The Three of StarClan: Book 1: Finding Night

Chapter 1

The forest was dense and quiet, the only sounds were of birds fluttering and the slight breeze that would sway the leaves onto the twisted branches of them. The small roar of the water was the only loud noise in all of CreekClan. Then, a small ginger she cat slowly stalked up on the small creek. Her fur seemed like flames against the shining sun. Her silver paws glittered like morning dew. Slowly, she positioned herself into a hunting crouch. Carefully she moved, making sure that she was nothing but dead silence. She carefully maneuvered her way towards the creek, like a snake of some sort. She scuffed at the small pebbles that made grit fly up as she went. When she was about a mouse-length away from the water, she started to get an intense feeling crawl along the fur on her spine. She was being watched. She knew that two glowing eyes were staring right down at her. She became gripped with fear as she felt a cold, dead chill run along the back of her neck. The ginger cat swallowed hard. She gathered up all her courage, trying to ignore the creature that was staring her down like a fresh piece of prey. Hesitating, she finally stalked once more to the clear blue water. She was very close now. If she were to flex out her claws at this moment, they would touch the moving creek. As the water roared on, stones blocked its path causing small spashes that managed to land on her muzzle. She shook the droplets off and slowly stood up. Cautiously, she peered down into the creek. There was nothing but her own distorted reflection. After a few heartbeats, her disfigured reflection moved. Her hazel eyes went wide. Finally! She thought. Again, she waited for the movement, her tail flicking impatiently. Once more her reflection was disturbed by a small splash. She was about to grab the moving creature when she paused. She was the only CreekClan cat afraid of water! She had no idea why; the feeling of her paws in the water, just felt...odd to her. She shook her head, bringing herself back. She stared for what seemed like the longest time into the water. Finally, she pounced into the creek. Her paws thrashed as she wrestled with the small creature. She felt the cold water run along her fer, soaking into her soft pelt. She yowled in surprise. She immediately scattered herself back onto the pebbled shore, bristling in fear. Her catch had got away. "mouse-dung!" She spat. Suddenly, the undergrowth behind her made a small rustling sound. Two creatures jumped out of the shrubs, their eyes gleaming down on her. They slowly stalked up to her, their faces blazing with anger. "Gingerpaw!" A gray cat with a black muzzle scolded. "What in StarClan's name was that?" The gray cat's yellow eyes met her hazel eyes. Both of the cats' pelts stood up on end in fury. But, the second cat, a brown tabby tom, just flicked his tail. "I-I'm sorry Ashface." Gingerpaw stammered. "Sorry doesn't feed the clan!" He yowled. Gingerpaw flinched back at her mentor's angry words. "Ashface, please don't be so harsh, this is her third sunrise of being an apprentice." Mewed the brown tom cat, his blue eyes filled with concern. Ashface sighed. "I suppose your right Barkpelt, I'm sorry Gingerpaw, please, forgive me." He mewed more calmly as his fur started to lie flat again. "No, Ashface it's my fault, I shouldn't have hesitated like that." Gingerpaw protested. She stared at her gray paws in disappointment. Ashface gave a playful cuff around the She-Cat's ear. Gingerpaw gave a soft purr of amusement. "Let's head back to camp, I'm sure the better apprentices have caught fresh-kill." Barkpelt mewed. The brown tabby exchanged looks with the gray cat, and padded back towards the undergrowth. Better? She thought. Did he think less of me? Gingerpaw began to feel a blast of shame sweep through her. Not only has she disappointed her mentor, her own father was disappointed! "Come along, Gingerpaw." Ashface's mew made Gingerpaw jump in surprise. Her mentor had his head turned towards her, his body ready to jump through the thick gorse. "Oh, right..sorry." She mewed as she padded towards the gray tom. As she was moved, she felt a weird sensation under her paw. There was a loud crackling sound, and Gingerpaw stepped back. Birds fluttered away from a few trees that were a few fox-lengths away from her. She had stepped on a twig! She looked up to where Ashface was standing, waiting to hear another loud scold from her mentor. Gingerpaw stared in surprise. Ashface was no where to be seen! She rushed towards where the gray tom had once been. She found something peculiar about where Ashface was previously standing moments ago. The grass wasn't trampled, even though his scent lingered there. "Ashface!" She called. "Ashfa-" her sentence was abruptly stopped when a flash of fur moved passed her. Gingerpaw became startled. Her first guess was a rogue, since the clans have been at peace for a few moons now. Gathering all her courage, she slowly unsheathed her claws. "W-who's there?" She called, trembling from the legs up. There was no reply except for the sounds of fluttering birds. She slightly opened her jaws to taste the air. "No new scen-" She was cut off as something hauled at her. She was now pinned on her back, the wind completely knocked out of her. The ground felt hard, causing a surge of pain to course through her body. The ginger She-Cat thrashed every which way, trying to escape whatever had her in its clutches. She felt claws dig deep into her ribs as she struggled more. She let out a yowl of pain as blood trickled down her pelt. this must be a rogue! She thought, panicking. She looked up to see the cat that dare enter her territory and attack her. Gingerpaw gasped as her hazel eyes met the cats yellow eyes. "Ashface!" she screamed. "What in StarCl-" "This is an assessment!" Ashface yowled, cutting her off. "Attack me!"