Warriors: Starlit Shadows

Prologue

~21 moons earlier~

It was a dark stormy night when Swiftclaw crept out of his wet nest. Rain pattered down into the den, soaking all of the grumbling warriors, but they eventually fell asleep. Swiftclaw silently crept away. He followed the dreaded thunderpath out of Thunderclan territory and through Shadowclan's. Though Goldenleaf had told him that there would be no one out tonight, he couldn't swallow the fear that clawed at his insides. Goldenleaf is a Starclan cat, Swiftclaw thought reassuringly. She won't be wrong. He darted past every tree and bush, walked through every leaf of grass, and felt every drop of rain.

He hated it.

Swiftclaw's invisible, black pelt stuck to his sides and made him shiver; for every step he took, six more drops fell and soaked him more. Finally, he made it to the four trees. "Goldenleaf," he whispered. "I am here." No reply. "It's me, Swiftclaw." Suddenly, a shimmering light formed in front of the young tom. He took a step back as the beautiful she-cat took form. "Oh Goldenleaf," he whispered. "Why did you make me come out in the rain?"

"Because," said the worn-out she-cat. "They must be release here." Then he noticed it. Goldenleaf's soft, white belly wasn't round anymore. She was once again a sleek, orange tabby she-cat. Swiftclaw sighed.

"You kitted, didn't you?" Goldenleaf nodded sadly. "I cannot keep her, for she is all pure and alive." Swiftclaw nodded.

"Where is she?" Goldenleaf turned and whispered. A small, black kitten stumbled out from behind Goldenleaf. She blinked her icy, blue eyes and stretched her mouth open in a yawn. Then she meowed. "Oh, she's as beautiful as you," Swiftclaw purred. Goldenleaf chuckled.

"What shall we name her?" Swiftclaw thought. He thought many times. Wishkit, Dawnkit, Darkkit, Ivykit, Shadowkit... He smiled.

"What about Shadowkit?" Goldenleaf grinned back at him.

"I love it." She nudged the kit towards him. "Take her to Shadowclan." Shadowclan? Swiftclaw gasped.

"B-But, I-"

"She must. She cannot stay in Thunderclan."

"Why not!?" Swiftclaw cried, his blue eyes clustered with tears. "She's our kit!" Goldenleaf sighed.

"If you leave her alone in Thunderclan then she will die." Swiftclaw's heart leaped with sadness. He was so happy to come meet his Starclan mate, but to not be able to keep Shadowkit... "Oh Swiftclaw," Goldenleaf whispered. "You will not make it through the night."

So Swiftclaw had taken his only kit to a Shadowclan tom he knew well, and then started his miserable trek back to Thunderclan. His head was bowed and eyes filled with tears, but he kept walking. He walked beside the thunderpath, and stared ahead.

He died there that night.