Bluestar snarled at Tigerclaw with her hackles raised. "Why are you here?" she spat. Tigerclaw smiled and and looked at her with a calm gaze.
"I'm Shadowclan's new leader." he announced. My heart stopped beating and terror sent chills down my spin. Leader? Oh Starclan, please have mercy… "Nightstar has died from illness. I am deeply sorry to my clan." Tigerstar meowed. I looked at my family and saw their expressions full of horror. I padded over to them and sat beside Goldenflower.
"Why would Starclan do such a thing?" Tawnypelt whispered. Tigerstar looked at his former clan.
"I must say that I do miss my family back in Thunderclan." he meowed. His gaze scorched us with blazing amber eyes. "And I heard one of my daughters are expecting kits. Congratulations, Leopardstorm." I widened my eyes. How in the name of Starclan did he know? I just found out today!
"Well congratulations, Tigerstar. I hope your future years as leader are bright and bring new hopes for your clan." Crookedstar meowed. Tallstar murmured his agreement while Bluestar remained silent. The two leaders looked at her quizzically.
"Bluestar, it is rude to not welcome a new leader." Tallstar murmured. Bluestar spat in disgust.
"The day I welcome that piece of fox-dung, is the day I lost my mind and need to retire to the elders' den!" she snapped. Gasps sounded and Bluestar flicked her tail to gather her clan together. "Thunderclan is leaving." she announced. I quickly followed my clan out the clearing and into our territory. We all walked in silence with shock and fear. What are we going to do? We all know he's going to have his revenge! I sighed and looked up as we reached camp. The rest who stayed behind were gathered around.
"What happened?" Brindleface asked. Bluestar stomped away into her den. Everyone looked around in confusion. Fireheart sighed and jumped onto the High Rock.
"Nightstar has died of illness. Shadowclan's new leader is… Tigerclaw." he announced. Horror filled the clan and a few murmurs of sorrow sounded around me.
"What are we going to do? Tigerstar is going to get his revenge!" Frostfur wailed. Brindleface wrapped herself around her kits.
"My kits will die in a pool of their own blood!" she cried. Ashpaw and Fernpaw shared a scared look with wide eyes as they listened to their mother. Fireheart raised his tail for silence.
"I can assure you that your kits will be safe. That all of you will be safe." he meowed. "Thunderclan has been through many things in past. And when all the clans thought we were over, we stood up and shoved our pride and strength in their faces! Why? Because we are Thunderclan. If we stand together, we will never be defeated!" Yowls of agreement followed his words. I smiled at Fireheart with pride then Bluestar padded out of her den. The clan fell silent as she jumped onto the High Rock beside Fireheart.
"I have come to a decision." she announced. "Fuzz has asked to join the clan today. And I see no reason for him to not be able to join. He is a soon to be father and he has helped the clan in thanks for helping him." I purred in delight as Fuzz smiled. "Fuzz, step forward." Bluestar meowed. As Fuzz walked over, Bluestar looked down at him. "Do you wish to have a warrior name or keep it as it is?" she asked.
"If you don't mind, I would like to keep my name. My mother gave it to me and it's all I have left of my family." Fuzz mewed. Bluestar nodded and flicked her tail.
"If that is what you wish." she murmured. Then she raised her head high. "Fuzz, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?" All eyes were strained on Fuzz as they waited for his answer. Fuzz lifted his chin with pride.
"I do." he meowed somberly. I smiled in pride and happiness.
"Then by the power of Starclan, I welcome you to Thunderclan. We honor you for your strength and determination and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." Bluestar meowed. The clan began to cheer his name.
"Fuzz! Fuzz!" I raised my voice to be louder as I began to purr. Fuzz padded over to me and nuzzled my head. I purred and nuzzled him back.
"I'm so proud of you, Fuzz." I mewed. Goldenflower walked over to us with my siblings.
"Well, Fuzz. Congratulations." Goldenflower said briefly.
"Thank you." Fuzz meowed. Brambleclaw's eyes were narrowed as he looked at Fuzz.
"So you're going to be a father, huh?" he asked. I rolled my eyes and gave an exaggerated sigh.
"Brambleclaw!" I snapped.
"What? I was just asking." Brambleclaw scoffed. I cuffed his ear and chuckled. Tawnypelt nudged Fuzz.
"Welcome to the clan, Fuzz!" she purred.
"Thank you, all." Fuzz mewed. Then Cinderpelt padded up to me.
"Leopardstorm, I think it's time you move into the nursery." she said. I froze as my world just shattered around me.
"What?" I asked. Cinderpelt sighed and looked at me.
"You. Have. To. Go. To. The. Nursery." she said slowly. I rolled my eyes.
"I know what you said!" I snapped. "I can't go! I have so many things to do, so many things to see! I'm not ready!"
"You sound like you're going to die." Goldenflower scoffed.
"Yes, I'm going to die! Of boredom! While the other warriors get to go out hunting and fighting, I have to stay behind and get fed!" I exclaimed. Cinderpelt rolled her eyes.
"I already told Speckletail and she's making you a nest right now." she meowed. I groaned and stomped my paw. Fuzz chuckled and nudged me.
"Don't worry. It'll be fun!" he purred.
"Yeah because you're not the one sitting in a nest all day while everyone else can go have fun." I retorted. Fuzz rolled his eyes.
"Ready!" a voice called. I looked over to see Speckletail's head sticking out the nursery. Cinderpelt nudged me forward.
"Your new life begins." she mewed. I dug my paws into the ground as she pushed me to the nursery.
"Can we consider about the whole moving into the nursery thing? I am a strong warrior after all. I'm sure I can at least hunt for a couple of more moons, right?" I chuckled nervously.
"There's nothing to consider, Leopardstorm! You're too close until they're due to hunt!" Cinderpelt snapped.
"How long have I've been expecting kits? I'm just now showing!" I exclaimed.
"No, you been showing for the longest. Everyone just thought that you've been eating too much prey." Cinderpelt pointed out. I gaped at her.
"Really?" I asked. Then I grunted as I was shoved into moss. I looked around to see Speckletail and Willowpelt in their nest. I smiled uneasily then turned to Cinderpelt. "Can you at least reconsider?"
"Goodbye, Leopardstorm. I'll come check on you tomorrow." Cinderpelt chuckled. I sighed as she padded away. Then I turned to the other queens and Willowpelt purred in amusement.
"You're not the only one who wants to get out of here." she chuckled. I snorted and settled my head on my paws.
"Goodnight, you two." I murmured.
"Night, Leopardstorm."
Cinderpelt pawed my stomach as the sun rolled into the sky. "Soon." she said. I raised an eyebrow.
"How soon?" I asked.
"Soon but not too soon." Cinderpelt meowed. I gave her a look.
"More details, please." I mewed. Cinderpelt sighed in annoyance.
"Soon as in like a moon or two but also not too soon as in like not a moon or two." she stated. I pawed my face.
"What does that even mean?" I muttered.
"It means, stop asking questions I don't know the answer to." Cinderpelt snapped. I let out an exaggerated sigh and slammed my face into the moss. The queens chuckled. "Looks like I'm all done here. I'll be on my way now." Then Cinderpelt padded out the den. I lifted my head up and sighed as I looked out the nursery. Ashpaw and Fernpaw were playing with the other apprentices beside the tree stump while Fireheart was organizing the patrols. I pricked my ears to listen.
"Dustpelt, can you take a patrol for the Shadowclan border? Take Sandstorm, Brambleclaw, and Leopard- I mean, Mousefur." he meowed. I groaned as my way out of here was snatched away from me. I turned to Willowpelt and Speckletail. Willowpelt was grooming her fur while Speckletail was sleeping in her nest with Snowkit pawing her ears.
"So, Willowpelt. What do you think your kits will be like?" I asked. Willowpelt looked up in thought as she licked her flank.
"Hmm. Well since Whitestorm is their father… I think they will be strong, wise kits. And since I'm their mother… they will be the most sweetest, most precious, most dashing, most wonderful, most unique, most-"
"I think you're exaggerating a little bit." I chuckled. Willowpelt rolled her eyes and flicked my ear.
"Ok, then. What about you?" she chuckled. I looked at a ball of moss in thought.
"I think they'll have Fuzz's playfulness and pride and my defiance and stubbornness." I mewed.
"That actually sounds about right." Willowpelt chuckled. I purred and rolled my eyes. Then I looked up to see Goldenflower. She beckoned to me then the forest and I smiled before running over to her. Goldenflower licked my ear then led me out into the forest. I sighed as the fresh newleaf breeze hit my nose.
"I thought you would want to come out and take a break." Goldenflower purred. I chuckled and looked around. I sniffed the air and caught a whiff of Ocean Breeze. I pricked my ears and tried to look for her then I saw her head beckoning to me from the bushes.
"I'll be right back." I mewed. Then I padded over to her. "What's going on?" I whispered as I ducked my head into the bushes.
"Killing Storm is planning something. Something dangerous." Ocean Breeze warned. Then she narrowed her eyes as she looked at me. "Are you expecting kits?" she asked. I smiled nervously and blushed. Ocean Breeze chuckled and licked my cheek. "Congratulations, young hero." she murmured. I purred and flicked my ear.
"Thanks." I mewed. Then Ocean Breeze's gaze darkened and she looked at me.
"Darkness and light will meet one day. Moon or sun will find the way. Moonlight shines on evil's fangs, where the moon's path will always remain. Sunlight shines on a hero's claws, in sun's light there are no flaws. Choose wisely or you will see, the clans crumble under your name." she breathed. I widened my eyes.
"But I heard that when I was an apprentice! Didn't I already solve it?" I exclaimed.
"No. This is something greater. More darker than what you already went through." Ocean Breeze murmured. Then she looked into my eyes. "If this battle is won by the wrong cat, then your kits will die in a pool of their own blood." My heart just slowed at what she said.
"How can I stop it?" I asked.
"For right now, nothing. You just have to wait until the time comes." Ocean Breeze mewed.
"Leopardstorm! Are you alright?" Goldenflower's voice called. I sighed and turned to Ocean Breeze.
"I have to go." I murmured. Then I backed out of the bushes. "I'm fine, Goldenflower!" I called. Goldenflower narrowed her eyes.
"What were you doing?" she asked. I shrugged and licked my nose.
"I just wanted to see if there was any mice dens under the bush." I said. Goldenflower rolled her eyes and led me down into the forest. I followed her with narrowed eyes. How can I stop it? I sighed and looked up to see us on a stone path. I narrowed my eyes and sniffed the air. "Do you smell that?" I asked. Goldenflower's fur was standing on end as she looked at a rock. I narrowed my eyes and gasped as I saw a group of dogs huddled around ripping apart a rogue. The cat was screeching in agony as blood spilled from his limbs. Goldenflower backed away from them and nudged me.
"We have to get out here." she whispered.
"But-"
"Now." she snapped. A dog pricked its ears as the others continued eating the rogue. Then it looked at us with blood drowning it's muzzle and blood thirsty eyes. My fur was bristling wildly as a growl rumbled deep in it's throat. Goldenflower shoved me into the forest. "Run!" Then the dogs darted after us. I panicked and followed Goldenflower back into the trees. Barks and howls filled my ears as the dogs were quickly gaining on us. I winced as spit landed on my haunches and hot breath was on my tail. Goldenflower looked back at me then beckoned to a tree. I nodded and jumped onto a branch with her beside me. The dogs jumped up to catch us but their jaws snapped shut in the place our tails were. I panted heavily as I watched them fling themselves at the tree causing the branch to shake under my paws. Goldenflower pushed me up against the trunk and held me in place as she spat and hissed at the dogs. "Leave us alone, you murderers!" she snarled.
"What are we going to do?" I asked with fear quivering in my voice. I heard a snap as the branch shook violently. I looked down to see a gap forming in the wood below me. Oh no… I screamed as the branch snapped in half sending me and Goldenflower falling to the dogs' open jaws. I quickly dug my paws into the trunk and snatched Goldenflower's scruff into my jaws. Her body swung around as I quickly scrambled up the tree while the dogs barked and growled in anger. I helped her onto a higher branch and we both sat panting in relief. Our bodies were quivering at the thought of what could've happened. The lead dog let out a defeated snarl then padded away with the others. I sighed and tried to slow down my thumping heart.
"Let's wait a little while." Goldenflower murmured. I nodded and settled onto the branch.
"You alright?" I asked.
"Yeah. You?" Goldenflower said. I nodded and licked my paw. I looked into the bushes and saw amber, glaring eyes along with others. Goldenflower saw them too. "They're still watching." she breathed. I sighed as I saw the sun drowning in the sky.
"The clan will worry." I murmured. Goldenflower nudged my shoulder.
"Try and get some sleep. We'll figure everything out in the morning." she mewed.