Chapter One
Sun shone over the meadow, turning the sky pink and orange as dawn broke on Moonshine's first day as a warrior of MeadowClan. Beside her, she could hear Mistybrooke's stifled yawns and the shuffle of Clovertail's paws through the grass, itching to join her mate Stripewhisker in the warrior's den, finally able to join him as a full warrior. Violetpetal, however, kept stealing glances at the apprentice's den, still sad that Oakpaw hadn't become a warrior with her. He was a moon younger and therefore still shared the den with Owlpaw, Pinepaw, and Riverpaw.
As the light stretched it's way across the sky, Fernshade clambered out of the Hollow Tree. The young deputy had taken over most of the duties of their leader when Meadowstar had become ill. Now, she padded over to them, green eyes glowing in the sunlight. "Your vigil is over now. Go eat and get some rest."
With a sigh of relief, the four she-cats dragged themselves up and padded over the the fresh-kill pile. Moonshine snatched a vole in one paw and settled beneath an old willow tree. Across the camp, Stripewhisker pushed his head out of gap in the stones housing the warrior's den and made his way over to Clovertail, tail flicking excitedly. Mistybrooke was sharing a rabbit with Drizzleleaf and Mintfur, surely gossiping about some event in one of the territories. Violetpetal was talking with Oakpaw, heads bent together in hushed conversation.
Fernshade climbed onto the first branch of Hollow Tree, it's branches devoid of leaves even in summer. "It's time to assign the patrols! Yarrowtail, take Mossheart, Stormcloud, and Riverpaw to mark the OceanClan border. Stripewhisker, take Oakpaw, Owlpaw, Clovertail, and Moonshine along the StoneClan border. Drizzleleaf, take Scarletpelt and Bouldernose hunting. I'll take Honeyclaw, Mistybrooke, and Mintfur to hunt."
Moonshine padded across the grass to Stripewhisker, Oakpaw, and her siblings. Owlpaw smiled at her. "How's it feel to be a warrior, Moonshine?" Her younger brother asked.
"It feels great." She said, returning the smile even as doubt clouded her mind. Was she really ready? Would she be able to serve her clan well enough? She chased her worries away with a shake of her pelt.
"Let's go, we can't stand here until sunhigh." Stripewhisker mewed, though he sounded amused. The tom never seemed to get angry, and Moonshine figured that was one of the reasons he got along so well with his mate, as she knew first hand how stubborn her sister could be at times.
The patrol started towards the camp entrance, a thick wall of brambles woven into a fearsome guard. The entrance was barely noticeable if you didn't where to look, a small gap in the patch of spiky vines. It snagged on Moonshine's fur as she passed through, the long strands finding any chance to wrap themselves around the prickly bits and pull uncomfortably on her. She breathed a sigh of relief as she exited them, shaking bits of it from her pelt.
"We're going to have to rebuild the entrance at this rate!" Clovertail meowed in amusement. "I can't imagine how uncomfortable your fur must be!"
Moonshine ducked her head, pelt growing hot in embarrassment. She knew her littermate meant well, but did she really have to say that infront of everyone else?
She's not wrong though…
For the second time that day, the white she-cat shook away the doubtful thoughts that plagued her. So what if her pelt was longer than most other clan cats? And so what if she couldn't camouflage in the forest with her snowy fur? It didn't hinder her ability to hunt and fight alongside her clanmates, and that was all that mattered. Flicking her ears in irritation, as though the thoughts were buzzing gnats, she hurried to catch up to the tail end of the patrol.
I will be the best warrior the clans have ever seen! Just watch me.