K.A.K: Welcome to the prologue of The Wild Side! This is our/this account's first Warriors story, so please enjoy! (^~^)
Written By: Erin
Edited By: K.A.K
Prologue
In the silence of the night, all that could be heard was the mewling of new kits. The camp that was once alive with cats now looked deserted. Every feline in the clan was curled up in their nest, fast asleep; except for one dark gray tom that stood, waiting patiently in front of the nursery.
He looked tired, but was content on staying awake for the birth of his new kits. The tom readied his paws, waiting for his chance to come in the nursery. Then suddenly, a cat's head poked out; their gazes met. Agonizing seconds ticked by before the head nodded once, and slipped back inside the nursery. Eagerly, the gray tom followed.
As soon as he stepped inside, he saw a pale gray she-cat lying on her side with two tiny kits in the curve of her belly. The she-cat looked up at the tom with pride in her eyes. Then, she looked back down. The tom followed her gaze to the new kits. One was a light gray tabby with darker flecks and a white tail tip, the other a silver and white tabby kit.
Slowly, he made his way over toward them. When he reached his new family, he licked each of the kits between the ears before he nuzzled his mate. "Stormysky." The dark gray tom turned at his name. Sitting in the entrance of the nursery, was a fluffy white tom with a tired expression on his face.
"Yes, Cloudwatcher?" Stormysky asked the medicine cat warily, hoping that nothing had gone wrong during the birth. He couldn't tell if the tom was just exhausted or worried about something.
"You have two she-kits." Cloudwatcher told him simply, before turning and leaving the family alone together. Stormysky turned back toward his mate with a look of relief; joy flooded through him. She stared back up at him with loving eyes.
"What should we name them?" Asked the new mother, unable to stop herself from purring. Stormysky stilled for a moment, staring at the squirming kits. The kits stayed close to each other, never straying too far from the other one. Stormysky could tell that the sisters would have a close bond in the future.
The new father got closer to the kits and sniffed each one, letting the scent of his daughters seep into him. The mother swiftly wrapped her tail around them protectively. Stormysky looked up due to the sudden action.
"Why did you do that, Puddlesplash?" The warrior asked, thoroughly confused.
The pale gray she-cat's face was still full of love when she replied, "I'm not sure. Maybe it's just a new mother's instinct." She looked away shyly. "I just feel like I have to keep them safe."
The tom felt a little surprised and shocked, but he quickly gained composure and stood closer to his mate. The queen looked up at him apologetically.
"Well, you know that you don't have to keep them safe from me." He said softly, licking Puddlesplash's ear affectionately. They both purred for a moment, enjoying the moment of pure happiness and tranquility. For this moment would never come again.
For the rest of the night, the couple snuggled close to each other in the nest of moss and feathers. The kits had eventually stopped their cries and fallen victim to sleep. "Rainkit." Stormysky suddenly whispered in his mate's ear. His tail rested on the mottled gray tabby kit. The mother nodded sleepily. Then she looked to the other kit.
"Silverkit." Her tired voice was barely heard as she spoke the name of the newborn silver and white tabby. Stormysky licked her ear in agreement; then together, the new parents fell asleep next to their kits, wishing that this moment could last forever.
~oOOo~
In a meadow of soft grass and many flowers, a ginger tom stared into a small pool of water. The pool reflected a dark gray tom, his mate, and two new kits. "The prophecy has been born." A voice announced abruptly from behind. The ginger tom turned to see a starry gray she-cat walking toward him.
She gave a brisk nod of greeting and settled herself down next to the tom. He stared at her for a moment before turning back to look at the pool.
"So it's true? What they say about the prophecy being reborn?" asked the ginger cat with an edge to his voice, not taking his eyes off of the pool. The she-cat only closed her eyes and nodded.
"You knew this day would come, Firestar." she said softly, glancing up at him. Firestar looked at the she-cat with mixed emotions.
"You're wrong, Bluestar!" his voice was choked slightly. Bluestar stared at him with a cold gaze that made Firestar shiver, but he continued. "I didn't die for nothing! We won the battle with the Dark Forest and now it's over. The clans can live in peace now!"
His voice was rising as he kept on, but there was still a quake to it. "We don't need new cats or a new prophecy!"
The tom was standing up now, facing Bluestar, nose to nose.
"Calm down." demanded the gray she-cat softly. "Do you want every cat to over hear us?" Her voice was calm, but by the way she was looking at Firestar, you could tell she wasn't exactly pleased with his sudden outburst.
Firestar had turned back to the pool, ears flat. "It won't work" he said lowly, his voice filled with sadness.
"What won't work?" asked a new voice. The leaders both turned to see an old gray she-cat with a broad face and matted fur stalking toward them.
"Firestar believes that the new prophecy-" Bluestar started, only to be interrupted.
"-Won't work." The gray she-cat concluded.
She now stood in between the two other cats. Bluestar nodded, while Firestar looked away from the she-cats. The grumpy old gray she-cat stared at Firestar with big, orange eyes.
"Why don't you think it will work?" She asked; her voice cracked from age.
He whipped his head toward them, ready to defend his beliefs. "They're just kits! What it they're attacked before they discover the prophecy? What if they crack under pressure?" Firestar looked flustered as he carried on. "Why can't we choose cats that are already warriors?"
The old gray she-cat let out a sigh and avoided the ginger tom's gaze.
Bluestar answered in the gray cat's stead. "You're upset that all the clan's hard work in the past is going to be wasted on this prophecy. You feel like you went through all that pain for nothing." Her eyes narrowed. "Am I right?"
Firestar was at a loss of words at the sudden accusation. "That's not true!" he protested weakly.
Bluestar's blue eyes were slits as she went on. "I'm glad. Because no one is ever going to forget what happened." Her eyes clouded with memory for a brief moment. "And no one is going to forget you. Not for a long time."
The older she-cat stepped in. "Firestar, we cannot change what is going to happen." rasped the she-cat with a grave voice. "This is the destiny of the clans. Don't try to change it."
Firestar's eyes slid from the pool, then the she-cats, then back to the pool. Finally, as if admitting defeat, he let out a long sigh.
"What do you think the three will think of this?" asked Firestar; his voice sounded strangled, as if the words were being forced out.
Both she-cats stared at him, the older gray one speaking up. "They don't need to know just yet." She told him, eyes blazing.
Firestar looked at the old she-cat with doubt flickering in his gaze. "But Yellowfang…" Then the words died on his tongue, as he had given up on the conversation.
Yellowfang let out a frustrated sigh, and turned on her heel; she began to walk away. "We will discuss this more later." she called back over her shoulder, before disappearing into the starry forest, leaving Bluestar and Firestar alone once again.
The blue-gray she-cat turned her head back to face the flaming ginger tom; their eyes met. "You should understand more than anyone, Firestar." She whispered to him. Firestar's only response was a twitch of his ear.
The eldest of the two leaders paused before speaking again. "I remember when I brought you into the clan. And I don't regret it one bit. I never have and never will."
She held his gaze, looking like she wanted to say more, but abruptly looked away; instead, she stood up, excusing herself quietly, before following the path to where Yellowfang had gone.
Alone once again in the vast meadow, Firestar simply glanced down at the pool. The reflection of the family inside was gradually fading away, and he refused to take his eyes off of it until it was completely gone.
The happy image eventually disappeared, darkness taking its place.