The Next Three
Chapter 1.
Moans and groaning echoed through the forest. Cats once known as friends and family were wounded in the midst of battle. A shadow walked in the gray sky.
"You have succeeded, we have won."
"Wake up sleepy head!" A voice shouted in Sparrowkit's dreams.
Sparrowkit opened his eyes, not surprised to see Shadekit and Icekit staring at him.
"Did you have a nightmare again?" Icekit teased.
"N-No!" Sparrowkit stammered, realizing he was still shaking.
"He did have a nightmare!" Icekit giggled.
"Yeah! We could hear you squealing like a she-cat!" Shadekit yowled.
"Excuse me?" Icekit shouted, "At least she-cats don't squeal as loud as toms!"
"Look! It's Yarrowpaw!"
Yarrowpaw padded to the nursery.
"Yarrowpaw! Please teach us some battle moves! Please!"
Yarrowpaw hesitated, but finally let out a smile. "Fine." "Lets see what you know."
Icekit had her head high, she was confident she would beat Yarrowpaw.
Yarrowpaw swiped her hind legs under Icekit, and then pinned her down.
"Yarrowpaw!" "What in Starclan's name do you think your doing teaching kits how to fight?"
Yarrowpaw paused. Her mentor, Lillysnap, stood a couple mouse lengths away. Watching everything that happened.
"Yarrowpaw, we will practice training. As for you three, I'm sure the elders would love to tell you some stories."
The kits padded to the elders' den. To see Blossomfall, Brairlight and Daisy sitting in their nests.
"Tell us a story about the great battle!" The kits squealed.
The elders stared at one another. "I guess we can tell you."
The elders began explaining every detail of the battle. They explained how some had been on the enemies' side for a while. And how Firestar, and so many other cats made the ultimate sacrifice to save their clans.
"In the end, our clan was safe." Blossomfall ended
"Wow! I wish I were there! I'd kill Mapleshade before she had the chance to strike!" Icekit boasted.
"No! I would!" Shadekit protested.
"I'm sure she would die of all your blabbering!" Blossomfall teased. "A true warrior only fights if they have to."
"Who else fought on the Dark forests' side?" Sparrowkit asked, ignoring his siblings.
"Breezepelt, Redwillow, Birchfall, Ivystar-"
"Ivystar?" "Our leader went to the dark forest?" Sparrowkit eyes widened.
"Well, yes. Dark forest cats know the slightest bit of jealousy you have. That's how they get to you. We all thought they were helping us improve to protect out clans, but it was for plotting against our clan." Blossomfall replied.
Sparrowkit walked with his siblings. Quiet as thoughts flashed I his head.
'Sparrowkit, I now name you Sparrowpaw.' The words repeated themselves.
"Does anybody feel that we might be apprentices, like today?" Sparrowkit finally asked.
"I don't feel, I just hope." Icekit responded absently.
Suddenly Ivystar appeared from her den, onto highledge.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather around highledge for a clan meeting."
The kits tumble one after another, seeing what news their leader would bring.
"Three kits have reached their time to go out of the nursery, and into the apprentice den." "Icekit, Sparrowkit, and Shadekit."
The kits raced to the front.
"Sparrowkit, I now name you Sparrowpaw. Grasstail, you are smart and swift. Use your abilities to show Sparrowpaw."
Sparrowpaw walked towards Grasstail, they touched noses with each other then departed.
"Shadekit, you will be Shadepaw. Pinetail, you are strong and great in battle. These qualities will make you a great mentor."
"And Icekit, you will now be Icepaw. Your mentor will be my deputy, Frostwhisker."
"May Starclan light all your paths."