Hello readers! Greetings! I would love to shake your paw-I MEAN FOOT OH GAWD WHY AM I SO AWKWARD WITHOUT MY INTRO HOLY SHHHH-HOLY SHRIMP AHHHHH
(Crazy screeching and loud crashing noises)
Hello readers! My name is ZombieGamer9188, and my story for you today is 'Fallen Stars'. The plot is mine, so are the characters, (But I don't like legally own any of the cats/characters in my novel) but PLEASE DO NOT make remixes of my story, I prefer to have my work be my work, thank you very much, and to make things clear, I do NOT own any of the Warrior cats franchise, once again, just the plot and characters. This novel uses dark humor and violence, so don't say I didn't warn you!
CHAPTER ONE: MOONKIT
Moonkit opened his eyes. He was in a large, empty clearing, like a void, but not quite. Then a voice whispered in his head: Moonkit...you are a special kit.
"I-I am?" Stammered Moonkit, looking around.
Indeed. Your sister will be one of the five. The golden kit…
Moonkit stretched and opened his eyes, yawning. He had had a weird dream-something about a golden-something? Weird. The kit winced as red flakes fell from his eye; he had accidentally got a sharp thorn in his eye just a moon or so, but while he rolled around, yowling in pain, Alderheart had somehow managed to pull out the thorn.
Oh yeah, and his eyeball. The young medicine cat had screamed so loud when it happened that he woke up about all the clan. His mother, Twigbranch, a former SkyClan cat who finally decided her heart was with ThunderClan, was horrified when she heard the news, so was Finleap, Moonkit's father.
While everyone shrieked and Alderheart looked like he was going to cry in front of everyone, Leafpool jumped in at the right time, arguing that if Alderheart hadn't tried to pull out the thorn, Moonkit would have still been blinded and in worse pain.
Therefore, it was 'better' to pull out an eye then leave it. Anyway, back to Moonkit. The kit's full on-black fur was messy from the many moons he had rested from the incident. His older sibling, Rockkit was were already a 'paw' and about two moons in on training. Oh yeah, and his under-sized little sister, Rosekit. He took a small bite of a mouse, finishing it slowly, thinking about StarClan and they're judgement. Who were they? What if you were good AND bad? The questions were endless. He shivered slightly when he looked outside the nursery opening, the snow shiny and glistening. It wasn't actually cold, but everything had frozen and snowed over last night or so. Not freezing. And the snow was melting anyway, so why not?
Because putting strong medicines directly in or on the eye might as well be adder poison, from the harsh stinging sensation, the three healer cats had determined that the only way to heal such a terrible wound was from time. Lots of it. At least his sister Rosekit could play with him. She was small and needed to grow more apparently.
His mother, Twigbranch, padded up to him, a disapproving look on her face.
"You're so messy!" Scolded Twigbranch, as she quickly groomed her small second son with quick licks.
"Thanks," Moonkit replied, picking at the scab that had formed where his eye once was. He didn't clearly remember what happened, just something in his eye, intense, searing pain and then him waking up, half blind.
"Stop that!" His mother scolded.
"It hurts!" snapped Moonkit angry. When his mother looked rather taken aback, his emotions faded.
"Sorry," he murmured.
"It's alright," his mother soothed. "I know it's painful, but if you pick at it, it might bleed all over again."
Moonkit nodded, happy again and his smile faded almost a quick as it happened.
"Can I play?" He questioned.
"I-I'll ask Leafpool. Wait here." the queen ordered her kit. Moonkit nodded, hopeful.
When his mother came back, she sighed. "I don't like it, but you can play outside. Leafpool says you need fresh air. Be careful, it's pretty cold out!" She called.
"I will!" Squeaked Moonkit happily before stumbling out. "And take Rosekit with you!" His mother meowed, sticking her head out the nursery.
"Fine." Grumbled Moonkit. Of course, there was a catch. He shrugged, nodding at Rosekit.
"Hurry up, let's play!" He nudged his younger sister hurriedly towards the nursery entrance, not able to wait much longer. Going outside at last! Fresh air! Social interaction! He leaped outside, instantly forgetting what his mother had said about being careful, Rosekit behind him. He stepped out of the shade of the den with queens and kits, and instantly he cringed from the bright light. It... it hurt his eyes. The other kits became quiet as he approached.
"Can I play?" He meowed, happy to be outside at last. The other kits immediately looked at each other.
Moonkit's happiness faded. He knew instantly that they didn't want him.
"Of course you can!" Purred Daisy, giving a look at the other kits.
"Fine," a kit, Grasskit, piped up. Moonkit's confidence returned and he slowly padded over. Another kit slowly stumbled backwards, and Moonkit vaguely realized that his missing eye was probably very scary.
"Ummmm...what are we playing?" Moonkit asked.
"Hide and seek!" Rosekit chimed.
"Someone's the seeker and-"
"And I know how it works," Moonkit finished.
"Where in the camp?" Bluekit coughed, awkwardly. Graykit just pawed at the ground.
The kits slyly looked at each other, nodding towards the far corner of the camp. Moonkit's belly tightened as he jogged over.
"We're not playing inside the camp, we're going outside!" Rockkit hissed quietly. Moonkit felt nervous.
"Outside? In the snow?"
"Yes, mouse-brain!" meowed Grasskit.
"O-okay," Moonkit agreed.
"How do we leave?"
"Simple, Rockkit, almost an apprentice, sighed.
"We exit through the dirtplace tunnel."
"Alright," Moonkit gulped. Moonkit, Rosekit, Rockkit, Grasskit, Bluekit and Foxkit looked at each other and nodded.
...
Bramblestar looked boredly around the camp clearing, seeing the kits seemingly play and tumble towards the dirtplace. Bramblestar's whiskers twitched with amusement as he pictured an innocent kit roll into a nasty surprise. He grinned, feeling a twinge of sadness as he pictured Firestar where he stood, who would have probably done the same as him.
"What are you so happy about?" His mate's voice broke him out of his concentration.
"Nothing," he purred, turning to face Squirrelflight.
"Nothing at all." The ThunderClan leader grinned and stretched.
"I'll just hunt a bit, you can never have too much prey in leaf-bare." And the tom walked out, nodding at some other warriors as he did. Squirrelflight stared at her mate.
"What's up with him?" She asked Leafpool, who happened to be watching Moonkit.
"Toms." the medicine cat meowed, grinning at her sister.
"Toms." the deputy agreed.
...
Rockkit smiled rather smugly as he moved the bush which concealed the exit. Freedom at last!
"Where are we going?" Rosekit murmured.
"Ever heard about the tunnels?" Rockkit grinned. Moonkit's excitement disintegrated.
"T-the tunnels?" Moonkit stammered.
"Yeah, that's what I said!" Rockkit continued.
"It's gonna be fun!" Rockkit whispered before dashing out.
Moonkit worriedly crept out after, Rosekit slowly following at the very back. Moonkit awkwardly tripped in the mud, getting the impure substances over his pelt. The thick mud oozed up to his knees.
After a short walk or so, the camp slightly covered from trees and the sun shining more strongly, Moonkit began to actually warm up, in spite of him being a quarter submerged in the mud. It wasn't too bad.
Moonkit began to numbly wonder if he made the right choice. There was no getting out of it now.
"Here!" Rockkit mewed excitedly. Moonkit attempted to dash over and instead fell face first mud, coughing up the putrid stuff.
Rockkit didn't even seem to notice.
"Here! They blocked most of these entrances up," Rockkit explained as Moonkit peered at the opening. Just a normal hole, descending deep into the ground actually, but not too vertical to be impossible to climb.
"That's dark," Grasskit mumbled, backing away.
"Why, scaredy-mouse?" Rockkit teased, beginning to descend downwards. Rosekit nudged her brother, worry shining in his eyes. Moonkit sighed and shook his head, signaling it was too late to back out.
Meanwhile...in the ThunderClan camp:
"Has anyone seen the kits!?" Graystripe yowled, while warriors and queens seemed to dash around everywhere.
"They're not in the camp!" Alderheart reported.
"They probably snuck out." Bramblestar meowed, fur bristling.
"I'll send out a patrol. Lionblaze, Cinderheart, Cloudtail, Ivypool and Dovewing."
The five warriors leaped out of the camp in search of the kits.
Back to Moonkit...
Moonkit treaded through the dank tunnels, smelling mildew, and a musty, earthy smell filled his nostrils as he blindly poked around.
"Rosekit?" He whispered. No answer.
"ROSEKIT!" He yelled, running around before tripping on his face. Hind legs wiggling in the air, Moonkit had admit he looked pretty dumb.
He rolled to one side, managing to get back on his paws.
"ROSEKIT!" He called. He dashed around, suddenly confused. Where was the exit? Where were the others?
He was alone.
...
Rosekit anxiously looked around. She had separated from the others, and was pretty sure Grasskit had already ran back to the tunnel. But she could do this! She was gonna prove she was brave! She wasn't a scaredy mouse. Rosekit then looked around, before seeing some weird shiny white thing sticking from the ground. She padded over and nudged it, only to realize it was a bone; a cat bone.
Rosekit screamed and turned back to the entrance. She slowly looked up, calming down, to realize the light from the top of the hole seemed insanely far up. She couldn't reach it. She was trapped.
Grasskit, Rockkit and Bluekit slowly looked around, eyeing the dark, tunnels.
"What do we do?" Whimpered Bluekit as Rockkit frantically looked at the options. Grasskit backed away from a sound, only to slip in a puddle and stumble backwards. Grasskit slowly regained her balance, before the ground suddenly gave underneath her feet. Bluekit only managed to turn to see Grasskit fall into a deep tunnel. A scream, cut off as a thud echoed, followed by another. And if things couldn't get any worse, Bluekit felt a drop of water on her forehead. That only meant one thing. She didn't think it was real. But it was. The tunnels were flooding.
...
Moonkit ran around, hearing slight scrabbling. Better than nothing. He ran over, the tunnels like a maze; confusing him, his sense of smell rendered useless. He was small, but not too small. After all, all the kits were barely a moon away from their apprenticeships. Why had he agreed to this? He was stupid; he could die-
He crashed into his younger sister.
"Rosekit!" He gasped.
"It's you!"
"We gotta get out of here!" Rosekit rasped, pointing at the mud and water trickling down the hole.
"It's flooding!" Moonkit gasped before looking around.
"Those branches...and that rock, see that?" Rosekit nodded.
"We grab that, then we should be able to jump there...the hole isn't as high as it looks."
"If you say so," Rosekit mumbled, eyes filling with slight tears. The two jerked back to attention as a blob of mud fell on Moonkit's face. Rosekit giggled, spirits suddenly high again, and Moonkit found himself laughing as well.
"Let's go!" He yelled, serious again, before nodding to his sister.
"Just follow where I jump." He instructed before grabbing a branch and maneuvering his hind legs onto the other side and crab-crawled up a bit, before twisting in the tight, claustrophobic space.
The (sorta) kit gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, letting his senses guide him. All of a sudden a flash of gold filled his vision and his body was launched upwards and his claw's stuck into the slimy earth. He didn't question it, pulling himself up. "Now you try Rosekit!" He yowled at his sister. The rain, which was falling lightly before, slightly intensified, turning the liquid into a pouring trickle of water that began to cover the ground.
...
"All this StarClan-forsaken-mud is pulling me down!" Cloudtail screamed over the downpour of liquid.
"You think we don't notice?" Dovewing grumbled, wondering if this was a good idea to agree to go. Never mind that, of course it was! Her hearing powers would be great now...was that a faint yell she heard?
...
Rosekit slowly hooked her claws onto a hard piece of earth, back legs kicking air as she squirmed helplessly. She couldn't make it. Rain dripped on her face, and she shook it off. She was going to die...and her head cleared as her vision focused on her brother staring down at her, shouting advice. She could do this! She could! Feeling more confident, the young she-cat managed to get her hind legs onto a rock, pushing herself upwards a bit more. Then her paw slipped.
She tumbled back down, landing on her back leg as pain ricocheted through her body.
'It's not too bad' Rosekit thought before a branch landed on it. Her already painful, newly disabled leg. She was trapped.
...
"ROSEKIT!" Moonkit yowled as he looked down at the crumpled figure of his sister. "I'm coming!"
"ROSEKIT!" Moonkit screamed as he watched his sister tumble downwards.
"Don't worry, I'm coming!" He gasped before almost falling down the entrance. But he didn't, and landed, winded, beside his sister.
"Are you hurt?" He demanded.
"N-no...my leg is just sore that's all." Rosekit grunted before going still.
"ROSEKIT!" Moonkit hissed, hesitating before bopping her on the head with his paw. Rosekit jerked back awake. "I'm here, I'm here," she complained. "Just tired, that's all."
"Well then, don't do that!" Moonkit exclaimed angrily.
"You scared me!"
"Sorry." Rosekit muttered.
"I didn't mean that; I'm just upset, I swear." Moonkit meowed hurriedly.
"I-it's alright. We just gotta lift this branch and get out." Moonkit consoled.
"Now!" Moonkit groaned as he heaved against the branch.
"This is too heavy!" Rosekit gasped.
"Don't say that!" Moonkit grunted.
"Try harder!"
The branch didn't budge one bit. The tunnels slowly began filling, and Moonkit struggled in the muddy floor. Moonkit pushed ineffectively against the log.
"Rosekit," he whispered.
"I-can't-brea-" Rosekit gurgled through the dirty liquid.
"Can't-" Moonkit supported his sister's head above the surface of the water. Moonkit began panicking, staring helplessly at rising water.
"Just go!" Rosekit begged before the water reached her face.
"Rosekit, I-" Moonkit slowly climbed the tunnel, looking back once at the bubbles rising from the surface of the water, as they slowly stopped. He started climbing, only to find out his claw's couldn't find a grip in the soggy dirt.
He began sliding down. No...no...NO- his head bumped roughly against a rock sticking from the side of the entrance and he fell with a huge splash into the water. He refused to look downwards. He couldn't see his sister like that...his lungs were burning...he couldn't make it...
And something...no...someone grabbed him. Lionblaze.