Warriors: Rising Shadow Trilogy Book 1: Rising Shadow

Chapter 1

     The air in the nursery was dense and hot, and the thick wall of vines and brambles was just making the heat more unbearable. Every year, Full-Leaf just got hotter, longer, and drier. Spiritkit's mother, Moonwhisper, was lying on a bed of dry, scratchy moss, and groaning miserably. Many of Spiritkit's clanmates had perished due to the unforgiving heat, and Moonwhisper was not far from sharing their fate. Spiritkit's sister, Mosskit, scampered over to their mother, excited and full and of energy. The kits and elders had been given water when it was found, and many of clan wished they hadn't, since it gave the kits energy to bug them.

      "Tell me a story!" Mosskit mewed, jabbing her mother with a stubby forepaw. "Tell one, tell one, tell a story! Can it be a good one, or how about a short one! Please, I really want to."

     Moonwhisper grumbled something inaudible and sat upwards, and looked at the kits. "Oh, fine." Moonwhisper growled "Today you will hear a legend, I have decided that you two are old enough to hear it."

      "But I wanted a story!" Mosskit shrieked.

       "Be quiet, I know you will enjoy this one, I promise." Moonwhisper's expression intensified, as if she were reluctant to tell them. "It began hundreds of years ago, even before the legendary Firestar. Shatteredmask was a great warrior of ThunderClan, she could take down the fastest prey, overcome the strongest beast in battle, and outrun any pursuing danger. Though, she eventually died, as all warriors do, but she left with a prophecy. 'The stars may end in fire, or in ice, but only the spirit of light will overcome the rising shadow.' No cat knew what the prophecy could mean, but all knew our fate would be brutal. Shattedmask's spirit gifted cats who she thought worthy with powers of hearing, mind reading, and brute strength. She sacrificed her life in stars for us, so that we will have a chance against the rising shadow. Then came the time of the legendary leader Firestar, and he was one of the gifted, for he had the power of vision, but also a power that can't be given, the power of courage and love. Without Sandstorm, Firestar would have been defeated, and we would not be here today, for it was he who lead the great battle against the Dark Forest. But many questioned him, because when Firestar was appointed deputy, the ritual was not done correctly due to the warrior code of StarClan, and many say that the event has caused StarClan to curse us, and cause this horrible drought."

     "Why did they do the ritual wrong, if it made StarClan angry?" Spiritkit asked. 

     "That information is lost to us, for it has been hundreds of years, that happened even before the twoleg monsters began to fly." Moonwhisper mewed gently, her was voice cracked with thirst. "But then, Firestar saved all the clans, including StarClan, in the great battle against the Dark Forest. It was a horrible battle, and many great and noble cats died, Firestar with them. Event though he is not here today, his courage is still here with us. In fact, we are the last descendants of Firestar, so your clan expects great things of you. Firestar still resides in StarClan, and is watching over us during this very minute. When Shatteredmask's spirit gave powers to three cats to save us, she also said one cat, possibly one or one-thousand moons from that day, will be given the gift of spirit to face the rising shadow.  Many of the clans believe that Firestar has caused this, but I, along with many others, believe that this drought is the rising shadow we will have to battle, and if that's the case, someone will be given the gift of the spirit, most likely Whitestar, for he has much wisdom and strength. All we can do right now is wait for the cat of the rising to be chosen."

     The kits listened in awe as Moonwhisper began telling them the story of the great battle against the Dark Forest, how Tigerstar and Firestar clashed in a deadly duel, bringing them both to an unexpected end. Mosskit cringed as she told the part when Firestar got crushed by a tree.

     By sundown the air was much cooler, and all the warriors who had been searching in vain for the meager prey were delighted by the change. Spiritkit slept well that night, for it had been moons since it was this cool. 

'*' '*' '*'

     Spirit found himself in the middle of a bright and sunny clearing, the cats of ThunderClan stretched out before him. He saw his sister, Mosskit, lying beside her mother, as they both happily talked with each other. It had been moons since he had seen his clan this happy, and he wondered of what he was seeing was real. What happened to make everyone so happy? "What's going on?" Spiritkit asked his mother. She did not reply. "What's going on?" Spiritkit asked, this in a harsher tone. Nobody seemed to hear him. Spiritkit felt a surge of uneasiness spread throughout his body. Am I dreaming? He hoped this was real, but also hoped it was a vision. A large black tom, cloaked in shadow, silently strode through the clearing and hopped onto the highledge. 

     "Cats of ThunderClan", he announced, grasping everyone's attention. "I am Silentfoot, bringer of the shadows, and I here with a proposal, I will forgive your clan for turning backs on me, during the battle of shadows, if you will join my army of shadow-walkers. Whitestar appeared from his den, and glared at Silentfoot. 

     "We would never join the shadow-walkers, Silentfoot, you should have learned your lesson from our last encounter, we are ThunderClan, and we have true, noble hearts. You and your savage cats with no souls do not belong here, and I order you to leave our camp."

     "I am afraid that this forest will now be ours, not yours, you will no longer belong here." He meowed smoothly. "Shadow-walkers, attack!" He yowled with pure evil creased into his smug face.

     The clearing descended into chaos as many cats jumped into the camp through the walls of the camp, and began to corner the warriors of ThunderClan. Their battle style was brutal and ruthless, and Spiritkit flinched as he watched them sink their long, curved claws into the necks of ThunderClan warriors.

     The sky got dark, and clouds covered the sun, blocking the beautiful sunlight that had  dappled the clearing only minutes ago. Darkness. Evil. Cruelty. The clearing got darker and darker, as the battle got more intense, but then A bright light, coming from him himself, grew brighter and brighter, blinding him. He was the one. I will have to face Silentfoot.