A/N thanks to those who viewed/reviewed. I have to hurry so ill get right to it.
Disclaimer- I don't own warriors.
Enjoy!
Chapter 1-
It it raining heavily but we are still being led to what very well could be our deaths. My small paws, usually a light honey color, are now dark and muddy. My pelt, usually fluffed and and dry, is now pressed against my body streaked with icy rain.
I look up at the darkening sky. Why must we go through this? What does it prove?
As a kit my mother told me that a good warrior always has a little fear, for that's what gives us courage. A little caution, for that's what gains us knowledge. A little faith, for that's what gives us strength.
Remembering that both strengthens me and saddens me. My mother was taken from us by Greencough the Leafbare I was born. Just before my apprentice ceremony.
"Move along." Meows the Tom standing behind me. A warrior. He has gone through these tests. Even though it is different for every cat, he might be able to help.
"Can you give me any advice?" I ask trying to calm my voice, it fails.
He looks at me with a bit of sympathy. "Just, always trust your instincts. Don't try to go above and beyond. Survive and never stay in one place too long." He meows quietly, looking around at the other warriors.
I think about this, it is helpful but what does it really help?
We soon stop in a dark clearing, a little over two days journey from the territories. It is dark, and closed in, and energy draining.
"This is where we leave you." Meows a warrior, Thornstreak. He says it so matter-of-factly that it sucks out any hope of getting out of this. "Remember, survive for a moon with the Terrors and you become a warrior. If you try to return before the end if your tests you will be banished, should you survive. We will return for any survivors one moon from now."
They turn to leave and Ravenpaw and Tigerpaw draw closer towards me.
"We're in this together now." Meows Ravenpaw, he is shaking like a leaf but feels the need to say the words.
Together. Maybe we do have a chance. In the clans now, apprentices have more of a chance of meeting and gaining friends in other clans. It is encouraged by the leaders in fact. The clans are so small now. A battle, moons ago with a large rouge group. They took many of our numbers before we destroyed them.
Since then the clans have been at peace, well almost. You could never make them permanently peaceful, we are clan cats after all. Fighting is in our blood.
I smile at the thought, though the feeling is quickly crushed by a noise.
A low creaking noise. Soon it becomes louder, I am aware of something moving on the outside of my vision. The creaks are joined by rustles of leaves and the cracking of branches. Then I realize.
"The clearing is closing in on us." I whisper
We turn our backs to each other and stand in a close circle, watching in horror as the vines, leaves, bushes, and even the trees themselves move to create a wall around us.
"Th-this is it I guess." Ravenpaw whispers
"I guess it is." Tigerpaw replies trying to see into the wall
The noise, all of it, suddenly changes. It goes from a groaning creaking mass, to laughter. The wall stops moving, the clearing gets darker, and three she cats step out from the shadows.
"Welcome to the tests!" They yowl in unison.
I fall back in surprise. The terrors are not what I expected. The first is a beautiful young she cat, about the age of a young warrior. Her light gray pelt is shining even in the dark.
The second is an elderly she cat. She looks like a terror. Her fur is matted and ginger, her eyes are such a dark amber they spear red.
The third she cat looks strange. She is obviously the leader. Her pelt appears to be changing constantly, though staying dull. I can't even begin to guess her age and I don't want to.
"We are the Terrors." They meow in unison "The tests will begin at moonhigh when the night is brightest. You will be tested in all the skills you ever learned and you will be forced to the very limits of yourselves in every way."
They sit and are silent.
Not wishing to break the silence, and still on our guard, we sit with our backs still to each other. I still wonder if this is the first test or if we really have to wait.
"On your guard still?" Asks the youngest terror when the moon is nearly high. She doesn't wait for an answer. "Good, it will serve you well to be aware."
My back is to her but I don't dare move.
Soon, as the moon reaches its peak in the sky, they start chanting.
It starts soft but soon grows louder and faster paced. I again hear the rustling and groaning of the nature mass. I feel the warm pelts of Ravenpaw and Tigerpaw against my own, they are tensed and watchful.
Then they are gone. I whirl around to find myself surrounded by walls and paths of bushes and rock.
"The first test must be completed alone." Meow the combined voices of the Terrors.
I look around and find that I have two choices. Left, and right. The Terrors have created a labyrinth.