Warriors: Empire's End ~Book 5 Series 3~

Chapter 8

Cinderkit's POV:

The grey she kit awoke from her sleep, feeling disoriented. "Ugh..." She mumbled to herself, looking around. She found herself still by the MoonFall, but Wrenflight and Shinewing were gone. Had they left without her? How long had she been asleep for? Panic rooted itself inside of the little she kit as she snapped to her paws and looked around desperately for her companions. They wouldn't leave her, right? They were just playing around!

Above her, the half moon shone bright against the black sky. It was still moonhigh, so Cinderkit hadn't been asleep for that long. But where were Shinewing and Wrenflight?

"Hello?" She called out, staggering backwards in an attempt to see beyond the tall boulders that surrounded her. "Shinewing? Wrenflight?" Cinderkit's voice shook noticeably, and she felt her heartrate pick up considerably as she started to realise her situation. She was alone, and far away from home. How would she ever get back? She could hardly remember the way! Was she ever going to see her family again? Her brothers and sisters? Shadeheart? Bluesnow?

The grey she cat started whimpering in fright, her body frozen on the cold rock beneath her. "Help. Someone help me." She wept, looking around for someone, anyone who could assist her.

A sudden, invisible warmth flooded the area, and Cinderkit jumped in fright. "Huh?" She mumbled, staring around the pool for the reason for the change in air.

"You're safe, Cinderkit." It was Shinewing, who appeared from what looked like nowhere. Wrenflight followed her, who was quickly joined by dozens of starry-furred cats that lay seated around the back of the MoonFall. "We're in StarClan, you made it."

"But.. this is the MoonFall.." Cinderkit mumbled, confused.

"StarClan walks the same grounds as we do, except here you are safe and sheltered." Shinewing meowed with a bright smile. "Come! Meet your ancestors!"

"My ancestors?" Cinderkit blinked in surprise, her paws staying rigidly on the rocky ground. "But I'm not from the Clans.." She frowned sadly at her own statement, wondering if her blood would inhibit her from becoming a real medicine cat.

Shinewing chuckled softly, guiding the grey she kit forwards with a gentle nudge of her tail. "Blood doesn't matter. As long as your heart lies with the Clans, you are as much a member of StarClan as anyone else here."

"Really?" Cinderkit breathed a sigh of relief, before turning her wide gaze to the gathered StarClan cats over the water. "Who are they all?"

"Warriors, leaders, medicine cats, you name it, they're all here." The golden medicine cat smiled. "See over there, that's-"

"Waterfly! Marigoldfur!" Wrenflight purred in delight, bounding across the shallow waters to meet the two StarClan medicine cats. "You're here!"

Cinderkit stared at the starry-pelted warriors in awe. There were so many of them, all watching her. She felt blessed to be standing before such powerful, ancient cats. It was an honour to have the ability to meet them, the grey she kit realised, most ordinary warriors never had the opportunity to meet their ancestors. "It-It's an honour to be here." Cinderkit stammered, suddenly feeling anxious as the StarClan warriors all turned to her in unison.

"It's an honour to have you here." One of the cats responded, her glittering golden eyes resting warmly on the she kit. "You are part of the bright future for the Clans. One day you will help restore our territories, and make the Dark Forest pay."

The grey she kit stared at the StarClan she cat, her lower jaws haning open slightly. "B-But.. Can't you do anything? Why must it be us?"

The she cat glanced between her starry friends before murmuring. "We can't interfere, we're simply not that powerful. Especially when it's against the Dark Forest."

Cinderkit grumbled and shook her head, not understanding how the ancient warriors of the past were somehow powerless to help their Clans. They meeded help, and all StarClan could do was watch? The hype for seeing StarClan seemed to dim, and Cinderkit found herself feeling down all of a sudden. Were they ever going to be free from NoName?

Shinewing embraced the small she kit. "Stop thinking those negative thoughts, you're too young to be worrying about this. When you're old enough to make a difference, you can worry, but until then.. enjoy yourself." The golden medicine cat smiled reassuringly at Cinderkit before turning to the StarClan cats. "Thank you for blessing Wrenflight's journey to becoming a medicine cat, but we should be going now. Camp will be wondering where we have gone."

The star-covered cats nodded together in understanding, and wished the three cats farewell, before they each started fading away into nothing.

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