Hello, everyone! This is just the authoress, Brambletalon! I hope you enjoy the story! It is based on a real cat that we are fostering right now! He's the little orphan kitty! Please remember to review the story for about each chapter! A lot of my friends say that I'm good with suspenseful endings of chapters, so be expecting that and much else in this story!

Also, one of my friends, without even READING the story said it was exactly like the Graystripe mangas. I have to disagree. Also, the 10th reviewer will get to make a charrie! Enjoy!

Chapter 1

Chief began heading to the east a little early; the thought of an adventure made him excited. He just hoped that the cats would accept him into their group.

He could feel night coming down. He looked and the sun had gotten farther away than it had been when he had started. He thought of how sad his mother had seemed when mentioning his father. He had hoped to meet him someday. He always imagined him as big and strong.

He could smell something strange in the air. He spotted another cat, who was bigger than him. He was standing outside of an Upwalker's house, in the grass. He was staring at him angrily.

"That's right, you'd better stay outside my territory, you hear me?" It growled. Their tail lashed fiercely and it let out a snarl. Chief walked a little faster by the cat.

He could feel his stomach growling. Chief looked up and saw a meaty squirrel. In an instant, wind rushed past it and it fell, dead.

He ran over to it, devouring it hungrily. He had to savor this food, though. It would be one of the only meals he would eat today. He looked over and saw his mother, who smiled at him knowingly.

Chief finished the prey, satisfied. He stared into the night sky, which was dark and filled with stars.

I should find somewhere to sleep. He thought, searching around. Chief figured he could just walk a little more and then sleep wherever he might go to. Paws aching, he walked to where there was another barn, near an Upwalker's house.

He smiled, glad that there was a place he could rest. He ran into the barn, despite the searing pain his paws were feeling.

Chief made himself at home and lay comfortably against a lump of hay. He closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Chief jumped awake when he felt a prodding in his side. He felt sunlight shining on his pelt. It was morning.

He opened his eyes to see a white she-cat standing above him. She was about his age and size. Her eyes were green, which stared wonderingly into his eyes.

"Who're you?" She asked curiously.

"The name's Chief. You?" He answered.

"Rose. Why are you here?" Rose meowed.

Before he could speak, the she-cat swished her tail onto his mouth. "Actually, tell me the who, what, when, where, and why's of why you are here."

"Well, you know my name. I'm a cat, obviously. Um, the when I'm not even going to answer..." He considered that to be pointless. "Where is here. And why is because I needed a place to sleep."

"No, you don't get it!" Her high-pitched voice squeaked impatiently. Her tail twitched irritably.

"Okaaay... I guess the when would be that I left last night from my barn. The where is from, well, my barn. Why is because," he stopped.

"Huh?" She asked.

"I'm sorry, that's kind of personal."

"Oh, well, are you going to stay? Can you tell me that, at least?"

"No, I can't. I'm going to the east, into the forest in there. I am going to live with a group of cats."

"Oh, I've heard about them!"

"You have?"

"Of course! Cats come by here usually every night, each one with a purpose. One night, a bunch came by here who were Clan cats, who said they'd be living in the forest to the east. 'Course, that was a long time ago. My mom told me that story."

"Alright. They might be who I'm searching for."

There was a long pause. Chief thought that something was bugging Rose. But, he just thought it was because he didn't tell her why he left.

"Could I come with you?" She blurted unexpectedly.

"I guess. But, wouldn't your parents not allow it?"

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't explain this. But, this is personal, so I'll only tell you if you tell me why you left!" She bargained.

"Alright. I'll go first... Well, a black cat... he... killed my mother and brother and sister."

Rose gasped. "That's horrible! I'm... so sorry!"

Chief only grunted, looking to the side. "Well, what happened to your parents?"

"Well, when I was first born, I overheard my parents talking about not being able to keep me. I thought I was done for. But, about a week later, I woke up and both of them were gone. And, they never came back." Rose explained with agony.

"Oh. I'm sorry that happened, Rose."

"So, can I come with you?" She squeaked, her good mood suddenly coming back to her.

Chief thought for a moment. "I don't know. I mean, it's a long way, and we could get separated. I don't know if you'll be able to keep up." His eyes glinted at the last sentence. He bared a sly smile and began to walk out.

He waited for Rose to follow him, expecting that she would take his challenge.

Instead, while he kept walking, the white she-cat stayed where she was, her eyes trailing after him.

"Okay, then. Goodbye, I guess." Chief called back. Rose looked down at the ground, ashamed.

I could've sworn she was eager to go. But, I guess not. Chief wondered. He kept on walking the dusty trail that would bring him his future.

Was he really on his own? His tail swept the ground sluggishly. He sighed, thinking of what his adventure with her could've been.

It was about noon, and Chief still had a long way to go. He knew it would be tough, but if his mother believed in him, maybe he would make it, even if Rose didn't want to go.