Shadows | Warrior Cats RD #3

1-Whisper

It was night, and the moon was pale as it gave an eerie feeling across camp; at least, to the only one awake at the time: Emberkit. The kit stood in the entrance, staring at the moon. It always gave her a powerful feeling, it made her feel as if she was the strongest cat ever, but it also made her feel as if she was a mouse compared to it.

She stalked over to the fresh-kill pile, the scent of prey luring the kit over. It didn't smell like all of the other dead animals. This one smelled of... life. And the kit was correct.

Just besides the pile, next to a small rabbit, another stood.

Cats always say these creatures are strange, Emberkit thought. And they aren't wrong. Sneaking into a camp of predators, just to mourn another. Well, soon it's going to be right next to him.

The kit crouched, stalking the rabbit. She leaped, gripping it's pelt in her claws. Emberkit finished it off with a swift blow. "Ha, dumb thing. It should've scented me. I did hunt with the wind to my back, so it should have carried my scent."

As Emberkit set the rabbit on the pile. She turned around to face the nursery. The kit gasped as she saw another cat she had never seen before. It was silvery gray, brown and white she-cat. She looked slightly like Bramblekit and Thrushkit, but how?

The she-cat looked at her and smiled, tears rolling down her eyes. "Oh, Emberkit. I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I hope you may forgive me."

"Who are you?" Emberkit snarled. "Don't make me get Graystorm. And just because you block the way doesn't mean I won't fight you myself."

The cat smiled once more. "Ah, I thought I recognized my sister in you. I see she has trained you well. Hopefully you will be just as strong with this, as you are with other cats."

Suddenly, she saw a white cat fighting another cat.

"No! Let me go! Eelstar! Why?!" the cat yowled.

"I suppose you will see, WHEN YOU ARE UP IN STARCLAN!" the white cat shouted.

"Please," the other said. "I have kits! Please don't take me away! Don't deprive me of Lioncloud, or my children!"

"Don't worry," he mewed. "Soon, they will stand right next to you. Every single one of them."

Just then, she returned, right back to where she was standing. Now, the cat was right in front of her. "Who was that? Who are you?"

"That was Palecloud. He used to be ShadowClan's deputy, before that..." the cat replied.

"Who are you?" the kit demanded.

"My name is Thrushwhisker," she said.

Before Emberkit could ask anymore questions, the cat rubs noses with her and faded away into the darkness, saying, "My little kit."

"Emberkit! Come on! Wake up!"

Emberkit opened her eyes. The sunlight shone through the entrance, and her brother Bramblekit loomed over her. She recognized his golden pelt easily, with his spunky green eyes.

"Come on! It's morning! Let's play!" he said, bouncing up and down. His fur whisked everywhere like a storm of gold fur.

The kit stood up. "What happened? Where is she? Where is Palecloud?"

Behind her, Graystorm stood up and looked at her with wild eyes. "Who?" She looked surprised, and her eyes lit up like flames.

"No, don't trouble her," a whisper said.

"Nothing," she mewed. "Just a dream. Nothing more."

Graystorm narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure?" She meowed. Graystorm seemed uneasy, her weight leaning to one side.

Before Emberkit could answer, she heard a friendly voice, one that was real. "Emberkit!"

She looked over at him, purring. "Oakpaw," She meowed with a flick of her tail. The rabbit still laid at her paws, covered in dust. It seemed like it's leg was already injured, which was why she was able to catch it, but it was still edible.

Oakpaw's eyes widened. "You caught that?"

She nodded, sweeping her tail over the grass. She looked around. "You'll be a warrior soon, right?"

Oakpaw nodded, a loud purr rumbling from his throat. "Soon enough. Applepaw and Squirrelpaw will be warriors in a few weeks, they just need to pass their assessment," His tan pelt fluffed up, "You'll be an apprentice in a moons time, Emberkit."

She nodded but couldn't stay focused. Why did that cat talk to her? More importantly, why did she call her "my kit"?

Oakpaw cocked his head. "Are you alright?" He asked, concerned.

Emberkit looked up and nodded. "Uh...yeah...I'm fine..." The she-cat looked around.

"Run..." She heard a whisper.

She screwed her eyes shut. "Stop," She snarled.

Oakpaw's eyes widened. "Are you okay, Emberkit?"

She looked up again. "Yeah...just tired..." She whimpered and quickly padded behind some bushes. She could only see Graykit behind some bushes, who seemed a bit scared...but he seemed distracted.

"Everyone you love is going to try to hurt you..."

Stop it! her thoughts shouted. Leave me alone!

"Look where you least assume, for everywhere you are not looking, an evil shadow looms," it said.

Get out of my head! Emberkit's thoughts wailed.

"Two have tried, and two have failed, but one will rise to bring the light. Fire tried with all of might, but the claws strike once more. Fear not, for a savior has been born... fight to bring the light."

Silence. Nothing was said. Emberkit's eyes were wide with fear. Who - or what - in StarClan was that? And what did it mean?

"An evil shadow looms..." she muttered.

"What?"

Emberkit looked in front of her. Graykit was staring at her with his amber eyes. She always noticed something, his eyes weren't lavender like Tumblecry's. Emberkit assumed it was a trait from his father, but she couldn't tell for sure, because the cat never made himself known.

Just after she was born, Tumblecry had Graykit, but no one knew the father. Sedgeleaf, her uncle, accused her of having kits with a cat from another clan, but his accusation was ignored because of his past with WindClan. Then, Pouncestream said that she probably had her kit with a rouge or, even worse, a kittypet.

Oddstar seriously considered exiling her, but didn't.

"Until we find out who is the father," Oddstar said, "I will not - and I hope no one else - prod Tumblecry."

Emberkit looked at Graykit, who's eyes were bright but soft. He was kind, but loud and energetic. You would find him playing with other kits, but he had a rough side...you could see that.