Post by Rainy on Oct 4, 2009 18:35:48 GMT -6
Stonefang and Brightpool fell in love as young warriors. They were brilliant warriors, brave and strong in battle and popular members of their Clans. When they became deputies they should have cut off connections but didn't. Instead, they decided once they were leaders, they would combine their Clans and make them stronger together. However, their Clanmates didn't see their plan as so great. Many openly rebelled. When the Clans were forced together, many fights broke out. Cats were killed, and warriors were considering abandoning their clan and the code. A moon after the leaders announced their plan at a gathering, WindClan and ThunderClan's leaders met in secret. One big Clan composed of two threatened their smaller Clans. It was like TigerClan all over again. The next night, they attacked the RiverClan and ShadowClan camp, united as allies. They easily won since most warriors refused to fight. They didn't want to win this battle, they wanted to go back to the way things used to be. Stonestar and Brightstar, seeing that their plan had failed, surrendered. But they refused to go back to the way things were. Instead of breaking apart, they chose to leave the forest together. Their warriors were free to follow them. RiverClan and ShadowClan cats were torn. They wanted to be loyal to their leaders despite their disloyalty to them, but how could they abandon the warrior code and StarClan? WindClan and ThunderClan had done nothing wrong, so their warrior ancestors would remain behind. And the lake territory was their home. Many agreed with the latter, and decided ThunderClan and WindClan, though their enemies, were the only true Clans left. The rest who decided to stick with their leaders, left the territories into the forests of beyond. WindClan and ThunderClan leaders forbade them from returning. The had broken the code and abandoned it. They had chosen their path and couldn't come back. Though it broke their hearts, they believed it was right. The Lake territory was for warriors, and Brightstar and Stonestar were no longer leaders of StarClan.
(that's the story. This is where we start.)
As the last cats of what was once RiverClan and ShadowClan faded into the shadows, Rainstar turned around. Many eyes gleamed back at her, some defiant and proud, others uneasy and scared. Quite a few cat had remained. The elderly she-cat sighed. She was WindClan's leader, and along with ThunderClan's leader, they must work this out. (For now, ThunderClan's leader is Lightningstar. He shall be die once I get a real person for the job.)
"Well donw, Rainstar," Lightningstar mewed quietly. "The traitors have gone. Our Clans are safe, and Brightstar and Stonestar have left the forest."
"We are not safe. The danger is now within our own Clans," she hissed. She lowered her voice so only the ginger tom could hear. "Though these cats have chosen to stay, they aren't necessarily loyal to us. They chose to be loyal to the warrior code, and StarClan. They are still loyal to RiverClan and ShadowClan! Not Brightstar's and Stonestar's Clans, but the real RiverClan and ShadowClan."
"We will just have to deal with it," growled Lightningstar. "They're stuck now, and part of our Clans. It's a pity we've gone from four to two, but oh well. We'll split them up evenly, so the Clans are equal once more. I will take Riverclan and you take ShadowClan. ThunderClan gets their territory too, and you cna have the marshes."
Rainstar narrowed her eyes. She didn't like how Lightningstar accepted this all so easily, as simply as if he had been planning it all along. "Be reasonable, Lightningstar. RiverClan's territory is closest to my Clan. If we are going to split it evenly, WindClan should have their territory and their cats. We must change and adapt. RiverClan will have to learn to hunt our way, but I see no harm in learning their ways also. It will make their territory more useful, and provide the warriors with more food. After all, we are feeding two Clans now."
Lightningstar lashed his tail. "Of course you'd want it that way, Rainstar! So you're Clan gets the better territory! ShadowClan has never been on equal terms with ThunderClan and never will!"
"Then that better change! There is no ShadowClan and RiverClan anymore, just ThunderClan and WindClan! If you are so determined to take RiverClan's territory, go ahead. But to get there you will have to cross MY territory, and you won't be doing that without a fight," Rainstar snapped. She realized she was being just as hotheaded as Lightningstar. The ginger tom unsheathed his claws, and they were heartbeats from fighting. Rainstar took a deep breath, and forced her fur to lie flat. "Let's try this again. It would make so much more sense to combine the Clans whose territories are right next to each other. I am not telling you how to run your Clan; if you do not wish to take advantage of ShadowClan's skills, then don't. But my Clan has always been the skinniest. I welcome the skills RiverClan has to offer, and the cats who wield them. If we are truly to be equal Clans, you will unite with ShadowClan. RiverClan is WindClan's natural enemy as ShadowClan is yours. If we manage to unite those two opposing forces, we will be truly great Clans and equal once more, right?"
"We would be truly great leaders," whispered Lightningstar, thoughtful. She was making sense, but he didn't want to just give in and look so easily satisfied. "But that's a pretty big If," he mewed skeptically. "The territory part makes sense, and though I am not totally pleased with ShadowClan joining my Clan, their bold, feirce warriors will make my Clan stronger. They are arrogant and stubborn, but they have no choice but to listen. Yes, I guess you may be right, Rainstar. I will give it a few moons to see how it goes..."
He turned to announce their plans to the warriors in the clearing before them. Rainstar closed her eyes. A part of her still felt guilty. She had helped drive away two Clans. StarClan had always decreeded there were to be four! But their leaders had broken the code. And they had been offered an alternative, other than exile. Better two large Clans, which included warriors from the lost two, than one or none, if the fighting continued? Would their idea work, to combine the Clans? She hoped her idea to keep RiverClan's unique talents and combine them with WindClan's would reassure them that she still respected their ways and differences? But would they respect her as a leader, as their leader? She wasn't sure about that, either. And she was getting quite old. She was on her ninth life. If she died, would everything fail? When she opened her eyes, her golden gaze isntantly fell on Briarclaw, her son and deputy. They two were as close as kin could be, and they shared they same opinions and viewpoints. If she failed or died, whichever came first, he could fix it somehow. He would make a great leader one day. She wondered how soon that day was...
"Cats of trees, rivers, and moors!" Lightningstar announced. They should make them feel a little easier. The battle that had just happened hadn't been easy for anyone. "Rainstar and I, true leaders under StarClan, have reached a decision. Keep in mind the warrior code has no guidelines for this, and StarClan has given us no warning of the destiny unfolding before us. So we must use our own brain, and consciences, what we feel to be right, and make our own decisions. Rainstar and I have decided our Clans must unite."
"What?" a ginger she-cat, once of RiverClan now without a Clan, yowled. "Isn't that why we jsut drove out Brightstar and Stonestar?"
"You misunderstood. We are not going to be ONE Clan. RiverClan and ShadowClan broke the code and left us all shattered and confused. There aren't enough of you to reform your own Clans. Instead, RiverClan shall join WindClan and ShadowClan shall join ThunderClan."
Protests sounded like thunder.
"I don't want to be ThunderClan! I won't listen to Lightningstar!" spat a gray-brown tom.
"I don't want to eat rabbits!" hissed a ginger she-cat.
'And I don't want to eat fish!" growled a white tom.
Rainstar felt uneasy. Mayber her plan wouldn't work.
"Why can't we start out own Clan?" suggested one ShadowClan cat.
"Because it would turn out to be like Brightstar and Stonestar all over again, mousebrain!" snapped a black tom beside him. "And I don't want the stench of ShadowClan in my den at all times. I'd rather join the rabbity WindClan!"
"Who said we liked you fishy RiverClan warriors? We didn't have a choice the first time."
"Enough!" yowled Rainstar, leaping to her paws. Her golden eyes blazed and all the Clans fell silent. "Listen to me! it's either this or nothing. You can become rouges or loners, or quick catch up with your Clans. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be a defender of StarClan, a protecter of the warrior code, than that. I know this plan sounds difficult. That RiverClan could ever overcome their differences and join WindClan, and ShadowClan with ThunderClan..."
"Impossible's more like it," muttered one cat in the clearing.
"But I believe we can do it. We do not want to destroy the old ways, but this is the only way to keep them alive! As Lightningstar said, we are without guidance from StarClan or the warrior code. We cannot sit here and do nothing, waiting for a sign! We are not timid mice, we are proud, determined warriors. Determined to keep our ways of life. I can promise you, RiverClan, we will not force you to give up fishing. That is why I made that deal with Lightningstar. WindClan and RiverClan's territory will become one, so you can keep your fish and keep your river. But in exchange, I ask you to try our ways. Try to hunt rabbits, try to adjust to the moors. I know we have many differences, but we also have so much in common. As soon as we get to the WindClan camp, I plan on rebuilding. We must make it bigger to accomodate the new warriors. I want RiverClan to share its hunting techniques and battle moves with WindClan, and WindClan will do the same with RiverClan. We must become one, or nothing. It's either two Clans in the forest, or none. If we don't do this, or at least give it a try, we will all just keep fighting and eventually wipe out all warriors altogether. Please, RiverClan, ShadowClan, give this a change. I don't want to see everything we've worked for, the ways of life we have been living for seasons beyond countless seasons, dissappear. Please..."
(that's the story. This is where we start.)
As the last cats of what was once RiverClan and ShadowClan faded into the shadows, Rainstar turned around. Many eyes gleamed back at her, some defiant and proud, others uneasy and scared. Quite a few cat had remained. The elderly she-cat sighed. She was WindClan's leader, and along with ThunderClan's leader, they must work this out. (For now, ThunderClan's leader is Lightningstar. He shall be die once I get a real person for the job.)
"Well donw, Rainstar," Lightningstar mewed quietly. "The traitors have gone. Our Clans are safe, and Brightstar and Stonestar have left the forest."
"We are not safe. The danger is now within our own Clans," she hissed. She lowered her voice so only the ginger tom could hear. "Though these cats have chosen to stay, they aren't necessarily loyal to us. They chose to be loyal to the warrior code, and StarClan. They are still loyal to RiverClan and ShadowClan! Not Brightstar's and Stonestar's Clans, but the real RiverClan and ShadowClan."
"We will just have to deal with it," growled Lightningstar. "They're stuck now, and part of our Clans. It's a pity we've gone from four to two, but oh well. We'll split them up evenly, so the Clans are equal once more. I will take Riverclan and you take ShadowClan. ThunderClan gets their territory too, and you cna have the marshes."
Rainstar narrowed her eyes. She didn't like how Lightningstar accepted this all so easily, as simply as if he had been planning it all along. "Be reasonable, Lightningstar. RiverClan's territory is closest to my Clan. If we are going to split it evenly, WindClan should have their territory and their cats. We must change and adapt. RiverClan will have to learn to hunt our way, but I see no harm in learning their ways also. It will make their territory more useful, and provide the warriors with more food. After all, we are feeding two Clans now."
Lightningstar lashed his tail. "Of course you'd want it that way, Rainstar! So you're Clan gets the better territory! ShadowClan has never been on equal terms with ThunderClan and never will!"
"Then that better change! There is no ShadowClan and RiverClan anymore, just ThunderClan and WindClan! If you are so determined to take RiverClan's territory, go ahead. But to get there you will have to cross MY territory, and you won't be doing that without a fight," Rainstar snapped. She realized she was being just as hotheaded as Lightningstar. The ginger tom unsheathed his claws, and they were heartbeats from fighting. Rainstar took a deep breath, and forced her fur to lie flat. "Let's try this again. It would make so much more sense to combine the Clans whose territories are right next to each other. I am not telling you how to run your Clan; if you do not wish to take advantage of ShadowClan's skills, then don't. But my Clan has always been the skinniest. I welcome the skills RiverClan has to offer, and the cats who wield them. If we are truly to be equal Clans, you will unite with ShadowClan. RiverClan is WindClan's natural enemy as ShadowClan is yours. If we manage to unite those two opposing forces, we will be truly great Clans and equal once more, right?"
"We would be truly great leaders," whispered Lightningstar, thoughtful. She was making sense, but he didn't want to just give in and look so easily satisfied. "But that's a pretty big If," he mewed skeptically. "The territory part makes sense, and though I am not totally pleased with ShadowClan joining my Clan, their bold, feirce warriors will make my Clan stronger. They are arrogant and stubborn, but they have no choice but to listen. Yes, I guess you may be right, Rainstar. I will give it a few moons to see how it goes..."
He turned to announce their plans to the warriors in the clearing before them. Rainstar closed her eyes. A part of her still felt guilty. She had helped drive away two Clans. StarClan had always decreeded there were to be four! But their leaders had broken the code. And they had been offered an alternative, other than exile. Better two large Clans, which included warriors from the lost two, than one or none, if the fighting continued? Would their idea work, to combine the Clans? She hoped her idea to keep RiverClan's unique talents and combine them with WindClan's would reassure them that she still respected their ways and differences? But would they respect her as a leader, as their leader? She wasn't sure about that, either. And she was getting quite old. She was on her ninth life. If she died, would everything fail? When she opened her eyes, her golden gaze isntantly fell on Briarclaw, her son and deputy. They two were as close as kin could be, and they shared they same opinions and viewpoints. If she failed or died, whichever came first, he could fix it somehow. He would make a great leader one day. She wondered how soon that day was...
"Cats of trees, rivers, and moors!" Lightningstar announced. They should make them feel a little easier. The battle that had just happened hadn't been easy for anyone. "Rainstar and I, true leaders under StarClan, have reached a decision. Keep in mind the warrior code has no guidelines for this, and StarClan has given us no warning of the destiny unfolding before us. So we must use our own brain, and consciences, what we feel to be right, and make our own decisions. Rainstar and I have decided our Clans must unite."
"What?" a ginger she-cat, once of RiverClan now without a Clan, yowled. "Isn't that why we jsut drove out Brightstar and Stonestar?"
"You misunderstood. We are not going to be ONE Clan. RiverClan and ShadowClan broke the code and left us all shattered and confused. There aren't enough of you to reform your own Clans. Instead, RiverClan shall join WindClan and ShadowClan shall join ThunderClan."
Protests sounded like thunder.
"I don't want to be ThunderClan! I won't listen to Lightningstar!" spat a gray-brown tom.
"I don't want to eat rabbits!" hissed a ginger she-cat.
'And I don't want to eat fish!" growled a white tom.
Rainstar felt uneasy. Mayber her plan wouldn't work.
"Why can't we start out own Clan?" suggested one ShadowClan cat.
"Because it would turn out to be like Brightstar and Stonestar all over again, mousebrain!" snapped a black tom beside him. "And I don't want the stench of ShadowClan in my den at all times. I'd rather join the rabbity WindClan!"
"Who said we liked you fishy RiverClan warriors? We didn't have a choice the first time."
"Enough!" yowled Rainstar, leaping to her paws. Her golden eyes blazed and all the Clans fell silent. "Listen to me! it's either this or nothing. You can become rouges or loners, or quick catch up with your Clans. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be a defender of StarClan, a protecter of the warrior code, than that. I know this plan sounds difficult. That RiverClan could ever overcome their differences and join WindClan, and ShadowClan with ThunderClan..."
"Impossible's more like it," muttered one cat in the clearing.
"But I believe we can do it. We do not want to destroy the old ways, but this is the only way to keep them alive! As Lightningstar said, we are without guidance from StarClan or the warrior code. We cannot sit here and do nothing, waiting for a sign! We are not timid mice, we are proud, determined warriors. Determined to keep our ways of life. I can promise you, RiverClan, we will not force you to give up fishing. That is why I made that deal with Lightningstar. WindClan and RiverClan's territory will become one, so you can keep your fish and keep your river. But in exchange, I ask you to try our ways. Try to hunt rabbits, try to adjust to the moors. I know we have many differences, but we also have so much in common. As soon as we get to the WindClan camp, I plan on rebuilding. We must make it bigger to accomodate the new warriors. I want RiverClan to share its hunting techniques and battle moves with WindClan, and WindClan will do the same with RiverClan. We must become one, or nothing. It's either two Clans in the forest, or none. If we don't do this, or at least give it a try, we will all just keep fighting and eventually wipe out all warriors altogether. Please, RiverClan, ShadowClan, give this a change. I don't want to see everything we've worked for, the ways of life we have been living for seasons beyond countless seasons, dissappear. Please..."
