Applekit
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Small patters of kitten paws scurried against the cool forest floor, traveling along a worn down path created by the constantly parading of the patrols coming and going. Even to a kitten it was obvious that the patrol had traveled this path mere hours ago from the large imprints pressed lightly in the snow. To the small Applekit, the other prints were huge, placing her own small paw in the middle of one a small shiver running down her spine, she had large paws to fill that was for sure. Applekit always marched within the camp with her head held high, knowing nothing would ever be able to hurt her, she never felt scared or even hesitant about anything. Her small nose twitched at the cold touch of the snowflakes, just moments ago the sky was clear but now the peachy cream calico kitten was surrounded by twinkling snowflakes dancing along the air around her. So Pretty! Why wouldn’t the others want all the kits to experience such a lovely world when they were young, it made no sense to Applekit as to why they had to stay cooped up in the camp all day, especially when such a wonderful world outside the camp walls existed.
Now standing her in the middle of the barren forest, sounds echoing in every dark corner, she could feel the pressure weighing on her. … The snow had built up quite a bit around her, eye gaze was clouded by the heavy fall of winter all around her. I should really be getting home. Applekit took a look around for the large paw prints to lead her back home, but they had been covered with the freshly fallen snow. Panic began to wash over the small molly, but she wouldn’t let it show, she was a brave Thunderclan cat. Puffing out her chest, Applekit began her stride towards where she thought the Thunderclan camp rested. The further she traveled the more it began to settle in that she was indeed not going to the correct way home, but it wasn't like she was going to find someone out here to ask directions so she just kept pushing on in different directions every time a large obstacle blocked her way.
Even at her young age she could feel the air flow change when she reached what she would soon learn was the border into Windclan territory. Unfortunately for the kitten she didn’t yet know that this was the way to another clan's territory, how could she? Her blue gaze starred in the direction, waiting, she didn't know what for but she simply waited. Applekit wanted to get home before her mother got upset, but the open skies called her name, she didn't know what awaited her over there, all she knew was that she was ready to find out. The small peachy cream calico made up her mind, she was going to answer the call, slowly approaching the invisible border Applekit took a deep breath.
“I would not go that way if I were you.”
Applekit, thinking she was alone, felt her soul leave her body, whipping around to confront the body behind the voice, but the issue being there was no body. Well not a solid figure, rather it was more transparent, she could make out the features of a cat but she could see the leaf-bare trees directly behind them too. This wasn’t her first time seeing figures like this but this was the first time one confronted her directly, her mother told her about these figures when she was young. “I know who you are! Mommy says you can’t hurt me so don’t even try!” She hissed, the fur along her spine becoming raised as she arched her back. Her mother told her they were friendly but sometimes you still can't trust them, Applekit didn’t know what she was doing but she certainly wouldn’t go down without a fight.
“I’m not here to hurt you. I am a friend of your mothers. Follow me Kit, I can lead you home.”
Applekit nearly laughed at the starry felines words, “My mother doesn't have friends! Besides I was told not to follow strangers,” Applekit might not have listened to her mother when she told her not to leave camp, but she knew better than to run off with cats she doesn't know. Applekit huffed at the felien before turning around to face the open fields, “Now if you don’t mind I have places to be.”
“Be safe young kitten. I’ll be here waiting for you to return home safely.”
The small kitten shuddered as the freezing ice resting between Thunderclan and Riverclan touched her paw pads; she had never felt such a sensation. Quickly scurrying across the slippery surface, the night seemed colder on this side of the land, there were no trees to block the wind, but the open sky was the most beautiful thing she had ever witnessed. Everything was breathtaking to the small molly; she found herself starting her journey at a slow pace but it quickened with every step until she was racing quickly across the moorlands. Applekit couldn't see anything else aside from the wide open plains, it was as if she and ground were the only things that existed.
Applekits dream world was shattered, her small body barreling into something hard. “Ouchy” Her surprised gaze shifted upward to see what she had run into. It was a cat, a very unfamiliar cat. The cat didn’t seem happy to see her, for the first time Applekit, felt fearful and intimated but she was not about to show that. The small peachy molly puffed out her chest after she recovered from being thrown on her tail, “You should really watch where you are going.”
Sandstar
The False Leader of Windclan
It’d been a few days since he’d returned from the Moon Cave with Briarfrost, and the sting of betrayal was still fresh in his mind. As impossible as it sounded, Windclan felt even less like home now that he knew Starclan was being run by a bunch of Desertstar sympathizers. To add to the challenge, he wasn’t even given his nine lives like he’d hoped. That wasn’t about to stop him, though. When Sandadder set his sights on something, absolutely nothing would get in his way, and his sights were on taking over Windclan. No one needed to know that Starclan rejected him. All they needed to know was that he would save them.
With his mind set, and a hunt that promised to be both bloody and brutal, he took a deep breath and began walking around the territory. Before long, he stumbled upon an older rabbit trail in the snow. If he had to guess, the rabbit that traveled through here had probably done so earlier in the day, but prey had been scarce recently, and he hoped that by following an older trail, it might lead him to newer ones. Trekking through the snow, he ended up following the trail to the edge of Windclan, though as he patrolled the border between Windclan and Thunderclan, something small bumped against his leg. Looking down, he was surprised to see a young kit at his feet, and immediately detected Thunderclan’s scent on her pelt. At that, the surprise faded from his features, and in its place was a fierce scowl.
Normally, she would have been scolded for trespassing and escorted back to Thunderclan, but.. an idea came to mind. If he were to hurt this kit, it would bring an end to Windclan’s alliance with them. After all, Thunderclan had no idea that Windclan had been split into two, so the blame would fall on Desertstar. Quick as lightning, he slammed a paw down onto her tail to keep her from running away, and pulled her closer to him. “What a pathetic little hairball. Didn’t anyone ever tell you what happens when you trespass on another clan’s territory?” he asked, staring down at her, and realizing now just how tiny she was in comparison to his large paws. Before Starclan turned their back on him, he was bound by the warrior code, but now that meant nothing to him. There was no one around to stop him. No one there to see. He was free to do whatever he wanted.