Quickherb opened his eyes. He was standing in the middle of a clearing. Quickherb was a medicine cat. His apprentice, Willowpaw stood beside him.
"What's going on Quickherb?", Willowpaw asked her mentor.
"I do not know Willowpaw.", Quickherb responded.
We're visiting the Moontree but... we never share dreams. thought Quickherb. Sandstar appeared, looking as confused as himself.
"What's going on? Maybe StarClan wants to speak to us. It must concern SunClan.", guessed Sandstar. Suddenly Willowbreeze, the clan deputy appeared too.
"What's going on?", asked Willowbreeze. Sunstar appeared with her mate Rainstar.
"Greetings. You are probably wondering why we brought you here.", began Sunstar.
"Who are you?", asked Willowpaw.
"Oh yes. You weren't born when I was leader. I was the founder of SunClan and the leader before Rainstar and Rainstar is the leader before Sandstar. I'm sure Willowbreeze, Sandstar and especially Quickherb will remember me.", explained Sunstar. "It's been a long time brother.", Sunstar licked Quickherb's shoulder. She stood back with Rainstar.
"Now we must talk about this matter of urgency SunClan faces. GrassClan is growing stronger and you must stop them. A new litter will be born and they will hold the power to bring SunClan to its knees. This litter is born of Ivywing and Sootfur who are both associated with the Dark Forest. They will be raised in the dark forest ways and...", Sunstar trailed off.
"And what?", asked Sandstar urgently.
"They will have the power of invincibility.", sighed Rainstar.
"A cat from a distant land that came while we were still the Tribe Of Rushing Water had invincibility. His name was Lionblaze. He was very kind. He lives with GrassClan now.", remembered Willowbreeze happily.
"Yes. That was then. Ever since the fight that divided us we have been enemies. If these kits are not taken into SunClan, SunClan will perish and GrassClan will rule over all!", said Sunstar taking the matter more serious than others. Rainstar and Sunstar disappeared.
"All right, here's the plan; Willowbreeze and I will go to Fernstar and talk about the shortage of herbs in our clan, it may help us because we need catmint. Quickherb and Willowpaw will sneak into the nursery and steal the kits. Slip out of camp and get back to our territory. Willowbreeze and I will meet you back at camp.", instructed Sandstar. Every cat disappeared
Moonkit opened her eyes. Snowkit was stirring beside her. Moonkit then realized she wasn't in the same place as when she went to sleep.
"Where's Ivywing?", Snowkit wondered out loud. A different cat lay beside them. She had yellow fur, striped with orange.
"Who are you?", asked Moonkit. The unfamiliar she-cat opened her eyes.
"I am Sandstar. You were thrown out by your mother and we saved you,"mewed Sandstar.
"I want to go home! I want Ivywing!"cryed Moonkit. Snowkit shared in her sadness. Sandstar watched on. She then went back to sleep. As soon as she was asleep Moonkit and Snowkit ran for it. They ran out of the den and out of camp, heading for the familiar smell of home. Suddenly Willowbreeze rocketed towards them. Moonkit leaped across the border and ran on but Snowkit was caught! Willowbreeze dragged her away.
"Moonkit!", screeched Snowkit. Moonkit kept running and then came across a big stone hollow. Moonkit fell in.
"HELP!", screamed Moonkit. Last thing that she saw was the medicine cat of GrassClan, Flamenose was sprinting towards her. Then everything went black.
Moonkit lay next to her mother. Flamenose had revived her and now she was with Ivywing and Sootfur again. Moonkit didn't do much. She mourned the loss of Snowkit. She knew she would never see her again. Ivywing said she would be an apprentice today. She was looking forward to that.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join under the great tree for a clan meeting," called the leader, Fernstar. Moonkit pulled herself to her paws and padded out of the den. She sat near the back of the crowd nervousness flickering in her belly.
"Moonkit please come forth," said Fernstar. Moonkit walked up avoiding the stares of other cats.
Snowkit should've been with me. Moonkit thought longingly.
"Moonkit, it is time for you to become an apprentice. From this day forth until you earn your warrior name you shall be known as Moonpaw. Your mentor shall be me.", said Fernstar. Fernstar jumped down from the tree and touched noses with Moonpaw.
"Moonpaw! Moonpaw! Moonpaw!" chanted all of GrassClan. Moonpaw blushed. She didn't like all the attention. The cats split up, sharing tounges.
"Come on Moonpaw. We have to go to the Moontree. That is where you will be truly made an apprentice," mewed Fernstar. Moonpaw and Fernstar bounded out of camp. At about dusk they reached the Moontree. It was a tree, glowing. It looked like it was made out of ice or the things twolegs put on holes in their twoleg nests.
"Welcome Moonpaw to the Moontree.", said Fernstar.
Moonpaw touched her paw to it as she had been told to. Fernstar disappeared and in her place were hundreds of StarClan cats. A tortishell stepped out to meet her.
"Hello. My name is Riversong of GrassClan. I am your cousin. I died when I tried to defend you from the SunClan warriors who took you. Now you are back and Snowkit is in the hands of SunClan warriors.", said Riversong. A orange tom stepped out and talked to Riversong telling her that she shouldn't worry Moonpaw. The toms piercing green eyes burnt into hers. She felt like she knew this cat. She felt like ThunderClan had told them about him when Ivypool came over to check on her mate that joined GrassClan, Lionblaze. Lionblaze died a few days later from greencough. What was his name?
"Firestar you do not belong here.", said Riversong. Of course it was Firestar!
"I travel between every border, the Tribe Of Endless Hunting, StarClan and your StarClan. I belong everywhere. I don't need to know your code to know that scaring a young apprentice is not going to help with anything.", said Firestar. Riversong stepped back.
"Now is the time for sharing tounges with StarClan. Make the most of it young one," said Firestar. Moonpaw dipped her head. Suddenly Riversong blurted out something.
"They are going to kill Snowkit!", Riversong blurted out.
Nooooooooo! thought Moonpaw with dismay. She touched her paw to the tree again and was back with Fernstar.
The next day Fernstar sent out a patrol to rescue Snowkit. Moonpaw has pleaded to be on it but Fernstar refused. She said that she should try to relax. So Moonpaw followed them. When she got to the camp though, the warriors had been caught. Willowbreeze, Stormshard and Breezetail were being held down by warriors and Snowkit was there too, tied up to a tree with vines. Suddenly a second patrol from GrassClan with five warriors pounced out of the bushes. They drew the SunClan warriors off the GrassClan warriors and a fight broke out. All of SunClan was against a patrol of eight warriors. Moonpaw realized what she should do.
I have to get backup! But first I am getting my sister!
Moonpaw leaped into the clearing and slipped through the battle, unnoticed. She slit the vines holding Snowkit and ran with her. A few meters in Snowkit fell over. Moonpaw picked her up by her scruff.They got out of the camp safely and back to their own camp.
Snowkit and Moonpaw burst into camp. Moonpaw put Snowkit down. Snowkit moaned as she tried to stand up. Flamenose felt her back. Snowkit let out a yowl of protest.
"Her spine is broken. She will never be a warrior.", said Flamenose sadly as this was her grand daughter. Ivywing burst out in tears. Fernstar sent a patrol and the cats were rescued. Snowkit moved to the medicine den, as her permanent home. Moonpaw made that her home too. Snowkit and Moonpaw were sleeping together again. Ivywing just sat in her den all day, not going outside except to get prey. She refused to look at Snowkit as if it was too hard to bear. One thing was for sure. Moonpaw was all Snowkit had left. Every day Snowkit strengthened herself. There was no way she could walk. Snowkit ate herbs and Moonpaw groomed her and got her food. Moonpaw never left her sister.
"You should be training to be a warrior. You aren't hurt," said Snowkit.
"My only place is with you. If anyone deserves to be a warrior it is you. You have the most courage out of any of us.", countered Moonpaw. Since that day Moonpaw looked after Snowkit and learned how to cure illness. Soon she was announced as medicine cat. Moonpaw decided to go talk to Fernstar. She entered her den. Fernstar sat inside.
"What is it Moonpaw?", she asked sleepily.
"It is time Snowkit got her warrior name. She is braver than any of us. She will never earn it. She must get her warrior name!", said Moonpaw. Fernstar nodded. Moonpaw left the den.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey join under the Great Tree for a clan meeting.", called Fernstar. Moonpaw sat in her nest with Snowkit, excited for what was going to happen.
"Today it is time for a very brave kit to earn her warrior name. Snowkit you are brave because you have lasted through your injury and been very helpful for your sister who found her true destiny. Snowkit you are now Snowfrost.", announced Fernstar.
"Snowfrost! Snowfrost! Snowfrost!" cheered the clan.
"I'm so proud of you." said Moonpaw.
"Thank you for making me happy Moonpaw.", thanked Snowfrost. "I could have no better sister.", they huddled up and fell asleep.
The end