Warriors: An Enemy's Victory #1, Fanfiction

Chapter 11

He burst through the thorn bush, unaware of the thorns poking through his pelt. Snakerocks was straight ahead and he could smell fear-scent and hear soft mewls. He pushed harder relief flowing through him as he saw all his clanmates were there.

Not all of them, he thought bitterly. Speckletail, Crowfur, One-eye and Nightpelt had died. Only two elders remained. A groan sounded heavily from beside the medicine cats, making him push his way through. Was someone injured?

He stopped, joy filling his heart. Morningflower was kitting, with one little white kit already being groomed. He saw Tunnelwhisker holding Mothkit and Hawkkit close, and immediately padded over to her. They wouldn't need him at Morningflower's kitting.

"Oh I'm so glad your okay." He purred, licking the top's of his kits' heads. He touched his nose to his mate's shoulder afterwords, purred in delight.

"It was scary! A tree landed right on the nursery after Tunnelwhisker got us out!" Hawkkit mewed, thrill shining in his icy blue eyes.

"But you were both brave kits." He purred, then Mudfur caught his eye. The tom's eyes said everything he needed to know. "I need to speak with Mudfur. Cloudtail will send one last hunting patrol out for prey for you, Ferncloud, Feathertail's kits, and Morningflower." He sprinted over to the brown tom. His body was frail. Thistlestar knew he didn't have more than a couple moons left.

"Thistlestar, i am without a successor, and you know i don't have many moons left in me." He knew where this was already heading. Eaglewing was Mudfur's successor but he's dead now.

"What are you asking, Mudfur?" He meowed, sitting beside him. He wanted to hear the tom speak his mind. Too many cats were afraid to when Tigerstar ruled.

"I would like to take Mothkit to the moonstone to announce her as my apprentice before we leave. I want to teach her as many herbs as i can before i leave her in my place." He rasped, his gaze flickering from Thistlestar to Mothkit.

"I can not deny you of her, Mudfur. She was destined to be your apprentice someday, and tonight would be better than waiting till it's too late. You may take her to the moonstone tonight." Mudfur dipped his head, and padded over to Tunnelwhisker and Mothkit. Within heartbeats he heard the she-kit squeal with joy, bouncing around the old tom. Thistlestar dipped his head to the tom, calling out after him.

"Stay at the moonstone. We shall head that way as soon as everyone has rested."

     
The dusk sky stretched far above Thistlestar's head. He had decided against taking the cats to Fourtrees, though Brambleclaw pleaded to do what Midnight said.

"Midnight said Starclan would send a sign one we stood upon the great rock!" He hissed, flexing his claws. Thistlestar just shook his head at his older brother. The great rock had been destroyed by twolegs, and he didn't want to frighten his clan.

"We need to reach the moonstone by dawn. If we hurry, we can reach Barley's barn by moonhigh and Morningflower and her kits can rest." He meowed, a purr rumbling in his throat as he remembered the two kits. Windkit and Duskkit would make wonderful warriors. Though they were only born around sunhigh, they were showing potential.

"We need to head to Barley's barn near the moor. I want queens, kits and elders in the center of the group. Coudtail, lead the way. I'll take the rear position." He yowled, and cats immediately began to get to their paws. Those already up, began to lead towards the moor.

He waited till they were ahead of them, making sure no cat was left behind before he took his position. While he was in the back, He heard a tiny squeak. Looking down, he saw a white and brown little tom.