Whisper: A Warrior Cat Fan Fiction

Prologue

Saltkit burrowed deeper into the soft, sweet smelling belly fur of his mother. Shuddering, he tucked his tiny tail around his body, a vain attempt to warm himself up.

Why did it have to be so cold?

He asked his mother, Ploversong that very question a few days ago. Ploversong, why is it so cold? She had tilted her head to the side, a puzzled expression on her face. You're cold, Saltkit? Darling, it's the middle of Greenleaf, the hottest time of year.

That had scared him. How could he possibly get any colder than he was right now? Maybe his paws would turn black and fall off, like in the stories Breezeflight told him. He hoped not.

He stretched his muzzle forward, seeking his mother's steadfast warmth, but instead found the puffy coat of his brother.

"Hey, get off!" Icekit squeaked, pushing Saltkit away from him, "I can't breathe when you're on top of me!"

Saltkit stumbled back. He hadn't realized how close he'd gotten to his littermate. "Sorry," he mewed, blinking in the darkness. His eyes had only opened four sunrises ago and he still found it hard to see, relying more on sent and warmth to navigate the world.

Warmth. Why couldn't he be warmer?

He nestled into the moss and tried to stop shivering. Clamkit was already asleep, and Icekit soon drifted off as well. Ploversong's breathing slowed and deepened, turning to soft snores.

And then Saltkit was the only one awake in his nest. I have to go to sleep, he told himself, I have to go to sleep, because then I won't see her eyes, and if I don't see her eyes it will be morning soon. The sun will come out in the morning, the nice, warm sun...

He shut his eyes as tight as they could go and tucked his nose under his paw. He would go to sleep. Going to sleep wasn't hard. Oh, but why did it have to be so cold? It would be easier to go to sleep if he were nice and warm.

His teeth chattered. It was too cold for sleeping. But that was okay. He was okay as long as he didn't open his eyes. He would stay here all night with his eyes clenched shut. In the morning he would go out to the flat rock at the center of camp and he would take a long nap in the sunlight.

His eyes just had to stay closed.

But he felt her. She was watching him from just outside the nursery, he could tell. Watching with her cold blue eyes that held no emotion and no soul. She was waiting for him. And any second now she would open her blood-oozing mouth and stark talking.

No! Saltkit thought furiously, she's not really there, she doesn't really exist. If you don't think about her, she won't come after you.

But then he heard a soft, girlish giggling in his head, Saltkit, butterfly, you think that I don't exist? You're such a tom! Come on now, you know I'm just as real as you are. Hey, honey, butterfly, come here, look at me.

And then he saw her, clear as dawn, even although his eyes were squeezed together so hard they hurt. She was a mirage, shimmering and changing, a reflection in a rippling pond. One moment she was a kit, with a plain grey coat, twitching tail and pretty face. She was the cat he had known ever since he was born, his playmate, his best friend. He had seen this kit since before he had opened his eyes, heard the sound of her voice before he had a pair of functioning ears.

Then she changed, a long, weeping gash crawling along her side, her forepaw twisted so violently it was facing her tail, attached by only a thin piece of sinew. Her tail lay still, weighted down with blood. Worst of all was her head. Something, someone, had crushed the right half of it, sending shards of bone and bits of brain poking through her ruined coat. This kit was new to him and she wouldn't leave him along. She was pure evil.

But then her body changed again, and she looked normal. Friendly, happy. Only, her eyes were too icy to ever look real.

Get out of my head! Saltkit wailed, Go away! I don't know what you want, but I don't have it! Please, just leave me alone!

Oh, Saltkit, you sweet birdbrain, you don't understand, the she-cat spoke, her voice bubbling with a kit's teasing enthusiasm, you haven't done anything wrong, butterfly. On the contrary; you are as young and innocent as a morning's dewdrop. Your fur has the same sweet softness that mine had, your mind is as empty and careless as mine should be, your heart as light as a fallen leaf. Yes, you have exactly what I want.

Saltkit moaned, his paws fumbling over his ears. Whatever it is, take it and leave! Whatever you want, I'll give it to you, as long as you promise to never come back again!

The kit's lifeless blue eyes gleamed, and a single drop of blood ran down her whiskers.

Saltkit, I want you to open your eyes.

What do you think? Creepy? Too much?