Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors or any of the ideas associated with Erin Hunter. This story is simply written for my enjoyment and the enjoyment of anyone who reads it. Thanks and hope you enjoy the story :) - LionRoaR.
Warriors: United
:.~*~.:
Prologue
The surface of the lake was glistening in the pale light of the moon. Stars reflected in its surface like a thousand burning eyes, twinkling as they watched from the sky. The leaves of the deciduous trees rustled happily in the wind, a sure sign that Leafbare had given way to Newleaf at last. The cold season had ended. A mist was spreading from the edges of the lake, almost like an exhaled breath in the cool night. Four cats were gathered on the lakeshore, their eyes glistening in the darkness.
"Lastsong…" One of the cats, a dark tabby tom, turned to the dark tabby beside him. Lastsong turned, his pale amber eyes narrowed slightly.
"It's not everyday we share dreams," he mused, glancing at the lake surface, "StarClan must have a message for us all."
"Do you think something bad will happen?" One of the younger cats asked, her eyes wide. She shifted from paw to paw, her golden fur rippling with silver in the moonlight.
"Maybe, Poppyflight," Lastsong sighed, his brows furrowing, "It's hard say until StarClan shows us what we have gathered to see." The four cats stood in silence, staring out over the water. Suddenly the lake lit up, as if the stars were bursting within its surface. Lastsong gasped as he watched dozens of stars gathering in the water. Finally they formed four giant stars, like shimmering suns in the water. The gathered cats stared at the figures, their eyes wide. Suddenly parts of the four suns began breaking off, forming a whole new orb. A voice filled the air, cold and haunting.
"Four will become five when the stars begin to search for freedom."
The scene around the four cats vanished in a flash of light. The cats each opened their eyes to see that they were no longer beside the lake, but sitting in a semicircle around a shimmering pool. A moment of silence passed before Poppyflight spoke.
"Do you have any idea what this is all about?" She asked, looking at the other medicine cats.
"I'm not sure what it could mean," the other she-cat said with a sigh.
"I feel that something is coming…" Lastsong murmured.
"Well," the dark tabby tom shook his head and glanced at Poppyflight, "I'm going back to ShadowClan. If you learn anything new about this prophecy, then you know where to find me." Dipping his head, the tom turned and began to make his way back.
The other medicine cats looked at each other and then sighed.
"Wait up, Milkyeye!" Lastsong called. He turned and smiled at the two she-cats. "Regardless, I don't think it's anything bad. So let's put it behind us for now, shall we?" Poppyflight nodded enthusiastically, but the cat beside her seemed unconvinced.
"I don't feel right ignoring signs from StarClan, Lastsong." She meowed tartly.
"Nor do I, Whisperingbreeze. But I hope that the prophecy will be understood with time." The three cats looked at each other, each looking undecided. Finally Lastsong dipped his head and turned to walk after Milkyeye. He caught up with the ShadowClan medicine cat soon enough. Milkyeye turned, revealing his blind eye, which was almost entirely white in the dim lighting.
"So how is that sister of yours?" He asked gruffly.
"Firelight is good, thank you," Lastsong replied as he began walking beside his friend, "Her kits will be born soon."
"Hawkwing is excited, I assume?"
"He won't leave the nursery half the time. It's quite annoying, really." Lastong sighed irritably. Milkyeye grinned.
"I remember when my brother's mate had her kits. I think he was panicking more than Snowflower."
"It's to be expected, I suppose." Lastsong paused. They had come to the place where they would part ways. He let out a soft sigh and turned to face his friend. "If something happens, let me know, will you?"
"Of course," Milkyeye replied evenly, "Am I a cat or a fox? I wouldn't leave a friend in the dark." A mischievous glimmer shone in the tom's eyes. He butted his head against Lastsong's shoulder, causing the other tom to smile.
"You take care of yourself, Milkyeye."
"And you, as well, Lastsong."
Lastsong watched as Milkyeye vanished into the shadows of the forest. Then, with a soft sigh, he began his trek back to camp. As he climbed the last slope on the way to the ravine, he heard a commotion coming from ThunderClan's camp. Alarm flared up in the tom's chest and he quickened his steps. As soon as he slipped into the camp, at least four cats ran up to him, their eyes wide.
"It's Firelight!" A warrior named Bluefur said, "Her kits are coming!" Lastsong rushed towards the nursery at once, ignoring the other cats crowding around him.
Slipping into the den, he padded up to his sister. He was surprised to see his herbs already sitting beside her. Lastsong glanced at Hawkwing, but he couldn't blame the tom for being too prepared. Plus, it saved him having to ask someone to get his stores for him.
"Lastsong…" Firelight murmured, turning to smile at her brother. "Everyone is causing such a fuss over me."
"It's not every day a queen gives birth. It's a special occasion."
"Is it?" Firelight breathed, resting her head back on the edge of her nest, "That's nice to know." Lastsong brushed his paw against her flank, feeling the contractions moving through her body. He was surprised at how his sister was baring the pain. She seemed to be resigned to it, her eyes closed and her ears flicking back every few seconds. Lastsong was immediately worried for her. Would she have the strength to get through the birth?
"Take a deep breath, Firelight. Stay with me." He said, giving her muzzle a gentle lick. She blinked her eyes open at him and smiled.
"I'm trying not to upset Hawkwing."
"I think he will have to live with it, sister, because your bravery is upsetting me." Lastsong nuzzled Firelight affectionately, and then went back to feeling for the kits. He kept one paw on her flank and used the other to push some herbs towards Hawkwing.
"Chew those up for me, will you?" He mewed without glancing at the panicking tom. He figured giving Hawkwing something to do would get him out of his fur for the moment. Lastsong soothed Firelight as best as he could. He was glad that Hawkwing had brought a stick with him as he had advised before, just in case of instances like this.
"Here," Lastsong mewed, "The first kit is coming. Bite down on this." Firelight obeyed at once, looking up at him with wide, trusting eyes. A ripple passed through her body and she shuddered, her jaws clamping on the stick, as the first kit slid out into the nest. It mewled pitifully as it was passed to one of the other queens, Maplesun.
"It's a tom," she said warmly. The next kit born was a little grey she-cat. She whined softly as she was licked, worming her way towards Maplesun's belly, searching for milk. "Not yet, little one," the queen purred.
"Is it over?" Hawkwing asked, nudging the leaves of chewed up herbs towards Lastsong.
"Nope," Lastsong replied evenly, "I think there's still one more."
"You think?" Maplesun echoed, surprised.
"It's hard to tell. Must be a small kit…" Lastsong murmured. He encouraged his sister as she bit down on the stick and groaned softly. Lastsong felt the contractions strengthening, and then smiled as the last kit came. It was beautiful, with white fur and lots of little ginger and grey patches on her face and legs. The second Lastsong licked the film from the kit's mouth, the little she-kit let out a powerful yowl. Lastsong almost thought he had heard the same sound in her cry as he had in his dream that same night.
"Four will become five…" He murmured softly to himself, never once looking away from the kit. And for a moment, he imagined that when the she-kit moved her head towards him, she was seeing him, though her eyes were still shut. There was something about this kit, he thought…
"StarClan has a great destiny for you." The moment he said it, the kit seemed to realize where it was and began moving towards her mother. Joining her two littermates, she began suckling, looking small and sickly next to her much healthier siblings. But as Lastsong looked at her, he couldn't help but think she would be stronger than any cat could imagine.
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading my story. The idea for this story has been plaguing me for awhile now, and it was one of the few stories I did NOT lose when my computer was stolen. So I've been concentrating a lot on this one. I really love Warriors and I always look forward to making up my own stories about it. Maybe someday I'll be the next Erin Hunter, eh? ;) Hahaha. Well, I hope you liked this little beginning and are looking forward to the rest of the story. Please review/fav! Thanks!
-LionRoaR
Allegiances
(Note that these are subject to change and will be re-posted accordingly.
For now they are designed to help you understand the story
better by referring to these characters in later chapters.)
ThunderClan
Leader: Redstar – dark ginger tom with green eyes
Deputy: Howlingwind – brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Medicine cat: Lastsong – dark grey tabby tom with pale amber eyes
Apprentice, Lilypaw
Warriors:
Bluefur – silver she-cat with thick dark stripes
Firelight – dark tortoiseshell she-cat with large ginger patches
Cliffshadow – dark tabby tom with amber eyes
Swifteyes – grey tabby tom with pale yellow eyes
Apprentice, Nightpaw
Hawkwing – dark tabby tom with grey eyes
Apprentice, Fallingpaw
Juniperbelly – dark tabby she-cat with white belly fur
Briarheart – tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
Apprentices:
Lilypaw – white and tabby tortoiseshell she-cat
Ashpaw – solid grey she-cat with white belly fur
Nightpaw – black tom with amber eyes
Fallingpaw – light tabby she-cat with grey flecks
Roaringpaw – dark tabby tom with amber eyes
Queens:
Maplesun – ginger she-cat with amber eyes
Kits:
Swiftkit – light grey tom with dark stripes (Maplesun)
Leafkit – dark tortoiseshell she-cat (Maplesun)
Elders:
Yellowpatch – tabby she-cat with large ginger spots
Adderfang – dark tabby tom with an overgrown tooth
RiverClan
Leader: Ghoststar – dark grey tom with grey eyes
Deputy: Longstream – light tabby tom with white belly fur
Medicine cat: Whisperingbreeze – silver she-cat with green-blue eyes
Warriors:
Hollowtree – brown tom with green eyes
Rainshadow – golden tabby tom with dark blue eyes
Silvermoon – grey tabby she-cat with bright blue eyes
Sighingwind – black and white tom with amber eyes
Darkmoon – black and white tom with dark grey eyes
Apprentice, Wolfpaw
Troutscale – silver tom with amber eyes
Leopardsun – caramel-and-black-speckled brown she-cat
Apprentice, Hailpaw
Streamstone – light grey she-cat with dark patches
Ottertail – tabby tortoiseshell tom with blue eyes
Flametail – dark ginger tom with amber eyes
Apprentice, Echopaw
Apprentices:
Wolfpaw – black tom with thin yellow eyes
Hailpaw – tortoiseshell tom with grey eyes
Echopaw – long-furred dark grey she-cat
Queens:
Rivertail – brown tabby she-cat
Kits:
Elders:
Jayflight – dark grey tom with grey-blue eyes
Skystorm – tabby she-cat with blue eyes
WindClan
Leader: Kitestar – black and white she-cat with amber eyes
Deputy: Dustcloud – light brown tom with grey eyes
Medicine cat: Poppyflight – golden she-cat with amber eyes
Warriors:
Adderfrost – grey tom with dark flecks
Apprentice, Sablepaw
Morningcloud – light brown she-cat
Rippedface – brown tom with scars across his face
Apprentice, Shrikepaw
Cherviltail – ginger and white she-cat
Cheetahfoot – sandy colored she-cat with dark spots
Pinefrost – red furred tom with white belly fur
Apprentice, Reedpaw
Onyxshadow – black she-cat with blue-grey eyes
Apprentice, Whisperpaw
Hareleap – brown tom with white patches
Mousewhisker – grey and white tom with amber eyes
Apprentices:
Sablepaw – dark grey she-cat with green eyes
Shrikepaw – black tom with narrow grey eyes
Reedpaw – black tom with brown eyes
Whisperpaw – tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
Queens:
Whitefire – white and tabby she-cat with dark amber eyes
Kits:
Icekit – white she-cat with dark amber eyes (Whitefire)
Bramblekit – red tabby tom with amber eyes (Whitefire)
Elders:
ShadowClan
Leader: Swallowstar – dark grey tom with blue eyes
Deputy: Windwhisker – grey she-cat with black eyes
Medicine cat: Milkyeye – dark tabby tom with one blind white eye
Apprentice, Sightpaw
Warriors:
Snowflower – white and tabby she-cat with dark brown eyes
Mistshadow – dark grey she-cat with grey eyes
Apprentice, Shallowpaw
Dogjaw – dark tabby tom with a large lower jawbone
Apprentice, Swanpaw
Whistlingwind – dark grey she-cat with green eyes
Apprentice, Ravenpaw
Brackentail – tabby tom with amber eyes
Owlfeather – long-furred tabby tom
Apprentice, Ratpaw
Shadowstripe – dark tabby tom with plain amber eyes
Nettlelight – red tabby she-cat with amber eyes
Stormsky – dark grey tabby tom with blue eyes
Apprentices:
Sightpaw – lightly striped grey tom
Shallowpaw – dark grey tom with dark stripes around his eyes
Swanpaw – white she-cat with narrow black eyes
Ravenpaw – dark grey tom with blue eyes
Ratpaw – dark brown tabby tom with light stripes
Queens:
Darklight – black she-cat with light amber eyesn
Kits:
Jaguarkit – black she-cat with blue eyes
Moonkit – light grey she-cat with black eyes
Elders:
Mangefur – plain brown tom with wiry fur
Starlingfeather – grey and white she-cat with pale amber eyes
Cats Outside the Clans
Rouges
Jars – dark tabby tom with narrow yellow eyes
Curse – grey tabby she-cat with grey eyes
Smoky – dark grey tom with black eyes
Scythe – dark tabby tom with black eyes
Amalia – white she-cat with cold green eyes
Boone – red-furred tom with brown eyes
Loners
McKay – white tom with black and brown patches
Beloved – golden tabby she-cat with blue-grey eyes
Sphinx – dark tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes
Kitty-pets
Lilith – silver she-cat with blue eyes
Blanche – crippled white she-cat with brown eyes
Lion-O – black and white tom with amber eyes
Jagger – black tom with blue eyes, lives at the Horse-place
Other Animals
Shadow – a Border collie that works as a sheep dog