the one forgotten

chapter one

The thing about the man sitting next to me is he smells of the forest, my home. I inhaled the scent and ran in to the woods, racing along the familiar roots of the high trees on ThunderClan territory. Emerging from the tunnel, I saw Highrock, with Firestar sitting on top. The camp lay around me. I looked around. All the cats I knew and loved sat around me. I saw Sandstorm sitting at the base of Highrock, listening to the clan leader. As I padded over to her, I smelled a horrible smell, one of crowfood, fear, skunk, and blood. The camp was about to be attacked.

The camp filled with unfamiliar cats. The fur on their backs was matted with blood and sand. A massive black tabby launched himself on to my back. I leaped to the side. His thorn sharp claws raked my shoulder. Pain shot throw me blinding fast. I jumped twisting my body. Next thing I knew I was on the tabby's back. As my hind claws raked over his soft belly, I growled "Who are you and what do you want from my Clan?"

He had a rusty mew, but he spoke clearly "I am Blackfur" he yowled in pain as he dashed to escape. Before he was gone I bite his ear drawing blood. As he ran to the safety of the forest, I looked around the rest of the enemy had fled. The Clan was safe once more.

I went over to Cinderpelt to help. She was pressing cobwebs to Frostfur's flank. "Frostfur are you ok I saw a gray she-cat attack you. How badly are you hurt?"

Cinderpelt looked up "She just as a small scratch near her tail. Would you mind bringing some cobwebs to Sandstorm? She looks really hurt." I rapped the cobwebs around my paw and raced to Sandstorm. Her ear was torn and she had a gash in her side.

"Sandstorm are you ok?" I asked.

As I pressed the cobwebs to the injury she winced "I'm fine, but today you battled like a warrior. I will talk to Firestar before moonhigh; it's time you became a warrior."

I was at a loss for words. "What about Squirrelpaw?" I asked.

"Gingerpaw, you are ready to take on the responsibly. You can do it." I did not know what to say.

As I fixed her up I wondered what my sisters would think. "Do you think Squirrelpaw and Leafpaw will be mad?" I meow timidly.

"Your sisters would be over the moon with joy. They almost lost you when you where a kit. Having you around every day is a joy for them." Sandstorm gave me a stern look "Squirrelpaw and Leafpaw love you, Gingerpaw; they would fight ShadowClan to make sure you are safe."

I sighed "I know. Sandstorm how did I almost die?" I had been wondering this question for moons, now might be the only time I could get an answer.

"Well," she sighed, "go find Firestar." She finally mewed.

"But Sandstorm!" I howled.

"Go, I want him to be with me when I tell you how it happened." I raced away looking for my father. He was in his den cleaning his wounds.

"Firestar? I wanted to know how I almost died, Sandstorm said she would tell me, but she wanted you with her." I wanted to know more than ever. Starclan heard my prayers.

"Where is Sandstorm?" he asked. "She is just outside the elders den, she got hurt pretty bad." I meow in response.

Firestar padded out of his den, I raced along right on his paws. Firestar curled up on the ground twining his tail with his mate. "Well," Sandstorm began, "you where about 2 moons old, when the camp got attacked. ShadowClan wanted more territory. The enemy clan distracted all of our warriors, when no one was looking one of their warriors got into the nursery. He was thin but fast, racing in a blur of dark gray. You were sleeping next to your sisters, for some reason he left them alone. He grabbed you by your scruff." Sandstorm stopped looking off into the distance.

Firestar picked up where she left off. "I heard you soft mew, I quickly dislodged the cat in my grip. Your attacker saw me running over. He raised a paw about to strike me. Sandstorm had run over unseen." Firestar looked pained but continued. "Sandstorm latched her claws on the ShadowClan cat's back. He tried to fight with you in his mouth, causing you to get shaken. You where crying out in pain. Sandstorm had fastened her teeth in his throat. As he enemy yowled in pain, you fell to dirt. The enemy fled. Poor little you. Cinderpelt ran over to see how bad he hurt you. Gingerpaw, you had a deep slash in your scruff, it paralyzed you for a moon. You had to stay in the nursery when your sisters went outside for the first time."

I could not listen any longer. In a flash I was on my paws. My eyes stung as I raced out of camp. I heard a set of paws racing after me. I was near Sunningrocks. Skidding to a stop, I turned. "What do you want?" I did not sense who was following me as I ran. When I turned I was taken by surprise. "Snowspot? Why did you follow me from camp?" I stared blankly into his deep green eyes.

"I saw you running and wanted to make sure you where ok. You never leave camp without a patrol. Plus, I care about you and you looked upset." He spoke in a gentle tone.

Snowspot became a warrior a few days earlier. I so exhausted, emotionally and physically, I flopped down to the dirt. "Sandstorm and Firestar just told me how close I came to death." I spoke quietly, "I was paralyzed for a moon." I felt drops of water sliding down my fur beneath my eyes.

"O, Gingerpaw, that's horrible!" Snowspot curled around me, comforting me with gentle licks on my head. His black and white spotted fur was warm on my ginger pelt calming away my chills.

In a voice as soft as his coat he said, "Let's get back to camp, I saw Sandstorm following Firestar to his den." I nodded, realizing I forgotten to tell Snowspot my news. "What do you think is going to happen?" I asked.