Warrior cats books

“ShadowClan, attack!” Lightningkit yowled, leaping onto Quickkit, the two rolling over in a flurry of paws. Largekit, the biggest of his littermates, leapt at Birdkit while Frogkit went after Mothkit.

The big white tomkit struck, missing Birdkit’s naturally-curled ears by a whisker-length. She pounced onto him, squashing him against the ground. Despite being smaller than her siblings, she was still bigger than Largekit.

Largekit hissed in protest, trying to roll over, but Birdkit hooked her claws into the ground, “Give up?”

“ShadowClan never gives up!” Largekit snarled, but the fight slowly went out of him. Birdkit looked around to see that Quickkit and Mothkit had also defeated Lightningkit and Frogkit.

“ShadowClan, retreat!” Lightningkit panted, squirming out from underneath Quickkit and running for the nursery. Birdkit stood up and let Largekit run after his fellow “ShadowClan warriors”.

“So this is the future of ThunderClan, huh?” a voice purred from behind them. Birdkit turned around and immediately felt warm under her pelt. 

“I feel much safer,” Rabbitpaw continued with a wink, “If ShadowClan really attacks, I don’t think they’ll be stealing any kits.”

Birdkit was practically glowing until Rabbitpaw’s brother, Sunpaw, spoke up, “They’re just stupid kits- they’ll wet themselves if they see so much as a ShadowClan cat’s whisker tip!”

She and her siblings glowered at the rude apprentice, but said nothing. Mothkit stuck her nose in the air and stalked off towards the nursery, Quickkit following behind. Birdkit, on the other hand, snapped, “You were kits a moon ago, too! Why do you always have to be so mean?”

Sunpaw sneered at her while Rabbitpaw gave her an apologetic look. 

“Kits are nothing but trouble,” Sunpaw scoffed, lifting his nose into the air, “Stay out of my way. You’ll only slow me down.”

Birdkit’s pelt bristled, “One day, I’ll be a warrior too! And I bet I’ll be even better than you!”

Rabbitpaw nudged his brother, “Come on, give them a break. They’re only playing, just like we used to.” He winked at Birdkit, whiskers twitching as he said, “Besides, they might be the next cats to save ThunderClan from ShadowClan!”

Birdkit puffed out her chest at his words, but Sunpaw just rolled his eyes and said, “Whatever.”

Birdkit glared at Sunpaw as he padded away, her tail lashing, “I’ll show him!”

“Ignore him,” Rabbitpaw said softly, giving her a warm smile, “He’s just upset I beat him in training. If you ever need someone to show you some moves, let me know.”

Her fur grew warm again and she nodded, “Thanks, Rabbitpaw, I’d like that!”

Rabbitpaw trotted off after his brother, leaving Birdkit standing in front of the empty elders’ den, her paws tingling with determination. One day, she’d be a better warrior than Sunpaw ever could and, boy, would he be jealous then!

Birdkit tossed and turned in her nest, stopping only when she heard Quickkit hiss for her to stop. She shot a jealous look across the nursery at the three queens, each with peacefully-sleeping kits cuddled up to their bellies.

If only their mother hadn’t died shortly after they were old enough to eat freshkill, maybe Birdkit could sleep peacefully. Although Oaktree, their father, did so much for them, he slept in the warriors’ den instead of the nursery.

She could hear the quiet voices of warriors gathering outside for the dusk patrol and she imagined herself out there with them. Her fur ruffled by the evening breeze, her eyes heavy with sleepiness, but her claws ready to skin any cat that dared to cross ThunderClan borders! 

The voices of her Clanmates raised enough for her to overhear, and she strained to hear one voice in particular: Rabbitpaw.

Even though Rabbitpaw was only an apprentice, he was everything Birdkit aspired to be. She admired him so much- the way he encouraged the other apprentices and how he seemed to be excelling in his training. He was brave, smart, and kind- and Birdkit wanted nothing more than to follow in his pawsteps.

Birdkit slipped out of her nest and went to the edge of the nursery to peer out into the clearing. She spotted Rabbitpaw among the warriors on the dawn patrol and she held back a purr. Moonlight bathed the clearing in its pale light, making the short-tailed apprentice look almost mystical, like a StarClan warrior.

“Enjoying the view?” a knowing voice came from beside her, making her jump. Birdkit swiveled around to see her father, Oaktree, sitting beside the nursery. He gave her an affectionate lick and settled beside her, his thick tabby fur brushing against her lighter pelt.

“I wanna be on the dawn patrol too!” Birdkit whispered.

“You’re too young, little bird, and the other clans are too fierce,” despite turning her down, Oaktree’s tone was gentle and understanding, “ShadowClan’s always giving us too many issues and I’m afraid they may not realize you’re a kit if you come along...”

“Why do we always have to fight them?” Birdkit wondered, her gaze drifting to the trees towering over the gorse tunnel.

“That’s just how it’s always been,” Oaktree replied, “ThunderClan and ShadowClan don’t see eye to eye. They’re stubborn, like us.”

Birdkit stared into the distance, wondering what ShadowClan cats were like. She pictured them as dark, shadowy figures with eyes that glinted with malice. “Do you think… that there may be a ShadowClan cat who’s just like me?”