The Darkest of Nights: A Warrior Cats Fanfiction

Chapter 1

Note: Sorry for the shortness of the next few chapters, but I hope they're still enjoyable. Please like and comment!

Cinderheart POV

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” Bramblestar yowled, his words echoing throughout the camp. Cinderheart’s sharp words caught the words from where she sat with Lionblaze, whose shoulder was almost fully recovered after a few days in the medicine cats’ den.

The small medicine cat apprentice, Snowpaw, sniffed Lionblaze’s shoulder and announced, “You can go back to your regular duties, as long as you don’t push it too hard and come back tomorrow so I can redress it. Don’t go trying to fight another fox on your first day out of here. ” The apprentice’s eyes danced with amusement. Everyone knew the story of how Lionblaze had driven a fox out of the territory with his powers. It was a legend that was probably going to pass down for many generations to come.

The two cats, with Snowpaw following them, padded out of the medicine cat den. Cinderheart stifled a purr when she saw Lionblaze make a face at the poultice on his shoulder. She meowed, “So you have finally met your match- good thing too. Your ego was getting so big I thought you were going to fall to one side from the weight of it.”

Lionblaze pretended to glare at her for a moment before his face gave way to amusement. They padded so closely together that their pelts brushed each other softly. The two had become extremely close in the six moons following the battle with the warriors from the Dark Forest. She had finally given way to the need to be with him. He was more important to her than what any prophecy could say. And either way, that was all over now. The Three had served their purpose, and now her soon to be mate could be just a normal warrior, albeit with powers.

Bramblestar looked down at the gathered cats with worry running across his face. He began to speak, “As most of you know, Lionblaze was attacked the other night by some type of animal lurking outside the entrance. Because of this, I want everyone being on alert for a few moons. We can’t afford to lose anyone with leaf-bare approaching.”

The cats below began to murmur, but Bramblestar silenced them with a flick of his tail. “On a happier note, it’s time to announce that we have three more kits in the Clan, the children of Bumblestripe and Dovewing.” All of the parents looked proud- Millie, Graystripe, Leafpool, Squirrelflight, and even Bramblestar, even though some weren’t the real grandparents. Bramblestar continued, “They are all toms, and they’re named Shrewkit, Eaglekit, and Firekit.” At the last kit’s name, everyone looked surprised but in a good way. Firestar’s name would live on through this newborn kit.

With that happy side note, the cats separated and began to gather near Squirrelflight, who was handing out duties for the day. “Cinderheart, I want you to lead a hunting patrol to the old dead tree. Take Lionblaze, Rosepetal, and Icecloud with you.” The ginger warrior continued giving orders, but Cinderheart stopped listening as she gathered her patrol with a flick of her gray tail. She began to head out towards the entrance, with the other three trailing right behind her.

Cinderheart fell back for a moment so she could walk by Lionblaze, but the golden tabby was strolling next to Rosepetal with a happy look on his face, chatting quietly with the cream-colored cat. Then, Cinderheart noticed something disturbing. Rosepetal was looking at Lionblaze with love-struck eyes, the same look Millie gave to Graystripe. And what was worse was that Lionblaze was looking at Rosepetal with almost the same face. Why in StarClan was he doing that?

Cinderheart drew ahead as she thought through this. She had told Lionblaze that she wanted to wait a few moons to become mates, just so they were comfortable with each other. She had thought that Lionblaze liked her enough to wait. But now, she was beginning to suspect that he might have just been entwining tails and rubbing pelts with her because they were friends. Friends could do that kind of stuff. Maybe he didn’t want to wait and had found a mate in Rosepetal. The very thought of that chilled her to the bone. Lionblaze was hers!

Icecloud bounded up to Cinderheart and began walking next to her. There was a comfortable silence for a few moments before Icecloud broke it by saying, “Hey, Rosepetal and I were wondering, just because we love the gossip of the Clans, are you and Lionblaze mates? Because if so, you guys are the cutest pair!”

Cinderheart glanced at the ground for a moment before saying, “Not exactly but-” Icecloud fell back before listening to the rest and began talking to Lionblaze, shooting a quick nod towards Rosepetal. Shoot, now Rosepetal knew that she and Lionblaze weren’t mates. Then an idea hit her.

She called back, “Hey, guys, we’re going to hunt in pairs today. I’ll go with-” She was cut off by Rosepetal squealing, “Dibs on Lionblaze.” A sigh escaped Cinderheart’s lips as she motioned for Icecloud to follow her to hunt. Winning Lionblaze just got a lot more complicated.