Warrior Cats: Beyond the Clans

Autumn's Promise - Chapter 2

Eclipse padded up to a hole in the ground and slipped into it. "It's perfectly safe. Trust me."

Autumn leapt in first. The dirt brushed against her fur as she crawled through the tunnel. Her belly fur was soon covered in dirt, but she was too excited to care.

A proper home. A proper family.

She emerged at the bottom of the crack in the land and she gasped in wonder. On the right side of the cliff was a den shaped hole. Autumn spotted a brown tabby tom sleeping in it and a yellow tom resting just outside it. Beside it was another den shaped hole. There was a dusty red she-cat in this one as well as a white she-cat.

On the left side of the cliff there was another den. In this one, there were only two nests. A pale yellow she-cat rested in one of them. On the ground, there was a den built out of leaves, twigs and vines. A light brown she-cat with green eyes stood over a sleek brown kit as he played with some pebbles.

"Wow." Wild Wind breathed, having emerged from the tunnel.

"Eclipse!" A ginger tom bounded over to her, his yellow eyes surveying the kits. "I didn't know you had kits!"

"I-uh," Eclipse stammered. "They're not mine. But I'm adopting them."

"Alright. They will need a test, considering they're not yours." The tom mewed gravely.

"I was aware of that," Eclipse snapped. "Go on, test them!"

Autumn backed away from the ginger tom, worried he'd fight them. He let out a purr.

"Hello, kits. My name is Sun. I'm the leader of the group of cats that live here. You're just going to have to take a test, ok? Then you can join us and have fun before you have to start working." The tom mewed gently.

"Okay. I'll ace anything you throw my way." Emberstorm puffed out his chest.

Wild Wind rolled his eyes before nodding.

Autumn glared at the tom before dipping her head.

"Come with me, kits. We will go to my den." Sun led them to the den with two nests. "This is my den. I share it with my deputy and mate, Sand."

The pale yellow she-cat waved her tail before stepping out of the nest, stretching gracefully. "I'll take care of the Dynasty."

Sand left them alone and Sun stared at the three kits. "Who'd like to go first?"

"I'll go. I'll pass anyway." Emberstorm mewed arrogantly.

"Alright. Now," Sun peered at him. "What's your name?"

"Emberstorm."

"How old are you?"

"Um, I think it was four and a half moons?"

"How would you describe yourself?"

"Arrogant. Charming. Humorous. Brave."

"Are you better suited for fighting or hunting?"

"I dunno. Never done either."

It went on and on until Sun asked the final question. "Okay, Emberstorm. If staying in the Dynasty is dangerous for some reason, do you stay or you leave?"

"Well, it depends if I'm allowed to leave."

"Very well. Fight me." Sun ordered.

"W-What?" Emberstorm stuttered.

"Fight me."

A little hesitantly, he leapt at Sun. The older tom easily dodged. "Okay. Drop into a hunting crouch."