Please Introduce Yourself! (Retired)

Hi! I’m Heronkit, but I’d prefer if you call me Heronblossom. I’m a huge Lego fan and has been collecting sets every since I’ve been introduced to it. About Warriors, I was introduced to it when I was five and I read the prologue, and then I put the book down until 2nd grade. That’s when I got interested. Oh, and I was five when I started 1st grade since my birthday is on August 23rd. I used to have a friend in second grade who was reading Warriors too, but then I moved. Now, I’m going to 5th grade and the second Lightningkit is a friend that I made when I entered 4th grade. Underneath is a huge document of the third book of a series that the second Lightningkit and I wrote. It’s called Burning Fire and usually, the number of pages in a book we write are about 60 pages. Instead, this book has about 140 pages. Enjoy. 😊 (I only put in the first four chapters)
Burning Fire

SSET (It’s a pseudonym)

Allegiances
ScorchClan (in ranking order)
Leader: Scorch- black-and-white tom, with one red eye and one savage yellow-green eye (40 moons old)

Deputy: Lucifer- wiry dark brown tom (18 moons old)

Trusted:
Wither- gray she-cat with faint black splotches and green eyes (Is usually in charge of arena fights. 37 moons old)

Feather- ginger she-cat with yellow streaks and many scars from battle (33 moons old)

Venom- pure black she-cat with white splotch next to her eyes (30 moons old)

Blister- sandy colored she-cat with black and white splotches(26 moons old- Scorch’s first litter)

Burn- gray and blood-red she-cat (26 moons old-Scorch’s first litter)

Piptooth- gray tom with green eyes (25 moons old)

Slice- large black tom with one eye (the other was torn out from a fight with a cat. 16 moons old)

Dark Fur- dark tabby tom with brown eyes (30 moons old)

Shadow- black tom with green eyes (22 moons old)

Spear- gray tabby tom with green eyes and white paw (27 moons old)

Followers:
Branch- dark brown tom (19 moons old)

Slash- gray tabby she-cat (18 moons old)

Ember- brown tom with ginger paw (38 moons old)

Scar- old mottled gray tom with a scar on the flank (86 moons old)

Robin- yellow tabby tom with amber eyes (17 moons old)
(Flicker’s Brother)

Wood- dark tabby she-cat with brown eyes (40 moons old)

Blur- fast blue-gray tom (12 moons old)

Flicker- small brown tabby she-cat with long yellow streaks (11 moons old) (Robin’s sister)

Kits:
Stone- young mottled gray tabby tom (Scar’s kit & 4 moons old)

Ash- gray tabby she-cat with black flecks and a white underbelly (Scar’s kit and 4 moons old)

Swipe- large brown tabby tom (Ember’s kit & 4 moons old)

Brick- brown tom with ginger splotches (Ember’s kit & 4 moons old)

Shard- sleek black tom with white underbelly (Scorch’s kit & 4 moons old)

Dart- wiry gray she-cat. (Often picked on by the older cats.
Scorch’s kit & 4 moons old)

Amber- tiny orange-brown she-kit (Hawk’s sister, 1 moon old, and orphan)

Dead:
Whisper-skinny gray she- cat with weird pale eyes. Storm was ordered to kill her.

Dawn- light brown tabby tom. He was born dead.

LightClan
Leader: Heron’s Blossom- sleek tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow
eyes and long legs (14 moons old)

Deputy: Lightning- golden-brown tabby she-cat with lightning streak on back and amber eyes (15 moons old)
Apprentice: Sky- light gray she-cat (7 moons old)

Medicine cat: Frost Light- beautiful white she-cat with icy blue
eyes(13 moons old)

Warriors:
Blaze- black she-cat with white and yellow specks (26 moons old-Scorch’s first litter)

Prowl- dark tabby tom with green eyes (36 moons old)

Tiger’s Frost- muscular black tabby tom (17 moons old)

Black Tuft- black she-cat with green eyes(17 moons old)

Snow Tail- long-furred frosty white she-cat(17 moons old)

Leopard Scar- unusually spotted golden she-cat(16 moons old)

Brindle- dark gray she-cat(16 moons old)

Dewy Leaf- silver tabby tom(16 moons old)

Pounce- brown tabby tom with amber eyes (39 moons old)

Cherry- black-and-white she-cat (19 moons old)

Hawk- orange-brown tabby tom with amber eyes (13 moons old)

Falcon Wing- ginger she-cat(14 moons old)

Mouse Rye- ginger tom with brown splotches(14 moons old)

Flame Pelt- handsome ginger tom(35 moons old)

Flower Shade- pale tortoiseshell she-cat(33 moons old)

Cloud’s Storm- white she-cat with brown splotches(25 moons old)
Apprentice: Swift- gray tom with green eyes (7 moons old)

Pollen’s Breeze- brown she-cat with green eyes(20 moons old)

Jay’s Flight- gray tabby tom with blue eyes (29 moons old)

Kits:
Swallow- black tabby she-cat with blue eyes (37 moons old and expecting kits)

Leaf- sandy-colored she-kit (5 moons old & orphan)

Sun- sandy-colored tom (5 moons old & orphan)

Oak- dark brown tom with green eyes (2 moons old & Black Tuft’s kit)

Shadow- black tom with dark brown splotches (2 moons old & Black Tuft’s kit)

Raven- black tom with yellow stripes (newborn)

Sage- yellow she-kit with a tint of black on her muzzle,
paws, and tail (newborn)

Light- black she-kit with yellow eyes (newborn)

Meadow- tiny yellow she-kit with black stripes
(newborn)
Dead:
Berry- light gray she-cat with green eyes (Swift and
Sky’s mother)

Hail- black-and-white she-cat (Leaf and Sun’s mother)

Turtle- gray tom (Leaf and Sun’s father)

Lion’s Foot- yellow tom with amber eyes. Killed by Slice.

Raindrop- brown tom with yellow eyes. Drank poisoned water.

Petalflake- beautiful pure white she-cat. Killed by
Scorch.

Cats Outside the Clans:
Raven- black she-cat with green eyes

Beast- large brown tom

Rush- gray tabby tom

Icicle- frosty white she-cat with green eyes

Ivy- mottled silver and black she-cat

Blizzard- silver tom with black paws

Bramble- ginger tom

Prologue
A Dark Omen
A black-and-white tom and a wiry dark brown tom were stalking through the abandoned twoleg dens at night. Their claws were clotted with dried blood and their pelts were matted with more. Fear-scent clung onto their pelts, but it wasn’t theirs. The torrenting rain pattered onto their slightly blood-stained pelts. They leapt over crumbling walls and onto patches of wet grass. The black-and-white tom was falling behind and the other tom had to pause often. Finally they arrived at a half-crumbled twoleg den with ivy curling around a hole. The dark brown tom pushed aside some ivy for the staggering black-and-white tom.
Once they got inside, they parted and went to their separate dens. “Good night, Scorch,” the wiry dark brown tom meowed, dipping his head. He stalked over to a corner where a mottled silver she-cat blended in with the shadows, unseen. “Hello, Ivy,” the wiry dark brown tom greeted. Ivy just blinked at him and flicked her tail. “LightClan will be ours soon,” He hissed softly. The dark brown tom continued. “Now that we have their leader, it shouldn’t be too hard to beat them. Once we turn that clan into dust, we’ll expand our territory to the whole world!” Ivy raised a paw to silence him. “If you and Scorch are going to take over the whole world, then how are you going to get food? Scavenge for scrapcans? Hunt for prey? ScorchClan wouldn’t be able to hold the whole world, but only one twolegplace. Haven’t you ever heard of the endless lake, or also known as the sun-drown place? No creature that can walk on land can swim in there.” The wiry dark brown tom tilted his head quizzically. “Hmm. I’ve never heard of it, though I think when I stray too far from our territory, I end up at a cliff and below is foaming water splashing at the sides of the cliff.” Ivy nodded her head. “That, Lucifer, was the sun-drown place.” Lucifer dipped his head toward her awkwardly and twined his tail with hers, and Ivy flinched but didn’t complain. They looked up at the sky and watched the clouds pass over the moon until they fell asleep. The stars never looked down on them, or their ancestors who’d died.
Ivy felt Lucifer fall asleep. She slowly climbed out of the nest and headed out.

Chapter 1
The Run For Safety
“Lightning, please help Meadow!” Blaze wailed. Meadow was the runt of Blaze’s litter and everyone knew it would not be long until she was lost from the living world. Her breathing was getting shallower and quicker until her breathing stopped altogether. Meadow’s eyes were dull and lifeless; her body now limp on the floor. The small group had traveled away from the barn into the forest to get to ScorchClan so they could rescue the kits that were imprisoned there. “There is nothing we could have done to save her.” Raven murmured. Blaze threw her head up to the sky and yowled to the stars sorrowfully.
She bent down to comfort her remaining kits; Raven, Light, and Sage. Light was squeaking for milk and let out a plaintive wail. “Hush, my dear. Come closer. The milk is right here.” Her loud squeaking slowed to a stop as she found a nipple and suckled. Raven and Sage were clambering over each other. A long silence stretched on throughout the night as Raven and Lightning moved Meadow’s dead body to the center of their makeshift camp. Grief hung in the air like a dark cloud. Only Light seemed to be the one who realized something bad had happened. She was squealing and snuggling closer to Meadow’s lifeless body. Blaze sank her teeth into Light’s scruff gently and moved her closer to her sleepy brothers. “Raven, can you do me a favor?” Lightning asked.
“Sure.”
“W-We came here because we needed to save a few kits from Scorchclan. Could you look after Blaze and her kits?” Raven looked up at the shining stars and thought for a moment. “Okay. I hope that I could help the kits so they survive, unlike Meadow. Where do I take them? Do they come along and hide? Or do I lead them to your Clan?” Lightning’s mind swirled with ideas and questions. Should they come with me? LightClan might not welcome them. I guess they should just come with me to ScorchClan, then they hide in some trees nearby. Raven will lead us to the ScorchClan camp, or at least the big Twolegplace. Lightning shook her thoughts to the back of her mind. She should be focusing on the vigil, not her rescuing plans! They settled down in a ragged circle around Meadow’s still-warm body. Blaze’s kits huddled close to their mother for warmth and quickly fell asleep. “Meadow was a kit who didn’t get to live long enough to see the world,” Lightning began. “Tonight we will sit vigil for her in her honor. May you have happy hunting on the moon and in the stars.” A heavy silence followed throughout the night. Crickets were chirping in the tall grass of the forest. The kits were sleeping at their mother’s paws. Blaze was crouching down at her daughter’s body, and nuzzled her muzzle into Meadow’s fluffy fur. “Why did you have to leave me so soon?” she whimpered.
The rest of the night went by as it was soon obvious that they had to act soon, or the surviving kits might die along with Meadow. Finally, the golden sun rose above the treetops. Lightning sat up and stretched her limbs, relishing the sound of her backbones cracking. Blaze’s eyes were dull with exhaustion and grief as she settled down to take a quick nap. Raven was grooming her pelt. Lightning spoke to break the depressing silence. “Blaze, I think you should go back to the barn with your kits so they have a bigger chance of surviving. While you stay behind at the barn, Raven and I will go to ScorchClan and rescue the kits from Scorch’s bloody claws. When we have the kits, we’ll come back, and we can all find our way back to LightClan together.” Blaze, who was already unkeen to go, ever since the loss her daughter simply mewed,“O-Okay. I will stay then.” Raven nodded with approval. “We should hunt so we have enough energy to find our way to ScorchClan tomorrow.” Lightning dashed off into the shadowy forest. By sunhigh, they were all feasting on a vole, a mouse, and a shrew. Raven and Lightning said their farewells to Blaze and her kits while she rounded them up and took them back the way that they came from. Raven didn’t exactly know the place where the kits were, but she did know where Scorchclan lived. Lightning followed her through fields, twolegplaces, thunderpaths, and forests. She seemed confident of every step she took. They only stopped to eat and sleep.
After four moons of trekking through tall grasses, and meadows, they reached a thunderpath. Across it was the big twolegplace that ScorchClan lived in. “When I say go, go!” Raven nodded. A few monsters passed by until there was a gap. “Go!” Lightning ran quickly across the thunderpath, Raven at her heels. A monster loomed closer. “Run!” Raven ran faster, her paws skimming the hard black thunderpath. Lightning pushed forward and landed safely on the other side in a bush. The prickly twigs pierced her pelt, but she clambered out and started shaking her pelt to dislodge them. Wait, where’s Raven? She sat up and sniffed the air for her. A small whisper came from the thunderpath. “Lightning.” She immediately turned around to see a stumpy-tailed Raven. “The monster cut it off. I think I might stink of the monster for a moon!” Raven explained. She sniffed her pelt. “Gross!”
“I know the way to ScorchClan from here. Follow me.” Lightning led Raven through back alleyways and across thunderpaths. “I never knew that waiting with twolegs could actually save your life,” Raven grumbled as they mingled around twolegs waiting to cross a thunderpath. Finally, they arrived at the crumbled twoleg den that sheltered the kits. “Raven, you stay back because they know me better.” Raven nodded, and walked back a few steps into a clump of overgrown bushes. “Amber? Ash?” Lighting whispered. After a few seconds, when Lightning was about to ask again, a tiny orange head peeked out from under a pile of crumbled twoleg dens. Her denmates followed her. “Storm? Why are you here?” Amber asked quietly. “We are here to take you back to Lightclan so you can escape from Scorch’s grasp. I believe that most of you aren’t really Scorch’s kits. Shard, Dart, I know that you two are really Scorch and Wither’s kits. Also, my real name is Lightning.” Lightning explained. The kits’ eyes widened. Shard puffed out his chest. “Of course I’m Scorch’s kit! I have his pelt!” Amber rushed over to Lightning and nuzzled into her fur. “Really? Can we go now because I feel like Scorch is really scary. Also, do you know where Hawk is? I’ve assumed that Hawk ran away with you.” Lightning looked down at Amber with affection in her gaze. “Yes, he is with my friends in Lightclan, dear.” Amber eyes brightened. “Yay! We have to get out of here quickly, or else Scorch might come and make us go into the arena.” Her voice darkened.
Raven suddenly scrambled out of the bush, scaring the kits, and whispered, “Hello. I am Raven and I will help you get to Lightclan.” Dart sniffed her pelt. “Why do you smell like us?” Raven shook the leaves out of her pelt and started to groom. “I was rolling around in that bush. It smelled like you five played around in there all the time. Now let’s get going.”
The team reached the barn by nightfall by riding the same silver monster that took Lightning to Raven’s barn. Once they got inside, Blaze’s three kits bounded over to them and peppered them with questions. Lightning stared at them in amazement. “You’ve grown!” They exchanged news and fell asleep. In the morning they started their plan.
“Blaze, remember that monster we took to get here? If we take one more, going the opposite direction, we should arrive near Lightclan!” A sense of determination crept into Lightning as she shared her plan. “What if we end up somewhere even farther away?” Blaze objected. “Besides, my kits are too small to jump.” Raven looked up from her mouse. “I think that we should get into the silver monster when it’s asleep. The farmer here only rides that monster to three places. The big twolegplace, a smaller twolegplace, and far away to somewhere that I don’t know.” Lightning immediately leaped to her paws. “Then it’s settled. We will have to hide in the monster and when we pass somewhere nearby LightClan, we jump. Raven, are you coming with us?” Raven shook her head. “No. Sorry, but I have to stay here and help the twolegs. They have been really kind to me and I want to return that favor. If there is any trouble, jump onto the large silver monster with the familiar symbols on the white breastplate. I suggest that you all memorize the symbols. Good-bye. May you all have safe travels.”
The friends parted, touching noses and nuzzling each-other, before everyone left through a hole in the barn, as Raven called it. Blaze scrambled out of the hole last and quickly ran to the sleeping monster. Everyone else was already gathered around the back of the monster. By sunhigh, everyone has recognized the symbols, including Blaze’s kits. They climbed onto the back of the monster to take a nap. Lightning, Ash, and Stone offered to hunt. The last rays of the sun glinted on the silver monster by the time that the patrol came back loaded with prey. Everyone gulped down their share and started to share tongues. Night came, and everyone was settling down. Amber was the only one that didn’t seem tired. “Look at the stars. . .” She whispered in awe, her head tilted up. “Amber, you should go to sleep, otherwise, you will be too tired to get to camp.” No reply. Lightning looked at where Amber was, and saw that she had already fallen asleep.
The next day, Lightning felt a tiny paw prod her shoulder. “Lightning?” She opened her eyes to see Amber staring at her with huge, questioning eyes. “Are we near LightClan yet? The monster woke up while everyone was asleep. It’s stopped now.” Everyone else was also awake. Blaze’s voice rang out while Lightning got to her paws. “We can get out of the monster now. I remember that if we cross a few thunderpaths, we will be in LightClan territory.” The cats cheered. Blaze led the way through twolegplace, slinking past the twolegs near the silver monster. Lightning was out of breath by the time they reached the edge of LightClan territory, for they had run through the meadow, five thunderpaths, and around more twoleg dens than Lightning could count. “Is everyone okay?” she panted. Lightning, Blaze, and Ash had each taken a kit through the dangers that they ran through, even though they were four moons old. Amber lagged a little behind, but her head was up and her eyes were sparkling. Lightning looked around. Everyone seemed ok, though they were all tired. “Wait, I smell someone. Hawk?!” Lightning whipped around to see Hawk, Dew Leaf, Snow Tail, Falcon Wing, and Sun, heading towards them. Lightning started running toward Hawk. When she got to him, she nuzzled him in the chest and mewed,“Hello Hawk. You’re sister is here!” Dewy Leaf narrowed his eyes. “Who is this black cat? ” An awkward silence fell onto the cats like rain pouring down to the ground. Finally Lightning cleared her throat. “It’s a long story. I’ll explain in camp.” Suddenly, Amber started running to Hawk, jumping onto his back and lightening the mood that had set onto the cats. “Oof!” Hawk grunted, almost collapsing with the weight. “You are a bit too old for this now Amber!” Amber simply giggled, and pretended to be asleep on top of his back. “Well, we better get back to camp before it starts raining again.” Hawk remarked, and they started walking together back to their camp. . .

Chapter 2
The Arena
Heron’s Blossom woke up in a strangely familiar place feeling weak. She tried to stand up, but a sharp pain went through her shoulders and her legs. She collapsed back onto the floor, dazed. Heron’s Blossom weakly lifted her head up, trying to look around. Was she in her den? In Frost Light’s den? But then it hit her. The stench of this place was obviously not LightClan’s. Scorchclan. How did I even get here in the first place? she wondered.
She seemed to be in some kind of den with hay underneath her, a shallow dip in the ground filled with water, and two entrances; one was a dark tunnel with a speck of light that felt strangely familiar and the other was a wired fence with someone behind it. A black tom; she scanned her early Scorchclan memories, but she didn’t remember much. Wait, she thought, Shadow.
Shadow turned around and looked into her eyes. “Ahh!” He almost fell back. “Scorch, she’s awake!” he yowled. A black-and-white tom started striding toward her and Shadow. Scorch, she thought. He burst through the entrance and looked directly at her eyes with his bloodshot ones. “Hello, Thorn.” Scorch started stalking her. “My name is not Thorn, but Heron’s Blossom,” she objected. Heron’s Blossom hoped that her voice sounded more fierce than she really felt. Chills rippled along her spine. She forced her fur to lie down flat. Scorch stopped pacing. “Ah, yes, but that is your ‘Clan’ name, isn’t it? And where are you now? Scorchclan, so get used to your real name,” he snarled without waiting for an answer. “Now, let me ask you something. Do you know where Blaze is?” Scorch asked, suddenly calm. “No, I do not know.” She replied. “Liar!” He growled, “I know you took her!” Heron’s Blossom laid her ears back and curled her lips into a growl. “I alrea-” “Enough!” He cut her off. Shadow tried to slink away from the heated conversation into the ScorchClan camp clearing, but Scorch beckoned him back with a flick of his tail. “We’ll discuss this later. Shadow, you are not relieved of your duties yet. Bring Robin to my den if you want to stay as one of my trusted.” Shadow nodded and quickly ran away to the other side of the clearing. Scorch took no notice of his response and stalked away to his den where Wither was mumbling in her sleep. Heron’s Blossom felt dizzy with relief. She heard some rustling outside and Shadow burst through the ScorchClan camp entrance holding Robin by the scruff. Shadow released Robin and trotted back to his guarding duties. Robin tottered onto his sore pads and slowly walked to Scorch’s den. He looked unkempt; his fur was matted, his eyes were hollow, his head was drooping, and his tail was dragging in the dust and rubble. By the time he got up to Scorch’s den, Wither was stretching her legs in front of the Trusteds’ den. “Y-Yes Scorch?” Robin stuttered. Scorch leaned in closer, almost touching Robin. Robin looked like he might faint any second. “Now dear Robin, I need you to get this message to that clan we talked about.” Robin shakily nodded. “Tell them that their precious ‘leader’ is here with me, and if they don’t give the kits, Blaze, her kits, all of my cats, and Lightning, they can say good-bye to Heron’s Blossom over there.” Robin nodded again and was about to go when Scorch gave a low growl. “ And if I find that you’ve joined them, it’s too bad that you won’t be able to say good-bye to your sister.” Robin paused, took in the information, dipped his head, and quietly mewed,“Yes, Scorch.” Scorch looked satisfied with Robin’s response. “Thank you, dear Robin, and if you do come back successfully, you might be promoted to a trusted.” Robin seemed delighted at the prospect and he quickly ran out of the camp entrance.
Over the next few days, Heron’s Blossom was regaining her strength. Soon she was back to her normal strength and was able to explore what was beyond the tunnels. Sadly, it just led to another wired fence. There was a passage that led off to another direction, but she didn’t want to go explore it. Heron’s Blossom usually rested and stretched her legs inside the stone den. While she rested, she dug deep into her knowledge of ScorchClan and thought that Scorch might want her as an arena fighter. Some cats were kind enough to give her scrap cans though something told her that there was some kind of twist to it. One day, when Heron’s Blossom was resting, someone sprang onto her back and pushed her down. “Ow!” She yelped. The cat that pushed her down tied vines to her neck, soon the cat got off, but she felt like the cat tied it a little too tightly. She sniffed the air and scented Lucifer. “Hello Heron’s Blossom. We’ll explain later, but you’ll have to remain calm or I’ll have to knock you out again,” Lucifer instructed. Heron’s Blossom stopped struggling, obeying him. “Good, it won’t take long now.” She felt him put something on her eyes, and felt herself being led somewhere. After a few minutes of walking she felt herself going down. Am I in a tunnel? She wondered. Finally the thing on her eyes was lifted and she found herself in another den, this time underground. Lucifer tied the vines to some tree roots behind her. She was quickly startled when Lucifer started speaking. “Welcome Thorn, to the arena dungeons, where you will be led out when it is your turn to fight.” Lucifer stalked around her. She wanted to pounce at him, seeing he was alone. Heron’s Blossom started walking toward him, but once she went one step the vine tugged at her neck, choking her. Lucifer smirked at her stupefied expression. “Now, Thorn, you better have some good sleep, or you won’t be ready for tomorrow’s games.” The arena! She thought. Lucifer was right; if she was weak in the morning, she might not be able to defend herself. She set herself down the most comfortable way she could, but due to the vines, it wasn’t very comfortable. Thankfully, each den had some moss scattered on the floor. Heron’s Blossom settled down and instantly fell asleep.
Heron’s Blossom was stalking a plump rabbit. It looked up from it’s meal and sniffed the air. She was downwind and suddenly sprang up out of her hiding place. The rabbit squealed with terror and bolted away from the hungry cat. Heron’s Blossom raced after her quarry. She matched the terrified rabbit swerve to swerve. Finally, she caught up with the rabbit and pounced onto it. She quickly gave it a clean bite to the spine. Heron’s Blossom was about to start eating when a shadow loomed over her. It was Scorch. He bunched his muscles and sprang onto her. She was frozen with shock. Scorch collided with her and was about to give the killing bite. His stinking breath bathed her muzzle. He smirked. “Good-b-”
“Wake up!” Spear roused her. She came to her senses and saw a mouse at her paws. When she looked closer she observed that it wasn’t a very clean kill. Wood’s scent wreathed all around it. From the look of the scratches, the mouse must have escaped from Wood’s paws several times and has suffered horribly. She pushed away the thoughts and ate the mouse quickly, not wanting to waste time. After a few last hasty bites, she saw Venom and Burn heading toward her cell. Burn stood next to Heron’s Blossom and unfastened the vine from the crumbled wall, but not her neck. Venom took it in her teeth and started leading her towards the wired fence that she saw when she was exploring. “Blur! Flicker!” Venom yowled. A few seconds later, the followers scurried to Venom. “Lead her into the arena room!” Then she heard a yowl, “Welcome! Welcome, Trusteds and Followers of Scorchclan!” Wither, she thought. “Today we have a special guest in our arena. I welcome Th-Er-Heron’s Blossom of Lightclan!” She felt the vines on her neck come off and she was suddenly pushed through the wired fence into the arena. So there’s a secret hole in the middle of it.
Heron’s Blossom looked around. It seemed to be a large crumbled twoleg den wall with the ScorchClan cats on top of it, watching for death. Wither continued her introductions,“And, after two victories, Beast!” She suddenly stood a few tail-lengths apart from a large brown tom. Wither gave the final command. “Ok! Claws up, teeth ready, Fight!” Beast bunched his muscles and leaped, teeth bared. She was just able to slide underneath him, kicking him in the process. The enraged Beast looked at her feet, seemingly planning to strike there. Ha! she thought, he’s giving himself away! This arena match is going to be easier than I thought.
Beast came charging toward her, but instead of diving at her feet, he lunged at her chest, pinning her down. Beast’s weight was too much for Heron’s Blossom, and her arms were pinned to her side, as Beast pressed his paws on her. Beast was about to make the killing bite when a strange sound filled the air. Water was rushing out of something in the bush that hid in the shadows. Beast scrambled off of her and ran to the other side of the arena clearing. He started to hiss at the foaming water. She looked at her paw, and found out she had gotten a claw ripped out. Water swirled all around her now, and terror shot through her like a bolt of lightning. Heron’s Blossom thankfully knew how to swim and pounced into the roaring water. Gasps went up from the crowd. She felt smug with satisfaction. Heron’s Blossom started to paddle to Beast, who was flailing in the water. His head bobbed up and down while Heron’s Blossom pushed him down under the water. Under the water, everything felt slow and peaceful. Muffled cheers echoed around the underwater arena. Blood! Blood! Kill! Kill! We Want Blood! Kill him! Suddenly, the rushing water stilled. She bent down to Beast’s ear and mouthed, “I’m sorry.” Then, she bit down on his neck as hard as she could, and swam up to the surface. The still water drained away into a hole underneath the bush. She lowered her head as the afternoon sun beat down on her. The crowd cheered. “We have a winner! Heron’s Blossom will have a shrew tonight!” Even though Wither sounded enthusiastic, Heron’s Blossom felt really guilty. Beast was dead, and he must have had a family out there waiting for him to return.

Chapter 3
The Next Challenge
The patrol, the ScorchClan cats, Blaze, Blaze’s kits, and Lightning walked to the camp. Lightning was just coming in when Cloud’s Storm rushed toward her, almost knocking her over. “You’re back, which is good, because Heron’s Blossom is missing!” Cloud’s Storm yowled. “What?!” She walked to Cloud’s Storm and she told her the story of what happened. “Heron’s Blossom was organizing patrols four moons ago, and no one has seen her since!” She explained. “Can you lead us? I mean, you’re really good at the job, and every cat feels safe around you. Also, while you were away, Swallow gave birth to two kits; Honey and Pollen. They have already reached their third moon. We have endured in this harsh environment while you were gone too. Whenever it rains, the camp floods. Maybe I could show you our makeshift camp for when it rains when you have some free time.” Cloud’s Storm stared at her with pleading eyes. Lightning felt flattered and agreed. She stalked out of the den and scrambled onto the High-Branch and yowled,“Will every cat gather at the High-Branch?” At her voice, the expectant clan settled down around the High-Branch and every cats’ eyes were on her. “Cloud’s Storm told me of the tragic news about Heron’s Blossom’s sudden disappearance. I will take over as a temporary leader and resume Swift’s training. Sorry about the delay, Swift.” Swift only nodded and dipped his head respectfully. A squeak came from the nursery. “Where’s Heron’s Blossom, Lightning?” Black Tuft shushed Shadow and scolded him. “You shouldn’t be talking over Lightning. Now go to sleep.” Shadow tried to protest, but Oak pushed him to their nest. Lightning sighed. “That I don’t know, but I promise, we will find her! Black Tuft, could you bring Leaf, Sun, Oak, and Shadow over here?” Black Tuft opened her jaws to protest, then thought better of it and called the kits over to the High-Branch. They obeyed and scurried under it. “Oak and Shadow have reached their sixth moon. Dewy Leaf, I trust that you will pass on all your skills to Oak. Shadow, Pollen’s Breeze will teach you how to become from a defenseless kit to a seasoned fighter. You must also learn to care for your clan and respect the ways of nature. Leaf and Sun, you two are three moons older than Oak and Shadow so I will give you mentors. Leaf, your mentor will be Brindle. Brindle, teach this young cat the meaning of being a true clan cat and pass on your skills to her. Sun, Leopard Scar will be your mentor. Leopard Scar, teach him your special skills for they will be essential in the future. The meeting is at an end.” Lightning leapt off the High-Branch and sat in her nest, watching the crowd disperse. Oak, Leaf, Sun, and Shadow ran over to their waiting mentors. They nuzzled each other’s muzzles. Black Tuft looked as though her chest would burst with pride. “Hello?” A nervous voice came from somewhere. Cats started turning their heads, trying to figure out where the voice came from. Blaze shuffled her kits back into the nursery. Cloud’s Storm slid her claws in and out. Tiger’s Frost lowered his belly down to the ground and lashed his tail. Frost’s Light scrambled into her den and started preparing poultices. “Hello, is this Lightclan?” Lightning finally pinpointed the voice, outside of the camp entrance. “Yes. Why are you here and can you show yourself?” Lightning asked the voice. It obeyed and a yellow tom appeared. Blaze peeked out of the nursery and gasped. “Robin!” Robin spotted her past the bristling crowd and pushed LightClan cats aside. He finally reached her and they nuzzled each other. Blaze’s kits peeked out from behind Blaze. “Who is he?” Light asked. Blaze purred. “Kits, meet your father, Robin.” Light exchanged shocked expressions with her littermates. They seemed to have decided that Robin was good play material, and started batting at his tail. Raven pounced onto Robin’s tail and started to shred it with his tiny claws. Blaze and Robin both purred with joy. Light pushed Raven off Robin’s tail and squealed,“Come on! Let’s drive this intruder off our territory!” Happiness surged through Lightning from the tip of her ears to the tip of her tail. Sage pounced onto his back and batted at his ears with her tiny paws while Raven and Light continued to bat at his flicking tail. Finally, Robin shook his kits off. They looked up at him with hurt expressions. “Sorry, I have to speak with Lightning. There is no time for playing.” The kits and Blaze went back inside of the nursery. Robin walked into Lightning’s den. LightClan warriors watched him warily and slowly disappeared into their den. Swift and Sky were starting to show the new apprentices how to make nests. Lightning noticed that Robin seemed really nervous and scuffed his feet when she beckoned him to sit down with her tail. “I am here to deliver a message from Scorch.” He began. “Scorch told me that I need to tell you this; Heron’s Blossom is with him at Scorchclan and he says;“If you don’t give back all of his cats, you can say good-bye to Heron’s Blossom.” Lightning thought for a moment. “Robin, tell Scorch that Lightning is thinking, but has not made a choice yet. Off you go then.” She meowed to him. “Good-bye, Lightning!” His mew faded as he ran off into the trees.
Frost’s Light popped out of her den and went to Lightning’s den and reported,“The kits are in good condition, Blaze has a bit of shock, and the warriors are a bit wary but otherwise fine!” Confusion clouded Lightning’s mind. Why is she reporting this to me? “Er-Great! That’s good, thanks Frostlight!” she replied. Lightning called Tiger’s Frost and Leopard’s Scar over to her den. “Thank you for coming. I know you two are the best fighters in our clan, and would like you two to teach our apprentices while I’m not available, please. Oh, and can you bring their mentors too?” The duo accepted the offer and called Sky, Leaf, Sun, Oak, and Shadow over to the training clearing right in front of the camp. Lightning searched the apprentice’s den for Swift and found him tucked into his nest. His paws were twitching as if he was chasing a rabbit in a dream. Should I wake him up? He seems pretty peaceful in his sleep. Wow, I never noticed that he’s almost full-grown and barely knows any battle moves. I should wake him up. Lightning prodded Swift’s side. “What is it?” Swift asked groggily. “I’m taking you out to teach you battle moves so you can defend yourself and attack your opponents when a battle comes. Besides, I don’t think you know any battle moves since I’ve left on a mission to rescue Stone, Ash, Swipe, Brick, Dart, and Shard.” Swift grudgingly got out of his nest and stood up in front of Lightning. Wow, he’s gotten taller. I can tell that when he is fully-grown, he might be even taller than me! “Leopard’s Scar has been teaching me all the battle moves that she knows. Apparently, she never taught me how to hunt.” Lightning flicked her tail to beckon him to the training clearing. Swift was looking around the camp absentmindedly. Frost’s Light noticed what was happening from her den and nudged Swift towards the camp entrance where Lightning was impatiently waiting. Does he want to work with Frost’s Light and learn all about medicine? she wondered. Swift scurried over to Lightning and they went to the side of the camp where Lightning caught her first piece of fresh-kill in LightClan territory. At the corner of her eye, Lightning could see her fellow clanmates practicing battle moves with their claws sheathed. Stone bunched his muscles and leaped toward Leaf. Leaf immediately flipped onto her belly and splayed out her paws to catch Stone. Stone landed on top of Leaf, but she rolled him over and pinned down his shoulders. “Again?! You’re bigger than me! It’s not fair.” He whined. Leaf gave the younger cat a playful nip on the ear. Tiger’s Frost and Leopard’s Scar watched approvingly at the corner of the clearing where the ground gave way to mud and reeds. “Good job Leaf. It’s interesting how you splayed out your paws to catch him, and flipped him over.” Brindle praised Leaf. “It’s not like I had training. In ScorchClan, we had to practice in our den every day from when the sun rose until the sun set. And I never got to challenge anyone older because I was the oldest one in the den.” Stone muttered grumpily after Leaf got off of him. A sneeze brought Lightning’s attention back to Swift. He was sniffing a blossom. Suddenly, he swerved away from Lightning’s view and she felt some weight on her back. Her legs buckled and she fell to the ground. What should I do now? Praise him? Counter his move? Admit defeat? She started to swing around on the ground until she rolled. Swift hopped away just in time before he got crushed. Lightning got up to her paws. “Swift, your battle moves are exceeding my expectations, but could you show me how you hunt? Try to catch a rabbit for the kits. I’ll be watching your every pawstep.”
A day had passed since the training assessment with Swift, and he had caught two finches instead of one rabbit. Lightning had taught him how to catch rabbits last night. Birdsong filled the damp air while the early morning light filtered into the den. Cats were stirring in their dens. Lightning sleepily opened her eyes and stretched. She came out of her den when a screech came from the camp entrance. “Scorchclan is coming!” Lightning turned around to find Brindle, who was on guard duty, yowling at the top of her lungs. She ran over to the warriors’ den and roused the nearest cat. “Everyone! Formation! Guard the kits!” Lightning shouted. Moments later, cats started rushing into camp. It was Scorchclan. Scorch, leading the battle party, started strolling towards Lightning, who stood tall. “Why are you here?” she growled. “To take back what’s ours!”He snarled, and leaped towards her. All around her, LightClan cats were fighting ScorchClan cats. Pounce, Swallow, Cherry, Blaze, and everyone else from ScorchClan tensed at the sight of their former clanmates. “Att-” Lightning yowled, but she was cut off when Scorch clawed at her eyes. One missed, but the other found its mark. Lightning screeched with agony and pain. Scorch charged towards her from the side and numbed her foreleg. Unable to stay balanced, she fell. Scorch took this chance and knocked her down, so her belly was partly shown. Lightning was about to get up and leap at Scorch, but Lucifer came from behind her, bit her, and pulled her back down. Lightning swiped at him, and he leaped back. Scorch and Lucifer were struggling to keep Lightning still. Blister barreled past battling pairs and helped the two toms to pin her down. Hatred radiated strongly off of them. Lightning began to lose consciousness and at the edges of her vision, darkness swirled, trying to close into the center. She longed to give in, but her clan was depending on her. Lightning gave one last push but the three cats held her down tightly. The darkness swirled closer and closer until she could only see a speck of light. Hawk, who was battling with Shadow, noticed this, slashed Shadow’s face, and rushed towards her. She started seeing stars, and she didn’t know how much longer she would stay conscious. Hawk reached her and barreled towards Lucifer, throwing him off. She was just able to get Scorch off, and Blister had scrambled away past the camp entrance, fleeing when she realized that she was outnumbered. For a few seconds she stood there, finally getting enough air. The darkness retreated from her eyesight. Then, Hawk and Lightning started battling Lucifer and Scorch. All around them, the Scorchclan cats seemed to be winning. While battling, Scorch slashed her muzzle with all his might. She yowled with agony and fell back. Lightning forced herself to struggle back up, and she could feel the blood pouring out of her muzzle. Scorch seemed amused. He pounced again from behind, and bit deep into her hind leg. She could feel his teeth sinking in, and the blood coming out. Lightning collapsed onto the ground, blood being the only thing she could sense. Scorch seemed very determined to choke her, or at least knock her out. Scorch and Lucifer tried to pin her down, but Lightning kept struggling. The darkness swirled around the edges of her vision once again. Blister crept back into the battlefield and pinned Lightning down securely. Scorch unsheathed his claws and grabbed Lightning’s neck while Lucifer went off to capture Hawk. Once Scorch had a grip, he started squeezing. Immediately, the darkness that crept around at the corners of Lightning’s vision closed into the center until the whole world was black. She went numb, and stopped moving all together. Lightning was acutely aware of Scorch trotting away to sneer at Hawk.

Chapter 4
A New Cat
Hawk was losing against Lucifer’s fast and powerful swipes, and soon he was cornered. Scorch came in and sneered,“Oh wow! Look at your precious mate. You must be so sad, aren’t you?” Scorch’s stinky breath bathed Hawk’s muzzle. He pinned Hawk down and slashed at his flank. Hawk turned to try and see Lightning. She laid at the side of the clearing right in front of her den, tired and bloody. Blister left Lightning and started to raid the nursery. On the other side of the battlefield, Frost’s Light was trying to defend herself against Spear and Dark Fur. Dark Fur pinned her down, while Spear went into her den and started destroying the poppies. Frost’s Light was struggling, but the cat’s massive paw held her down. Scorch knew he had won and yowled,“ScorchClan cats! Back to camp! This battle has been won!” The cats gave a few more scratches to the cats they were battling, and left. “Good bye!” Lucifer sneered, before disappearing into the forest.
“Lightning!” Hawk ran over to her body, which was soaked in blood. Her pelt was matted and her eyes were closed. He and Tiger’s Frost picked up her bloody body and took it to Frost’s Light’s den. She gazed at the body and mewed,“She is young to have injuries like this, and she might not survive, but I will do what I can.” She headed into her den and beckoned the two toms to bring Lightning inside. Frost’s Light directed them to lay Lightning in a nest while she chewed some herbs into a poultice. She put them on a leaf before asking,“Could one of you two wash her? She has a lot of blood on her body that needs to be washed off before I could treat her wounds.” Hawk sat down to wash Lightning thoroughly, making sure that she’s perfectly clean. Frost’s Light nodded in approval and smeared the poultice onto the cobwebs before applying them to Lightning’s wounds. “Hawk, Tiger’s Frost, you can both go now. Don’t worry, she’s safe with me. Now can you show me your wounds so I can treat them? Once I’m finished treating your wounds, it would be great if you two could both call in a few cats at a time. Thank you!” A screech came from the nursery. “Light is missing! They must have stolen her!” Everybody immediately got to their paws and started searching for the missing kit and by dusk, it was confirmed that they had stolen her.
During the night, Hawk noticed that Amber had slipped away from the nursery and went to the medicine cat den to check on Lightning. When she came out,she went over to Hawk and whispered,“Lightning was twitching in her sleep.”
At the break of dawn, Hawk had rushed into the medicine cat den and yowled,“She’s alive!” His joyful yowl roused Frost’s Light and she climbed down from her nest to see Lightning, one eye open, curled up in her nest. “Hello, Hawk,”she yawned sleepily. “Did we win?” Her eyes were now clouded with worry. Hawk looked onto the ground, “No, Scorchclan won, but no one was killed or captured.” He answered. “This time!,”Lightning hissed back. “How many cats will have to die before this clan falls? We don’t even know if Heron’s Blossom is alive.” She tried to stand up but Hawk pushed her back into her comfy nest. “Hawk, listen to me,”she rasped. Hawk pushed his head to her’s and asked,“What’s wrong?” Lightning dropped her head down onto the side of her nest. “I had a dream, a dream where Scorch killed everyone I loved, and it was all my fault because I wasn’t reacting fast enough.” Lightning wailed. “It’s just a dream Lightning!” he mewed frantically. “But what if it isn’t?” Her voice grew smaller until she had collapsed onto her bedding, unconscious.
Frost’s Light pushed in front of him, and put her nose to her forehead. “I think she has a fever,” she muttered. “Hey! Amber? Do you want to help me find the right herbs so we can continue to treat the other cats?” A few seconds later, Amber came in and started taking out the herbs, sorting them into piles and chewing them up into poultices. She spit out the poultices onto leaves and carried them away to the bedraggled warriors.
A few days had passed, and everyone except Lightning was fully healed, even though she started walking a few times a day, and her wounds didn’t become infected. Frost’s Light kept a close eye on Lightning whenever Hawk wasn’t around and applied a poultice daily on some of her deeper wounds. Hawk volunteered to mentor Swift in Lightning’s place and progressed quickly. By the time that Lightning is back to full strength, she would have no apprentice to train anymore!
Hawk started becoming aware that Lightning was disappearing from time to time, and if he asked her, she would simply snap at him. Lightning was in her den, padding out and through the camp entrance. Unknownst to her, Hawk was behind a bush, yearning to know where she was going everyday. He followed her out of LightClan territory and to a large clearing in the middle of an unknown forest. “Hello Lightning!” He shuffled around in his hiding space to see a black cat touching noses with Lightning. “Hello Jasmine.” Lightning greeted the stranger smoothly. “Want another round?” Jasmine asked. Lightning nodded swiftly and Jasmine walked back a few steps and meowed,“Let’s begin.” The two cats collided, luckily their claws where sheathed. So this must be some sort of training session. What made her think that she could trust that cat? Hawk snapped out of her thoughts and focused on the training session. Lightning twisted, landed on Jasmine’s back, and knocked her to the ground. Then, pretended to slash her around her body, finally pinned her down, and pretended to kill her. A few moments later, she got off Jasmine and helped her up. Jasmine chuckled and started grooming her ruffled fur. “I see that you are progressing, so you can go now. Your session is over for today.” Lightning bowed her head and started walking away. When they were far enough from the clearing, Hawk leaped out of the undergrowth and shouted,“What were you doing, Lightning?” Lightning almost toppled over with shock. “N-nothing?” She replied hastily. “Don’t lie, Lightning! I saw you with that cat called Jasmine!” He hissed. Her eyes widened with shock and anger. “Were you spying on me?!” She shouted, her body rising to her biggest size, towering over him. “Hawk, when we get back to camp, we have some issues to discuss in my den.” she commanded. “That’s not your den, you used to share it with Heron’s Blossom,” Hawk objected. Lightning’s head and tail suddenly drooped onto the thunderpath that would lead them home. “I used to. Who knows what Scorch would have done to Heron’s Blossom now that he went back to his camp without any captives? I should wash Jasmine’s scent off my pelt now before we get back to camp.”
The milky sun began to set as the couple returned to the camp. Swift blocked their way and offered them a mouse. Lightning swiftly grasped it and thanked Swift, her voice muffled by the plump mouse in her jaws. Hawk walked into her den, and sat down on the bare floor of her den. Lightning came in and hissed,“What I’m doing is none of your business!” She found a comfy spot in the corner of her den and curled her tail around her body. “I just wanted to know where you were.” He insisted.
“Hawk, I love you, it’s just that the last battle with Scorch has really shaken my confidence, and I want to be ready, if we ever meet again, which I’m sure we will.” she mewed, now calmer. “Fine, just always be safe, okay?” he asked. Lightning nodded and meowed,“You can go now.” Hawk yawned, and settled into his nest inside the warriors’ den, overcome by his mate’s secrets. . .

I’m gonna do what Fawnpaw did, add the Warriors website for a link, just incase no one’s ever been on it before! If u have, it can be your link!(Along with Fawnpaw’s, of course) 🙂