Chapter 1
"Timberstripe! Timberstripe, look at me!"
Moonkit's amused mother looked over to where her three kits were playing.
"I'm a warrior!" Thornkit cried, leaping playfully at Archkit.
"Hey, n-no fair," the small brown tom said with a cough.
Moonkit felt a stab of concern for her sickly brother. He was always in and out of the medicine den.
The newly named Nosewhisker padded by, herbs in her jaws and head carried proudly.
The herbs tumbled to the ground, however, when Thornkit shot a ball of moss at the young medicine cat apprentice.
"Thornkit!" Peatfur scolded. "Go help Nosewhisker clean that up!"
Moonkit stifled a giggle.
"I see you too, you little troublemaker!" her father said teasingly. "Run along, now. See if the elders will tell you a story."
Archkit sat up. "Good i-idea!" he coughed.
Moonkit ran over to the elders den, almost colliding with the deputy, Stormcloud.
"Watch out, little kit," he said kindly.
Moonkit liked Stormcloud. He always had a kind word for her and sometimes showed her a battle move. Still, the best warrior to her would always be Peatfur. Her father was the best!
"Hollowfoot! Barkpelt! Tell us a story!" Thornkit said, having finished his clean up.
The two elders chuckled. "Alright." Hollowfoot said. "I'll tell you the fox and the rabbit story."
Moonkit tuned out to the tale, one she had heard already. Noticing the elders and her littermates lost in the story, she crept out and headed to the base of the Clanrock, where Wolfpaw and Peatfur were talking quietly to Amberstar.
Moonkit flattened her belly on the ground and crept as quietly as she could towards the group.
"I'm worried about ThunderClan," Amberstar was saying. "Reports have come in from RiverClan at the Gathering that Sunstar is getting sicker, and Firestorm is rising in power and confidence, sending out patrols daringly close to the RiverClan border and acting out the duties of a leader."
Wolfpaw growled. "That overgrown furball better not step foot inside our territory, or we'll shred him!"
Peatfur laid a tail on his apprentice's shoulder. "Calm down, Wolfpaw. I do hope that Sunstar gets better, because only StarClan knows what the forest would be like with Firestorm the leader."
Moonkit, astounded at what she heard, tried to slink away quietly but stepped on a twig. The three cat's heads snapped round.
"Moonkit, what are you doing?" Peatfur said, but this time his voice wasn't teasing.
Moonkit slunk up to him, hot shame filling her. "I'm sorry Peatfur…. Is Firestorm gonna-"
She stopped, embarrassed.
"Go on," Amberstar encouraged her.
Filled with renewed strength, Moonkit blurted out "Is Firestorm gonna kill Sunstar and take control of the Clans?"
Wolfpaw laughed. "Of course not, silly goose!"
Peatfur gave her an affectionate lick. "Go run along now. Archkit is coughing again, see if Tinyfeather or Nosewhisker can help."
Moonkit skipped away, happy that she hadn't gotten in trouble for eavesdropping.
When she quietly poked her head into the medicine den, Moonkit overheard quiet words.
She quickly slunk down again and listened, ears straining.
Great StarClan, I'm really turning into the eavesdropper!
she thought.
"A message from StarClan? Are you sure?" Nosewhisker was saying.
"Yes. A prophecy," Tinyfeather responded. "The Moon lights the way for the Warriors, the Fire burns out the Sun, a Half Kit will guide the Clans, and burn out the Darkness of Ambition."
Moonkit's mind was reeling as she processed what she had overheard- then her thoughts went back to the conversation with Amberstar, Peatfur, and Wolfpaw.
The Fire burns out the Sun….
Her question earlier, to Peatfur!
Would Firestorm really kill Sunstar? If the Fire burned out the Sun…
Clearing her throat loudly, she walked into the medicine den.
Tinyfeather whirled around, her gaze softening as it fell on Moonkit.
"Archkit has a cough…" Moonkit said, waiting patiently as Nosewhisker prepared some herbs for her sickly littermate.
I wonder what it would be like to be a medicine cat.
The thoughts of the Prophecy she overheard were driven out as she imagined.
No.
I'm going to be the best warrior ShadowClan has ever seen!