In Your Arms

Prologue
A ginger she-cat trudged tiredly over the rocks and stones that made up the landscape of the mountains. The she-cat breathed heavily as she took every step. Her pads were bruised and cut, and she had a wrenched claw on her front right paw.

"You know we can stop if you want to, Sandstar." a dark gray tom mewed as he supported some of Sandstar's weight on his shoulder.

"No, Stormface, I'll be fine. Just a little bit further, you know. I can feel it." Sandstar argued with her deputy. The idea of leaving the Lake had been wonderful once. Now, the thought of ever leaving the Lake brought yearning into the heart of every cat that left the Clans to establish new ones of their own in new territory.

"Sandstar, you've been saying that for the past five sunrises. Do you really believe we will ever reach the forest?" Stormface argued with his leader. Sandstar just shook her head.

"We'll be fine, honest."

"Fine? We already lost at least five cats from each group on this journey." Stormface growled and looked over his shoulder at his dying clanmates. "We're hungry and there's no sign of prey here on the mountains."

"If Firestar and our ancestors made it once, we can make it. I can feel we're getting nearer. I can smell it- I smell the scent of prey and oak trees." Sandstar was persistant, and she didn't plan on giving up on the journey she had planned. Many cats had followed her. Many from all the four Clans: WindClan, ShadowClan, RiverClan, and ThunderClan.

She was not giving up now.

Stormface sighed and his blue eyes looked determined. "I am your deputy. It is my duty to stand by you always. And that is what I'll do, Sandstar. I will stand by you until my dying breath."

Chapter 1
''"I got you, Thrushfeather!" Morningkit squeaked'' as she jumped onto her father. Thrushfeather playfully growled and turned belly-up.

"Oh no! Attack of the kits! Someone save-" Thrushfeather was cut off when Morningkit's sister, Splashkit, jumped up onto her father.

"Met too! Me too! I got Thrushfeather, too!" She squealed and playfully cuffed Thrushfeather's ears.

Morningkit giggled and looked admirlingly at her sister. She was a silver and white tabby, just like their father. They looked identical if you didn't count their eyes color. Splashkit had pale yellow eyes like her mother, and Thrushfeather had green eyes.

"Morningkit! Splashkit! Get off of your father this instint! He's been out on so many patrols today, I don't even know if his paws lived through it all!" Cloudwhisker padded out of the nursery and stood at the entrance. She stared at her mate and kits with gentle pale yellow eyes that held love and affection.

"Now come on you two, it's time for your nap." The white queen padded over to the three cats and picked Morningkit up by the scruff.

"When I'm older, I'm never going to have a nap!" Morningkit grumbled soflty and flicked her tail angrily.

"If I'm leader, I'm going to ban napping!" Splashkit announced proudly, puffing out her chest as she walked. Morningkit giggled with her sister as Cloudwhisker wriggled through the nursery entrance.

It was dimmer inside the nursery, but still held some substance of light that allowed the cats inside to see their way. The nursery was big and in one of the corners, it held a training area. Morningkit stared proudly at the corner with torquiouse eyes. After all, she made the idea up.

Cloudwhisker set her mottled gray and white daughter down on a soft nest of dried grass, downy feathers, and soft moss. Splashkit joined her sister in the nest and curled around Morningkit in a tight ball. Morningkit opened her mouth and let out a big yawn. She licked her scruff and put her head gently on Splashkit's flank.

"Sleep my darlings, and before you know it, you'll have enough energy to take down more than just your father." Cloudwhisker whispered as she stroked her kits with her tail. Morningkit's eye lids began to droop until they felt as if they carried a million rocks.

Soon, Morningkit drifted into peaceful sleep.

Chapter 2
Morningkit jumped in the air and swatted at a butterfly. The insect flew higher after every attempted swap. Morningkit hissed angrily and tried to jump high, but the butterfly was too high out of reach. The butterfly seemed to be mocking her.

''No one is to mock me! I am at the top of the food chain, you fluttering beetle-brain!'' She growled to herself and kept swatting at the butterfly.

Morningkit stopped angrily and sat on the ground, surrounded by long, lush, swaying grass. It was taller than Thrushfeather! Where am I? Morningkit asked herslef and stood up. She sniffed at one of the long blades of grass and flinched back. It smelled of cat!

Did I sleep walk and walk into another Clan's territory? She thought shakily. But it was impossible! None of the other Clan territories had this much lushes grass. The sun was bright and the rays made everything light up. Everything was clear and there was a river that ran through the middle of the beautiful field. The water sparkled brightly and the water flowed softly, making calming sounds.

Fish swam in the clear water with grace and passion. This was a beautiful place, but who did it belong to? Maybe Thrushfeather and Cloudwhisker gave it all to me! She thought for a moment. Yes! But where was Splashkit?

Maybe this is all for me''. Maybe Thrushfeather and Cloudwhisker gave Splashkit some other field.'' Morningkit was enlightened by the idea of this whole beautiful haven being hers and hers only. But suddenly, a pang of lonliness stabbed her heart like a snake's tooth embedding someone skin.

Morningkit looked around, hoping some other cat would appear.

On cue, a beautiful, slender, sleek, black she-cat with dark blue eyes and small, neat ears appeared from across the river of glistening water.

"Hello, young one." greeted the she-cat calmly. Morningkit just growled and hissed.

"Hey, get off my territory! My mother and father gave it to me! Out you! Out!" Morningkit's mottled gray and white fur bristlewd and she unsheathed her claws in a vain attempt to look threatning.

But the black she-cat's eyes betrayed no fear. Just amuesment.

"This land is everyone's territory. You'rs and mine alike." She responded calmly. Her calm and soothing voice made Morningkit's fur flush and her claws to sheath. Morningkit, feeling less threatened, sat down, but still kept cautiouse just in case.

"I still don't know who you are." Morningkit mewed shyly and looked down at her paws.

"Little one, my name is Rainshadow. I am here to talk about a prophecy that foretells your future, little Morningkit."

Morningkit widened her eyes at the sound of her name. How did this strange yet beautiful cat know her name?

"How do you know my name?" Morningkit asked curiously.

Rainshadow smiled and said, "My dear, I am your ancestor. You come from a long line of great leaders that have been put down in history and their lives still live on in the stories you are told. Sandstar, for instance."

"Sandstar? I am related to Sandstar?" Morningkit jumped up and down in excitment. For Morningkit only being three moons old, she had a lot to brag about!

"Yes, my dear. You are also related to me. You see, I am Sandstar's sister and your father's mother. I died on the Second Journey, which Sandstar had made up. She wanted to leave her homeclan, and so did a lot of other cats. Cats from all Clans joined her, and made four individual groups that make up the Clans you know. I fell into a crevice in the ground when your father was a warrior." With every word Rainshadow said, it made Morningkit jump in awe and stare at her ancestor.

"So," Rainshadow mewed, "you are destined in a prophecy, like all the great leaders that are related to you."

And then she spoke of the prophecy.

"Like fire, you will burn through the forest. But beware, even the most strongest of flames can be diminished by water and rock." Rainshadow closed her eyes as she said the words to the prophecy and quickle blinked them open when she finished. "Morningkit, you have a great destiny ahead, but it can be easily took off track if you are not careful. You must not speak of this prophecy to anyone but your medicine cat. I have seen it many times over, a cat speaks of the prophecy to a goo friend or kin, and betrayal makes its way in. Be careful."

Rainshadow's image began to dissolve in the air and her sweet scent was the last to leave.

Be careful.

Chapter 3
Morningkit jumped when she woke up. She quickly stood up, energized with the known fact that she was to be leader.

But I have to be careful, Morningkit remembered Rainshadow speaking of betrayal in friends and kin. Morningkit looked down at Splashkit and wondered how someone is capable of betraying their kin. That will never happen with me and Splashkit!

Morningkit's first instinct was to go to the medicine cat's den and console with Echoleaf. The pretty medicine cat must have gotten the message already.

Morningkit stretched and groomed herself a bit. She didn't want to look like a dirty furball when she was going to discuss something important with the medicine cat.

As Morningkit quitely exited the nursery, the rays of the sun dappled her pelt and warmed her to the bone. Her first new-leaf was coming, and she was ready for it! Morningkit quickly padded towards the medicine cats' den under Highrock, but the little mottled kit couldn't help but look up at the Highrock, which she will eventually be addressing to the Clan.

Morningkit looked back down and shot a quick glance through the camp. No sign of anybody. She picked up her pace and took off into a trot, climbing up onto Highrock. The air became less warmer, but not enough to declare it to be leaf-bare up there. Climbing was difficult, but Morningkit was determined to get up. And she did.

"Wow!" Morningkit gasped as she stood ontop of Highrock. The scenery was beautiful. Morningkit could see past the gorse tunnel from there, and she caught a glimpse of vague figures moving through the undergrowth beyond camp.

"What are you doing up here?" mewed a voice behind Morningkit. Surpirised, Morningkit jumped and whisked around. There in front of her, stood the proud ginger shape of Sandstar.

"What are you doing up here, Morningkit?" The leader asked the kit gently. No sign of hostility or disappointment in her voice.

"I, er, was looking at the sky. It's very pretty." Morningkit lied and turned her head upaward to look at the cloudless sky.

"I just wish I can fly up there like a bird." she lied again. ''Lying to my Clan leader! I sure will be an honest leader, won't I?'' She mewed to herself disappoointedly.

"Are you waiting to sprout wings like a bird by being up here?" Sandstar asked with a hint of amusement in her tone.

"No, Sandstar." Morningkit responded with a giggle. "I can dream, but I can't sprout wings!"

"Well, we better get you down from here, or else you won't here the last of it." Sandstar turned and flicked her tail for Morningkit to follow.

Thanks StarClan! Morningkit sighed and followed her leader down the rocks.

"Hey, Sandstar?" Morningkit mewed, "Is it true you're my kin?" She couldn't help but ask the question that pricked at her fur.

Sandstar stopped mid-step and turned around and sat down. "Yes. It's true. You see, my sister Rainshadow is your father's mother. Rainshadow died on the Second Journey, two sunrises after we had started." Sandstar's green eyes hazed with sorrow and rememberance.

Saddended, Morningkit sat right next to Sandstar and pushed her tiny muzzle into Sandstar's leg.

"Well, I have to go now, Sandstar. I have to speak with Echoleaf." Morningkit announced, standing up. Sandstar looked down at her and nodded. Morningkit noded respectfully back and zoomed towards the medicine cats' den.

"Echoleaf?" Morningkit called for the medicine cat, "Echoleaf?"

"I'm here." Came a muffled voice form the back of the den. "I'll be right with you."

Morningkit sat down and looked around the den. It smelled of herbs and honey and the den had a little waterfall with koi fish in it. Some kinds of jems and diomands were at the bottom that made the pool light up. Morningkit was on the egde, between pool and solid ground, when pawsteps approuched.

"Why, hello, Morningkit, what brings you here?" inquired the pretty tortoisehsell-and-white she-cat. Behind her, Cavelight, Echoleaf's apprentice, was sorting herbs.

"We got a fresh new stock today while you were napping. So why did you come?" Echoleaf asked again.

"Oh, sorry! Well, can we talk in private?" Morningkit added in a whisper. Echoleaf nodded and turned to tell Cavelight to call her when she was done.

"Bye, Morningkit!" Cavelight called as the two she-cats exited the den. Morningkit flicked her ear to let the medicine cat apprentice know that she heard him.

"So, Morningkit," Echoleaf began when the two had reached the entrance to the gorse tunnel, "what did you want to talk about?"

"First of all, did you have a dream with a black cat with dark blue eyes?"

"Well, yes, actually. Her name is Rainshadow, and I right?"

"Yes, correct."

"Well, I heard about the prophecy already, Morningkit. You don't need to worry about anything." Echoleaf reassured.

"Oh, gee, thanks." Morningkit flicked her tail and bounded away towards the apprentices' den, thinking of herself in there.

"You can't wait, hugh?" mewed Frecklepaw from the inside of the den.

"How did you know it was me?" Morningkit asked as the dark gray, almost balck, she-cat appeared from the den.

"Well, first of all, I could hear your pawsteps. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole of BrackenClan could hear you! And second of all, there are gaps in the walls of the den. Which reminds me, I have to inform Stormface abou that. Bye, Morningkit! Enjoy your dreaming!" Frecklepaw bounced away and met with the SandClan deputy, Stormface.

Stormface was a hadnsome, well-built, dark gray tom with a lighter face.

Morningkit's torqoise eyes turned cloudy with imagination. She would have the rank he has one day!

"What are you doing here, mange-pelt?" growled a voice ffrom inside the den. A black figure appeared, and a ray of sun hit it. It was Darkpaw.

"Sure you're not talking about yourself, dog-dung?" Morningkit retorted. The black apprentice snorted and licked his paws. He's a real pain in the butt! Morningkit thought.

Saddened that her perfect day was destroyed by Darkpaw's presence, Morningkit decided to go back to the nursery. That's much better than hanging around Darkpaw!

The sunhigh patrol was entering camp. In it, was Appleblossom, Tunnelheart, Clovernose, Chestnutclaw, and Appleblossom's apprentice, Quickpaw.

"Hiya, Morningkit!" Greeted the ginger and white apprentice cheerfully. Morningkit nodded her head and darted towards the nursery.

Chapter 4
Morningkit stepped inside and noticed that her mother and sister were awake. Splashkit was over at the training corner with Keblekit, the only other kit in the nursery.

Cloudwhisker and Mapleflower, Keblekits mother, were chattering like crows side-by-side.

"Did you hear what happened in MeadowClan?" Cloudwhisker spoke.

"No, what?" Mapleflower cocked her head and flicked her ears.

"Well, they just lost a kit and their queen, Leafstem."

"Oh, StarClan put their souls at peace."

"But good news is, that BrackenClan have a new kit."

"Og, StarClan, bless them!"

Morningkit rolled her eyes and went over to the training corner.

"Can I practice, too?" She asked as she neared the corner. Keblekit turned and nodded his head.

"Go on, Morningkit."

Morningkit nodded her head in grattitude and got into a crouch. She waggled her haunch, her eyes locked on the reeds they used for training. Morningkit took a deep breath and jumped, hooking the highest reed of them all. Keblekit's and Splashkit's eyes widened in surprise as their denmate took down the reed.

"Wow!" Keblekit exclaimed with wide amber eyes. "That was amazing! Splashkit, she officially broke your record!"

Splashkit was cheering Morningkit on and came over to her sister. "You were great!" She exclaimed proudly. "I'm glad you're my sister." She added with a lick on Morningkit's ear.

"Kits!" called Thrushfeather, who was entering the nursery.

"Daddy!" Splashkit and Morningkit both squeaked at the same time.

"Do you two want to come out exploring with me?" Thrushfeather surprised them with the exciting news. He looked over at his mate.

Cloudwhisker nodded her approval and both sisters yelped in excitment.

"Let's go!" Thrushfeather began to leave the nursery with the two sisters right behind him.

"Can I come too?" Keblekit pleaded. "Please?" Thrushfeather turned around.

"Sure."

Keblekit bounced around in pleasure.

"But you won't go unless you behave." Mapleflower scolded her kit. Keblekit stopped and followed Thrushfeather out of the den.