9
She left Frozenstar's den, feeling more in control about the mysterious destiny. She needed to tell one cat in particular, her best friend, Nightkit, about her ominous prophecy. She didn't want to keep this from him; he was the closest cat she could trust besides Frozenstar. They had gotten closer since Wasppaw had left, and she couldn't keep a secret like that from him. She was five moons now, but she felt like a small helpless kit with a big secret. Leafkit wished Briarstar would visit her again but her dreams were dark and shadowy, no sign of the spiked fur that belonged to the former leader. She put the thought out of her head, some things were just too impossible. When she arrived at the nursery, everyone was lounging outside, as if they were waiting for something. Nightkit flicked his tail for her to join them when he spotted her. She nodded a greeting to the three queens, taking notice that Doetail was nowhere in sight. She touched noses with her friend and asked, "Where's Doetail…and what's going on?" the young tom purred and nudged her shoulder, "Be prepared. The nursery is going to be overrun by kits. Doetail is having her kits now. Silverkit went to fetch Brokentail." Nightkit's brother was finally feeling better, having already moved back to the nursery as soon as he had been cleared by Starsky and everyone was thankful to Starclan.
While they waited, Leafkit and Nightkit played with Birdflight's kits. The kits were only two days old and they were already full of boundless energy. Even though Goldenkit was the youngest of the litter, he towered over his sisters, happily pawing the older kits with her small golden paws. Leafkit flicked her ears and lifted her head when she spotted Silverkit walking briskly towards them, a look of purpose dancing in his eyes, with Brokentail following at a slower pace. The elder seemed to look young again, despite his age. His eyes were bright and held his head taller as he made his way to the nursery, taking a spot beside Wolfblaze. Leafkit paused playing with Moonkit and looked around, "Where's Wasppaw?" she asked. Nightkit shrugged, "Dunno. I think he's still sleeping after going to the Stick Pile. He'll see the kits later." Silverkit nodded in agreement, "Yeah. We didn't see our older brothers until the day after we were born."
A couple of heartbeats later, Starsky and Solarpaw emerged from the den, padding out happily. Brokentail stood up and nodded respectfully to the two medicine cats. Starsky nodded back, "Congratulations Brokentail, you have a daughter." She waved her tail and was off to her den in a blink of an eye. The old tom puffed his chest out proudly and made his way inside the den. Goldenkit looked up at his mother and squeaked, "When can we see the new kits?" Birdflight purred and mewed in a tender voice, "When Brokentail has his time inside. Ok my little one?" the golden tom nodded and continued to play with his sisters. Nightkit flicked his ears in annoyance as Whitekit clamped her small paws on his tail, making him hiss angrily, "Get off my tail Whitekit. It's not a leaf." Whitekit eyed him curiously with wide blue eyes, shrugging and went to play with her litter mates. Leafkit purred and nudged him on the shoulder, "What's wrong Nightkit? Don't like to get your tail bothered?" the dark tom purred and flicked his tail on her nose.
Brokentail soon stepped out of the nursery with a smile on his face and padded back to the elders, excitement in his eyes. Wolfblaze stood up and flicked her tail for the others to go on inside. When they were all inside, Leafkit could see the small skinny body of Doetail curled in her nest with her head raised in pride. Leafkit looked closer and saw a small dark bundle curled tightly at her side. The kit's fur was really long but looked very soft. She got closer to get a better look, Doetail didn't even scold her. Leafkit looked up at Doetail and purred, "She's beautiful Doetail." The old queen nodded her thanks and licked the tiny bundle. "What's her name Doetail?" Wolfblaze asked. "Her name is Fluffykit for her really long, soft fur." Doetail purred, looking at her kit fondly. Soon things were back to normal and the excitement was over. Leafkit went over to her nest, feeling exhausted, soon her eyes closed and everything was a black, endless pit.
The next day, Leafkit went outside to join Silverkit and Nightkit, who were play fighting until she walked out of the den. Both toms practically tripped over their paws to meet her. Silverkit had become more cheerful since he had recovered from being sick and to Leafkit's relief he was acting a lot better towards her. She purred with amusement as the two fought to join her. She had no idea what had gotten into them, she was friend to the both of them and even Wasppaw, when he had the time for them. She heard the familiar call sound around the clearing, Frozenstar's voice booming in her ears, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, join me by the high stump for a clan meeting!" The three of them sat, attention focused on their leader. She saw Sheeppaw and Pricklepaw making their way through the crowd, and jumped atop the wide surface of the stump. Then it clicked, Frozenstar was going to make them warriors. "I have called you all together to witness these two brave apprentices become warriors of Leafclan. I'm proud to call them Leafclan cats." He paused for everyone to mew surprise before he began to say the sacred words, "I, Frozenstar, leader of Leafclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn."
He turned to the two apprentices and spoke once again, "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your own lives?" they both nodded with glowing eyes, both saying, "I do" Frozenstar nodded and boomed again, "They by the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior names." He turned first to Pricklepaw, who was more confident and serious than his sister, but his eyes gave away his excitement, "Pricklepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Pricklefang, for your cunning mind and sharp tongue." The black tom nodded and leaned forward to lick his leader's shoulder. He then turned to a shaking Sheeppaw, "And Sheeppaw you shall be known as Sheepfur, for your curly white fur." Sheepfur leaned forward and licked his shoulder proudly, still shaking. Frozenstar bowed his head to the two new warriors, "Starclan honors your bravery and strength and we welcome you as full warriors of Leafclan." Talonclaw, their father, began to yowl out their new names. Their mother, Birdflight, soon joined in and then the whole clan. When the cheering finally stopped, Frozenstar spoke again, "As is the tradition, later tonight you will sit vigil and watch over the camp as your clan sleeps." He jumped down from the stump and slowly made his way to alcove den.
Leafkit watched him go, suddenly remembering she needed to confide in Nightkit about the prophecy, but maybe it wasn't the right time to tell her friend. A cold wind blew, making Leafkit shudder, "Later Leafkit, for now, keep this between the ones who can bare it better than he could…" She pricked her ears and instantly recognized the voice as Briarstar's. He heart beat with alarm and frustration, "Briarstar…?" she whispered, but his voice and his scent instantly vanished. "Leafkit? Are you coming to the elders with us?"she heard Nightkit ask her. She shook herself and nodded, following him and Silverkit to the elders den, thoughts of the prophecy quickly dissolved.
A week passed and nothing happened, except for a few border skirmishes. Leafkit wasn't an apprentice yet, but she was yearning for it. She sat outside of the nursery, bracing herself against the early morning cold. Leaf-bare would be over soon, but the air still carried a brick chill with it. She had left the nursery after Birdflight's kits came in, wanting to meet the elders so she had been politely asked to leave. She sat alone; Nightkit and Silverkit were playing with Wasppaw. She saw the tortoiseshell pelt of Lilyfire and padded up to her where she sat by the pile of fresh-kill. Leafkit nervously padded up beside her, "Morning Lilyfire." The she-cat jumped but when she saw it was only Leafkit, her fur lie flat again and she gazed at her with gentle green eyes, "Hello Leafkit. What's on your mind?" Leafkit shuffled her paws and looked up at the older she-cat, "Well, really I'm just bored." The tortoiseshell purred before picking up a small vole then she began to walk away, flicking her tail for Leafkit to follow. Lilyfire stopped at a fern patch, the place where only senior warriors ate. She sat down and took a bite of her vole before saying, "Well why you don't go play with Nightkit and Silverkit? Or maybe even Wasppaw?" Leafkit shook her head hopelessly, "They all act different, especially Wasppaw. Nightkit maybe the only one who still acts the same…" Lilyfire purred and looked sympathetically at her, "Well they're toms. They all change as they get older. Frozenstar acted like an annoying furball when we were young. It's fine; just ignore it like I did. "
Leafkit nodded in understanding, suddenly a thought came to her, and "Did you have any littermates?" The older cat glanced at her in surprise and slowly nodded, "Yes, her name was Orangefeather. She died not long ago. Her kits are my remaining kin." She pointed with her tail to Ambereyes, Blazedfur, and Flamecloud not a couple tail lengths away. Lilyfire bent her head back down to take another bite of her vole. Soon after finishing, she began to lick her fur. Leafkit stood and said her goodbyes and padded off to join her friends. I wish Lilyfire was my age, but I guess it's just good to have her as a friend now…she thought as she padded closer up to the others. When she sat beside Nightkit, she heard Silverkit bickering with Wasppaw. "That isn't the way you're supposed to do the hunters crouch! Talonclaw showed me the proper way to do it. " asserted Wasppaw. His eyes blazed with anger but so did Silverkit's, whose blue eyes blazed like little flames of blue fire. Nightkit wasn't engaged in the argument. He was licking his chest, flicking his ears to her in greeting. She nodded and sat by him, watching the argument rapidly unfold. Wasppaw had changed dramatically in just a short time, sounding more arrogant and obnoxious.
Before she knew it, Silverkit had taken enough of Wasppaw's arrogance and leaped on top of him, biting Wasppaw on the shoulder. The striped apprentice hissed and threw Silverkit off easily and pounced onto the smaller tom. They tumbled together in the dusty clearing, forming into just a jumble of limbs and fur. To Leafkit, they sounded like a couple of foxes trying to fight for the last piece of prey. Nightkit leaped up to his paws, trying to stop the tumbling toms, but he failed to untangle them and was quickly thrown at Leafkit's paws. She stood up and hissed, "Stop it both of you! You're both acting like a bunch of fox-hearts." But they didn't listen and continued to fight. As soon as she saw blood spatter the camp floor, she began to get worried. She heard heavy paw steps and turned to see Grazefoot and Talonclaw bounding towards the tussling cats. Grazefoot leaped in and held Silverkit by his scruff and Talonclaw did the same to his apprentice. "What in Starclan's name are you two doing?" Grazefoot hissed as he put down Silverkit. Talonclaw reeled on Wasppaw and hissed, "Wasppaw, what made you decide to attack a kit? You're training to be a warrior! Fights should be fought against enemies, not your own clan-mates, and a harmless kit not doubt!" Silverkit hissed and was about to retort but when Grazefoot glared at him, he closed his mouth shut. Wasppaw hissed, "I didn't start the fight. Silverkit did." Silverkit hissed in annoyance, "You provoked me, you annoying piece of mouse dung." He was ready to pounce again when Grazefoot held him by his scruff.
Talonclaw growled, "The punishment for you should be decided by your mother." Silverkit's eyes went from burning fury to cold worry in seconds. He held his head low and started to sulk off towards the nursery before Grazefoot stopped him, "Silverkit, go get that wound on your tail taken care of first." The gray tabby nodded and turned towards the shaded medicine den. Grazefoot nodded to Leafkit and Nightkit then he turned to Talonclaw, "I trust you will find the perfect punishment for your apprentice's actions." Talonclaw nodded to the older tom. Grazefoot nodded back and swiftly made his way to the fresh-kill pile. Talonclaw glared at Wasppaw, and then turned his hard gaze on Nightkit and Leafkit, flicking his tail to signal them to leave. They both nodded and scampered off towards the nursery. When they reached it, Doetail was sitting out in the leaf-bare sun, her young kit toddling around her. Fluffykit jumped when she saw the new comers then jumped with glee, saying in a small voice, "Hi Nightkit! Hi Leafkit! I'm going to be the best warrior ever!" Leafkit purred, "We know you will be." Doetail purred approvingly, making Leafkit feel warm to her tail tip.
"Did you see what happened between Silverkit and Wasppaw?" Nightkit asked the old queen. Doetail scoffed, "I saw the whole thing. Honestly, apprentices and kits shouldn't fight. I don't care whose fault it was." Leafkit grinned and walked into the nursery. She yawned, yearning to get a nap. She missed Briarstar and wanted desperately for him to visit her in her dreams again and she had so many unanswered questions. "Hey Leafkit, what are you doing in here? It's actually nice out today. Doetail says leaf-bare is alive for only two more days." Nightkit mewed as he entered the den excitedly, but Leafkit hardly heard him. He walked over and nudged her, "Hey what's wrong?" he asked, worry settling in his eyes. She shook her head, trying to reassure him, "Nothing, I'm just tired." Nightkit seemed to force out a purr, "I bet you are tired. The way Wasppaw looks at you must be tiring." Leafkit shot him a questioning glance, "What are you talking about" she muttered in confusion. Nightkit looked at the mossy floor and shuffled his paws nervously, making Leafkit cock her head to one side, "What's going on Nightkit? Tell me." She mewed, trying to figure out what was going on. Nightkit met her eyes and blurted, "Wasppaw has a major crush on you…he didn't want you to know though…but you had a right to know…" He trailed off and stared down at his paws again.
Leafkit purred and let out an mrrow of amusement and nudged her friend gently, who looked very surprised at her reaction. "That's it? I thought it would be something a lot more serious than that." She mewed. Nightkit shrugged and purred, "I thought you'd be angry." Leafkit shook her head, "I'm not mad. I don't feel the same towards him. Whoever wants to fall for such an arrogant jerk can have him." She asserted with a wave of her tail. Nightkit nodded his agreement, "Well are you still going to sleep or do I have to play with the younger kits myself?" he asked hopefully. She wanted to say yes but she shook her head; she still need to try and look for Briarstar in her dreams, "Sorry Nightkit. I want to but I'm tired. I'll play later." She stared deep into his eyes to see a trace of hurt. He nodded his understanding and quickly left the den. She looked after him and promised silently to him that she would make it up. She yawned and curled in her nest and slowly closed her eyes.
She opened her eyes and saw the star filled forest; she was in Starclan again. As always the forest looked green and plusher than the leaf-bare forest and it was a comfort to be here again. Leafkit sniffed the air for signs of Briarstar but all she smelled was stone and star. "Hello?" she called out, breaking the tranquil silence. She strained her ears to listen for any sign of movement, but there was none. She tried to speak out again, "Briarstar? Are you there? I need to speak to you." Her heart began to beat faster against the piercing silence. Suddenly a voice spoke out gently to her, honey soft like Lilyfire's but wiser, "He is not here tonight, Leafkit. I am here though." Leafkit turned to see a beautiful short gray and brown she-cat with an odd orange colored nose and sparkling eyes. Her scent was Leafclan but she smelled like Starsky and Solarpaw, of herbs and water with a mixture of stone and star. Stars glittered in her eyes and clung to her fur and she looked as calm as Briarstar had. She dipped her head to Leafkit and mewed, "Greetings. I'm Peachnose. I was the medicine before Starsky. I'm here to help you. I know of the prophecy that foretells your destiny." She wrapped her tail around her paws neatly and looked at Leafkit as if she was waiting for a reply.
Leafkit stood there with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion etched across her face, "How do you know about that?" Peachnose purred, "Well all of Starclan knows of it but I was the one who foretold if, just before I died. I visited Starsky and told her about your destiny and in turn she told Frozenstar. You were meant to be found by him. But your path will not be an easy one. You are meant to lead us. You will also let your heart get the best of you as time goes on. Soon your path will be troubled." Leafkit stared and horror and Peachnose continued, "It won't be easy. Some will turn against you, others won't. Danger lurks behind your shadows." Leafkit's fur began to rise, "But, why can't I tell Nightkit? Briarstar told me he won't bare it well. He's my best friend!" Peachnose shook her head sadly, "Nightkit is important to you, and important to you destiny, but he can't be trusted with something like this." She began to fade, her last words ringing in Leafkit's ears' making her yowl with fear as the former medicine cat disappeared. Leafkit was left standing alone with only Peachnose's words as company and blackness soon took over.