This story is going to be by awesomosityrox, as you know, but every other chapter, including this 1st one, is going to be by me, GreatIceDragon. We'll see how you like this chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer (by awesomosityrox): GreatIceDragon owns Artemis (literally), but aside from that, no cigar. Because neither of us smoke. (See what I did there? See it? :P)

Chapter one

I was running, running harder than I'd ever run before. Something was behind me, and I knew that if I slowed, it would rip me to pieces. I was almost to my house when I felt a sharp pain in my hind leg. I turned to see what had bit me… when I fell off the couch. I growled at the couch, just to show it who was boss, when I curled back up again. It was still dark out, but I couldn't get back to sleep. That dream had really freaked me out. I got up and stretched out. Well, if I was up, then it's about time I see what my people were up to. I went to one of their doors and meowed as loud as I could, but nothing happened. I scratched at the door to try to get in, but they were shut tight. I sat down huffily. I hated being alone. I didn't mind when my people were gone, because they usually left me outside, where I could visit other cats, but when they were all asleep, I was cooped up inside. After a couple hours of mindlessly wandering the house, they finally woke up. I raced to the door and mewed pitifully.

She reached down to scratch my ears. "O.K, Artemis, I'll let you outside. You cute little Kitty you!" she cooed.

When the door was big enough for me to fit through, I raced out into the fresh air. I crawled up the fance into my friend Chester's yard. He looked up lazily at me.

"Hello, Artemis, you're late today."

What a greeting. But that was Chester. He had been lazy even before he was fixed. Not to mention one of the fattest cats I have ever known, though he claimed it was fluff. As if.

He continued, "Do you remember those wild cats everyone is talking about? The ones that eat the bones of housecats?"

I nodded, wondering where he was taking this.

"Well, I don't like to gossip, but…" I interrupted " You? Not like to gossip? HA! You gossip worse than those two old cats who used to live next door!" And just to clear up any confusion, the two old cats who used to live next door were VERY gossipy.

He looked at me sourly, then continued.

"Well, anyway, that cat, Princess, you know, the one whose brother ran off…"

I interrupted again. "Chester, I know who Princess is. And I get the feeling that I've heard this story before."

He looked at me suspiciously. "Oh really? Then what happens next?" He settled down smugly, as if I could never guess.

I replied equally as smugly " I quote 'she gave one of her precious kits to those barbaric ruffians!'"

Chester was indignant. " Excuse me if there's been some gossip in this neighborhood! Besides, it wouldn't be so boring for you If you could listen to the same story twice!"

I glanced up at the sun, and decided I should check in with my people. "Goodbye, Chester, it was nice seeing you."

Chester glowered up at me. "I wish I could say the same."

I didn't go back to my people, though. I went to the very edge of the neighborhood, looking out over the forest. I wanted to see these cats, if only from a distance. I wanted so badly to be one of them, but I knew I wasn't made of the right stuff. I wasn't brave, ferocious, or even suited to camaflouge in. I wanted this more than I could bear. I wanted to be wild.

Hey y'all, it's awesomosityrox. I'm doing the next chapter, so watch out for it. And wasn't this chapter fluffin' amazing? That was a rhetorical question, of course it was amazing!