This is another one of my new stories. I hope all you readers like it. :)
Firestar woke to something rolling down his back, smoothing his fur and then starting again. He purred and rolled over, letting it gently rub his belly instead.
Whatever it was, it felt nice. It brought up many memories that he thought he had forgotten a long time ago. Memories such as playing with littermates, meeting Smudge, laying under the blankets with his Twolegs, and silently waiting for the birds to land on the fence...
His eyes snapped open. In front of him was a big female Twoleg, her paw gently moving back and forth on Firestar's belly.
Though his heartbeat sped up and he was panicking on the inside, he forced himself to brush past the Twoleg and then walk slowly across the den and push his way through the cat flap.
Once outside, he paused. He remembered this garden with the short cut grass, heavily scented flowers, the gravel path. Firestar sprinted across the garden, the night lit by the almost full moon above.
He ran up to a puddle and stared down at it for a long time. That was not him. But it was at the same time.
He still had the familiar flame colored pelt and brilliant green eyes. But he was younger, with softer and cleaner fur. His pelt held no scars or gray fur. He was plump and weak again, his lean and well-muscled body gone. His ear no longer had a nick in it, and around his neck layed a blue collar with a small bell.
Firestar turned away, throughts in his head making him dizzy. How am I here? What time am I in? Is my Clan okay? What will happen now that I'm gone?
Those where only some of his questions. He pushed them away and thought of the last thing he could remember. At that had to be the huge battle with Tigerstar, killing him before collapsing from wounds himself. Then the tree fell, and his vision went black for what seemed like a lifetime... And he woke here.
Firestar jumped onto the fence and looked into the forest. If he was in then the past, he would stick with history. And, he just felt uncomfortable being by a Twoleg nest. He was just about to jump down when he head a noise farther along the fence.
He looked over to see a plump black-and-white tom pulling himself onto the fence and carefully walking over. "Where are you off to Rusty?" It was Smudge.
Firestar purred and touched noses with him in greeting. It was great to see his friend again, before he became flat and lazy. Before the Cutter. "Hello Smudge." He said.
"You're not going into the woods are you?" Smudge asked, looking at him curiously.
Firestar turned back ro the forest. It was dark and shadowy now, but the night sounds called to him. He wanted the trees around him and to proudly be part of Thunderclan.
"Just for a look." Firestar promised, but slightly feeling bad for lieing. Back then it had only been for a look, but now he knew that it was a lot more than that. It was for life.
"You wouldn't get me in there. It's dangerous!" Smudge wrinkled his nose with distaste. "Henry said he went into the woods once." Smudge gestured with his nose over the rows of fences toward the garden where Henry lived.
Firestar didn't remember Henry, but the name sounded familiar. "He never went into the woods." Firestar meowed, knowing he was right even if he couldn't remember the cat. Almost all the Kittypets stay out of the woods.
"No really! He caught a robin in there!" Smudge insisted.
Firestar rolled his eyes and jumped off the fence, his bell ringing out into the night as he landed. Smudge followed. "Anyways," Smudge went on. "Henry told me there are all sorts of dangerous animals out there. Huge wildcats who eat live rabbits for breakfast and sharpen their claw on old bones!"
Firestar snorted, "Yea, right." That's what all Kittypets say. He thought to himself as he took a step forward. "I'm only going to look around." And hopefully find Graystripe... paw. Graypaw.
"Well, don't say I didn't warn you!" Purred Smudge. He jumped onto the top of the fence again and dropped down into his own garden.
Firestar turned back to the forest as movement caught his eye. His belly growled, and he noticed how hungry he was. He didn't- wouldn't eat that Kittypet food again, not unless he had to.
He got down low, in a crouch as he watched the creature hide under from brambles. He slowly padded forward, and right when he saw it clearly, a twig snapped and the mouse ran.
Firestar hissed quietly and looked around. He could see the white tip of a red tail trailing through a clump of tall ferns ahead of him. Fox.
He was about to turn away when he heard another noise. Pawsteps. He knew what was coming up. He padded forward, after the fox, even though all his instincts told him to turn and run. He had to do exactly what he had done the first time. then the noise became louder and faster, and suddenly the creature hit him like an explosion.
He yowled in surprise. He'd forgotten that he wasn't as big or strong as he was the last time he was awake. In this body, he was weak and plump, a Kittypet.
He was thrown sideways into a clump of nettles. He twisted and yowled, trying to throw off the attacker. His attacker gripped him with thorn sharp claws, and teeth pricked at his neck. He froze and then flipped onto his back, remembering how this fight went. He didn't want to change it.
He heard the "hhuuffff" of the cat beneath him as the breath was knocked out of their body. Firestar glanced down to see a face looking back up at him. He saw gray fur, a darker gray stripe, and big yellow eyes. Firestar gave a small nodd and hoped that Graystripe was Graypaw.
Firestar pushed off, and sprinted away. A rush of pawstepps told him that Graypaw was giving chace. As he ran, the scratches stung beneath his fur. Then he skidded to a stop, spun around, and faced his pursuer.
Firestar held back a purr as he saw the cat all the way this time. Graystripe... Graypaw was a small shaggy furred kitten again with strong legs and a broad face. But, before he could do anything, Graypaw ran and crashed into him at full speed. Ghey both fell onto the ground this time. Last time only Graypaw had fallen, but Firestar had to get used to his body again.
Firestar struggled to his paws, breath knocked out of him. He arched his back, hissing and ready to attack again.
But Graypaw simply sat up and licked his forepaw, all signs of aggression gone. "Hi there, Kitrypet!" He meowed cherrily. "You put up quite a fight for a tame kitty!" Graypaw gave Firestar a knowing look and mouthed the word, 'Firestar'.
Firestar flicked his tail and relaxed. It really was Graystripe! He had to stop himself from blurting out questions or rush forward, purring with relief. "I'll fight you again if I have to," He growled. Though, on the inside he was remembering all the times they had laughed and teased each other about this exact moment.
"I'm Graypaw by the way." Graypaw went on, ignoring him. "I'm training to be a Thunderclan Warrior." When Firestar said nothing he went on, "What is a Kittypet like you doing alone in the woods at a time like this? Don't you know it's dangerous?"
Firestar flicked his tail in amusement. "If you're the most dangerous thing the woods has to offer, I think I can handle it."
"Oh, I'm far from the most dangerous." Graypaw answered, reminding Firestar of Tigerclaw. He'd have to fix that again. "If I was even half a warrior, I'd give an intruder like you sone real wounds to think about!"
Anyway, Graypaw licked at his paw some more. "I didn't think it was worth hurting you. You're not from one of the other Clans." He glanced up, amusement in his eyes.
"Other Clans?" Firestar asked, trying to make it sound convincing.
Graypaw hissed, "Surely you've heard of the four great clans! I belong to Thunderclan. The other clans are constantly trying to steal prey from our territory, especially Shadowclan. They're so fierce, they could have easily ripped you to shreds."
Graypaw spat before continuing, "They take our territory and prey. It's the Warriors' job to keep them out of our territory. When I finish my training, I'll be so dangerous, I'll have the other Clans shaking in their flea bitten skins!"
Firestar narrowed his eyes as he had remembered himself doing the first time. "So you're not a warrior yet?" He asked, though the answer was obvious to him.
"No. Did you think I was?" Graypaw purred loudly, then shook his fluffy head. "I have to go through training first. Today's my first night out as an apprentice."
Firestar knew that at this time, he would have asked if Graypaw would become a Kittypet, but he didn't now.
Graypaw seemed to understand and moved on, "Have you ever tasted mouse? Until you have, you haven't lived."
"No." Firestar said, defensively. "I have not."
"Then I guess you'll never understand." Graypaw meowed and Firestar felt the feeling of anger rise up like it often did on this topic. Graypaw blinked at Firestar as if to tell him that he didn't mean it, but continued. "You weren't born wild. You need warrior blood in you or wind in your whiskers. Kittys born in Twoleg nests aren't the same."
"That's not true!" Firestar meowed indignantly.
Graypaw paused mid lick. He sniffed the air. "I smell cats from my Clan. You should go. They wouldn't be happy with you hunting on our territory!"
Firestar looked around, though he could smell them easily.
"Quick," Graypaw hissed. "Run!"
Firestar got down, ready to jump, but then a voice said behind him, "What's going on here?"
Firestar glanced at Graypaw before turning and watching the leader before him stoll out of the undergrowth, looking a lot younger and powerful than last time he had seen her alive, old and weak from fighting dogs and drowning.
"Bluestar!" Graypaw crouched down beside Firestar and narrowed his eyes. He crouched even lower as a large, golden tabby tom followed Bluestar. It was Lionheart!
"You shouldn't be so near the Twoleg place, Graypaw!" Lionheart growled, narrowinf his eyes at Graypaw.
"I know, Lionheart. I'm sorry." Graypaw looked at his paws.
Firestar crouched low to the forest floor like Graypaw, his ears twitching nervously. He had to get this right. He had to. If he didn't, then he wouldn't become a warrior- a leader.
"Who is this?" Bluestar turned and looked at him.
"He's no threat." Graypaw mewed quickly. "He's not a another Clan warrior, he's just a Twoleg pet from beyond our territories."
Just a Twoleg pet! Firestar almost spat aloud, feeling th same anger, if not more, than the first time.
Bluestar gave him a warning look, showing that she had seen his anger. He looked away.
"This is Bluestar, leader of my Clan." Graypaw said under his breath. "And Lionheart. He's my mentor which means that he is training me to be a warior."
"Thank you for the introduction, Graypaw." Meowed Lionheart coolly.
But Bluestar was still staring at Firestar. "You fight well for a Twoleg pet." She meowed. Firestar and Graypaw shared confused glances, though they knew what was going on. "We have been watching you. We wondered how you would deal with an intruder, Graypaw. You attacked him bravely." Graypaw looked pleased at the praise, but then Bluestsr said, "Sit up now, both of you." She looked at Firestar. "You too, Kittypet."
Firestar sat up strait and met her gaze evenly as she addressed him. "You reacted well to the attack, Kittypet. Graypaw is stronger than you, but you used your wits to defend yourself. And you turned ro face hin when he chaced you. I've not seen a Kittypet do that before."
Rusty nodded his thanks, not wanting to say anything wrong.
"I've been wondering how you would perform out here, beyond the Twoleg place. We patrol the border frequently, so I have seen you sitting on your boundary, staring out into the forest. And now, at last, you have dared to place your paws here." She looked at him thoughtfully. "You do seem to have a natural hunting ability. Sharp eyes. You woukd have caught that mouse if you had not hesitated so long."
Lionheart spoke up, "Bluestar, this is a Kittypet. He should not be hunting in Thunderclan territory. Send him home to his Twolegs!"
"Send me home?" He mewed impatiently. He didn't want to go back to the Twoleg place, he wanted to be in the Clan! Though, he knew that he shouldn't say the next thing, he had to. "But I've only come here to hunt for a mouse or two. There should be enough to go around."
Bluestar's gaze snapped back to Rusty. Even Graypaw looked over, surprised that he dared to say that again, even after all the seasons he had been in the Clans. "There's never enough to go around." She spat. "If you didn't live such a soft, overfed life, you would know that!"
Firestar tried making himself look confused. Lionheart stepped forward to stand at Bluestar's side and they both loomed over him. Firestar swallowed and glanced over at Graypaw. And again, he was reminded of his weak and small body. If he said one thing wrong, or different, this whole thing could go terribly wrong.
I know that it's a little long, but whatever. This chapter and the next on will be long. I hoped you like it, and please let me know. I accept constructive criticism and flames, though I really think you should wsit until after the third chapter is posted. In the first two, I'm mostly following the book. In the third, it should start to change. Review!
