StarClan's Journey/Starclan

Feathertail- Reserved by Rainy
I guessed I should've felt sadder that we were leaving the forest. And I was. Really, really sad. But a part of me yearned for the mountains. To watch the cats tread the paths I had trodden. For them to enter the cave behind the waterfall, feel the cool droplets mist their pelts and pepper their faces. To see where I was buried, by the cheerful mountain stream.

With a sigh, I padded off Warm Rocks and headed through the lush fields of grass towards the Moon Stone. I just couldn't help myself, I had to know if he was all right. If WindClan was suffering too much from the lack of rabbits. He had been so brave on the journey, and I felt that if I could, I would trade anything to be with him, with all of them, on our quest. The quest I never returned from.

"Feathertail?" A beautiful silver she-cat pads toward me.

"Silverstream," I purr at my mother.

"You can't stay here forever you know," she says, wrapping her tail around my flank. Her blue eyes are haunted; she's been searching the skies endlessly for Graystripe and hasn't found him yet.

"I know," I sigh, nestling my head against her shoulder just as if I were a little kit. "But it's going to be hard." We can't watch over the cats every step of the way: we'll be finding our own way through the sky, trying to reach the new territories ourselves, making a place for StarClan.

I watch silently, tears in my eyes, as a dark gray tom lopes ahead of his clan. Blinking frantically, I turn my back on the image reflected before me and walk stiffly away. So close, yet so far.

Crookedstar, Mudfur, and Raggedstar stand on a boulder watching as the cats of StarClan assemble themselves for the journey. I sit down at the back of the group, trying to steady myself for what's ahead.

"Let's go," called Crookedstar. His green eyes flash with determination, and then he turns and leads us out into the unknown.

"I thought StarClan was painless." I lick a raw pink pad crankily.

Yellowfang swings her sharp yellow eyes around to me. "Who told you that load of mouse-dung? StarClan isn't painless. At least not right now."

Silverstream puts herself in between us with a trace of defensiveness. "We're all tired Feathertail," she soothes.

I nod, feeling ashamed. We are in some kind of starry realm, suspended between the real world and sky. I can feel a sort of cushy floor beneath my paws, but when I look down, the grass is see-through to a indigo background. Dying orange rays of sun streak the "horizon" where our world ends and the sky begins. Each object is translucent, and you can even slide right through some. I almost crashed into a boulder this afternoon, but instead walked straight through without noticing untill my mother pointed out with awe.

It's kind of surreal and wonderful, but I long for the regularness of our old home. This is no way to live. Settling down, I curl up tightly and close my eyes. My dreams are filled with the mountains, a bossy brown tabby, a spirited ginger, a loyal brother, a determined tortoishell, and a special dark gray tom, his blue eyes filling with anguish as he looks down on me. My last memory of the waking world.

"Feathertail."

I blink groggily. It's the beginning of a new day. Pink and purple mingle all around us as we walk. I pad side-by-side with Brambleberry, an old medicine cat. She smiles at me warmly, and I return the smile. It's nice to be with someone pleasant; everyone else is gripey and tired already.

Silverstream- Reserved by Moon
I glance across StarClan's hunting grounds. I can see my daughter, staring at the ground wistfully. I can guess that she's thinking about a certain dark gray tom, but there's nothing I can do to comfort her.

Looking up at the once lush trees, and the formerly clear streams, I can't help but wince. StarClan mirrors the forest down below, and each time a tree falls, one fades away up here. The streams are dry, and there's hardly any prey left. My father pads across to me.

"It's time we got going."

I nod, feeling a familiar jolt of pain. We can't stay. Our home is falling down around us, and the Clans are moving on. But still... I don't want to leave. My mate, Graystripe was captured by Twolegs, trapped in some house somewhere. The Clans have had to leave him, and soon I will as well.

I could tell how much pain it caused Firestar to leave him behind, but for the good of all four Clans--five, counting StarClan--he had too. I know what it's like to be caught in between what's right, and what you want.

My father pads slowly over to me. "Silverstream..."

I look up. "I know," I tell him. It's time to live. Time to abandon Graystripe for good. Crookedstar shrugs helplessly, my mother walking out from behind him.

She gently touches my ear. "It never gets any easier," she murmurs quietly. Part of me scream, ''how would you know? ''But I know my mother had to leave my father once. And take my two sisters with her. So I don't.

But still... How can I leave him? How can I leave him behind like that? My resolve hardens. I won't leave him. Firestar had to, but I don't. Maybe I can visit him, just one more time. If I can find him... And if my family will let me.

Whitestorm - Reserved by Red
"Are you ready to go?"

I look up from washing my paws. They're as clean as can be, I've been cleaning myself since sunrise, and it's almost sunhigh - or, what would be sunhigh - now.

My mother's crystal-blue gaze is aimed at me. Her snow-white ears are perked, and she looks energized. She's clearly just gotten herbs, or something stimulating. The Snowfur I know was never this excited - for anything. I sigh as I respond, standing and stretching.

"Yes, Mother, I'm ready."

I take one last glance at StarClan's grounds. Perfect green grass, shaded with trees, soft dirt underpaw. A sun blazing in the blue sky, white clouds drifting like puffs of ice across the sky. A blue river snaked its way through our grounds, flanked on either side by thick tan rocks.

TBC

Redtail- Reserved By Nighty
I knew that we would have to leave this territory eventually. Even a moon before the Twolegs came, everyone could sense the dread that hung in the cool air. But when the Twolegs did come, no-one was suprised. But they were sad.

"Redtail." Swiftbreeze pads up to me, her tabby-and-white pelt ruffling slightly in the breeze. "It's time." She gestures to the ground, which is a picture of what is happening below us. I wince slightly as I see Twolegs hacking down the great FourTrees oaks mercilessly. I look back up to my mother with tears in my eyes, feeling like a kit again.

I blink back the tears and take a deep breath. "Yes. Where's Adderfang?"

"Right behind you," a deep voice booms from directly behind me. I jump and whip around to find Adderfang, my father, standing there with a smile on his face. I lick my chest fur embarrasedly.

Clearing my throat, I look my father right in the eye. "Adderfang," I meow, "we have to leave." He stands there with a sad, yet understanding, look on his dark, mottled face.

"I can see that," he meows, looking down at the Twolegs ravaging the sacred Gathering place. He looks back up at me. "Is the rest of StarClan going?"

I nod, and he turns around. "Well, let's get going." He pads off, and we follow him, breaking into an even stride.

"Ah! Redtail!"Willowpelt smiles at me, and I nuzzle her affectionately. Her pale silver pelt shines with hundreds of tiny stars, as does my mottled red one. I see Spottedleaf beside her, and the beautiful tortoishell she-cat smiles angelically.

"Hello, Redtail," she meows. I can see the anguish in her pale amber eyes, though, at leaving Firestar behind. I nuzzle her.

"It'll be alright," I whisper in her ear. She looks at me, and I can see relief in her eyes. She smiles.

"Thank you, brother," she whispers back, her clear, soft voice gently carressing my ear. I smile at her and look towards the throng of starry cats up ahead milling around and asking questions.

"Cats of StarClan!" I hear a voice yowl. I see four leaders at the head of the huge group of cats- Crookedstar, Bluestar, Raggedstar, and Featherstar. Crookedstar's brown tabby pelt pelt gleams in the soft moonlight. Raggedstar's patchy, long fur mirrors Crookedstar's pelt, except in a darker shade. Featherstar, who I learn is an ancient WindClan leader, grooms her brownish-silver fur, her blue eyes sparkling with starlight. And finally, before all of the cats, sits Bluestar. Her long, blueish-gray fur shines with tiny pinpricks of stars, her sleek tail curled neatly around her paws. Her ice-blue eyes flash as she surveys the StarClan cats.

"Cats of StarClan," she resumes. "Twolegs are destroying our beloved home. The Clans are moving- therefore we must too. Let us go!"

She sets off, and we follow her with yowls of approval. That excitement soon dies as many, many sunrises pass. We pad sadly past Highstones, forever leaving behind the sacred place to share with us, StarClan. We walk further on, shivering as we pass over the cold mountains. I can see Spottedleaf watching Firestar and the Clans intently- mostly Firestar. I can almost taste her worry as they cross the treacherous peaks. When Feathertail, a RiverClan cat, dies at the claws of Sharptooth, a heavy sadness settled upon us.

"Who will fetch her?" Bluestar asks quietly. There is silence.

Finally, a voice. "I'll do it," Crookedstar meows. "I'm related to her." Crookedstar casts us all sad glances, and we watch as he slowly descends down to the lifeless, crumpled body of the beautiful silver she-cat. A few moments later, he joins us with Feathertail at his side. We journey on.

Finally, we reach the lake. Everyone is tense; this is strange new territory. Eventually, though, we all settle into the new home. We grow to like it over the moons. We almost forget about the old forest- almost. The old forest will always be in our hearts. Even if we live by a lake now.

I am Redtail, son of Swiftbreeze and Adderfang, brother of Willowpelt and Spottedleaf. That is my story of how StarClan, the Clans' warrior anscestors, moved to a new home.

'''Hope you like it! :D '''-- Dragonflies Throw Pie! 02:44, September 22, 2012 (UTC)

Lionheart- written by Robo 's sister


 Prologue 

'' From the sky, the golden tom could see everything. Cats meowed, each stacked one over another. They were squished. A tom looked through the thin silver bars. A sick, trapped feeling swarmed through him. He felt over-heated, bored, and worried. Then he saw figures-many of them. Hopping into the monster, they broke apart the bars in which were trapping the cats. Clashing sounds echoed through the dark cell. Felids ran, fleeing from their captivity. Finally, the tom jumped out, the breeze ruffling his un-groomed fur. He ran with the giant group, and it felt like he was a bird migrating. As he ran, he heard yowling. He spun around, seeing a she-cat still trapped. The tom had to save his friend. He was loyal. He leaped into the monster once again. Through the rims, he could see the she-cat was exhausted. He bit, wriggled and twisted, finally managing to break the cage. His jaws ached, and all he needed was a nice, plump, juicy mouse… Then he jerked back to real life. Both cats pelted, their paws strumming inside of the big monster’s body. The other cat leaped out of the monster and ran into the destructed forest. The tom ran… Too late. 2 of the tall creatures were at the beast’s end and closed it. He heard a cry from outside, but nobody could save him now. He was stuck in the darkness. Pitch-black. All alone. ''

 “Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!” 

 Lionheart’s Journey 

 All of the leaders gather at Sunning Rocks; lean, feeble Clanmates standing behind them. I watch them, as they cross Riverclan’s stepping stones, and they leave Speckletail, Frostfur, Loudbelly, and Shadepelt behind. A wave of grief swarms through me when they leave the cats behind. Speckletail was my mother, and it feels sad see her stay here. Most of the cats are visiting their special spots. Even though before a moon ago we knew this would happen, I still feel sad. I look around, and the cats I can see sad faces, it must be at least as sad for us to leave as the cats alive. I go over to where most Starclan cats are- it seems like Bluestar is leading us- and I slowly walk away from them, to one of the most important places in Thunderclan to me: where I caught Pinestar, sneaking away to become a kittypet, proving him wrong; that he had to tell the Clan himself that he was leaving. I look down at the torn forest, and feel my hunger, since I haven’t ate in 3 days. I spot a mouse and after chasing it a lot, I wolf down the tough, stringy, and small mouse. This place is special to me, as is everything else, like Thunderclan, and the Moonstone. But the worst part was they’re being left behind. I glance at it for a last time before I run to Tallpines. Not knowing where to go or what I was even doing here, I run, following the Thunderpath. Even though I am high above actual grounds, it feels like I am alive. I run for who knows how long, till eventually I find something that looks like a giant twoleg den. Where am I? And also something else hits me- I’m not in Starclan. I feel like a Starclan cat who is visiting someone by coming down to actual forest grounds, showing their transparent images. But I don’t know why I even land on actual ground. I feel hungry, even after that mouse, and normally, when I was Starclan, mice, and squirrels, and rabbits ran everywhere, but that isn’t where I am, and even if I was I Starclan, now it seems harder to find food there. Then a petrifying thought hits me, I am not in Starclan, so I can’t hunt there, but I can’t hunt here either, since I’m not really even here. So how would I eat?

 The sun had dropped a bit since I left, maybe half a mouse length? I watch it for a while; till I decide I must go. And all the while, I had this… scared feeling inside of me. When in Starclan, I wanted to be on the forest floor, but now… now I want to rest in the stars, where I belong. Not this twoleg place. A monster zooms by me. So giving up, I continue running. It seems weird, but good. And yet a dreading feeling lurches in my stomach. ''What if I can’t find Starclan again? ''I continue, till I can’t resist hunger anymore. And I think about how mouse brained it was to just run off to here. I would run back to where the Starclan cats were, probably right above Ravenpaw’s barn. Would that be too much to travel? I run the fastest I can, yet having a tail half-melting doesn’t really help. After a while I stop; the Thunderpath splits into two. I remember Larksong telling me a story about a thunder splitting into 2. Now it was a Thunderpath, which I remember passing by. But I can’t remember which way… right. Yes. When coming I had also turned right. This was the right way. Then I see something- squirrel! I spring, and of course the bush-tail can’t see or hear me!'' You will be mine! ''Then I remember I couldn’t eat it, kill it, etc. since I am transparent. Quickly, not that I know how I did it, I twist, and the squirrel was still as calm as ever. I wish to be in his place. So I continue running till I find a long stream. Now this was not what I expected. I must have gone a different way somehow… So I turn around. I don’t know why, but I really feel like hopping into that stream, even though I’m not Riverclan. So I hop into the stream, wishing that Thunderclan had also used the river. It feels so good… Like falling asleep…No! I feel an odd feeling, like I fit… Then I feel sick I pop out of the water like a cricket, and find an odd feeling tingling within me. Feeling anxious, as quick as I can, I try to run back to the forest, but I can’t seem to find it. By now, I can merely feel my head. I can run, but it felt like there were no feet below me. Then feeling drowsy, I fall to the ground beneath me.

 “Lionheart! Willowpelt scented something by the border!” a voice calls. I am surprised I am alive. Where am I? Then I realized that I am in Thunderclan. A scent tingles my nose; Shadowclan. Not until then is it that I realized what is happening. I am dying again, and I know that I will be attacked. But I can’t, and I shake my pelt very hard, like a tick is hidden among my thick coat, and to my relief, I find myself… in Starclan, or at least in the sky. But what had me come back here, was I just daydreaming? But it feels pushing, and my fear returns. Luckily, I can see a lot more than before from above, so I can see a small twoleg house. Taking the risk, I run, and to my relief, when I reach there, I can see more twoleg houses. And at the end peeks pine trees, in which I know is Tallpines. I sprint faster than ever, and as I am running to the Windclan slopes, I feel relieved when I reach there, and, probably since I was running so fast, I bump into someone. “Graypool!” she seemed just as surprised to see me, and after saying how I took a bit too long to look over the forest, I smile.

 “Lionheart, where were you? I thought you would be mist before the cats beneath our paws ate!” mews Snowkit. He would often stay close to me and worry about me after losing Speckletail. As I look below my paws, I can see that some cats had are hunting. They have probably just came here.

 Bluestar pads up to me. “You must be hungry,” she mews. She ran off, and in about 5 minutes, she comes back with a very slim mouse. When I look at it curiously, surprised that she found it so quickly, she drops the mouse at my paws and murmured, “Luckily Ravenpaw’s barn has food, so you won’t starve.” I nod, and the two of us fall into a deep conversation, and before I know, I am asleep.

 I stir and find that most Starclan cats are already awake. I can see beneath me: the cats are preparing to go, and Thunderclan cats bid their farewells to Ravenpaw. I feel completely torn, since I don’t want to leave this place. It seems that I have woken up at the right time; the clans are stretching and from Starclan, Bluestar lets out a yowl, addressing the Starclan cats. I will probably be able to travel without a mouse for the whole day. I see below me the leaders are going already. Before I know it, we are following the clans. They cross the Thunderpath, in which Starclan cats just walked over. Finally, all of them reach the Moonstone, where Heatherstar steps forward:

 “We have decided to send them a message of with a Shooting star, representing the warrior that died.” All the Starclan cats nod. I felt hungry, since I woke up late, and it seems like the perfect time, since the clans stop at the Moonstone for a bit. I wonder if there is any prey here…then my nose shows me a warbler, and I soon spot it. It is scanning the grass, as if looking for bugs. I stalk it till it is right under my nose, as the luscious scent waters my mouth. Last night I had a small mouse, but I feel so tired-perhaps since I know I will miss here- and an ambition to eat it rumbles in my stomach. ''Now! ''I shoot a paw forward, but the bird escapes at the last moment. Without question, I scamper after it, till… the terrified creature takes off to flight, and I jump, scraping my claws against the warbler’s throat, and the agonized prey went limp in my jaws. I drop it to the floor, but then I observe its throat and an icy chill went down my spine. Grabbing my catch, I run to the closest medicine cat I can find… Brindleface, Gorsepaw, Owlstar, Specklepaw, Adderkit, Thrushpelt, Goosefeather, Shiningheart… Goosefeather! I turn around and approach the old medicine cat, who is Moonflower’s sister. You can’t say I am lucky to find him, since he viewed a leaf which fell to the floor as a message. “What, Lionheart?” he asks “brought food for Goosefeather? Thanks.” I sigh. This would take quite a long time to explain, and even longer for Goosefeather to explain, which will mean he’ll probably talk to me when we’re traveling.

'' I am fed up with this fat gray medicine cat. '' “So these marks mean… Great Starclan! Look at how they are all circular! This probably means the clans shall see a giant red-like the blood on this warbler- moon! Then do you think they’ll understand that something bloody will happen?”

 Rolling my eyes I nod. “I understand, so I uh am going to go talk with, uh, umm… uh, Leaf, uh claw, yah he’s my friend… and don’t worry I am definitely nooot eating this.” I don’t know what he said, since I didn’t listen, but I don’t think it would have told me much. Then I sprint off, and find Sagewhisker, Yellowfang’s -who nowadays would always grumble about complaints- mentor. “So I found these odd scratches on my prey’s throat…” The white she-cat’s eyes open wide.

 “Lionheart, I think I know what these marks are, they look like a cat,” I couldn’t have been more positive who that cat is as I take the catch from her mouth. I look down and see the clans passing a field. I pause, then quickly eat the warbler and run after Bluestar and the rest of Starclan. A deep dreaded feeling burns down inside of me. What about my apprentice? I know he was worth looking in any twoleg den we look over. We continue till we find a flock of twoleg nests. Perfect. I sneak away from everybody else and look at every house, through empty spots, I look very well through the yards, and still. No Graystripe. Worst of all, I have wasted time, and I can just barely see the last cats in Starclan, making me run, and I manage to catch up with Starclan. ''This isn’t finished yet, Graystripe. I died being a deputy: You should be the same; you don’t deserve to die a kittypet. ''But in vain, I know all I can do is hope.

 A few sunrises have passed. All the while, we continue, and I find myself more and more curious about that warbler. I don't know why, but it just bothers me. It seems more than just a cat... but whatever. It is the medicine cat's business. I look around and find Snowkit, and nuzzle my half-brother. He depended on me a lot, probably since apart from me, he barely had any kin, not that I exactly am his kin. We let him hear when he came to Starclan. "I still am sad about Speckletail,” he squeaks. I nod, and realize that the Starclan cats have started to move already. Snowkit then runs off, probably to a friend of his. Then, as we are going, I hear Silverstream announce to Starclan that she is going to look for Graystripe, and even though it made me guilty, how she was so young and strong and was risking herself, it also makes me feel relieved. I finally don’t need to be worried about him so much and feel so scared. I see Crookedstar arguing with her his daughter, then Feathertail, Willowbreeze, and her sisters, yet Silverstream already decided, and there is no changing her mind now. Silverstream eventually leaves, and we continued. I have gotten tired, and I have found myself waking up, my eyes a tiny bit wet. It is too hard to explain in words how much I miss my home.

<p style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:181.65pt"> The following day, I wake up –we were allowed to sleep tonight- to see a milky sunrise. I shift among the grass I was sleeping on, absorbing all of its heat, then stretch. It seems I have woken up a bit early, since the eerie, soft sound of paw steps was all to be heard. I search around the grass, where Starclan cats are dozing, till I finally find Brambleberry, shuffling her paws through a small puddle, as even though when it happened, Starclan got a little, heavy rains thundered the forest floor, making me feel pity for the clan cats. “Good morning,” she whispers faintly. I can see she looks awfully tired. As I walk over to her, I can scent a strong scent of herbs flooding from her pelt. We both stand there for a long time, glancing at the water, and admiring the silence. Then Brambleberry lets out a sigh. “It seems as if, well, we have something we haven’t had in Starclan for a long time.” She looks down at her wet paws, a serious, grim look in her face. She shuts her eyes, till she lets out a hiss, “We are suffering from Greencough.”

<p style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:181.65pt"> “Stop! Really Spottedleaf, just because I cough a bit, doesn’t mean I’m sick!” The sickness has started to spread around a bit, especially since we can’t rest. It is just the sick cats, accompanied by the medicine cat walk in the back, and everyone else in the front. I wheeze, and realize it is no use. Even if I’m not sick, I won’t be able to force the medicine cat out of it. I can feel my legs are a bit wobbly, making me assume Spottedleaf’s hypothesis is true. I can hear the yowl of Bluestar finally calling for the first short break we’ve ever had, and I sniff the air for any scent of food. It is too bad it took me a while, and by the time I was ready to look around, most cats have already found something and were stalking. I have a feeling the medicine cat was correct, since my nose is stuffy, and I can’t take out the tinniest bit of prey. As I continue to walk, a thorn digs into my pad, and blood starts to gush out from it. I feel pain shock through my body, and I start to limp. Give up the food idea. Then I could feel tiny steps drumming on the ground; mouse! I start running, despite my paw, and manage to finally leap, luckily right on the mouse so I am trapping it at the same time. Then I jump and fall back down, biting at the throat and making a nice kill. Satisfied, I walk back to the crowd of cats, wincing every time I stepped with my sore paw. I limp over to where Mudfur is, and show him my paw, and after looking at it, he quickly runs off to find what will be good for my paw. He chews up the leaves he brought with him, then rubs it against my pad, and I am surprised at how much it eases the pain. Suddenly I hear a yowl from Crookedstar, and I feel disappointment at how I wasn’t even able to eat my finely caught mouse. Even though it was a super short break, we were lucky to even have it. So I pick up my mouse in my jaws, till I hear murmurs, and I run ahead, trying to push my way through the crowd, and when the crowd starts to spread out, rather than stay in a stiff line, I see what they were talking about. A thin, tired silver tabby steps forward, eyes dull. Silverstream!

<p style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:181.65pt"> Crookedstar runs forward, and nuzzles the gaunt she-cat. Once he finishes, he yowls, hushing everyone so his daughter can speak. Silverstream steps forward, wobbling on her unstable feet. “I-I couldn’t find Gr-raystripe,” she croaks, hardly in a whisper. “I was able to scent him, even though it seemed a few days old, by s-some torn up brambles close to a twoleg clan, like the one in T-t-tallpines.” sorrow hinted her voice, especially when she said Tallpines, and I don’t think she was saying it so sadly because she felt bad for Graystripe having to become a kittypet- I think it was cause she missed the old forest. “I have came back, but at sunset, I shall go back.” I heard a sigh of frustration from Crookedstar, and cats talking again. I quickly wolf down the mouse, and when I am done, it is time to leave again. I stretch as Bluestar addresses Starclan to continue. I run around, looking till I finally find Snowkit, this time talking to Swiftpaw. I call him over as he says goodbye to his friend. Snowkit is leaning against me, and I can tell he is thinking about his mother right now, and he is acting like I am Speckletail. His soft white kitten fur soothes me as we trudge through the grass, and the crackle of a few fresh leaves, newly fallen reminds me Greenleaf is coming to an end. I can see below me a golden she-cat and I know immediately that it is my sister, and the kit looks down at her with misery. She also looks much like my mother. “So Snowkit, are you excited about coming to the new forest?” I ask him. He just continued walking, but not answering my question. Then he stares at the ground. It is slightly smeared with scarlet red, making fear shudder through me. Then I think about the scratch… “Well I have to see someone, so, uh, bye.” I run away from the miserable kitten, and all I think about is his safety. I can’t put him in danger.

<p style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:181.65pt"> As we continue walking in the evening, I feel the sun beat in my eyes. I am walking with Swiftbreeze and Whitestorm, and I know that I wasn’t surprised a single bit when I see Silverstream talk with Crookedstar, then run around looking for food. I can feel tired from the journey already. I can see my vision the tiniest bit blurred, then I force back the tears and look sniff the area for any scent of something to eat. I feel hunger, but it sort of makes me guilty to eat when there isn’t enough for everybody. I go quite farther, the stench of carrion filling my nose. I hear an evil squeak. Rat! I quickly locate it, then run towards it, surrounding it by the brambles on the other side. I bites me, and I quickly drawback, then I rake claws down its small back, and it lets out a squeal, and goes unconscious, but not dead. Then I slash at its throat and run over of the rest of Starclan, and hand it over Spottedleaf, dropping it at her paws. She sniffs it, wrinkling her nose and I think she is seeing if it’s sick. Once she’s done, she hungrily wolfs it down, and I can tell she hasn’t eaten in days, making me feel guilty again. Then I look at the bite. It hasn’t swollen or bled yet, so I think nothing will happen. Spottedleaf sniffs my pelt. She gives me a strict, irritated look. “Don’t hide it, you’re sick. And you have Greencough as well. Sorry to say, but we’ve got no catmint, and you’re gonna need to walk in the back I am so sorry.” I glance sadly. I tried to protect him, but I failed. Poor little thing.

<p style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:181.65pt"> Paw, after paw… Step, after step… I feel dead, even though I practically already am. It’s my first day, and I am already tired from walking with these sick cats. My pads were sore, and cracked, and it feels a bit sticky with blood. I must continue… I hear a squeak behind me “Lionheart? Why did you leave me alone?” I know that I must protect him, and I think about how I will get him to the front of the line with everyone else. So I point over to the first kit I see; Lynxkit. Snowkit runs to him, but I can see a tear in his eye. What have I done? Then another voice tells me, it’s for his own good…

<p style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:181.65pt"> I can’t feel my stomach. I wish Bluestar would let us have a break, but I know she won’t. I know it is for the best of the clans if we come before them, or else they might think it is the wrong place. Then I feel my whole body sinking, as I fall to the floor. I can’t get up till Spottedleaf helps me. Then she sniffs me again and says I have deadly Greencough-and that I had to be careful and not come close to anyone. I can barely walk, but it is worse, since the rest of the cats are starting to put a pace, and I have to run. I can hear my wheezing, and it sounds like an elder after they ran to the new forest and back. I sort of feel like that anyway. But I know I must continue, for the clans. If I slow down, I’ll slow down the whole Starclan, then when we come late, the clans will think it is not the right place. All I see below me is fields-we are now way ahead of the clan cats, since we must arrive there before them. I feel relieved when we slow down a bit. As I walk, I can feel wet paws, and can see that I just walked over a tiny stream, now brown. I feel a lonely pang inside of me. Nobody is with me. I felt a great deal of loneliness when I came here, to Starclan. I have no kin. Snowkit is here, but he is only counted as half-kin, and it doesn’t make up. I have many friends, but… I can’t help it. I miss to be a warrior, to fight battles, to be loyal, to protect my clan, to do border patrols, and hunt… All of those were left behind when I came here. And I could barely feel my stomach, or my feet. Now, I can barely feel my brain.

<p style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:181.65pt">'' Lionheart!  Lionheart!'' I look around me, to see where I am. Then I feel an icy chill down my spine. I know where I am; The Dark Forest. Immediately, I see a gray tom, with spiky fur. How he teased me when I was little, how he bossed me around. How he once played a game with me, where he tried to have me drown in a pool of mud… My old rival… and friend. ''Thistleclaw! ''I want to be in Starclan, this spot makes me feel a thorn of dread is inside of me. The two of us circle around each other, and all I want to do is get him… He jumps at me, long thorny claws unsheathed. He makes a quick aim for my throat, but I am faster. I jump on him, and dig my claws into flesh. I bite hard, then Thistleclaw scratches at my flank, and I let go. My claws are red, and I can feel fury burn inside of me. I only need to get him one more time…Lionheart! I look into a puddle, and see a blood-chilling sight; A cat with a scarlet pelt.

<p style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:181.65pt"> “Come on, we’ve got to continue! Wake up!” I open my eyes, to see a pretty tortoise shell in front of me. I never remember Mapleshade to be so pretty… “Are you okay” says a sweet voice. This isn’t Mapleshade, it is Spottedleaf. I groan. Where am I? Then I look around me and see Bluestar. From her eyes, reflects a golden tabby, a long scratch down his flank. I never felt more… more odd before. I am surprised to see myself lying on the floor, as for days we weren’t allowed to sleep, just travel. “Lionheart, stay calm. Bluestar called a short rest for us, but now we must continue. Do you feel okay?” I just nod and get up, but I have overestimated myself, and my legs buckle, making me hit ground. I try again, and manage, but as soon as the 2 are out of their way, I crouch, and walk slowly. Then I see a ghost white figure in the night. ''I am going to die, now. ''The ghost runs toward me, till I see who it is. Rage, ambition, tears, in his blue eyes. I can’t… I must protect him. I snarl, but he stays there, stubborn.

<p style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:181.65pt"> “You left me!” A loud snarling roar echoes in my ears, which I am sure none else can hear. “I tried to see you, but you... you left in the dark! How do you think I felt? You’re the only thing I have left, but I would say you just make me sadder! WHY, WHY?” It now sounded like a cry. I feel sorrow in me. I draw near, and lick his head. I can feel wet tears on my chest, but I still let the kit spill out fury. This will take a long time to explain. I gaze up at the stars, and the 2 of us walk together, and follow Starclan.

<p style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:181.65pt"> Redtail’s tortoise-shell pelt flashes ahead of me. I don’t care if I have a slight Greencough; I still walk with everyone else, and hunt at any spare time. I know I must be loyal. My friend and I know we are nearly there; we are over the mountains. I see Feathertail rush forward, and I know she feels a surge of happiness. Silverstream padded up to her daughter, and I know that she is thinking about Graystripe. She came and left several times, and was, to my relief, able to find him. We continue to move, and for the first time, I think I can see rays of sunlight. We continue, till I find myself in awe and shock. It was a beautiful blue lake, and it seemed everyone had a place where they belong; there were marshes, forests coated with trees, moors, and pine trees. This had to be it. I run off to the forest area. A rattle disturbs my thoughts: squirrel. I pinpoint it, then leap, making a perfect kill. Not long later, I am able to catch 2 mice, a water vole by the lake, a fat hare, and a dormouse. Then I find nice moss by the lake, and sleep…

<p style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:181.65pt"> The fresh water is perfect on my pads. It seems this really is the right home. Waves splash at my paws, then up to my face, washing off every bit of blood and sickness from me. A lion stares at me from the lake. And I continue to sit there, as a lion’s courage flows through my blood, and true waves splash.

<p style="text-align:center;"> Epilogue 

A golden tabby padded up to him. Starlight was in his pelt, as his eyes gleamed like the lake. The gray tom padded up to his mentor, rubbing against him. “I couldn’t have survived without you” his eyes gleam with gratitude. “If I hadn’t learned all those things you taught me, I’d be crow-food. Thank you.” The two stand silently in the night sky for a long time. “Is this really the right home for us, Lionheart?” meows the gray-furred tom. The tabby looks at him with amusement. ''Starclan isn’t that simple. ''The gray tom waited, but the tabby walks on, his paw prints disappearing, leaving tiny stars to float to the sky.

Crookedstar- reserved by Roboflight


<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri">Intro

I can’t say I was happy to finally be leaving the clans, but to some degree it really was

a relief. I am not am a cruel leader who never liked their clan. It just that No one has ever felt the pain I have,

ever made a promise as fatal or

destructive as I have, or ever had so much taken from you. For a cat, destined for greatness, which they would achieve through the pain of suffering and loss, the place in which they lived could bring nothing but bad memories. Good ones too, but it’s the bad memories that truly root deep into your heart and clutch it, refuse to let you go, refuse to let you forget them. When Starclan announced that we would be moving along with the clans, I thought this might be hope. I chance to settle somewhere new, where all of my memories could be rebuilt and I could forget my dark past. A new home, a new life, and a new destiny

<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri">Crookedstar’s Journey

No cat could complain that it was way too sudden, that we had no notice. Starclan had known of this journey for a long time, and we had been preparing. However, no cat could truly be prepared, when the day of the journey finally came. When I went to go share tongues with Willowbreeze this morning, her eyes were swollen, and you could tell that she had cried herself to sleep the previous night. I have learned thr

ough experience to harden myself against change and loss. So much of it had happen; I was more than used to it.

I even tried to comfort Willowbreeze, but the only cure to a broken heart was time. As I passed through Starclan that day, while cats were making the final preparation, staring down at the most memorable parts of the forest, a could tell many cats were upset. You could see it in their downcast eyes, filled with pain.

I also saw my dear daughter Silverstream crying that day, but I didn’t go near her, because my words wouldn’t even reach her brain. Silverstream was not only crying because she would miss the forest, but Graystripe was captured, in a twoleg house, of which the clans didn’t know. Silverstream would not only be abandoning the forest in which she lived, but also the love of her life. The day before I tried to convince her that the clans would find Graystripe and it was only a matter of time, but I didn’t truly believe it myself. Deep down all the Starclan cats knew that the clans had lost one of their greatest warriors.

But despite all of the sorrow around me, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement about finally leaving. The clans might be my only home, but they were a dark one that could only remind me of the pain that I have gone through in my life below.

True, I was now reunited with Willowbreeze, and my kits, I could consult to my father or my brother, and although I was a little awkward with my mother she looked at me in the face now, yet I had not left the pain behind.

The pain was rooted so deep into my heart that not even being given back what I ha

ve lost has taken away the pain. I can never forget it because it still lives inside of me. When I look down at the beautiful Sunningrocks, I cannot concentrate on its beauty. Instead, the only thing that I can think of is how I lost the love of mother here, when I ruined my face, how my only daughter that had been remaining died while giving birth there, how I lost my brother to a rock fall in a battle against Thunderclan, and how some Thunderclan cats ran away from Tigerclan there, after Riverclan became corrupted, due to Leapordstar feeling that she had to do whatever was necessary to keep her cats safe.

Gazing down at the forest brings me nothing but pain, so I will admit I am excited to finally leave. And I do feel guilty that I am excited while the rest of Starclan seems to be rotting away with the forest.

The time eventually does come when all of the Starclan cats, every single one of them gather right above the Fourtrees. No cat dares to stay behind, because then they would fade, and they would have nowhere left to go. No Starclan and not even the Darkforest, because the Darkforest is moving too. Part of the reason we plan to leave at the exact same time as the clans is so that the Darkforest doesn’t arrive to the new territories before us.

Bluestar stands in the middle of the cats, my brother at his side. Whenever I want to find Oakheart I just have to find Bluestar. He is almost always beside his mate who he can now openly mate with. Also beside Bluestar, is Nightstar, standing with Heatherstar on his other side? The four most recent leaders of the clans usually decide the important stuff in Starclan. I push my way through the cats so that I may go stand beside the leaders.

Bluestar dips her head when she sees me and I do the same. The clans had just voted and Bluestar had been voted the cat who would lead the Starclan cats to their new home. Bluestar was a very popular cat, and it hadn’t really been a surprise. Like me, Bluestar was a tough leader, experienced with the

pain of losing things. She had the strength and the experience to lead the cats through this.

There isn’t much to say as Bluestar faces millions of faces, some all too familiar and some strangers. She looks down at the fourtrees, which hardly stand anymore due to twoleg interference. All the cats follow her gaze as sorrow and loss reaches their eyes. I find hurt bruising my heart too. So much had happened at the fourtrees. To me it symbolized my leadership, my clan and my life. But we had to leave. I was forced to leave behind what I loved, once again. Oh, the pain Mapleshade has put me through.

Bluestar pull her head up, and the Starclan cats do to. Some continue to look down on their dear forest. Bluestar doesn’t need to say anything; no words can express what Starclan was going through right now. Sighing, she paddled through the cats; I follow her alongside Heatherstar and Nightstar, with the rest of Starclan behind us. The clan cats might have, but Starclan has never left its territory before. We will walk on skies which have never been walked on before, and the fate of the clans would depend on our strength. If we couldn’t make it to the new territories before them, they would never know that it was their new home. We couldn’t mess up.

Ahead of me I can hear Yellowfang snapping and Feathertail, while my daughter tries to protect her. I sigh, as I feel I thorn sink deep into my pad. Growling, I pull it out with my teeth. Blood stains the empty skies, over which we walk.

I like to admit that this place is pleasant, it seems to be somewhere in between Starclan and the ground beneath us. The undiscovered parts of the sky. It is peaceful, and quiet. The cats around me are numb and quiet. It doesn’t feel like anybody has been here at all. There are no memories to haunt this place, no promises, no loss.

I am paddling beside Oakheart, who has decided to leave Bluestar for the time being. She doesn’t want to be disturbed and I can see the despair in her eyes. She is tired from leading us into an unknown direction. The empty portions of the sky seem endless, and Bluestar has been leading us for days now, without a break. Several other cats have offered to fill in for her temporarily but she refuses. She doesn’t want to show how tired she is, because that would only make Starclan more miserable. We don’t stop to eat or sleep; cats in Starclan only do these things for pleasure and we can’t afford to have any pleasure right now.

Even Oakheart, who is usually can’t resist the opportunity for a conversation is quiet. My thoughts wander to the past, and I lean against Oakheart, as I remember Mapleshade, just to make sure he is really there, at my side.

Oakheart, thinking I am leaning against him for support, slowly walks with me against his shoulder. I don’t remove myself; I want him to always be there. Suddenly I have the urge to pull together all the cats I lost and lean against all of them. I couldn’t bear to lose any of them again, and it suddenly scares me for them to be out of sight.

The next day, I lose someone who I hoped never to lose again. Silverstream announces that sh

e is leaving; she wants to go find Graystripe, aid him, make sure he is okay, and if possible help him find his way back to the clans. I can almost sense some relief from Lionheart, it was rather obvious that he was worried about his former apprentice lately, and he seems to be happy that someone was going to go find him.

I, however, was torn. I begged my daughter not to go, I told her I couldn’t bear to lose her again. She just looked at me in the eye and said, “Father. If Willowbreeze were lost somewhere, not even Starclan could locate would you leave her there. Like you’ve said you lost a lot, and you wouldn’t be able to bear losing her again.” I didn’t respond to that question, the answer was obvious. Instead I licked her fiercely and warned her to be very careful. She promised me that she would and that was enough for me.

Some of the other cats who knew Silverstream didn’t give up that easily. Feathertail cried begging her mother not to go, but when my daughter had her mind set on something you couldn’t change it. Willowbreeze also pleaded but stopped when she realized that Silverstream had no intention to stay. Her siblings also tried to convince her, but there really wasn’t a large effect that siblings she barely remembered could have on Silverstream. She was persistent, and she was going. I actually considered going with her when my promise popped into my head. Loyalty to the clan came first, even in Starclan and I would have to bring my clan first, as I have always done, as I always will do. And that is how my story of losing for the clan began all over again.

Bluestar refuses to stop; she just keeps urging the cats onward. I have tried to talk her into giving all of the cats at least a little time to rest, and share tongues, but she refuses. She wants to get to the new ter

ritories before the clans, so that we can leave a sign for the clans to follow. Kittens cry and elders moan, but we continue to move. I can’t blame Bluestar. The whole of Starclan and the forest is counting on her, and she will need to be tough enough to deal with any sympathy, she will not be able to stop for any cat, because it was that fate of the clans which were at stake.

Another day has passed for the cats that walk beneath us. Today, I walk alongside Bluestar, trying to calm her with my company. Every now and then she turns to me, and asks me something. Sometimes its questions about what I will miss from Riverclan, sometimes it’s on which way we are going, but the thing she asks me about the most is what will be our new home. How we will adjust, what it will be like there, how we will communicate with the clans. She is weary and I don’t blame her. I constantly offer to take her place for a day, give her some time to rest and she refuses every time. Towards midday, however, she finally agrees when I ask her.

Oakheart walks up to his mate and she leans on his shoulder, while I lead the cats. I admire Bluestar, within a couple hours I can barely stand on my feet but I don’t make a sound. Bluestar is still res

ting ad she would immediately resume her position the moment she realized I was tired. So I paddle onwards. Several different cats come to accompany me. My father, Willowbreeze, and I even spend some awkward moments with my mother while she gazes at me proudly. I don’t talk to them, and they don’t talk to me. Our sorrow is reflected all around us in the gaze of others.

At some point Shellheart approached me, “Crookedstar,” I could detect worry in his voice, “Have you seen Rainflower around lately?”

“No,” I reply, slightly worried, “Is something wrong?”

He shrugged, “I just haven’t seen her at all lately. I asked several cats but none of them know where she is. I’m probably just worrying over nothing though,”

I don’t know whether or not to believe him. Not being able to find Rainflower was a little understandable but if she got lost on the journey, then there would never be a way for her to find her way back. She would be lost in the skies forever.

I tried to forget it, but as he continued trudging along, leading a forest behind him, it kept reappearing in his head. Finally, he summoned Nightstar, who quickly paddled up.

“What’s the matter?” the tom asked, “If you’re tired, I can take your place for a while.”

“Nobody seems to know where Rainflower is, and I want to make sure she is okay. It would be bad to get lost on this journey,” I, “I wanted to quickly check for her, if you could take my place for a short period of time.”

Nightstar nodded, understanding, and he quietly slipped in my place. Most cats didn’t even know that I had temporarily replaced Bluestar. The cats in the back couldn’t see ahead of them, so only the cats paddling in the front knew about who was leading them. I stand still as several cats pass me, and yet I cannot see any Rainflower, even when all of the other cats are ahead of me. I know it should be okay but I can’t stay calm, so I try to sense for her spirit in Starclan, and I couldn’t find anything.

This was the point where I started to worry about my mother. The Starclan cats are ahead of me, and slowly fading. I am about to catch up to them, when I hear a familiar and deadly voice behind me, “Crookedstar, how I always seem to find you at the darkest moments!” I turn around to find Mapleshade, sneering.

I can’t control the feeling that takes over me. I am surprised, because I have not seen Mapleshade in a long time. I am angry, and I want to slit her throat, “Leave me alone Mapleshade. I have more pressing matters than your need for revenge, to worry about right now.”

Mapleshade sneered, “Is this your pressing matter?” she took a step back, and I just rea

lized what she had been standing on. A battered, bruised and bloody Rainflower lies, where Mapleshade was just standing. She looks at me her eyes clouded with pain, and her voice is hoarse. Mapleshade doesn’t need to do anything to keep her where she is, there is no way she can move on her own.

Her voice unsettles my pelt, pierces my ears and shatters my heart, “Crookedstar?” she whispers.

I snarl at Mapleshade, and pull back, prepared to pounce, when Mapleshade coyly grins. “You wouldn’t, Crookedstar. You wouldn’t dare attack me then take your mother back to Starclan.”

My voice is fierce enough to sting anyone who gets in its way, “Give me one good reason Mapleshade…”

She thinks for a while, “Let me see. Because the Dark Forest is planning an attack on Starclan which will take any minute now, and if you waste time here to save your mother you won’t be able to warn them. You promised to bring the clan first Crookedstar…”

“You’re lying!” I claim, “Why else would you tell this to me?”

She laughs, “All I need is revenge Crookedstar. Living in the shinny parts of the forest no longer matters to me. All I need is my revenge.”

Crookedstar looked at his mother, who was now too weak to speak. What we she has wanted him to do? Crookedstar realized it didn’t matter; he had to bring his clan first. Spitting in front of Mapleshade he bounded off running as quickly as possible to catch up to the dark forest.

When he caught up to Starclan, there was no sign of the Dark Forest. “STOP!” he yowled at the cats, but there were too many of them, and barely any turned around. I kept my ears pricked as I dropped into a low crouch. Suddenly I sensed a movement from behind a bush and I leaped, bowling into Tigerstar. The Starclan cats all turned around, when they heard.

Nightstar ran to the front, Bluestar at his side. They snarled at the enemy cats, and the Darkforest, realizing that their element of surprise was gone, ran away in anger. Bluestar seemed slightly surprised at their appearance and she turned to Crookedstar, “How did you know that they would be there.”

Bluestar is still tired and knowing that the Darkforest has one of our warriors will only stress her out even more so I shrugged, “I was just lucky I guess.”

Bluestar nodded and she turned to Nightstar who had been standing beside her, “I plan to tak

e the lead back now.” She informed him and he nodded, but the doubt was very visible in the large tom’s eyes. I was also doubtful that Bluestar would be able to continue her journey if she kept up like this.

As Bluestar led us, I began to think with horror of Rainflower, captured my Mapleshade. My father eventually approached me, “I still haven’t seen Rainflower,” he murmured.

I take in a deep breath, “She has been captured by the Dark Forest,” I mumble sadly and he turns to me.

“I have to go save her,” he mumbled, “Crookedstar; can you cover up for me while I am gone?” I turn to my father.

“No!” I beg him, “Please don’t go! At least let me come with you!”

He shakes his head, “I must go, and you must remain here, with your clan mates. I am sorry Crookedstar. But don’t worry; I will see you again soon. I promise”

“Don’t promise anything,” I mumble, “That never ends well.”

My father chooses to ignore me as he bounds off, running in the opposite direction of Starclan, eager to save his mate.

We finally reach the new territories today, but my father, mother or Silverstream have not returned yet and I am anxious. Bluestar sends a message to the clans, in the form of a Star and the cats explore their new territory. I wait anxiously however.

The next day Rainflower returns alongside Shellheart. I am overjoyed and I show them around they new forest. They seem to like it although they still seem to miss the old forest. I do too, but the lakes were where we are meant to be, and I am not a cat to fight destiny.

Silverstream returns a while later, with news, that she had found Graystripe. She continues to leave every now and then, but eventually settles when Graystripe has returned.

I adjust to the new territories too. I watch over my clan, just like I always have. It doesn’t matter where we are, to me Riverclan will always be home.

<p style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri">Epilogue

Although it was tiring, and painful, I learned something from the great journey. Something I continue to remember, even as Mistystar and the leaders after her fade away and join our ranks.

You can’t escape the memories which bring you pain. You have no choice but to live with them. However, it is your choice how you will remember your memories, how you will choose to greet them when they enter your heart. You can hate them, and let it bring you pain and mourning, or you can honor them. Because for everything you lose, there is something you gain in return.

I used to host those memories with pain, but now I honor them. They make me who I am. Without those memories I would be nobody right now, just a fading soul, who lived less than a kit dying at birth. But with these memories I am an important cat, one that made important decisions for the clan, one that gave birth to the mother of Feathertail, a cat chosen for the journey, and one that understood what it means to live.

Because life is pain and loss. Life is sacrifice, and choosing to lose one thing over the other. You have not lived if you have not been hurt. I would know this because I am Crookedstar, mighty leader of Riverclan and my pain is the greatest of treasures.

Swiftpaw reserved by Misty
If you don't know who Primrosepaw is, go to Warriors Wiki and search Primrosepaw

Swiftpaw's Journey

I woke up and saw my best friends, Gorsepaw and Primrosepaw, Gorsepaw told me we are leaving soon.