warriors ✧ shattered winds

✦ prologue ✦

a dreadful silence filled the night, and all the warriors of southclan were retreating back home. they had finally won a fight against westclan, but suffered horrible injuries and losses.

"pinebranch! we need help! briarclimb won't stop bleeding!" a warrior yelled frantically.

a young tom was rushing around, a bundle of herbs swinging from his jaws. he was panicked, terrified, and didn't know where to even begin helping.

"roseclaw! go help briarclimb!" he shouted. "i'll handle darkpaw's injuries!"

the other medicine cat, a she-cat named roseclaw, nodded quickly and rushed to help the bleeding warrior. pinebranch turned his attention towards the apprentice that needed his help, and stared in horror at the blood oozing from his shoulder wound.

"pinebranch... why did bristlestar lead us into this..." the apprentice groaned.

pinebranch dropped his bundle of herbs and replied with a sigh. "if only i knew. he has been acting odd lately and i hate it."

the medicine cat pulled out some marigold and began to chew it. after a few heartbeats of intense chewing, he spat it out onto the apprentice's deepest wound. he quickly applied the cobwebs, and sent the apprentice off with an older warrior.

roseclaw made her way over to the tom, and licked his ear affectionately. "good job! i think we can get them back to camp and work from there."

pinebranch purred. his mentor was the most affectionate cat in the clan, and he enjoyed her constant praise. it made him feel happy with himself.

✦

"pinebranch! wake up!" a frantic voice whispered.

the tom shot up, looking around. he quickly spotted the ghostly figure of his dead brother, splashberry, and stood up.

"what's wrong?" pinebranch asked.

"i don't have time... all the clans are in danger... starclan is angry... it's not safe... something bad is coming..."

the spirit was fading quickly. pinebranch was horribly confused. starclan was angry with them? what was going to happen?

"splashberry!? explain!" pinebranch shouted.

but it was too late. the spirit was gone.

roseclaw sat up, her ears alert. "what happened? why are you screaming?"

the tom dug his claws into the ground. "splashberry appeared and spoke to me. i don't understand anything he said. but he was here and tried warning me about something in our future."

the she-cat stayed silent for a moment. "we'll talk in the morning. you might've just had a bad dream."

pinebranch huffed, bud listened to the older cat and fell back asleep.