The Clash of Stars Book 1: The Key

Chapter 1: Sunnyheart

Sunnyheart crouched on the edge of FlashClan's lowest cliff, anticipation making her wings twitch. Next to her were several of the Clan's other strikers and warriors, which unfortunately, included Bumblespring. However, it also meant that Flamewhisker was there, crouched beside Sunnyheart. The younger cats were clustered in the middle of the patrol, including Wasppaw, Bumblespring's apprentice.

Sunnyheart still felt a twinge of frustration when she saw the apprentices; she was only a couple moons younger than Bumblespring — she was just as capable to train an apprentice, and she should have become mentor to Wasppaw's brother.

She shook the thoughts away and focused on the task at hand. She was part of the second wave of an attack on EchoClan, the rest of the Clan's warriors and strikers heading the confrontation. After Gryphonstar, FlashClan's leader, lost a life from the last battle they'd had, FlashClan couldn't let that go unavenged. And it had to be today — they hadn't had a clear day without whipping winds and sparking storms in almost a quarter moon; today had unsettling clear skies. We need to teach those EchoClan cats a lesson, Runningcloud had declared. Sunnyheart remembered puffing her chest out in pride that the tom had been her mentor, even if it had been moons ago.

Sunnyheart watched the first wave of the attack, Runningcloud leading it with Lioncall, leap over the edge of the cliff. It seemed the rest of FlashClan's warriors and strikers followed, talons flashing. Lioncall's apprentice (and Wasppaw's brother), Mantispaw, was close behind, wedged between two others. Sunnyheart could understand why — if Mantispaw had his way, he'd be charging ahead of everyone else and inevitably getting his pelt clawed off.

Sunnyheart risked it to lean over the edge of the cliff and watch as the patrol of FlashClan cats clashed with the EchoClan cats below. She winced at the sound of claws scraping against rusted metal, and knew the whole of the Clan would never hear the end of it from their cleric, Spiderwish, if anyone's paws got infected.

Sunnyheart pulled herself back from the cliff edge in time to hear Flamewhisker saying, "We left our camp undefended and sent all of our warriors and strikers to attack. Is that smart?"

The dark russet cat looked at Sunnyheart with expectant eyes, who shrugged.

"Beesmoke's still back at camp," Bumblespring pointed out. He was a yellow tom with darker flecks and golden wings, and a face that made Sunnyheart's fur prickle with irritation, particularly when he was right; the Clan's deputy, despite his kind demeanor, was a force to be reckoned with — especially now that he had kits.

"Rainyfern's nothing to mess with, either," Hawkflash added of the Clan's oldest queen. Hearing the senior striker actually joining in a conversation with the younger warriors surprised Sunnyheart, until she remembered that the brown tabby molly was good friends with Rainyfern.

Sunnyheart rolled her eyes. "Those EchoClan cats wouldn't know the first thing about coming up here to attack us, anyways," she reminded them. "We have wings."

"I wouldn't underestimate them," Flamewhisker argued. "The shields hit hard," they added with a shiver.

Sunnyheart snorted and gave them a playful shove. "Then go take out a couple for me before we get down there!"

Flamewhisker squawked, almost falling off the cliff. Their wings burst out, an unsteady, flapping mess until they righted themselves and landed next to Sunnyheart, looking thoroughly ruffled.

Behind them, Sunnyheart heard Bumblespring laugh at Flamewhisker's fumbling, and then the warrior muttering, "Stupid furball." She narrowed her eyes, noting to herself to nick his ear on the way down to the battle.