Chapter 1 Sun shone brightly down into the camp, and Willowkit purred as the sun warmed her light grey pelt. The darker fur around the edges of her joints grew even darker and the light part of her fur grew even lighter till it sparkled like snow. “You look good today!” A large fluffy black cat meowed, trotting over, “You're almost old enough to be an apprentice!” “I know Nightpaw!!” Willowkit meowed excitedly, excitement fizzling in her paws. Doubt surged into her belly. She had always been really small, born small at birth. She was half the size of her sister Softkit and cats always murmured how she might never be a warrior because of her size. Nightpaw must have seen the look in her emerald eyes, so she crouched down to look into them. “Hey,” she murmured, “If you are held back because of your size, I will personally organize a group to protest. You have shown you are worthy to be a warrior.” Willowkit blinked. “Thanks Nightpaw.” “I for one don’t want to sleep with that kit in the apprentice den! I would trip over her!” A huge striped ginger tom spat crossly as he moved past them. “Oh come on Blazepaw!” Nightpaw meowed, rolling her eyes. “Are we being nice to Willowkit?” A deep voice asked behind them. Willowkit turned around to see Forestheart, a deep grey striped tom. “I am,” Nightpaw meowed, dipping her head, “But Blazepaw is complaining about her size. Again.” “Blazepaw, come with me,” Forestheart meowed sternly, “Nightpaw, why don't you bring Willowkit and Softkit to the elders for some stories? Softkit is still in the nursery.” “Yes, Forestheart!” Nightpaw meowed, before turning to Willowkit, “Come, let's go get your sister.” Willowkit raced ahead of Nightpaw, busting into the nursery. Softkit was still sleeping beside Secretheart, their mother. “You’ll wake up the whole camp!” Darkcloud, a light grey spotted she-cat meowed amusingly. She had moved into the nursery a moon ago, expecting kits with Riverwing. “Thats true,” Embertree grunted. She was an old ginger she-cat that permanently lived in the nursery. She was too old for hunting yet she wanted to help other mothers with their kits. Willowkit scrambled over to Softkit and prodded her with her paw, barely nudging her. Softkit sat up, her soft blue eyes opening wide when she saw Nightpaw. “Are we in trouble?” She murmured to Willowkit. “No!” Willowkit meowed back, “Nightpaw is taking us to the elders so we can listen to some stories!” Softkit scrambled to her paws, and smoothed her ruffled calico pelt. “Let's go!” Willowkit meowed, before scrambling out of the nursery. Softkit yawned, stretched, and followed Willowkit. Nightpaw was waiting for them outside, and nodded when she saw them both. “Follow me!” She meowed, and trotted away to a hollow log at the far side of camp, next to a hole in the side of the small cliff that rose around three fourths of the camp. Inside two cats were laying in two beds, slightly together. “Whos there?” A light brown she-cat asked, her voice raised in concern. Willowkit loved the way her fur looked like moths were all over it. Her eyes were clouded, and scars covered the front side of her face. “Its just Nightpaw and our newest kits,” a dark grey she-cat meowed comfortingly. She touched her nose to the brown cat's shoulder, as she was missing her tail. “Sorry about that,” she added to Nightpaw, “She can’t smell things as well so she is more nervous.” “That’s okay!” Nightpaw meowed. “So this is Willowkit and Softkit?” The grey cat meowed, her light blue gaze traveling over the two kits. “Yeah!” Willowkit meowed, “I'm Willowkit and this is my sister Softkit!” “Im Shardclaw and this is Mothmoon,” The grey cat meowed, dipping her head. “Hi,” Softkit meowed. “I'm assuming you're here to listen to some stories?” Sharclaw asked. “Yeah!” Willowkit squeaked excitedly. “Ill leave them with you then,” Nightpaw meowed, “Riverwing has assigned me hunting till dusk.” “Then go,” Shardclaw snapped, and Nightpaw dipped her head again and retreated. “What do you want to know about,” Mothmoon asked. “How did you go blind?” Willowkit answered. Mothmoon stiffened, and Shardclaw murmured, “I don’t think she wants to talk about it.” “No no, it's okay,” Mothmoon meowed, waving her tail. Willowkit sat down and Softkit sat beside her, tail wrapped around Willowkit’s tiny paws. “It all began twelve moons ago,” Mothmoon began, “I had a fine litter of kits, three of them. Strongkit, Branchkit, and Clawkit. They were growing up healthy and strong, and were apprenticed a few moons ago. Strongpaw was the biggest of his two sisters, and was the most adventurous. He would explore the forest with interest, and his mentor, Flametail, a young warrior then, had a hard time keeping track of him. I had gone back to my warrior duties, and noticed how each of my kits were fine hunters.”
Mothmoon looked down, sorrow in her eyes. “Then the day came when they became warriors. Strongpaw became Strongfang, now your deputy. Branchpaw was Branchtail, and Clawpaw was Clawfur. That very same day, when they were sitting vigil, a pack of dogs attacked. Strongfang managed to alert the camp. It was a long bloody battle, and during the battle a dog scratched my face, including my eyes. Branchtail and Clawfur were smaller than most warriors, but fought as hard as they could.” Mothmoon’s voice cracked as she continued, “I saw two dogs target them as the blood ran down my face, causing my fur to turn red. I ran over and drove them away with Riverpaw, but it was too late. Branchtail wasn’t moving, and I could see she had been bitten in the throat. Clawfur was barely moving. Leafheart did all he could, but Clawfur died later that night. Strongfang was devastated, and so was I. I stayed in Leafheart’s den for the next five moons, and my eyesight faded, as the dog had destroyed my eyes beyond repair. I later joined Shardclaw here in the elder’s den, and five moons ago Strongfang was appointed deputy after Tawnyeye died of an Iceclan attack, around the same time you were born. That is my story.” Willowkit sat in stunned silence, before she murmured "I'm so sorry.” Mothmoon looked surprised. “No kit has ever said that to me before,” she murmured, “Come.” Willowkit snuggled next to Mothmoon, and Mothmoon licked her head. “You are going to be the best warrior because of your kind heart,” she meowed, “Even if you're small.” Willowkit purred, and Softkit sat there. “You’ll be a great warrior too,” Shardclaw meowed. “I-I don’t want to be a warrior,” Softkit stammered, “I want to be a medicine cat.” Shardclaw purred, “That’s great! Leafheart is getting old, and he needs an apprentice!” Softkit purred happily. “Anyways, you guys will be apprenticed tomorrow right?” Mothmoon asked. “Yeah! We turn six moons old tomorrow!" Willowkit squeaked happily. “Then you better get some sleep!” Shardclaw murmured, “It's sundown!” Right on cue Nightpaw showed up with two mice. “Thats your cue to go,” Shardclaw meowed, and Willowkit and Softkit ran to the nursery. “How was it?” Secretheart asked. “Great!” Willowkit meowed happily. “Yeah!” Softkit added. “I'm glad to hear it,” Secretheart murmured, her eyes full of happiness for her kits, “But now you have to go to sleep, or you won't be awake for your apprentice ceremony!” Willowkit and Softkit snuggled into their moms warm pelt, and purring, they fell asleep. … Willowkit woke up to Softkit prodding her. “Come on!” Softkit hissed, “Moonstar has called the meeting!” Willowkit jumped up and ran outside with her sister. Moonstar was sitting on the High Branch, a branch that jutted out of the cliff, and below it was her den. “Today we have gathered to apprentice a kit!” Moonstar yowled, “Softkit, step forward.” Willowkit’s eyes widened, yet she said nothing, just stared at her paws. “But, what about-” Softkit started. Moonstar held up her tail, silencing her. “Softkit, I have heard that you want to be a medicine cat, and as we have had no medicine cats in training, I have decided you will become one.” Willowkit sat there in stunned silence. Moonstar hadn't even mentioned her. “Leafheart,” Moonstar meowed, and he stepped forward, “Will you teach Softpaw the way of herbs and how to heal her clanmates?” “Yes Moonstar,” Leafheart murmured, dipping his head. Willowkit could see the white hairs on his muzzle. “Softpaw, you will be apprenticed to Leafheart,” Moonstar meowed, “That concludes this meeting.” She turned to walk away. “MOONSTAR!” An angry voice yowled. Moonstar stopped and turned around. Willowkit looked around to see it was Nightpaw. “Yes Nightpaw?” Moonstar asked, looking calm. “What about Willowkit,” Nightpaw spat. “Ah, Willowkit,” Moonstar murmured, turning to Willowkit, “You are too small to be a warrior.”
