Warriors: Duskmoon and Dawnsun #4

Goldenkit woke up, sunlight flooding into the brambles. She looked over at Patchkit, Winkkit, Ointmentkit, and Thornkit who were all curled up next to their mother, Dawnsun. Duskmoon was outside of the honeysuckles, picking a thorn out of Hibiscusbreeze’s paw.

Since ShadowClan had attacked, they had makeshift dens. In the log, Hibiscusbreeze, Longear, Spottedheart, Brambleleaf, and Ashfrost slept. In the biggest clump of brambles, Tawnylion, Cinderstream, Crowfang, Cloudwing, Zebrastripe, Swiftleopard, and Emberstorm stayed. Brokenflower and Briarwing slept in the smallest pile of rocks. Gingkoroot, Sandwhisker, and Bluepool slept in the biggest pile of rocks. Sharkpaw, Cloudpaw, Nutpaw, Brightpaw, and Stripepaw slept in the reeds. Duskmoon kept the herbs in the honeysuckle bush, and slept there, too. Shadestar and Flickerclaw slept together in the clutch of juniper. She, Dawnsun and her kits, and Blazepelt all slept in the smallest brambles.

She stretched. The camp was so more packed in, now. Every den was touching! And the Highrock was farther away. Only Shadestar was allowed on it. Patrols were rarely out, and if you were less than twelve and a half moons old, you weren’t allowed out of camp. Which meant she, Dawnsun’s kits, the apprentices, Brokenflower, Briarwing, and Swiftleopard were forced to stay in camp.

Goldenkit looked at the fresh-kill pile and chose a small sparrow. She ate it in a few quick bites and got a drink from the small stream that ran through ThunderClan.

“All cats old enough to catch their own prey, join under Highrock for a Clan meeting!” Shadestar said from Highrock.

Goldenkit cleaned her fur. She had learned to take care of herself, even hunt for herself, because now Duskmoon was the medicine cat.

“All cats know we have been seeing the rougher side of ShadowClan,” Shadestar began. “My brother, Moonstar, has given his Clan to the Dark Forest. And he wants to take my Clan, too.” He swiveled around to face Flickerclaw. “And we all live for each other. We will never take a warrior’s life. We must help ShadowClan get out of this.”

“We will send two warriors to fetch Sparrowspots and Burrowpelt, two ShadowClan warriors who have been exiled from ShadowClan in disbelief of the Dark Forest,” Flickerclaw explained. “They will help us.”

“And we need new apprentices to help us,” Shadestar said. “And today, we are going to gift one.” He turned to Duskmoon. “Duskmoon,” He began. “Goldenkit is no longer your kit. But she is the memory of Whiteclaw and Goldenleaf, both of whom have died in battle. It would be unfair to make her a warrior.”

Goldenkit reeled back in shock. What did he just say? She was meant to be a warrior, fighting battles for her family! Her Clan!

“Goldenkit, we need more warriors than ever. Blazepelt, the leading queen, will be your mentor,” Shadestar said. “You will learn to birth kits.”

Goldenkit hissed. This couldn’t be happening!

“Goldenpaw, StarClan admires your willingness and spirit,” Shadestar said. “Clan dismissed.”

Goldenpaw ripped up a ball of moss. Blazepelt walked over to her and tried to touch noses with her, but she only batted her away.

“Leave me alone!” She cried as she raced off into the forest.

She didn’t care if it was forbidden.

She was being forced to have kits.

Sharkpaw raced after Goldenpaw. “Goldenpaw! Come back!” He pleaded.

Goldenpaw hissed as she turned around to him. “You don’t understand!” She cried. “You don’t have to be a permanent queen!”

“You don’t have to either,” Sharkpaw soothed. “Just stop running.”

ShadowClan scent was hanging onto the branches, and suddenly, a brown tom leaped down. “Hollyberry! Night! Come now,” He hissed.

“What is it, Sparrowspots?” The black tom growled.

Sparrowspots? I thought he was a loner, now! Sharkpaw thought. ThunderClan’s been tricked!

Goldenpaw backed away, fear sparking in her golden gaze.

“Let’s take these intruders to Hawkfrost,” The dark tan she-cat hissed.

“Hawkfrost’s dead, though! For good!” Goldenpaw protested.

Sharkpaw nodded. He’d heard stories about how during Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Dovewing’s time, Tigerstar, Brokenstar, and Hawkfrost of the Dark Forest were killed.

“Not when there’s a Clan to nourish him. All of the Dark Forest is back,” Sparrowspots hissed. “For good.”

Goldenpaw struggled. She couldn’t fight. This was her first day as an apprentice! Sharkpaw hissed threateningly and leaped onto Sparrowspots, ripping out his fur. “Run, Goldenpaw, run!” He yowled. “And don’t look back!” He watched Goldenpaw run faster and faster until she was just a hazy outline in the fog.

Sharkpaw scratched the three ShadowClan warriors until the black tom hit him in the head and his world went black.

Duskmoon looked at Goldenpaw who was yowling her head off. “Sh, Goldenpaw!” She spoke. “What’s wrong?”

“Sparrowspots and Burrowpelt...traitors...ShadowClan’s coming...Hawkfrost and the Dark Forest are alive...they got Sharkpaw!” She wailed.

Shadestar looked at his grandkit and then to Duskmoon.

Duskmoon flexed her claws in outmost anger. “What?” She screeched in rage.

Goldenpaw whimpered in fear and ducked under her mother. Duskmoon brushed her tail over her daughter’s back and nuzzled her.

She had never smelled more fear.

Duskmoon looked worriedly at her daughter and buried her nose deep into her fur.

She was worried. Sharkpaw used to be a barn cat. He hadn’t, even with all the warrior training, had enough.

He wouldn’t be able to defend himself against the Dark Forest.

“Where are they?” Shadestar growled.

“I don’t know! He told me to run!” Goldenpaw wailed. “This is all my fault!”

Duskmoon couldn’t agree or disagree, so she just comfortingly squeezed Goldenpaw closer to her.

“I smell Sparrowspots all around us,” she said.

“Oh yeah, your ‘hyper sense’ thing,” Stripepaw said.

Duskmoon nodded. “It’s fresh. We have to gather a patrol.”

They headed back to camp and Shadestar yowled the horrible news. “I need Emberstorm, Gingkoroot, Bluepool, Stripepaw, Duskmoon, Goldenpaw-”

“Wait,” Goldenpaw said. “You said I was a permanent queen.”

“You’re the one who saw Sharkpaw,” Shadestar explained. “As I was saying: Crowfang, Cinderstream, Swiftleopard, and Zebrastripe.”

“I’ll gather herbs,” Duskmoon said.

It was chaos from what Duskmoon was seeing. Hibiscusbreeze was yowling about how he should be out searching for Sharkpaw too, but the thorn in his paw got too infected.

“We’re ready. Duskmoon, lead the way,” Shadestar ordered.

Duskmoon bared her fangs but did it anyway. She let the patrol follow her to where she found blood-splattered leaves.

Goldenpaw let out a bloodcurdling scream.

Immediately, Emberstorm leaped onto her and slammed her mouth shut.

“Get off of my daughter!” Duskmoon hissed. She slammed Emberstorm down and growled, then looked at Goldenpaw. “You have to be silent,” She whispered.

Goldenpaw nodded, a sulky look on her face.

“Whatever happened to Sharkpaw...” Shadestar murmured. “Wasn’t pleasant.”

“Is the Dark Forest and ShadowClan working together?” Goldenpaw asked.

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Swiftleaopard grumbled under his breath.

Goldenpaw watched her mother sniff the puddle of blood, then pointed her ears towards a tree. “They escaped in the trees. There’s a bit more blood too.” She spoke.

The cats scrambled up the trees and followed Duskmoon until they came to more blood.

Duskmoon gave an irritated hiss and changed her course to a higher point in the trees.

“We’re very far out of the territory Duskmoon,” Shadestar said. “We should go back.”

“They’re nearby, I can smell them,” Duskmoon said.

“Speaking on which...” Swiftleopard said. “Where’s Crowfang and Cinderstream?”

Goldenpaw looked behind them and noticed Crowfang and Cinderstream were missing...

...and in their place were two bloodstains.



“WHERE HAVE THEY GONE!” Emberstorm growled. “Where are my KITS!”

Goldenpaw inspected the bloodstains with her mother.

“They’ve been here,” Duskmoon murmured. “And they’ve taken the others.”

“They leave bloodstains everywhere,” Goldenpaw put in.

“And we’re right behind you,” A snarl came from behind.

All of them jumped and a dark brown cat, black cat, tiger-striped cat, and ghostly silver cat were behind them.

“Who...who are you?” Zebrastripe stuttered.

“RELEASE MY KITS!” Emberstorm shouted.

The ghostly cat cackled, her white fur seeming to catch the moonlight.

“We are DeathClan,” The tiger-striped tom hissed. “I am Blood.”

“I’m Cobweb,” The white she-cat growled.

The brown cat snarled. “Rabbit,” She snarled.

“Shadow,” The black tom hissed.

“Give us back our Clanmates!” Shadestar ordered.

“Never,” Another cat said.

“Hawkfrost...!” Shadestar gawked.

“Yes,” He laughed. “Stripepaw, come to me.”

The young apprentice obeyed and sided with the evil warrior.

“Stripepaw?” Goldenpaw gasped.

Suddenly, the warriors parted and three bloody bodies. Still alive, but bleeding immensely.

“SHARKPAW!” Goldenpaw screeched. She sensed his agony and pain. She raced towards him but Cobweb grabbed her and threw her back.

She groaned in pain. Then she saw the young warriors Crowfang and Cinderstream. They were breathing rapidly and horribly injured.

“My kits!” Emberstorm wailed.

“Stripepaw, you traitor!” Bluepool hissed at her apprentice.

Goldenpaw looked at Sharkpaw.

She saw something in his eyes.

“Run.”



Sorry, it was so short! Stay tuned!