The Beginning

Clouds scudded the sky as Starlingwing nosed her way out of her den, and stretched in the morning sunlight, dew sparkling the ferns that coiled around the entrance of her den. As she flexed each of her claws, her fur started to prickle. A shadow fell across camp, and as the OakClan medicine cat looked up with bewilderment, she saw one single cloud blocking the suns rays. The sun glistened behind it, creating an eerie red glow that gleamed like blood. Death will be brought upon us today. A voice whispered inside the brindled tortoiseshell she-cats head. She began to shudder, even though the cloud had already moved on, no longer blocking the heat. She looked up, wondering if any other cat had heard the dark omen. But clan life moved on as usual. A few warriors milled by near the fresh-kill pile, while mentors looked on and commented to a mock battle between their apprentices. A thud of pawsteps and a mew sounded behind her. "Cloudstar?" Starlingwings ears pricked, though she didn't move from her spot. "What is it?"
"Snowfall is kitting!" The tom panted, and the medicine cat whisked inside her den with no hesitation. I should bring some borage to give her after the kitting, some cobwebs if there is any bleeding, and some sorrel to keep her strength up. As she wrapped the herbs in a beech leaf, she couldn't help thinking that this was what StarClan was warning her for. Please StarClan, don't take Snowfall away from Cloudstar... She is much too young. She shook her head, and began to trot back outside her den, and put up a brisk pace towards the nursery. Once she was there, she set down her leaf packet. "Stay out here, Cloudstar." She instructed her leader, and before he was able to argue she added, "Snowfall needs all the space she can get, and I will alert you when it is over." The tom sighed, realizing that he was better off without arguing with his medicine cat. Without another word, Starlingwing picked up her herbs again, and before she padded into the warm scents of the nursery, she sent up a silent prayer to StarClan. Please let everything go all right today. Don't let us lose a warrior today!

~*~

Starlingwing paced nervously outside the nursery, dark thoughts storming through her head. Snowfall's kitting had gone fine, she had given birth to a small tom cat. But that made the medicine cat fret even more. If the warning was not intended towards Cloudstars mate, then what would happen next? She noticed the brambles tremble as Cloudstar pushed his way though, his tail and head held high. "He's beautiful!" The leader exclaimed, acting like an excited kit on his first day out of the nursery. He noticed Starlingwing, with her eyes clouded with worry. "Oh, come on, Starlingwing. You look as if a hoard of badgers have come into the camp!" The gray and white tom joked. "Snowfall has just kitted, green-leaf has been good to us, what could go wrong?" He purred, and vanished back inside to where his mate was, while the Clan jumbled all around him, asking questions about the newborn. Oh, StarClan... What has been brought upon my Clan? Starlingwing pleaded for an answer, though only silence came.

~*~

"I, Cloudstar, leader of OakClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Icepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Cloudstar meowed, ready to burst with pride for his son.

"I do." Replied the tom, his body quivering with excitement, though his eyes shown with certainty. Cloudstar gazed down at his son, and Starlingwing thought he was purring too loudly to even speak.
 "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Icepaw, from this moment you will be known as Iceshadow. StarClan honors your strength and bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of OakClan." The leaders words rang throughout the clearing as Cloudstar spoke the ancient words. Yowls echoed around the camp as clanmates surged towards the young tom, calling out his new name enthusiastically. Snowfall came over and congratulated her only kit, while the tom ducked away from her fierce licks. When Cloudstar padded down from the Oak Branch, the cats parted to let him go through. "Iceshadow, it is time for you to prepare for your vigil. You will guard the camp in silence tonight, and you will be relieved by your duty at dawn." The gray and white tom was smiling broadly, though he only rested his muzzle on top of the newly named warrior before walking back to his den, Snowfall at his side. As Iceshadow settled himself near the camp entrance, Starlingwing felt a breeze ruffle her fur, and the ominous words that she had heard so many moons ago whispered faintly into her ears again, making her fur prickle with dread. Death will be brought upon us today. Starlingwing trembled. What did this warning mean? And how will I protect my Clan from this oncoming darkness?