Starwritten

Chapter One: Freedom

I open my bright, blue eyes sleepily. My siblings and my mother are still asleep. I notice the window is still open in the kitchen. I stand up and stretch comfortably. Creeping carefully, I jump up to the window sill and stare out into the forest. It looked dark and bruding but, it doesn't scare me. I have always wanted to live out there. I hate it here, eating tasteless food, being kicked around by the twoleg kits. I want to be free.

"Sapphire." A soft purr comes from below. It was Sasha, my closest friend. I was never treated fairly by my mother, so she took me in and raised me as her own. She pauses for a heartbeat."You're not thinking about going out there, are you?" She jumps up beside me, neatly curling her tail over her paws. "So what if I am?" I meow. Her golden eyes pile with worry as soon as the words leave my lips. "You'll be killed! What are you? A pile of rabbit pellets?!" Sasha growls. Now, her eyes have lost that sense of welcoming and are now filled with anger. "I can't let you go out there." She meows more calmly. I shake my head irritably. "I will be fine, Sasha! Can't you see i'm not a kit anymore?!" I hiss. "I can take care of myself!"

Sasha freezes for a heartbeat. I stare deep down into her soul. "But Sapphire..you..you can't go." She whimpers quietly. I feel a tinge of guilt in my chest. I push it away. "You can't change my mind." I meow sternly. She glares at me, jumps down and disappears into the darkness, leaving me alone. When it comes to decision making, I am so very stubborn once I have my choice made.

I look back out at the forest for a few more heartbeats. My fur blows slightly in the cool wind. I have made my choice. With all the courage I could spare, I jump down from the window and into the field, on my way towards the forest. The early morning dew feels good on my unsteady, uncertain paws.

Sasha has told me about the terrifying, ruthless and vicious wild cats that live out here. Her tales never scared me as much as it did the others. In fact, I want to be like that someday, feeling like I have power over everyone.

***

Right now, I am standing in front of my future. As soon as I step on forest soil, i'm never going back. I take a deep breath, then diligently step through the brush outlining the trees.

The other side looks so unfamiliar, so beautiful. I sniff all around, taking in the scent of freedom. I walk a little ways, my collar bell jingling as I step. The sounds of the forest fill my ears. My heart is pounding. Why am I so nervous? "You shouldn't be here." I freeze in my tracks. Uh oh, busted.