This is a story I made up about Owlstar, who they claim was the best hunter in ThunderClan history. Most of the characters are made up. Warriors series

© Erin Hunter

Sparrowpelt yowled in agony. Her birth was going all wrong. She knew that she shouldn't be in this much pain. She lay on her side in the middle of the forest, her blood staining the grass crimson. She felt herself shudder as her body struggled to push out the first kit. She was near the RiverClan border. She'd been out taking a walk in the woods, when the pain had caused her to collapse.

She heard the sound of a cat approaching. She smelled RiverClan stench being carried to her on the wind. If a RiverClan warrior found her, would they kill her? No. that was against the warrior code. She felt another shudder and felt the first kit emerge. She bent her head and began to feebly like the small bundle of fur.

Suddenly, she smelled the sweet scent of herbs wafting over her, mixed with RiverClan scent.

"It's all right now, you're going to be fine," the calm, gentle voice of a she-cat said. She saw a beautiful, light-gray RiverClan she-cat, her pelt slick with water. Sparrowpelt immediately recognized Dovewing, the RiverClan medicine cat. She breathed a shaky sigh of relief, then gasped as she was shaken with a violent spasm. With a sharp, shooting pain, she pushed the other kit out. Dovewing began to lick it vigorously, opening the sac to allow it to breath.

"They're beautiful," Sparrowpelt purred weakly. She felt exhausted. Dovewing pressed her paw to the ThunderClan queen's stomach, feeling for any more kits.

"That should be it," she told her. Sparrowpelt let out a fierce wail of agony as she shuddered again, her blood pouring out onto the forest floor freely now. Dovewing's light green eyes widened in horror. She'd never seen this happen before. "I'll be right back," Dovewing said calmly. She was filled with fear for the young queen.

Dovewing raced through the trees, her paws pounding on the forest floor as she made her way to the ThunderClan camp. It seemed like an eternity before she finally ran into a hunting patrol.

"RiverClan!" a young apprentice yowled in surprise.

"Please, you must follow me!" Dovewing panted. "You have to help!"

"What's going on? Why did RiverClan send its medicine cat to fetch for help?" asked a burly tom. She recognized the ThunderClan deputy Briarfur. Dovewing turned around and raced back through the trees. She heard the patrol following her. Her heart was pounding furiously in her chest. If she lost Sparrowpelt, she'd never be able to live up to her mentor's glory. Mossflower had been the best medicine cat that RiverClan had ever had. She was kind, gentle, knew all of the herbs by heart and where the best place to find them was, and she could fight as good as any warrior. She'd died helping her Clan to the very end.

At last, Dovewing spotted Sparrowpelt's tawny pelt among the leaves. She crouched beside the ThunderClan queen. Her kits were trying in vain to get milk from her swollen belly.

"Briarfur, you came," Sparrowpelt mewed weakly. Briarfur watched in sorrow as his mate's lifeblood flowed out onto the already blood soaked undergrowth. Dovewing saw tears streaming down his face and mixing with his dying mate's blood.

"I couldn't save her," Dovewing sobbed. She knew that it was all her fault. She wasn't experienced enough to do this kind of thing. If Mossflower were here, she'd have known what to do! Sparrowpelt took in one last, shaky breath, then lay still. Dovewing sat down heavily, her face a mask of despair.

"Sparrowpelt!" Briarfur wailed, grief stricken. Solemnly, the small hunting patrol carried Sparrowpelt's body back to the camp. Dovewing sat, staring at the blood pooling on the ground like it was something from another planet. Her eyes were dull with grief. If she'd though quicker, maybe Sparrowpelt would still be alive, admiring her beautiful kits. She stared at the two kits, left behind by the patrol. She'd have to carry them back to the ThunderClan camp by herself. She picked up the small she-kit by the scruff and carried her back to the camp.

"Stay out of our camp you mangy RiverClan scum!" she heard a ThunderClan warrior shriek. She flinched at the harsh words, but didn't back down.

"Don't pay them any heed, Dovewing," said the ThunderClan medicine cat, Berryfur. "I'll help you carry the kits if you like." Dovewing nodded and set the small she-kit down. Berryfur followed her into the woods to help carry back the other kit.

As they arrived at the clearing wear she'd first found Sparrowpelt, she knew something was wrong. She small kit was still there, squirming among the leaves, trying to find its mother's belly. But, the air was far too quite. Not a single bird sang. There was not rustling in the undergrowth. Berryfur's eyes grew wide as he noticed what was wrong. Dovewing followed his gaze and she was sure that every single hair on her pelt stood on end. There, perched on the branch right above the small kit, was a great, tawny owl.

The huge, majestic bird swooped down silently, its giant talons outstretched. With a hideous growl, Dovewing launched herself at the owl. She sunk her claws into the giant bird's flesh. She felt blood welling up from around her claws. The owl shrieked in rage and tried to claw her off. She felt its cruel, curved beak sink into her shoulder. She bit onto its wing and they both came tumbling to the ground.

As soon as the owl was out of the air, Berryfur pounced on the fierce bird. He felt his claws shredding the owl's flesh and the bird shrieked again. Dovewing aimed one final swipe at the owl as it took flight once more. It flew back in the direction of the owl tree. Berryfur scooped the small kit up in his mouth and they both headed back to the ThunderClan camp in silence. Dovewing had a bad limp because of the owl's beak, but other than that she was fine. She limped into the clearing with Berryfur.

She was greeted by contemptuous glares from the ThunderClan cats. She could tell that she wasn't welcome here. She nodded farewell to Berryfur and headed back to camp. She decided that she wouldn't tell Brookstar about the whole ordeal, but she knew that her Clan would eventually find out at the gathering.