Snowkit's Survival

Chapter 1

Snowkit dreamt of his mother, Speckletail. She must be worried sick about him. She thinks he was killed by the hawk. The warmth of the nest couldn't stop the chill that ran through his body. If the clan thought he was dead, would there any be any point at returning? How would his deafness be treated? He would probably be seen as useless and be thrown in the elder's den.

They don't need me...I would just be a burden. He tried to push away these depressing thoughts; they just kept flooding back. Snowkit felt the whiskers of another cat brush against his fur.

Speckletail! You were searching for me! I knew you would find me! He opened his eyes to see his mother's loving face but disappointment was all he felt.

He saw a sleek-furred black tom staring at him with wide green eyes. Snowkit stared back froze in fear not knowing what to do.
The black tom withdrew and gave the scared kit some space.

"He is awake." The black tom looked over his shoulder to address a slightly bigger tom. His fur was black and white, it looked ungroomed compared to the black tom. The big tom moved forward, looming over snowkit with big blue curious eyes. "What are you doing so far from home little one?" he asks curiously with his head tilted.

Snowkit couldn't understand what the big tom was saying. Fear prickled at his fur, he has never seen these cats before. He couldn't fight but he could run. Perhaps they would chase him down and use him for food.

The big tom introduced himself. "I'm Barley and this is my mate Ravenpaw."

"He has a faint scent of Thunderclan on him." Ravenpaw mewed to Barley

Barley flicked one of his ears back listening to Ravenpaw. His eyes turned from confusion to worry. "How could a little kit travel so far?" Barley mewed with concern. Snowkit couldn't understand the two toms. His ears flat on his head, not knowing what could happen next.

Ravenpaw opened his mouth slightly to get a better taste of snowkit's scent.
"He is afraid.." Ravenpaw mewed sadly.

The black tom walked past Barley up to snowkit.

"We are not going to hurt you-"

Snowkit's instincts jolts him out of his fearful state. Unsheathing his claws and hissing as Ravenpaw got close. The sudden of act of aggression catches Ravenpaw off guard. He backs off and sits next to Barley; wrapping his tail neatly over his forepaws.

Barley turned to Ravenpaw and licked his cheek. "He doesn't know who we are, we need to prove that aren't a threat" Barley mewed softly comforting his mate. A purr of affection rumbled in Ravenpaw's throat.

"Yeah..you are right. Let's give him some space." Ravenpaw mewed looking at the kit. An idea had crossed Ravenpaw's mind. He jumped down the stack of hay until he reached the floor of the barn. Leaving Barley with the confused scared kit.

Snowkit was trying to figure out why Ravenpaw had left the two of them alone. Barely looked at him with worried and concerned eyes.

He mews softly to Snowkit
"Do you have a name?"
Snowkit looked blankly at the Barley. He couldn't hear what he was saying. Ears flat on his head,hissing,slowly backed away from Barley.

"Hey! You are going to fall off!" Barley mewed loudly.

Snowkit swiped at Barley as he got close. He backed up more to the edge and his hind legs fell off. He had forgotten they were on top of the hay stack. Panic ran through him as he was losing his grip. Barley hastily moved towards him
No! Please don't push me off! Snowkit inaudibly mewed with desperation.

Barley grabbed the dangling kit by the scruff and pulled him up. In one jump, barley swiftly jumped down onto the barn floor. He sat snowkit down on the hard wood floor. Snowkit shivered as he felt the cold floor. Ravenpaw came back with a mouse in his mouth. Dropping the mouse in front of snowkit. Ravenpaw tilted his head to the side.

"What happened?" His mew full of concern.
"H-He almost fell..of hay stack" Barley mewed shakily
"I was trying to talk to him. Suddenly, he got aggressive and starting hissing at me."
Barley looked at snowkit then back at ravenpaw.

"Are all Thunderclan kits like that..?" Barley mewed curiously
Ravenpaw softly pressed his head against Barley's cheek. He purred with amusement.

"No not all of them but this one is a bit...different"  Ravenpaw mewed questionably.

While they were talking, Snowkit was observing the mouse that Ravenpaw had dropped. He took a small bite out of it and his mouth exploded with different flavor. He took more small bites and got full quickly.

Barley and Ravenpaw ate the rest of the mouse. Coldnesss crept into the barn as the sun was starting to set. Snowkit tucked his paws and tail underneath himself. Puffing out his fur to feel some warmth. Closing his eyes to relax, he felt fur press against him.

Barley and Ravenpaw curled themselves around him. He felt warm and their fur reminded him of his mother. Many thoughts run through Snowkit's mind. Could he really trust these two loners? What was to become of him? These thoughts slowly drifted away as he fell asleep surrounded by the warmth of these two strange cats.