I would like to thank Guest for being my first reviewer. Small pieces of praise and criticism really do make my day.
Chapter One
The Voices
"Bet that you can't catch me!" Brackenkit cried as he dashed away, a stick in his jaws. That was the game. You had to take the stick and put it on your rock. The winner was who did it first. It was simple, but aroused amusement in the young kits.
Petalkit raced after him, her paws leaving marks in the desert sand. The camp basically consisted of a few small bushes and cacti and large, flat rocks. The cats slept on rocks that gave them warmth in the freezing nights.
You need that stick.
A voice filled her thoughts, pushing away the excitement of playing.
You must get that stick.
Petalkit didn't argue. When she tried to, the voice would be mean to her. It would give her chilling nightmares and call her rude names. She had learnt to obey the voices from a young age.
"I'll get the stick." She muttered, running as fast as her paws could carry her. It was no longer a game. If she didn't get the stick, it would be another night of nightmares.
Good girl. The voice praised her.
Petalkit threw herself on her brother, tackling him to the ground. Without realising it, her unsheathed claws dug into his pelt, drawing blood as she tried to get the stick.
"You're hurting me! Mother!" He screamed as Petalkit tried to grab the stick.
He dropped it when she loosened her grip and he fled to Bluerose and Briarfoot. Petalkit grabbed it and raced over to a quiet area of the camp.
"I got it." She whispered to the voice, quietly so that no cat heard.
Good. You are one step closer to what you deserve. What we deserve.
"What does a stick have to do with it?"
The stick has nothing to do with it. It is part of your training.
"What training?"
The training on how to become a good leader. You are learning how to catch rogues when they steal prey. The voice told her.
"Okay. I can't wait to chase away rogues for real!" She forgot to be quiet, mentally kicking herself when several cats looked her way.
"Who are you talking to?" Petalkit's sister, Ivykit, came over, looking at her curiously.
"Nothing." Petalkit answered quickly. She couldn't tell anyone about the voice. The voice told her that if she did, then she would die.
Once, she nearly spoke of it and woke up in a dark forest full of shadows. She only got a scratch on her cheek, but it scared her out of ever wanting to tell again.
"Why did you attack Brackenkit?" The tabby asked.
You tripped and fell on him. The voice murmured when she failed to come up with an answer.
"I tripped and fell on him." Petalkit repeated.
Ivykit didn't seem to believe her. "You attacked Shykit a quarter moon ago."
That pest. You need to get rid of her.
Shock filled Petalkit's face but she managed to mask it. Ivykit noticed and looked at her as if she had two heads.
"You're weird now Petalkit." She said simply, walking off.
She will be the first to go. When you are stronger, you must exterminate her. Nothing must stand in the way of your leadership.
Sorry that it is short! There will be longer chapters though.