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.

Prologue

Prologue

     The cat slowly rolls onto his back, making sure the warmth is divided evenly among his fur.  He purrs, for the fire is growing warmer and has just reached the rug he is resting on (as the housefolk call it).  His black and white fur reflects the fire's golden color, as it does on the light brown cat laying near him.  She is purring as well, for she has been thinking of the past life she had before this luxury only housefolk can provide.  And sharing it all with her friend makes it even better.  The fire crackles again, and sleep enters the tom. 
"Mom!" The she-cat groans.  She had just been dreaming of the forest shortly after the tom had welcomed slumber.
"Mom!" The tom slowly opens his eyes and scowls at nothing in particular.  He had been dreaming of the forest as well before his son's cry had awakened him.
"Mom!" The kit's yowl finally causes the tom to rise to his paws.  Specks of gray line his snout; he has aged since he last visited the forest.
"What is it you want, Junior?" the tom wearily asks the kit.
"Father, I've grown since I was born.  I am much stronger than I was.  I am no longer a kit!" he says.  The tom stares at him blankly.
"Get on with it," the tom says.
"In conclusion, I'd like to go to the Northern Backyard.  It's about time I left this den."  The tom's eyes widen, and he seems to really wake up.
"Why that's a fine idea, dear," the she cat smiles and lifts her head up.  "But you can stop with the huge vocabulary.  We know you're older."
"Are you kidding me?!" The tom raises his voice.  "He's not old enough yet!  He can't go!"  The she-cat and the kit stare at him, shocked.
"Why, I don't see why not, Victor," the she cat says.  "There's no need to be overprotective."
"Yeah!  I can take care of myself!" the kit says as he puffs out his chest.  The tom sighs.
"You're right, Mahrie.  You're right." The tom sighs and sinks back onto his sleeping spot on the rug.
"Don't be so hard on yourself," the she cat says calmly.  "You've been through a lot."  The tom nods slowly, his eyes drooping.
"Go on ahead, Junior.  I'm sorry for being so harsh." The tom sighs and rests his head on his paws.
"Ok!  I'll see you soon!  I'll miss you!" The kit dashes off into the place known as the Northern Backyard.  
"I'm sorry, Victor.  Get back to sleep." The she cat curls up once more, soaking up the warmth of the fire.  Her thoughts are nothing of the forest, not the scents, not the battles, nothing of it.  But the tom, he is thinking none of the fire.  The heat tries to comfort him, swirling around him, bathing him in the warmth of the flames.  But he ignores it.  Instead, he is curled up as well, pretending to sleep, but thinking back to his days in the Northern Backyard, and what wonderful days those were...

The New Story!

So, this will be the site for the prequel to The Story of FireClan.  So far, the cats I think I'll include are:
Fastclaw
Wolfstrike
Thornclaw
This may change if I get any new, better entries, but I really like them!  And Flamestar- your plot is too involved!  That'll have to be a separate series!  I'll be sure to do that but for now one series at a time!  Anyway, I'm going to start writing the first 5-6 chapters, so if I include anyone else it won't be too late.  Remember, try too get your story in by May 15 to make the story! 

And also, I'll paint the background after I know who the other character(s) will be.  For now I'll just use something random. :I
-Lusa A.K.A. Grayfur