Forbidden Territory (warrior cats fan fiction)

Chapter 1

Rose was laying in her soft bed, a fresh smell of mouse wafted up her nostrils. Grass blades brushed under her belly. Dew stuck to her paws as she was poised in her hunting crouch. Suddenly a movement. A small brown shape scuttled among the undergrowth. As she was springing to catch it, a light burst into her mind and her dream ended. All at one she was lying on a cold, tiled floor. Behind her a large twoleg made a clicking noise and patted her patronizingly on the head. Rose let out a loud mew and a bowl of hard brown pebble-like things put in front of her, another bowl was planted down with a swishing tasteless liquid in it. Rose forced herself to lap up a few droplets and crunch on a one of the rocks. It had an leafy artificial taste to it.

The twoleg released her outside. She knew that she had limited time. Suddenly something pulse through her, compelling her to jump up onto the fence and escape!

She held back for a moment. Then Rose felt it surge through her again. This time she leaped up and over the fence. As she bolted through the rough terrain she saw a a swift shape moving beside her. A flash of black then nothing. Then on the other side another shape. This time much larger. A large muscular body rammed into hers and so did another. She halted her running and two strong- looking cats circled her. One was a large muddy brown Tom. The other was a small black she-cat.

"What are you doing on Earthclan territory?", hissed the little cat.

"Earthclan? What is that?", replied Rose confused.

"You....you don't know what Earthclan is....... LIES!!", screamed the little cat.

"Calm down, Lightningpaw. She speaks the truth" said the now young-looking Tom.

"Um....I..I.......I'm sorry" Rose stuttered

"Don't be, I can get a little over protective of my Clan," stated the She-cat frankly.

All of a sudden, the grass rustled and a mossy brown She-cat pushed through the plants on either side. As soon as the two other cats, either side of Rose, saw the She-cat they knelt down.

"What has happened? Lightningpaw, we heard your scream from the camp," meowed the She-cat.

"I confronted the trespasser unjustly, I am sorry for the disturbance Mossystar," replied Lightningpaw.

"Ah, who is the trespasser may I ask?" asked Mossystar.

"We don't know Mossystar....we...." faltered the tall Tom

"Thank you Tawnyrock, but I can find out by myself.", interrupted Mossystar.

"Well?", she challenged.

Rose tensed up, rushing through thoughts to say in her mind.

"My name is Rose, I live in the house at the end of the forest, my owners have kept me trapped in their nest for all my life and then today suddenly, something made me want to leave. It pulsed through me.", Rose replied truthfully.

"A kittypet!", spat Lightningpaw. "We should rip her limb from limb." she spat again.

Rose tensed again but this time the Tom stared at her with comforting eyes.

"Shhhh, don't be so insensitive, apprentice!" warned the She-cat. "If you please, you may come into my clan, but we will train you and you will have to face hard times and toil."

Rose thought about it, but her thoughts were interrupted as the She-cat continued. "You do not have to decide now. We will give you a night. In the meantime we have a nest in the apprentices' den, for you look about 10 moons (10 months) old so you would be nearing end of your apprenticeship if you were in Thunderclan."

"Surely not Mossystar?" "You can not let this intruder into our clan?" meowed the black cat.

"Lightningpaw when you become clan leader then you may make the decisions." "But until then learn to hold your tongue, I will inform Buddingflower about your actions today" Mossystar threatened in a low voice.

*****

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Rose had trouble catching up with the muscular cats ahead of her, but somehow she made it to a large mound of earth with a clump of heather on the top.

"Follow me" Mossystar said briskly as she ran around the side. Suddenly she fell into the undergrowth and so did the others. Bemused Rose walked up to the patch of heather a small head popped out.

"Are you gonna come down then?" asked the Lightningpaw.

"Uh...ok" stammered Rose. Taking a small step Rose felt a cold stone under paw , she felt safe enough to put her weight on it. Once she did Rose could just make out another. As she stalked down the small tunnel she could smell an odd earthy scent - like fungi and bark- then she could just make out a stream of light. All at once she was standing just below another step of rocks. She took one leap and she was on the first, then the second and third. Now she was in the centre of a bustling, sandy clearing full of strong cats- much like the ones she just met- they all stood still now staring and whispering. Mossystar ran up a ramp up to a large stone.

"Calling all cats old enough to catch their own prey please join me for a clan meeting" "Rose please accompany me at the high rock."

Rose stumbled up to the rock and looked down wearily after all the excitement.

"My clan I have some new that I would like to address with you. Firstly let me state the most obvious. I have invited Rose to our clan. She has not come from any clan in fact she was a kittypet...."

Mossystar was interrupted with shocked breaths and low growls. Rose was taken aback by the unfriendliness from this once nice looking group of cats.

"Hush yourselves. Starclan has spoken to me. They said that a kittypet will enter and save our clan from danger!"

"You cant just let any kittypet into our clan." Meowed a black tom - who as at the front of the huddle of mammals.

" I know Brightpool but Starclan has it's wishes upon this apprentice." replied

Mossystar " Lastly the scream we heard was... Lightningpaw. Buddingflower your apprentice is she too confrontational. Your training for the next half a moon will be on subtlety and tacked. That is all for this meeting."

All the cats dispersed into separate dens. Rose looked thoughtfully around. Where was the place she was going to stay?

"Follow me." stated Mossystar.

She walked over to a large den. "This must be the apprentices den"

Thought Rose. She was right. As she entered Lightningpaw lay quietly on a nest of twigs, bracken and moss.

Their was a clear nest that had obviously been made today fresh.

"I had a nest put in every den just in case you or the 'one' came into the clan. Also please consider my offer i made today." she said.

Rose walked over to the pile and arranged it into comfortable patch. She settled herself down, but she felt the eyes piercing into her. "should I stay I this clan and always be the kittypet, or actually be a kittypet?" She finally came to a conclusion. I will stay here and be a clan cat. I am part of Earthclan.