Bluestar's Prophecy

I lost my sister! Bluefur bit back the reply though she wanted to wail it to the darkening sky. Instead she hauled herself to her paws. “Nothing makes me special,” she growled. “I’ll go to the Gathering if it makes you happy.”

Tawnyspots turned away and signaled with his tail. Lionheart and Goldenflower, recently made warriors, were already at the camp entrance. They circled impatiently while the older warriors gathered.

Tigerkit bounced over, his dark brown tail sticking straight up. He was starting to lose his fluffy kit fur, and broad, powerful shoulders and long legs were emerging from his stumpy body. “Can I come?” he called. “I’ll be an apprentice in a moon.”

“Kits don’t go to Gatherings,” Tawnyspots reminded him.

Tigerkit rushed over to Lionheart and batted at his shoulder with his front paws. “You will tell me everything when you get back, right?”

“You’ll be asleep when I get back,” Lionheart purred.

“No, I won’t. I’m going to stay awake.”

Leopardfoot, who was joining the patrol to Fourtrees for the first time since she’d kitted, shook her head. “You’d better be sound asleep when we get back. Robinwing will want some peace after having you rascals charging around all day.”

“We’ve been outside for ages,” Tigerkit objected.

“And who’s been keeping an eye on you to make sure you don’t get into mischief? Robinwing said she had to get you out of the warriors’ den three times.”

Tigerkit shrugged. “We wanted to see what it was like. Anyway, I’m not tired, so why is Robinwing?”

Leopardfoot gave up and turned to Adderfang. “Do you think he’d be less argumentative if his father were still around?” she sighed.

Adderfang’s whiskers twitched. “I don’t think any cat could influence that young tom. He’s going to make a great warrior.”

Leopardfoot’s eyes glowed. “I know.”

Dappletail brushed against Bluefur as she joined her Clanmates. Patchpelt dipped his head to her, and Rosetail stood beside her as though she were an apprentice who needed guiding. Bluefur pulled away. There was nothing any of her Clanmates could do to ease her pain. She wished they wouldn’t bother.

The forest was crisp. For the first time since greenleaf, Bluefur remembered what it was like to shiver with cold as a chill wind rustled the branches. As the cats padded through the forest, Featherwhisker caught up to her. He’d come without Goosefeather this time. No one said it out loud, but there was a feeling in the Clan that the old medicine cat could no longer be trusted to mix with the other Clans. His words and actions had become too unpredictable.

Featherwhisker stared ahead. “She’ll be watching you,” he murmured.

Bluefur knew he was talking about Snowfur. She glanced up through the branches at Silverpelt. What use was her sister up there? Her Clan needed her down here. “Have you seen her in your dreams?”

Featherwhisker shook his head. “Not yet. But I know Snowfur would never stop looking out for you and for Whitekit.”

Bluefur couldn’t see what good that would do any of them.

Featherwhisker let his pelt touch hers. “Whitekit will need your help to learn how to make the right choices, and how to care for his Clan like a true warrior.”

“He has Robinwing and Leopardfoot,” Bluefur reminded him, “and Swiftbreeze.” The tabby warrior had only just kitted. Spottedkit, Redkit, and Willowkit hadn’t even opened their eyes yet.

“They’ll care for him,” Featherwhisker agreed. “But you are the only cat in ThunderClan who can begin to take Snowfur’s place. You are his kin.”

“So is Thistleclaw.”

“Thistleclaw will teach him how to be a fierce warrior,” Featherwhisker murmured. “But who will teach him that softness and strength can exist together? And that loyalty to the Clan comes from the heart, not through teeth and claws?” The medicine cat apprentice went on ahead, his paws silent on the forest floor, leaving Bluefur to walk alone with her thoughts.

Trailing after her Clanmates as they padded through the silver forest, Bluefur glanced again at the stars. She tried to imagine Snowfur looking down from beside Moonflower. But the stars looked like tiny fragments of ice sparkling in distant blackness. Pretty to look at, but useless. Utterly, utterly useless.

The moon shone over Fourtrees like a cold white eye. ShadowClan and RiverClan already mingled in the clearing. WindClan hared down from the moorland as ThunderClan arrived. Excited voices shared news, and purrs warmed the chilly night air. Bluefur watched her Clanmates melt into the crowd, feeling far, far away.

“Got your paws wet recently?”

A deep, familiar mew made her turn.

Oakheart!

Instantly she remembered her last conversation with Snowfur. He’ll cause nothing but trouble! She’d been right about that.

“Don’t you have any friends in your own Clan?” she snapped.

Oakheart stepped back, surprised. “I heard about Snowfur,” he meowed. “I’m sorry.”

“What’s it got to do with a RiverClan cat?” she spat.