Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Victor

     The next day, I awake early.  Maybe Tough and Rough will be up.  They might be able to show me the forest.  Salmon and Trout are sleeping next to mother.  They won't miss me.  I creep past them.  I crawl under the twoleg stuff, and out the little flap-wall.  The stars shine as walk down the steps and into the yard.
"Aspen?  Windergreen?" I call into the night softly.  No reply.
"Tough? Rough?" I call again.  Still, no reply.  I snort in frustration.  Where are those furrballs?  I bunch up and hop onto the fence with ease.  I take a pawstep forward, and then another, gaining speed.  I look into the yards of the twolegs, but no sign of my friends.  Soon the sun is coming up.  I sigh and retrace my steps.  I guess I better go back.  
     "Where have you been, Minnow?" Mother asks me sharply.
"Uh, exploring the house," I reply.  She narrows her eyes.
"You nearly missed the story," Mother says dryly.  My ears perk up.
"Do tell!" I say.
"Please Mama?  At least tell us and not Minnow!" Salmon says.  I roll my eyes but look at Mother.
"Just listen," she says.  We sit in a semi-circle facing Mother.  "Once, a long time ago, there was a young cat named Moon.  Moon was a very special cat, you see.  One day, she decided to explore the world.  She left her home and walked into the forest nearby.  The forest was a dangerous place, you see, and still is."
Trout's eyes widen.  Salmon gasps.
"What was the forest like?" Salmon asks.
"Shh.  I'm getting to that," Mother says.  Salmon and Trout nod.  "The forest was full of dog-like creatures, but were far more dangerous than your common yapper.  These dogs had long, pointy snouts.  They had puffy tails and were orange and white.  The had sharp, dagger-like teeth.  There were small, flat-faced creatures that were just as dangerous as the orange dogs, but worse.  They could eat a cat in one bite.  But Moon wasn't scared.  She kept walking through the forest, following the stars."
"Wasn't Moon scared?" Salmon asks.
"No.  Salmon was very brave, you see," Mother replies.  Salmon nods.
"Soon, the trees began to grow scarcer and scarcer.  The grass under Moon's paws grew harder and harder.  And soon there were no trees at all.  She saw some twolegs nearby.  Moon was very curious.  She slunk up unnoticed by the twolegs.  They had small sticks with weird shaped thick leaves on the end, and were hitting them up against a cave where they were working.  Moon entered the cave.  Small lines of bright, glittering yellow lined the walls of the cave.  There were smooth, criss-crossed tracks that Moon followed.  Soon, the twolegs became less and less common.  The cave grew darker, but Moon still walked on.  And then, she came into a part of the cave where two tracks met.  There were beautiful crystals along the wall glowing where Moon stood.  It was beautiful.  Moon was very tired from her journey, and went to sleep.  She dreamed of cats with stars on their pelts that told her to go on a journey.  She would find her destiny at that place, and a yellow cat would accompany her."
My eyes widen at the thought of that cave.  That would be so cool!
"Moon accepted her quest and left the cave.  She was to go north, past the forest, past the mouth of the streams, to a place where the sun sank beneath the huge pool of water, so huge where you couldn't see the other side.  She met the yellow cat along her journey who was named Gold.  When she got to the place, she learned of her destiny."
"What was her destiny?" Trout asks, his eyes wide.
"That is for you to decide, my dear.  No one knows what Moon's destiny was, or her story of why she left her home." Mother replies.
"You mean no one really knows?  Then how did you hear of this story?" I ask.  Mother says nothing.
"Yeah, Mama, how did you know?" Salmon asks.
"It's been passed down to my family, my dears.  But that is not important.  What is important is that you stay safe and don't let the story get to your head."
"Okay, Mama." Trout says.
That story was amazing.  Someday, I will go to where Moon went.  One day.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Thornclaw

     That night, the nursery was quiet and peaceful, for Spotkit had gone to sleep early because of her apprentice ceremony, so Pebblikit and Redkit could get to sleep.  Thornkit awoke in a beautiful forest.  He tried to speak, but couldn't.  Instead, he watched the scene before him.
      There was a small kit, smaller than Pebblekit, next to its mother.  The kit was sound asleep.  Thornkit watched as the mother gently pushed the kit away, and quietly slunk away, leaving three other kits along with the first behind.  A large tom beckoned her with its tail, and they ran away.  Thornkit watched with horror as the kits wriggled around, aware of their mother's disappearance.  Thornkit then noticed the snow on the trees, and realized it was leaf-bare.  The kits!  They're cold!  One kit wriggled around, and Thornkit could see the kit's desperate eyes as it pleaded with the world, begging to be spared. The kit slowly grew still.  Thornkit watched with horror as it was repeated another time.  But two kits was alive.  And then, the seasons changed before Thornkit's eyes.  The snow melted and the sun rose and flowers blossomed as the kit grew.  The kit got up, the size of an apprentice.  The kit looked up at Thornkkit.  The cat had a dark orange and brown pelt, and glowing yellow-orange eyes.  A tom.  The cat's eyes continued to glow, and the scene faded.
      Thornkit looked at the new scene, and realized it wasn't a scene at all.  It was the nursery!  Thank StarClan!  That cat makes me want to run away tail between legs, not that I'd do that, of course.  The nursery was dark.  Oh, it's still night.  Thornkit looked at his denmates, sleeping soundly.  Do Pebblekit or Spotkit ever dream of dying kits?  But one look on their smiling faces as they slept told Thornkit they didn't.  Can't I ever dream of something normal like butterflies?
"Of course you won't, Thornkit.  You're not a normal cat."
"Who said that?" Thornkit whispered.  Redkit blinked open her eyes, but closed them shortly after.  Thornkit glanced around.  Who was that?
"Come find me, young one."
"Show yourself!" Thornkit hissed softly.  Redkit looked at him again.  He frowned apologetically.  She shrugged and went back to sleep.
"Ha!  You're so pathetic!"
"Stop it!" Thornkit yowled.  Spotkit and Pebblekit also awoke and stared at him.  "Bad dream," Thornkit replied.  Spotkit glared at him and Pebblekit just looked at him.  Eventually they both went back to sleep again.
"Stupid Thornkit.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.  How do you live with yourself?"
"STOP IT!" Thornkit sprang to his paws.  The whole nursery seemed to stare at him.  Seemed because they were.
"What is wrong with you?!" Spotkit sneered.
"It's okay.  Time to get up anyway." Cloudear, Pebblekit and Redkit's mother, said.  The kits and queens slowly rose to their paws.
"Congratulations, Spotkit.  I'm so proud of you." Twigtail nuzzled her kit.  Thornkit felt a pang of sadness.  Yellowspike didn't give Thornkit as much love as Twigtail gave Spotkit.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath highrock for a clan meeting!" Flamestar yowled.  Spotkit's ceremony!  Spotkit raced out of the den.
Spotkit can be a pain in the tail sometimes, but she deserves this.  
"Today a new apprentice will join us!" Flamestar shouted.  The clan cheered.  Spotkit bounded up next to Flamestar.
"Spotkit, do you promise to follow the warrior code, listen to your mentor, and fight for your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Flametar asked.
"I do," Spotkit replies happily.  She purred and looked at her clan, and her eyes met Thornkit's.  She looked away.
"Than by the powers of StarClan, I give you your name until you become a warrior.  Spotkit, you shall be known as Spotpaw.  Your mentor will be Robinsong.  May StarClan light your path."  Robinsong jumped up and touched noses with the cream-colored cat.
"Spotpaw!  Spotpaw!" The clan shouted.
"Spotpaw!  Spotpaw!" Thornkit shouted.  He purred.  Spotpaw jumped down and greeted the cats congratulating her.
"You'll be a great apprentice!" Thornkit shouted to Spotpaw.  I need to tell her something nice.
"Oh, thanks Thornkit!  Soon we can train together!" Spotpaw mewed back.  Wether it was just Thornkit or not, there was no false tone in the new apprentice's voice.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Wolfstrike

     "Wolfpaw!  Wolfpaw!" the clan cheers.  Wolfpaw puffs out his chest, his eyes holding back cheerful tears.  It feels so great to be an apprentice!  Wolfpaw can see Deernose chanting his name, a twinkle in her eyes.  Wolfpaw jumps down from the small hill where OwlClan holds their clan meetings.  Wolfpaw pads over to his new den, the apprentice den.  Two cats are in there.
"Hey Wolfpaw!  I'm Sandypaw, and this is Fernpaw!" a tan colored cat says.  Wolfpaw purrs.
"You'll love being an apprentice!" a light brown she-cat says, Fernpaw.  Wolfpaw smiles.
"I know I will!  I'm so excited!" Wolfpaw says.
"Yeah!  Who's your mentor?" Fernpaw asks.
"Foxpool."  Sandypaw and Fernpaw's eyes widen.
"That's so cool! Foxpool is epic!" Sandypaw exclaims.  Fernpaw nods.
"Just don't let Petalpaw know right away.  She was hoping for Foxpool herself, but got stuck with Rockdust.  And to warn you, don't get off on the wrong paw with her."  Wolfpaw nods.  As he looks into the faces of his new denmates, they look worried, almost scared.  How can one cat be so bad?
"Don't let me know what?" A beautiful tortoiseshell she-cat steps into the den.  She has bright blue eyes and curved whiskers.  But there is no kindness in her eyes as she stares at Wolfpaw.
"So you're the new apprentice?" She sneers.  "You can take over my job of cleaning the elders' nests."
"Relax, Petalpaw.  Rockdust won't let you switch jobs anyway." Fernpaw says, her voice careful to choose the right words.  Petalpaw glares at her.
"When I'm leader," Petalpaw says, "I won't let apprentices talk so rudely."
"Petalpaw!  Hunting patrol!" The voice of Rockdust enters the den.  Petalpaw smirks.
"Asta la vista, losers!  While you're cleaning ticks off the elders, I'll be catching more squirrels than the warriors can carry!"  Petalpaw laughs as she walks out of the den.  Fernpaw rolls her eyes.
"If the prey doesn't hear her complaining, that is," Sandypaw mutters.
"She really is a pawfull!" Wolfpaw exclaims as soon as Petalpaw is gone.
"You got that right!  If I were you I'd take the nest farest away from hers!" Fernpaw exclaims.  Sandypaw nods.
"Sometimes she talks so loud in her sleep it wakes her up and she blaims it on the cat nearest to her.  And don't get me started on the snoring!" Sandypaw says, and all three apprentices laugh.
"Oh and by the way, Duststep says all four of us will go on a hunting session in the clearing after you've toured the camp with Foxpool.  So we'll get a nice, long nap."  Fernpaw grins.
"You mean Petalpaw is coming too?" Wolfpaw asks nervously.  I won't survive 5 minutes with that cat!  She's such a pain in the tail, and I just met her!
"Oh no, of course not!" Sandypaw exclaims.  "Brackenpaw is coming, not Petalpaw.  Petalpaw only has a few more moons of training until she becomes a warrior.  Sandypaw and I have been an apprentice for about a quarter-moon, and Brackenpaw about half a moon.  So we all might become warriors at the same time so you won't be alone."  Wolfpaw lets out a sigh of relief as soon as Fernpaw is done.  That's good. Now I won't have to sleep alone.  
"Wolfpaw!  Time to explore the territory!" Foxpool!
"Have fun, Wolfpaw!  Tell us all about it!" Sandypaw mews.  Wolfpaw nods and races after his mentor.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Fastclaw

 

    Coalkit tossed the ball of moss to his sister, Aquakit.

“How about that one?” Coalkit asked her.  

“A little damp...” Aquakit held the moss to her nose, then wrinkled it and recoiled in disgust.

“Smelly!” she declared.  Amberkit laughed and tossed Aquakit another.  

“Dry,” Aquakit declared.  She sniffed it and shrugged.  “And it passes the smell test!”

“Great!” Coalkit declared.  “Let’s play!”  Together the three kits tossed around the moss ball.

“Oh, no!” Amberkit watched as the moss went sailing towards the elders den.  The kits exchanged a glance.

“She-cats first,” Amberkit said with a glance at Aquakit.

“You’re a she-cat too!” Aquakit said to her sister.

“I’ll get it.” Coalkit padded towards the elders den.  A plump gray she-cat was sleeping next to where the moss landed.  Uh oh!  It’s Mistdapple!  I had better be careful is I want to get the moss back.    Coalkit decided to walk around the warriors den so he could get behind the elders den and sneak up towards the moss, then snatch it before Mistdapple could see.  But as he neared the elders den, two voices made him stop.  

“How can you expect me to stay here?” A gray she-cat cried.  It’s Wingshadow!

“LeafClan gave you shelter when you needed it!  How could you want to go back to LeafClan?”  An angry tom cried at Coalkit’s mom.  Fireblaze!  Don’t yell at Mom!

“Stay here or else,” Fireblaze growled.  

“No.” Wingshadow replied.  You tell him, Mom!

“Wingshadow, I’m not letting you go back to MoonClan.” The tom’s voice was rising quick.  That could only mean one thing.  Wingshadow!  Back up!

“Fireblaze... don’t...” Wingshadow’s shrill cry meant nothing to her mate.  Fireblaze ran towards the nursery.

“If you won’t stay here, none of your kin will!” Fireblaze yowled to her.  
Amberkit!  Aquakit!  No!

“I got the moss!” Coalkit could hear his sister’s triumphant meow as she carried the moss toward Amberkit.

“Kits, come with me,” Fireblaze yowled calmly.  Maybe he’s calmed down.  Amberkit and Aquakit walked alongside her father.  Amberkit padded alongside her sister.  But Fireblaze’s gaze was toward the trees away from camp.  

“Fireblaze, don’t!” Wingshadow begged the tom to stop, but her efforts were helpless.  Coalkit followed his sisters and mother after Fireblaze from afar.  Finally, Fireblaze stopped.  Coalkit stared at his father.  How can this short-tempered evil cat be my kin?  Fireblaze’s eyes were filled with hatred, and his claws stained red with blood.  Wingshadow’s eyes grew round with fear.  

“Fireblaze, you don’t know what you’re doing!” Wingshadow hissed at her mate.

“Yes, yes I do,” Fireblaze replied, his eyes red.  He leapt at Wingshadow, his claws unseathed.  Aquakit and Amberkit screamed, but Coalkit was too shocked to join in.  

“What’s Dad doing?” Amberkit screamed at her sister.  Aquakit couldn’t speak as she watched her mother’s delicate body limply hanging from Fireblaze’s jaw.  Coalkit watched as Amberkit ran.  But Aquakit was still.  Aquakit let out a silent scream as her mother's head rolled toward her, Wingshadow's open eyes staing no where. Coalkit felt like fainting.  
Fireblaze turned to Aquakit.  She let out a small, helpless squeak as Fireblze grasped her in his jaw.  Aquakit let out a final scream before a sickening crunch filled the woods, and Aquakit's neck snapped. Fireblaze hooked his red eyes into the spot Coalkit was hiding. Coalkit ran.

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Rage

The dew drops gently fall to the ground as the strong black kit walked across the grass.  He paused to look at the flowers, then continued to walk.  He raised his head to the sky and sniffed for any signs of prey.  Nothing.  His belly growled with anger.  The cat’s tail swayed as he tried to distract himself from the hunger piercing his side.  He slowly closed his eyes then opened them again.

“Crow!  Crow!  Where are you?” Crow looked back behind him.  Mom.  He turned and ran back

towards the she-cat.  Perhaps she has food for me?  Soon he could see his mom’s amber eyes looking at him.  

“Do you have food?” he asked his mom.  Might as well just get to the point.  Crow’s hope sank when his mom’s eyes saddened.

“No, Crow.  Even better.”  What could possibly be better than feeding our starving bellies?

“Then what, Mama?”  Crow looked up into the blue eyes of his mom’s.  She looked back at him, her words false, she didn’t even believe herself.

“I’m expecting kits,” she said.  Crow stared at her.  How can Mama be so selfish, while I starve she creates more mouths to feed!

“Oh, Crow.  I’m sorry.” His mom glanced at her paws and hung her head.  Crow walked up to his mom and purred into her soft fur.

“We’ll get through this,” his mom said slowly.  Crow nodded.  We will get through this.  

“They’re beautiful,” his dad said.  Crow looked at his new brother and sister.  

“What are you going to name them?” Crow asked his mother.  Moons had past since his mother realized she was expecting kits.  

“The tom looks brave, like a fine fighter,” his dad said.

“And the she-kit looks like a peace maker,” his mom added.

“Let’s name them Claw and Peace.” his father’s words stung in Crow’s heart.  Crow remembered when he was born.  His mother and father didn’t comfort him with such carefully picked words.  They love them more than me, and when I was born there was plenty of prey.  We could feed over six kits back then, and now two more selfish kits!  
Crow looked down at his brother.  He was a dark brown tom, with his mother’s fur.  The she-cat, however, looked more like her father, with splotched dark gray fur.  Crow had to admit, they were had much better looks than Crow’s completely black fur.  He sighed. Mom and Dad now have Claw and Peace to raise. I'll go somewhere where there's lots of prey, in a lush forest.
Later that night, when Crow's mom and dad had fallen asleep, Crow crouched down and slunk off towards the exit to their den. Just when he was almost far enough away to run, he heard paw steps behind him.
"Crow! Crow! Wait up!" Claw.
"Go away, Claw." Crow looks at his brother then turns away.
"Wait! Crow! I want to come too!" Peace ran up to him. Her soft green eyes bore into his.
"You can't come," Crow's words were far too harsh. "Mom needs you and Claw." Just as Crow turned around again, a huge orange blur rushed past him. Fox! Oh, no! The kits!
"Claw! Peace!" Crow's words echoed throughout the forest. The fox lunged at his siblings, but cut short by the black paw scraping at its muzzle.
"Touch my brother and sister and I'll claw your heart out!" Crow snarled at his opponent. The fox lunged at him in response. The fox's jaw nearly bit into Crow, but the cat just barely side-stepped out of the way. Oh no you don't! The kits aren't your midnight snack!
"Peace! Watch out!" Peace's bright green eyes widened as the fox turned towards her. Crow lunged at the fox, but fell short. Then, a dark brown miracle flew by. Mom! Crow's mom slashed out at the fox, and while the fox stood there, stunned, she bit down on its neck. The fox yowled in pain, and then flung the she-cat off its back.
"Mahrie!" Crow's father ran toward his fallen mate. The fox turned to the kits once more, determined to make the battle worth while. Its neck was pouring out blood. Claw and Peace backed away slowly, but the fox advanced quickly. Mom and Dad may like them more than me, and I don't like them because of that, but I won't let them live a short like. They're my kin.
Crow lunged at the fox once more, and bit into its neck.

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Victor

     The bright, glowing sun shines down on me, casting a shadow as I exit my den.  My housefolk's nest.  The place where I slept with my mother as I grew into a much stronger cat that I am now.  She named me Minnow, a name that came from the small lake nearby.  Every day she would walk out and fish for a meal instead of the housefolk rubbish we're forced to eat.  And every day she comes back empty-pawed.
     But today, I told her I'll show her the biggest fish in the world. She just laughed.
"Oh, Minnow, do you really think you'll come back with a big fish?" she asked.
"Of course, Mom!  I can catch anything!" I replied.  My brother and sister, Trout and Salmon, just laughed.
"I think we'll catch it first!" Trout said.
"Trout, be nice to your brother!" Mom said.  But I knew she didn't mean it.  I was the runt of my litter, but just barely visible to the cat's eye.  But Trout and Salmon never let me forget it.  But today I'll prove them wrong.  I'm going outside to play in the yard.  But this front yard has no fence.  It has no boundaries.  According to the stories Mom's told, there is a huge territory of forest, untamed and unclaimed.  No cat has dared enter it, for huge creatures like the small yet deadly orange and white dog, or the domesticated wild dogs roam there.  Salmon said that she heard Sally, the cat from next door, say that her denmate, Sprinkles, went in and never came out.  That's why her housefolk got a cat named Sammy.
"Minnow, only the strongest cats cat catch fish," Mom said.
"But I am strong!" I protested.
"Only the strongest cats will be victorious, like me and Salmon," Trout said.  I remember that feeling in my heart... the sinking in my feelings.  My own siblings hate me.
     The next day, we were allowed to venture outside.  And that's where I am now.  Outside.  In the front yard, chasing the butterflies.
"I bet I can catch a moth before you can!" Salmon shouts to Trout.  He laughs, and they run towards a different side of the yard.  I realize my mom is watching them, not me.  She doesn't care. 
"Hey, runt!  Finally outside?" I glance around.  Who said that?!
"Up here, shorty!"  I look up.  Two cats are there, on the fence.  A light brown tom and a darker brown she-cat.  They must be littermates.
"Stop calling me that!" I shout at them.  They just laugh, and then jump down onto our yard.  They pad over to me.  The cats are huge!
"It's k, kid," the she-cat says.
"Who are you?" I ask them.  It's a dumb question, but I'm dying to know!
"I'm Aspen, and this is Wintergreen," the tom says.  "But we're nicknamed Tough and Rough."  I nod.  Those are cool names!
"What's your name?" Wintergreen/Rough asks.  I gulp.  How can I tell them my name's Minnow?
"It's okay if you're name's dumb.  We know how mothers are." Wintergreen looks at me with pure honesty.  I know I can trust her.
"Minnow," I reply.  "It is a dumb name."
"It's fine.  Why don't you make up a better name for yourself?" Aspen says.  I nod. A nickname...
"Only the strongest cats will be victorious, like me and Salmon," Only the strongest will be victorious.  Victorious.  Victorious...
I lift my head and look into my neighbors' eyes.
"My name is Victor."

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Thornclaw

 

  "Thornpaw!  Thornpaw!"  The clan cheers.  Thornpaw raises his head high, absorbing the glory of being an apprentice at last.
"You're going to be the best warrior ever!" Spotkit shouts.
"I wish I were Thornpaw's mentor!" Gorsetail sighs.  Thornpaw smiles.
"And Thornpaw, today you will pick your patrol!" Flamestar shouts.  The clan roars with shout.
"Oh, Thornpaw, let me come on your patrol!" Pebblekit shouts at him.
"No, me!" Robinsong shouts.
"I wanna be on his patrol!"
"No, me!"
"Thornpaw won't choose you!"  The clan argues over Thornpaw, who chuckles.
"You'll all get your turn on my patrol," Thornpaw says.  The clan cheers.  "But for today, I'm going to choose-" Thornpaw is interrupted by someone screaming.
"Thornkit!  Thornkit!  Thornkit!  Thornkit!"
"That's not my name anymore!" Thornpaw shouts at the cat.
"Thornkit!  Thornkit!  Thornkit!  Thornkit......."
     Thornkit groans and opens his eyes.  Spotkit is standing over him, her gaze fixed and angry.
"What?" Thornkit groans.  "I was having a good dream!"
"Yeah, and so was I!" Spotkit snorts.  "Until you rolled over into my nest sleep-talking!"  Thornkit grows red in embarrassment.  "Remember, you still have another moon to go until your apprenticeship."
"Spotkit, just because you're becoming an apprentice in a few sunrises doesn't mean you know everything!" Thornkit snorts.  She thinks she's so smart, being half a moon older than me!
"Spotkit!  Wanna play moss-ball with me?" Pebblekit and her sister Redkit come rushing over.
"No thanks.  Moss-ball is for kits.  I'm going to have my ceremony in a few sunrises." Spotkit glares at Pebblekit and Redkit as if they stuck thorns in her nest in the night like what had happened to Yellowspike, Thornkit's mother.  She had to give birth in a patch of thorns, where her single kit Thornkit earned his name.
 "Will you play with us, Thornkit?" Pebblekit looks up at Thornkit with her beautiful bright blue eyes.  Thornkit wails, "Pebblekit, don't give me the eyes!" Pebblekit looks up at Thornkit, knowing she has sold him.
"Fine." Thornkit snorts and follows Pebblekit and Redkit to a corner of the nursery.  Redkit picks up a wad of moss with her claw, then wrinkles her nose in disgust.  She tosses the moss to the side, then picks up another, sniffs it, and shrugs.  She tosses the ball to Pebblekit, and they begin the game.  Let's just hope no one sees me like this, or my apprenticeship may be delayed.

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Wolfstrike

     The kit slowly opens his eyes, finally seeing things for the first time.  Things were different without sight, he observes, for his mother's warm, musky scent didn't tell him the color of her eyes, or if there was a scar on her left ear, or a flea on her right flank.  He used to smell the sweet, damp forest outside of camp, and the warm, milky smells of the nursery.  He could smell the wet rain and the moist clouds getting ready to release it.  But now... now he could see these things.  His mother is a light brown, the color of the forest tree trunks, tabby with black tips on her ears, and occasional black splotches around her.  The nursery's look is a soothing, comfy den, with soft moss for nests, which is gray.  And the sky outside the nursery is a charming blue, with a few white clouds splattered here and there.  And soon he will know what the rain looks like.
"Welcome to the world, my kit." A soft, beautiful voice surrounds him, trapping the kit in love.  Mother.  The kit gently purrs, pressing against his mom.
"How are you, my Wolfkit?" His mother asks.
Wolfkit.  So that is my name.
The kit opens his mouth slowly, trying to mew a reply.  His tongue grasps the words he wishes to express, not wanting to release them.  His mother chuckles.
"Let talking come naturally," she says.  "You'll get the hang of it."
The kit opens his mouth again, not thinking about talking.
"M...m... Me... Meow..." The kit says slowly.  "Meow!"
"Can you say, hello mother?" His mom asks him after another grin.
"Hello mother," the kit says, putting effort into each letter.  His mother smiles.  She is very proud of her one kit.
"Say, my name is Wolfkit," his mother instructs him.
"My name is Wolfkit," he says, this time with more confidence.  Wolfkit Nd his mother continue this for awhile.
"What is your name, Mother?" Wolfkit asks.  He is curious, for if his name is Wolfkit, surely his mother's isn't Mother.  If so, then why would he be Wolfkit and not son?
"My name is Deernose, my kit.  But you can call me Mom."  Wolfkit nods.
"Ok, Mother," Wolfkit replies.   He smiles up at his mom, taking into detail how her face looks, and what her scent smells like.  She smells of fresh mint leaves and roses, and other plants.
"Where is father?" Wolfkit asks, catching both Deernose and himself by surprise.
"Father can't make it, dear," his mother says sadly.
"Why not?" Wolfkit asks.  His mother sighs.  It's obvious the kit won't stop asking until he gets the answer he wants.
"Can we talk about this another time ?" his mother asks.  The kit now sighs, and gives up.  He doesn't want to upset his mother on such a wonderful day.  After all, she's done a lot to make him happy.  Wolfkit understands that.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Fastclaw

     The light gray tabby she cat walked toward the silent tom.  Her belly swished from side to side, heavy with kits.
"You can't expect me to come to your clan to raise my kits just because you asked," She said.  The tom's eyes stared at his mate angerly, but he didn't dare lose his temper.
"The kits can't be separate from their father," the tom replied.
"This isn't about the kits!  This is turning into something about you, Fireblaze!"  The queen groaned in agony as a wave of pain filled her.
"Wingshadow, just come with me to LeafClan.  You can't possibly give birth out here." Fireblaze glanced around nervously around at his surroundings, as if the shadows were waiting for the correct moment to pounce.
"I will if I have to," Wingshadow replied, her voice quivering.  Another wave of pain flew through her.
"Wingshadow we must go.  The kits will be here soon." The tom's voice rose, filling with panic he couldn't disguise.  The queen nodded.  She wasn't about to risk another wave of pain-or worse- out in the forest between the two camps.  Together Fireblaze led Wingshadow to LeafClan camp.  It was hard for her to walk with the kits nearly ready to arrive in the world.  She often stumbled on even the smallest twig, but Fireblaze held his cool.  Finally they arrived in the camp.  Half of LeafClan was asleep.
"Come on.  The medicine den is right over here." The tom tried to lead his mate with him to the medicine cat den, but Wingshadow collapsed.  She cried out in pain once again.
"Mudleaf!  Come now!" Fireblaze's yowl echoed through the camp, bouncing off each tree, traveling to each shrub where the sleeping clan cats lay.  Soon a brown she-cat camp stumbling out of her den, her tail drooped, her ears raised in alarm.  She must have been asleep.
"Fireblaze.. wha..." Mudleaf began, but only to be interrupted by Fireblaze.
"Wingshadow is kitting!  Get your supplies!" Fireblaze yowled.
"Who's that?"
"Just go!"  The medicine cat hurried off into her den, returning shortly with some herbs and a twig.  She rushed over to the queen breathing heavily on the ground.
"Eat these," Mudleaf said.  The nudged the two herbs forward toward the queen, who ate them gratefully.
"They will increase your milk," Mudleaf said.
"But for pain?" The queen gritted her teeth in agony.  The medicine cat shook her head sadly.
"Just bite on this stick when the pain comes," Mudleaf said.  The queen stared at her for a brief second, but another wave of pain came, and she greatly accepted the stick and bit down on it.
"Please help me more," the queen whispered.
"Just calm down.  That's how I can help you." The medicine cat blinked slowly.
"They're coming!"  The queen whispered.  With Mudleaf's encouragement, three kits were released into the world.  Two were a dark gray with lime green eyes, while one took after his mother.
"They're beautiful," Wingshadow whispered.  Fireblaze nodded.
"What should we name them?" Fireblaze asked his mate.
"You name the two she-kits, they look like you," Wingshadow said simply, beginning to lick her kits gently.
"Aquakit for that one, and Amberkit for this one," Fireblaze said, pointing to each of the small dark gray she cats.
"And this tom," Wingshadow said, "will be Coalkit because of the fire in his heart." Coalkit, Aquakit, and Amberkit all looked around blindly.
"They will be great LeafClan warriors," Fireblaze said.  Wingshadow said nothing.
"We'll move them into the nursery in a second.  I'll gather a few warriors," Mudleaf said.  As she hurried off, the moon seemed to grow brighter, the stars shining, extending and retracting their glow as if trying to shout, in their own language, Coalkit.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

      The fierce dogs race after the cat, their tongues lolling, eagerly awaiting their prey.  The yellow tom makes a sharp turn, but the dogs are still on his trail, gaining on him.  And then the sky beyond the forest opens up more and more until the thunderpath is in the tom's view.  The tom's eyes widen as the monsters race past, the dogs gaining on him.  Suddenly, the fiercest dog of them all, the one with the sharp teeth and pointed ears, lunges forward, and the yellow tom closes his eyes and leaps into the air...
      Sunkit awakens, sweating like a crazy cat, panting like the sun had slept next to him instead of his mother, Cinderdrop.  He closes his eyes and leaves them like that for a few seconds, then opens them once more.  It was just a dream.  Just a dream, Sunkit.  No need to be worried... there are no dogs... no huge, pointy eared dogs with sharp teeth... none of them.  None.  I'm safe now, in the nursery... safe...
      Petalkit is the only other cat awake.  Her huge, soft brown eyes stare into Sunkit's.  Why are you awake? they seem to ask.
"Bad dream," Sunkit mouths to Petalkit, who nods.  Sunkit curls back up next to Blossomtail along with his other littermates, a gesture that Petalkit decides to copy.  And when Sunkit welcomes sleep again, no bad dreams join him.  You won't get me this time, pointy eared dog.  Not this time, not ever.
 Many, many moons later...
   

     Sunwhisker carries his vole back after a successful hunt.  Many cats turn to stare at the returning patrol.
"My, my, well done!" Streamstar purrs and walks toward my patrol.
"Very good, Sunwhisker.  You have led your patrol well." Streamstar flicks his tail and I follow him to the highrock.
"Let all cats old enough to swim gather beneath the highrock for a clan meeting!" Streamstar.  Cats gather around and I take a seat next to Petalsplash.
"Congratulations, Sunwhisker!  I've never seen more prey in the pile!  And not just fish!" Petalsplash whispers to me.  I shrug and smile.
"Volekit and Mousekit, please step forward," Streamstar says with a smile.  The two excited kits run up onto the highrock.
"Volekit and Mousekit, do you promise to obey the warrior code and listen to your mentor and respect your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"We do!" the kits squeal.
"Than by the powers of StarClan, until you become warriors, your names shall be Volepaw and Mousepaw. Volepaw, your mentor shall be Otterpool.  And Mousepaw, your mentor shall be Sunwhisker.  May StarClan light your paths."  Petalsplash looks at me and smiles.  I gasp.
"Volepaw!  Mousepaw!  Otterpool!  Sunwhisker!" the clan chants.  I rise to my paws and follow Otterpool up to the highrock.  I touch my nose to Mousepaw's, and after the ceremony we head out so I can show Mousepaw the territory.
"I'm so excited!  I'm going to be an apprentice!" Mousepaw squeals.  I smile.
"Just you wait!  You'll be the best warrior around!" I tell her.  Mousepaw purrs.  As we near the heart of our territory, a new scent catches my nose by surprise.
"What's that?" Mousepaw's nose quivers.  I recognise that scent anywhere, and not from experience.  From a dream.  Dog.  
"Dog, Mousepaw!  We need to lead it away from camp!" I yell.  Panic fills her eyes and we sprint away.  The dogs are hot on our trail.  And the dream I had as a kit is all I can think of.  The dog with the pointed ears...  I hear a sickening crunch.
"Sun whisker!" Mousepaw yield in pain.  Sunwhisker can't help it.  He screams.  The young, excited apprentice he's supposed to train is sprawled on the ground, her fur covered in bright cherry red blood, the pointy eared dog standing over her body, challenging Sunwhisker with his triumphant gaze.  Suddenly, when the dog knows he's watching, he sinks his horrid yellow teeth into Mousepaw's neck, her delicate bones snapping as easily as a twig.  The dog chews on her dead body, knocking her head off her neck.  Sunwhisker's fills with pure hatred.
She was no more than an apprentice.  She was just being shown the world, and you ruined it for her.  And now, pointy eared dog, you shall pay.  You won't harm me again.
The dog looks at Sunwhisker, mocking the young cat.
Come get me, the dog says.  Oops, too late.  I'm going to kill you first.
The dog races after Sunwhisker, who runs strait toward the spot where the sky becomes more visible, an unnatural break in the trees...
StarClan help me.
"Sunwhisker!" It's Petalsplash.
"I love you, Petalsplash," he says.  He knows he can't stop.  He's running too fast, the dog is gaining too quickly.
If I go down, this dog will too.
"I'll never forget you, Suwhisker!  I'll always watch out from now on, I'll never let any detail get past me!  I love you too!" Petalsplash cries. Her words catch in the breeze, sailing into Sunwhisker's head.
     As he leaps in the air, sailing over the monsters, all time stops.
So this is the end.
the dog is still after Sunwhisker.  He won't be going for nothing.  The pointy eared dog with the black and brown fur yelps in surprise as a monster barrels over him.  And then a black monster, darker than dark itself, is hurling towards him, and as it hits Sunwhisker, the impact sends him flying towards another monster.
I'm glad no one else was hurt.  I saved the clan, I really did.
And Sunwhisker can't remember what happens next.