Sixteen Paws

Chapter 1

Shadowlily stared across the forest to the clan she once knew, now destroyed. How did it come to this? Everything she loved. Everything she knew and cared for. Preciously. Was gone. How?

But, she knew the answer. It was her. Everything she loved. Everything she knew, was gone because of her.

Shadowlily padded to the grave and sat, the trees dripping with rain. She could hear her sobs loud and clear, and she knew others could hear it too. As if, there was any one to hear it.

"I'm so sorry" she cried. "I never should have made that promise...."

< Many years ago >

Jiji padded next to her brother, their pelts brushing.

"How much longer, Ji?" He groaned.

"Not much longer, Jo." She replied happily. She had to stay happy, for him.

Jojo mumbled something inaudible. He was always a perky little bundle of joy but since their mother died, and was told to go to the forest, Jojo wasn't the friendliest sight to see. Or hear.

"Just stay close and we'll be fine" she reassured him.

The sun was setting by the time they crossed the street. The clouds wispy and soft. They'd have to stop soon.

Finally, they set paw in the forest. Jojo sighed and plopped on the soft grass, a heap of grey tabby fur on the green landscape. Jiji laid beside him and curled up. They haven't eaten or drank since a few days ago, and they were famished, but she was way too tired to move any further.

"Shouldn't we find some shelter?" Jojo muttered tiredly.

"No, I'm sure we'll be fine" Jiji replied.

She closed her eyes and went into a soft doze, the cool wind ruffling her fur. She could feel Jojo next to her, his sides rising and falling. She felt so big next to him. Even though he was younger, and only a few ages appart, Jiji felt like the grown cat she was meant to be.

They traveled far. Jiji and Jojo were both from a city that never really accepted wildlife. Sure, they had plants and trees, but whenever they got close to the house folk, they were kicked out. Literally.

Their mother was sick. And Jiji, being the oldest, always had to take care of her. But, as time went by, it got harder and harder tho find the right treatments. Until finally, their mother passed. Bobo was her name. Bobo. The name made Jiji's fur ripple. She was a mother like no other. Always protecting them from the troubles and hardships of life.

Jiji was awakened from her thoughts as she felt her brother prodding her back.

"What?" she mumbled drowsily. She only slept for a few minutes so she had to force her self not to pass out already.

"Shhh, listen" Jojo put his paw on Jiji's mouth.

The silence was almost unbearable. The only thing Jiji could hear was the wind rustling in the trees. And all she could see was the blue night sky and the stars, that seemed to shine on for all eternity. It almost felt like, as she gazed at the stars, someone was right gazing back.

After what felt like a whole moon, Jojo put down his paw down and sighed.

"Sorry Jo, I hear nothing" Jiji said apologetically.

"Yeah, I guess i'm just not used to being in the open." He shivered.

Jiji glanced around their spot and saw a wide gorse bush with a small opening and pointed her ears in that direction.

"How about we just settle there-" She was cut off as a flash of red and black came across her vision as she stumbled back. The scent was instantly matched to what their mother had warned them about in the forest.

Fox

Jojo screeched and dashed behind Jiji just as the fox bit the air, in which Jojo was standing. Without question, Jiji leaped forward and gripped the fox's shoulder with her jaws. It reeled back as blood welled on it's shoulder. That'll leave a mark.

The fox was stepping back cautiously. After a better look at the fox, it seemed that it was........... ......young?

Wait.

If a fox is young, and in the open, surely others would be around here too?

Just as she finished that thought, a low growl came from behind them. No wonder the fox was scared of me, it was only a pup. A small group of snarling, bushy tailed foxes came out of the gorse bushes Jiji was talking about earlier. Their eyes were bright and hungry, and they were so close that Jiji could smell their rancid breath. They haven't eaten yet.

Jojo flinched behind her and she twined her tail with his. She lunged at the first fox, teeth bared and snarling. She dug her claws in its back and tore out a clump of fur. It yelped but managed to snag a claw in Jiji's ear. The pain was unbearable. Seeing her state, Jojo ran for the second fox but like a fly, it swatted him aside and went for his throat.

Jiji tore free from the fox, her ear gushing with blood and her claws aching. She jump in front of Jojo as it grasped its jaws on her throat. Jiji screeched in pain as she saw the world around her turning black. The rest of the foxes went for her brother and she managed to let out a gurgled wail, feeling her body go numb.

All that was left that she could see was a pair of frantic eyes, staring right at her as she called out.

I'm so sorry, my Jojo....

AN: Hi! So this is my first chapter and I think it turned out really good! Well, so far I guess XD But just to clarify, I WILL be using most of the characters from the Warrios series, dead, or alive (in the book). And I will be using the four Clans (not including Skyclan) And thank you for reading my first chapter! (^w^) OH! And a friend of mine on here, Kitty Miistress, created a story about Underclan (you should read it!) that has a character named Shadowlily. And just to make it clear, in case you've read it, I am one of the founders of Underclan and this story I wrote, I've had it in mind WAY before Underclan. So this is a whole different story. So THIS Shadowlily is not related to THAT Shadowlily XD I hope that makes sense! Sorry this Author's Note is so long btw XD