this story is as old as the clan itself...but no elder can tell u the tale...because this disaster caused the entire clan 2 collapse upon itself and b destroyed. this story was passed 2 me by my mother, and i promise that i will not let this happen again...but u must know of my family's past...this is also when the other animals were living in the clan, instead of as a separate pack...which gave more problems...and it's also when the clan was run just like any other clan.
"hello Jade Eyes." an orange cat smiles at a younger gray cat.
"hello Blade Star, how r u?" Jade Eyes replies.
"i'm great! seems like a good day, don't it?"
"it's the middle of leaf-bare and there's been no pray in forever..."
"yeah...it HAS been harder then normal...but we've just gotta make the best of it!" Blade Star pauses. "Have u gotten any signs from Starclan about when this will end?"
"no...not one." Jade Eyes sighs.
"have u gotten any other signs?"
"not one." she replies, walking away to her den with a slight gleam in her eyes.
~elsewhere~
"so i thought u were told we were gonna re-do the borders!"
"not now, Leafpaw."
"but Jazz Heart!"
"i SAID not NOW Leafpaw."
"alright...but y not? your the deputy?"
"but Blade Star doesn't think it's needed. she's convinced that the cold is almost over...she's already lost a life this season because of not having food and the green-cough out break..."
"oh...isn't it her last life?"
"how did u know that?" Jazz Heart asks calmly.
"i heard u and Jade Eyes talking last night." Leafpaw says hesitantly.
"u WHAT!?" Jazz Heart bristles.
"calm down...i haven't told anyone and i agree...this clan needs a change..."
"u better not even mention it 2 anyone else!"
"i won't"
"good." Jazz Heart sighs, letting her fur lie flat.
~the next day Blade Star was found dead in her den, a small amount of red on her muzzle. though some may have noticed, they didn't care. this is where the past will ease into a foreshadowing of what my story is about...~
~12 years later~
"hey Petal Star, how's it going?"
"eh, same dirt different moon..."
"Petal Star, y can't u b peppy 4 once."
"same reason u can't b downcast 4 once Stem Whisker..." Petal Star replies, a hint of amusement in her tone.
"it's a wonderful green-leaf, isn't it! pray is plentiful, herbs r growing great, and the sun is bright over head!"
"a bit 2 bright, if u ask me..."
"well i didn't! i love the bright sun!"
"well good 4 u...i don't." and, with that, Petal Star walks away. Stem Whisker sighs, then walks the other way.
and, 2 think, they have 5 more life times of her dreary, dismal, darkness. even her fur changed from the light gray it had been as a kit, 2 jet black as she grew up. and, of course, about half of the clan resented her for taking more territory then we really needed. the other half argues that it was needed for the growing clan. there's other things they hated about her. she was a war-like leader, 4 one. the clan seems 2 b split in half about a lot of things when it comes 2 that...
but, nothing more so divided the clan then her past. the leader b4 her, Leaf Star, had said she had a dream that was a bunch of rose petals drifting in a breeze past the leader's den. since her name was Petal Breeze, it had seemed the natural choice, but some argued it was meant that Rose Petal, who died a season after, was 2 b Leader. i say leader because she didn't spend much time as deputy because Leaf Star died of green-cough that leaf-bare. the main problem was that she had abandon clan life 2 times b4, and her Great grand mother, Jazz Star, the leader b4 Leaf Star, was thought 2 b involved in killing the leader b4 her, Blade Star.
so, the odds were against her 2 start with. the clan was greatly divided over weather or not she was the rightful leader or not, and this effected weather or not they listened 2 her or not...
~3 years later~
"this is getting ridiculous!"
"i know u don't like her, Jade Flower, but u have 2 deal with her...she's got 3 lives left..."
"i know Talon..." she sighs "never thought i'd say this but thank starclan 4 the rat attack last season." she adds.
"u really want her gone don't u?"
"darn right, Snail Fur!" Jade Flower replies 2 the new cat that joined them.
"i can't agree with u on this..." a new voice says.
"what!?" Jade Flower whips around. "Kite Tail, u don't think she was actually supposed 2 b leader, do u?!"
"weather she was supposed 2 or not, she is." Kite Tail replies calmly. "and if she wasn't, then starclan wouldn't have given her her 9 lives."
"she has a point..."
"u 2 Lilly!?" Jade Flower yelps.
"well i think that she should b dead and gone." a new voice chimes in.
"Grass Valley!" Kite Tail stares at him wide-eyed in disbelief.
~this seems like a good time 2 switch 2 the actual day of the fight...only 4 moons later~
Petal Star walks out of her den 2 see the clan split in 2 and yelling at each other. some look up as they see her come out, but they r quickly back into yelling at the other end of camp. she looks around, confused. there was no visible signs that this would happen, no signs from starclan, and no mutterings that she could pick up that could have told her anything was wrong. in fact, everything was running smoothly that she knew..."what's going on here!?" she yells over the crowd. everything goes quiet, and everyone stares at her. suddenly, without warning, they launch at each other. 3 cats jump up and pull her into the blur of fighting cats. the fighting ended quickly...with every cat dead in pools of blood. Petal Star staggers up, barely hanging on 2 her last life. she looks around, wide-eyed.
~a season later, leaf-bare~
"mom, it's cold! where r we going!?"
"not 2 much farther Masquerade Heart..." Petal Star sighs, plowing her way through the snow ahead of her kit. she had left the camp far behind, and now it was time 2 go back...
that green-leaf she told me the story i just told u the week b4 she died. the night b4 she died, she told me it was my job 2 re-start a new clan, in the old camp. she said not 2 let what happened 2 her happen 2 me. she said don't turn a blind eye on anything that happens...and she told me about y i got my name.
she said it was because of the disguises that she could not detect in her own clan, and the fact that she didn't let any of her heart show 2 her clan. it was supposed 2 b a reminder 2 both her and me not 2 let what happened in the past show up now...
and, with my story now told, lets make a new one unfold!
one where the strong run for cover and the weak can stand tall!
i'm not afraid, i'm not ashamed, i'm not 2 blame...
try 2 dig down deeper if u can.
welcome 2 the masquerade.
"hello Jade Eyes." an orange cat smiles at a younger gray cat.
"hello Blade Star, how r u?" Jade Eyes replies.
"i'm great! seems like a good day, don't it?"
"it's the middle of leaf-bare and there's been no pray in forever..."
"yeah...it HAS been harder then normal...but we've just gotta make the best of it!" Blade Star pauses. "Have u gotten any signs from Starclan about when this will end?"
"no...not one." Jade Eyes sighs.
"have u gotten any other signs?"
"not one." she replies, walking away to her den with a slight gleam in her eyes.
~elsewhere~
"so i thought u were told we were gonna re-do the borders!"
"not now, Leafpaw."
"but Jazz Heart!"
"i SAID not NOW Leafpaw."
"alright...but y not? your the deputy?"
"but Blade Star doesn't think it's needed. she's convinced that the cold is almost over...she's already lost a life this season because of not having food and the green-cough out break..."
"oh...isn't it her last life?"
"how did u know that?" Jazz Heart asks calmly.
"i heard u and Jade Eyes talking last night." Leafpaw says hesitantly.
"u WHAT!?" Jazz Heart bristles.
"calm down...i haven't told anyone and i agree...this clan needs a change..."
"u better not even mention it 2 anyone else!"
"i won't"
"good." Jazz Heart sighs, letting her fur lie flat.
~the next day Blade Star was found dead in her den, a small amount of red on her muzzle. though some may have noticed, they didn't care. this is where the past will ease into a foreshadowing of what my story is about...~
~12 years later~
"hey Petal Star, how's it going?"
"eh, same dirt different moon..."
"Petal Star, y can't u b peppy 4 once."
"same reason u can't b downcast 4 once Stem Whisker..." Petal Star replies, a hint of amusement in her tone.
"it's a wonderful green-leaf, isn't it! pray is plentiful, herbs r growing great, and the sun is bright over head!"
"a bit 2 bright, if u ask me..."
"well i didn't! i love the bright sun!"
"well good 4 u...i don't." and, with that, Petal Star walks away. Stem Whisker sighs, then walks the other way.
and, 2 think, they have 5 more life times of her dreary, dismal, darkness. even her fur changed from the light gray it had been as a kit, 2 jet black as she grew up. and, of course, about half of the clan resented her for taking more territory then we really needed. the other half argues that it was needed for the growing clan. there's other things they hated about her. she was a war-like leader, 4 one. the clan seems 2 b split in half about a lot of things when it comes 2 that...
but, nothing more so divided the clan then her past. the leader b4 her, Leaf Star, had said she had a dream that was a bunch of rose petals drifting in a breeze past the leader's den. since her name was Petal Breeze, it had seemed the natural choice, but some argued it was meant that Rose Petal, who died a season after, was 2 b Leader. i say leader because she didn't spend much time as deputy because Leaf Star died of green-cough that leaf-bare. the main problem was that she had abandon clan life 2 times b4, and her Great grand mother, Jazz Star, the leader b4 Leaf Star, was thought 2 b involved in killing the leader b4 her, Blade Star.
so, the odds were against her 2 start with. the clan was greatly divided over weather or not she was the rightful leader or not, and this effected weather or not they listened 2 her or not...
~3 years later~
"this is getting ridiculous!"
"i know u don't like her, Jade Flower, but u have 2 deal with her...she's got 3 lives left..."
"i know Talon..." she sighs "never thought i'd say this but thank starclan 4 the rat attack last season." she adds.
"u really want her gone don't u?"
"darn right, Snail Fur!" Jade Flower replies 2 the new cat that joined them.
"i can't agree with u on this..." a new voice says.
"what!?" Jade Flower whips around. "Kite Tail, u don't think she was actually supposed 2 b leader, do u?!"
"weather she was supposed 2 or not, she is." Kite Tail replies calmly. "and if she wasn't, then starclan wouldn't have given her her 9 lives."
"she has a point..."
"u 2 Lilly!?" Jade Flower yelps.
"well i think that she should b dead and gone." a new voice chimes in.
"Grass Valley!" Kite Tail stares at him wide-eyed in disbelief.
~this seems like a good time 2 switch 2 the actual day of the fight...only 4 moons later~
Petal Star walks out of her den 2 see the clan split in 2 and yelling at each other. some look up as they see her come out, but they r quickly back into yelling at the other end of camp. she looks around, confused. there was no visible signs that this would happen, no signs from starclan, and no mutterings that she could pick up that could have told her anything was wrong. in fact, everything was running smoothly that she knew..."what's going on here!?" she yells over the crowd. everything goes quiet, and everyone stares at her. suddenly, without warning, they launch at each other. 3 cats jump up and pull her into the blur of fighting cats. the fighting ended quickly...with every cat dead in pools of blood. Petal Star staggers up, barely hanging on 2 her last life. she looks around, wide-eyed.
~a season later, leaf-bare~
"mom, it's cold! where r we going!?"
"not 2 much farther Masquerade Heart..." Petal Star sighs, plowing her way through the snow ahead of her kit. she had left the camp far behind, and now it was time 2 go back...
that green-leaf she told me the story i just told u the week b4 she died. the night b4 she died, she told me it was my job 2 re-start a new clan, in the old camp. she said not 2 let what happened 2 her happen 2 me. she said don't turn a blind eye on anything that happens...and she told me about y i got my name.
she said it was because of the disguises that she could not detect in her own clan, and the fact that she didn't let any of her heart show 2 her clan. it was supposed 2 b a reminder 2 both her and me not 2 let what happened in the past show up now...
and, with my story now told, lets make a new one unfold!
one where the strong run for cover and the weak can stand tall!
i'm not afraid, i'm not ashamed, i'm not 2 blame...
try 2 dig down deeper if u can.
welcome 2 the masquerade.
eyes like fire, burn my pelt.
pulse runs higher, pain i felt.
claws are red,
my friend...dead.
ear is torn,
for her, i morn.
my eye hurts,
the pain...won't stop.
my pelt throbbs,
i can't cope.
my life is fading,
my heart aches.
sudden strangth!
can't give up!
clan needs me!
for them, i'll fight!
i will not fight for me,
for i'll give in.
the pain, everywhere,
but i don't care!
pride burns in my heart,
honnor, too.
i will not show my fear,
though it nearly swallows me.
the pain in their eyes,
i forget my own.
they show no fear,
though i know they share it.
the brave cats around me,
it fills me with pride.
for i AM a true warrior,
and i do not cry.
a true warrior can cry,
but not out here.
can show no weakness,
can show no fear.
and sence i'm i true warrior,
and because i am loyal,
i will fight through this,
for no pain is worse then letting them down.
pulse runs higher, pain i felt.
claws are red,
my friend...dead.
ear is torn,
for her, i morn.
my eye hurts,
the pain...won't stop.
my pelt throbbs,
i can't cope.
my life is fading,
my heart aches.
sudden strangth!
can't give up!
clan needs me!
for them, i'll fight!
i will not fight for me,
for i'll give in.
the pain, everywhere,
but i don't care!
pride burns in my heart,
honnor, too.
i will not show my fear,
though it nearly swallows me.
the pain in their eyes,
i forget my own.
they show no fear,
though i know they share it.
the brave cats around me,
it fills me with pride.
for i AM a true warrior,
and i do not cry.
a true warrior can cry,
but not out here.
can show no weakness,
can show no fear.
and sence i'm i true warrior,
and because i am loyal,
i will fight through this,
for no pain is worse then letting them down.
chasing butterflys,
playing with a stick,
catching a leaf,
batting at shadows...
these are in our dreams.
if dogs bark,
then what's on a tree?
in leaf-bare,
are trees cold?
things we question.
watching birds,
look at squirells.
playing with shadows and moss.
things we enjoy.
so, as you can see...
the biggest difference between
a kit and a warrior is this.
kits can enjoy simple things.
little, tiny things,
so easilly overlooked by most,
kits can see them and love them,
even though they are compleatly meaningless.
but, the problem is,
and we all wonder this...
when i grow up,
when i'm a warrior,
who will i be?
still me?
of all the things i'm suppose to be,
do i have the time,
to just be me?
the thoughts and dreams,
and the chasing sun beams,
will i still have that?
when i'm older?
will i still have the time?
the time for fun?
or will that time,
be done?
playing with a stick,
catching a leaf,
batting at shadows...
these are in our dreams.
if dogs bark,
then what's on a tree?
in leaf-bare,
are trees cold?
things we question.
watching birds,
look at squirells.
playing with shadows and moss.
things we enjoy.
so, as you can see...
the biggest difference between
a kit and a warrior is this.
kits can enjoy simple things.
little, tiny things,
so easilly overlooked by most,
kits can see them and love them,
even though they are compleatly meaningless.
but, the problem is,
and we all wonder this...
when i grow up,
when i'm a warrior,
who will i be?
still me?
of all the things i'm suppose to be,
do i have the time,
to just be me?
the thoughts and dreams,
and the chasing sun beams,
will i still have that?
when i'm older?
will i still have the time?
the time for fun?
or will that time,
be done?