Disclaimer: I do not own warriors (although I wish I did) the Erins do! ^_^
Flamepaw burst from the camp, tears welling in his eyes and streaming into his ginger fur. His heart filled with anguish, he pelted into the bushes and let the tears flow.
"Murderer! We don't want you here!" Rang the chants of his Clanmates in Flamepaw's ears. Flamepaw let out a choked and rattling breath, settling down in the moss. My Clanmates don't want me, Flamepaw thought. They think it was my fault. I can't even become a warrior! He remembered, with a small sob, his sisters, who had become warriors only a few days before. It's not fair. If only the Clan knew...
If only they knew what he knew. Saw what he saw. Then Flamepaw wouldn't be sitting here, feeling unwanted and alone, cast out by his Clanmates, crying for what he had lost.
If only they had been on patrol with Dawnstream and him, arguing about something pointless for the millionth time…seen him storming off into the bushes…coming back only to find Dawnstream's battered and broken body in the middle of the clearing, ginger fur wedged between her claws, her eyes wide and glazed. If only her brother, Cloudfrost, hadn't happened to show up at that clearing, see Flamepaw standing over her, and make that awful accusation.
If only they had listened to him, believed him when he said that he didn't kill her. He remembered that awful Clan meeting like it were yesterday.
"Cats of ThunderClan, listen!" Flamepaw could still hear Cloudfrost's accusing voice and see his cold, blazing eyes. "Flamepaw was on patrol with Dawnstream when she was found dead in the clearing, and ginger fur was caught in her claws. His scent was all over her when I found them. His eyes were lit with guilt. And it was certainly no secret that they weren't too fond of each other. All of the evidence points to one fact!" Cloudfrost turned to him, his eyes filled with hatred. "This cat is a murderer!"
Yowls of agreement and protest alike rang out across the clearing.
"Enough!" Jaystar boomed across the clearing. "Flamepaw strongly believes that he did not lay a claw on Dawnstream, while Cloudfrost clearly believes the opposite. As much as the evidence may point to a possible murder, all we have is speculation."
"What will happen to him now, Jaystar?" Cats all around burst out the single, burning question.
"Flamepaw will stay in the Clan until we have further clues." They never did find any more clues.
Flamepaw had felt relieved then, but he hadn't known how hard it would be for him. The scandal would stop him from becoming a warrior, but it wouldn't stop his Clanmates from taunting him, distrusting him. Treating him like an outcast. Finally, after one moon, Flamepaw had snapped.
Why can't they see? I didn't kill her!
Suddenly Flamepaw stopped, tensing. Something was wrong. He scented something in the air, cat scent, but laced with something else, sour and foul. He padded forward cautiously, ginger head turning from side to side, ears pricked. He gasped as he glimpsed a pair of blazing yellow eyes.
Something rammed into Flamepaw's side, knocking the breath from him. Dark fur covered his vision and he choked under the unbearable smell of blood and death. He squirmed, trying to breathe, but a hard paw knocked him in the side of his head, and Flamepaw slumped into a black void.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Two cats crouched in the gloomy forest. Wind rustled around them and crows called loudly as a young cat stared up at a much larger tom. Bright green eyes locked with yellow and the younger cat shivered.
"So what do you say?" The large cat asked, leaning closer. The younger cat flinched away from his burning gaze. "I can give you everything you could ever ask for, if you just-"
"I've told you before I don't want it!" The younger she-cat hissed, backing up a little. Her spotted pelt bushed up. "I don't take your offer!"
"Really?" The tom thrust his muzzle closer, the scent of crowfood bathing the she-cat's snout. "Let me show you one more time before you finalize that answer."
"No-" the she-cat protested, but her eyes clouded anyway, whisking her into a vision. She was standing on the Great Rock, staring down at a colony of cats. With horror she realized that they were bowing to her, front paws crossed, tails and heads low.
"You have the potential," the tom's deep voice broke into her thoughts, making the hair prick up on her spine. "If you let me guide you, I can give you immense power."
"All hail," the cats muttered below her.
"No," the she-cat meowed with finality. She opened her eyes and locked into his burning gaze again. She took a deep breath, stood up, and repeated "No."
The tom opened his mouth to protest. "But Pe-"
"I said no!" She shrieked suddenly, darting forward and raising her paw. She slashed her claws against his cheek, satisfaction running through her as her claws pierced deep enough to leave a scar. "I don't want to see you or this mangy place ever again!"
For a heartbeat the whole forest was silent. Then the tom chuckled slightly and narrowed his eyes. A voice sounded around the forest, not his, but one that sounded like it belonged to many.
"You will pay, young and foolish one."
The young she-cat shuddered and her eyes went wide. Her breathing quickened and the world seemed to shrink before her. Briefly the outline of a ginger cat crossed her vision, but it was gone just as quick as it came and she couldn't recognize it. She wailed in confusion and terror.
Her eyes jolted open and she woke up in her nest, panting.
What just happened?
She racked her brain, trying, needing to remember.
But try as she might, she couldn't.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Hey guys! How do you like it so far? This is my first story so I'd appreciate any advice or criticism. Thanks for reading, and bye! ^_^