Hi everybody! So this is my first fan fiction ever, and I'm really enjoying writing it! I know it's not about real warriors, but there will be some warrior related stuff later. Sorry if the story takes a while to progress, I'm trying! Also, feel free to suggest things to happen in the story and characters to add (ex. Name, pelt, personality) !

Clover and Dew followed Jay through the under growth, as Jay began explaining that the woods they roamed were very wide, and that sometimes it's hard to find all the cats. "So," She rambled, "there is a small chance that we won't find your father today, but trust me, he'll show up to your release celebration when you come out of the Shadow Woods."

Clover flicked a fern out of her way and continued walking. "Shadow woods? Release celebration? You didn't tell us about those things." Jay looked back, confused. "Oh," she said, "I must have forgotten that. The area you stay in for three days is called Shadow Woods, and we hold a release celebration if… I mean when you come back!" Jay chirped. Dew shrugged. "We'll find him! He'll probably stop at nothing until he meets us." Clover glanced up at Jay, hoping for a sign of agreement, but her aunt only flicked her ear and kept looking forward.

Suddenly, the ground sloped downward and the trees opened into a clearing with a large pine in the middle. The roots of the tree had been hollowed out underneath to make a den. A brown she cat with yellow eyes was curled up in it, and looked up at them as they approached. Jay sat down on a bulging root that was torn and scraggly. "Hey, watch it." The cat spoke. "You're sitting on my scratching post." Jay rolled her eyes, and hopped off the stump. "Welcome to the Great Pine clearing!" She exclaimed and nodded to the large tree. The strange she cat nodded to Clover and her sister. "So these are your nieces? Hm. I thought they would be taller." Clover, suddenly self-conscious, glanced down at her short build. She looked at Dew, but her sister didn't seem to care. "Who are you?" She asked. Jay smiled. "This is my friend Rocky. She has a kit that will be joining us today. She's already explained to him how things work around here, like I did to you a few moments ago." Clovers heart sunk suddenly. She had been enjoying the quality family time. Rocky blinked tiredly.

"Thorn should be back any second." She mumbled. Jay flicked her ears in surprise. "You already let him out of the kitting den alone?" Rocky shrugged. "Well, I was hoping that the Shadow would visit him and get it over with." She added when she noticed Clover and Dews confused expression, "Don't you know about that?" Jay looked very uncomfortable.

"You know that Dawn doesn't want them to hear about that until the release ritual," She warned, "Besides, you know that that's the only time he visits a kit." She looked down at the two sisters. "Um, don't mind her. You'll, um, understand eventually."

A rustling noise came from behind Clover. She turned to see a small dark brown pelt streaming towards her. Then he came to a stop. He had bright yellow eyes, and a dark mask across his eyes, kind of like a raccoon. Rocky's eyes perked up. "Any luck?" Thorn shook his head. "Nope, no shadow out there." Then he looked at the two sisters. He glanced at Dew normally, but his bright gaze lingered on Clover. He tilted his head. "Aren't you too young to explore the woods? You're, what, two weeks old?" Clover was shocked by his remark. "No! I'm 2 months old, just like you!" He snorted. "Well, you're a scrawny thing, then." Clover turned to Jay and Dew and was even more hurt when she noticed Jay looking bored. She looked down to her sister. Dew let out what sounded like a giggle, but turned into a fake coughing fit. Clovers mouth opened a little. How could her own sister laugh at her? Then, she felt a shove on her shoulder as Thorn pushed her away. He walked up to Dew. Clover could tell he tried to make the shove look like an accident, but she could feel the mockery through his fur when he pushed her.

Jay nodded to another hollow spot in the roots. "That's my den." She said. "And up in the branches a cat named Robin lives." As Jay led the way away, Thorn walked right next to Dew. "So," he said, "Can't wait to see the forest." It went on like this; Dew and Thorn talking and joking, and once, Clover tried to get into the conversation and Dew looked at her like she was embarrassing. Jay went along, introducing the kits to Robin, a red she cat, and who jumped from the trees and scared the fur off of Clover. Clover thought she was a bit of a showboat. She kept bragging about her hunting. Later, they met a white tom named Breeze who was good at running, and a rude yellow she cat named Yarrow who hissed at Dew for walking on her tail. They also said hello to two siblings, Dusk and Mystery, who could only be told apart by the shade of their blue eyes. They had the same black fur, but Mystery- the friendly she cat- had light blue eyes, and Dusk- the quiet, secluded tom- had dark blue eyes. Clover liked Mystery, but not so much her untrusting brother.

"It seems most of the other cats are asleep." Said Jay as she turned to the kits. "Time to explore some of the woods!" She began leading them towards a small, shallow stream. How were they supposed to cross? Swim? Clover wrinkled her nose at the thought. Her sister seemed equally distraught. But Thorn strutted right up to the bank. He blinked, and prepared his haunches for a leap across.

"Now hold on!" Jay yanked him back by his scruff just as he took air. "What in Shadows name are you doing!?" Thorn lashed his short tail. "Jumping across." Clovers aunt shook her head impatiently. "There are stepping stones a little up stream. Well cross there, instead of doing something stupid." Jay began upstream, and Dew followed. Clover tried to hop next to her sister but she felt a jerk on her tail as she tried to move. She turned around. Thorn had pinned her grey tail to the ground. He yanked her backwards and stepped in next to Dew. Clover glared at his stupid brown head. She wanted to claw the crap out of him. But, instead, she followed quietly. As they approached the stones, Clover noticed something glisten in the stream. She shuffled towards it, and saw a little fish. It swam off when it noticed her shadow, but something shimmered up right where it had been. Her reflection. Her eyes widened. No, rephrase. Her pale green eyes widened. Her large ears perked up, and her short whiskers twitched. Everything was in detail. She began to lean closer, to see the spot pattern on her face better. That's when something quick and small jabbed her back.

Tripping.

Falling.

Splashing.

Water.

Ice cold water.

Drowning.

Clover tried to suck in air but her lunges were flooded with thick, cruel water. She opened her eyes and could only see blue. Dark, unforgiving blue. Rocks scraped her belly fur and she knew she was going to drown. Clover was going to die.

Then. There was a light.

Something that was tiny, and bright, but grew. Grew so large that it was like fire was consuming her. But it was not hot. It was warm, sure. But not hot like fire. Then the cold returned. Along with pain in her leg, and thrashing. God, so much thrashing.

And then she was breathing. She opened her eyes, and she was on the bank. And she was soaking wet, shivering, confused, and

She.

Was.

Alive.

So I thought this chapters ending would leave you guys with an adrenaline rush. It wasn't in my original plan, but I didn't want you to get too bored. Trust me, the next chapter brings forth some mystery, and the chapter after that is where the real story takes off.

Spoilers!

Comment and follow ;)