Chapter 1
The stench of blood filled the air, finding its way up the small tom's nose. He almost gagged at the smell and of the taste that started to settle on his tongue. The tom shivered - partially from the fear of the blood scent and part from the cold fog surrounding him, causing his sleek black pelt to cling to his body. The tom's ears perked as he could hear the sounds cats yowling all around him, fighting the never ending battle that he found himself in the middle of almost every night.
The tom was standing in a field filled with fog. It was dark all around, making it impossible to see further than a few whisker-lengths away.
'Why am I here…" the tom wondered to himself. 'Why do I keep appearing here in my dreams?'
Another smell filled the air, one almost as strong as the tainted smell of blood. This one was musty and old, much like how fresh-kill smelled when it began to rot. From the corner of his right eye, the tom could see a shadow moving among the fog. He turned his head to see a pair of glowing yellow eyes peering out at him from the darkness. This-this was new from the dream that he usually had.
"Welcome young one," a voice called out to him.
"W-Who are you?" the tom stammered out. He could feel his claws unsheathing and digging into the soil underneath him, rooting him to the spot that he stood. A feeling of unease filled the tom. This wasn't part of his normal dream and the voice that called out to him did not sound friendly.
"I am a friend." The shadow moved closer, stepping through the fog to reveal a large orange and white she-cat. "I have been looking forward to meeting you."
"To meeting me?" The tom wanted to step back from this cat but his claws remained unsheathed, keeping him rooted. His fear outweighed his normal ability to allow him to move. "Why would you be looking forward to meeting me? I am only a kit who hasn't even been apprenticed yet."
"Ah, but you see young one," the scent of rot got stronger as the she-cat moved closer to him. She brushed her tail against his cheek. "You have appeared here every night for a reason. You have a great destiny ahead of you, Ravenkit."
"How do you know my name?" The tom questioned. He forced his claws to tear away from the soil that they were dug into and took a few steps back. "What do you want with me? Who are you? Why am I here?"
"So many questions," a rough purr rumbled from the she-cat's throat. "You will learn in due time. For now, just know that we are watching."
…
Ravenkit, wake up!" There was a sharp prod in the tom's side, jolting him wake and bringing him back from the dream he was having. Ravenkit lifted his head to see his brother standing over him. The morning sunlight was leaking in through the nursery, causing his brother's bright ginger pelt to light up.
"What is it, Firekit?" Ravenkit asked, sitting up and shaking chunks of dried moss from his pelt. His left back leg creaked as he stood and stretched. It ached a little as he tried to stretch it out as far as possible. Ravenkit was born with one of his back legs twisted in an odd angle. Even with the amount of time the Clan's medicine cat had put into helping try to straighten out the leg with exercises, it had always remained in its twisted form.
"You were mumbling in your sleep again," his brother grumbed as his ear twitched in slight annoyance.
Ravenkit muttered an apology to his brother, his pelt burning slightly in embarrassment. He looked around and realized that both his mother, Squirrelflight, and his sister, Featherkit, were missing from the nursery. They must already be outside, Ravenkit decided before pushing past his brother and limping out of the nursery. He had gotten used to walking quite normally with his deformed leg, but it was always still stiff enough that Ravenkit had to walk with a slight limp. As he left the safety of the warm den, his dream came running back to him, causing him to shiver. For now, just know that we are watching.
Ravenkit was used to the dreams of the dark, foggy field filled with the battle cries of cats that could never be seen, but this she-cat was new. Why did she show up in his dream this time, and what did she want with him. You have a great destiny, she had said. What did she know of his destiny? He was just a kit. Shouldn't kits not have to worry about this type of thing? His brother and sister never received these dreams, that he knew of at least.
He sat down and started grooming his fur, smoothing out the little tuffs that had stuck out during his sleep. He didn't see Squirrelflight or Featherkit when he stepped outside of the den. His mother was probably out on a patrol as she tended to go crazy staying inside of camp all of the time and his sister was probably over at the elders den as she loved listening in on the stories they had to tell.
"Hey Ravenkit," a voice called out. Ravenkit looked up just in time to see his mother emerge from the medicine cat's den. "I see you are finally awake. Where is Firekit?" She asked as she padded up to him.
"Still in the nursery," Ravenkit meowed. "Why were you in the medicine cat's den? Are you okay?"
Squirrelflight brushed Ravenkit's shoulder with her tail. "Don't worry, I am fine."
"But then why were you in the medicine cat's den?" Ravenkit questioned, cocking his head to one side.
"You are very curious, I see." His mother purred. "I was in there with Featherkit."
Ravenkit felt a twinge of worry rise in his stomach. His sister was usually so lively so it was odd to hear that she had went to the medicine cat's den. Even when she was feeling ill, she always tried to hide it because she knew that they would make her lie down in a nest and rest.
"Don't worry, Featherkit will be okay. She just woke up with a stomach ache so I brought her to Jayfeather so that he could check her over."
Ravenkit was about to say something when he heard a yowl from up on the Highledge. "Let all cats who are old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting." Ravenkit looked up to see his father standing on top of the rock used to address the Clan.
"What's going on?" Firekit emerged from the nursery, followed by Daisy and Icecloud. The two queens sat down just outside of the entrance. Icecloud's stomach was swollen and from there Ravenkit could see that she was breathing quite heavy from just needing to walk a few tail lengths from the nursery. She would be close to kitting any day now.
"I call upon my warrior ancestors today to look down onto these three apprentices." Bramblestar announced, starting down at three cats sitting at the base of the Highledge. It was Amberpaw, Snowpaw and Dewpaw, the children of Brightheart and Cloudtail. Ravenkit could see the two parents gleaming proudly from the front of the crowd of cats who had gathered to listen to the leader's meeting. Bramblestar continued his speech. "Who have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in return."
Brambestar looked at Snowpaw. "Snowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." the white apprentice mowed with a nod of his head.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, i give you your warrior name. Snowpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Snowbush. StarClan honors your bravery, and we welcome you as a full Warrior of ThunderClan." Bramblestar meowed.
Bramblestar turned to look down at Amberpaw. "Amberpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." The pale ginger she-cat meowed somely.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Amberpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Ambermoon. StarClan honors your dedication, and we welcome you as a full Warrior of ThunderClan." Bramblestar responded.
Lastly, Bramblestar turned to look down at Dewpaw. "Dewpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and promise to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." Dewpaw replied.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Dewpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Dewnose. StarClan honors your courage, and we welcome you as a full Warrior of ThunderClan." Bramblestar hoped down from the Highledge, resting his muzzle on each of the new warriors heads. In return each of them licked the dark tabby tom's shoulder.
"Snowbush, Ambermoon, Dewnose!" The Clan cheered as the meeting broke up. Ravenkit could see Cloudtail and Brightheart bound up to their kits. Brightheart gave each of her kits a loving lick on their heads as Cloudtail puffed out his fluffy white chest in pride.