The Book of Warriors One-Shots

Visitors

My entry for @Waspwing's writing contest. The prompt was: Write about a naive, young apprentice encountering a deceased friend that tricks said apprentice into believeing they are from StarClan, when the truth is much more sinister.

--

"Come on, Poppykit!" Streampaw flicked his tail impatiently, glaring at the little white kit. "We have to go now, before Dawnfire sees us and makes a fuss!"

Poppykit glanced back at the nursery, where her littermates, Breezekit and Acornkit, lay curled at her mother's belly, sleeping peacefully. Her spot next to them looked warm and cozy, perfect for sleeping. But Streampaw loomed just outside the nursery entrance, huge and full of excitement and danger, the kind of fun adventure Brackenflower never wanted her to have, the kind Breezekit and Acornkit never wanted to participate in, the kind none of the other apprentices would take a kit along. But Streampaw and her secret friend Leafpaw, who didn't live in SkyClan, were happy to have her company on their adventures, and she was happy to go. It was fun, better than anything the other kits did.

Poppykit lifted her tail and followed Streampaw out of the nursery, out of camp, through some of the thinner trees, and finally at an area of the gorge about two cat-lengths across, much narrower then the main part of the gorge, but still quite wide. Here, Leafpaw was waiting, swishing her tail and grinning. "Hi!"

"Hi!" Poppykit replied happily.

Leafpaw raised her tail, blinking at Streampaw. "Today I thought we'd try jumping. Won't it be fun? It'll feel like you're flying."

"Sounds awesome," Streampaw replied, flicking his ears in excitement. "Let's go."

Leafpaw flicked her tail. "I'll go first," she meowed, backing up, running forward, and effortlessly sailing across the gorge. She waved her tail brightly to the cats on the other side. "Streampaw, you're next!"

Streampaw grinned confidently at me. "Beat this!" He backed up and got a running start like Leafpaw had done, leaping across the gorge... and falling short, a fox-length from the edge. He screamed, falling and clawing at the air, and Poppykit screamed alongside him.

"Streampaw!"

//-//

"Poppypaw! Poppypaw, wake up. Tigerfrost wants us on the dawn patrol today."

I sit up, blinking sleepily and stretching. Weak dawn sunlight streamed through the entrance of the apprentices' den, which was partly blocked by the stocky, broad-shouldered form of my grumpy and impatient mentor, Firestorm. He flicks his tail impatiently, almost reminding me of Streampaw all those moons ago.

I give my rumpled chest fur a couple licks and heave myself from my nest, yawning. "Coming!"

Dawnberry greets us cheerfully when we arrive. Her name is fitting – she didn't mind getting up early, unlike most cats. Also on the patrol are Gingerpaw and her mentor, Aspenbreeze.

Firestorm flicks his tail impatiently. "Ready to go?"

I nod, swishing my tail excitedly, the cold air in her fur waking up her senses. Beside me, Aspenbreeze looks like he is going to fall asleep on the spot, but he sets off at a surprisingly swift pace – probably wanted to get back to his nest as soon as possible. He has always been a cat who rewards himself at the end of a challenge, like the time when he fought rogues and ate a plump, juicy squirrel all by himself to celebrate. He's hilarious, but he doesn't mean to be. It's all I can do to keep from laughing.

Instead, I walk with Firestorm and the patrol to the desired hunting spot, where Dawnberry tells us to split up so we can catch more prey. We're all at least a little experienced and we'll be fine, she says.