~Moonlight~
It's only the beginning...
It's only the beginning...
~Prologue~
The half-moon was high up in the star-lit sky, a silver half-circle. Little dots of white sprinkled the sky everywhere, glittering brightly in the black velvet sky. Four cats made their way up a grassy meadow hill, the tall grass turned silver in the moons light, waving slightly as a cool breeze blew through the grass.
The cats stopped and rested in front of a narrow cave entrance, seeming to have been there for many years. The tunnel had dirt pushed up around it to make it look like a badger set, but those who knew what it actually was, went by it without so much as a second glance.
“Let’s go,” Meowed a tan tom, among the cats, suddenly, rising to his paws and heading into the small black hole that was the tunnel entrance. All the cats followed the tom through the tunnel silently, not hesitating. They padded through the darkness and eventually came into a small cave with a silver stone in the center, glowing in the moonlight that came through a small hole in the ceiling.
Three of the four cats sat down next to the stone, pressing there noses against it and slowly closing their eyes. One silver tabby held back a heartbeat though, her eyes flashing with uncertainty. She finally sat down and pressed her nose against the cold, silver stone.
The cave and the other cats swirled around her for a few moments before she found herself in a small clearing surrounded by ferns and tall, dark brown trees. “H-Heartcloud?” The tabby called into the forest nervously, looking around. The ferns behind her rustled and she whirled around to see a golden tabby surrounded by mist stepping forward, stars glittering in her pelt.
“Hello Mistfur,” The tabby said kindly.
“Heartcloud!” Mistfur exclaimed with relief, rushing over and brushing muzzles with the tabby.
“Is there something you wish to share with me?” Mistfur asked after a moment.
Heartcloud’s eyes went dark, her voice grave. “There is darkness coming Mistfur. Darkness that not even Starclan can stop. Wasted energy over useless border fights, some cats leaving there clan to soon, and one clan becoming stronger as it happens.”
Mistfur stepped back, startled at the graveness in Heartcloud's voice. Heartcloud stepped forward, a whisker away from Mistfur and said:
“Sun, Rain, and Sky shall come together, and make the greatest journey yet, to save us all.”
Heartcloud vanished suddenly, and Mistfur was surrounded by darkness. Mistfur saw blood reddened claws, heard battle screeches and yowls, and dark evil red eyes stared at her, glowing in satisfaction at the horror that would come.
Mistfur yowled in terror and fled into the darkness, only to find herself back at the Star Stone moments later, her fur standing on end and her tail twice it's size. "Sun, Rain, and Sky shall come together, and make the greatest journey yet, to save us all." Heartcloud's words echoed in her head as she stumbled out of the cave, tail trailing behind her.
The cats stopped and rested in front of a narrow cave entrance, seeming to have been there for many years. The tunnel had dirt pushed up around it to make it look like a badger set, but those who knew what it actually was, went by it without so much as a second glance.
“Let’s go,” Meowed a tan tom, among the cats, suddenly, rising to his paws and heading into the small black hole that was the tunnel entrance. All the cats followed the tom through the tunnel silently, not hesitating. They padded through the darkness and eventually came into a small cave with a silver stone in the center, glowing in the moonlight that came through a small hole in the ceiling.
Three of the four cats sat down next to the stone, pressing there noses against it and slowly closing their eyes. One silver tabby held back a heartbeat though, her eyes flashing with uncertainty. She finally sat down and pressed her nose against the cold, silver stone.
The cave and the other cats swirled around her for a few moments before she found herself in a small clearing surrounded by ferns and tall, dark brown trees. “H-Heartcloud?” The tabby called into the forest nervously, looking around. The ferns behind her rustled and she whirled around to see a golden tabby surrounded by mist stepping forward, stars glittering in her pelt.
“Hello Mistfur,” The tabby said kindly.
“Heartcloud!” Mistfur exclaimed with relief, rushing over and brushing muzzles with the tabby.
“Is there something you wish to share with me?” Mistfur asked after a moment.
Heartcloud’s eyes went dark, her voice grave. “There is darkness coming Mistfur. Darkness that not even Starclan can stop. Wasted energy over useless border fights, some cats leaving there clan to soon, and one clan becoming stronger as it happens.”
Mistfur stepped back, startled at the graveness in Heartcloud's voice. Heartcloud stepped forward, a whisker away from Mistfur and said:
“Sun, Rain, and Sky shall come together, and make the greatest journey yet, to save us all.”
Heartcloud vanished suddenly, and Mistfur was surrounded by darkness. Mistfur saw blood reddened claws, heard battle screeches and yowls, and dark evil red eyes stared at her, glowing in satisfaction at the horror that would come.
Mistfur yowled in terror and fled into the darkness, only to find herself back at the Star Stone moments later, her fur standing on end and her tail twice it's size. "Sun, Rain, and Sky shall come together, and make the greatest journey yet, to save us all." Heartcloud's words echoed in her head as she stumbled out of the cave, tail trailing behind her.
Chapter 1
“Skypaw!!”
Skypaw’s eyes flew open as her sister, Springpaw, shoved her. Skypaw groaned and sat up, shaking moss from her pelt. “What Springpaw?” She asked, stretching.
“Mossnose said to wake you for battle training! Silverpaw, you and I are going!” Springpaw explained.
Skypaw brightened up as soon as Springpaw said “battle training.” Skypaw and Springpaw padded out of the apprentices den and over to where Silverpaw, her mentor Icewing, Springpaw’s mentor Blackclaw, and Skypaw’s mentor Mossnose sat waiting.
“Are you finally awake?” Blackclaw growled coldly, glaring at Skypaw. Skypaw shied away from his glare, quickly heading over to Mossnose. He was a very strange cat to her, along with Grizzlyfang.
“I think I can take care of my own apprentice Blackclaw.” Mossnose said, giving him a stern look. Blackclaw just grunted and led the way out of camp to the training hollow.
They padded along a well-worn path and into a shaded clearing covered with soft sand. Light green ferns and bushes surrounded the whole clearing, the forest's trees high above them, sunlight seeping through the branches.
“Okay, today we are going to be doing some simple training to get warmed up.” Mossnose said facing the apprentices.
Skypaw, Springpaw, and Silverpaw all nodded. Blackclaw took Springpaw to one side of the clearing, Icewing took Silverpaw to the other. Mossnose and Skypaw trained in the middle.
“Okay, come at me with everything you got!” Mossnose said, crouching low in front of Skypaw. “Pretend I’m an enemy cat trying to steal kits from the nursery!”
Skypaw nodded and crouched down, waiting for Mossnose to make the first move. Mossnose lunged at her, claws sheathed, and tried to unbalance her.
Skypaw was ready though.
She ran under her when she leapt, rolled over under her and kicked with her hind legs, sending Mossnose flipping in mid-air and landing on her side. Skypaw rushed forward and pounced on her, holding her down with a paw on her mentor's throat. Mossnose stopped moving and nodded in approval, pushing Skypaw off.
“Excellent work Skypaw!” Mossnose told her with a smile.
“I think you’re ready for something more difficult.” She meowed with a glimmer in her eye.
“What? What are you going to show me?” Skypaw asked, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Calm down and watch me.” Mossnose replied crouching down.
Skypaw sat down quietly, her tail flicking back and forth anxiously. Mossnose leapt into the air and did a twist, landing beside Skypaw and knocking her over. Skypaw got up quickly and stared at Mossnose in surprise.
“I want you to figure out how to stop me.” Mossnose said before leaping again. This, Skypaw leaped into the air, did a twist and kicked with her hind legs in mid-spin, making Mossnose flip in the air and land on her back.
“Yes!” Skypaw yowled happily as Mossnose got up and shook the sand out of her pelt.
“Nice work.” She panted. Mossnose looked around and called Icewing over.
“Yea Mossnose?” Icewing asked trotting over.
“I’m taking Skypaw hunting now. Can you tell Redstar when you get back?” Mossnose asked.
Icewing nodded and went back to her own apprentice. Skypaw followed Mossnose out onto the prairie to hunt. Mossnose turned around to face Skypaw. “Let’s split up. I’m going towards the Darkclan border. You go the other way,” Mossnose ordered before dashing away into the tall grass. Skypaw turned and bounded away towards the river that cut through each territory, meeting in the center of a small lake that supplied the clans with water year round.
After running for a few moments, Skypaw stumbled and fell to the ground suddenly, yowling in surprise. She scolded herself for not watching where she was going then turned to see what she had tripped over. She gasped as she looked into a small cave entrance, scents of damp earth, Darkclan, Nightclan, and maybe Sunclan seeping out of it. Skypaw guessed the tunnel led to all the territories somehow. Skypaw looked around then crept into the dark tunnel.
~
* *
~
The air smelled of damp earth as Skypaw made her way down the mysterious tunnel, her whiskers sometimes brushing the walls of the tunnel.
She soon padded into a small cave with an underground river and a hole in the ceiling where sunlight streamed in, lighting up the whole tunnel. She looked around and saw many caves that must have led to Darkclan, Sunclan, and Nightclan territories. Wow, this place is awesome! Skypaw thought as she jumped onto a rock. A small stone suddenly came tumbling down from one of the tunnels and she turned to see a she-cat pad into the cave, looking around curiously. Skypaw jumped down in front of the she-cat, leaping at the cat. The other she-cat yowled in surprise as they tumbled around the cave, hissing and snarling as they clawed each other. Something suddenly grabbed Skypaw after several minutes of battling and flung her into the wall of the cave. She laid there, dazed for a moment, and then all went black.
~
* *
~
“Is she okay? She hasn’t moved once!”
Skypaw heard voices, but she didn’t recognize them.
“She’s fine! I can see her breathing!”
Skypaw slowly opened her eyes and saw the she-cat she had battled standing over her, and a tom at the she-cats side.
“You’re awake! Oh, thank Starclan!” The she-cat purred in relief.
“Ugh, what happened? And who are you?” Skypaw groaned, lifting herself up into a sitting position.
“I’m Sunpaw from Sunclan," The tom introduced himself. "I found the tunnel when I was out looking for Catmint for Whitepool.” Sunpaw explained.
“And I'm Rainpaw, I’m from Nightclan and I was looking for the clan deputy when I found the tunnel.” The she-cat meowed in a cheery voice that annoyed Skypaw slightly. “
Well, what’s your name?” Sunpaw snapped in annoyance after a moment's pause.
Skypaw glared at him, wanting to give him a good cuff over the head.
“I’m Skypaw from Prairieclan, and I found the tunnel when I was out hunting.” Skypaw replied coldly.
Sunpaw raised an eyebrow as Rainpaw flicked her tail.
“Well, maybe we should get back to our clans? I have to go get the deputy,” Rainpaw said quietly, noticing the tension between Skypaw and Sunpaw.
“Good idea,” Sunpaw replied, trotting over to the tunnel that he had obviously come out of. Skypaw stood, her eyes narrowed.
“Bye,” Rainpaw muttered before running up the tunnel she had come out of. Sunpaw didn’t even give Skypaw one last look as he disappeared into his tunnel. Skypaw took a deep breath, calming her irritation. She noticed two more tunnels, one she guessed leading to Darkclan, but the other one smelled quite strange. She wanted to check it out, but she had to catch something or else Mossnose wouldn't be pleased.
Skypaw quickly climbed up the tunnel and stepped out onto the prairie once more, blinking her eyes a few times to get used to the bright sun again. She started back towards where Mossnose would meet her after she had caught two mice and a small prairie dog, hoping her mentor wouldn’t be too mad. I wonder how long those tunnels have been there? Skypaw thought as she hurried along, her thoughts drifting back to the tunnel that lay hidden among the tall grass. The caves never left her mind as she met up with Mossnose and headed back to camp.
Skypaw’s eyes flew open as her sister, Springpaw, shoved her. Skypaw groaned and sat up, shaking moss from her pelt. “What Springpaw?” She asked, stretching.
“Mossnose said to wake you for battle training! Silverpaw, you and I are going!” Springpaw explained.
Skypaw brightened up as soon as Springpaw said “battle training.” Skypaw and Springpaw padded out of the apprentices den and over to where Silverpaw, her mentor Icewing, Springpaw’s mentor Blackclaw, and Skypaw’s mentor Mossnose sat waiting.
“Are you finally awake?” Blackclaw growled coldly, glaring at Skypaw. Skypaw shied away from his glare, quickly heading over to Mossnose. He was a very strange cat to her, along with Grizzlyfang.
“I think I can take care of my own apprentice Blackclaw.” Mossnose said, giving him a stern look. Blackclaw just grunted and led the way out of camp to the training hollow.
They padded along a well-worn path and into a shaded clearing covered with soft sand. Light green ferns and bushes surrounded the whole clearing, the forest's trees high above them, sunlight seeping through the branches.
“Okay, today we are going to be doing some simple training to get warmed up.” Mossnose said facing the apprentices.
Skypaw, Springpaw, and Silverpaw all nodded. Blackclaw took Springpaw to one side of the clearing, Icewing took Silverpaw to the other. Mossnose and Skypaw trained in the middle.
“Okay, come at me with everything you got!” Mossnose said, crouching low in front of Skypaw. “Pretend I’m an enemy cat trying to steal kits from the nursery!”
Skypaw nodded and crouched down, waiting for Mossnose to make the first move. Mossnose lunged at her, claws sheathed, and tried to unbalance her.
Skypaw was ready though.
She ran under her when she leapt, rolled over under her and kicked with her hind legs, sending Mossnose flipping in mid-air and landing on her side. Skypaw rushed forward and pounced on her, holding her down with a paw on her mentor's throat. Mossnose stopped moving and nodded in approval, pushing Skypaw off.
“Excellent work Skypaw!” Mossnose told her with a smile.
“I think you’re ready for something more difficult.” She meowed with a glimmer in her eye.
“What? What are you going to show me?” Skypaw asked, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Calm down and watch me.” Mossnose replied crouching down.
Skypaw sat down quietly, her tail flicking back and forth anxiously. Mossnose leapt into the air and did a twist, landing beside Skypaw and knocking her over. Skypaw got up quickly and stared at Mossnose in surprise.
“I want you to figure out how to stop me.” Mossnose said before leaping again. This, Skypaw leaped into the air, did a twist and kicked with her hind legs in mid-spin, making Mossnose flip in the air and land on her back.
“Yes!” Skypaw yowled happily as Mossnose got up and shook the sand out of her pelt.
“Nice work.” She panted. Mossnose looked around and called Icewing over.
“Yea Mossnose?” Icewing asked trotting over.
“I’m taking Skypaw hunting now. Can you tell Redstar when you get back?” Mossnose asked.
Icewing nodded and went back to her own apprentice. Skypaw followed Mossnose out onto the prairie to hunt. Mossnose turned around to face Skypaw. “Let’s split up. I’m going towards the Darkclan border. You go the other way,” Mossnose ordered before dashing away into the tall grass. Skypaw turned and bounded away towards the river that cut through each territory, meeting in the center of a small lake that supplied the clans with water year round.
After running for a few moments, Skypaw stumbled and fell to the ground suddenly, yowling in surprise. She scolded herself for not watching where she was going then turned to see what she had tripped over. She gasped as she looked into a small cave entrance, scents of damp earth, Darkclan, Nightclan, and maybe Sunclan seeping out of it. Skypaw guessed the tunnel led to all the territories somehow. Skypaw looked around then crept into the dark tunnel.
~
* *
~
The air smelled of damp earth as Skypaw made her way down the mysterious tunnel, her whiskers sometimes brushing the walls of the tunnel.
She soon padded into a small cave with an underground river and a hole in the ceiling where sunlight streamed in, lighting up the whole tunnel. She looked around and saw many caves that must have led to Darkclan, Sunclan, and Nightclan territories. Wow, this place is awesome! Skypaw thought as she jumped onto a rock. A small stone suddenly came tumbling down from one of the tunnels and she turned to see a she-cat pad into the cave, looking around curiously. Skypaw jumped down in front of the she-cat, leaping at the cat. The other she-cat yowled in surprise as they tumbled around the cave, hissing and snarling as they clawed each other. Something suddenly grabbed Skypaw after several minutes of battling and flung her into the wall of the cave. She laid there, dazed for a moment, and then all went black.
~
* *
~
“Is she okay? She hasn’t moved once!”
Skypaw heard voices, but she didn’t recognize them.
“She’s fine! I can see her breathing!”
Skypaw slowly opened her eyes and saw the she-cat she had battled standing over her, and a tom at the she-cats side.
“You’re awake! Oh, thank Starclan!” The she-cat purred in relief.
“Ugh, what happened? And who are you?” Skypaw groaned, lifting herself up into a sitting position.
“I’m Sunpaw from Sunclan," The tom introduced himself. "I found the tunnel when I was out looking for Catmint for Whitepool.” Sunpaw explained.
“And I'm Rainpaw, I’m from Nightclan and I was looking for the clan deputy when I found the tunnel.” The she-cat meowed in a cheery voice that annoyed Skypaw slightly. “
Well, what’s your name?” Sunpaw snapped in annoyance after a moment's pause.
Skypaw glared at him, wanting to give him a good cuff over the head.
“I’m Skypaw from Prairieclan, and I found the tunnel when I was out hunting.” Skypaw replied coldly.
Sunpaw raised an eyebrow as Rainpaw flicked her tail.
“Well, maybe we should get back to our clans? I have to go get the deputy,” Rainpaw said quietly, noticing the tension between Skypaw and Sunpaw.
“Good idea,” Sunpaw replied, trotting over to the tunnel that he had obviously come out of. Skypaw stood, her eyes narrowed.
“Bye,” Rainpaw muttered before running up the tunnel she had come out of. Sunpaw didn’t even give Skypaw one last look as he disappeared into his tunnel. Skypaw took a deep breath, calming her irritation. She noticed two more tunnels, one she guessed leading to Darkclan, but the other one smelled quite strange. She wanted to check it out, but she had to catch something or else Mossnose wouldn't be pleased.
Skypaw quickly climbed up the tunnel and stepped out onto the prairie once more, blinking her eyes a few times to get used to the bright sun again. She started back towards where Mossnose would meet her after she had caught two mice and a small prairie dog, hoping her mentor wouldn’t be too mad. I wonder how long those tunnels have been there? Skypaw thought as she hurried along, her thoughts drifting back to the tunnel that lay hidden among the tall grass. The caves never left her mind as she met up with Mossnose and headed back to camp.
Nightclan- Quiet and Loyal
Leader- Shadestar--- pale grey she-cat with black stripes
Deputy- Sparkstripe--- ginger tom with a silver stripe down back
Medicine cat- Willowspots--- dark grey she-cat with black spots
Apprentice, Creampaw
Warriors:
Grasspelt--- black and white tom with green eyes
Falconclaw--- dark brown tabby tom with black underbelly
Apprentice, Rainpaw
Rosetail--- cream she-cat with light red tail
Apprentice, Swiftpaw
Rabbittail--- tan tabby tom with very short tail
Streamtail--- grey-blue she-cat with light grey tail
Apprentice, Maplepaw
Pearlpelt--- pale cream she-cat
Queens:
Creekfur--- grey-blue and white she-cat (Mother of Streamtail and Branchkit)
Emeraldeye--- black she-cat with one green eye
Elders:
Whitefoot--- brown tabby tom with white back paws
Hazelfur--- pale silver she-cat
Torntail--- grey tabby tom with tip of tail gone
Darkclan- Sneaky and Cruel
Leader- Greystar--- dark grey tabby tom with cold yellow eyes
Deputy- Ghostfur--- pale silver tabby tom with bright yellow eyes
Medicine cat- Fernwhisker--- tan tabby tom with dark green eyes
Warriors:
Darkheart--- black she-cat with white heart on shoulder
Spottedfire--- dark red tom with orange flecks
Apprentice, Tigerpaw
Phoenixwing--- red tom with black tuft of fur over on eye
Rockclaw--- dark grey tom with black paws and tail
Apprentice, Mudpaw
Weedwhisker--- brown she-cat with grey flecks
Queens:
Clovertail--- tan tabby she-cat (Mother of Tigerpaw, Wingkit and Stormkit)
Greycloud--- grey she-cat (Mother of Ghostfur and Nightkit)
Elders:
Timberfur--- dark brown tom
Foxfur--- dark red tom with white underbelly
Sunclan- Kind and Proud
Leader- Goldstar--- gold tabby tom
Deputy- Cloudfur--- white tom with grey stripes
Medicine cat- Whitepool--- old white she-cat with grey paws
Warriors:
Nightmoon--- black she-cat with white paws and ears
Apprentice, Sunpaw
Sweettail--- pale grey she-cat with white tail
Apprentice, Yellowpaw
Stripefoot--- ginger tabby tom with dark ginger stripes on paws
Sunfoot--- light ginger tom with dark ginger paws
Apprentice, Raypaw
Queens:
Splashfur--- ginger she-cat with grey patches (Mother of Yellowpaw and Patchkit)
Elders:
Dapplepelt--- tortoiseshell she-cat
Shadowrose--- black she-cat with red paws, ears, and tail tip
Prairieclan- Fast and Swift
Leader- Redstar--- bright red tom
Deputy- Rosefeather--- white she-cat with light red paws
Apprentice, Wolfpaw
Medicine cat- Flowerpetal--- grey she-cat with white underbelly
Apprentice, Palmpaw
Warriors:
Icewing--- light silver she-cat with white under front legs
Apprentice, Silverpaw
Snowrobin--- white she-cat with red underbelly
Apprentice, Orangepaw
Blackclaw--- dark brown tabby tom with jet black paws
Apprentice, Springpaw
Tigerlily--- brown she-cat with black stripes and paws
Lilyfur--- light brown tabby she-cat
Grizzlyfang--- very dark brown tabby tom with black muzzle
Apprentice, Forestpaw
Mossnose--- grey she-cat with white paws and belly
Apprentice, Skypaw
Sagecloud--- black she-cat with white belly and silver stripes
Apprentices:
Palmpaw--- light tan tabby she-cat with white belly and paws
Silverpaw--- silver tabby she-cat
Orangepaw--- bright orange tom
Springpaw--- brown tabby she-cat
Forestpaw--- grey tom with gold paws and ears
Wolfpaw--- grey tabby she-cat with white belly
Skypaw--- light grey-blue she-cat with white front paws, a white circle around one eye and a white tipped tail
Queens:
Rainbowpelt--- red she-cat with white stripes (Mother of Moonkit, Pinkit, and Orangepaw)
Dawnfur--- black she-cat (Mother of Springpaw, Lilyfur, Skypaw, and Fawnkit)
Elders:
Greytail--- light silver tom with grey tail and ears
Halfear--- brown she-cat with half a ear gone
Lightsoul--- brown tom with gold flecks
Please read before you comment.
Critique is welcome, and I welcome advice as well.
I like it!Please, continue it!^-^
