aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaIt was a dark day for the forest. Tensions had been rising for moons between two rivaling Clans in the midst of a terrible leaf-bare. Cats were starving, and there simply was not enough prey to go around. Desperation led to theft, and theft led to violence. Leaders and senior warriors did their best to hold everything together, to uphold the warrior code at no matter the cost, but even their noble leadership couldn't soothe the starving bellies and the rising anger between the Clans.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaThe breaking point began with a she-cat named Coldsky, the deputy of MeadowClan. She was resentful of Cloudstar, who seemed diligent not to strike back against AshClan after repeatedly being caught trespassing.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa "They're taking what little we have left! We can't allow this, Cloudstar! That prey belongs to our queens, our elders, our kits for StarClan's sake! If you do not let us protect what is rightfully ours, then you have sentenced us to death!" Coldsky reasoned, fire blazing in her ice-blue eyes. Cloudstar lashed his tail irritably, then the large tabby-and-white tom turned his back to his silver-furred deputy. "Violence will only bring more violence, and cats will die. Then who will be left to hunt and provide for us? We are already small in numbers, Coldsky. I do not want to provoke AshClan anymore." He spoke dismissively, and in a weak voice. Cloudstar was growing older, and was no longer the strong and energized leader he used to be. "You're acting too passively. You're afraid, but right now the Clan needs you to be strong. If we don't stop them now, we will all starve. Cloudstar, we need action!" "NO!" The leader boomed, facing Coldsky again with great aggravation in his amber gaze. "I must protect us from bloodshed! And I will not have you question my leadership any longer. Please leave me, Coldsky. Take the warriors to hunt."
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaColdsky obeyed, albeit hesitantly. But her anger and determination lingered and grew within her heart. "If Cloudstar is too afraid to act, then someone has to save these cats. We will not just lay down and let AshClan snuff us out..." She resolved, and she took out a patrol as instructed of all the senior warriors. She gathered them deep within the pine forest, just before the edge of the meadow. She rallied them to her side, against Cloudstar's ideals, and plotted to attack AshClan in three nights, unbeknownst to their leader. When they laid their attack on AshClan's camp, it was all-out bloodshed. Warriors and apprentices alike fell, and the battle seemed to drag on for moons, when in the midst of the night, Cloudstar, who had realized his deputy and most of MeadowClan's warriors had gone, arrived to the scene of the fight.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"Coldsky! What have you done?" He screeched angrily, pain in his eyes as he took in the sight of several of his warriors lying in their own blood. Before the silver she-cat could answer, an AshClan tom lunged at Cloudstar, who could only feebly resist in his weakened state, and took his life. His final life. Coldsky's heart shattered. She realized the doom she had led both of the Clans into, and knew what had to be done next.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"MeadowClan! Cease!" She cried, and her remaining warriors stopped to gather around her, stained with MeadowClan and AshClan blood. Likewise, AshClan's cats grouped on the other side of the clearing, clearly relieved to have a break from the fighting. Their leader, Oakstar, stood bloodied and defiant in front, facing the intruders. "How dare you strike like this, even without the command of your leader? Now he is dead, along with many of your Clanmates, and ours."
The ginger tom cried, grief evident in his voice. Coldsky could hardly take in his words beneath the crushing regret on her shoulders, let alone move and lead her Clanmates home. "Leave now, or we will make you!" Oakstar hissed, unsheathing his claws once more. Several AshClan warriors followed suit, stepping forward beside their leader with their ears flattened and teeth bared. The MeadowClan cats growled while they unsheathed their own claws in response, and the clearing seemed heartbeats away from breaking out into war once more when a long-furred black she-cat emerged from AshClan's group. It was Feathershade, AshClan's medicine cat.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"Stop this!" She cried, leaping between the two sides. She was about to say more when her green gaze suddenly flicked upward at the glinting moon. She stared into it as the moonlight intensified, until her vision was taken over completely by its blinding light. The surrounding cats watched, uncertain, as the she-cat entered a trance-like state. Feathershade was completely still and silent. Finally, she seemed aware of the world again.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"A sign from StarClan," She breathed, a wild look in her eyes. "If we are to survive this leaf-bare, the Clans must unite."
---
A new beginning...
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Many seasons have passed since the two Clans came together in AshClan's territory, forming MoonClan. Oakstar continued as leader, with his deputy, Sandwillow, succeeding him long after the cats had settled. Coldsky had become a normal warrior again after the fight, and later died protecting her patrol from a fox attack moons later.
