Prologue
A youthful calico tom leisurely pranced across the moors. He purred to himself as he looked around for a rabbit, not to ease his hunger but to enjoy the rich tastes. The tom lowered himself to the ground and sped across the field, landing skillfully upon a fat rabbit."Maplestar," the yowl sounded urgent, and Maplestar turned his head to see his mate, Silverpool. "I have horrible news of the clans." the starry she-cat continued. Maplestar nodded, his pleasurable stroll ruined by his mate's distress.
Once Silverpool had finished speaking Maplestar was breathless. He tried to speak but was too shocked and afraid for the clans he has watched over for the past moons. "And I need you to handle it." Silverpool concluded.
Chapter 1
Starlingkit twitched her mud soaked paws in excitement."Brookkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Brookpaw. Your mentor will be Lillysong." Kestrelstar called to the many cats below her as she sat upon the tall rock.Starlingkit yowled her best friend's new name louder then any other cat. Lillysong anxiously touched noses with the young, ginger she-cat. Brookpaw licked her chest in embarrassment from all the attention she was getting.
Starlingkit purred her final congratulations to Brookpaw and trotted to the gorse bush that made the nursery. She saw a blue bundle of fur in the corner, snoring softly. Starlingkit nudged Sedgekit and growled in annoyance. "Leave your brother alone and go to sleep!" Pebblefur, Starlingkit's mother snapped.
Starlingkit awoke, noticing the sun hadn't even risen yet. She got to her paws and slipped into the apprentice den. Starlingkit nudged Brookpaw and ordered her to wake up at a whisper. Brookpaw didn't even twitch. Starlingkit shrugged and dug her claws into her best friend's shoulder.
"Ow!" Brookpaw exclaimed. "What did you do that for?!" she snapped.
"Shhhh. Do you want to wake the whole clan up? You wouldn't wake up." Starlingkit replied.
Brookpaw growled and got to her paws. "What do you want?" she growled at a yell whisper. "I want to explore the forest." Brookpaw thought for a moment and decided there was no way to talk her hyper best friend out of it. She nodded grimly.
The two she-cats were deep in thought of how to get out of the camp without being noticed. It would surely be imposable for a young apprentice and a kit to climb up the side of the crevice that made up the Windclan camp. Brookpaw was deep in thought while Starlingkit's eyes kept drifting in random directions.
Suddenly Starlingkit jolted toward tall rock. She leaped up, attempting to climb the tall rock but she fell to the dirt. Starlingkit shook her fur and scrambled up the tall rock until she found a paw hold. She struggled until she found another and another until she found herself on the ledge Kestrelstar did the ceremonies from. Starlingkit leaped up to the top of the boulder and jumped down the other side.
"Just do what I did." She instructed. "No, I'm not crazy!" Brookpaw objected. "Shh. Do you want Poppywhisker to hear you?" Starlingkit mewed, referring to the warrior watching the camp.
Brookpaw climbed up, letting out grunts of disapproval the whole way. When she landed next to her tabby friend she saw Starlingkit's gaze glued to the opposite direction. Brookpaw followed her gaze until she saw the glimmering, crystal lake. She looked at the lake in awe. It was beautiful.
Starlingkit gazed for a few more moments, then bolted in the direction of the lake. Brookpaw sighed and followed her best friend, wondering slightly why Starlingkit was her best friend. But even so Brookpaw followed with little to no hesitation.
Starlingkit was out of breath when she felt the cool water splashing against her legs. The mud that matted her fur, due to lack of grooming drifted away in the current. Brookpaw came in the water too but didn't same the sheer joy that Starlingkit did.
Starlingkit waded across, her paws sinking into the wet sand until she felt herself begin to float. She couldn't feel the sand beneath her and instinctively her paws began paddling to keep herself afloat. Starlingkit swam joyfully, purrs erupting from her throat.
"Brookpaw! Starlingkit! What are you doing in the lake?!" the yowl was long in sharp. Mistfur sped across the field and into the water then grabbed Starlingkit by the scruff. She waded to the shore with Brookpaw following.
"We weren't drowning! You didn't have to save us" Starlingkit objected, her voice having the shrill squeal that kits outgrow when they get old enough.
Mistfur let out a growl and padded toward camp. Brookpaw followed obediently, the silver she-cat's flank against her scrawny shoulder. Starlingkit followed more reluctantly, her eyes drifting every now and then toward the lake.
"What did they do now?" Kestrelstar groaned. Brookpaw went hot with embarrassment while Starlingkit twitched slightly in the pure joy of getting to leave the camp.
Mistfur replied sternly. "They were swimming in the lake."
"Your not Riverclan cats! Brookpaw, your an apprentice now, what are you doing fooling around like a kit?! Starlingkit, you have never shown any respect to the warrior code, your leaders or anyone but yourself!" the last words Kestrelstar hollered at her made Starlingkit's heart drop. Her whole body went stiff. Normally Starlingkit would shoot back but she simply lowered her head in shame. "Brookpaw, you can not attend what would have been your first gathering tomorrow. As for you, Starlingkit, you will be late apprenticed."
Starlingkit stumbled back to the nursery and curled up. She wasn't tiered, but she wanted to do nothing but hide her head under her paws.
Chapter 2
Brookpaw blinked her eyes open to see the dazzling full moon, surrounded by the Starclan warriors. Thin clouds drifted over the mysterious dark blue skies the tawny apprentice was gazing at. But as Brookpaw star gazed it kept reminding her how her best friend had convinced her to sneak out of camp and end up missing her first gathering.Starlingkit padded up to Brookpaw, an apologetic gaze on her amber eyes. Brookpaw glared at the tabby kit, giving her the cold shoulder. Starlingkit lowered her head in shame as her best friend flicked her tail in annoyance.
Brookpaw watched Lightningpaw trot toward her. "I... err, heard what happened and I was thinking maybe I should wait until next moon to go to my first gathering so uh, err... we could go together." the tom stuttered. Brookpaw purred and nodded her head.
She walked toward the freshkill pile, paying little attention. A thud hit the tawny she-cat's side. "Watch were your going!" Tinypaw snapped, his fur bristling and his tail twitching. Brookpaw spat back at the small tom. "Your the one who crashed into me!"
Starlingkit slunk up to Brookpaw. "What do you want?" Brookpaw snapped, her tail twitching. "I... wanted to apologize." Starlingkit muttered.
"Like I want to talk to some immature, flea bitten, mousebrain!" Brookpaw raised her voice, her tail flicking back and forth furiously. Starlingkit let her anger overpower her shame. "At least I'm not a goody two shoes, little wimp!"
Brookpaw leaped at Starlingkit, digging her puny claws into the kit's flank. Starlingkit raked her claws against Brookpaw's underbelly and pushed the apprentice off of her. Starlingkit slid under Brookpaw and stood up, pushing Brookpaw off of her and landing awkwardly. Brookpaw tried to recover her footing but it was too late. Starlingkit ran at her and dug her teeth into Brookpaw's leg. The taste of blood filled Starlingkit's mouth when a yowl filled the camp.
"Starlingkit!" Bramblethorn called. He raced across and shoved the kit off of Brookpaw. Starlingkit's tail was twitching rapidly as she stalked into the nursery. Brookpaw shook herself off and stumbled to the nursery, a scowl across her face.
Chapter 3
Starlingkit sat enviously as Kestrelstar leaped up onto Tallrock. Sedgekit was grooming his paws endlessly and his eyes were filled with excitement. Starlingkit payed little attention to her brother's naming ceremony, in fact she only heard on part. "From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Sedgepaw." Yowls of congratulations filled the camp but Starlingkit just sat there, jealousy stabbing piercing whatever joy she might of had for her younger brother. Starlingkit slid into the nursery, feeling sorry for herself.A scent filled Starlingkit's nose. She didn't care to get up to discover what it was. Starlingkit felt a strange warmth overcoming her. The scent became overwhelming and Starlingkit felt as though she had a pebble in her throat. She coughed hoarsely. Starlingkit opened her eyes quickly. Fire!
Starlingkit leaped to her paws, staring at the golden flames that engulfed the camp. The fire was growing at a rapid speed and she wondered why no other cat had awoken. She sped toward the sleeping warriors and apprentices. Suddenly Starlingkit felt the ground underneath her collapse. She thought that she was loosing her mind before she noticed she had fallen into the badger den that made up the elder's den.
Starlingkit shook herself off and slid lower into the badger den. She found the main chamber where she saw Breezepool sleeping. Starlingkit nudged him, yowling for him to awake.
"Starlingkit, what is it?" Kestrelstar muttered drowsily. "Breezepool, there is fire! We need to get out! Now!" Starlingkit screeched. Breezepool looked skeptical but he sniffed the air and smelled the fire.
Starlingkit hurried up the badger den to see the fire had spread to the point where it covered the whole camp. Most cats were awake, yowling in fear. "Get out of here, Starlingkit!" Kestrelstar yowled.
Starlingkit watched the apprentices fearfully escape the camp while the warriors tried to save the elders and kits. "Where is Reedfoot?!" Starlingkit jumped at that yowl, fearing that the elder Reedfoot could be hurt.
Starlingkit ran toward the fire, bracing herself. She felt the flames singeing her pelt and burning her skin as she raced through the fire in search of Reedfoot. Starlingkit heard coughing and she ran toward it. She could hardly see Reedfoot through the thick smoke. His fur was black with smoke and he was coughing. She grabbed the cat by the scruff and attempted to drag him out of the fire. "Starlingkit? Leave. You have a whole life ahead of you, you shouldn't risk it for what is left of mine." Reedfoot rasped. Starlingkit shook her head. She grabbed Reedfoot by the scruff once again and dragged the elder and herself out of the flames.
Kestrelstar took Reedfoot and helped him out of the camp as Starlingkit jolted out. The clan was gathered, only five fox lengths from the camp. Kestrelstar looked devastated as he watched his camp burn, as did the whole clan.
Starlingkit heard the hoarse coughing of Reedfoot and cringed, worried that she may have come too late. Since night was falling most of the cats were finding themselves places to rest so Starlingkit lay down drowsily.
Chapter 4
Brookpaw turned her head to see her ash coated friend fall into a deep sleep, her chest rising and falling gently. Brookpaw yawned and lay down beside her. She closed her eyes that were strangely heavy even though she has done little that day and it wasn't that late.She found herself falling into a gentle sleep. Brookpaw found herself in a thickly forested area. A large rock was in front of her and four large trees surrounded it. A strange mist floated around the what appeared mystical territory. A strange feeling of calmness waved over Brookpaw that she had never felt before.
Brookpaw saw a starry cat on top of the rock. She scrambled up the rock and looked deeply at the cat. When Brookpaw thought she could see through the cat she blinked her eyes, hoping it was her eyes playing tricks on her. It wasn't. The calico tom was truly transparent and had a somewhat glittery tone to her pelt.
"Greetings young warrior." the starry cat uttered. Brookpaw nodded swiftly.
The starry cat rested his head on the apprentice's shoulder. He looked into the 'paw's eyes. Brookpaw shuddered and closed her eeys. When she opened them she saw she was in Windclan camp, in fact right at the spot next to the lake that she and Starlingkit went to. Starlingkit was splashing around in the lake, much like she had a quarter moon ago. Brookpaw yowled her name but Starlingkit didn't even acknowledge she heard her.
It was a slight change but Starlingkit started to grow older and go further into the lake. Once Starlingkit seemed like she was a warrior, not a new warrior but not a senior one either, she stopped and looked back at Brookpaw, water up to her neck. Starlingkit's eyes were stricken with pain and worry as she glanced at the tawny apprentice.
Chapter 5
Starlingkit awoke sleepily.No other cat was awake but Brookpaw was muttering in her slumber. Starlingkit nudged her and mumbled for her to awake. Brookpaw shook slightly and opened her eyes."You were talking in your sleep." Starlingkit acknowledged. Brookpaw went hot with embarrassment. "Sorry."
Not long after the whole clan started to rise, seeing that the fire that overtook their camp the other night was out and padded back.
Kestrelstar raced to the Tallrock and started yowling for the cats to come. "Gather everyone. I know that yesterday was hectic and the clan is shaken but don't fret. We will survive, prey may be hiding for the next few days but they will come back."
Kestrelstar had a thoughtful gaze."Starlingkit, even though you have been punished for disobeying your orders you have recently shown bravery and compassion towards your clanmates. You are no more then a kit but somehow you saved the life of an elder, proving your willing to risk your life for your clan, as any warrior should. I have never seen a kit so selfless to run into flames where you could quite easily loose your life for no reason besides saving your clanmates. I do not believe there will ever be a better time for me to do this."
"Starlingkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Starlingpaw. Your mentor will be Mistpelt!" Starlingpaw couldn't tell if she was apprenticed for her good deed or to put the clan's mind on something other then the fire.
The clan howled Starlingpaw's new name as she awkwardly touched noses with her new mentor. She was unhappy that her pelt was still coated with ashes when she became an apprentice but was overjoyed to become one. Then the clan started separating, purring their congratulations to the newly apprenticed she-cat.
"Poppywhisker, Berrytail, Redfur and Lightningpaw, I want you to remove all of the burnt herbs and freshkill and rebuild the nursery and elders den. The rest of the warriors I want you to hunt for the clan, we have little food left from the fire. Apprentices, excluding Starlingpaw, I you will be gathering herbs for Littleherb." Kestralstar announced proudly.
The cats flicked their tails in agreement and nodded their heads. Mistpelt padded over to her new apprentice, a hopeful look on her face. "Lets explore the territory first." Mistpelt's words were strong willed and hardy which took to Starlingpaw's surprise. She nodded her head obediently, twitching slightly from excitement.
Mistfur scrambled through the exit, leaving a clump of silver tabby fur on it. Starlingpaw rushed through the exit and stopped, still twitching with excitement. Mistfur grumbled under her breath and padded along.
"Where do you want to go first?" she asked sounding interested but her thoughts were somewhere else. "The Horse Place!" Starlingpaw yowled excitedly. Mistfur sighed softly, remembering all the stories of the horse place that the elders tell the kits.
Starlingpaw ran full speed toward the horse place, her paws moving fluently as she sped across the landscape. Mistfur sprinted to keep up with her and when they arrived she was panting heavily.
Mistfur lashed her tail in anger and scrambled under the fence. Starlingpaw followed enthusiastically and mewled about how she was going to catch the biggest rabbit ever and it will feed the clan for three moons. Mistfur rolled her eyes and sighed, a look of annoyance across her face.
Starlingpaw scampered into the twoleg den to see about fourteen horses looking down at her out of their stalls, their hooves larger then the she-cat's head and their bodies heavily muscled. She cowered, her whole body shivering. Starlingpaw wanted to move but her paws wouldn't. I have to be strong, I'm a warrior! She thought fearfully.
"Are you coming?" Mistfur queried. "B-but what about the beasts? They'll try to hunt us like mice if we move." Starlingpaw objected in a fearful whisper.
Mistfur groaned. "Beasts? They're horses, horses eat grass and those horses are in stalls. They can't chase us." As Starlingpaw looked around she realized that there was no way for them to escape the stalls they were in.
"Lets check out the lakeside then we'll do some hunting." Mistfur breathed, her tail twitching slightly. Starlingpaw nodded and followed her mentor to the lakeside.
The cattails by the lake flowed gracefully into the breeze that blew across the moors. Mistfur tensed as they neared the water, her fur bristling and her claws digging into the dirt. They looked around for a few more moments and then Mistfur ordered her apprentice to come to some of the best hunting places in the territory. Starlingpaw nodded disappointingly and padded after her mentor.
Chapter 6
"Watch closely." Mistfur instructed. She lowered her body and stalked forward carefully. Mistfur's silver tabby fur brushed slightly against the ground but not enough to make even the slightest of a noise. She suddenly broke into a sprint, chasing down a fleeing rabbit. Mistfur leaped and landed on the rabbit, digging her teeth into the frantic hare. Starlingpaw flinched when the rabbit let out its last dying breath, giving up trying to resist and going limp.Mistfur buried the hare in the soft dirt and padded back to her apprentice. Starlingpaw nodded slightly as her mentor came to her. Mistfur lay her tail on her apprentice's shoulder. "Now you try"
Starlingpaw inhaled, trying to pinpoint the scent of a prey animal above all the other aromas that that were in the moors. She muttered to herself softly. "Water vole." Starlingpaw was about to race forward until she realized to stalk it. She lowered her body weight to her paws which caused her to feel unbalanced and unstable. Starlingpaw quickly recovered her balance and put her body weight on her belly, instead of her paws. She raised one paw and stalked forward, somewhat awkwardly.
"Keep your tail low." Mistfur ordered, quietly not to disturb the water vole that nibbled on its nut.
Starlingpaw kept stalking until she was about a fox length from the distracted vole. She prepared to pounce but stumbled upon a thin twig. The sound rang into the vole's ears and it ran. Starlingpaw raced after the vole, her whole body pulsing. They neared the shore where the vole could easily hide in the cat tails. Starlingpaw leaped landing clumsily upon the vole.
The vole squealed in panic. Starlingpaw was about to bite into the vole's neck but hesitated. She looked at the panicked vole and simply watched it for a moment. The vole slid out of Starlingpaw's paws and scurried away.
"You let it go?!" Mistfur yowled. Starlingpaw went stiff. "I... I didn't mean to!" "I watched you! You were in a great position to kill it but instead you released it!" Mistfur bristled her fur and lashed her tail.
Chapter 7
Brookpaw padded across the hills, her long, fluffy ginger fur blowing in the breeze. She leaped up into the tree above her, her claws digging into the bark. It was one of the only trees and the largest in Windclan's territory, besides the thickly forested area near the border of Thunderclan.Brookpaw hauled her body up onto the thick tree limb. She pounced up onto a branch above her, her paws landing gracefully upon it. Brookpaw scrambled toward the center of the tree, where she could go out on many other branches. She saw the claw marks she had left that pointed toward the left of her. Brookpaw pranced to the left, squeezing herself through two branches. She felt her paws on a smooth branch and squished herself onto it.
Brookpaw climbed up the smooth branch that she had gone up so many times. She lay down peacefully, opening her eyes to see the crimson leaf-fall sunrise. Brookpaw yawned and watched a squirrel racing to find food for leaf-bare. No other cat knew of the seemingly hidden smooth branch with the perfect, relaxing view other then her. It was like Brookpaw's secret haven. She closed her eyes, drifting into a long, deep slumber.
"Brookpaw!" the yowl was long and shrill and awoke Brookpaw instantly.
She opened her eyes drowsily. The moonlight bathed her long, ginger fur beautifully. Hmm... how long have I been sleeping? Brookpaw thought as she got to her paws and stretched. She leaped off of the hidden branch, landing awkwardly on her paws.
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