Shadows in the Night

Chapter Sixteen

Nutkit leaped through the undergrowth, frustration forcing her legs to move faster. I must catch that butterfly!  The white creature fluttered through the meadow and Nutkit hissed in anger, launching herself off the ground and extending her paws, only to land just out of reach in a heap on the floor. 

Featherstar giggled and took a deep breath. "Are you ready, Featherstar?" The white she-cat turned to see Oakstar, Windstar and Duststar, and she hesistated for a second before nodding. Leaning forward to touch her nose to the pool, she recoiled at the could touch, but held her breath before diving into the depths. Featherstar winced at the freezing sensation that passed through her body, but the waves soon passed over her body in a soothing sensation, and she closed her eyes, allowing darkness to engulf her. 

"Fe-featherstar?" She opened her eyes, and immediately scrambled to her feet, shaking the water out of her long, silky fur, only to realize she was completely dry. Featherstar whipped around to face Nutkit.

The little she-kit's golden eyes were stretched wide, and were filled with amazement, wonder, and fear. "Aren't you dead?" Featherstar let out a mmrow of laughter. 

"Yes, I am, but this is a dream."

"I'm being visited by StarClan? This is... awesome!" Nutkit lept up into the air with a joyful yowl. Suddenly, she sat down and curled her tail around her paws, the she-kit's expression suddenly remorseful. "This doesn't mean that i'm going to become a medicine cat, does it? Because my apprentice ceremony is tomorrow, and... I want to become a warrior!"

"No Nutkit, you are going to become a warrior." At this, the tri-colored kit let out a sigh of relief. "But you won't be any ordinary warrior." Nutkit's eyes stretched wide as Featherstar continued.

"You have been chosen by StarClan to be part of a dangerous journey, the only hope if the clans are to be saved. Don't fear, because others will be with you, as will StarClan." Featherstar saw that Nutkit's shape was beginning to fade, and looked up to see the brightening sky.

Dawn is coming soon. I better hurry.

"You will meet with the other chosen cats next moonrise, at fourtrees." Nutkit's misty figure dipped it's head, and then vanished completely. Featherstar sighed. I hope she got the message.

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 "Nutkit!" She blinked open her sleepy eyes, and stumbled to her paws. Glancing around, she noticed that the space around her was empty- her mother and littermate nowhere in sight. It's my apprentice ceremony today... I hope i'm not late!

"Coming!" Nutkit scampered out into the clearing, licking a paw and drawing it over her ear. She was met by a frantic Emberblaze, and her littermate Brightkit. Her littermate was bouncing up and down excitedly as Duskfoot struggled to lick her pelt flat. 

"Can you believe it, Nutkit? We're becoming apprentices!" She squealed, squirming around like she had a prickle in her paw. Nutkit nodded, unable to supress a tinge of envy. She looked at her littermate's perfect fawn brown fur and sparkling blue eyes, then back at her scruffy excuse for a pelt. It was a brown, black and white blur, with a few scraps of moss buried in between.

Emberblaze seemed to read her mind, and launched onto Nutkit, who rolled her eyes. I'm not a kit anymore! She bit back a comment at a glance from her mother's loving amber eyes, and instead stayed put, keeping her eyes fixed on the highrock. 

The sun was just beginning to reach it's peak height. Any time now, Nightstar will pad out of her den.

Nutkit glanced around the clearing and saw the cats begin to gather. Webfoot sat on the deputy's tree stump, with Stormpaw, Dawnpaw and Berrypaw sitting in front of him practicing battle moves. Duskfoot followed her gaze, and winced visibly at the deputy. Nutkit was confused. I thought Duskfoot was one of Webfoot's good friends...