What's been going on in IslandClan

In the beginning of the story, Shadowstar had a dream where Islandstar, (first Leader of IslandClan) visited her. Before fading into blackness, she gave her this message;

Your path will be Tangled - Obviously metaphorical to TangleClan, and also hinting to the Tangled minds of certain IslandClan traitors such as Hollystorm and Shadowstar's own daughter Streamcloud who spy for Shadestar.

Death will visit your Clan - Already has happened, with the attempted murder of the Medicine Cats resulting in Bramblefire's brave death to protect them.

When you are without hope - Shadowstar was captured by her evil sister, I think you're pretty much distraught right about now. TangleClan has also allied with SunClan's rival, MistClan, therefore creating a larger force hoping to wipe out both IslandClan and SunClan.

Only with the power of the Lion - Nodding to Lionheart

The wit of the Amber cat - The quick minded Amberfrost

And the pure heart of an outcast - I just added this part, for Otterpad and to overwrite Cherrynose who is not in IslandClan anymore.

  will IslandClan be saved -

                                                                                 YET TO HAPPEN

From the web of the Shade -

{Hey. This is me, Shadowflower. Sorry for the crappily written post, and the dormancy of this Clan, but I've been rather busy of late. Thanks to Feather, SO MUCH for writing a post for me ♥♥. Don't worry everyone, IslandClan's not dead.}



Insight of the Prophecy

It was a restless night in IslandClan. Ominous black clouds covered the sky, and no stars were in sight. The forest mingled with the scents of unfamiliar cats. Warriors stirred in their sleep, and night guards were more alert than ever.

The ferns parted to reveal a small, cream-colored cat. She was completely unmoving, but her shivering paws betrayed the fact that she was alive. It was a cold night for the small cat. Leaf-bare was upon the Clan, and the tree that provided shelter from the wind was no more, for it's leaves had shed.

Finally, the cat stretched and her eyes narrowed in thought. The night is young. There is plenty of time to collect the herbs that Goldenbranch needs. She walked towards the Stream, where numerous clumps of watermint were hidden near the riverbed.

Good, the small cat thought, Goldenbranch will be pleased.

As she plucked pawfuls of the precious herb, her mind wondered about the prophecy.

Only the Power of the Lion,
and the Wit of the Amber One
will save IslandClan from
the Web of the Shade...


Her eyes shadowed, as if she knew more to the prophecy then she was supposed to. So many questions were running through her mind that even a blind kit could sense that something was troubling the young cat. Only questions, and no answers. What did the prophecy mean? Who, or what, is Lion and Amber? Were they Clan Cats, or creatures of the unknown?

Life had been hard for the small cat. An unkind mother and a harsh father, and littermates who she would never fit in with because she was too small, too odd with a black stained pelt, too much of a daydreamer that her family forgot she existed.

Then the cream and black cat smiled. "IslandClan was the best thing that ever happened to me," she whispered to herself, "here we take care of the young and look after the old, because we are all equal."


"Mudflower! Where are those herbs I asked for?" came the call of Goldenbranch, her mentor.

"I'm coming Goldenbranch!" the cream cat answered, clearing her mind of her problems.


As she walked towards her mentor, she made a silent promise:

However hard my life has been, however hard it is now, I promise I will never stop looking after my Clan as a medicine cat, never stop fulfilling my duty as a medicine cat, because I will give my last breath to help my Clan to face what's coming ahead...

The Stepping Stones - Part III

"I'm here, Shadestar. What did you need me for?'' Darkenedheart mewed as he arrived at Shadestar's den.

His Leader smiled her honey-and-poison smile and replied, "There are some friends of mine I would like you to meet."

Almost out of nowhere, three dark shapes, all she-cats, slithered out of the shadowed corners of Shadestar's cave.
Two were silvery grey; one with stripes and one with a dappled pelt, but the other smaller cat was black as night. With great surprise, Darkenedheart recognized the dappled silver she-cat as Streamcloud, Shadowstar's own daughter. The small dark one definitely had the scent of IslandClan, but the TangleClan Deputy could not recall ever coming across her.

Growing impatient, the striped one, the larger of the two silver she-cats spoke. "I am Featherstar, Leader of MistClan."

"And I am Streamcloud, traitor of IslandClan." The spotted silver she-cat smirked.

The small black she-cat replied in kind. "I'm Hollystorm. I'm from IslandClan too but I work for Shadestar."

Shadestar flicked her tail and continued. "You see, my dear Deputy, Hollystorm and Streamcloud are my wonderful informants. They collect information for me because they are both trusted members of IslandClan society, therefore no one would suspect them. And then they meet with Whispernight every half-moon at the stepping stones." The black and white she-cat moved one towards Featherstar.
'Featherstar here -"

The MistClan leader cut in with a warning look at Shadestar who narrowed her eyes but let Featherstar continue. "- We have an agreement. MistClan will help TangleClan get rid of IslandClan if TangleClan will help us settle our score with SunClan, our nemesis. We will rule the remains of those Clans as..' Featherstar chuckled softly to Shadestar, '..Joint Leaders."

The black and white she-cat returned a masking smile but when other Leader turned once again to Darkenedheart, it dropped from her face to be replaced by a sour, dark scowl. Shadestar flicked her tail to dismiss the her 'friends' and retreated back into the shadows of her cave-den.

"Laugh now, mighty Featherstar of MistClan,' She whispered, 'While you are still able to draw a breath. But for present matters, I think I should attend to the prisoner now."

The Story Also Continues in SunClan

The Stepping Stones - Part II

"That's erratic. Absolutely insane." The TangleClan deputy whispered hoarsely from in the small cave where he was conversing with Otterpad.

 

 

 

"Chase, it could work! We could slip away without anyone noticing, and maybe even free the IslandClan Leader too."

Darkenedheart sighed. "First, my name is Darkenedheart now, forget about Chase. Second, do you think that no one will notice when the TangleClan deputy and chief assassin go missing at the exact same time as the prisoner escapes?" He took a breath and then kept going, 'I know what you're thinking. You think that if we spirit Shadowstar back to her camp, she'll welcome us into her Clan with open paws. She won't." The black tom mewed forcefully. 'If you haven't forgotten, we assassinated her best warrior. We're miscreants, Otterpad, and it's too late to change. TangleClan is the only place we'll ever be accepted now. "


 

"No! It's never too late to change! I can't stand another moon with this bloodthirsty so-called Clan. It is never too late to do what's right." Otterpad mewed, raising her voice to a higher decibel.

 

 

Darkened heart narrowed his eyes. "If we try to leave, they'll catch us and kill us."

 

 

Otterpad snorted. "Us? We're the best fighters in the Clan!"


 

"Against countless numbers of TangleClan loyalists. They'll be on us like a pack of foxes. We won't survive a minute."



"I'm still going to try. I have to try."



"No. you can't."



Otterpad narrowed her eyes. "I can't?!"



"I won't let you. I can't let you get hurt." Darkenedheart mewed, his ice-blue eyes boring into his Clan-mate's.



"You can't stop me. I need to do this."



"I can't let you get hurt."



 "I can take care of myself, Chase. And why 'can't you let me'?"



"Because... I lo - " Darkenedheart was cut off by a yowl sounding from the camp.



"Where's my Deputy? Darkenedheart?! Where are you?"



"I have to go."

* * *

"We have to help her!" Mudflower shrieked as she thundered into camp, eyes wide with terror. IslandClan stirred and watched as their Medicine Cat continued yowling.
"They've taken her! We have to help! StarClan told me! They're going to kill her! At the StarGlenn!" Mudflower wailed.

Lionheart padded forward to her, trying to calm her down. He asked the question every other Clan member was pondering. 'Who?'

"Shadowstar! StarClan told me at the half-moon meeting!" Mudflower mewed miserably.

"StarClan wants to kill Shadowstar at the StarGlen??" Mosspath inquired, looking very bewildered.

"NO - you mouse-brain -,' Hissed Mudflower 'StarClan warned me that TangleClan had captured her. We have to help her."

"But what if it's a trap?' Mosspath asked, still suspicious.

"If!? They've probably been planning this all along.' Sparkleshine replied to her friend solemnly.

Snowblaze spoke her mind, 'It would be suicide to go in there. We'd be trapped like.. Like a flies in a spider's web.'

'The web.. of the shade..' Mudflower was trying to remember something. 'The prophecy!
Only the power of the Lion
and the wit of the Amber One
will save IslandClan from
the web of the Shade!"

Lionheart gave her a confused look. The Medicine Cat only continued, 'Shadowstar recieved that prophecy from StarClan!"

'But.. what does it mean?'

To be Continued...

The Stepping Stones part I

Shadowstar loathed waiting and patience was not her strong point.

But nevertheless she found herself waiting for an hour; perched on the Mainland side of the bank with owl cries ringing through her ears and the hostile scent of TangleClan cats drifting by on the
ice-cold breeze shrouded in dark, sinister mists.

Winter was coming soon, the black and white she-cat mused mentally.

Most of the birds had flown away to warmer places.

Prey has already begun hiding in their hollows.

Nights were longer, and morning skies redder.

Goldenbranch had even told her she had seen snow-clouds drifting by.

And of course there was that spine-chilling wind.

And that eerie sound like someone calling my name, Shadowstar thought to herself.

"Shadowflower.." The eerie sound whispered eerily.

A shape formed in the mist, sauntering towards her. Shadowstar held her breath.

But then had a sudden realization. She narrowed her eyes and said coldly,

"My name is Shadowstar, oh high Shadestar, as appointed to me by StarClan at StarGlen.
Speak to me, if you can, instead of all this skulking around in the fog trying fruitlessly to frighten me."

Shadestar's honey-and-poison laugh resounded from the fog and she strolled out into the moonlight towards the IslandClan leader. Her whisper was heard only by Shadowstar, despite the numberless hordes of TangleClan cats secretly hidden in the shadows.

"Ohh little sister, you don't have to prove anything to me. I'll always know you're weak until the day you die by my paw."

"If anyone dies today, it will be you, traitor." Shadowstar unsheathed her claws and took her stance.

A hawk cried overhead.

 

 

"You don't want to do that, Shadowflower." Shadestar smiled. At the flick of the TangleClan leader's tail, Shadowstar was surrounded by a horde of her sister's minions, all ready for battle.


"Forward. We're going back to the camp. Wouldn't you like that, Shadowflower? A visit to the TangleClan camp."

***

To be continued...

"Let All Cats Old Enough To Catch Their Own Prey Join Here For a Clan Meeting!"

 Yowled the black-and-white IslandClan leader. Four cats stood behind her with nervous looks on their faces.

"Today we shall be welcoming four new Clanmates into IslandClan; Flora, Eagle, Vixi, and Blaze - all rougues who want to join us.'

Shadowstar turned sharply to face a grey-and-orange tabby tom, 'Blaze, do you promise to uphold the Warrior code and protect your Clan even at the cost of your life?'

"I do." Blaze replied without wavering.

"Then from this day forward you shall be known as Firestorm for your pelt mottled with fire and storm. StarClan acknowledges your bravery for joining us.' Shadowstar whirled back the her Clanmates below.

'There are two young cats who are the right age for apprenticeship.'

The Leader's gaze rested on Lionheart.

'Lionheart, I know you shall be a strong mentor for Flora. Flora, from this day until your Warrior Ceremony you will be known as Flowerpaw.'

Mentor and Apprentice touched noses.

'Streamcloud, you have not yet had an apprentice. I hope you will pass everything you know to Eagle.'

Shadowstar briefly smiled at her daughter and then turned to Eagle.

'Young one, from this day until your Warrior Ceremony you will be known as Eaglepaw.'

Eaglepaw and Streamcloud did likewise as Flowerpaw and Lionheart, and Shadowstar continued, her gaze softening as she faced a small calico kit.

'Last but not least, Vixi also wishes to join. Vixi, from this day until your Apprentice Ceremony you will be known as Fox-kit. Fawnstream has her paws full at this time, but you are past the age of needing milk - so I will take care of you until you are apprenticed.

Meeting Dismissed.'

-Continue with Roleplay-

Unexpected Visitors Part II - Hollypaw's Betayal Part II

Here's a little Flashback of what happened last:
Lionheart narrowed his eyes. "It's Lionheart," he growled, just as a ray of light caught his golden pelt, proving he was indeed Lionheart, "and I'm afraid Shadowstar isn't here right now.
He was careful to give nothing more away. He lifted his head. "Come any further without a reason, and you'll find me as your opponent in battle," he warned.
 

 Shadestar smiled her poison-like smile and mewed dramatically, stepping one one small pawlength forward.

"Oh, I'm sure you hurt an innocent, defenceless she-cat like me would you..?'

Then she yawned and leaned to one side, and mewed, 'Anyway, about business; Since my dear sister isn't home right now I'll have you take a message."

 

Lionheart growled, but let her continue.

 

"Tell Shadowstar this is her last chance, and to tell her to meet me at the Stepping Stones. She'll know what I mean."

 

Before Lionheart could reply, Shadestar had disappeared.

 

^^

There was no moon this night, and a unsettling cloudy mist had arisen from some dark hovel to stir the minds of small kits, send a shiver down the bravest of Warrior's spine, and set an unwanted sense of  evil throughout the territory of the Island cats. Darkness engulfed the night like some beast come to swallow the whole Clan.

Hollypaw looked over her shoulder for the seventh time as she cantered through IslandClan Territory.

She cursed angrily at herself. No one could have followed you, dimwit. No one saw you exiting the Camp, not even the mouse-brained guards, she thought.
The Waterfall pool. That's Where I'm to meet up with-

An overhead-owl's eerie screech disrupted Hollypaw's chain of thought. She shivered.

  Her young mind was a dark, complicated one at the present, for Whispernight had filled it with corrupt thoughts and shadowy aspirations.

She was a spy. A traitor. A turnpelt. An apostate.

And it gave her such a sweet sample of power even her conscience failed to remedy the evil that had grown in her heart like a poisonous weed.
The Apprentice sprinted over underbrush and throughbushes and across creeks as swiftly as a deer.
Time was of the essence. There were too few hours before sunrise, and she had a message that must be delivered.

At last! The Waterfall Pool. And there's Streamcloud, waiting for me so she can carry on the message to Shadestar.

It was an unsettling night over IslandClan indeed.