Hi guys. Some of you might know who I am as soon as I post this, but I can attempt for now. I'm not ready to reveal myself yet, so if you know, don't say please. Ty. Onto the horrible Warriors fanfiction! *cringe* I haven't edited it uet.... also it's a lot. Sorry in advence!! Oh also sorry for the spelling here. I'm not usually so messy, but I'm in a hurry and just letting autocorrect do its thing so... *another cringe*

Warriors: The Medicine Cat: Rising Shadows

By Inktail

Six moons ago…

Dovestar watched as ThunderClan fell. She held the power of Ancient Skies in her paws, but was powerless to save her Clan. Her deputy fell. Both medicine cats. All kits. Half the queens. Three-quarters of the warriors. Five of the six apprentices. And all ten elders. She had had over fifty cats in her care before. Now? Less than fifteen remained. What could she do? When the last apprentice fell, she knew.

She couldn't do anything. The enemies eventually took pity, she supposed. They killed one more warrior, then they left. Dovestar sighed. Make that less than ten cats. Suddenly, a strengthening rage ran through her. She would rebuild ThunderClan.

And ShadowClan would pay.

*+=×÷÷×=+*

It was the day after the battle, and ThunderClan still had no medicine cat, nor deputy. A queen yowled, and it echoed through the camp. Dovestar’s sleek white pelt could be seen, racing through the brambles to the nursery. The tiny bit of medical knowledge she had would be put to use. The queen Cloudpelt cried out hoarsely as Dovestar entered the den and the kit exited her body.

“Dove...care…” And Cloudpelt moved no more. Dovestar blinked her eyes quickly and licked the russet-pelted kit. Deciding she would name it Autumnkit, she called Breezetail over.

“Breezetail. Lick Autumnkit for me. I have some burials to make.” The she-cats touched noses before turning away sadly.

*+=×÷÷×=+*

Back in the present day…

*+=×÷÷×=+*

“May you be known as Autumnpaw. You want to learn medicine, and I shall apprentice you. I...only know so much, so don't hesitate to ask the other medicine cats for help.” Autumnpaw tingled with excitement as she touched noses with Dovestar.

Berrykit and Flowerkit began the chant. “Autumnpaw! Autumnpaw!” The Clan soon joined. Dovestar looked on proudly as Autumnpaw’s eyes shone out over the small crowd. Dovestar ended the meeting and Autumnpaw hopped off the Highledge. The kits crowded around her, even Jaykit and Brightkit.

Autumnpaw smiled proudly as the kits pranced around her. “Alright, leave me be!” She said playfully. “I have to settle in!” The kits bundled off towards the nursery.

“One more thing-Gathering crews will be chosen tomorrow!” Dovestar’s voice rang out over the din. Autumnpaw nodded and ran off to the vacant medicine den.

She pushed through the brambles and entered the dusty den. Settling in a musty nest, she curled up, preparing for sleep, but Breezetail padded inside.

“I'm so proud,” Her mother choked out. Autumnpaw wearily touched noses with her, and Breezetail exited the den. Finally, Autumnpaw could go to sleep.

*+=×÷÷×=+*

Autumnpaw awoke the next morning feeling doubtful. Her dreams had not been filled with StarClan figures. She knew that she hadn't been blessed over the Moonpool, because of the extraordinary circumstances inside her Clan. Was StarClan mad at them? She hoped not.

The buzz of voices came from outside. Autumnpaw slipped out the entrance to her den and went to grab some breakfast.

“Gathering members,” Breezetail called. Autumnpaw jumped up and ran over, vole forgotten.

“Autumnpaw, Meadowpelt and Herbwing. Plus Dovestar and myself.” Autumnpaw sighed. Even though the other Clans had gotten used to their small groups, she still hadn't.

Oh well, she thought. I'll just have to wait.

*+=×÷÷×=+*

Dovestar flicked her tail and Autumnpaw followed her Clanmates  across the log bridge and down the slope. Stories of the ShadowClan raid rushed into her head, but she pushed them away. Shinepaw bounded up to her, sleek fur shining in the moonlight.

“Hello!” The RiverClan cat greeted Autumnpaw. They talked until the leaders called for silence.

Dovestar went first. “First things first, we have a new medicine cat-Autumnpaw!!” The response was deafening. Choruses of “Autumnpaw!” rang so loudly around the clearing, Autumnpaw was afraid she might go deaf. Dovestar flicked her tail in the air, and the cats gradually quieted.

“The prey is running well. RiverClan?” Rainstar stepped up. He was quite old, though only on his fourth life.

“It's running nicely, thank you. We have two new apprentices here tonight, Leopardpaw and Streampaw.” The clearing rang with noise again, and Rainstar passed it to WindClan.

“Thank you, Rainstar. Runningkit was recently born. The prey is running fine, although scents of ShadowClan have been scented across our border.” Turtlestar narrowed his eyes at Stripestar, who didn't move. The pretty she-cat stepped up.

“ShadowClan has nothing to report,” She said, carefully sidestepping the matter and ignoring Turtlestar’s snort. Dovestar quickly stepped between the two leaders.

“Gathering over, then.” Autumnpaw stood up, stretching out her legs. She began to walk out, but the ShadowClan medicine cat stopped her on her way out. His eyes shone with sympathy, and Autumnpaw knew he was missing Firebush, the previous ThunderClan medicine cat.

“If you ever need advice on anything, don't hesitate to ask.” Brittlebone  said. Autumnpaw flicked her tail across his face in a gesture of kindness and nodded. As she walked out, she felt Meadowpelt’s  gaze boring into her and tried hard not to look at her. Finally though, she couldn't stand it any longer.

“Something I can do you?” She asked angrily. Meadowpelt looked taken aback and quickly averted her gaze, swerving away from Autumnpaw, who sighed heavily.

It's hard being the only cat of your kind in your Clan.

*+=×÷÷×=+*

That night, it felt as though Autumnpaw had barely closed her eyes before she was awake again. She groaned and closed her eyes again. Poking began, and Autumnpaw rolled over, growling, before opening her eyes. A gray tabby cat scowled at her.

"Finally." He started walking, obviously meaning for Autumnpaw to follow. She scampered after him, her feelings slightly hurt.

"Excuse me, who in the name of StarClan are you?!" She cried. He wheeled on her, eyes flashing.

"Jayfeather. And you ARE in StarClan."

*+=×÷÷×=+*

Autumnpaw gasped. "I'm not dead, am I?!"

Jayfeather huffed. "Of course not. Now come on. We don't have all night." Autumnpaw followed the fuming cat's tail at a distance. Jayfeather stopped in the middle of the forest.

"What you're about to see isn't pretty." His voice softened. "This is the Dark Forest. You must never go in here, unless a StarClan warrior is with you. Understand?" His eyes snapped again.

Autumnpaw nodded, and Jayfeather didn't move. She went red with embarrassment as she realized this cat was blind. "Understood." She said quickly.

Jayfeather nodded curtly and entered the forest. They walked together, pelts twining, hidden amongst the trees, until they came to a clearing. A tall, dark tom was standing in the middle of many Clan smelling cats. They were fighting each other, claws unsheathed. Autumnpaw gasped softly and Jayfeather nodded to the tom.

"See him?"

"Hard to  miss him." Autumnpaw muttered.

Jayfeather tensed. "That's your distant kin. Darkstripe." At this, Autumnpaw sprinted off.

*+=×÷÷×=+*

Autumnpaw ran back through the trees, back to the safety of StarClan. Jayfeather exited behind her, annoyed. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but nothing came out. He simply stared at Autumnpaw. An icy Blue tinge lit his face and spread to his tail. Shakily, Autumnpaw reached out to touch him, and he sprang to life, snarling. She backed up as he advanced on her, words spilling from his mouth.

"Ancient Sky and Ancient Leaf must make the Clans whole." Then he leapt at her. Autumnpaw sat, yowling like a kit. She  realized she was back in her den and that it was morning. She pushed her way through the brambles and a dark gray she-cat that she didn't recongize greeted her.

"Hello, Autumn's Leaves! "

Autumnpaw froze. "A-a-a-autumn'sLeaves, yep, that's me. " The words fell off her tongue without her realizing.

"All cats to the Rock!" a voice called.
"Robin's Tuft! " A tom yowled and the she-cat ran over. Stunned, Autumnpaw walked over to the crowd of unfamiliar cats.  

"Friends, as you know, I, Jay's Flight, have been puzzling over whether or not to draw stones. Yes, the eagles are a bit much. But should we really throw ourselves into the enemies paws? I have decided. Today, we draw. Robin's Tuft, you know the drill. "

Robin's Tuft stepped up and put her stone on the go pile. A tom stepped up after but put his on leave. Back and fourth. Autumnpaw didn't even realize it was her turn until Robin's Tuft nudged her.

She then realized both piles were identical. With a pang of regret, she set her stone on stay. Murmuring spread through the crowd as Jay's Flight yowled triumphanly.

"Stay it is!" Suddenly, the crowd spun and Autumnpaw's world went black. A wrinkled old cat stepped out of the darkness, a stern look on his face.

"You were not meant to be here, Autumnpaw.  Stay in your own memories, and remember this name."

Stoneteller.

*+=×÷÷×=+*

Autumnpaw awoke in a cold sweat, shivering. Where was she? Then she reconginized the brambly entrance of her den and sighed with relief. Just then, Tawnystripe, heavy with kits, entered the den.

"Good morning, Autumnpaw." She said kindly.

"Morning," Autumnpaw muttered sleepily.

Tawnystripe looked uncomfortable. "Do you have anything for sore muscles?"

Autumnpaw held back a laugh. "Not in stock, sorry."

Tawnysrripe looked slightly dejected and exited the den. Autumnpaw burst into laughter. It had bern an inside joke for her and Tawnystripe when she was a kit and Tawnystripe still did it every morning. Autumnpaw exited the den and pulled a small mouse off the fresh-kill pile. Eating it slowly, she barely noticed as Dovestar came up behind her.

"Deep in thought today, eh?"
Autumnpaw nearly jumped out of her pelt.

"Sorry Dovestar! Um-any training lined up for today?" She asked hopefully.

Dovestar laughed sweetly. "Yes, come on. Lets go to the storeroom." Autumnpaw gobbled her last bite of mouse and padded after her leader.

*+=×÷÷×=+*

“And what is this?"

"Yarrow?"

"Correct." Autumnpaw glowed at the complement. She correctly identified the next herb-catmint-before Dovestar turned serious.
"Follow me-but don't touch it." She headed out of camp and Autumnpaw followed, worried. Dovestar paused by a bush and gestured with her paws. Autumnpaw went pale.

"Deathberries," She squeaked. Dovestar nodded gravely and reentered the camp, immediently washing her paws. Then she drew Autumnpaw aside.

"I have something important to tell you. Only three of my lives remain."

*+=×÷÷×=+*