• Chapter One

    The Coming Of The Dawn

    Copperfur yawned and stretched. She glanced around her den wearily, and then stood up and left it. She walked over to the freshkill pile, but was forced to stop when two kits rolled by. “Flowerkit, Icekit, be respectful to your elders!” Willowbranch meowed. She raced to where her two kits had just gotten up, and frowned at them. “Apologize to Copperfur,” she said. Both the kits turned to look at Copperfur and mumbled apologizes to her. “It’s all right,” Copperfur mewed. “Just be careful next time.” Both the kits nodded and then scurried off, their mother behind them.

    Copperfur had a magnificent copper colored coat. She was a shorthaired cat with unusual blue eyes and a long tail. She found it amusing that she was not supposed to love yet almost every tom liked her.
    She flicked her tail at an apprentice named Frostpaw. Frostpaw, her sister, had just come back from hunting patrol and had a large rabbit in her mouth. Her mentor, Bluestar, meowed something to her and she came running up to Copperfur. “Here,” Sandpaw mewed dropping the rabbit at Copperfur’s paws. “You might want this.” Copperfur picked it up and turned to Frostpaw, “Would you like to eat with me?” Copperfur asked. “And then we can collect some herbs,” Copperfur added. Frostpaw’s eyes brightened. She nodded excitedly and then rushed to the freshkill pile, grabbed a fat mouse and followed Copperfur into her den. They sat down and began to eat; soon Frostpaw broke the silence. “What herbs will we get?”
    Copperfur looked up and smiled, “We’ll probably restock all of them, give or take a couple.”
    Frostpaw looked up, eyes wide, “Really?”
    Copperfur let out an mwrr of amusement. “Really. And we’ll get Whitepaw to help; I need a lot of help anyway.”

    She finished the last of her rabbit and stood up. “Get Whitepaw and meet me at the gorse tunnel.” Frostpaw nodded and ran off. Copperfur stood still for a moment before heading to the gorse tunnel. A red tom began to walk past her before stopping and meowing hello. “Hello Redtail,” she meowed back. “Will you let Bluestar know that I’m taking Frostpaw and Whitepaw out to collect herbs with me?” She asked. He nodded and ran off towards the clan leaders den. Only a bit after Redtail had left did Frostpaw and Whitepaw show up. “Ready?” Copperfur asked. Both the apprentices nodded. Copperfur smiled “Then let’s go,” she said, and the three walk out into the forest.






    Chapter Two
    Collecting Herbs, An Interesting Find.

    “Hey Copperfur, look at what I found!” Copperfur let out an Mwrr of amusement. She turned to Frostpaw and smiled. “Finish collecting that and then look for more herbs,” She told the young apprentice. Frostpaw nodded and continued to pick some berries. Smiling, Copperfur turned and raced to the Sunning Rocks where she found Whitepaw sitting next to an outcropping that was covered with clean cobwebs. “Good find!” Copperfur praised him as she raced toward the outcropping. “Collect those and then put them in my den near my bedding, then come out and find Sandpaw and me. We will be collecting catnip,” she ordered. “Alright” Whitepaw meowed. Copperfur raced of towards Twoelog Place and saw Frostpaw was already there, with the berries she had collected wrapped in some leaves next to her, while she was collecting catnip. Copperfur walked past her and went over to a poppy bush. She pulled off some of the flowers and then signaled to Frostpaw with her tail. Frostpaw nodded and collected all of the catnip and berries in her mouth. They both then walked towards the shelter of the forest.

    When they arrived at camp, they entered Copperfur’s den to see the Whitepaw was putting everything away. He looked up in time to see Frostpaw and Copperfur set the herbs they collected down. “Whitepaw, I would like your help to collect some death berries alright?” Copperfur asked. Whitepaw became serious immediately. He nodded and then said “I’ll meet you at the gorse tunnel.” Whitepaw scampered off. “Frostpaw, go see what your mentor wants you to do, okay? I enjoyed your help but Whitepaw is a bit older then you so I’ll have him help instead.” Copperfur asked. Frostpaw mewed goodbye and then walked away. With a sigh Copperfur went out to the gorse tunnel and left with Whitepaw. They walked quickly through the forest over to the snake rocks, where Whitepaw hissed. “Can you smell that?” He asked. Copperfur opened her mouth, and a smell wafted passed her… she recognized the smell! “Rouges! They’re going to camp. Run!” She yowled. Whitepaw turned and crashed through the bushes with Copperfur on his heels.
    They pushed through the gorse tunnel to see chaos in their camp. Rouge cats were battling with ThunderClan, and ThunderClan was badly out numbered. Copperfur turned on the spot and ran out of the gorse tunnel. She drove towards the stepping stones ignoring the thorns that ripped at her fur. She hopped as quickly as possible over the stepping stones and crossed into RiverClan territory. She ran past bushes and trees, and ran straight into the middle of RiverClan camp. All the RiverClan cats looked and surrounded her. “Please help! Our Clan is being attacked by Rouges and we are out numbered. Please Help!” Copperfur mewed. The RiverClan leader, Crookedstar, pushed through the rest of the cats and came up to her.
    “Why would we help Thunder Clan?”
    “Because Rouges are every cat’s problem, and there are meant to be four clans in the forest”
    Crookedstar frowned, and then flicked his tail at some cats.
    “You may take these back to your camp.”
    “Thank you, Crookedstar.” Copperfur meowed. She then turned, and with the River Clan warriors behind her, raced to camp.





    Chapter Three
    Everyone’s Hero, A Long Awaited Meeting.

    When she brought the new warriors back they jumped into battle, surprising not just the rouges, but ThunderClan too. Copperfur’s spirit rose when she saw that they were winning. She heard a yowl, and upon turning her head she saw that a rouge cat had killed the elder that had been protecting the nursery and was trying to steal their kits! She hissed and then saw two cats near her finishing a battle. “Mousefur! Longpaw! The kits!” She yowled. The two cats looked, and growling, ran over to where the rouge was still trying to collect all the kits. They jumped on him, while the Rouge fought a bit, but then squealed and ran away. Presently the rest of the rouges followed. Every cat settled down, but Copperfur heard something. She ran to her den and saw a rouge was on top of Bluestar, ThunderClan’s leader, and was about to strike a deathblow! Copperfur dove and sank her teeth into the rouge’s shoulder. It squealed in pain and jumped off of Bluestar who promptly got up and helped Copperfur fight it off. The rouge soon squealed again and ran out through the gorse tunnel. All the cats turned to see Copperfur and Bluestar standing together, both bearing wounds from the battle.
    Bluestar jumped up onto the Highrock and yowled, “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting.” All the cats that had been fighting gathered under the Highrock and stared up at Bluestar. “I would like to thank RiverClan for coming and fighting, but what brought you?” Bluestar asked.
    “Your medicine cat came over and got our help,” a RiverClan warrior called. “Thank you again, RiverClan. You may stay and treat your wounds here or at your camp,” Bluestar mewed.
    “We will go. We do not want to put pressure onto you. Goodbye.” With that, RiverClan left. “I would like you all to look upon Copperfur, for not only did she get help in time to save us, but she saved me from losing one of my lives to a rouge.” Bluestar meowed. Copperfur spoke suddenly. “As you know, Bluestar, some of the kits are ready to become apprentices, and I would like to have my own apprentice now. I have watched Spottedkit grow up and have spoken with her. She would like to be my apprentice.” Bluestar nodded and then motioned to a kit. She scampered over to the bottom of the highrock with her mother right behind them. “Spottedkit, will you become a medicine cat after Copperfur leaves to hunt with Star Clan.?” Bluestar asked. Almost immediately Spottedkit stood up and meowed, “I will.” Bluestar then nodded and said, “Then until you have received all of your medicine cat powers and medicine cat name you will be known as Spottedpaw. Copperfur, your mentor Oceancloud was a smart medicine cat. I want you to pass down everything she taught you to this apprentice, along with the power you have to do what is right.” Copperfur nodded and stepped forward to Spottedpaw. They touched noses and then walked over to the edge of the group of cats. Soon all the cats began chanting Spottedpaw’s name and congratulating her.

    Bluestar then meowed for silence and mewed, “Darkpaw, you fought like a warrior today and it is time for you to gain your warrior name.” Darkpaw walked towards the bottom of the Highrock and sat down staring at Bluestar, who meowed, “I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice who has trained hard to follow your noble code. Darkpaw to you promise to uphold the warrior code even at the cost of your life?”
    “I do.”
    Then with the powers of star clan I give your warrior name. Longpaw, you will now be known as Darkstripe. Star clan honors your strength and courage and we welcome you as a warrior of Thunder clan.”
    Once everyone was done congratulating Darksripe and all the cats were licking their wounds Copperfur meowed,
    “Go get something for us to eat and then we will clean all of the cat’s wounds.” Spottedpaw nodded and scampered off. When she came back and set the food in their den, Copperfur helped Spottedpaw to collect the right herbs, and then they went out together to take care of the Thunder Clan cats wounds. Spottedpaw ended up showing great promise to be a good medicine cat, Copperfur decided after watching her heal the cats that day, and after a few moons she would be the best Copperfur would know.






    Chapter Four
    The Gathering

    A group of cats stood on the hill quietly. Their leader flicked her tail, and the Thunder Clan cats raced down the hill towards the gathering. Copperfur and Spottedpaw stood side by side. They raced down the hill and trotted through the gathering before they reached where all of the medicine cats were talking. Walking up, Copperfur smiled and greeted them all, and received warm greetings back.
    “Everyone, this is my apprentice, Spottedpaw.” Copperfur meowed.
    “It’s nice to meet you all,” Spottedpaw meowed.
    All the other medicine cats congratulated her and welcomed her as if she was one of their own. Spottedpaw was quiet through most of the talk until Copperfur described the battle with the rouges. One of the medicine cats turned to Spottedpaw and asked if she had been frightened. Spottedpaw shook her head and mewed,
    “Actually, I got some of the older kits to attack the rouge that tried to take us.”
    Shadow Clan’s medicine cat, Yellowfang, meowed, “That was a smart thing to do, and it’s nice to know some kits can protect themselves.”
    Spottedpaw beamed. Soon the gathering started and all the cats listened to the leaders speak. Copperfur, Spottedpaw, and Darkstripe were praised so many times that they were all sure none of the cats were listing to the meeting. Soon the gathering was over and all the cats said goodbye to their friends.
    Once Thunder Clan was home they were bombarded with questions from the cats that didn’t go to the gathering. Copperfur snatched some fresh kill and then she and Spottedpaw snuck into their den to avoid all the questions. Once they sat down they both dug into the voles Copperfur had grabbed. The food tasted delicious after the long walk they had to take to the four trees and the gathering. After eating until they could eat no more, they shared tongues, and then drifted of into a welcomed sleep.
    Copperfur woke up from Spottedpaw nudging her. “Waterfur is going to have kits!” Spottedpaw mewed. Copperfur jumped up and grabbed some herbs. She flicked with her tail for Spottedpaw to follow and then they ran out of their den. They raced to the nursery and pushed their way in. Copperfur quickly got organized, and with Spottedpaw’s help Waterfur gave birth to two healthy kits. Copperfur slumped back and then stood up and, (with Spottedpaw close behind) went into Bluestar’s den.
    “Bluestar, I have good news.” Copperfur meowed. Bluestar looked up,
    “What is it?” She asked.
    “Waterfur has two healthy kits.” Copperfur meowed. Bluestar jumped up,
    “I will go and see them! This means new warriors for Thunder Clan!” she meowed. Then her eyes full of excitement, she ran off to see the new kits.
    “You did a great job Spottedpaw,” Copperfur meowed.
    “Thanks” Spottedpaw replied.


















    Chapter Five
    Star Clan’s Will

    Copperfur stood up and stretched. It had been many moons since Waterfur had given birth. Only a couple moons ago Copperfur and Spottedpaw had traveled to the moonstone, now Spottedpaw had the name of Spottedleaf, and she had all of her medicine cat powers. Copperfur looked around and immediately saw that her stocks of herbs were low. Deciding not to wake Spottedleaf, (for Spottedleaf had been making poultices all day yesterday and was very tired), she left her den and went out through the gorse tunnel.
    Waking through the trees she began to look for herbs when she heard a noise. She turned around but saw nothing. She turned back around when she felt something land on her and she felt teeth sink into her shoulder. She yowled in pain and clawed furiously at the thing attacking her. Soon her clawing became weaker and she sank into darkness, knowing no more.

    Spottedleaf looked up from the poultice she was making to see Darkstripe, Tigerclaw, and Mousefur carrying Copperfur’s body into camp. She let out a wailing sound and ran over to the body as the rest of the camp left their dens and ran over too. Spottedleaf only half listened to Tigerclaw and Darkstripe explaining how they had found her body with a badger hunched over it and how they had chased it off. The clan gathered around Copperfur’s body to share tongues with her for a final time. When the rest of the clan had left Bluestar stepped forward and sat down next to Spottedleaf.
    “Why?” Spottedleaf asked.
    “Why what?”
    “Why was she killed? I…I Need Her!”
    “She was killed because it was your turn to shine. She died because it was Star Clan’s will. She died because her time was over and it is now yours.”
    Spottedleaf tried to laugh but it came out a choking sob. Spottedleaf shook her head and under her breath she said, “I wish Star Clan’s will had been to keep her alive.” Spottedleaf then quieted down to stay vigil with Copperfur’s body.



    The End




    In loving memory of Copperfur