Pebblesplash's Story

Chapter 3: An Unexpected Discovery

Foxpaw bounded through the thick undergrowth. His mentor, Honeydust, was showing him the territory, and this was his first day out of camp. He had just been apprenticed, and was very eager to learn.

"And this is the Big Puddle. It has been here for generations and generations, ever since any cat can remember. It provides all the clans with water to drink, and we use it to swim and fish."

Honeydust finished speaking and flicked her ears across the Big Puddle. "What do you scent?" she asked Foxpaw. Foxpaw angled his muzzle towards the Big Puddle and took a great whiff. "I smell frogs, dirt, and lots and lots of mud."

"Smell farther across. Can you scent anything different?" Honeydust pressed him. Foxpaw sniffed the air a couple times, then after a moment, replied: "It smells like rabbits and grass, sort of a dusty smell." Honeydust nodded approvingly.

"That dusty smell is the scent of StormClan cats. They live on the moor and far away from the other clans. They like to live on grassy hills and chase rabbits and ferrets all day long."

Foxpaw tipped his head in disagreement. "I hate rabbits!" he exclaimed. "Once, I ate a rabbit in the nursery. They're so bland and they have no meat on them at all!" Honeydust purred at Foxpaw in amusement.

"Let's not waste any more time here. The last thing for you to see before we head back to camp is FourStones. Follow me".

Foxpaw trotted after Honeydust as she led the way throughout the marshes and into their clan's bit of forest territory. She made a few turns, and steadily traveled uphill. After a while, they reached the top of the hill, and Honeydust paused. She pushed away the ferns and moss, and revealed a green meadow.

At the corners of the meadow, on each side, were four sturdy slabs of stone, shaped like rocks. Foxpaw's eyes widened as he followed Honeydust down the path to the meadow.

Suddenly, Honeydust gasped, and stopped dead in her tracks. She flicked her tail to indicate that Foxpaw should halt as well. She shoved Foxpaw into a clump of ferns and hid herself as well.

"What-" Foxpaw started. "Shh", Honeydust chided. "There's someone else here," she whispered. "By the scent of her, she's not from any Clan."

Foxpaw crept closer, Honeydust at his side. He could see from the cover he had in the ferns that the trespasser was a small calico kitten. She was grey, white, and russet, and had a white underbelly. She was laying down, asleep.

Honeydust quietly padded over to the she-cat, intent on finding her purpose for being in Clan territory. Foxpaw followed, and nearly jumped up and down with excitement. My first outing outside the camp, and something exciting finally happens!

***

"What-"

"Shh, there's someone else here!"

Pebble's eyes blinked lazily open as she heard voices coming from the ferns on her left. Suddenly, two dark figures burst out of the ferns and stood in the sun. Startled, Pebble jumped up and tried to creep away. She looked around for an escape, but she was trapped.

There were two, obviously well-fed cats who were advancing on her, the older one was golden-furred and the smaller kitten was a reddish-brown. Pebble shut her eyes in terror.

The golden cat stepped up to Pebble. "It's alright, we won't hurt you", she mewed gently. Pebble reluctantly opened her eyes. "What's your name?" The golden cat asked Pebble.

"P-Pebble", Pebble stuttered. These Wild Cats had such power radiating about them that they made Pebble want to creep into a dark hole.

The she-cat smiled warmly. "Well, Pebble, my name is Honeydust. It looks like you've wandered into CreekClan territory. We'll have to bring you to Oakstar and he'll decide what to do with you. Are you alone? Where are your parents?"

Pebble was on the verge of tears. "M-momma was taken by the fox, and so was Ash. I-I don't know what to do." She burst into quiet sobs.

Honeydust soothed her. "There, there, it's okay. Why don't you follow me to our camp?" Pebble nodded, looking down. The reddish one looked wary of her, and as they travelled downhill and into the marshes, he snuck hostile glances at her when he thought she wasn't looking.

Finally, they reached the camp. Pebble could smell many unfamiliar, musky cat scents as she entered the camp. She got a few curious looks from some cats, and hostile looks from others.

Pebble shivered and looked around. The whole camp was surrounded with water, making a sort-of moat surrounding the camp. There were a couple dens covered with moss and reeds, and in the center of the camp was a pile of prey. Seeing the juicy prey made Pebble's mouth water, but she didn't dare take a piece. She hadn't realized just how hungry she was until her stomach started growling – she hadn't eaten for days.

She tore her eyes from the fresh-kill and followed Honeydust into one of the dens, this one being higher up on the ledge than the rest. Honeydust pushed away the lichen draping from the entrance and led Pebble inside.

Laying down beside some moss was a big dark-reddish tom with piercing amber eyes. He looked up at Honeydust for an explanation. Honeydust dipped her head slightly and cleared her throat. "This is Pebble, she was found when I was showing Foxpaw our territory, in particular FourStones. She appears to be alone, she told us her mother and brother were killed by a fox. She doesn't have any living relations that we know of, and I'm not sure what to do with her, Oakstar."

Oakstar nodded and paused as if in reflection "You may leave my den now, Honeydust." he said to Honeydust. She nodded and backed out of the den.

When Honeydust had left, Oakstar turned to look at Pebble. For a moment, she thought his eyes lit up in surprise, but then it was gone. "It's nice to meet you Pebble, though I'm sorry we couldn't have met on better terms. Let me introduce myself. I'm Oakstar, the leader of this Clan, CreekClan. From what Honeydust has told me, I think it best for you to stay here for the night. This will ensure your safety."

As Oakstar went on in his sure voice, he seemed to be untroubled by anything. Pebble grew a sense of trust in him, and was soothed by his straightforward manner.

"...And so for tonight you will stay in the nursery, with Cherryspot and Fawnfur. They will take care of you like you were their own kit. But I will have it known to you that tomorrow I want an explanation, full and complete. Whether you want to stay with the Clan is up to you, but let me warn you; the Leaf Bare moons are approaching, and it will be very harsh without any support. If you do decide to stay, you will be given a clan name and you will be expected to abide by the warrior code. It's your choice, and I leave it up to you."

Oakstar finished speaking and waited for Pebble's answer. Pebble mind was whirling with emotions. Fear, excitement, apprehension, and confusion swirled around in her mind and made her dizzy. It's just such a big decision to make, she thought to herself. Right now she just wanted to go to sleep. Oakstar, sensing this, said; "I will call you into my den at dawn. I must make the announcement to the clans at the next gathering, so you will have a moon to decide. Right now you must get some sleep. Honeydust will be waiting outside my den, you will follow her to the nursery."

Pebble gratefully stumbled out of Oakstar's den, and accompanied by Honeydust, padded over to the den Oakstar called the nursery. As she entered the den, she thought with apprehension: I wonder if Clan Life is for me...