``Shadows And Light`` Ch. 1

Instructions

Cats Mentioned / In The Story: -Lightkit (Tan kit with darker snout, chest, paws, and tail tip. Big blue eyes.) -Venomkit (Gray kit with darker tabby markings and narrow amber eyes.) -Bramblekit (Brown kit with lighter swirls and green eyes.) -Fernkit (Tortoiseshell kit with yellow eyes and protruding fangs.) -Silverwing (silver tabby she-cat with desaturated lime green eyes.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Summary: Introducing Light and Venom. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We possess differing natures, Venomkit and I. Venomkit is quiet, tall, and mysterious, his dark fur and glowing amber eyes making him seem almost like a shadow. I’m Lightkit—short, bubbly, and friendly, with pale fur and bright blue eyes. While Venomkit prefers solitude, often grunting and walking away when other kits invite him to play, I embrace every chance to join in. Seeing a group of kits looking bored, I quickly invent a game of tag, my enthusiasm infectious as they brighten up and join in the fun, happily chasing each other around. It’s moments like this that highlight our contrasting personalities: my eagerness to make friends and laugh, and Venomkit’s guarded nature. ​ The nursery corner contained Venomkit, who glared, habitual, at each kit. The nursery had a distinct, earthy smell, with the scent of damp moss mingling with the sweet aroma of fresh milk. The soft rustle of leaves outside blended with the occasional distant chirp of birds, creating a comforting backdrop to our small world. As I approached, a familiar breeze drifted through the entrance, carrying with it the faintest hint of mountain air. It reminded me sharply of that night. Venomkit was convinced that every cat was going to abandon him, a feeling that lingered from when our mother’s scent vanished toward the mountains, leaving us to face the fear of being alone. I remember how Silverwing found us, skin and bones, and brought us to the clan. I padded up to Venomkit, trying to put on a smile for him. The moss concealed my pawsteps slightly. ​ Feeling the weight of silence between us, I tried to break it gently. “Venomkit, do you ever feel like the moss is colder today? Or maybe it’s just me missing the warmth?” I ask, my tail curling high, hoping to reach beneath his stony glare to the heart of his loneliness. ​ Venom glared at me with those amber fires. “No. Leave me alone, Lightkit,” he said, facing away from me. ​ I sighed. This was how he usually was. He did not want action, preferring to sit, brooding. I turned to face away from him. I would not pressure him. ​ Silverwing appeared to me near the nursery entrance, in the rock face. Silverwing was Venomkit’s and my adoptive mother, as I was told we were brought into the clan. She greeted Venomkit and me with warmth, despite the other two kits needing nourishment. Bramblekit, always curious and ready for adventure, accompanied Fernkit, who enjoyed gentle behavior, cuddling near Silverwing. They were fun to play with, but were younger than us. ​ “Mama!” I said, grinning and running towards her. ​ She laughed and curled me into her warmth. “Hello, my little Light! Where’s your brother?” ​ “Sulking, as usual,” I replied, but I wasn’t mad. ​ Silverwing looked a bit worried, but she changed it quickly to her usual smile. “Well, tell your brother that at sunhigh today, you two are becoming apprentices! You’ll be trained by warriors with similar powers to yours...if you guys get powers. And remember, the clan is counting on our new apprentices to protect us as dangers are lurking closer than we’ve seen before.” ​ My eyes widened. No way! Six moons had gone by that fast?! “Alright, Silverwing, I’ll let him know!” I chirped, grinning. I had foolishly ignored the last part of what Silverwing said, already sprinting away. ​ I ran back into the nursery, paws skidding on the moss-covered rock cave. The gloom made it hard to see Venom, but I was able to spot him where he’d been five minutes ago. “Venomkit! Venomkit! We’re becoming apprentices soon!” ​ Venomkit’s eyes widened, and he grinned for the first time in a while. “Apprentices? That means we get our powers today, Lili! I wonder what power I’ll get,” he said. ​ “Maybe you’ll get a super cool attack ability, and I’ll get a deception ability, and we’ll be unstoppable!” I ranted, shaking with excitement. ​ “All cats old enough to defend their clan, gather under the Oak for a clan meeting!” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yay first chapter of Shadows and Light! Trust, I'm not gonna give up on this series.