Chapter 1

Hi there! NoGameNoLifeHere is back!
Thanks for the reviews and for those who followed and favorite this story. It's only the prologue, so thanks for the support. I promised to upload frequently, so here is the first chapter. Enjoy.

Turning the next page…

…

The truth is, I can't believe it took Mina this long to throw us out.

Our stepmother never liked us after all, especially me – she didn't like the way my father loved me, didn't like the fact that I perfectly matched the daughter she never met but my father ached for, the way I looked like his dead mate when she was younger. I could still remember the way Mina glanced at us; green eyes narrowed with disgust, lips curling either into a smirk or snarl and the smell of dried leaves concealing the musky scent of her sleek black pelt.

Just ten moons after my mirror disappeared; two moons after my mother gave herself up to her grief along with Grandfather Fenris, my father Ander took another mate, hoping Mina would fill up the empty black void where his heart once was. Soon after that, our stepmother told us she just couldn't risk keeping us anymore and, with me and Axel having just reaching our thirteenth moon, was no longer obligated to.

Obligated, We were obligations left behind by a father eaten alive by mourning, remnants of a shattered family.

Soon after we both abandoned our collars, the smell of kittypet food and couches long faded from our fur, we joined a group of cats whom lived in the alley. Ragged pelts, drooping tails and tired bones, the alley cats just want to eat enough to survive another day. I didn't know why we joined them, but I'm grateful for the hunger and the skills these cats taught me. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have been able to learn how to hunt or cherish prey. I wonder how they are doing now?

"Ansel, have we passed yet? I zoned out," Axel's mew pulled me back to the present, his mew a forced calm as he peered through the thick shower of snow raining down from the sky. Axel likes to have a plan of attack, like he did back when we were living in the twolegplace and playing tag with the other cats hanging out in the alleys. But right now, we've got nothing more than the stolen cloaks hanging off our backs and stomachs yowling in hunger.

I sneaked a peek from my red hood, troubled to see my brother with his tail flicking and amber eyes scanning our snowy surroundings anxiously, as though he expected the friendly cats we were chatting up earlier suddenly popping out of nowhere and attacking us. Well, I can't really blame them; we did steal their cloaks after all.

I know Axel doesn't want me to see him worrying, but the truth is: I'm actually happy to be gone. I feel freer without a plan in the middle of nowhere than I did back there in our old home. We were eighteen moons old now; we could take care of ourselves.

"Yeah, we crossed the border a few moments ago," I trudged forward, wincing as the thick snow clamped at my legs, as though they were trying to drag me down into the cold. My ears were stinging and my paws numb, but determination kept me going. "We should be reaching there soon," I added enthusiastically, hating to see my head-strong littermate now looking dejected and frail.

"There" is stories of what the other cats from the twolegplace told us: a huge emerald forest full of prey and sunshine, clean sparkly streams and singing birds perched on branches blooming with beautiful flowers and bushes rich of large, juicy berries. Doesn't that sound amazing? Most of the kittypets were curious about it; although they would never want to leave their housefolk. Other alley cats wanted nothing to do with it, told us it was a waste of time. Axel agreed with them, but a particular kittypet named Ginger persuaded him to follow me otherwise.

"I had a friend who went into the woods once." We were in his garden, with the pale-ginger kittypet lying on his back with his tail waving around lazily while Axel and I ate the leftovers of the cat food Ginger's housefolk has left him.

"Why did he go in there for?" Axel stopped eating immediately at that, amber eyes filled with memories as he scooted closer to me, knowing that I was shaking hard the moment the forest our sister vanished in was mentioned. Feeling his fur against mine calmed me down and I relaxed enough to remember my manners to kittypet. My twin, my mirror image, and the sister I can't remember…

A wolf. The only term I have for whatever it been that took my sister. I visualize it as a twisted thing, a monster, a demon, a near-invisible force, a trick of the light – something with horribly golden eyes that only I saw and Axel has long insisted never existed in the first place. Whatever the wolf lives, it lives among dark trees, deep valleys and craggy cliffs. I've spent my whole life wanting to escape the memory of my missing littermate, wanting to start over and hating myself for wanting that. How could I want to run away from a lost kit who was none other than my sister?

I flicked my ears sadly. Axel, noticing this, quickly smoothed the fur between my ears with strong strokes of his tongue. I purred in thanks and leaned into the warmth of his pelt.

"He came out with huge heaps of birds, squirrels and mice," Ginger continued dreamily, not noticing my sudden discomfort, "told me about the tall trees and the lake. It was huge he said!" Ginger let out a sigh, eyes misting over, and after a moment, he finally murmured "I wonder what it would be like, living out there." My brother rolled his eyes in reply and gave him a shove, sending him spitting in mock-fury. While they scuffled, his words just kept repeating in my head all over and over again.

"I wonder what it would be like, living out there."

And so here we are. Five moons later. Just Axel and I looking for this "paradise" we both have been longing for. We said our goodbyes to our gang; ventured out of the city and went pass hills, endless lakes and countless of other twolegplace scattered all over. Sometimes when I closed my eyes, I could just smell the scent of prey and damp fern just swamping me, making my head spin. I know this is my imagination, but can't one cat just dream? But it was quite difficult to visualize this now, for we were stuck in the middle of a snowstorm.

How magnificent, some cat up there must really hate me.

It first came with a dark sky, next was the cold wind and after that was frost gripping the blades of grass below our paws. Then came the snow as light as feathers; and it turned heavier, and heavier, and heavier…

"Damn it!" I flattened my ears against my head as I heard Axel cursed softly, his flame-ginger fur the only thing which made him possible to see through all of this snow. I could see him shaking his head, gritting his teeth and breaths slowly from underneath his dark green hood. He has a fierce temper but he tries to keep it at bay around me. It was my mother's suggestion, when Axel started to heal and I still stared at the forest, waiting for my sister to stumble out.

"Make sure Ansel knows you're there for her. Don't upset her – be her rock Axel. You have to help her move on."

It's a shame my mother couldn't listen to her own advice. She couldn't be any cat's rock, refusing meals from our previous housefolk and starved until the grief devoured her. We weren't even allowed to say our sister's name in front of her, because it would set her off, either make her sob or yell at us, scream that we lost her. So we were supposed to act as though there was nothing wrong. Axel constantly tries finding whatever it was that would make up for our littermate's absence, doing everything he could to be my rock, the cat I hold on to when I feel as though I might slide off the world and vanish like she did.

Just thinking of my past makes me feel tired…

Shaking my head furiously, I snarled in defiance and took a pawstep forward, my pale gray pelt slicked to my sides and long tail curled over my legs. "Axel, we will not freeze our tails out here. Let's go and stop standing there like a moonstruck rabbit!" I didn't want to snap, not to the only cat who understands me truly.

But we can't just stop here either.

"Axel – "I started but felt my legs buckle underneath me and I was suddenly aware of the heavy weight pressed against my eyelids. Get out! I lashed out, trying to push the fatigue clouding my mind. I struggled, hearing Axel's panicked mews and his paws shaking me. Why can't I just lift my head up?

The cold snow feels so soft, maybe I can just rest here for a while…

I could hear more noises. What was going on? Was Axel okay?

That's when a different scent filled my nose. Someone grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and hauled me over their shoulders. The smell of pines and prey reminded me of the sunlight and curling waves in my dreams…

I opened my eyes just a crack and found myself staring into eyes of not just any green, but the darkest of the natural color, yet it seems to shine so brightly. He was turning his head and looking into my eyes with such intensity, I felt a feeling I had never felt in such a long time, I almost forgotten what it was.

"Hold on, I'll protect you."

And for some reason, I gripped him tighter and gave way to the dizzying darkness.

For the first time, I felt safe.

…

Hope you all enjoy that. Not bad isn't it? I so glad to finish this. Plz fav, review and follow my story and I will see you all on the next chapter.

Also, I do need OCs for my story. I need warriors from any of the four clans. You can suggest kits, queens, warriors and elders, maybe a few rogues, loners and kittypets but the slots for leader, deputy and medicine cat are already filled. Sorry about that.

If you want to submit any ideas, just follow the format below:
Name:

Age:

Rank:
Traits:

Clan:

Mate, kits (or both): (optional)

Personality:

Extra: (a bit of their past)

You are allowed to submit more than one if you wish. Your support will be appreciated much. Thanks once again.

-NoGameNoLifeHere