Blackcloud found herself on the Island, a round full moon shone brightly overhead and the scents of Thunderclan and Windclan bathed her tongue, but something was very wrong. All around her cats were fighting, their yowls and screeches filled the air. Blackcloud turned in a slow circle, horror rooted her to the spot. She recognized all the cats around her, "Stop what are you doing there's a truce," she yowled, but no one seemed to hear her. Suddenly her paws felt wet and sticky looking down she saw they were covered in blood, the harsh, salty tang made bile rise in her throat.
"BLACKCLOUD," a voice yowled. She spun in front of her was Breezepelt, his jaws dripping with blood. The tom was laughing maliciously he gestured to the ground in front of him, Blackcloud saw his claws glinting red and wet in the moonlight, but that wasn't what filled her with horror and rage. At his bloody claws lay Heathertail, Lionblaze, Squirrelflight and Bramblestar, all covered in dust and blood and all staring up at her with blank eyes. Anger and hatred forced the fear from Blackcloud's body as it rose up in her like an adder about to strike. She launched herself at Breezepelt, but something else struck her before she could claw his muzzle.
Blackcloud's eyes snapped open, the sky was still dark, Silverpelt glittering over them. She saw Oatwhisker standing over her, concern in his amber gaze, "Are you all right," he asked Blackcloud realized she was breathing heavily, "You were yowling and thrashing in your sleep,"
Blackcloud fought to calm her breathing, "Fine" she panted, "Just a bad dream," Oatwhisker blinked at her then curled his body around hers and began licking her ears.
"You're safe now, I won't let anything bad happen to you," he whispered.
It isn't me I'm worried about, Blackcloud thought, pressing into the warmth and comfort of his fur and drifting back off to sleep.
Blackcloud stretched in the Newleaf sunshine outside the burrow she had shared with Oatwhisker the past moon, purring contentedly she watched her clanmates. Sedgewhisker and Emberfoot were sitting outside the nursery watching their two remaining kits, Moorkit and Foxkit, were play fighting nearby. It was sad that their two other littermates, Badgerkit and Owlkit had died during leafbare, there hadn't been enough fresh-kill.
As she watched the kits Foxkit pinned her brother, "Got you" the red tabby she-kit meowed flicking her white tipped tail in triumph. Moorkit got to his paws and shook out his pale mottled brown pelt.
"Let me try again," he mewed in determination as he lowered his body and wriggled his haunches.
"Good morning Blackcloud," Heathertail mewed sitting next to her daughter.
"Good morning Heathertail," Blackcloud dipped her head, "Who do you think Onestar will choose to mentor Moorkit and Foxkit," she asked watching the small tom attempt to pin his sister.
"I'm not sure," Heathertail shrugged, "How are things going between you and Oatwhisker,"
Blackcloud whipped her head around to stare at her mother, "What do you mean," she asked, she suddenly felt warm under her pelt.
"Anyone with eyes can see how you two get along, besides it is obvious to me that Oatwhisker wants to be your mate," Heathertail purred.
Oatwhisker soon padded over, "Hey Blackcloud do you want to go hunt with me," Blackcloud looked into those amber eyes and felt a purr rising in her throat. Heathertail nudged her forward.
"Come on then" Blackcloud mewed. They raced out of camp and across the moors, a cold wind picked up. Both warriors fluffed out their pelts as they streamed over the moors.
"Let's hunt in the trees, there is more likely to be prey there," Blackcloud mewed as they swerved around an old badger set. Oatwhisker nodded in agreement.
They slowed as they came to the trees that edged the Moonpool stream, Blackcloud sniffing the air for any trace of prey. The scent of squirrel and mouse bathed her tongue, "This way," she whispered following the trail of the squirrel.
A flash of gray broke from cover, "There" she called chasing after the squirrel, Oatwhisker right on her tail. The squirrel seemed to be too mouse-brained to just climb a tree, but Blackcloud didn't care that just made it easier to catch.
"Blackcloud stop," Oatwhisker yowled. Blackcloud was a tail length from the stream, the squirrel had leapt over it but Blackcloud couldn't stop. She skidded right over the bank and into the icy cold stream.
"Are you alright," Oatwhisker called from the bank.
"Trespasser," a voice snarled. Blackcloud leapt to her paws on the Thunderclan bank stood a muscular, flame colored tom with blazing green eyes, his pelt bristled with rage and his claws were unsheathed.
"Firestorm it's me," Blackcloud meowed to the tom. Firestorm blinked in confusion as Hollyflight and Sorrelmoss appeared.
"What happened Blackcloud," Hollyflight called her eyes glowing with amusement. Blackcloud scrambled up the Windclan bank, Oatwhisker grabbed her by the scruff and helped her up.
"I was chasing a squirrel and I didn't realize I was so close to the stream and fell in," Blackcloud mewed licking her drenched pelt, "How are things in Thunderclan," she asked. At least two seasons had passed since she had seen her former clanmates. Blackcloud was glad it was only her and Oatwhisker, her mate understood why she still kept friendships in Thunderclan.
"Good, Dovewing's kits are almost apprentices," Firestorm replied, "I might get to mentor one," he puffed out his chest in pride.
"That's great," Blackcloud purred. "Sedgewhisker's kits are ready to start training as well," Blackcloud paused for a moment, "How is Lionblaze," she asked a little shyly.
"He is fine," Sorrelmoss snapped, Blackcloud flinched away from her former clanmate.
"Sorrelmoss be nice," Hollyflight mewed batting her sister's nose.
"Why does that rabbit chaser want to know," Sorrelmoss snarled her fur on her shoulders lifted.
"Lionblaze is her father," Firestorm pointed out sharply.
"Tell him I said hello," Blackcloud meowed, turning to Oatwhisker she muttered, "Come let's go before Sorrelmoss tries to start a fight,"
They padded in silence on the way back to camp, Blackcloud shivering in the cold wind because of her wet pelt, "Don't listen to that piece of rabbit dung," Oatwhisker meowed
"I don't understand, Sorrelmoss used to be one of my best friends," Blackcloud sighed "And now she won't even speak to me,"
"If she acts like that just because you chose your mother's clan then I don't think she is a real friend," Oatwhisker swiped his tongue over Blackcloud's ear, "I'm very glad that you chose to come to Windclan," Blackcloud stopped and looked at the pale brown tabby, his eyes glowed with affection, "If you hadn't then I wouldn't have a mate right now,"
Warmth spread through Blackcloud as she purred, "Thanks I'm glad too," she touched her nose to his ear. I guess things are changing for the better now.
The camp was buzzing with excitement when Blackcloud and Oatwhisker returned, their tails twined together. "Blackcloud, Oatwhisker guess what," Foxkit yowled racing across the clearing. Moorkit was racing along behind her.
"What Foxkit," Oatwhisker purred
"Moorkit and I are being made apprentices today," the red tabby skipped with joy.
"I want you to be my mentor Blackcloud," Moorkit mewed looking up at the warrior with round green eyes. Blackcloud felt touched at the kit's words. Would Onestar choose Blackcloud as a mentor for one of these kits? If he didn't then she would most likely have to wait several seasons and according to Firestar and Tallstar she didn't have seasons, Breezepelt has already trained an apprentice.
"Let all cats gather for a clan meeting," Onestar yowled
"Good luck," Blackcloud meowed touching noses with Moorkit. She followed Oatwhisker into the crowd of cats, settling next to Emberfoot, Heathertail and Hootwing.
"Today Foxkit and Moorkit are ready to begin their warrior training," Onestar announced beckoning the two kits forward with a wave of his tail. Foxkit shot from her mother's side, a reddish blur, while Moorkit padded more slowly. A chuckle seemed to ripple through the clan at the differences between the littermates. "From this moment on these two kits will be known as Foxpaw and Moorpaw," Onestar called. Foxpaw's amber gaze gleamed with excitement as she wriggled her haunches. Moorpaw sat calmly with his paws set smartly in front of him, only his eyes showed he was as eager as his sister. "Breezepelt you will mentor Foxpaw," Onestar announced. The black tom shot a look of superiority at Blackcloud before padding up to Foxpaw and touching noses with her. Blackcloud felt a sense of satisfaction as the small reddish tabby flinched. "Blackcloud you will mentor Moorpaw," silence fell over the clearing, the only sound was a happy squeak from Moorpaw.
I'm going to mentor Moorpaw Blackcloud thought excitedly. Oatwhisker purred and gave Blackcloud a shove. "Blackcloud you have been with us for several moons now, you proved your worth by saving Oatwhisker and by hunting in the tunnels as well as the moors and woods during a harsh leaf-bare. We may have lost Stonekit and Dewkit as well as Whitetail due to sickness, but I know we would have lost many more clanmates if not for you," yowls of agreement rose to meet his words, "It is for these reasons that I have decided to choose you as Moorpaw's mentor," Onestar dipped his head. Blackcloud turned to the apprentice, her apprentice, who was now wriggling excitedly and touched noses with him.
Now I have a chance to fulfill my destiny she thought proudly.