Long Night

Written by Bluestar1776. Please do not edit unless correcting spelling.

Prologue
Amberheart spun around, hackles raised, claws unsheathed. A familiar scent lofted towards her nose. A large cat sat no more than a fox-length away, purring in an amused tone. He stalked towards her, tail swishing.

"Amberheart, I swear, you're more jumpy than a rabbit running from a warrior!" he meowed. Amberheart sheathed her claws and let the fur on her neck lie flat.

"Atleast I don't go walking around at the edge of my territory at night!" she hissed back. "What are you doing out here, Breezetail?"

Breezetail let out a mrrrow of amusement. "I'm allowed to patrol my own territory, you know. How's Ravenstar? And may I ask, what are you doing on my territory?"

Amberheart blinked. "Dead," she choked out. Breezetail's eyes stretched wide in horror. "She lost her last life yesterday at about moonhigh. Fighting the badgers. Yellowleaf is dead as well." Breezetail dipped his head in respect.

"They were both good cats. But you still haven't answered my question. What are you doing on WindClan territory?" Amberheart gulped.

"Eaglewing, the Clan deputy, was killed as well. Nightwatcher is our medicine cat now, and she recieved a sign that I was to be the new leader. I'm on my way to the Moonpool." Amberheart watched the WindClan warrior's eyes stretch wide in surprise.

"You are going to be ThunderClan's next leader?" he meowed in amazement. Amberheart could see the surprise in his eyes.

"Yes," she mewed impatiently, "and I'd like to get there before sunhigh. I'll be going now." Amberheart rose and stalked off towards the direction of the Moonpool, her tail held high in the air. Breezetail remained sitting, and watched her go with wide eyes.

"Goodbye, Amberstar," he murmered before rising and heading back into WindClan territory.

Chapter 1
"Jump. Kick. Roll. No, roll." Amberstar meowed impatiently. She was training in the mossy hollow with her apprentice, Gingerpaw, who just couldn't seem to get the badger defense move down. She had told all of the Clan's mentors to step up in training it since the badger attack. She never knew if they would come back, and she wanted the apprentices to be well trained.