Warriors #2: Midnight ✓

Chapter 13

Leaf-bare indeed arrived faster than Starspeckle had anticipated. The trees were stripped bare, devoid of any greenery. It felt as though he was walking through a graveyard, and in a way, he was. Though moons had passed since the dogs and fire ravaged the forest, he could still sense the lingering aftermath. The memories weighed heavily on him; his parents seemed to share that sentiment.

However, amidst the somber atmosphere, there were brighter moments. Yellowfang had successfully guided Cinderpaw on her path to becoming Cinderpelt, and the two medicine cats were enjoying their newfound bond. The Clan rejoiced, grateful to have their healers alive and well, considering the fire could have claimed Yellowfang's life. It was thanks to the bravery of Mistyheart, who had saved them all.

Lately, Starspeckle had been feeling a strange restlessness, a longing to be out at night, and a reluctance to return to the safety of the camp. He couldn't quite pinpoint the reason behind this sensation. The Clan had been his only home since birth, and he had no intention of forsaking it. However, his sister, Sunflower, seemed to have different plans. She frequently ventured out on hunting missions with Brambleclaw, often distancing herself from the Clan.

Could she have acquired the spirit of the dragon? Starspeckle wondered as he went through the gorse tunnel, returning from a hunting patrol with his mother, Mistyheart.

"Son!" called Firestar, bounding over to the two cats. They rubbed their noses against each other, a gesture of affection. "Father," Starspeckle greeted warmly, his father's tail resting on his shoulder. Mistyheart greeted her mate, and the family shared a moment of happiness. "Anything to report?" Firestar inquired as they began to make their way back to their den.

"Nothing out of the ordinary other than the plentiful prey," Mistyheart replied, settling down on the ground and tucking her tail over her front paws, exuding regal grace.

As the flames of the setting sun danced in the sky behind them, signaling the approaching night, they all knew it was time to seek shelter. "We better get inside," Firestar said, his gaze directed toward the shifting canvas above. His family nodded in agreement, and together they slipped into the comforting darkness of their cave, leaving the Clan to carry out their nocturnal activities.

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"RAWR!" came the roar from Starspeckle's maw as he stretched out his black and orange wings, his tongue slithering in and out. He faced a great brown tom with long claws.

"You'll never survive me," Starspeckle hissed, and the tom scoffed, lashing his tail. "You're just a kit! I can defeat a little monster like you anytime!" With a swift movement, the tom lashed out his claws, catching on Starspeckle's scales. Starspeckle hissed and swatted Tigerstar away. "My mother killed you, so how come you're here?" the young male cat asked, his claws digging into the earth.

Tigerstar rolled onto his haunches. "I'm not that easy to kill, gnat! I will show her that she chose the wrong cat to have kits with!" Suddenly, darkness descended, and everything became clear. This time, Starspeckle found himself in a clearing with four tall, towering oaks surrounding him.

He was at Fourtrees. His mother had told him about this place. It was where the clans gathered each full moon for something called a Gathering. He wasn't old enough to attend yet, even if he was now over six moons.

But still, he hadn't been to a Gathering, and he disliked that very much.

"Young Starspeckle," came a soft, sweet voice, and the cat whirled around to face a great beast with white scales shining like stars and two golden eyes staring back at him. The beast's wings were spread slightly, revealing swirling nebulous patterns underneath. "W-who are you?" Starspeckle asked, his voice trembling. The dragon smiled and leaned down, bringing her nose close to Starspeckle's. "I am Whisperfrost, here to guide you to a brighter future, little tom."

Starspeckle blinked in astonishment. Mistyheart hadn't told him that he would be visited by StarClan in his dreams!

Whisperfrost chuckled and flicked her tail, sitting down with a regal air. "You've not met my fellow warriors?" she asked, and Starspeckle shook his head. "I'm not a medicine cat, nor am I dead."

Whisperfrost hummed and clawed at the earth. "Listen closely, young warrior: darkness is coming to the forest, whether your Clan likes it. And it won't stop until it has wiped out all the Clans. You've smelled the scent on the air before; you've had nightmares about him and his treacheries. But right now, the tiger is not what you should fear. What you should fear now is much, much worse. You and your friends can stop it. Meet me at midnight when the moon is highest. Don't be late." With that, the dream faded away, and Whisperfrost vanished, becoming nothing more than a wisp of white fire.