+Ember+ | Chapter 1

Instructions

The kit mewled, thrashing around pitifully on the strangely hard ground. Where were his mother and littermates? After a long wait, he finally ceased his cries, which seemed to be to no avail. Wide-eyed, he instead craned his neck up to observe the strange wooden structure that he had been left in front of. Maybe his mother was in here? Suddenly, the huge, rectangular brown leaf swung to the side, and the kit yelped in terror. He fluffed up his soaked fur as best as he could, slipping on the small puddle underneath his paws. A huge, colorful-pelted creature was staring down at him, its teeth bared and hairless limbs reaching towards him. The kit squeaked, hissing at the two-legged beast. His claws slid out threateningly, but still the creature - no, "Twoleg" sounded better to him - wouldn't give up. Its paws wrapped firmly around his wriggling form, and he was lifted a terrifying height off the ground so the Twoleg could examine him. Fear pounded in his tiny chest. He was going to be eaten! The kit closed his eyes, trembling at the mere thought of getting chowed down on. But the Twoleg didn't eat him; it cooed at him! He tilted his head in wonder at the strange babble of sounds coming from his captor's mouth. In a flash, a she-Twoleg and a small kit joined the one holding him, and they gasped in delight. After a couple of moments, the tomkit was carried by his captor - male, he realized - into their den. Just then, another surge of panic ran through his veins and he started to protest, clawing at the Twolegs. He didn't want to go into the den! He didn't trust them enough yet... Letting out a shriek of pain, the Twoleg abruptly dropped him. He landed on the cold, hard ground with a thump, the breath knocked out of him. He simply lay there for a minute, stunned that he had actually escaped a monster's grasp... but it wasn't over yet. The female Twoleg screamed, a hint of anger shadowing her surprise. She lunged towards the kit, who ducked, got to his paws, and hurriedly stumbled back outside before he could be imprisoned again. For a good while, all he did was run, full-out sprinting for fear the Twolegs would catch up to him. … He soon slowed to a stop, his muscles aching. Finally, he had done it! Although similar-looking dens and wooden barriers surrounded him, he had survived. Maybe he wouldn't need his mother and littermates after all... For several moments the victorious kit stood on a small, raised stone, his chest puffed out in victory. A warm ember of triumph started to grow inside him, and hungry and tired as he was, he began to really believe he would make it. Suddenly, a thought struck him: Ember! That would make an honorable name! Ember nodded to himself approvingly, then trotted into a dark corner, curling up tightly as his adrenaline vanished and weariness started to engulf him...