[OLD] Moonlight Prophecies (Book 1) [Warrior Cat Fanfiction]

Chapter 4

     Moonkit woke up, and after seeing the sight before her, let out a mournful mew. Sunkit's nest was cold, and Fangkit's was empty. Their scent was stale. Icekit got up a few moments after Moonkit. She gave her pelt a quick shake before started picking the moss out of it. Shadekit sat up as soon as he awoke and started to lash his tail back and forth, scattering the remains of his nest everywhere.

     A while after the kits were fully awake, Frostfire entered the den, her eyes full of grief. "Are you ready, my kits?"

     Moonkit nodded glumly and followed her mother and littermates out of the den. It was raining hard; little droplets of water trickled down her ears. But she hardly noticed or cared.

     Fangkit's body lay still in the center of the clearing. Rain soaked his once fluffy pelt, making it plaster to his small frame. Icekit let out a mewl of sadness and Shadekit looked away, unable to lay his eyes on their dead littermate. 

     Darkstar jumped down from the Tall Stump after the clan had assembled. "Are you ready to send your brother on his final journey?" 

     Moonkit lifted her chin high at his words. "We'll stay with him until the very end." The warriors murmured in approval.

     Darkstar lifted his head towards the sky. "Fangkit, my dear, brave kit, our clan will mourn your loss. You would have made a fine warrior." His eyes grew sad. "May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep."

     The elders shuffled forward, and Frostfire averted her eyes, unable to see her precious kit be carried off to his grave. Moonkit gave her brother one, last, fond lick on the ear before turning away. I'll be a good enough warrior for both of us. She decided. I swear it to StarClan.

     "Moonkit! Step forward!" Frostfire's eyes shone with pride as she watched her kits' apprentice ceremony. Icepaw was excitedly bouncing next to Lizardleap, while Shadepaw sat neatly beside Willowear. "Moonkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Moonpaw. Your mentor will be Badgerclaw. I hope he will pass down all he knows on to you."

     Moonpaw felt a shiver of anticipation and excitement race through her. Badgerclaw was probably the best warrior in the whole clan. He was an outstanding hunter and skilled warrior, and had past experiences in training apprentices. 

     Darkstar continued, "Badgerclaw, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Ravenpelt, and you have shown yourself to be fierce and loyal. You will be the mentor of Moonpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to this apprentice."

     Moonpaw padded forward and gently pressed her nose against Badgerclaw's. "Icepaw! Shadepaw! Moonpaw!"

     Moonpaw purred as her littermates sprinted over to her. "You're so lucky!" Icepaw meowed, envy creeping into her voice. But then she purred. "Congratulations!" Shadepaw nodded in agreement.

     Badgerclaw padded over to his apprentice. "Are you up for hunting?" 

     Moonpaw bounced on her paws, unable to contain her bubbling enthusiasm of finally becoming an apprentice. "Yes!"

     Moonpaw looked around in awe at the huge pine trees looming over her. The fresh, sharp scent of pine sap hit her nose. I love it! From the satisfying prick of needles under her paws, to the branches blocking out the blinding sunlight, letting just the perfect amount of light in. 

     Badgerclaw came to a halt. "Do you know how ShadowClan hunts?", he questioned her.

     "Uh..." She racked her brain for all of the times she and her littermates begged the warriors to teach them hunting moves. "We hide in the bushes?", she finally came up with. 

     "No." Badgerclaw twitched his whiskers in amusement. "That's ThunderClan."

     "Oh." She flattened her ears in disappointment at not getting the answer.

     Badgerclaw flicked his tail and rested it on her shoulder. "Don't worry." He meowed. "You'll get it soon. Watch me."

     He slipped into the nearest shadow and melted away into the dark. On the of side of the clearing, a bird shrieked in alarm. Badgerclaw trotted back, a shrew in his jaws. Moonpaw purred, impressed. "I want to try!"

     Badgerclaw purred as well at her enthusiasm. "Give it a try. Meet me at the camp at sundown. Let's see what you can catch."

     Moonpaw held her breath as she stalked a rather plump looking mouse. The mouse stood on its hind legs, nibbling on a seed clasped in its front paws. She suddenly leapt; pushing off of the ground with her hind legs. The mouse didn't even have time to squeak in alarm before she crushed it under her weight. Moonkit gave the mouse a quick nip on the throat, and gave a silent thanks to StarClan for the prey.

     Moonpaw proudly carried three pieces of prey into the camp. Two mice and a lizard. "Well done!" Flameheart praised. Snowfeather was lying in a sunny spot outside of the den. "Let's all retire into the elders den and have Moonpaw hunt for us." She teased.

     Badgerclaw padded over after spotting her. "Excellent!" He praised.

     Moonpaw lowered her gaze in embarrassment as the clan gathered around to see her catch. "I have a frog buried back by the pine tree." She muttered. "Can I go get it?" She sprinted off without waiting for a reply.

     Branches and tree roots snatched at her paws, but she dodged them and continued running. She started to dig into the fresh, soft earth where her frog was buried; paws throwing back clumps of dirt. A rustle in the nearby bushes startled her. She looked up, but nothing was there.

     Moonpaw shrugged and snatched up her frog. She tried to shake off the uneasy feeling that gnawed at the back of her mind. It's nothing. She thought. Just my imagination. 

A/N: Sadly, I will not be able to update tomorrow.

Moonpaw: Yesssssss!

Jenny: But...!

Moonpaw: >:(

Jenny: I will do my best to update more than once next week! 

Moonpaw: Nooooooo! Why must StarClan be so cruel?!

Jenny: Be quiet! This isn't your author's note! 

Moonpaw: Never! I will rebel against your orders! 

SilverWolfFlame: I'll have ShadowClan he humiliatingly destroyed by the paws of RiverClan... 

Moonpaw: O.o I have to, um... battle train. Yeah. Bye!

~Moonpaw has logged off~

Jenny: I'll try to update all of my books today. I'd appreciate it if you took a look at them. :) Now, I have a certain apprentice to deal with...

~Jenny has logged off~