Well, I wanted to write this story just today. I was just at Erin Hunter's book signing and the Warriors story kept turning in my head. And this morning, I just woke up and the idea was in my head when I was eating breakfast. So here it is. I hope you like it. I'm quite proud of this chapter.

The Cat at the Window

It all started with a cat on the window. No. It started long before that. It all started in a forest that was old and sacred to all its inhabitants, namely the Clans. Of course, the the forest is gone now, the trees ripped out of their home, along with the wild cats. They had long left their beloved home to find someplace new to settle in.

Now, they stay near a large expanse of lake, happy, but they still miss that home that was their birth right. They hadn't forgotten about their mystical Star Clan or the terror that one particularly ambitious cat brought. Those memories and beliefs still stayed with them, and will stay with them probably for forever.

Our story begins with a dark brown tabby tom, just barely six moons old.

It was dark and everything glowed eerily even though there was no moon. He was in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by tall, brown towering objects with small papery green things jutting out from the tops. He padded up to it cautiously, holding his breath as if that thing could just jump out at him. When he crept up close enough to it, he sniffed at it testily. Its smell was strange and unexplainable to him, yet it was somehow familiar. He put his forepaw before him, gently digging his claws into the rough exterior, watching it carefully for some reaction. But nothing happened.

"Welcome." Tigger spun around and gaped at a cat standing right in the middle of the clearing. He was certain that he wasn't there before, and if he wasn't, he didn't hear him approaching. Instinctively, Tigger arched his back, making his fur stand on end as he hissed threateningly.

"I'm not here to fight," the cat replied nonchalantly, his ice blue eyes flashing. Tigger let his fur lie flat and stopped hissing, though he wasn't fully convinced. He narrowed his eyes, adjusting his vision to the darkness. He was surprised to see that the cat looked almost exactly like him, though he was much older.

"Who are you?" It took all his courage and self-control for him to address the stranger with some confidence and dignity.

"Well I suppose you won't recognize me. I figured you wouldn't," the stranger meowed.

"What do you mean?" Tigger was now a little unsure about where this conversation was going. Had he met this cat before? Where was he? Why's he talking to him?

"I mean that we've met before in a... different time," the cat answered, "I've been watching over you since the very moment you were born."

"Since I was... born?" This only puzzled Tigger even more. He couldn't be his father- he had never even met him. And he was sure he wasn't his brother. Who was he?

"I'm Hawkfrost," the cat meowed, as if reading his mind.

"Hawkfrost," Tigger repeated the name. Hawkfrost nodded slowly, as if he was expecting something to be said- perhaps recognition?

"My name is-"

"Tigger," Hawkfrost's eyes flashed with annoyance, "A stupid kittypet name!" Hawkfrost emphasized the word "kittypet" with an extra hint of contempt and Tigger flinched at the harsh words.

He didn't think Hawkfrost would turn on him so suddenly, but then the mysterious cat seemed to calm down as he padded towards him. He didn't know what to do! Fight? Run?

Afraid, the small cat took a small step backward. Sensing his nervousness, Hawkfrost stopped in mid-step. He decided it best that he just tell the cat the news from farther away, where he wouldn't feel too threatened.

"There are important things I have to tell you. But for now, you have to find your own way back."

"What do you mean? How do you know my name? Who are you?" Tigger asked, growing bolder with each question.

Hawkfrost opened his mouth to speak, but stopped as if he were aware of something. He hissed in annoyance, revealing two sharp, milky white teeth.

"Tigger! Tigger! Wake up!" A voice boomed in his ears.

Tigger woke with a start to his brother's yowling. He wasn't normally so active in the morning.

"Wha'?" he muttered groggily. It must've all been some dream. Just a crazy dream. He plopped his head back on the couch, breathing in the familiar scent. Although glad to be home, he couldn't help but wish that it were real- that he was special enough to be watched over. By who or what, he didn't know. But whatever it was, it considered him important.

"Tigger! The housefolk have dropped tuna all over the floor and they're letting us eat it! Hurry up!" At the news, Tigger was off the couch and springing for the kitchen.

"Where? Where?" He scanned the entire floor for any of the scrumptious morsels he loved so much. He heard an amused mrrow from his right.

"You lied to me!" he meowed in annoyance at the pale gray tom. His brother simply flicked his tail back and forth teasingly.

"Sorry, you should've been faster," he purred, rolling on his stomach as if he were full. Huffing, Tigger padded past him, cuffing his ears playfully in the process. He should've known Chess to do something like this. It was just in his nature to be the silly little furball he is!

"Hey, you should thank me," he said as he got back on his paws, "You were sleeping longer than usual today. I was just making sure you weren't dead."

"I was just having a nice, long dream," Tigger replied as he returned to his favorite couch, curling up.

"It can't be that interesting that you have to go back to sleep, is it?"

"Of course not! I just don't feel like playing with you right now," Tigger replied. Sometimes he felt that the best possible way to punish his brother was just ignoring him.

"Why not?" Chess sulked.

"Because I don't want to," Tigger yawned, thinking back to the dream. It was more vivid than any other dream he had. He could rarely ever recall his dreams when he woke up. And usually, his dreams were either about food or his brother growing so fat he couldn't move, and boring things like that. Nothing quite as unique as the one last night. And that cat, Hawkfrost, looked nothing like any cat he'd ever seen before- except himself.

His thoughts were interrupted as he felt a crushing weight land squarely on his shoulders.

"Try to get away from this!" Chess meowed as he gripped his ear between his teeth.

"Get off!" Tigger thrust his head up, feeling the back of his head bump his adversary on the nose. In shock, he released his ear and Tigger swiped at Chess's forepaws, feeling triumphant as his brother tripped to the ground.

But Chess wasn't done yet. Standing on his hind legs, he brought his full body weight down on his brother. Familiar with this move, Tigger twisted out of the way and jumped neatly on his back, bringing his brother crashing to the ground.

Quickly, he pinned his paws on his neck, forcing him to keep still.

"Give up?" he gloated.

"Cheater," Chess complained. That was good enough for him. Tigger leapt off his brother and back on the couch. The victory was no big deal. It was already one of many anyways. It was as if he'd outgrown rough-housing with his brother since it wasn't as fun or as difficult as it used to be. Since they were kits, they were inseparable and his mother always called them "the little furballs of energy". But now, it just wasn't enough of a challenge.

He was always the stronger, faster, and bigger of the two, but at the moment, he couldn't tell if he was growing as some sort of fighter or if Chess was simply getting too fat and lathargic from all the housefolk food.

"So what's that dream all about anyways?" He felt the couch cusion sink a little as Chess scrabbled up on top. Tigger closed his eyes, picturing the scene and all that happened there, recollecting his dream before he spoke.

"I don't know where I was, but there were huge, tall things that were brown, skinny, and rough with tiny green stuff hanging on the top. Do you know what those are?"

"Never heard of them," Chess meowed. Tigger was grateful that he didn't start making fun of him right at that moment. He just couldn't stand being humiliated- even if it was only by his own brother.

"... And it was dark and there was this cat that appeared out of nowhere," he continued, "And... and he knew my name and said he knew me and he looked just like me, only with blue eyes! And he said that there was something important he had to tell me, and that I had to find my way back. Back where?!" Tigger spun around to see Chess staring at him quizzically. He didn't mean to get all riled up about the dream, but just thinking about it excited him.

"It was just a dream. You don't have to go crazy about it," his brother mewed.

"But I have a feeling that it means something!" Tigger insisted, "Haven't you ever felt that-" His voice was caught off by a sight at the window.

"Who's that?" he jumped up on the windowsill and pressed his nose against the window screen, trying to get a better angle to look. These things are so annoying! Why do humans even need them?

And right there, it was unmistakable. Sitting on the porch railing next to his, he spotted a handsome calico cat. It wasn't the fact that he was also a male and was around the same age that bothered Tigger, but the fact that he was talking to Nala, the pretty white cat next door. He felt jealousy surge up through him as he stared at the newcomer.

How dare he! She's mine!

"Get lost!" he hissed. That obviously caught the cat's attention, for he looked right at him. Noting that he was out of his reach, the stranger dismissed the thought of any threat and carried on with his conversation as if he wasn't even there.

"What's going on?" Chess meowed from another room. Tigger had no time to explain as he began pushing at the screen, trying to sink his teeth in it. And then he noticed a small, ripped opening in the lower corner. His tail lashing violently from side to side, he shoved his nose past it and started nudging it wider. Finally, he could grasp it between his teeth as he pulled at it with all his might, feeling it give way slightly.

Glad that he was still a kitten, Tigger found himself small enough to be able to wriggle through- just barely. He stuck his head through and shouldered his way past up to his belly. He grimaced as he felt the edges press painfully against his fur. Am I stuck? He was about to panic as he struggled, kicking his back legs out.

With a final push, Tigger fell onto the porch clumsily. But he was back on his paws instantly and jumped expertly on the railing. He felt the wind blast against his face and cautiously, he looked down and felt his heart start thrumming faster against his chest. He was so high up!

His housefolk had never let him get on the railing before! He noticed small figures passing below him. He leaned closer, identifying them as housefolk. Who knew they could look so small? And think of it! Those pigeons get to see them this way every single day! And then he noticed the monsters stopping and going on their black paths, carrying their housefolks in their bellies.

Of course, Tigger always knew that they weren't really eaten, they got in by themselves and could get out whenever they wanted. He was in one more than once. He looked away, the sight and clamor of the Outside was making him dizzy. And he started shaking- not because he was scared or nervous- but because he was excited! He never felt like this in his entire life! He could do whatever he pleased and none of his meddling housefolk were here to stop him!

Then he remembered what he was here for. Setting his gaze on the other porch, he wriggled his haunches, estimated the distance, ran, and sprung. He felt as if he were flying and he felt so free, he almost yelled in his excitement. And then fear gripped him as he felt himself plummeting down.

Land on the porch! Land on the porch! Land on the porch! He chanted in his head as he screwed his eyes shut.

"Oomf!" he cried out when he felt a sudden impact on his paws. Skidding to a halt, he opened his eyes, relieved to be alive. Heaving a steady sigh, he looked back and saw that he overshot the distance and had jumped right into the center of the porch instead of the railing. He felt his heart swell with pride and accomplishment. He never knew he could jump that far!

And then he looked up and saw Nala and the calico staring at him in shock.

"Tigger!" the Nala's worried voice called from behind the window, "What were you thinking? Are you alright?" But Tigger ignored her and glared at the stranger sitting on the railing. Finally! He was going to pay attention to him and consider him a threat!

"Go away!" Tigger hissed, preparing to leap up at him, "I'll claw you if you ever talk to her again! She's mine, you hear me? Mine!"

"What do you mean, yours?!" He heard Nala's voice but he ignored her.

"You have no manners," the cat remarked simply.

"What?!" Tigger snarled as he flexed his unsheathed claws.

"You... have... no... manners..." the cat reiterated slowly, "Are you deaf?" With a short mmrow! he jumped over him and landed just behind him. Before Tigger could even turn around, the stranger was gone, jumping from porch to porch with expert grace. Awed and angry, Tigger called out to him.

"You're not getting away from me!" he yowled.

"You've got to catch me first!" the stranger yowled back with a mocking flick of his tail. Not one to give up in the face of competition, Tigger leapt up to the railing and jumped from porch to porch in pursuit. Nala called out to him, no doubt trying to change his mind, but Tigger blocked her voice out. Nobody was going to stop him now!

I hoped you liked it. I had a lot of fun writing it. The name Tigger was from Winnie the Pooh and I thought it was a really cute name for a kittypet. Chess is short for the Cheshire Cat (you know, that creepy cat in Alice in Wonderland that scares all the toddlers?) And Nala is a character from the Lion King and it was the name of cat that lived in my neighborhood once. I miss her :(

What does Hawkfrost mean? What does he want? What's so special about Tigger? What do you think about the story so far?

Oh yeah, and that thing that confused Tigger before was a tree. Yes, as an indoor cat that lives in the cities, he's never seen a tree before. How sad.

Please REVIEW! It kinda helps with my writer's morale. Any ideas, comments, suggestions, constructive criticism, questions, etc. is greatly appreciated. I don't mind any harsh reviews because this is not my first fic, so I can deal with it. ;)

Jade TeaLeaf