Warriors Super Edition: Cherryshade's Choice

PROLOGUE

The pale light of the half-moon glowed upon the treetops as their leaves swayed gently with the breeze. The crickets chirped in the grass along with fireflies that glowed onto the dirt path. The grass suddenly rustled as a pair of golden eyes peeked out. A paw reached out, along with the rest of its body. The creature looked around cautiously, sniffing the air and the ground before it.

The brown and white tabby she-cat looked back, flicking her tail as a signal. A smaller bundle of fur, another cat, jumped out beside them, and they both looked up at the pale moon. The two then set off toward the open field. The mist swirled around them as they padded past a stump in the middle of the grassy field. They continued eastwards until they stumbled across a small ravine. Peering down, they saw stones sticking out from the ravine walls. On the other side at the bottom, four cats were waiting beside a cave. The she-cat nudged the smaller one to the closest stone with her paw. The pair padded carefully on the slippery stones, still wet from the mist. Once they made it to the bottom, they headed towards the group.

"You sure took your time," One of them growled as the pair stopped in front of them.

"Sorry Hatchpelt, Sorrelpaw slipped on one of the stones and fell in the stream on our way here." The she-cat mewed, looking back at the kitten that shook off the dew from their coat.

"She should've watched where she was stepping! That would have saved her the time and trouble." Hatchpelt snapped.

"Keep your fur on, At least we got here on time."

The tom sniffed. Then a golden tabby padded beside them, placing their tail on Hatchpelt's shoulder.

"Relax Hatchpelt, At least they got there safe and sound. Don't forget that time when you arrived here late when you were an apprentice." He teased looking at the smaller pale ginger-and-white she-cat that finished drying themselves.

"That was moons ago, Yellowmist." Hatchpelt retorted. "And that was because I had a thorn stuck in my paw."

"And you complained about it even after your ceremony."

"You would too if you had to tread with it in your paw for a while."

"Alright, we wasted enough moonlight." a chocolate mackerel tabby she-cat stepped in between them. "Remember what we came here to do."

"Of course Fawnfang," Yellowmist meowed, nodding respectfully. "Our ancestors are waiting for us."

Yellowmist got to his paws and headed towards the cave. Hatchpalt huffed before he followed close behind.

One by one, they headed into the darkness as it consumed them. They continued forward, following each other's scent to avoid getting lost. Droplets of water fell onto their fur as the path swayed left and right. The cold, damp floor sloped downwards momentarily, almost causing some of them to slip. A glimmer of light indicated that they were nearing the end of their journey. The cave grew wider and the light became more prominent as they approached. In the middle of the cavern was a large pool glowing with blue brilliance, covering the cave walls with its light.

"Remember what I told you, Sorrelpaw," Falconpetal whispered to the pale ginger-and-white she-cat once they reached the pool's edge.

Sorrelpaw nodded in response.

All six cats gathered around the pool, all nodding to each other in unison. Then they all kneeled and touched the pool with their noses.

***

"Travel back safely, may Starclan light your path," the brown & white she-cat called out to the Hatchpelt and Fawnfang. They both looked back, nodded their thanks, and padded away.

She looked down at Sorrelpaw.

"You did well, I'm proud of you," She mewed warmly, licking the fur of her head.

Pawsteps sounded from behind them.

"Falconpetal?"

The she-cat looked back to see Yellowmist and the small dilute tortoiseshell she-cat.

"Hello, Yellowmist. Is there anything you need?"

"Tell them Opalpaw, about what you saw." Yellowmist nudged the small she-cat gently with his paw.

"Th-they sent me a message." Opalpaw stammered her words, pawing the dirt nervously. She looked up at Yellowmist who gave her a nod.

Opalpaw then straightened herself and cleared her throat "I don't know what it means, but I think it's supposed to be for both our clans." She closed her eyes as if she was trying to remember what she had witnessed. "I was in the middle of the lake surrounded by mist, I couldn't see anything so I walked around aimlessly till I stumbled upon a big tree.

Falconpetal's tail twitched with interest.

"Go on."

"Then there was a giant hornet that flew up to it, it landed on some moss growing from it. But before it could do anything, a cherry fell on the branch causing it to break off and crushed it."

Sorrelpaw's eyes widened. "I had the same vision too!"