This is an idea I've had for awhile, but never actually wrote anything for. I'm kinda glad now, because I don't think the plotline, ideas and stuff would be as good if I had.

This story will eventually intertwine with my other Warriors fanfic, "The Moon Hears Everything and Nothing". But I'm not giving anything away! Although I may rename the afore mentioned fanfic, because it sounded like a cool name at the time, but now...well...

Enjoy!

The Forgotten

Long ago, before the names Thunder, Sky, River, Wind, or Shadow had ever been uttered, there were great beings living in the forest of the future Clan cats. These animals were large and fierce, and known still today by the warriors; LionClan, LeopardClan, and TigerClan. LeopardClan were cunning and swift. If a cat fought well in battle, they are said to have fought with the strength of LionClan. TigerClan was brave and burly. The stories and Legends of these powerful cats have been passed down from Warrior to Apprentice; Leader to Queen; Elder to Kit. The greatness of these creatures has not been forgotten, or at least, most of them.

There was one other renowned Clan, one the Warriors have seemed to have neglected to pass on, their legends misplaced. Like the others, this Clan was ferocious and broad, and followed the same code that the other Clans followed. But there was something different about this Clan; it was unlike the others. And for this reason, the three other ancient Clans feared this mighty Clan and it's strangeness. This long-forgotten Clan was known as WolfClan.

WolfClan was, of course, made up of wolves. They were a powerful Clan; their massive, supple muscles and long, ripping fangs made them a formidable Clan, indeed. Even a pup could kill a full warrior of the Leopard, Lion, or TigerClans with their tough, dangerous jaws that could easily rip through tough muscle. The feline's claws and contrastingly dainty fangs seemed to have no effect on the wolves' thick fur and hide, while the canines themselves had no trouble tearing through the soft fur and skin of the great cats with their powerful maw.

The wolves, however, were a kindly Clan. They did not enjoy fighting their comrades, for that is what they thought of the other Clans. They very much enjoyed the hunt, but when it came to violence towards any of the great cats, the gentle wolves avoided it at almost any cost. If one of LeopardClan was found hunting on WolfClan territory, the canine would simply growl a warning and the cat would be off running, fearful of the wolf's intimidating exterior. At first glance, WolfClan seemed gruff and violent, causing the other clans to fear them. But it was only at first glance, for these loving beasts enjoyed playing, albeit roughly, and caressing one another. Just as their descendants, the domesticated dog, love being petted, roughhousing and doing for their companion to please them, WolfClan enjoyed doing favors for the other Clans and such.

WolfClan was a sort of protector of the forest. Whenever the territory was threatened by the revenge-seeking banished or a strange group of aggressive animals that endangered the Clans, WolfClan was always there to protect the other Clans. If one Clan was unjustly attacking the other, WolfClan came to defending Clan's aid, causing the attacking Clan to retreat in fear of being destroyed.

Even as TigerClan, LionClan, and LeopardClan continuously fought over land, WolfClan territory was avoided by all; in recognition of the wolves' kindhearted nature or for fear of their violence, it shall never be known. The differences between the felines and the canines were great. The most noticeable was the physic of the broad animals. Rather than the lithe form of the cats, the wolves had a thick-muscled and expansive build. The short, soft fur of the felines was instead a thick, heavy blanket of coarse hairs that kept them at comfortable warmth during even the coldest leaf-bare. Even the wolves' snouts were shaped differently, being longer, more powerful and more thinly whiskered than the felines'. Their paws had claws less sharpened than the others', but they were always out; another feature that disturbed the cats into believing the wolves were aggressive.

Even more disturbing to the cats was the differences in the Clan life of the wolves. Rather than calling their Deputy a Deputy, they were instead called a Beta, and their Leader an Alpha. What would normally be called a Medicine Cat was called a Healer in WolfClan, and the breeding females were called Pup-Mothers rather than Queens. When the wolves were first born and until they were six moons, they had the suffix –pup at the end of their name, unlike the cats' clans, in which it was –kit. These differences were distressing to LionClan, TigerClan and LeopardClan, and although they make sense—only a mother cat is a queen, an infant wolf is obviously not a kit, Alpha and Beta are more suitable for wolf-kind, and medicine cat is an inappropriate term because the wolves are not cats—it deeply troubled the other clans.

Perhaps their unneeded fear is the cause for the wolves' absence in the current Warriors' myths. In fact, today, cats of all Clans are frightened of dogs. This fear may have branched from their predecessors' fear of the wolves. It will never be known for sure.

The Beginning of the End

It was a dark, stormy night. LeopardClan's medicine cat had fallen ill earlier that moon and was still not better. No matter what they did, LeopardClan could not get their medicine cat, Spottedice, to return to his full health. That terrible night, Spottedice fell into a terrible coughing fit, stopped breathing, and joined StarClan.

The Clan did not know what to do. Spottedice had not had an apprentice, and so there was nobody to take his place. So the leader of LeopardClan, Ringstar, sent three messengers to the other Clans so that their medicine cats, or healer, could visit the Moonstone and ask StarClan who should take Spottedice's place. Burningtail of TigerClan, Singlepelt of LionClan, and Barktooth of WolfClan all agreed to meet the next night and visit the Moonstone. Ringstar himself decided to accompany the medicine cats and healer, so that he may return to his Clan and give the news as soon as possible.

The animals met at the hollow what would one day be Fourtrees, and set off. When the group finally reached the sacred cave, Ringstar sat outside and waited, not wanting to intrude on a meeting not meant for him. As the three representatives touched their noses to the now glowing stone, they were swept away to join StarClan together.

They were immediately confronted with the starry animals, who then told them who the new medicine cat of LeopardClan should be, and who at what times should mentor her. This duty would of course be shared by the other medicine cats and healer, so that she may learn all she can to help her Clan.

After they woke up, they left the Moonstone to confront Ringstar and tell him the news. Burningtail told the leader who it would be, and that he would be there in a day's time to begin her training. Ringstar nodded, thanked them all fervently for the favor, and returned to his anxious Clan.

"The other medicine cats have spoken with StarClan," Ringstar began slowly, "And Leapingstream is to be our next medicine cat!" A wave of cheers rose from the group below him as Ringstar told LeopardClan the news. Leapingstream was a very quick-witted feline, and though she could be cranky at times, she always meant well. The she-cat blinked in astonishment, then rose to her feet as the crowd cheered. She was escorted to her new den by her congratulating Clanmates, and promptly fell asleep, having been on patrol almost all day.

Now, Leapingstream was not a huge fan of WolfClan; in fact, they scared her even more than most. She wished many a time that they would leave the forest and never return. On this night, her wishes twisted into dreams; contorted her mind and the new power she beheld. When she awoke the next morning, she appeared no different than any other day, aside from the excitement building up inside her. Even she did not know at the time, but Leapingstream's fear of WolfClan had subconsciously become hatred.

She did not realize her new detestation until it was time to be trained by WolfClan's healer, Barktooth. As soon as Leapingstream laid eyes on the brown-furred male, her eyes almost closed in the slits of abhorrence. Her claws unsheathed and her neck fur rose threateningly as he padded closer. She was beside herself. When had she started hating the wolves so much?

So she endured that one day, but whenever she was due to be mentored by Barktooth again, she played sick, or told him she was being taught by someone else. Barktooth immediately caught on to her tricks, but thought it was because she was tired of learning so much in so short a time.

Finally, Leapingstream was ready to become a full-on medicine cat. The ceremony was held at the Moonstone with all the other Clan healers. Starclan had become hesitant on whether or not she should receive her medicine cat title with so much hatred in her heart, but decided to give it to her anyway. Leapingstream had always been a kind cat, surely she would never hurt another?

It was a decision they would one day regret. In the night, while Leapingstream was asleep, her new dreams of hate convinced her to finally do something about WolfClan. She plotted, knowing she did not have her Clan's full respect of a medicine cat yet. Leapingstream waited many moons and two seasons before coming to Ringstar with her dreams. She had indeed had these dreams, but they were not from StarClan. She convinced her leader that WolfClan had to be banished from the forest, never to return. He was hesitant, but believed it was StarClan's will, because of the Clan's differences from the rest.

At the next half-moon, Leapingstream met with the other medicine cats at the gathering place before Barktooth arrived, and told them of her dreams. The other cats had had nightmares of WolfClan destroying their own Clan, but assumed them to be just that; Nightmares. Of course they were, but Leapingstream had planted a seed of evil into the cats' heads. Barktooth soon joined them and it was tense for a reason unbeknownst to him.

When the group reached the Moonstone, the cats' heads were too full of fear and hatred, and they blocked out StarClan altogether. Their ancestors tried relentlessly to reach them, to no avail. Only Barktooth was open to their dreams, and in them he was warned of what was to come. The other cats had more nightmares of WolfClan mutilating theirs, and now they, too, were plagued by this new hatred, thinking they were StarClan-sent dreams rather that what they really were.

Burningtail retuned to TigerClan that night, and told them of the oncoming 'danger'. Singlepelt told the leader of LionClan what was to come, and ended up riling up the whole Clan. Leapingstream herself went back to LeopardClan and informed them of the situation. Barktooth raced home to WolfClan and summoned an audience with his leader, and told her of the anger aimed at their Clan.

The next gathering was when everything fell apart. WolfClan was segregated from the other Clans, and the rest gave them hostile looks. When the gathering finally began, the leader of LionClan, Flowingstar, stepped forward to share her Clan's news. But instead, all she did was threaten WolfClan:

"If you and your Clan do not leave this forest in one moon, LionClan will declare war on you, and make you leave." Flowingstar did not shout, or even raise her voice, but her stance alone was threatening enough. As she finished, the leader of TigerClan, Blackstar, stepped forward and immediately pledged an allegiance with LionClan if a war were to occur. Next Ringstar stepped forward and spoke.

"LeopardClan, too, will fight beside LionClan and TigerClan if you are not gone in a moon." Ringstar hissed a warning and turned to leave the hollow.

"Wait! WolfClan has done nothing! You cannot banish us! We have never done anything to ever harm you; any of you! Have we ever gotten into a border dispute? No! Have we ever attacked for land or other reasons? No! You cannot do this!" WolfClan's leader, Ravenstar, defended her Clan vigorously, and a many cats' haze of loathing faded for a moment as they realized she spoke true words. Had anyone of WolfClan ever even given a cat serious injuries, let alone death blows?

But the haze returned as they thought of the description their medicine cats had given. The gathering turned violent, and StarClan covered the moon with clouds to show this was not what they wanted. But in their fury, the cats assumed it meant they were free to fight, and so chased the wolves away.

When they returned to their camp, WolfClan was aghast. What had they done to deserve this act of tyranny?

"W-what are we going to do, Ravenstar?" This hesitant question came from a black and white apprentice; Blackpaw. Howls of agreement came from the Clan.

"Silence," Ravenstar commanded, almost in a defeated way. "We have two options, that's it. We can stay, and fight for our right to live here, our home. Or, we can save ourselves the pain and loss of many great warriors—which is almost certain to be the outcome—and do as they asked; leave."

Growls of disbelief went through the crowd. They had every right to stay in their home!

"I vote we stay! We've nothing to be ashamed of! They're the ones who should be banished!" an angry voice rang through the frosty air, and barks of agreement were heard throughout the pack. It took many moments for the noise to die down, and Ravenstar spoke:

"Then it is decided; WolfClan will stay and fight!"

Howls of every emotion could be heard from all the aggressing Clans all around the forest; anger, frustration, sadness, fear, determination, bitter excitement, and vengefulness. This of course made those Clans even more fearful of WolfClan, and more willing to drive them away.

And so the baying went on, as a lone, forlorn star shot across the great stretch of Silverpelt, mourning the division of the Clans.

This prologue thing will be continued in one other chapter.

Please review. I'm not going to continue this if I don't get any reviews.

Your Pal,

ll SuperOreoMan ll