River dashed across the road, paws skimming the rough turf. She had walked across many roads and grown used to their hard, unforgiving surfaces. This was not the case for Stonekit and Echokit. They had never seen a proper road, had only heard stories from the elders of their clan. Reaching the brown stained snow on the other side, she turned to face her friends, panting.
“Make sure there aren’t any machi- err, monsters coming, then run like you’ve never run before!” She called.
Across the path, she saw her friends nod and gather their haunches beneath them, ready to spring. A monster passed, buf
River found her way to the farthest boundary line, close to the Windclan border. Standing on the edge of the scent-line, River didn’t know why she hesitated so long before stepping out of Thunderclan territory. As she walked away from the clans, she tried her hardest not to look back.
The forest ahead looked dark and menacing despite the pale sunlight shining between the branches. Each shadow seemed to warn her to turn back, but River plunged forward anyway, her heart thumping with fear and anticipation. As the sun fell toward the horizon, rays becoming weaker in the grey sky, the she-cat began to slip into her old mind
The day was going perfectly, exactly how River wanted. She, Echokit and Stonekit talked, explored, and played like they always did. They’d found a corner of the camp where no one could hear or see them, and they were all just small enough to squeeze in. It was there that the day suddenly took a sharp turn for the worst for River.
“You know this morning, while you guys were out in the snow, Mom let it slip that we’ll be having out apprentice ceremony this within the next few days.” Stonekit meowed, and Echokit’s eyes grew huge.
“What?!” she exclaimed, immediately filling with ex
Mossball was...a lot of fun. River was uncertain at first, following Echokit across the clearing to where Stonekit sat waiting, his ears twitching with slight unease. Seeing his sister hopping along cheerfully seemed to calm him, however River could feel his cautiousness throughout the entire game. Still, he played, and his tone was always friendly as he explained the rules. Echokit ducked into the nursery and came out with a round, hard-pressed ball of moss. It had clearly been used many times.
“I got this from Deeplake! Sis says it’s the best one in her moss pile!”
“I don’t think there i
Early morning sunlight seeped through the lichen, striping her pelt. River opened her eyes and stretched, pushing herself into a sitting position. She was still weak from her journey, her muscles aching in protest with every movement. River looked around, surprised to find the cave empty. Standing, she cautiously moved about the cozy space, exploring the corners, sniffing the herbs now tucked in a crevice. There was a pool of water lying near the herbs, fed by a small, dripping stream. River took a quick sip before making her way to the entrance. Despite Deeplake’s advice to stay in the cave, River could feel a persistent ache o
Lightstar nodded. “Where do you come from?”
River faltered for a moment. Under the watchful green gaze, it was difficult to say. More cats had gathered round, all staring intently at River. The kit felt her fur beginning to rise. They’re circling around. The exit is blocked. They may seem friendly but I can’t be sure…
Lightstar sensed her discomfort and turned to the small, grey she-cat who had taken part in discovering her.
“Silverpaw, will you please fetch this kit some fresh-kill, and moss soaked in water?”
Silverpaw dipped her head, “Yes, Lightstar.
The moon was a sliver in the sky, only dimly shining on a winter night. Darkness clung to the snow-covered forest below; deep shadows lying beneath the bare, black branches. Through thick swathes of snow a young cat struggled forward. Her head barely cleared the surface of the cold, white substance, and her brown, silver-striped coat was plastered to her sides, revealing a jutting ribcage. She had been running for many suns and moons now, relying on instinct and a darker resource...one that the kit tried hard to ignore.
She took another faltering step, her paws numb. I have to get help. She thought faintly. Her next paw