We Are One: Book One: Awakening

Prologue
Moonlight shone through the empty hollow bouncing of a small pond. The hollow was silent except for the wind whispering through the willows. All of a sudden, the reeds began to rustle, and cats emerged. Firestar led the group of leaders and medicine cats. These cats were wizened members of StarClan, the ones with the most experience in times of conflict. This was no time for mere warriors. The group gathered silently, all ears were perked up ready for an announcement.

“We are in trouble.” Firestar began.

“That’s an understatement, youngster.” Yellowfang contradicted.

“The Clans are at war, and the peace at the lake that has kept us safe since the attack of the Dark Forest is no longer.”  Firestar announced with a glare at Yellowfang. “If we do not act soon the time of the Clans will end. We must act, now!”

“Yes, yes we all know, but what will we do? How will we act? StarClan is weakened. Many are still recovering from the Dark Forest attack. We cannot save them by fighting. No omen will stop this conflict.”  Blackstar called out. He voiced the fears and confusion of all of StarClan

Eerie fear filled the StarClan cats. Then every cat started yowling in fear at once. The Clans that they had grown up in and died fighting for were spiraling into a hurricane of death and war.

“What are our choices?” Tallstar mewed practically. As a leader of a Clan driven out of their territory, mass panic wasn’t exactly new to him. “We can send an omen, but we doubt that would do anything. We can advise the medicine cats, but we already have, numerous times. We can begin leaf-bare early to make the Clans focus on food instead of fighting, I guess.”

“We have never hurt the Clans to help them before. It could backfire! For all we know one Clan would take that as an opportunity to attack another and that Clan wouldn’t have the strength to survive.” Sunstar argued.

“And there must always be four Clans at the lake!”  Bluestar yowled, backing up Sunstar.

“But why?”  A dark mew sounded from the shadows and a cat emerged. StarClan looked at each other, mewing in confusion and fear. They recognized that voice. It wasn’t possible, but could it be?

The dark tabby’s amber eyes glowed with malice and intelligence. Tigerstar, there was no doubt. He was back.

The only cat who was not at all afraid by his arrival was one of the many cats murdered by Tigerstar. Firestar had his ears back and his teeth showing in a snarl. “What do you want, Tigerstar? Isn’t your tenth death enough to prove to you that you aren’t wanted here, or anywhere?”

Nonchalantly, Tigerstar padded into the hollow. No cat challenged him as leaders and medicine cats parted in front of him. Soon, Firestar faced Tigerstar. Bluestar sat next to her red pelted Clanmate, growling.

“I will die completely when it is time, but my destiny is to take one more life before my death, and that is one I will take as revenge.”

“If you mean that you will kill me...” Firestar began.

“Of course not. Firestar, you are dead. You have no power. The power of StarClan is but a hope of the Clans as they grieve from death. Your death won’t help my cause win in this war. No, I will take a different life, one of a living cat. A cat of power in a Clan, a cat that will cripple the Clans. But that is for later.”

“After you kill this cat, then will you die?”

“Possibly.”

“I know you well enough to be sure that you haven't come just to gloat at your life. What do you want?" Firestar sunk his paws into the moss on the rock he sat on, imagining that the rock was Tigerstar.

"I was merely pointing out that there needn't be four Clans around the lake.  You know well enough, Firestar. SkyClan left, and now they are as fine and as happy as ever, living in that gorge far far away."

"But there was a price, Tigerstar." Firestar meowed in a low murmur, "Many of their cats died, and I needed to leave my Clan in a time of need."

"Sacrifices, sacrifices." Tigerstar shrugged off the protest, "Doesn’t your Warrior Code say to be loyal to your Clan even at the cost of your life or something like that?  Anyway, the point I'm making is that the Clans could leave and be happy.  Much happier than what you are putting them through, anyway.  If it was my decision-"

"Which we're lucky it's not!" Yellowfang yowled.

Tigerstar continued, ignoring Yellowfang’s interjection. "We could move three of the Clans elsewhere.  One clan, be it ThunderClan, ShadowClan, WindClan, or RiverClan, could control the whole lake.  No more fighting or pain, how much better is that than the chaos and suffering going on beneath our very paws, chaos and suffering that you are allowing to continue?"

Some cats began to yowl in protest. Others were frozen in horror. A few were engaged in deep conversation. Some even looked thoughtful, as if they thought that Tigerstar’s plan would work. All of them were lost. The bloodshed and deaths they had seen clouded their judgement, making it hard for them to distinguish right from wrong.

"Stop!" Leopardstar stepped forward, her fur was on end. Waves of anger radiated from her. She stared right into the eyes of Tigerstar, the cat that had tricked her into giving up her Clan. "All of us have seen what you want.  Back in the forest, you planned on using BloodClan to control all Clans, make them one.  Here at the lake, you tried to use your two sons to create two Clans and then ultimately combine them into one.  It's been your goal all along.  All you want to do is to converge the Clans.  Well, we might have given that idea half a thought if it came from a cat we trusted. But it didn't. It came from you, and anything coming from you means trouble. So go ahead, kill whatever cat you want, and then die.  We have been able to undo the damage you’ve tried to create and we will continue to do so until you die properly! Get out!”

Yowls of agreement and hisses of anger toward Tigerstar began. StarClan was back in control.

"You have become stronger since you handed RiverClan over to me, I'll give you that." Tigerstar replied cooly, not appearing frazzled at all by Leopardstar's speech.

At this point, cats had to hold Leopardstar back from jumping on Tigerstar, as she hissed, her ears flattened against her head.

Tigerstar flicked his tail, "You have not seen the last of me." And with that, the dark tom leapt into the reeds and disappeared into the undergrowth.

All froze for a couple moments, then turned to Leopardstar, and began to yowl their approval. The former RiverClan leader's whiskers twitched in enjoyment.

"Leopardstar, that was..." Firestar began, but stopped, lost for words.

"-The most I've ever seen a cat stand up to Tigerstar other than Firestar." Mudfur finished. StarClan purred in agreement.

" Yes, yes that is all very well, but what do we do? Sure that speech was good,” Yellowfang pointed out, "But a speech won't fix our problems, especially now that we have another one to deal with!"

“Of course, Yellowfang was the one to be the dampener.” Nightstar murmured to Sagewhisker loud enough for all to hear.

“Well, I’m right!” Yellowfang snapped.

"So what do we do?" despaired Flametail. "We can't think of anything!"

“Only ideas from far, far back will help you." A voice called from the other edge of the pond. There was a rustle and the oddest pair appeared. The one who had spoken was a hairless cat with bulging blind eyes. His fur was matted, as if he hadn’t washed for many moons, and his whiskers drooped. His fur was greying and patches of it were missing. His companion was a she-badger.  In contrast, her brown eyes glowed with warmth and wisdom.

Across the clearing, respect filled the cats as each dipped their heads respectfully to the wisest animals they had ever known.

"Midnight, Rock, what brings you here?" Tallstar asked respectfully.

"We know of your troubles. StarClan walks these skies while the Tribe of Endless Hunting pads over the mountains.  SkyClan’s ancestors look down upon the Clan’s gorge. We, instead, walk all skies." Midnight explained.

“So you know how to help us?” Asked Yellowfang.

“We have an idea.”

“Stop being so vague and tell us how to save the Clans for StarClan’s sake! Cats are dying as we speak!”

A gasp echoed through the hollow.

“I apologize.” Yellowfang said. The words were hard for her to get out as she didn’t say them often. “But I love my Clan, and it will die if we do not act soon.”

“We know.” Rock mewed briskly, “That is why we are here.”

StarClan was silent, eager for their knowledge and wisdom.

“Long ago,” began Midnight, “Wars raged among a different group of cats. Nothing could stop the endless bloodshed. Every kit and elder was killed and all cats were weakened. To solve this problem, we did something quite similar to the thing that we did to begin the Great Journey. In the Great Journey, we picked a wise cat from each Clan who would represent their Clan well or had a destiny to complete on the journey, correct?”

StarClan cats nodded.

“Well, there were a few problems with the Great Journey. Arguments. Misunderstandings. Problems because of lack of connection between cats. Right as well?”

Each cat nodded again.

“The problem then, like now, was that there was not time for those kind of things so we did something differently. We did the same thing by creating a representative from each Clan, but this time, these cats were connected by something more than just brother and sister or a lover to her love. These cats were the same cat, each a part of the same mind. They were individual cats, yet not, each other, yet different. They were able to take the perspectives of all Clans into account and negotiate with the rest of their Clan. This cat or these cats, however you want to think of it, will be the saviors of the Clans. And after their destinies are over, they will become different cats again.”

StarClan was in awe. None of this seemed possible to any of them, but Rock and Midnight weren’t deceivers, nor liars. They were telling the truth. It took what seemed like moons for the new information to settle in on them.

Finally, Sunstar mewed, “We don’t have the power to do that. Even if all of StarClan tried, it wouldn’t work.”

“We have already taken care of that.” Rock replied, “The cats of destiny will be born in two sunrises. We trust StarClan to tell them of their destinies when they are ready.”

And with that, the shapes of Rock and Midnight began to shimmer and slowly disappeared before the eyes of StarClan.

Chapter 1
The sounds of a she-cat in pain echoed through the SkyClan's gorge. Echoing off walls and bouncing through the territory. The Clan awoke to sounds of pain.

"Frecklewish!" One cat called from the Nursery.

* 	*	*

The yowls of another queen were flung through the Tribe of Rushing Water's mountains. Stormfur raised himself to his paws and flung himself away from his den and to the kitting place where his mate, Brook, lay gasping in pain and powerful ripples went through her body.

"Stoneteller, come quick!" He yowled.

* 	*	*

The whines of three more rippled through the Clans' lake territory. Mothers were in pain.

* 	*	*

The next sunrise, ThunderClan warriors did not know to mourn or celebrate. Two kittings had occurred the night before. One successful, one not as much. Dovewing, one of their queens, had taken a walk, returning to camp devastated. She had given birth without a medicine cat and her one of her kits had died. It had been buried by its mother in the forest. The surviving kit was Willowkit, a silver kit with blue eyes.

But, Cinderheart, Lionblaze’s mate, had successfully given birth to their first and only kit, Owlkit, a brown she-cat. Cinderheart's kitting had been short and quick, with Jayfeather’s help, and she now was a healthy mother with a healthy kit.

 

* 	*	*

Tigerheart brought his kit from Dovewing to the ShadowClan camp. Dovewing's true mate was known by only one, the father, Tigerheart. Dovewing had kitted with him on ShadowClan border and because of the lack of medicine cat, both mother and the kits had barely survived. Fortunately, Tigerheart's now dead brother, Flametail, had been a medicine cat and Tigerheart had picked up some tricks. The kit Dovewing had chosen to stay with him in ShadowClan was a beautiful she-kit with a smokey coloring of her mother and dark tabby stripes from her father. Dovewing had named her Darkkit and the other, Willowkit, Darkkit for her dark pelt and Willowkit for her willowy frame.

When Tigerheart arrived at ShadowClan camp, he snuck in so no cat would see the kit he carried. Tigerheart went to the only cat that he knew would be fair to him and the kit. He went to Rowanstar, his Clan leader and his father.

Standing outside his father's den, Tigerheart took a deep breath. He didn't enjoy lying. He entered the den.

"Tigerheart." His father raised his head to look at his son. At first, he sounded angry. "What are you doing here? It's the middle of the night!" Then, he noticed what his son had with him. "What do you have with you?" His father was surprised.

"I found this kit abandoned in ShadowClan territory.”

Rowanstar stood up and sniffed the kit. Tigerheart held his breath; he has washed off the kit’s scent off, and hoped that the ThunderClan scent didn’t still linger. Rowanstar looked up at Tigerheart, his eyes calculating.

“And how, may I ask, did you come across this kit?”

Tigerheart did his best to muffle his fear, “I was just out on a moonlight hunt.” “You seem to be going on more and more of those recently. Do you ever sleep?” Although Rowanstar’s words were humorous ones, his offhand comments seemed to have an underlying meaning.

“But what shall we do with her?” “I don’t know, she seems like a strong enough kit, perhaps she can join ShadowClan.” Rowanstar said thoughfully, “With all of the tension between the Clans, we need as many warriors we can get. I suppose she can join ShadowClan. She needs a name, though."

Tigerheart was overjoyed, his kit would be part of ShadowClan.

"How about Darkkit?" Tigerheart suggested in what he hoped was a casual tone, surprised that Rowanstar had agreed so quickly.

Rowanstar nodded absently in response to Darkkit’s new name. He looked at his son disbelievingly. He was smart, and believed there was more to the story. “Is there anything else you would like to tell me about this kit, like, who her parents are?”

His eyes burnt with accusation. The scent might have not worn off! Tigerheart fretted.

“How should I know?” Tigerheart shot back nervously.

"Fine. I will tell the Clan in the morning, and if there is anything more you would like to tell me, like, the whole story for instance, please do.  Until then,” He frowned at the yowling kit, “Try to find a queen to mother her.  She needs milk.”

 

* 	*	*

 

"What should we name her?" Brook Where Small Fish Swim asked her mate Stormfur, gazing down happily at her newborn who was asleep by her side. The kit was smaller than most but not frail, and Stoneteller was not worried about her health.

Pine and Lark, now the eldest to-bes, sat there too, gazing down at their new sister, but not interrupting their parents conversation. In the Tribe, parents naming their kits was important.

"She has a pelt like mine, like a RiverClan cat, she might have been a good swimmer." Stormfur said wistfully.

Brook nodded. Although she knew that the Tribe now had Stormfur’s loyalty, he often showed signs of missing his old home. In that moment, she decided to honor his RiverClan descendance.

"Ninja That Swims In Darkness, perhaps? For her dark pelt, I mean, and her future in swimming." she added.

"Perfect!" Stormfur announced, his whiskers twitching. He couldn’t wait to tell the Tribe.

 

* 	*	*

 

Swallowtail birthing was the longest as she was still having it.

"Okay, now push!" Kestrelflight ordered.

Swallowtail pushed all her might and after a few more moments of agony, felt the relief of her only kit finally leaving her body. She fell asleep immediately as Kestrelflight’s apprentice, Cornpaw, licked the kit to get it breathing and pushed the kit to her mother to rest. That night had been a strain on the kit too.

After kit and mother were done resting, the kit began to nurse and Kestrelflight came into check on them. Kestrelflight left the nursery with a worried expression.

“What is it?” yowled Emberfoot, the father. He didn’t like that expression. He hadn’t been allowed into the den all night, and he was righfully worried.

“You have a healthy kit, but I am afraid that Swallowtail isn’t going to make it much longer. The kitting was too much for her.” Kestrelflight didn’t meet Emberfoot’s eyes. Whenever something like this happened, a Medicine Cat always wondered if he or she could have done more.

Emberfoot cried in pain. “No, No!” He ran toward the nursery, trying to get past Kestrelflight and into the nursery.

“Stop!” Kestrelflight demanded, strong again. “You must be brave for her sake. I will allow you to go in there, but only if you promise me one thing.”

“What?”

“Do not let her despair.” The medicine cat began, “Unfortunately, I have nursed cats that I know won’t make it, and they are happy until the end because they have family with them. They don’t know that they will die. It is not fair to tell them that they will join StarClan soon. Maybe there is hope, just let her believe it.”

Emberfoot nodded, seeing the sense in that, he wanted Swallowtail’s last living moments to be good ones. He trotted into the nursery and sat down next to his new mate and kit.

“Hello, my love.” Swallowtail said in a raspy voice.

“She’s beautiful!” He declared and licked his mate and kit, trying to focus on new life instead of short life.

“Name her.” said the mother.

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Who else would I trust to give a perfect name to our daughter?”

“But...but...”

“I’m not a breezebrain. I know I will die soon and before I join StarClan, I want you to name our first and final kit.”

Emberfoot wanted to yowl in pain, but Kestrelflight words came back to him. Maybe there is hope, just let her believe it. “Don’t worry; I’ll see you through this. The whole Clan will.” He reassured her, “But now, let’s name her Meadowkit, for she will always be as beautiful as a bright green meadow in new-leaf and as fast as the wind the runs over it.”

“And she will have the most beautiful name in the Clan. I will watch you both from StarClan and love you forever. Just tell her that I love her when she’s old enough to understand.” Not giving Emberfoot a chance to protest, she continued, “Rest with me.” And with that the family curled up together and before falling asleep Swallowtail murmured the name softly, “Meadowkit.” It was the last word she ever spoke

When Emberfoot awoke, he called his mate’s name gently, “Swallowtail?”

He stood up and looked down on her motionless body. She did not stir, nor breath. Then, he gazed at Meadowkit, the kit who had cost him everything, yet given everything to him in herself. Meadowkit stirred and looked up at him with her big brown eyes. He licked her and pulled her close to him.

Emberfoot leaned forward and murmured his final good-byes into his dead mate’s ear, “I love you, Swallowtail. Walk forever among the stars. I will not forget you. May the prey feed you, good hunting, my love.”

 

* 	*	*

Frecklewish had done it! She had delivered her first kit on her own since Echosong’s death. Though she missed her old mentor, she knew that Echosong, watching her from the stars, would be proud of her. Echosong’s death had been three moons ago when a dog had attacked. Now, though, was not a time for mourning of a life taken a while ago, it was a time for celebration of two new ones.

Servalkit and Honeykit had been born to Cherrytail and Bouncefire, and the parents were ecstatic. The kitting had been a long one, and Frecklewish, after checking one last time to see kits and mother healthy and content for the first time that night, padded off to her den for some well needed rest.

Chapter 2: Owlkit
“And so your father jumped onto him and clawed him until he ran away and came out without a scratch on him! He won the battle for the whole Clan!”

Owlkit cheered. She had opened her eyes that morning and had been pestering her mother to let her explore the camp. Finally, Cinderheart had walked her to the elder’s den. Owlkit already loved it there. Graystripe told the best stories.

“My dad’s the best! I’m gonna be a warrior just like him when I grow up. Watch, watch!” Owlkit, filled with enthusiasm growled and jumped straight up into the air. She didn’t really know how to pounce or growl menacingly yet as it was only her second sunrise. Since she had opened her eyes that morning, she hadn’t seen any apprentices practicing yet, so she tried to do what she had heard described in Graystripe’s stories.

Amused purrs filled in the den.

“You’ve got some ways to go, little one.” Squirrelflight, the former deputy mewed.

“I’m not little, I’m big. See?” Owlkit tried to spike up her fur and hiss but she hadn’t gotten the hang of that yet either.

More purrs.

“And you need your sleep if you want to get even bigger, Owlkit.” hinted Cinderheart.

“But, Cinderheart!” Owlkit complained, “I don’t want to have a nap. We sleep all night, and I want to hear another story, and the other kits are still awake, they’re playing in the apprentice den, and I’m not tired, and-” Cinderheart picked up Owlkit on her scruff and started to carry her back to the nursery, Owlkit complaining the whole time, “I don’t want to go back to the nursery, I want to explore! I haven’t been in the warriors den yet, or the apprentices den, or where Bramblestar sleeps, or the medicine cat den. I haven’t tasted a poppy seed yet!” “Poppy seeds make you sleepy and if you don’t be quiet right now, I’m going to go and get a poppy seed from Jayfeather to force you fall asleep and you don’t want me to do that!”

“Fine, fine,” Owlkit sighed, but she already knew her mother after spending less than two sunrises with her, and knew that when Cinderheart said ‘no,’ she meant it. “But one day, I’ll be a warrior so much stronger than Lionblaze that I will only need rest once in a whole moon!” Owlkit boasted to her mother as she strutted into the nursery way Briarlight and Daisy were dozing lightly.

Many, many moons ago, a fire had destroyed the camp, killing the elder Longtail. A tree had fallen on Briarlight, breaking her backbone and making the queen’s hindquarters lose feeling completely. Jayfeather had barely nursed her back to health. He had worked day and night, believing that she could be saved. All of his work payed off enough so that she was able to survive. But Briarlight had despaired, she had wanted some way to help the Clan. This was a feeling Owlkit was already able to sympathize with. Today, when she had left the nursery, all of the Clan looked at her like a kit. Something good for admiring and not much else. Although, she hadn’t asked, she could tell that the warriors thought she was useless, for the time being at least. She hated it, but she didn’t complain. It would only be like this for he for six moons, Briarlight had to suffer through it her whole life, and Owlkit had already resolved not to complain about being stuck in the nursery in front of her. Being a kit mother had become the perfect solution for Briarlight. This way, she could use her strong warrior instincts for protecting her kits, but not be in pain during birthing. She was contributing more than just herself to the Clan, she and her mate, Molepelt, were making the Clan new warriors, and Owlkit admired her resilience. Although she still had trouble breathing for lack of movement, she was now a happier cat being able to contribute to her Clan. In the past six moons, Briarlight had grown close to Daisy. Another queen, who had too little warrior instinct to be a fighter.

“One day little one, one day.” Cinderheart responded and curled up next to her daughter and fell asleep.

 

* 	*	*

 

A warrior leapt out of the shadows of the Nursery claws stretched towards Owlkit, who leaped out of the way with a hiss.

“Cinderheart!” She called. Her mother wasn’t in the nursery, Owlkit was alone. As the dark tabby warrior attacked her again, Owlkit slid under him, using her small size and ripped at his belly with thorn-sharp claws and the tormentor ran away.

Owlkit stood panting in shock. She dug her claws into the bracken of the nursery bedding.Her heart pounded in fear. She looked around. She could see the dark nursery just barely. It looked its usual, except for the emptiness of it. There was no scent of milk or the comforting smell of her mother.

Suddenly a shriek tore through the night from outside the nursery. Owlkit flew through the bracken wall that protected the nursery and saw...light pouring into the nursery? That didn’t make sense.

Owlkit blinked, but nothing changed. She flew to her feet, “Invasion!” She panted, looking around wildly.

Cinderheart blinked sleepily at her, “What, Owlkit? What are you talking about? There is no invasion, relax.”

 

* 	*	*

 

It had been two moons since Owlkit had been had dreamt that dream. That night she had it again, but Owlkit had awoken to fierce yowling and the sharp, salty tang of blood in the air this time. The Clan was in disarray.

“ It’s Bramblestar,” Rainstorm, the deputy, yowled, “ Bramblestar is dead! I walked into his den and there was blood everywhere and his body lay in the middle. We looked up to me and said one word.” The Clan waited in anticipation as Rainstorm took a deep breath and proclaimed one word to the Clan “‘Tigerstar’.”

The Clan howled. How was this possible?

Owlkit looked up at her mother, fear in her eyes. “T-Tigerstar?” She asked in a small voice.

“No need to be afraid, dear.” Cinderheart mumbled, “I’m sure there’s a mistake.” But Cinderheart’s eyes betrayed her, and Owlkit saw deep feeling in her mother.

Fear filled the Clan and clouded their judgement.

“No, Rainstorm, Rainstorm murdered Bramblestar for power!” yowled Lilybloom.

Cinderheart gasped at the statement. Owlkit looked up at her with wide eyes. Cinderheart gave her a quick lick.

“Tigerstar has been dead for moons!” Molepelt hissed. His fur stood on end as he yowled and spat.

“Get out of our Clan or we will kill you as you killed Bramblestar!”

“Taking after Brokentail were you? Murdering your own father!”

The Clan began yowling their agreement, calling out insults, hissing, and spitting at Rainstorm, who looked back at them with anger, confusion, and fear in her eyes. She looked for any friendly face in the crowd and found one quickly.

“Enough!”

All heads turned to Ivypool, whose tail was twitching in frustration. “Do you not remember that StarClan will grant our leader the nine lives, a responsibility and privilege that they would not grant just any cat. Or are you saying that you do not trust the judgement of StarClan? Rainstorm has been a wise and strong deputy, and I trust that she will make just as good of a leader. Rainstorm, as much as I will mourn for Bramblestar, I am glad to answer to you as my leader.”

Rainstorm dipped her head, “Thank you, Ivypool. I hope I can serve you well.” She leaped onto Highrock, addressing the whole Clan. Rainstorm seemed more at ease now, “I understand your misgivings, I would have them myself if I was in your place, but in troubled times like this, the Clan must stand together! WindClan and ShadowClan, the two Clans that border us, seem to be allying. RiverClan has been throwing threats at WindClan for them stealing food! I smell a war brewing; so trust me. If we don’t support each other, ThunderClan is lost! Trust me, and ThunderClan will triumph!”

Cats yowled their approval, Rainstorm had won most of the Clan’s confidence, but Owlkit noticed Molepelt and Lilybloom trading angry looks.

Cats began murmuring to each other. Owlkit continued to watch Ivypool with big eyes. She deeply respected Ivypool, the cat who had risked her life every night in her dreams to save all of the Clans from the evil cats. Owlkit knew that many cats in her Clan shared the same thoughts about Ivypool. Ivypool was a strong voice in the Clan, and if she supported Rainstorm, Owlkit was sure many others would too.

Heads and tails began to droop throughout the camp as Rainstorm jumped down from Highrock and began to carry Bramblestar’s body into the middle of the camp to be mourned. As the clearing filled  with mourning cats Jayfeather walked up to Rainstorm, and Owlkit snuck over to hear what they were talking about.

Jayfeather was speaking, “ We have to go to Moonpool. It is time.”

“Soon Jayfeather, soon.” Rainstorm replied as Owlkit strained to hear, “Let me mourn with my Clan.”

Jayfeather trotted away sadly. Bramblestar had raised him and he was upset. Lionblaze followed him. They were brothers, and even though Bramblestar wasn’t their true father, they had grown close to him.

Owlkit rushed back to her mother. Cinderheart bent down to lick her. “Stay here, my sweet. I must go say my last words to Bramblestar.”

Owlkit looked to the nursery and saw all of the other kits sitting, downtrodden in the nursery. Kits were not part of the ceremony of saying farewell to a dead warrior, but Owlkit wasn’t going to just sit there. Instead, she followed Cinderheart over to where the body lay.

Cats took turns, saying their last words to Bramblestar. Some stayed others left. Owlkit positioned herself next to Bramblestar’s neck and began to lick off the blood with her little tongue. Rainstorm murmured something to Bramblestar and then turned to Owlkit. “Good.” was all she said before she turned towards the warriors’ den.

Treepaw and Tawnypaw were carrying Bramblestar’s old bedding out of the leader’s den and placing new bedding in its place. By sunset, Rainstorm would have a new den of her own.

“Thank you for leading me. I know it is not my place to be here, talking to you as you prepare for your journey to StarClan. I am just a kit, but I trust you, and I wish you well in StarClan. ThunderClan will honor you forever. I won’t forget you.”

And with that, Owlkit dashed back into the nursery and curled up into a troubled sleep. Her dreams were filled with dark cats leaping at her from the shadows and scent of blood.

 

* 	*	*

 

“Owlkit, come on!” Willowkit nudged Owlkit. Over the past two moons, Owlkit had become good friends with the only other kit without any siblings. Willowkit and Owlkit had also been born on the same day, a rather surprising event in the Clans.

“What?” Owlkit murmured drowsily.

“The deputy ceremony of course! Rainstorm has to name a new deputy before she goes to get her nine lives. Otherwise, it would be past Moonhigh before she gets back! Cinderheart said not to wake you because you needed your sleep, but I woke you up anyway! You would kill me if I didn’t! We both know that!” Willowkit was a very talkative and high energy kit.

Owlkit leaped out of bed and jumped on top of her friend who rolled over and batted her playfully with sheathed claws. “You know I’ll kill you anyway!” Owlkit joked, “Let’s go find out who the new deputy is, and then I’ll kill you.”

They chased each other out to the clearing where the Clan was gathering. Owlkit admired Rainstorm as she gracefully leapt onto Highledge.

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here below Highledge for a Clan meeting.” Her words were wasted. The whole Clan was already there and waiting. “Our first matter of business is to say a final farewell to Bramblestar!” Each cat dipped their heads in sadness. Squirrelflight and Cloudtail carried Bramblestar out of camp. The elders would bury Bramblestar.

“First, let us give thanks to StarClan for the life of Bramblestar. Tonight he sits with his fellow warriors among the stars.” The Clan was silent in mourning and respect for a moment.

“Next, I must appoint a deputy. I know that you are not all happy that I haven’t become a leader yet, but in order to not break the Warrior Code, I must.”

The Clan waited in anticipation. The senior warriors exchanged looks.

“Birchfall, will you serve ThunderClan as its deputy?”

Every head turned towards Birchfall whose whiskers twitched. He was a confident cat. “Yes, I would be honored tol.”

“Birchfall, Birchfall!” The Clan chanted.

The cats took turns greeting Birchfall as their new deputy. Dovewing and Ivypool covered their father with licks as he purred loudly. Whitewing rubbed against her mate. The whole Clan cheered. Birchfall was one of the oldest warriors, but he had never lost his younger side. This made him a popular choice with the older and younger warriors.

Once the Clan had calmed down, Rainstorm called, “Birchfall, I expect you to look after camp tonight while I am at Moonpool.”

“That, I will do.”

“I know you will. Ivypool, Snowfall, Treepaw, and Jayfeather will come with me to Moonpool. We are at war!”

The Clan howled in agreement and Rainstorm and her party trotted towards the camp’s exit. Before they could get there, however, Dewdrop ran to Rainstorm.

“Be careful.” He pleaded, “You don’t have you nine lives yet!”

“I’ll do my best, my love.” She responded and licked him.

“I’ll see you again?” He said, making it sound like a question.

“Of course.” She assured him. She and the other cats chosen to go to Moonpool trooped into the Medicine Cat Den to get herbs. After getting the herbs from Jayfeather (except for Rainstorm), Owlkit watched as the cats bounded through the camp entrance, their strides strong and wide. Owlkit watched the five cats until Willowkit and Pinekit pulled her away to play.

Chapter 3: Darkkit
“Ivytail. Ivytail!”

Darkkit paused in her tracks. Ooops! She had been exploring the Medicine Cat Den. Slowly, she turned to see Littlecloud, the elderly Medicine Cat limping toward her. His eyes were filled with frustration.

“This is the fourth time I have caught you in here in the past eight sunsets. Do kits have nothing better to do than go sticking their noses in places they don’t belong?” Without waiting for an answer, Littlecloud continued. “Why can’t you be like the other kits? Starkit and Patchkit were way less adventurous than you are now, and they are barely a moon older than you! Why can’t you go play ‘Catch the Frog’ with them now. It would be a good way to exercise your warrior skills! That you might use someday if you stay OUT OF MY DEN!”

From other clanmates, Darkkit had heard that Littlecloud was a kind and gentle medicine cat, but he had grown bitter as he grew older. He was now the oldest cat in ShadowClan, but could not retire to the elders den because no apprentice had come along besides Flametail. Flametail was a sad topic that no cat ever brought up, and Darkkit wasn’t completely sure what had happened to him. Still, she hated being pushed around so she replied coolly.

“And what if I want to be the next Medicine Cat?” She had no intention of doing so, but she wanted to make a smart remark.

Littlecloud looked appalled. “No! You will never be a Medicine Cat. I know what it takes to be one, and you...do...not...have the skills that it takes. Only Clan born cats can take on this role anyway. You’re nothing but an outsider. What was Rowanstar thinking, allowing you to join the Clan? You’re nothing but a burden!’

Littlecloud had been pushed over the edge. Darkkit froze for a moment and stared into Littlecloud’s fiery eyes. Then, she tore out of the den, bumped into Ivytail, who had been coming to get her, and flew through the pine needle screen into the nursery. In one corner, Kinkfur sat, with her five-moon-old kits, Furkit, Stripekit, and Flowerkit. In the other, Darkkit’s adopted brother and sister were curled up, asleep. Patchkit was a black and white tom and his sister was Starkit, the most gorgeous tortoiseshell and black she-cat. Darkkit was the youngest kit in the nursery and none of her denmates let her forget it. She jumped into her nest that she had made herself. It was just big enough to fit her when she didn’t want to sleep with her adopted family.

She buried her face as far into the short fur of her paws as she could and closed her eyes. Her body shook violently from sadness. At just nine sunrises of age, the Clan was already setting up boundaries that blocked her from the rest of the Clan. I can’t control how I was born! Darkkit complained sadly to herself I just have to live with it. It’s not fair. I’m just the same as everyone else!

But you’re not Clan born! said a little voice in her head that sounded like Littlecloud and Starkit and Patchkit and Stripekit and Flowerkit and...and...all of ShadowClan.

“How are you feeling, Darkkit?’ Ivytail had followed her in. She spoke in a low voice as not to wake the sleepers of the nursery.

“Do I really belong in ShadowClan?” asked Darkkit numbly.

“Of course you do.” Ivytail said, concerned, “What would make you think differently?”

“If I do belong, why wasn’t I born here?”

“Are you saying that all cats belong where they are born to?”

“No, I’m not saying that, it’s just...just...just...”

“What about Russetfur?”

“She was ShadowClan’s strongest deputy!”

“And why can’t that be you? She had to deal with the same things that are happening to you right now. Banishment, exclusion, difference. You can deal with that too! You’re my strong little warrior!”

“But I’m not!” Darkkit exploded, “I’m not yours. Or anyones. I might me a rogue's. Or, even worse, a kittypet’s! Why did Tigerheart even bring me here?”

“Why don’t you ask him?”

“I’ll go do that!”

“Yes, do, but first rest. Drink some milk.”

Darkkit fell asleep next to Ivytail. Nursing from a mother who wasn’t hers, in a nursery that didn’t belong to her Clan, surrounded by cats who didn’t trust her. She felt as if she could hear the very wind that whistled through the pine trees whispering Don’t trust Darkkit, Don’t trust Darkkit.

 

* 	*	*

Darkkit was a very curious kit, of course, all kits are. Once she recovered from the shock of what Littlecloud had said to her, she wondered around the camp, looking for some form of entertainment. The Warrior’s Den seemed empty, and Darkkit was feeling rebellious. She crept across camp to the fallen pine tree that the warriors used for their den. She ventured through the entrance and quickly rushed to hide in the pine needles, her dark pelt giving her perfect cover, because Dawnpelt was walking over toward the entrance.

She walked right past Darkkit as Darkkit crept slowly towards the nests. All the nests were empty as the warriors were either mentoring or on a patrol at this point in the day. She sniffed around the den for a familiar scent. She could smell Tigerheart and Dawnpelt. Since they were brother and sister, their scents were alike.

Darkkit went to the nests and sniffed around. She saw a gap in the pine branches that looked just big enough for a kit or apprentice. Darkkit walked up to and through the hole. she had walked into a small clearing with grass and rushes. She immediately knew that this would be the spot that she would spend her time in and train in. She would be the best apprentice ever. Maybe she could be able to warm the hearts of those frozen by the winds of distrustfulness.

* 	*	*

 

It had been a moon since Darkkit had found the clearing behind the Warrior’s Den and she had transformed it into a perfect practice area. She had stuck the rushes in various spots and would practice stalking and pouncing on them. Darkkit would run around the clearing as many times as she could to increase her endurance for long battles and then try to leap over piles of sticks and rocks she had set up, so she could over and onto her enemies.

Her improvement was obvious, she could run, jump, and fight better than all of the other kits in the Nursery. She was able to sneak up on any warrior and could down an apprentice with one swipe. Her passion for improvement was an unstoppable force. Her nightmares became less and less usual and when they did happen, she would spring at that attacking cats with more and more ferocity each time.

It was all to make her stronger. She play fought with the other kits as much as she could. Then she would go into the clearing and figure out  how she could fix what she had done to make it better. If she wasn’t training, Darkkit was thinking or even sleeping in the clearing. Other than eating, sleeping, drinking, and playing, training was all that Darkkit did.

At nighttime when Darkkit couldn’t sleep, she snuck out of the Nursery to practice. Her legs grew stronger and her fighting skills quicker. Using her paws, Darkkit swiped through the air, claws unsheathed, beating down an invisible enemy.

At times it was hard for her to get into her clearing unnoticed, but she developed ways of sneaking past the warriors. She had found and created new entrances that weren’t in the warrior’s den. Warriors watched her in curiosity, wondering where her skills had come from. She had heard Ivytail talking to the warriors about her newfound strength. And slowly, but surely, Darkkit began to feel at home in ShadowClan.

 

* 	*	*

“May all cats old enough to fight their own battles, join here below Shadowstone for a Clan meeting.” Rowanstar’s call echoed around the camp. It was early dawn and warriors, apprentices, kits, and mothers stretched, awakening.

As Darkkit followed her mother out into the clearing, she noticed that the dawn patrol had just returned. This can’t be good. she thought. There had been tension among the Clans and the warriors seemed very nervous. Darkkit’s adopted siblings and the older kits in the Nursery came as well. The group of queens and kits settled near the Nursery’s entrance, their eyes fixed on Rowanstar as he gazed down at his Clan from Shadowstone. Once all of the Clan was seated and looking up at him, ShadowClan’s leader began to speak.

“Clanmates, listen carefully. We are ShadowClan, the strong, the brave, the mighty. We are the strongest Clan in the forest! Our WindClan allies may be the only way to help us stay alive when ThunderClan attacks. We have received news about RiverClan. The dawn patrol says that they overheard some RiverClan cats talking. RiverClan is going to attack WindClan because of their loss of prey.” The Clan yowled in displeasure. Darkkit knew that without WindClan as allies in this troubled time, ShadowClan would be lost. “For this reason, we will send four ShadowClan warriors to WindClan to warn them and stay there to protect our allies at all times.” The Clan stared at their leader for a few moments and then erupted into disapproval.

“We are ShadowClan, not ThunderClan. We don’t save other Clans!”

“If WindClan is too weak of an ally then maybe they shouldn’t ally with us!”

“We cannot show weakness!”

“WindClan might be using us!”

The complaints went on and on. Darkkit almost wanted to cover her ears with her paws and hide in the Nursery. This was all too overwhelming. But she was a warrior, she reminded herself, and she was the strongest kit in the Nursery. She must not show fear.

“Do you want to lose the only ally we have? Do you want ShadowClan to be lost? The only reason that I am doing this is because I don’t know what else will save the Clan! Ratscar, I expect you to organize the cats who go to WindClan.” Rowanstar’s burning eyes gave no choice for argument.

The Clan stared back at him silently. “But on a happier note, this means that the Clan needs more warriors.”

Silentpaw, Mosspaw, and Acornpaw exchanged glances. The siblings were the only apprentices in the Clan. Although unlikely, the young cats were obviously hoping for an early promotion.

“Furkit, Stripekit, and Flowerkit, come stand below Shadowstone.”

The three eldest kits froze for a moment. Then, lead by the most aggressive and confident kit, Stripekit, the three approached their leader. Stripekit looked brave and confident. Furkit looked excited and Flowerkit looked scared, but ready. Kinkfur, on the other hand, was absolutely out of her mind.

“You couldn’t Rowanstar! Their fur isn’t even groomed! Come here, Flowerkit!” Kinkfur lunged forwards and grabbed her daughter by the scruff. She began pulling her towards her. Flowerkit hissed and tried to pull the other way, but Kinkfur’s seasoned warrior strength came back to her as she held Flowerkit down to wash her. Owlclaw leapt through the clearing and up to his mate. He murmured to her and she released her kit. Flowerkit ran to stand, her fur rumpled beside Furkit, who gave her sister a quick lick in support. A murmur of amusement spread throughout the Clan, and although Darkkit felt bad for Flowerkit, her whiskers twitched all the same.

Rowanstar gazed down at the young cats and to the crowd of cats. Darkkit realized that Rowanstar hadn’t picked the mentors yet, not a normal ceremony.

“Tigerheart,” He called, “My son, you are long due for your first apprentice. You have been a strong and brave warrior and I expect you will pass these qualities down to Stripepaw.”

Warrior and apprentice made eye contact for a moment. They then met under Shadowstone and touched noses. A fire burnt in Stripepaw’s eyes, ready to be the apprentice he waited to be. He was obviously pleased with Rowanstar’s choice of an aggressive mentor for him. Tigerheart was unreadable as ever, but Darkkit thought that she could see a glimmer of happiness under his dark stare.

“Dawnpelt, you are also deserving of an apprentice. You will mentor Furpaw. You are a smart and loyal cat and I will expect you to pass on these attributes to Furpaw.”

As with Tigerheart and Stripepaw, Dawnpelt touched noses with her apprentice who looked as excited as ever to have such a powerful warrior as her mentor.

Flowerkit was the last kit standing there. She looked a little embarrassed, but held her head high. Rowanstar’s eyes traveled over the clan, clearing trying to find the perfect mentor for shy Flowerkit.

“R-R-Rowanstar?” Flowerkit asked.

There was a gasp of astonishment filled the hollow; kits never interrupted their apprentices ceremony! Flowerkit looked small and meek, sitting by herself in the middle of the clearing with all eyes on her.

“I didn’t know I would be apprenticed so soon. I would have told you beforehand, but…” She trailed off nervously.

“What is it?” Rowanstar’s voice was kind and gentle as he looked down at her with nice eyes.

She took a deep breath, “I don’t want to be a warrior, I want to be ShadowClan’s next Medicine Cat.”

The Clan nodded in acceptance. Flowerkit would  make a good medicine cat. She was kind and caring. She wasn’t ever going to naturally be a brutal ShadowClan warrior.

Littlecloud came forward. Up until then, he had been so quiet no one had noticed his presence at the entrance of the Medicine Cat den. “Flowerkit, are you sure about this?”

“Couldn’t be more positive.” She said with certainty.

“You understand that as a Medicine Cat, you cannot take on a mate?”

“I do.”

“Then, I accept. Flowerkit, you will be the next Medicine Cat.”

Rowanstar stepped forward. “Littlecloud, you have served ShadowClan well, but it is time for you to take on a new apprentice. You will mentor Flowerpaw.”

The pale tabby stepped forward to greet her new mentor. His eyes filled with warmth, warmth that Darkkit never expected to find in them. Owlclaw and Kinkfur exchanged glances of undisguised pride.

“Stripepaw, Furpaw, Flowerpaw!” The Clan chanted, welcoming the young cats into the beginning of their apprenticeship. Their parents brushed up to them murmuring encouragement.

Darkkit as scampered towards their former denmates to congratulate them. She used her small size to squeeze towards the cats. She ran up to Stripepaw first.

“Good job, Stripepaw!” She said, “How does it feel to be an apprentice?”

He gazed down at her haughtily and her enthusiasm dimmed, “Better, now that I can get away from nosey, annoying kits.” He glared at her rudely.

She shrunk under his gaze, but still squeaked, “You’re barely more than a kit yourself, you-”

“Darkkit!” Furpaw ran up, “Come on, you don’t need him.” She threw a glare at her brother. Furpaw had always been friendly towards Darkkit and she was the closest friend that Darkkit had. Now, she was an apprentice, her only friend would be gone most of the day.

“Congratulations, Furpaw!” She said happily, pushing Stripepaw’s arrogance away.

“I can’t wait ‘til you join us! It will be soon, don’t worry.” Furpaw added in a quieter tone, “Dawnpelt seems like a tough mentor, though!” A good natured twinkle sparkled in Furpaw’s eyes.

“Yeah,” Darkkit agreed, “Good luck with her.”

“Furpaw!” As if on cue, Dawnpelt came striding through the cats, “What are you doing, gossiping with kits? You’re an apprentice now. It’s time to learn your way around the territory.”

“Can I get something to eat first?”

“No, a ShadowClan warrior must be strong. Let’s go!”

Furpaw trotted after Dawnpelt, but not before adding, “I am gonna be dead before I get back.”

Darkkit’s whiskers twitched as her friend left, but as soon as she disappeared from sight, her tail drooped. With Furpaw, the only kit who had stood up for Darkkit gone, Patchkit and Starkit took it as a perfect moment to pounce. Darkkit was squashed under the weight of the two older kits. She didn’t move. She had watched apprentices practice. She knew that faking out larger opponents was the only way to go. Now that she was without Furpaw, she would have to protect herself. Time to put her practice skills into use.

“Now, that you don’t have anyone to hold your paw…” Patchkit spat in her ear, “You will do as we tell you to.”

“You will sleep in a different place than us.” Starkit demanded.

“You will clear out our dirty bedding.” Patchkit went on.

Darkkit let their voices fade into the background and focused on her next battle move.

“You will-” Bam! She slid out from under the two kits and struck Patchkit in the head with a sheathed paw. He went flying into Starkit, and they both disappeared from sight, Darkkit didn’t watch to see where they landed. While no cat was looking, Darkkit turned and ran. She sprinted through the now empty warrior’s den and into her training hollow. She went to a piece of wood she had dragged into there, and sharpened her claws on it roughly. Dragging them along the log, shredding it to bits. She imagined faces on the log. Starkit, Patchkit, Stripepaw. She hated them all. She kept at it until the wood was shred to bits and she was breathing hard.

She didn’t want to go back to camp; she knew that she would be in trouble. There was nowhere else to go, but out of camp. She had never done that before, but she was excited. Her heart pounded as she pushed past the leaves surrounding the hollow and stepped into the pine forest. She looked up and could see a tall pine tree standing above her. She gasped. Never in her life had she seen something so big and tall. The tree stretched hundreds of foxlengths above her head. It took her breath away. She gazed across the forest to see the hundreds of other trees, making a forest. It seemed to go on forever. She caught a smell of something in the air and opened her mouth to allow the scent to reach her scent glands. A frog! It seemed to be nearby and was accompanied by the scent of a swamp. Darkkit crept around the trees to see a small pond with reeds around the outside of it. Hopping towards it was a frog! The frog was brown and looked fat and stupid, a perfect meal.

Darkkit crept towards it slowly, staying close to the ground. The frog continued to hop around, blissfully unaware of the danger creeping up on it. Darkkit was now only five mouselengths away. She prepared to pounce. She knew that since frogs could jump, she would have to come down onto it instead of leaping at it straight on. She focused, put her weight on her haunches, and leapt up into the air landing on the frog. Her heart hammered from excitement in her chest.

Her claws landed directly on top of the amphibian quickly taking its life. She slowly stepped off of it, checking to make sure it was dead. Once she was sure, she picked it up and began to carry it...where? Who could she bring it to? Then, it hit her. She had made her first catch! She was officially a hunter. She felt alive. Her eyes glowed in satisfaction and her claws hungered for more prey. Darkkit had never been prouder.

She strode haughtily towards her hollow with her prey. Her chest was held high. She forgot about being secretive and realized it too late when she heard voices. She recognized Furpaw and Dawnpelt’s scents immediately. “And here is one of the swamps with the best source of frogs. Even in leaf-bare, fat frogs hide here. Many apprentices caught their first prey here. We call it Frogswamp.” Dawnpelt was giving Furpaw a tour.

Although her heart hammered quickly in her chest for fear of being caught, Darkkit felt a flush of pride. She wasn’t even an apprentice yet and she had caught her first prey.

“Follow me.” Dawnpelt called over her. Darkkit peaked past the trees to see Dawnpelt padding off. Furpaw, though, wasn’t following her. She watched her leave and then called softly.

“Darkkit, come out.”

Darkkit froze, not knowing what to do. “Come on, I know you’re there. Just come out!”

Darkkit reluctantly padded out of her hiding place, holding the frog in her mouth. Furpaw looked at her sternly, but Darkkit knew that it was forced. Then, she saw the frog in Darkkit’s mouth and purred loudly.

“Darkkit, you’ve caught your first prey before me, you lucky furball!”

Darkkit couldn’t help but purr in amusement. She had expected to be scolded by her friend. She gazed up at Furpaw, whose gaze turned serious all of a sudden.

“Dawnpelt might find you though! Oh, get back to camp before you get in trouble.” Slight panic filled Furpaw’s eyes as she nosed Darkkit back behind a bush.

“What about the frog?”

“I’ll take it and pretend I caught it. Now get back to camp before you’re missed!” And with that, Furpaw took the frog and bounded away.

“See you!” Darkkit called after her.

Furpaw flicked her tail in response, and she continued to run.

Darkkit turned and sprinted back to her hollow. She did not want to be caught out of camp. She trotted through the edge of the warriors den, making sure no one was watching and entered the Nursery. It was empty except for Ivytail, who stared at her. Darkkit froze in her tracks. She hoped that she was not in trouble. “Why can’t you even try?” Ivytail wasn’t angry, but her whiskers drooped and she seemed to be in despair. Ivytail’s eyes were filled with grief and Darkkit  knew immediately something had happened.

It took Darkkit no time to know that this was about attacking the kits earlier. Or defending herself as she really had been. But what had triggered Ivytail to react this amount? It had just been a swipe! Patchkit and Starkit couldn’t be injured, could they?

“Ivytail, I...I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt them! They just attacked me! I was trying to get away. I’ll never do it again. I swear by StarClan!” Darkkit was desperate. She wanted her adopted mother to forgive her, to tell her that everything was okay.

Ivytail continued to gaze at her, upset beyond words. Darkkit had never seen her like this.

“Please, Ivytail. What happened?”

“Go to the Medicine Cat den.”

Darkkit gasped. What had she done? She turned and raced through camp and into the Medicine Cat den where she was greeted by Flowerpaw. “Flowerpaw, what happened? Ivytail told me…”

“Come.” Was all Flowerkit said. She seemed somber and quieter than usual.

Darkkit followed her silently to two nests next to each other. Littlecloud hovered over one of them, looking strained. He looked up and noticed Flowerpaw and Darkkit.

“Why is she here?” He asked angrily, hissing at Darkkit.

“She doesn’t know yet.” murmured Flowerpaw dejectedly.

Littlecloud nodded and stepped aside to reveal the two inhabitants of the makeshift nests. Darkkit gasped again and stepped back. The unmoving cats in the nest were Starkit and Patchkit.

* 	*	*

It took a moment for Darkkit to adjust to what had happened. Her adopted siblings, only kits, lay still in the medicine cat den, not breathing as far as Darkkit could tell. And it was all her fault. She had killed two kits. She would never be a ShadowClan warrior now. Rowanstar would drive her out of the Clan or worse, kill her. Darkkit was not even sure that she could live with herself after what had happened.

“Why?” was all she could muster. Kits fought roughly all the time. How come she had killed these kits?

Littlecloud stepped toward her menacingly and hissed, but Flowerpaw held him back.

“Let me explain.” She told her mentor.

Littlecloud went back to nursing Starkit, but Darkkit couldn’t see what he could fix.

Flowerpaw began. “Unfortunately, when you swiped them it was directly on the temple. Your sheathed claws did not matter. The force sent Patchkit, bleeding, flying into Starkit and they flew at least twenty fox-lengths. Patchkit landed at the base of Shadowstone and hit his head. Starkit didn’t take as bad of a hit, but she still didn’t look good. They were both in shock, and Patchkit’s head was bleeding from your swipe and then the slam on Shadowstone.” Darkkit winced at the mention of her hit, but Flowerpaw continued, “Starkit was covered in bleeding scratches. We have given them thyme and covered their injuries in marigold, but it was too late. We fear that they will both be dead by sundown. I’m sorry. I know you truly meant no harm.”

Darkkit slumped over and allowed herself to yowl in pain. She hated herself. She hated how StarClan had taken their lives. She hated how she had killed two cats before her sixth moon. How would she ever be able to live with herself after this? She let Flowerkit lick her gently, mewing comforting comments in her ear. Nothing helped.

“C...C...Can I sit with them?” Her question was aimed at Littlecloud who had been listening the whole time, but before he could refuse, Flowerpaw piped in.

“I’m sure that would be fine.” Flowerpaw nosed Littlecloud away from the bodies, “Darkkit can watch them for a while. Let her!” She added with a pointed warning.

“Any cat would think that I’m the apprentice!” Littlecloud muttered as he stalked away.

“I’ll leave you, then.” Flowerpaw said, “Tell me when you wish to go.”

Darkkit nodded and sat down besides Starkit, her tail wrapped around her legs. When Flowerpaw disappears, she leaned down and groomed Starkit’s ruffled fur, careful to avoid the poultice. Starkit’s beautiful tortoiseshell and black fur shone, a trait that the every cat in the Clan was envious of her for. How could the pretty Starkit’s life end so suddenly, early, and dramatically? Once Starkit was as pretty as ever, Darkkit moved to Patchkit. She could barely look at the gruesome side of his face.

Blood splattered all over his face, matting his fur in to little clods of fur like tufts, each dripping blood. Darkkit could swear that she saw a bit of bone just poking out of the side of his head. How had she done that? Her heart beat hard as she forced herself to look at the wound.

She positioned herself next to him as she licked all of the blood off of his fur. HIs white fur was still stained with blood even after Darkkit was done, making him look black and red.

She lay down in between the two and rested her head on her paws. Then, the silence was broken. Up until then, all Darkkit had been able to hear was her own breathing and the slight wind rustling through the pines. Another noise started, much like Darkkit’s own breathing. She thought it was just imagination until she looked in the direction that it was coming from. Starkit was sleeping there. Nothing else.

Wait-sleeping? Starkit was asleep! She was breathing! Darkkit leapt to her feet and ran over to her. Starkit was definitely breathing alright. Her flank was moving up and down and up and down and up...She was alive! Careful not to wake her, Darkkit rushed to where the medicine cats were resting. She gave Flowerpaw a shove.

“Oww! Darkkit, what was that for?” Flowerpaw was awake immediately. She noticed the uncontained joy in Darkkit.

“She’s not dead!” Darkkit said quickly.

“Really? That’s wonderful!” Flowerpaw yowled. Her tail was no longer flicking in annoyance of being woken up and her eyes were as bright as the sun.

“Come on!” called Darkkit as she led the way toward Starkit.

“What’s going on?” An aroused Littlecloud asked.

“Starkit’s alive!” Flowerkit called over her shoulder.

Once they arrived at Starkit, she began to stir. She looked up at Darkkit and Flowerpaw. “What happened?”

“You’re alive!” Darkkit cried. She leapt onto Starkit and covered her with licks. She could not contain her enthusiasm.

“We thought you were dead.” Flowerkit told her gravely. “You suffered some bad scratches and a few jarring hits.”

“Well, StarClan must have not wanted me yet!” Starkit joked.

“No, they most certainly didn’t.” agreed Littlecloud as he entered with cobwebs and more marigold, “and we’re going to keep it that way!” He settled himself beside her and covered her scratches in the poulice. Starkit froze in agony. Once he moved away, she began to feel more relaxed, but she started to shiver.

“Darkkit, lie with her.” Littlecloud ordered, “Her body is focusing on healing her and her body heat is almost non-existent.” Darkkit was happy to oblige and settled herself next to Starkit. “I’m so sorry.” she whispered.”

“I understand and it’s okay.”

“Sweet dreams.” “You too, sister.”

F

Chapter 4: Ninja That Swims in Darkness
Ninja(short for Ninja That Swims in Darkness), aroused as her Tribemates woke around her. The cats stretched and some ate, while others were leaving for hunting parties. Ninja, a one moon old kit, was getting prey for herself and her mother. Today, Ninja was getting an extra piece of prey to get Stoneteller to tell Ninja more about the four warrior Clans of the forest.

Ninja ran to her mother to drop off the prey. She then sprinted over to where Stoneteller was to offer the trade, story for food. “Stoneteller,” Ninja asked him, “Can you tell me a Clan story?”

“Sure, Ninja.” He responded. Stoneteller took a deep breath, closed his eyes then opened them with a new light shining in them, “There was once a kittypet, a kittypet with a pelt of flaming red. This was an adventurous kittypet, who lived back when the clans were living in the forest. He lived just on the edge of the Twoleg Place. One night he ventured into the forest, a Clan cat caught him and when the Clan leader appeared, the kittypet was offered a place in the Clan. The kittypet excepted.

“He became an apprentice, then a warrior. This cat uncovered a plot to kill his Clan leader. After foiling the plot, the cat became Clan Deputy. He went on to foil many of the evil cat’s plans, save the forest, save the lake, and become Clan leader. This cat was none other than...Firestar!”

“You mean my grandpa’s best friend!”

“Yes, him. Now, run off to your mother and father.”

“Okay, Stoneteller.” Ninja ran off to her father.

“Stormfur! Stormfur! Stoneteller told me the Firestar story because I got him some freshkill.”

“Good job, Ninja!” Stormfur said, “I hope that we can visit the Clans together someday. I want to introduce you to my father and all the other cats in ThunderClan!”

 

* 	*	*

“Wake up, Ninja.”

Ninja That Swims in Darkness awoke to her mother gently murmuring in her ear. Ninja felt warm and comfortable. The dawn light outside was getting brighter, as the leaf-fall wind drifted into the cave; green-leaf had just ended. Ninja shivered a little and curled herself closer to Brook, purring gently. She did not want to get up this early.

“Ninja,” Brook stood up even though she could hear Ninja’s complaining mews, “Your Assignment is today!”

That woke Ninja up. The Assignment was where Stoneteller announced his choice of whether she was to be a prey-hunter or a cave-guard. Ninja had heard of the Clans and she secretly wished that she could be both, or have the choice to make her destiny. If Firestar could, why couldn’t she? No, she pushed the thought away. I am part of the Tribe of Rushing Water! she told herself, The Tribe is way better than the Clans. I was born a Tribe cat and I will stay loyal. Her doubts were quieted for a long time.

Brook sat down and groomed Ninja.

“If you are appearing in front of the Tribe, we better have you looking nice. No playing with the other kits beforehand; you hear me?” Brook sounded serious, and Ninja just listened. Of course she wouldn’t do anything like that. This was her ceremony. There was no way she would make herself dirty before something as important as this. “Now, lets go over the Assignment again. So, after all of the cats are gathered, you will…”

Ninja sighed. She had been through this with Brook a million times, but she didn’t want to upset her mother, so she allowed herself to be groomed and tried to block out her mother’s boring lecture.

“All right.” Her mother stopped licking, “You look beautiful! I’ll go get Stormfur and then tell Stoneteller that we’re ready.”

Soon, Stormfur arrived. Ninja didn’t get to see him much since he had his cave-guard jobs to do, so she wanted to make him proud. She sat up so straight she thought she might explode, sheathing and unsheathing her claws to look like a mighty fighter. As soon as he saw her, he purred loudly.

“Oh, Ninja…you look like you just climbed out of a river. You shine so brightly.” His eyes twinkled and Ninja could read the hidden meaning behind them, Maybe you should be a RiverClan cat.

She hoped that wasn’t what she was thinking. She had doubts of her own to worry about, without her father’s getting in the way.

He shook himself before he could get lost in memories. Stoneteller’s call echoed through the cave, summoning the Tribe.

“Let’s find out your future!” was all Stormfur said.

The cats were already gathered by the time Stormfur escorted her out of the kit-mothers den.

Ninja walked towards Stoneteller, down the aisle the other cats had formed. She watched as Stoneteller picked up the ceremonial rock and feather, moving them to the central part of the cave, directly at the end of the aisle she was walking. Ninja respectfully nodded her head to every cat as she passed them. Stoneteller began to speak to her in a deep voice that was soft yet ooming. This was one of the most important ceremonies in the Tribe. It was when a kit was given her duties and the decision had been made as to what position she would take in six moons when she was old enough to become a to-be.

“Ninja, you have reached your second moon with the tribe. I have watched you grow and learn.” Ninja’s heart pounded in her chest. What was Stoneteller going to choose her as? “I have seen you conquer challenges and become a strong and ready kit. Soon you will be a to-be and then a full-fledged tribe member. Ninja That Swims in Darkness, with your light body and swift mind, you will become a PREY-HUNTER!” His voice boomed through the cave.

No matter how prepared she had been for Stoneteller telling her this, Ninja still flinched she didn’t want to have to hunt or have to fight! Stoneteller had made his decision, and, in that split second, Ninja had made her own. She wanted to do both like the warrior cats. She silently accepted the friendly licks and best wishes for hunting. Just as with every ceremony, the mother of the kit, Brook, picked the kit up by her scruff and placed her on the Prey-Hunter’s side of the cave. This signified that Ninja was now part of the Tribe, but for the first time, Ninja wasn’t sure she wanted that anymore.

Once everyone had left her and returned to their normal activities. She whirled around looking for a private place for her to hide. She quickly noticed an empty cave-the tribe had a lot of those-and fled to a crack in the cave that led to a little den, big enough for two adult cats. It had old, dusty moss and lichen covering the cave walls making Stormfur think it may be an old den.

Behind her, Stormfur watched his daughter flee in dismay. He quietly followed her, waiting for a few moments before ducking into the hole too.

He entered the cave to find Ninja sitting silently, staring at her paws. Her black eyes glowed like a RiverClan cat’s fresh out of battle. He could see her claws kneading at the new moss floor angrily. She had been so excited that morning, what had changed? Stormfur wondered.

He was about to say something when Ninja voiced a question. She must have sensed his entrance. “Do you ever miss Clan ways?”

The question took him by surprise. It took him a second to respond, “Why do you ask?”

“Well you’re a cave guard. Don’t you ever miss the wind as it whistles through your ears while you chase prey? Do you miss the satisfaction of making a kill? Or the feeling of claws sinking into a juicy piece of prey? I remember the stories you used to tell me about fishing in RiverClan, how you speared a fish, or had to wait above the water, keeping your shadow as far away to not scare the fish. Don’t you want to do that again? And doesn’t a small part of you want to fight, to work as a team and battle another Clan? To do once again what you were born to do?”

Stormfur was thinking. His daughter provoked his thoughts. Weren’t all of these things true? Didn’t he miss the Clans? Wasn’t that why he named her Ninja that Swims in Darkness for a reason? He missed the Clans! But he couldn’t go back; he had Brook now. He chose to respond as noncommittal as possible. “Of course, I miss my home. I miss my father, my Clan, my previous honor there. But you’ll learn that all good things come at a cost. If something is easy, I usually will turn out not to be good.”

Thoughts churned in Ninja’s head. All good things must come at a cost. Stormfur’s leaving RiverClan had come at a cost. Wasn’t all she wanted to become a warrior? A prey-hunter and a cave-guard? She wanted to be a Clan cat then! All good things must come at a cost. Her cost would be her mother, her father, all of her friends in the Tribe. Every cat who she had ever known! Was it worth it? She tried to shake the thought out of her head, but couldn’t. She wanted to leave the tribe. She wanted to be a Clan cat. As much as she wanted to keep it to herself, she knew she would need to tell Stormfur, her father would support her, whatever happened.

“Stormfur…” “Yes, Ninja.”

She took a deep breath, and changed her life with one sentence. “I’d like to be a

Clan warrior.”

Stormfur didn’t seem at all surprise, but Ninja could almost see the thoughts

splashing around in his head like the waterfall in front of camp. There was a long pause and then…

“I understand. I myself have always dreamed of seeing my old home, new and teaming with life. It has been several generations since I have seen the Clans. It is time for Brook and I to move to the elder’s den, but I suppose I can manage one last little adventure with my daughter first.”

Ninja was so relieved that he understood that she threw herself at him, covering him in licks. Ninja felt a turmoil of emotions, but strongest of all the feeling that something was missing, and that going to the Clans would piece her together.

Stormfur purred. “But you cannot tell Brook!”

“Why?” Ninja jumped back, surprised. “We are just going to disappear and not tell her? She’ll be scared out of her mind for us!”

“Ninja, she’s coming with us.” “What, why? She’s happy here!” Ninja protested. It wasn’t that she didn’t want her mother to come with them; Ninja didn’t want to screw up too many lives in search of her destiny.

“Ninja, we’ll bring you to the Clans. After that, I doubt that we will have the strength to return. As I said, we are growing old. I want Brook and I to live out the rest of our lives as RiverClan elders.” Stormfur looked wistful.

“What about Pine and Lark? They need family too!”

“They will have to survive on their own. They’ve got each other and the bond of brother and sister is as strong of a mother to her kit.” “But Stormfur, you know how they would feel! You tell all of those stories without your father or mother. Just you and Feathertail,” His face hardened at the sound of his dead sister’s name, “You told me how miserable it was!”

“But we helped each other through it. Pine and Lark will be fine.” Ninja was about to protest again when Stormfur interrupted in a fatherly tone, “Ninja, Brook, you, and I are either going to the Clans or we are all staying here! Choose!”

“Fine, fine. Let’s go join RiverClan!”

“Not now, Ninja!”

“When?”

“Ninja, you are two moons old. I will take you in four moons. No sooner or later. If you want to be a Clan cat, you’ll have to start acting like one. Clans kits leave the camp when they are six moons.”

“Fine.” Ninja’s tail drooped. She wanted to go now. “Please! One exception for me!” She looked up at her father with big pleading eyes that always seemed to persuade him.

“You sound just like a Clan kit already!” Stormfur said smugly, and he marched out of the small cave.

 

* 	*	*

 

It had been a moon since Ninja’s Assignment had taken place. Ninja had been content to play with the kits(always being the one who killed the prey, of course). It had been getting harder and harder to be in the Tribe though. She always felt like she was lost in thought, trying to see through the waterfall to the land beyond. She was always imagining the Clan territory. The lake in the middle of the Clans, the streams that cut through RiverClan territory, the wood and undergrowth of ThunderClan, the barren landscape of WindClan, and the pines that cover ShadowClan territory. She wanted to see StarClan. She wanted to meet the other Clans and see the hungry light of battle glowing in their eyes. Her heart longed for the Clans.

Stormfur often kept a watchful eye on her, probably making sure that Ninja didn’t break from the plan. It had been one of the longest moons of her life, drawing on and on and on. Every time she saw her mother, she wanted to pour out her plans. She had never kept anything from her mother; it was the hardest thing she had ever done.

One morning when all of the prey-hunters and cave-guards were out hunting and defending the territory, the kits were playing another game.

“Alright,” Fox with Strong Claws began. Fox was a reddish kit. He was huge for just a seven-moon old kit. He was stronger than all of the other kits and would become a cave-guard to-be soon. “Frost and Hawk, you’ll be the Cave-Guards. Rabbit, Lion, and Ninja can be the Prey-Hunters. And, as usual, since I’m the strongest, I can be Stoneteller.”

“He’s so arrogant!” Ninja whispers to Rabbit who Leaps Through Snow as the other kits moved to where Fox ordered them.

“But he’s so cute!” Rabbit murmured back. Ninja sighed.

“Rabbit, Ninja, stop standing around! If you were listening I told you to go inside the Nursery with Lion!” Fox chided superiorly.

“Yes, Fox!” Rabbit mewed eagerly.

Ninja just rolled her eyes and trotted after Rabbit to the Nursery.

They passed the “cave-guards,” Frost that Bites on a Windy Day and Hawk who Soars Through Clouds. They were pretending to guard the Nursery. Inside, Lion whose Heart is Strong was already sitting with his tail wrapped around his paws.

Ninja, bored settled down in her nest and groomed herself, daydreaming of the day when she would be in the Clans. She was sure all of the Clan kits were all playing fun games. They could all fight. They could all catch prey. She imagined herself: waking up early for a dawn patrol then coming back to camp and preparing for the hunting patrol where her mentor would teach her how to catch a fish. Maybe that night she could even go to the Gathering! And...and...and…

“Ninja!” An obnoxious voice interrupted her daydream. She looked up into Fox’s icey blue glare. “Pay attention! Didn’t you hear me tell you to get outside. The Prey-Hunters are going to get us prey!”

Ninja got really annoyed at that point. Fox had no right to treat her like that! He wasn’t Stoneteller yet, although he was the obvious choice. “Why should I listen to you? You’re not leader! You have no right to order me around.”

A gasp echoed through the Nursery. Ninja glanced at the entrance to the Nursery and saw that all four other kits were all watching the scene, gawking.

NInja got defensive. “Well, it’s true! Just ‘cause he’s the cave guard, he gets all the attention. I’m probably a better fighter than you anyway! So stop pretending you’re in charge because you’re not!” Ninja was done. She was done being treated like she was less. She was done being treated like she could just be pushed around. She wanted to be a Clan cat. She wanted nothing more to do with the Tribe. And she let all of her anger out. She ran at Fox and swiped him, claws unsheathed across the muzzle. He was a better fighter, but Ninja had the element of surprise on her side. She leapt back, ready to pounce again; the light of battle was glowing in her eyes. She had gotten one of the things that she had craved, the feeling of flesh ripping open through her claws. In the darkness of the Nursery, Ninja could just make out the blood dripping down Fox’s nose. He took a look at her, growled, and pounced.

Ninja let her instincts take over. She rolled out of the way as he dove straight at her. While he was off balance she leapt on him, sinking her claws into his back and biting down onto his scruff. She shook hard. He seemed to surrender. His body stopped being tense and he howled in pain. Ninja relaxed for a moment. Was the fight over? All of a sudden, Fox flipped over on top of Ninja. His larger weight smashed her onto the floor of the Nursery.

“Are you sure I have no right to order you around?” He growled into her ear.

Ninja’s heart pounded hard. Fox raked his claws through her leg. Pain shot through her. A bite came to her paw. Teeth cut open her pad and blood spurted out. She yowled.

“What do you think of that, Prey-Hunter? Hmm?”

She growled at him, baring her teeth in anger.

“Haven’t given up yet, maybe a bite to the throat will change your mind.”

Ninja didn’t reply. In that moment, she chose that she’d rather die than surrender to Fox. Fox opened his mouth and leaned towards her throat.

“Wait!” Hawk tentatively stepped forward from the kits, “Sh-sh-she’s learned her l-l-l-esson. D-d-don’t kill her. I th-th-think that you’ve put her into her place.”

Fox raised his gaze from Ninja’s throat. “Hawk, you have always supported me. If she doesn’t admit that I’m better than her, she should be dead. So stop being a coward, you just don’t want to witness a murder. Deal with it.”

In Fox’s moment of distraction, Ninja’s determination had returned. She lurched upwards suddenly. Knocking Fox off of her and towards where the kits had gathered at the entrance of the Nursery. They scattered, all still paralyzed with fear at the spectacle that they was unfolding right in front of their eyes. Ninja aimed a swipe at Fox’s flank, knocking him out of the Nursery and into the clearing. While he was off balance, she leapt on top of him and tore with her claws, scratch after scratch. He bit her paws and she fell. They wrestled around in the empty, biting and scratching each other. The clearing was soon filled with bloodied sand.

Ninja swiped at Fox tumbling him a few foxlengths away where he lay in the sand, unmoving. Ninja was confused. It was one of the lighter hits that he had taken; he had seemed to over exaggerate the hit. Then, she scented something in the air.

She opened her mouth to get the scent clearer. Cats. Prey-Hunters and Cave-Guards. She turned and her heart stopped.

Standing behind her were a cloud of the Tribe. Staring in horror at the scene. Fox must have saw them approach and went down to make it look like it was Ninja’s fault. She cursed his cunning mind and her stupidity.

Stormfur stepped through the crowd. “Ninja, what have you done?” He looked hurt, as if she had betrayed him. His eyes were pools of anguish.

Star that Shines Brightly, one of the most senior members of the Tribe and aunt to Fox stepped forward.

“How dare you Ninja? This is not how a Tribe cat behaves! Stormfur, tend to your kin. I’ll check on the other kits to make sure they’re okay.” Rain that Floods Rivers, mother of Hawk and Fox ran to her kits. “Take Fox to Stoneteller.” Star ordered as she stalked to the Nursery where the four other kits hid.

The rest of the tribe began to break up murmuring in confusion, fear, and anger. Fox was a much appreciated member of the Tribe for his fast learning and strong intelligence. Ninja had just dug herself a deep hole that she couldn’t hope to come out of.

“Cave. Now.” Stormfur stalked towards the cave where they had spoken one moon ago. Ninja followed forlornly, not missing the glares that she received from her Tribemates that she passed.

“You’ve done it.” Father and Daughter had arrived in the cave where no one could hear them. “You’ve finally gotten yourself out of the Tribe.”

“Please, Stormfur, he provoked me!”

“I don’t care who provoked who. How am I supposed to explain this to your mother now? She’ll be heartbroken. I know that both of us will be sent away, maybe even your mother too. Were you so impatient to get to the Clans that you tried to get us kicked out? I already have had trouble with the Tribe before and now, my own kin has probably killed the kit with the most potential ever in the history of the Tribe. Why did you do this to me? All I wanted to do was settle down with your mother and be happy, but I sacrificed that to come with you when you turned six moons. And now you’ve taken away even that short little time from me. I just can’t believe that you would do that to me after what I promised to sacrifice for you” He dropped his gaze to the ground. He was in pain.

“I’m sorry, Stormfur.” Ninja walked up to her father and pushed her head against his chest as he licked her head. “I love you; I hope you can forgive me.”

“Of course I can sweetheart, of course.” Stormfur recovered his cool. “Now let’s go back to the Nursery so you don’t get yourself into anymore trouble. I want to be the one to tell Brook too.”

In the Nursery, Ninja settled down in her nest. It was probably the last time she’d ever sleep in it. The other kits and kit-mothers watched her distrustfully as she made her way to her nest and laid down in it. It made it hard to relax, but eventually sleep found her.

 

* 	*	*

A soft nudging and the familiar scent of her mother awoke her.

“Wake up, dear.” Ninja opened her eyes to see her mother’s soft, sad eyes looking down on her. The morning’s events fell into her mind all at once.

“You know?”

Brook nodded silently.

“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what got into me, I just-”

“Not now, sweetie. Stoneteller is making an announcement.”

Fear filled her belly. Her fate was being decided.

“Let’s go.”

The Tribe was already gathered in the clearing. Stoneteller began his announcement, “As many of you, I’m sure, are wondering, Fox has suffered minor injuries and will be fine while under my watchful eye and with lots of rest. He was lucky, but so was Ninja. She, two moons old, fought, claws unsheathed, with the seven moons old, strongest kit in the Clan.” I wish everyone would stop making such a big deal about Fox, thought Ninja, I would have beat him if we had finished the fight after all.

“But, I have discussed with the senior warriors and The Tribe of Endless Hunting what to do about Ninja. With a heavy heart, I have decided to banish her from the Tribe. She could have been a strong asset, but I cannot keep a cat in the Tribe who would hurt one of her own so badly. We do not have room for this sort of infighting. I’m sorry Ninja, you can eat and sleep here tonight, but you must leave our territory by sunhigh tomorrow.”

Ninja glanced up at Brook. Brook was clearly distressed. She turned from the eyes of the Tribe, which were all on Ninja; grabbed Ninja by her scruff; and carried her to the Nursery.

Ninja opened her mouth, wanting to apologize to her mother for everything that had gone wrong. To admit that she was planning on going to the Clans. But before she could, her mother interrupted.

“I don’t want to talk about it Ninja. Let’s go to sleep. We’ll address this in the morning.”

Ninja obeyed her mother and curled up into a ball next to her. They fell asleep together. For one, last time.

 

* 	*	*

 

“Wake up, Ninja.” Brook was almost silent as she poked her daughter awake. Ninja blinked her bleary eyes. It was extremely early. “Stay quiet and follow me.” Brook ordered. Ninja shook herself awake and slowly made her way out of the Nursery, careful not to wake anyone.

The morning was cold and crisp, Ninja shivered. Inside the Nursery, the cold air had been shut out slightly, but out here, in the clearing, the air and waterfall gave off a freezing temperature. There were three cats that Brook was heading towards. As Ninja neared the group she saw that it was made up of Pine, Lark, and Stormfur.

“We’re leaving.” proclaimed Stormfur

“All of us?” asked Pine.

“No, just Ninja and I.”

“No! We’re a family. We’re staying together.” Brook argued. This argumentative nature was very unlike her, but the last day had been hard on all of them.

“There is no way you can change my mind, Brook. We will arrive at the Clans somewhere near her third or fourth moon, leafbare is coming. I want you safe up here, opposed to me knowing you died and that it was my fault because I brought us there. Besides, Pine and Lark need you. ”

“But I love you, Stormfur, we have been through so much together. I don’t know what I’ll do without you. My own tribe drove me out so I could be with you. What do you expect me to do now? Now you’re leaving me.” Brook pleaded. Her eyes were large with sadness and her tail drooped.

“Let us come! Please!” Chorused Pine and Lark.

“We want to see the clans!” Pine complained.

“And we want to stay with you!” Lark added.

“No, Pine, Lark, I think we all know that your destinies are with the tribe. You need to stay here.” He turned to Brook, “I love you Brook, I know that we could have spent the rest of our lives together, but I just can’t let Ninja leave on her own. I will take her to the Clans and then I’ll settle down there until I die. I’ll see you in the The Tribe of Endless Hunting, my love. I must take care of our kit.” He looked at Ninja who remained silent.

“But what if you go to StarClan?” Brook asked, distressed. “I’ll never see you again.”

“I won’t.”

“But..”

“This is my only choice Brook. I think that we both know that.”

“Stormfur, please don’t do this.” Pine pleaded. Stormfur knew he never see his kits again, maybe after death, but not before.

But he still comforted his kit, “Pine, Lark I must, but you must understand that I love you with all of my heart. Just as I love Ninja, so I must go with her. You have each other and you have Brook.” No matter how much it hurt him to leave, Stormfur knew it would get worse if he waited longer.

“Ninja, say goodbye to your mother.”

All four cats looked dismayed. “Now?” Ninja asked, “We’re leaving now?”

“Yes.” His tone left no room for disagreement.

“There’s something I must do first.” Ninja slipped away from the group and into Stoneteller’s den. There was something that she had to do before she left the Tribe.

Careful not to wake Stoneteller, she trotted over to Fox’s nest. His shape was curled in a ball. His wounds were only lines of blood that traced his stomach now. “Fox. Fox, wake up.” NInja whispered. She was afraid. Afraid that Stoneteller would find out. Afraid that Fox would attack her. Afraid that Fox wouldn’t wake up, then or ever. But Fox opened his eyes at the sound of his name. Once his eyes adjusted he sat up. Realizing it was Ninja, he growled, “What do you want? To finish what you’ve started? I may be injured but I can still kill you.”

Ninja opened her mouth defiantly, but thought better of it. “I just wanted to apologize. I’m sorry, I didn’t ever mean for the fight to get so bad.”

“So soon after the fight? Why? Afraid I’ll hurt you again?” He asked snidely.

“You didn’t hear? I’ve been banished from the Tribe. I’m leaving.”

Fox was taken aback. “But, I-You just-I mean-. How dare Stoneteller? I didn’t mean to get you kicked out of the Tribe. I just...well.I guess what I’m trying to say is: I’m sorry I got you kicked out.”

Ninja was silent. She was in shock that Fox would ever say something like that.

“It’s just that I really liked you, Ninja. You seemed so cool and collected and you always kept anything together. And then, when you fought me, you seemed to hate me so much. I was hurt. All I wanted to do was be your friend. Honestly, I thought that all of the being leader stuff impressed you.” Fox ducked to avoid her gaze.

Ninja couldn’t keep her whiskers from twitching in amusement. “Well, I’m just glad you could forgive me.” Was all that she could say. “Good bye, Fox.”

She turned and began to leave. She couldn’t make anymore friends before she left. It would make leaving too painful.

“Ninja.” Fox called.

She turned, “Yes?”

“I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too, Fox.” Fox pulled himself to his feet although her was clearly stiff and took a few steps toward her before she fell. She ran to him and pushed him back into his nest. He sat down again, his sides heaving.

“You scratched me up pretty good.” Fox said, his whiskers twitching.

“You didn’t do too bad yourself.” She turned to examine her paw that he had bitten open.

“I’ll really miss you, Ninja.” Before she could stop him, he leaned forward and licked her forehead.

If she had been surprised earlier, she was out of her mind now. Her ears and whiskers twitched while her fur smoothed. Her previous sense of relief that he had forgiven her evaporated. Only to be replaced by a new sensation, one that she had never felt before. It felt as if she had been thrown into freezing cold snow in leaf-bare, then taken out and dunked in a boiling stream. She felt she was falling down the mountains yet soaring through their peaks at the same time. Her heart pounded and her paws tingled.

Before she could stop herself, she leaned forward and licked Fox in return. Then she turned and scurried out of the cave, Throwing one last glance at Fox’s brilliant blue gaze behind her.

 

* 	*	*

 

“What did you do?” Pine asked when Ninja rejoined the group. The whole family was sharing pieces of fresh-kill.

Ninja bit into a hare and chewed thoughtfully, “Nothing you need to worry about.” She responded. She was unsure that she would ever tell anyone what happened in that cave.

The family ate in silence for a little bit, taking in the little time they had left together. Once Ninja had finished her meal, Stormfur stood. Everyone else followed suit. He nodded to Ninja.

She ran to Pine and Lark and licked them. “I’ll miss you.”

Their reactions were the same. “We will too.” They said in unison. There were never two cats that were so similar to each other. The siblings mushed against each other one last time.

“Good bye.” Ninja whispered. She ducked away to her mother.

Looking up into Brook’s eye, Ninja almost wanted to offer to stay right outside the territory instead of going to the Clans. Brook seemed so heartbroken, so lost that her kit and mate were leaving her. Brook noticed a faint glimmer in Ninja’s eyes. One she had seen so many times when she looked at the waterfall, and seen her reflection, after Stormfur left, the first time.

“Good bye.” Were the only words either could murmur.

Brook turned away, because she knew that if watched for much longer, she would  abandon Pine and Lark, and run to Stormfur and Ninja as they walked away.

“Ready?” Stormfur asked as they arrived at the waterfall.

Ninja turned, her eyes scanning the camp that she had spent her first two moons in. The nursery, the caves where the Prey-Hunters and Cave-Guards slept, the To-be’s cavern, and finally to Stoneteller’s den where a little head with a brilliant blue gaze was peaking out watching her with sad, longing eyes. NInja stared back into his eyes for one moment before he disappeared back into the cave.

“Let’s go.” Ninja turned back to her father and followed him. Her heart pounded with every step she took she got farther from her old life into the unknown. Having never left the camp, an excited yet nervous tingle ran through her body. Her destiny was calling her and she would follow it. She followed Stormfur on the path around the waterfall. The waterfall’s cold spray hit her like a claw.

She took one paw step past the rocky ledge of the waterfall and froze. She was greeted by a sight that amazed and overwhelmed her scenes. She was greeted by the mountains.  

Chapter 5: Meadowkit
Meadowkit blinked open her eyes. It had been less than a moon since her birth and she already was warming up with her adopted mother, Sunstrike, and the rest of WindClan’s kits.

Sunstrike, Grasskit, and Breezekit were waking up next to her. Sunlight streamed in through the thin bramble screen; there was limited cover in WindClan’s camp.

“Come on, Meadowkit! Let’s go get some prey.” Breezekit called to Meadowkit.

“Coming! I need to get some food for Emberfoot too! Okay?” Meadowkit meowed back to her.

“Sure, race you to the freshkill pile!” The two hyperactive kits bound for the exit of the Nursery.

Before they could leave, though, Emberfoot entered. Overjoyed to see her father, Meadowkit leaped on top of him, followed by Grasskit and Breezekit. He pretended to go down as if they had attacked him.

“I’m going to get food from the fresh-kill pile!” Meadowkit informed her father.

“No, I’ll get it for you, for all of the kits.” He cast a look at Sunstrike, “And you will stay in  the nursery.” His words seemed to have a hidden meaning.

Sunstrike nodded and called her kits over. SInce she was the only mother in the nursery, it was easy to spread out and enjoy the space.

“But Sunstrike, “ Meadowkit complained, “I wanna go eat.”

“No. We’re staying in the Nursery for now. If any of you leave, you won’t be able to play for the rest of today or tomorrow!” Sunstrike shot back.

“But Sunstrike…” of the kits wailed together

“Oh, by StarClan, I said what I said. Stay in here.” Sunstrike glared at the three kits and they fell silent. “Let’s play a game in the corner. Here’s a moss ball; you can play inside the nursery today.”

At nighttime, Sunstrike allowed the kits out of the Nursery, finally. The whole Clan looked downtrodden and exhausted in comparison to the kits who were brimming with energy after being stuck in the Nursery all day.

Although, she was the smallest and youngest of the kits, all Meadowkit did was run around the camp all day which made her the fastest. The kits let their energy out in races often in WindClan, where speed was the only way to feed themselves. Running to the freshkill pile, Meadowkit won the race, like always, and brought her father some food.

Running back to her father she excitedly mewed, “Emberfoot! Emberfoot! I beat Breezekit in a race again.”

He purred back “Good job Meadowkit.” As she dropped off his food. “Meadowkit, you shouldn’t race so much; you’ll hurt yourself.”

“Emberfoot---” she dragged the word out, “You know I love racing.”

“I know Meadow, I know.” He bent his head down a licked her before he walked off as Meadowkit began to explore. She neared Harespring and Leaftail, who were conversing quietly.

“--almost constant battles are increasing nearer and nearer to leafbare. In fact, it would be all out war by leafbare.”  Meadowkit blinked in confusion then frowned, Why haven’t I heard about this? she thought.

“Yeah, with the the border skirmish ThunderClan, ShadowClan and RiverClan have been attacking each other unceasingly.”

“Did you hear, Bramblestar died! Rainstar left for her lives a few sunsets ago. She named Birchfall deputy.”

“I heard, ShadowClan thought that meant ThunderClan was unprotected. They attacked and were badly defeated. ThunderClan’s been upping it’s training, Onestar should make Grasskit and Breezekit apprentices soon. We’ll need all the help we can get, especially now that Weaselfur is too injured to fight.”

“I know! After what happened earlier today, with the RiverClan skirmish, this situation is -- “ They spotted Meadowkit, “Hello Meadowkit, how ya doin’ little warrior?”

“I’m fine!” Meadowkit squeaked. She wondered what they were talking about. Weren’t all Clan members supposed to be alerted when something as dire was going on as what Hairspring and Leaftail were describing.

"Look, Onestar's coming out of his den, you should go see him." Meadowkit shrugged and started to pad over to Onestar. Almost out of her hearing range she heard, "Phew, that was close. She's not ready to face what's out there, especially with her mom, you know dying so recently."

Meadowkit's tail drooped as she was reminded that she was just a kit, not “able to handle” what was really out there. Why was everyone padding around her like she would explode if she was barely touched? I'll show them, she thought, I'll be the fastest cat in the Clan!

Energized by that thought, Meadowkit took off. She raced over to Onestar and bounced up and down excitedly. "Onestar, Onestar, are Grasskit and Breezekit going to be apprentices soon?"

"No, little Meadowkit," He chuckled. "One more moon before that happens."

"But, I've been living for one moon; that's ages!"

Onestar’s whiskers twitched in amusement. "Meadowkit, do you know the stories about the Tribe in the Mountains?"

"Yep, their leader is Tel-ler-of-the-Poin-ted-Sto-nes." She sounded out carefully. Onestar couldn't help but laugh at the way she said “sto-nes.”

"Very good Meadowkit. In the Clans, a kit must be six moons old to be an apprentice."

"But how many is six?" Onestar drew six claw marks in the ground.

"This is one." He pointed to one clawmark. "This is two." Onestar motioned to two of the claw marks. "This is three." Pointing to three. "Four." Gesturing at four. "Five." Pointing to all, but one of them. "And all of these, is six."

"Great StarClan, six moons! How can somebody even be that old?"

Onestar's eyes twinkled with amusement. "My dear Meadowkit, I lived back before the Great Journey. I am more than six times some of the apprentices ages. And their ages are even more than six moons."

Meadowkit's eyes went round in awe.

"But, as I was saying Clan cats wait till they're six moons old to be apprentices, but, in the Tribe they wait until they are eight moons old to be their version of an apprentice, a to-be. Now, imagine six and add one. That is seven. Now take seven and add another one, to equal eight"

"Th-the-they have to wait that long!"

"They do, Meadowkit, they do. Now, go along and play. I have to talk to Sedgewhisker." He padded off towards Kestrelflight’s den, looking concerned.

Deciding not to worry about it that much, Meadowkit traipsed around the camp all day, before going back to the Nursery at sunset, trying to fathom what it would be like to be nothing more than a kit for eight whole moons and wondering how she would survive the five more ahead of her.

Sunstrike pounced on her with questions when she entered the den. “Hey Meadowkit. What did you do today?”

“I talked to Onestar! He taught me numbers up to eight!”

“Really? Great job, Meadowkit.” Sometimes, Meadowkit wished she would get a response other than ‘Great job, Meadowkit!’ or ‘That’s amazing!’. Nobody babied Grasskit and Breezekit, she pouted in her head.

“Okay, Meadowkit, it’s bedtime.’

Meadowkit sleepily climbed into her nest. She had just lain down when she was fast asleep.

She heard some cat yelling at her, “You...do...not...have the skills that it takes!”

Then a flash of red, ripping through her mind changed the scene.

“This cat was none other than. . . Firestar!”

Again, the scene tore itself to shreds with another burst of red light.

A cat leapt straight towards her, snarling, his tortoiseshell and white pelt bristling. He landed on top of her. Meadowkit flailed beneath his superior weight, before managing to flip him over and start pummeling the tom’s exposed belly.

With yet a third blast of red, Meadowkit lurched awake, panting heavily.

“Meadowkit?” Grasskit sleepily murmured, as she had woken him up. “Go back to sleep, Meadowkit.’

Meadowkit did soon drift back to sleep, but try as she might, Meadowkit couldn’t remember what she had been dreaming about and what had woken her up.

 

* 	*	*

Meadowkit was jostled to the side as Breezekit and Grasskit excitedly raced back into the Nursery. “Meadowkit! Meadowkit!” Breezekit called. “Today at sunhigh, Grasskit and I are going to become apprentices!”

“That’s great, Breezekit!” Meadowkit tried to sound more excited than she felt. Sadness overtook her, as she realized that she was going to be all alone in the Nursery, with only Sunstrike. Sunstrike was the one who coddled her most. She inwardly groaned.

Something had been up with the Clan lately. Meadowkit had noticed. The other cats didn’t realize she wasn’t as innocent as they thought she was, so Meadowkit had been able to get bits of information. She had pieced together that battles between the clans had begun to occur on a regular basis.

It was all escalating into something big. Meadowkit didn’t know what, but she knew it was coming and she knew that it was bad.

Later that day, Meadowkit sat, watching with bright eyes, the apprentice ceremony.

Onestar’s voice clearly rang throughout the hollow. “Breezekit, Grasskit 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 Breezepaw and Grasspaw. Breezepaw your mentor will be Leaftail. I hope Harespring will pass down all she knows on to you.

Harespring approached Onestar.

Onestar continued the ceremony. “Harespring, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Tornear, and you have shown yourself to be swift and strong. You will be the mentor of Breezepaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Breezepaw.”

Onestar spoke again as Whiskernose walked to him. “Whiskernose, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Owlwhisker, and you have shown yourself to be loyal and courageous. You will be the mentor of Grasspaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Grasspaw.”

The clan cheered for the new apprentices, as they always did, always making the new apprentices feel appreciated. With growing guilt, Meadowkit's eyes followed Breezepaw and Grasspaw into the apprentices' clearing, wishing that they were her age so they would have to wait with her. But, the thought cheered her up immensely, at least she could still play with Breezepaw, and Grasspaw!

“Grasspaw! Breezepaw!” called Meadowkit. The two apprentices, who had been trodding over to their new den, stopped and turned around. “Congratulations!”

“Thanks Meadowkit.” Breezekit licked her white fur on her belly proudly.

(To Be Continued.)