Author's Note- My first story, so please don't murder me in the review section
Stormkit may have been alive for no more than four moons, but he was well aware and absolutely sick of the tales that came from the Queens in the nursery. His brother, Thunderkit, was the exact opposite- he would blunder into the nursery with the other kits when the three Queens began to share a story. Stormkit would often have to confine himself to sit outside in a foul mood until they were done, which took ages.
He couldn't understand how the kits, especially his own brother, found these tails appealing.
It was on a boring, spring day like in which Stormkit, yet again, sat outside the Nursery, his ears flat against his head in annoyance. The soft, floating voice of Petalbreeze, one of the current Queens, followed him outside. He didn't have to hear much of her voice to know that she was yet again speaking of Greenglass the Warrior, who had struck down five warriors with one blow of his paw. It was a story her mother had told her when she was a kit. He was frustrated that these stories were to be passed down forever.
It was that annoyance within him that sent him to do something he'd normally never want to do- visit the Elder's den.
He'd been essentially everywhere in camp. High Tree- where Leopardstar climbed for meetings, though he hadn't seen the dense branches leading to a small cliff where her den was. The Apprentice's den and Warrior's Den were both nothing special, just dens made of mud, branches, and long leaves.
He'd been curious about Redleaf's medicine den, originally, until he gorged on poppy seeds and fell ill. It was never quite the same experience for him after that. Then there was the Nursery, the food pile, and the Elder's den... leaving out the only place he wasn't allowed to go, was forbidden to see until he was much older and on his way to becoming a warrior.
The Cave.
He'd nagged his mother about it for what seemed like forever. The only information she had divulged was that a former cat of Fireclan, who had been taken prisoner a few moons before Stormkit was born. When he pressed her to find out why a warrior of their own clan was being kept prisoner, she denied to speak with him. Stormkit soon put it into the back of his mind, though he was more excited about the feeble knowledge he contained of The Cave than the stories of talented Fireclan warriors.
On this particular day, when the sun was rising fast and warriors were emptying out of camp, Stormkit's annoyance was unusually high. He stalked off from the nursery to the other side of camp, where the Elder's den sat in a large, hollowed out log that could fit five times the size of Stormkit. He yowled his approach, before placing one gray striped paw inside the mouth of the log.
"Ah, another stupid kitten." Grumbled a raspy voice. Stormkits eyes widened as they adjusted to the dark, and focused on a large tabby with yellow eyes, his mouth turned down in a seemingly permanent scowl. "Go on out. We're sure you got lost and are looking for your mother."
"No," Stormkit said, refusing to leave before he even begun. "I came here on purpose."
At that, the head of an elder curled close to the grumpy tabby picked up her head. She had a smooth, tan colored coat and a white underbelly, and though she was now old, her green eyes were startlingly perky. "A kit? Coming to see the elders on their own free will? A miracle if I've ever seen one!"
Stormkit grimaced. "Do not many kits come in here?"
"Not at all." Said the third cat, another female with an all gray coat. Her voice was warmer than the rest. Stormkit was familiar with Stonetail, his mother's mother. "Thunderkit isn't with you, I see." She noted in her old, wise sounding meow.
Stormkit picked his way through the moss and folded his paws underneath his belly as he carefully sat down, the way he'd seen the warriors in camp do when they were talking around the food pile. "I want to ask you something."
The old tabby snorted. "We want lots of things, kit. That doesn't mean we get them."
Stonetail sighed, though it was affectionate. "Ignore Oakdust. He's as rude as he is fat."
The perky cat licked her paw. "Tell us, little kit. What is it you'd like to know?" Stormkit knew her as well- Peachflower. Some of the older kits would always talk about how looney she was, but Stormkit had never seen her act out of the ordinary besides being a little quirky. He had heard that she had a kit in a different clan, but he was sure that must be a rumor.
"I'd like to know about The Cave. What is it? Who is in there? And why won't Mother tell me?" The questions all came out in a rush, falling from his mouth and shocking the three elders.
Peachflower stopped licking her paw and her eyes grew wide. Oakdust stopped scowling to stare at Stormkit with an incredulous look. Stonetail looked very grave.
"Stormkit. You are my kin, but you must not say such things. You should not know about The Cave to begin with. There are dark times in the history of a clan that we try to overlook, but we simply cannot do such things."
"Please!" Stormkit tried. His hope was quickly diminishing. But Stonetail simply shook her head. "You are far too young to know the horrors of that story."
Frustrated, Stormkit fled from the den.
"Thunderpaw, your mentor shall be Ravenfeather. Ravenfeather, may you train this new addition to Fireclan with the fierceness and fire in which Stonetail mentored you."
Stormpaw watched with pride as his brother skidded over to where the young warrior Ravenfeather had stepped up from where she sat, and the two touched noses. His brother sat next to her, happiness alight in his body. Stormpaw could tell. He was nervous about his turn, though he turned his attention to Leopardstar, who looked down upon them from the branches of High Tree.
"Skywing, please step forwards."
Stormpaw watched Skywing step up. There was an unrecognizable emotion in her eyes that Stormpaw didn't understand. She'd been a warrior since he was born, maybe even longer. She was a perfectly suitable choice.
"Stormpaw, your mentor shall be Skywing. Skywing, the fate of this young apprentice rests in your paws."
Slowly, Stormpaw stood up and padded over to Skywing, their noses touching. He sat down besides her.
He expected the ceremony to be over now, but he was surprised as Leopardstar jumped down from the branch, landing gracefully on the grassy ground. She looked into the crowd of the clan, her eyes solemn.
"We are grateful to Starclan that we are welcoming so many new warriors. We are strong, strong enough. I know that many of you had a hard time accepting me as your leader after Goldenstar's... unfortunate death."
That perked Stormpaw's ears, and his eyes immediately swiveled upwards to Leopardstar. He wasn't an idiot, he knew that there was a leader before Leopardstar assumed the position. He didn't know that that leader had died so recently.
"Let us all be rest assured that no more traitors rest in our camp. We are all loyal to Fireclan above all. What Whitebird has done is an unforgettable, unexcusable thing. Goldenstar was one of the closest confidants I've ever had in my live- along with that, one of the best warriors we've ever seen. At half-moon, the experienced warriors and I will gather at The Cave.
We will sentence Whitebird for what she has done once and for all. We allow her protection, food, comfort, though she has never left The Cave. She murdered one of our own, and she needs to be put to justice. It is long overdue."
Her speech was finished by the howls of cats in agreement, their eyes sharp with a desire, a lust for justice.
As for Stormpaw, watching the chaos unfold, known he had gotten his answer at last.
But something in his stomach stopped him from rejoicing like the other cats. Something in his stomach felt queasy, like this demand for justice was all wrong. He couldn't place his paw on it.
That night, as Stormpaw slept with his brother curled over him in the Apprentice's den, tired from touring the territory, he would dream. He would dream of a twisting pathway through the trees he had just walked through. He would dream of a stone cliff with a ragged drop and a cave smashed in the side. He would dream of dark light, dripping water, and a feline with a coat of pure moonlight, brighter than he'd ever seen.
But as she would turn to face him, her eyes would go dark. Her teeth would grow large, snapping at his neck. The cave would fill with blood and her laugh would fill the air.
Whitebird.
End of chapter one! Expect many updates because I'm really excited to write this story! (also I'd really appreciate reviews, and follow this story to see more!)