Warriors; Terror Rising

Prologue

A small blue-gray she-cat padded her way swiftly towards the nursery. Her paws were heavy with sorrow, the horrible news spreading quickly through the camp. The medicine cat had sent for her, as her only daughter was in her death throes. As the queen enters the small milk-scented room, she catches a tiny mewl. In the nest of moss and bracken lay her four kits, three toms, and one she-kit. The only girl, a brown tabby she-kit, squirmed. She was starving to death. Leafbare was no time for kits, but the queen had not had a choice. Another queen had her nose pressed to the kit's flank. As the smaller queen hurried to her next, and the kits within, the dappled queen looked up. "I'm so sorry, Bluepaw." the other queen says, speaking in gentle tones. The stench of sickness hung heavy in the bramble den. "I know what it is like, losing kits. Stormkit died last night, from Greencough. He was so close to his apprenticeship... five and a half moons, and killed by a small seasonal ailment!" Bluepaw bows her head at the other grieving queen. "I'm sorry, Turtlefur. How many are left?" Bluepaw asks the dappled Turtlefur. "Six, four toms and two she-cats. Gingerkit, Graykit, Cloudkit, Spiralkit, Halfkit, and Stubkit. Stormkit would have fallen in love with little Oakkit." Turtlefur says, her head drooping. "What happened?" a third voice says, groggy with sleep and filled with sadness. A white queen poked her head out from her newly-empty nest, her only kit dying soon after birth. "Birchfall, I have to ask something of you," Bluepaw says suddenly. "What is it?" the white queen says, sitting up. "I need you to take the remaining kits, Fogkit and Riverkit, to raise as your own. I won't be able to. Training is more important." Bluepaw says, never taking her eyes off of Oakkit. The kit's sides rose and fell less frequently now, her breaths slowing as she left for StarClan.  "Oh, of course, I will!" Birchfall exclaims. Bluepaw immediately picks up Fogkit and places him next to Birchfall, then goes back for Riverkit. 

As Bluepaw exited the nursery, she ran into her mentor, Darkfur, on his way to the fresh-kill pile. "What happened?" he asks, dropping the squirrel he held in his jaws. "You look like you've been through something horrible." as he speaks, Cloudfur slinks up to him and whispers in his ear. His face falls. "I-I didn't know... I'm sorry, Bluepaw." Darkfur says, dipping his head in respect to the grieving queen. Slinking away, his tail between his legs, Darkfur heads to the Warrior den. 

"From this moment on, you will be known as Bluesplash. You are a valuable resource in the trying times. Your vigil begins at sundown, but for now, we shall share tongues and feast." Larkstar says, leaping down and sharing words with his deputy, Fernecho. Bluesplash pads to where Cloudfur and Halfpelt are sharing a rabbit. As she nears, Stubwhisker pads over to her. "congratulations on your new name, Bluesplash. I um... I was wondering if you possibly were interested in maybe... um..." he trails off, staring at his paws in embarrassment. "Out with it!" Bluesplash says with a purr. "I was wondering if we could be mates!" Stubwhisker blurts. The purr cuts off abruptly, replaced by a shocker mrrow. "I don't know..." Bluesplash says, digging at the dirt with her paws. "How about  I  think about it tonight, and give you an answer tomorrow?" she says. "S-sure, okay," Stubwhisker says, padding off to eat with Suntail and Snowshadow. As Bluesplash settled down next to Cloudfur and Halfpelt, an image flashed in her mind; blood-stained sand, the squealing of a familiar voice, the brief image of a dear friend writhing on the ground, dead.  Bluesplash is destined for a bloody battle. 

The next day, Bluesplash delivers her answer to Stubwhisker. "I'm sorry, I'm just not ready for another litter of kits yet... and besides, I think I might try out for deputyship, as Fernecho announced she was retiring after the naming ceremony," she says, dipping her head to the sad black tom. Stubwhisker sighs. "Alright, I understand."