Moonstar's Rise

Chapter 10

Moonstar smiled as she sat in the MoonClan camp. Two moons had passed, and her kits were now three moons old. Her clan was growing well. Three news cats had joined the clan: Bloodfur, Screechshade, and Jetfur. They even had their own medicine cat. Beside form that, Ice and Rock had become mates.

"ATTENTION MOONCLAN!" Moonstar yowled. They didn't exactly have a rock or a log to stand on, so Moonstar just stood in the center of the camp, the crowd gathering around her. "Chesnutkit, Hazelkit, Leopardkit, and Tigerkit have reached three moons, which means they are ready to come apprentices. Come forward, kits."

Her kits scurried towards her. Tigerkit and Leopardkit were smiling, though Chesnutkit and Hazelkit frowned, looking at the ground.

"Chesnutkit, from this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Chesnutpaw. Your mentor will be Snowfeather."

The white she-cat looked shocked to see that she would be a mentor to Moonstar's kits.

"Hazelkit, from this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Hazelpaw. Your mentor will be Ice."

The white she-cat smiled, dipping her head to Hazelpaw.

"Leopardkit, from this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Leopardpaw. Screechshade, you will mentor her."

Leopardpaw seemed thrilled to have one of the fiercest cats in the clan as her mentor. She bounced up and down with excitement and thrill.

"Tigerkit, from this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you shall be known as Tigerpaw. Your mentor will be Bone."

The clan cheered as Bone stepped forward and smiled at his apprentice.

"CHESNUTPAW! HAZELPAW! LEOPARDPAW! TIGERPAW!' the clan cried.

"Now, we greet FoxClan and SnowClan!" Moonstar declared. "Rock, watch the camp while we are gone. I need Fang, Bone, and my kits. Everyone else, stay and guard. Now, let's go!" Moonstar commanded.

The seven cats raced through the woods, heading to where the gathering had been held. Moonstar was already aware that SnowClan and FoxClan had been practicing for battle there, and it was no surprise that she found them there, continuing to practice.

She slipped though some bushes then slowly made her way out. "Why, hello!" Moonstar yowled, greeting the cats.

Cats froze, staring at her in fear.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT, MOONPAW?!" Icestar hissed.

Moonstar shrugged. "I just wanted to introduce a few cats," she told them, walking by them. "First off, my name is MoonSTAR," she smiled. "Meet my mate, Fang."

She watched as the brown tabby tom padded out of the bushes, staring proudly into the crowd of cats.

"My deputy, Bone," Moonstar introduced. The white tom came out as well, his piercing green eyes staring at the other cats.

"And my four kits, Hazelkit, Chesnutkit, Tigerkit, and Leopardkit." Her kits padded forward, staring at the other cats. Moonstar had to hide the fact they were apprentices. It would make the others think that MoonClan was still practicing and was not as strong as it was made up to be. "The battle won't be for awhile. I'm waiting until my kits are warriors. Good-bye," she hissed, racing off.

As they padded back through the bushes, Moonstar could hear the cats gossiping in the clearing. Moonstar hissed as she heard their rumors. Did they dare doubt her skills? She knew she was the best warrior and leader.

When arriving back in the MoonClan camp, Moonstar headed towards the center, yowling, "ATTENTION MOONCLAN!" The cats gathered beside her, awaiting to hear her news. "We have told the other clans of our battle! They don't seem to believe what we say! To prove it, we shall be capturing, yes capturing, a certain apprentice in SnowClan! Before we do so, however, we must create a plan to capture."

The cats nodded in agreement, slowly heading off to perform their duties. Ice padded up to Moonstar nervously.

"Moonstar, I think someone else might need to take over Hazelpaw's training. I'm expecting Rock's kits."

Moonstar tilted her head, then laughed a little. "My dear, Ice," she said, "YOU WILL CONTINUE MENTORING UNTIL YOU MOVE INTO THE NURSERY!" she hissed.

Some cats stepped back, fearful of their leader. Ice gulped then nodded, heading off to train Hazelpaw.

Tooth stepped forward and dipped his head. "Moonstar," he began.

"Yes?" she asked impatiently.

"I met a large group of rogues today," he explained. "They are willing to fight in the battle."

"Exactly how many?" Moonstar asked.

Tooth tilted his head. "They call themselves the Blood Pack."

Moonstar hissed, cutting him off. "I ASKED HOW MANY!"

Tooth looked down. "About twenty."

Moonstar unsheathed her claws. "THAT WON'T BE ENOUGH!" she spat. "We have about thirty cats participating. FoxClan and SnowClan combined is about fifty! Bone!" she yowled.

The deputy looked up.

"Send a patrol to find more rogues that will join," she commanded.

Bone opened his mouth to say something, only to be cut off by Moonstar. "NOW!" she hissed.

The tom nodded and ran off.

Moonstar growled, padding back to her den.