Warriorheart's OTHER Story

[Warriorstar~Deathfang]

Brawn sat watching the young she-cat padding down the alley past him. The big amber tom's eyes watched her insolently from behind hooded lids. He stepped out in front of her as she reached his hiding place. The she-cat stopped, looking straight into his eyes with a fierce defiance. Those eyes. They were beautiful, but terrible to behold when lit by the raging fire of fury. The blue eyes blazed with a terrible fire, almost burning into Brawn's soul. It was all he could do to stop himself from fidgeting as he tore his eyes from the piercing gaze.
Storm stood fearlessly before Brawn, noticably smaller than her adversary but no lacking in strength. Lean, strong muscles were visible from her glossy, firey red fur. She was bigger than most cats her age, and much stronger. She was a real survivor. Living in the place of the Twolegs was not easy. There was not much fresh kill, Twoleg monsters were everywhere, and there was still the threat of BloodClan.
True, Storm thought to herself as she stared Brawn down, BloodClan's leader had been killed almost four years ago, but new, stronger leaders had risen and taken over the surviving Clan members. Brawn was a new member of the Clan, but just as mean and tricky as any of them.
"Hey, kitty, you can't go this way. This is BloodClan territory! Now beat it before I beat you!" Storm seemed unconcerned. She spat back a retort, "Or what?"
Brawn leaned forward, leering cruely at Storm. "Don't tempt me, wench!" he ground out. Storm's gaze met his, unwavering and calm. She began walking forward, treading past Brawn. Growling with annoyance, Brawn swung his paw to strike at the she-cat. But she was like smoke, vanishing and then reappearing behind him.
Brawn found himself bodily lifted and flung forward. He squirmed onto his feet only to see Storm hurtling through the air at him. She set her teeth savagely into Brawn's neck scruff, clinging onto him like a limpet.
'Brawn flipped over onto his back, tossing his attacker off. Storm landed skillfully on her feet, crouched down, her teeth bared. Brawn flattened himself out, backing away, snarling, "What do you want?"
Storm hissed back at him, "I must speak with Slayer. It's urgent!" Brawn looked surprised. "What business do you have to discuss with BloodClan's leader? You're not even a BloodClan member!"
Storm spat scornfully in Brawn's direction. "Just get out of my way!" Brawn saw the bloodfire in the she cat's eyes and grudgingly backed away. Storm padded contemptuously by him, vanishing around the corner.
Storm stopped. She knew she was being watched. Scores of glittering eyes were peering out at her from dark corners of the alleyway. But the massive black cat that stalked slowly out of the shadows and leaped to the top a pile of rubble held Storm’s attention. He glared menacingly down at the bold young intruder who had dared to enter his realm. This was Slayer, the leader of BloodClan.
His harsh, grating voice sounded like a blade on the whetting stone as he ground out, "What do you want, whelp? What makes you think you can just waltz in here as you please?" The strangebeast looked up at the clan leader with no fear in her eyes. She began speaking, her voice strong and bold, "Slayer, leader of the mighty BloodClan, I have come here to discuss a matter of great importance!"
With a nod from Slayer, cats began emerging like nightmares from the shadows. They were all big, tough warriors, assassins all. They sat impassively watching Storm, waiting to hear why she had come to see their leader.
Storm seemed not the least bit daunted. She continued on as if she hadn't noticed the cats, "Slayer, we Strays, as we are called by the Twolegs, are starving. There is not enough food to keep us healthy and full. I do not come here to ask a favor of you, but simply to ask if we may leave the Twoleg place and dwell in the forest. There is more food there, and no Twolegs live there."
Slayer growled, the hackles of fur on his back rising. "No cats will leave here! You Strays are worthless! You are under my leadership! You will stay here, and you will never go into that forest! It's cursed, I tell you! Demon cats live there, the cats that killed the great Scourge!"
Storm's eyes blazed in anger. "We are not under your leadership! We have no clan and no leader! We are loners, but we are Slayer was quivering with rage at the defiance in the cat's words. With a flick of his tail, his warriors were surrounding the young Stray. He grinned wickedly at her, teasing her with malicious pleasure, "Very well, pretty one. I'll let you leave if you can get out of here...alive." all starving! We must leave. And we will leave!"
''With a nod from Slayer, cats began emerging like nightmares from the shadows. They were all big, tough warriors, assassins all. They sat impassively watching Storm, waiting to hear why she had come to see their leader.
Storm seemed not the least bit daunted. She continued on as if she hadn't noticed the cats, "Slayer, we Strays, as we are called by the Twolegs, are starving. There is not enough food to keep us healthy and full. I do not come here to ask a favor of you, but simply to ask if we may leave the Twoleg place and dwell in the forest. There is more food there, and no Twolegs live there."
Slayer growled, the hackles of fur on his back rising. "No cats will leave here! You Strays are worthless! You are under my leadership! You will stay here, and you will never go into that forest! It's cursed, I tell you! Demon cats live there, the cats that killed the great Scourge!"
Storm's eyes blazed in anger. "We are not under your leadership! We have no clan and no leader! We are loners, but we are all starving! We must leave. And we will leave!" Slayer was quivering with rage at the defiance in the cat's words. With a flick of his tail, his warriors were surrounding the young Stray. He grinned wickedly at her, teasing her with malicious pleasure, "Very well, pretty one. I'll let you leave if you can get out of here...alive."

[Warriorstar~Deathfang]

Storm turned slowly, bloodlust glowing in her savage eyes as she prepared to attack her oppressers. Her claws sheathed and unsheathed in anticipation. At last, her chance to break away!
The BloodClan cats began closing in on the young cat. Suddenly a roar ripped from her throat as she threw herself at the nearest group of cats. Surprised yowls were heard at the unexpected attack. Storm had set her teeth into the throat of a screaming tabby, scratching wildly with her claws. She pulled herself away and began bowling through the ranks of BloodClan. She hit out left and right, striking with fang and claw. She thundered down the alleyway, her paws barely touching the pavement. The noise of her pursuers were right behind her, but Storm was the swiftest runner. Soon she was leaving them far behind.
As soon as she was out of the dark alleyway, Storm headed straight for the edge of the Twoleg place, towards the welcoming sight of the forest before her. Now she could live her dream and dwell in the place that she truly belonged.

Chapter One
Firestar sat watching his mate Sandstorm as she went about the camp, stopping every now and then to heave a great shuddering sigh. Firestar felt every ounce of grief that she felt, but he had learned not to show it. He padded up to Sandstorm and buried his nose in her fur, licking her comfortingly. Sandstorm looked at Firestar with teardew welling up in her green eyes. She bravely tried to hold them back, but the unbidden tears slid down her cheeks. She buried her face in Firestar's chest, weeping softly.
Firestar was having a hard time keeping the tears from his eyes. There was a lump in his throat which wouldn't go down. What had Sandstorm done to deserve this? What had he done to deserve this? He tried consoling his mate.
"Sandstorm, we have to move on. It's been three years. We...we can't dwell on it forever." Sandstorm lifted her face, pure agony showing from her glazed eyes. She opened her mouth, but it was a while before she could find her voice.
"Firestar, we didn't...why did...they do this...to us?" She went into another bout of uncontrolled weeping. Firestar stifled a sob that was welling up in his throat, licking his mate's head tenderly. They would have to endure this...together.
It had been three years to the day that their kits had all been slaughtered. Firestar and Sandstorm were heartbroken when the pitiful bodies had been found, slashed to bits. Of the three kits, only two bodies were found, and a frantic search for the third kit was organized. But it was all in vain. Weeks of searching only made it certain that the kit was dead.
Sandstorm had gone into the warriors den and sat there, stone faced, not coming out for days. Firestar at last forced her to come out and eat. Being leader of ThunderClan, he had little time to mourn the death of his offspring. But every year after that, it was hard to face the anniversary of the terrible murder of the kits..
Firestar suddenly forgot his grief as shrill screams began issuing from the warriors' den. Yowls of surprise and rage were mingled with the scuffle of paws as several bundles of fur tumbled out of the den, locked together in a writhing turmoil of claws and fangs. Hissing, spitting and yowling, two young cats were going at it hammer and tongs, not play fighting, but at each other's throats.
Firestar rushed up, trying to separate the two cats. One was a strong, white tom, Firestar's nephew, Cloudtail. But the other was a cat Firestar had never seen before. This cat did not have the scent of ThunderClan, but the smell of...
Firestar's neck hairs were beginning to prickle as he called up this scent from his memories four years aback. BloodClan! This cat reeked of it, and certainly looked it, thin, bedraggled, vicious, and a born street fighter. The she cat had bright orange fur, like his own, but patches of it were missing from where Cloudtail had clawed her. The eyes were wide and fierce, undaunted, savage and wild.
Firestar had a hard time keeping the two cats apart. They were struggling to get at each other. At last they settled down, still staring each other down. "Who are you?" Firestar questioned the newcomer, his voice harsh and commanding. The cat looked up at him, baring her teeth and snarling savagely, "I am Storm, and you have no right to attack a sleeping beast!" Cloudtail was enraged at this. He struggled wildly to get at the impudent rogue, spitting angrily, "She was asleep in the warriors' den! She's a trespasser!"
Storm snarled at Cloudtail. "It was late at night, and I was tired! I didn't know this was somebeast's camp! I was gonna move on in the mornin'!" Firestar looked at Storm hard. There was something so familiar about her, so...vaguely...
Firestar snapped out of his reverie. Something had to be done about this cat. "Listen, Storm. You aren't of our Clan, but you are of BloodClan! BloodClan was our enemy! Now if you..."
He got no further. The cat was up on her haunches having her say, her eyes blazing with rage. "I am not! I would never join up with that sniveling bunch of cowards! I came here to live my own life away from those tyrants! I am a Stray, but now I am free!"
Firestar was still puzzled by the way this rogue was jarring into his memory. But he needed to set things right. He growled menacingly in the young cat's face, snarling at her, "You don't belong here, Stray! Go back to your Two-leg home!"
He was taken aback as the young cat drew back her lips and showed her lethal fangs, glittering like poisoned needles. She rasped out her answer, her eyes showing no emotion, "I will die before I go back there. BloodClan rules with an iron paw. All Strays are starving because of BloodClan!"
Firestar was now aware of the cat's ribs sticking out considerably from her emaciated form. She was painfully thin. A pang of guilt made Firestar stop snarling at the Stray. They could at least let her pass on to find a place to live away from BloodClan.

[Warriorstar~Deathfang]

Firestar straightened his fur and cast a warning glance at Cloudtail. The young white warrior lowered his hackles and grudgingly nodded at Storm. Storm looked puzzled.
"You can pass here peacefully. If you like, you could stay a while to regain your strength, " said Firestar. "You mean...eat and sleep...in peace?" said Storm haltingly. Her eyes were wide with desire for food, and her mad, bloodshot eyes were evidence of little sleep.
Firestar's heart went out to the young Stray. He nodded and turned. Sandstorm was standing at the entrance to the warriors' den, stock still. She had'nt taken her eyes off of Storm. Firestar padded over to her and nudged her gently. Sandstorm snapped her gaze over to him. She nodded dumbly.
Firestar leaped to the top of Highrock. He did'nt even have to call for his warriors, as many had been drawn out of their dens by the sounds of the fight. They gathered around the foot of the rock, looking up expectantly at their leader.
Firestar cleared his throat and began, "Cats of ThunderClan, this cat is Storm, and she is a Stray who has recently escaped from the tyranny of BloodClan."
Growls and snarls of outrage broke out as Firestar described the Stays' plight. Every eye turned to Storm, and all saw how thin and hungry she looked.
Firestar continued, "We will let Storm stay with us for a while to eat and sleep and regain her strength. Then she will move on to find a place of her own." He waited for his clan's reaction, and was pleased to see the nods of approval ripple through the cats. Cloudtail rushed over to Storm, carrying a vole from the fresh kill pile. He placed it at her feet, gesturing towards it with his paw. Storm stared at the food, her eyes dewing up. Firestar suddenly realized that she had probably never been given food freely, but had always had to fight for it.
Storm lunged at the piece of fresh kill, ripping and tearing it to shreds as she gobbled it down furiously like a ravenous wolf. She ate everything, bones, fur, and blood. Then, remembering her manners, she nodded her thanks to Cloudtail and looked up at Firestar. The graditude in her eyes were so overwhelming that Firestar had to tear his gaze away.
He looked into the crowd and saw Cinderpelt, his medicine cat. She was looking at Storm strangely. Suddenly, she froze, the hair along her spine prickling. Firestar knew what was happening; she was having a vision from StarClan!

[Warriorstar~Deathfang]

Storm licked her lips as she asked, “Excuse me, where are my manners? Who are you?” Firestar indicated all the cats in the clearing as he mewed proudly, “This is ThunderClan. I am their leader, Firestar.”
Storm’s eyes widened as her mouth fell open in awe. “You’re the one who killed Scourge, the old BloodClan leader? In the battle of LionClan and BloodClan? But I thought those cats were demons!”
Firestar was surprised. He hadn’t known that his name was mentioned in that story. Storm looked at him with admiration. “You’re a legendary hero to us Strays!” This unexpectedly pleased Firestar. He knew that the Strays hated BloodClan. He suddenly felt urged on to do something about the terrible tyranny of BloodClan’s rule. But that feeling was whisked away as the cats began crowding around Storm, welcoming her and being friendly. Cloudtail seemed to have forgotten his previous hostility, for now he was talking animatedly with Storm. When the crowd around her subsided, Storm let Cloudtail show her around the camp. Firestar smiled at his nephew. It looked like the beginning of a great friendship.
Firestar also noticed something else. Brackenfur, Cinderpelt’s brother, was suddenly all smiles for Storm. He joined Cloudtail in showing her the camp. He was polite and generous, like a true gentlebeast. He gave her a squirrel he had just brought into camp, and she accepted gratefully, tearing into it with gusto. Brackenfur stood back, growling at anyone who disturbed Storm during her meal.
As Storm was eating, she looked up as Brightheart padded past her. Storm stiffened suddenly, her eyes wide as she saw the terrible injury that the young she cat had on her face. One eye was missing, her ear was shredded, and the whole side of her face was covered in scars. But she relaxed as Brightheart walked over to her and sat down to eat with her. The two she cats began talking together, and Firestar could see that Storm and Brightheart were warming up to each other.
The four younger warriors sat eating together. Storm felt warm and happy. She had never known this freedom and happiness in the alley. She was among friends. Friends! She had never had those before! She felt as if she could live like this forever. It was a pity that she would have to leave in a day or two.
Cloudtail turned to Storm, his eyes large and inquisitive. “So, what is it like living under BloodClan?” Storm shifted uncomfortably. “Well, it’s like being a slave. We’re forced to hunt for them, they bully us, there’s not much food, and usually all we can eat is crow food or the filth that the Twolegs throw away in big shiny logs. There are monsters everywhere, and they hit lots of cats. It’s a hard life.”<br> Cloudtail and the others fell silent. They all found a new respect for Storm. She was a true survivor. Brightheart licked Storm comfortingly. “Well, now you are free. You’ll have a much better life now.” Storm’s eyes glistened wetly as anger smoldered in the blue depths. “Aye, but the others are still trapped in that terrible place,” she growled.
Brackenfur changed the subject quickly, asking Storm shyly, “How long will you be staying with us, you think?” Storm looked straight at him. “Well, I suppose until I’m strong enough to move on to a place of my own. But I wish I could stay here forever,” she added wistfully. Brackenfur busied himself with tearing into a mouse. He obviously wished the very same thing.
Brightheart decided that it was time to intervene, “Well who says you can’t? You could always join the Clan!” Brackenfur’s head shot up, nodding vigorously, “Yes! You could! Oh, go ask Firestar! Please!” Cloudtail and Brightheart joined in with Brackenfur’s pleas. They were all growing fond of Storm already, and they knew that she was happy here. “I…I guess I could ask him,” Storm began. The other three began all shouting at once, “Oh, yes! Go ask him! Ask him now!” Storm stood up, her fur shining bright orange like a brand of fire in the sunlight. She turned her gaze to Firestar’s figure. She took a deep breath and strode over towards him.

[Warriorstar~Deathfang]

Chapter Two

Meanwhile, Firestar had gone to Cinderpelt’s den. He had seen the look on her face, and he knew that StarClan had spoken to her. He pushed his way through the tunnel and saw the she cat sitting with her back to him. He mewed a greeting and Cinderpelt turned, her eyes lighting up, but they were clouded by a strange mist, as if she was distracted by something.
Firestar sat down beside his friend, licking her ears comfortingly, “Did StarClan speak to you?” Cinderpelt turned her blue gaze up to meet his, smiling, “Yes. It’s a good omen, don’t worry. It’s about that young Stray, Storm. StarClan told me this;
The lion again reborn, blood shall flow again,
The stray hearts shall unite, and shall staunch the flow.
The storm unleashed shall conquer tiger’s bane,
The pelt of flame shall become the savior’s glow.”<br> Cinderpelt looked to Firestar. Firestar at once knew what it all meant. LionClan had been the name of all four clans united to defeat BloodClan. BloodClan was tormenting the Strays, and the Strays, and LionClan, must unite to free TwolegPlace of the tyrants. The storm was the young cat named Storm. Was she destined to lead them? Firestar at last knew. Storm must join ThunderClan!
He rushed out of Cinderpelt’s den, not even stopping to tell Cinderpelt his thoughts. He almost bumped into Storm as the young she cat was rushing up to him. He looked down at her as she stuttered, “Oh, Firestar, I was wondering…uh…” But Firestar didn’t have time for this. He asked her first, “Storm, would you like to join ThunderClan?”<br> Storm was dumbstruck. She had never expected him to ask her! She stammered, “Oh! Oh, y-yes! Oh, please!” Firestar rushed on past, leaping to the top of Highrock with a single bound. He didn’t need to call the customary words. Most of the cats were still in the clearing, and they gathered around the base of the rock as soon as they saw their leader there. Fiirestar made sure that they were all there before he began, “Cats of ThunderClan! I have invited Storm into ThunderClan! She has accepted!”
Gasps of surprise greeted his words, but all the cats seemed pleased. All the cats felt sorry for Storm. Brackenfur looked especially pleased.
Firestar continued, “I call upon my warrior ancestors to look upon this cat and accept her as a full warrior of ThunderClan. She will prove her loyalty to us, and she has the heart of a clan cat. She shall be known as Flamepelt.” He leaped down and licked the top of the newly name Flamepelt’s head. Flamepelt was quivering with excitement. At last she had a real home!
The other cats began chanting her new name. “Flamepelt! Flamepelt!” Brackenfur was the first to congratulate her, placing his muzzle in her pelt. Cloudpelt and Brightheart were the next cats who crowded around her. They chatted animatedly to their new den-mate, excited that their new friend would be staying with them.

[Warriorstar~Deathfang]

Flamepelt smiled, not used to so much attention. She felt a little overcome. She turned to Brackenfur. “Will you be the one to tell me about all the other clans and the warrior code and all that?” Brackenfur blushed and stuttered, “Y-yes! I’d be happy to be your t-teacher!” He shuffled his paws nervously and pressed closer to her. Flamepelt spoke to Cloudtail and Brightheart, “You’ll help me, of course.” Her two friends nodded eagerly. Firestar looked on, smiling fondly at the young warriors. He had an unusual fondness for Flamepelt already. She seemed so…so much like…him. And there was a lot of what reminded him of Sandstorm.
Sandstorm padded up to Flamepelt, smiling at her. “Welcome, Flamepelt. Tell me, where were you born?” Flamepelt was surprised by the odd question, but she answered out of respect to the older warriors, “I don’t know, really. I guess in the Twoleg allies. Can’t really remember.” Sandstorm looked hard at Flamepelt, then nodded. She turned and walked away. Flamepelt looked bemused. “Wh-what was that all about?”
“Oh, that’s just Sandstorm’s way. Respect her though, she’s a mighty warrior, and she’s Firestar’s mate,” said Cloudtail. Flamepelt nodded, but added, “They’ve both been giving me some strange looks, Sandstorm and Firestar, I mean.” Brightheart shrugged. “Maybe they know something we don’t. I heard that Cinderpelt had a vision while he was introducing you. Maybe you’re involved.”<br> Flamepelt looked mystified. “Cinderpelt? Who’s Cinderpelt?” Brackenfur answered this time, “She’s the medicine cat around here. Medicine cats have relationships with StarClan, and sometimes they get visions about what will happen in the future.” Flamepelt still looked confused. “StarClan?” Cloudtail nodded. “StarClan is made up of all the clan cats who have died. They have set down our rules and warrior code. They live in Silverpelt. Each star is a cat in StarClan. Bluestar and Whitestorm are up there, now.” The three clan warriors looked at each other mournfully. “Swiftpaw, too. And Brindleface,” Brightheart said sadly.
Not wanting to be rude, Flamepelt changed the subject, “Well, tell me about the rules and traditions you have.” The three others began willingly, each taking a turn as they explained everything to Flamepelt. She listened with great interest. Even if she wasn’t born a clan warrior, she would try her best to be a true one.
“We have naming ceremonies whenever a kit becomes an apprentice or an apprentice becomes a warrior. We also have ceremonies when a warrior becomes a deputy, and that has to be performed before moonhigh of the day following the loss of the first deputy,” mewed Cloudtail. Brackenfur took up after him, “When a deputy becomes leader, he goes to this mystical place called Mothermouth at Highrocks. Inside Mothermouth is this beautiful Moonstone. The leader-to-be lies down next to the Moonstone and shares dreams with StarClan. StarClan grants the leader the name star and nine lives.” Brightheart continued where Brackenfur left off, “Medicine cats go to the Moonstone to get their powers. They go to the Moonstone to seek advice from StarClan in times of need, and leaders do, too. Apprentices are required to go to the Moonstone before they can become a warrior.”<br> Flamepelt looked pensive. “Do you think I’ll get the clan in trouble by becoming a warrior before going there?” “No,” said Cloudtail. “You weren’t officially a clan member, so you’ll probably go soon.” Flamepelt asked about the warrior code, and the three others told her about it with great enthusiasm. Flamepelt took it all in, soaking in every word. She swore inwardly to follow the warrior code always.