Emberflame's Betrayal

Chapter One

Emberflame shifted closer to Moonbreeze, pressing her muzzle into her silvery white fur. Tonight, she and her friend would keep vigil and guard their clan as Warriors, not apprentices.

Ripplestar padded over to them, his dark gray glossy pelt shining in the setting sun. "You may not speak until the sun rises, unless, of course, of an attack." He purred, resting his tail tip on Emberflame's shoulder. She nodded silently. Ripplestar nuzzled his kit, Moonbreeze, and bounded toward his den, disappearing behind the mossy curtain. The rest of the clan headed for their dens.

Emberflame watched as Raccoonsky and Swiftstorm padded into their dens, leaving Emberflame and Moonbreeze alone in the clearing. Emberflame wrapped her  dark, fluffy tail closer around Moonbreeze, hoping to keep out the chill. While she had warm, thick fur, Moonbreeze has thin fur, fine for green leaf, but freezing in leaf bare.

The gorse shivered in the chill breeze, and the dark-furred she-cat detected the scent of rabbit. Greenleaf, the WindClan medicine cat named after the season she was born in, poked her head outside her den. "I'll give you some feverfew to keep out the chill if you'd like." She meowed. The two friends nodded.

Greenleaf soon returned to them with a leaf wrap of soft white petals. "Eat them. They'll help you keep warm." With that, the torrishell headed for her den, leaving a faint smell of herbs behind. Emberflame and Moonbreeze lapped up the silky petals, hoping they worked quickly.

The cold wind buffeted their fur as the warriors of StarClan appeared in the sky, shining their dim light down on the newest WindClan Warriors. It's going to be a long night, Emberflame thought.

Moonbreeze shifted beside her, resting her chin on her front paws. If she listened hard enough, Emberflame could just make out the sounds of Dawnheart and her three kits, Poppykit, Gorsekit, and Falconkit, snoring softly in their nest. Darkmoon, their father, was curled up in front of the nursery, no doubt unwilling to leave Dawnheart's side.

The woven gorse that guarded the camp shivered as Emberflame picked up a rank scent. Nudging Moonbreeze, she rose to her paws, unsheathing her claws. ShadowClan, she thought, baring her gleaming fangs.

Emberflame flicked her tail toward Ripplestar's den, gesturing for Moonbreeze to get him. With a nod, she dashed away, leaving Emberflame alone guarding the camp.

No sooner had Moonbreeze left, than a black tabby tom raced up to Emberflame. "Please! You have to help us! The rogues have attacked our camp!" He mewed desperately. His amber eyes were wild with fear, and his black fur was spiked in every direction. It's Obsidianheart. The ShadowClan medicine cat, and even he is wet with blood, Emberflame noticed with a shiver.

"Obsidianheart! We'll help!" Ripplestar yowled, racing from his den, Moonbreeze not far behind. Ripplestar leaped onto the tallrock, calling the warriors of WindClan from their dens. "I want two patrols. Swiftstorm, take Brackenwhisker, Fieldfoot, Moonbreeze and Emberflame for the first attack. I'll take Darkmoon, Swiftstorm, Oceanbreeze, and Texaspaw. Obsidianheart, lead the way."