Waterclans Prophecy - Book 1: The Dream

Prologue

The sandy brown she-cat could barely feel her paws but she didn't care, she'd finally get her first kit today! Her clan mates surrounded her and in the lead was a strong white tom. They crept through the bare trees silently and slowly, getting closer and closer to camp. She went over the plan in her head. Cloudclaw will sneak into camp and take out the guards unnoticed, hopefully, then we attack! While everyone's fighting I sneak to the nursery and pick my favorite, or the strongest kit. Sandclan will be strong again!

By now the cats were waiting at the edge of a lake. The lake was completely frozen over, just as they hoped. Cloudclaw crept across the ice, the she-cat had trouble seeing him through the snow and ice, just as they hoped. In the middle of the frozen lake there was an island. In the middle of the island there was a huge oak tree. On the lowest branch of the oak was the figure of another cat, as expected. Okay Cloudclaw, take out the guard and we'll be good. The she-cat encouraged silently. Cloudclaw crept up the tree silently, the she-cat held her breath. Cloudclaw was very visible against the brown bark. The guard wasn't watching the trunk, thankfully, and Cloudclaw jumped on him from behind, quickly clawing his throat so no noise was made and let his body fall to the ground with a loud thump. Her cue.

Sandclan warriors ran from every side of the island across the icy lake. Thankfully the ice held all their weight at once. Cloudclaw let out a battle cry and jumped straight under the roots of the tree, into the den of the leader. The she-cat ran up to the bush closest to the tree and sniffed hopefully. Milk. She crept in.

Under the bush it was warm. Her eyes adjusted quickly to the dark room and saw a Queen staring at her, teeth bared, wide eyed, furious. "Stay away from my kits." She growled. "Or I'll claw your pelt off."

"Tempting." The sandy she-cat replied coolly. "But I want my kit."

The Queen's light grey pelt bushed up. "You'd have to kill me to even touch them!" She snarled. Bushy grey tail curled around her two sleeping kits.

This is going to be more difficult then I thought. The she-cat realized. Then her eyes landed on the biggest and strongest of the two kits, a white tom with brown spots scattered across his back. But I can still do this.

The Queen followed her gaze. "No. Not Pebblekit. Not any kit." And with that she lept at the sand colored cat.

The two she-cats rolled on the ground, claws slashing, teeth bared. Through the bush the she-cat heard voices of the enemy clan.

"Help the elders!"

"Birdpaw, more cobwebs!"

"Hawkwing help go help Brightface with her kits!"

The she-cat now had the queen, Brightface, she assumed, pinned with claws digging into her throat. Suddenly she felt claws dig into her shoulder as a brown she-cat with a white belly and paw pulled her off the Queen. "Mouse dung!" The she-cat spat as she was thrown on the cold ground. Brightface lay unmoving next to her two kits that were now wide awake.

"Brightface?" The brown she-cat, Hawkwing she guessed, looked down at the queen. The she-cat saw her chance and clawed Hawkwing's cheek. Sending her crashing into the leafless branches of the bush.

While Hawkwing lay stunned the she-cat walked up to the white kit. "Hello little one." She soothed gently as he let out a whimper. "It's okay, my name's Sandfang. I'm your mother and I've come to take you home." Before the kit could object she gently picked him up and sprinted for the exit while Hawkwing yowled curses and for someone to help.

Through the noise of the battle no one heard. No one, but Sandfang.