Warriors #1: Moondance of Fate ✓

Chapter 5

I let out a sleepy yawn as I stirred from my slumber. It had been a few days since I received that cryptic prophecy from Bluestar, and it continued to hang over me like a looming stormcloud. I suddenly tensed as the den rustled, and I saw Lionpaw's tired, golden pelt slipping inside. Suspicion flickered in my narrowed eyes as I caught a scent on him that didn't belong.

She-cat, I thought, a strange, unsettling sensation crawling down my spine. Jealousy? It was a bitter emotion I had never experienced so sharply before, but I recognized it for what it was. My friend Millie often spoke of that same cold, heavy feeling whenever she saw her crush engaging with other she-cats in a way that left no doubt he was flirting.

I couldn't help but worry, hoping I wouldn't succumb to this unfamiliar and unwelcome jealousy.

The golden warrior, Lionpaw, walked over to his sibling, Hollypaw, and settled down. But when he turned around in a circle, his eyes locked with mine, and he froze. He knew I had witnessed him entering the cave. I didn't say anything; I simply stared back at him before giving a subtle nod. While I might have been harboring jealousy, I wasn't about to reveal his secret. I'd let him keep it as long as it didn't harm his relationships within the clan.

After a while, I rose to my paws and padded outside, the tweeting of the early morning birds filling the air. I soon spotted Firestar making his way to the high rock, and he let out a resounding yowl that echoed through the clearing.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the high rock for a clan meeting."

I flicked my tail nervously and hurried over, unsure of what Firestar might have to discuss with us. The unknown always carried an air of anticipation in our clan, and I was eager to learn what lay ahead.

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"So that's why I want you to go to the ShadowClan border," Firestar said, looking at me and Brambleclaw. Deputies Brambleclaw and I exchanged nods. But then a thought struck me. If I go to the ShadowClan border, I'll likely encounter Blackstar, and I'm not sure I want that, I thought.

I sighed and followed Brambleclaw, who carried his tail high. Of course, he had family in ShadowClan, I thought, a smile forming on my face. I hope Tawnypelt is doing well.

"Are you coming or not?" the tabby warrior meowed, and I hurried to catch up. "Apologies."

He simply raised his head. "Just keep up, Moonpaw." Then he suddenly broke into a sprint, and I knew something was amiss. Brambleclaw was one of the few cats who treated me with respect and didn't constantly try to get under my fur.

So, what could have put that twist in his tail?

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As we reached the border, an unusual scent filled the air, akin to ash but with a fiery undertone. "Brambleclaw, I don't think we should venture any further," I mewed, my eyes fixed on the border where some undergrowth rustled mysteriously.

Brambleclaw nodded in agreement. "You stay put," he growled, sharing the same unease I felt. "I'll return as soon as I can." With a determined leap, he crossed the border, only to be abruptly tackled and pinned to the mossy ground. A large cat snarled on top of him.

"Don't think for a moment you belong here, Brambleclaw. This is ShadowClan territory, and I won't tolerate ThunderClan cats snooping around," hissed Blackstar, and I blinked in astonishment. My father had certainly undergone a dramatic change from the cat I'd met just days or weeks ago.

"What's troubling you, Blackstar?" I inquired as I approached him, gently resting my tail on his shoulder. "Traitor!" he snorted before leaping off Brambleclaw and lashing his tail. Soon, two ShadowClan warriors, Tawnypelt and Russetfur, emerged from the shadows.

"Hold them back," Blackstar commanded his warriors before pouncing on me, pinning me to the ground. "Dad, what are you doing?" I hissed, struggling to free myself from his powerful grip, but he only pressed me harder into the ground with his forepaws.

"I never thought it would come to this, my dear, but I must heed Sol's command," he whispered, his eyes holding mine. "Who in the name of StarClan is Sol?" Blackstar smiled enigmatically. "You'll learn soon enough." And then, darkness enveloped me as he bit down firmly on the back of my neck.

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I groaned as pain gripped me, having not expected the agony that came with this unfamiliar transformation. My own father, who would have thought he'd turn against me? And who in StarClan is Sol? I grumbled beneath my breath as I tried to make sense of the situation.

"Hey, take it easy," said a soothing voice, snapping me out of my misery. I blinked, focusing on the cat that had addressed me. There was kindness in their eyes, but age had marked them. "Who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling.

The old cat dipped his head gracefully. "You can call me Olivenose. I've been ShadowClan's medicine cat longer than you've lived, little one. You must be Moonpaw. Sol told us about you," he purred, his gaze filled with wisdom.

As I absorbed this new information, a tall, mottled, tortoiseshell-and-white tom entered the den. I blinked at him, trying to place his face. "Do I know you?" I mewed cautiously.

The tom smirked, his eyes holding a glint of amusement. "No, dear one, but I do know you. You lived in the Twoleg's dens a few paces back from here, right? Your friend is Smudge."

I bristled at the mention of my friends and my past. "Who my friends are or where I lived has nothing to do with whether you know me or not," I retorted.

Sol sighed, his voice heavy with old memories. "I was a rogue once, belonging to your friend's little group. Whenever I wanted, your mother actually met me once, and I helped her give birth to you."

His eyes were kind, but I could see a hint of something more beneath the surface. A hidden power, perhaps, and a dangerous edge that warned me not to provoke him. I sighed and sat down, looking over my body. There were no visible wounds, but the bite wound on the back of my neck was stinging fiercely.

The world had just become even more complicated, and I had a feeling that my journey was far from over.