Chapter 1
Firestar was surrounded by warmth. He couldn't quite get his eyes open so he focused on what he could feel. He was on something soft and surrounded by fur? His instincts urged him closer to the scent of milk and that's when he realized, they sent me back to my kittenhood!
He had no ability to resist the draw of the sweet scent of milk and burrowed forward until he was able to latch onto his mother and drink. He felt the she-cat move as she helped nudge him closer making sure he was fully latched on.
Fireheart could hear the harsh barking of Two-legs somewhere around him and he huffed, that's right I'm still a kittypet. At least I already know how to get in the good graces of the Clan. It won't be as rough as last time.
He felt his mother tense up as the noise got closer, curling tighter around her kit. He felt her breath as she leaned down to speak to him, "Open your eyes, my dear, there is so much for you to see. I can't wait to show you the world."
Am I the only kit? Where's Princess? The rest of my siblings? I can't be the only one!
Firestar forced his eyes open in panic trying to see what was really going on. In front of him was his mother's belly. He turned his head side to side and realized he was the lone kit. He looked down at himself and realized his fur wasn't the right color or length. Long pale yellow gold fur with white feet. How is this possible?! Thunderstar said he would send me back to the beginning. This doesn't make sense!
"Oh! There you go!" His mother said, "Oh your eyes are just like mine! Such a pretty hazel!" She nosed him up a little and gave him a few gentle licks. Firestar just blinked up at her and took in her pretty brown tabby pelt and soft hazel eyes. He recognized her from his first life as being the same Nutmeg that gave birth to him and Princess but something must be wrong, he had four siblings in his litter not just him.
"My name is Nutmeg. I'm your mother. And you, my beautiful daughter, are called Peaches! Oh, you look just like your father!"
Firestar sat there a little stunned. Not only is this the wrong time but I'm a she-cat now? Oh StarClan what have you done this timeā¦
A faint voice whispered, "Do not blame us for this! As soon as we made the decision to send you back things were always going to change! You must adapt fast and accept things that may come because we can no longer control what happens, only advise."
Firestar shook his head- shook her head- to brush the whispers aside and instead looked up at Nutmeg and softly asked, "Am I the only one?"
Grief filled Nutmeg's eyes as she slowly nodded her head yes. She made no mention of why she was sad but continued on, "It's been a while now, do you want to get up and start exploring? I can show you around."
Firestar, no Peaches now, nods and starts trying to stand on wobbly paws. The sooner he - she learns to walk the faster she'll be able to get to ThunderClan. She may have a new identity now but she'll always be a part of ThunderClan, she can never forget why she is here. Nutmeg noses her up onto her feet and watches as she figures out how to keep balance. Once the kit seems comfortable she sits up and keeps a careful watch on her daughter as she stumbles out of the bed.
Fire- no- Peaches wobbles around and looks at her surroundings, a Two-Leg den, its massive all around with towering walls and a ceiling that seems impossibly high. Oh how she longs for her den with Sandstorm curled up next to her. She shakes her head and starts walking forward toward a bright light that hopefully leads to outside. She can hear Nutmeg walking behind her keeping a careful watch as she explores.
As Peaches gets closer she starts to warily look around for the Two-Legs she heard earlier not wanting to get caught by their big clumsy paws. Nutmeg pads up to her and nudges her forward, "Come. Follow me, I'll show you the best place to sit though it might be a while before you're big enough to jump up yourself."
The kit scampers after the tabby molly as she continues into the den heading for a bright square, a window, she recalls. It's been so long since she last set foot in a Two-Leg den She'd almost forgotten what it was like. She watched as her mother stopped in front of a ledge and turned toward her. She held still as Nutmeg picked her up by the scruff and jumped up with her, landing agilely on the ledge. Nutmeg gently set her down and flicked her tail at the window, "See, soon you'll be big enough to go out with me and I'll show you all the best sunning spots."
"Why can't I go out now?" the kit whined; it looks a lot more interesting than the confining walls of the Two-Leg den. Nutmeg shook her head, "You're far too small! I don't want you to get snatched by a bird or worse, some kind of wild cat!"
Some kind of wild cat? Does that mean we're close to the Clans? No matter which clan it is, I'll be able to find my way home!
Peaches feigned innocence, "What's a wild cat? Aren't we cats too?"
"Wild cats are those cats who don't have Housefolk and instead run around in the forest and fight! There are stories of them clawing up cats and stealing kits so you better stay in the yard where I can see you!" Nutmeg meowed scooting closer to her kit.
"Okay." Peaches mewed feeling a bit guilty knowing she'll have to leave sooner rather than later. She pressed up against her mother and looked through the window at the yard and the boundless forest beyond that.
