FallClan: The Beginning(Shallowpelt)

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    "It's about time!" hissed the smaller, more lithe tom beside Falconclaw. His fur was sleek, short and white. He had blue-gray fur covering his face, paws and tail and his eyes were a stunning blue. "ForestClan probably thought it a good idea to hunt on our territory." Redwing glanced over at Hawkfire. His own Clan had a cat like Creekfire, always looking to start a fight with another Clan.

    Hawkfire exchanged glances with his friend before looking back at Creekfire, forcing a small smile. "Sorry, Creekfire. Redwing was just finishing up with his bird. We didn't mean to hold you back."


    "Well you're both here now. Come, let's get going," mewed Falconclaw then. He turned and headed out of camp first, emerging out through the other side. He glanced behind him to make sure they were all coming before leading the way out towards the edge of the territory, towards the border they shared with ForestClan. "We'll drop off you friend first, Hawkfire." Then he looked to Creekfire. "And we'll go around the territory that way."

    Redwing couldn't help but hear Creekfire snorting indignantly and muttering something about how back in the times of the Ancient warrior Clans, cats from the other Clans wouldn't dare set foot on one another's territories. Redwing knew the time that Creekfire was mentioning. It was in the time when Bluestar led ThunderClan and Brokenstar led ShadowClan, the Clan that he was descendant from.


    He knew their own Clans' history as well. They had broken away from the original Clans when the warriors began to lose faith in StarClan. StarClan had instructed that only the warriors who still believed and had faith were to leave the lake. Redwing shivered as he pictured groups from every Clan gathering together on the New Journey, waiting for StarClan to give them a sign of where they should go. All he knew from then on was that the groups did what the one from the Mountains did back in the Old Forest: spilt into four groups to reestablish the Clans.

    Hawkfire looked away from the group and rolled his eyes, as though Creekfire's retorts and mutterings were something FieldClan cats were used to. Falconclaw didn't say anything about the tom. He seemed to be more concentrated on the actual patrol. He continued to lead on until ForestClan's scent began to hang in the wind. He slowed down and turned, facing Redwing and Hawkfire. "Well, here we are. Whatever it is you need to do, goodluck," he mewed to the MossClan out of politeness.


    Hawkfire also turned to his friend, frowning slightly. He was worried for his friend.

    "Good riddance, I say." Creekfire muttered grumpily as Redwing padded up to the border. He turned to Hawkfire and saw the concern in the dark tabby's amber gaze.
    "I'll be fine, Hawkfire." he mewed in reassurance with a nod before he turned his cinnamon eyes to Falconclaw. "Thank you." Without another word, the red tabby tom plunged into the forest on the other side of the border and left FieldClan's patrol behind.


    He began to sniff around for the scents of any passing patrols. He'd never set paw on ForestClan territory before and didn't know what to expect. He was half hoping that Snowdust would be on patrol so that way he could tell her what he needed to do.

    The forest seemed to be still and quiet around Redwing. The scent of ForestClan cats was strong, but none seemed to be seen. A ForestClan cat - who was hunting on their side near the borders with FieldClan - had heard mews and took a look. Seeing Redwing step over the border he was quite alarmed and had run off to alert his patrol. What Redwing wouldn't have known was that they were hiding, ready for the tom to come by so that they could catch him.

    Redwing felt the fur along his spine stiffen and his pawsteps began to tread more carefully, more slowly. He took a deep breath and forced himself to continue walking. He'd come across a patrol eventually. He knew he would. He even began to think of what he'd say if the patrol didn't have Snowdust with them. He'd simply tell them that he needed to speak with their Clan leader and that it was important.

    "Sparrowfoot, he's coming! Can we surprise him now?" Mewed the low whisper of an excited light brown tabby. His mentor, a red-brown warrior with black fur around his shoulders and tail, glanced at his apprentice and shushed him with a look. "Quiet down and be patient, Adderpaw. Wait till I say so."


    The leaves behind them rustled and a light gray she-cat joined them in the bush. "We're not to hurt him, Adderpaw. We need to hear his reason of why he's here." The apprentice opened his mouth to complain but his mentor shot him another look. Sparrowfoot turned back to the intruder, studying Redwing's movements. "Get ready."

    Redwing sniffed the air as he padded passed where Sparrowfoot and Adderpaw was settled. His paws slowed down and he lashed his tail in frustration. All the ForestClan scents were mingling together and making it hard to sniff out individuals.

    At that moment, Sparrowfoot glanced at the other two and nodded his head. It was the light gray she-cat who leaped out first, landing right in front of Redwing with a hiss. The ForestClan apprentice flanked Redwing's left while Sparrowfoot appeared to his right. The patrol had now surrounded the intruder.


    The she-cat took a step forward to take a sniff, which she cringed at. "MossClan, although there are fresh new scents of FieldClan."


    Before Adderpaw could say anything, Sparrowfoot spoke up. "You're Redwing, aren't you? I recognize you from the Gathering. What are you doing here on our territory?" He questioned, not unkindly. Although he had caution in his tone.

    Redwing relaxed when he recognized Sparrowfoot from the Gatherings and breathed out in relief. "Sparrowfoot," he greeted with a dip of his head. "I need to speak with your leader. It's important." He braced himself for the questions that would come. Why did he need to speak to Graystar?
    Did he even know that Graystar was ill?

    "Graystar?" Sparrowfoot repeated, surprised. It was the apprentice that asked the question, "Why does he need to see Graystar? What could be so important that you had to come all the way here?" Adderpaw questioned, eyes glaring at Redwing. Cloudberry, the light gray she-cat, glanced at the apprentice. "Hold your tongue, Adderpaw. We'll find out soon enough." She looked to Redwing and stared for a moment before turning. "Then we'll take you there. But first, we need to meet up with another patrol." Adderpaw followed after her, while Sparrowfoot waited for Redwing to follow so that he could keep an eye on him from behind.

    Redwing dipped his head in thanks to Sparrowfoot before he followed after Cloudberry, keeping up so that he could be watched but far enough away that he gave the she-cat a respectfully large space between them. They had agreed!

    They continued on like this for a while, until they reached an area that was close to the centre of their territory. Cloudberry came to a stop as a cat was seen up ahead. "Reedsky! Where are the others?"


    A dark tom looked up, prey hanging from his jaws. "They're coming," he mewed between fur. "Prey happened to be right by us, so we decided to hunt a little." As if on cue, two more cats came bounding over towards the group. One was a dark gray and black tabby, the other a light cream tabby. This cat stopped immediately in her tracks, eyes wide when she recognized who the other three kept secured. "Redwing...?"


    Cloudberry looked between the two. "You know him, Snowdust?" The she-cat nodded her head. "I do, Cloudberry." She then padded over with a squirrel in her jaws. "I'll keep an eye on him, Sparrowfoot." The tom nodded his head and called for his apprentice before pulling up ahead with the second patrol. Snowdust looked to Redwing with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

    Redwing went limp with relief when he saw Snowdust's cream pelt and fell into step alongside her. "I need to speak with Graystar." he mewed softly. "It's very important." Slowly, quietly, he began to tell Snowdust of MossClan's troubles and how Tigerstar had already agreed to help. "He said that FieldClan won't act without the consent of the other leaders."

    The whole time Snowdust was listening, her eyes would widen into two bright moons. "Its a good thing then that Tigerstar didn't object," she whispered back, head low. "Three clans would prove to be a whole lot more effective and powerful compared to two. But Redwing, Tornstar and Lostclaw must know of your disappearance by now. You don't think they'll come looking for you?"

    "If they do," Redwing mewed quietly, his tail flicking nervously behind him. "I'll hopefully have an entire Clan behind me to defend their own boundaries, which should keep me safe for a while." Redwing took a deep breath. "I just hope we can deal with Tornstar and his supporters."

    Snowdust nodded her head in agreement with a worried frown. "It would be wise to give up when another clan or two are going against you," she whispered. "Even if one of the leaders won't help, you'll still have two others." But then there was hesitance to her speech. "Graystar... isn't quite himself lately, Redwing. I'm sure you know from the last few Gatherings. If your words don't reach his ears, I'll help persuade Ivywing."

    "Thank you." Redwing mewed with a nod of his head. He indeed did know how bad Graystar had gotten since Thistlepatch's betrayal. "I just hope that Ivywing will agree, even if Graystar turns me away." He turned his head briefly to the sound of the river. "I have a feeling Oakstar will agree. He's always been keen to help the other Clans."

    "That's true," Snowdust mewed thoughtfully. "He's always been generous and helpful towards the other clans." She looked up as the familiar scent of her clan drifted in the breeze. "We're here, Redwing." She followed the others through the tunnel as the patrol went through first, padding alongside her friend. Adderpaw had taken her catch by her request and carried it away towards the pile.


    The nearby ForestClan cats were staring at Redwing. Some were looking with surprise, others with suspicion and uneasiness. Cloudberry looked to the MossClan cat. "You wait here with Snowdust." And with that she bounded away towards the leader's den, where Ivywing and Graystar were usually.