Prologue
It was midnight. Two cats slipped away from the Moonpool. One, a tortoiseshell she-cat, leapt off the path, and the other, a light grey she-cat, followed. "Are you really sure, Grayfur?" the tortoiseshell she-cat queried. She decided in her mind that she shouldn't let it get to her head unless it was really true. Grayfur nodded. "Yes, I am pretty sure." Grayfur answered slowly. "Tell me it again." the tortoiseshell urged. "Fine." Grayfur muttered. "Every fire blazes for a time, but the time always comes when it has to flicker out. Another fire will always replace it, and it may burn even brighter than the first." The two she-cats were silent. "Grayfur, what does it mean?" the tortoisehell asked. "For StarClan's sake, Dawnstar, I don't know! I'll have to try and decipher it.. later." Grayfur mumbled.
Dawnstar flicked her tail irritably. Then she sighed.. "Sorry. I've been getting worked up lately.. about what happened.." Dawnstar sighed, images flashing back in her head. Grayfur suddenly stood up. "In earlier prophecies.. The fire was..?" Grayfur paused, changing the subject, her eyes wide in disbelief. "Firestar." Dawnstar replied, her heart pumping. "Exactly. We must try and find this 'new fire'. But what next?" Graypool mewed, trailing off. The two cats got up. "We'll have to get back to ThunderClan territory.." Dawnstar mewed, with a twitch of her whiskers.
The two cats took a shortcut, diving through bushes and the undergrowth. Grayfur looked at her leader, the ThunderClan leader, with a puzzled glance."We want to stay as far away from WindClan right now," Dawnstar answered. Dawnstar and Grayfur went through the thorn barrier, and entered the silent camp. The two cats decided to lower their voices down. "I'll see you tomorrow, Grayfur. We'll discuss the rest later."
*
It was past midnight, and Falcon couldn't go to sleep. She was restless. She scrambled out from her mother's gentle grip, out of the abandoned Twoleg nest and out into the world. She looked around, her excitement easily visible. She jumped to tree stumps, and little pebbles. The world, with all its beauties, was fascinating. Falcon was almost sad knowing that she was either buried in her mother's fur or sleeping when she was out here. "This looks beautiful!" she sighed happily. She looked at the trees and undergrowth. "Maybe I can explore and bring back something for Snow!" Falcon said excitedly, as she bounded off into the undergrowth. Falcon was soon stopped. Something heavy was pinning her down, and she found that it was just a big, fat root. Disappointed, Fern bounced back to the empty nest, and found Snow. There she curled up next to her, awaiting the adventures she'll go through tomorrow.
Chapter 1
Falcon bounded out of the den once more. This time, she was lucky. Snow was asleep, and that meant less distractions, and more exploring. Falcon decided that she'd try the dense undergrowth again. She bounced into it, but she was stopped. A paw held down her tail. Then she saw it. A cat a bit bigger than she was, about a length of a paw. It was a dark she-cat with blue eyes. "What are you- you're her!" the cat exclaimed. Falcon was confused. "What?" Falcon said, her head turning in confusion. "Never mind, follow me. Oh, by the way, I'm Arcticfeather." the cat explained. "I'm Falcon!" Falcon mewed, bouncing around. "I know who you are. And please stop bouncing around like a kit!" Arcticfeather sighed in annoyance.
"Fine. I'm just excited!" Falcon retorted. Arcticfeather smiled. "I'm taking you to my Clan, called ThunderClan. Just so you're not so confused." the dark cat explained. Falcon still was confused. "Clans? What are they? Are you guys the cats who visit our den often?" Falcon asked, extremely curious. "Firstly, Clans are big groups of cats, which are led by Clan leaders. We live in balance, well most of the time anyway, under StarClan." Arcticfeather explained. The dark she-cat looked tired. Falcon was asking her so many questions.. "What is StarClan?" Falcon asked cheekily, knowing that Arcticfeather was starting to get bored.
"I'll tell you when we're there." Arcticfeather sighed, padding on. Falcon decided to stop bouncing around like a kit and to start acting like her age. Up ahead, she saw a bramble wall. They went through it. Falcon looked around.. "Wow! Is this were you guys live?" Falcon asked excitedly. Arcticfeather shrugged. "Of course.. It's no big deal though." the dark cat modestly said. "We better get to Dawnstar now." The two cats padded over to a ledge which was higher than most of the rocky area. They climbed onto it and then padded into the den which was on top.
Inside, waiting for them, was an auburn, red and white tortoiseshell she-cat. Falcon knew that this must be Dawnstar. The cat's eyes glowed with wisdom, and it gave her a look that she deserves respect. Falcon dipped her head, mimicking Arcticfeather's actions. "So you're Falcon?" Dawnstar marvelled. Falcon was surprised. What was so special about her that made her different? "Yes, I am." Falcon mewed, as she started to lick her paw. Dawnstar stood up. "Welcome to ThunderClan's Camp." Dawnstar purred. Falcon joined in. "I have a proposal for you. Do you want to join ThunderClan?" Dawnstar asked. Falcon felt as if this question had meaning to it, as if it had been uttered many times in the past.
Falcon didn't really have to think a bout it. This Clan life seemed similar to the life she already lived, but this Clan life seemed more dangerous. More out of her comfort zone. More challenging. But challenges are worth risking. And challenges always repay you afterwards. This may have been a quick decision, but it was a deep one. "Yes. I want to join ThunderClan." Falcon mewed almost gravely, dipping her head to ThunderClan's seemingly majestic leader. Dawnstar padded out of her den, and onto the rockly ledge. She turned to Falcon. "This is the Highledge. We have Clan Meetings here." the majestic cat explained.
Falcon realised that the Highledge should only be used by the Clan leader, not those of lower rank. She padded down to the bottom and sat under it. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather here under the Highledge for a Clan Meeting!" Dawnstar announced. Cats of all ages, bounded out of their dens, queens - which are mothers expecting birth or nursing kits, warriors, apprentices and elders. They all gathered under the Highledge, and Falcon could recognise Arcticfeather at the front.
"We have decided to take in Falcon as a fellow ThunderClan apprentice!" Dawnstar yowled. "From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Heatherpaw." the cats remained silent. "She smells like a loner!" "Has ThunderClan taken more kittypets and loners than pure blooded warrior cats?" "What is Dawnstar thinking?" new voices erupted from the rest of ThunderClan. Falcon, now Heatherpaw, knew that Arcticfeather had no part in the voice. "Quiet!" Arcticfeather hissed. Dawnstar's eyes glimmered with thanks, and Arcticfeather dipped her head in a silent 'welcome'.
"Your new mentor will be Arcticfeather." Dawnstar announced. Arcticfeather hopped up, no emotion on her face. Heatherpaw knew that she was trying to hide her shock, though. Arcticfeather's mask wouldn't fool Heatherpaw. "I hope Arcticfeather will pass down all she knows to you." Dawnstar announced. There were quiet murmurs among the cats. It didn't matter whether they were positive or negative, because Heatherpaw was about to become an official member of ThunderClan.
"Arcticfeather," Dawnstar called up the dark warrior, "you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had recieved excellent training from me and have shown yourself to be respectful and strong. You will be the mentor of Heatherpaw, and I expect you to pass onall you know to Heatherpaw." Arcticfeather dips her head and touched noses with Heatherpaw. "Heatherpaw! Heatherpaw! Heatherpaw!" ThunderClan cheered. Some though, remained silent. Heatherpaw suspected that they were the negative ones. The cats started to seperate, and some came up to greet her. "I'm Lightpaw!" a bright cream she-cat said. Lightpaw's amber eyes shone with excitement. "Maybe we can go patrol together.. That is up to Twistedtail!" Lightpaw mewed. A ginger tom padded up next to Lightpaw. "I'm Goldenpaw!" the tom smiled. "Sorry, it's been a while since someone has been apprenticed. Finally we can have some friends!" the two smiled.
Heatherpaw felt excited, but also rather worried. There were too many names and things to remember! What if she forgot one of them? What would happen then? It was extremely confusing to remember everyone and everything... Heatherpaw had to rest. "Arcticfeather?" Heatherpaw asked, hoping her mentor wasn't drifting off into a daydream or anything. Not that she would, but Heatherpaw thought it was a possibility. "It seems like you want to rest.. You have that tired look all new apprentices do.. By all means, go." Arcticfeather replied, perhaps reading Heatherpaw's mind. Heatherpaw bounded up to a den which had just Goldenpaw inside. Heatherpaw decided that she'd have the nest closest to the entrance, just to be of convenience. Heatherpaw closed her eyes, and later, she fell asleep.
No comments:
Post a Comment