How To Become A Warrior

by Cloudjumper Kat

Littlepaw is an apprentice from LightningClan. His weird sense of humor and small size make him a misfit, despite the fact that his father is the leader of the Clan. He endeavors to prove himself as a true warrior, but when he befriends an injured black cat - the infamous cat no one has seen and lived to tell the tale - he has a chance to change his and his Clan's future.

11. The Moonfalls

A/N: although this doesn't happen in the movie, we still need a bit of StarClan action otherwise poor Littlepaw can't become a warrior and that would be a little ironic seeing as though that is literally the title. XD

Anyway, enjoy!

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I gulped the last herb down and shuddered.

"Coming Littlepaw?"

"Yes dad!" I called.

I trotted up to the entrance of the camp and saw Oakstar sitting there, waiting for me.

"Come on son, we don't have all day," he purred.

Before we could leave, a small border patrol consisting of Stonetail, Skyfeather, Lionfang, Rosefire, Acornpaw and Loudsong padded over to us.

"One step closer to becoming a warrior, huh Littlepaw?" Lionfang meowed.

"Congratulate Scorchfoot for me," Skyfeather said to Oakstar, "He's trained the most difficult cat. Everyone is so relieved!"

I huffed in annoyance.

"Out with the old and in with the new, right?" Stonetail asked, directing the question to me.

"No one will miss that old nuisance!" Rosefire added.

I glanced at dad, silently pleading to go.

He didn't take much notice, instead, he continued to chat to them about me.

"Yep," dad bragged, "Once he goes to the Moonfalls and talks to our ancestors, he'll be a new cat. And if he comes first in his final assessment, I'll be able to make him a warrior before the others! I never thought that would happen!"

"Come on, dad," I growled, repeating his earlier comment, "We don't have all day."

Surprisingly, he seemed to get the hint and he padded up to me.

"Well, let's go," he meowed as he started trotting away.

I had to run just to keep up with him.

Before I could stop myself, I blurted out, "Dad, what if StarClan doesn't like me?"

He let out a large, laugh-like purr, "Of course they will! You're my son! They have to."

"But what if they don't?"

He shook his large head, clearly amused by my predicament.

"Are you secretly going into the TwolegPlace and taking their food?"

"No!"

"Are you meeting up with a pretty ReedClan she-cat?"

"No."

"Are you breaking the Warrior Code in any kind of way?"

I thought back to Nightpaw and our secret training sessions at the CoveClan camp.

"…No…?"

He seemed to glance at me strangely when he heard my uncertainty.

I quickly realised my mistake. "I mean, no! No! Of course not! Wha-a-a-at? Do you think that I would do that?"

I stopped rambling and put my head down in embarrassment.

"But," I added, "I have heard of a cat—not me— a cat from… DuskClan who may or may not have… befriended a FlameClan apprentice… Would StarClan still accept him—or her?"

A growl came from dad's throat. "Anyone who befriends a FlameClan cat should be sent to the Place of No Stars."

I gulped. "So… what would happen if he came to the Moonfalls…would he… see StarClan?"

"If I learned of a cat in my Clan who was friends with a FlameClan apprentice, I'd exile them. I wouldn't let them come to the Moonfalls," dad hissed. "Why? Have one of the siblings accidentally crossed the border and made friends with the foxhearts?"

"What?! No!"

His eyes darkened. "Good."

We both stayed silent, but one thought continued to run through my mind.

Would StarClan accept me?

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"Stay close to me, Littlepaw," dad growled, "We're near the ReedClan border."

I padded closer to my father.

"What's wrong with ReedClan?" I asked. "I thought Patchstar seemed really peaceful."

"It's not Patchstar I'm worried about," he replied darkly.

I slowly crossed the scent borders into the ReedClan border.

We made our way through the ReedClan territory. It was very dark and gloomy. I had always thought that the ReedClan cats would be happy and filled with fish, but the river we had passed was full of fish.

Didn't they know how to fish?

"Hey! What are you doing here?"

I jumped. In front of us were two cats; a dark ginger tom and a russet she-cat.

"It's okay Darkclaw," dad growled, "We're just passing through."

I looked at both cats; Darkclaw seemed…happier and the she-cat, the medicine cat, Rosefang, looked almost regretful.

"Why should I let you?" Darkclaw snarled.

"Because you have to let any cat trying to get to the Moonfalls, through," dad snarled back.

Darkclaw let out a groan. "You sound just like Patchstar. Let cats, seeking for StarClan's guidance come through our territory, Darkclaw. Don't play with your fresh-kill, Darkclaw!"

He let out a dramatic gasp. "Sheathe your claws around the kits, Darkclaw!"

He purred in delight.

I couldn't believe that he was allowed to blatantly disrespect his leader like this!

Dad growled. "Patchstar is a great leader and I'll not let you disrespect him."

"Patchstar was a coward," he replied. "I intend to return the ReedClan cats to their former glory… Something he was incapable of doing."

Was?

"You mean—?"

He looked down at me. "Yes, my vertically-challenged friend. I would like to introduce… Darkstar!"

I could almost feel the small tremor as dad's jaw dropped to the ground.

"What happened to Patchstar?"

"He retired… permanently," Darkstar purred. He glanced back at us. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a Clan to lead. I need to find a deputy, make my nest and have a warrior ceremony for Mudpaw. So many things to do! So little time!"

Dad started to trot away. "Come, Littlepaw."

"Have fun at the Moonfalls," Darkstar called after him, "They're such a lively bunch!"

He let out a big booming purr.

I was just about to pad after my father, when Darkstar crouched in front of me.

"I've been thinking about what Mudpaw's warrior name should be," he meowed. "And I've come to a decision. How does Mudpuddle sound? It sounds deranged, huh?"

He purred at himself and padded back to his camp with Rosefang following him with fear in her eyes.

"Littlepaw, now!"

I bounded back to Oakstar.

"What will happen to us now that Darkclaw is Darkstar?" I asked.

"Nothing," dad growled, "As long as he stays over on his side of the border."

We continued at a quick pace in silence.

Eventually, we came across a river.

"We have to cross it to get to the Moonfalls," dad explained.

He leapt in and crossed it with no problems.

I gulped. Compared to him, I was a shell; weak and easily manipulated by the current.

I daintily placed my left forepaw in the cold water.

"Hurry up, Littlepaw! We don't have all day! The sun is about to rise!"

I huffed. "Coming!"

Jumping into the river, I carefully put my paws on sturdy rocks and crossed.

I didn't like the water sticking to my pelt and I shook, splashing dad with water droplets.

He snorted but stayed silent.

We quickly raced across the plains, following the river until it finally reached a giant wall of falling water.

"Wow…!" I breathed.

"Welcome to the Moonfalls, Littlepaw," dad purred.

I glanced around. The Moonfalls were incredible! The moon was reflected on the shining water, nearly touching the small lake underneath.

"You know when StarClan are here when the moon is reflected on the water," dad explained. He padded over to a dip in the ground next to the lake. "Come over here and lick up some water."

I slowly trotted over to him and laid down.

I watched as he gently lapped up some of the shining water and closed his eyes.

Copying him, I also lapped up some of the water…

And it was cold!

Letting out a yawn, I stretched into a comfortable position and closed my eyes.

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I opened my eyes to see that the Moonfalls were gone and had been replaced by a shining field.

"Hello?"

I tasted the air, hoping that there would be a scent of one of the StarClan cats. Maybe mum…

Nothing.

"They have rejected me…" I sighed.

"We wouldn't reject you."

I looked around for the source of the voice and noticed a silver tabby she-cat walking towards me. Her green eyes were sparkling.

"Who are you?" I asked. "Where's Fawnheart? Why didn't she come to greet me?"

"I am Hollyfoot, young apprentice," she answered, "I died many moons before you were born."

I noticed how she didn't answer my question. Maybe that meant… she was…alive…? No... that's impossible...

"Your sister, Cloudfall, has spoken of you fondly," I replied as respectfully as I possibly could.

Her eyes seemed to wander as I mentioned her sister's name.

"Your father comes here often," she remarked.

I stifled a yawn. Was this how they always spoke to apprentices? Or were they just speaking to me as if I was a kit because of my size?

"Uh huh," I meowed, "He comes here at least once every moon, asking StarClan how he can defeat FlameClan."

Hollyfoot's eyes narrowed. "And that's why I've come with a message for you, Littlepaw."

"A message for… me…?" I asked, unsurely, "Why me? Why couldn't you tell Frostpaw when she was here? Or why not dad himself?"

"Because they would not understand," she answered. "You're different from the rest, aren't you, Littlepaw?"

I looked down at my paws in shame.

"You don't think of FlameClan as evil, do you?"

I glanced back up. "H-How did you know?"

"We've been watching you for the past few moons and we've seen your friendship with Nightpaw grow. StarClan believes that you are ready," Hollyfoot meowed. "I believe you are ready to receive this warning."

"…Okay…"

She straightened up. "Before there is peace, you must join together to rid the forest of evil."

"Join together?" I asked sceptically. "Who would LightningClan join with? DuskClan…? And even if we did, how would we be able to drive the most feared Clan out of the forest? And why would we get rid of them? I can't just betray my best friend! How much time do we have?"

"This is something that you have to figure out for yourself," she replied, "I'm afraid that there is no more that I can share."

She started to slowly disappear.

"Wait!" I called.

But it was too late.

"Don't leave me!"

I woke up with a start and noticed my father standing over me.

"Are you alright, son?"

I blinked a couple of times, noticing that the sun had risen. "Uh… yes, I'm… fine."

"Okay," he meowed cheerfully, "Let's go."

"Dad, have StarClan ever told you how to defeat FlameClan?" I asked as we started to leave.

"We don't share our dreams with other cats unless it involves the rest of the Clan," he answered. "Why? Did StarClan tell you how to finally get rid of the mange-pelts?"

This is something that you have to figure out for yourself.

"Uh…no. I was just curious."

He huffed and started to walk faster.

Before there is peace, you must join together to rid the forest of evil.

What could that possibly mean?

And what would it mean for Nightpaw's and my friendship—our brotherhood?

Would we have to eventually meet on the battle field?

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A/N: Hey friends.

Hope you enjoyed that little Dagur cameo. He's such a fun character to write about!

There's a prophecy now, because let's be honest, what kind of Warriors story is without one? This one shouldn't be as easy to work out though (hopefully XD).

But what are your thoughts? What do you think the prophecy might mean?

~ Kat's Komments ~

TheSilentFury: Honestly, me too. Authors probably have so many views from Australia from the amount of times I re-read the chapters or stories.

crazyfoxqueen: Thank you pal. :)

Swirlspot: Haha, no problem. A few people have told me that actually, but I like it. It's nice to know that people appreciate my crossover skills XD. Blending Warriors with any movie isn't actually that hard, to be perfectly honest. And I'm glad you're liking it. :)