Bright Forest

Prologue

The moon was gazing over the clearing, filling it with pale light. The Great Tree's shadow was streaming in the middle next to the other dens.

The ferns at the entrance shook, as a brown she-cat with a bundle of herbs in her mouth padded slowly towards the den between the stones.

She leaped at the entrance, shaking her golden-pale feather on her ear.

-Marigold?- she whispered, gazing inside.

The wind entered the den, shaking the grass inside and vines at the entrance. It led to the shadow of another cat.

-Treefeather?- a mew came from the den. -Come.

Treefeather entered, laying down the herbs to the side and walked slowly into the den. She saw Spottedpaw, Marigold's apprentice, sleeping in the nest near hers.

The she-cat gazed at the golden cat:-What is it?

Marigold's amber eyes sparkled in the shadows:-Follow.

They padded into the den, until they reached the StarClan meeting place: it was where the medicine cats in StormClan could receive prophecies and signs.

It looked like the den, but the hole where the light passed was larger, and the sight of the moon was clearer. A tree darkened a part of it, but mostly the moonlight "conquered" the shadows.

Marigold sat in the pale light, and Treefeather curled up at the entrance of it.

-So, why are we here?- she asked. -Is it a prophecy?

The golden she-cat sat still, and mewed:-It is time for Spottedpaw to share visions with StarClan.- she explained.

Treefeather's ears pricked with excitement, and her fur bristled in happiness.

Letting out a purr, she asked:-Should I go wake her up?

-Sure- Marigold's eyes were fixed on the bright moon.

Treefeather nodded and backed away into the actual den, sitting near the calico apprentice.

She nudged her with a paw:-Hey...

Spottedpaw groaned and laid her paw on her muzzle.

-Wake up, sweety!

Spottedpaw mumbled something underneath the moss, and sat, wobbling from side to side.

-What?- she whispered.

-Marigold wants to see you! It's important!- she mewed, leading the apprentice to her mentor.

Treefeather paused her with her tail. -Sit.

They sat on the grass, while Marigold's fur moved slowly with the wind.

The two she-cats sat silently while Marigold bathed in the moonlight.

Her golden fur stopped bristling when the medicine cat opened her eyes.

-StarClan, I declare that it is time for this apprentice to read your messages!- she declared. -Spottedpaw, come forward.

The young she-cat padded underneath the moonlight, blinking curiously at her mentor. -You have trained well,- she announced. -But even broke the Warrior Code...- her last words were a spat, and Spottedpaw lowered her head and twisted her ears. She lifted it up again when she heard Marigold speak.

-But that didn't stop you from your duties. However,- she continued. -A medicine cat does not only heal cats, physically and emotionally, but it also means reading omens. Tonight, you shall have your moment reading StarClan. May we wish you luck!-

As the golden she-cat spoke, she padded near Treefeather, looking at her apprentice to take her place. Spottedpaw gazed up at the moon and stood still like her mentor did in the moonlit clearing. She kept her eyes wide, catching every slightest movement.

Suddenly, a flash blazed through the sky, and Spottedpaw's fur bristled.

-I-If the tree's branch isn't stopped... the rusted savior will strike back... until it's solved...- the she-cat murmured intensely.

Marigold's gaze was fixed on her apprentice, while Treefeather bounced on her paws and whispered to the medicine cat's ear:-So should we...

-Hush!- hissed the golden cat. -Pay attention!

The brown cat sat and curled up her tail around her paws and looked at the young she-cat.

A small cracking sound squeaked and a twig fell on Spottedpaw's head.

-Ow!- she murmured.

Marigold padded to her apprentice:-You alright?

Spottedpaw shook the stick off:-Yeah...

Marigold turned on the side of her head and saw a small bleeding wound:-You're injured...

Treefeather bounced on her paws:-I'll get the cob things... cobwebs!

She raced to the aligned herbs and took the white curled up webs. Taking a few, she blazed to Spottedpaw. -Here...

The she-cat put the herbs on the ground and let Marigold do the process: she took the cobwebs and tapped them on the wound. Treefeather stood on the side, and her ears twisted when Marigold gave her a worried look. She reached the brown she-cat and whispered:-Take the stick and hide it.

Without hesitation, Treefeather grabbed the fallen branch and hid it behind a ledge. "But why?" she asked herself.

Marigold took Spottedpaw to her nest. -I'll go tell Kestrelstar about the vision. You rest here. Treefeather, come with me.

While Spottedpaw set down in her nest, Treefeather followed the medicine cat out of the den.

-Kestrelstar?- Marigold's mew made the spotted leader's ears prickle.

Kestrelstar's green shiny eyes looked up:-Treefeather? Marigold?
The golden she-cat nodded and mewed:-We've got a prophecy.

-Oh! Shouldn't Spottedpaw be here to explain?- she asked.

-Spottedpaw's injured...- Treefeather explained. -She's resting right now.

Kestrelstar narrowed her eyes:-It's better to let her rest then, but do you know what the prophecy's about?

-I've got an idea of what it could be!- said Marigold.

-Perfect!- Kestrelstar purred. -Treefeather? Would you like to watch over my daughter?

Treefeather nodded:-Don't mind if I do!

She skipped to the medicine den and curled up near the spotted apprentice.

Marigold was following Kestrelstar up the Great Tree. "They must be having a fun time!" she told herself, falling asleep near her "kit". Treefeather had helped Kestrelstar grow her three kits and kept their father a secret. She didn't have any experience in plants, but she didn't like the life of a warrior, even though she knew how to battle and hunt.

She gazed at the sky:-Let's hope that this prophecy will mean something good!- she murmured, falling asleep in the moonlight.