The Life of Brindlestar: The Dark Ages

The Life of Brindlestar series
Preceded by: The Life of Brindlestar: The Beginning	The Life of Brindlestar: The Dark Ages	Succeded by: Coming Soon

Allegiances (Updated regularly)

Riverclan

Leader- Hazelstar: Light brown tabby tom with greenish gray eyes

apprentice, Ravenpaw

Deputy- Boothe: Long haired black and gray tom with battle scars and abnormally large claws

Medicine Cat- Larksong: Brown tabby she-cat

apprentice, Pinepaw

Blood Warriors

Luna: Black she-cat

Pierre: Timid wiry brown tom

Foxheart: reddish tom with white splotches

Dustfoot: Golden tabby tom

Bolt: Big white tom

Pounce: small gray she-cat

Flame: pale ginger tom

Sabretooth: Massive golden tom with sharp teeth

Frost: Pure white she-cat

Fallen: Black tom

Crusade: Reddish tom

Sierra: Reddish-Ginger she-cat

Fuzz: Fuzzy tabby she-cat

Monaco: Calico she-cat

Bullfrog: Bright silver tabby tom

Warriors

Tigerfall- dark brown tabby and white tom with gleaming green eyes

Emberwing- Fluffy light gray she-cat, dark blue eyes

Ashfall- Fluffy light tom, dark green eyes

apprentice, Cloudpaw

Heatherspring- Ginger she-cat

Leafwhisker- dark brown tabby tom

Gorsefall- light grayish-blue tom

Furzeberry- Tortoiseshell and white she-cat

Sandfoot- pale ginger she-cat

apprentice, Aspenpaw

Lilyflower- brown and white she-cat with one blue eye and one gray

Oaktalon- Russet colored tom

apprentice, Brindlepaw

Rosefall- Tawny colored she-cat

Whiteclaw- White tom

Snaketail- Tortoiseshell she-cat

Berryflower- Reddish-Cream she-cat

Sorrelpelt- Golden Brown tabby she-cat

Graypelt- Dark gray, almost black she-cat

Darkspots- Black tom with white spots and tipped-tail

Apprentices

Cloudpaw- White tom with ice-blue eyes

Brindlepaw- light brown tabby tom with one blue eye and one grayish-green eye

Pinepaw- pale brown tabby she-cat with gray eyes

Ravenpaw- Tall black tom with white chest and paws

Aspenpaw- dark brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes

Queens

Stormfeather- Black with amber eyes

Mother of Ashfalls kits: Cinderkit (fluffy dark gray she-cat with light green eyes) and Thornkit (Black tom with bright green eyes) (5 Moons)

Poppyleaf- dark tortoiseshell she-cat with dark amber eyes

Mother of Tigerfall's kits: Fallowkit (Black she-cat), Leopardkit (Dark brown tabby tom), Snowkit (white and tortoiseshell she-cat), Mintkit (white and dark gray tabby tom) (1 Moons)

Violet- dark ginger she-cat, expecting Hazelstar's kits Elders

Pebblefoot- Very old dark gray tom. Grandson of the legendary Mistystar

Paleclaw- Very pale gray tom, with pale brown eyes

Nettleheart- brown tabby she-cat, green eyes

Littletail- short black tom with a stumpy tail with gray eyes

Birchpelt- short brown she-cat. Retired early due to unexplainable weakening of the muscles

Shadowclan

Leader- Ivystar: Small reddish-brown and white tome

Deputy- Bonestripe: White tom with odd thin black strip on his spine, amber eyes. Great-Grandson of Dawnpelt

Medicine Cat- Jaywing: young light gray tom

Warriors

Mousefoot- Gray tom with brown eyes

apprentice, Talonpaw

Eaglefrost- Pale gray tom

Berrystripe- Cream colored she-cat

Flowerstorm- White she-cat

apprentice, Fishpaw

Gingerpelt- Flame colored tabby she-cat

Ferretstripe- Black and gray tabby tom

apprentice, Stripepaw

Larkshadow- Dark brown tabby tom

Barktalon- Dark brown tabby tom

Queens

Breezecloud- Long haired light gray, with green eyes

Reedstorm- Tabby Queen

Elders

Dapplefur- small brown she-cat

Yellowtail- Very pale ginger she-cat

Thunderclan

Leader- Oakstar: Bright ginger tom with white paws and tail. Grandson of Lionblaze and Cinderheart

Deputy- Mosswhisker: Brownish gray and gold tabby tom with hazel brown eyes

Medicine Cat- Minnowflight: Slender mottled gray she-cat with blue eyes

Warriors

Stormbreeze: dark gray tom

Streamclaw- Gray tom

Poppyshade- Black she-cat

apprentice, Robinpaw

Nightfrost- Black and white she-cat

Silverheart- Blueish gray tabby tom

apprentice, Starlingpaw

Tigerfoot- Dapple brown tom with gray eyes

apprentice, Fernpaw

Willowflower- Sleek light silver she-cat

Whitepelt- Large Black tom with white splotches and a white-striped tail

Blackstorm- Black tom

Grayfeather- Feathery Gray tom

Dustfur- Light Brown tom

Goosefeather- light gray tabby tom

Queens

Mintfeather- Pale gray queen

Rowanheart- Light Ginger tabby

Elders

Sunblaze- bright ginger tom

Frostheart- Pale gray she-cat

Dovewing- Pale gray she-cat, very very old

Windclan

Leader- Birdstar: Pale ginger tom

Deputy- Lakestorm- Dark, watery black, tom with brilliant blue eyes

Great-Grandson of Breezepelt and Sunstreak

Medicine cat- Cherryspring- dark reddish-cream she-cat

apprentice, Frozenpaw

Warriors

Sproutpetal- Ginger and white she-cat

Orangefur- Oddly colored orange tom with no tabby stripes, green eyes

Leopardpelt- Brown she-cat

apprentice, Brownpaw

Rainwing- Dark gray tom

apprentice, Cloudpaw

Moleflight- Dark brown and gray tom

Foxstep- White she-cat with reddish-brown paws

Firetail- bright ginger she-cat

Harepelt- Small, furry brown she-cat

Skyheart- Off whitish-blue tom

Mothshade- golden brown tom

Queens

Hawkeyes- Sharp brown she-cat with white ears, chest, two front paws and tipped-tail. Over-protective of hers (and all) kits

Daisystem- Skinny tortoiseshell with green eyes

Elders

Leopardstep- spotted golden tom

Coldleap- Dark black, watery black, tom. Green eyes. Grandson of Breezepelt and Sunstreak

Prologue

Two blue-gray she-cats were looking in a pool in the center of the grounds, with cats around them. They were grieving. Every time they looked, a black mist would cover it, and the smell of blood would fill their nostrils.

The younger looked down at her paws, "I feel like its all my fault, we shouldv'e done something about Hazelstar. Oh." Mistystar sounded frustrated, "Why did we allow him to get nine lives? Its going to be almost impossible for him to die!" cats were starting to look panicky.

"Now listen," her mother, Bluestar, scolded her, "It is not your fault. We couldn't have done anything about it, except give advice to Brindlepaw. You know things will come from him, whether good or bad, it's his choice.

"To all the cats who are listening, listen up! I want to advise all of you to guide your clan-mates, especially you!" she pointed her tail to the group of RiverClan watching, "Things are about to change around the lake! Some of them, Permanently!" The cats gasped, and a tortoiseshell she-cat walked forward to speak.

Bluestar dipped her head, "Spottedleaf would like to speak."

"Bluestar, Cats. These times may be hard, but we will survive." her eyes clouded with wisdom, "There will be one cat, different from all the rest, that will start and end these times of cruelty and bloodshed."

The cats around looked anxious, as Spottedleaf went on, "But for now, as I am horrified to say, I believe the clans have entered a time that was only experienced once. Yes, cats, we have entered the Dark Ages."

Chapter 1

Ice cold rain dripped down onto Brindlepaw from the roof of the den. He already had a cough, like everyone else, and it was torture for him to have to sleep in the cold and rainy. He wasn't the only one. The other warriors, apprentices, and queens were moved to different dens a quarter-moon after Hazelstar took over.

Ever since Hazelstar was appointed leader, things have changed drastically for regular clan members. The warriors and apprentices, when not on patrol or hunting, were ordered to construct a den nice enough for the Blood warriors, the rogues that listened to Hazelstar. IT was made from perfect Holly Bushes, all in a round circle, with leaves hanging from thin stems over the ceiling.

While the blood warriors were all nice and settled, the apprentices were forced to sleep in a single Ivy Bush that bordered the new training ground (Which made it easier for Hazelstar to supervise the training of his clan), the queens also slept under two ivy bushes, but they were right next next to the big river (Hazelstar extended the camp boundaries), so it was easy for a stray kit to slip on the shiny moss and fall into the river. The warriors slept under a mixture of different kinds of bushes, right in the entrance.

And Hazelstar had the luxury of sleeping in a tree. He had his other warriors fit wood on the branches so Hazelstar could sleep in the tree comfortably, without falling out, and the branch where he made his announcements was right under him.

Brindlepaw and Cloudpaw hated their father so much, that the only thing that made them not kill their father was the fierce Blood Warriors. He was so angry, that he didn't realize that he kicked his hind leg out and sprayed Ravenpaw with moss.

"Hey!" he hissed, "Watch it!".

"Sorry." he meowed in reply. Ravenpaw settled down again and quickly went to sleep.

It didn't take much to set off a cat these days. Hazelstar had all the "others" in such a deep state in anxiety that stepping on a twig outside the nursery would have a queen screeching bloody murder in your face. Brindlepaw looked in dismay at Ravenpaw, Hazelstar is slowly turning all of us against each other!... he thought, ...and us "others" are all we have left.

Chapter 2

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join under the Great Tree for a clan meeting!" yowled the voice Hazelstar. Brindlepaw looked up, he was sharing a fish with Darkspots and Cloudpaw. When they gathered around they noticed this oddly shaped rock. It was smooth, and had pawprints and lines on it.

"I have called you here to introduce a new system of rules."

Shocked murmurs swept through the back of the clearing. The other warriors were ordered to sit in the back, while the blood warriors sat in the front. Some of them turned around to glare at the others, as to silence them.

"From now on, you have to follow these rules: All cats must listen to their leader, failure to do so will result in execution, no matter what age." He glanced over at the kits, who looked on with round eyes.

"Prey is eaten by the leader, then the Blood warriors, then the others. Failure to do so will result in no food for a week." he added with a hiss.

"You must have the permission to the leave the camp by the leader or the deputy. Failure to do so will result in execution or," he added psychotically, "exile. Depending on what mood I'm in." he laughed coldly.

"And finally, any cat planning to rebel, cause harm, or do anything against the clan leader, will result in immediate execution in the most painful and humiliating way.

"Meeting dismissed." he meowed, jumped off the tree, and gathered his blood warriors for a private meeting. The other cats left in the clearing looked shocked and scared. The warrior code meant everything to them- it was the only thing they had left that was their before the take over- and now they couldn't follow it. Brindlepaw looked to his left and saw that Cloudpaw looked scared. He touched his nose to his shoulder, "Don't worry," he meowed gently, "we still have each other, and mom." he added. His mother was blankly staring at the tablet with round eyes. She saw him watching and padded over to him. Cloudpaw looked up, "Mom, does this mean were not a real clan, because we can't follow the warrior code?" he looked up at her with his brilliant blue gaze. She looked down with her blue and green one.

"I don't know Cloudpaw," she rested her head on his side, "I just don't know."

The other warriors were circled around the fresh-kill pile, looking down at something. Brindlepaw just got back from a training session with his new mentor, Oaktalon. He wasn't as laid back as Owlwing, and was much more stern. But he was much more sympathetic towards him. He shouldered his way through the growing crowd and looked down at the fresh kill pile to see what was their- or to see what wasn't there. There was nothing in the fresh-kill pile at all. All the blood warriors took it all. He heard a soft laugh behind him, and all the other warriors turned around sharply. Hazelstar was sitting with his tail wrapped neatly around his paws, while his mate, Violet, licked his side. Brindlepaw looked at his mother, she looked enraged at seeing her former mate being loved in front of her.

He sighed, "If only it weren't for those ol' Darn rules," he laughed again, "Maybe you things could have eaten. Oh well." He laughed again, and he and Violet stalked off. The remaining cats looked enrage. Fur fluffed up, backs bristling, and teeth bared, they looked ready to pounce. But something interrupted them, a shrill scream from behind the nursery.

Stormfeather was frantically trying to grab something in the river. A black furball was struggling to reach her paw.

"My kit! Oh my kit! Someone please save Thornkit!"

Chapter 3

The Clan looked around with round eyes at the drowning kit. The blood warriors looked up from their prey-eating, and some of their warriors were racing to the river. Ashfall, the kits' father, was already at the bank. But Thornkit was already heading towards the mini-waterfall that lead to the lake.

Thornkit was plunged under the waves. "Help me!" his cry came as a squeak as he hit a rock. Ashfall swam faster, but Thornkit was already at the waterfall. He was only a fox-length away from falling down the waterfall. But with the determination in his eyes, Ashfall gave a burst of speed, and swam faster. They were so close to falling.

Ashfall put his jaws around his son's neck. But the next thing they have to do is fight the current. Ashfall, with another burst of speed, dug his claws into a low-lying branch on shore line. He pulled himself up on the beach, and coughed up loads of water. Thornkit was unconscious.

Hazelstar padded quietly over to the river, with Violet racing over. Unlike Hazelstar, Violet looked concerned. He shouldered a small blood-warrior aside as he approached the surrounding cats. Stormflower was trying to comfort both her mate and her son, while her daughter Cinderkit looked on with round eyes.

Hazelstar shouldered is way to the front of the group until he could make himself seen. Ashfall was recovering, and he started to sit up. Hazelstar approached him.

"Come here." he flicked his tail to indicate for him to sit in front of him. Ashfall looked confused and cautiously crouched in front of him. Hazelstar sat and stared at him for a couple of seconds, with an expressionless gaze.

Then it happened. Hazelstar slashed his claws at Ashfall's throat. Ashfall's eyes bulged and his breath was wheezy. Blood poured from the cut in his throat. From Brindlepaw's point of view, it didnt look too deep. The whole clan gasped and looked at Hazelstar, waiting fro an explanation.

"I said, no one can leave the camp without permission from me!" he exclaimed. The whole clan looked furious. Ashfall just saved a kit from drowning!

Brindlepaw looked at his mother and brother. They looked just as shocked as he.

Something like anger was burning in his belly. He could feel the fire in his eyes. He looked around at his clanmates, and he could tell from the tension in the air that they felt the same way too. Then, a thought came to him. A thought that made him excited, but just as impossible.

Hazelstar must be stopped...Permanently!

Chapter 4

"Are we almost there?" asked the voice of an impatient, but excited Aspenpaw. Brindlepaw flicked his tail in annoyance.

"Yes, now keep your voice down!" he hissed. Something very important was going on. Ever since Hazelstar almost killed Ashfall five sunrises ago, Brindlepaw has been worried. And last night, he called out to all the apprentices, and some of the trustworthy warriors. But even then, Hazelstar proved to be more attentive then ever. This morning, he screeched for everyone to get up, way earlier than normal, all saw something everyone found inevitable.

"Listen up," he meowed, "I want to appoint some new jobs. The Blood Warriors, the faithful, will now be guarding our territory, day and night, to stop any unwelcome guests from entering our territory....or leaving", he glanced dangerously at the "others".

So tonight, Brindlepaw thought, he had to finally bring together his thoughts and share them with his fellow clanmates. But it wont be easy.

Firstly, his idea was absolutely illegal and punishable by death. Second, the idea involved sneaking out of the camp, which was forbidden. Concerning sneaking out of camp, Brindlepaw didnt think it would be too hard too hard for the blood warriors to notice that half of the other warriors were missing in the dead of night.

So, to get to the abandoned tree, they had to skirt around the patrol of blood warriors stationed randomly throughout the territory. With great difficulty, they finally managed to make it to the tree.

There weren't many cats there, but that didnt surprise Brindlepaw (Too many cats were too afraid to break the rules). On the contrary, this was more than Brindlepaw expected.

The first cat he saw was Leafwhisker, the sharp tongued tom who was known for his shrewdness. He seemed to have been impatiently waiting in the center. Next he saw Gorsefall, Heatherfrost, Sandpelt and Graypelt. His mother and his brother were already there, along with Aspenpaw.

"Woah," Ravenpaw whispered

"I know." Brindlepaw replied

He jumped onto a low branch of the tree, and was going to start his speech, but was interrupted by some new cats.

Chapter 5

Immediately Leafwhisker jumped onto one of the cats. A fury of spitting and claws started.

"Get off! Get off, you mouse-brain! It's me, Whiteclaw!" growled Whiteclaw. Immediately, Leafwhisker jumped off him and gave his chest a couple of embarrassed licks. Whiteclaw licked a cut on his shoulder, and behind him sat a cowering young tom who had his paws over his eyes- Pierre.

"You!" Brindlepaw hissed in shock, "What are you doing here?" he glanced suspiciously at Whiteclaw, who was still glaring at Leafwhisker.

"Keep your fur on, Brindlepaw. Pierre came straight to me, asking for help." he beckoned Pierre to speak.

"I- I've been wanting to back out of Hazelstar's plans for moons. It sounded good at first." Pierre cleared his throat.

"Here we were, us alley cats. We were starving. Its been like this since the earthquake. There hasnt been twolegs around for almost 4 generations now, which means we havent been able to get their food for almost 4 generations. We were at the point of- of civil war," His voice faultered for a second but he quickly regained it, "Lots of cats were dying. So many of us were fighting! This one night, I get to my den and find that m-m-my sister and her kit were killed," This time it took more than a heartbeat to calm Pierre. By the time he regained control, Brindlepaw was starting to worry about time, "But then, then Hazelstar suddenly appears. He brought so many mice, enough for all the alley cats! While we ate, he told us stories of life in the wild. This seemed to intrigue most of the cats, including me. There was just one thing- he said that the clan life was starting to spiral downhill because of bad leadership. He needed an army to overtake the cruel leadership of Fallowstar. But, what else can we do? Running freely through the forests, swimming in the rivers, and more prey that we could ever imagine!

"We agreed, obviously, to train under his orders. He wanted three cats to accompany him to the lake to see what it was like. Three cats that never knew what life was like outside of the alleys, who needed a chance. He picked me, obviously. And he picked sly and evasive Luna- she can bend your mind to do whatever she wants! But once he picked Boothe, thats when I knew something was wrong. He was always a bully, stealing food from young mothers with kits and stuff...anyway, we got to the territory, he stopped us and told us something different. He said that he was important, he deserved leadership, and he told us he would do whatever it takes. He told us that he'd put us in special positions in the clan. Boothe and Luna agreed instantly. I? What else could I have done? He told me all his plans, and I knew from then on that he was dangerous, so he wouldnt have let me out of there alive if I said no.

"After that, he had us meet with him regularly. To inform him of the army. I was scared. I was dealing with a cold blooded murderer, and I wanted out. So badly, in fact, that I was starting to rebel him. I even took a chance. It wasnt much, all I told him was that if he was sure about this and that there will be cats who would rebel. But his face, after I said it....I didn't speak unless I was spoken to again after that."

Brindlepaw remembered that conversation, it was the day he almost drowned.

"And now we're here. Please, I regret everything I have done. I regret ever talking to Hazelstar. Please forgive me." he looked up hopefully at the cat. They glanced at each other, and slowly nodded.

"It's good too, you know, that we have someone one the inside." But the cats just looked curiously at Brindlepaw.

He sighed, "Something has to be done about Hazelstar, as you all know. My idea is....is....I think we should......kill Hazelstar." a silence greeted his words. Then someone started to cackle.

"Kill Hazelstar!" Leafwhisker laughed, "Your crazy!"

Aspenpaw cuffed him around the ear and he fell silent. She gave Brindlepaw a supporting look.

"Well its the only chance we've got." he meowed simply.

"How would we do it?" asked Graypelt. He had expected the outspoken warrior to comment before this.

"Well...I have this idea...It would work like this...."

Chapter 6

They were off. The Quest to kill Hazelstar had begun. Their first plan was already planned out, and all they needed to do was, well, do it.

"Do you have it?" asked Aspenpaw. She wrinkled her nose as Brindlepaw stepped towards her. He was carrying a thrush that he caught 3 days ago, and in that time maggots and worms seemed to find their way in there.

"Yes," he said with a muffled voice, "I just wish I didnt have to taste this disgusting thing."

He walked over to the fresh kill pile and dropped it, hoping that the first cat to eat was-

"Let all cats gather around sky tree for a clan meeting!" came the booming voice of Hazelstar. The Blood Warriors, who were as healthy as ever, padded out of their places and sat in the front of the meeting, while the gaunt "others" were left to sit uncomfortably in the back. Hazelstar grinned maniacally at the sight of this.

"Oh," he said with a joyful tone, "I just wanted to say that I wanted to eat right now, and I invite my Blood Warriors to join me." He jumped down from the branch and sauntered over to the fresh kill pile. The bad thrush was still at the top. He narrowed his eyes as he studied it. Brindlepaw held his breathe.

Finally, Hazelstar seemed to think that all was normal, and took the thrush. Brindlepaw sighed with relief, and turned towards his clanmates. Aspenpaw, Cloudpaw, and Ravenpaw all smiled in a congratulatory way, and as Leafwhisker walked by, he flicked his tail lightly on his shoulder, as to praise him.

Brindlepaw glanced towards the tree, to see Hazelstar ripping apart the thrush with closed eyes, and an arrogant grin. He didn't even notice the maggots that were now exposed. Brindlepaw smiled with joy at this, and padded towards the apprentice den.

Chapter 7

The sound of groaning interrupted Brindlepaw's dream.