Ashstar's Reign - The Silver Storm - A Warriors Fanfiction

The Hunt

Ashstar hissed, watching a rabbit creep across the grass. She stalked up to it, hidden by the ferns. Then she pounced, and it went limp. She carried her catch to the shelter of a nearby tree and settled down to eat it. Alas, when she opened her mouth to sink her teeth into the prey, it disappeared and a cat came out of the trees.

"Silverblaze!" mewed Ashstar joyously. Silverblaze was one of the first leaders of SilverClan, and sometimes visited Ashstar in dreams.

"Hello, Ashstar," Silverblaze greeted the tabby cat in her musical tone. "Great catch!"

Ashstar dipped her head in respect. "Thank you, Silverblaze!" she exclaimed. Then her brow furrowed. "Why are you in my dream?" she asked.

Silverblaze rolled her eyes. "What, I can't drop in to see you?" she teased. "I have to tell you something.." she sighed, her voice drooping.

Ashstar stiffened. "It isn't good news, isn't it," she murmured.

Silverblaze shook her head. "Indeed, it is bad news." she muttered softly. "StarClan thinks that you did not make a good choice in waging war on GoldenClan. Maybe you should declare yourself the winner and move on?" she suggested pleadingly.

Ashstar allowed herself a small growl. "Silverblaze, I understand you dont like bloodshed, but we are cats. We will fight to win." Her voice softened. "What does Silverfang think?"

Silverblaze looked up. "Silverfang!" she called.

Ashstar's heart pounded so hard, she was sure Silverblaze could hear it. Was her mother finally going to come see her, after all this time?

Then a starry shape bounded down from the sky.

"Silverfang!" Ashstar choked out, and rushed to her mother, embracing her tightly.

"Hello, Ashstar," she mewed, her eyes sparkling. "You might not like this, but what Silverblaze says is true." Silverfang stood up straighter, looked Ashstar in the eyes, and rested her tail on her shoulder. "You know bloodshed is not always the answer."

Ashstar rested her head on her mother's shoulder. "Are you sure?" she whispered.

"Mother knows best," Silverfang breathed, and with another loving look, she disappeared.

Silverblaze stepped forward. "Do you agree?" she asked hesitantly.

Ashstar sighed. "Alright then. Is it okay if I have one more battle? Then I'll finish it!"

Silverblaze dipped her head, looking relieved. "Perfect."

Then the woods disappeared, leaving Ashstar with her very confused thoughts.

Ashstar woke blissfully, and rolled onto her belly in a stretch, yawning. Bearthorn was grooming himself next to her, relaxed.

"How about a hunt together?" she asked brightly, waving her tail.

Bearthorn perked up. "Sure thing!"

They padded out of the gorge, pelts brushing as they walked. Once they were on the path, Ashstar sniffed the air.

"Do you smell that?" she breathed.

Bearthorn put his muzzle down. "Two rabbits!" he whispered.

Ashstar waved him away with her tail.

"Flank me!" she mouthed. Bearthorn nodded once and stalked into the undergrowth. Ashstar peered over the bush, and once Bearthorn had slithered into position, launched herself at the bigger rabbit, which was now munching on leaves. It gave a cry of surprise and proceeded to kick her off. It was stronger than she expected, Ashstar lost her grip and was flung back, landing on her shoulder. However, Bearthorn was too strong for it. He was pinning it down, but the rabbit was still kicking with all its might, and he wasn't able to finish it. Ashstar got up, shaking her head dizzily, and leaped once more. Together the two mates felled the rabbit, and stood panting over their kill.

"Great job!" said Bearthorn, scratching his ear.

Ashstar rolled over, scratching her back on the grass.

"Ouch!" she muttered. "The rabbit got me good!" Bearthorn rushed to her side.

"Are you okay?" he asked, licking her ear comfortingly.

Ashstar gave a small groan. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said. "Just a little sore."

Bearthorn helped her get up, and then seized the rabbit in his jaws. "Do you want to help with the rabbit or do you want to go on ahead?" he asked.

Ashstar shook her head before bending to pick up the prey.

"I'm fine," she insisted.

Together they carried the rabbit back to camp. Once they came in, Snowbreeze bounded up.

"Great catch!" she mewed admirably.

Blossomfur also ducked out of the warriors' den to greet them.

"Wow!" she cried, sniffing the prey.

Ashstar and Bearthorn dragged the rabbit a fox length more to the fresh-kill pile. Pinepaw approached his parents, pride shining in his eyes.

"Very, very good catch!" he trilled. "Take me next time!"

Ashstar purred.

"Of course, Pinepaw," she mewed, amused. Pinepaw ducked his head and went off on his patrol.

Ashstar turned to Bearthorn once he left. "I have something to tell you..." she mewed hesitantly.

Bearthorn stared at her. "Bad news?" he asked worriedly, touching his nose to hers.

"No, no," she purred. "I-I'm expecting kits."

Both cats stood shock-still for a split second. Then Bearthorn rushed to her side.

"But that's wonderful!" he cried, licking her head. "You need to tell me as soon as you find out! You shouldn't worry that I'll be upset!"

Ashstar grinned. "Alright, alright," she said. Then she shoved her mate away as he tried to push her towards the medicine den.

"Oh, come on," she said, half-amused, half-annoyed.

Bearthorn did not listen. "No, no!" he said. "I should've taken you as soon as we came back, you hurt yourself! And now you're expecting kits, you need treatment!"

Ashstar shook her head, exasperated. "Fiiiine!" she said, groaning.

Finally, she let him guide her to the medicine den, where Willownose was hard at work, sorting herbs at high speed.

She looked up when they entered. "How may I help you?"

Bearthorn puffed out his chest. "She's expecting kits," he said proudly. "My kits."

Willownose jumped to her paws. "Awesome!"

Bearthorn made Ashstar turn around.

"And she got hurt while out hunting," he said worriedly.

"No matter, no matter," Willownose murmured, shifting through herbs. Finding the ones she needed, she returned to the front of the den.

"Lie down for me, please," she mewed briskly, patting the spare nest with her paw.

Ashstar obeyed and sank onto the moss. She let out a sigh of relief as Willownose examined her gently.

In a bit, Willownose drew back.

"You have about two moons, or perhaps one and a half to go!" she said. "There seems to be around three kits, all of them in good shape. And you'll have a bruise on your flank for a little while, but it'll go away. You're all good, Ashstar!"

Bearthorn licked Ashstar's head again, making her laugh.

"Let's go make your nest in the nursery," he murmured, leading her out of the den, resting his tail on her shoulder.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!