'What have we gotten ourselves into this time' pebbles thought to herself she looked at the seven strange cats that were escorting her to whatever strange place they lived in and all she knew was that I was deep in the forest and away from her home.
Lyres wasn't doing so good either he didn't expect the cats that lived into the forest to attack them like that, and now they were being taken into the forest, the very same one that his mother father and many siblings told him kitten eating cats lived in.
Theas cats were not what he thought they would look like, they looked nothing like the thin blood soaked ratty cats his father described them as, they were fit, clean and sleek, they looked healthier than some of his siblings even, but they did have strange names.
"what kind of name is river nose" he muttered to himself, "I don't know what kind of name is lyres" the she cat said looking back at him eyes narrowed, lyres were surprised, did these cats have super hearing or something.
He was strangely exited to see the home of these strange cats even if it did mean they would be eaten, pebbles was sticking close to lyres her fur puffed up and blue eyes wide, she was terrified of the cream and brown tom was making remarks on how to eat her in a sarcastic voice "how I will enjoy eating your paws" he said, while the brown and grey tom was telling him to stop "stream fleck stop you've scared her enough.
"calm down elm spots I'm just joking" the cat stream fleck said, elm spot glared at his friend, the cats finally led them away from the river, at least now she could stop worrying that they were going to drown them, but when she began to smell dozens of more strange cats she became worried again.
"the cats pushed them through a tunnel of reeds, on the other side was a clearing with many cats of different shapes and colours, they were all staring at lyres and her, she shrunk into her fur and positioned herself behind her brother, he got them into this mess and he had to get them out.
Lyres was also looking around at the cats, there was a grey she cat staring at him from an opening in-between to stone slabs that led to a cave, when she saw him looking at her she backed into the cave, he was weirded out but continued to look around.
surprisingly two kitten were bouncing across the clearing of the supposed kitten cannibal home, they were squealing "intruder there's an intruder in camp" they were quickly stopped by a tortishell she cat who stood in front of them, she stared at the siblings in caution another tortishell she cat this one he could tell was slightly pregnant, the two carried the kits back into a bush, the kits complained about wanting to fight them, the she cats shushed them and they entered the den the she cats peeked their heads out at them keeping an eye on them.
Two cats came up to them one was a white tom with black patches the other was a white she cat with dark points their tails were intertwined as they walked, they stared at the two silver tabbies and finally asked" are these the kittypets that were on the territory, ash ear" the white and black tom asked the light grey she cat that had been flanking them.
"yes they will be punished by pale star" ash ear said, river nose walked off into a gnarled dead tree and squeezed under its roots, she soon squeezed back out with a pale brown she cat with large ears and large dark eyes, he would think she was pretty if the she cat wasn't stalking towards them angrily.
"Theas are the kittypets we've been scenting on the territory" she asked wasp gaze, "yes pale star, although its seems it's the she cats first time in the forest" wasp gaze replied his gold fur shone in the sun.
Pale star nodded "I will be calling a clan meeting, put them in the middle of the clearing" she said, she walked to the gnarled tree and leapt up onto one of its branches, she yowled out "all cats old enough to hunt their own prey and swim the current gather around the gnarled tree" cats that weren't already in the clearings walked out of their dens eyes trained on the two intruders in camp.
The two silver tabbies were surrounded now by powerful looking cats, "you two, tell me your names" pale star called down, they flinched but called back" lyres" "pebbles" pale star nodded, and continued "do you know why, you have been brought here" she asked, sweeping her pale tail around her paws.
"no" pebbles replied, "no? you mean to tell me, crossing over our borders, that are clearly marked, should not be punished" pale star said, her fur was puffing up "were sorry, If you just let us go we'll never enter the forest again" pebbles said, just as lyres answered "seriously we only wanted to hunt a mouse, it's no big deal" pebbles looked at her brother in disbelief, and then back to the pale leader of the strange group of cats that kept them captive.
Pale star leapt from her tree growling "one mouse! one mouse can mean live or death for a cat out here, and you two kittypets come here already well fed and hunt for fun, while we hunt to survive" she said lyres flinched back as the pale she cat stalked over to him, "sorry, sorry we won't ever touch your prey again" he said trying to make himself as small as possible, pale star huffed and walked back to the gnarled tree were she took up a position on its branches again.
"why are you two even hear in the first place" she asked, "um, our house folks home is getting more crowded and its getting harder and harder to get a good meal anymore" pebbles said, "what do you mean it's getting harder to get food, you're kittypet its handed to you every moment of the day" quail willow said from the group of gathered cats,
"that's true, but when fifteen other cats are pushing their faces in to a bowl to get a bite to eat, there isn't really a lot of food going round" lyres said, thinking of the time he was pushed out of a room by adult cats he didn't even now just so they had the food to themselves.
the clan cats looked horrified at the life describe they then noticed on closer inspection the silver tabbies weren't as fat as they first thought, and they were actually skinnier than most of the clan cats, "but it's been better, a group of cats recently moved out looking for a place with more food and now there has been more food for everyone" pebbles said but her stomach growling gave her lie away" yea it was better, until new cats moved in even bringing kittens" lyres said sourly.
The clan cats were still horrified, kits in a place full of cats coming and going and barley enough food to feed them all, this was a terrifying thought, "why did you stay there then if it was so bad?" elm spots asked.
"it's not really that bad" pebbles tried to say "yes it is, ever since dad moved in and brought his 'friends', he's made living in the home a living nightmare, I just want to be able to go into a room and not see cats I don't even know, walking around like they owned the place, or better yet be able to get some food, without having to wake up at the crack of dawn, just to get a mouthful of food that doesn't even taste good" he shouted, he huffed breathless forgetting about the clan cats watching them.
"pebbles lyres, tell me do you like your life's in the two leg place" pale star asked chest puffed out, lyres and pebbles looked up at her surprised they forgot about the other cats, "no not really" they both said, pale star nodded, and asked a question that surprised all the cats "how would you two like to join shore clan"
"pale star, are you sure this is a good idea, their home in the two-leg place sounds terrible but their still kittypets, they don't know how to hunt or fight or anything" river nose said "then we will teach them like one would teach an apprentice, if they would like to join" pale star said looking down at the silver tabbies' lyres and pebbles were still stunned, lyres snapped out of his stupor first "yes I would love to join this clan of yours if it meant getting away from father" he said excitedly.
"what but what about pastel Charles and mom, home life may be bad but don't you care what happens to them" pebbles asked "yes I do, pebbles if you want to go back you can but I want to stay hear" lyres said to his sister, pebbles sighed "fine, I'll stay, just to keep you out of trouble, but the moment clan life don't look so good, we're leaving" she said pelt fluffed up.
"I see so you're both staying, you two will be apprenticed to quail willow and elm spots" pale star said, the two warriors walked out from the circle of cats, quail willow not looking so pleased to have her first apprentice be a kittypet.
The two faced the kittypets or now clan cats and waited, the silver tabbies were confused as to what they had to do, "touch noses with them" pale star whispered from above her friendly tone finally returning, "oh" the two tabbies touched noses with their new mentors and they walked with them into the circle of cats, still a bit shy of the stares they were getting.
It was silent for a moment unit pale star began to chant "lyres, pebbles, lyres, pebbles" she was calling the names of the new apprentices, weasel fern joined in them stream fleck and finally the rest of the clan joined in calling "lyres, pebbles, lyres, pebbles"
"why are they yelling our names" pebbles asked scared, "it's to welcome you as new apprentices" elm spots said, she looked around and saw a large black tom cat glaring at her and her brother with yellow eyes, there was a tortishell she cat beside him calling out their names with enthusiasm.
"that's owl fang and mellow paw, she's an apprentice like you, why not go over and chat with her" elm spots said, "I don't think owl fang likes me that much, he doesn't look too happy im joining the clan" pebbles replied, "he's just a very grumpy cat, he won't hurt you" elm spots said, pebbles knew he was probably right but didn't want to take her chances with the bulky tom.
Her stomach growled again "you sound hungry why not grab some prey from the fresh kill pile, and then I'll show you around" elm spots said, pebbles nodded reluctantly he had never eaten prey before but she hadn't eaten in a while and was starving, elm spots lead her to a rock that created an overhang, there were various critters in a pile under the overhang, "take anything you like there enough for everyone" elm spots said.
"wow real prey and there's so much" lyres said on the other side of the pile, he was looking over the pile of prey in excitement, "why are you so excited, haven't you ever had a fresh kill mouse before" quail willow asked weirded out by the kittypet, "nope they were always scared away by the bell on my collar" lyres replied pointing to the yellow vine around his neck with his tail.
"if your collar is scaring off prey then why not remove it" quail willow asked, "I never thought of that" he said, quail willow sighed "come hear I'll take it off for you" she said, lyres gulped but bared his neck, she began to tug at the yellow collar, then she bit her teeth into the tough material before finally with one last tug the collar ripped away from lyre's neck, he let out a sigh of relief as the cool air washed over his flattened neck fur.
Quail willow dropped the collar and licked her lips to rid her mouth of the terrible taste of lyres kittypet scent, "you smell terrible you know" quail willow said, lyres smelled of stale water and terrible kittypet food, she even smelt the sour smell of thunder path and monster on him.
"hey you don't smell so good yourself" lyres said, quail willow smelled of fresh water, fish and musky fallen leafs, it wasn't that bad but he didn't like being insulted, quail willow huffed "get used to it, this is the smell of most shore clan cats, and if you really intend to stay, you will smell like this as well soon" she said ginger tail flicking.
Lyres walked over to his sister, who was leaning over a mouse, she gingerly bit into it and then began eating franticly, purring at the delicious taste "this is amazing" she said looking up at her mentor happily her collar jingled, "pebbles look I'm a real wild cat now I don't have a collar anymore" lyres said showing off his neck which no longer had the yellow collar.
"oh no what happened" pebbles asked franticly "nothing I took it off, you should too, it feels great" lyres said letting the cool air brush the fur of his neck, "he's right you know the prey will hear your bell jingling if they don't spot the collars bright colour first" elm spot said as he finished his own mouse.
Pebbles seemed reluctant at first, but allowed her brother too rip the tough fabric of the light blue collar and pull it off, allowing her to let her flattened neck fur breath in the fresh air, "well it does feel nice" she said, "see, I told you" lyres said dropping the collar on the ground the bell tinkling as if rolled into the grass.
The two kits from before ran over and began throwing the bells around with glee at the tinkling noise, "who are they" lyres asked quail willow "that's swift kit and droplet kit curl waves kits" quail willow replied, "oh, is she one of the tortishells from before" he asked, "yes that was curl wave and rubble blossom, rubble blossom is pregnant with her own litter of kits, they are the clan's queens" quail willow said.
"speaking of queen I need to show you around pebbles" elm spots said, "okay pebbles said walking after her mentor, "come on quail willow I want to try a fresh fish you want to share" lyres said taking a trout from the pile, quail willow was going to refuse, she didn't want to share with a kittypet, but she saw how pebble had finished a mouse in record time "fine, but keep you kittypet germs to yourself"
Elm spots lead pebbles to the tree pale star had called the clan meeting at, "this is the gnarled tree its where pale star calls clan meetings, it also doubles as her den" elm spots said pointing to an opening in the roots of the tree, "ah, so she really lives under there" pebbles said, suddenly river nose squeezed out of the den her long scarred snout was the first thing pebbles noticed about her, "that's river nose the deputy and pale stars right hand" elm spots introduced the red brown tabby.
"thank you for the introduction elm spots" river nose said as she walked past them her broad scared shoulders bobbing as she walked, elm spots lead pebbles to two stone slabs that had an opening that led to a cave, the opening was covered by a curtain of long ivy, "this is the medicine cat den weasel fern resides in hear" elm spot said, "what's a medicine cat" pebbles asked, "they're very important cats hear in the clan, who heal sick and injured cats, they also share dreams with star clan" elm spots explained.
"what's star clan" pebbles asked again, "they're our warrior ancestors and clan mates, who died and now watch over us, they warn us of any danger we may face with prophesies "weasel fern said coming out of her den, "greeting weasel fern, where are you off to" elm spots asked "I'm going to look for comfrey root, big stop wrenched a claw and I'm almost out" the grey she cat said and walked towards the camp entrance.
Pebbles thought about star clan were there really dead cats watching over the clan cats, where there any cats watching over her even, elm spots stopped in front of two bushes both with holes to allow access, "this is the warriors den and apprentice den, you will be staying in the apprentice den until you're a warrior then you will enter the warrior den" he said pointing at he two bushes.
He led her to another bush this one smelled like milk and it was strangely large, it was tucked protectively next to the warrior and medicine den "this is the nursery the queens and kits sleep hear" elm spots said, pebbles peeked her head into the den, and saw curl wave and rubble blossom resting.
He led her to the final den in the clearing, it was a cave that dipped into the earth with a bolder in front of the entrance making so you had to squeeze around it to get inside, "this is the elders den, when a warrior gets too old to hunt an fight they retire hear where the clan cares for them, the elders, queens and kits always eat first in the clan" elm spot said.
"can I meet them" pebbles asked, wanting to meet the oldest cats who served the clan she was now a part of "sure" elm spots said, leading her into the den, two cats were inside, a brown tom, with a light brown underbelly, and dappled back and a black she cat, with a white muzzle and paws and blue eyes, their muzzles were grey.
"This is copper spots and brook branch" elm spots introduced the elders, "is that one of the kittypets, why is it in our den" copper spots growled, pebbles flinched at the toms words, "calm down copper spots, your scaring the poor kit, she's been through a lot you know" brook branch said in a mothering tone.
"it's very nice to meet you two, I hope I'll be able to serve your clan well" pebbles said politely, "you better if I end up getting less prey because you can't hunt properly then I'll have a word with pale star" copper spots said turning away from the silver tabby.
"I know you'll do great dear" brook branch said hunkering down in her nest for a nap, the warrior and new apprentice walked out of the elder's den, elm spots looked up the sun was setting, painting the sky in pretty colours pebbles had never seen before, "you should go sleep in the apprentice den, I'll come in the morning to get you for training" elm spots said pointing his brown and grey tail at the apprentice den.
She nodded and padded over to where she would most likely be sleeping for the foreseeable future, she entered and a grey blue she cat who was resting in one of the nests looked up "oh, one of the kitty pets greets us with their terrible smell" she quipped, pebbles flinched in on herself "leave her alone brindle paw" the tortishell mellow paw said.
Brindle paw huffed and curled up in her nest, "don't worry about her she like that with me too, the only one she likes is my brother feather paw" mellow paw she said flicking her tail at the brown tabby tom that was asleep in the nest next to brindle paw, "but don't worry I made you and your brother nest next to me so you won't have to worry about brindle paw" mellow paw said showing her to three mossy beds in the corner away from brindle paw, one smelled strongly of mellow paw.
"oh thank you mellow paw" pebbles said as she stepped into one of the unclaimed nests and curled up, "no problems I hope we can be friends" mellow paw said getting into her own nest, pebbles nest was softer and comfier than the overcrowded floors and baskets she used to sleep in, and the apprentice den smelled fresher and was cooler that the stuffy house.
She closed her eyes and the silver tabby fell into sleep.
Fun fact-
Sky tail and gentle mist finally hooked up, most cats in the clan knew they would
Pebbles and lyres lived in a hoarder house if you couldn't tell, it wasn't always like that though, their mother missy fell in love with their rouge father bristle, and they had kits bristle soon moved into their home and brought many rouges with him, they now live In the overcrowded house wich is welcoming in rouge after rouge, and as you know already bristle isn't loyal to missy and has more than one mate and litter of kits.
Owl fang is not happy with pale star letting two kitty pets into the clan neither is shell thorn and copper spots
Mellow paw is lonely since her and feather paw have drifted apart, feather paw now hangs out with brindle paw more than her, she hopes pebbles will be able to be her new friend
Elm spots is seen as an attractive cat to many females in the clan but is very thick headed
Quail willow feels awkward having to mentor a kittypet she attacked in the forest, and is mean to him hoping he'll complain to pale star to get a new mentor or leave the clan altogether, but she doses like lyres a little bit
