Thunder and Lightning

Chapter 1: Foxkit Is Right Again

Foxkit Is Right Again

Foxkit leans against me, trying to steal some of my warmth. "Back off buster" I joke, teeth chattering. I very much wish for her warmth, as a matter of fact. There's a heavy wind. It comes through strong, even with the trees. I can't imagine what it's like for BreezeClan. But we need to keep moving. The sun's already setting and we are completely lost.

"It's all my fault" I sigh, putting my paw on hers. She stops.

"Yeah, it kind of is. Like it or not Light, we're in this together. What's done is done. But, just so you know little storm-chaser, I am NEVER sneaking out of camp ever again! And even I were to ever do this again, I'm especially not doing so with you little weasel again, you hear me Lightningkit?" I laugh.

"You're right, it is my fault. But I'm not a weasel" I frown, but of course she knows it's a joking frown.

Her father had been on the patrol that found me. I was no more than a few hours old, and even StormClan wouldn't turn down a kit as helpless as I was. He gave me to his mate, and me and Fox have grown up together ever since.

Fox and me are almost complete opposites, but absolutely inseparable. She's smart and enjoys herbs, with gentle words. Though, don't be too quick to judge her, because she's blunt and head on. I, am, however, much more evasive. I'm wily and lean, with long dark gray fur, and big, sparkling, electric blue eyes.

No one knows where I come from, though Foxkit's dad, Thunderfur, says I smelled faintly of MistClan. But I'm StormClan through and through. Does it matter where I come from? Most cats would say it does. Some are even suspicious, but that's all theory. All cats with half a brain know I was much too young to be a spy. I rest my noggin on the matter, and zone back into my conversation with Foxkit.

"She's almost ready..." A garbled slimy voice echoes faintly through the shadows. I laugh at my silly imagination, and put my nose to the ground. Lightning crackles in the sky and thunder rumbles. A heavy rain begins pouring down. Great. What fun. "Shit" I mutter.

Luckily, the rain doesn't bother me much. Rain dribbles off the side of my pelt. I have fur so short that it seems nothing can soak into it. Foxkit however is not so lucky. She has long dark ginger fur that glows beautifully in the moonlight. But such beauty comes with a price. Now, her fur is plastered to her sides, amber eyes beady and dilated. And I have a hunch she isn't all too excited.

"We are going to be in so much trouble" Foxkit says with an exaggerated sigh.

"Yep" I say. "We should camp for the night, the sun's almost down and we can't see anything anyway. The storm clouds are too thick." Foxkit nods, and I scan our surroundings. I spot what I think is an abandoned fox den. It's in-between two rocks, and it leads underground. I slowly walk over, and sniff it. I'm mostly sure that it's abandoned.

"I think it's safe," I call her over, and we trot into the den. Its warm and earthy smelling. But what I'm happiest about, is it's dry. We both shake to dry off, though her fur is still stuck to her sides and soggy.

I scrape some dirt to make a small hollow to lay in, and she does the same, right next to mine. We both curl up, and groom the wetness out of her fur.

I awake to Foxkit licking the tuft of fur on my head. I don't know when we fell asleep, but light now floods the den. We stand up, and quickly orient ourselves for the daytime and finding our way back to StormClan. We had wandered all the way into a birch forest, but it wasn't MistClan's. Maybe BreezeClan? BreezeClan would be better. StormClan and BreezeClan have a sort of alliance, while StormClan and MistClan are always at each others throats.

I see a flash of orange fur, and suddenly, it's on top of me. A fox the size of a large boulder, biting me on the shoulder. I whirl around, and claw at it, but it's no use. It's four times as large as I am, and five times as strong. But I claw and bite anyway. I'm only five moons old, and I have no training, but I have to.

"FOX! Leap on top of it! It'll try to squash you, but Ill get it's belly!" She nods, and leaps onto the fox, biting and scratching it's ears, eyes, and back. It whirls around, and eventually, like I predicted, it goes to lay on it's back, which will squish Fox. Before it can squash her flat, I rake my claws down it's underbelly, and it falls over on it's side, a puddle of blood forming around it's belly.

"We didn't just do that" Foxkit says, staring in disbelief at the dead fox.

"We did" Our eyes both shine with accomplishment, though, I'm seriously hurt, and Foxkit looks kind of exhausted.

"We need to get back to camp," I say.

"Well yeah"

"Follow me." We trot out of the den. The new leaf air is warmer today, and only a gentle breeze drifts by. It ruffles Foxkit's fur, and makes it dance around like little fairies.

We travel for a bit, and finally make it to the pine forest. "Hey, you're limping!" Foxkit says, annoyed that I didn't tell her earlier.

"We need to move, come on Fox"

"You. Are. Limping."

"Yes, and I'll get healed back in camp."

"Fine" She mutters, and we continue. I'm glad to be back in the pine forest. It's dark and gloomy. The birch forest was bright and magic-like. My belly rumbles. Only now do I realize how hungry I am.

"Hey, we haven't eaten since yesterday at sunhigh! I've never gone this long!"

"Me either!" We walk past the border marks, and finally come in site of camp. We both let out excited squeals, and run into camp. I do, rather awkwardly, due to my limp, but I'm just as excited. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Sparkdapple comes stomping up to us, and I get a lump in my throat.

"Uh-oh" I say in a small squeak.

"WE'VE BEEN SEARCHING EVERYWHERE! AND YOU'RE HURT! DID YOU JUST GO AND HAVE A SLEEPOVER IN A FOXES DEN? STARCLAN, I THOUGHT I RAISED AT LEAST SLIGHTLY DISCIPLINED KITS, BUT NOPE!"

"Mom. Chill." I tell her.

"I don't normally agree with Lightningkit, but she's right. You seriously need to chill." Foxkit steps in.

"Well, look at the runaways" Swiftpaw says, joining the conversation. He's a rather large tom, although he's only a moon older than me and Foxkit.

"Swiftpaw, go stick yourself up your own butthole" I say, already exasperated with him.

"Well hello, miss snarky!" He says with a sneer.

"Shut up. Just shut up."

"Lightningkit, that's no way to treat your future mate!" Sparkdapple says. Oh, did I forget to mention that StormClan is a fan of arranged mates? Swiftpaw is Duskstar's kit, and apparently I'm 'Pretty and a good fighter.' So, lucky me, I'm stuck with Swiftpaw. Literally everyone in the Clan feels sorry for me.

Duskstar comes out. "Lightningkit, Foxkit, I need to talk to you" She says. She looks annoyed, angry, and also a little excited. That's the part that scares me.