Warriors Novella Set: She-Cats of the Lake

Chapter 1

A reddish brown she-cat lays in her nest, purring as her three six-moon-old kits lay beside her. Today, her kits will become apprentices, and she is more than ready to get back to her warriors duties. Laying by her is another queen and the Clan leader, Cherrystar, with her three-moon-old kits laying by their mother as well.

The former Clan leader, Copperstar, went deaf while on his last life and retired to the elder's den. Rockshine's brother, Snakefrost, should've become leader, but he died from greencough on his way to the Moonpool. After that, the Clan had no idea who should be made leader. They tried to communicate with Copperstar, back to his warrior name, Copperwing, about the situation so he could choose the cat to be the next leader, but he never understood them. So, the medicine cat, Embercloud, received what he said was a vision from StarClan that Cherrystem, an expectant queen without ever having an apprentice, should become the new leader.

Many ShadowClan cats, including Rockshine, disapproved, believing a more qualified cat should become leader. They all wondered why StarClan would want a young, inexperienced, and pregnant cat to become Clan leader. Rockshine personally believed that she should've become Clan leader. She is known as one of the best warriors in ShadowClan and has had an apprentice. Plus, she is related to both Copperstar and Snakefrost. But, StarClan must've had other plans.

Rockshine was jealous for a while and disliked the younger she-cat, until she had to share the nursery with the new leader. They had their kits only a few moons apart, so they were able to help each other out with the kits and Cherrystar always went to Rockshine for queen advice. Also, they also connected by talking about losing their parents around the same time and they became sources of comfort for each other while either of them were feeling down.

It was no surprise to Rockshine when Cherrystar, an inexperienced and immature cat, chose her mate for Clan deputy. Cedarbranch is Rockshine's brother, but even Rockshine will admit that he doesn't fit the position. He always complains and relies on other cats for support, definitely not deputy or leader material. Rockshine knows her brother is a follower, not a leader, unlike her other brothers, Snakefrost and Finchfeather.

Also laying nearby is Lightfur, who is expecting kits of her own and Rockshine thinks they will be born any day now. Lightfur is a friend of Rockshine's. The first part of her name describes her personality, sweet and light-hearted. Many ShadowClan cats compare her to a ray of sunshine lighting up the sky. If a cat wants to brighten up their mood a little, they always go talk to Lightfur. Her mate, Shadeclaw, is like her opposite. Shadeclaw is very cold, intense, and doesn't show much emotion. But, he seems like a totally different cat when with Lightfur. Rockshine is convinced that no couple can be better than those two, even her and Toadpool. Their kits will be very adorable.

Rockshine purrs as she watches Cherrystar get up out of her nest and look over at Lightfur. 

"Watch Leafkit, Juniperkit, and Petalkit for me, alright?" Cherrystar meows to the older she-cat.

"Will do," Lightfur responds. "Come here," she meows to the kits in a tiny and cute voice, beckoning them over with her tail. The two-moon-old kits, very used to this, pad over to Lightfur and curl up next to her as their mother pads out of the nursery.

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the highbranch for the Clan meeting!" Cherrystar announces outside the nursery from the highbranch.

She still doesn't have it right. Rockshine thinks as she gently nuzzles her kits to wake them up.

"It's time," Rockshine meows to her kits. She gets up out of her nest and her kits follow suit. "Come along," Rockshine then meows, padding out of the nursery. Her kits follow closely behind. She sits with the crowd of cats, her kits sitting by her.

"Today, three young kits have reached the age of six moons, and are ready to become apprentices," Cherrystar announces.

"Boulderkit, please step forward," Cherrystar meows, and Boulderkit does what he was told.

"Boulderkit, 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 Boulderpaw. Your mentor will be Silentstream. I hope Silentstream will pass down all she knows on to you." Cherrystar meows, her gaze shifting over to the dark gray she-cat. "Silentstream, you are ready to take on another apprentice. You have received excellent training, and you have shown yourself to be a loyal and kind-hearted warrior. You will be the mentor of Boulderpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."

Rockshine purrs with pride as she watches her eldest kit pad over to Silentstream, touching noses with the she-cat.

Then, Cherrystar's gaze shifts right over to Pebblekit as he steps forward.

"Pebblekit, you have also reached the age of six moons, and it is also time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Pebblepaw. Your mentor will be Shadeclaw. I hope Shadeclaw will pass down all he knows on to you," Cherrystar says, her gaze shifting over to the black-furred warrior. "Shadeclaw, you are ready to take on your first apprentice. You have received excellent training and you have shown yourself to be a brave and skilled warrior. You will be the mentor of Pebblepaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."

Rockshine purrs with pride as she watches her youngest kit pad over to Shadeclaw, touching noses with the tom. Cherrystar's yellow gaze then shifts to Silverkit as she steps forward.

"Finally, Silverkit, you have also reached the age of six moons, and it is also time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your full name, you will be known as Silverpaw," Cherrystar meows, looking over at Embercloud.

"Embercloud, are you ready to have an apprentice?" Cherrystar asks the medicine cat.

"Yes, more than ready, I've been waiting for many, many moons," Embercloud responds, looking over at Silverpaw proudly. Silverpaw begins to purr.

"Good, Embercloud will be Silverpaw's mentor as she trains to become a medicine cat. Silverpaw, I hope Embercloud will pass down all he knows on to you, training you to become an excellent medicine cat," Cherrystar says.

Silverpaw then pads over Embercloud, touching noses with the medicine cat. Rockshine purrs, proud that Silverpaw was the one to finally decide to train to become the next medicine cat in Embercloud's place once he days, since the Clan knows that could be any day now.

"The Clan meeting is now over," Cherrystar meows as she leaps down from the highbranch, hurrying back over to the nursery.

Finally, I'm back to my duties as a warrior. Rockshine thinks.