Chapter 1
It was a dark, stormy night. Ebony, the pitch-black tom cat, bounded out of his housefolk's home. He was scared. His owners were cruel to him. He had to get away. Bounding blindly into the wilderness, the tom tripped and fell face-first into mud. Brilliant.
Through the pounding rain, the tom could barely see what was in front of him, except for the occasional flashes of lightning. Otherwise, all was swallowed by darkness.
By the time he found shelter in an old log, the normally CLEAN, DRY Ebony was filthy and sopping wet. Just as he was about to crawl into the log, a voice behind him growled, "What is your business in the Tribe of the Green Forest?"
Ebony turned around to find a deep brown tom with blueish-green eyes staring at him. "I-I was r-r-running from my h-h-housefolk, sir. I-I came to find shelter from the storm."
The tom snorted. "Oh, really? How do we know you aren't a spy for our rival tribe- the Tribe of the Vast Meadow?"
Ebony stared at the brown tom. "R-Rival tribe?"
"Yes. We compete for food here. Now, who are you?" The tom examined Ebony disdainfully. "I am Bark of the Oak Tree."
Ebony dipped his head. "I am Ebony, Bark of the Oak Tree."
Bark meowed gruffly, "Call me Bark. I must take you to our Tribe healer, Fawn of the Mighty Forest."
Ebony frowned uncertainly.
Bark turned and bounded into some undergrowth, "Come on."
Ebony hesitantly followed Bark through the undergrowth.
When the pitch-black tom emerged, he saw a group of trees close together, with many hollows. It was a breath-taking sight.
"This is where we live," Bark exclaimed. "Now, come. The smallest den is Forestfawn's."
Ebony followed Bark up the sturdy branch that wound its way around all of the trees-easy access to every hollow.
Eventually, Bark stopped moving in front of a small den. "This is Forestfawn's den. She will determine what to do with you."
Ebony gulped and slowly entered the den…