When Black Sees Red

"Greedstar! Greedstar!" The black tom lifted his head as Troutclaw ran over to his leader. By the way he was panting, he had been sure to run as fast as he could back to camp.
"What is it?" Greedstar demanded.
"There have been recent scents of a DuskClan cat on our side of the border! I was on Redclaw's patrol when we came across it. He sent me back to inform you."
Greedstar's silver eyes narrowed into furious slits. "How dare they cross our border!" He snarled as he stood up. "Where is Redclaw?"
"He's waiting with Wolffur, Riverpaw, and Oakpaw near the border."
"Very well, tell them that I'll be sending a patrol soon." Greedstar made his way to the Highstone and bunched his muscles as he prepared to leap. He scrambled onto the large stone and let out an angry yowl.
Troutclaw was about to ask why another patrol was needed when cats began filing out of their dens; filling the clearing like a shadow.

"Cats of StellarClan!" Greedstar began. He didn't both hiding the anger out of his voice. "DuskClan has been scented inside of our borders. Today will be the day we attack!"
There were furious hisses and angry remarks. Tails lashed with anticipation. They knew this day would come sooner or later.
He waited as it quieted down. "I will lead a patrol myself with Pebblesplash, Silverpaw, Hawkeye, Troutclaw, Sunbelly, Sleetpelt, Blackpaw, and Mousefur. Redclaw, Tanpaw, Wolffur, Oakpaw, and Riverpaw are already waiting. Those whose names haven't been called will remain in camp. Now let's go."
Greedstar leaped from the Highstone and flicked his tail, signalling for his patrol to leave.

"One second, Greedstar!" Shiningsong called as she walked over to him. "I must do something first." Grief flickered in her icy blue eyes, but she quickly shook her head. She knew her time was almost up, and she had to do something.
"Very well," Greedstar nodded and took a step back. He noticed the medicine cat didn't look well, but she had been nursing all of the sick cats.
"Thank you," she whispered before standing in front of the Highstone. "Heatherpaw, come here." Although she was confused, she obeyed her mentor.
"I, Shiningsong medicine cat of StellarClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the way of a medicine cat, and with your help she will serve her Clan for many moons."
"Heatherpaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"
Heatherpaw was even more surprised. She had recently joined the Clan and barely knew anything! She still had so much to learn and she was already receiving her full medicine cat name!
"I do," she meowed and frowned as her voice faltered.
"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Heatherpaw, from this moment you will be known as Heathercloud. StarClan honours your kindness and patience."

"Congratulations, Heathercloud." Greedstar dipped his head in respect at the newly named medicine cat.
"Now," he said. "We must go."
The black tom flicked his tail once more and raced out of the camp. He heard the soft thumping of paws behind him as he lead his Clan to their first Clan versus Clan battle. While running towards DuskClan, Redclaw's patrol of Wolffur, Oakpaw, and Riverpaw joined.
The large patrol passed the borders and ran deeper into enemy territory. Once they were outside of the camp, Greedstar let out a ferocious battle cry and dove into the camp.


-------

[Okay, so there's a couple of things I need to know. First, I need to know if any ceremonies need to be made. Like kits to apprentices or apprentices to warriors. Let me know in the 'Updates' page.
Second, Echo, I need to know Heatherpaw's warrior name. I'm fairly bad at coming up with some myself. ^^;
Lastly, I want to make a human/vampire blog, but is anyone willing to join? It will be based off of 'Vampire Knight' (you don't need to watch it to join) and will consist of an academy for two classes of students. The first class consisting of the 'Day Class' which include humans and (unlike Vampire Knight) vampire hunters; or at least vampire hunters in training. The second class is the 'Night Class' which includes vampires and vampires only. I will add more information if I create the blog.
Also, I'd like to apologise for my absence. I had a really hectic week helping my sister add the finishing touches to her wedding and I was also briefly locked out of my account.
Oh, yeah! I'd like to add that the title is called "When Black Sees Red" means that black [the shade of Greedstar's pelt] sees red; in this case, he's furious.

Edit:
Oh, yes! One more thing. The DuskClan cat they scented was Rowanfur. After his little run-in with Mousefur.]

This Means War

Greedclaw was stalking his way out of DuskClan territory. How dare they refuse to give us any herbs!
Once they were safely into their own territory, the black tom whirled around; his eyes narrowing into slits as he glared at Sleetpelt. "If you haven't caught that stupid bird, DuskClan would've gaven us the herbs we needed!"
Sleetpelt looked taken aback as the deputy glared at him. Sunbelly and Mousefur remained silent.
Greedclaw's gaze remained hard. "StellarClan has declared war with DuskClan. I want you three to do a border patrol. I have to report this to Vanstar."
With a flick of his tail, he didn't wait for a response before making his way into StellarClan's camp.

What wasn't expecting, was the Clan to be chaotic again. Vanstar was laying in the clearing, Shiningsong at his side. Where are Ghostpaw, Wishfeather, and Ivyflight? Seeing as there weren't any elder's he assumed that a few warriors had buried their clanmates.
Shiningsong's head snapped up as she heard Greedclaw enter the clearing. "Good! You're here!" Her voice sounded panic. Instantly, he knew something was wrong. He rushed over and stood over his leader and medicine cat.
"What's wrong?" He demanded.
She let out a defeated sigh before answering. "Vanstar is dying. The sickness is getting worse. Before you left he started getting worse."
"And there's nothing you can do?" He hissed.
Shiningsong looked up at the tom; her eyes glazed over with pain. She had promised that under her watch, no cat would fall ill. A violent cough shook her body and Greedclaw took a step back. Vanstar's dying and Shiningsong's sick. Is StarClan abondening us?!

"Greedclaw..." The black tom looked shocked as his leader tried lifting up his head. Greedclaw inched closer; although he was afraid of getting sick as well. "I can hear StarClan calling...Wishfeather...is waiting for me. There is...nothing you can do. I know....you will lead....StellarClan well."
GreedClan watched with horror as the ginger tom's flank stilled. "No!" He yowled. Was he ready to take on leadership? Of course he was! But Vanstar had been his mentor. He had a close bond with the tom.

"Steelkit, wait!" Hawkeye yelled as the silver tabby broke away from her grip. He rushed to his father's side. "You can't be dead!" He looked down at Vanstar's lifeless body. "You can't! You mouse-brain! You have to lead the clan! You can't be dead!"
For once, Greedclaw's hard silver gaze softened as he laid his tail on Steelkit's hunched shoulders. "Steelkit, he's gone. There's nothing you can do."
"Shut up!" He snapped. "You want him to be dead so you can be leader!"
Greedclaw flinched and lunged at the kit; pinning him down. "Are you so stupid as to think I'd want my best friend dead?" He snarled.
"Get off of him!" Soulkit squeaked as he attempted to shove Greedclaw away.
Letting out a sigh of annoyance, Greedclaw let him up. He turned his back on the kits as he leaped onto the Highstone. Once again, he didn't have to call anyone to gather.

"By now, you all may have heard that Vanstar has joined StarClan," the black tom began as he lowered his head. I shall travel to the [insert Moon place name here] now to recieve my nine lives. Pebblesplash, I want you to watch over the clan until I return."
The black and white she-cat's teal eyes lit up with surprise, but she nodded.
"I will assign a deputy as soon as I return. In other news, the patrol that I took to DuskClan is were refused any herbs."
He waited patiently as the yowls of anger died down.
"With this refusal, StellarClan has declared war with DuskClan. DuskClan is aware of our declaration. When going out, I want you to take someone with you. No apprentices out without a warrior. That is all, meeting dismissed."

*~*

The black tom arrived in the early dawn. The sun was just rising and few cats were in the clearing. He scrambled onto the Highstone and let out a loud yowl that echoed throughout the clearing. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Highstone for a clan meeting!"
He waited as cats filed out of their dens.
"I have recieved my nine lives and I will now be known as Greedstar. Now," he meowed; his gaze flickering over his clan. "I say these words before StarClan, that the spirits of our ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy will be Pebblesplash!"

There were shocked whispers, but the cat that seemed the most surprise was Pebblesplash. She was new of course, but Greedstar saw that with her determination, she would serve StellerClan to her absolute best.
"Vanstar's body shall be buried now," he said. His voice clearly pained. "Troutclaw, Sleetpelt, will you do the honors?"
"Pebblesplash, please send out a border and hunting patrol. We must make DuskClan see that we are capable of standing our ground. That is all, meeting dismissed."

[I know it's a little jumbled. I wasn't going to make Greedstar recieve his nine lives yet, but than I would've had to make a new post, and I didn't want to have to wait. The reason Pebblesplash is deputy is because Stella joined StellarClan first and has been really active. Although, I'm not saying all of you haven't been active! You've all been great and I'm thankful that StellarClan is alive! :)]

Contagious Numbness

Riverpaw stared blankly ahead as the news of Wishfeather's death echoed around the clearing in hushed whispers. It wasn't bad enough that they had lost Ivyflight and Ghostpaw, but not Wishfeather.
The tortoiseshell she-cat was like a mother to her. Her own parents had died when she was just a kit and Vanstar and Wishfeather had raised her alongside Steelkit and Soulkit.
She was snapped away from her thoughts as she heard a heart wrenching yowl sound from nearby. Startled, her first thought was that the foxes were back, but she looked to see Steelkit fighting out of Greedclaw's grasp.
The large black tom had pinned both brothers and was now ordering them to remain where they were. She felt her stomach drop. The two toms couldn't even sit vigil with their mother because of the sickness! However much she wanted to comfort them, she stayed beside Ashpaw. The she-cat had also lost her family and Riverpaw wanted to help comfort her. Vanstar was still alive; he'd talk to the kits.

*~*

Greedclaw had told Steelkit and Soulkit off and had ordered Mousefur to keep an eye on them. The last thing they needed were the kits to catch the sickness.

He was about to ask Redclaw to go out to look for Hawkeye and Smokepelt when the two cats entered the clearing, followed by a fairly large group of strangers.

Eyes narrowing, he decided he'd go and see what was going on.
"Smokepelt, Hawkeye, explain," Greedclaw demanded.

"We split up in the forest," Smokepelt began. His mouth opened as if he were going to continue when his gaze fell on his fallen apprentice. He let out a yowl before dashing over to the young black cat's body. 

Hawkeye followed his gaze and her eyes saddened. "He didn't make it?" She asked more-so of herself.

"No," Greedclaw meowed. "Wishfeather didn't either."
Hawkeye looked up at him with shock. "B-but she was just alive! What about her kits?!"
"We'll worry about them as soon as you tell me about these cats," Greedclaw meowed gruffly. 

Hawkeye nodded as she explained to Greedclaw the story about how she and Smokepelt had separated and eventually found three groups of cats. They had met up and entered the Clan together.

Greedclaw listened and as soon as she was finished, he addressed the cats. He noticed that one of the younger she-cats, Heather, was staring at the bodies of the StellarClan cats. "I hope I can help," she meowed quietly. 

"Heather is good with herbs," Mouse explained. "She will be good as a medicine cat apprentice."
The black tom nodded. He looked over to the Clan leader. He had not left Wishfeather's side, not even to comfort his kits.
Seeing that the leader wouldn't be doing anything anytime soon, Greedclaw leaped onto the highstone to address the Clan. All of which were already in the clearing.

"Cats of StellarClan," Greedclaw began. He received shocked looks as he stood on the large rock. He ignored them, Vanstar didn't seem to mind, he was numb as he buried his nose in his mate's fur.

"Trout, Sun, Willow, Mouse, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," the four meowed in unison.

"Than I give you your warriors names. Trout, you will be known as Troutclaw. Sun, you will be known as Suneblly. Willow, you will be known as Willowfeather, and Mouse, you will be known as Mousefoot. Willowfeather and Mousefoot, seeing that you are carrying and looking after kits, you will remain in the nursery until your kits are ready to be apprenticed."
The black tom turned his gaze from the older cats, to the younger ones.
"Heather, Oak, Pine, Silver, Black, Sun, and Lilac," he began. "Heather, you have asked to follow in Shiningsong's footsteps. She will train as Shiningsong's apprentice until she is given her full name. You will be known as Heatherpaw until then."

Normally, Shiningsong would've touched noses with her newest apprentice, but she had caught herself coughing as she was looking after Wishfeather. She feared that she herself was getting sick and she had promised to stay away from any clanmates. She didn't want the sickness to spread further. Instead of touching noses, the she-cat simply nodded.

"Oak, Pine, Silver, and Black,  you are not yet old enough to be made warriors. Until you receive your warrior names, you will be known as Oakpaw; your mentor will be Hawkeye. Pinepaw; your mentor will be Sunbelly. Silverpaw; your mentor will be Wolffur, and Blackpaw; your mentor will be Pebblesplash." He continued as he looked at Sun and Lilac. "You two are not yet old enough to be apprenticed. Until you reach six moons, you will be known as Sunkit and Lilackit.
"That is all, meeting dismissed." Greedclaw leaped off of the highstone; feeling fairly pleased with himself.
The Clan congratulated their new clanmates, but there was a hidden worry. Would Vanstar be well enough to lead the Clan?

[Ta~da! I think I added in everyone and everything. I'm sorry if I missed something. If I did, please let me know!
The post is called 'Contagious Numbness' because, well when you lose someone, you feel numb, and the whole Clan has lost three of it's members, so...
Also, Shiningsong will become sick because TheBlondeSmiley has not commented in any posts. If she does not comment soon, I'll have Heatherpaw become full medicine cat. Vanstar is slowly dying as well. He's going to become sick soon and so Greedclaw will be the new leader.
I think Greedclaw's a little too greedy to become leader, but hey, it'll make for a fun storyline.]

StarClan's Punishment

Redclaw nodded his thanks to Mousefur as she helped the lifeless body of Ivyflight onto his back. He was about to continue when he heard Ghostpaw's quiet voice.
"They...they didn't kill my sister," Ghostpaw murmured. "They tried their best to help..."
 Redclaw's eyes turned glossy with grief as he watched the young tom's life slip away.
"No!" Redclaw yowled. "Not another one! Not now!" He turned his deep blue gaze to Mousefur. "Let's get them back to camp. Now."
Mousefur didn't argue. Together, the two managed to bring their fallen clanmates back to the camp. Placing them softly in the middle of the camp.

An anguished yowl came sounding from the apprentice den as Ashpaw burst out, her fire-like eyes dull as they locked onto the bodies of her siblings. "No!" She yowled as she nosed each of their bodies. The heat was already fading.
"What is with all of this yowling?!" Vanstar demanded as he stepped out of the medicine cat's den. His gaze softened once he saw the scene. "Great, StarClan!" He gasped. He walked over to Redclaw and Mousefur. "Explain."
Redclaw and Mousefur exchanged looks before Mousefur began. "Riverpaw was out on a hunting patrol with Ivyflight and Ghostpaw when they were ambushed by foxes. Riverpaw made it back to gather more warriors, but by the time Greedclaw's patrol reached the clearing it was too late. Ivyflight was dead when we arrived and Ghostpaw died on our way back. There were loners at the scene as well, Greedclaw's patrol is still there."

*~*

"You two," Greedclaw demanded as he looked at the two cats. "Come with me back to StellarClan. I'll have to take you to Vanstar."
The siblings looked at each other and nodded. "We're okay with that."
Greedclaw nodded once before looking at Smokepelt and Hawkeye. "You two check the area for any signs of foxes. If you do find any I want you to report it back to me. Do not go chasing after them yourselves. You have seen what they could do. We would need a whole patrol to chase out these murderers."
"Yes," Hawkeye meowed as she and Smokepelt disappeared into the brush; scenting for any signs of foxes.

"Let's go," Greedclaw meowed to Pebble and Sleet as he headed towards the StellarClan camp.

Once he reached the camp, he was shocked to see the Clan in such chaos. Ashpaw was at her siblings sides with Riverpaw trying to comfort her.

Sleetkit and Soulkit sat at the edge of the clearing, never tearing their gaze from the medicine cat's den and Vanstar was speaking with Redclaw and Mousefur.

"Wait here," Greedclaw ordered the loners as he padded over to his leader.
"Vanstar, those are the two cats that we ran into when we found Ivyflight and Ghostpaw," the jet black tom said.
Vanstar dismissed Redclaw and Mousefur with the flick of his tale before looking at the two strangers. "Very well," he meowed as he walked over.

After speaking with Pebble and Sleet, Vanstar leaped onto the Highstone, his head heavy with grief as he stiffly stood on top of the large stone.

"It is with great sadness to have lost Ivyflight and Ghostpaw tonight. We shall sit vigil for them tonight." His gaze swept over his clan and rested on Ashpaw. His heart broke as he looked at the she-cat who had lost her only family.
"With lighter news, we welcome to warriors into StellarClan. Pebble, from now on, you will be known as Pebblesplash. Sleet, from now on, you will be known as Sleetpelt. Welcome to StellarClan."
As he leaped off of the Highstone, his clanmates gave a half-hearted congratulatory cheer for their new clanmates.

Vanstar was about to congratulate his newest clan members, when a yowl came from the medicine cat's den and Shiningsong raced out.

"Vanstar!" She yelled, her eyes wide with terror. "Wishfeather is dead.

[This post is the saddest post I have ever written, and it has truely broken my heart. -sobs endlessly-

Warriors101 and Echo, I will have Smokepelt (who doesn't know his apprentice is dead, poor tom) and Hawkeye split up, so they can each find your cats.]