Moon (New version)

[Mooncloud]

So now that you've read my first round of "Moon", I've decided to go back and fix a lot of it. There's a lot of confusion as to how certain characters came up (*cough* Ryou *cough*)... that and I had more ideas for this story.

Have fun.

[Mooncloud]

“You are destined, to change the fate of the clans.”

Moon thinks herself just another ordinary housecat, with a curiosity of what lies over the fence. Her curiosity turns into a nightmare when she encounters a ferocious leader and his followers bent on controlling all other cats. One bad thing after another and she finds herself no longer a housecat but a rogue.
Under the watchful gaze of the stars, Moon discovers a power. She can see through time. As her visions increase she begins to question if it is a blessing or a curse, especially when she learns she's prophesied to destroy one she loves.


Prologue

A snow-white tom moved to the edge of a forest. Wind brushed his fur as a few others joined him at a pool.
“You called a meeting?” asked a gray furred she-cat dipping her head to him.
“Yes,” said the tom still staring down.
“What is this all about then?” asked a tortoiseshell she-cat.
The white tom finally looked up. “I have news. The one with sun’s fire in his pelt has been born.”
All the cats surrounding the pool stared at him. The tortoiseshell and a black tabby tom exchanged questioning glances.
“Then Thunderclan will be saved,” a brown tabby she-cat sighed with relief.
“Not just Thunderclan,” added the black tom. “It was said he would save all the clans.”
“Yes.” The white tom sat up straighter. “In just a few short moons he will be ready for the first step of his journey.”
All the cats knew what his words meant for all the clans. They nodded and walked away except for the gray she-cat who continued to stare at the pool.
“Graywing?”
Her eyes did not leave the reflections of the rippling water. “You didn’t tell them everything.”
“They knew this cat would come from outside the clans. If they didn’t expect him to be a kittypet or a rogue then that is their fault.”
“Not that,” she sighed. “I also see another cat with the moon in her fur. Could she be the one prophesied to kill our savior?”
The tom joined her and stared down at the pool. Another cat filled his vision. It was a gray she-kit pouncing on a flame red ginger tom. Fear clawed at his chest. “By the stars. They’re from the same litter!”

[Mooncloud]

Ch 1

A light gray marble tabby crouched around a chair, eyes fixed on her target. In front of her sat a flame-red ginger kit as he washed his fur. She wiggled her hind quarters already relishing her catch. He let out a yowl of surprised and then turned around to attack her. They tussled around for a few moments while some of their brothers and sisters looked on. Finally they broke apart tails twitching back and forth in amusement.
“Give up Rusty?”
“Not a chance, Moon! Attack!” He leaped for her again this time joined by the rest of them. Soon it looked like a multi-colored pile of whirling fur.
“Ouch!” one of the kits ran away from the pile and skidded to a halt next to their mother. The queen bent over and began licking the fur between her daughter’s ears.
“Moon, you are playing too rough with your sister.”
“I’m sorry,” she said sweetly making her eyes as innocent as possible. She walked up to Princess and licked her sister’s shoulder fur. “I forgot you didn’t like to play that rough.”
All the kits gathered around their mother. Moon could tell something was upsetting her. “What is it?”
“Very soon many house-folk are going to be here and they will take you to go live with them. You remember me telling you about this?”
They all nodded. How could she forget? Soon she would be separated from her littermates to go live elsewhere. The thought stuck to her like a burr to her pelt. Would she ever have this much fun again?

The day to leave arrived. Three of their littermates had already been taken. Only Princess, Rusty, and she remained. They tussled again for fun when another set of house-folk showed up. Remembering what their mother said they played looking as cute as possible.
Princess scampered off to them and rubbed herself against one of their legs. Moon narrowed her eyes. She knew exactly which one of them would be leaving next.
Their sister ran up and brushed her pelt against both of them. “I guess this is good-bye.”
“See you Princess,” said Rusty touching noses with her.
For some reason, Moon did not think she could say the same. She flicked her sister’s ear with her tail. “So long littermate.”
Later that afternoon Rusty was taken away also. Moon jumped in the basket with her mother and snuggled closely. Her mother licked her pelt in smooth comfortable strokes. “Don’t worry, soon there will be house-folk that will come and take you home with them. You’ll be fed, stroked, and played with to your heart’s content.”
Moon purred as her mother continued to wash her. Already she missed her littermates, especially Rusty. She could always go to him to play with. Between the two of them, they could come up with a lot of fun games, but that was all at an end now.

The next day a giant house-folk arrived. Her mother pressed herself against her not wanting her to go. But soon the giant scooped her up and left out the door with her. Moon struggled free just far enough to look back at her mother. Grief at watching the last of her kits taken from her showed in every look. Her mother’s tail dropped and slowly walked back to her basket.
Moon’s new house folk opened a door and sat down. Her claws dug into a cloth as the thing she was inside roared into life. The giant stroked her back to assure her and she let her fur lie flat. Mother had told her about these things, she should be safe so long as she stayed inside the monster.
Once used to the sound, she actually began to enjoy herself and stared out into the world around her. Many nests lined either side of the stone path. In what seemed like no time at all the moving nest came to a stop. The house-folk scooped her up and took her into another nest.
In what seemed a heartbeat a collar was placed around her neck. At last she was a house cat, not one of those dreadful forest cats her mother kept telling stories about or the rogues that lived outside of house-folk nests. Here she would be safe to live the life her mother always wanted for her.

[Mooncloud]

Ch 2

Her neighbor, a sleek brown tom sat up on his fence. “Good Evening to you Moon.”
“Good Evening, Zain,” she said joining him. He was a nice neighbor and always good for a talk. Ever since she moved in he had taken it upon himself to show her around and teach her a few things. She had caught her first mouse only a few moonrises ago under his careful teachings.
“Did you enjoy your mouse?”
Moon’s tongue whipped around her mouth. “It was delicious. I took what was left to my house-folk, they weren’t very proud of me.”
Zain’s eyes danced with laughter. “I’m sorry, I should have told you. Keep your kills outside. The house-folk don’t have a stomach for that sort of thing. I don’t think mine has ever killed a fly.” He gave her an affectionate lick on the ear. “Don’t worry, they’ll forgive you. Come on, let’s go for a walk.”
Looking back at her nest, she remembered that she wouldn’t have to wait to ask to come back in since the flap was still there. Her eyes brightened. “All right.”
Their fur’s brushed each other as they walked along what Zain called a sidewalk. She always learned so much from about house-folk. Some she knew didn’t like cats while others just adored them. There had been a couple occasions when one would let her into their nests, but would latter return her to her house-folk. This night she hoped to go home on her own terms.
“My house-folk put a square piece of wood with something attached to it in their front yard,” said Moon conversationally.
“They do that sometimes,” replied Zain. “I’m not sure why, only that they do it.”
She purred. “You should come over sometime. There are boxes filled with something I’ve never seen before and it makes a fun sound when you move through it. My house-folk pulled me out, but it didn’t stop me from jumping back in later.” When she realized he wasn’t paying attention she turned to see what held his interest.
“Sorry,” said Zain. “I thought I saw something.”
Shrugging it off the two continued to walk, this time in silence. Moonlight shined down on their pelts. Zain turned to her. “You know you’re my best friend?”
Not a heartbeat passed before she replied, “And you are mine.”
Both purred hard as their tails intertwined. So focused on their contentment they didn’t realize a small group of cats moving in front of them. Zain broke away first, claws unsheathed and fur prickling. Moon followed his eyes to see the four cats coming out of the shadows.
“Well, if it isn’t my long lost littermate,” sneered one. “Hello brother.”
“Get out of here,” Zain hissed at her.
“But-”
He turned to her, eyes urgent. “Go.”
She took a step backwards but her path was blocked. They were trapped. Moon pressed herself to Zain. “Who are they?”
Zain struggled to keep his fur flat. “Bloodclan.”
A shiver ran down her spine at the amount of fear Zain put behind those words. She thought he wasn’t scared of anything, before tonight. Zain stared down at his littermate.
“Let her go. She has nothing to do with this.”
His brother slashed his tail through the air. “Sorry, but you’re my initiation.”
“Run!”
Zain shouldered past one of the cats that barred their path. Moon raced hard on his paws. Wherever they were going, it was not back to their nests. Zain came to an abrupt halt around the corner and she almost plowed into him. “We should be safe for a little while.”
Her chest heaved from the sprint. “What is this all about?”
“If we survive this I’ll tell you,” he snapped. “Right now let’s focus on staying alive. We can’t go home otherwise they’ll know where to find us. I’m sorry,” his tone softer and he gave her a lick on the ear. “If we can’t go back to them, I promise I will take care of you.”
She was scared, but not as scared if Zain wasn’t with her. Tired from their run, she nodded.
“What about finding a nest with a cat door?” she suggested. “They always take us back the next morning.”
“I forgot about that,” said Zain, brightening up.
“Too bad it won’t help you,” someone hissed.
We didn’t lose them!
“Go. GO!”
Together they ran going who knows where. Zain was sure to keep her ahead of him. Her claws helped her to scramble up in a tree. Frantically she searched around for something, anything that would give them relief.
“There,” said Zain indicating the next nest over.
He was right, there was a cat door.
“I’m right behind you,” heaved Zain. “Get there and stay there.”
The Bloodclan cats were almost to the tree. Climbing onto a limb she leapt down to the fence. A heartbeat later she was racing across the yard and into the nest.
She wanted to shout in triumph that they had made it, but when she turned around, she realized Zain hadn’t followed her. Moon was about to rush back outside when she could hear his caterwaul far away challenging the others to catch him.
He lied to her.

[Mooncloud]

Ch 3

Just as she thought, the house-folk that lived here took her back home. The female house-folk was happy to see her and stoked her affectionately. Too tired to care, she found her food bowl was still in the same corner.

Where are you Zain?
Moon looked down into his yard searching for him like she did every night she’d been back. All she wanted to know was that he was all right. Things were changing for her. Several brown boulders were stacked inside her nest and she wanted to know what it meant.
The sun was nearly up and her house-folk called her in to eat. After her meal the male house-folk scooped her up placed her inside the car. Several things were jammed inside of it. One of her toys sat in the front seat and she started bouncing between her house-folk playing with it. The female scooped her up in her arms and began to pet her. Tired from her night’s watch, Moon fell asleep.
When she opened her eyes, the car was stopped in front of a large nest unlike anything she had seen before. The door opened and the female house-folk stepped out of the car. For a moment she talked with another house-folk male and female before kissing Moon on the head and gave her an affectionate scratch.
Something wrong was about to happen, she just knew it. In a moment she was handed over to the new house-folk and her’s got back into the car. Where was she going? No matter how many times she called, the car didn’t turn around to come back for her.
The new male took her inside the structure. A large animal snorted and she dug her claws into the house-folk’s shirt. He padded her fur, but she didn’t feel any comfort. She wanted her house-folk, she wanted Zain!
The next thing the male did assured her that no one was coming back for her. When he placed her on the ground by an empty basket she no longer wore her collar that she had so proudly worn all these days. Ignoring all else she crawled into the basket and miserably fell asleep.

“Who are you?”
Moon shook the sleep from her head and let out a large yawn before turning to the other cat, “Moon. I just arrived this morning.”
The old gray she-cat looked at her through narrowed eyes. “Well, Moon, you’re in my nest!”
Moon darted out immediately. “S-sorry. The house-folk dropped me off here so I thought it would be all right.”
The she-cat snorted. “House-folk? Kit, take a good look around. You’re not going to be a pampered kittypet here.”
Her ears dropped back, “I’m not?”
“No,” she added sharply. “You’re a rogue. You’ll have to hunt for your own food. Probably will have to teach you myself so you don’t starve. Definitely will have to teach you where the borders are so you don’t cross into clan territory.”
Moon flicked her ears. Her thoughts drifted to the cats Zain said were from Bloodclan. Was this cat one of them?
“Y-You’re not from Bloodclan, are you?”
“Bloodclan? I’ve heard the forest cats called a lot of things, but Bloodclan isn’t one of them,” she purred with laughter. “No, I’m a rogue also. My name is River. Now run along like a good kit and leave me to my nap.”

A moon passed before she knew every inch of the barn and the area surrounding. Every day she moved further and further from it to explore more. Something drew her to the lands outside. Sadness threatened to engulf her every now and then at the thought of how much fun Zain and she would have exploring together. But now they would never see each other again.
Many cat scents surrounded her, but she paid little attention. She saw visitors all the time, but she didn’t want to be interrupted right now. Her ears flicked when she heard a sound of a small creature. Crouching low she began to creep forward. It wasn’t a mouse, she knew that scent already. This was something different.
She was just about to leap when a gray tom shouldered her out of the way. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Moon looked at his broad-muscle shoulders she was sure would get bigger and finally up to his teeth which were barred at her. She tipped her head, “Getting dinner. What else?”
The tom leaned in closer looking at her fur still flat from where her collar had been. “A kittypet?”
She knew this phrase from what River taught her, “I’m no kittypet, I am a loner. Two-legs leave me alone most the time and I’ve hunted for myself since the day I got here.”
“Oh really?” replied the tom looking amused. “Did they teach you to fight?”
“Two-legs taught me nothing.” She didn’t like what he was suggesting.
“Stonepaw,” shouted a blue-gray she-cat. “What are you- Who is this?”
“A barn cat. Seems she has wandered a little ways away from home.”
“Well chase her off before the rest of the patrol gets here. Crookedstar won’t be pleased if he sees us with a loner.”
“Yes oh great Mistystar,” Stonepaw teased. The she-cat jumped on top of him and they play fought for a moment.
Moon curled her tail around her paws and watched eyes dancing in amusement. These two had to be littermates. A sudden pang of loneliness for her own littermates hit her.
“So do you live around here,” Moon asked innocently.
The two tussling cats stopped and looked at her then back at each other. Quickly they broke apart. “You really should get back to your barn kittypet,” said Stonepaw.
She narrowed her eyes at him, “Loner.”
“Whatever,” said his sister. “The point is-“
“Stonepaw, Mistypaw what are you doing?”
A reddish-brown tom walked out. This cat was far more impressive with all his scars.
“I thought your name was Mistystar,” whispered Moon.
“Hush,” Stonepaw spat.
“You two are almost warriors and I find you here having a conversation with a kittypet rather than chasing her across the border.”
“I am not a kittypet,” she said indignantly.
“Sorry Crookedstar,” replied both cats bowing their heads.
“I should think so. Now settle with this intruder.”
The two cats faced her barring their teeth. She knew what was coming, but she would not run away. In fact a fight might be fun.
“Moon!”
Crookedstar looked at the newcomer as she jumped to her side eyes teeth barred.
“You.”
River just stared at him. “This kit is not even apprentice age and you are getting your warriors to attack her? Whatever happened to the Warrior Code?”
Moon looked from one cat to the other. Even Stonepaw and Mistypaw were curious as to how these two knew each other. Suddenly the tom launched himself at River. Mistypaw and Stonepaw looked at her sympathetically, but knew Moon knew she was about to be attacked. In an instant she jumped on Mistypaw and racked her claws on her side. Stonepaw came to the aid of his sister. Quickly she ducked from his claws and slid under him biting his leg. When she turned she saw River with a deep gash in her side.
Her mind whirled and she had to shake her head to clear it. When she looked up again no cat had moved and River and Crookedstar were still staring at each other. River looked back at her, but said nothing.
Moon looked at each cat. No one had a single scratch on them. If that were true then what did she just see?
She forced out a tremendous yawn. “I could use a good nap.”
The she-cat turned to her puzzled, but then nodded.
Crookedstar narrowed his eyes, “Get out.”
River and she turned and walked back to the barn.
“What did I say about going too far?”
“To not to.”
The old she-cat stopped and turned to her. “Clan cats are dangerous. They would have shredded you.”
“No, I would have shredded them. Or, at least I think I would have shredded them. I’m not sure what I saw.”
“What?”
“I imagined that we did fight and that I took on the other two and I were fighting when I saw you with a gash in your side. Then I realized I just imagined it.”
“And faked being tired?”
“Y-yes.”
River shook her head. “Should have known.” They got a few paces before River purred. “What a clan cat you would’ve made. In fact, I see no reason I can’t be your mentor.”

[Leopardheart]

I'm so HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :DDDDDDDDDDDDD

[Mooncloud]

Ch 4

The grumpy old she-cat taught her everything from new hunting techniques to fighting. Mostly fighting. Moon relished each opportunity. She wouldn’t wear her new collar. She was going to be a true warrior even if she didn’t live in a clan. River preferred to teach at night. In fact that was the only time Moon ever saw her. But still she enjoyed her night walks to the borders. Every time she went to the Riverclan border she would look out for any sign of clan cats.
She didn’t tell River, but sometimes she would meet up with Mistypaw and Stonepaw. Her mentor wouldn’t understand what they meant to her. They would tell her about clan life and she would tell them about life as a loner. For her, it was almost like having littermates again.

Tonight she wasn’t disappointed to see Mistypaw, now Mistyfoot come to the border.
“We’re going to retake Sunningrocks. Our first battle as warriors! Those Thunderclan cats won’t have it for much longer,” Mistyfoot purred.
Moon stared at her. “Where are these rocks again?”
Mistyfoot pointed with her tail. Moon looked in the direction of the river that Mistyfoot had told her about. What she saw frightened her. Cats were all over the rocks fighting. Several were badly injured. She swiftly turned to the sound of falling rocks.
“Moon?”
Her mind switched back to the present. “You have to stop the fight.”
“What?”
“I saw a cat that looks like the tom I saw the night I met you. Except his jaw isn’t broken. He’s crushed by falling rocks.”
Mistyfoot rolled her eyes. “That’s frog-brained. You couldn’t possibly see what is going over there now. Besides, no one has even left camp when I came to see you. Moon?”
Moon realized her fur was still standing on end. “There is going to be a tortoiseshell tom fighting him. When they fight there will be a rockslide.”
Mistyfoot backed away from her, “That isn’t funny, Moon.”
“I’m not trying to be. I wouldn’t lie about something like this. I’m just telling you what I think I saw.”
Mistyfoot sighed. “I have to get back. I’m a part of the attack. See you around.” With that Mistyfoot dashed off without another glance back.
She was mad at her, Moon could tell. Quickly she ran back to the barn. Climbing onto the roof, she looked at the stars. The clan cats told her about how their warrior ancestors watched over them in times of trouble. She silently said a prayer to them that her vision was wrong, but she knew in her heart she was right.

[Mooncloud]

Ch 5

The sun had fallen when she set out for the border. She stopped briefly by the spot where she last saw River. Moon missed the old she-cat dearly and knew she would for a long time. But River had disappeared a long time ago. Never prodded her awake to train at night, not even a scent trail.
New cats would come and go, but at least she was rarely alone. Tangle, a brown tabby tom with darker stripes, seemed like he was going to stay for good and taught her a few things about barn life that she hadn’t learned before. She in turn taught him some of the hunting techniques River and the clan cats taught her.
He was what River would call a loner. They would wander from territory to territory, meet new cats, stay for awhile, but then leave. They would play fight, much like she did with Zane when she was a kit. She’d always keep her claws sheathed and never used some of River’s techniques fearing she might do some damage. River always said that she’d be able to do a lot of damage.
Tangle left her to go hunting on his own while she went to the Riverclan border. Sometimes they’d eat together, but she got the feeling he wasn’t up for that tonight. That was fine with her, she was planning to stay near the border tonight anyway.
Her ears perked when she saw both cats she was hoping to see. She rushed up to touch noses with them.
“It’s great to see you. I was beginning to wonder if I would have to wait another moon. What is it?”
Mistyfoot and Stonefur looked at her. “How did you know?”
“Know what?” she asked cocking her head to one side.
“How Oakheart was going to die.” said Stonefur. “Mistyfoot told me about that night you said you had a vision. Oakheart died exactly the way you said he would.”
Moon felt cold. Her vision had come true, just like she thought it would. It had been so long that it fell from her mind. It wasn’t the first vision she had either. Whenever she got under the stars she’d sometimes see things. Things that she knew weren’t happening around her barn. But they felt so real.
How could she explain this to them? “I-I just saw it happening.”
It was a lame explanation, she knew this, but it was the only one she had. “Is this something normal for a barn cat? Being able to see the future I mean.”
“Not that we’ve ever heard of,” said Mistyfoot. “That is only typical of a Medicine Cat. But you’re not one, so how did you-”
“I don’t know,” she blurted. “I just looked in the direction of Sunningrocks and I had a vision of it happening. I didn’t do anything for it to happen!”
Stonefur looked over his shoulder. “We’ve got to go, the border patrol will be here soon and we’re supposed to be hunting. Maybe River has some answers for you.”
She cast her eyes down, “I haven’t seen River for awhile. Given her age, she’s probably dead.”
“I’m sorry,” said Mistyfoot putting her muzzle against hers. They could hear cats behind them.
“Mistyfoot, we need to go now,” hissed Stonefur
Moon made sure she was well within the border before the patrol came into view. She overheard some of the conversation about a flame-colored kittypet that Thunderclan took in. Moon mused to herself that it was her littermate Rusty and went about her hunt.

She felt a paw on her back. “Wake up.”
Blinking open an eye she saw Tangle. “I sleep during the day remember?”
“Yes. But we have a visitor. This is your barn and I didn’t want to invite them in without your say.”
Moon wanted nothing more than to scratch him for disturbing her, but at the same time appreciated his forethought. It was her barn. Stretching she got out of her nest and went to the barn doors.
A tortoiseshell queen waited looking exhausted. Her flank carried scratches and her muzzle was caked with dry blood.
Moon batted Tangle with claws sheathed, “Frog-brain you should have let her in. Look at her, she can hardly stay on her paws.” She turned to the queen. “Sorry, come right in. You can have my nest.”
She led the exhausted queen into the barn and got her settled. A golden she-cat walked in holding a mouse. Corn was another visitor who arrived a few days ago, but looked like she intended to make the barn her home. Moon’s ears perked up when she saw her.
“Hey can we have that?”
“Hum?” replied Corn, her mouth full of the mouse.
“She needs something to eat. I’ll get you another one,” Moon offered.
Corn walked up and set the mouse in front of the queen. “I’ll go get my own. It’s a good day to hunt. Coming?”
Tangle looked from side to side to see who she was talking to. His ears perked when he realized it was him, “Sure.”
Moon watched the two of them leave the barn. She was pretty sure this queen wouldn’t be the only one expecting pretty soon. In a moment she turned her attention back to the newcomer. “Oh, my name is Moon. I can clean off your fur while you eat if you don’t mind.”
“Thank you, that would be lovely. My name is Callie.”
“Well, welcome to the barn, Callie.”
As she licked some of the blood off she could smell the scents of other cats some of it Riverclan. “Did the clan cats chase you?” Callie stiffened. “It’s all right if you don’t want to tell me. But I would stick to staying in the barn. We share a border with forest cats.”
Callie shuttered. “They can’t possibly be worse than Bloodclan. I don’t care about the rumors.”
Her fur spiked up.
Callie looked horrified. “Then I’m not safe here if you’ve heard of them.”
Moon fought to keep her fur flat. “No. No,” she added firmly. “You are safe. I’ve never seen Bloodclan this far in. When I lived in a two-leg nest, I heard of them.”
“In that case, forget I ever mentioned them.”

[Mooncloud]

Ch 6

Callie’s kits tussled about her. They usually took up her time and loved to play during the day leaving her night time walks down to a minimum. Callie had adjusted well to her new life and helped get fresh-kill and mark the borders while either Moon or Corn watched the kits.

Corn and Tangle were together more frequently and the she-cat was getting quite plump. When their kits came, Moon would play with them also. She hadn’t had this much fun since Zain and she were separated. Life was not going to get any better.


Moon walked among the horses by the river watching Pounce rush up to them and then quickly back away and then go again. Horses were interesting creatures, but thankfully took little notice to the rambunctious furball. The tortoiseshell she-cat was definitely the more adventurous of Callie’s litter and the only one that would come out this far with her. The others were getting a hunting lesson from Tangle back in the fields.

As the sky darkened, Moon knew there would be rain soon. Her eyes gazed across the river to where Windclan territory was. She had never met one of their cats, but knew from the gossip that they were driven out of their home by another clan. Mistyfoot and Stonefur invited her to meet them there to hunt. With Shadowclan also on the territory, any Riverclan cats would think she was one of them.

She wished she hadn’t so flatly refused them. The idea of driving out another clan and letting them take their chances out in the unknown appalled her. Sure she had eaten in other cat’s territory, but not before getting permission.

As her eyes focused on the moor another vision hit her. It had been awhile since one occurred, but at least she knew what was real and what was only a dream. A she-cat carried a kit in her mouth and was taking it to the river. Moon couldn’t believe her eyes when the queen dropped the kit next to a set of rocks and left it.

“Pounce, get back to the barn.”

Pounce jumped playfully beside her set to race back. “Ready.”

“Um, just you. I want to check something out before the rain gets here. Tell the others not to worry.”

The little she-kit’s tail shot up. “All right.” In a blink of an eye Pounce was gone.

The ground wasn’t all that wet, but Moon knew it would be by the time she got back. Watching for clan cats she crossed the two-leg bridge. Through the unfamiliar territory, she hunted for the scent of any cats. At last she spotted the rocks where the queen had dropped off, or would drop off her kit. Now more than ever her visions scared her. Never before had she been to this place and yet there it was right in front of her just the way she imagined it.

The rains started at a low drizzle and started to pick up. Moon knew that Riverclan cats liked to swim, but she couldn’t see the fun in getting your pelt wet. Stonefur told her he would teach her to swim if she wanted, but as of now the answer was ‘not a chance’.
The she-cat cat came as the thunder rolled overhead. Just as she did in her vision, the mother placed her young kit down deep in the heather and licked him. Nervously she looked around. Was she feeling guilty?

Before the cat walked away from her kit, Moon stepped out angry. “You’re just going to leave him to die?”
The she-cat turned around shocked that someone saw her. “Who-”

“Does it matter who I am?” she asked just as another crash echoed around them.

“Starclan!”

This she-cat thought she was her warrior ancestor! Under different circumstances she might have found this funny. But in front of her was a mother deserting her kit.
“Just the one?”


The she-cat looked terrified. “The others are dead. They were never supposed to be born,” she wailed. “I was supposed to become my clan’s Medicine Cat. But now-”

Moon looked into the eyes of the she-cat just like she did before she received a vision. This time she saw what could have only been the past, unless Windclan was going to be driven from their home a second time. But no, there were no cats but her on the moor.

Several cats attacked the camp driving Windclan in every direction. A dark-brown tom with a bend in his tail looked into her eyes with malice. She stopped the image not wanting to know what happened next. This kit’s father was responsible for driving out an entire clan!

Standing tall she faced the Windclan cat. “If this is your decision, then I will take him.”

Relief and sadness flashed across her face. “Forgive me.”

Moon paused for a moment. “Judgment is not for me to decide. It is determined by all of your actions from now on.”

The cat bowed her head and ran and never looked back. The pitiful scrap of fur was still meowing its head off. Still the mother did not come back. Knowing she couldn’t wait any longer for the queen to change her mind, Moon picked up the kit by the scruff and hurried to the barn.


Tangle met her first. “Are you all right?” The rain had let off just a little. “We were worried. What’s that?”

Moon let down her burden for a moment. “For a father of four, I would think you would know what a kit looked like.”

Tangle snorted to hide his embarrassment. “Um, where did you get it?”

“Found it. Now if you excuse me I need to get this one to either Corn or Callie. He needs to eat.”

Tangled moved in front of her. “I’ll take him,” he said picking up the kit. “You look like you’re about to fall asleep on your paws.”

Grateful for the help, she followed him to the barn. Once inside she shook off all the water she could and began to groom herself. If she had her way she was going straight to her basket and sleeping until next moon. Most of the kits were playing and Moon saw the kit in the curve of Callie’s belly.

“What a beautiful kit,” Callie purred licking the water out of his fur. “How did you ever know he was out there?”

“I-” she realized that no cat in the barn knew about her visions. “I saw him because of a lightning strike,” she thought up quickly. “I thought it was a piece of prey, but then turned out to be that little scrap.”

“Good thing you found him,” said Tangle. “Not sure how much longer that kit would be able to hang on.”

“His mother must be frantic,” said Corn joining the rest of them.

Moon bit back a bitter retort. She vowed that this kit would have more love than he would have had with any of the clan cats. River was right, clan cats didn’t take care of their own. “What are we going to call this one? You three are the ones that have experience in this field.”

“He is going to be your kit, you should name him,” said Callie still grooming the kit.

“What?” Moon replied, her damp fur trying to fluff out.

“Callie is right,” said Corn touching her nose to Moon’s ear. “We’ll feed him, don’t worry. All three of us will be mothers.”

Looking around she saw Tangle agreed as well. Thoughts of being inadequate rushed through her mind but then thought of how mouse-brained she was being. Callie and Corn would help her. It was almost like being a part of a clan. Well, the way a clan should be anyway.
“Well, all right.” She thought of everything that happened since her vision. It had to be a good name that he could be proud of. “Is Lightning a good name?”

Callie purred, “I think Lightning is a great name.”

When the kit had finished eating, Moon picked him up by his scruff and settled into her nest. Placing the kit down, she watched as he snuggled against her. Glancing at how the other two were grooming their kits, she began licking Lightning. It felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Soon he fell asleep purring. Never before had she felt so relaxed. Running her tongue one more time down his spine she whispered, “Goodnight Lightningkit.”

[Mooncloud]

Ch 7

Moon walked to the border at dusk. Behind her walked all eight of the kits. Lightning was growing quickly and she was sure that when he was older he would be the strongest. In her heart she knew she couldn’t love him more even if he was her own kit.

“What are we doing?” asked Pounce.

“You’ll see in a moment,” she replied. They stopped a few tail lengths from Riverclan’s scent markers. “All right, who can tell me where our territory ends?”

All of the kits open their mouths to taste for scents. Lightning copied them to the best of his abilities. Twig, Callie’s only tom, walked up to one of the scent markers. “Here.”

“Very good,” she said approvingly. “Now-”

“Great Star Clan are all of these yours?”

She turned around to see Mistyfoot and Stonefur.
Purring she said, “Goodness no. I only claim one of these little piles of fur.” Moon wrapped her tail around Lightning. “This one is mine. The rest belong to my denmates.”

Mistyfoot brushed her muzzle blocking the shocked look from Stonefur. “So that’s why we haven’t seen you for awhile. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. While you’re here you can help me with my lesson.”

“We really ought to get back,” said Stonefur. “Mistyfoot has her own kits to get back to.”

“How wonderful!” Moon purred. “How many?”

“Four kits, all very healthy. Just got a bit of den fever that’s all. Is your mate that brown tabby I see around?”

Her eyes darted to Lightning and back not missing the expecting look from his face. “Stick around for a few more moments and I’ll tell you. But first I must teach them the importance of borders. Kits,” she said now having all of their attentions, “These two are clan cats and they live beyond past this line. They guard their territory as is marked by the scent markers. Do not cross them,” she said looking at Callie’s three kits.

“Who us?” asked Pounce a little too innocently.

“I mean it. These two almost chased me over the border when I was your age.”

“But they didn’t,” said Sky, Pounce’s sister.

“That was because I didn’t know any better, but you do. Got it?”

“Yes Moon,” they replied with big innocent eyes. Moon, however, didn’t believe it for a second. There was mischief hidden behind those eyes.

Shaking her head she said, “All right, off with you.”

“Race you to the barn,” shouted Lightning.

“There’s no way you’ll out run me!” shouted Dash.

Dust was kicked up in all directions as the kits rushed to the barn. She turned back to her friends. “If you were adopted would you want to know?”

The two looked at each other for a moment and back to her. “Lightning isn’t yours is he?” asked Mistyfoot.

“No. I have yet to take a mate,” said Moon missing Stonefur’s ears perk up a bit.

“Besides, eight kits in the barn is a little much don’t you think? What would happen if I added to the horde? I mean, I came from a litter of six.”

“Sounds to me you’ve got the makings of your own clan,” purred Stonefur.

“That’s if the two-legs let us keep all of them. Callie’s kits are almost the age I was when I left my family.” Her mind drifted for a second on a few sweet memories. “I hope barn life is different. I don’t want them to take Lightning from me.”

Stonefur glanced behind him checking for scents. “To answer your question, yes, I would want to know if I was adopted.”

“Me too,” replied Mistyfur.

Moon thought about this a little longer. “You should get back to your kits. I need to talk to mine."

[Mooncloud]

Ch 8

It nearly broke her heart to tell Lightning, but he was old enough to understand and had a right to know. His eyes grew round as she explained what she could.

“Y-you’re not my mother?”

There was shock in every part of his fur. Slowly he started backing away from her.

“Lightning, I may not be the cat who gave birth to you, but I love you. I don’t know what it is to have kits, but I think of you as my son. Tell me, what is a mother to you?”

Lightning thought for a moment, “someone who takes care of you, teaches you things, and makes sure they get a proper wash every day so the fur doesn’t stick in a messy way.”

“Do I do all of those things?”

“Yes.”

Moon licked the fur between his ears, “Will you let me be your mother?”

Brushing his body under her muzzle purring enthusiastically he replied, “Stay my mother.”

“Always,” she purred back. They sat there nuzzling each other, but then she had a spark in her eye. “Now what was that last part about mothers,” she asked playfully. “Oh yes I remember.”

She grabbed him by his scruff amidst playful protests and licked him fiercely. They tussled around some more and Moon let him chase her around the field. She stopped when he gave a large yawn.
Shaking her head fondly she curled up around him and he nuzzled against her side. “Let’s sleep out here tonight. I’ve never slept beneath the stars before.”
Lightning’s response was getting more comfortable and falling asleep. As she drifted off she looked at the stars wondering if Starclan did exist and if they did were they watching them?


Her eyes opened and she was in a field unlike any she had seen before. It was newleaf and the area buzzed with excitement. Unsure of where she was she walked forward to find the barn. She turned back to see her kit still sound asleep.

A snowy tom caught her eye and he bounded up to her. “I was beginning to wonder if we would ever meet. You’ve been expected for quite some time.

Still nothing looked familiar. “Where are we? And why have you been expecting me?”

The tom cocked his head, “Can you not guess?”

Moon looked and saw stars in his paws. “You’re a part of Starclan. But I’m not a clan cat. How can I be here?”

“Like your littermate, you have a gift and a destiny before you. His is unraveling as we speak in Thunderclan. Fireheart already has many deeds to his name that will make him remembered in the clans for seasons to come and will be a welcomed member in Starclan when his time comes.”

“You mean Rusty?” her eyes grew round. She laughed to herself that she was right about the kittypet who became a clan cat. She paused to think about what he said about a gift and a destiny. “You can explain to me why I have these visions can’t you? I only get them when I get close to clan territories.”

“Unfortunately I do not know why, only that it is happening. Your brother has a strong connection with Starclan with regards things that will affect him. You, on the other hand, receive visions that will affect others. Already you have tried to and have interfered with the future. And I believe you will continue to do so. But take heed. There are some things you should not interfere with for the good of the clans.”

“I keep to my territory and they will keep to theirs. Are you saying I should travel into clan territory?”

The tom cocked his head, “Have you not done so to rescue an abandoned kit?”

She snarled, “Lighting is my kit. He is already worth the world to me and I’ll flay anything that tries to hurt him.”

Another cat stepped forward. Shock rippled through her pelt as she realized it was the same she-cat she met on the moor. The two she-cats starred at one another.

“Brokenstar had his clan kill me not long after you found me,” said the Windclan she-cat. She looked at Lightning. “Such a sweet kit. I did what I did to protect him. Brokenstar is now on the loose. You can’t let him find Lostkit.”

“His name is Lightning,” mewed Moon evenly her temper softening towards her.

“Lightning,” the she-cat corrected herself before turning and disappearing.

The other Starclan cat looked at her for a moment before shaking his head. “I see the same fire in you that I do in your brother. Perhaps the clans should take in one more cat born of kittypets. Until our next meeting.”

Things swirled around her and when her vision cleared she saw a cat she hadn’t seen for a long time.

“River!”

Moon retreated a few steps when she saw the she-cat wasn’t all that pleased to see her.

River began to pace around her. “Did I not tell you to stay away from the clan cats? Did I not say that they would lie to you? That they would do anything to assure the safety of themselves and not others?”

Moon looked down ashamed. “You did. But what if my destiny is to join the clans? My brother did.”

At this, River took an interest. “Your brother?”

“Yes, the white tom said his name was Fireheart.”

The old she-cat began to purr. “Who would’ve believed to such adventurous kittypets could come from the same litter.”

“He also said maybe the clans should take me in.”

River rubbed her muzzle against Moon’s. Something didn’t feel right about the sudden change of affection. It felt, wrong somehow.

“If StarClan says for you to join, than you should listen.”

[Mooncloud]

(this post isn't part of story)

So from here on out is where the major changes start.

quick question. Do you prefer the posts like they are in the first few chapters or like 6-8 with the spaces in them?

[Leopardheart]

Yay!!!!!!!!! I absolutely love this story!!! I didn't really care either way is fine.

[Mooncloud]

no i haven't forgotten about this... just been a little busy working on other projects (the one that's all mine :-) )

[Leopardheart]

Oh my StarClan I haven't been on in forever! Wow.....