The Path We Follow: Forgotten Shadows

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Prologue

The stars gleamed down into the gathering quarry. The stoney quarry was full of bushes and solemn trees. Reeds and grass gathered among paws of the cats gathered there. Three leaders sat proudly on the large stone that jutted out the ground like an outstretched paw. Below, the deputies rested resting behind the hanging drapes of moss and ivy that created a nice shadowy hiding place to watch with peace.

But peace was not among the clans tonight. Cats murmured to each other but never strayed too far from their clan mates. Leaf-fall was soon to tether into leaf-bare and already some cats showed thinned pelts. Not everyone was having an easy time.

"I will start first," Berrystar, leader of Sunclan said, her eyes sagged with a dull gleam but she straightened up and stepped forward, "Go right ahead," Thistlestar, leader of Stormclan purred with a faint sneer rising in his voice like venom in blood. Crowstar, leader of Shadeclan merely sighed at their displays and twitched an ear in annoyance. Berrystar's blue weary eyes spark for only a minute before she turned to the cats below.

Silence fell and she began to talk, "Sunclan is doing well," she started and Thistlestar fought a snort at their thin pelts. "We have a new elder, Crowfang...that is all." cats cheered as thistle pushed his way forward and Berrystar bared her teeth but stayed silent. "Stormclan is doing well," he meowed, "We have no news, in particular, to speak of except..." his gaze turned on Berrystar, There have been scents of sunclan cats in our territory."

Cats gasps and outroar broke like a dam and flooded the quarry.

"Liar!" a white she-cat with brown patches hissed, "and I suppose it's just the wind pushing you Sunclan cats scent deep into our territory?" A ruddy reddish orange tabby sneered in Storm's defense. "Silence!" Berrystar yowled, agitation flooded her drained eyes as she whipped around towards Thistlestar with anger, "My cats have done no such thing!"

"Then are you to tell me, you can't even keep an eye on your cats or are you calling my warriors confused?" Thistlestar snapped. "Enough! Both of you..." Crowstar hissed, "This is a gathering!" he said, "Act like kits somewhere else." he grumbled pushing past them.

"Shadeclan welcomes the birth of four kits, prey is running well. That is all." Crowstar finished quickly and cats murmured a little hesitant from earlier little outburst and congratulate Shadeclan. With that done Berrystar hissed at Thistlestar who went to pounce down.

"You think because your Badgerstar's blood that you can behave any way you can? That Starclan and our great mothers can see no wrong in you?" At the sentence Thistlestar froze and rose his head with a glare, the large tom stalked towards the smaller she-cat but despite the size difference, she did not back down.

"My warriors do not lie." Thistlestar growled, "I hope the same can be said of yours." Clouds obscured the sky and all cats gasped.

---

"Will war come?" Beewhisker asked the cream spotted tabby looked towards the tired deputy. "It seems so..." Orchidstep sighed as she sat with the medicine cat by the clan's entrance in the chilly weather. "Peace doesn't last forever..." she mewed.

"Certainly not with Thistlestar as the leader," Beewhisker snort, "He is your friend.." Orchid reprimanded but with no hostility, "And as his friend, he needs to hear the truth. He's an arrogant fight happy tom." Beewhisker said with a matter-of-fact tone and small growl, "I have known him for so long, he doesn't wait for evidence. He heads straight for what he wants and does it swiftly."

Beewhisker huffed afterward, "It's an annoying trait of his." Orchid chuckled at this making the medicine cat look at her, "Oh? That's not what I heard when you two was younger, you followed him around like a kit to their mother." Orchid chuckled and Bee's pelt puffed up with embarrassment, heat rising in his ears. Beewhisker playfully smacked her with his tail before clearing his throat, "How's...the family?" He asked and Orchid sighed and tensed slightly.

"Foxwhisper is...still upset if your asking. My father is proud but I can't help but wonder why me. I was a jumpy apprentice, and sensit-i still am...i'm sensitive and.." she trailed off, "My sister is so hardy and collective..she would have been the better choice." Orchid's body visibly wilted and bee leaned towards her, "Thistlestar had his reasons, I think he made the right choice."

Orchid gave a weak smile, "How's your apprentice? Duties?" Beewhisker smiled, "She's a natural, I've only had her for two moons and I know she'll do great things..." Beewhisker looked up, "And she did very well helping her mother during her kitting, I know she'll do well with milkbelly's kits."

Orchid smiled, "I remember when pebblepaw was still in the nursery...my time flies." Beewhisker chuckles, "A bright future...with our next generation.." Beewhisker suddenly frowns, "Though I worry...have you.." He pauses, "Smelt it?" Orchid stiffens, confirming it. "I brought it up to Thistlestar but...he's more focus with the war.."

"Maybe I'm just worrying too much but...I haven't smelt so many loners and rogues near the territory since..." Beewhisker stops and shivers. "You don't still blame yourself for that do you?" Orchid looked at Bee who drooped. "If I had been a better medicine cat..."

"Your parents would still have died, they bled too much and your uncle left on his own accord. Remember that." Orchid sighed standing, "We should head back, it's getting cold..." Orchid padded away towards the left of camp into the warrior's den; a burrow covered by bushes while Beewhisker lingered, looking into the starry sky as it twinkled. It's light made bee's pelt almost glow under it but the glow didn't reach his gaze. He turned and walked back into camp with silence, heading right.