Warriors: Starfall

Prologue

                           Hopheart was in his element. All around him there was panic, and he stood firm, like a sturdy home in a storm.

                          " She's gone! Half a moon old and she's gone!"

 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ " We'll send out a battle patrol and get her back!"

              Pebblepaw and the other apprentices were shaking with excitement.

            " Hush, you fool. Be sensible," Grouseclaw scolded his apprentice.

       Thank you. I don't have the patience to deal with him right now.

             The older warrior gave him a knowing glance, and Hopheart exhaled. He pricked his ears, and let his eyes wander.

                     His gaze traveled to the panicking queen. He leapt down from the Highstone.

                          " Swiftdawn!" he hissed.

                         The queen trembled, and looked up at him with wide and terrified eyes.

                         " Come with me. We're leading out a patrol to search for Blazekit."

                         Swiftdawn nodded numbly, and he flicked his ears. " Panicking will never find  your daughter. "

                      She nodded again.

                      " Berrytail! Raincall! I want you on patrol. We're going to find that kit, understand?"

                     " Wait!" a muffled yowl came from behind him. Hopheart flicked his ears with annoyance, and turned to see Softpaw, the medicine apprentice.

                    " What do you want? We need to go," Rainfall snapped.

                      " I should come in case Blazekit's hurt," he explained. " If she's mortally wounded, then I can help keep her alive while you go get Meadowrunner."

                    Hopheart nodded. "Very well. Come on."

                     Berrytail padded up to him quickly, matching his pace as he left the camp through the gorse tunnel. " Where will we start?" she mewed.

                     " Shrubkit and Lilackit said they saw Blazekit nearing the direction of Highstones," he replied. " We'll head there, and pick up her scent. "

                     Raincall cleared his throat. " What if a hawk took her?"

                   " Then we'll find the hawk."

                  They padded out of camp. The grass crackled under their paws, and the wind carried the scent of rain. The group had better hurry if they wanted to find her before the storm.

                 Swiftdawn's eyes lit up, and she turned to Hopheart eagerly. 
                " I found her scent!" she purred. The tortoiseshell queen began to go faster, following the milky kit-scent of her daughter.

                 Hopheart quickened his pace to match that of the she-cat's. She was eager now, and she hardly stopped to look up.

                 Then, she stopped, and her fur prickled.

                  He scanned the horizon. Nothing but grass. He tasted the air.

                   Rouge scent!

                   A chill ran down his spine. Rouges were vicious. Now Blazekit could be in danger! What if a rouge had kidnapped her? His gut twisted at the thought. 

                   " Hurry!" Swiftdawn mewed.

                   The trail twisted and turned, and soon they were in a thicket of gorse brambles.

                   " I smell blood-scent," Raincall mewed. 
                   Swiftdawn's eyes grew wide, and she glanced around the bushes. Tiny splatters of dark red stained the earth on the trail, and clumps of ginger fur stuck on the bushes.

                   Hopheart raced ahead of them all, leaping over a hill and straight to highstones. He heard pawsteps behind him and recognized Softpaw's scent. The tang of herbs stung his nose, and he went faster still.

                  He skidded over the slick grass of Highstones, and glanced around. Ahead of him were two cats!
                 Softpaw gasped, his eyes wide. He stepped back, his pawsteps scrambling.

                What in the name of StarClan are you doing? he thought.

               Hopheart crept closer to the cats. Blazekit was being questioned by an elderly black she-cat, and the little kit had a glazed look in her eyes. 

               The tom sprang out of the bushes, claws unsheathed. "What are you doing here, rouge?" he spat.

              The black she-cat sniffed. " I was wondering why this kit is so far from home. Is she yours?"

              He edged closer, putting his tail around the she-kit protectively. "She belongs to WindClan. Leave her alone. Get out."

             Raincall and Berrytail padded up beside him, their claws unsheathed and teeth bared. The old she-cat glanced at the three of them and turned away, muttering to herself.

              As soon as she was out of sight Hopheart sheathed his claws and turned to Blazekit. Swiftdawn was at her side, grooming her matted pelt and purring. Her daughter blinked, and her eyes grew more focused.

              " Momma?" 

              " Yes, my dear?"

              Hopheart bent down so he could see the kit's face clearly.

              " What in Star Clan's name are you doing here? The moor is a dangerous place for a kit!"

             " I..don't know," the kit said softly. "I was following...something."

             " Probably a butterfly or a feather. Stupid kits," Raincall muttered. He looked over his shoulder. " We should get back to camp before anyone else starts to worry."

             Annoyance rose in his pelt . I'm the leader of this patrol, not you!

             Blazekit yawned, and Swiftdawn reached for her kit's scruff. She stood, and began walking to the camp.

                                                                +~=*'*=~+🌓 +~=*'*=~+

             " Blazekit!" 

             Several cries of relief  hit the young kit's ears at the same time. The tiny she-kit winced, and Swiftdawn set her down. 

              Gorsetooth shoved past the patrol members to his mate's side.

           " Is she alright? Are you alright?" he asked anxiously.

           " She has a thorn in her paw, but she's okay," Swiftdawn purred. Her eyes shone with admiration for her kit. " Blazekit's home, Gorsetooth. Isn't that all that matters?"