AN: uhh hello again. Long time no see. How long exactly? oh you know only like 9 months, just a small hiatus lmao. Actually had this chapter pretty much finished so i felt i might as well go ahead and post it. Also you should be able to see the wonderful new cover art made by the amazing MistFlame54 (thank you again).
Not sure when the next chapter will be but should hopefully be in less than 9 months this time lol.
Chapter 3 (Storm)
Storm jerked awake and raised his head quickly, disturbed by something. He looked about to find himself on a large grassy moor. The grass was crispy and dull. The sky was the wrong shade of grey.
The world was dead.
There were no sounds. No birds chirping, no gentle breeze, no undergrowth rustling; just cold, deathly silence.
His shaky breathing was thunder compared to the stillness around him.
The air harboured an eerie chill that struck down to the bone and clawed at his soul. His exhaled breath formed a visible mist.
He turned to his side to look for his sister. She wasn't there.
Where am I?
Slowly, cautiously, he rose to his paws. Fear gripped his throat and sped his breathing. His body sensed a presence and the fur on his back prickled as if he was being watched. He spun round... nothing. No one was there.
But now, he could see the edge of a woodland some distance ahead. The trees were bare and hunched over as if they had lost the will to live. Something compelled him to move towards it; he couldn't bear to stand still any longer.
His breathing was growing more laboured and shakier with each step.
Storm walked for what felt like seasons, but must only have been a few minutes. The treeline had begun to look closer, until a thick, murky fog moved like a phantom through the trees, obscuring everything from view.
Storm kept walking.
The feeling of a set of eyes on him resurfaced. He glanced back, and again there was nothing. Just the fog creeping malevolently towards him.
When he turned back to the trees, they were gone. The fog had engulfed them and was moving ever closer, encircling him. It pressed in from all sides and now he couldn't even see a tail-length in front of him.
It was just for a heartbeat, but through the fog, Storm swore he spotted a pair of golden eyes glaring menacingly at him, piercing into him. But the eyes quickly faded and as the icy fog closed in, Storm began to shiver. As it entered his mouth it clawed down his windpipe, triggering a tight, painful ache. His throat felt like it was closing and he sunk to the ground feeling colder than ever. The frosty embrace of the air felt like a thousand thorns puncturing his skin. The fog was sucking his life away.
What is this place? Where's Fern? Why am I here?
Am I going to die here?
As the world faded to black, several muffled voices filtered in and feeling began to return to his body.
"Where do think they came from?"
"I heard they're Smokeclan."
"No, you idiot. Smokeclan was chasing them. They're rogues."
"Poor things."
"Wow, I've never seen markings like that before."
"Oooh, someone's in love."
"Am not!"
"Shhh! You'll wake them up!"
As Storm slowly opened his eyes, round faces faded into view. A group of kits sat peering into the nest staring at him.
To Storm's relief, when he looked down beside him, his sister was still there. She was awake too.
It was just a dream. He reassured himself sternly. You're fine.
"Hey there!" A blurry, shape greeted enthusiastically.
Storm was still feeling groggy and his head was fuzzy. He blinked rapidly to get his eyes to focus properly. How long have I slept for?
"What's your name?" The same kit asked. He could now see the light-brown pelt clearly, and the hazel eyes that accompanied it.
Storm didn't answer her question, instead he looked around at each individual face staring curiously at him and his sister. There were six kits in total and Storm began to feel slightly self-conscious under their gaze. Instinctively, he edged forward in such a way to attempt to shield his sister. They didn't wait for an answer to the first question and began bombarding him with more.
"Where are you from?"
"What happened to you?"
"Did you see Smokeclan?"
"Are they scary?"
Storm didn't pay much attention to the enquires of these strangers. Instead, he began replaying the events of last night, or however long ago it was that he was awake, trying to make sense of it all.
The kits had moved closer in their eagerness for information and sat with expectant faces. Storm was considering telling them to 'go away', but another voice beat him to it.
"Unless you lot are bleedin' to death, I suggest you get out of here and leave my patients alone." The stern, irritated voice of Dawnstep appeared to send a shiver of terror through the kits, who quickly dipped their head, muttered an apology and ran out of the den. The old she-cat ducked through the hole and into the nest and placed a small mouse in front of Storm and Fern. Storm suspected that the expression of irritation was just her resting face. "How're you feelin' today?" She asked.
Like my parents just got killed and I've nowhere to go. Storm though dimly, but he simply replied, "Fine." His sister said the same and though Dawnstep could tell this wasn't true, she didn't press any further.
"I bought you some food, you should eat." She nodded down to the mouse, before moving to the side of the nest to sought through her herbs. Storm ignored the mouse. His stomach still felt uneasy and he doubted he would be able to keep down anything he ate. Instead, he huddled closer to Fern.
"Are you hungry?" He asked her quietly, knowing the answer already.
"No."
"Is your cut alright." From the look of the wound, Storm grew worried that it might scar. She'll have to live with a constant reminder of what happened.
"It doesn't hurt much anymore." There was a short silence. "Storm what are we going to do?" she asked, choking back tears.
Good question. "I don't know." He admitted. But at his sister's increasingly despairing expression he quickly added, "But hopefully these cats will help us. And whatever happens, we'll have each other. I'll always be here for you." He vowed, meaning it completely, as he nuzzled her neck affectionately.
Fern smiled at that and sniffed. "Yeah. We have to stick together and look out for each other, no matter what."
"No matter what." Storm agreed.
A voice at the entrance pulled Storm from his thoughts. "Dawnstep?" It was Maplefur.
"Come in." She replied.
The large ginger tom squeezed in through the narrow gap. "Good to see you Dawnstep." He greeted.
"Aye, and you."
"How're things?"
"Just fine, Maplefur." Despite the professional and courteous tones, Storm got the impression these cats were good friends. "You're here to see the kits I assume?"
Maplefur nodded and sat down in front of Storm and Fern, curling his tail over his paws.
"How're you two doin'?" He asked cautiously.
Why does it matter? Storm thought, but didn't reply. Fern merely shrugged in response to the tom's question. Maplefur gave them a sympathetic look.
"I... I'm real sorry 'bout your mother. I can't imagine how hard this must be for you." His tone was empathetic, yet cautious as if he was making sure not to say the wrong thing. "We buried her some place nice. I can take you there whenever you want and if you need to talk... I'll be here for you." He offered. Storm was quietly astounded at the tom's kindness and generosity. This cat barely knew them and yet was already offering them this kind of help. Despite the generous offer though, Storm wasn't sure if he was yet ready to visit his mother's grave, and he certainly didn't think he would ever want to 'talk' about it with any cat. It also seemed that Maplefur had not only come to give his condolences as he began speaking again. "Well, if you're feelin' up to it: our leader would like to meet you two."
Storm wasn't feeling particularly up for walking, let alone having to introduce himself to a stranger. But at the same time, he needed something, anything, to take his mind off of his parents. So, he convinced his sister to agree and told Maplefur they would do it.
"Good." He nodded. "Follow me then."
They left the den and stepped out into the warm glittering sunlight of the morning, with only a few faint wisps of cloud to disturb the clear blue sky. Much more appropriate weather for green-leaf than the place of his dream.
They began making their way across the camp towards the cave entrance. There were a lot of cats around the camp: some were lying down and eating, some just seemed to be relaxing, and others were up and about with seemingly important tasks to do.
But it wasn't long before the chatter began to die down and most heads turned in the direction of Storm and Fern. Word must have spread to the whole clan about their arrival and now the cats seemed intently interested in them. Storm heard several groups whispering to each other, but he couldn't make out what was being said.
Storm felt himself grow hot under the curious, questioning stare of all these cats and he instinctively flattened his ears. The walk to the cave felt like it was taking forever, and all the while countless pairs of eyes followed his every movement. Again, Storm spied a few hostile glares within the crowd. He tried to ignore them, but he still grew increasingly uncomfortable whilst the cats were eyeing him – or maybe he was just hot because of the sun beating down on him.
They finally reached the cave entrance. Maplefur greeted one of the cats standing guard.
"Mornin' Pinefrost. Oakstar requested to see these two." He explained with a nod of his head towards thew kits.
Pinefrost merely grunted and jerked his head towards the entrance to say that they could go in. He gave the kits a look of hatred and suspicion as they passed and Storm remembered the other hostile gazes he had seen in the crowd, when a horrible thought occurred to him. What if they decide not to help us? What if they kick us out? What if these really are the cats who killed out parents? Storm struggled to breathe; the cold, stone walls were suffocating him. His heart began to race as he panicked about what this 'leader' would do with him and his sister. A few minutes after venturing outside on their own and a fox had almost eaten them, so how would they survive permanently?
STOP IT! His logical side scolded himself sternly. These cats wouldn't have gone to all this trouble if they were just going to kill or abandon you. And besides panicking will solve NOTHING. So, grow up and calm down!
The narrow corridor quickly opened up into a large stone dome, with a hole in the roof that allowed the sunlight to flow into the cave. At the far end of the space, sat a brown and white she-cat, her tail swishing gracefully from side to side.
"Ah, there you are! Welcome." The she-cat greeted. "I am Oakstar, leader of Forestclan. You two are Fern and Storm, is that right?"
"Yeah." Storm said.
"You will address her as ma'am." A sneer came from a short distance behind them. The russet tabby, Pinefrost, had followed them in.
"Pinefrost, they are only kits. There is no need for formalities." She said coolly. "And there is no need for you to be in here either, you may leave us."
For a moment it looked as though he was about to argue, but he thought better of it. "Yes ma'am." He said, dipping his head. He stiffly spun around and stalked out of the cave.
Oakstar jumped down from the platform she had been sitting on and walked straight up to Storm and Fern, before bringing herself down to their eye level. "I apologise on his behalf. Anyway, how are you two doing?"
Why does everyone keep asking that?
"I am terribly sorry about your mother." She continued. Storm silently corrected her that his father had also been killed, but he didn't have the energy to verbally go into detail of what had happened that night. "But it will be alright. If you accept our offer, we will take you in as clan members. Maplefur here will teach you some basic skills in hunting, fighting and healing as well as teaching you about the customs and history of the clan. Then in a few moons time you will start proper training with the rest of the kits. You will have to serve and defend this clan and we treat each other like a family. So, Storm and Fern, do you accept my offer."
This had been a mind boggling past few days. Suddenly his parents were gone and now his only hope for survival was to join this group of cats he had never heard of before. Storm was beginning to grow tired of making decisions based on not having a viable alternative.
"Yes." Fern replied quietly.
"Yes." Storm nodded.
"Good. Welcome to Forestclan." Oakstar meowed, satisfied. "Oh, and there's one more thing. As clan members, you must take clan names. From now on, until you begin your training, you will be known as Stormkit and Fernkit."
Storm wrinkled his nose slightly. He wasn't sure what he thought of him and his siter having new names. These were the names their parents had given them. However, he conceded that at least his name had merely had an ending attached to it, rather than being changed entirely. And he once again reflected that he didn't have a choice in the matter.
"And..." Oakstar began hesitantly. "I am afraid there is one more thing I must ask of you. If it is not too hard for you, I would like you to tell me everything that happened the night before my warriors found you."
What?! Storm had been struggling to stop the memory from spinning on repeat in his mind and now this she-cat wanted him to go through it all in detail? He glanced at his sister, who began to shake slightly. Storm guessed she too was replaying the events of that night.
"I understand if it is too soon, we can always do it another time..." Oakstar trailed off.
Well, if you're not going to let it go... "We didn't really see anything." Stormkit spoke quickly and ignored the questioning glance that Fernkit gave him. "We were in the den and heard some voices and shouts. Then suddenly our mother grabbed us and began running away and... our father didn't follow. Our mother found a ditch under a tree and put us there. She said she would lead the cats away and we never saw her again." He had hardly taken a breath whilst he had been speaking and now took in deep ones in order to steady himself.
"I wasn't aware you had lost a father too." Oakstar said. "Again, I am sorry for your loss. We will look after you here." The she-cat looked as though she wanted to ask them more questions. "Do you think you could describe any of the attackers."
"Oakstar." Maplefur spoke for the first time since entering the cave. Oakstar ignored him and continued to look at Stormkit, unblinking, expecting a response.
Stormkit looked down at his paws. "Like, I said we didn't really see anything."
"Alright." She meowed, seemingly as if it suddenly didn't matter to her. "Thank you for telling me, I know it can't have been easy. That is all I wanted to talk to you about." She then looked at Maplefur. "You can take them back to their nest now."
Maplefur dipped his head. "Ma'am." He turned and began padding away. "C'mon kids."
Stormkit and Fernkit followed him out of the cave and back to the medicine den. Mercifully, few cats seemed interested in them this time and their journey across camp went unnoticed.
As the kits settled down on the bed of moss inside, Maplefur bid them farewell. "Well, I have things I need to see to. But I reckon we should make a start tomorrow. Nothin' too strenuous, I'll just teach you a little about the clan."
"Okay." Fernkit replied. "Thank you."
Stormkit didn't pay much attention as his mind was elsewhere, once again thinking about the night when the strange cats attacked. Of course, Stormkit had been lying to Oakstar – he had seen everything that had happened that night.