Warriors: Uprising (Book 1)

Chapter 7

Blacksting laid in his nest in the Warriors' den, trying to sleep peacefully. Until two other cats barged in, disturbing his rest. He looked up to see the muzzles of his clan leader, Birdstar and the clan deputy Skybelly.

"Something wrong?" Blacksting yawned.

"Something wrong?" Skybelly repeated, with a hint of anger in his mew. "What are your reasons for taking a mother away from her kit?!" the deputy yelled.

Birdstar sighed. "I'm sure there is a better way to do this than yelling-"

Blacksting cut off Birdstar, "She was the one who wanted to come with me. I never asked her to, and Shredkit is alive, isn't he? So what's the problem?" He snarled back at Skybelly.

Skybelly's anger was rising. "The problem is that your kit got worried sick about his mother and was alone until sunup!" He hissed, unsheathing his claws now.

"Alright! That's enough of this." Birdstar had stopped them both from continuing.

"Blacksting, you never should have left camp while it was dark and without telling another cat. And have told Dustshine to stay with her kit and not leave with you. Now I don't want to hear about stuff like this again, or there will be consequences." Birdstar had an unpleasant look on him.

"Sure thing, o brilliant leader of mine." Blacksting replied sarcastically.

Skybelly growled low and left the Warriors' den.

Birdstar turned to leave, but before he did, Blacksting spoke up.

"You better watch your paws, Birdstar, or you'll disappear like the Goatweed you consume." He said.

Birdstar turned around instantly. "How do you know about that-" He then realized Blacksting was fast asleep.

I'll question him about it... later... Birdstar thought as he left the den.

Blacksting opened one eye and gave a quiet laugh as he shut it again.

*

In the Nursery, Shredkit huddled very close to his mother. He wanted to make sure she didn't leave him again.

A she-cat came into the Nursery, it was Nova. Shredkit looked up at her and frowned a little. I hope she's not mad at me for being mean to her... Shredkit thought.

"Hi, Shredkit!" She meowed happily.

Shredkit got a confused look on his face. He tilted his head to the side a little.

She looked at him. "Something wrong?"

"Aren't you mad at me for hurting you?" Shredkit mewed.

"Why would I be mad? It's not your fault you acted that way."

"B-But I hurt you!" He looked at the tiny scars on her side.

"Oh, Shredkit, I'm fine and you are not at fault for the way you acted." She reassured him and glanced at Dustshine, who was sleeping.

"Are you sure...?"

"Very." She looked back at Shredkit and nodded. "Now, have you slept at all?"

He shook his head, then yawned as he realized how tired he was.

"Well, please try to. Your apprenticeship is coming soon and you'll need all your strength!" Nova meowed and smiled.

"Okay..." He laid his head onto his paws.

"I will check back later." She whispered, then left the Nursery.

I'm glad she isn't mad, but being an apprentice sounds very scary... Shredkit thought as he closed his heavy eyelids and fell asleep.

*

Shredkit heard voices. He opened his eyes quickly. It was dark in the Nursery and he didn't feel Dustshine next to him. "D-Dustshine?" The poor kit was panicking at the realization of his mother being gone. Tears were falling from his eyes.

Come here... There was a voice from outside the den. Shredkit looked up with tear-filled eyes and tiny streams falling down his cheeks. "Wh-who's there?" He mewed. He then got up and padded outside of the Nursery. When he was outside, there were many dead and decaying trees around him. The sky was dreary, and the grass seemed like something had scorched it. The pathway in front of Shredkit looked long, and it was full of dying trees on both sides of it.

A stray and black silhouette of a cat had appeared from behind one tree.

"Hey! Who are you and where's Dustshine?" Shredkit yelled to the cat.

The shadow cat ran off into the distance.

"Where are you going!?" Shredkit ran after the cat.

Shredkit ran after the shadowy cat for a little while until he turned and ran into some dead trees.

I have to catch up with him... He turned to where the cat had run. Once he turned into the trees, there was a moment of nothing under him before he tumbled down what seemed to be a steep, tiny hill. Shredkit kept hitting a bunch of dead branches, rocks, and small shrubs before he plopped onto the dying ground again.

His nose was bleeding, and one of his front legs was bleeding as well from a slightly deep cut.

"O-ow..." He was trying to hold back tears and be strong.

There's no point in looking for Dustshine. She doesn't care about you. The voice whispered from somewhere close.

"She does! You're lying and I won't believe you!" Shredkit yelled.

Shredkit heard a rustle from one bush in front of him. Out jumped a blood-stained fox. It bared its teeth and stared at Shredkit with its cold, darkened eyes. A scarlet red color stained the teeth of the fox.

I have to get out of here before I die! He thought, then ran into the bushes next to him. The fox quickly started after him and caught up with him in almost an instant.

Shredkit got his tail caught in one bush and he couldn't move. There was a heavy breath he could feel on his neck, and he didn't have to turn around to know what it was. The fox quickly opened its maw, but before it could clamp down onto the poor kit:

Shredkit woke up with a tremendous jolt.

He was panting heavily, and tears were still streaming down his face. Dustshine was next to him, and the den was still bright, and the sun was still showing itself through the Nursery.

Dustshine smiled and looked at Shredkit, "Well, look at who's up." She mewed and licked his fur. "Your fur is unkempt, Shredkit."

"D-Dustshine...?" His mew quivered as he looked up at her.

Dustshine noticed her kit was crying and almost gasped. "Shredkit! What happened?"

"I-I had a dream of a scary fox, an-and you weren't there..." He replied.

"Oh, you poor thing." Dustshine pulled her kit closer to her and nuzzled him intensely. "You do not have to worry now, there are no foxes that will harm you here." She said with a soothing mew.

Shredkit hoped that his mother would stay with him forever.