Post by Fernpaw on Aug 3, 2007 9:34:57 GMT -5
((Comments are welcome.))
Authors Note
This is about Warriors, a seris by Erin Hunter about feral cats who live in a forest full of dangers that are guided by their warrior ancestors in StarClan. If you have any questions I'll be happy to answer them. I'm currently waiting for new books to come out, like Firestar's Quest.
The Beginning: Prologue
It was dark, not a signal star shone it's milky white light on the earth below. It was also quiet, too quiet. A soft rain was coming down making a little more than a soft patter as it fell to the ground. The baked and thirsting Earth greedily drank it up. No creature stirred except two lithe, muscular shapes.
Her ears alert and erect, she paused and set down a bundle of squirming, crying ginger fur. She scented the air, tortoiseshell fur prickled with apprehension, and nervousness. Then something came tearing out of the bushes and leaped onto the she-cat. Her eyes wide with fear she quickly swatted the tiny kit out of harms way into some Honeysuckle. The cat had torn ears and had dirty matted fur that reeked of the thunderpath and crowfood.
"You will not see the light of day again Speckledfur! You should have stuck with me I would have given you the world, but you had to chose him, but now you and your offspring shall pay!" The toms hot sticky breath on the she-cat's face made Specklefur's eyes water it smeeled so bad. The dark tom pushed down on Specklefur's neck. Specklefur made a gurgling noise and tried to struggle free, but gave up it was no use.
"Never, I would have given up my life before I stayed with you, you were never any good Brokentooth!"
"And die you shall!" The tom raised his other clawed paw and struck the she-cat with all of his power, before he was plowed into by another tom.
"Leave her alone Brokentooth!"
"You're too late Thunderheart, she has gone, and now so will you!" Brokentooth lunged at Thunderheart with claws out stretched. Thunderheart dodged nimbly, and then launched himself at the toms back. The rolled into the bushes, screeching, biting and clawing one another.
The bushed stopped shaking and a cat stepped out. He was cut and bleeding, lumps of light ginger fur was missing, but Thunderheart was alive. He rushed over to Specklefur. He bowed his head and began to grieve for her. The clouds parted just for a second to allow the moonshine on the two cats before disappearing again. Scarlet blood trickled out of the dead she-cats neck, spilling onto the tom's paws.
Thunderheart lifted his head as the first light of dawn began to glow faintly in the steel gray sky. He glanced around and saw some light ginger fur. He stood up and stretched, his limbs were stiff and felt like lead. He walked over to the kit and began licking it, comforting it. He lifted his head sharply, scenting the Dawn patrol, he was upwind, so he still had time. He picked the kit up and dashed into the forest.
He set the kit down in front of a door to a twoleg nest. "Take care Gingerkit,"he mewed softly. He scratched at the door before dashing off into safety behind the twoleg fence. He watched the twoleg step out of the house, then scooped up the tiny ginger kit stroking it and talking to it softly. Once the twoleg shut the door Thunderheart raced off back into the forest.
I hope you can forgive me Gingerkit, but this is for the best, your mother would have wanted it, he thought as he raced back toward camp. Right now being a forest cat was not the best thing in the world, there were terrible things going on right now, and the Clans were heading toward war..........
Chapter One
"There now little kitty, you have nothing more to cry about. Here you go you poor little kitty-kitty." The kindly twoleg gave Gingerkit a bottle of warm cow's milk. Gingerkit instantly stopped her crying and began to suckle. twoleg ran a gentle hand down her back as she suckled nosily and hungrily.
When she was through she burped just a tiny bit and snuggled down in the twoleg's warm sweater. The twoleg took the bottle away from Gingerkit and wiped her mouth clean with the edge of her sweater. "There now," she said softly as Gingerkit fell asleep in her arms. "I'm gonging to call you Ginger", and she wasn't to far off the mark either of her real name.
*****
Thunderheart walked slowly back to camp with a heavy heart. Before he got there he came across Firestar and the rest of the dawnpatrol. "What are you doing up so early," the ginger tom meowed.
"Nothing, I was just......., uh, out hunting. But I had no luck," he mewed.
"I see, so you mean to tell me that there is no prey in Tall Pines?"
Before Thunderheart could reply Mousefur bounded up to Firestar and meowed, "Specklefur is dead!" Firestar forgot all about Thunderheart and raced away with the rest of the dawnpatrol hot on his heels.
Everyone knew that Specklefur was a RiverClan queen, to find her dead on ThunderClan territory surprised Firestar and the others. Thunderheart looked down at his paws, mourning over the dead she-cat.
"Rainwhisker, go tell RiverClan that Specklefur is dead. Ashfur, look around the area, I can smell ShadowClan around here."
Rainwhisker dipped hi head and raced off toward the RiverClan border. Ashfur walked off scenting the air and following the ShadowClan cat's scent trail. He walked into the bushes and walked back out moments later with the body of Brokentooth. Brokentooth had been sent away to exile with Tigerstar. He was one of the few remaining loyal cats that remained.
Firestar stared at the two dead cats before turning to Thunderheart. "You know something about this don't you? You're the mystery father of her kit Thunderheart." Firestar gazed at Thunderheart with a gentle and questioning look in his eyes.
Thunderheart meet his eyes, but could not hold his gaze. "Yes Firestar I do," he mumbled. "I was Gingerkit's father. I loved Specklefur so much," he mewed sadly. "I couldn't help but love, after all we have been through, all she did for me."
Thunderheart had gotten into lots of trouble with RiverClan when he was young and nearly drowned twice. Specklefur had always helped him out.
Firestar understood what Thunderheart was going through. He knew how much it hurt to loose a mate, and so did his best friend Graystripe, the ThunderClan deputy. Graystripe had loved a beautiful RiverClan warrior named Silverstream. She had died giving birth to Stormfur and Feathertail, many moons ago.
"If RiverClan allows it, you have my permission to go with them when they bury her. For now, you can sit vigil. You can explain it to me later."
"Thank you Firestar," Thunderheart mewed. He was glad that he would be able to mourn in peace for her. He glanced up as Firestar signaled his warrior to move on, but Graystripe stayed behind.
"I'll stay with you," he murmured.
Thunderheart nodded and together the two toms sat side by side, each grieving for her in their own ways. Mistyfoot arrived along with Feathertail and Stormfur. They all looked sad to see Specklefur dead, but they were shocked to see Brokentooth dead as well. "What happened here and where is Gingerkit," Mistyfoot growled.
"Specklefur was coming here so that we could both take here to twoleg place where she would be better off with all that is going on. Then we met up with Brokentooth. he killed her before I could do anything. I fought Brokentooth so that he could not kill Gingerkit. After I finished with Broken tooth I carried Gingerkit over to twoleg place."
Mistyfoot nodded, her eyes clouding with sorrow. "May I help bury her and take her back to camp? I loved her so very much." It was common knowledge that Thunderheart and Specklefur both liked each other, but loved? That was news to the RiverClan cats and the ThunderClan deputy.
"Very well, come on Thunderheart," Mistyfoot said after a long pause. Graystripe must stay here though." Graystripe nodded, but looked at his two kits affectionately. Feathertail and Stormfur hung back while Mistyfoot and Thunderheart carried Specklefur toward the border.
Feathertail was the first to move after the two cats had disappeared down the slope toward the river. "Father how are you? I've missed you so much!" She rubbed her head affectionately against his shoulder. Stromfur hung back, watching his siter and father. He would wait until they were done. Feathertail backed up a few pawsteps to let her brother have turn.
He, unlike his sister was a bit more formal, he touched noses with him and Graystripe purred with delight. He was happy to see them again. "I've missed you so, as well. How are things going for you in RiverClan, you know if you don't like it you can always come to ThunderClan. I'm sure Firestar will accept you and the......"
"Dad, everything is fine. There is nothing to worry about. There is plenty to eat and everything, quiet your worrying." A little embarrest Graystripe moved his paws over the hard dry earth.
"It's just that I miss you and worry about you is all, your all I have left, said Graystripe." Feathertail walked up to him and entertwined his tail with her's, reassuring him. Graystripe smiled and said "you should get going now, before Mistyfoot claws mine as well as your ears off."
Stomrfur and feathertail let out a small mrrow of laughter before they said good bye and ran after the RiverClan Deputy and Thunderheart.
Chapter Two
Ginger opened her blue eyes and gazed out at the world for the first time. She was very suprised and scared. She closed her eyes and then slowly opened them again. Nothing had changed since she had fisr seen the world, only now it was not as blurry and things were starting to take shape.
She looked around her and saw a huge beast not moving. It had some hair, hair that was white and curly, but not a lot. Ginger slowly appoarched the monster, she could hear it's even breathing, this monster was not dead, only asleep. She creept up on it closer, however she was finding it walk again.
She was on a large white surface, that was lumpy, but soft. Tice she nearly feel off of it as she inched forward slowly, then once she was nearly there, she leaned back on her haunches and prepaired to spring. Se sprung and laned on the monsters face. The creature sprang to life in an instant and flung Ginger off. She landed on the far side of the bed on her feet before she fell over on her face.
The two-leg or monster as Ginger called it glanced around and saw Ginger laying on e the bed looking shocked and scared. She picked Ginger up and began to stroke it soothingly. Ginger however tensed up and nearly jumped ot of her fur when she could no longer feel the soft and springy ground beneath her. She soon calmed when she felt the two-legs warm fingers. Ginger then knew it was not a monster, but her two-leg that she had attacted. She felt bad about it, but it seem ed that the two-leg had forgiven her.
*****
Ginger was now steady on her feet and was acustomed to the things around the house, and all of the sounds. She wa curious and bright, she was eager to go outside but "she was much to young" her two-leg would always say. Ginger sighed, how she longed to be out there, chasing birds and squirrels. She flicked her gaze away from the wndow as a movement caught her. She chased after the brightly colored feathers that danced around on the floor.
After awhile chasing the feather bored her, but not as much as it tired her out. Tiredly, Ginger walked over to her wooden nest lined with some warm fuzzy, and white bedinga she knew was fleec. She liked having it there to snuggle up to. It remined her of her mother, who ever she was, she thought distantly, as thoughts became a blurr as sleep reached her with open arms.
The sun shone a pinky orange troug the window over the sink as the sun began to sink below the horison. Ginger strectched and yawned. She shook herself and then licked her fur clean before she leaped over edge of the basket. She slipped on the hard smooth floor and went slidding across the floor into a wall. She hated it when that happened.
She shook herself agian and then headed for the living room to remind her two-leg to remind her it was dinner time. She loved milk, it tasted so good to her, she loved it, but she hated how the water had a metalic tang to it. It made her sick. She leaned back on her huanches and sprang up onto the two-feet. Then she walked up the two-leg's body until she was sitting on it's chest. She meowed loudly and began to nudge her hand. The two-leg stirred and patted Ginger's head. "I suppose it's dinner time, well come on lets go."
Ginger hopped down and walked back into the kitchen, but this time she walked slowly and carefully on the shiny black and white surface.
***
It had been two moons since Thunderheart had dropped off Gingerkit with the two-legs, and the air surrounding the four Clans was just waiting for the first spark, to ignite the fire, the fire of war. He still missed his beloved, but every once in a while he would catch her scent. She was still with him and always would be. He purred at the thought of her, and was jolted back to the present when Brambleclaw snapped "Thunderheart, are you coming or not?"
"Yes, Brambleclaw, I'm coming." He dipped his head and followed the border patrol on. They were nearing the RiverClan border, when they spotted some RiverClan cats at Sunning Rocks! Thunderheart let out a battle screech as the patrol streaked toward them. Within a few heartbeats, he was in the thick of battle. He locked claws with Hawkfrost, then he retracted his claws so that the powerful tabby fell. In this one moment of opportunity, he jumped on the RiverClan cat, raking his claws down his side.
The tom screeched in fury and flipped himself on his back, exposing his belly fur, but throwing Thunderheart. The tabby yowled once and hurled himself at Thunderheart.
Thunderheart felt the massive tabby land on him, claws digging into his his shoulders as he was pinned down. He saw the gleam of teeth as the tom drew his head back to deliver the death bite. Then all of a sudden, Thunder heart kicked out, making the warrior loose his breath in surprise. Thunderheart once more was upon the RiverClan tom and shredded his ears.
The warrior shook him off and ran off, but just as Thunderheart was getting ready to help out Mousefur, the warrior was on him again. The force of the cat slamming into him made him loose his breath. He fell oh his side, gasping and heaving.
"You won't get away this time," he hissed in his ear. And he was right, there was nowhere for him to go or any hopes of escape. Well At least I'll be with you again my love, he thought as Hawkforst drew back his massive tabby head, white fangs gleaming like daggers. He closed his eyes and prepared himself for his final adventure among the living, but it never came. All of a sudden, Hawkforst's weight was gone and a cat was hauling him to his paws. He was surprised to see that it was Brambleclaw, half brother to Hawkfrost.
Brambleclaw and Hawkfrost had the same father, the murderous Tigerstar. Hawkfrost's mother was a loner named Sasha. She had stayed with RiverClan for a short time, then left. She left her two kits, Mothwing and Hawkfrost in RiverClan. Thunderheart dipped his head in thanks and was happy to see the other cats fleeing. While Thunderheart had been remembering about Brambleclaw, the tabby warrior had been battling his half-brother, and won. Hawkfrost was reluctantly, swimming across the the river back into RiverClan territory. The warrior glared daggers at Thunderheart before stalking stiffly off into the reeds.
Chapter 3: Part One
Ginger lifted her head from her front legs as her twoleg walked by to the metal snake that spouted water when punched. She stood and stretched each of her legs in turn before walking over to her twoleg. Her two leg bent down and stroked her on the back, the way she liked it before picking her up.
She stopped purring a soon as her feet no longer felt the smooth and slick surface of the floor beneath her paws. She let out a mew of surprise and unsheathed her claws as she was sailing through the air. The warmth of the twoleg and the soothing voice soon reassured her. Ginger relaxed slightly and retracted her claws some so that she was not cutting into the hairless flesh of the kind twoleg that held her.
She set the ginger tabby cat on the black and green smooth surface of the counter and patted her head. Ginger looked up at her curious as to why she was up here. Normally she would be shooed away like she always was. The only place she could be was on the window sill. She cocked her head slightly when her elderly twoleg walked away from her.
Ginger walked to the edge and looked down. It was still a long way down to the floor, and there was nothing near enough that she could jump on that would be lower to the ground. Sighing the kit sat down on her haunches and waited for the kind she twoleg to come back.
A few moments later and her twoleg appeared with a forest green box that had bars running along the sides and front. Her green eyes widened in fear and she let out a hiss. The ginger colored tabby retreated behind a jar of flour. She poked her pink nose out from behind the jar and scented the air. It smelled dusty and acrid from her fear scent. She snaked her orange and white around the jar to look at the cage box.
"It's all right Ginger, it's just a cat carrier. We're going to see the vet today to get you your first shots so that you can go outside. You're about eight weeks old now."
Ginger only understood a few words of what her twoleg said like her name and that it was OK. She nervously came out from behind the glass jar and walked toward the deep green barred box that was now sitting on the counter. She sniffed it and drew back quickly. It was covered in the fear scent of another cat, dust, and a weird, sharp smell.
"Come on now girl, it's fine."
Ginger watched warily as the woman opened the cage door. It made a loud shrieking sound as two points were pushed into a plastic, black rectangle before the door swung open. The twoleg's paws reached for her and Ginger shrank away. She really didn't want to go in there. The last cat that had been in the carrier had not been in there for a while and was afraid, very afraid. She didn't want to become stale fear scent herself! Besides, what was that weird sharp smell that was faint, but lingering?
The ginger tabby hissed at the carrier again, her hackles were starting to rise. She really didn't like this thing at all! She lashed out at her twoleg's paw she it reached for her. As soon as she scratched her twoleg's paw she felt bad and lowered her hackles. She hung her head sheathed her claws.
"Oh it's all right dear. Now in you go." The woman picked Ginger up carefully and sent her in the cat carrier. She shut and locked the door. "There now, see it's not so bad." The woman lead again and came back with her keys jingling in hand.
Ginger, unsure of what was making that intriguing noise stuck her white and ginger splotched paw through the bars, trying to bat at the dangling shiny thing in front of her. Then she was knocked to the back of the plastic container as it was lifted from the counter. Ginger got to her paws only to fall again as the cat carrier swayed back and forth rather violently.
