Aspencall's Decision

Aspencall's Decision--Introduction

^^ Tooth, up there ^^

     Aspen turned his head around with his unseeing eyes, mewling and heading towards the warm, musky scent. Milk! Squirming foward, the dark-coated tabby kit gave a little mew of protest as his mother shifted. A tom-whom his mother called Ash-gave a deep meow, his voice echoing through the den, "This kits must grow up tough-or Tooth will kill them. And I'll prove it by this-" As he named the kits-Red and Aspen, he placed a small scar on each other their left shoulder.  Red's long, silky fur would cover up the scar eventually, but 'accidently' the kit's father-Ash placed a massive scar on the runt's shoulder. Glancing at his mate Fox, he let out a soft snarl, "We need to make sure that this one is strong, or Tooth will kill him." The brute's eyes glittered anxiously as he gave his mate a lick. He muttered softly, glancing back fearfully outside the den's entrance, "I'll hunt you some fresh-kill, I know you haven't gotten much prey lately."

     The dark-coated tabby listed to his mother let out a weak sigh, but he didn't know how-he was just too young to process all this. Snuggling closer to Fox, she felt here shift and look down on him, a smile breaking out on her face. Then, a massive figure blocked the entrance, darkening the entire den. Turning his form around, he blinked and then realized, his eyes had opened! His first sight was a large, dark grey, power-hungry feline staring him down.  Jaws tearing, claws flashing, the world went dark. The last thing Aspen heard was a high-pitched shriek of pain.

     He woke, pain drilling into him like a claw. He lay there, still on his nest, with a reddish-ginger patch of motionless fur laying beside him. Scrabbling up, he let out a choked whimper, recognizing Fox immediately. Bending over to lick her fur, he suddenly let out a cry of pain, the back of his head throbbing harshly, the extreme pain forcing the pained kit to lie still. Then, a gray bundle and a reddish fluff patch entered the den, urging Aspen outside. Rising to his paws, he winced from the sting of his infected shoulder and behind-of-his-head wound.

     "Okay Father! And fine Red, I'm coming!" Struggling to take one step, the dark-coated tabby staggered out of the den. Staring around in amazement, he finally noticed cats of all shapes, colors, and sizes. Feeling a cuff on his ear, he looked up, noticing his brother at once. He had a impressive red-russet sleek coat, and his muscles showed under his broad shoulders. Turning to his father, Aspen limped towards him and sat at his paws. He asked, not bothering to look up, "Why am I out here? Can I go back inside?" Shaking his head regretfully, he spoke in a low and soothing tone, "It's time to start your training. Rouge packs pick off kits, and I am preparing you and Red."

     Aspen let out a sigh. He knew his father was trying to protect him. From dawn to dusk, they trained all day. Aspen and Red sat in their den, licking their wounds. Red got away lucky-he was already a formidable fighter, but the dark-coated brute next to him.... he had a right torn ear, that was bleeding heavily. Suddenly Aspen heard a large scream, and shrank back as an unfamiliar group of cats leaped into the camp. Feeling Ash's fur bush up in fear, his father scooped himself and Red up, and pelted out of camp. Dodging trees, brush, and leaping rivers, they finally reached to a stop-but they crossed another group of feline's territory.

     Ash pushed them into the bracken and murmured, "Be safe, my loves." As their father departed, Aspen flinched as he heard a loud howl in pain, and then a thud near camp. He recognized the howl. It was.. it was Ash. A sob welled up in his throat. Before he could exchange a glance, or even speak to Red, a alabaster brute approached. He narrowed his eyes, let out a hiss, that sounded extremely angry and disturbed. "What. Are. You. Doing. Here?" The feline approached stealthily, ready to make his kits a possible snack.