heres the first chapter! enjoy! let me know what you guys think!
Chapter 1: Lightpaw
Lightpaw tentatively sifted through the herbs at her paws. She had been apprenticed as a medicine cat for less than a moon and she was not entirely confident although her mentor said she was a natural. Jayfeather often told her she just overthought things and she had practically lived in the medicine den as a kit, always getting under his paws and asking questions about everything so by now she was far more advanced than a normal medicine cat her age. It was true. Lightpaw had always known she wanted to be a medicine cat from the first time she entered the medicine den at a few days old. A grey Tom with sightless blue eyes entered the den, a mouthful of herbs clamped between his jaws.
"Comfrey!" Lightpaw purred, delighted that she recognized the herb.
Jayfeather gave her a small nod and pushed the herbs towards her to sort through. As Lightpaw started working, she could hear the patter of small paws.
"Daddy!" A small gray kit raced into the den, running right into Lightpaw and scattering her herbs.
"Moonkit!" She exclaimed her tail twitching irritably, looking down at the kit who met her gaze. The kit had one green eye and one blue. She was blind in her blue eye but that of course never seemed to stop her. Moonkits eyes were wide with innocence.
"She didn't mean it." Jayfeather mewed, blinking affectionately at his daughter.
Lightpaw sighed. Jayfeather never thought that his daughter could do anything wrong. The rest of the clan also spoiled the motherless kit. The tale of how her mother was a Starclan warrior that fell in love with Jayfeather was a tale that had traveled throughout the clan and all through the other clans. Word got out fast of the miracle kit conceived in Starclan. Jayfeather always spoke of the kits mother fondly and no one had ever reproached him for having a kit when he was a medicine cat. Everyone thought Moonkit had a great destiny and that she was a blessing from Starclan. Many of the warriors even boasted to the other clans that they had the miracle Starclan kit. Lightpaw started sorting through the scattered herbs once more, knowing that the kit was a little too spoiled for her own good but she like many other cats loved her as well. Moonkit got away with a lot but never seemed to let the attention go to her head. She was very determined to prove that even though she was partly blind and a cat from Starclan, she was like all the other kits. Some had thought that she might follow her fathers footsteps due to her connection to Starclan and her partial blindness but the kit was determined to be a warrior. She hung around the medicine den a lot but only because she wanted to be close to her father. Moonkit bounded over to Jayfeather and jumped on top of him.
"Give me a badger ride!" She pleaded, climbing onto his back.
"Alright. But only one!" Jayfeather conceded which meant that the kit would probably end up getting several. Despite Jayfeathers grumpiness, he was a great father.
Jayfeather later returned with the small kit still following him.
"It's half moon tonight." Jayfeather reminded her.
Lightpaws eyes glowed with excitement. She had been to the Moonpool only once before when Jayfeather had presented her as his apprentice.
"Can I come?" Moonkit squeaked.
"No. Tonight is for medicine cats only. " Jayfeather mewed gently.
Moonkit opened her mouth to protest but then the sound of pawsteps interrupted her.
"There you are!" Leafpool exclaimed. "Come eat!"
Leafpool rasped a tongue over her adopted daughters ear as Moonkit ducked away with a mewl of protest. "I'm not hungry!"Moonkit complained as she followed her adoptive mother out of the den.
Leafpool was a good mother to the little kit and Jayfeather trusted her under Leafpools care. Even Leafpools biological kits loved the kit as if she was their biological sister. Although Leafpool loved the kit like one of her own, she wasn't as easy on her as everyone else was. As soon as Lightpaw was done reorganizing the herbs that Moonkit had scattered, Jayfeather beckoned her, letting her know that it was time to go meet the other medicine cats. As Lightpaw followed her mentor, she spotted a white she cat racing over to her, her amber eyes flashing with excitement.
"Are you heading to the Moonpool? Can I come?" Her overexcited sister fired questions at Lightpaw.
"No. It's for medicine cats only and last time I checked, you aren't one." Jayfeather snapped at her before Lightpaw could answer.
Scarletpaw looked crestfallen, giving Jayfeather a resentful look as he continued walking.
"I'll come tell you about the journey later although I can't tell you about my dreams with Starclan." Lightpaw promised.
"Okay.." Scarletpaw sighed dejectedly.
Lightpaw followed Jayfeather along the path to the Moonpool. Her fur bushing up against the cold night air. She heard the patter of pawsteps and turned to see Willowshine catch up with them.
"I got caught up with a bad bellyache with one of our elders!" She panted as she slowed herself down to match their pace. "Mothwing stayed to keep an eye on him."
Jayfeather gave a small grunt as if he didn't believe her. Mothwing hadn't been at the last half moon gathering either. Lightpaw shrugged, brushing it off. Mothwing probably just had her paws full. Kestrelflight and Littlecloud with his apprentice, Shellpaw were waiting at the edge of the Moonpool when they arrived. Shellpaw let out an excited squeak and ran over to touch noses with Lightpaw. Lightpaw purred with amusement. Shellpaw was an enthusiastic apprentice who was just a moon older than her. As the only medicine cat apprentices, they were becoming friends as they both ventured into their new roles as medicine cats.
"About time." Kestrelflight huffed.
Kestrelflight had become a bit grumpy in his old age. Lightpaw wondered when he would take an apprentice to succeed him when the time was right.
"We've only been here for a few moments. He's just being dramatic." Shellpaw whispered into Lightpaws ear.
Littlecloud cuffed his apprentice lightly over his ear, having heard what he said. "Respect your elders.
Lightpaw turned and took a few paces towards the Moonpool.
"Let's get on with it then. Jayfeather mewed gruffly as he settled himself beside Lightpaw. The rest of the medicine cats also took their places. Lightpaw felt a thrill of excitement at the prospect of visiting Starclan again. She eagerly leaned forward and lapped a few drops from the icy water. She blinked and suddenly she was in a forest. It was different from the last time she dreamed with Starclan. There was an eerie feel to the forest.
"Hello?" She called, looking around for the blue furred warrior that had greeted her last time. Suddenly wails of pain sounded all around her. She stumbled backwards as a scene of fighting cats surrounded her.
"Stop fighting!" She pleaded as with a shock she recognized some of her clan mates.
They weren't fighting an enemy clan. They were fighting themselves. Before she could cry out again, the scene vanished and a fiery Tom approached her.
Lightpaw stared in awe, still trembling from the battle scene she had just witnessed.
"You're Firestar aren't you?" Lightpaw meowed softly.
"It's nice to finally meet you my granddaughter." Firestar dipped his head.
"Why were my clan mates fighting each other?" Lightpaw asked, gazing at the Tom in front of her that looked so much like her own mother.
"Dark times are coming little one. The Dark Forest May be beaten but the fight isn't over yet. There is still darkness within the clans. Firestar explained, looking somber.
"Are you talking about the cats that trained in the Dark Forest?" Lightpaw inquired.
"No Lightpaw. Those cats were mislead and strayed from the right path but they are on the right path again." Firestar meowed.
Before Lightpaw could ask anymore questions Firestar began to speak again.
"Clan mates will betray the clans. Darkness lies in the hearts of some. Another darkness is rising in the heart of the clans." Firestar said sadly.
"How do I know who to trust?" Lightpaw asked, her voice squeaking out of fear of the future of the clans.
"You will find a way. You are one of the 6. The fate of the clans rests in your paws. I will be here to guide you but I can not help you as much as I'd like." Firestar told her.
"In my paws? One of the 6?" Lightpaw meowed in confusion.
"From the kin of the four, there will be born six. Darkness will rise and all will be lost when the shadows swallow the light. The six hold the fate of the clans in their paws."
Before she could ask more, she was suddenly back at the Moonpool with the other medicine cats stirring beside her. Lightpaw met Shellpaws bewildered gaze.
"The six?" Shellpaw whispered, confirming that all the medicine cats had received the prophecy.
Moments later the medicine cats emerged from the Moonpool. All of them had seen their clan mates fighting each other and then received the prophecy but none of them had said anything about Starclan telling them they were one of the 6. Lightpaw puzzled over this. Kin of the 4? Did that mean she was one of the six because she was Firestar, Lionblaze, Dovewings and Jayfeather kin? Could that mean that one of her siblings might be one of the 6 too? Or one of her other kin? How did the whole clans fate rest in her paws?
The bewildered medicine cats parted ways, promising to send a message to each other if they had any more dreams. Meanwhile Lightpaw was quiet the rest of the way back to camp. Her thoughts spinning with images of battles and she had to hold her tongue before she blurted all her thoughts to her mentor. She wanted some time to process things before she confided in her mentor. How could she be one of the 6? She was barely an apprentice! Her life as Thunderclans medicine cat apprentice had just become a whole lot more complicated.