Firetalon's Destiny

Chapter 2

I peered carefully out of the nursery, the three newly made warriors sat proudly in the center of the camp. Their ears were perked and they gazed restlessly around. I nervously pulled back into the nursery, maybe I should sneak out the next night? I shook my head, no, I wanted to go tonight! I risked another glance and stiffened when one of the sentinels glanced my way. I closed my eyes and prayed that the darkness would hide my ginger pelt.

            After a few heart beats I risked opening one of my eyes, a silent sigh of relief escaping me. He had turned his gaze elsewhere and didn’t seem to notice me. I pulled back into the safety of the nursery and carefully made my way to the other side. I stared at the unyielding wall before carefully began to pull out some of the branches. It was easy work once I got started and soon I was able to crawl out of a small kit sized hole. I pressed my pelt against the prickly camp wall and, sticking to the shadows, started to creep forward.

            I was now behind the sentries and, with a wide grin on my face, started towards the camp exit. Wait, won’t they notice me going through the entrance? I stared nervously at the tunnel before looking at the sentinels; maybe I should find a new way out… “I could make my own exit!” I whispered to myself, but the wall was thorny and painful. Gently prodding the wall I shook my head, no it would hurt too much. Maybe I could sneak out using the dirt place; I stared in disgust at the wretched scented egress on the other side of the camp. “I’m a warrior!” yes, a warrior would be strong and do stuff he never wanted to do. “As a warrior, I’ll go through that awful smelling place!”

            Slinking through the shadows, I had to be silent or else I’ll get caught. I have to be slow and patient, I crept warily past the guards and as I passed them I noticed a small opening in the camp wall. I studied it thoughtfully; it was big enough to allow a kit and maybe a small apprentice to slip through. This is my ticket out! I don’t have to use the dirt place after all, crouching low to the ground, I entered the tunnel.

            “No one’s use it yet!” I exclaimed softly as my paws walked over unused path. “Every warrior needs a secret!” my tail curled in excitement, this will be my secret. But wait, what’ll I do when I outgrow it? Maybe I would have to widen it sometime, I frowned at the thought. Well that’ll be a while from now, no need to worry about it.

            I was soon on the other side of the passageway, and I took in a greedy longue full of forest air. It was refreshing and so different than the camp air, my whiskers twitched in contentment. “I wonder what’s out there…” my eyes sparkled as I stared out into the unknown, there was only one way to find out. Dashing forward, I eagerly started to explore.

            I slipped past ferns and scrambled over tree roots, until finally I reached a clearing. It was a rather small clearing and in the middle of the clearing stood a fallen log. With a roar I leapt towards the tree and started to scramble up, the rotting bark crumbled under my paws as I slowly climbed up. The wood was soft and easy to grip, so I was soon standing on what felt like the top of the world. I stared down at the clearing, my chest puffed out and my tail held up proudly. “Cats of FlameClan gather and hear my words!” I declared, imagining as invisible warriors came towards the log.

            Then I heard a noise, what sounded like thousands of tiny feet scampering over the decaying tree. I glared at whatever was making the noise which was a large creature; it reminded me of an insect, with large eyes and horns sticking out of its head. It had so many legs that it was mind blowing, for a heart beat I just stood there staring at the strange thing before crouching into a battle pose. “Who dares challenge Firestar of FlameClan?” the thing just stared at me, its mouth opening and closing. With a hiss, I lunged forward before howling in surprise as an awful stench filled the air. I shook my head while turning and dashing off, running blindly through the forest. What was that? I skidded to a halt, sure that the strange monster wouldn’t catch up, while I pawed at my muzzle. The smell lingered and I let out a whimper, I wanted to go back now.

            I glanced around, my tail drooping, I was lost. I didn’t like this anymore… I wanted to go back. I paused and stared at a large green thing on the forest floor, its yellow eyes glaring up at me. I took a step back as it lifted off the ground and dove at me. I quickly made a dash for it, my small paws stirring up forest debris as I rushed onward.

            Finally coming to a stop, I found myself at the forest edge. In front of me was a straight black path that stank even worse than the strange, many-legged creature. Cautiously I reached out and touched the warm path, what was this? Venturing further out, I frowned, the trail felt weird under my paws. “My first major discovery as a warrior,” I declared, already forgetting about the awful monsters back in the forest. “This is going to be known as the…” the ground started to shake and I heard a strange rumbling noise. A bright light shone onto me and I looked up to stare at a pair of gleaming white eyes. As it grew closer, fear took over and my legs locked up. No… I stared at its hungry eyes and its giant paws as it rushed at me.

            “Move it, kit!” there was a faint howl over the roar of the approaching beast, there was a flurry of movement in the corner of my eye and the next thing I knew, I was swinging in the air as a someone grabbed my scruff and dashed off the black trial to safety. That was the last thing I recalled as I slipped into unconsciousness.