A/N: Welcome to my new fanfiction, S e c r e t s. Secrets is about a young cat destined to hide her feelings and everything else about her, just for her Clan. You'll find out more as you read! ( I also do use names by Erin Hunter once in a while, but that's not a big deal. You'll find that many of their names were used multiple times. )
Anyways, my name is Orca Orcinus. Backwards for Orcinus Orca, but who really cares? *sigh* Right, so no one likes too-long Author's Notes, so we shall head straight on to the Prologue right away! So, without further ado…here comes…the DISCLAIMER! :D I do not own Warriors or any of its characters! Okay, we've got that over with. Now, please bring a comfy blanket and a teddy bear, any pets you may have, and a drink. xD
So, please enjoy, and remember to review! I would appreciate it highly!
P r o l o g u e
S i l v e r k i t followed her broad-shouldered father out into the camp. The nursery had been warm and comfortable, but the dawn air was misty and made Silverkit's eyes fuzzy. She blinked them; the tip of her tail flicked irritably, nervously, and excitedly all at the same time. Today's the day, she thought with a quick paw-lick, readying herself to groom her still-unruly pelt. She swiped her paws over her ears and gave her chest a quick lick, then shook her fur.
Rainstorm looked down at her, his gray fur flecked with black spots. His amber eyes were warm, though uneasy at the same time. Silverkit remembered his words: "You're doing this for your Clan, not yourself. You're doing it for your family, too, because if you fail, we all die." He had been very stern then, and Silverkit could barely believe that this was the same cat that had spoken to her before.
"I – uh, the Clan wishes you luck," he said, lowering his head. He had never been himself ever since Morningstar had chosen Silverkit to be the "Secret." Rainstorm then lost his fatherly affection and had kept his emotions to himself as best as he could. Birdfeather, Silverkit's mother, had grieved for the longest time. After, Silverkit was her only kit.
"Thanks," she mewed a bit disappointedly. She looked straight ahead, aware of the huge pale ginger tom trotting towards them, his icy blue eyes cold.
"You know what you have to do, right?" Rainstorm asked for the fiftieth time, his amber eyes flashing with sudden panic and worry. "You know you have to –"
"Find a mate and convince him to love me enough so that he can join ShadowClan and we can learn ThunderClan secrets? Yes, I think we covered that," Silverkit answered dryly, her voice sounding much older than it normally did. Morningstar now was fully able to hear them, so Silverkit and Rainstorm kept quiet and watched him with respectful eyes.
Morningstar glared down at Silverkit. "I hope she's ready," he growled to Rainstorm, his eyes filled with accusation. "You should have fed her more and trained her better."
Rainstorm's neck fur began to rise, but he meowed calmly, "I'm aware of all that, Morningstar. I'm sure she's ready." He looked at his daughter. "Don't you think so, Silverkit?" Without waiting for her to answer, he turned back to Morningstar. "See? Look at that expression. It's much more than a normal two-moon-old kit could come up with."
Morningstar searched Silverkit's determined expression, then let out a deep breath of satisfaction. "Good. I hope she's ready because she'll be the one that decides your faith, Rainstorm. She'll also decide Birdfeather's fate, and if you're wanting to have more kits than this one, you might want to remind her that she has to succeed for that to ever happen."
Rainstorm couldn't help himself. His entire pelt bristled and he opened his jaws.
"I'll do my best, Morningstar," Silverkit quickly intervened.
Rainstorm shut his mouth and relaxed his tense muscles.
"Smart, is she?" Morningstar rasped, grinning.
Silverkit turned her head away, a bit pleased, but mostly angry that Morningstar had been so harsh on reminding her of the punishment she would get if she failed to bring back a mate to ShadowClan. She knew it wouldn't be an easy mission – it could easily take years – and she was desperate to fulfill her mission. Her family depended on her, a small, two-moon-old kit.
"We'll be sending her off immediately," Morningstar meowed, without the slightest trace of regret or good intention. His eyes were cold. "Take Dewfall, Wasptail, and Breezepaw," he added to Rainstorm. "Hide your scents so you don't alert any ThunderClan warriors, and only take her to the entrance of the ThunderClan camp. Don't let her go in until ThunderClan warriors find her."
Rainstorm slightly rolled his eyes, but Morningstar narrowed his own. "I'm serious, Rainstorm. This is not a joking mission. Dewfall! Wasptail! Bring Breezepaw and get this kit to her place."
A beautiful long-haired white she-cat appeared from the shadow of her den and trotted up to them, followed by a long-tailed black-and-white tom. Behind was a long-legged, lean ginger-and-white tom, his shaggy fur giving him a handsome appearance, rather than messy. Silverkit looked away as their gazes met, and licked her chest self-consciously.
"You know what to do every day after you turn six moons old, don't you?" Morningstar added, narrowing his eyes at her.
"Of course. I meet Breezepaw at the planned destination," she answered, lifting her chin. "I know where that is, too, by the way." She figured she had to add this just so he wouldn't ask another question like that.
"Fine. Take her," Morningstar said, dismissing them. "Now, I will go talk with my senior warriors about this. Snaketooth! Vixenfur! Gather the other senior warriors and meet me in front of my den!" He was quickly responded to by a wiry gray-and-black tabby and a dark ginger she-cat.
Silverkit watched them until someone nudged her shoulder. She looked up and her cheeks burned as she saw Breezepaw staring down at her.
"Come on," he said gruffly. "They're leaving."
"Oh." Having nothing else to say, Silverkit raced towards the warriors, who were, indeed, waiting at the exit to the camp.
For the next long trip, Rainstorm insisted on carrying Silverkit, which she refused to let him until they reached the end of their territory. She was very battered by then, and it was sunhigh, with the blaze of the sun beating down on her. She closed her eyes as Rainstorm raced through the forest. At long last, after what seemed like moons, the warriors came to a stop.
"This is it," Dewfall meowed. "Let's hope that wild garlic in our territory didn't wear off by now." She sniffed Wasptail's fur. "No, I can still smell it. Right, Rainstorm, set her down there." Dewfall nodded to a dark tunnel, and as Rainstorm set her down, Silverkit was grateful for the coolness of the grass on the ground and the shade of the gorse tunnel. She placed her head on her paws, curling herself into a ball.
"ShadowClan wishes you luck," Dewfall whispered. "We do, too, little kit."
Wasptail nudged her with his large black nose. "Well, she seems fit," he meowed. "She won't squeal like other kits when I nudge her." His eyes gleamed. "ShadowClan has made a good decision in choosing her as the Secret. Good luck, young one."
Rainstorm's eyes were clouded with grief and loss. "Good-bye, dear one. I'll see you sometimes at Gathering. Never forget who you truly are, and what you must do." Then, the three warriors turned, beckoned to Breezepaw, and bounded away.
The ginger-and-white apprentice hesitated. "Don't forget to meet me when you're an apprentice," he meowed quickly. He turned, but looked back at Silverkit again. "I – I think you have what it takes," he finally stammered, his eyes embarrassed. Then, he turned and whisked away, following the warriors.
Silverkit sighed and closed her eyes, just as she heard footsteps approaching. She was vaguely aware of surprised voices, and then felt herself being lifted from the ground. I'm a Secret, she reminded herself drowsily. And my Clan depends on me.
"Take her to Maplestar."
"That's what I'm doing!"
"Right. The Clan will have to accept her. She's a little kit! From the looks of it, she's from a rogue or a loner, and she's been through ShadowClan territory from her scent of garlic." There was more muttering among the cats, which Silverkit did not hear. "Maplestar won't turn a kit down. I'm sure of it."
Silverkit continued to listen, rather pleased with where this conversation was going. She knew this would lead her to her new life, the one she had been destined for, the one she could not go against, and the one that would be controlling her. She let herself drift off into a deep sleep, hoping that she would be able to fulfill her destiny for the sake of her Clan, and for the sake of her family.
A/N: That's right! It's a rather cheesy ending, but hey, the chapters should be better. Anyway, make sure you look at the bottom of each chapter, because there might be mini polls for my incredibly loyal reviewers! *wink, wink* Ha. xD Anyway, here is the first poll.
What should Silverkit's warrior name be? ( Yes, her name will start with Silver- )
Something YOU, the reviewers make up { give a suggestion, please }
Silvercloud
Silverstorm
Silverfish
Silvershade
Make her die before she becomes a warrior!111!11 *Note the spaz exclamation marks* { this will never happen, so if you want to vote for it, fine. I had to put this here to see some replies, haha. xD }
