"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Brightledge for a Clan meeting!"
Aurorastar stood on top of the pale rock, looking down below. It was time for the warrior ceremony for Swiftpaw, Ravenpaw, Moonpaw, and Willowpaw. They had just passed their warrior assessments, and were now seated below.
Adderkit skipped out of the nursery. She was Wolfsong's daughter, and Shadowkit was her son. Honeysplash followed her out, Sunkit, Whitekit, and Hollykit behind her. She had named the golden tabby and white tom Sunkit, and Moonshine had named the white tom Whitekit. The little black she cat was Hollykit. They were only a half moon old, but had already gotten into trouble with at least half the warriors.
Hollykit sat down beside Swiftpaw, her bright blue eyes fixed on Aurorastar and white paws peaking out from under her belly.
"Cats of SunClan, it is time to welcome four new warriors into our Clan today. Moonpaw, Willowpaw, Swiftpaw, and Ravenpaw have passed their warrior assessments." She turned to Tigerlilly. "Has Swiftpaw proven herself a warrior ready for SunClan?"
Tigerlilly nodded. "She has."
Aurorastar then cast her gaze to Wolfsong and Blackwhisker, who had completed Ravenpaw's training while Wolfsong was in the nursery. "Is Ravenpaw ready to become a warrior?"
"Ravenpaw will make SunClan proud," Blackwhisker promised.
"As will Moonpaw!" Stoneclaw called.
"Willowpaw is more than ready to become a warrior!" Dragonclaw added.
Aurorastar nodded. "I, Aurorastar, leader of SunClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." She jumped down to stand in front of the apprentices. "Swiftpaw, Ravenpaw, Willowpaw, and Moonpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend SunClan, even at the cost of your lives?"
"I do," said Swiftpaw firmly.
"I do," Ravenpaw meowed loudly.
"I do!" Willowpaw and Moonpaw said at the same time.
"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I grant you your warrior names. Swiftpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Swiftwing. StarClan honors your bravery and selflessness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SunClan."
Ravenpaw stepped forward, her amber eyes gleaming with determination.
"Ravenpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Ravenfire. StarClan honors your warrior skill and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SunClan." After resting her chin on the new warrior's head, she turned to Moonpaw, whose silver fur was beginning to bristle with excitement.
"Moonpaw, from this moment forth you shall be known as Moonbreeze. StarClan honors your high spirits and intelligence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SunClan."
Willowpaw stepped forward. Her soft silver tabby paws kneaded the ground impatiently, though her blue eyes were shining.
"Willowpaw, from this moment onward you shall be known as Willowpool. StarClan honors your hunter's skill and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of SunClan."
"Swiftwing! Ravenfire! Moonbreeze! Willowpool!" the Clan cheered. Tigerlilly, Wolfsong, Blackwhisker, Stoneclaw, and Dragonclaw watched their former apprentices with pride. Viperfire sat at the entrance to Starwhisper's den. Her green eyes were glazed with sickness, though they still gleamed as she watched her daughter, Ravenfire.
Ravenfire has inherited her mother's strong spirits, Aurorastar remarked.
Icekit sat by Petalblossom. When Crystalclaw had refused to care for her, Petalblossom had taken her in with welcoming paws. Though now it was time for her to leave her short time in the nursery.
"I have one more ceremony to perform," Aurorastar called. "Icekit's short time in the nursery has been spent, and now she is ready to become an apprentice."
There were no more yowls of protest, but many glares were shot at Icekit, though the white she cat ignored them. She had her ice blue eyes were fixed on Aurorastar, who beckoned her forward with her tail.
"Icekit, until you earn your warrior name, you shall be known as Icepaw." She turned to a large tabby tom, whose bright amber eyes were fixed on his leader. "Brambleblaze, you are now ready to take on an apprentice. You will mentor Icepaw. You have shown yourself to be very strong spirited, though caring to other cats. I hope that you will pass on these qualities to Icepaw."
Brambleblaze's eyes shined with warmth. When Icepaw had come to SunClan's camp, he had supported Aurorastar's decision to care for Icepaw in SunClan rather than cast her out.
"Icepaw! Icepaw!" Her apprentice name was only cheered by some of the Clan members. Petalblossom and Brambleblaze cheered the loudest, making up for some of lost calls. Cats like Nightglow, Leopardsun, Bluefire, Redpalm, and Bluegalaxy gave Icepaw harsh glares.
They must learn to live with Icepaw. One day she will make a fine warrior, and then they cannot shut her out and bring her down.
"No! Viperfire, don't leave me!"
Aurorastar jolted awake at the sound of Ravenfire's terrified screech. The young she cat was carrying out her warrior vigil with Moonbreeze, Swiftwing, and Willowpool. Whatever was going on, it must be important enough for Ravenfire to break her silent vigil.
Aurorastar jumped out of her nest and raced down into the camp. Ravenfire was in the medicine cat's den, standing over her mother. Aurorastar ran inside.
Starwhisper joined her leader's side. Her green eyes were wide with despair. "Viperfire's dying. I'm all out of catmint, and there is nothing else I can do!"
Aurorastar quickly went to Viperfire's side. The black tabby she cat's pelt was ragged under her thin body. She was barely breathing.
"Viperfire, can you here me? Stay with us!" Aurorastar meowed loudly.
Viperfire's eyes opened into a tiny crack. She looked at Ravenfire. "My only kit," she rasped. "You will make a great warrior, and maybe someday a wonderful mother. Be strong."
"I need you here!" Ravenfire cried out. "Don't leave!" But her mother's body had already grown still.
"She walks with StarClan now, Ravenfire," Aurorastar whispered.
Ravenfire fixed her blazing amber eyes on her leader. They were filled with sorrow and rage. "I know that now! I'm not stupid! Why does StarClan have to be so cruel and take cats in such horrible ways!" She stood at the entrance to the den. "I hate you, StarClan!" she yowled to Silverpelt. With a wail of grief, she tore out of camp.
"Don't take it personally," mewed Starwhisper. "She's grieving."
Aurorastar turned her deep blue eyes to the medicine cat. She was starring at her paws and her tail was low.
"Viperfire's death is not your fault," Aurorastar started. "You did your best to prevent it."
"Not my best," Starwhisper growled. "The guards at the catmint have helped. I have gotten a little more catmint, but that's all I will get. Leaf-bare is coming and the catmint is not growing anymore. Already our amount of prey is decreasing. SunClan is big, and I am afraid that if a cat catches greencough, they won't have the strength to pull through." She glanced at two tiny bodies nearby. "Jewelkit and Iriskit have greencough now, and I am so afraid they will die."
"I will not let that happen. If we need more catmint, I will go to StormClan to get back what is rightfully ours. Hunting patrols will be increased like every leaf-bare. And no more cats will die."
"I hope so," Starwhisper murmured.
Aurorastar prowled forward, paws silent, tail low. The unsuspecting thrush pecked at the frosty ground. She moved one paw forward, letting out a hiss when a brittle twig snapped under her soft pads. The thrush was alert. Letting out a squawk, it flew into the air, but Aurorastar was faster. With a flying leap, she clipped its wing and brought it to the ground, finishing it with a bite to the throat.
Looking satisfied, she picked up her prey and headed back to camp, knowing that the thrush's call would have scared all prey nearby away.
"Aurorastar!" a voice called in greeting. It was Brambleblaze, hunting with his apprentice, Icepaw. It had been a quarter moon since her apprenticeship and Viperfire's death. The Clan had grieved for the loss, but moved on due to leaf-bare coming in so quickly.
"Greetings, Brambleblaze," Aurorastar called back. The tom carried a vole and a robin in his jaws. "Good hunting?"
"Quite," he meowed through a mouthful of fur and feathers, and padded over to his leader's side.
Icepaw scampered over to join them. She had two mice clamped in her jaws.
"Did you catch those yourself?" Aurorastar asked.
Icepaw nodded, her eyes bright with pride.
"Icepaw has mastered the hunter's crouch completely," Brambleblaze explained, his amber eyes warm. "She has natural talent."
"I'm very glad to here it." Icepaw glowed at Aurorastar's praise.
Aurorastar padded alongside the two. She suddenly sneezed when she felt a cold, wet tingle on her nose. She starred up at the sky.
The world above her had turned a pale gray. Big, heavy snowflakes showered down onto them. Already the forest ground was tinged with the white crystals.
"What is it?" Icepaw asked, bewildered.
"It's snow," Brambleblaze replied. "It rains down from Silverpelt during leaf-bare. They may be tiny, but there are lots of them. The whole forest may be covered in a thick blanket of them by tomorrow."
"Wow," Icepaw breathed.
"They are very pretty," Aurorastar meowed. "But they bring very cold temperatures, and with that, lack of prey. We will have to start increasing our hunting patrols now." She remembered Starwhisper's words of concern. "We can't have greencough spread through the camp now."
Brambleblaze realized Aurorastar's anxiety. "I will hunt until each cat has been fed," he vowed.
Aurorastar touched her nose to his ear. "Thank you, Brambleblaze, but you won't have to do all that hunting on your own. All of SunClan will prepare for this."
As they got closer to the camp, a sudden wail sounded above the forest's silence. Fear made her belly tighten as Aurorastar rushed into camp, Brambleblaze and Icepaw behind her.
Crystalclaw was crouched in the middle of the camp, wailing. Nightclaw stood next to her, eyes fixed on his paws and his tail low and trembling. Dustykit stood nearby, gazing at his parents with shocked eyes.
"What's wrong?" Aurorastar asked.
Cheetahheart and Ravensong joined her side. "Starwhisper tried her best to save her, but..." Cheetahheart shuffled her paws and lowered her tail.
"But what?"
Cheetahheart fixed her glazed emerald eyes on her leader. "Iriskit is dead."
I hope you liked this chapter! ^.^ Sorry for such much death, but it had to be done. :( You got to have some sad parts here and there to make a good story. :) This chapter was long; I definitely took me a while to write. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. And thank you for taking the time to read this! :D It's greatly appreciated.