{} A Divided Path {} Chapter 2

Instructions

======= Chapter 2- Thornkit ------------- A flash of lightning seared the sky. Rain torrented down on all sides. Screams and wails echoed through the night. A pair of glowing green eyes slowly advanced toward him. They were familiar, but cold and drenched with h4te. Thornkit shivered in fright and tried to make a sound, but the storm drowned it out. The eyes came closer, and he saw scars marring the cat's body. Teeth as white as snow were smeared with bl00d and bared at him. He was paralyzed with fear as mounting dread built up inside him. "THORNSTAR!!" shrieked the cat as it pounced on him, vicious claws outstretched and eyes flaring with rage and cruel triumph. "Thornkit, wake UP!" a voice cried, jerking Thornkit awake. /Just a nightmare./ he thought to himself, panting heavily. "Thornkit, are you okay?" the voice repeated. Thornkit quickly recognized the speaker as Icekit, a white she-kit with shining eyes. "You were shaking pretty violently." "Yeah, I'm alright." he managed to say, still sweating. "I'm alright." "You don't look alright," pointed out Darkkit. "Are you sure you're okay?" "YES, I'M OKAY!" exclaimed Thornkit, burying his head in his paws. "I said so already." "Dreaming again?" frowned Ravenwing, walking into the nursery. "Yes, Mother." Thornkit rolled his eyes. "Icekit woke me up." He shot a thankful look at Icekit, who winked at him. "This...really disturbs me, Thornkit." Ravenwing meowed, gazing intently at him. "Do you happen to know what the dreams are about?" "I...don't." Thornkit frowned. /Why can't I remember? It was so vivid, but now, I can't remember anything about it!/ Ravenwing shrugged. "Okay, then. Maybe I need to get you some poppy seeds for tonight so you can sleep better. How does that sound?" "Good, I guess," he mumbled, aware of the many watching eyes on him and Ravenwing. His pelt burned hot with embarrassment and he fidgeted with the moss on the nursery floor. "Okay, then." Ravenwing mewed. "I'll come back later with the poppy seeds. Go play with your friends." Yes, Mother." Thornkit rolled his eyes. /Why does she have to treat me like a newborn? I'm almost apprentice age! Great StarClan, my apprentice ceremony is this moon!/ he thought, his eyes slowly widening. /I'll finally be able to do something instead of just sitting around all day!/ "Thornkit, why are your eyes so wide?" Icekit meowed, dragging him out of his thoughts. "That's really worrying me." "Icekit, our apprentice ceremony is this moon!!" Thornkit exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. "We'll finally get to do fun things!" "Like cleaning the elders' den? Not fun." groaned Darkkit, her jet-black coat shining in the dim sunlight of the morning. "I'm not looking forward to it." "Well, I won't have to!" Icekit puffed. "I'm going to become a medicine cat apprentice!" Thornkit snorted. "I'm sure Mother will find something for you to do." Icekit gave him a poisonous look. "I'd worry about your own self! You'll be doing boring duties for moons!!" "Yeah!" Darkkit chimed in. "I'll be doing battle training! Ghostkit and I will show EVERYONE!" "Ghostkit was literally just born!! She won't become an apprentice anytime soon!" Thornkit frowned. "Hey! Don't doubt my little sister!" Darkkit yowled, pouncing playfully on him. "That would be a mistake! I'll teach her the BEST battle moves!" "Okay, okay!" giggled Thornkit, rolling out from underneath Darkkit. "I believe you." "Good!" snorted Darkkit. She grinned at him for a moment, and Thornkit felt his pelt burn. /She's so pretty!/ he thought dreamily. /I wish we were siblings. Ghostkit must be lucky./ "THORNKIT!" yowled Icekit. "STOP DAYDREAMING!" Thornkit flinched. "Sorry, Icestar." he teased. "I didn't mean to." "I'm not becoming Icestar! I'm going to be a medicine cat! I hope my name is Icewing, or Icelight, or something like that." "Fair." he shrugged. "You'll be missing out, though. Being leader would be epic! I want to be leader someday. Just imagine; Thornstar of DarkClan!!" However, just then, he froze. /Wait, Thornstar?/ His nightmare rushed back to him. /Wasn't that what the evil cat said?/ "By the stars, Thornkit!! Stop daydreaming!!" wailed Icekit, shaking him violently. "I'm really starting to worry! Maybe we should start to call you Thorndream!" "Okay, okay!" he groaned, batting Icekit away. "And also, don't call me Thorndream. That's a mouse-brained name." "Just like you!!" Darkkit giggled, swatting him gently with her forepaws. "Fine. I suppose I daydream a bit." Thornkit snorted. He gazed outside of the nursery. /It's so nice outside. I wish I could know who that cat was. They seemed so familiar. And...who's Thornstar?/ he wondered. Little did he know, he would find out sooner than he expected.