Swiftstar's Light

Prolouge

Goldenstar stared at the cats sitting in front of the high rock. He cleared his throat. "As leader, it is my duty to appoint the new deputy. Swiftleaf, please step forward." He said. Swilftleaf weaves through the cats and stood in front of the high rock. "Swiftleaf, do you promise your loyalty to your clan and to honour them when you become leader?" Goldenstar asked

Swiftleaf nodded, her tail flat against the ground as she watched. "Then by Starclan's will, I name you the new deputy. Clan dismissed." Goldenstar said and turned away into his den. Swiftleaf turned to her sister, Oceanrose, and her kit, Thunderkit.

"Oceanrose, Come Hunt with me!" Swiftleaf called and led Oceanrose out of the camp to the forest.  Oceanrose hissed as she saw two Shadowclan cats with a dead squirrel. "Blazefang." Swiftleaf muttered and yowled as Oceanrose ran at the two cats.

Swiftleaf followed close behind, her claws sinking into the ground and pulling her forwards. Oceanrose chased the cats across the thunderpath, stopping in the middle to shout at them. "STAY OUT OF OUR TERRITORY!" She yowled, a scratch on her shoulder bleeding.

"Oceanrose, watch out!" Swiftleaf yowled, turning and covering her eyes with her paw as a monster sped down the thunderpath, hitting Oceanrose. Swiftleaf races over. "No no no no please no!" Swiftleaf whispered, grabbing her sisters scruff and pulling her through the forest. "Use your paws, come on! MOVE!" Swiftleaf begged, staggering back to camp with her sisters body clutched in her jaws.

Swiftleaf entered the camp and collapsed, her fur plastered to her sides with mud and Oceanrose's blood. Devilclaw ran over. "You killed her!" He hissed, unsheathing his claws. "No I didn't!!" Swiftleaf hissed back, tears clinging to the fur on her chin as she cried, releasing her sister and running to the nursery, picking up Thunderkit's scruff and taking him behind the nursery.

"Where's Oceanrose?" Thunderkit asked, looking around. "..Oceanrose.." Swiftleaf started. "Oceanrose won't be coming back." She said, her ears flattening against her head. "Why? Does she not love me anymore?" Thunderkit asked. "She loves you very much, and you know that." Swiftleaf said, grief filling her heart as she spoke. "Then why isn't she coming back?" Thunderkit demanded. "She's in Starclan now." Swiftleaf whispered. Thunderkit jumped up. "Can we go visit her?" "No." Swiftleaf said. "But Stormcatcher visits Starclan all the time!" "It isn't that simple, Thunderkit!" Swiftleaf hissed. "Then why can't we see her?" Thunderkit demanded. "Because she's dead! You won't see her, smell her, or ever feel her fur against yours ever again!" Swiftleaf shouted and ran out from behind the nursery, crouching beside Oceanrose's body.

Thunderkit ran out. "No!! She can't be dead!! Oceanrose wake up!" He cried, his small paws pushing her stomach as he pressed his muzzle against Oceanrose's neck. He squeezed under her paw and curled up. "I'll live out here now.. with you.." He whispered, yowling in anger and heartache as Swiftleaf picked him up by his scruff and lifted him away from Oceanrose's body so that the cats could bury her.

Thunderkit screamed "NO!" Repeatedly as he watched Oceanrose's lifeless body gently dropped into the hole they had dug and scratched Swiftleaf's muzzle and ran towards the cats as the last bit of dug up dirt was patted back down. "GIVE HER BACK!" Thunderkit shouted, desperately clawing at the dirt. Swiftleaf ran over and curled her tail around Thunderkit's small body and pulled him away. "Starclan will take care of her....." Swiftleaf said and ushered Thunderkit to the nursery. Swiftleaf curled up beside Thunderkit and placed her muzzle on his back to ease him to sleep.

Swiftleaf held the small kit's body close and covered him with her paws and muzzle to keep him warm. Leaf-fall was nearly over, and soon the snow would fall. Swiftleaf picked up Thunderkit and walked out of the nursery, looking around and heading towards the horse barrier. She squeezed through and woke up the kit.

"Thunderkit, your going to help me. Alright?" She said. Thunderkit nodded. "Alright. Help me gather this Moss." Swiftleaf said and they got to work collecting moss. Swiftleaf showed Thunderkit the proper way to pounce, and soon Thunderkit was holding three fat mice by their tails, and a fat squirrel in his jaw while Swiftleaf carried all the moss. They walked back to camp, and froze when they saw the whole clan looking at them.

Thunderkit proudly dropped his catch on the freshkill pile, and turned to face the clan. "I caught them all by myself!" He mewed, his chest swelled with pride. The entire clan cheered and Goldenstar looked at the kit. He was five moons old, so it was time enough for him to be apprentices. "May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the hick rock for a clan meeting!" He yowled

Everyone gathered around. "Leafbare is almost upon us, and we need all paws we can take. Thunderkit! Step forward!" Goldenstar called. Thunderkit pranced forward. "Thunderkit, it is time for you to be apprenticed. Until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Thunderpaw. Your mentor, shall be Swiftleaf." Thunderpaw ran over and touched noses with Swiftleaf.

"When do we start training?" He asked, jumping up and down. Swiftleaf chuckled. "Soon, my friend. Soon." She whispered. "For now, come and eat with me. You've earned it." Swiftleaf said and walked over to the Freshkill pile and watched as Thunderpaw picked up a fat mouse and sat in the dappled sunlight and waited for his mentor to lay next to him. The two started eating and talking about different things. Thunderpaw said he was excited to start his training, and was ready to defend his clan in any way he could. Swiftleaf said she always dreamed of having kits, and being able to love and be mates with whoever any cat wanted, even if they were from a different clan. Thunderpaw nodded his agreement and continued eating.