Author's Note: This story is a challenge from StellarClan called "Lost in the Dark" It was 1,920 words, not counting this author note. I feel like the beginning was a.. a bit long and unnecessary, but I liked it. I am proud of this story and hope whoever feels like reading it enjoys it!
Amberkit slowly opened her eyes as sunlight poured into the Nursery. She groaned, not wanting to get up, but excitment soon filled her as she remembered her father, Flametail, was going to take them out into the forest today. She wiggled out of her mother's tail that was curled around her four little kittens. The ginger and white kitten jumped over her brother, Patchkit, and moved toward the exit of the Nursery. "Amberkit, where are you going?" She turned around, hearing her sister, Frostkit, speak to her. "I was going to see if Flametail was awake yet. We get to go out of the camp and play out in the hollow, remember?" Frostkit purred, and shook her head. "Okay, I'll come with you!" Her white sister jumped up, padding over to her, her ginger spots on her white fur shining as she reached the sunlight.
The two sisters left the den and gazed around. "Hm, it seems no one is awake." Amberkit grumbled, sitting down on the ground. "Don't worry. I'm sure some cats with wake soon." Suddenly, a group of cats came charging into the camp. Frostkit pushed Amberkit back as the group came storming past them. She spotted her older brother and sister, Redheart and Fireleaf. They were also stained with blood. The kits gasped, and their mother came rushing out of the Nursery, her two brothers following. "What has happened?" Skystep asked, looking at her first born kits. "When we were out on a patrol, a ThunderClan patrol came onto our territory, and attacked us!" Amberkit looked up at Duckflight, the she-cat Warrior who spoke. "Get Gorgestar right away, and Littlepool!" One cat nodded their head, and hurried toward the Leaders' Den, while an Apprentice that came back with the patrol went to fetch the Medicine Cat.
Amberkit could see her ginger colored father across the clearing, sitting by the Warriors' Den with a black tom next to him. I hope this doesn't ruin us going to play in the hollow.. "What has happened here?" She heard the ShadowClan's leader's voice call out in the clearing as he slowly made his way to his patrol. "We were ambushed by a ThunderClan patrol when we were near the Fishing Pond. I think they are trying to take it, and I know they will not go without a fight. I saw Bluetail leading the patrol." One of the cats that stood in the front spoke of what happened, and Amberkit wondered why this Bluetail was so special. "Ha, Rosestar think we will go easily? Hm, no, of course not. Heronclaw-" The silver tom turned toward his brown tabby Deputy, who was also Amberkit's uncle, Skystep's older brother. "-Go with another patrol to make sure ThunderClan knows ShadowClan will not back down from this petty fight." Heronclaw nodded his head, and started to call for some cats to join him. He called for Flametail, and Amberkit narrowed her eyes. But he is supposed to take us out to play!
Sunkit, her ginger brother, looked up at their mother and asked "Do you think ThunderClan wants the Fishing Pond back? I mean, they don't even like the frogs or fish there!" Skystep looked down at her son, and smiled slightly. "Don't worry little one. Flametail will stop them!" Sunkit smiled and was then knocked to the ground by Patchkit. "You're a ThunderClan Warrior! Leave our Fishing Pond later!" Patchkit playfully growled and rolled around with his brother. "Haha, come on Amberkit!" Frostkit laughed and jumped in with her brothers. Amberkit narrowed her eyes. I wanted to go out and play in the hollow. Not in the camp! Blackgaze hates when we are nosiy! She looked toward the Elders' Den, and could see the black she-cat standing outside of the den, asking another light brown Elder what had happened.
Amberkit shook her head, and turned away. "I don't feel like playing right now.." She slowly made her way into the Nursery and sat in her nest, looking out into the clearing. She saw Flametail come over to his family, after seeing Fireleaf and Redheart. "Oh, StarClan protect you." Skystep worried, pressing her nose into her mates chest as she nuzzled her head against him. He licked her head and smiled down at her. "I'll be alright. I promise." Amberkit saw her father say goodbye to his three kits before seeing Amberkit in the Nursery. "What are you doing?" "I didn't want to play in the camp, I wanted to play in the hollow!" She whined, closing her eyes as she felt her father's tail wrap around her. "I'm sorry Amberkit. Another day we-" "But you promised today!" Flametail opened his mouth to speak, but heard Heronclaw's voice, demanding all cats were leaving. "I'm sorry. Goodbye Amberkit. I promise another day." He licked his daughter's head before leaving her alone in her nest.
The sun was setting when the battle patrol returned. Skystep left the Nursery and counted how many cats had returned, as well as her kits. Amberkit gazed out on the at cats, who all had wounds. Turtletail.. Swallowheart.. Finchclaw.. Shaowclaw.. Hazelfur.. Goldenbreeze.. Spottednose.. Duskpelt.. Brownface.. Maplepaw.. Flametail? Heronclaw? Amberkit checked over and over again to see if she had missed her kin. She started to get worried, as she saw her brothers and sisters shuffle over to Skystep, who left our a mournful wail. Gorgestar looked down at the patrol. "We.. lost.." Was all Turtletail could make out before hissing in pain and falling to the ground. "Oh great StarClan!" Littlepool gasped as she saw her clan mates bloody and tired. "Willowwhisker, come on!" She urged her Apprentice as she rushed out to her friends, the light brown she-cat following after her. Amberkit's eyes widened and she looked at the two bodies three clan mates brought it. One flamed colored tom, and a brown tabby tom.
Skystep quickly ran over to her mate and brother, mournful sobs filled the clearing. Brushtail, Heronclaw's mate, hurried over to her mate, and rested down beside him. Amberkit watched her silbings make their way to their father and uncle, though they were silent. Amberkit closed her eyes, and swallowed down a sob, and walked over to her family.
It was Moonhigh, and Skystep was the only cat still next to the two deceased Warriors, though she was asleep. Brushtail had promised Skystep she would sleep with her kits in the Nursery, and she did. The light brown tabby laid in her white mother's nest, the kits close to her as they slept. Amberkit, however, as the only one not asleep. She remembered how she was angry at her father, who was being forced to leave and then he would soon join StarClan with Heronclaw. She shook her head and forced any tears down and away from her mind. I will go out into the hollow, like he promised us. Amberkit nodded, and got up slowly, leaving her brothers and sister behind. She saw Skystep's body move slowly up and down as she breathed and forced down a sob. Her father and uncle were gone. Never to be seen again until she would join them in StarClan, which would be a long time from now when she was an Elder.
Amberkit hurried out of the camp before any cat could spot her, and ran out into the forest. The ginger kitten soon remembered she had no clue where to go, so she was lost in her own territory. She wandered around for some time, before catching Maplepaw's scent. Probably from where she was training earlier today. She thought she could pick up another cat's scent, but she didn't know who it belonged it. She continued to walk until she started to hear nosies and pick up more scents she couldn't regconize. "H-Hello?" She whispered, her body shaking with fear. No no, it's just my imagination! The she-kit shook her head, and ran forward, closing her eyes as she did. She gasped when fell back after bumping into something. Her forest green eyes widened as she saw a pair of glowing amber eyes gazing right into hers.
"Hey look, it's a little lost ShadowClan kit." The tom, who's amber eyes belonged to, smirked, and Amberkit heard other cats laugh, though it was a dark laugh. "Oh, let me Fangtail!" A young she-cat jumped up next to him, starring down at the kit. She flashed Amberkit her fangs in a hiss, and Amberkit flinched back. "Y-You're ThunderClan Warriors! This is.. is.. ShadowClan.. territory." "Oh is it?" The black tom laughed and the young silver she-cat rolled her eyes. "No you stupid since of prey, this is ThunderClan territory. It soon will be anyway." She smirked, a dark and twisted smile. "Now let me tear of each and every one of your whiskers first." Amberkit's eyes widened like a bird's egg, and she turned to flee before feeling her tail being grab. She hissed as she felt teeth sink into her ginger tail, and she was forced around to face them once more. The tom, Fangtail, flicked his long black tail. "Keep moving toward their camp. Boulderbounce will deal with this kit." "But.. it's against the Warrior Code to harm a kit..!" Amberkit croaked, her voice shaky. "Not under Viperstar's leadership." "But.. Rosestar-" "Is dead. Viperstar killed her so ThunderClan could rule the forest, starting with the petty little clan you call home!" The silver she-cat hissed, coming closer to Amberkit.
"Or should I say, starting with you?!" Boulderbounce grabbed Amberkit by the scruff, shaking her violently before throwing her on the ground. Amberkit rolled a few times, before coughing and standing up, turning to flee. "Oh no you don't!" The she-cat purred, like she was enjoying killing this little ginger kit, and chased after her, laughing. Though Amberkit knew she could go faster than her, Boulderbounce skipped slowly behind her. Amberkit's body filled with fear as the cat suddenly picked up speed. She grabbed Amberkit and threw her back onto the ground. "Just accept your fate already, kit. ThunderClan will rule." Amberkit suddenly felt her teeth sink into her small throat and gasped, struggling to get away before her vision becoming hazy. Her body shook for a moment, before Boulderbounce dropped her for the last time on the ground. Amberkit looked up at the silver cat, before seeing two figures behind the silver she-cat. Boulderbounce laughed, before slowly turning away toward ShadowClan camp.
The two figures moved closer to Amberkit, one flamed colored, the other a brown tabby. "Flametail..? Heron..claw.." She coughed, trying to keep her eyes awake as everything slowly grew dark. "Come along, Amberkit." The flame colored tom smiled, though he didn't open his mouth to speak as his voice rang through Amberkit's head. "You're joining StarClan little one." Heronclaw's mouth didn't move as his voice was heard. "But.. Shadow..Clan.." "They will be alright." Flametail gave a short nod before Amberkit suddenly wished she had never left the camp. She shook her head weakly, not wanting to leave. The ginger kit finally gave into the darkness that was taking her vision and her head jerked down, her eyes slowly closing for the last time, her flank no longer moving.