World of Scars

Chapter 2 ~Clans~

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I have been living in a dumpster catching mice and rats, I miss the way Mother used to walk with grace, I miss Father's stories of the outside world, I miss Strom always bugging me, and I miss Cloud. I follow the dark path, large things pass me every now and then, and they smell horrible. As I walk, I hear talking, and my ears perk up as I look around, I see a large she-cat her coat is black with ginger splotches. Next to the she is a pink and greenish-collared cat, I try to get a bit closer, but I step on a stick. I freeze, the pink she stands up, and her nub of a tail begins thrashing as she looks for the source of the sound. The larger she stands up and looks right at me, "Go get Juniper'Snow, please," the she spoke, the smaller cat wanted to protest but left, and the large she seems to be relaxed and passive. "Please come out, I do not wish to hurt you," she spoke, I hesitate but pad forward, "Hello there," the she smiled softly, "h-hello..." I muttered, "May I ask who you are?" the she asked, "I'm Echo..." I mutter, "Hm, are you a loner?" she asked, "A what?" I ask, "A loner- wait are you a kittypet? What are you doing all the way out here?" she asked, "I ran away-" I mutter, "I see..." the she began, "You needed me Ember'Star?" a blue she said, "yes, dose this young tom seem familiar to you?" the she known as Ember'Star asked, the blue she paused and looked at me, it was kind of freaky seeing the small cat was blind. "He does... the one from my dreams I believe..." the she muttered, "I see... say, Echo how do you feel about joining River Clan?" Ember'Star asked, "Huh?" I ask confused, "I will explain later," she said motioning me to follow her, I hesitated but slowly follow. As I follow the large she I look around at the landscape, "stay by my side," she spoke as the scent of other cats grew stronger, I catch up a bit nervous. "So why did you run away?" the she asked turning to me, "I don't really know..." I mutter my ears pinning as I look to the ground, "hey, it's alright sometimes the path some start on isn't the right one for them," the she would smile. The two of us walk a bit in silence before we get to a stream, large rocks sticking out of the water make a clear path to the other side. With a powerful push from the she's hind legs she skipped the first rock landing on the second and I then leaped to the solid ground skipping the third. Then she turned back waiting for me to follow, I look at the water of the stream seeing the fish swimming by the rocks against the current. I jump to the first rock, I hesitate but jump to the second rock stumble a bit but quickly jump to the third. Once I reach the sandy bank the she turns to an opening between two large bushes I see She-cats and Toms conversating as small kits sit in front of an older cat listening, cats around my age sit in groups and talk. I follow the she into the camp, I see cats stop and look at me before whispering began, I feel my ears pin as all eyes turn to me, "walk with confidence," the she said not looking back. I look up at the she then straightening my ears I pick my head up and stride alongside the large she. We get to an empty area, "this place is cool," I say looking back at the cats, "we protect each other, from the smallest kit to the oldest elder," the she said sitting down, I sit in front of her, looking into her emerald, green eyes, "we could always use more cats, and I don't think the life of a loner is preferred," the she began, I tilt my head a bit confused, "would you like to join Riverclan? You will be trained by one of our best warriors," the she spoke, "join...?" I ask trying to make sure this was happening, "yes, meaning, you won't have to fend for yourself, you will hunt with other cats and respect the ways of the clan," the she said with a small flick in her tail, "I would love to join!" I smile, the she nodded, before the she got up her eyes went to something behind me, "Ember, I see you picked up an apprentice on your walk," a tom laughed, his voice deep but friendly. "Indeed, I have, say Flaming'Skys, could you take Echo as I call a meeting?" the she asked, "anything for my sibling," the tom smiled, "come on Echo," the tom motioned me to follow him.

-Total word count 831-