Swiftfire's Promise

Chapter 1

Swiftpaw

The sun beat down on the forest, sunlight poking out of the leafy forest roof. A mouse was lazily chewing on a seed, unaware of any danger close.

A pair of amber eyes gleamed from afar. They watched the mouse hungrily, following it's every move. A lean tom stalked through the forest, cautiously making sure his paws didn't step on twigs or leaves.

The mouse never knew it was coming. The ginger and white tabby tom leaped out from the underbrush, pouncing on the plump mouse with claws outstretched. All the mouse got out was a tiny squeak of dismay before he was silenced with a bite to the neck.

More squeaks came from somewhere nearby. The tom pricked his ears, carefully trying to trace from where the squeaks where coming from. He stalked to near a large oak tree, in which a small hole was buried near its roots.

The cat smiled satisfyingly, a nest! He reached his claws out and quickly stuck them in the nest. Another plump mouse was dragged out with the claws and was delivered a bite once more. Three more mice where killed before the nest was abandoned.

Proud of his catch, the ginger and white tabby purred satisfyingly, and picking the five mice by their tails, he pranced to where the rest of his pray was buried.

The tom was quickly uncovering the vole he had buried when voice from behind startled him.

"Well done Swiftpaw!" A purr sounded from behind him. Swiftpaw whipped around, his mouth filled with his pray, to see his mentor, Ambertail. The white and brown she-cat was smiling warmly, "Lionstar is sure to pleased."

Swiftpaw perked up his ears, "you think so?" He said excitedly, his tail tip flicking happily.

Ambertail's whiskers twitched in amusement, "let me help you carry that," she said, nodding towards the pile of pray.

"Thanks," he said, "I found a nest of mice and took advantage of my situation."

Ambertail smiled, picking up a mouse and a vole in her mouth, "come on, wets get bwack to camp," she said, the prey muffling her meow.

Swiftpaw nodded, taking the rest of his pray in his mouth, and following Ambertail to the ThunderClan camp.

As we entered the camp, a gray tom came bouncing up to me.

"Swiftpaw! Swiftpaw! Guess what I caught?" The tom said, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

Swiftpaw set down his prey, "what Stormpaw?" He asked.

"I caught this one raven, and though it didn't seem big it was awesome! It was flying away so I jumped onto a log and bounced off of that and then caught it in mid-air! And Lionstar was there to witness it all! We're bound to become warriors today!" Stormpaw ranted.

"That's so cool!" Swiftpaw gasped, excitement filling in him. Stormpaw and Swiftpaw were brothers, they shared the same personality though they couldn't look any more different. Swiftpaw was lithe and sleek and had a long tail, as if meant for speed. Stormpaw, on the other paw, was strong and muscular, with broad shoulders and dark gray tabby fur.

"I found a whole nest of mice and caught a bunch!" Swiftpaw bragged, his tail flicking over to where Ambertail was putting his prey in the fresh-kill pile. If there was one thing Swiftpaw and Stormpaw were competitive at, it was hunting. Both cats were excellent hunters, and though Stormpaw had a body built for battle, he enjoyed catching prey with his brother.

A large figure came up behind Stormpaw, "I have heard good news about you, Swiftpaw," Lionstar commented, a satisfied look in his eyes. "Stormpaw also exceeded in his battle training and hunting, if I were you I would expect something extra special."