Prologue
It's finally done! Sorry for the wait, but I finally have the Prologue for the Sequel to Back to Life!
Thanks to all of you for your Patience with me.
Warriors doesn't belong to me.
R&R please.
"Are you certain you are ready? Both of you?"
Shadow blinked at the two toms in front of her worriedly. They had tried and searched long and hard and believed that they maybe had found a way to actually sent StarClan cats back to life. Of course who knows how much could go severely wrong too, which had Shadow so reluctant to try already. She'd prefer to wait a little longer but…
"Yes!", answered Oakheart tersely. "We waited more than two seasons already. I do not believe it will work any better when we wait two more."
"You must understand our reluctance", tried Wind to explain.
"I do understand", grunted Oakheart. The tabby next to him watched everything with in amusement twitching whiskers and said nothing. He took great joy in the scene.
"Obviously you don't", growled River sharply and stalked up to his clan-mate. "Or you would accept how nervous we are Oakheart. You love Bluestar and wish to see her again. That we do understand, but if we rush just the smallest thing it could destroy the both of you and we could never get you back in any way." His eyes flickered to the tabby. "Neither of you. What am I supposed to tell the ten of them when they re-join us then, tell me?"
Oakheart opened his mouth to answer, when Wind, who sat nearby, shook her head vigorously. Shadow mimicked her. River would not let off and then this argument would continue forever, which unnerved her even more than actually going through with their plan. With a soft growl the thick-furred dark reddish-brown tom averted his eyes.
River backed off a little and settled down next to Wind once more. "You could've been a little more gentle with him", whispered the wiry brown she-cat, compassion blazing in her yellow eyes.
River grunted and muttered: "I wouldn't have to deal with this in the first place when cats would finally keep their love within their own clans."
"Oh come now, as if your clan is the only on where cats of other clans fell in love with yours", chuckled Wind.
Shadow rolled her eyes.
They'd all had their fair share of relationships of different strengths between different clan-cats. Even a brother and sister being leaders of Thunder- and ShadowClan respectively. If anything, Thunder had probably the most right to complain about those relationships. Shadow watched her two friends bicker a little longer, before her attention wandered to the two toms they planned to send down to the clans.
While Oakheart had volunteered they needed someone who could hopefully somehow contact StarClan so they had asked around in the group of cats that had a strong connection to StarClan during their life-time. The tabby that smirked at Oakheart's sulking form was the first to volunteer. Shadow wasn't too certain whether or not he was the best choice with his temper, but she supposed he did have one of the closest connections a living cat could have with StarClan. Well, that and when the two of them found the ten, Fireheart at least would be able to take care of his temper.
A rustling behind her caught her attention and she turned her head. Thunder stepped out, followed by Sky. Both looked exceptionally worried.
"What's wrong?"
The two looked up at Shadow's sudden question, then exchanged a glance, before Thunder, who now had everyone's attention, answered: "They finally made a decision."
"Decision?", pushed River.
"Decision", agreed Sky and sat down. "Fireheart just went to Nightstar's den to tell him the truth."
Every cat froze, then River exploded: "Have they lost their minds?!"
"No, they are merely doing what they believe is the right thing River", answered Thunder stiffly. Shadow could see how worried he was, and how well he hid it too. His clan had been at peril ever since this started, yet the leaf-coloured tom had pushed on, had tried to help his cats as much as possible, going as far as keeping Nightstar alerted by visiting his dreams once every moon. As far as Shadow's knowledge went, he never did much of worth then, merely allowing Nightstar to see him or give him subtle advices hidden within riddles.
"The right thing! Knowing is what got Sapphirefur killed", argued Wind now. While she kept her voice soft, the firmness beneath it showed she wasn't much happier than River with this new development.
"And not knowing got five times as many ThunderClan cats killed", Thunder back now. "Reedheart and Splashwhisker knew what was going on when BloodClan attacked them, because they knew this group had been faced before. You saw how close Splashwhisker came to death! He only survived because he was as careful as he was, knowing what they were facing." Now his gaze darkened and he continued: "This is…why they chose to allow Nightstar in on the secret. And maybe a few others too. Not all f ThunderClan, not yet."
Shadow hesitated, then admitted: "Spottedleaf is considering informing Rootwhisker about what is going on as well, he is a trustworthy cat."
She winced back when River's glare shot to her. "Since when did you know this?", hissed the tom-cat.
Shadow glanced away and admitted: "Last half-moon. She called for me while sleeping at the Moonpool."
Thunder nodded in understanding, then Sky suddenly turned to River and stated: "Face it River. Those ten have their own hearts and opinions. We cannot influence that. If, after everything that happened to them, they decide that they need others to know, are we really allowed to judge?" Shadow saw Thunder blink at the white she-cat surprised and she had to admit, she wasn't much better. Sky's temper, at times, was worse than River's rather constant aggravation. To now have her being so calm showed how serious she was about this situation.
A soft hiss suddenly sounded through the air and the five leaders turned their heads to the other two present StarClan cats.
Oakheart looked quite impatient by now. "I suppose we should start", admitted Thunder. The slight worry in his eyes intensified and Shadow knew she wasn't much better. Slowly the five first leaders moved to stand in a circle around the other two StarClan cats.
"Keep your minds blank", instructed Wind, looking directly in the two's eyes. She stood directly in front of them. On her right was Thunder, who had Sky between himself and Shadow. Between Shadow and Wind crouched River, his tail-tip twitching in irritation. "Now, take deep breaths and close your eyes. Concentrate and remember", the two followed her instructions without complaint, "remember how being alive feels. The warm blood pumping throughout your, your heartbeat sounding in your own ears, only beating because you inhale the air around you deeply…"
For a little longer Wind continued describing different aspect of being alive that beings that were alive just didn't appreciate until after their life had left them. Finally she fell silent and nodded. Shadow took a steady stance, he eyes locked on the two toms. Around her the other leaders did the same and then she saw it.
It almost sent her jerking back, but she held still. The other three leaders stared at Thunder as well.
His deep amber eyes seemed to glow with power and the tell-tale stars in his fur that marked StarClan's cats as who they were sparked. Finally she saw Wind tearing her eyes away from the display of power and focusing back on the two toms in front of her. Soon the same happened to her and that prompted the other three into action as well. A rush of raw energy rushed through Shadow when she managed it and she couldn't contain a gasp.
She felt the multiple energies of all the cats gathered in StarClan.
They had power, she realised. But unleashed it would be too strong, to uncontrollable, too dangerous…and that was another very important reason why they never properly interfere with anything that happened in the world of living.
ThunderClan
Leader:
Nightstar – small black tom with green eyes and a torn ear
Deputy:
Rivertail – slender light-grey tom with dark grey paws and blue eyes
Healer:
Splashwhisker – thick-furred, dark grey tom with orange eyes – Mentor of Spottedpaw
Warriors:
Reedheart – red-black spotted tom with green eyes
Leopardclaw – dark and light-brown spotted she-cat with yellow eyes
Iceclaw – small black tom with ice-blue eyes and one white paw
Mountainfang – long furred spotted tom with dark-green eyes and huge fangs
Eagleflight – brown tabby tom with white ears and fur around the nose
Dawnfire – dark-grey tom with orange eyes
Weaselflight – white tom with brown stripes
Hawkpath – white tom with greyish-silver stripes and blue eyes
Wolfheart – light grey she-cat with white, belly, throat and leg
Fangtail – brown tom with long fangs, scarred tail and green eyes
Lionclaw – golden she-cat with yellow eyes – Mentor of Cloudpaw
Rockheart – dark grey she-cat with dark-blue eyes
Darkpetal – black she-cat with yellowish-green eyes – Mentor of Stripepaw
Fierceclaw – tortoiseshell spotted she-cat
Songheart - ginger she-cat with blue eyes and an injured paw
Nettlebite – silver-white tabby tom with blue eyes
Frostfur – white she-cat with blue eyes
Fireheart – ginger tom with green eyes
Greystripe – long furred grey tom wit darker stripe over his back and yellow eyes
Ravenflight – black tom with white spot on his chest and tail, amber eyes
Sandstorm – small pale ginger she-cat with green eyes
Dustpelt – dark-brown tabby-tom with amber eyes
Bluefur – blue-grey she cat with silver fur around her nose and icy-blue eyes
Silverstream - pale silver-grey tabby she-cat with a finely shaped head and bright blue eyes
Whitestorm - thick-furred, broad-shouldered, long-bodied, white tom with yellow eyes
Hollyleaf – black she-cat with green eyes
Apprentices
Spottedpaw – tortoiseshell and white she-cat with a dappled coat, small white paws, chest and muzzle
Stripepaw – grey and tortoiseshell tabby tom
Cloudpaw – grey spotted tom with orange eyes
Queens
Mudheart – dark-brown she-cat with light-brown ears (no kits)
Morningcloud – golden she-cat with pale-blue eyes (mother of Petalkit, Rosekit and Lilykit, mate of Reedheart)
Lynxfur – dark-yellow and brown spotted she-cat with only half of her tail (expecting Rivertail's kits)
Hopewing – golden she-cat with icy-blue eyes (expecting Weaselflight's kits)
Kits
Petalkit – golden she-cat with pale-blue eyes
Rosekit – black, red and golden spotted she-cat
Lilykit – red-golden tabby she-cat
Elders
Greeneye – oldest tom in ThunderClan, light-brown tabby-tom with green eyes
Kestrelstrike – dark-golden she-cat with scars over her flank
Scarpath – dark-grey tom with white stripe over his shoulder