Chapter 1

The black tom nearly fell off of the branch he had slept on, as he startled awake. He shook his head as he sat up and tried to make sense of what just happened. It was just a dream Shadow...Just a dream.. He thought as he started to stretch his legs and take in the beautiful, spring morning air. As he stretched his front legs, he began to spread a pair of red and black, dragon-like wings. Much better. Now...to find something to eat. He then jumped from the branch and began to flap his wings. As he soared through the morning sky, he noticed a small bluish grey kit sitting in an alley surrounded by three older cats.

"Help! Somebody!" The kit mewed. Great...just what I need first thing in the morning...trouble. Shadow sighed as he dived toward the group of cats. He landed behind a trash can just four tail lengths away. He quickly folded his wings so they wouldn't be visible. He stayed behind the trash can as he watched them.

"Alright kit. Give us the mouse and no one gets hurt." The big white, scruffy looking tom said as he inched closer to the kit. The kit backed up, clutching the little mouse in his little claws.

"No. This is for my mama. I saw it first!"The kit shouted as he shook with fear. Another big tom started to chuckle.

"Find then. I guess we'll just have to take it from you!" The three cats started charging toward the kit. Suddenly, Shadow jumped in front of the kit. The three cats immediately stopped in their tracks.

"Sorry, but you're just going to have to find your own food." Shadow meowed. The white tom backed up a little before speaking.

"Who the hell do you think you are? Just mind your own business." He hissed. Shadow closed his eyes and chuckled. The white tom suddenly charged at him, claws unsheathed. Before he could lay a claw on Shadow, he found himself laying on the ground. "What the hell?...ah.." He meowed. As he started to get up, he noticed that his right hind leg looked as though it had been burned.

Suddenly, black flames appeared and surrounded Shadow as the other cats cowered in fear.

"Now, you're going to leave this kit alone. Unless you want to be burnt to a crisp." Shadow meowed as the cats backed up some more.

"Let's get out of here." The white tom yelled.

"He's a freak!" Another one shouted before they finally took off with their tails between their legs. Shadow watched them run until they were out of side.

"Mousedung." He muttered under his breath. Suddenly, he felt something brushing up against his leg. He looked down to see the little bluish grey kit standing next to his right hind leg.

"Thank you for saving me." The little kit meowed as he smiled up at Shadow. Shadow looked down at him and smiled.

"Sure thing, kit." As Shadow spoke, a white, longhaired shecat came running toward them.

"Smokey! My baby! You're alright." She yelled as she snuggled the little kit. Shadow smiled at them. As he began walking away, the shecat looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you for saving my baby." Shadow turned to her.

"Don't mention it." He said as he continued to walk away. Suddenly, he heard a strange noise. He turned around to see about five rocks, as big as a cat's paw, flying toward the kit and his mother. "Get down!" He yelled as he ran over to them. The two crouched down as Shadow spread his wings and shielded them. After they all hit, Shadow turned around to see the same group of cats laughing at him.

"What a freak!" The white one said as they turned around and disappeared out of sight. Shadow just growled at them under his breath. As he moved away from the other two, the shecat lifted her head and looked at him in horror.

"Are you alright?" He asked stepping a little closer to them. The white shecat grabbed her kit and backed up quickly.

"Stay away from us you...you...monster!" She screamed in a panic as she quickly ran away while carrying her kit by the scruff of its neck. Shadow closed his eyes and sighed as he folded his wings back in and started walking away.

It's always like this. He thought. Everything is fine until they see my wings or see what I can do. Then they call me a freak, a mistake, a...monster. Maybe that's what I am, a monster. At least it feels that way. As Shadow reached a tall oak tree, he spread his wings and flew up it, snatching a small bird that was perched on one of the branches. As he sat down on a branch and began to eat it, he continued to think. My mother use to tell me, "Don't let the shadows of life kill your light.", well I'm afraid they already have. If there is still any light left in me...I sure as hell don't know where it is.

As Shadow finished the bird, he heard laughing coming from a twoleg nest just to the right of the oak tree. He looked down and saw three little kits playing in the grass inside a wooden fence. Shadow just smiled. If my light truly is lost, I'm afraid I'll never find it again. Just like my Warrior name, I too have abandoned hope. And without hope, there is no light.

Hope you guys liked chapter 1! Chapter 2 coming 5/21! Don't forget to review!