Drafts for the first book of my Fan series
Nov 12, 2020 21:30:09 GMT -5
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Post by Snowfire on Nov 12, 2020 21:30:09 GMT -5
(A/N: This isn’t canon to the official Warriors series, this is kinda my take on an arc 8th or 9th that I write for fun, these are only drafts so some things may change when I write the final drafts such as character names, dialogue, etc. Feel free to tell me what you think and I hope you enjoy my first post here on Warriors Forums ^^)
Prologue
It was a dark night in leaf-bare, the moonlight was covered by gray clouds. A gray she-cat leaped through the forest, stepping into the snow, followed by a dark ginger tom who caught up with the she-cat.
“Slow down Dandelionpaw,” The tom meowed in amusement “you don’t wanna trip and get your head stuck into hole,”.
“Oh Alderheart,” The gray she-cat exclaimed.”I’m so overjoyed, visiting the Moonpool for the first time was incredible, I can’t believe I actually met StarClan!” Dandelionpaw rolled around the snow playfully.
Alderheart mrrrowed in glee. “Alright, let's head to camp before you get a cough,” Alderheart snorted wryly.
Dandelionpaw shook the flakes of snow off her pelt then lifted herself up and padded to her mentor. They continued walking through the forest and arrived at a tunnel of brambles, greeted by two toms by the entrance on either side.
“Has the meeting gone well?” a brown tom with a half a tail asked.
Alderheart nodded then walked into the tunnel of brambles. As Dandelionpaw was about to follow, she saw something at the corner of her eye moving a few tail-lengths away, she faced it and saw it wasn’t a mouse but it appeared very small.
“I’ll be right back,” Dandelionpaw informed the two toms then walked toward the small creature. It was hard for her to spot it and then saw a blur of orange moving. She crouched forward, it had white wings with orange on the tips, slowly flapping on the snow.
A butterfly? In leaf-bare? She thought. “That's odd, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Dandelionpaw breathed on it then it began flying, Dandelionpaw began to follow it. This must be an omen!!! Dandelionpaw looked up and saw the snow beginning to descend, the wind blowing slowly toward the border next to WindClan. The butterfly began drifting as the wind blew. Dandelionpaw bounded toward the border. Gazing at the butterfly, it flew up the sky then it was gone.
“Where did it go?” Dandelionpaw meows then stopped as she heard the sound of snow crushing ahead across the WindClan border, she reached the stream, seeing a shadow of a cat, slowly walking it’s way toward her, she can make out a large brown tabby tom, carrying a shivering brown kit by it’s scruff. “Bearheart?” Dandelionpaw questioned. “What are you doing in WindClan territory?”
The brown tom hopped over the stream that led to the lake, almost dropping the mewing kit. The tom set the kit down between his paws. “Can you help me get Bear to camp?” Bearheart asked panting. “He’s freezing and I’ve run a long way from the Twolegplace to get here,” The brown tom heaved then began licking the kit, trying to get him warm.
“The Twolegplace?!" Dandelionpaw gasped. "What were you doing there?!”
“I’ll explain later,”. Dandelionpaw looked at the kit who was shivering, his eyes shut, bundled into the snow, flakes on his whiskers. She nodded then grabbed the tom by the scruff then began leading Bearheart to the camp.
They’ve reached the camp’s entrance, the two tom’s that guarded it earlier looked at them, both with questionable looks, the black tom bounded forward then sniffed the kit with curiosity.
“Where did this kit come from?” The tom asked.
“He’s my son, first let’s get him warm then I’ll tell you about the situation later,”. Bearheart replied wearily.
They walked through the bramble tunnel, into the camp, a dark ginger she-cat with one white paw sat on the High-ledge, eyes narrowed then her eyes widened as she saw the kit dangling from Dandelionpaw’s fangs. The she-cat padded toward them with a questioning gaze.
Dandelionpaw felt Bear shivering again so she lowered the kit onto the dry snow and began licking him gently.
“Squirrelstar,” Bearheart began, “This is my son, Bear, he’s from the Twolegplace, where my mate is,” Bearheart sighed nervously. “She needed me to bring him here because if he stayed, the Twolegs will take him away from us and we couldn’t risk losing him, I kept this as a secret for a while from the Clan…” Bearheart glanced at Bear then looked toward his leader, with a look without fury. “I’ve never regretted anything and I am willing to take any punishment you give me, even exile, as long as Bear remains in ThunderClan where I know he will be safe” Bearheart maintained as he looked down the ground, nervously and sorrowfully.
The ginger she-cat looked at him then the kit, her eyes showing no anger. “You and your kit can stay,” Squirrelstar affirmed. Bearheart shot a look at her and gasped. “I’m glad you still remained loyal to ThunderClan and brought him here for the best for him,” Squirrelstar meowed, her voice showing mercy. “And you can visit your mate from the Twolegplace as long as you notify me or anybody from here, you have not done anything wrong now that our warrior code is inconsistent now but some of your Clan-mates may see you differently.” Squirrelstar nodded to Dandelionpaw, gesturing to her to pick up the kit. “Twigbranch will nurse him until he’s ready to be apprenticed,”.
Bearheart sighed in relief then dipped his head to their leader. “Thank you for your mercy, Squirrelstar, I owe you everything,”.
Squirrelstar nodded then led them to the nursery. As they walked in they looked at a gray she-cat who were suckling her kits until she noticed them.
“Twigbranch,” Squirrelstar meowed. “Are you willing to take in this kit as if they were your own?” Squirrelstar glanced at the tom Dandelionpaw held in her fangs. Twigbranch looked at the kit with affectionate eyes then nodded to Squirrelstar. Dandelionpaw lowered Bear onto her nest with the rest of the kits, he began crawling to the other kits and nestled next to a pale cream-and-white tom that was half the size he was.
“From this moment on, this kit shall be known Bearkit,” Squirrelstar announced “Named after his father and now an official member of ThunderClan, may StarClan light his path,”
Dandelionpaw was asleep in her nest. She dreamt that she ran around through the forest beside the lake during greenleaf, the last of the sunlight’s warmth brushing against her fur. Dandelionpaw jumped over a tree root but she suddenly tripped, she leaped up to her paws and began to notice the butterfly gliding pass her nose, she gazed at it, it flew over the lake, flying toward the scarlet dusk beyond the territories reflecting the lake that was blood red. I was right! The butterfly is a sign from StarClan!
Dandelionpaw heard a murmur of a cat. There is a danger arising beyond the Clans, a voice far away can see this threat, listen carefully for the truth, or you will all fall...
Chapter One
Light filtered through the long gap above the entrance of the abandoned silver creature’s den. Snowy’s eyes flickered from the warm bright sunlight that faced her. She raised her head toward the mouth of the empty silver creature’s den. She heard scattering paw-steps of mice within the walls, which she was used to. Their scent hung in the air, making her mouth water. She shook her head then gaped her mouth open in a yawn, stretching her haunches. Snowy leaped down from the dusty housefolk object onto the cold hard stone. Her fur shivered from the cold wind that blew into the den. She licked her shoulder for a moment until she heard paw-steps of another cat. Breathing in the scent, she recognized the scent of the other cat. She padded toward the entrance and saw the gray tom, her mood lighting up.
“Taco! Snowy exclaimed. “You came back!” she purred as she was brushing her fur against his.
“Big deal, Taco grunted. “I couldn’t find any food from the other side of the housefolkplace, all the silver hollow housefolk things were empty”.
Snowy licked his black ears, her tail on his shoulders. ‘No worries” Snowy enthusiastically gestured toward the other side of the black path with her tail. “Come on, let’s find food through the alleys”.
Snowy reached the edge of the large black path that went through the housefolkplace. It was eerily silent, Snowy looked left to right then crossed the large black path, being followed by Taco. Once they reached the other end of the black path, a large silver creature passed through, leaving a warm musky scent, stinging Snowy’s throat, the scent clung onto her white pelt.
Taco ran ahead then turned to an alley, its walls formed shadows that covered the hard ground. Taco went to the corner and bestowed a large silver housefolk object, though it wasn’t as large as the silver creatures that roamed the black path. Taco jumped on top of the silver object then knocked off the top, making a large alarming noise that was as loud as thunder. Snowy froze in fear, her tail stiffened, her claws unsheathed.
“It’s empty,” Taco growled deep under his throat as he craned down the silver hollow housefolk object. “You should stop being terrified about every little thing, one of these days you're gonna get killed by the silver creatures or a dog.” Taco leaped down the silver housefolk object and staggered toward her.
I’m sorry, I just don’t like living here. I’m really used to living with a housefolk, it’s not easy out here, Snowy looked down at her shifting paws nervously.
A few moons before, Snowy lived with a housefolk as a kit, she never had a clear memory of her parents, except for their scent. She knew Taco ever since they were kits, though Taco preferred living in the allies, scavenging for scraps of food.
Snowy had been having strange vivid dreams and visions as well, she saw strange cats as well and some events that eventually became real, which sometimes causes her to black out, which is the reason why her housefolk left her out to fend for herself.
Why am I having these? I wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for these visions and dreams.
Ever since, she stayed with Taco, who sometimes has a short temper to others, especially her, he accompanied her, along with a few other cats.
Taco licked his shoulder. “Let’s see if the others have food, if they don’t have any and we can’t find food by sun-high, we have no other choice but to eat more rabbit droppings from Dragonfly’s housefolk nest.
Snowy cringed at the thought of that, she remembered having better food that was wet and soft from her housefolk, she heard about cats that hunt prey, the sound of it sounded exciting for her. Her mouth watered at the thought of food, especially prey, her stomach growled, Snowy turned to him. “Why don’t we try hunting instead?” Snowy looked at Taco curiously. “We can learn how to catch our own prey, then we don’t have to worry about looking for food,”.
Taco stared at her, seeing that he was annoyed. “We don’t need to catch prey, it’s too much work and it won’t be worth it,” Taco meowed. “We can do what we usually do, imagine all the food that would go to waste if we hunted instead?”
Snowy glanced at him then lowered her head, sighing. “I guess you’re right…” Taco stood up then stride passed her, brushing his tail against her muzzle.
“Good, now let’s go,” Taco started to lead her beside the black path.
Snowy followed then she heard the sound of paw-steps beating down on the black path behind her. She glanced and saw Taco running across the black path in fear, he stopped then jumped over the wooden fence. Snowy stared in confusion. She turned and saw Taco still striding ahead of her. It’s another vision, is there something coming? Something big?
Taco dashed toward the largest alley in the housefolkplace. Shadows loomed over the entire area, only a little sunlight. Snowy spotted movement ahead on top of a large housefolk box that carries housefolk junk. She heard paw-steps coming toward them, ahead was a large dark brown she-cat with long fur, standing tall.
“Hello Lotus,” Taco meowed as he sat down, his sleek tail wrapping his two front paws.
Lotus gave a short nod “I had a feeling you two were coming to ask for food, were you?”
Taco nodded. Lotus shook her head. “Well I’m sorry to say this but we barely found any, Haystack and I found scraps of housefolk food and we were starving so we ate it.” Lotus pointed toward the large housefolk box with her nose, it had two flaps hanging from the edge of the front. “Haystack’s looking for food from there, maybe if we help, we might find something,”
Taco nodded then ran ahead, Lotus followed, leaving Snowy behind.
I don’t think this would be such a good idea, some cat can get hurt… Snowy looked at the large housefolk box, chills shivers down her spine.
Taco looked back, a growl rumbling in his throat. “Don’t be such a useless cat and help us out will you?”
Snowy froze then shook her head then padded toward his shadow. They ran toward the large housefolk box, a tortoiseshell tom peered over the edge, looking down at them.
“Finally, about time!” Haystack exclaimed. Lotus jumped onto the edge of the large box then jumped in, Taco hopped on afterwards.
Snowy began to crouch down onto the hard cold ground, then she leaped onto the edge. One of her paws slipped, she fell in, hitting one of her back legs against the edge of the box, she landed on top of a cool housefolk thing though the repulsive scent started clinging onto her pelt. Her leg ached, Snowy got up, looking at Lotus and Haystack.
Taco at the edge purred in amusement. “Wow you really are clumsy!”. Snowy looked at him, heat rushing through her body from embarrassment.
Lotus shot him a stare, her eyes narrowed. “You think that was funny?” Lotus snickered defensively. “Don’t forget that one time when a housefolk grabbed your tail and held you!”.
Taco’s expression changed from humor to anger, he jumped down. “What did you say?” Taco hissed at her.
“Knock it off you too,” Haystack sighed as he stood between them “You can claw each other’s ears later, for now let’s find some food,” Haystack climbed onto one of the housefolk objects and began clawing it, exposing more things inside.
Taco gave Lotus an angry look then climbed up toward Haystack. Lotus began looking at another housefolk object and clawed it with both of her paws. Snowy looked down at the housefolk object she stood on then limped toward the corner of the housefolk box, her back leg stinging. She turned to the object then clawed it open with a swipe across it. She sniffed it, no sign of food, only sickening scents. Snowy’s stomach growled loudly.
There is nothing here, what’s the point of all this? All there is to scavenging is starvation, pain, and anger, I want to hunt for the others, I don’t care about what they say, we don’t know if hunting is hard unless we try it.
Snowy looked up at the opening of the large box, seeing the blue sky between the tall housefolk nests. There’s gotta be a reason I’m having these visions and dreams, a few have come true so far, as if something’s calling to me, and I must find what is.
Chapter Two
Snowy climbed up the large mass of housefolk junk until she reached the top where some toppled over the edge of the large housefolk box. Snowy jumped down, her wounded leg hitting against the hard floor. Her leg started pain stabbed into her leg, throbbing. Snowy laid on her side, wincing in pain.
Haystack sighed as he jumped off the housefolk box, carrying scraps of bones, he was followed by Lotus, carrying a stale brown food. Taco sat nearby, licking her chest repeatedly.
Haystack stood in the middle of the alley, dropping the few bones on his paws. “This is all we got,” Haystack meowed, watching as Lotus dropped her food with his bones.
Taco quickly stood up and paced toward the food. Snowy stood onto her two front paws and dragged herself toward the others. Lotus looked at her worriedly.
“Snowy, you should get that let taken care of, it looks pretty bad,”
Snowy shook her head in disapproval. “It’s not that bad, It just hit the ground when I jumped from the housefolk box. It’ll get better as long as I’m careful.”
Snowy lifted up her haunches with her good leg and limped until she reached the food.
Taco looked at the scraps then bit down into the solid brown item, only peeling off a piece with his fangs. He struggled to chew it then gulped it down. “This thing is hard as stone!” Taco growled and pawed the item across the alley. Lotus throat rumbled annoyingly.
Snowy leaned down and picked up one of the scraps of bones then began to chew it, biting it into little pieces so she could swallow. The others began eating their own pieces.
Once she finishes her bone, she can see some light hitting a wall of one of the housefolk nest, bringing light to the alley. It’s sunhigh.
Snowy’s belly still felt empty, she could feel her skin rubbing against her ribs. Taco stood up then began looking at the others.
“We should head to Dragonfly’s housefolk nest, I don’t think there’s any food for us out today,”. Haystack nodded then began to walk beside him. Lotus ran up to them. Snowy got up then limped toward them, feeling her leg sting a little, falling behind. Taco began to lead them out of the alley.
Snowy slowly limped behind the others, she was wincing in pain again, her shoulders heaving, she kept going until she collapsed, breathing in weariness, her ears ringed. The others looked back at her.
“I told you to rest, mouse-brain,” Lotus padded toward her then grabbed her by the scruff then dragged her against the floor.
Snowy looked at her surroundings as Lotus held her by the scruff. She saw that they were walking beside a row of housefolk nests, the black path was across it. Snowy recognized some of the scents from her last visit. She could hear a few barks of dogs in the distance, their scent washed her face.
“We’re here,” Taco and Haystack turned to an opening to one of the fences, it had a wooden flap that would move sideways.
Lotus laid Snowy down to her paws. “I think you’re strong enough for the rest of the way”
Snowy nodded then trudged.
The fresh scent of dog began to fill her nose. She heard loud beating paw-steps coming for them, a golden furred dog appeared from the corner of the housefolk nest, running toward them, its tongue hanging out of its mouth. Snowy stiffened. It was coming right at her!
The dog halted then began sniffing her, wagging its tail firmly. Snowy crouched against the ground, her back bristling.
“Don’t forget Snowy, Buddy’s harmless!” She heard a voice of another cat, a ginger she-cat coming from the gray flap from the housefolk nest, her collar made a small jingling noise as she padded toward them.
“Will you calm him down, Dragonfly?” Lotus meowed in amusement as Buddy began licking Snowy on her shoulder, her fur beginning to get soaked by his slobber.
The she-cat nodded then padded toward Buddy. She stood in front of him then raised her paw and shook her head. Buddy glanced at the she-cat then slowed down, calming his body as he sat down, licking his nose.
Snowy stood up again and shook her shoulder.
Dragonfly paced toward her and sniffed her wound. “What happened here?”.
“I hit a part of my leg against one of the huge housefolk boxes while we were looking for food, it hurts whenever I walk on it,” Snowy answered.
Dragonfly examined it then looked at her. “You should see Melody, I think she knows how to care for it, I think she’s strong enough to put it back in place,” Dragonfly meowed and gestured her tail toward one of the wooden fences with another housefolk nest at the other side.
Taco stood in front of Dragonfly, shaking his head angrily. “No! You mustn't go there,” The gray tom growled.
Snowy narrowed her eyes at him. “Why not?” Snowy glared at him. “She’s your littermate, you don’t need to come with me, but I’m going, you guys should go eat.”
Dragonfly nodded in defense. “My housefolk just filled my bowl earlier, with both food and water,” Snowy calmed down, relieved to have Dragonfly’s help. “Go help yourselves out, I’ll bring Snowy back before you know it”
Taco looked at her then quickly turned toward the gray flap on the housefolk nest, followed by Lotus and Haystack. Dragonfly gestured to Snowy to follow her. Snowy limped then noticed Buddy was walking beside her.
Dragonfly stood beside the fence, she looked at Buddy then stood on her back legs, pushing her two front paws forward a little then clumsily stood back onto her all four paws. Buddy wagged his tail again then repeated what Dragonfly did, except he pushed his two large front paws against the wooden fence, lowering his tail.
“Try climbing up his back onto the fence,”Dragonfly instructed. “and try leaving your claws unsheathed partly so you can get a grip on his fur without poking him, I’ll follow you behind,”.
Snowy nodded. She reached her paws onto Buddy’s thigh, releasing the tip of her claws into his long fur. She jumped onto his back with her back leg. She was close to the wooden fence then hopped onto it.
Dragonfly followed and quickly did the same until she hopped on beside Snowy. Dragonfly looked down at Buddy then licked his black nose, nodding her head. Buddy looked at her excitedly then landed onto his paws. He turned and padded toward the housefolk nest, his tail wagging again.
Dragonfly glanced behind her shoulder and looked down to a tall bush. “Okay, all you have to do is jump into that bush then land on the grass without hurting your leg” Dragonfly claimed.
Snowy didn’t bother waiting then leaped onto the bush, her claws hung into a branch, prickles of green falling to the wet dirt below her. Snowy landed her back leg on the mud, getting it soaked then sheathed her claws, landing onto the grass.
Dragonfly leaped down, getting her paws soaked from the wet dirt. “Ah come on!” Dragonfly curled the bottom of her lip annoyingly. “I just got washed,”. Snowy looked down guiltily.
“I’m sorry, I should’ve warned you when I had a chance,” Snowy looked down guiltily.
“Don’t be, I’m doing this to help you,” Dragonfly’s anger turned into a calm purr. Dragonfly padded ahead, walking to the other housefolk den.
Snowy caught up then scented Melody, Taco’s littermate. She heard a purr of delight coming from behind them. She turned and saw a gray tabby tom kit.
“Hi Snowy!” The little tom exclaimed.
Snowy’s heart warmed up, it was Taco and Melody’s younger brother, Bacon, who had come here to live with his older sister in her housefolk nest a moon ago.
Snowy purred then began licking Bacon on his head, between his ears. “Hello Bacon.” Bacon continued purring as he relaxed with his eyes closed. “Have you seen Melody?” Snowy asked as she stopped. “I need her help with something,” Bacon nodded then ran toward the clear solid flap then dashed through it.
It took a few heartbeats later, a jingling sound was heard. A gray she-cat padded out, her gaze was warm when she looked at her and Dragonfly. Bacon followed her excitedly.
“Hello Snowy and Dragonfly,” Melody purred as she touched noses with Snowy and Dragonfly. “What brings you two here?” Snowy limped toward her, Melody’s gaze changed into a worried look. “Oh dear,” She looked at her injured leg. “What happened?” Melody asked.
Snowy explained to Melody the story about how she hit her leg at the alley.
“Poor you,” Melody sighed. “Let me see what I can do.” Melody examined Snowy’s leg with her paw, making it sting a little. “It seems like two bones of your leg are compressed to each other, and it looks like it also has been bruised.” Melody affirmed.
“So is it broken?” Dragonfly glanced at her worriedly.
Melody shook her head. “No thankfully, I think this can be amendable, if I tug it, it’ll pop back into place,” Snowy gulped anxiously. “Don’t worry,” Melody meowed calmly and licked her shoulder. “It will be quick.” Melody began licking her bruise.
Bacon sat next to Snowy, his eyes were filled with joy, carrying a fuzzy housefolk item. “Here,” Bacon said excitedly. “Mousy will help you through,” Snowy purred in amusement as she crouched her two front paws at the item.
She can feel the grip of Melody fangs on her leg. Dragonfly looked, her gaze filled with uneasiness. Snowy gritted her teeth as she felt a hard tugging and a sharp pain coming from her leg, then it suddenly stopped with a pop coming from her leg.
Melody sighed in relief as she let her leg go. “It’s back in place, be careful next time whenever any of you go scavenging,” Melody advised. Snowy nodded then stood at her four paws, only a sore from her leg.
If I ever scavenge again. She noticed Melody examining her skinny sides. “Have you been eating?” Snowy shook her head.
“We couldn’t find any food so the rest of us came here to Dragonfly’s housefolk nest to eat, but I don’t have the appetite for it,” Snowy looked down at her paw. “I want to hunt.”
Bacon looked at her, pleased.
Melody had a prominent gaze. "You know, there is a place behind the fence of my housefolk nest where prey scatters through the small woods,” Melody purred. “You can give it a try, as long as you stay quiet”
Snowy felt her paws tempting to run to the back, she looked at Dragonfly. “Wanna come with me?”
Dragonfly shook her head. “I don’t want to get my housefolk upset, but I’ll tell the others where you are.”
Snowy nodded, then began to dart off beside the housefolk nest.
Snowy leaped up the fence, looking ahead, she saw tall trees, their leaves softly brushing against each other, scattering paws of prey were heard down below. Snowy leaped down, landing lightly onto the dry dirt. She was smelling so many lively scents, mice were scattering, birds were soaring, it was different from the housefolkplace.
In the forest, she felt alive. Snowy pricked her ears and began to listen to all the sounds of the forest. She heard a chirping of a robin. She stood slowly and walked through the grass, beside the fence with Dragonfly’s housefolk nest appearing from behind.
She heard the chirp more closely and turned and saw the robin pecking down the dirt in the open, searching for worms. Snowy crouched down, leaving her tail hanging above the ground without touching the grass. She crept toward it.
Hey I got the hang of this! It’s as if hunting runs through my veins!
As soon she got ready to leap, she saw a blur of gray at the corner of her eye crash into her, pinning her to the ground by her shoulder and her haunch, claws piercing. The robin was already gone then Snowy looked up at her attacker, angered to see who it was.
“What was that for?!” Snowy snapped at Taco.
“What did I tell you about hunting?” Taco snarled at her. “You ungrateful dung-brain, you only want everything to go your way!”
“Because I know this could be the best for the others, we can’t just keep scavenging for scraps!” Snowy growled. “You’re the one whose impetuous!”
Taco dug his claws into her thigh, feeling another stab of pain as blood began to ooze. “You listen to me, she-cat! You follow my orders or I will leave you to the silver creatures!”
Snowy felt a pang of pain in her belly. She couldn’t believe how he’s been treating her, hurting her, she felt a pang of guilt for falling for him.
Before Snowy could speak, she heard yowls of terror at the distance, they were the sounds of cats, and she recognized the sound before. I remember those yowls. She saw that Taco was distracted by the noise so Snowy crawled out of his grasp.
The yowls of the cats from my dreams...
Chapter Three
Snowy leaped to her paws and ran toward the noise. Air rushing past her ears. She saw the housefolkplace half a tree-length away.
“Hey!!! Where do you think you’re going!!! I’m not finished with you yet!!!” She heard Taco’s angry yowl behind her, followed by the beating of his paw-steps pounding on the ground.
Sticks and stones! If he catches me I’ll be crowfood for sure!
As soon as she halted beside the large black path, she can hear the barking of dogs in the distance, along with the yowls coming from the housefolkplace.
She could hear Taco’s paw-steps catching up to her, getting closer. Without hesitation, she took a few long leaps across the large black path. Her wound she was given stung with every step she took.
She felt a rumbling beneath her paws by the time she crossed the black path. She felt a wind of the familiar stinging scent of a silver creature stinging her throat, then she heard it rush pass behind her.
Snowy looked back frantically, her fur rising in fear, afraid whether Taco was following her and getting hit. She saw the movement of his grey pelt, crouching beside a bush of ferns, his eyes were narrowing.
Snowy sighed in relief but noticed that Taco was starting to run toward her. Are you really gonna just risk your life just to punish me?!
Snowy moved along the grey path then turned to a fence made of stone. She jumped onto it then leaped down. She heard the barking of the dogs even closer now. Snowy ran out of the alley then she heard a loud shriek of a cat.
She followed the sound toward another alley and saw the two large dogs chasing a pair of cats across the black path, a limping black tom and a tortoiseshell she-cat.
Snowy heard a snarl and turned toward the alley and caught sight of another pair of cats fighting a larger scrawny dog. A ginger tabby tom was biting into its neck, while a black-and-ginger she-cat was clawing its shoulder, the dog was growling and whimpering as it struggled to bite it’s attackers.
Fighting cats! I’ve never seen cats fight a dog before!
Snowy heard another yowl coming from the other pair of cats.
They need help, maybe that’s why I had the dream, I’m supposed to help them. Snowy crossed the black path, she could scent warm blood as she got close to the barking.
She spotted the dogs, crouching close to the two cats, cornering them in the alley, they began to notice her. Snowy looked at the shiny housefolk item next to then then at the stone fence.
Without thinking, Snowy shouted. “Jump onto the shiny object then over the stone fence! You’ll be safe there!”
The two large dogs shot their heads toward her, saliva dripping from their jaws. Snowy froze, she saw that the two cats actually jumped over the fence, as they left the spot.
Snowy began running back towards the alley where the other pair of cats were. She can feel the beating of the dog's paws, their stubby claws hitting against the hard stone floor. Her lungs started stinging from every pant she took.
Once Snowy reached the corner of a housefolk nest, she felt a strong force hit against her shoulder, making it sting when the familiar feeling of claws pierce her. The scent was recognizable.
Snowy struggled up, horror and shock beating in her heart, seeing the gray tom growling at her.
“I said I wasn’t finished with you yet!” Taco began to raise one of his unsheathed claws, until he pricked his ears then looked toward the two dogs catching up to them. Taco’s bristled fur changed from anger to terror.
He shouldered Snowy’s wound as he cowardly ran across the black path then jumped over the fence.
The vision! It’s real! He’s leaving me to the dogs! Snowy’s fur stood in panic then ran across the black path until she heard the sound of rumbling coming towards her.
She felt her scruff being grabbed as it was a tail-length away then in a heartbeat, she heard a loud pound above her ears as the silver creature passed by and whoever grabbed her collapsed, dropping her to her paws.
She looked back and saw the ginger tabby tom crouching down the ground, wincing in pain as blood trickled down his head to his nose.
He saved me! The dogs ran toward them then suddenly the black-and-ginger she-cat pounced onto one of them, and a dark grey she-cat started biting the other dog’s tail, joined by the tortoiseshell she-cat.
“Come on!” Snowy turned around and noticed the black tom from earlier, gesturing them toward a tall large bush.
Snowy looked back at the ginger tom then nudged him up, the black tom padded toward them and helped the ginger tom as he leaned to his shoulder, quickly running into the bush.
Snowy followed then turned toward the other cats fighting the dogs. One of them had begun to run off, the two cats began to join the other pair and fought alongside them.
They’re fighting as a group! Snowy ran into the bush where the two toms went into. Thorns pierced into her pelt, stinging her wounds. She reached the other side of the bush and spotted the two toms, the black tom was pawing some cobweb onto the ginger tom’s wound on his head.
Snowy padded toward them. “Is there anything I can do to help?” She meowed. The black tom looked at her worriedly.
“For now I need some cobwebs for his bleeding, maybe if you find some that would be very appreciated” Snowy nodded then padded along side the bush, searching for cobwebs.
Snowy returned with a mouth full of cobweb she collected from the bushes. The commotion from the cats fighting the dog was silenced. Snowy caught sight of the black tom limping toward her as she laid the cobweb to her paws.
“Thank you,” The black tom meowed then started striding awkwardly toward the ginger tom, who looked exhausted.
Snowy heard a rustle in the bushes, her neck fur rising in alarm. The three she-cats crawled out of the bushes, she sighed in relief.
The gray she-cat ran toward the two toms timidly. “Is Antpelt okay?” The gray she-cat asked.
Antpelt?That’s an odd name for a cat.
The black tom looked at the ginger tom, cobwebs smeared onto his head, his eye flickering, The black tom shrugged.
“I’m not sure Thriftear, I think the monster had hit him pretty hard on his head, it’s a relief that he survived.”
Snowy laid down, her muscles aching from all the running, her lungs started feeling better, but her tongue was quenched by thirst. Snowy pawed the grass nervously.
“He did it to save me,” Snowy meowed, feeling guilty as the she-cats turned to her questionably.
The tortoiseshell she-cat walked toward her, surprised by how large the she-cat was.
“You saved me and Flameburst from the dog, that’s how we repaid you at least,” The tortoiseshell purred then stopped as her eye widened. “That tom didn’t seem to care whether you have gotten hurt, he just left you there.”
Snowy sighed. She’s right… Taco just left me, I thought he would’ve protected me… So much for a future mate.
“You cats aren’t from here, are you?” Snowy looked up at the she-cat.
The she-cat shook her head. “No, we’re not from here.” She replied. “We’re warriors of ThunderClan.”
Has she hit her head too? “ThunderClan?” Snowy questioned awkwardly.
The black-and-ginger she-cat sat next to the tortoiseshell. “We’re one of the five Clans that live at the lake,”
The grey she-cat they call Thriftear looked at them annoyingly, the black tom watched awkwardly as he licked the wound on his shoulder.
“Have you two got bees in your brains! We don’t know her!”. The black-and-ginger she-cat narrowed her eyes at Thriftear.
“Maybe we do! She may be the cat we’re looking for!” Snowy tilted her head in confusion.
“Who are you looking for?”
The two she-cats glanced at her. “One of our medicine cats had a sign from StarClan, our ancestors, they said there is someone beyond the Clans who can see a threat coming, we don’t know what it is, but we’re looking for a cat that has dreams and visions of the future” The she-cat clawed the grass .
Snowy’s ears pricked in alarm, widening her eyes.
That must mean they were looking for me… “I think I’m the cat you’ve been looking for,” Snowy stood and looked at the two toms and Thriftear.
“I’ve had visions and dreams that have come true before, such as the dogs barking in the distance and the yowling of cats mixed with it, I heard it then I saw all of you,” Snowy turned to the black tom who she assumed was Flameburst.
“After I told you where to go and got chased by the dogs, my friend pinned me but then ran off in fear,” Snowy looked down at her paws in anticipation. “I had a vision of him running away this sunrise.”
The group of cats looked at each other, the air was silent, until the ginger tom, Antpelt, groaned as he struggled to his paws.
“She’s… She’s got to be the one…” The ginger tom looked at her, his eyes warm. Flameburst looked at Antpelt, laying his tail on his shoulders.
“At least lay down, you got a bad hit,”
Antpelt shook his head and slowly staggered toward Snowy, Flameburst following him by his tail.
The ginger tom laid on his side, panting a little, then laid on his four paws.
“What is your name?” Antpelt meowed in amusement, though Snowy can tell he was wincing from the pain.
“My name is Snowy,”
The tom looked at her. “Have you ever wondered what it’s like to hunt and be free, away from the twolegs?”
Snowy stared at him, confused. I think he means housefolks.
Snowy nodded curiously. “It’s as if it runs in my blood, I’ve always wanted to hunt, and the feeling of the woods just relieves me and the air is very fresh,” Snowy purred “I can’t stop thinking about it,”
Snowy remembered when she was a kit, when she had her first dream, she was in the woods and she had climbed up a tree, but struggled to climb down, until she met a dark gray she-cat and a flame-colored tom, they guided her down the tree, she could never forget it. “I’ve dreamed about it too,” Snowy meowed.
All five cats looked at her, it seems that Thriftear’s opinion about her changed.
“Then we have found you, Snowy...” Antpelt mewed. “You’re meant to become a warrior.”
Prologue
It was a dark night in leaf-bare, the moonlight was covered by gray clouds. A gray she-cat leaped through the forest, stepping into the snow, followed by a dark ginger tom who caught up with the she-cat.
“Slow down Dandelionpaw,” The tom meowed in amusement “you don’t wanna trip and get your head stuck into hole,”.
“Oh Alderheart,” The gray she-cat exclaimed.”I’m so overjoyed, visiting the Moonpool for the first time was incredible, I can’t believe I actually met StarClan!” Dandelionpaw rolled around the snow playfully.
Alderheart mrrrowed in glee. “Alright, let's head to camp before you get a cough,” Alderheart snorted wryly.
Dandelionpaw shook the flakes of snow off her pelt then lifted herself up and padded to her mentor. They continued walking through the forest and arrived at a tunnel of brambles, greeted by two toms by the entrance on either side.
“Has the meeting gone well?” a brown tom with a half a tail asked.
Alderheart nodded then walked into the tunnel of brambles. As Dandelionpaw was about to follow, she saw something at the corner of her eye moving a few tail-lengths away, she faced it and saw it wasn’t a mouse but it appeared very small.
“I’ll be right back,” Dandelionpaw informed the two toms then walked toward the small creature. It was hard for her to spot it and then saw a blur of orange moving. She crouched forward, it had white wings with orange on the tips, slowly flapping on the snow.
A butterfly? In leaf-bare? She thought. “That's odd, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Dandelionpaw breathed on it then it began flying, Dandelionpaw began to follow it. This must be an omen!!! Dandelionpaw looked up and saw the snow beginning to descend, the wind blowing slowly toward the border next to WindClan. The butterfly began drifting as the wind blew. Dandelionpaw bounded toward the border. Gazing at the butterfly, it flew up the sky then it was gone.
“Where did it go?” Dandelionpaw meows then stopped as she heard the sound of snow crushing ahead across the WindClan border, she reached the stream, seeing a shadow of a cat, slowly walking it’s way toward her, she can make out a large brown tabby tom, carrying a shivering brown kit by it’s scruff. “Bearheart?” Dandelionpaw questioned. “What are you doing in WindClan territory?”
The brown tom hopped over the stream that led to the lake, almost dropping the mewing kit. The tom set the kit down between his paws. “Can you help me get Bear to camp?” Bearheart asked panting. “He’s freezing and I’ve run a long way from the Twolegplace to get here,” The brown tom heaved then began licking the kit, trying to get him warm.
“The Twolegplace?!" Dandelionpaw gasped. "What were you doing there?!”
“I’ll explain later,”. Dandelionpaw looked at the kit who was shivering, his eyes shut, bundled into the snow, flakes on his whiskers. She nodded then grabbed the tom by the scruff then began leading Bearheart to the camp.
They’ve reached the camp’s entrance, the two tom’s that guarded it earlier looked at them, both with questionable looks, the black tom bounded forward then sniffed the kit with curiosity.
“Where did this kit come from?” The tom asked.
“He’s my son, first let’s get him warm then I’ll tell you about the situation later,”. Bearheart replied wearily.
They walked through the bramble tunnel, into the camp, a dark ginger she-cat with one white paw sat on the High-ledge, eyes narrowed then her eyes widened as she saw the kit dangling from Dandelionpaw’s fangs. The she-cat padded toward them with a questioning gaze.
Dandelionpaw felt Bear shivering again so she lowered the kit onto the dry snow and began licking him gently.
“Squirrelstar,” Bearheart began, “This is my son, Bear, he’s from the Twolegplace, where my mate is,” Bearheart sighed nervously. “She needed me to bring him here because if he stayed, the Twolegs will take him away from us and we couldn’t risk losing him, I kept this as a secret for a while from the Clan…” Bearheart glanced at Bear then looked toward his leader, with a look without fury. “I’ve never regretted anything and I am willing to take any punishment you give me, even exile, as long as Bear remains in ThunderClan where I know he will be safe” Bearheart maintained as he looked down the ground, nervously and sorrowfully.
The ginger she-cat looked at him then the kit, her eyes showing no anger. “You and your kit can stay,” Squirrelstar affirmed. Bearheart shot a look at her and gasped. “I’m glad you still remained loyal to ThunderClan and brought him here for the best for him,” Squirrelstar meowed, her voice showing mercy. “And you can visit your mate from the Twolegplace as long as you notify me or anybody from here, you have not done anything wrong now that our warrior code is inconsistent now but some of your Clan-mates may see you differently.” Squirrelstar nodded to Dandelionpaw, gesturing to her to pick up the kit. “Twigbranch will nurse him until he’s ready to be apprenticed,”.
Bearheart sighed in relief then dipped his head to their leader. “Thank you for your mercy, Squirrelstar, I owe you everything,”.
Squirrelstar nodded then led them to the nursery. As they walked in they looked at a gray she-cat who were suckling her kits until she noticed them.
“Twigbranch,” Squirrelstar meowed. “Are you willing to take in this kit as if they were your own?” Squirrelstar glanced at the tom Dandelionpaw held in her fangs. Twigbranch looked at the kit with affectionate eyes then nodded to Squirrelstar. Dandelionpaw lowered Bear onto her nest with the rest of the kits, he began crawling to the other kits and nestled next to a pale cream-and-white tom that was half the size he was.
“From this moment on, this kit shall be known Bearkit,” Squirrelstar announced “Named after his father and now an official member of ThunderClan, may StarClan light his path,”
Dandelionpaw was asleep in her nest. She dreamt that she ran around through the forest beside the lake during greenleaf, the last of the sunlight’s warmth brushing against her fur. Dandelionpaw jumped over a tree root but she suddenly tripped, she leaped up to her paws and began to notice the butterfly gliding pass her nose, she gazed at it, it flew over the lake, flying toward the scarlet dusk beyond the territories reflecting the lake that was blood red. I was right! The butterfly is a sign from StarClan!
Dandelionpaw heard a murmur of a cat. There is a danger arising beyond the Clans, a voice far away can see this threat, listen carefully for the truth, or you will all fall...
Chapter One
Light filtered through the long gap above the entrance of the abandoned silver creature’s den. Snowy’s eyes flickered from the warm bright sunlight that faced her. She raised her head toward the mouth of the empty silver creature’s den. She heard scattering paw-steps of mice within the walls, which she was used to. Their scent hung in the air, making her mouth water. She shook her head then gaped her mouth open in a yawn, stretching her haunches. Snowy leaped down from the dusty housefolk object onto the cold hard stone. Her fur shivered from the cold wind that blew into the den. She licked her shoulder for a moment until she heard paw-steps of another cat. Breathing in the scent, she recognized the scent of the other cat. She padded toward the entrance and saw the gray tom, her mood lighting up.
“Taco! Snowy exclaimed. “You came back!” she purred as she was brushing her fur against his.
“Big deal, Taco grunted. “I couldn’t find any food from the other side of the housefolkplace, all the silver hollow housefolk things were empty”.
Snowy licked his black ears, her tail on his shoulders. ‘No worries” Snowy enthusiastically gestured toward the other side of the black path with her tail. “Come on, let’s find food through the alleys”.
Snowy reached the edge of the large black path that went through the housefolkplace. It was eerily silent, Snowy looked left to right then crossed the large black path, being followed by Taco. Once they reached the other end of the black path, a large silver creature passed through, leaving a warm musky scent, stinging Snowy’s throat, the scent clung onto her white pelt.
Taco ran ahead then turned to an alley, its walls formed shadows that covered the hard ground. Taco went to the corner and bestowed a large silver housefolk object, though it wasn’t as large as the silver creatures that roamed the black path. Taco jumped on top of the silver object then knocked off the top, making a large alarming noise that was as loud as thunder. Snowy froze in fear, her tail stiffened, her claws unsheathed.
“It’s empty,” Taco growled deep under his throat as he craned down the silver hollow housefolk object. “You should stop being terrified about every little thing, one of these days you're gonna get killed by the silver creatures or a dog.” Taco leaped down the silver housefolk object and staggered toward her.
I’m sorry, I just don’t like living here. I’m really used to living with a housefolk, it’s not easy out here, Snowy looked down at her shifting paws nervously.
A few moons before, Snowy lived with a housefolk as a kit, she never had a clear memory of her parents, except for their scent. She knew Taco ever since they were kits, though Taco preferred living in the allies, scavenging for scraps of food.
Snowy had been having strange vivid dreams and visions as well, she saw strange cats as well and some events that eventually became real, which sometimes causes her to black out, which is the reason why her housefolk left her out to fend for herself.
Why am I having these? I wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for these visions and dreams.
Ever since, she stayed with Taco, who sometimes has a short temper to others, especially her, he accompanied her, along with a few other cats.
Taco licked his shoulder. “Let’s see if the others have food, if they don’t have any and we can’t find food by sun-high, we have no other choice but to eat more rabbit droppings from Dragonfly’s housefolk nest.
Snowy cringed at the thought of that, she remembered having better food that was wet and soft from her housefolk, she heard about cats that hunt prey, the sound of it sounded exciting for her. Her mouth watered at the thought of food, especially prey, her stomach growled, Snowy turned to him. “Why don’t we try hunting instead?” Snowy looked at Taco curiously. “We can learn how to catch our own prey, then we don’t have to worry about looking for food,”.
Taco stared at her, seeing that he was annoyed. “We don’t need to catch prey, it’s too much work and it won’t be worth it,” Taco meowed. “We can do what we usually do, imagine all the food that would go to waste if we hunted instead?”
Snowy glanced at him then lowered her head, sighing. “I guess you’re right…” Taco stood up then stride passed her, brushing his tail against her muzzle.
“Good, now let’s go,” Taco started to lead her beside the black path.
Snowy followed then she heard the sound of paw-steps beating down on the black path behind her. She glanced and saw Taco running across the black path in fear, he stopped then jumped over the wooden fence. Snowy stared in confusion. She turned and saw Taco still striding ahead of her. It’s another vision, is there something coming? Something big?
Taco dashed toward the largest alley in the housefolkplace. Shadows loomed over the entire area, only a little sunlight. Snowy spotted movement ahead on top of a large housefolk box that carries housefolk junk. She heard paw-steps coming toward them, ahead was a large dark brown she-cat with long fur, standing tall.
“Hello Lotus,” Taco meowed as he sat down, his sleek tail wrapping his two front paws.
Lotus gave a short nod “I had a feeling you two were coming to ask for food, were you?”
Taco nodded. Lotus shook her head. “Well I’m sorry to say this but we barely found any, Haystack and I found scraps of housefolk food and we were starving so we ate it.” Lotus pointed toward the large housefolk box with her nose, it had two flaps hanging from the edge of the front. “Haystack’s looking for food from there, maybe if we help, we might find something,”
Taco nodded then ran ahead, Lotus followed, leaving Snowy behind.
I don’t think this would be such a good idea, some cat can get hurt… Snowy looked at the large housefolk box, chills shivers down her spine.
Taco looked back, a growl rumbling in his throat. “Don’t be such a useless cat and help us out will you?”
Snowy froze then shook her head then padded toward his shadow. They ran toward the large housefolk box, a tortoiseshell tom peered over the edge, looking down at them.
“Finally, about time!” Haystack exclaimed. Lotus jumped onto the edge of the large box then jumped in, Taco hopped on afterwards.
Snowy began to crouch down onto the hard cold ground, then she leaped onto the edge. One of her paws slipped, she fell in, hitting one of her back legs against the edge of the box, she landed on top of a cool housefolk thing though the repulsive scent started clinging onto her pelt. Her leg ached, Snowy got up, looking at Lotus and Haystack.
Taco at the edge purred in amusement. “Wow you really are clumsy!”. Snowy looked at him, heat rushing through her body from embarrassment.
Lotus shot him a stare, her eyes narrowed. “You think that was funny?” Lotus snickered defensively. “Don’t forget that one time when a housefolk grabbed your tail and held you!”.
Taco’s expression changed from humor to anger, he jumped down. “What did you say?” Taco hissed at her.
“Knock it off you too,” Haystack sighed as he stood between them “You can claw each other’s ears later, for now let’s find some food,” Haystack climbed onto one of the housefolk objects and began clawing it, exposing more things inside.
Taco gave Lotus an angry look then climbed up toward Haystack. Lotus began looking at another housefolk object and clawed it with both of her paws. Snowy looked down at the housefolk object she stood on then limped toward the corner of the housefolk box, her back leg stinging. She turned to the object then clawed it open with a swipe across it. She sniffed it, no sign of food, only sickening scents. Snowy’s stomach growled loudly.
There is nothing here, what’s the point of all this? All there is to scavenging is starvation, pain, and anger, I want to hunt for the others, I don’t care about what they say, we don’t know if hunting is hard unless we try it.
Snowy looked up at the opening of the large box, seeing the blue sky between the tall housefolk nests. There’s gotta be a reason I’m having these visions and dreams, a few have come true so far, as if something’s calling to me, and I must find what is.
Chapter Two
Snowy climbed up the large mass of housefolk junk until she reached the top where some toppled over the edge of the large housefolk box. Snowy jumped down, her wounded leg hitting against the hard floor. Her leg started pain stabbed into her leg, throbbing. Snowy laid on her side, wincing in pain.
Haystack sighed as he jumped off the housefolk box, carrying scraps of bones, he was followed by Lotus, carrying a stale brown food. Taco sat nearby, licking her chest repeatedly.
Haystack stood in the middle of the alley, dropping the few bones on his paws. “This is all we got,” Haystack meowed, watching as Lotus dropped her food with his bones.
Taco quickly stood up and paced toward the food. Snowy stood onto her two front paws and dragged herself toward the others. Lotus looked at her worriedly.
“Snowy, you should get that let taken care of, it looks pretty bad,”
Snowy shook her head in disapproval. “It’s not that bad, It just hit the ground when I jumped from the housefolk box. It’ll get better as long as I’m careful.”
Snowy lifted up her haunches with her good leg and limped until she reached the food.
Taco looked at the scraps then bit down into the solid brown item, only peeling off a piece with his fangs. He struggled to chew it then gulped it down. “This thing is hard as stone!” Taco growled and pawed the item across the alley. Lotus throat rumbled annoyingly.
Snowy leaned down and picked up one of the scraps of bones then began to chew it, biting it into little pieces so she could swallow. The others began eating their own pieces.
Once she finishes her bone, she can see some light hitting a wall of one of the housefolk nest, bringing light to the alley. It’s sunhigh.
Snowy’s belly still felt empty, she could feel her skin rubbing against her ribs. Taco stood up then began looking at the others.
“We should head to Dragonfly’s housefolk nest, I don’t think there’s any food for us out today,”. Haystack nodded then began to walk beside him. Lotus ran up to them. Snowy got up then limped toward them, feeling her leg sting a little, falling behind. Taco began to lead them out of the alley.
Snowy slowly limped behind the others, she was wincing in pain again, her shoulders heaving, she kept going until she collapsed, breathing in weariness, her ears ringed. The others looked back at her.
“I told you to rest, mouse-brain,” Lotus padded toward her then grabbed her by the scruff then dragged her against the floor.
Snowy looked at her surroundings as Lotus held her by the scruff. She saw that they were walking beside a row of housefolk nests, the black path was across it. Snowy recognized some of the scents from her last visit. She could hear a few barks of dogs in the distance, their scent washed her face.
“We’re here,” Taco and Haystack turned to an opening to one of the fences, it had a wooden flap that would move sideways.
Lotus laid Snowy down to her paws. “I think you’re strong enough for the rest of the way”
Snowy nodded then trudged.
The fresh scent of dog began to fill her nose. She heard loud beating paw-steps coming for them, a golden furred dog appeared from the corner of the housefolk nest, running toward them, its tongue hanging out of its mouth. Snowy stiffened. It was coming right at her!
The dog halted then began sniffing her, wagging its tail firmly. Snowy crouched against the ground, her back bristling.
“Don’t forget Snowy, Buddy’s harmless!” She heard a voice of another cat, a ginger she-cat coming from the gray flap from the housefolk nest, her collar made a small jingling noise as she padded toward them.
“Will you calm him down, Dragonfly?” Lotus meowed in amusement as Buddy began licking Snowy on her shoulder, her fur beginning to get soaked by his slobber.
The she-cat nodded then padded toward Buddy. She stood in front of him then raised her paw and shook her head. Buddy glanced at the she-cat then slowed down, calming his body as he sat down, licking his nose.
Snowy stood up again and shook her shoulder.
Dragonfly paced toward her and sniffed her wound. “What happened here?”.
“I hit a part of my leg against one of the huge housefolk boxes while we were looking for food, it hurts whenever I walk on it,” Snowy answered.
Dragonfly examined it then looked at her. “You should see Melody, I think she knows how to care for it, I think she’s strong enough to put it back in place,” Dragonfly meowed and gestured her tail toward one of the wooden fences with another housefolk nest at the other side.
Taco stood in front of Dragonfly, shaking his head angrily. “No! You mustn't go there,” The gray tom growled.
Snowy narrowed her eyes at him. “Why not?” Snowy glared at him. “She’s your littermate, you don’t need to come with me, but I’m going, you guys should go eat.”
Dragonfly nodded in defense. “My housefolk just filled my bowl earlier, with both food and water,” Snowy calmed down, relieved to have Dragonfly’s help. “Go help yourselves out, I’ll bring Snowy back before you know it”
Taco looked at her then quickly turned toward the gray flap on the housefolk nest, followed by Lotus and Haystack. Dragonfly gestured to Snowy to follow her. Snowy limped then noticed Buddy was walking beside her.
Dragonfly stood beside the fence, she looked at Buddy then stood on her back legs, pushing her two front paws forward a little then clumsily stood back onto her all four paws. Buddy wagged his tail again then repeated what Dragonfly did, except he pushed his two large front paws against the wooden fence, lowering his tail.
“Try climbing up his back onto the fence,”Dragonfly instructed. “and try leaving your claws unsheathed partly so you can get a grip on his fur without poking him, I’ll follow you behind,”.
Snowy nodded. She reached her paws onto Buddy’s thigh, releasing the tip of her claws into his long fur. She jumped onto his back with her back leg. She was close to the wooden fence then hopped onto it.
Dragonfly followed and quickly did the same until she hopped on beside Snowy. Dragonfly looked down at Buddy then licked his black nose, nodding her head. Buddy looked at her excitedly then landed onto his paws. He turned and padded toward the housefolk nest, his tail wagging again.
Dragonfly glanced behind her shoulder and looked down to a tall bush. “Okay, all you have to do is jump into that bush then land on the grass without hurting your leg” Dragonfly claimed.
Snowy didn’t bother waiting then leaped onto the bush, her claws hung into a branch, prickles of green falling to the wet dirt below her. Snowy landed her back leg on the mud, getting it soaked then sheathed her claws, landing onto the grass.
Dragonfly leaped down, getting her paws soaked from the wet dirt. “Ah come on!” Dragonfly curled the bottom of her lip annoyingly. “I just got washed,”. Snowy looked down guiltily.
“I’m sorry, I should’ve warned you when I had a chance,” Snowy looked down guiltily.
“Don’t be, I’m doing this to help you,” Dragonfly’s anger turned into a calm purr. Dragonfly padded ahead, walking to the other housefolk den.
Snowy caught up then scented Melody, Taco’s littermate. She heard a purr of delight coming from behind them. She turned and saw a gray tabby tom kit.
“Hi Snowy!” The little tom exclaimed.
Snowy’s heart warmed up, it was Taco and Melody’s younger brother, Bacon, who had come here to live with his older sister in her housefolk nest a moon ago.
Snowy purred then began licking Bacon on his head, between his ears. “Hello Bacon.” Bacon continued purring as he relaxed with his eyes closed. “Have you seen Melody?” Snowy asked as she stopped. “I need her help with something,” Bacon nodded then ran toward the clear solid flap then dashed through it.
It took a few heartbeats later, a jingling sound was heard. A gray she-cat padded out, her gaze was warm when she looked at her and Dragonfly. Bacon followed her excitedly.
“Hello Snowy and Dragonfly,” Melody purred as she touched noses with Snowy and Dragonfly. “What brings you two here?” Snowy limped toward her, Melody’s gaze changed into a worried look. “Oh dear,” She looked at her injured leg. “What happened?” Melody asked.
Snowy explained to Melody the story about how she hit her leg at the alley.
“Poor you,” Melody sighed. “Let me see what I can do.” Melody examined Snowy’s leg with her paw, making it sting a little. “It seems like two bones of your leg are compressed to each other, and it looks like it also has been bruised.” Melody affirmed.
“So is it broken?” Dragonfly glanced at her worriedly.
Melody shook her head. “No thankfully, I think this can be amendable, if I tug it, it’ll pop back into place,” Snowy gulped anxiously. “Don’t worry,” Melody meowed calmly and licked her shoulder. “It will be quick.” Melody began licking her bruise.
Bacon sat next to Snowy, his eyes were filled with joy, carrying a fuzzy housefolk item. “Here,” Bacon said excitedly. “Mousy will help you through,” Snowy purred in amusement as she crouched her two front paws at the item.
She can feel the grip of Melody fangs on her leg. Dragonfly looked, her gaze filled with uneasiness. Snowy gritted her teeth as she felt a hard tugging and a sharp pain coming from her leg, then it suddenly stopped with a pop coming from her leg.
Melody sighed in relief as she let her leg go. “It’s back in place, be careful next time whenever any of you go scavenging,” Melody advised. Snowy nodded then stood at her four paws, only a sore from her leg.
If I ever scavenge again. She noticed Melody examining her skinny sides. “Have you been eating?” Snowy shook her head.
“We couldn’t find any food so the rest of us came here to Dragonfly’s housefolk nest to eat, but I don’t have the appetite for it,” Snowy looked down at her paw. “I want to hunt.”
Bacon looked at her, pleased.
Melody had a prominent gaze. "You know, there is a place behind the fence of my housefolk nest where prey scatters through the small woods,” Melody purred. “You can give it a try, as long as you stay quiet”
Snowy felt her paws tempting to run to the back, she looked at Dragonfly. “Wanna come with me?”
Dragonfly shook her head. “I don’t want to get my housefolk upset, but I’ll tell the others where you are.”
Snowy nodded, then began to dart off beside the housefolk nest.
Snowy leaped up the fence, looking ahead, she saw tall trees, their leaves softly brushing against each other, scattering paws of prey were heard down below. Snowy leaped down, landing lightly onto the dry dirt. She was smelling so many lively scents, mice were scattering, birds were soaring, it was different from the housefolkplace.
In the forest, she felt alive. Snowy pricked her ears and began to listen to all the sounds of the forest. She heard a chirping of a robin. She stood slowly and walked through the grass, beside the fence with Dragonfly’s housefolk nest appearing from behind.
She heard the chirp more closely and turned and saw the robin pecking down the dirt in the open, searching for worms. Snowy crouched down, leaving her tail hanging above the ground without touching the grass. She crept toward it.
Hey I got the hang of this! It’s as if hunting runs through my veins!
As soon she got ready to leap, she saw a blur of gray at the corner of her eye crash into her, pinning her to the ground by her shoulder and her haunch, claws piercing. The robin was already gone then Snowy looked up at her attacker, angered to see who it was.
“What was that for?!” Snowy snapped at Taco.
“What did I tell you about hunting?” Taco snarled at her. “You ungrateful dung-brain, you only want everything to go your way!”
“Because I know this could be the best for the others, we can’t just keep scavenging for scraps!” Snowy growled. “You’re the one whose impetuous!”
Taco dug his claws into her thigh, feeling another stab of pain as blood began to ooze. “You listen to me, she-cat! You follow my orders or I will leave you to the silver creatures!”
Snowy felt a pang of pain in her belly. She couldn’t believe how he’s been treating her, hurting her, she felt a pang of guilt for falling for him.
Before Snowy could speak, she heard yowls of terror at the distance, they were the sounds of cats, and she recognized the sound before. I remember those yowls. She saw that Taco was distracted by the noise so Snowy crawled out of his grasp.
The yowls of the cats from my dreams...
Chapter Three
Snowy leaped to her paws and ran toward the noise. Air rushing past her ears. She saw the housefolkplace half a tree-length away.
“Hey!!! Where do you think you’re going!!! I’m not finished with you yet!!!” She heard Taco’s angry yowl behind her, followed by the beating of his paw-steps pounding on the ground.
Sticks and stones! If he catches me I’ll be crowfood for sure!
As soon as she halted beside the large black path, she can hear the barking of dogs in the distance, along with the yowls coming from the housefolkplace.
She could hear Taco’s paw-steps catching up to her, getting closer. Without hesitation, she took a few long leaps across the large black path. Her wound she was given stung with every step she took.
She felt a rumbling beneath her paws by the time she crossed the black path. She felt a wind of the familiar stinging scent of a silver creature stinging her throat, then she heard it rush pass behind her.
Snowy looked back frantically, her fur rising in fear, afraid whether Taco was following her and getting hit. She saw the movement of his grey pelt, crouching beside a bush of ferns, his eyes were narrowing.
Snowy sighed in relief but noticed that Taco was starting to run toward her. Are you really gonna just risk your life just to punish me?!
Snowy moved along the grey path then turned to a fence made of stone. She jumped onto it then leaped down. She heard the barking of the dogs even closer now. Snowy ran out of the alley then she heard a loud shriek of a cat.
She followed the sound toward another alley and saw the two large dogs chasing a pair of cats across the black path, a limping black tom and a tortoiseshell she-cat.
Snowy heard a snarl and turned toward the alley and caught sight of another pair of cats fighting a larger scrawny dog. A ginger tabby tom was biting into its neck, while a black-and-ginger she-cat was clawing its shoulder, the dog was growling and whimpering as it struggled to bite it’s attackers.
Fighting cats! I’ve never seen cats fight a dog before!
Snowy heard another yowl coming from the other pair of cats.
They need help, maybe that’s why I had the dream, I’m supposed to help them. Snowy crossed the black path, she could scent warm blood as she got close to the barking.
She spotted the dogs, crouching close to the two cats, cornering them in the alley, they began to notice her. Snowy looked at the shiny housefolk item next to then then at the stone fence.
Without thinking, Snowy shouted. “Jump onto the shiny object then over the stone fence! You’ll be safe there!”
The two large dogs shot their heads toward her, saliva dripping from their jaws. Snowy froze, she saw that the two cats actually jumped over the fence, as they left the spot.
Snowy began running back towards the alley where the other pair of cats were. She can feel the beating of the dog's paws, their stubby claws hitting against the hard stone floor. Her lungs started stinging from every pant she took.
Once Snowy reached the corner of a housefolk nest, she felt a strong force hit against her shoulder, making it sting when the familiar feeling of claws pierce her. The scent was recognizable.
Snowy struggled up, horror and shock beating in her heart, seeing the gray tom growling at her.
“I said I wasn’t finished with you yet!” Taco began to raise one of his unsheathed claws, until he pricked his ears then looked toward the two dogs catching up to them. Taco’s bristled fur changed from anger to terror.
He shouldered Snowy’s wound as he cowardly ran across the black path then jumped over the fence.
The vision! It’s real! He’s leaving me to the dogs! Snowy’s fur stood in panic then ran across the black path until she heard the sound of rumbling coming towards her.
She felt her scruff being grabbed as it was a tail-length away then in a heartbeat, she heard a loud pound above her ears as the silver creature passed by and whoever grabbed her collapsed, dropping her to her paws.
She looked back and saw the ginger tabby tom crouching down the ground, wincing in pain as blood trickled down his head to his nose.
He saved me! The dogs ran toward them then suddenly the black-and-ginger she-cat pounced onto one of them, and a dark grey she-cat started biting the other dog’s tail, joined by the tortoiseshell she-cat.
“Come on!” Snowy turned around and noticed the black tom from earlier, gesturing them toward a tall large bush.
Snowy looked back at the ginger tom then nudged him up, the black tom padded toward them and helped the ginger tom as he leaned to his shoulder, quickly running into the bush.
Snowy followed then turned toward the other cats fighting the dogs. One of them had begun to run off, the two cats began to join the other pair and fought alongside them.
They’re fighting as a group! Snowy ran into the bush where the two toms went into. Thorns pierced into her pelt, stinging her wounds. She reached the other side of the bush and spotted the two toms, the black tom was pawing some cobweb onto the ginger tom’s wound on his head.
Snowy padded toward them. “Is there anything I can do to help?” She meowed. The black tom looked at her worriedly.
“For now I need some cobwebs for his bleeding, maybe if you find some that would be very appreciated” Snowy nodded then padded along side the bush, searching for cobwebs.
Snowy returned with a mouth full of cobweb she collected from the bushes. The commotion from the cats fighting the dog was silenced. Snowy caught sight of the black tom limping toward her as she laid the cobweb to her paws.
“Thank you,” The black tom meowed then started striding awkwardly toward the ginger tom, who looked exhausted.
Snowy heard a rustle in the bushes, her neck fur rising in alarm. The three she-cats crawled out of the bushes, she sighed in relief.
The gray she-cat ran toward the two toms timidly. “Is Antpelt okay?” The gray she-cat asked.
Antpelt?That’s an odd name for a cat.
The black tom looked at the ginger tom, cobwebs smeared onto his head, his eye flickering, The black tom shrugged.
“I’m not sure Thriftear, I think the monster had hit him pretty hard on his head, it’s a relief that he survived.”
Snowy laid down, her muscles aching from all the running, her lungs started feeling better, but her tongue was quenched by thirst. Snowy pawed the grass nervously.
“He did it to save me,” Snowy meowed, feeling guilty as the she-cats turned to her questionably.
The tortoiseshell she-cat walked toward her, surprised by how large the she-cat was.
“You saved me and Flameburst from the dog, that’s how we repaid you at least,” The tortoiseshell purred then stopped as her eye widened. “That tom didn’t seem to care whether you have gotten hurt, he just left you there.”
Snowy sighed. She’s right… Taco just left me, I thought he would’ve protected me… So much for a future mate.
“You cats aren’t from here, are you?” Snowy looked up at the she-cat.
The she-cat shook her head. “No, we’re not from here.” She replied. “We’re warriors of ThunderClan.”
Has she hit her head too? “ThunderClan?” Snowy questioned awkwardly.
The black-and-ginger she-cat sat next to the tortoiseshell. “We’re one of the five Clans that live at the lake,”
The grey she-cat they call Thriftear looked at them annoyingly, the black tom watched awkwardly as he licked the wound on his shoulder.
“Have you two got bees in your brains! We don’t know her!”. The black-and-ginger she-cat narrowed her eyes at Thriftear.
“Maybe we do! She may be the cat we’re looking for!” Snowy tilted her head in confusion.
“Who are you looking for?”
The two she-cats glanced at her. “One of our medicine cats had a sign from StarClan, our ancestors, they said there is someone beyond the Clans who can see a threat coming, we don’t know what it is, but we’re looking for a cat that has dreams and visions of the future” The she-cat clawed the grass .
Snowy’s ears pricked in alarm, widening her eyes.
That must mean they were looking for me… “I think I’m the cat you’ve been looking for,” Snowy stood and looked at the two toms and Thriftear.
“I’ve had visions and dreams that have come true before, such as the dogs barking in the distance and the yowling of cats mixed with it, I heard it then I saw all of you,” Snowy turned to the black tom who she assumed was Flameburst.
“After I told you where to go and got chased by the dogs, my friend pinned me but then ran off in fear,” Snowy looked down at her paws in anticipation. “I had a vision of him running away this sunrise.”
The group of cats looked at each other, the air was silent, until the ginger tom, Antpelt, groaned as he struggled to his paws.
“She’s… She’s got to be the one…” The ginger tom looked at her, his eyes warm. Flameburst looked at Antpelt, laying his tail on his shoulders.
“At least lay down, you got a bad hit,”
Antpelt shook his head and slowly staggered toward Snowy, Flameburst following him by his tail.
The ginger tom laid on his side, panting a little, then laid on his four paws.
“What is your name?” Antpelt meowed in amusement, though Snowy can tell he was wincing from the pain.
“My name is Snowy,”
The tom looked at her. “Have you ever wondered what it’s like to hunt and be free, away from the twolegs?”
Snowy stared at him, confused. I think he means housefolks.
Snowy nodded curiously. “It’s as if it runs in my blood, I’ve always wanted to hunt, and the feeling of the woods just relieves me and the air is very fresh,” Snowy purred “I can’t stop thinking about it,”
Snowy remembered when she was a kit, when she had her first dream, she was in the woods and she had climbed up a tree, but struggled to climb down, until she met a dark gray she-cat and a flame-colored tom, they guided her down the tree, she could never forget it. “I’ve dreamed about it too,” Snowy meowed.
All five cats looked at her, it seems that Thriftear’s opinion about her changed.
“Then we have found you, Snowy...” Antpelt mewed. “You’re meant to become a warrior.”