Prologue
Half a strip of moonlight hovered high in the sky. Though it was still newleaf the air was still cool as a breeze picked up. Light pawsteps could be heard as a young cat trotted across the open field. The red, brown and white form of the cat padded towards large mountains that stretched out to the sky. His ears pricked forward in alarm as he looked for signs of danger. Out here he was alone and vulnerable. Even if he knew how to fight that didn't mean he could take on any enemy that stalked him.
"Willowshade!" His tail waved in greeting as an older creamy brown she-cat approached him. Beside her was an even younger cat, who looked like she was barely out of the nursery.
The medicine cat of ThunderClan dipped her head respectfully. "Nettleclaw, I trust that all is well in your Clan," she meowed in greeting. Formal as always. Willowshade had a certain attitude about her that made even Nettleclaw feel put off.
"Cricketspring has been complaining about getting sores under her belly every now and than," he admitted, remembering what his former mentor was complaining about earlier that day.
"Have you tried checking her nest? One of the apprentices might be bringing her a nest full of bugs," Willowshade suggested. "As for sores, I suggest using dock leaves to keep them from getting infected."
Nettleclaw nodded in agreement, having remembered that was what Cricketspring had used when Ashfang came back with a bleeding paw. Apparently the mousebrain had gotten a stone caught between her pads when she was out hunting.
The other medicine cats were probably already waiting for them. His ears flicked from side to side as he followed Willowshade towards Mothermouth.
He noticed how quiet the young cat traveling with Willowshade was. Memories of his first trip to the Moonstone suddenly washed over him. It was leafbare at the time, and the air had been bitterly cold. He too was afraid of what the other medicine cats would think of him at the time. Eventually though he got over his nerves, and had become stronger because of them.
"I'm glad to see that everyone is safe." The voice of Meadowlark made all cats turn towards her. To Nettleclaw's surprise, Dovepaw was standing right next to her.
The apprentice had only just become a medicine cat apprentice a couple of moons ago when RiverClan's medicine cat passed away. Now Dovepaw took full responsibility of her Clan, even if she was just an apprentice.
"Where is Whiskerheart?" Willowshade asked.
"He couldn't make it," Meadowlark explained. "Fallenkit has a case of whitecough, and he wanted to stay behind to make sure she was okay."
Nettleclaw's ears pricked forward in alarm. That didn't sound good to his ears. Kits with whitecough eventually turned to greencough if it wasn't treated properly. He hoped Whiskerheart knew what he was doing.
With a shake of his head, the five medicine cats made their way towards the Moonstone. The winding dark caverns had become familiar to Nettleclaw. He actually enjoyed the sense of darkness, unlike his Clanmates. Though they used the tunnels to their advantage, that didn't stop him from wandering in caves like this, which would normally terrify young cats.
He used his whiskers as guidance, leading him forward as the cave walls hugged him. The ground started to slope downward every now and than before rising up again. Eventually the cave walls began to spread apart, until finally they reached a large open space.
"May we all share good dreams with StarClan," he murmured under his breath. The Moonstone loomed ahead, its silvery light nearly blinding against the darkness.
Willowshade was the first to approach the Moonstone, her apprentice quick to follow. "I wish to present my first apprentice in the eyes of all medicine cats, and our ancestors," she began. "Poppypaw, is it your wish to train as a medicine cat, and learn the ways of StarClan?"
"It is," the pale golden cat nearly squeaked.
Amusement washed over Nettleclaw when he saw how nervous she was. He remembered fondly how his first night as a medicine cat had gone. When Cricketspring performed his ceremony he nearly fell over his paws with excitement and anxiety.
"Then may your dreams be full of hope as you share tongues with StarClan for the first time," Willowshade purred.
To his surprise Willowshade actually looked happy. Nettleclaw had never seen this side of her as she and her apprentice approached the Moonstone. With a shake of his head he decided not to dwell on it.
He stepped forward and touched his nose to the Moonstone, feeling a familiar sense of icy cold wash over him. The world suddenly went black as dreams overtook him once more.
. . .
"Nettleclaw, it is good to see you again." Almost instantly he was woken by the sound of a familiar voice.
His ears pricked forward as his eyes opened to see who was standing in front of him. Once again he was in the same clearing he always seemed to be every dream. Only this time things seemed different. His head tilting to one side, he glanced at the cat warily.
The cat in question was a dark brown tabby tom with a single white paw. He had come to know the cat as Hawkstar, former leader of WindClan. Hawkstar had died in a battle against ShadowClan, when they were trying to steal more territory. At the time Cloverstar had been too grief-stricken to take his position as leader. But eventually Cricketspring managed to convince her otherwise.
"Hawkstar, I hope that all is well," Nettleclaw meowed once they touched noses in greeting. The tabby's eyes darkened, and suddenly Nettleclaw almost regretting saying those words.
"I wish that were true, young one," he rasped. "Come with me, there is much to discuss."
With that being said, Hawkstar suddenly started padding away, leaving a confused Nettleclaw standing there.
He shook his head and fluffed up his fur, trying not to look embarrassed as he followed Hawkstar at a steady pace. The former leader was fast on his paws, making it difficult to keep up. But Nettleclaw and his siblings had always practiced running when they were kits. He could keep up without losing too much breath at once.
As he started to catch up though he noticed that something was wrong. His legs had started growing numb, and soon vines of thorns started encircling the path he was taking. After a few more heartbeats he was forced to stop when a barrier of thorns stood in his way.
"Hawkstar, where are you?" he nearly yowled. He tried looking for an opening through the barrier, even clawing at it every now and than. But the thorns hurt his paws as he tried. Nettleclaw was even more confused at that.
We're not supposed to feel pain in our dreams, he thought.
"Can you not get through?" Hawkstar's question made him jump.
Nettleclaw whirled around to see the dark brown tabby looking at him warily.
"What's going on here? Why are there thorns where there shouldn't be?" Nettleclaw suddenly demanded. His fur was bristling with more than just frustration. A sudden sense of fear washed over him.
"The thorns are a sign," Hawkstar explained. "They will disappear over time, with care and love. But treat them with violence, like you did, and they will grow cold and violent. Heed my warning young one, dark times are ahead. Watch over the ones you love. And keep your enemies closer."
The forest started to fade away, along with the barrier of thorns. Nettleclaw was left standing in the cavern of the Moonstone, his pelt bristling with unease. What was happening to his Clan?
Allegiances
WindClan
Leader: Cloverstar - pale brown she-cat with a white chest, paws and tail-tip.
Deputy: Weedwhisker - long-haired gray tom with yellow eyes.
Medicine Cat: Nettleclaw - red, brown and white tom with amber eyes.
Warriors:
Ashfang - light gray she-cat with darker gray paws.
Brushfur - light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes.
Honeywing - light brown she-cat with amber eyes.
Birchnose - pale gray tom with blue eyes.
Apprentice: Runningpaw
Kestrelfoot - skinny gray tom with green eyes and a long tail.
Sagefire - pure white she-cat with amber eyes.
Jumpfoot - black and white tom with green eyes.
Hickoryfur - dark brown and white she-cat with amber eyes.
Mossfire - tortoiseshell she-cat with red-tipped ears and blue eyes.
Aspenleaf - tortoiseshell and white she-cat with green eyes.
Apprentice: Thrushpaw
Goldenbird - pale brown she-cat with amber eyes.
Robinflight - brown and white she-cat with amber eyes.
Redthorn - light ginger tom with amber eyes.
Apprentices:
Runningpaw - golden brown tabby tom with amber eyes.
Thrushpaw - brown and white tom with amber eyes.
Queens:
Cottonwind - very pale gray, almost white she-cat with green eyes. Mother of Thornkit, Thistlekit, Briarkit and Palekit by unknown tom.
Kits:
Thornkit - pale golden brown she-cat with gray patches mixed into her fur. Has amber eyes.
Briarkit - light brown and gray spotted she-cat with green eyes.
Thistlekit - dusky brown tom with amber eyes.
Palekit - pale tabby tom with light green eyes.
Elders:
Cricketspring - dark brown she-cat with amber eyes. Former medicine cat.
Darkfur - jet-black she-cat with white paws and green eyes.
Seedtail - gray and white tom with amber eyes.
ThunderClan
Leader: Emberstar - small light ginger dappled tom with green eyes.
Deputy: Dustfur - light brown tom with a white underbelly and amber eyes.
Medicine Cat: Willowshade - creamy brown she-cat with pale blue eyes.
Apprentice: Poppypaw
Warriors:
Smokefang - dark gray tom with amber eyes.
Ravenfeather - dark black she-cat with blue eyes.
Berrypool - light ginger dappled she-cat with green eyes.
Pineheart - dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes. Falconwing's brother.
Ivyclaw - light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes.
Marrowfoot - very pale gray, almost white tom with blue eyes.
Darkpelt - dark gray, almost black tom with yellow eyes.
Orangestripe - orange tom with tabby markings and amber eyes.
Apprentice: Brackenpaw
Blacksplash - huge, jet black tom with amber eyes.
Apprentice: Hollowpaw
Birchfrost - pale brown she-cat with amber eyes.
Whiteflower - spotty gray-brown she-cat with a single white paw. Has green eyes.
Adderclaw - dark brown tom with pale amber eyes.
Apprentices:
Brackenpaw - dusky brown tom with amber eyes.
Hollowpaw - dark brown and white tom with amber eyes.
Poppypaw - pale golden she-cat with green eyes.
Queens:
Lilyflower - black she-cat with white flecks and pale blue eyes. Mother of Winterkit, Brightkit and Ashkit by Emberstar.
Kits:
Winterkit - pure white she-cat with blue eyes.
Brightkit - tortoiseshell she-cat with red patches and bright green eyes.
Ashkit - dusky brown tom with amber eyes.
Elders:
Grayflower - gray tabby she-cat with yellow eyes.
Mintwhisker - gray and white she-cat with blue eyes.
ShadowClan
Leader: Cedarstar - cream and brown tom with dark blue eyes.
Deputy: Lilyfur - gray and white she-cat with amber eyes.
Medicine Cat: Whiskerheart - light brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Apprentice: Meadowlark
Warriors:
Timberpelt - lean brown and white tom with amber eyes.
Briarfoot - light gray she-cat with white paws and yellow eyes.
Thislefur - dark brown tom with amber eyes.
Pebblestorm - speckled tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes.
Apprentice: Brownpaw
Stripedtail - pale tabby tom with unusual markings along his tail.
Yellowtail - pale orange she-cat with a darker orange tail. Has green eyes.
Apprentice: Toadpaw
Petalstorm - gray and white she-cat with amber eyes. Bearclaw's Mate.
Olivebranch - cream and brown she-cat with blue eyes.
Patchnose - white, brown and cream tom with amber eyes.
Sagerush - pale gray, almost white she-cat with amber eyes.
Coldpoppy - gray and white she-cat with amber eyes.
Rushwind - large red and white tom with blue eyes.
Fennelpool - sandy gold and brown she-cat with blue eyes.
Apprentices:
Brownpaw - dark brown tom with amber eyes.
Meadowpaw - small gray-brown she-cat with amber eyes.
Toadpaw - gray and white tom with amber eyes.
Queens:
Wingfeather - light brown she-cat with dark amber eyes. Mother of Rock-kit, Mudkit and Fallenkit by Stripedtail.
Bubblesong - blue-gray she-cat with amber eyes. Expecting.
Elders:
Timberpelt - lean brown and white tom with amber eyes.
Tinyfeather - small tabby she-cat with green eyes.
RiverClan
Leader: Kindlestar - dark ginger tom with piercing green eyes.
Deputy: Ripplesong - black she-cat with green eyes.
Medicine Cat: Dovepaw - gray and white she-cat with amber eyes.
Warriors:
Otterpool - light brown she-cat with amber eyes.
Volepelt - gray tabby tom with amber eyes.
Iceblossom - pale silver tabby she-cat with deep blue eyes.
Foxshade - reddish brown tom with a white-tipped tail; has green eyes.
Flintfang - large dark brown tom with amber eyes.
Sedgeheart - white she-cat with amber eyes
Appledusk - tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes.
Marshwing - shaggy, brown furred tom with amber eyes.
Scorchfur - pale orange and white tom with green eyes.
Reedrush - silver-gray she-cat with amber eyes.
Hollyfrost - gray she-cat with black paws and green eyes.
Coalfire - ginger and white tom with green eyes.
Sunnytail - yellowish orange she-cat with amber eyes.
Deerleap - gray she-cat with amber eyes.
Aquashine - gray-blue she-cat with amber eyes.
Apprentices:
None
Queens:
Starlingsong - pale ginger she-cat with dark green eyes. Mother of Rustkit, Russetkit and Rosekit by Scorchfur.
Elders:
Pepperfoot - mottled gray tom with amber eyes.
Addertooth - black tom with yellow eyes.
Kits:
Rustkit - mottled dark ginger tom with amber eyes.
Russetkit - dark ginger tom with green eyes.
Rosekit - lighter ginger she-cat with amber eyes.
Cats Outside Clans
Leopardfang - big golden tabby she-cat with amber eyes. Former ThunderClanner.
AN: So there you have the beginning of Sharpest Thorn. Yes, it takes place in WindClan instead of ThunderClan. I think you readers know what's gonna happen in future stories ;) I am very excited about this one, and it will probably be much darker than EP was. Hopefully it will also have a lot more excitement to it as well. Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter of EP, it's truly appreciated, and I hope you all enjoy this one as well!