Hey everyone! Stormy here. Welcome to my brand spankin' new story. My other story, The Storm's Call for Unity, became very popular and turned out amazing. Now that that story is over, I've decided to begin my next story. I have a great feeling that this story will be good. And before you ask, no. It does not tie in with The Storm's Call for Unity. This takes place long before that.
Welcome old reviewers and welcome new ones! Let's begin the epic story.
The ground was invisible under a thick blanket of snow. The moon caused a shine to emit from the frozen rain, lighting the camp. The cold wind did not enter the dens of which the warriors slept.
An odd scent drifted into the camp. It was strong, awakening the cats from their slumbering. Some began to peer out of their dens in wonder.
A yowl errupted, and within second the camp was under attack. Caterwhauls and screeches echoed through the midnight sky, and little Maskkit lifted his head from the nursery.
"Mama..." He murmered, pressing Whiteflower's shoulder with his tiny paw. Whiteflower opened her eyes, groaning. She didn't have time to ask why she was awoken, for the screeching told her everything. She was up in an instant, curling her tail around Maskkit and his sister Lilykit.
"Shhh." Whiteflower soothed, herding them to the back of the den. "Hide in the nest. Stay here." She said urgently. She then thrned and whipped out of the den, racing into the war. Lilykit whimpered, and Maskkit exchanged a glance with her.
"Don't you dare..." Lilykit murmered.
"C'mon! I want to see a battle." Maskkit pleaded.
"Maskkit, I swear, if you set one paw..."
Maskkit left his sister to her ranting while he went to the den entrance. He poked his head up, eyes widening to the exposure. The blood, the fighting, his heart raced in anxiety. He took a pawstep back. "Lilykit, look at this." He whispered, afraid.
His sister hesitated as she crept towards him. She joined his side, and then turned away. "No. Nope. Not looking." She said, trying to sneak bck to the nest.
Maskkit bit her tail. "Stop being such a scardy-kit. We'll be fighting for our Clan one day." He raised his head, puffing out his cheat with pride.
Lilykit sighed. "I don't know... what if I don't want to fight?" She murmered.
Maskkit blinked. "You mean like, become a medicine cat?"
"No way, those herbs stink." She mewled, backing away.
Maskkit drew his head back tothe fight at a yowl of pain. "Whoah!" Maskkit gasped, shrinking down in fright. "Redblaze just got his neck snapped!"
Lilykit stepped bckwards, shaking. "Maskkit, stop watching." She mustered out, ears flattening.
He shook his head. "I need to get used to sights like that." But, as he tried to stand up, he was shaking violently. He crouched down. "Who are we fighting anyway?" He asked.
Lilykit turned her head so she wouln't look out the den entrance. "I don't know, it doesn't smell like what mama said the other Clans smell like." She crouched in the nest in the back.
Maskkit forced himself to the den entrance to keep watching. "I'll show you Lilykit, I'm tough." He murmered, peeping with huge, round eyes. He scanned the battle, suddenly pausing. "Mama!" He yelled aloud. The white she-cat was pinned by a golden tom. The tom was landing clawmarks on her while she raked his underbelly with her back claws. "Hold on mama, I'm coming!" Maskkit leaped up, and raced out of the den.
"Maskkit!" Lilykit cried, but he ignored her.
He raced towards the two cats and leaped on the golden tom, digging his tiny claws into his bck and holding on. The golden tom let go of his mother and began to leap around, attempting to shake the kit off.
"Annoying little brat!" The golden tom spat, leaning forward and kicking his back legs out. Maskkit's claws became untangled in his fur and the black and white tom flew across the clearing. He landed on the side of the highrock and collapsed to the ground. He blinked his eyes open slowly, watching the golden tom angrily.
"You'll pay for that." He whispered, unsheathing his litle claws. Before he could make a move, A large tom stepped into the middle of the clearing.
"Gang, to me." He ordered. The gang turned and slowly stalked towards the cat. He raised his head, studying the war zone. A few dead bodies lay across the clearing. He then turned to Maskkit.
"You've got guts, kit." The tom's deep voice scared Maskkit for a moment. The kit sorely raised himself to his paws and loked eyes with the tom. Few cats looked at the large dark tom, scared. Maskkit was unafraid. "Attacking one of my strongest members. You're lucky he only threw you against a rock."
"I'll fight him again if he hurts my mother." He growled.
The tom grinned. "So that's your weakness."
"Loving my mother is not a weakness." He didn't dare take his eyes away from the tom, but he could feel his mother's worried gaze burning his pelt.
"Loving anyone is weakness." The tom growled. "It blinds you to your true potential."
Maskkit had no time to ponder his words, for one of the ForestClan warriors lunged at the gang leaders. "You'll regret ever messing with us!" The cat yowled, and they were once again in a thick tustle of tooth and claw. Cats began to battle again.
Maskkit was lifted roughly into the air by his mother. He didn't squirm as she raced across the clearing to the nursery. She squeezed inside, and the battle became muffled. He was set down next to his sister, who looked terrified.
"Oh Maskkit! I thought you'd gone and gotten yourself killed!" She began to groom him, but he winced under her tounge.
"Don't move. I mean it." Whiteflower scolded. "You should know better." She turned to return and aid her clanmates, but stopped at the entrance and turned her head. She locked eyes with Maskkit's ember ones. "But thank you." She mewed. "I know you'll grow up to be a loyal warrior like your father." Without another word, she was out of the den. Maskkit stared at the entrance, feeling too sore to move.
"Are you alright?" Lilykit asked, prodding him with a paw.
He squirmed. "I'm sore."
She flicked his nose with her tail. "Serves you right! You know you're not old enough to fight yet."
He curled up, ignoring her. Instead, he began to ponder the tom's words. True potential? Maskkit looked back at the scene. Cats cowered in fear before the large tom. He frightened them into doing his bidding. This interested young Maskkit.
The war was finished when the large tom was killed. Those under his leadership were free, but the tom made a huge mistake with the power he held. He was too ignorant and foolish. The gang of rouges needed a better leader. Somewhere deep inside him, Maskkit dwelled on his words. Somehow, he could do much better.
~Stormy