I awoke with several faces surrounding me. Immediately, panic struck me like a sharp thorn. Where am I? I thought, then remembering the events of yesterday. Maybe if I just pretend I'm still asleep…
"I think she's awake." A withered looking tabby said. He had piercing amber eyes – like mine – and a strong build. Arg! My mind screamed. I didn't know what to do!
I slowly lifted my head, and looked around. Several cats surrounded me, and in fact, they all looked very withered compared to the cats where my home is. Their fur was – while neatly groomed – slightly mangled and unpleasing to look upon, nothing like my sleek, black fur. They were lean, some even had scars on them. They all looked very tough and fierce.
"Trespasser! How dare you even think about intruding on our leader's den, much less sleep in it!" A tall, grey cat hissed. I was taken aback and my fur began to stand on end. Midnight was right, the forest was no place for house cats like me!
"Now Dustpelt, I honestly don't think this kit is any threat. She smells of a pet." I looked over to a pale, but beautiful, cat. I was to in shock to even thank her.
"What is your name, and what brings you here?" A bright orange tabby with a calm demeanor meowed to me. He had a soft, familiar look in his eye that told me he wouldn't hurt me.
"I-I'm Pepper. I k-kinda g-got lost. Sorry for intru-intruding."
"Foxdung!" Dustpelt spat.
The orange tabby glared at him, and continued.
"Where are you from?"
I took in a deep breath, trying to release the tension inside me.
"The houses. I am not from here. I w-will gladly go back, except I am lost."
He thought for a moment, and then looked back at me.
"Did you live with two-legs?"
Twolegs? What on Earth is a twoleg? I thought.
"I don't think so… I live with humans and my mom and my sister."
He chuckled and looked over to the pale she-cat.
"She lives with twolegs. Sandstorm, why don't you take her to Jayfeather and we will help her out later when her shock has gone. She is probably very scared."
Sandstorm bowed her head and nudged my paw. I got up and fallowed her out of the den. What odd names. I though to myself.
Sandstorm led me back into the clearing, but it looked so much different in the day. There were cats everywhere! As we walked through the clearing towards another den, many of the cats looked up at me. I felt several eyes burning into my pelt. I shyly looked to the ground, confused and embarrassed at this strange world.
I never felt so scared and hopeless as I did now.