SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG! It was really tough to write this chapter... But the next one will be much faster!
Chapter 1: Falling
With a final groan of frustration, I pushed the pre-calculus assignment away into a pile on my antique wooden desk. It was useless; I'd never understand Trigonometry, and really, what was the point? It never came up in the real world. I sighed, my dark brown hair falling into my face for what felt like the millionth time today. I tucked it behind one ear, slowly standing up. The clock on my desk showed the time in glowing green numbers, and a yawn told me that it really was that late. I'd have to stop worrying about my homework for now…. It wasn't good for me to stay up any later.
With slow, sluggish steps I made my way to my bed. A glance outside my window showed the city still alive, with lights on and car horns blaring. I sighed sadly, falling back on to my bed and closing my eyes. Behind the lids, a wooded world became my home, with rivers and plains and rarely a person in sight. That was where I felt I belonged, more than this busy-body city. Of course, I'd never get to live in such a place. At least, not for a long time.
I sighed again, this time though falling to sleep with the gentle rhythm of my heartbeat and breathing. It wasn't long before I was in the land of dreams, although it seemed so much more real this time. A complete blackness surrounded me, and I seemed to be slowly falling through it. Sounds of battles rang in my ears, at first hisses and yowls, but then voices and battle cries. It changed, then, to a heated discussion, although I could barely make out the words. There seemed to be four main leaders, though, and I could pick out their voices from the rest. A fifth came in, though, and the voice shook me to my core.
Slowly, in front of my eyes, a face came into focus. But it wasn't a human face. Instead, it was one of a cat, with very green eyes. Her fur was a dappled cream, and she seemed to be smiling kindly at me. That couldn't be right though. Cats can't smile, right? Of course, since this was a dream, maybe they can… Either way, she was staring right at me, and her whole body came into view. She almost seemed to shine, and was ever so slightly transparent.
She stepped forward, and pressed a starry paw to my forehead. I felt a power surge through me, chasing away my fears and worries. Instead, strength and loyalty filled me like it never had before. All the characteristics I cherished most in myself seemed to be brought to the front of my being. The she-cat seemed to grow in size before me, or maybe I was shrinking. In this dream, I couldn't tell. She soon removed her paw though, and smiled again at me. I had to look up to see her face though now. Strange, though; my sense seemed sharper, clearer than before.
The she-cat gently nudged me, sending me spinning down through the darkness. She opened her mouth, and I heard her call out, "Good luck!" Cats can't talk though….. But then again, this was a dream. I fell through the blackness, faster and faster. The ever-growing wind plastered my fur to my skin. Wait, fur? I looked down at my hands, now paws. Behind me, a tail streamed out. On top of my head, large ears lay flat against my head. Was I…. Was I a cat? There was no time to ponder it, though, as the blackness became sky, and below me a forest appeared.
I yowled in fright as I crashed through the branches. I felt tufts of fur being pulled out, and twigs scratched at my face. It slowed me down, though, so my free-fall wasn't so out-of-control. But each hit, each little scratch, hurt just like anything in real life. As I continued to tumble down, the realization hit me; this was no dream, but reality!
With a final muffled thump I hit the lowest branch of the smallest tree and went hurtling toward the ground. I landed heavily on my side, not on the ground but on something… Quite furry. It struggled beneath me, yowling in surprise, before throwing me off and turning to look at me. It was a cat, although one who could be not much older than me. He had dark grey fur with black stripes, and bright golden eyes. He snarled, trying to seem menacing I suppose, but he looked pretty silly to me.
"Who are you?" he growled, unsheathing his claws. "Where did you come from?"
I narrowed my eyes, standing up as well. "I fell, obviously. Who are you?" Something, some instinct, told me that telling him my real name might not be such a good idea.
"I'm Cedarpaw of ThunderClan, kittypet. Why don't you go run home to your mommy now?" he sneered. The way he said 'kittypet' told me it was an insult, and I growled back.
"I'm no 'kittypet', whatever that means. Besides, shouldn't you be with your mommy?" I unsheathed my own claws, the feeling new to me. It was like stretching your fingers, almost.
Cedarpaw practically was spitting now. "I'm no kit! I'm an apprentice, and you're going down!" He leapt up into the air, claws outstretched.
End of chapter! Review please!