Warriors: The Last Saga
Chapter 6
Leaffall
A/N ~ Bonjour my faithful readers! This weekend I'm going to spend a ton of it working onCh 7! Enjoy! ~SnowArabian
1/5 – Wow. I've been super lazy recently. Didn't really wanna edit after my nightmare of a chapter. Anyways, here's the new and updated chapter!
A crescent moon hovered in the starlit sky above, its reflection clearly visible on the smooth lake. Leaf-fall had begun and frost was visible on the hollowed branches in the forest as leaves floated down from the trees. It was moonhigh and the moonlight shone on one cat, a gray tabby she-cat, making her fur glow. She sat by the lake, her tail flicking just above the sandy ground. Her deep blue eyes were pools of sadness and regret. 'Will things ever be the same?' she wondered.
"Are you okay?" a voice that she'd been avoiding called out. She turned around and saw the strong golden tabby tom walked gracefully towards her. The gray she-cat didn't reply. Instead, she lowered her head and examined the soft waves that were lapping her paws. 'When did we stop being friends?' she thought sadly. 'I thought that everything in my life was perfect…'
"Cinderheart!" the golden tom insisted gently nudging her shoulder. Cinderheart struggled to keep her emotions in place. Lionblaze had done so much to her. He used to be the one thing in life that kept her happy. Now… it was all gone. She didn't have that chance anymore. Not now, not never. "It doesn't have to be this way… We can still be friends and maybe even…" Lionblaze's voice trailed off but Cinderheart clearly knew what he would have said. 'Mates' Cinderheart thought with a laugh. 'Like that'll ever happen… Not with his future… I can't ruin this for him' she thought.
"Lionblaze," Cinderheart started as she stared into his blazing amber eyes. The ones she'd thought of as a beacon of hope, a candle of happiness. 'Don't think about that now' she warned herself before continuing on. "You know as well as I do… You have this prophecy and I'm just a regular cat. It's not meant to be." Cinderheart choked on the last sentence, her memories flooding back all at once. It was too much. "J-just" Cinderheart stuttered. "Leave me alone…" she cried out, tearing her gaze from him and back on the shining water.
"I'm here for you if you need it…" she heard him whisper. Soft pawsteps retreated from behind her as Lionblaze was engulfed in the forest once again. Now things were back to normal, her all alone, her mind completely lost, her heart wanting what she couldn't have. She took up a deep breath and headed back to camp where no one would be waiting for her and she'd sleep in a cold, empty nest. Again. It was all over…
Two moons have passed since Dovewing's kits were born…
"Wait for me!" Robinkit squeaked trying to catch up to her brother and sister. Her brother, Hawkkit was the fastest of the three.
His spotted brown coat now gleamed, losing some of his "kitten fuzz". He certainly had speed but didn't have much skill in creeping up on prey since he was, not only the oldest of the three, but the biggest. Being the biggest also granted a disadvantage, he was extremely clumsy. Day and night he would fall over on his face and get up to see his two siblings laughing at him.
Briarkit soon followed, her long tail allowing her to balance and land any move gracefully, better than any other cat in the clan. Her black and white coat had grown the fastest and was sleek and smooth like an apprentice. She bossed her siblings around but was always caring and considerate. Whenever she was around though, cats whispered to each other about something named "Holly's leaf". Even though it hurt Briarkit's feelings, she was calm and confident about the gossip. With having great balance, a trait which her siblings lacked, Briarkit wasn't nearly as fast as Hawkkit, or at stalking prey.
Last and certainly not least, Robinkit. Her brown and white coat still held much of her kitten coat. She was the smallest of the three, her short legs and stubby tail not helping her. As much as Robinkit wanted to believe she was as great as her siblings, one thing kept her. Her mother had light blue eyes that shifted color when the mood changed. Even Hawkkit and Briarkit had light blue eyes, all but Robinkit. Instead, Robinkit had amber eyes. Foxleap her father possessed deep green eyes, but his eye color wasn't passed on to the kits. Sometimes Robinkit could catch a glimpse of sadness when he looked at his kits, but it always passed quickly. Why are you so sad daddy? Do you like us? Robinkit recalled asking her father. He answered quickly and cheerfully, but Robinkit knew something was up.
Being the last out of three was certainly hard, but not impossible. Even though her mother, Dovewing, payed most attention to Briarkit; Robinkit pretended that she had an imaginary best friend. When Foxleap brought a huge mouse for the kits to share, he only taught Hawkkit how to pounce and attack it while Briarkit was groomed by Dovewing. Even though she was left out and the runt of the litter, Robinkit continued strong; convinced that one day, even she, would be as great and maybe even better than her siblings.
"Wait up!" she called again. Robinkit raced forward to catch up with her brother and sister.
"I'm sorry I haven't been able to meet with you recently.." Dovewing apologized. "I've been super busy with our kits. Hawkkit, Robinkit, and Briarkit are always getting into trouble.."
Tigerheart purred. "Sounds like they take after you.." Dovewing nudged him playfully.
"So what have you been up to?"
"Eh.. Just been patrolling and exploring some unknown ShadowClan territory. Once the kits are apprentices you should point them out to me at a gathering."
"Yeah, sure. I can't wait for you to see them. Robinkit has amber eyes, like yours," Dovewing explained. "The other two kits have my eyes, but they are all beautiful just the same."
Tigerheart licked her ear. "I'm sure they are, I can't believe that this happened so soon.." Yeah.. I don't really regret having my kits, but I do regret that night..
Dovewing gave him an uncertain grin. "Yeah.."
A few minutes later, Dovewing said goodbye to Tigerheart since her kits were probably getting antsy without her. "I'm really sorry, I hope we can meet again soon." Tigerheart shrugged it off and headed back to the ShadowClan camp.
Dovewing cast one last lingering glance over at him as he retreated into the forest. I know I love him.. but I wish it was easier sometimes..
"No! Starclan, don't take her!" a voice screamed out in the silence that pierced Dovewing's ears. 'What's happening?' Dovewing wondered, shivering from the cold wind that was drafted into the nursery. It was nearly Leaf-bare and all of the clans had suffered tremendously. It was about moonhigh with most of ThunderClan tucked away in their dens, preparing for another day of hard work. Sickness had spread through the clans about a moon ago along with the regular shortage of prey. Dovewing knew that the shout hadn't come from ThunderClan. ShadowClan seemed unlikely as when Dovewing was able to escape her kits and visit Tigerheart, he hadn't mentioned any fatal sickness. Which Clan is it? WindClan or RiverClan?
Dovewing looked down at her three kits sleeping in the curve of her belly. She had tried her hardest to protect them all from the knowledge of danger but she had failed. Robinkit was especially affected by battle and always whimpered and cowered at the mention of fighting. Dovewing noticed the positions of the three kittens and realized that Hawkkit and Briarkit were closer siblings with each other than with Robinkit.
'Which kit is the one mentioned in the prophecy…' Dovewing pondered. Her eyes flickered from one kit to the next. Could it be Hawkkit? He's brave and protective over his siblings. Could it be Briarkit? The leader and most wise of the three kits. Could it be Robinkit? The smallest and shyest but the most cautious and thoughtful. 'I won't let these kits lead a life of lies and betrayal…' Dovewing decided. 'I have to protect them.'
"Mistystar! No!" a shriek called out, interrupting Dovewing's thoughts. The she-cat perked her ears and tried to catch fragments of what was being said. 'Could it be…' the pale gray cat wondered. Peering outside of the nursery without disturbing the resting kits, Dovewing caught sight of Jayfeather. The gray tabby was lifting his head to the cloudy sky above, his sightless blue eyes closed as if in mourning. He must have sensed Dovewing staring at him because he turned his head and gave her a quick nod before retreating back into his den.
'Mistystar lost a life?' Dovewing questioned. All the cats in the clans had been greatly weakened by the plague. Dovewing knew that the loss of one of Mistystar's lives was a great tragedy, even for a enemy clan like ThunderClan. RiverClan had helped ThunderClan in the past few months, aiding them when ShadowClan or WindClan thought they could easily win a battle. ThunderClan had reciprocated, sending warriors over to help fend off RiverClan territory.
Of course it wasn't a permanent alliance, but for now in the midst of fragile bonds and broken trust, the alliance was a life saver. Dovewing dipped her head in respect for Mistystar, and prayed to StarClan.
Dear StarClan, please protect Mistystar from sickness, and guide her to be a strong leader again. She and her clan have helped us out so much in the past few months, I'm not sure what we would've done without her. All of the clans are fighting, anxious and weary of each other. We are all walking on a fragile line and when it snaps, the Dark Forest will take advantage of it and destroy the Clans. Dovewing let out a sigh as she finally got out all of her thoughts. Please hear my plea. Please guide me so our Clans can be saved.
Opening her eyes she saw that dawn had arrived and the sun was just rising. Based on what she could hear, Dovewing sensed no more trouble in RiverClan. Her mind flickered back to the ancient prophecies that had been foretold.
The end of the stars draws near. Three must become four to battle the darkness that lasts forever.
And more recently..
At the morning of dawn, once cat will rise and save the clans from eternal darkness.
'How can we have all this power and not be able to save one cat's life?' Dovewing questioned herself, looking up at the sky hoping to see a sign from StarClan.
"We're going to be apprentices in a moon!" Briarkit yelped playing catch with her siblings.
"We're going to be the strongest!" Hawkkit growled, pretending to be fierce but resuming his playful kit personality when the ball of moss came his way.
"We're going to be the best," Robinkit said quietly, her voice hardly heard over the racquet.
Dovewing had always enjoyed watching kits play; especially her own. But some days, it felt that time went to fast… That her kits would be warriors in a blink of an eye. She had enough riding on her shoulders three moons ago. She had the duty to protect her clan mates with her special powers and to figure out how to stop the Dark Forest.
Dovewing flashed back to after the last gathering. Lionblaze and Jayfeather called her over, saying that one of her kits was the one. Apparently, Jayfeather had known the same night she had, the night they were born. But she had stood up for them, said that they were too young for that and they'd have to find another. Even though the fight ended there, Dovewing knew it was far from over. As much as she wanted to save the clans, would she have to sacrifice her own happiness?
