Chapter Four
Goldenkit's paws itched with anticipation, her eyes blinked tiredly as she waited outside. She and Lightningkit would become apprentices in only a quarter moon. She had been helping Scarletpetal in the medicine den, and was fairly confident in her knowledge of herbs, but eerie dreams haunted her for almost an entire moon. Dreams so live and vivid, that Goldenkit sometimes found herself awake, silently terrified of falling asleep again. She was a Shadowclan cat, obsessed with becoming a warrior, and fighting. Her bright, gold fur was replaced with fur that was as dark as shadows. She shivered at the thought, her bones turned to ice. Goldenkit never talked to Scarletpetal about it, as she wanted to forget them and never see anymore.
What's wrong with me?
"Hey! Goldenkit, what are you looking at?" Flamestorm's voice made her attention snap back to reality. Goldenkit looked around and saw cats flooding in from the gorse tunnel. The cats that went to the gathering had returned.
"You've been staring at the ground like that for a while now, what's wrong?" Flamestorm's voice was full of concern. Goldenkit shook her head in response.
"Oh, no! Nothing's wrong. I'm just thinking." Goldenkit tried to make her voice cheerful, but she wasn't sure if her father believed her. She fluffed up her fur in an attempt to look happy and smiled. Though doubt seemed to flicker in his green eyes, Flamestorm nodded, turned around and headed toward the warriors den. Goldenkit sighed with relief. She jumped up to her paws and swivelled around to face the nursery. She started to walk over, wanting to curl up in her nice moss nest, and lay in the safety of the bramble walls, surrounded by the cats she knew.
"Lilyflower, did you hear?" Frostfall's voice made Goldenkit stop in her tracks. Curious, she pricked her ears.
"No, what?" Lilyflower turned to face Frostfall.
"Apparently, two Shadowclan cats were attacked!" Frostfall tilted her head in amusement. Goldenkit's ears strained to hear them. She wanted them to explain what happened more. "My first gathering as a warrior, and I get some juicy gossip!" Frostfall jumped in excitement. Lilyflower's eyes widened. "Really? From who?" Frostfall shrugged. "Some WindClan cats and an apprentice of ShadowClan. It was quite messy, verbally though" Goldenkit sprinted back to the nursery and collapsed into her nest. Her belly churned with uncertainty and unease. Terror flickered in the depths of her eyes. Maybe one of the dreams she had could explain everything the warriors were talking about. The nursery no longer felt secure. Goldenkit's eyes blinked slowly, as her jaws gaped into a yawn. Though all her willpower, her eyes closed into sleep.
Goldenkit blinked, her eyes refusing to stay open, and her eyelids weighed down with tiredness. She shook her head. Cats crowded around a rock, with one cat standing on top. It seemed to be a clan meeting.
Is that… Brindlestar?
Goldenkit looked and saw the same, dark grey fur in her dreams.
Oh no! No, no! Not again!
Goldenkit was forced to sit through a warrior ceremony for two cats. Maybe, could this be the two ShadowClan ctas that Frostfall and Lilyflower were talking about? At the end, it seemed that one apprentice didn't become a warrior, and he stormed out of the camp. The ceremony continued and two kits became apprentices. Goldenkit imagined herself and Lightningkit in the place of the two kits and her heart fluttered at the thought of becoming an apprentice. Goldenkit's vision started to blur and her heart started pounding. She whipped around wondering what was happening, as her vision turned black and she fell through the ground.
Goldenkit woke up with a short scream and she started panting heavily, her dream still haunting her thoughts. Goldenkit froze as she realized that her mother was right next to her, and was starting to stir. She slowly turned her head and a bright ray of light shone into her eye. She sighed as she recognized the bramble roof of the ThunderClan nursery. Being careful not to wake up any of the queens or kits, Goldenkit slowly walked out into the clearing. It was mostly empty, but few cats were sharing tongues and eating freshkill in the shadow of the highrock.
Maybe I should see Scarletpetal about these dreams… Is she awake?
Goldenkit quickly poked her head into the tunnel that lead to the Medicine den. She could see Scarletpetal inside, sleeping peacefully in the comfort of the cave. Goldenkit slowly backed away and bumped into a rock, letting out a small squeak and stumbling, falling to the ground. She lay there for a moment, taking in the beautiful sky. The sun barely over the horizon, the vibrant colours streaked across the sky, like a canvas being painted.
"Did you choose to sleep on the ground today?" Dovefeather's purr was edged with amusement. "Do you want to sleep there during leaf-bare?"
"Hm? What? Um, no! I just… um t-tripped." Goldenkit stuttered. Dovefeather smiled and dropped three mice into the freshkill pile, followed by several other cats. The pile was larger than Goldenkit had ever seen. The hunting patrol scattered across the camp, as the clearing filled and became active. Warm sunlight lit the camp and glowed a soft yellow. Goldenkit licked her lips as she grabbed one of the mice and padded away, content. She sunk her teeth into the fresh mouse and ripped of a piece. The flavor coated her tongue, and she felt like she couldn't get enough. She chewed it happily, quickly taking more as her hunger began to take over. She felt the tip of a tail rest gently on top of her head.
"Enjoying your meal?" Scarletpetal's amused meow sounded behind her. Goldenkit whipped her head around to face her. Her russet coloured fur gleamed in the light of dawn, and her deep brown eyes shined like a gem. Goldenkit smiled and nodded her head, her amber eyes glittering with joy. Scarletpetal pointed to the medicine den with her tail, signaling for Goldenkit to come. Goldenkit finished off her mouse and quickly stood up. Scarletpetal was visible in the shadows of the fern tunnel. Goldenkit ran over and skidded to a halt in the middle of the den, careful not to run over any of the herbs and stopped just in front of Scarletpetal, who was sitting in the small grassy area next to the pool of water.
"I suppose you want to know about the strange dreams you've been having, correct?" Scarletpetal's gaze burned into Goldenkit's fur. Her eyes widened in shock. For a moment, Goldenkit forgot how to breathe.
"H-How did you?" Goldenkit stuttered and stumbled backwards, her tail twitching back and forth. Her heart started pounding again.
How did she know, and what does she know about it? This is my chance to figure out why these things happen in my dreams!
"Do you want me to explain to you what's happening?" mystery swam like minnows in Scarletpetal's eyes. Goldenkit nodded her head, her ears pricked with anticipation.
"Your dreams are from another cat. One from ShadowClan, and her name is Hollykit. StarClan told me everything, and they wish for you to know this. Your path with be difficult, more than any other cat in our clan. You will need help in your journey, so know that your trust can be put inside of Hollykit. Nothing is wrong with you, in fact, these dreams are a gift from StarClan, and so you must use them to help the clans. You are part of this prophecy, you have power, you are special, Goldenkit. Never forget it." Scarletpetal flicked her tail and left the den, leaving Goldenkit alone.
Unease burned through her chest and the mystery she saw in Scarletpetal's eyes was now transferred to her. She felt like her heart had just been shattered by the weight of the prophecy Scarletpetal mentioned. Slowly, Goldenkit rose to her paws, and began to walk, her eyes fixated only on the ground in front of her. She staggered back into her nest. She unsheathed her claws and dug them deep into the earth. She took a deep breath in and closed her eyes.
StarClan chose me for this prophecy, and I can't back out!
"Goldenkit, wake up!" Lightningkit poked her. Goldenkit rolled her eyes
"What do you want?" Goldenkit's voice was edged with annoyance and she glared at him.
"Come with me to the clearing, I thought of a really fun game to play!" Lightningkit squeaked with excitement. He quickly ran outside to the clearing, his cream fur blending with the bright sunlight entering the nursery. Goldenkit sighed and stomped out of her nest. She walked over to the fallen tree and saw Lightningkit jumping and trying to reach a leaf.
"Try to get the leaf! First one wins!" He jumped, and jumped, but his paws only grazed the leaf. It was no higher than the height of a warrior, but the kits were just too short to reach it. Goldenkit rolled her eyes at him.
Really? I didn't think that he would be such a mousebrain!
Goldenkit grabbed onto the tree truck with her claws. She started to scale the tree, the dry bark crumbling as her claws ripped off small shards. She snatched the leaf of its branch and jumped down to the ground, letting the leaf float away in the breeze. Lightningkit gave her a warning stare.
"Hey! You were supposed to get the leaf like this!" Lighningkit's voice cracked with irritation. He started jumping again. Goldenkit had a smirk on her face.
"All you said was to get the leaf. You never said how I was supposed to get it." Goldenkit turned, with her head high, and her tail lifted in the air. Content, she padded back to the nursery, kicking small clouds of dust on her way. She ducked her head as she entered and padded to the back wall. Amethystlight was sleeping quietly in the shadows, her light cream coat taking on a grey tone. Goldenkit wiggled into position next to her, and stared up at the bramble ceiling. The orange and pink sky was visible through the holes in the roof and the sun started to dip down under the hills.
You are part of this prophecy, you have power, you are special, Goldenkit
Scarletpetal's words echoed in her ear, her mind becoming a torrent of memories. She thought about all the dreams she had, and thought about ShadowClan. The thought of being a cat in there alone horrified her. Goldenkit shook her head and cleared her thoughts.
No! I am pure ThunderClan, nothing else.
Yet, for some reason, Goldenkit couldn't stop thinking about the dark fur she always saw. She couldn't stop thinking about Hollykit.
When will I meet her? Can I really trust her? Who is she? In fact, who am I?
Questions buzzed in her head like bees as she closed her eyes.