He flinched, feeling his heart pump weakly against his ribs. He tried to wake but his eyelids were too heavy. He tried to move but his limbs were too weary.
Em I dying?
He thought.
Again?
A small speck of warmth going cold in the snow, surrounded by ravens, talons snagging through his fur, beaks slicing at his ears.
Left behind.
Again?
His mother's words were in his blood. "Death will not catch me, not without feeling my claws in his face."
He flinched,
feeling his heart knock on his chest.
Again, he discovers the wonders of defiance.
Ravens will not make a meal of him.
Nightkit blinked awake. His whole body was pulsing with adrenaline and his paws clammy with sweat. Nightmares will do that to you. He breathed out a sigh of relief.
Same old stupid dream.
He shook his head, letting the nursery's comforting smell of wool and milk, and the familiar sight of Dogkit drooling into his fur bring him back to himself.
"Every day." He muttered under his breath.
Dogkit's big, fluffy black head lolled on Nightkit's shoulders—saliva stringing down his open mouth—and Nightkit shoved him off, only to have him land on his tail.
With sleepy cowlicks of brown fur, Bearkit raised her head from behind Dogkit and glowered at Nightkit.
"What?" Nightkit growled. "He was drooling on me again!"
"Shh!" Bearkit hissed and pointed to the next nest where a white-and-gray queen—Birdsong—was splayed out. 'You do not want to wake that badger up this early' Her blue-eyed glare seemed to say.
With a huff, Nightkit settled back down and wiggled into Willowsong's bunny-soft fur. The brown tabby queen was curled around all three kits, twitching her whiskers and mewling in deep sleep.
Nightkit tried to copy her, tossing and turning until he could see gold dust motes dancing in streaks of sunlight from the roof. Finally, he decided it was time to start his daily routine.
Stand up, arch back, stretch legs.
He groomed his sleek black fur until it shone and slid outside the nursery, squinting at the clearing with piercing green eyes that saw little more than blurry shapes.
As usual he struggled to see, but that didn't stop his whiskers from feeling the damp newleaf breeze sigh down on him and tug at his fur, or stop his keen, nicked ears from picking up pleasant murmurs and sleepy breathing from within the dens.
On his back he relished the warm shafts of light that filtered through the thick evergreen canopy and dappled ShadowClan camp. With a breath of pine-resin air, he headed to the fresh-kill pile, ears tipped back and head aligned with his shoulders in the usual prowl.
"Move it, kit!" Nightkit heard a mew behind him that made his fur bristle with fury.
Softpaw forced him aside with one smack of her tail and tossed a large woodpecker into the fresh-kill pile, beaming with pride. Her pale calico fur, soft as a fawn's underbelly, carried the smell of the pine forest. Behind her, the moon-down patrol was trotting through the camp entrance, jaws filled with fresh-kill.
Nightkit irritably snatched two shrews and a lizard and turned around, only to have a silver tabby block his way.
"It's a wonder you're still as tiny as a flea when you eat that much." Frozenpaw sneered, her icy blue eyes gleaming with amusement.
"It's not just for me, pigeon-brain!" Nightkit spat.
"Aww, is he upset?" Softpaw mewed with mock pity.
"Hey quit wasting time," Ryepaw interrupted the two she-cats, whisking his ginger tabby tail. "We have battle training with Ratfang after this quick meal."
Softpaw and Frozenpaw shrugged, picking up their breakfast with one last snort of amusement at the fluffed-up black kit.
She-rats! He kneaded the grass.
Nightkit stopped glaring after them when a pale ginger tabby tom with a snaggletooth approached him. "Off to see Tangletail like usual?" He began ruffling the kit's head with a nuzzle. "Don't get under his paws 'kay?"
"That's enough Pikejaw." Nightkit grumbled through a mouthful of prey. Pikejaw was always friendly to all, but lately he'd been especially nice to him. Nightkit hoped the newly-made warrior hadn't thought of asking to apprentice him; Nightkit had already set his heart on being a medicine cat.
"I'm heading out on patrol," Pikejaw said as he left. "I'll bring you more lizards, you love those right?"
Nightkit waved his tail with faked enthusiasm and then headed to the the medicine cat's den. He stopped almost immediately once inside as the smell of sickness rolled over him.
"Featherpaw!" He gasped, staring wide-eyed at a bundle of fur and bones that was once the kind gray tabby.
"Oh, Nightkit." A crackled mew greeted him warmly. Nightkit gazed up at an elderly black-and-white tom, skinny and frail-boned, dragging his mangled tail behind him. "You brought breakfast again, why how kind."
"This one's for you Tangletail." Nightkit avoided Featherpaw's nest with a tiny shiver and pushed the shrew to Tangletail. "That one's for Quillheart," He jabbed the other shrew, looking around for the young cream-and-brown tabby medicine cat. "Where is he?"
"Trackin' herb growth." Tangletail said as he chewed on his meal. "Hopefully no frost this morning."
Nightkit settled next to him, skinning his lizard while casting side-glances at Featherpaw.
"Is he dying?" He said in a small voice.
"He's always been sickly, maybe today..." Tangletail trailed off, then shook his head. "Well, we've done all we can, it's in the paws of StarClan now."
You mean it's up to him. Nightkit held his tongue. He'd heard nursery tales of StarClan since he was little, but he'd never believed in that stinking load of badger dung. It seemed his Clanmates swallowed everything they were told.
"Want to get some chamomile for her?" Tangletail broke into his thoughts.
"To soothe and give strength?" Nightkit smiled.
"Clever one, this kit." Tangletail purred as he padded to the back of the den. There, underneath a boulder, a tunnel had been dug; the walls were dry and cool. Tangletail nosed at the puny stacks of old, leafbare leftovers, and tugged at a fuzzy leaf from a star-shaped flower.
"Here." He said.
"That's borage...?" Nightkit sniffed at the herb.
Tangletail blinked twice. "What? No... I..." He stared at the borage leaf with an air of defeat. "Nevermind." He sighed.
His memory is worse today. Nightkit's chest welled with sympathy.
"He has a fever," Nightkit picked it up. "Borage is for fever, right? That's why you picked it."
Tangletail didn't speak, but he leaned down to rasp his tongue between Nightkit's ears fondly. "You wanna be my apprentice until Quillheart comes back?"
Nightkit's eyes lit up. "Okay! I hope he never comes back."
"Don't let him hear you say that." Tangletail chuckled.
"Hear what?" Quillheart's voice rang from outside the herb storage. "And is this shrew for me?" Nightkit rushed to meet him, carrying the borage delicately between his teeth.
"Oh, hey there you." Quillheart laughed as Nightkit weaved between his legs. "What's that?" He stretched his long neck down to sniff at the borage, and scoffed. "That's too old, throw it away."
"Roll it around a new one." Tangletail rasped. "Don't toss it, that would be a waste."
Nightpaw set it down.
"Sorry Tangletail." Quillheart nodded. "By the way, growth looks good. I set up barriers so the rabbits won't-!" Quillheart cut off as paw steps pattered outside the den and a gray tom crashed in, knocking Quillheart aside. "Ashcloud!" Quillheart gasped.
"W-where is Stonestar?!" Ashcloud stammered, the stench of fear drenching his fur.
"I just spoke to him by the dirtplace." Quillheart tipped his head sideways. "Why?"
Did Quillheart mention my apprenticeship?
Nightkit's heart quickened.
Without answering, Ashcloud scrambled away and they were left staring after him.
"The moor is in flames!" He screeched.
DISCLAIMER: Warrior Cats belongs to Erin Hunter.
Inspired by The Warriors Rekindled. Characters belong to their rightful TWR owners.
You thought this was dead? HAHA, NOPE. I did start over though... don't kill me.
THANKS to my amazing and hardworking beta, Theatricals, for fixing this mess of a story up!
LEAVE A REVIEW!
~Kirani100
ALLEGIANCES
SHADOWCLAN
LEADER
STONESTAR—long-furred white tom with gray paws, face, and tail.
DEPUTY
EMBERSTORM—orange tabby tom with copper eyes.
APPRENTICE, FROZENPAW
MEDICINE CATS
TANGLETAIL—white tom with patches of black fur and a broken tail.
QUILLHEART—tall, cream tom with brown and gray smudges.
WARRIORS
(Toms and she-cats without kits)
DOELEAP—russet tabby she-cat.
ROWANHEART—dark reddish brown tom with blue eyes.
STORMWING—pale gray spotted tom.
LIONFANG—long-furred golden-brown tabby tom with a white muzzle.
FALLOWSTRIPE—cream she-cat with a fallow stripe along her back.
HONEYPOOL—white she-cat with ginger patches.
TOADBELLY—dark brown tabby tom.
GRAYSTEP—pale gray tom.
APPRENTICE, FEATHERPAW
MAPLEFUR—gray-brown tabby she-cat.
OSPREYTUFT—long-furred white-and-brown tom.
APPRENTICE, SOFTPAW
RATFANG—dark brown she-cat with tabby-striped legs.
APPRENTICE, RYEPAW
ASHCLOUD—gray tom with darker face, paws, and tail.
SUNFLAME—bright ginger tabby she-cat.
APPRENTICE, BROKENPAW
OWLWHISKER—White-and-gray tabby tom.
OLIVENOSE—dark golden-brown tabby she-cat.
PIKEJAW- Pale ginger tabby tom.
APPRENTICES
(Cats older than six moons old in training)
FROZENPAW—silver tabby she-cat.
BROKENPAW—long-furred red tabby she-cat with sloping hips from a (healed) broken back.
FEATHERPAW—long-furred grey tabby tom.
SOFTPAW—pale calico she-cat with white chest and paws.
RYEPAW—white tom with a ginger tabby tail.
QUEENS
(She-cats expecting or nursing kits)
BIRDSONG—white she-cat with gray patches and pale blue eyes; caretaker.
WILLOWSONG—pale brown tabby she-cat with green eyes; caretaker.
KITS
(Cats younger than six moons old)
NIGHTKIT—lean black tom with nicked ears and striking green eyes.
BRIAR—pretty cream-and-brown tabby she-cat with pale blue eyes.
DOGKIT—fluffy black tom with bright yellow eyes. (Snakestrike and unknown)
BEARKIT—brown she-cat with white paws, chest and chin, and blue eyes. (Rowanheart and Cherryfang)
ELDERS
(Former warriors and queens, now retired)
SILENTWIND- Black tom with a graying muzzle and mangy tail.
RIVERCLAN
LEADER
ASPENSTAR—long-furred black she-cat with white underbelly.
DEPUTY
WOLFLEAP—handsome blue-gray tabby tom.
MEDICINE CAT
WHISPERSTEM—small black she-cat with white muzzle.
APPRENTICE, MOSSPAW
WARRIORS
(Toms and she-cats without kits)
EELTAIL—dark blue-gray tom with long sleek tail.
TUMBLEFOOT—dark gray tom.
OTTERPELT—brown tom with matted fur.
LICHENSWAN-cream tom with brown paws, face, and tail.
APPRENTICE, MUDPAW
BARKFROST—dark brown tom with black tabby stripes.
RIPPLESTREAM—orange-and-white tabby she-cat.
WHITEBROOK—black she-cat with splashes of white fur.
APPRENTICE, BLIZZARDPAW
FROSTFEATHER—long-furred white and silver tabby tom.
CEDARTOOTH—brown she-cat with dark muzzle.
APPRENTICE, MINNOWPAW
OAKBREEZE—pale brown spotted tom.
CINDERTHROAT—black she-cat with gray underbelly, mute.
CREEKDAPPLE—mottled gray tom.
APPRENTICES
(Cats older than six moons old in training)
MOSSPAW—russet-and-white tom with stubby tail.
MINNOWPAW—golden-brown tabby tom.
MUDPAW—dark brown-and-white tom.
BLIZZARDPAW—very pale gray tom.
QUEENS
(She-cats expecting or nursing kits)
SAGELEAF—brown she-cat with pale underbelly. (Mother to Otterstorm's kit, Jumpingkit)
DEWBERRY—cream she-cat with green eyes. (Expecting Oakbreeze's kits)
HALFFACE—pretty tortoiseshell she-cat with half ginger, half black face. (Expecting Oakbreeze's kits)
KITS
(Cats younger than six moons old)
JUMPINGKIT—white tom with patches of dark gray tabby fur.
ELDERS
(Former warriors and queens, now retired)
HERONFACE—white she-cat with brown patches around her eyes.
THUNDERCLAN
LEADER
SILVERSTAR—dark silver tabby she-cat with white paws.
DEPUTY
HAWKSTRIKE—pale brown tabby she-cat.
MEDICINE CATS
NETTLEROOT—reddish brown tabby tom.
SLATEFUR—pale gray tabby she-cat.
WARRIORS
(Toms and she-cats without kits)
CROWFLIGHT—dark gray tom with green eyes.
MOTHFUR—dark gray she-cat with hazel eyes.
HICKORYSTRIDE—brown tabby tom with white legs.
APPRENTICE, GOOSEPAW
HOLLYFROST—black tabby she-cat with green eyes.
APPRENTICE, KRESTELPAW
BATSTRIPE—smoke tabby tom.
TURTLETUFT—tortoiseshell she-cat.
SWIFTWING—brown-and-white tom.
RUSHSTORM—calico she-cat with white chest.
DUSKSTREAK—long-furred gray tom with black stripes and white underbelly.
LITTLEFOOT—small black tom with white paws.
STOATLEAP—dark ginger-and-white tom.
APPRENTICES
(Cats older than six moons old in training)
KRESTELPAW—gray-brown tabby she-cat.
GOOSEPAW—plump black tom with gray chest and chin.
QUEENS
(She-cats expecting or nursing kits)
TANSYFLOWER—russet tabby she-cat with white underbelly and paws. (Mother of Duskstreak's kits Newtkit, Applekit and Cloverkit)
SEEDPELT—tan she-cat with striped legs. (Mother of Crowflight's kit, Beetlekit)
ROBINFEATHER—black she-cat with russet tabby patches. (Mother of Hickorystride's kits, Marigoldkit and Sorrelkit)
KITS
(Cats younger than six moons old)
BEETLEKIT—dark gray tom with pale blue eyes.
MARIGOLDKIT—cream and ginger she-cat.
SORRELKIT—tawny tom with brown speckles.
APPLEKIT—ginger she-cat with russet stripes and white chest.
NEWTKIT—dark russet tabby tom with dark green eyes.
CLOVERKIT—pale gray-brown tabby she-cat with clover-shaped white splash across her muzzle.
ELDERS
(Former warriors and queens, now retired)
BLOSSOMBREEZE—pale calico she-cat with foggy blue eyes; retired due to blindness.
WINDCLAN
LEADER
TIMBERSTAR—small brown tom with black stripes.
DEPUTY
CRICKETCLAW—wiry gray tom with minty green eyes.
APPRENTICE, TINYPAW
MEDICINE CAT
SPECKLEDCROW—tortoiseshell she-cat.
APPRENTICE, SWANPAW
WARRIORS
(Toms and she-cats without kits)
HEATHERCLOUD—long-furred tan tabby tom.
QUAILPETAL—white she-cat with brown tabby patches.
RIPPEDEAR—black tabby tom with dark copper eyes and torn ears.
APPRENTICE, MOUSEPAW
SHEEPFACE—slender white tom with black muzzle.
APPRENTICE, LAMBPAW
DAISYTHORN—calico she-cat with blue eyes.
DAPPLESHADE—white she-cat with tortoiseshell dapples.
APPRENTICE, WEASELPAW
BADGERHEART—black-and-white tom.
APPRENTICE, BOARPAW
RABBITFOOT—golden-brown tom.
BLUEWIND—blue-gray she-cat with blue eyes and white paws.
MAGPIEWING—black-and-white she-cat with amber eyes.
MILKFERN- Long-furred white she-cat with pale brown and gray patches.
APPRENTICES
(Cats older than six moons old in training)
SWANPAW—cream she-cat with brown dapples. (Medicine cat apprentice)
BOARPAW—dark brown tom with twisted jaw.
WEASELPAW—small brown tom with cream dash in his chest.
LAMBPAW—long-furred cream she-cat with dark green eyes.
TINYPAW—white she-cat with gray ears and tail tip.
MOUSEPAW—dusty brown she-cat with darker speckles.
QUEENS
(She-cats expecting or nursing kits)
WHITEHARE—tiny white she-cat with blue eyes; Deaf, caretaker.
MISTPOOL—pale gray-and-white she-cat. (Mother to Cricketclaw's kits, Twitekit and Palekit)
KITS
TWITEKIT—dark brown tabby tom.
PALEKIT—cream-furred she-cat.
ELDERS
(Former warriors and queens, now retired)
BIRCHCLOUD—dilute tortoiseshell tabby she-cat.
TAWNYFLOWER—dark russet she-cat.
CATS OUTSIDE OF CLANS
ANGEL—delicate-looking pure white tom. (Kittypet)
BURNT—dark brown tom.
DROGEN—long-furred black tom.
RED HAWK—muscular dark red tabby tom.
SHADE—gray calico she-cat.
SHARP—ginger tabby tom with brown stripes.
EBONY—long-furred gray she-cat.
RACCOON—grey tabby she-cat with black face.
BLITZ—white and black tom.
MEZMERIA—light brown tabby she-cat with white underbelly.
TWISTER—brown and ginger she-cat.
JACKDAW—black and white tom.