Warriors: Broken

Chapter 18

⠀⠀ "Redflight! Whiteflame! Redflight! Whiteflame!"

⠀⠀ Two new warriors stood proudly atop the Tallrock. Redflight, the same terrified, fire colored apprentice that had told Lockstar and Ciphercry that they were to be named, now stood with his head held high and his chest puffed out. His sister, Whiteflame, was a white she cat with an orange tail tip and ears. Their eyes were both a glowing amber, comparable to the color of the sun just as it disappears below the horizon.

⠀⠀ "You will hold vigil tonight," the she cat reminded. They both nodded eagerly, taking their places at the entrance. Lionkit once again came wailing to the leader. She noticed that he had very large paws, making it difficult for him to get around as gracefully as a Windclan cat.

⠀⠀ "Hello, Lionkit," she mewed with a purr. He stared at her with a defeated expression.

⠀⠀ "When can I become an apprentice?" the fluffy orange tom asked, his head tilting almost to the ground. "They just got their warrior names, and I heard that Bluepaw was going to be Blue-whatever soon."

⠀⠀ "You'll be an apprentice in less than half a moon," she promised, nudging his forehead. He huffed and trotted back over to Emberkit, who was crouching behind a clump of grass. The tom sprung up and landed on his foster brother with outstretched paws, causing the two to fall into a ball of laughing orange and black fluff.

⠀⠀ Hollytail was padding out of her den when a sudden nausea hit her. She went rigid, fur bristling.

⠀⠀ "When flames bring darkness and many birds fall, one choice will determine the fate of them all," a voice called as she watched flames erupt from the ground. They became stiff and dark gray, nearly black, before disintegrating into ashes. Hollytail coughed as she collapsed weakly onto the ground. Lockstar gave her a curious look as the silver feline rose to her feet.

⠀⠀ "A prophecy," she choked out. The leader simply nodded.

⠀⠀ "Something about flames bringing darkness?" she mewed. The she cat nodded, amazed.

⠀⠀ "How'd you know?"

⠀⠀ "My mother told me when I was younger," she mewed with a shrug.

⠀⠀ "Wait. You're the... prophecy. Not for this one. For one I received moons before you came," she murmured. "A cat will arrive from the depths of the river, who will know of a prophecy. They must gain nine, and move on. Afraid of none. Oblivious to one."

A cat will arrive from the depths of the river,
Who will know of a prophecy.
They must gain nine,
And move on.
Afraid of none.
Oblivious to one.

⠀⠀ Startled, the she cat shook her head.

⠀⠀ "Who would I be oblivious to?" she growled. Hollytail shrugged.

⠀⠀ "I'm not quite sure, but remember that we have a gathering tomorrow. I wouldn't get too wrapped up in it," the medicine cat suggested. Lockstar hesitantly nodded and turned, bumping into Ciphercry.

⠀⠀ "Want to hunt?" he mewed hopefully. Realizing that it'd be the perfect thing to distract herself, she nodded. The ebony tom grinned and began to pad out of the camp, Lockstar following close behind. They made their way over several small hills before stopping to scent the air.

⠀⠀ The sight of a large rabbit nibbling quietly on a wide blade of grass caught Lockstar's attention. She motioned to it and Ciphercry nodded, crouching down.

⠀⠀ "I'll chase it towards you," she instructed. The tom twitched his ear in response and she took off, her golden pelt disguised by the grasses. The rabbit went rigid as she grew closer. With a low growl and dramatic leap from the brush, their target bolted to it's demise. Ciphercry pounced, his fangs clamping around the fragile neck like brittle leaves under heavy paws. With a final shriek, it was over.