Defenders: Super Edition

Burning Feathers...


Chapter 1:


Moonpaw stretched and yawned. It wasn't yet sun-rise, so most of the apprenrices were still sleeping. Moon paw padded out into the crisp, morning air, and herd the pittiful mewling of Redkit, Rustykit, and Frostkit, Winterfrost's newborn kits. She saw her mother Silverriver, and father Swallowpine sitting by the old tree stump, and she raced over to meet them. "Hi mom, dad! I can't wait until I'm a defender just like you!" she meowed, gazing up at them. She noticed, feeling a bit taken aback, that she was nearly as tall as her parents! Silverriver ran her muzzle over her daughter's flank. "You'll always be my little kit." she purred. "Even when your muzzle fur turns gray!" added her father, turning his warm, amber eyes on her. Just then, Darkpaw, one of her fellow apprentice's padded out of the den, stretched, then padded over to where his mentor Dimplenose was sitting. From there, he proceded to draw a paw over his muzzle, then flick it over his ears. Moonpaw noticed how beautifly the sun caught his fur, leaving it to shine as if he had just stepped out of a river made of crystals. Moonpaw greaved for the brown and black tom, for his only littermate, Hazepaw, had died about 1 moon ago. Moonpaw had been best friends with Hazepaw pretty much since birth, for the lithe gray she-cat had been in the nursery at the same time as her. When Moonpaw looked back at Darkpaw, she saw that his hurt filled gray eyes were fixed on her. When she returned his glance though, he quickly lowered his gaze. Just then, the current leader, Fallowstar leaped up onto the Tallboulder, flanked by the current deputy, Bumbleheart. "Let all cats older than 7-moons gather here beneath the Tallboulder!" Fallowstar meowed, her voice rising into a purr. The silver-furred she-cat's belly was low to the ground with the weight of Bumbleheart's kits. Moonpaw padded forward, as she watched her sister settle down in a patch of early sunlight next to the cat whim she loved most, Brackenpaw. Bumbleheart stepped forward. "Today we are here to hold one of the most important cerimonies, the naming of new defenders." he meowed. "Darkpaw, please step forward. The black and brown tom stepped forward. "Darkpaw, do you promise to protect the tribe, even if it means surrendering your life to Sky Tribe?" questioned Bumbleheart. "I do." replied Darkpaw. "Then from this moment on, you will be known as...Darkspot!" mewed Bumbleheart. "Darkspot! Darkspot!" the tribe cheered. Moonpaw could resist no longer. She broke away from the crowd, and raced up to Darkspot. She ran her muzzle down his side, purring. then, he purred, "Hello sweetheart." Moonpaw jerked away. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me sweetheart!" she screeched. Just then, Fallowstar interupted, "Looks like Darkspot's already got a mate!" Darkspot lowered his head, and Moonpaw felt her fur growing hot. "It's okay. We can just leave and go hide in a den or something." Darkspot whispered. Moonpaw quickly began to follow Darkspot, but Fallowstar said, "Where do you think you're going, Moonpaw?" Moonpaw spun around, and stared wide-eyed at her. "Am I in trouble?" she whimpered, wishing she hadn't made such a big deal about Darkspot calling her sweetheart. "No!" said Fallowstar. "There's nothing wrong with having a mate!" said Fallowstar. Then, Bumbleheart stepped in front of his mate and purred, "There is something wrong with an apprenice that doesn't want to become a defender!" Moonpaw looked up at him in astonishment, and saw that his eyes were glittering with amusement. Moonpaw looked around confused, and then it dawned on her. He ment her and Marshpaw!