Decode

01: Who are you?

'Your magic, White Rabbit,

. . . Has left its writing on the wall.'

----

[ Payton ]

A chilling autumn wind swept through the city. A small grey kitten with fluffy fur and vibrant blue eyes sat on her fence. She scanned the forest for any life, her imagination running wild.

She pictured a large forest cat to come lumbering out with a rabbit in its jaws and talon like claws.

That kitten was me. Payton. I'm what Lark and Lavender call 'a kittypet'. I have a blue collar with a little gold disk saying 'Pay'.

Life was good. I live with my mother Viker and my brothers Jet and Shower. I have a older sister called Florence and a younger sister called May. But the strange thing? They all have black or really dark grey fur. Jet and Florence and both pure black. The only difference is gender, age and eyes. Jet had icy blue eyes and Florence has pumpkin orange.

May is a dark grey tabby with green eyes while Shower is dark stone grey with blue eyes. I have light, almost white, fur with soft silvery blue eyes. Florence hates my for being different and May, who looks up to Florence, just agrees.

Florence often lashes out at me and I hate it. She is a bossy stuck up bird-brain, strutting around like she is perfect with little May tottering in her pawsteps. My brothers stick up for me though. They are the best kin I could ever have.

"Payton?" A male voice called out.

My ears perked and I scanned the area for the feline that had called my name. My gentle silver eyes fell on a long legged brown tabby with vibrant green eyes and white paws. His battle scars from fights he had experienced with other alley cats showed but he was the most loveable tom ever. From his neck was a twilight blue collar studded with clean white fangs.

It was Lark. My best friend, apart from Lavender that is. He was my closest friend and a member of the famous Boneclan. They were a band of fierce alley cats once called 'Bloodclan' but changed their vicious ways, aiding the cats that are in trouble in the city. Kind of like the superheroes that Shower told me about.

"Lark!" I called, standing up on the fence and bounding along it to greet the tomcat.

As I reached him, I sprung using all of my power and knocked him off the fence. We hit the recently cut dew kissed grass with a soft thud. I pinned him down and he looked up. The sun silhouetted me, the dazzling light shining into Lark's eyes.

"Hey. Good job kiddo" he mewed, eyes narrowed as he tried to see properly although he had no hope.

"Thanks!~" I chimed, grinning from ear to ear.

In a second, Lark kicked upwards and sent me flying onto my back. I groaned at the force and as soon as I was going to stand, he pinned me down.

"But I'm better!" Lark mewed, grinning cheekily.

"How are you two lovebirds?" A sickly sweet mew sounded.

We both looked round to see a fluffy ginger tabby she standing there. She was smirking in a friendly way. She was standing with the light illuminating her fur, making its pigment turning lighter like pure sunlight in the form of cat fur. She had intense amber eyes that seemed to stare into her soul but despite her angelic look, she was a little demon.

"Sun" Lark snarled, emerald green eyes narrowing into sharp slits look like they could be dog claws.

"Lark" she mewed with a soft smile before her amber gaze fell on me, hardening coldly. "Payton. Wait until I tell Florence about your little boyfriend"

A scowled formed on my face as I sprang to my paws, almost knocking Lark over. The tom stepped by my side, touching my back with his tail. I glared at him with my optics in slits.

"Back of Sunny Wunny" A vicious snarl mewed. Lavender.

A silver Egyptian Mau with bright lavender purple eyes leapt down from the fence, eyes narrowed as she glared at the ginger tabby. Sun hesitated on saying something. She knew that if Lavender, Lark and I all fought her then we would kick her tail.

"Bye losers" Sun said swiftly, retreating to her house, bell on her collar jingling as she went.

"Well that got rid of her" Lavender mewed. I looked at her to see a triumphant gleam I'm her lavender hued eyes.

"Sure did" Lark said, still glaring at the spot that the vicious little monster had stood seconds ago.

"Are we going to the forest or what?" I asked loudly, both cats looking at me before nodding and sprinting to the fence.

~~~~~

My breath wisped off into the night air. Shadows lurked around and grew long or short depending on the lights. I merely gazed at the same spot that I had been for at least fifteen minutes. There was a small but plump brown furry creature. It was scuffling in the leaves, unaware of my existence.

I crouched on the grass where the trees swayed behind me. I was on the forbidden side. Lark and Lavender had warned my about wild forest cats wandering in groups. But right now, it didn't change the fact that I was about to try and catch a mouse. I crept forth, paw after paw, breath after breath, second after second.

"GO" A yowl sounded. I practically leaped out of my skin due to the noise.

The fairly large felines leapt from the bushes. There was a smaller brown tabby Tom with white paws and chest on the left side. His eyes were a pale amber pigment.

In the middle was a huge pale sandy yellow tom with dark grey tiger like stripes. His eyes were a blazing amber and he had a threatening spark in them.

Beside the large tom on his right was a white she with light smoky grey patches over her eyes that stretched up to her ears. She had darker grey paws and tail tip.

"Prey stealer!" The white and grey she cat snarled, tail lashing the air.

"W-who are you?!" I asked, taking a step back as the night wind whipped my fur.

"You don't need to know!" The she yowled loudly, unsheathing her claws and taking a step forth, swiping a warning claw at me.

I gasped and ducked as the talon like claws swooped over the place my head had been moments before. She sprung at me, obviously trying to scare me off. But I'm a very stubborn cat.

I sidestepped, barely dodging the she, and her paws thudded into the space I had been. I prepared my self but a split second later she swung a claw around, catching my side. I gritted my teeth and sprung back.

"You brat" The she snarled loudly again, preparing to spring.

I flinched as the small brown tom leapt and landed infront of me, his tail swishing vigorously. I watched as the larger feline padded nonchalantly over, hissing at the smaller she.

"Back off Cherrypaw" The tom hissed, pale amber optics flickering darkly.

"Hn" Cherrypaw scoffed, rolling her eyes and looking away.

"Who are you young one, your skills are well to avoid moves from my apprentice" The tom mewed.

"Payton" I replied simply.

"I am Tigerflash, this is Bramblepaw and Cherrypaw" The large tom mewed, blinking as he watched me. "We are Shoreclan members"

"Well, go back to your Twoleg den" Cherrypaw snapped ferociously.

"I will" I snarled back, making the she look a little shocked.

I turned tail and with a lash of it, jumped over my fence to my garden. Many things was on my mind. Who on earth were they?! What is Shoreclan? Why did I have to meet them.