'Water, Pine, Fire and Shade will come together to save the cats of the Clans'
Book one
Chapter one
The crisp morning dew clung to Saberfur's pelt as he waited the arrival of his mates' kits. He shuffled his paws nervously in the damp grass of the camp. Spottedstar approached him, cautiously Saberfur asked,
"Do you think Junipercloud will be all right?"
"Of course she will, now just be patient!" She snapped.
Saberfur stared at his paws ashamed he had even asked. There was a long silence between them until Finchheart sprang from the entrance, he looked exhausted but happy.
"I am proud to say that we have four healthy kits in the nursery." Finchheart said. Saberfur plunged into the entrance to see Junipercloud huddled with her four kits. She was the only queen in the camp so it was good to have more young cats in the clan. Saberfur touched noses with Junipercloud and asked,
"What will you name them?"
She swept her tail over one of the wandering kits with a midnight blue colored fur and answered,
"Shadekit" then pointed to a beautiful creamy red she-cat and said,
"Torchkit" and again licked a light blue cream colored tabby and replied,
"Rainkit" paused then looked franticly around until she saw the fourth she-cat squeaking at her father's paws and said gratefully,
"Pinekit" and dragged her over to her flank.
Spottedstar looked pleased at the little scraps of fur. She nodded towards Saberfur and Junipercloud and set off towards the entrance of the nursery, padding so softly a mouse wouldn't have heard her walk by.
The next morning, Saberfur woke up for the dawn patrol. He wasn't so pleased to go because he wanted to be with his mate and kits. He sighed and said to himself, it'll be quick! The drenched ferns trickled water down his pelt which made him shiver. Cinderwing looked up at him,
"What's your problem!" and padded off crossly. He didn't want to offend her but she will learn that it was not intentional. Heronsong was now beside him talking about apprentice lessons with Thunderleaf for Fernpaw and Razorpaw. Saberfur just looked forward to the front of the patrol. He noticed something in the thick undergrowth. A thin outlining of at least 10 cats were looming around in the shadows. He gasped and then yowled a fighting call sheathing his claws. Stunned, the outlining of cats plunged and tackled the little patrol. Saberfur panicked; there were way too many GorseClan cats attacking! Spottedstar yowled as she got taken to the ground by three cats. In a flash he pounced and bowled over the three cats with his mighty shoulders. Spottedstar got up and noticed Thunderleaf was gone smart cat she growled we need reinforcements! As she turned around she got pounded in the flank by a muscular tom. She was done for! Spottedstar gasped trying to suck in some air, breathing with all her might she managed to stagger into a bush to hide herself from the chaos in the clearing. Breathing very shallowly, Spottedstar could hear Thunderleaf's loud thunderous growls and could hear him howling a fighting call. She glanced up from the bracken, only a few GorseClan cats were left in the clearing. We won! she exclaimed and collapsed on the ground with relief. Spottedstar realized how sleepy she was and fell into a dark pit of dreams. Spottedstar padded down the steep slope. She had been here Spottedstar thought, last time she was here StarClan read her a prophecy. What now she thought puzzled and walked into the clearing where her beloved clan leader before her sat on the golden leaves. Willowstar welcomed her with a flick of her tail. Spottedstar sat down very casually.
"I have a prophecy to read to you" Willowstar announced
"All right first, tell me, good news or bad news."
"Depends on how you look at it" Willowstar meowed, then went into a trance "Water, Pine, Fire and Shade will come together to save the cats of the Clans!" She whispered.
Spottedstar jerked awake and realized she was in her den. Finchheart was crouched in the corner like he was sitting vigil for a lost friend.
"Finchheart?" Spottedstar croaked, her stomach still felt sore from the battle.
"Oh! How are you?" Finchheart leaped to her side,
"Refreshed, how is the clan, is everyone ok?" She meowed steadily, there was a long pause. Finchheart looked uneasy she gasped and staggered over to him,
"What's wrong?" She exclaimed
"Saberfur he…" Finchheart began, but again he swallowed. There was yet another long pause.
"What happened?"
"Saberfur still hasn't recovered…" He mewed, his sorrow spilling out like a waterfall
"I must see him I owe him my life!" Spottedstar gasped and leaped down the cliff to the clearing of the camp. She bolted into the medicine cat's den and searched franticly around. Saberfur was breathing shallowly. There was a deep cut on his throat that was pouring blood. She growled and said to herself StarClan may not have this warrior! And bounded right into Finchheart, surprised she looked up.
"Do something!" She growled at Finchheart.
"Please Spottedstar I put the whole stock of cobwebs on his throat!" He snapped back, "I can go and get a patrol to get some more!" Finchheart suggested,
"PLEASE!" Spottedstar choked on every word that came out of her mouth. She couldn't just let him die after his mate had kits! Spottedstar rested her head on his flank and meowed one of the nursery lullabies. After all she was his sister.