WarriorCats 1: The New Clans

Prologue

"But Dawnstar, are you sure they don't need out help? Starclan is here for a reason! They need some kind of clue, a sign or-"

"They will know when the time comes, Rainpelt. Trust me." the glittering warriors stood on a sloping grassy hill, gazing down at the three clans, all staying inside their territories.

"How can you be so sure?" Rainpelt challenged, her brown fur fluffing up, tail twitching.

"This is no time for a battle, Rainpelt. We can't be sure, but we can hope. It's all they have right now. Leafbare is harsh this year, and I fear that somecat will die because of it."

"They won't, I promise." Rainpelt's voice was soft and comforting now, as she nuzzled Dawnstar's soft pelt carefully. The dense forest below clouded over, back to the quivering grass.

"We'll just have to wait and see, I guess." Dawnstar sighed. She pricked her sharp ears and detected Robinwing, DawnClan's Medicine Cat. She could smell the ginger tom before she could see him, his half-tail dragging carelessly behind him.

"Dawnstar, is there some reason you summoned me?" the innocent tom asked curiously.

The Starclan cat didn't reply for a while, walking beside Robinwing and scanning the open plains.

"The Lark shall fly to the Moon and back before Sun steals the land." Dawnstar whispered. Her glimmering outline began to disappear into the dreams. "Wait! Dawnstar, what does it mean?" Robinwing called, searching helplessly in the darkness before a sudden shake woke him.

"Robinwing? Are you alright? You were twitching and making noises. Something about a Lark and the Moon."

"I'm fine, Featherpaw. Thanks for waking me. Has anyone come in?" the Medicine Cat asked his apprentice, glancing around all his stocks.

"Well, Streakfoot came in again about the pains in his paws so I gave him some Poppy seeds and he calmed down. You missed a hunting and border patrol, but other than that, nothing. Oh! And Hollowclaw wanted you to check on Goldenleaf, she keeps feeling pains where her kits are." Featherpaw finished, taking a sudden deep breath as she reeled off her list.

"Right, I'll check on Goldenleaf right away in case any thing's wrong with her-"

"Robinwing!" a tom yowled from the Nursery. "I think Goldenleaf is kitting!" Robinwing imagined Hollowclaw bending down beside his mate, licking her ear comfortingly as he waited for Robinwing. "It might just be another false alarm. He's done that twice this moon!" But Robinwing clawed together his herbs and brought some wet moss with him, seeing that Goldenleaf really was kitting. Her belly was swollen with the three kits inside, but he couldn't get a good look as she kept squirming. "Hold still." Robinwing snapped, swinging around to Featherpaw. "A strong stick for the pain, and bring me the poppy seeds."

The gray apprentice dropped the poppy seeds beside Robinwing and went to look for a sturdy stick. Robinwing gently placed his forepaws on Goldenleaf's belly as a sudden shudder sent ripples down her thick golden pelt. "Not long now. Three kits. Thanks, Featherpaw! Now, when the pain starts, I need you to bite this stick, understand? Okay, here we go..."

After what seemed like 4 moons, Goldenleaf was rapidly licking her two kits, with Hollowclaw on the third. "I think Jigsawkit for this one." Hollowclaw murmured, nudging the tom towards his mother. "And Streamkit and Lilykit for these two." Goldenleaf smiled wearily, pressing her kits closer. Streamkit was a light gray color, with a white tip to her tail and one white paw. Her sister, Lilykit, was golden like Goldenleaf with a hint of cream in her muzzle and paws, while Jigsawkit had patches of white and Golden, with a brown paw as if it was muddy.

Moltenstar walked calmly and quietly into the den, inspecting the kits. "They will make fine warriors, Goldenleaf. Congratulations." he smiled and dipped his gray head, padding back out. His paws felt sore and rough after walking along the new border the night before, especially when his pad had been sliced by the thorn. Robinwing had tended to the wound carefully, but the poultice was stinging like a bee.

The Lark will fly to the Moon and back before Sun steals the land...