A New Light

New warriors, a new destiny...

   Book 1: A New Light

Heatherfoot woke with a huge yawn, licked her flank and breathed in the warm kit scent of the nursery; she needed to make the most of it as this would be the last time she slept here, as her kits were becoming apprentices and as she could not bear being in the nursery all day, was going to resume her duties as a warrior in ForestClan. As she gazed down to lick her kits, she heard the familiar yowl of Redstar, the leader of ForestClan, as he went to summon all of the cats in his Clan to come for a meeting by HollyThicket.

    She knew it was for her kits’ apprentice ceremony, so she heaved herself up and ran after her excited kits as they went to the Clan meeting. Redstar was standing high and noble on the HighBoulder, a large rock where the Clan leader had made his shelter, and below him was Pearfur, an elderly she-cat who was his deputy. Heatherfoot was so busy searching around for her kits that she ended up bumping into one of the Clan’s most senior warriors, Swallowfall.

    “Hi there, Heatherfoot!” Swallowfall meowed in greeting. His forest-green eyes blazed just like his mother’s, Pearfur, the deputy of the Clan. “My mother said that this meeting is going to celebrate several things apparently,” Swallowfall went on. “I bet you cannot wait for your kits to become apprentices; you must be tired out from having to feed three hungry mouths!”

    “It is quite hard actually, and yes, I am glad to go back to the warriors den, so I can sleep with Nightwhisper,” Heatherfoot went into a daydream for a split second, thinking about her mate and his smooth black pelt…

   “Heatherfoot?” asked Swallowfall, looking anxious. “You seemed to be on another territory just now.” His green gaze was hard to look away from.

    “Oh, I am ok. Just thinking about Nightwhisper,”Heatherfoot nodded her head and padded towards her mate, who licked her affectionately in greeting.

   “No time no see!” a little voice came from below, and Heatherfoot realized that it was Dewkit who had made the cheeky remark. Her dark-brown fur almost matched her own, but it was a little darker than hers due to her fathers’ black pelt.

    Next to her was Beechkit, who was the oldest kit, and by far the largest of the three kits. He had the same coloured fur as his mother, but had his fathers’ blazing green eyes. Finally, there was Sleekkit, who was a mirror image of his father, and Heatherfoot did not even believe that it was her own son, apart from the fact that he had her eyes and his mother’s rebellious nature.

    Suddenly, she turned around to see Redstar swishing his tail from side to side to say that the Clan meeting was about to start. He beckoned Heatherfoot with her three kits to stand below the HighBoulder.

    “Beechkit and Dewkit, 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 names, you will be known as Beechpaw and Dewpaw. Your mentors will be Earthclaw and Pigeonpelt. I hope Earthclaw and Pigeonpelt will pass down all they know on to you.

    “Earthclaw and Pigeonpelt, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Swallowfall and Kestrelflight, and you have shown yourselves to be brave and loyal. You will be the mentors of Beechpaw and Dewpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to them.”

    Heatherfoot felt a rush of pride sweep her very being as she found out that two of her kits had become apprentices, and hopefully they would become warriors. Sleekkit would have his turn next, as he would become the new ForestClan medicine cat apprentice, where he would take a different path to his siblings. As Heatherfoot saw Glenwhisper, the current medicine cat approach, she understood that it would now be his turn. Sleekkit bounded into the centre of the clearing, unaware of the watching eyes that circled the HollyThicket.

    The elegant medicine cat beckoned Sleekkit with her tail, and he ran forward, tumbling once or twice due to his small kit-body. Once there was silence around the whole of the Clan, the medicine cat apprentice ceremony began.

    “Cats of ForestClan,”Glenwhisper began, “as you know, I will not be around forever. So it’s time I took an apprentice. I have chosen a cat who has shown skill in being a medicine cat. Your next medicine cat will be Sleekkit, who shall now be known as Sleekpaw.”

   Redstar gazed at the young kit, and Heatherfoot wondered what he was thinking, as his gaze at her kit was indescribable. “Sleekpaw, do you accept the post of apprentice to Glenwhisper?”

    “I do.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">   “Then at the half-moon, you must travel to the Mooncavern to be accepted by StarClan before the other medicine cats,” Glenwhisper’s voice sounded proud as she looked down at her new apprentice, as her last apprentice, Foxpaw, had died of sickness two moons ago.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Redstar’s noble voice then shattered across the camp, “the good wishes of all ForestClan will go with you.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    After Sleekpaw touched noses with his mentor, which was the Clan tradition, Heatherfoot was one of the first cats to greet her newly apprenticed son. She began to lick him furiously, and it was the first time when Sleekpaw had relaxed, as he knew it was a saying of “well done”.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Other cats began to gather around Sleekpaw, and he greeted everyone with his cheeky grin. Heatherfoot knew he would always remember this moment for the rest of his life as it was the first step for him into becoming a medicine cat.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Nightwhisper came up to Heatherfoot and nuzzled her; this was an important day for them as their kits were growing up. Heatherfoot would be glad to return to the warriors den, and in the first time in six moons, be with Nightwhisper. However, Heatherfoot would miss the warm kit-scent of the nursery, and knowing that her kits would always be there at her side.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     Thinking that the Clan meeting would be over as they had already had the two ceremonies, Heatherfoot was suddenly surprised to hear Redstar’s yowl to ask for silence. Then, Heatherfoot suddenly remembered her conversation with Swallowfall, that the Clan were going to celebrate some very special things, and it might have meant more than her kits being apprenticed.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    With the Clan silent, Redstar began, “I have some sad news to say in front of all of ForestClan, as I have been leader for two FourSeasons and still have five lives left, the chances are I will be around for a lot longer. My first and only deputy, Pearfur, however, is getting older, and at the age of nine FourSeasons, she has decided to retire.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “Pearfur has served ForestClan for many moons, so we all shall support her decision. With that, we shall begin the elder ceremony for Pearfur.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">   Redstar and Pearfur jumped down into the centre of the meeting place, in the usual positions for when an elder’s ceremony was going to be performed. “Pearfur, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">   Pearfur’s old voice rasped across the HollyThicket, “It is.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “Your Clan honours you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Pearfur jumped from the HighBoulder, now she had given up her deputy position to become an elder. Heatherfoot went up to greet her and licked her aging muzzle, Pearfur looked at her with a gaze of cunning, before strolling off to join the other elders, Sharpfang, an old silver tom and Thornsplash, an elderly dark-brown tom who was the oldest cat in ForestClan. Once the talk about Pearfur had finished, Heatherfoot wondered, who would be the new deputy?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    A leader had to choose a new deputy before Moonhigh, and as it was sunset, Redstar had a few hours to decide. However, Redstar looked ready to announce his deputy, and once the Clan was silent he began talking.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     There were four contenders of who could become deputy, as they were the Clan’s senior warriors. They were: Swallowfall, Sunpelt, Pigeonpelt and Earthclaw. Luckily, the chances of becoming deputy were slight, as she was not yet a senior warrior. Coming out of her thoughts, Heatherfoot began to listen to what her leader was saying.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     “Now that Pearfur has retired, it is time to choose a new deputy, and I have made a decision. I say these words before StarClan, that the spirits of our warrior ancestors and Pearfur may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of ForestClan is Heatherfoot.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Heatherfoot felt her heart falter. She could not be deputy of her Clan! There were so many more warriors in ForestClan that would be better at being deputy than her! She was one of the least experienced warriors and could barely manage her kits, and get responsibility of looking after the Clan! However much she would hate it, she would have to do it, as it was the will of her leader and of StarClan itself. She stepped forward to Redstar, and he whispered into her ear: “Do not worry; you will make an excellent deputy. You are one of the Clan’s most loyal warriors and you are responsible enough to take the position of deputy. I will be honoured to have you become leader once I lose my final life.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Heatherfoot could not imagine what would happen once Redstar lost his final life (all leaders gained the last name of “Star” and were given nine lives by StarClan so they could defend and look after their Clan like proper warriors). For once Redstar lost his final life, Heatherfoot would become Heatherstar, and the leader of ForestClan! The idea made Heatherfoot want to faint.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     Heatherfoot found being deputy fairly challenging for the first couple of days, as it was such a huge responsibility looking after ForestClan and being second in command. However, even though she thought that she would make a rubbish deputy of the Clan, the other cats in the Clan thought her wrong; Redstar had made a good choice by making her deputy as she was a popular cat among the Clan, had mentored Cliffclaw and was a natural born leader as Hailstar, the leader before Redstar, was her father.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    As she stretched in the late Leaf-fall sunlight, she saw Thistleclaw, a warrior the same age as her, limp over towards her (he was injured during the recent fight with DarkClan, when they were trying to claim the Waterfall for their own territory, which they succeeded in.). His weary eyes showed that he must have been up all night with his mate, Icewind, who was due to have her kits any day now. As Heatherfoot had left the nursery to become a warrior again, that left Icewind to be the only queen in the Clan.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “Heatherfoot! I bring some excellent news! Icewind has given birth to five kits,” Thistleclaw meowed, and then looked down at his paws, his eyes full of gloom. “However, two kits died this morning, Nutkit and Larchkit, both females. We have buried them, and I was wondering if you could see the kits and give them a blessing, and sit vigil with me for the kits’ death.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">      Before Heatherfoot replied, she suddenly thought why Thistleclaw had come to her, and not Redstar, as it was usually the leader’s job to do blessings and sit vigil. However, as a deputy and one of Thistleclaw’s closest friends, she nodded her head and padded over to the nursery. There were three kits squirming near their mother, searching for the warmth of Icewind’s warm pelt. Icewind looked down proudly at her kits, and Thistleclaw was at her side, gently licking her ears.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    The elegant queen then turned her large head to address Heatherfoot, and Heatherfoot found a loss in her heart. Only a couple of days ago they were very close denmates, but now she had left the nursery and she had become deputy; there seemed to be a loss of friendship between the two she-cats.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “Heatherfoot, let me introduce you to the newest members of our Clan.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Icewind picked up a pale ginger tom by the scruff on his neck; he had a deep brown smudge running along his left flank, which looked just like a thunder bolt, like those she sees in the sky when a storm comes. The next kitten was a pale-grey in colour, with darker flecks of grey dotted all over her back, underbelly and flanks. Finally, there was a dark grey tom, which was smaller than the other two kits, and therefore was much weaker.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “The pale ginger tom is called Thunderkit, from the mark on his flank, it reminds me of a thunderbolt,” Icewind then affectionately licked the ginger kit. “The other tom is called Stormkit, as his colour reminds me like that of a storm cloud, and finally, the last kit is called Singingkit, as she looks just like my mother, Singingflower, and her name is in memory of her.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Heatherfoot then licked each of the kits in turn, and began the blessing in the custom words which were always used. “StarClan, please look down at these kits, and decide their fate which lies ahead of them. Let them learn the ways of the Warrior Code, and let them be an asset to ForestClan.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    As Heatherfoot had finished the blessing, Icewind looked up at her gratefully, and then purred softly, “do not worry about sitting vigil for the kits, you have enough to do as it is”. Then she continued, “ I would also like to name you first protector of our kits, as if Thistleclaw or I are not here when the kits grow up, I know you will always be there to care for them”. Her eyes glistened like fire, and she knew that her friendship with Icewind would never perish.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     Heatherfoot nodded affectionately at Icewind, and her belly growled. Thistleclaw purred in amusement, and Heatherfoot left the nursery so she could get a bite to eat. She padded over to the fresh-kill pile, where all of the food was stored, and took a plump vole for herself. She saw Fawnheart and Willowbark sharing tongues with each other, and she padded over to eat with them. Fawnheart, Willowbark and Cliffclaw were Thistleclaw and Icwind’s first litter together, and they only became warriors six moons ago. Already, Pigeonpelt and Cliffclaw had become mates, so the Clan were expecting kits from them in less than a couple of moons.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    WIllowbark was a mixture of her mother and father, as she had brown paws and tail due to her father’s dark ginger pelt, and white fur, as her mother, Icewind, is tabby and passed on the white gene to her daughter. Fawnheart looks just like a young fawn, from where she got her name, she was dusky brown in colour, and had white spots dotted along her back with piercing light-green eyes. Cliffclaw was light-grey in colour, with a black nose and blue eyes, and it was hard to tell that Thistleclaw was actually his father.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     As she padded to join them, she saw Cliffclaw racing over to them. He had been on the dawn patrol, along with Pigeonpelt and her apprentice Dewpaw. Heatherfoot was proud that her daughter was an apprentice, and how much she had grown already in just a couple of days. Redstar and Sunpelt were also on the patrol, and it seemed like the patrol had returned; their mission was to check that DarkClan had not left scent markers near the Waterfall, as the battle a half-moon ago had proved that it was now in fact ForestClan territory by right.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    She rushed over to greet Redstar, to tell him about Icewind’s kits, as the chances were that he had not heard of the good news yet. While Heatherfoot was searching for him, a horrible feeling crept into her mind, something was wrong. A Clan cat’s instincts were much sharper than that of a house cat, and that fact was being proved now. She smelt sickness on Redstar’s pelt.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Shortly following Cliffclaw was Pigeonpelt, her light-grey pelt gleaming in the sunlight, and Heatherfoot’s daughter and Pigeonpelt’s apprentice, Dewpaw, followed just behind. Then, she saw Redstar, who looked poorly, his bushy almost red tail drooping, and the usual sparkle that shone in his eyes was gone. He was leaning on Sunpelt, the elderly warrior was supporting the leader, and his chestnut coloured pelt was gleaming in the sunlight. Redstar looked very elderly, when in fact he was not very old at all, only six FourSeasons. As he hobbled towards his den, Heatherfoot bounded across the clearing to get the report from the dawn patrol, and more importantly, finding out what was wrong with her leader, who was the anchor that kept the Clan in balance and peace.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    The leaders of ForestClan made their den under the HighBoulder, as it was well protected by the HollyThicket that surrounded the perimeter of it. In case of an attack, this was the place where the queens and elders would go to defend themselves.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    The ferns that covered the front of it carried the sickness smell that she had smelt on Redstar earlier; it was obvious that Redstar was sick, as Redstar was the only cat that had gone into his den and therefore the only cat that could have left the smell. She meowed into Redstar’s den, her meow echoing from the walls inside the HighBoulder. When he rasped to her that she could enter, she did not spend a moment to hesitate, she rushed into the den to find out what was wrong with her precious leader.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Redstar was lying on his bed of moss, not even sitting up as if the effort into doing it was too much for his now feeble body. He looked so weak that Heatherfoot knew that one thing could have done this, the DarkClan sickness. DarkClan had this habit of eating rats, would very often gave them this horrible sickness, however, due to years of suffering from it, the cats in that Clan had become immune to the disease; although that was not the same for the ForestClan cats. The sickness could kill many cats if an outbreak of it came to the ForestClan camp, and if Redstar had caught it, he needed to stay in his den to make sure that the sickness did not spread throughout the camp.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “Heatherfoot, I know that I have the DarkClan sickness. I knew that I should not have investigated there; DarkClan would have had enough sense not to be scent markers as we fought for it and won the Waterfall for our territory. Something else has happened,” Redstar looked at her with wide, solemn eyes. “I lost my fifth life, I have only got four left now and the chances that I will survive this sickness are low. StarClan has set out a destiny for me, and I have to wait to see what that path reveals. When I was gazing over the Waterfall, I fell over, Sunpelt grabbed me by the scruff, but then let go as my weight must have been too much for his frail body.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     Redstar rasped for breath, as if each breath got harder and harder for him as the sickness coursed through his once strong body. “I heard a prophecy last night, from StarClan themselves. It said ““As the red star of night fades, a new light shines as the heather-coloured light is born”. The prophecy was meant for you, Heatherfoot; my time in this world is coming to an end, and I can hear the voices of StarClan calling to me now. You will become the leader, and your deputy will be Earthclaw. I know it must be hard as you have only been deputy for such a short time, but this is the fate StarClan has set for me. The best thing I can do now is accept it, and wait until the time comes when I shall finally join the ranks of StarClan and my beautiful Sandflecks,” he looked up to the sun, which by now had almost reached its’ peak. “Please do not tell any other cat about the prophecy or hearing StarClan call to me, as now is not the time for the Clan to know. Now go, organize the midday patrol, and go to hunt for the Clan!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Heatherfoot respectfully bowed her head, and ran out of the leader’s den. Being deputy was hard enough, yet being leader was going to be the hardest thing she could ever do. She could not believe that StarClan had chosen her to be the future ForestClan leader, that they had faith in her even though she had just had kits and was not the most experienced warriors in her Clan.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     She jumped onto the HighBoulder, and yowled the familiar words to the Clan. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the HighBoulder for a Clan meeting.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    She gazed to the fresh-kill pile to see Fawnheart, Cliffclaw and Willowbark padding over. Then her gaze headed to the entrance to the camp, a large clump of brambles which was hard to reach which made it great protection for the camp, to see Earthclaw and her son Beechpaw coming in with a rabbit, a shrew and two mice, dangling from their jaws. Glenwhisper walked out of the medicine cat den with her apprentice, Sleekpaw, who was also one of Heatherfoot’s kits.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Once all of the Clan had gathered, she asked for silence, and was just about to address the Clan, when a sharp yowl came from one of the elders, Thornsplash. “Why are you holding the meeting? You know that it is the job of the leader to address the Clan!” his voice rasped across the clearing, making most of the cats mumble with each other, some in agreement with the old tom.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “As most of you are aware, Redstar has caught the DarkClan sickness, and is unable to hold the Clan meeting,” Heatherfoot meowed calmly, asserting her authority.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    However, Thornsplash would not be put into his place so easily. He padded into Redstar’s den, exiting only a few moments later, with eyes full of trouble. “He does seem to look ill, sorry Heatherfoot, do not let an elderly mouse-brained cat like me stop you from continuing the Clan meeting.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Heatherfoot accepted to apology by simply nodding, before turning her gaze from the elderly tom to the rest of the Clan. “This sickness could spread across the camp, so from now on no cats will patrol near the Waterfall, leave your scent markers just on the border of it for now. I am also glad to congratulate Thistleclaw and Icewind for having three healthy kits, we hope StarClan may bless them for the near future,” Heatherfoot suddenly shuddered at the thought of Stormkit, the kit looked so vulnerable that it would be a blessing if he survived past kithood. “Earthclaw will lead the midday patrol and you shall take Beechpaw, Willowbark and Swallowfall. I shall lead the hunting patrol, Fawnheart, Pigeonpelt and Dewpaw shall come with me. This Clan meeting is now over.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Heatherfoot waited beside the Highboulder for the other cats to join her for the hunting patrol. Then she suddenly remembered that the elders and queens needed their bedding changed, her three kits were the only apprentices at the moment and they were all required for hunting and patrolling. Therefore she needed to get a warrior to do the job, so she called Thistleclaw over. He would be the best cat to choose as by doing this task he would be staying near Icewind and his kits, and he was one of the friendliest warriors, and would be happy even to do an apprentice task.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     Once his task was all sorted, she went to the group of cats that formed the hunting patrol, and she beckoned them with her tail, and they set of through the brambles out into the forever-ending forest. While she was running, loving the feeling of the air brushing her fur, she heard a voice whispering to her. She abruptly turned around to see her father Hailstar looking at her, his eyes gleaming with pride. Next to him was a very faint outline of a cat he could not make out, and then the amber eyes hit her with a shock. The outline that was next to her father was Redstar, and she realized that the time when Redstar would finally join StarClan was much closer than she thought. She blinked, and they were gone.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Before long, after they had entered the heart of the deciduous forest, Heatherfoot heard some scurrying from the bracken towards the side of her. She instinctively veered to the bracken and dropped into a hunting crouch, the scent of mouse flurrying through her nostrils. She pounced a little way from the mouse and landed on it, killing it with one swift bite to the neck.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    It was peaceful out here in the forest, and for once in a long while Heatherfoot felt herself in a state of tranquillity. The smells of the forest filled her nostrils, blowing through the leaf-fall breeze. The sun shimmered through the leafless trees, and the colours of the brown, orange and red leaves muddled together below her paws. Heatherfoot needed this bit of peace; as the stress of being deputy was putting a strain on Heatherfoot like nothing she had ever experienced before.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">      After a while she had caught two mice and a shrew, and was just spreading dirt over her prey to stop it from being taken until she came to collect it later. She suddenly heard some scurrying in the underbrush not far from where she was at the moment and realized that it was a rabbit. They were harder to catch, so she padded lightly towards the creature, making sure each pawstep was as silent as the swaying wind.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    She suddenly leaped from her hiding place in the bushes, and began to chase the rabbit. The poor creature did not hear the agile she-cat coming, and in shock, was a slow starter, giving Heatherfoot a good advantage. The swift she-cat pounced on the rabbit and killed it, satisfied with her kill. Turning around to take her fresh-kill to the rest of her recently caught prey, she smelled a ForestClan cat. Picking up the exact smell, she realized that it was Fawnheart, and she was proved to be rightas she bounded through the shrubs, with a vole and a mouse clamped tightly in her jaws.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “Heatherfoot, I was just making me back to the meeting place near the camp,” she was panting; she must have rushed all the way from the other side of the woods to give this information to her, so it must have been important. “I heard a warning meow, so I ran back into the camp. Thornsplash and Thistleclaw have fallen ill with the same sickness as Redstar has, and possibly Icewind’s kits.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Heatherfoot gasped, how had they caught the sickness? Redstar had been secluded to his den. However, Heatherfoot suddenly remembered the sickening memories of the events that happened earlier today. Thornsplash had gone inside Redstar’s den to see if he was actually sick; during the short time he was in there, he could have caught the sickness from Redstar. Thistleclaw was doing the bedding, and he must have done it for Redstar too, so he could have caught the sickness. The thought of Icewind’s frail kit made Heatherfoot shudder, and she yowled for the hunting patrol to return, clamped the rabbit in her jaws and barrelled towards the camp.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Sprinting wildly, the whole hunting patrol right behind Heatherfoot, she reached the camp just as the sun was setting, remembering to get the rest of the prey she had left to collect later. As she arrived back at the camp, her worst fears were brought to reality. Lying near Glenwhisper’s den was Thornsplash, Thistleclaw and two of Icewind’s kits. Redstar was also ill, and as Heatherfoot glanced over to the clearing she saw Glenwhisper come out of the leader’s den, her mouth full of herbs. It was obvious that Redstar had taken a turn for the worse. How could a sickness spread so quickly?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     She rushed over to the medicine cat’s den, to see Sleekpaw pad over with a bunch of herbs, tending to Singingkit, one of Icewind’s kits. Heatherfoot gazed at Sleekpaw, her son looked exhausted; this would be his first time being exhausted as this was the first bout of sickness that had come to the camp when he was an apprentice. Two moons ago a sickness had come and killed an apprentice, Foxpaw and her own mother, Firesong. She had to grieve for her loss, and now that the sickness had returned, she couldn’t imagine who it would kill this time.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     “How are all of them?” Heatherfoot asked, looking at her son’s solemn gaze.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     “Not well mother, Redstar has already lost another life, and the sickness is still looming upon him. Sunpelt has also become ill, but he is a tough warrior, and will survive, although I would like to say the same for the others,” Sleekpaw meowed shaking his black head.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “I will take the cats that are not ill out of the camp, to make sure that they cannot catch this sickness,” Heatherfoot lowered her head, upset. “I shall take them to the stones over the stream; that should be far enough to make sure the sickness could not reach there.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Sleekpaw nodded his head and turned to tend to Icewind’s kits. Heatherfoot could not believe how quickly her kit was growing up. Coming out of her thoughts, she changed her glance to where Earthclaw and his patrol had come in through the bramble tunnel. She needed to get all of the cats healthy enough to travel away from the DarkClan sickness, so it would not wipe out the entire Clan. Heatherfoot rushed over to Earthclaw and steadily told him her plan, with the patrol listening anxiously behind him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    By the time she had finished her short speech, most of the Clan had gathered, including some of the elders who only came out of their den these days to attend the Clan meetings. Earthclaw looked at her sympathetically, nodded his head and rushed off to tell cats their orders. Heatherfoot organized some cats to collect moss for the bedding at the stones, as there was none nearby from where they would be staying.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     Once the first group of cats had left to leave for the stones, Heatherfoot looked at the sky to see the clouded moon, which was almost bare, which told Heatherfoot that the half-moon would appear in the next couple of days. Sleekpaw would have to travel to the MoonCavern with all of the medicine cats to be accepted as the medicine cat apprentice by StarClan. Sleekpaw must be looking forward to this significant event in his life.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Pigeonpelt, Dewpaw, Fawnheart, Willowbark, Nightwhisper and Pearfur had left the camp already, and now she was organizing the second patrol that would leave the camp. These cats were: Icewind and her healthy kit, Sharpfang, Cliffclaw, and herself. As she yowled the commandment to leave, another yowl filled the clearing, and then there was silence. Glenwhisper rushed out of Redstar’s den to see what had happened in her own den; luckily her leader was still ok.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Sleekpaw came out of the den, his face panicked, and he rushed back into the den to see to his patient. The yowl had been so ear-splitting that Heatherfoot had to flatten her ears in an attempt to make the sound more bearable to listen too. As the stepped-in leader of the Clan at the moment, she rushed over to the den to see what was happening. The sight made her quiver.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     Thornsplash had gotten worse, his breathing was short and sharp, but he seemed not to have taken the journey to StarClan yet. For the kits it was a different matter; Singingkit was sitting up, coughing lightly, but the tom, Stormkit, lay silent. His breathing had stopped, and his weak father lay next to him, licking his cold and silent face.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Sleekpaw stared down at him, and the look in his eyes filled Heatherfoot with more pain than she could imagine; his eyes could not have shown deeper sorrow. She breathed in the sweet scent of Glenwhisper, and her blue-grey pelt glimmered in moonlight; she was a truly beautiful cat.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “Heatherfoot, Singingkit and Sunpelt have made a full recovery, as this sickness lasts for a very short time, so they can join your patrol to the stones. However, as you can see it is all good news as Stormkit has just passed away. May StarClan be with his dear soul. Thornsplash is getting weaker by the hour, and I believe he will not make it through the night,” Glenwhisper wound her agile body around her so she could see the medicine cat den. Then she continued, “The death of his kit will not help Thistleclaw recover any more, he is weak, but I cannot hear the voices of StarClan calling to him yet, so we do not know whether he will live or not. Redstar has already lost two lives to this sickness, plus the one he lost earlier today, which means he only has two lives left; he is still riddled with the sickness. I just want to warn you that he may not overcome this.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Glenwhipser’s voice was serious, and Heatherfoot knew that Redstar would be dead before long, no matter how hard it could be to accept. She left the medicine cat’s den and beckoned with her tail to tell the patrol that they were leaving, with Sunpelt and Singingkit joining the patrol. She wanted them to leave as soon as possible, so Icewind did not get too upset that her kit had just recently died, when it was only this morning that she lost Nutkit and Larchkit.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     As the patrol headed out of the camp, Heatherfoot looked up at the stars to see all of the stars shining down at her. She relaxed and her muscles shrugged down from their rigid pose, StarClan would always be with them, and whenever they were watching the Clan cats, there was always hope.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     When they reached the stream that headed towards the stones, Heatherfoot found the place where they collected moss for bedding and as it hadn’t rained for a couple of days, it was drier the closer to the edge of the river bed it was. She clamped some pieces of dry moss in her jaws, the other warriors doing the same; this should be enough for every cat, remembering that the first patrol had also brought moss for the bedding.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     After her long exhausting day and not getting any time to sleep since dawn, she wearily trudged on through the night, and by the time they reached the stones, it was well passed moonhigh. The stones were a collection of old stones, that had once been the river that had flown through this part of the forest, but had dried up many moons ago. Some of the stronger material had become a ridge, and it was not much further from where the stones were that marked the edge of their territory, where the unknown began.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    The soft earth beneath the hard layer of stones could be dug into, which would form nice dens. Luckily, due to many generations of cats living in ForestClan, dens had been made here in case of an emergency. This was an advantage that none of the other Clans had, so if they needed to leave the camp, they had nowhere else where they could be safe.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     She found the first patrol waiting eagerly for them, already a fresh-kill pile had been made and many of the cats were either finishing their meals of sharing tongues, as they would be too exhausted to be doing anything else at the moment. Heatherfoot walked up to talk to Pigeonpelt, who was the leader of this patrol. As she plodded herself down next to the senior warrior, Heatherfoot had this resisting urge to fall asleep; luckily, as she dropped her head, the hard earth snapped the feeling out of her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “How was the journey here, Pigeonpelt?” Heatherfoot asked, Pigeonpelt had a bad temper and it was dangerous to get on her bad side seeing as she looked as exhausted as Heatherfoot was.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     “It was fine thanks, Heatherfoot. We had been here a while, and as you had not yet come, we decided to get some fresh-kill. Also, the moss beddings have been placed in the nursery and the elders den. I think it would be best to get Icewind into the nursery, so those kits do not catch a cold in this chill; we have enough cats ill at the moment to need worrying about more,”Pigeonpelt then took a bite from her vole, stood up, and went to check on the elders.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Heatherfoot went over to see Icewind, who was licking her two kits furiously, their pitiful mewing showing that they were not enjoying this experience. From the look in the young queen’s eyes showed Heatherfoot that she was grieving for Stormkit’s death, and that her mate which she had had two litters with could be joining StarClan. The thought of her own mother’s death shook her to the bone, after having kits, grieving was one of the worst things that could happen.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “Would you like to get your kits into the nursery, so they can be warmed up again? This journey could have given them a cold,”Heatherfoot whispered to the tabby she-cat.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    The elegant queen nodded, picking up Singingkit with a heavy sigh. Heatherfoot bent down to pick up the healthiest kit of the litter, Thunderkit, and took him to the thicket of brambles which hid the well protected nursery.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     Once Icewind had settled down and had begun suckling her kits, Heatherfoot dropped a rabbit next to her, she would not hungry at the moment due to the loss she had suffered, however, hunger would take over her senses soon. She needed food if she needed to supply food for two more hungry mouths.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Heatherfoot went over to the place in the centre of the clearing, where Nightwhisper was sitting talking with two of their children, Beechpaw and Dewpaw. They must have been released from duty for the night, Heatherfoot thought to herself. She plonked herself down next to them, trying to not show how tired she was, but the effort of trying to hide what every cat was feeling was harder than she thought it would be.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     After sharing tongues and eating with her mate and two kits, she padded off to the warriors den, by which time it was not long of dawn. As soon as she closed her eyes, sleep clouded her vision and swept her to the world of dreams.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     Heatherfoot woke up, smelt the green scent of newleaf, the tang of leaf-bare, the sweet blossoms of greenleaf and the musk of leaf-fall. She knew at once that she must be in StarClan, and panick filled her very being, had she left the world she was born in to join the ranks of StarClan? However, as she looked at her pelt, she did not see the stars on her paws which could tell a cat who was a StarClan cat and who was not. She was still alive. Heatherfoot must have been sent in a dream to StarClan, as it was one of the only ways for the cats alive to communicate with their warrior ancestors.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     She was in StarClan, as she looked down she gasped, as the whole universe spread below her, and the whole world was filled with stars. Suddenly, up ahead she saw the MoonLake, where the four Clans met every full moon in peace to discuss what was happening in each of the Clans. StarClan must have had a mirror image of the Clans territories.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     Suddenly a familiar scent filled her mind and she turned around to see Glenwhisper here in StarClan too, luckily her pelt was not like that of a StarClan cat, so she was not dead.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “What are you doing here,” Glenwhisper hissed. “Why are you here too?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     “I do not know, StarClan has sent me here,” Heatherfoot shrunk down, afraid of what could happen.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     Glenwhisper’s eyes shone in amazement, she gazed down at her paws and then started talking to herself, “the prophecy is being fulfilled!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     Glenwhisper then gazed at Heatherfoot. “The she-cat shall bear three, and then become deputy. A killer shall spread, many shall be dead. Only she can save us, the cat with StarClan’s trust.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     “You have done the first parts of the prophecy, and StarClan only trust the truest of cats, and they are the only ones who can see their hunting grounds, which is a gift you possess,” Glenwhisper purred. “Now I must go, your kit is waking me up; I shall be at the stones by sunset.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     With that the elegant she-cat vanished, and Heatherfoot rushed for the shrubs, StarClan had chosen her to lead the cats to victory. Suddenly, before she could talk to herself anymore, she heard her father calling to her. She whipped around to see her father’s tortoiseshell pelt relax, with stars shining on him. Heatherfoot began to purr as she rushed up to greet her father and beside him was her mother, Firesong, her ginger pelt glistening in the moonlight. This was the first time she saw her mother since her death two moons ago.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Behind her, she saw the amber eyes stare at her, his dark reddish-brown coat gleaming all around. Redstar had finally joined the ranks of StarClan. He gazed at her affectionately, and Heatherfoot wanted to leap out of her world and run away from everything she had to face in the near future.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    Redstar began speaking, “Heatherfoot, I lost my last life just minutes ago, and that is why Sleekpaw woke up Glenwhisper. I could not believe that StarClan were calling to me so soon, I wanted more time with my Clan. As my heir, tonight you shall travel to the MoonCavern to receive your name and nine lives from StarClan.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">    “Even though part of my being lives on in StarClan, I have always wanted more time with my Clan, and so I have been reincarnated as Thunderkit, which is why he has a red bushy tail. Thornsplash has also joined the ranks of StarClan, he lived a long and noble life, serving his Clan well. Thistleclaw shall join StarClan soon; our voices shall call to his. I will see you tonight, Heatherfoot, dear Heatherfoot.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     As she gazed at the ranks of StarClan one last time, she saw three kits playing with each other next to Redstar, she recognised Stormkit, Icewind’s weakest kit, and he purred at her. Icewind would be glad to know that her kits were safe in StarClan.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">      She felt consciousness sweep over her, clinging on for as long as she could, she did the leaders yowl, and then let dreams take her back to the real world. Before she awoke form her sleep, she glimpsed one last time at Redstar, his eyes gleaming with pride. At least he was happy in StarClan and also lived on in the Clan. She could not tell anyone, as they would have to find out themselves, but she would tell Icewind…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">     Just before she awoke, she smelt the sweet smell of StarClan. She blinked, and they were gone.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">To be continued…

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