Chapter 1 – The New Apprentice
Warriors 1: Watch the Sky
Act 1: After the Battle
Bramblestar sat on the Highledge looking down at his assembling clan. He had just called a meeting. Squirrelflight looked up at him from the roots of the tree. Amberkit and her siblings peeked out from the nursery. Brightheart nudged them forward with her nose. Amberkit squeaked as she toppled over into the mud. The rain had just recently cleared up and the clancats had been repairing the camp after the devastating battle between the clans and the Dark Forest, also known as the Place of No Stars.
After all the cats were settled, Bramblestar looked up at the stars. And he began to speak the words that had been spoken since the dawn of the clans.
"Cherrypaw. Molepaw. Step forward, please."
The two apprentices exchanged a glace and Cherrypaw quivered in excitement. They padded forward to the bottom of the tree and looked up at Bramblestar.
"I call upon my warrior ancesters to look down on these apprentices. They have trained to learn your noble code and I commend them to become warriors in their turn." He paused and breathed in deeply. "Molepaw. Please step forward. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code with your life?"
"Yes. I do" Molepaw answered with determination.
"Then by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From now on, you will be called Molefur, for your courage in the battle against the Dark Forest warriors. Cherrypaw, step forward. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code even at the cost of your life?"
"Yes, I will forever honor the warrior code."
"Then by the power of StarClan I give you your warrior name. From now on, you will be called Cherryblossom for your swiftness and courage during the battle."
The two new warriors stepped back and let the clan call out their names.
"Molefur! Cherryblossom!" Poppyfrost and Berrynose yowled out the loudest of all the clan.
After the clan stopped cheering Poppyfrost and Berrynose ran over to the newest warriors. They congratulated them enthusiastically. Jayfeather watched on warily. After the ceremony was over, and the new warriors started their vigil, Jayfeather made his way back to his den. Briarlight had been watching the ceremony from the entrance to the medicine cat den. Jayfeather settled himself down in his nest. He was very tired after the battle and he needed the rest. Briarlight dragged herself over to him.
"Isn't it wonderful. We have two new warriors!" she chirped excitedly.
"Sure. Whatever. You need to rest. And so do I. Now goodnight, Briarlight."
"Goodnight, Jayfeather."
Suddenly, Jayfeather jerked his eyes awake, though he wasn't in camp. He was in StarClan's hunting grounds. An older cat with a broad face greeted him.
"Thank you, Jayfeather. For uniting StarClan. We have defeated the Place of No Stars for good. Now we can go back to normal…"
"Almost! An aged, white cat with a graying muzzle stepped beside Yellowfang.
Yellowfang yowled at the stranger and Firestar stepped between them.
"Stop, Yellowfang!" Firestar yowled. "He's not a bad cat. He's from SkyClan!"
Heads turned twoward the cats. SkyClan hadn't been in StarClan since Cloudstar had sworn to never believe in StarClan again. It was forbidden to speak about in StarClan. But now, all of the cats were starting to notice fading cats, most of whom were from the long-lost SkyClan.
"I have a prophecy for you, Jayfeather." Cloudstar rasped. " 'An evil cat will soon return the long-lost SkyClan back to home.' "
Everyone gasped in shock and thunder shook the skies. Rain poured and fire flashed. It was as if StarClan was being destroyed. Blood splattered at shrieks from the river were carried away in the wind. Jayfeather tried to wake up. But he couldn't his eyes were glued to the scene. A large group of cats were running around for their life. Yowling as lightning flashed and fire burned the camp. Cats tried to climb trees but as soon as they did the trees burst into flames.
"YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SHARE THIS NEWS WITH THE CLANS! YOU MUST HELP SKYCLAN WHEN THEY ARRIVE! SAVE SKYCLAN!" Cloudstar shrieked over the cries and yowls shown in the scene below them.
Jayfeather awoke, blind again, but with the images of his vision last night still flashing through his mind. He shivered and Briarlight looked at him with curiosity. He looked up at the sky noting the heat that fell onto his face. He realized that the sun was up. It was chilly, though. Almost leaf-bare. Then he realized that tomorrow was the full-moon. He would have to share the news about SkyClan with all of the clans.
Jayfeather stood up and shook out his ruffled pelt. He padded over to the pile of rocks and clamored up to the Highledge and called to Bramblestar. He was greeted by Squirrelflight and held down a pinch of betrayal. He was escorted into the den.
"Yes, Jayfeather?" Bramblestar asked.
"I have received a prophecy." Jayfeather answered.
"From StarClan?"
"No."
"If not from StarClan, then by whom?" Squirrelflight asked.
"I received a prophecy from SkyClan's ancient leader: Cloudstar."
"Who?" Bramblestar had no clue what SkyClan was.
"SkyClan used to be the fifth clan but was driven out a long time ago, by the other four clans. Firestar rebuilt the clan and since a disaster has struck the clan, they are coming here to become the fifth clan once more. Now we need to prepare. We need to help them and I need to tell the other clans at the Gathering."
"Why must we help SkyClan?" Bramblestar asked.
"I don't know. But if we don't, they will all be destroyed. There is a great darkness coming and SkyClan needs to be there to help us with it. It'll be even worse than the Dark Forest war."
"Okay, then. We will help SkyClan." Bramblestar announced.
"Oh, and one more thing, Bramblestar. Briarlight and I have been thinking about it for a while, and we have decided that Briarlight will become my apprentice."
Jayfeather dismissed himself and carefully climbed down the rock pile and back to his den. Briarlight was performing her exercises when he arrived.
"Hey, Jayfeather."
"Hello, Briarlight. I'm going to the Moonpool right now. I must talk with StarClan. It is urgent. I'll see you later, then."
"Goodbye, Jayfeather. I'll be waiting. I'll do my exercises without you."
"Thank you. Goodbye."
Jayfeather left the medicine cat den and left for the Moonpool.
-END OF CHAPTER ONE-