The Blood Valley - (The Blazing Fires Book 1)

Chapter 1

"Mistpaw, Brindlepaw, Snakepaw, do you three promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your clan, even at the cost of your lives?" Cherrystar mewed from the Cliff Rock, facing the three apprentices below her. The ginger molly had a smile curled on her face, these were her grandkits, after all. Lilystomp and Tigerpelt gazed at their kits proudly.

"I do," The apprentices mewed. Mistpaw's chest puffed out proudly, while Brindlepaw kept his shy gaze adverted. Snakepaw just smiled, drinking in the moment.

"Then, from this day forward, Mistpaw, you will be known as Mistwing, for your swiftness and pride. Brindlepaw, you will be known as Brindlepelt, for your loyalty and honesty. Snakepaw, you will be known as Snakepetal, for your kindness and strength." Cherrystar announced warmly.

"Mistwing! Brindlepelt! Snakepetal!" The clan cheered. Violetkit gazed at her cousins from the back of the crowd. Though she wasn't old enough to catch her own prey, she wanted to cheer on her kin. 

"Next moon, it'll be us!" Blizzardkit mewed, puffing out his chest. His two littermates, Frostkit and Loudkit, sat beside him. "Well, except for you, Violetkit. But you'll be there soon!" With Violetkit being only three moons old and her friends being five, they'd be separate ranks for a little while.

"But that feels so far away!" Frostkit added. "But mama always says to enjoy our kithood, so I guess we'll have to do just that,"

"Yeah, and then once we're all apprentices, we can train together!" Loudkit squeaked, getting into his crooked battle stance. Loudkit's eyes drifted back to the mossball they were all playing with before the meeting. "Wanna get back to playing Moss Kick?" He asked with a sparkle in his eye.

"Yeah!" Violetkit answered, darting to position in front of the mossball. Blizzardkit stood to the right of her a little farther behind. Frostkit and Loudkit did the same, mirroring the other kits. They all counted to three and Loudkit swatted at the ball. He passed it to Frostkit, who darted for the two sticks on the other end. She was quickly cut off by Violetkit. The grey kit whacked the ball away from Frostkit, kicking it toward Blizzardkit. He nearly pushed it into the twig goal, but Loudkit blocked it. The brown tom-kit kicked it, but used too much force, as it went flying.

The mossball hit a white tabby cat right in the head, causing him to drop the dove he carried in his jaws. "Oh, Mosspaw! I'm sorry," Loudkit folded his ears back. 

"Ugh, move out of my way, furball," Mosspaw sneered, picking up his dove and trotting off. Mosspaw was nearly done with his apprenticeship, along with his littermate, Bluepaw. Bluepaw was nice at least, but Mosspaw had a sour attitude with everyone.

It wasn't long until the fern tunnel rustled, and the rest of the hunting patrol arrived. Seeing Brownspots, Violetkit ran over, affectionately greeting her father, Brownspot, with a warm purr as he arrived at the camp. He responded with a gentle lick to her forehead.

"Hello, my dear Violetkit," Brownspot lovingly said. "While I was on patrol, I came across a daisy and I thought you might enjoy it." He picked up the daisy that was resting on his fur and gently placed it behind his daughter's ear.

Violetkit's face lit up as she said, "Thank you so much, father!"

"Brownspot, you spoil her too much," a playful voice shouted from the clearing, where Breezelily had been basking in the sun. Her coat, a shimmering shade of grey, gleamed in the sunlight, much like Violetkit's might.

Brownspot laughed and replied, "Since she's our only kitten, it's my responsibility to pamper her!"  He approached his mate, giving her a lick on the cheek. "Don't worry, I got one for you, too," The patched tom revealed a second daisy.

Violetkit turned her attention back to her friends. The four of them continued their game until the sun was setting and their mothers called for them. While running toward her nest, Violetkit's daisy fell off her head. During her dah, she'd accidentally stepped on it, crushing it.

"Oh! My daisy!" Violetkit whimpered as she stared down at the crushed flower. 

"It's okay, Violetkit. Your father can grab you another one tomorrow," Breezelily comforted as Violetkit snugged up against her. She merely sighed and drifted off to sleep.

A gentle nudge awoke the kit from her slumber. Her tired eyes looked up to see Blizzardkit standing over her. "Wanna go get more daisies?" The white kit mewed, excitement filling his green eyes. 

"But we can't leave camp, we'll get in trouble!" Violetkit whisper-yelled.

"Don't worry, we'll be quick." He reassured. The kit stepped out of her nest, still rather unsure. "We'll have to walk through the dirtplace tunnel since Mistwing, Snakepetal, and Brindlepelt are holding their vigil outside the fern tunnel. "Stay low and silent," The kit crouched down, leaping into the shrubs that bordered the edges of camp. Violetkit swiftly followed. The two quickened their paces when they got to the dirtplace tunnel, scurrying up the slant.

"Okay, where do we find the daises?" Violetkit questioned. She couldn't see any daisies. Their white petals should be easy to spot in the darkness of the night.

"I think they might be a bit father. C'mon!" As he ran forward, Blizzardkit called out to his friend. Violetkit reluctantly walked after him. "I smell something! They have to be nearby!" Violetkit trailed behind him as he started to sprint forward. The young molly crashed into him as soon as he skitted to a stop.

"Why'd you stop-"  Violetkit didn't need to finish her question. The fox's growls answered instead. Its massive frame loomed over the quivering kits. It didn't hesitate to snatch Blizzardkit into its jaws. Blizzardkit couldn't even let out a squeak before the fox bit down, tossing his limp body aside. Violetkit was too petrified to move. Her heart was pounding, all she could do was wail and cry. 

Another shadow moved in front of her, but this one was smaller and less hostile. It was another cat! But he didn't smell of ValleyClan. The cat faced the fox, growling. "Run!" The strange cat hissed. Violetkit wanted to run back to camp, to be snuggled next to her mother in the nursery, surrounded by soft moss. But she couldn't move, her legs were still frozen from terror. She tried desperately to move them, but she couldn't.

"Go! Now!" The tom repeated. This time, Violetkit was able to obey. She sprinted in the direction she had come from. She couldn't get too far before she tumbled over her own paws. Gasping for air, she let her exhausted eyes close.