Prologue
"Oh, Ashtail. If I could relive any moment forever, it would be this one." A black she-cat purred contentedly. The light grey tom curled his black tail across the she-cat's back.
"Flintfur, I know you've had a rough life, and as your brother, it's my job to make sure you're happy," the dark grey tom pulled away and looked into his sister’s eyes seriously.
Flintfur snorted. "In between teasing me you mean.”
Ashtail pretended to look shocked. "Me, tease you? Now, why would I do that?"
The black she-cat crouched down, flicking her tail back and forth. "I don't know," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Why don't you tell me?" And with that, she leaped. However, he was ready for her and sidestepped, sending her crashing to the ground.
He grinned. "After all those moons of practice, I am still the better fighter." He crowed and swiped at Flintfur's leg with one paw, and her muzzle with the other. She stumbled and hit her muzzle on the hard ground.
She sat up, rubbing her nose with one paw. "Ow!" She glared up at Ashtail. "Was that really necessary?"
He gave her a sly look. "I don't know, why don't you tell me?" He said, rebounding her words back at her. Flintfur growled at him and he bounded into the woods. "Catch me if you can!" He called, disappearing into the shadows. Rolling her eyes playfully, she chased after him. She ran through the forest, listening to Ashtail’s pawsteps, but then there was silence, no sound of leaves on Ashtail’s paws as he ran. Suddenly, there was a sound, a horrible yowl.
"Ashtail?" Flintfur whispered. She hesitated before she stepped deeper into the undergrowth her brother had disappeared into. Her paws flew out from under her as she tripped over a large, furry object. She got slowly to her paws. It had a thick-smelling, sticky substance on it. The she-cat then slowly turned around to see the mangled body of her dear brother. "Ashtail!" Flintfur cried. She was too distracted to notice before, but another scent lingered here. It wasn’t a fox, a badger, a dog.. It was another cat. Why did it have to be my brother! She screeched, surprised as a heavy weight clung onto her back with unsheathed claws. She reared up, but then flopped down as the mysterious cat delivered a deep slash. "No!" She gasped. The brambles rustled as the killer rushed away from the scene. Blood oozed out of the large gash on her flank, as Flintfur realized she was quickly losing blood. She weakly crawled over to the body of her brother and curled up next to him. The queen whispered the names of her kits, hoping they would be safe without her. "I will watch over you from the stars, my loves." She closed her eyes.
"Flintfur, Flintfur get up." A voice whispered, jabbing her in the side with a paw. She grumbled and swatted her paw towards the voice. "Flintfur!" Finally, she sprung up. She glared at the cat who was speaking.
"Nobody told me I was supposed to be on the dawn patrol!" She snapped. "So, I can go back to sleep.” A small voice reminded her of something and Flintfur realized where she was. She looked down and saw her body, lifeless, curled up next to her brother, Ashtail, as a last blessing granted from StarClan. "I-I'm dead." She stammered. She looked over at Ashtail. "You're dead too." Her brother nodded solemnly. Flintfur looked at the other cat, who was identical to her except for her beautiful long fur, and blinked. "Mother?"
Duskwing looked at her only daughter, her gaze full of love. "Yes, it is me."
Flintfur pressed against her mother. "I've missed you so much!" She purred. "I have kits now too. Their names are Blackkit and Nightkit. Featherpelt's their father."
Duskwing looked pained. "I'm so proud of you, but we need to go. You can see your father in StarClan."
Flintfur stopped and stepped back, staring blankly at her family. "StarClan." She said quietly. "We're in StarClan now."
Ashtail pressed against his sister. "I know it's hard, but we have to watch over our Clanmates now. I'm going to miss Frostflight and Snowkit, but I still get to see them, and watch Snowkit grow up. You get to watch over your kits too."
Flintfur looked down at her paws. "You're right." She said. “I would be without you if StarClan hadn’t decided it was my time.” Looking up at Duskwing with newfound acceptance at her death, she took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
Duskwing started walking away. "Come," she said. "There's something I need to tell you...."
Warriors: Rise of Shadows
