Chapter One: You Found Me
A lone kit laid on ground, near a stream. She weakly lifted her head, opening her eyes to reveal bright blue eyes. Through her blurry eyesight, she saw a dark shape coming near her.
"Help." She croaked. "Please, help me."
It was pointless. Clearly, the dark shape would not hear her. And the kit knew this. But she hoped, because hoping was all she could do.
"Help. Please, help me."
The dark shape said something the kit couldn't make out. Then it picked up the kit by the scruff. The kit didn't dare to move, but merely closed its eyes, allowing the darkness to take over.
"Is she awake?" A kit's voice spoke.
"Shh, you'll wake her!" Another voice scolded.
"That's what I was asking!" The same kit's voice protested.
Eyes fluttering open, the blue eyes of the weak kit revealed themselves.
"Now you've woken her up!" the voice said exasperatedly. "Out now!"
A brown calico she-cat with amber eyes sat near piles of sweet smelling leaves. She looked at her patient, smiling kindly. "Hello, little one. I'm glad to see you're awake. Would you like some fresh-kill?"
The kit swallowed, feeling the roughness of her throat. "Yes, please." she croaked.
The calico she-cat walked out of the den, and reappeared almost instantly. In her jaws, was a mouse. It smelled delicious. The kit eagerly licked her lips, in anticipation as the calico set the mouse down. Once the kit had her jaws on that mouse, no one was going to take it from her. She purred loudly as she ate, which hurt her throat even more, but she knew no other way to express her gratitude.
By the time she was finished, it was nothing more than bones. The kit, now satisfied, looked at the calico with interest. She hadn't seen a cat in ages, and the calico was extremely friendly and kind. In fact, she had sat next to the kit while she had eaten, just watching her quietly.
"What is your name, little kit?" the calico asked gently.
The kit frowned. "I've never had a name. What's yours?"
"I am Dappleheart, medicine cat of ThunderClan, the place where you now live. It is quite a shame you don't have a name. Names define who you are, after all."
"I wish I had a name as pretty as yours. But I'm not at all pretty like you." The kit looked at her golden fur. One of her paws was more brown than gold, her tail was tipped with a reddish splotch, there was a small heart-shaped marking on her chest that was also reddish, and two little markings on her hind legs that were shaped like bat's wings and were black. She had a light marking over one eye, and another underneath her other eye.
"That is not at all true, little one. Why don't we visit Stormstar? Perhaps she will give you a name." Dappleheart picked up the kit by the scruff, and walked out to the camp. The bright sun momentarily blinded the kit, but soon her eyes adjusted. She noticed other cats, some old, some young and some just middle-aged. Toms and she-cats, the place had plenty of cats.
Some looked curiously at her. Others glared. But most just seemed intent on doing whatever they were doing. A group of cats came inside the camp, coming through a tunnel. They carried fresh-kill in their mouths, and a few glanced in the direction of Dappleheart.
"Hey, Dappleheart!" A tall gray brindled tom approached the medicine cat. She gently set the kit down, who looked at the tom with curious eyes.
"What is it, Graylegs?" Dappleheart asked.
"I got a thorn stuck in my paw when I was chasing a rabbit. I was hoping you could get it out, but I see you got your paws full with that youngster that Darkmoon found." Greylegs glanced at the kit, who shied away, hiding behind one of Dappleheart's legs.
"I'll take care of you in a minute, Graylegs. I promise."
"I believe that much." Graylegs padded off to a couple of other cats, most likely his friends.
Dappleheart picked the kit up again, and went into an opening in the stone wall. Once inside, she dropped the kit on the ground and sat down.
Laying down, was an elegant looking she-cat. She had stormy gray eyes, and a gray pelt with blotches of darker gray that resembled clouds. Her fur was sleek, and as she stretched, she unsheathed her claws, revealing they were long and sharp. She held her chin high and smiled at Dappleheart.
"Is this our new arrival, whom I have heard so much about?" She asked. Even her voice was elegant. It had that note that suggested a storm could erupt at any moment though.
"Yes, Stormstar. She has finally woken, and is in need of a name." Dappleheart replied.
"Interesting. Most of the cats who come here, already have a name. For example, Riverheart."
"True, true. She doesn't though."
"Hmm." Stormstar inspected the kit with a close eye. "I think Brightkit will suit her. After all, when her pelt hits the sunlight, it looks like a little piece of the sun has come into the clan. Is she well enough to go into the nursery?"
"I think so. Thank you Stormstar."
"You are most very welcome. I hope you'll enjoy ThunderClan, little one." Stormstar's voice held a note of sadness. One that Brightkit wished she could find the answer to.
But Dappleheart had picked her up again, and had taken her outside again, taking her to a place that smelled strongly of she-cats and milk. The nursery.
"I'm gonna get you!" Robinkit squealed as he raced after Brightkit.
Brightkit had settled in with his family, which consisted of him, his two sisters; Daisykit and Voiletkit and his mother; Flowerwings. Flowerwings smiled fondly from the shade of the nursery at the two of them playing. Daisykit and Voiletkit didn't like the rough play that Brightkit did. They preferred to stay near their mother and pretend they were queens. At first, Robin had been upset that yet another she-kit was in his family, until Brightkit showed her love of racing and play fighting. Then he warmed up to her, and the two sisters grew cold to her. Well, one of them anyway.
Flowerwings didn't care either way. She'd had another tom before Brighkit's arrival, but he had died. So Brightkit was her forth kit in a way.
"You can't catch me!" Brightkit said, putting on a burst of speed. She was way ahead of him, until she ran into a dark shape. Robinkit slowed down behind her.
"Watch where you're going!" the dark shape snarled.
Brightkit looked up into angry orange eyes. She scrambled to her paws, Robinkit finally catching up. His blackish eyes widened in fear, and his ears flattened.
"We're sorry, Darkmoon. Brightkit didn't mean to run into you. We were just playing." Robinkit explained.
"You're Darkmoon?" Brightkit blurted out.
Robinkit gave Brightkit a look like What are you doing, mousebrain?! Let's get out of here before he gets angry!
Darkmoon looked down at Brightkit, his orange eyes still angry. "Yes, I am. What about it?"
"I heard from Graylegs that you were the one who rescued me. So I wanted to say thanks. For saving me."
Darkmoon rolled his eyes. "A warriors duties consist of helping kits and queens in need. I was merely preforming my duty. No need to make it seem like I saved you from a Dark Forest cat. Now, go back to your mother and don't get underfoot of other warriors again!"
Brightkit stared as he walked away.
"He's always like that." Robinkit whispered.
"Why?" Brightkit eased her way into sitting.
"He was 'Darkpaw' before you came around. He got his warrior name because he saved you."
"That's not much of an excuse."
"He's a warrior." Robinkit shrugged. "Warriors are usually arrogant."
"I'll say." both kits jumped at the sight of a dark gray apprentice. She blew the fur that kept covering her amber eyes, and smiled. "The name's Owlpaw."
"I'm Brightkit."
"I know who you are. Everyone talks about you in the apprentice den. Besides, that was my brother you just spoke to. He's an old badger, but he can be fun." Owlpaw had no markings unlike her tabby brother. And she was definitely fluffier. Her fur looked like a wind had ruffled it. Twigs, leaves and other things were tangled in it.
"They do?" Brightkit asked shyly, looking to her paws.
"Of course. You're the unknown kit, to us. Found over by the border of WindClan and ours. Which brings up the question if you're one of Breezestar's kits. His mate lost her kits a few moons ago."
"Robinkit, Brightkit! It's time to sleep!" Flowerwing called. The orange queen stood expectantly, waiting for the two of them to hurry.
"Coming, Flowerwing!" Robinkit called. He got to his paws. "Well, it was nice talking to you, Owlpaw. I hope you get your warrior name soon."
"I've been training as long as Darkmoon. I deserve to get my warrior name by now." The fluffy gray apprentice muttered.
Robinkit and Brightkit rushed off to Flowerwing, leaving the she-cat muttering to herself as she approached the apprentice den. Flowerwing curled her tail around the two as they padded inside. Violetkit glared at the two.
"Its about time you got in here. I was starting to think that snake that all the elders are always talking about, ate you." Violetkit sniffed.
"Voiletkit," Flowerwing said warningly.
"C'mon, let's sleep." Daisykit suggested. She was more peaceful than her sister.
Flowerwing curled around her kits protectively, smiling as she laid her head down. Daisykit and Violetkit curled around each other. Robinkit laid down and pressed against his mother. Brightkit joined him, enjoying the warmth they shared.
Brightkit looked at misty trees and starry hunting grounds. A shape was emerging from all the mist. A she-cat with blue fur and blue eyes. Stars glimmered beneath her pelt. She smiled at Brightkit and sat down.
"I am Bluestar. I was once, the leader of ThunderClan, long ago. Now I am a warrior of StarClan. Welcome, Brightkit."
The only thing Brightkit could think to say, was "Am I dead?"
Bluestar chuckled. "No, little one. I cannot stay long, so you must listen carefully. You are listening, right?"
Brightkit nodded.
"You, are destined for greatness. You must know that the clans are in trouble, and a great threat has been kitnapping several kits almost every moon. You will stop this threat, and bring a long era of peace."
"I will?" Brightkit cocked her head.
"I must go little one." Bluestar started to fade. "When you awake, you will remember nothing."
"Wait! Please don't go!" Brightkit tried to race after the StarClan she-cat, but felt her paws becoming heavy with sleep. She stumbled and fell, falling into blackness once more.
"ROBINKIT!" Flowerwing's terrified scream echoed throughout the camp. Brightkit awoke to the wailing cries of Robinkit, who was in the jaws of a massive tom. Another tom cuffed Flowerwing hard, knocking her out. He was speckled with drops of blood. Two bloody bodies; Voiletkit and Daisykit laid at his paws. Brightkit couldn't tell if they were still alive. He looked at her, suddenly interested.
"RUN, BRIGHTKIT! RUN!" Robinkit screamed at her.
Brightkit backed against the wall where the nursery ended. A dark shape hurled across the den, materializing into Darkmoon. He growled, standing in front of Brightkit protectively. When the tom, speckled with blood, leaped at him, Darkmoon was ready. He easily pinned him to the ground and sunk his fangs into the toms neck. Blood spurted out, splattering on to the leaves of the nursery. Robinkit and the tom who had held him, was gone.
"Robinkit..." Brightkit whimpered, as she sunk to the ground.
Darkmoon turned to her, and approached. His pelt was stained with splatters of blood, his paws covered in the stuff and his mouth thoroughly stained, or so it seemed. He spoke in a kind voice, though. Even if it was a bit gruff.
"Come on, Brightkit. Let's get you to Dappleheart's den."
"What...what happened to Daisykit and Voiletkit?" Brightkit managed as she got to her paws and followed the young tom.
"Both are dead. You're the only one they didn't take."
Brightkit's legs seemed to collapse underneath her. Darkmoon easily picked her up by her scruff. The tears on Brightkit's face would not dry, for several moons.