A/N: This is a new story that I'm going to be doing along with all my other stories that I have to work on. But as of right now, this story is my main focus. Hope you like~
~Frostwing
Prologue:
Fernripple looked around the den wearily, her tired eyes drifting back to the pile of herbs that had yet to be sorted. She sighed inwardly, glancing at the entrance once more.
It was nearly sundown, the dimming rays of the sun dappling the camp clearing and pouring weakly into the medicine den. Fernripple then turned back towards the pile of herbs, resuming sorting the herbs into separate piles.
Just then, a cat burst into the den, making the medicine cat look up, confusion clouding her clear amber orbs. "What is it, Pebblestone?" she asked, looking at the grey-furred cat, glancing at the barely breathing body in his jaws. "Fleetpaw was attacked by a fox," the grey-furred warrior exclaimed breathlessly, setting his apprentice down gently.
Fernripple padded towards the limp apprentice, nosing her gently in the side. Frowning, she looked up after a minute. "She has some severe injuries, but none that I can't tend to. Though I'm afraid that I'm going to have to keep her here overnight."
Pebblestone nodded slightly and looked at the gray-and-white apprentice, concern flashing in his blue eyes. "She'll be fine, I just need to look over her and see if I can't fix her wounds," the tortoiseshell medicine cat reassured the tom. The grey warrior nodded after a while and with a sigh, left the medicine den.
After Fernripple was sure that Pebblestone had left and retired to the warriors' den, she picked up Fleetpaw, padding to one of the moss nests that were already prepared in case any cats were injured in a fight of some kind. She set the young apprentice down gently onto one and with a quick glance over her again, padded in further into the den.
Once Fernripple was farther into the cave, she inspected the dark hollow carefully, her amber eyes glowing in the semidarkness. With a small frown, she searched the den for another minute, not wanting to waste precious time. Tilting her head slightly, she padded to one of the piles, and pawed it closer to her. "Finally, now I just need some goldenrod and cobwebs," she murmured to herself, picking up the horsetail.
Spotting the goldenrod in a far corner, she swiftly padded toward it and picked a few leaves up. Frowning slightly, she pulled a beech leaf towards her and dropped the goldenrod and horsetail onto it carefully before she gathered some cobwebs that were beside her and too, dropped it on top of the other herbs.
Swiftly, Fernripple picked up the beech leaf into her jaws before she padded out into the main part of the medicine den where Fleetpaw laid, her flanks barely rising with each breath she took.
Sighing, Fernripple set down the beech leaf and unrolled it, revealing the two herbs and the bundle of cobwebs. Working quickly, the tortoiseshell medicine cat began to work on some of Fleetpaw's severe injuries first before moving onto the minor ones that she had received.
Once Fernripple was sure she was on the last wound that was on Fleetpaw's flank, she looked outside, checking to see what time of day, or even night if it's nightfall already, it was almost nightfall, the final streaks of sunlight dappling the forest and the main clearing of the camp. Ducking back inside, she went over to Fleetpaw, seeing that her flanks were rising and falling more than what it looked like before.
Fernripple let out a sigh of relief, smiling slightly as she watched the apprentice sleep more peacefully. Suddenly feeling exhausted, the she-cat stalked over to her nest, settling down comfortably. Closing her amber orbs, she let exhaustion take over her and soon fell into a deep and peaceful slumber.
Fernripple woke up with a jolt, causing her to widen her amber eyes slightly. Tensing her muscles, she looked around warily before she noticed that she was in StarClan's hunting grounds.
Relaxing instantly, she smiled, but then frowned. Wait, if I'm in StarClan's hunting grounds, then... they must have something to tell me. She thought with growing alarm, causing her to widen her eyes once more. Just then, a starry cat padded out from a bush, its tail flicking.
Fernripple blinked as she glimpsed the cat padding toward her. "Wait, Stonedust?!" Fernripple exclaimed, her tail lashing from side to side. The tom stopped and purred in reply, "Yes, Fernripple." At that, Fernripple ran up to him, grinning and exclaiming, "It's been so long!" Stonedust smiled, but his gold-yellow eyes remained serious.
Noticing the seriousness of the situation, Fernripple backed up one step and nervously asked, "What is it, Stonedust?" The StarClan tom gazed at Fernripple for a long moment before he replied in his deep tone, "StarClan has a prophecy, Fernripple."
Alarm washed over the tortoiseshell medicine cat, flattening her ears against her head. Frowning, she gazed at her former mentor. "A prophecy? Now?" Stonedust nodded grimly.
Taking a deep breath, Fernripple nodded slowly. "What is the prophecy?" In reply, Stonedust closed his orbs and began to speak the mysterious prophecy. "Peace will shatter and a trusted warrior become your deadliest enemy." After he spoke, Stonedust opened his eyes again, his eyes glinting a little in the night.
After a few moments of silence, Fernripple asked hesitantly, "What does it mean, though? Who is this 'trusted warrior?'" Stonedust shook his head. "I can't tell you, Fernripple. All I can do is advise you and I advise you to tell your leader, but no one else."
Sighing, Fernripple looked down, but nodded dutifully. "I will, Stonedust."
Stonedust smiled at her even though her gaze wasn't on him. "Good luck, Fernripple, and also remember that StarClan is with you and your Clan." Fernripple looked up and smiled back. "Thanks, Stonedust."
The former medicine cat dipped his head slightly. "May StarClan be with you, Fernripple, and your Clan."
"May the stars guide your path, Stonedust," Fernripple said quietly, watching him fade away before she was consumed by darkness as she woke up.
A/N: Hope you liked the prologue. I'm currently working on the actual first chapter, so stay tuned for more. Review, please!~