The Starry Sky
Author's note: This story takes place before Crookedstar, Hailstar, and all of those other RiverClan cats we know and love, on the Clans' old territory. However, it is not immediately after River, Thunder, Shadow, and Wind, the founders of the Clans. It is somewhere in between since Clan boundaries are made, landmarks are named, warrior code is completed, etc., but none of our favorite RiverClan cats are born yet.
No, I do not own Warriors. If I did, Whitestorm and Yellowfang would not have died for a very long time and Bluestar would not have gone psycho.
Prologue
Softfur sighed. Only two of her five kits had survived. They were the strongest, but were still small compared to most kits. They were born a week early and it was the end of leaf-bare, but many cats were sick with green- and black-cough. They were new kits, though, which was what RiverClan needed.
The large, fluffy gray tom outside the nursery was nervous. He paced back and forth outside the nursery with wide, round blue eyes. He had tried several times, unsuccessfully, to peek into the nursery filled with cats.
Troutfin, RiverClan's medicine cat, poked his head outside the stuffy nursery. "Stormwave! Come quickly!"
"What is it? How is Softfur? Is she okay? How are the kits? What…"
Stormwave drew in a sharp breath when he saw his mate shivering convulsively, though the nursery was very warm. Her usually pretty face was stretched tightly across the bones of her face. Her eyes were sunken and dull. The ravages of greencough were obvious.
"She's in critical condition," warned Troutfin sadly. "She might not make it through the night."
Stormwave hissed angrily. "Don't tell me what she can or cannot do!" Turning to Softfur he murmured gently, "Ignore him. You're one of the strongest, bravest cats I have ever known. You can survive. I only wish I could be as strong as you are."
"I love you so much, Stormwave. We should name our kits."
Stormwave pointed to the black-and-white tom kit with smooth fur that looked so like his mother. "Moonkit," he suggested.
Softfur purred. Her mew was hoarse and raspy. "Starkit," she decided for the little she-kit with fluffy fur like her father's. She had gray on the top half of her head, gray paws and tail, and some gray on her back, but white all over elsewhere.
The two kits mewled and squeaked when taken away from their mother. Stormwave nosed the kits toward their mother. He purred as they padded at Softfur's belly.
"Stay here for a while; I'm going to talk with Troutfin. I'll be back soon," he promised.
Softfur nodded in agreement and then let out several rasping coughs.
Once outside the nursery and away from Softfur and the kits, Stormwave spit, snarled, and leaped onto Troutfin with claws outstretched. He pinned Troutfin to the dusty ground and screeched, "Why aren't you helping her!? Is it because of who she was, what Clan she was born into? Does that matter more to you than the life of an innocent, loving cat?"
Troutfin looked taken aback and frightened of his Clanmate, but still replied as calmly as possible, "Of course not Stormwave! I'm sorry; I'm doing the best I can. I've tried everything: catmint, feverfew. The kitting hasn't helped. I'll give her some more herbs, but then she's in the paws of StarClan." Though Troutfin's bother was killed by a ThunderClan cat, he would never let that get in the way of his need and duty to help other cats.
Stormwave moaned softly, but then looked determined. "What can I do?" he asked.
"Just be with her, and take care of the kits," advised Troutfin.
From StarClan, a cat watched Stormwave as he busied himself being the best father he could be. He had stayed with her as her earthly body weakened. She could barely remember her last words to him, something about "When I die, have Maplefeather nurse our kits. I'll watch over you from StarClan." Stormwave had whispered, "You are as strong as I could ever hope to be. One day we will be joined again."
"I will wait for you, Stormwave," called the starry cat, though he could only hear her in dreams.
Softfur turned and padded to the proud she-cat who sat with regal bearing.
"Your time has come," said River, the ancient leader of RiverClan. "Soon you must tell Starkit what she must do to protect her Clan."
The bitter truth of Starkit's prophecy remained.