Chapter one

In the beginning

Frostfur's Perspective

"Crowwing, the last kit is born! Are you going to see her?" Frostfur said, excitement flooded her heart. 'She is so beautiful.' she thought, licking the small, black kit repeatedly. Frostfur flickered her ears as her mate entered the Weeping Willow's hollow trunk. The dark gray brute nuzzled his pale tabby mate, and licked his last beautiful kit. "What do you think we should name her?" she asked, not taking her eyes off her kit. "My, my. She is dark but has a beautiful shine to her fur. What about Ravenkit?" he said, lying next to his mate. Suddenly a sound of pounding paws rummaged through the lichen and brambles that surrounded the willow. "Look out!" a tiny voice called from outside. "I can't stop!" Frostfur giggled as the rest of her litter stumbled in. "Ravenkit sounds perfect." she said, wrapping her tail around her kit.

"She's really alive! Festerpaw, come out here and see our new baby sister!" Crimsonpaw squealed,standing in the entrance of the willow. The grey tabby emerged beside his sister, a small, fluffy white she-kit. "Crimsonpaw, Festerpaw, and Moonkit, meet your baby sister, Ravenkit." Crowwing said, lifting his head at his other children. Frostfur flinched as Ravenkit squirmed from under her tail and mewed. "How lovely." Festerpaw said, licking his sister's soft head, silencing her mewing. "Go to bed now, you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow. Especially you, Moonkit." Frostfur said firmly. "What's tomorrow?" Festerpaw said, knowing that it was what Moonkit was thinking. "It's Moonpaw's apprentice ceremony!" Crimsonpaw squealed. "Wait.. Crimson, where is Emeraldpaw and Owlpaw?" Frostfur said, worried about how long her other children have gone. Crimsonpaw's eyes narrowed as well as Festerpaw's. Frostfur felt her heart jerk. 'What is happening to this family?' she thought.

"We thought they were behind us before we came in…" Festerpaw said. Moonkit ran toward her mother, Frostfur was surprised of her behavior, she usually never stepped toward her after she started going on adventures with her brother and sister.

Frostfur's worry began to grow, Crowwing and Festerpaw have been looking for Emeraldpaw and Owlpaw ever since dawn, and now the sun was about to set. "Crowwing!" Frostfur cried, making Ravenkit flinch. 'I hope they will be back on time..' she thought, clawing at the dirt.

It has been two days since Crowwing left with Festerpaw. "Crimsonheart, watch after your baby sisters, I am leaving you in charge. Please, if I never come back, never let Ravenkit and Moonkit go. Never leave them out of your sight, and if I do return, you will be given much praise. I love you, my little she-cats. Never forget it."

"I promise mother, I will always keep them at my side, no matter the cost." the she-cat spoke, sounding wise for the first time.

"That's my girl."

Frostfur headed out of the willow, looking out toward the clearing.

There was no scent of Crowwing, nor Festerkit.

A rustling came from beyond the clearing, the sound of twoleg kits running into the forest. "Oh no.." Frostfur whispered, sprinting the opposite direction. Suddenly the twoleg kits ran toward her, almost fast enough to catch up. Frostfur yowled in dismay, the twolegs grasped her in their large paws, lifting her away, into the belly of a monster.