Embermoon's path PART I

Chapter I

 

“Yes...I’m going to go spy on Flame clan.” Her gaze softened and she returned to her normal tone.” Can I come with you?”

 

Ashkit became hesitant. Don’t let her go… A distant voice seemed to speak in his mind, but Ashkit just ignored it. Ashkit could hear her clawing away impatiently on the grass.

 

“ Fine you can come…but tell no cat.” Stripedkit bounced up and down happily.”I will tell no cat.” Did she mean it? Ashkit examined her facial expression carefully. Her gray eyes looked serious. The tension in Ashkit started to fade away.

 

Ashkit padded on the forest floor carefully so he wouldn’t make a sound. Ashkit could hear the muffled sound of heavy pawsteps crunching on the leaves. His tail twitched irritably. “ Who taught you how to walk a badger?”Stripedkit hissed in reply but the playfulness in her eyes still shown.

 

“We will never be great warriors if we’re not quiet.” Ashkit signaled his tail for her to follow him. “Fox dung.” Ashkit mewed. “What about it?” meowed Stripedkit in a confused tone.”If we roll in it it will hide our scent.” A look of disgust was planted on Stripedkit’s face.

 

“No way, I’m not going to roll in that.” “Well get caught if they smell us in their camp!” pointed out Ashkit. Stripedkit groaned and padded over to the pile of fox dung and rolled in it. “If this is a good idea then I’m a mouse.”  

 

“Stop complaining, would you rather be safe or get killed?”  Stripedkit shifted her eyes over to the pile of fox dung, “Well…” Ashkit scoffed. “I’ll see you in Moon clan.” Stripedkit gave Ashkit a sharp prod in the side. He rolled in the pile of fox dung. Ashkit wrinkled his nose at the powerful stench.

A white moon hung in the pitch black sky casting shadows over the forest. A cool breeze rustled some of the branches of trees. Ashkit’s amber gaze gleamed in the black darkness.

 

“Are we almost there?” Stripedkit complained. “My paw pads ache!” Ashkit admitted that his paw pads ached too but nothing was going to stop him from helping his clan.

 

Ashkit parted his jaws open to taste the air. “We should be there soon Stripedkit.” Stripedkit groaned and padded alongside Ashkit. What if we get caught? What will my mother think? What if we get attacked by a night patrol? He pictured a Flame clan warrior raking his claws on Ashkit’s back.He shuddered at the thought and tried to push it away from his memories.

 

The smell of Flame clan got stronger at each paw step they took. Ashkit carefully crept on the forest floor so he wouldn’t get caught. The smell of Flame clan cats got dangerously close. “Um Ashkit-”Stripedkit began. He held his tail up for silence. “Ashkit!” Stripedkit repeated. Ashkit whipped his head around to Stripedkit. “Be quiet or we’ll get caught!” Stripedkit’s fur bristled in fury, “Ashkit!” Ashkit grunted in reply.

Stripedkit grabbed Ashkit by the scruff and yanked him back. Ashkit tumbled over in surprise. Ashkit opened his mouth to speak but the chatter of Flame clan cats cut him off.  Night patrol! “Run!” Ashkit hissed.

 

Ashkit hurled himself toward a patch of undergrowth, Stripedkit followed. Ashkit panted in exhaustion. “That was close.” Stripedkit nodded in reply. “We need to find an entrance to the Flame clan camp. “ “But won’t we get caught if we use their entrance?” “ I said an entrance not the entrance.” came the timid reply.

 

Ashkit looked over to a clump of ferns growing near by. “Over here.” He shouldered his way through the ferns until he could get a view of the Flame clan camp. “Wow.” gasped Stripedkit.

 

Ashkit stared at the camp with awe.  Wow… It had been their first time out of Rain clan camp,but they’ve never seen anything like this before. Ashkit strained his ears to listen to what some of them were saying.

 

“Mom look at me I’m a Rain clan warrior coming to attack you.” said a striped gray kit to his mother. The mother purred in amusement. “Oh no!” The mother’s loving eyes were focused on her kit.” You're going to be a powerful warrior someday Emberkit.”

Ashkit felt as if he had met these two cats before. And the name Emberkit was unusually familiar. Mouse brain! They’re Flame clan cats. The kit turned his head over to Ashkit and Stripedkit’s direction. Stripedkit gasped in surprise. “What?” mewed Ashkit. “Look!”