Hi everyone! This is my first attempt at a Warriors horror story XD. Just so you guys know, it won't start getting very horror-like until later chapters, but please wait it out and your patience shall be rewarded =). It would also really make my day if you readers could tell me what you think of the story so far! All positive feedback, including constructive criticism, is greatly appreciated. So please read on and enjoy the story! x
Disclaimer: The Warriors stories belong to Erin Hunter. The only things that are mine in this story are my own characters and plot.
Author's Note – The Allegiances and prologue are combined in this chapter. The next chapter will also be longer, since this is only the prologue, so never fear XD.
Silent Screams
RiverClan Allegiances
Leader: Stormstar – Large and muscular pale grey tom with green eyes
Deputy: Blackstream – Jet-black she-cat with piercing blue eyes (Apprentice: Springpaw)
Medicine Cat: Rowanheart – Light brown tabby tom with a white streak on his forehead and yellow eyes (Apprentice: Fishpaw)
Warriors: Whispersong – Slim silver tabby she-cat with a white chest and eerie pale green eyes
Snowcloud – Beautiful pure white she-cat with blue eyes
Nightheart – Muscular black-and-grey tom with amber eyes
Dewfrost – Pretty grey tabby she-cat with soft green eyes
Cloudfur – Thick-furred pale grey-and-white tom with green eyes (Mate: Dawnsky; Kit: Hailkit)
Whitemist – Small white she-cat with amber eyes (Apprentice: Dustpaw)
Eaglefeather – Dark brown tabby-and-white tom with yellow eyes
Ashpelt – Grey tom with one black forepaw and amber eyes
Russetclaw – Dark ginger tom with yellow eyes (Apprentice: Sorrelpaw) (Mate: Raindapple; Kits: Specklekit & Sunkit)
Brownstripe – Light brown tabby tom with very dark stripes and green eyes (Apprentice: Hazelpaw)
Birdwing – Beautiful tortoiseshell tabby she-cat with a white tail-tip and green eyes
Hawkshadow – Brown tom with a bushy tail and amber eyes (Apprentice: Patchpaw)
Poppyflower – Pale tortoiseshell she-cat with warm yellow eyes
Brookfeather – Ginger tabby she-cat with amber eyes
Apprentices: Springpaw – Black-and-white she-cat with green eyes (Mentor: Blackstream)
Fishpaw – Very dark grey she-cat with pale blue eyes (Mentor: Rowanheart)
Dustpaw – Thick-furred grey-brown tom with amber eyes (Mentor: Whitemist)
Sorrelpaw – Brown-and-white she-cat with green eyes (Mentor: Russetclaw)
Hazelpaw – Ginger-and-brown she-cat with blue eyes (Mentor: Brownstripe)
Patchpaw – Muscular dark grey-and-white tom with amber eyes (Mentor: Hawkshadow)
Queens: Dawnsky – Pale grey she-cat with amber eyes (Mate: Cloudfur; Kit: Hailkit – Fluffy grey tabby tom with green eyes)
Raindapple – Pretty blue-grey she-cat with dark grey flecks and green eyes (Mate: Russetclaw; Kits: Specklekit – Grey tabby she-cat with white forepaws and amber eyes, & Sunkit – Ginger tabby she-cat with green eyes)
Elders: Dapplefur – Blind and elderly tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes
Smoketail – Silver tabby tom with blue eyes
Darkstorm – Small jet-black tom with patchy fur and dull amber eyes
Prologue
The clearing at the heart of the RiverClan camp was bathed in bright morning sunlight. Birds were singing their songs in the trees overhead and the first patrol of the day was already well on its way into the forest. A bush at the edge of the camp rustled and a small bundle of snow-white fluff tumbled out into the open, paws flailing and tail sticking straight up. A second bundle, this time silver, immediately followed and barreled into the first, knocking it off its feet. With an excited squeak the white one retaliated, and the pair were soon rolling over and over on the sandy earth.
There was another rustle and a pretty grey tabby slid out of the nursery after her kits, her warm green eyes shining with affection as she watched them play. The white kit growled playfully as she swatted at her littermate's ear with a forepaw, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. The silver tabby opened her mouth in a silent mew of protest before leaping onto her sister's back and standing over her, a smug look plastered on her face. The white she-kit started to struggle, but before she could wriggle free there came the sound of approaching pawsteps and both kittens turned to watch curiously as a light brown tabby tom padded over from the far side of the clearing. To the young kits he appeared huge, and there was a peculiar streak of white fur on his forehead. However, his yellow eyes were soft and full of compassion.
"Hello, Dewfrost," he greeted the kits' mother, coming to a halt in front of her. "I see that Snowkit and Whisperkit are finally out of the nursery."
The queen purred. "Yes, Rowanheart, it's their first time out. I promised they could explore the camp as long as they don't get under any cat's paws."
Rowanheart let out a good-natured mrrow of amusement. "That's asking for a near miracle, that is! Kits are born to make mischief!" He turned his gaze to the kittens, who were both staring up at him in awe. "Hello, you two. My name's Rowanheart. I'm the Clan's medicine cat."
"H-Hello," squeaked the white kit, Snowkit, shyly. Her sister's mouth opened as she tried to greet Rowanheart too, but no sound came out. The tom gave her a quizzical look.
"Your name's Whisperkit, isn't it?" he asked her kindly, noticing Dewfrost stiffen slightly out of the corner of his eye. "How old are you now?"
"Almost two moons," Dewfrost meowed at once, a somewhat defensive edge to her voice.
The medicine cat flicked an ear at her. "Let Whisperkit answer." He peered intently at the silver tabby and mewed, "Can you say something for me?"
Whisperkit's pale green eyes grew puzzled as she opened her mouth again and received no response from Rowanheart except a concerned glance. The pale-furred tom then switched his attention back to Dewfrost.
"Why don't you let them go and play by themselves for a while? Maybe one of the apprentices will be able to give them a tour of the camp," he suggested pointedly.
Dewfrost seemed to get the message that he wanted to have a conversation with her without Whisperkit and Snowkit overhearing. Feeling uncomfortable, she nodded and encouraged her daughters to go and talk to Whitepaw, who was passing the nursery with a mouthful of bedding for the elders. When the little she-kits had scampered off towards the white apprentice, Dewfrost sighed.
"Look, Rowanheart, I –" she began, but the medicine cat cut her off.
"How long has Whisperkit been unable to produce sounds?"
The pretty queen took a deep breath, as though trying her best to steady herself. "She never has been able to. Snowkit began speaking at one moon, which I know is normal, but Whisperkit has been completely unresponsive all this time. At first I just thought she was shy, but…" Her voice trailed away hopelessly.
Rowanheart shook his head slowly as a horrible thought forced its way into it. If Whisperkit was making no vocal noises whatsoever… "Dewfrost," he mewed sadly, "I think Whisperkit might be mute. I'm so sorry."