One fight in a storm can change everything... In the fight with ForestClan, Lilystar has died. Singefur is to be the next MarshClan leader but he is nowhere to be found...

The_Warrior_Writer this is my story for your writing competition! I hope you like it and thank you for letting me join! PS the picture above is the cover.

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MarshClan

Leader-- Lilystar-- light brown she-cat

Deputy-- Singefur-- electric orange tabby tom

Medicine Cat-- Berrybounce-- very old tan she-cat

Apprentice-- Stormpaw-- fluffy dark gray tom

Warriors--

Leafstep-- gray tom with white splotches

Patchleg-- black and white tom

Kestrelfeather-- light brown tom with a white belly

Willowleap-- silver tabby she-cat

Pearwhisker-- light gray she-cat with green eyes

Badgertail-- black tom with white stripes and a fluffy tail

Branchstripe- tan tom with brown stripes

Silverbelly-- dark gray she-cat with a silver belly

Petalspots-- beautiful calico she-cat

Robinflight-- brown tom

Darkwing-- dark brown tom with gray stripes

Splashstep-- light brown she-cat with white feet

Tangletail-- golden tabby tom

Poppyspots-- light brown she-cat with gray flecks

Thistledawn-- gray and white she-cat

Queens--

Mistbreeze-- light gray tabby
Kits: Brookkit-- dark brown she-cat, Icekit-- almost white she-cat, Mudkit brown tom

Creampuddle-- fluffy white and black Siamese
Kits: Swankit-- small fluffy white and black Siamese

Elders:

Froghop-- gray and black tom

Needlefall-- tan tabby tom

Minnowswim-- light gray she-cat

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Tangletail

Mouse-sized raindrops fall through the cracks in the warrior den. I shiver and pad outside, being cautious of the other warriors. I can't decide whether or not to go outside, as it is still storming. Thunder booms and lightning crackles but the clan still sleeps. I hear a sad mew coming from the nursery and I immediately run over. Just as I suspected I see my mate, Creampuddle, trying to shush our daughter, Swankit. I pad over being careful not to wake Mistbreeze and her kits.

"It's okay Swankit." I whisper reassuringly. She smiles a nervous smile and lays back down.

"Thanks." My mate whispers lovingly "She won't listen to me lately. It must be a phase." I nod a yes and wave my tail good-bye. I step out of the sweet-smelling nursery and pad out into the rain. I stop, smelling something odd. I peer out the entrance of the clan and see cats. Forest clan cats. My eyes widen as I freeze with worry. Before I can think about the poor cats who are sleeping I yowl.

"ForestClan is attacking!" Lilystar bolts out of her den and runs to protect the entrance. Singefur, not far behind, whispers something but the leader shakes it off. Cats start dashing out of the warrior den and stopping at the correct spot. We've been working on this for moons; it better work. Darkwing, Badgertail, Branchstripe, Pearwhisker and Silverbelly go straight towards the other clan and start to attack. Some cats squeeze through and, perfectly on time, Patchleg, Robinflight and Splashstep attack them. I run to the nursery along with Kestrelfeather, Mistbreeze's mate. We reassure the worried queens and stand guard. Petalspots carefully and quietly brings the elders into the nursery without the other clan seeing. Our clan decided that the attackers won't attack the nursery so the elders would he safer in there.

Swankit

Daddy's yowl wakes me up and I start to get scared. Brookkit and Mudkit act all brave so I put on my brave face too. Every cat in the nursery scoots to the back and crowds around each other. I instantly sigh in relief when I smell my mommy's fur. Tiny ant-sized raindrops plop on my head and I cower down under my mommy. Brookkit snickers but I don't care.

Every yowl I hear outside sends a shiver down my spine. I just worry about all the cats, especially Badgertail. He's really nice. Within moments the elder sneak into the nursery with Petalspots.

"Everything going okay?" She asks in a whisper. Mistbreeze and my mommy both nod their heads in a yes. The pretty she-cat smiles and walks back out of the crowded nursery.

Tangletail

The storm is continuously getting worse. The wind picks up and it starts to rain harder. I can barely see anything before I hear a yowl.

"Help me!" Lilystar. I leave my post at the nursery to try and run around to find her but I can't. The storm is just too strong. I instead lunge at the nearest enemy cat. That was not a good idea. I land under this giant brown tabby that I've never seen before. I swear he isn't even a clan cat. I run away like a kit but at least I'm not dying.

Soon, debris is flying through the air. Sticks, branches, leaves, dirt, you name it. I squint to see our border with ForestClan and see several trees down. Then a black and gray cat runs into me, hitting me right in the ribs. I collapse over in a huffing, puffing ball of golden tabby fur. Tears of pain start to fall but soon are replaced by tears of joy when I hear Stickstar yowl.

"ForestClan retreat!" All of the enemy cats bolt out of our clan and run to theirs. With the storm still raging, but a little lighter, the uninjured cats stroll back to their nests even though the sun is almost up. The injured cats to the opposite direction, towards Berrybounce's den. I, thankfully, pad to the nursery and to check out my she-cats and make sure they're okay.

Swankit

Daddy comes in and licks my fur, telling me he's so happy that we're alive. Brookkit and Mudkit brag about not being afraid. Icekit is her usual quiet self and just thrusts her head into her mommy. My mommy and daddy say good-bye to each other as my daddy walks out of the nursery. I hear a gasp and my eyes widen.

Tangletail

My heartbeat quickens as I see Thistledawn sobbing over her mother, Lilystar. Her brother, Branchstripe, looks around desperately. He hears my soggy footsteps and snaps around to look at me. His eyes are wide and confused, as if every cat just got up and flew away. He motions me over and I hesitantly walk over.

"Tangletail." He whispers with an urgent tone "I can't find Singefur."

"He's got to be here. This isn't like him." I meow quickly "Gather a patrol and we'll look. And find him." Branchstripe nods in between tears as I think about my clanmate who are injury-free. "Kestrelfeather! Splashstep! Willowleap!" They quickly gather around us and Branchstripe tells them the news. Their eyes widen just as mine did but slowly nod their heads. With a flick of my tail the patrol follows me into our dirtied territory. Branches and twigs litter the ground, making even the simplest task, walking, a challenge.

I don't know how long we've been walking but the sun is starting to set. Our stomachs growl and Branchstripe sniffs.

"It's no use." He meows, his head lowered, looking at his paws "Our deputy is gone."

"Wait!" Splashstep cries out "There's a patch of orange fur under those limbs!" Kestrelfeather and Willowleap bolt over to the pile with me and Branchstripe not far behind.

Carefully, our small patrol lifts the heavy limbs off of the patch of fur. Sure enough it's Singefur.

"He's here!" Branchstripe yowls "We found him! Singefur, wake up! You're going to be the next leader of MarshClan!" The orange tabby stays motionless and Branchstripe moans.

"What will happen?" Willowleap whimpers

"I don't know," Branchstripe admits "We'll just see what the clan says. Let's bury Singefur here and then walk back."

Swankit

I am playing outside of the nursery when I hear Thistledawn yowling. Creampuddle hurriedly nudges me and Icekit into the sweet-smelling nursery. I strain my ears to hear what they're talking about.

"No! We do not accept rouges." Thistledawn protests "Especially not without our leader saying so."

"Then let me talk to your so called 'leader'." The big scary rouge snarls. I curl back in fear, ignoring the giggles from Brookkit and Mudkit. Creampuddle licks my head lovingly and I drift off into sleep.

Tangletail

When we arrive at the camp Thistledawn and her mate, Patchleg, are snarling at a large brown tabby tom, like the one I saw in the fight.

"Branchstripe!" The gray and white she-cat cries out "This nasty rouge wants to become leader!"

"Oh no he doesn't!" Branchstripe unsheathes his claw and snarls at the much larger tom.

"You were in the attack!" I snarl at the rouge while he fights Branchstripe "You're the one who probably killed Singefur! You've been spying on us!" The tom looks at me with a shut-up-or-you're-dead look but I don't cower in fear.

"Let me be your leader or this pesky cat dies!" The rouge snarls, picking up Branchstripe.

"Never!" Branchstripe yowls "I'd rather die now then ever be under your command." The rouge stays true to his words and bites Branchstripe's neck. The tom flops limply onto the ground and Thistledawn cries. Without thinking I jump onto the rouge's back and dig my claws into his coarse fur. He just snarls and shakes me off of his back. I frown with embarrassment as I barely hurt him.

"Ugh, wimpy cats." The rouge scoffs and just runs off back to who knows where. All of the cats walk from their dens and look around awkwardly.

"Let's bury Branchstripe." Thistledawn whispers, but the quietness allows the entire clan to hear. Without a word the warriors dig a grave outside of the camp and lower the brave, tabby tom into the hole.

Swankit

While we're hiding in the nursery tears start to fall down my mommy's fluffy face. When she says we can talk again I tilt my head to the side and ask a question.

"What just happened mommy?" I mew, as nice as possible so I get an answer.

"Well our leader, Lilystar died during the fight." She sighs

"Does that mean Singefur is leader?" I ask, not yet understanding the problem.

"No, sweetie." My mommy meows "Singefur is dead too."

"What happens now?" Icekit asks her mommy.

"I don't know sweetie. This wasn't supposed to happen." Mistbreeze meows, hugging her kits close.

"Then this big, mean, bad rouge came and wanted to be leader. Branchstripe said no and he got killed." Tears drip out of my mommy's beautiful blue eyes.

"That's not nice." Icekit snarls

"You're right." The queens agree

"I just hope everything turns out okay." My mommy whispers before nudging me close and telling me to sleep.

Tangletail

All of the cats stare at me with wide eyes. I imagine I'm looking back at them the same way.

"I think Tangletail should fill in as leader for a while." Kestrelfeather pipes up

"At least until Berrybounce or Stormpaw receives an omen." Badgertail agrees

"Let's just sleep peacefully through the night and maybe something will happen." I choke out, worried some cat will disagree. Thankfully the warriors nod and head back to the den.

~•~•~•~

"Tangletail! Tangletail!" A young cat meows, waking me up. "MarshClan gather around where the fresh-kill pile used to be!" I, along with the other warriors, pad groggily out of the small den. "Berrybounce! Berrybounce come out here too!"

"Ugh!" Froghop groans "What is it kit?" I realize Stormpaw was the one calling my name and I tilt my head. Berrybounce slowly makes it out of the medicine cat den and sits next to the excited apprentice.

"Look at out tails!" Stormpaw exclaims "Mine is all tangled!"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Froghop sighs

"I had a dream last night." Berrybounce admits. Now the cats are actually paying attention.

"I was hunting and squirrels were everywhere. All of the squirrels' tails were tangled and messy." I figured it was just a silly dream but Stormpaw's tangled tail proves it all. Tangletail is to be the next leader." I gasp and all of the cats walk away from me, leaving me in the center of the camp while I stand there speechless. Stormpaw looks around anxiously and smiles.

"Tanglestar! Tanglestar!" Mistbreeze and Creampuddle nudge their kits out of the den and soon the entire clan is cheering.

"Tanglestar! Tanglestar!"

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The_Warrior_Writer I hope you like it! The exact word count for the story only is 1,892 If you are counting the names, the total is 1,974. Haha I really don't know why I said that, it's obviously more than 500 words! And to everyone else, please tell me if you liked it and if you'd guys like, I might create a super edition about Tanglestar. Thanks for reading! ~Swift