Chapter 1

Ch. 2 - Starburst

Foxkit leaped into the air, smacking the ball of moss out of Stagpaw’s claws. He let out a triumphant mewl as he sank his teeth into the ball, only to flinch back and spit out some of the bitter moss. Stagpaw stifled a purr of amusement. He didn’t want to watch the kits, but since Owlwing begged Frostfeather and the other queens to go on a stroll, he had to. The young grey kit gazed up at the apprentice.

“Please show me some of your warrior moves.” He squeaked, his green eyes sparkling.

Stagpaw glanced around the bustling camp. “Well..” Foxkit tilted his head to the side, curling his fluffy tail around his paws. “Just one?” The kit whined.

The apprentice gave into the pressure of the adorable kit and crouched low to the ground. See? That wasn’t so hard. Foxkit sneered to the white tom inside his head. He studied the crouch carefully, watching how Stagpaw stepped lightly across the snow. His paws barely making an indent on the cold surface. Suddenly Stagpaw leaped, twirling in the air and swiping viciously with his sheathed claws. Once he landed, Foxkit mimicked his crouch.

“Good, now focus on a target.” Stagpaw scanned the area. He hooked his paw around a small fallen pine branch and held it up. “Try to knock this out of my claws.” He challenged.

Foxkit prowled forward, his tail swishing with excitement. He was about to leap when Wolfkit and Briarkit pelted in front of him, making him unbalanced.

“Hey!” He growled to the older kits. They were four moons older and almost three times his size. Wolfkit shot him a mocking glare. “What’s the matter, kit? Did we interrupt your little game?” Briarkit giggled along with him.

“It’s not a game! I’m training to be the best warrior in Snowclan, I’m not even an apprentice yet. You are just jealous!” The tiny kit fluffed out his pelt and approached them. He was only two moons old, but that didn’t stop him.

Stagpaw shifted his paws awkwardly. “Hey, kits. Let’s calm down and I’ll go see if the elders have any stories to tell.”

“What is the matter now? Wolfpaw, you’re not bothering poor Foxkit again now are you?” Frostfeather’s meow startled all the cats in the nursery. Stagpaw took his chance to leave.

“Of course not mother, I was only teasing.” The tabby tom lowered his head guiltily.

Frostfeather let out a frustrated sigh and swept her kits out of the nursery with her silver tail. “We must go, I have a surprise for you two.” She said sweetly, her voice filled with pride as she bent her head down to groom Briarkit’s messy fur. Apprentice ceremony. Foxkit could tell what was going to happen. He felt a pang of jealousy course through him. Why can’t I be an apprentice now? I’m much better at fighting compared to those Mouse-brains. He glanced back into the nursery, spotting the sleeping bundles of fur that were Cherrykit and Firekit. He didn’t want to play kit games for four more moons. He wanted to see the real action.

His attention snapped back to the camp as Badgerstar called out to them. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a clan meeting!”

Foxkit, of course, trotted out of the den to sit at the back of the group.

Badgerstar approached the two timid kits. “Roselight. Let your kind heart and wisdom influence young Wolfpaw. I understand he will most likely be your last apprentice, but I trust that you will treat him with the same strictness as any other.” Several cats purred with amusement as Roselight touched her nose to Wolfpaw’s. “Shadowscar.” Foxkit saw Briarkit’s eyes widen anxiously as the large black tom strode into the clearing. “Teach Briarpaw to trust her own intuition rather than follow the acts of others.” The massive tom nodded and whispered something encouraging to Briarpaw that Foxkit was unable to hear. The camp chanted the two new apprentices’ names, but Foxkit ducked back into the nursery. Owlwing was already curled in her nest. Blossomshade had her tail wrapped about a dozing Cherrykit and Firekit. Foxkit silently slipped in next to his mother, her long brown and black fur was matted and tangled. Even surrounded by the other kits and queens, Foxkit felt as if he were isolated. And so he fell asleep.

His eyes blinked open. He was cold, colder than when he played out in the snow. Suddenly Foxkit realized he wasn’t in his nest. The air tasted of stale blood and he could hear the distant growls of angry cats. He glanced around, pelt fluffed out with panic. “Owlwing?!” He yowled.

“Hush, kit. You’re alright.” An unfamiliar voice called out from the shadows. A faded black and white striped she-cat stepped out of the dark. “You want to the best warrior in Snowclan, right?” Her voice was sweet but laced with a tone Foxkit didn’t understand.

“Of course! Wolfkit- I mean Wolfpaw and Briarpaw will see, I bet I could take them down with a few swipes.” He puffed out his chest and mocked a swipe with his forepaw.

The she-cat circled around him. “Impressive! I bet your father would be proud.”

Foxkit gave her a puzzled glance. “Owlwing says I don’t have a father.” His voice trailed off and he shifted his paws.

“Don’t believe what everyone tells you, little one. This world is full of lies you can’t comprehend now.” She leaped gracefully up onto a dark boulder. Foxkit watched her in awe. “You know, I know a cat that may be able to help you on your journey, little one. You just have to promise me you will never tell a soul that you came here, only then can you be the greatest warrior Snowclan has ever seen.” The mysterious cat’s gaze hardened as she studied the kit’s expression.

Foxkit hesitated. The forest around him was foggy and dark, it scared him. Warriors aren’t supposed to be scared. He scolded himself. “I’ll do it.” He mewed. “But who even are you?”

The she-cat’s whiskers twitched. Foxkit closed his eye, but when he opened them she was gone.

He was back in his nest.