Second Chances is a story I actually wrote two years ago but never finished. I really liked the idea for it so I went back and did some editing. I decided to continue this story! I deleted the other chapters of this story and decided to start posting the new, improved chapters from the beginning. I really hope you enjoy this first chapter!
"Hollow of Dreams"
Six figures emerged from beyond the dark trails, their eyes sparkling in the moonlight. Their small forms cast shadows against the hard rock that surrounded them on all sides. Wind pushed at the cats from either side, ruffling their fur. These small scraps wouldnt survive out in the cold much longer. Their parents had dissapeared and the kits had fled in terror. Only 6 moons old and they were all alone. They had been traveling for days now. Their parents were Feathertail and Crowpaw. Feathertail and Crowpaws love hadnt lasted very long. Feathertail had died at the jaws of Sharptooth but unknown to the journeying cats she had been bearing six little kits. Feathertail gave birth to the little kits with the help of a rogue who found the pregnant queen in distress as she went into labor. The rogue herself had just finished giving birth to her own kits who were all born not breathing so the grieving rogue knew what to do when she found Feathertail in labor. Feathertail left shortly after giving birth to them, promising to return as soon as possible with her friends and the kits father. The rogue was able to feed the kits since she no longer had her own. After days of Feathertail not returning, the rogue went out to look for her and found out from a tribe cat about Feathertails untimely demise. The rogue named Anna as the kits would come to know her as, tried her best to care for them in the harsh mountains but one day when the kits were 6 moons old, a fox attacked and Anna defended the kits with her life. With Anna in the jaws of the fox, the terrified kits ran. They had loved Anna like a mother and Anna had loved them like they were her own. They would never forget the kind rogue who had taken them in. The six kits travelled for days, forced to pick at scraps of crow food left over from other animals meals in order to survive since they hadn't been taught to properly hunt yet. The kits were stumbling with exhaustion by the time they reached the sheltered area of a cave.
"Lets look around." a black she kit mewled meekly, knowing they had to stop before they passed out of exhaustion and hunger.
"Im tired." a small white tom complained.
"We need to make sure that there is no danger in here." the she kit retorted sharply, glaring at her brother challengingly as if daring him to defy her.
He seemed to open his small white muzzle for a moment but then a sharp yowl from the other end of the cave stopped the siblings from arguing with eachother any further.
"Look! Something glowing in here." the silver she kit mewled in excitement, her eyes brimming with curiosity as she sniffed along an opening in the cave that gave way into a small enclosed den that had a large sparkling pool of water that seemed to let out an eerie glow.
"What is it?" a black tom mewed softly, tentatively stepping foward, followed by the rest of his siblings.
"This is the hollow of dreams." a mew sounded, startling the kits as they watched a silver she cat emerge from the pool, the stars seemed to sparkle on her fur.
"Who are you?" a flame colored tom mewed, narrowing his eyes in distrust.
"I am your mother Feathertail. I do not have much time but I have come to tell you that as my kits and Crowfeathers you will be destined for greatness. I wish I had had a chance to tell your father about his kits. He would have been so proud of you and I regret dying before I could tell him. I was going to come back after we defeated that Sharptooth but it seems it was my destiny to die for the clans without getting the chance to raise my kits. Although I know Anna took very good care of you and I will be forever grateful. I hunt with the warrior ancestors in silverpelt. I loved all of you very much and I will be watching over you from now on. It is your destiny to create a clan. A different kind of clan. I will guide you every step of the way. I will teach you the ways of a clan." Feathertail mewed.
"Clan? I heard some rogues talking about clan cats before. We are only kits. How are we supposed to create a clan?" the black she kit demanded fiercely, undettered about being in the prescence of a Starclan warrior who happened to be her mother.
"That's a very good question Ravenkit. You are all set on different paths. Each path is one of greatness. I cannot tell you what that path is but you are 6 moons old and ready to become apprentices. Together you will form a clan. I will guide you in forming this clan. This clan is unlike any other. This clan will be a way to give deceased cats another chance at life. Starclan has recently discovered this hollow of dreams and through this we are allowed to give life to cats that are already dead." Feathertail explained.
"You mean you can bring cats back to life?" the white tom mewed skeptically.
"Exactly. Starclan has given me permission to send 3 cats through the hollow of dreams each moon so they can have a second chance at life. They will lose all memory of Starclan and will bear the same wounds they had before they died so it will be your duty to heal them before they join Starclan once again." Feathertail told them.
"What are the duties in a clan?" Ravenkit mewled.
"Im glad you asked little one. There is the leader who leads the clan and makes the clan decisions, the leader is given 9 lives by starclan. Then theres the deputy which will suceed the leader once the leader dies. Theres the medicine cat who has a special connection to starclan through omens and is taught to heal others. Warriors fight and hunt for the clan. Apprentices are training to either be a warrior or medicine cat. And finally there are the queens who help by providing kits for the clans." Feathertail replied.
"Who will be the leader?" the white tom asked eagerly.
"Not so fast. First I must give you your apprentice names. You do not have mentors so you will have to learn with time but your ancestors will be helping you every step of the way. Ravenkit you shall be known as Ravenpaw. Stormkit you shall be known as Stormpaw. Shadowkit you shall be known as Shadowpaw. Shadekit you shall be known as Shadepaw. Angelkit you shall be known as Angelpaw. And finally Snowkit you shall be known as Snowpaw." Feathertail finished.
Ravenpaw has silky black fur and bright blue eyes, she is known to be bossy but always means well although she and Snowpaws personalities always seem to clash. Stormpaw is a handsome gray tom with white paws and green eyes. He is the strongest of the kits and is very hyperactive. Shadowpaw and Shadepaw came out at the same time so therefore they are twins. Both kits are black with white tipped ears and icy blue eyes. The only way to distinguish the two is by the fact that Shadepaw is smaller than his twin brother. Shadowpaw is strong and has a bad habit of being extremely competitive. Shadepaw is a lot more quiet and reserved. He often secludes himself and resents the fact that he is the baby of the group which means that he is much smaller than the others. The others don't seem to think he can do much due to his size but Shadepaw is very fast and often surprises his siblings with his speed and agility. Angelpaw is the peacemaker of the group. She has silver fur and green eyes. She is very beautiful and often finds herself lost in thought. Then there is Snowpaw who has an attitude most of the time and is very hotheaded. Snowpaw has white fur with black spots and amber eyes. Snowpaw is extremely stubborn and loves to argue just for the sake of it.
After a pause, Feathertail continued. "Ravenpaw will be the leader. She has all the right qualities."
"What?!" Snowpaw burst out all of a sudden, his amber eyes lighting up in fury.
"Don't worry Snowpaw. You will be her deputy. Together you will make a good team. Ravenpaw is much more level headed than you are my dear son and a natural leader. You are so strong Snowpaw and have strong leader qualities as well but you often make impulsive decisions which would not be good for the I do see you becoming a fantastic leader one day when you learn to curve that temper of yours." Feathertail replied, touching her nose reassuringly to Snowpaws ear. "With you by her side, both of you will make the clan great!"
Snowpaw still looked resentful while Ravenpaws eyes sparkled in pleasure. She wasn't sure how she and her hot headed brother would work together but she was determined to be the best leader she could be. It was such a big task for such a small apprentice but with her siblings by her side, Ravenpaw knew she would never be alone in this.
"Angelpaw you will be the medicine cat." Feathertail went on. "You are so gentle and caring. I could never see you growing up to be a warrior. You are also so wise beyond your age and you always keep the peace. You would do wonderfully as a medicine cat if that is the path you wish to follow."
Angelpaws eyes widened but she didn't protest as she dipped her head in acceptance. Suddenly the hollow of dreams glowed and the waters bubbled. Slowly the three figures of cats formed on the waters edge.
"These are the three cats that Starclan has chosen to give a second chance at life to this moon. That's Smokepaw. He was a Shadowclan apprentice but he fell off the ede of the gorge. This is Lilly who shall be known as Lillykit from now on. She is a kittypet, Cloudtails half sister. She was the only one of his litter that didn't make it due to being the runt of the litter. And then theres Stonefur who was a Riverclan deputy and died at the claws of one of Tigerstars allies. I need to leave now. Take care and I will see you soon my loves." Feathertail murmured, already fading away.
Ravenpaw stood to stop her but it was too late. Feathertail was gone.
"Go take a look at them Angelpaw. You're the medicine cat." Ravenpaw prompted.
Angelpaw obediently approached the cats. Smokepaw had a long gash down his side that was bleeding heavily and his front paw was twisted at an awkward angle. Lillykit was shivering and obviously had a bad fever. Stonefur had several gashes along his fur and a severe throat wound.
"I don't know what to do." Angelpaw whispered. "Starclan help us."