-Light of Snow-
The Life of a Leader
Okay, I've been meaning to write a Warriors fic for some time, and now I will finally write one. It is completely non-canon, despite the similar places from the books. It takes place BEFORE the time of Firestar, Bluestar, or any of the oldest Clan Cats from the series. I want to do something different.
This story follows a ThunderClan warrior called Snowsong through her life, passing through her kittenhood, apprenticeship, life as a noble ThunderClan warrior, leadership of ThunderClan, and finally ending when she joins StarClan. I really hope you enjoy the characters, and I'll try my best to make Snowsong a cat you can relate to.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Warriors Series; it belongs to the brilliant Erin Hunter. If I owned it, I would be basking in the glow of my brilliantness somewhere sunny…perhaps Fiji.
-Prologue-
"Sparkstar!"
A soft but firm cry split through the night, drawing the leader of ThunderClan to his feet. His deputy, Flamefur, came bursting through the curtain of lichen that closed off the leader's den from the rest of the camp.
Sparkstar stretched. "What is it, Flamefur?" he asked the rusty, flamed colored tom calmly, but then noticed the worry in his deputy's brown eyes. "Is something wrong?"
Flamefur took a breath. "It is Skywing, Sparkstar. She is badly hurt! It looks like the work of a fox!" he mewed, his words filled with anxiety.
The ThunderClan leader lashed his tail. "Great StarClan!" he groaned, thinking about the prospect of his medicine cat being wounded by one of the forest foxes. "Will those beasts never leave us alone?"
Flamefur just shook his head fearfully. Sparkstar could tell it was terrible, or else Mosspath, Skywing's apprentice, would have been able to help. She was a very talented young cat, and had eagerly learned everything her mentor had to show her about herbs and medicines. But now it looked like much, much more would be expected of the young she-cat.
"All right, let's go." He said, brushing away the lichen with his paw and hurrying out of the den, Flamefur trailing directly behind him. He swiftly crossed the camp to the medicine cat's den, where he heard soft, nervous purrs.
Inside he found Mosspath crouched over her mentor, pressing a cobweb to the deep wound on her shoulder. Eaglestorm, a respected senior warrior, was also there. He looked up when Sparkstar and Flamefur entered, nodding respectfully to his leader and deputy.
"Mosspath, is this serious?" Sparkstar asked the young apprentice, who was desperately trying to hang on to Skywing and help her.
The she-cat looked at him and blinked anxiously. "Yes, Sparkstar. I fear…" her light purr trailed off as a moan escaped Skywing's mouth. "What is it, Skywing?" Mosspath meowed gently, bending over her.
"It is StarClan." Skywing rasped. "I must join them. But before I do…"she stopped abruptly, staring upwards.
"Yes?" Sparkstar prompted.
"Dark times approach, and only the light of Snow will act as a remedy." The dying medicine cat continued, her voice barely a whisper. "Heed this."
And her eyes glazed over, staring up at nothing. She had gone to join StarClan.
Mosspath bent over to share tongues one last time with her mentor, head dipped in sorrow. After about a minute, but what seemed like moons to the rest of them, she backed away.
"I am the new Medicine Cat now." She said simply, eyes clouded with sadness. "StarClan wishes me to know this." She went over to the corner of the den and curled up, her bushy brown tail concealing her sad face.
Flamefur and Eaglestorm each in turn bent over to share tongues with the much respected medicine cat. When they had finished, they left the den in silence. Sparkstar then took his turn.
"We shall miss you, Skywing. But you are with StarClan now." He muttered, giving her cold silver ear a lick. He shared tongues with her for another few minutes, remembering all she had done for the Clan. She had helped them through the hardships of last Greenleaf, where many cats had come down with terrible cases of fever from the heat, or else thirst from the long drought. She had cared for cats all throughout her life, and she would be missed.
He backed away and trod over to Mosspath, who was still mourning her mentor. "Good luck, Mosspath." He said, licking the tip of her ear affectionately. Then he left the den out into the moonlight.
The stars of Silverpelt looked brighter than ever, as if welcoming their newcomer. Skywing would be respected there, Sparkstar was sure of that. But what about that prophecy? Did it have something to with the coming Leaf-Bare, which was promised to be full of snow? Was it to be harsher than usual? There was no way of knowing, now that Skywing had left them. StarClan was watching them, yes, but if only they could give the Clan some sign, some explanation to this cryptic prophecy. But how?
The leader's sleep was much disturbed by dreams of foxes, badgers, and other beasts attacking the Clan. He dreamt that one fox had blood on his muzzle; that was the one who had attacked Skywing. He was surprised he even slept at all.
When he finally jerked awake, sunlight was streaming through the curtain of lichen, and there were soft murmurs outside his den. He got to his paws and stretched, padding out of the entrance. A warrior, Yellowtail, appeared to be waiting for him. She dipped her head respectively and strode over to him.
"Icepelt's kits have come at last, Sparkstar." She said, and walked away, over to wake her apprentice for training. Sparkstar sighed. He wasn't really in the mood to meet the kits, but then again, at least they would have more warriors to fight during these prophesized hard times. So he made his way over to the nursery, noticing the solemn looks on his Clan's faces. So they had heard about Skywing.
He entered the nursery and saw Icepelt cheerfully nursing three kits. She shot Sparkstar a smile as he entered, as if thanking him for coming to see her and her kits, even under the circumstances.
Mosspath was crouched next to her, and upon seeing Sparkstar, padded right over to him.
"They are all healthy and strong kits." She said, looking at him. "Icepelt has already decided on names." She gestured with her tail towards a dark gray kit that looked a lot like his father, Coalstripe.
"That is Swipekit." She then gestured towards a soft gray kit with white paws. "That is Mistkit."
She gave Sparkstar a deep and distinguished look, as if trying to tell him something, before introducing the final kit.
"And this," she said, gesturing to the stunning white kit with a small tint of silver in her pelt, "is Snowkit."