I don't own Warriors!

The Quest of Shadows: Dark Horizons

Chapter 3

Wolfkit blinked both of his eyes open. No jolt of pain came. No side of his vision was black and empty. My eye is healed! he thought excitedly. He stood up, but still, there was nothing except black for as far as he could see.

Where am I? he thought. Am I completely blind now? Is that why I can only see black?

"Don't fret, young one." Wolfkit turned his head. There sat the beautiful silvery cat. I've seen her before, he realized. Her cold, calculating blue eyes seemed to be examining him, scanning for something.

"Wh-Who are you?" Wolfkit ventured.

"My name is not important to you," the she-cat replied silkily. "You will know it when the time is right, young Wolkit."

"How do you know my name?" Wolfkit asked.

The cat blinked her icy blue eyes. "Don't ask so many questions," she warned. "If you want to survive, keep your muzzle shut."

Wolfkit frowned, perplexed. There were so many questions he had. Where was he? Why was he here? Was she a StarClan cat from Ambefeather's tales?

"Now," she purred, flicking her silky tail from side to side, "it is time for me to question you. Do you love your sister?"

"Do I- what?" he said, alarmed. "O-of course!"

"Interesting." The beautiful she-cat looked troubled. "Did your mother seem to enjoy her company?"

"Er, no," he said softly. "She didn't really seem to enjoy any of our companies." She smiled. "Thank you, Wolfkit," she purred. "And I suggest you listen to what is about to happen."

All of a sudden, she was gone, and a new cat was sitting in her place. Skystar! Wolfkit thought excitedly.

"Wolfkit," he rumbled. His voice was deep and booming, like thunder, yet somehow gentle. "I need you to listen very, very closely to what I am about to tell you. Can you do that?" Wolfkit nodded vigorously. A StarClan cat, talking to him!

Once again, there was a flash of light. He was standing in a dark, thicketed forest, spongy pine needles under his paws. He felt himself walk forward, but didn't know why. It was as if his paws were moving all on their own.

Beside him was a slender, wiry brown she-cat. "Think it's over there, Wolfpaw?" she asked.

"I hope so," Wolfpaw replied without thinking. What am I looking for? he thought, confused.

All of a sudden, the she-cat stopped dead in her tracks. "Wolfpaw," she said excitedly, her voice hardly more than a whisper. "It's here!"

In front of them was a deep gray stone, glowing faintly, nestled safely in the middle of what looked like a thicket bush.

With another blinding flash, Wolfkit was back in the endless black space, with Skystar watching him closely. "Find the stones, Wolfkit," he said softly. "You're our only hope." He flicked his tail. "You shall meet with the others on the riverbank near Twolegplace. Then," he went on, "you must travel to the jagged crack, across the rushing brook, through the thorny forest, and past the lush swamp to find moor, rose, clear, and marsh." Then, he was gone, and Wolfkit opened his eyes to find himself nestled between Ivykit and Oakkit, the pale morning light shining into the nursery. He frowned.

What was that all about? he wondered.

"Get out of my way!" Dapplefeather snapped. A sparrow and a vole swung from her jaws. Wolfkit's mouth watered at the scent of the prey, but he shook it off. He watched as she dropped off the prey at the prey pile and padded over to her mate, Sunstar. The calico she-cat muttered a few things in the golden tabby's ear. The leader nodded in agreement. Wolfkit gulped in fear as Sunstar made his way to the top of the High Rock, his paws making soft thuds in the stone.

Stone, Wolfkit remembered. His thoughts drifted back to the dream he had. What did Skystar mean? What kind of stones? Who was that she-cat?

"All cats old enough to fight in battles gather beneath the High Rock!" Sunstar yowled, his golden fur gleaming against the morning light. Cats, curious, hesitantly gathered beneath the rock.

"It has been brought to my attention that we have two misbehaved kits," the leader spoke. "Wolfkit, Stormkit, come forward." Wolfkit gulped in surprise and nervousness. What would happen to them?

Someone shoved him from behind. Wolfkit glanced behind him and saw Sprucebranch's hard blue gaze glare at him.

"Go on," she hissed. Wolfkit began to pad forward, his legs trembling. He could feel every cat's gaze on him, burning holes in his pelt. He felt his sister walking behind him.

"Cats of ThunderClan," Sunstar meowed. "These two kits have done the unimaginable. They went outside of camp when they shouldn't have, taking their sister, Willowkit, with them. Little did they know, a hawk was patrolling the skies. It took young Willowkit and left Wolfkit scarred for life." His green eyes flashed.

"However," he pressed on, "I do believe that these two kits still deserve the right to be apprenticed. Though they messed up gravely, they deserve redemption. As my children, I want them to grow up to be great warriors." Sunstar turned to face the two kits.

"Wolfkit," he boomed, his voice echoing across camp. "Do you promise to defend your Clan and honor your leader, even at the cost of your life?"

"I-I do, Sunstar," the long-haired kit stammered. He couldn't believe it! They were becoming apprentices!

"Good," he said silkily. "From this day forward, you shall be named Wolfpaw. Talonclaw," he said, turning to the scarred tabby warrior, "you have trained long and hard to become a skilled hunter and fighter. Pass these skills down onto this young apprentice." Talonclaw padded forward and dipped his head.

"Touch my nose," he hissed to Wolfpaw through gritted teeth. Wolfpaw tapped his pink nose to his scarred one.

"Stormkit," Sunstar continued shortly. "You will now be known as Stormpaw. Maplebreeze will be your mentor."

Wolfpaw gasped. Maplebreeze? he thought. Isn't she the medicine cat?

So... Stormpaw's the medicine cat apprentice, huh? Interesting... Reviews are greatly appreciated! ^.^ ~Stormii Wolf