windpelt, who mentored Vinepaw turned to her leader as he heard him talking to himself, "Are you still believing that, Mudstar? StarClan abandoned us, that prophecy is nothing to us anymore."
The brown colored leader looked at her through weary amber eyes, "I suppose you are right." He whispered, his voice hoarse with cold.
Stoneriver jerked and gave an unearthly shriek, "They are coming!" She yowled, then her eyes dulled and she died. Mudstar's eyes were a picture of fear. What had Stoneriver seen before she died that had terrified her so much. All of the cats were quiet for a moment, before Windpelt hissed, "We're all going to die!"
Mudstar just shook his head. They were coming. But what were they? Who were they? No stars shone in the leaf-bare sky as he looked up. Even the moon was covered in clouds. "Why have you left us StarClan!?" he yowled.
|x| |x| |x|
The next morning the cats awoke to find that the snow had stopped. Mudstar was the first to arise, in hopes to catch something to feed his clan. Not even rats scurried as he searched the ditch. He set his paw down and then drew it back, realizing that he had treaded on Stoneriver's body. He glanced in fear, her eyes were forever frozen with a look of pure terror. The leader carefully stepped over her and continued his hunt. He smelled the air, and his lips curled at the stench of the Tarpath.
Nothing. Not a bit of prey anywhere. He noticed some two-leg trash that had been thrown on the side of the rode. It smelled of meat, and he licked his lips. His eyes dulled as he found a simple piece of paper that smelled delicious. He let out a angry hiss and ran back to his waking clan.
"Vinepaw, I want you to roll in the grass and snow, coat your scent. Then I want you to run quickly to StormClan and steal some prey from their fresh-kill pile." He snapped out orders to the young apprentice.
Blackclaw turned to Mudstar, "Stealing prey? Vinepaw could be killed!" she hissed.
"It's our only hope, Blackclaw. Besides, I'll go with him..." He told her calmly.
After the two had disguised their scents, they ran off, leaving Blackclaw and Windpelt alone together. They ran and ran through the forest until they reached the StormClan camp. Mudstar whispered, "We were lucky we didn't run into any patrols."
Vinepaw just nodded, and the two began to sneak towards the over flowing fresh-kill pile. Mudstar's eyes narrowed, where had they gotten this prey? Most of the kill was snow rabbit, from ZephyrClan lands. What had happened to the clans? They had completely forsaken the warrior code.
"Go snatch a rabbit, Vinepaw. I'll grab one to. When I say go, we go. Alright, go!" Mudstar meowed before the two ran up to the pile.
"Stop there, intruders!" a dark hiss came from behind them. Mudstar turned around just in time to meet Tigereyes' lethal claws. The brown leader let out a shriek of pain as Tigereyes' claws notched his ear and tore flesh from his shoulder.
Vinepaw scrambled to help his leader, but it was too late, the well-fed and strong warriors of StormClan surrounded the two ZephyrClan cats. Vinepaw looked to his leader as they were led away from the fresh-kill pile and into a dark hole that smelled of death. Brambles and sticks were placed over the entrance and three cats were left to guard them.
"Let us out!" Vinepaw hissed bravely at the warriors, but they never even turned around. Mudstar looked at the apprentice with terror in his eyes, "We're crowfood."
Chapter One
Whitestar, the StormClan leader, stood on top of the Greatrock and glared as Mudstar and Vinepaw stood beneath, heavily guarded by warriors. Fiveclaw, who was the deputy of StormClan, leaped down from the enormous stone and hissed at Mudstar, "Who are you, and what were you doing in our camp?"
Mudstar glared at the gray and tan she-cat with a rebellious light in his eyes, "Mudstar of ZephyrClan, and that is Vinepaw, an apprentice. We were just stealing food from your fresh-kill pile." He stated all this as though it didn't matter at all.
Yowls came through the crowd, "Execute them! Kill those thieves! Filthy foxdung!"
"You are the ones who are foxdung, you drove our clan away from our lands!" retorted Vinepaw, who promptly was knocked to the ground by the warrior Stormlight's paw. She glanced at the apprentice was a dark smirk on her face, and extended her claws to do serious damage, but Mudstar managed to block her.
The ZephyrClan leader yowled as Stormlight's claws struck his cheek and then his side. Whitestar glared at the warrioress, who then backed down and padded into the crowd. Vinepaw looked at Mudstar and whispered, "Thanks." Whitestar descended from the Greatrock with a ruthless and cruel look in his eyes. He nodded to the cats that were still yowling for the two ZephyrClan cats to be executed.
"Mudstar and Vinepaw, for attempt at a raid on our clan, we now sentence you to death--" He was cut off by Mudstar's yowling hiss, "Raid?! What raid?! We are two starving cats, how could it be a raid!?"
Whitestar struck Mudstar on the muzzle, and chest at the same time, sending the cat hurling backwards onto the frozen snow-covered ground. "Kill them." He hissed to the warriors.
Within seconds of Whitestar's command, all the StormClan cats were upon the two. Most of the warriors went after Mudstar, while the apprentices went after Vinepaw. The apprentice Ironpaw clawed at Vinepaw's chest and raked his small, but deadly, claws down Vinepaw's unprotected belly, but not enough to cause real damage. Mudstar fought best he could but soon Raventalon's claws slashed his throat, killing Mudstar instantly. Vinepaw shrieked in horror and squeezed out from under Ironpaw. Quick as a flash he leaped to his paws and ran into the forest, deeper and deeper. He used his best judgment and scent to find where Blackclaw and Windpelt were.
Blackclaw ran out to him, using her scent instead of sight. "Blackclaw, they killed Mudstar!" wailed the apprentice. The blind deputy shook her head in despair. "I cannot be leader. I am a blind cat. Vinepaw, you have trained well, and are quite old enough to become a warrior. Windpelt is also unable to take on the job, because as of now she is expecting Mudstar's kits. Vinepaw, I give you the name of Vinefoot. But now the clan...or what is left of the clan, chooses you as our leader. And we hail you by your new name, Vinestar."
Vinestar's eyes widened, "Wha- I must be the youngest clan leader ever!" he exclaimed.
Windpelt ran out to him, "Vinepaw, you're home!"
"Vinestar, now, Windpelt. Blackclaw just made me our clan...er...band leader. We aren’t really a clan anymore, with only three cats. I suppose we are rogues. Blackclaw, I want to abandon my leader name and keep my warrior name Vinefoot. But I will keep my job as rogue leader, and Windpelt will take on Deputy position after she has her kits."
"Vinefoot! Vinefoot!" meowed Blackclaw and Windpelt together, cheering for their new, young leader. It was quite a suprise to Windpelt at first, because Vinepaw was her own apprentice, and she never expected him to become a leader, nor at that young age.
But there was still a problem. With Windpelt carrying Mudstar's kits, and Blackclaw a blind elder, the need for food was even greater. Vinefoot turned to Blackclaw, "Do you know anything about StarClan?" he asked, in a tone that showed wisdom that went far beyond his age.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I do," meowed the blind she-cat, "What do you want to know?"
Vinefoot gave a great sigh, "I have heard that past leaders have had nine lives. Where do they go to get them?"
"Why, the Moonstone! Do you mean that you want to go and get nine lives from StarClan?!" exclaimed Blackclaw.
The rogue leader nodded to her, "Yes, in which direction is it? I will get my nine lives and return to you. While Mudstar and I were in StormClan, I found where some prey was buried. It's just inside their borders, so I'll get it and hurry back. It's enough to last you a day or so, but that should be enough time."
"North-east," she replied, "Good luck Vinefoot."
The young leader ran off and returned with a vole and part of a squirrel dangling from his small jaws. He set them down by the two she-cats and let them eat first. They left part of the vole, and a little bit of the squirrel. Vinefoot decided to leave it all for them and to eat on the trip.
"Goodbye, I'll return soon!"
And with that he jumped on to the frozen Tarpath. There were no monsters in sight, and most cats knew that monsters don't walk on the Tarpath while it is snowing and cold. It took him a while to get to the Mothermouth. He entered slowly, walking down the passageway until he saw the Moonstone, glowing in the moonlight. The trip had taken him all day, Vinefoot knew it would be well worth it. He wasn't sure of what to do, so he walked up to it, but accidentally touched his nose against the Moonstone.
He soon felt the urge to sleep, he did not fight it, he knew why it must be coming. He let himself drift off. Moments later he found himself in a place he knew so little about. He was at the Fourtrees, where the clans used to gather. It was overgrown with weeds and vines, for no clans had gathered there in such a long time. He looked up to the skies, with wind ruffling his fur. The stars began to move and descended down from the skies.
The stars were the StarClan cats. Vinefoot's eyes filled with joy as he saw Stoneriver, much younger then she used to be and quite well fed. He smiled as she padded up to her, scents of ice and fire, and the wild places of the nights, and of memories that were past, and things to come in the future, all mingled with one another. She stopped just a fox length away from him. Then all the StarClan cats began to speak, their flaming fur and icy eyes creating light bright as day.
"Welcome, Vinefoot." It was one voice, but with all the cats speaking. "Are you ready to receive your lives?"
Vinefoot stared at them for a second, then squeaked with the faintest suggestion of speech, "Yes."
Stoneriver padded up to him, with a wise smile on her face. She stopped right before him, her eyes were blazing and her white and black pelt looked like cold fire. Vinefoot looked at her through wide eyes as Stoneriver placed her nose on Vinefoot's head. The young rogue gasped as the feel of fire ran through him, it was like nothing he had felt before.
"With this life I give you knowledge," Stoneriver spoke in a tone that sounded like the roar of all the rivers in the world. "Use it as you take care of the cats you hold dear."
Vinefoot almost fell backwards at the force that hit him. Haze and lightning whirled through his mind, and he gasped at the roaring pain. It soon died down and he shook like he had never shook before. Stoneriver had left and joined the crowd of StarClan cats, then a cat unlike any that Vinefoot had ever seen walked out from the crowd. He was a flame colored cat , with a pelt that shown as bright as the sun, and fire in his eyes that blazed. The cat touched his nose to Vinefoot's forehead, "With this life I give you endurance. Use it well as you go endure hardships in your clan."
The young cat felt the urge to yowl as pain like fire and the feeling of the worst dread and sorrow filled his mind and touched his body. It also soon faded as the other had, and just before the ginger cat turned away, Vinefoot managed to whisper, "Firestar?"
"Yes, Vinefoot, it is I." He said simply, and with a flick of his tail he vanished into the starry clan. Mudstar had mentioned from time to time that he was a descendent of Firestar. Vinefoot had always wondered how it could be true, since Mudstar was in ZephyrClan, but it seemed clear to him for some reason.
A black she-cat who was no older then an apprentice stepped out of the ranks. Vinefoot immediately knew her, she was his love, but had died in the war. Mudstar had given her a warrior name before she died: Nightfire, if Vinefoot remembered clearly.
"Nightfire," he murmured, taking in her wild scent as she brushed up against him. He looked up at her as she pressed her nose against Vinefoot's nose.
"With this life I give you love," she whispered, "Use it to care for the cats you protect."
Vinefoot felt no pain as the life poured into him. He felt as though he was waking up from sleeping, he felt what he had felt for Nightfire while she lived, but it ended with a jolt of pain. His eyes widened and he looked at her with a puzzled look.
"Vinefoot, remember, love sometimes comes at a price."
A dark ginger tabby stepped out of the StarClan ranks. Vinefoot knew him immediately, he was Oakleaf, his father. Delight shown in his eyes as he pressed his nose to his son's forehead.
"My dear Vinefoot, with this life I give you protection. Use it well as you protect your loved ones." He murmured to him.
Vinefoot cringed at the ferocity that rushed through him. He felt himself fighting battles and smelled the forest all around him. It warmed him, yet chilled and pained him. It soon ebbed and he opened his eyes to find himself still in the clearing. Oakleaf padded away, glancing over his shoulder at him with a look of fiery love.
Then Vinefoot saw his sister, Amberpaw. His heart raced as the brown and white she-cat padded up to him, he smiled at her, but she didn't respond. She simply touched her nose to his and whispered, "My brother, with this life I give you tireless energy. Use it well as you fight for your loved ones."
Vinefoot instantly felt himself racing through the forest, his heart pounded, and out of breath, even though he hadn't even moved his paws. There was more energy then pain in the life that Amberpaw had given. But as the others it all faded. He felt as if he were about to die.
Mudstar then approached Vinefoot. He had a slight look of sorrow in his eyes as he spoke, "Welcome, Vinefoot, apprentice of ZephyrClan, my warrior, and loyal clan cat. Since you have chosen to lead as a rogue leader, we can only give you six lives," Vinefoot's bright amber eyes dulled, but then Mudstar spoke again, "But when ZephyrClan once again becomes a clan, you can return to the Moonstone for your remaining three lives." He pressed his nose against Vinefoot's forehead, "With this life I give you courage, strength, and nobility. Use it well as you lead your Clan in the ways of StarClan and the warrior code."
Vinefoot felt pain as he had never felt before. It was like all the other lives combined into one strong force. He felt himself fall backwards, but was actually standing on his paws. Mudstar remained even after the life had faded, leaving Vinefoot trembling in the middle of the clearing.
The StarClan cats silently stood to their paws. Mudstar turned to Vinefoot, "Since you have chosen to keep your warrior name, instead of the leader name given by StarClan, we hail you by your calling, Vinefoot. You have received six lives, and StarClan grants to you the guardianship of the remaining ZephyrClan cats, and all to come. Defend them well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity."
"Vinefoot! Vinefoot!" Exclaimed all the StarClan cats together. The dream ended, and Vinefoot awoke to find himself lying by the Moonstone. But before he could get to his paws, Mudstar and Stoneriver appeared in front of him.
"Remember, Vinefoot, four will turn against one another, blood will stain the ground, and only the ashes of fire can save the forest."
A vision launched itself into the young leader's mind, seeming to posses his entire body. He saw Firestar, a former ThunderClan leader, and then he saw Mudstar being born far later. Then he saw Windpelt and two kits, but a tidal wave of blood and fire washed over them. Vinefoot attempted to call out to them, but could find no voice.
It ended and he scrambled out of the Mothermouth as fast as his paws could take him. The prophecy was true, and it was coming. But the ashes of fire? What could it mean? He had heard as a kit, while listening to some of the elders of ZephyrClan, about the long ago leader called Firestar, who had been the fire that would save his clan. But now the ashes of fire could save the forest...he would have to think over the meaning.
