Silverpelt was stretching across the sky as a usual sign to tell that night had fallen. It was welcomed by the sound of crickets and the stream running quietly. A young gray cat would gaze up past the trees in wonder, eyes big with amazement that ended up causing her to stop as she was quickly getting lost in the sight of silverpelt.
"Hurry up, Lakepaw," meowed an orange tabby tom, whos' head turn slightly with a twitch of his ear when he could no longer hear the younger's paws. The she-cat known as Lakepaw tilts her head down and scurries a little to catch up with the tom.
"Sorry, Squirreltooth. I just love the night time; it's always so breathtaking just to look up at the stars," she purred. "It's enough to put a cat at ease, y'know?" Squirreltooth used his tail to flick her eartip fondly with a gruff purr.
"It's because you know that Starclan is watching, but with you, it's every night while heading to the Moonpool...and before you go to sleep, and even your first gathering. One day, your eyes will surely turn into stars if you continue to stare so blankly at them."
"And if they do, I bet my connection with Starclan will be twice as strong than any medicine cats!" Lakepaw was always special in Squirreltooth's eyes, ever since she was a kit, which was why he choose her to be his successor in the first place. It hadn't been long since he became her mentor; she became his apprentice a moon and a half ago. This would be her second time visiting Moonpool and sharing tongue with Starclan.
Down along the path, mentor and apprentice were closing in on their destination, and the sound of other cats talking amongst each other would become louder the closer they got. The first cat to notice the newcomers was a large black and white tom, who had been sitting silently while listening to the others talk.
"Ah, finally, you've arrived, Squirreltooth." The tom recieved a light snort. "You two live closer to the Moonpool, and yet you both move like snails."
"Impatient tonight, aren't we, Cedarnight?" The orange tabby purred. "Are you implying we made ourselves a tad late to tie your fur in a knot?"
Cedarnight, the medicine cat of Riverclan, was never keen on Squirreltooth and his teasing and was about to respond with a simple snort as his tailtip was flicking, but a white and ginger she-cat stepped in front of the him.
"Come on, this isn't the place to get riled up like this." She turned to Squirreltooth and Lakepaw. "It's good to see you both." She greeted them warmly.
Squirreltooth smiles, despite Cedarnight beginning to grumble a little to himself as he turned away. "It's good to see you as well, Deerstream. If you don't mind me asking, how's Wolfstar?" Deerstream, who came from Thunderclan, would sigh softly.
"He recently lost a life from greencough...and I'm afraid by the looks of his health, his time will soon come to an end." Her apprentice Rowanpaw was gazing down sadly, knowing it was the case as well.
"I see...Wolfstar has been doing an excellent job leading Thunderclan, but unfortunately, every cat has to pass on at some point in life." That response struck a bit of a cord inside Rowanpaw, who trembled a little.
"H-He'll be fine though," the young tan tabby tom shakingly stuttered a little. "as long as he continues to take the herbs he has to take daily." Lakepaw felt sypathetic for her friend and pads up to bump her head gently against his. "I think he'll be okay too. We'll keep him in our thoughts, I promise."
Rowanpaw looked up with a soft smile, as a way to say thanks to her response, until his and the other three cats' attention was caught by the throat clearing of a calico she-cat.
"If you are done with passing greetings and news, let us begin to share tongues with Starclan." Shadowclan medicine cat Quailfeather spoke, having been patient long enough as she turned to head for the pool; The rest of the group followed suit. The water shimmered beautifully with moonlight, bouncing off the rocks to give off a usual mysterious yet relieving feeling. Once the six cats crouched down to take several laps of the water, each closed their eyes.
Lakepaw felt chills shivering down her spine; she was sure her mentor and the others could feel it too, but it was normal to feel. When she opened her eyes, she suddenly felt...colder...as if leafbare had suddenly hit. That wasn't normal. Voices muttered around her, causing the young she-cat to wind her tail around herself as best she could, while crouching with her ears pinned back.
"Do not be afraid, Lakepaw." A cat appeared before her; a tom with brown fur and white splotches like a kestrel feather.
"W-Who are you?" Lakepaw timidly asked.
"I am Kestrelflight," he responded calmly. "I was once a medicine cat of Windclan many moons before you were born." He would suddenly purr. "There's no need to be scared, young one." His words were soothing to help relax her, but she was still shivering.
"Why is it so cold in Starclan, Kestrelflight? I don't remember it being like this at all the last time I was here." She kept her thin furred tail around her paws once she sat as she received a serious look.
"I know...and I'm afraid it troubles me to tell you that this cold will affect Windclan."
Lakepaw's worry grew with wide eyes. "Is leafbare going to be that bad? But it won't be leafbare in moons!"
"Though leafbare is known to put the clans through difficult times, it is not the season to worry about. It involves a cat, and one to someday send shivers deep into the hearts of others with their cold harshness." Harshness? Lakepaw was already lost as she continued to shake in place but before she could question what he meant, Kestrelflight raised his tail briefly before continuing to speak.
"'Winter shall strike in vengeance. Only the sun can stop and melt the chill of growing evil.'"
With that, he began to disappear, leaving Lakepaw to stand to her paws as if to try and stop him.
"W-Wait! What does that mean? Kestrelflight!"
"...You will realize it over time, young Lakepaw..."
Hazel eyes open to the gentle ripples of the water. Lakepaw was speechless, eyes were wide with confusion and fear, and still shivering, as if she had laid in the middle of a snowstorm for an entire day; she had to tell Squirreltooth. Around her, the other cats were waking up after their own visits with Starclan. Rowanpaw had been laying next to her and beginning to sit up until he looked over at his friend, immediately concerned.
"Lakepaw, you're shaking." He got down again and pressed against her. "Are you cold?" Deerstream noticed this and padded over behind the two. "Lakepaw? What's the matter?" Squirreltooth, Cedarnight, and Quailfeather got to their paws and gathered around the two apprentices.
"She must of caught a sudden brush of a chill," Quailfeather mewed. "Starclan has the tendency to do that the first couple times coming here."
"That's ridiculous," Cedarnight's eyes gleamed with disbelief.
Squirreltooth moved close to Lakepaw and nudging her gently to her paws. "Come on. Let's get you home." As she was nudged by her mentor, Lakepaw began to stand, along with Rowanpaw.
As the cats leave in their own direction back to their proper camps, Lakepaw kept her eyes to the ground as she and her mentor headed back to Windclan. Squirreltooth was walking alongside her, glancing over at her every few moments to make sure she was feeling alright. It was then he said, "You have been quiet since you awoke from your dream with Starclan. Who was talking with you? What did they say?"
Lakepaw was nervous, but she knew she had to tell him, because he was much more wise than she was. She's never received such news before. "It...I-It was...a cat named Kestrelflight. He said he was once Windclan's medicine cat."
"Really? That sounds like an honor." He purred softly. His meow would soon dim its tone. "What did he tell you?" He raised his fluffy tail to stop Lakepaw from walking, attention now fully on her. The young gray she-cat had paused to look up at Squirreltooth, eyes looking chilled.
"...'Winter shall strike in vengeance. Only the sun can stop and melt the chill of growing evil.' He said that a cat will affect the clan with this...but I don't know what he means by the sun."
Squirreltooth sat to wrap his mind around it, silent as he looked up to the night sky.
"If this is a cat, then we need to be prepared. I'm sure Kestrelflight couldn't tell you when it will happen; Starclan can't provide us with everything unfortunately." He looks to Lakepaw and stands. "It's up to us then. Whether it be far from happening or coming tomorrow, we need to stay alert for when this omen chooses to reveal itself."
This is my first Warriors fanfic. I hope its good so far. It's always been a little difficult for me to express simple actions of cats and explaining the scenery depending on the area. I hope everyone likes it though. Allegiances will be coming next, and very shortly. And for some reason, this site won't let me keep the separation between parts no matter what I do -.-