I've always been scared of heights. I think it's because I'm the smallest warrior. Or maybe because of that night when I was a kit.
-Flashback-
"Quick Dawnkit! We'll be caught if you don't hurry up!"
"Cloudkit, wait!"
I fell into the hollow. Right in front of Fernstar. Her eyes stared at my bloodstained pelt and the scratches from the brambles.
"Cloudkit! The whole Clan has been worried sick about you and your sister. By the way, where is Dawnkit?"
"Sh-she is above the hollow."
"Go to Birdsong. I'll get your sister."
-End Flashback-
That was the worst day of my life. Besides today. My friend Silverheart has dared me to jump off Sky Oak into the lake! No one can know except everyone who was playing last night. Tonight I have to face my fear and the cold. I've been trying to cover up my nervousness all day, but it isn't working.
"You look like you have to jump off a mountain!" Dawnrise said to her sister.
I sort of do.
"Dawnrise, can you come on our hunting patrol?" The deputy, Yellowear called out from across the hollow.
"See you later, Cloudpool!" Dawnrise ran to meet up with the hunting patrol.
Why did I accept the dare? Cloudpool thought she and her friends were so cool daring each other. We were until Silverheart dared me to jump off the tree. Their game had abruptly ended there.
"Hurry up Cloudpool. I'm freezing out here, and all you do is stand there?" Silverheart was starting to get on Cloudpool's nerves.
Deep breaths, deep breaths. She started climbing the tree, branch by branch, until she got to the top. The wind blew through the branches, threatening to push her off. Cloudpool looked down towards the lake. Earlier that day, she had marked the lake with a branch to indicate how far she had to jump to land in the water without hurting herself. She could just see the branch in the moonlight, so far away in the distance. How am I ever going to make it?
"One. Two. Three!"
Cloudpool leaped. The wind felt suprisingly good through her pelt. She looked down at the lake. She had already past the branch! Cloudpool closed her eyes, dropping into the lake. The freezing water woke her up. She paddled to the best of her ability, towards Silverheart. After a long time, Cloudpool pulled up onto the shore, out of breath.
"Cloudpool! You did it! You faced your fear!" Silverheart cheered.
After Cloudpool got her breath back, the friends sneaked back into their den. Cloudpool thought about what her friend had said. I really did face my fear, didn't I?