\--A Light in the Dark--/ PART 2, CHAPTER 4 Willow padded along the soft grass, humming to herself, recalling memories of her uncomplicated kit-hood … *She chased Cedar around the bush, yelling, “You’re not faster than me! I’m going to catch you!” “Yeah, right! You’re never going to catch me! I’m too fast for y- Woah! Look at this! It’s so pretty! It looks just like your’s!” Willow caught up to him and saw what he was looking at. A large gem, just like the one embedded into her pelt, was lying beneath a willow tree. “Maybe it’s a sign,” he exclaimed, “saying that we can’t lose hope! That you, Willow, will save us from the Clan cats! Go, Willow!” “Maybe …” Willow looked down, embarrassed. “Hey, I have an idea! We’ll practise fighting the Clan cats! I’ll be a Clan cat, you fight me!” “Okay! I’m going to win!” Those days were so simple …* “Hey, Willow! Over here!” whispered a brown tabby near Willow. “Cedar! I was just thinking about you! What did you find?” Willow softly padded up to him. “It's … a Clan cat patrol. Looks like they’re headed this way!” “Fox-dung!” she cursed, “Quickly, go warn the others!” “I will!” he scampered away. She walked, slowly, down to the Clear-River. The babbling, crystal-clear water calmed her racing mind. She lapped up some of the cool drink, and sighed. *What am I going to do?* She curled up into a tight ball, and tucked her tail over her head, and let the tears fall. She had been only five moons old during the last attack of the Clans. They had brutally murdered several cats, including Badger and Frosty, her beloved mother and father. She knew that the Clan cats would be relentless in trying to drive them out, but they had nowhere else to go. She slowly got to her paws and trotted back to the camp. “Yew!” she cried jubilantly when she saw a light brown tabby tom’s glowing amber eyes, “Thank goodness. I don’t know what to do, they’re all counting on me, and I can’t let them down! Do you have any ideas to help? I shouldn’t have been chosen, it's all going to go wrong, I’m going to let them down, aren't I?” “Slow down, Willow! It’s alright, we’re all here for you. And, you have time to prepare. It’s not as if the Clan cats are coming right now. You’re fine.” “Wait- what? Yes they are! They’re coming here right now! Cedar and I saw them. Oh, no. He never- you never saw him? Cedar … what if the Clan cats got him?” “Oh, you know Cedar. He’s probably just stuck in a patch of brambles. We can go look for him together, if you want.” “Oh, yes, that’d be great, Yew! Thanks!” “They padded through the woods together, their tails unconsciously twined, softly calling his name. “Uh- … Willow? You might want to- um … see this ….” “What is it, Yew- oh, no. No, no, no. Cedar!”
so I was wrong, but the NEXT one will be out mid December.