Chapter 1: Sneaking

Sagekit peered out of the nursery entrance, his eyes glittering mischievously as he set one black paw on to the damp ground. His patched white and black pelt stood out against the dull brown undergrowth but he didn't care. He wormed his way out of the den, making sure not to wake his mother, Whisperstep. The white-furred she-cat was curled in a ball around her other two kits, Sagekit's sisters.

Sagekit suppressed a mew of delight as he crept out into the middle of ShadowClan's camp. The world was dark. The giant trees surrounding the swampy clearing covered the camp from intruders and Twolegs. Tiny gaps in between the branches allowed speckles of moonlight to echo on to the forest floor.

Sagekit, stunned he had wriggled out of his mother's grasp without waking her up, hopped joyfully towards the fresh-kill pile. To his dismay, it was empty. His stomach growled, reminding him of why he had gotten up in the first place. Sagekit sighed, his elation gone. He was hungry and he could do nothing about it.

That's not true, a small voice in his head remarked, you could go and catch some food! You're almost six moons old, you'll be made into an apprentice soon anyway.

Sagekit glanced back at the nursery, watching for signs of movement. The entire clearing was still and quiet; all the cats were sleeping. Sagekit could just make out the shape of Sprucestar, stretched out on top of Lowstone with Rabbitear, his mate, by his side. Sagekit smiled to himself. He would prove to his mother that he wasn't a baby! He would catch his own meal and save half of it for his sisters.

His mind made up, Sagekit padded out of camp, ducking the low branches that whipped towards his face, feeling his tiny paws sinking into the marshy ground. Once he was out of the clearing, the forest walls closed in on him. Thankful for a challenge, Sagekit lowered himself to the earth and crept along, sniffing the air for a prey-scent.

Sagekit stopped, smelling the familiar scent of his father. He cocked his head, confused, and inhaled deeper, sorting through the smells. Swiftfoot had definitely been here recently, Sagekit finally decided. Then he remembered that ShadowClan cats came out into the woods to make their dirt.

He must have gone out here to make dirt and then gone back to camp, assumed Sagekit. Sure enough, when he smelled the ground in front of him, Swiftfoot's scent had disappeared.

Satisfied and proud of his clever deduction, Sagekit wove his way through squat bushes and thin, spindly trees, his stomach gurgling the whole time. Suddenly, a delicious scent wafted into his nose, making his ears prick up and his body still.

"A mouse!" breathed Sagekit, kneading the dry leaves on the ground in excitement.

A twig snapped as the mouse came into view. Its small gray body was quivering slightly and its own ears were twitching as much as Sagekit's.

The black and white tom held perfectly still, careful not to move his paws or tail in excitement. Taking a slow, deep breath, Sagekit jumped, flying through the air silently like a large owl. Pinpointing the mouse in mid-air was difficult but Sagekit had timed his leap right. He landed with a soft bump next to the mouse and slapped his unsheathed paw on top of the creature, his claws biting into its skin. Sagekit bent over his prize and quickly killed it, pride surging through him.

Think of how happy Whisperstep will be when she sees I caught my very first mouse! Sagekit thought happily, picking up the dead mouse in his teeth.

Without warning, he heard a yowl from the bushes behind him. Sagekit, startled, dropped his prize, his fur bristling with fear. He realized at once how vulnerable he was out in the middle of the forest alone. Sagekit's eyes widened as he saw a huge black pelt slide out from behind a tree.

"Sagekit! You mouse-brain!"

It was Swiftfoot.

Sagekit darted over to his father, his fear fading a little but his anxiety growing. Would he get in trouble for sneaking out?

"Sagekit we must get back to camp," his father cried, "can't you smell that? There's a fox nearby!"

Sagekit's body shook involuntarily. Whisperstep had told him stories about the fearsome foxes that roamed the forests. They ate kits and killed adult cats. Sagekit inhaled deeply, searching for the scent. He stepped backwards, tripping over his paws and landing on the leaf-littered soil. He had gotten a whiff of the most unfamiliar smell he'd ever come upon. It seemed sour and stale and it was very, very strong. Sagekit realized with horror that the scent of the mouse had masked the fox's stench.

"We must go!" his father cried, glancing around the forest.

Sagekit could smell his father's fear-scent and it made him even more terrified. He scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding against his rib cage.

Suddenly a reddish shape burst through the trees, its mouth wide open, showing a row of pointed white teeth. Swiftfoot screeched and Sagekit wailed, squeezing his eyes shut as the creature bounded towards him. A rush of air brushed by the kit, forcing him to open his eyes.

The black shape of his father hurled towards at the fox, snarling and yowling at the same time. The two animals crashed together and disappeared in a tumble of orange-red and black fur. Sagekit winced as he heard the sound of teeth on teeth. A chunk of rusty fur landed in front of him, making him dash to the side.

Suddenly the fox freed itself from Swiftfoot's grip. It swung its head around and caught sight of Sagekit, whimpering on the floor.

The kit screamed as the fox tore towards him. He looked for his father but the black tom was lying on the floor, bleeding. Sagekit willed him to get up but the cat didn't move. Everything was happening too fast. He couldn't protect himself, the fox was too fast, too big.

A flash of crimson and the gaping mouth of teeth was the last thing Sagekit remembered. He fell to the ground, the blackness of the forest entering his head.

xxx

So there's the first chapter. I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update cus of school but I'll try my bestest! Please leaves lots of reviews. Feel free to ask any questions as well. Thanks!