Chapter One ~ COTL Dawn Of The Clans

Instructions

The air was cold and silent as two young cats hid under a bramble bush, their ears pricked up and alert for any noise, while their noses were rendered almost useless by the overwhelming smells coming from the road ahead. Right as the light yellow she-cat began to stand, thinking all was clear, a large twoleg turned a corner, stepping out in front of the bramble bush. The twoleg turned towards the sound of the young she-cat collapsing to the ground, as still as possible. Their brother, an older rusty red coloured tom, had eyes wide as the twoleg leaned forwards, looking at the bush. The yellow she-cat decided to make a run for it, turning and sprinting explosively from the other side of the bramble bush, their brother forced to do the same. The twoleg watched the young cats sprint away into the forests beyond. “Let’s never go to the twoleg place again,” mewed the she-cat, their voice filled with fear as they took deep breaths. “I almost got stuck there because of you!” hissed the rusty tom, “you need to stop being so afraid of everything Sand! I bet I could’ve taken on that twoleg,” he mewed to his younger sister, who held herself back from an eye roll. “Then what’s the problem with you getting stuck there if you can take on any twoleg, oh mighty Dusk?” Sand mewed to her brother with a glare. Dusk, unable to argue with his sister’s logic, instead began padding further into the forest, “Whatever, let’s just get back to the Den.” Sand had a smug look on her face, happy to have finally bested her brother as she padded behind. “Forest, Stone!” Sand called for her brothers as she arrived at their home, a small burrow nearby a river, deep in the forest. Forest, a brown tabby cat, bounded out from behind a tree at the sound of his sister’s voice calling him. “You’ll never believe what happened!” the yellow she-cat mewed, still out of breath. “Where’s Stone?” Dusk asked, padding up behind Sand. Forest shrugged, “he went out to catch some mice,” the brown tom mewed. Dusk’s eyes narrowed, “Stone can’t catch prey, he’s far too slow!” he mewed. Forest glared at his brother, “I don’t see you carrying back three mice like you said you would,” the brown tom mewed, a slightly snarl forming on his face briefly. “That’s because we went to the twoleg place!” Sand eagerly chimed in, Forest’s attention quickly snapping towards his younger sister. “You went where?” A deep and slightly muffed voice called from behind the three siblings, it was Bark, the young warriors’ father. Sand froze, before slowly turning around, “We… um.. went to the twoleg place,” she murmured. The strong older tom glared at his daughter, then quickly turned to Dusk, “What were you thinking!” he hissed, his voice echoing through the forest, “You could’ve been taken by one of those monsters!” Dusk looked down at his paws, although he would often argue with his siblings, he dared not defend his dangerous actions to his father. Before Bark could find the words to describe his son’s behaviour, the large, but still young grey tom Stone bounded into the small clearing where the Den lies. Much to the disbelief of Dusk, the grey tom was carrying two mice in his jaws, but the pride had already vanished from the young hunter’s face. “What’s going on?” Stone asked, confused and worried. Bark took a deep breath, calming himself slightly before replying, “your sister and Dusk had the bright idea of almost getting captured by twolegs,” the old warrior hissed. Stone dropped his prey, shocked, but also somehow felt like he’d been waiting for a moment like this, Dusk was finally going to be put in his place. “Dusk,” Bark hissed his son’s name with anger, “go out on a hunt, and don’t think about coming back to the Den without five mice in your jaws!” the young Warrior winced at his punishment, Dusk had only ever caught four mice in his life, now he couldn’t come home until he’d over doubled that. His sister stayed very still, fearing the punishment she may get. “Sand,” her father once again said the name with anger in his voice, but before he could complete his sentence, a soft voice from behind interrupted him, “don’t do that again Sand,” It was the voice of their mother, Bluebell. Bark turned and stared at his mate, confused, but Bluebell gave him a look to be silent, “I hope you’ve learned your lesson, but for now, that’s all.” Sand breathed a silent sigh of relief, turning towards the burrow. “But if you do that again,” her mother’s voice interrupted her escape from the angry eyes of her father, “you will receive a punishment, are we clear?” Sand turned towards her mother, nodding. “Yes, Bluebell.” She mewed respectfully. Bluebell nodded, and Sand quickly padded into the burrow.