User blog:Driftwillow/Throwback Tuesday

The prologue of my Warriors story, written a year ago. Enjoy!

PROLOGUE

In a vast, moonlit clearing gathered hundreds  of clan cats. Warriors engaged in friendly conversation, while young apprentices compared battle moves and elders shared vivid stories of their youth.

A handsome black tom atop the fallen pine waved his tail abruptly to silence the many cats. “The  Gathering has begun.”

DawnClan’s leader, a pale tabby she-cat, advanced to the suspended roots after a gracious nod from the sleek-pelted black tom.

“DawnClan is well. StarClan has been generous towards us, and prey is bountiful.”

Once she had given her dignified report, she returned to the robust base of the pine among the other clan leaders.

FireClan's ancient leader, a ragged white-and-gray tom, ambled leisurely  downward the broad body of the tree until he also stood many fox-lengths above the Gathering upon the aged, gnarly roots. His dull glare drifted irritability across the clans; many cats believed he had become disdainful and sensitive in his old age.

<span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“FireClan prey has as well been plentiful.” He paused, glaring bitterly upon the Gathering. “We have also increased our border patrols recently. Any unwanted visitors will not be welcomed.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">With an irritated flick of his mangy tail, he returned in silence to the opposing leaders.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Threatening gray clouds drifted ominously across the moon, though no cat noticed.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Unnerved by the old leader’s threat, a long-furred, bright ginger tom sauntered proudly down the gnarly body of the ancient pine.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“BreezeClan, too, has experienced fine hunting in our territory. Also, Dovepelt, a young queen, delivered four beautiful kits only a quarter-moon ago.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Murmurs of brief congratulations issued across the vast clearing.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Still no cat noticed the moon, thickly enwreathed with unfriendly black clouds.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A strange tensity flooded the air, a strong apprehension, as the black tom protruded along the fallen pine. An aggressive wind whipped the surrounding forest in an eerie manner. Alarmed, the Gathering exchanged fearful murmurs. The black tom, however, did not appear afraid.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“CloudClan, also, is faring well. We-”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A horrific jag of lightning split the sky, striking the great oak. The tree burst into flames- red, hungry, leaping flames- preparing to kill. Sparks and thick smoke ascended. Dreadful gasps issued. Violent winds swept the Gathering. The great oak, weakened under the ferocity of the spitting flames, inclined gently toward the ancient leaders’ pine.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">As the oak inclined further, the three opposing leaders evacuated the endangered pine. The black tom remained.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Ravenstar!”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Ravenstar!”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“ <span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Ravenstar!”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The headstrong leader ignored the persistent cries.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">”If StarClan wishes me to burn, the so be it!” <span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">the black tom declared over the roaring of the flames.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The oak did not tarry longer. With an eerie moan, it collapsed in flames.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The moment lingered in peril. The Gathering silenced.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A petrifying cry split.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Ravenstar! No! Ravenstar!”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A slender pale tabby she-cat, belly swollen with unborn kits, shoved relentlessly through the Gathering.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Ravenstar!”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A series of thunder issued. Rain pelted the Gathering and quenched the hungry flames.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Ravenstar! Don’t leave me! Think of our kits!”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">When the tom did not stir, the queen collapsed into a blood-curdling wail.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Ravenstar! Ravenstar! No! <span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">No!”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">While the remaining leaders struggled in vain to comfort the grieving she-cat, CloudClan’s medicine cat examined the fatal accident silently. Ashes and debris surrounded the crushed leader. This frightened the intellectual she-cat. Her amber eyes flashed ominously.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“From the ashes he shall be reborn….but like fire, his ashes shall destroy….”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Her ghastly tone and gruesome omen frightened the Gathering further. DawnClan's medicine cat, a young gray tom, consulted the medicine cat in a whisper.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“With all due respect, Hollywhisker….what in StarClan does this mean?”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The disturbed she-cat replied with hollow meaning. “Only time will tell us, Stormwing….”