MagiStream

Chapter Seven

As if in answer to the cats' prayers, a single star brightened over them. Shadowrunner looked up and smiled, nudging Swiftriver. Both of them looked hopefully at the star as if it could do something. The gale did not lessen. Something snapped inside Shadowrunner. He dropped Browntail's hindquarters and he groaned with pain. "Swiftriver. Sparrowtail's not coming back." Swiftriver's face showed a look of horror. "How will we survive with no medicine cat?" She gasped. Browntail let out another screech as his head hit the ground. the trio bowed their heads in tribute to the lost medicine cat. Finally picking Browntail off the ground, they continued onward and soon were scrambling up to the leader's den.
Redheart lifted her head up at the sounds of scrabbling from outside. "Sunrunner, we have visitors." She said cautiously. Sunrunner, the largest tom in the cave growled. "Who goes there?!" A muddy taddy's head slid into the shelter. "Quieter, lion-face. We hear you. No need to act all big and everything." Came Shadowrunner's gruff reply. "Swiftriver, Shadowrunner, Browntail? What are you doing here?" Perked up the tabby queen. "The den collapsed. At least we can assume it collapsed. We were halfway accross the clearing when we realised. Sparrowtail's not coming back..." The small group of cats bowed their heads to the memory of the old ShadowClan medicine cat. "Poor Sparrowtail..." Whispered Songkit. Sunrunner smiled. "Briarpelt, I think your kits are ready to become apprentices soon." He said, just loud enough for the sodden kits to hear. "Oh, really? Can we, can we Sunrunner? Can we?" Chorused the kits. "Oh, Sunruner can I be Hawkcloud when I'm a warrior? Please?" "Oh, I think my warrior name should be Songlark. Wouldn't that be splendid?" "I'll be Lionleap, the greatest warrior ever!" All the cats laughed. "I think it's too early to be thinking about warrior names yet." Sunrunner calmed the restless kits down. "We'll make you apprentices soon enough. In the light of a new day."

Write moar. Now.

I am twying oout ...hic... dish ccider. I wonder what my ...hic... poshtsh will be like. Hehehehe.

Chapter Eight

One by one, the cats fell into a senseless sleep, lulled by exaustion and hunger.
Shadowrunner opened his eyes to reveal a perfectly beautiful summer morning. The sun shone like it didn't sine before. Birds chirped. Dew dripped from the tree branches. Redheart opened her eyes with a slow moan. "Redheart, look at this..." Sighed Shadowrunner, up and ready. Redheart looked outside and smiled. Thank StarClan. Greypaw awoke and almost jumped out of the den, happy to see clear skies and no rain. Leaving the others to finish their rest, the trio made their way to the moorlands to hunt for something to eat.
When Sunrunner and Swiftriver opened their eyes, Greypaw, Shadowrunner, and Redheart had a morning meal set for them. Sunruner turned to the sleeping kits and their mother. Finally, he said quietly, "Who will dub them apprentices if we have no leader to do it?" The question hung in the air, unanswered. Shadowrunner and Greypaw broke the silence by saying uniformaly, "You."

Time to bring this back from the dead.

Chapter Nine

It had been moons since Sunrunner had visited the Moonpool and recived his nine lives. The tumbly kits near Briarpelt's belly had been dubbed apprentices. The newly named Greyhawk was mentoring a new apprentice, Songkit. Hawkpaw enjoying the glory of being the leader's apprentice, and Browntail had the honor of mentoring Lionpaw. The small clan was begining to grow. Redheart's belly swelled with Shadowrunner's kits, Briarpelt stepping in with her small knowlege of herbs as medicine cat. Songpaw was struggling with her duties as a 'paw. Very dainty by nature, the small she-cat was reluctant to get her paws bloodied by prey blood. Near new leaf, Sunrunner finally announced that Songpaw was being converted to medicine cat apprentice. StarClan had sent dreams to him. Now, Songpaw was in the nursery, helping Redheart's kits out. The rest of the small clan stood outside, watching, waiting. "Is she going to be okay?" Fretted the new father, Shadowrunner. Greyhawk sat, calm. "Shadowrunner, she's not the first cat having kits, you know." He said in a stern tone. Songpaw appeared in the camp. "Three she-cats." She announced triumphiantly. Redheart was in the nursery, three bundles sucking at her stomach. She purred as Shadowrunner rubbed his muzzle against hers. "Could we name the sandy one Birdkit? In honor of my littermate." She looked up at Shadowrunner, who nodded. Greyhawk nodded to the black one. "She's like a raven. How about Ravenkit?" Redheart smiled. The russet one was named Robinkit. Dusk was falling, and the clan, sighing, returned to their nests, their day full of patrols and kits over. They needed rest. Sunstar looked proudly one last time at his clan and fell into a restful sleep.

Chapter 10

But StarClan wasn't ready to leave the cats alone. Tonight would be the greatest test of all, asking of the cats the upmost courage and intelligence. The stars kept a silent vigil over the silently sleeping camp. Cicadas chirped restlessly in the bushes. Peaceful, deep-throated snoring came from the leader's den as Sunstar tossed about his dreams, and three tiny noses breathed in the nursery, quieted earlier by the strict red queen. But what was that noise in the bushes? Ever so subtle, ever so quiet. Possibly a bird. Or maybe some lagre insect... Shhh.... But what was that? There it is again. Flickering, a dim glow of cats' eyes lighted in the brush. Green slits hesitated, surverying the sleeping camp. One hideously disfigured paw crept into the moon-filled clearing...
Shadowrunner awoke with a start. It was a completely normal day, birds chirping, clear skies... He jumped out of his nest, fur bristling with fright. Was it Redheart and the kits? He rushed toward them, leaping into the den. Everything was quiet and in place. Just Robinkit thoughtfully sucking on his mate's belly. Sighing with relief, Shadowrunner headed to the fresh-kill pile to take a mouse or something for a morning meal, and froze in his tracks. Not a whisker remained in the hollowed-out ground. Not a hair.

Chapter 11

Shadowrunner's stomach rumbled, complaining with painful hunger. Menatally silencing it, he crept back to the warrior's den, desperate not to wake anyone up. Swiftriver and Greyhawk were up and whispering quietly to each other. Shadowrunner paused at the entrance,wondering wether to join in on the conversation or to curl back up in his nest. Greyhawk motioned to him, beckoning him forward. Gingerly twisting himself to step over Browntail, Shadowrunner painfully squeezed himeslf through the narrow space between the sleeping cat and the celing of the squat den. Setting himself down between the two cats, he sighed, filling his lungs with much-needed air.
"What's up with the early-morning walk?" Greyhawk pronounced skeptically.
"I had a really weird dream, okay. It woke me up. I was hungry-" But Greyhawk didn't let Shadowrunner finish his sentence.
"You were so hungry, you ate ALL the food?" His tone was now less skeptical and more suspicious.
"I didn't eat anything. Can't you hear the rumbling? I'm just as hungry as you."
"Stop fighting like stupid rabbits. You have no idea how mouse-brained you guys look." Interrupted Swiftriver. "Shadowrunner, we need to hear exactly what happened when you woke up."
"I had a really weird dream that someone, or someTHING was comming and stealing our food. I woke up because I was shaken. I thought something was wrong with Redheart and the kits, but they seemed fine. Then I realised that I haven't eaten since forever. That's when I noticed all the food was gone."
"Well, you better look where you're stepping, because you stepped on my tail and woke me up." Continued Greykawk, continuing to throw insults. "I woke up, looked outside, and I'm pretty sure the fresh-kill pile was still there. Later, I noticed the pile was gone. What do you have to say about THAT?"
"Shhh, Greyhawk, don't wake Browntail. You know how cranky he is about that." Swiftriver turned to Shadowrunner. "Yes, Greyhawk isn't exactly being courteous, but he does have a point. Are you sure you are telling the truth?"
"Of course I'm sure. Have I ever lied to you?"
"Maybe we should go to Songpaw. She would know if she had a dream." Suggested Swiftriver.
"But are you sure she's awake?"
Songpaw's scream swept through the camp, arousing the cats around them.
"Quick, something's wrong!"

((Sorry mods if I'm not allowed to post another, but I'm really bored and I have nothing to do.))
Chapter 12
Greyhawk, Swiftriver and Shadowheart were the first ones next to Songpaw. Instead of being thankful for the attentiveness of them, she swiped at Shadowrunner.
"You! It was you!" She hissed as she swiped with her claws at his muzzle. Thankfully, being much to small to reach Shadowrunner's face, she only grazed his chest. Shadowrunner was taken aback. Slowly, like molasses, the reast of the clan trickled up, yawning and stretching. Sunstar shouldred his way through Briarheart and Browntail.
"Songpaw. Calm down. What's wrong?" Songpaw hissed even louder.
"I had a dream, sent to me by StarClan." She began. "I dreamed that I saw Shadowrunner stealing our food. He feasted on it all night, all for himself. StarCLan told me that if he is not banished from the Clan, a terrible fate will fall upon us."
"Shadowrunner, what do you have to say for yourself?" Sunstar turned coldly to the smoky warrior. Shadowrunner, in a state of shock, managed to murmur,
"I didn't do it."
"Then who did?"
"I don't know, okay?"
"I'm sorry Shadowrunner. If StarClan said so, you must be banished. We can't have place in this clan for greediness. You were a fine warrior, and your loss will be hard for our clan. But this cannot be so, I evoke your warrior name. You may now simply be known as Shadow. I can't believe I ever trusted you. You will be escorted to the farthest boundaries of the clan, and if we see you in our territory again, you will be treated as a regular rouge, chased out or possibly killed. No one remembers you now, Shadow. You are not one of us anymore." Sunstar growled one last time and retreated to his den. Shadow looked pleadingly toward Redheart, but even she had turned away. Only Briarheart and Browntail remained to escort him to his dreadful fate.
The treck to the farthest boundary was long and tiring, and Shadow's tail drooped in saddness and exaustion by the end. During the whole trip, not one of his companions said a word. He thought that even if he turned into a bird and flew away, they wouldn't even care or notice. How sad that others were so gullable. Browntail stopped.
"Go Shadow. And may we never see you again." With those words, both the cats turned and stalked away into the tall grass without so much as a backward glance. Shadow looked down the hills. He could see the tiny camp from here, up high in the hills, and the cats, bustling about inside. He could see the nursery, with his kits playing outside in the sun, and Redheart basking in the sun. They all had already forgotten. No, he thought,they have not forgotten. They will remember how he has dragged Browntail to shelter in the great storm. And he would remember. No, I am not Shadow. My name is Shadowrunner and it will always be. I will always have the heart of a warrior. Once a warrior, always a warrior.

Chapter 13

Shadowrunner padded through the unknown woods, jumping at every single sound, cowering with every tree he passed. How scary it was to be away from the camp. He wandered left and right, forward and back along the trails and finally found himself hopelessly lost in the tangle of pines and oaks. Every tree looked the same. Every rock, every flower identical. With his muscles sapping at every last bit of strength he had left, he staggered forward under a wide, shady elm. And everything went black.
When he awoke, he was shocked to find he was in a den. Was he back in the camp? Had it all been a dream? Was he in StarClan? A young apprentice's face appeared overhead.
"Songpaw?" Shadowrunner was confused. This apprentice was much younger than Songpaw. Another, older she-cat walked into the den. She shooed the young apprentice away from Shadowrunner and stood over him, examining his condition.
"Redheart?"
The she-cat looked confused. "Why would my heart be bloody?" Shadowrunner felt a surge of strength.
"Where's my clan?" He demanded.
"What clan?" Retorted the she-cat. Her expression showed she thought Shadowrunner was imagining things.
She cleared her throat and began, "Your name is Alos, meaning shadow. You have lived with our group your entire life. You have had a nasty run-in with a rock. I am your mate, Dae, meaning bird. That," she motioned to the entrance, "Is Rea, meaning feather, your only offspring. Any questions?"
"One thing. My name is not Alos, my name is Shadowrunner. I have been mistakenly banished from my clan, EmberClan because I have been accused of being selfish. My mate is Redheart and our kits are Robinkit, Ravenkit, and Birdkit. You have my entire story wrong." Shadowrunner explained.
"You have had a nasty concussion and are imagining clans and hearts. Rest." She ordered and stalked out of the den. Shdowrunner settled into the nest and thought. So this was all a dream? Then how was it so real? And why don't I remember anything about Dae and Rea? But why do I feel such a strong connection to my clan?

Chapter 14

Alos had fully been accepted by his new group. He had all but forgotten about his warrior dreams. He forgot about Redheart and the kits, about the great storm, about Sunstar and the others. After all, he had just imagined his previous life. Turns out he was the best tracker in the group, plus the best stalker, which was a big accomplishment. He was second only to Ir, the ledendary leader no one ever saw. He would hide himself and listen. Some say if you go on a raid ( what this meant, Alos didn't know), you can hear him running beside you. They said he was so disfigured, even his old group rejected his talents. Alos was all in his new life. After all, 5 moons had passed.
Everyone was exited and hopeful to go on a raid. Only the best and most experienced stalkers went. Alos hoped he would be chosen. After all, he had to find out someday what this meant. When Ir announced from the depths of his cave Alos's name, Alos felt not happiness and joy, but pity and horror. That he did not know why.
Later that night, after recieving echoing instructions the voice in the cave had said, Alos set out to the west. He was told if he traveled straight and true, he would reach his goal. The treck took well over two hours. The father he went, the more familiar things seemed. When he saw a pine tree, he suddenly thought about brown tails. Why brown tails? Was it Dae's tail he was thinking about? The pale moon shone through the branches, illuminating a clearing before him. Memories began flooding into his mind, quickening his heart. His name was Shadowrunner. Brown tails... Browntail. They had found him under that pine tree. But how could he prove his innocence before his clan without arousing the suspictions of Ir? After all, he was following him. Or was he? Suddenly everything seemed menacing and feirce around him. He forced his heart to stop beating. Slipping quietly around the outskirts of the camp, he made his way to the leader's den. The earth seemed to quake under his every step. Slipping into the spacious den, Shadowrunner curled himself in the shadows, whispering,
"Sunstar."
Muffled groaning.
"Sunstar."
Sleepy muttering.
"Sunstar!"
Sunstar bolted upright.
"Who's there?"
"No one."
"But who are you?"
"Not someone you know."
"What are you doing here?"
"Why don't you come and find out?"
"I don't trust you."
"Remember Shadowrunner?"
"His name is not Shadowrunner." Growled Sunstar.
"Anyway, would you like to see me try to prove him inocent?"
"Well, I'd like to see you try." Smirked Sunstar. A sleek shadow slipped out of the den. Sunstar followed. The shadow turned and Sunstar saw a glint of warm grey eyes in the darkness. He knew them, but from where? The shadow had moved on. It moved quickly through the dense undergrowth, as if it had been here thousands upon thousands of times. The long run had begun to tire Sunstar, Shadowrunner could see that. But the shadow did not slow. After what seemed like forever, they emerged to a bright, open clearing. The shadow continued running through the dense undergrowth around the outskirts. When it came to a seemingly unpenetrable wall of thorns, it stopped and motioned for Sunstar to follow. At first the notion of trudging through thorns seemed absurd to Sunstar, he saw the shadow easily gliding through the opening. After going a ways through, the shadow stopped.
"Wait for me here until the moon rises again tomorrow. Then I'll show you something you don't know." Before Sunstar could open his mouth to protest, the shadow disapeared. Not bad for a night's work, Shadowrunner. Thought the phantom, curling up in his nest.