Sparrowclaw's Decision

Chapter One

Sparrowkit lunged at the fluttering moth. Jumping elegantly, he plucked the moth by the wing piercing its patterned colors with one sharp, glinting claw. Sparrowkit jolted awake still content on the warmth of his dream. His mother, Dawnpool instantly opened her eyes as if she had been waiting all along for Sparrowkit to wake up. Sparrowkit felt a warm tongue lick him on the ear. "Good morning little one."

The light streamed down in the nursery, breaking through the shafts. Beside him was his brother, Seedkit, his brown fur sticking out. Sparrowkit watched as Dawnpool lick Seedkit, smoothing his fur. Seedkit muttered in his sleep and rolled over to show his belly, revealing his soft kitten fluff. Dawnpool's eyes glittered with amusement and affection. Sparrowkit struggled out of his mother's warm belly and peered over the nest, seeing Lilywhisker. She had two kits, Spottedkit and Shimmerkit. He tumbled of the nest, starting to walk to the clearing. He felt a soft paw clamp his tail. Turning around indignantly, he heard Dawnpool purr with a rusty meow, "Where are you going?"

 "Outside." Sparrowkit's eyes were pleading.

 Seedkit had woken up and mewed "I'll go with him." 

After a brief hestation, Dawnpool mewed softly "Ok fine." 

Sparrowkit and Seedkit squealed with excitement. "Be careful, and stay in camp!" Dawnpool called after them as they bounded to the clearing as fast as their little paws could carry them.

 "Why does she have to care about us so much." Grumbled Sparrowkit. "She always does that." Complained Seedkit. "You should be grateful." a deep voice rang out.

A fiery orange tom appeared, his tail twitching in annoyance. Sparrowkit huffed and stomped out, Seedkit following him. Sparkpaw emerged from the den, her red-orange pelt ruffled up. She had been an apprentice for only one moon. "Kits!" she gasped and started chattering. 

"I can be you're escort. This is the apprentice den. She point her tail on the den she just emerged in. The warrior's den is over there. The elder's den is that fallen tree over there. The... 

"I don't want to listen to these boring stuff" interrupted Sparrowkit. 

He was already feeling bored. "Can you show us something interesting?" Seedkit asked his round eyes big. 

Sparkpaw looked around. "If you promise not to tell anyone, I'll bring you outside of camp." She spoke in a hushed whisper. 

"Yes!" The kits bounced around excitedly. 

"Hush" whispered Sparkpaw crossly.

 "Don't you know how to be quiet? We're sneaking out of camp and I'll show you some stuff around, outside of camp."

The kits fell silent as Sparkpaw led them to the tunnel. No cat noticed. Sparrowkit quivered with excitement. He can go outside! Sparkpaw led the kits out and flicked her tail. "We'll go to the owl tree." 

Sparrowkit followed her and suddenly smelled a strange scent. Wrinkling his nose, he stiffened when he saw Sparkpaw's fur bristling. Seedkit stiffened too. "Fox!" hissed Sparkpaw, her eyes widening in terror. 

Sparrowkit started to tremble. He heard nursery stories of foxes. They kill kits! Seedkit was quivering hard and his fur was in the end. A fox suddenly bursted out of the ferns and with slavering jaws, it lunged at the terrified, still frozen Seedkit and clamp it's jaws on his spine. Seedkit gave a squeal of pain. At the same time Sparkpaw pounce on the fox and bit down hard on its haunches. The fox gave a screech and let go, its ears flat against his head. Seedkit dropped with a thump, blood flowing from his wound.