Fireclan

Chapter 2

Wildcats

Ren's sharp claws scraped against the rock as he lay crouched on it, ready to leap. His heart thumped in his chest and tension to hang in the air like mist. Suddenly A blur rushed out of the bushes. Ren immediately pounced and slammed into the skinny cat and they went rolling, the cat hissing and slashing clumsily at Ren with dull claws. Finally Ren pinned him down against the earth. Now he got a better look. The tom's bones stuck out from under shaggy, tan fur. He had broken teeth and wide yellow eyes with slitted pupils. As Ren pressed him against the ground he could feel the cat trembling uncontrollably.

"Who are you?" he demanded in the most threatening voice he could manage, but he felt the cat's wild eyes bore into him.

But the cat just stared up at him, trembling through his pelt. Finally he spoke. In a voice filled with a strange passion that didn't seem to be his own, he announced "A mist will rise to reveal a path to the stars."

Ren stared at the strange cat in confusion, but before he could ask anything three shadows burst into the clearing. Ren whipped around, still keeping his hold on the ragged cat. Huge cats with hard muscles that bulged under their fur landed less than a tail-length away. Their limbs were long and muscled and their hooked claws flashed in sunlight that poured through the trees.

Wildcats.

The cat in front stepped forward. He had thick black fur with brown splotched loosely scattered across his sides. A strip of white ran from his battle-scarred muzzle to his stomach. The cat snarled at Ren, showing his huge white teeth, "What are you doing here, kittypet?" he spat "This forest is no place for your kind!"

Ren could only stare as the giant cat loomed over him. He had imagined wildcats many times before, but he had never thought they would be so intimidating. Finally he built up his courage and mewed "I-I just went out for a hunt."

"We have no prey to spare for kittypets who want to test their pitiful skills! Go back to your Twolegs and get out of our territory!" the cat snarled, making Ren bite his lip to stop from flinching. The wildcat loomed darkly over him, almost seeming to envelope him in a shadow. Time stood still as the cats stared at each other. Nothing else seemed to exist. The rustle of the prey-filled brush, the trembling cat beneath Ren's paws, the two other wildcats watching the pair. Everything around them seemed dark, as if they were the only cats in the forest. The wildcat's eyes seemed to pierce through Ren, daring him to speak. A squeak from below him shot him to his senses. During the tension Ren had unconsciously dug his claws into the shaking cat's skin below him. Finally he composed himself enough to mew, "I-I'm tired of my housefolk. I want to be free, a-and not stuck inside their musty houses……."

The wildcat lifted his lip back in a snarl to spit a reply but a bright, ginger tabby stepped in front of him, "Hold on Blackclaw, let's hear the kittypet's story"

Blackclaw narrowed his eyes threateningly, "Step aside Squirrelshadow, this kittypet doesn't belong here. I'm going to chase him back to where he belongs, or kill him if I want to."

The ginger she-cat twisted her tail and replied slyly "I believe that's Shootingstar's decision"

Blackclaw let out a low growl, eyes flashing menacingly. After a pause, during which the two wildcats glared at each other, Blackclaw muttered a "fine" under his breath. Squirrelshadow turned her gaze towards Ren, giving him a sharp glare "Alright kittypet, what are you doing here? Even you kittypets know this is forestcat territory"

"I told you, I'm tired of living with my housefolk." Ren said, his voice getting slightly stronger, "Eating musty food, only going out when they let you, lazing around all day with nothing to do. That's no way for a cat to live! I can't take it! I finally decided to sneak away into the forest……." Ren let his voice trail off.

There was another pause as Squirrelshadow looked over him suspiciously, "I haven't seen you around here. We patrol here often and I've never scented you before."

"I just moved here with my housefolk" Ren mewed, beginning to feel more comfortable. The cats around him were still bristled with anger, but the forest scents were making him feel strangely at home.

"Well I guess-"Squirrelshadow was interrupted as Blackclaw stepped between her and Ren.

"Can we get moving?" He growled. Without waiting for an answer he pushed her aside and loomed over Ren, "Listen here kittypet, I would rather eat crowfood than bring you to the clan, but Shootingstar ordered all intruders like you to be brought to her and even I don't want to disobey it. So I'm going to give you a choice. Either come with us and take whatever comes your way with the clan or run back to your Twolegs like the pathetic piece of mouse dung you are."

Ren sucked in a breath. He had a chance to join the Clans and become a wildcat! This is what he had been waiting for, but was it what he truly wanted? Would the Clan accept him, even if he was brought to the camp? After all, he was just a kittypet. He glanced at Blackclaw. The cat had broad shoulders and thick legs, muscles bulging from years of working hard in the forest. Could Ren survive among these powerful cats? His head spun with all the thoughts and doubts. For a moment he wanted to curl up in his warm nest back with his housefolk, snuggling deep into comfortable blankets. He wanted to turn around and dash back to his home. But what would he really return to? Hard pellets for food, musty rooms, and terrifying machines? He shook his head. That wasn't the place for him. But was the forest the place for him? 'What do I do?' he thought desperately. A soft breeze swept through the clearing, snapping Ren out of his trance. The wind ruffled his soft fur, bringing the scents of the forest with it. Suddenly he knew what he had to do.

He turned to Blackclaw and nodded.

The group of cats trekked through the forest, silent shadows under the thick canopy of trees. Blackclaw and Squirrelshadow flanked the trembling cat, not giving any chance for escape. Ren followed close behind, thankful for their slow pace. He knew they could easily leave him behind, but were forced to go slowly to drag along their prisoner. The last cat of the patrol, a deep black tom with dark eyes, trailed behind them. He was so quiet Ren almost forgot he was there, and only the occasional snap of a twig reminded him of the cat's presence.

After what felt like hours of walking the wildcats came to a halt. Mind dull with exhaustion, Ren almost ran into them. He straightened himself and looked up at them. Blackclaw turned to him "We are here".

Ren blinked and looked around. It seemed like any other part of the forest, with thick bushes and trees surrounding them. No openings in the brush suggested that a clan lived nearby. The only evidence was the strong smell of cats that drifted in the breeze. Suddenly a cat burst from the ferns "Blackclaw! I scented you return did you get-" he stopped when he saw Ren "What's that doing here?"

He was a young brown tom about Ren's age with black stripes covering his body. Bright green eyes stood out against his fur, making them look wider and brighter than they really were. Blackclaw brushed past him, herding the trembling cat roughly through the ferns "Keep an eye on him while we take care of this" he said, not even bothering to answer the young cat's question. The other older cats followed him.

After bowing his head as they passed, the young wildcat turned to Ren, lifting his lip up in a snarl "I don't know why they let you here kittypet, but I know you won't be welcomed!"

"I'm Ren" Ren said flatly, ignoring the hostile tone of the cat's voice. He would prove that he was brave, even if he didn't feel like he was.

The wildcat twitched his whiskers, slightly impressed, "I'm Tigerpaw," he puffed out his chest "I'm training to be a warrior. Not that a kittypet would ever know how that feels" there was a mocking in his voice that made Ren clench his teeth.

"Well why not?" he spat "I'm just as capable of learning as you are, maybe even more!"

The wildcat curled his tail in amusement, "Your not bad kittypet, but I wouldn't act so brave around the clan. They might not take it very well. We're a proud clan, and we don't like kittypets who can't keep their mouths shut."

Ren narrowed his eyes, but couldn't help admit he was right. The apprentice in front of him might have been impressed with his bravery, but he couldn't imagine how a cat like Blackclaw would react. If he was to get the approval of the clan, he would have to tone down his comebacks. Great, Ren thought with amusement, it looks like Toeser finally rubbed off on me. Even with that thought, Ren felt fear pricking at his throat.

"Tigerpaw!" Blackclaw snarled from the brush "Hurry up!"

The apprentice jumped to his feet and darted into the ferns, waving his tail for Ren to follow. Trying to control his trembling Ren darted after him. They pushed through the brush and came to a small opening studded with bramble. Tigerpaw's tail disappeared into the opening and Ren swiftly followed, hissing in annoyance as brambles pricked at his pelt. The kittypet emerged from the opening and stopped short, sucking in a breath. Before him was a clearing filled with more cats than he had ever seen before. They milled around, grooming each other or talking in exited voices. A group of young cats played by a stump, batting and swiping at each other with soft paws. Every head turned at the new scent that had entered the clearing. Ren felt their hostile eyes bore into him and he ducked his head in embarrassment.

Head still down, the kittypet glanced around. Blackclaw and Squirrelshadow were talking to a she-cat, the trembling tom still between them. Behind them was a fallen tree that was mostly tucked away into the brush. It looked as if it had fallen into the forest long ago and its roots now stuck out over the clearing. The trunk was almost twice the size of Ren, but the tallest root stood a few tail-lengths higher. He felt a presence next to him and turned to see Tigerpaw. The cat's blue eyes gleamed as he looked around the camp. After a moment he turned to Ren with a grin, pride flooding through his eyes, "Welcome to Fireclan."