"Keep your head up young one," Novas mother, Jen had once told her.
It was the day new twolegs would take them away to a whole new home. Nova glanced into her mother's gaze, which flickered with slight worry.
"I wish I could stay," Nova muttered.
"I wish that as well," Jen purred. She wrapped her tail around Nova and pulled her close. Her mother's breath was hot on her ear as she murmured,"Stay safe, and protect your brother. You two must stick together. One day, you will meet the whole new world out there. It's better if you two accomplish that together..."
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Nova woke to a birds clamorous call in the distance. She yawned and slowly rose from the scoop of land in the hill she had slept in. A sneeze erupted from her nose as dust flung from her pelt. Nova snorted in frustration and shook the dirt free of her pelt. Afterwards, she licked a paw and swiped it over her ears.
While grooming, the memory of leaving her brother clung to the center of her thoughts. Regret overwhelmed her. I hope he's okay...and I hope he understands, Nova thought.
Nova had ran away a moon ago. The rumor of her twolegs throwing her away had frightened her, and she just ran off. Leaving Slate perplexed behind.
After the ran away, the stories her mother told her of the four clans she kept in mind. Her mother used to tell her and Slate the magnificent stories of the cats. They were warriors of the forest, merciless and brave. The cats followed an honorable code of loyalty and wisdom.
The first time her mother had told the story, they were amazed by the cats way of life. She remember the night Slate and her sat together, gazing outside their twoleg home and imagining the world outside of there.
Nova shook the memories loose of her thoughts and lifted her nose to the sky. The scent of rabbit caught her attention and she crouched down. Nova stalked forward up the hill. She scanned the area at the bottom of the hill until her eyes lay upon the rabbit, scratching at the ground.
Balancing her haunches, she stalked her way down the hill. Her belly fur skimmed the ground. Nova unsheathed her claws and narrowed her eyes.
She leaped forward. The rabbit panicked and bolted off, Nova on its tail. Nova threw out a blow at its back legs and it tumbled to the ground, flailing its legs. Nova hooked her teeth into its neck and with a final snap, her eyes gleamed with success.
Suddenly, a yowl erupted behind her. Nova spun around only to have a lithe, white she-cat pin her down. Nova hissed in shock, trying to wiggle free of the cats grip.
"Don't even try thief!" The cat spat.
Nova met the cats gaze with a puzzled look,"Thief?"
A immense, muscular, brown tabby tom emerged from behind the white she-cat, a small, gray tom at his side. The cat stepped off of Nova as the tabby stepped forward.
"Who are you and why have you stolen prey from WindClan territory?" He calmly asked.
Nova stumbled to her paws, glancing up at the tom,"I was hunting..I needed food-..Wait? WindClan! Your one of the legendary four clans!"
The toms eyes turned to slits but a smile emerged on his visage. "You've heard of the four clans? How is that may I ask?"
"Oh, by the way, my name is Nova," Nova couldn't hold in her excitement. These must be clan cats! "I ran away from my twolegs, for it was rumored that they were going to throw me out. I left my brother behind, and decided to come and find a clan to join."
"I'm surprised you don't call your twoleg your 'housefolk'," The tiny, gray tom commented.
Nova nodded slowly,"My mother used to tell me stories about the clans, I know more than you think."
The muscular tom eyes glowed in amusement. "So, that means if you joined you wouldn't stand out as much."
"Hawkswoop?! This old kittypet can't join! Birdstar probably wouldn't even let her join anyways," The white she-cat snapped.
"Every cat at least deserves a chance, Whitebird," Hawkswoop told the she-cat.
Whitebird snorted, annoyed. Hawkswoop glanced back over at Nova,"I'm Hawkswoop, deputy of WindClan. This is Whitebird, a senior Warrior. Also, Thistlepaw, my apprentice."
Nova dipped her head,"Nice to meet you all."
Hawkswoop lay his tail upon her shoulder,"Lets take you to WindClan camp. There, we will see if Birdstar accepts you."
She nodded and Hawkswoop led the way. Thistlepaw padded beside her, while Whitebird took the rear. Nova's ears perked as she heard Whitebird mutter insults under her breath.
They continued on, the wind picking up. Leaves flew with the breeze and the sun placed itself in the middle of the cloudy, blue sky. Nova smiled and thought to herself, A dream come true. I just wish Slate could be here to see this!
After a few moments, they arrived at a hill with a huge scoop in it. Bushes outlined the neat, tall camp walls and the echo of chattering cats sounded from the camp.
Hawkswoop led them inside, his head held high. I think he believes someone might attack me.
She slowly entered the camp behind him, hesitant. The moment she entered, cats turned away from their conversations and glared at her. Hawkswoop scanned over the staring cats, silencing them before they could speak.
A sleek, ginger she-cat emerged from a rocky den. Her hazel eyes narrowed as she spotted Nova. Nova felt a lump in her throat, that must be Birdstar.
"Why have you brought this cat into camp,"Birdstar asked Hawkswoop.
Hawkswoop smiled at his leader,"This is Nova, and she wishes to join WindClan."
Birdstar flattened her ears and scanned over Nova with her gaze. She froze in her tracks, her fur bristling along her spine. "I'm sorry..but this cat can't be accepted."
Nova's eyes widened and Hawkswoop stepped forward, challenging his leader,"And why is that Birdstar? You remember the Firestar story, right? He started out as a kittypet and became a legend!"
"Fine," Birdstar sighed,"She can join."
Hawkswoop dipped his head and led Whitebird and Thistlepaw away. Birdstar met Nova's gaze, her eyes lit fire.
"I know why your here, kittypet," Birdstar snarled. Nova lowered herself to the ground,"Your not going to become some Firestar. Your not going to even be known to the clan as a excellent warrior...I know who you are...."
