Warriors: Sharptalon's Mist

Chapter 2

Sharpkit screeched in terror as a fox loomed over him, its jaws parted in snarl. Its lips curled back to reveal sharp fangs. Sharpkit backed up slowly as it began to slowly creep towards him. Triumph glowed in the fox's eyes as it knew that it had its prey trapped. 

 All of a sudden, a yowl rang out. A beautiful flame-colored she-cat leaped down from the trees, leaves in her ruffled pelt. "Get away from him!" She hissed, leaped on the fox, her green eyes shining with hate. 

Sharpkit backed into a tree, wishing he could help the she-cat beat up the fox, but he was too young. The only thing he could do was watch. Blood spattered the dirt as the she-cat slashed the fox'x muzzle. The wicked creature whimpered in defeat and limped away, crashing through the undergrowth. 

Sharpkit watched as the she-cat stood still, then slowly turned to meet his gaze. Her green eyes were shining and her ruffled pelt blew in the wind. The leaves rustled above, creating shadows on her pelt, then the sun broke through the tree-tops and her pelt seemed to catch on fire. "You're lucky I was here, little kit," She meowed. 

Sharpkit got to his paws, panting. "T-thank you for saving me!" He stammered.

"Heh, it was no problem," The she-cat puffed.

Rustling came from the bushes. A large, muscular dark brown tom leaped from the bushes, then a pale brown she-cat with green eyes and a white paw.

"Phoenix! Are you ok? I heard fighting!" The brown tabby tom gasped.

Sharpkit glanced at them. Phoenix? Is that her name? 

"Don't worry, Hawk, I'm fine," Phoenix meowed. "This little kit here was about to become a fox's lunch," She puffed. She turned back to Sharpkit, her green eyes glowing.  "Anyways, you smell like a Clan kit. What are you doing out here?" She asked. 

"I... I have the same question! Rogues aren't supposed to be on Clan territory!" Sharpkit mewled, bristling. 

"I knew you were a Clan kit," Phoenix sighed. "Well what's your name then?" She asked. 

"Sharpkit," Sharpkit mewed. "I came out here looking for my friend when she ran away. I couldn't find her and.... oh StarClan, I- I..." Sharpkit whimpered. "I'm so stupid!"

"Don't worry Sharpkit. You aren't stupid. You came out here looking for your friend, right? Isn't that what friends do?" Phoenix puffed.

"I'll get in trouble if I'm not back. Ivypool or Squirrelstar will probably send out a search party to look for me. My family is probably already worried about me," Sharpkit sighed.

"The only reason why we were here is because we were waiting for a patrol to pass by. We were thinking about joining ThunderClan. Hawk heard that it was the strongest and nicest Clan in this forest. Oh... where are my manners. I forgot to introduce ourselves. I'm Phoenix," Phoenix meowed. She pointed to the brown tom. "That's Hawk, my mate," She meowed. Last she pointed to the pale brown she-cat. "And that's our daughter, Echo. She's young," Phoenix meowed lastly. 

"I... um could take you to my camp but I don't think they'll like the idea of rogues joining the Clan," Sharpkit meowed, looking to the side. "But maybe... well never mind I'll take you," Sharpkit meowed. He weaved around the three rouges and padded onto flat ground next to the ditch. He jumped on large tree roots and followed a worn-down path where moons of countless paws had walked. 

Sharpkit rounded a tree and walked along the path still, keeping in the shade. He heard the paw-steps of the other cats following behind him. 

"Sharpkit!" A voice cried. A gray tabby she-cat sprang from the bushes. It was Jaywing!

"Jaywing!"  Sharpkit mewled. "I never thought you'd come into my path," Sharpkit admitted, stopping in his tracks. 

"Who are those cats," Jaywing growled. She bristled and unsheathed her claws. "Sharpkit, you know we don't allow rouges in our forest, right?"  She asked.

"They saved me from a fox and they want to join our Clan!" Sharpkit mewled. "Jaywing, please, let them have a chance to join us," He whimpered.

"Fine, I can take them back to camp. Then you'll need to explain to every cat what you were doing out in the forest alone," Jaywing meowed.

"I went looking for you but... I couldn't find you and almost got eaten by a fox. But then that she-cat saved me!" Sharpkit mewled. 

"Yes, you're lucky I was in that tree," Phoenix meowed. She licked her chest-fur. "I was hoping a patrol would come through so we could ask to join the Clan," She meowed. 

"Ok... Sharpkit we need to get you back home," Jaywing meowed smoothly, flicking her tail. "The Clan must be worried about you."

"Sharpkit, you shouldn't of wondered off like that," Fluffypelt growled, licking his pelt softly. "You got really hurt," Fluffypelt pointed out. "You know you've always been my favorite kit and I was worried."

"Sorry mom," Sharpkit whimpered. "But the forest is scary!"

"Well you better not say that when you're an apprentice tomorrow," Fluffypelt joked. "I can't wait to see who your mentor will be," She admitted. 

"Do you think it'll be Jaywing? Or Squirrelstar?" Sharpkit pipped.

"I think you don't need to worry about who your mentor will be. Get some rest, please," Fluffypelt meowed, licking Sharpkit's head. She padded from the medicine den, the brambles swishing behind her and her brown tail-tip disappearing.

A small wad of wet moss dropped down beside Sharpkit's nest. Then some herbs. 

"Eat those," A voice meowed beside Sharpkit's ear. Flamedawn circled around his small nest. "And then you can rest."

Sharpkit pushed the herbs in his mouth and winced as the bitter taste washed his tongue. Then he swallowed them and lapped at the wet moss. 

"It's to help you to not get a fever. After all, your apprentice ceremony is tomorrow and your mother and father wouldn't want you getting sick, would they?" Flamedawn meowed. 

"No," Sharpkit whined.

"Now, rest," Flamedawn meowed. 

Sharpkit leaned back in his nest, feeling darkness fold over his vision. He finally sunk into sleep.