The Starless Code #1: Dawn By Jakei Hunter

Chapter 1

The wind was blowing hard on all sides. The rain was falling heavily, and Mist tried to get through the powerful storm by running ahead. Oh ancestors, help us! She cried out powerlessly with fear. She saw the rest of the warriors around her screaming in fear and trying to save themselves. When she noticed her father, Tornstrike who fell into the lake, Mist quickly ran towards him to help him. You are not going to die, not now! Mist screamed in her mind. She saw Tornstrike on the surface of the lake and struggled to hold on to the logs. Mist was afraid to jump into the lake, seeing how high it is. She sighed, closing her eyes. I can handle it, my father needs me. She thought, then opened her eyes. However, she no longer saw her father on any log, was he drowned? Mist looked around fearfully for Tornstrike, but he was gone. There is nothing left of Tornstrike. Mist fell to her knees, worried about the dirt on her clothes, despairing that she hadn't saved her father. Sorry! She cried out desperately and began to sob. As she looked ahead on the other side of the cliff, an unknown figure stood. Mist couldn't see his face through the powerful rain and wind. Mist thought it was her father who wanted to help her, but stopped thinking that as the figure stood quite taller than Tornstrike. As it boomed and flashed, Mist saw the stranger in a pool of blood. The figure was still motionless and watched Mist.

Before she was about to ask him who he was, she suddenly woke up panting. She was shaking with fear feeling deep unease, Mist still felt the presence of the strange figure watching her. Relief caught her after a few minutes. It ... it was just a dream. Thought Mist, brightening. When she got up and dressed, she left the house and was immediately greeted by Light.

"Mist!" Light cried out joyfully as she walked towards her. Mist felt safer seeing her Clan and her family alive. More than once she had dark dreams that terrified her, she wondered if this could be a prophecy.

"Hello, Light." Mist spoke up.

"Do you know what day it is?" Light asked, smiling. At first, Mist didn't know what Light was talking about, suddenly she woke up from bad thoughts when she realized what her friend was asking her about.

"Today we will be apprentices!" Mist said.

"Exactly, this is a very important day for all of us." Light replied and ran to her siblings who were waiting for her. Mist started to get pride, but she was also very nervous about the ceremony. Where is Feather? She asked herself mentally looking here and there looking for her brother. Did he dare to escape from the camp again? Mist sighed and then noticed Feather walking with the Tornstrike. Mist walked towards them, looking straight ahead.

"Hello Mist!" Feather first greeted her kindly. "Did you get enough sleep at our ceremony today?"

Mist nodded, smiling nervously. She was still thinking about this dream, though she stopped caring about it, nothing would destroy her such an important day,

especially some dream.

"That's good! Because today we are entering training! " Feather said, jumping up and down. Mist laughed hesitantly, then went to sit down near the tall boulder. She was looking at the tall boulder thinking about her future training, will she become a good warrior? Will he be able to undergo the training? Mist tried to convince herself that everything would be fine, and to become the fighter she wanted to be. I need to calm down, it will definitely be exciting to be a apprentice. Thought Mist, casting a steady glance at the sky. She saw clouds gathering in the sky, Mist was sure it was going to snow soon. The nights have been getting cold enough lately to catch any disease. This winter is going to be hard, Mist thought. Her heart started pounding when she noticed her mother, Moonstrike, climbing onto a tall boulder. Mist took a deep breath and exhaled as she stood up. It's time, Mist thought.

“Storm Clan Warriors! Gather under the tall boulder to the Clan Meeting!" Moonstrike screamed. Immediately the warriors began to rally. Mist tried to hide her stress by sighing. I am strong, I can handle it. Mist thought, then took a seat next to Light, Hope and Fire. A moment later Feather appeared at Mist's side.

"It is the day that the new apprentices begin their training as a warrior." Moonstrike said, looking proudly. Mist was ready to come to the center to be appointed apprentice. Suddenly she noticed her father who came up to her and Feather.

"I am proud of you." Tornstrike said calmly. Mist smiled, Feather was about to say thank you, but Mist did it for him, "Thank you, Dad."

Tornstrike gave his daughter a friendly and proud look.

"Feather, Mist, please come over." Moonstrike asked. Mist and Feather moved immediately as the warriors gave them a pass. Mist noticed the warriors regarding them respectfully. Until she had the impression that she is already a fighter, or even a deputy. Mist looked serious as she looked down at Moonstrike. Feather also had a serious face, although it was obvious that he was happy. As the silence fell, Moonstrike spoke, “From now on you are the apprentices of the StormClan, your ancestors will watch over you. Mist, you are a loyal and faithful member of our Clan. Sparrowflight will be your mentor. "

Mist was slightly surprised at the name of the warrior, turned back and noticed Sparrowflight walking towards her. The warrior took his place beside Mist, nodding respectfully. Mist nodded, reciprocating her respect. However, she quickly spoke to her mentor, "I promise I will try hard."

Sparrowflight smiled at that.

"We will make a great duo." Sparrowflight said, and his eyes fell on Moonstrike. The leader continued to appoint the rest of the future students.

“Feather, you are a generous and trustful, such a warrior will be useful to us in the future. Diamondheart will be your mentor, I hope she will pass on her knowledge to you. " Moonstrike said. Mist looked at Diamondheart who was already walking towards her brother. It had been so long since she had felt great pride, but she still felt uneasy. She saw Feather looking proudly at her mentor. Mist sighed, then focused on the ceremony again.

"Congratulations, good luck to you!" Moonstrike boomed proudly. Sparrowflight turned and started towards the crowd, Mist quickly began to follow him, staring at her feet. They both stood in the crowd again, waiting for the ceremony to end. She remembered that Light, Fire, and Hope hadn't received mentors yet.

"How was it?" Sparrowflight asked her. Mist lit up, giving her mentor a friendly look.

"It's great, but also stressful." She replied.

"Stressful? It's just a ceremony, what can go wrong? " Sparrowflight asked, then he laughed. Mist didn't answer her mentor's question, because if she told him, surely Sparrowflight wouldn't believe in her dreams. She has to keep it a secret so that no one will consider her as a weirdo. Mist continued to observe the ceremony of her friends. She felt happy to become a apprentice who could finally learn something. She was also relieved that her mentor was Sparrowflight. When the ceremony was over, Sparrowflight said to Mist, "Come on, let me show you around our large territory."

Before Mist followed her mentor, she took one last look at her friends who were proud to boast of what wonderful mentors they had. The only person who saw her insecurity was Light, her friend nodded her head goodbye. Mist did the same, then ran after Sparrowflight.