The New Prophecy

Chapter 6

 Bramblestar ran over to the medicine cats’ den and prodded Jayfeather and Leafpool awake with his paw. Leafpool shot up and looked around quickly before noticing Bramblestar and relaxing.

            “What is it? Do you know it’s not even late enough for the dawn patrol to go out?” Jayfeather grumbled.

            “I had a dream… I don’t know what it means. I was hoping you could help.” Bramblestar said.

            “Was it about the prophecy?” Leafpool yawned.

            “I think so. But I couldn’t see any cats, there was fog and someone saying ‘they have come.’”

            “I think its time for us to figure out what the prophecy actually means. Obviously the dream you had last night means that the cats in the prophecy are here now. But we just need to figure out what that means for the rest of us.” Jayfeather explained.

            “Tell me if you think of anything.” Bramblestar replied before going over to the meager pile of fresh kill and taking a piece to the nursery. 

            Graystripe appeared out of the warriors’ den followed by the cats that were in the dawn patrol. They left and Graystripe lead a hunting party into the forest a few seconds later, Jayfeather sighed and continued taking stock of the herbs, they’d need more before all of the plants died. Leafpool was collecting some of the more important herbs for coughing or wounds, they didn’t expect any attacks but it was always best to be prepared. As he worked Jayfeather thought about the first part of the prophecy; ‘Four born in their elements will come.’

            Well they have come. Jayfeather thought. ‘Named after them they’ll rise to greatness.’

            He couldn’t figure that one out, all they knew was that there were four kits born in their elements, which could mean the different clans, but what about named after them? He sighed in frustration and focused on his work again. Suddenly he thought of something, if it was a kit named after an element then it could be Stormkit, she had been born around the time of the storm but Snowkit was also named after something that could be considered an element. Leafpool came back and sat down the meager amount of herbs she had found.

            “I couldn’t figure anything new out.” She told him.

            “I think I might know who it could be.” He told her, “It’s ether Snowkit or Stormkit. They both are named after elements.”

            “Stormkit; she has to be, she was born the night before the storm.” Leafpool confirmed. “We better tell Bramblestar.”

            “Not until we figure out who the others are.”

            “…Fine. Just don’t wait too long. We need to figure out what the other parts of the prophecy mean.” 

Bramblestar watched his kits stumble around, already their eyes had opened and they were exploring the nursery, Squirrelflight had promised to let them check out the camp later but for now they were happy to play inside. He heard the patrols returning and went back outside, the hunting patrol had a scrawny bird and a mouse but nether would be enough food. The dawn patrol didn’t have anything to report and told him they were going back out to hunt.

            “I’ll come with you, I might be your leader but that doesn’t excuse me from warrior duties.” Bramblestar said.

            They nodded and ran through the camp entrance, they slowed down and went into a hunting crouch. They listened closely for any sign of prey but only heard the occasional creak of a branch. Dustpelt stiffened and took of quicky, his belly low to the ground as he chased whatever he heard, he came back a moment later with a squirrel.

            “It’s not much of a meal, but it’s better than nothing.” Dustpelt sighed.

            They hunted until the sun was high in the sky but didn’t manage to catch anything else. They gave us since it was clear they couldn’t catch anything else and it was starting to snow again, Bramblestar went to the medicine cats’ den and saw Leafpool putting away herbs while Jayfeather helped Brairlight with her exercises.

            “Did you think of anything?” He asked.

            “Not yet… or at least nothing more than we knew before.” Jayfeather replied.

            Brairlight gave them a confused look but went back to her exercises without questioning them. Bramblestar left and went into his den to think, a shadow fell across the opening of his den and he saw Dustpelt and Spiderleg standing at the entrance.

            “What is it?” He asked.

            “We were wondering… I know this isn’t a good time but… we’re getting too old to help the clan.” Spiderleg told him.

            “We could wait until leaf-bare is over if you’d like.” Dustpelt added.

            “I need as many warriors as possible, but as soon as the kits are ready to be apprenticed I promise you two can become elders if you still want to.” Bramblestar said.

            They nodded to him in agreement before leaving the den and leaving their leader to his thoughts.