ShadowCat sat in the Training Clearing, her eyes closed, her golden wings and ginger fur ruffled in the breeze. But, she wasn't meditating in the lovely weather like she did sometimes. She was listening to a message in the wind. Decisions will be made when one with-
The message was cut off when something collided with her. Gasps of horror spread throughout the clearing. A not very pleased ShadowCat knew exactly who they were.
Dappled Paw and Maple Paw.
The young she-cats were ShadowCat's daughters, and were very keen about exploring the territory without permission. They were also very stubborn, and didn't listen very well.
"Foolish kits!" she scolded plucking a twig out of her fur., " I was dreaming again!"
"Sorry, mother," Dappled Paw mewed, shaking pine needles and leaves out of her fur. " I was practicing my techniques."
"Yeah." Maple Paw chimed in.
"I know, you want to be the best, and you are, which is why I'm holding your Naming Ceremony tonight."
"Whoo-hoo!" The tortoiseshell cat and the ginger tabby skipped around in circles.
That night, the Naming Ceremony commenced. Dappled Paw became Dappled Shadows, Maple Paw became Maple Whiskers. But that night, ShadowCat had a dream about the council.
Dappled Shadows had taken Frosted Feather's place, and led the Tribe to a glorious future. She led the way out of a burning forest, swam across an icy river, and had been summoned as one of The Chosen Ones.
After waking up, she found Dappled Shadows inside her new den. The den was made out of the knot of roots from a cut tree, hollowed out inside, the entrance hidden by a curtain of draping weeds.
"Dap?" She called through the weeds. Dap was her nickname.
"Yes?" Her daughter said raising her head from her nest.
"The Tribe of the Starry Skies has chosen Frosted Feather's replacement." She said as she entered the den, sitting on the earth.
"Who'd they choose?" Dap asked, ears pricked, looking up.
ShadowCat smiled. "You, Dap."
Dap sat bolt upright in her nest. "Me?" She stammered. "B-b-b-bu-but I d-don't know anything about the messages, or the st-stars, or the decisions I'll have to make. Maple Whiskers would be much better than I-"
Her mother cut in. "I'll teach you everything."
As days went by and the leaves changed colors, Dappled Shadows learned how to interpret the wind messages, the decisions made at meetings, and how lucky Council Cats were.
By the first autumn storm, ShadowCat knew her daughter was ready.
"Dappled Shadows, you are now ready to replace Frosted Feather. May you do us proud." Her mother said as she performed the ceremony.
Cheers went up, and a shooting star blazed overhead.
A voice whispered to ShadowCat, and it said Well done, my daughter. It was the voice of her mother, Whispering Wind.
This is going in the journal, she thought.
The Tribe of the Whispering Winds kept a journal, filled with experience or lessons from their life. Younger cats would read it, and learn the knowledge and wisdom that was so vital in their lives.
But, one cat was not happy. In the Healer's den, sorting herbs, Maple Whiskers growled. "I should have been Chosen, not Dap!" She muttered. Then, her eyes darkened, "Well, I guess we'll just see about that."
She cackled, and disappeared in a fog of darkness.