Darkness. The very first thing she noticed was darkness surrounding her. It was a shroud of shadows that writhed around her. The cold was even worse than the darkness. She couldn't describe how cold it was because she could barely move. This place... she wondered if this was what death felt like. If this was where she would end up after dying. She could hardly remember why she was here in the first place. One heartbeat she was with her siblings playing in the field, and the next, she woke up here.Eventually, she began to hear voices in the distance. Her ears pricked forward in alarm when she saw a pair of yellow eyes glowing in her direction. She knew that compared to living among her siblings and mother, this made her a sitting target for approaching enemies. However, the strange creature in front of her wasn't posing any threat. Instead, it moved forward until she could make out the lithe form of a cat."Who are you?" she demanded, her voice hoarse from lack of use. She hadn't even
"Come on, Sprucepaw, keep up!" Wildheart's yowl only made Sprucepaw roll her eyes. She had been running for most of the morning to practice for when she would go hunting. Now Wildheart wanted her to go on another run for battle training. These afternoon runs were a good way to warm up though, especially on a cold leafbare day like today. Soon it would be newleaf. She had overheard the elders commenting that the first signs were already there. Robins were singing more vibrantly, the trees were starting show early signs of life. Sprucepaw couldn't wait for the day it started getting warm out, and she could see the flowers blooming on the fields. "Sprucepaw, watch where you're going!"She hadn't even noticed that she ran so far into the territory until her paws touched icy cold water. With a yelp, Sprucepaw jumped back and blinked in surprise. She found herself on the border between WindClan and ThunderClan. A clearing with a stream was what marked the border, and she could already scent
Reedpaw winced at the pain in his shoulders as Scarletpaw applied a poultice to his latest injuries. A thin cut on his shoulder was the telltale sign that he had gotten himself in another scrap with Willowpaw. Days like today made him wish he could shut her up and keep it that way. All she ever did was mock and ridicule him. She along with his three sisters acted as if he was nothing, like he never belonged in RiverClan."You've got to start standing up for yourself," Scarletpaw muttered crossly. "Why do you let them get to you?""I don't," he grumbled, picturing Willowpaw's smug face as Hollypaw held him down while Larchpaw jumped in. He hardly had enough time to react when they pinned him down. "They're bullies and don't deserve to become warriors."Scarletpaw just shook her head in annoyance before returning to her den. Once she was gone, Reedpaw's shoulders sagged in exhaustion. If his mentor wasn't so busy formulating patrols with the deputy, this wouldn't have happened. Reedpaw
Images of that pale brown she-cat still burned in his mind the next few days. She had seemed so young and vulnerable. Yet she was brave enough to encounter the border and cross Petalstar. Most outsiders wouldn't be smart enough or brave enough to live and tell the tale. Flamepaw couldn't help but feel a little envious. Maybe if he had enough smarts he could stand up to whatever cat was bigger or stronger than him.Flamepaw let out a sigh as he watched Lilypaw and Shrewpaw practice their fighting moves. He himself had been practicing for most of the afternoon. Now he was exhausted and wanted to rest, but seeing his siblings spurred on that competitive edge."Stormshadow said that we'll have our warrior assessments sometime soon," Lilypaw meowed once she had pinned her brother again. Flamepaw watched the pair in amusement. Lilypaw was always trying to outsmart her brother, who was definitely on the smaller side of his sister. Flamepaw himself was the biggest of all the three siblings."
Where's mother? Where's Dusk and Luna?Panic flashed through Smoke as she realized her mother hadn't returned for her.She wasn't expecting to wake up alone. When she had, she found herself back in that same den she had woken up in a few days ago. Back when that strange cat was telling her off. Smoke was still fuming over the fact that he didn't think she was worth much. He'd called her a worthless waste of herbs, and worse names. To make matters even worse, the wounds she had received earlier weren't recovering like she was hoping.Smoke had never felt more alone than now. She longed to feel the warmth of her mother's tongue as she washed her kits. She longed to hear the voices of Luna and Dusk as they argued. Being stuck in this den was boring."Would you quit squirming?" grunted the black she-cat from earlier. "I can't get these cobwebs removed if you keep that up." Smoke only narrowed her eyes once the she-cat let out a sigh of satisfaction before backing away. "You're wounds aren
The pale moon illuminated a dark and ominous forest. A slender pale brown she-cat crept through the undergrowth. Her eyes were locked on a single target that stood just a few tail-lengths ahead of her. Another cat. A golden tom with ginger flecks covering his pelt. The apprentice-aged she-cat stopped for a moment and stared at the cat for a few heartbeats."Who are you?" was all she could ask. He looked familiar. She couldn't quite place why that was, or what she was doing here in the first place. This forest was unfamiliar to her."My name is Leopardheart," the tom replied. Sprucepaw's eyes widened at the familiar name. Leopardheart... that was the name of her father! Her mind was reeling with this new information as Sprucepaw stared at him for what felt like an eternity. "It is good to finally meet you, my little apprentice," he added in a purr."W-Why are you here?" she asked fearfully, realizing there had to be some reason behind his sudden appearance. She was all too aware of wha
"Okay, now let's see how much your fishing skills have paid off," Minnowstar meowed after they had stopped by a creek.Reedpaw studied the creek carefully. Today was to be his final assessment. By the end of today, he would finally become a warrior. But that was only if he could actually pass the final test Minnowstar had in mind.On top of it, Reedpaw had finally stood up against his sisters. Willowpaw, Hollypaw and Larchpaw were more than surprised when he had finally stood up to them. Willowpaw especially had felt his wrath and now knew what it was like to be on the receiving end.Redkit, Dawnkit and Firekit had also become apprentices over the last couple of days. Ashfang was now Redpaw's mentor, Eagleclaw was Firepaw's mentor, and last but certainly not least, Dawnpaw was Pebblepelt's apprentice. The Clan was thriving now as Foampelt had moved into the nursery, expecting Mintwhisker's kits.Now, Reedpaw was busy crouching over the creek to make sure his shadow wasn't showing. One
Every pawstep for Birdpaw was difficult to make as she climbed further away from where she thought her family might be. Ebonypaw, Brightpaw, Wrenpaw and Driftpaw trailed ahead as if they had done this a dozen times already. They were used to not having their mothers with them all the time. This was all new to Birdpaw, and she was terrified.They were following a rocky slope that only seemed to get steeper the further they went. Birdpaw was struggling to keep up as the wind threatened to blow her away."Come on, keep moving!" Ebonypaw yowled over the howling wind. Birdpaw was ready to make a retort when she heard something in the distance. Her ears pricked forward in alarm as she saw what looked like the shape of a small bird soaring above them."Shouldn't we find shelter?" she asked, realizing too late that the bird in question was much bigger than she realized."From a stupid bird?" Brightpaw scoffed. "Please, I'd love to see some bird try and-"Brightpaw's accusation was cut off as