Warriors: The Golden Age

Chapter One

All was peaceful in the clearing, the training hollow of ThunderClan. Several scarlet and golden leaves drifted down from nearby trees. A mourning dove placidly hopped among the undergrowth, pecking absently, until its head snapped up and it took flight in a panic. Six pairs of small loud paws thudded on the forest floor, as the voices of a rowdy bunch of kits broke the tranquility.

Kestrelkit, Talonkit, and Falconkit scattered in random directions, squeaking in mock fear. Antkit led Owlkit and Pinekit, and the group of three split up to chase the others.

"We will not tolerate this infiltration!" Antkit roared, plunging after the much taller and faster Talonkit on his tiny paws.

Antkit veered right, trying to cut Talonkit off and drive her to Owlkit, who had branched off to pursue Kestrelkit at a slow yet unfaltering pace while yelling a ferocious battle cry at him. "Leave our territory at once!"

Pinekit, with her long, strong legs, easily overtook Falconkit and bowled the ginger tom over with a violent tackle, screaming the whole time so loudly that Antkit's ears began to ache. "Leave ThunderClan alone, filthy rogues!"

"Noooo!" Wailed the terrified Falconkit. "We come in peace!"

Antkit could hear Pinekit's reply. "This is our territory and we don't want any visitors! You shall die!"

Antkit turned to see the tall brown she-cat pretend to rip open her adversary's throat. He chuckled as Falconkit thrashed around, pretending to die dramatically. Behind them, Kestrelkit had just pretended to give Owlkit fatal wounds to the belly. It was even more hilarious for Antkit to see Owlkit staggering around in mock pain, and he let out a laugh. This distracted him and the next thing he felt was Talonkit slamming into him.

"What's your problem?" Antkit demanded, writhing to get free. "I'm going to kill you! I'm gonna slowly tear you to bits so small not even insects can see them!"

"No offence," Talonkit grinned, putting one of her long, elegant paws against Antkit's neck, "but you're gonna be the one who dies this time."

"No!" Antkit gasped, trying his best to keep a straight face when he could see that ridiculous smile stretched across Talonkit's muzzle. "How dare you assassinate the deputy of a Clan on his own territory, you treasonous hypocritical hedonistic imbecile?"

Talonkit tilted her head to one side and began. "What does imbewhatever me-"

Antkit took her moment of distraction and exploited it, leaping up, surging towards Talonkit with such energy that she fell off him. Talonkit slammed into the ground and almost immediately regained her footing. Antkit stood facing her. His opponent was much larger than he was, complete with a bristling brown-and-white pelt that was fluffed out to full length and made her look even bigger. Antkit ruffled his black fur, but ended up looking like a rather pitifully sized furball. Falconkit and Owlkit, who were eliminated, were watching two battles at once; Pinekit's deathmatch with Kestrelkit, and Antkit's mortal struggle with Talonkit.

"Imbecile," Antkit explained, "is a sophisticated term for idiot."

With that, he leaped at her. Antkit sailed through the air, paws outstretched in front of him, ready to strike... but as he landed on Talonkit's shoulder, his friend shrugged, and he bounced off rather harmlessly. The black kit stumbled backward and didn't have time to prepare for his next attack. Talonkit charged, but Antkit dodged her run just in time. His flanks heaved for air, but Talonkit wasn't even winded.

"Who's the idiot now?" Talonkit mused, ever so calm.

Antkit bared his tiny teeth. "You are, to go insulting me, the great deputy of ThunderClan! I'll flay you, I'll display your entrails, I'll feed your remains to the fish and watch you get devoured piece by piece! Nobody dares defy me!"