Before the Storm

Before the Storm is the first book in the Fate of the Mountains Arc.

Prologue
“Dewkit,” Moonstar mewed, “from this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be called Dewpaw.”

The crowd of cats yowled the name. “Dewpaw! Dewpaw!”

Moonstar continued. “StarClan, I asked you to guide this apprentice. Set her paws on the path she must follow to become a warrior.” The FrostClan leader turned her head towards another cat, sitting slightly ahead of the others. “Thrushfur, you will mentor Dewpaw. You are patient and strong, qualities I hope you pass to your new apprentice.”

Dewpaw ran over to her new mentor and touched noses with him. The young warrior looked down at her, his face barely concealing his excitement. Then she turned to face Moonstar. The silver cat was about to jump down from the Highlog when two tiny kits burst from the crowd.

“Can we be apprentices Moonstar?” they asked eagerly. “Can we? Can we?”

A queen burst from the crowd of cats, an infuriated look on her face. “Shartkit! Flamekit! Get over here,” she screeched. The queen looked apologetically at Moonstar. “I’m sorry. I’ll make sure they never do that again.”

Moonstar chuckled. “They’re just kits Flowerpelt,” she meowed. “They’ll learn.”

As the queen led the two kits away, Dewpaw turned to Thrushfur. “What do we do now?” she asked.

Thrushfur looked at her. “Well, I thought we could-”

Thrushfur was interrupted by a lone cat bursting through the bramble wall. His gray tabby pelt was matted with blood, and he was gasping for breath.

“Splayedfoot!” Moonstar ran over to her deputy. “What happened?”

Splayedfoot had obviously run a long way, since he did not appear to be able to speak. After a few tense moments of waiting, the deputy managed to say a few words.

“FireClan...attacked my patrol.” Gasp. “Grayclaw...dead.”

A cat gasped. Moonstar stared intently at Splayedfoot, waiting for more information. But the deputy could not say anything more.

“Dawnfrost, Badgerheart,” Moonstar barked out orders, “take Splayedfoot to Frayedleaf. Bearfoot, Greatstorm, Dappledfur, with me. Thrushfur, take Dewpaw and locate the rest of the patrol, but do not engage. Understood?”

The cats nodded and moved out.

Chapter 1
TBW

Characters

 * Dewpaw
 * Thrushfur
 * Moonstar
 * Splayedfoot
 * Frayedleaf (Mentioned Only)
 * Flowerpelt
 * Shardkit
 * Flamekit
 * Bearfoot
 * Greatstorm
 * Dappledfur
 * Dawnfrost
 * Badgerheart
 * Grayclaw (Mentioned Only, Deceased)