Prologue The snow pelted down. Hard. Four snow white front paws padded through the frozen ground. A snarl erupted from the quiet night. Two black, pointed ears perked as the black and white blob came into view. She crouched, ready to fight. “Fight!” Demanded the new one, “Fight time! Now! Halls’ Fight!” The one called Halls nodded and snarled, the two raced along a path. The’re white teeth bard as they raced and batted their paws in each other’s direction. They both stopped as Halls's house folk yelled at the new one. The Human was small, a kit by the looks of it. Its yowls demand for Halls to come. She obeyed. With her black and white head held low, Halls wagged her tail meekly and drooped her ears. “Holly!” She understood the human word. It was her name. She lifted her head and raced to where the human stood. Holly was one rabbit away when she leaped at the human. Paws skidded the ground as the human batted her down, before kneeling and scratching behind her ears. Life was good. Holly enjoyed that. But nothing could prepare her for the new dawn coming.
Chapter 1 The wind stirred as trees flared past the racing body of Clover. Claws outstretched, she prepared to leap. The white rabbit she was chasing was slow and fat. But not too slow. Clover licked her lips. The fat animal would feed her mother, father, and littermates, with leftovers to spare. Prey was scarce as the days passed. The first snow Clover had witnessed in her short life had appeared recently, it chilled all of the cats at the Place Of Warm Sleep to the bone. The thin flakes had appeared for only a while, before rain came and washed it all away, curating icy paths for the cats. Clover leaped, her prey let out a shrill, pitiful wail as Clover stretched her neck to make the killing bite. The body went limp as Clover made a feeble attempt to pick up the fat Hare. She heaved it up, stopping once or twice to catch her breath. She approached Julis, who was patrolling their outer border. “Hey,” was all she managed, for white fur muffled her voice. She dropped her catch at her white paws. “Well,” Julis sounded impressed, “Adder and Thorn will both be proud.” Clover kneaded her paws on the frozen grass and purred. Julis was the leader, Calipso's, mate, and the ginger tom rarely gave out compliments, if he did at all. She nodded, “Thank you.” Clover picked up her large catch and walked back to camp. She padded into the Place Of Warm Sleep, the scent of dog and cat mingled together, the winter cold and the warmth of their home. It was a perfect, odd, place to be. She walked to where Adder was talking with Thorn. She dropped her catch and waited for feedback. “Nice catch Clover,” Adder said, “I can tell you will grow to be a great hunter!” “Go catch some rest,” ordered Thorn, “I can tell you had to run to get that.” For the first time, Clover noticed how knitted her pelt was. She gave herself a few self conscious licks before asking, “Do you want me to take it to Blossom and Shadow?” “Great plan,” Adder flicked her tail, “Do you need help carrying it?” “No,” Clover declined the offer. She knew that this would be her only chance to see the newest kits for a while. Blossom had kitted about five days ago, so the kits would be off of their mothers belly soon. Clover grabbed the prey again and took it to where the kits suckled at Blossoms belly. “Hello,” Clover said at the entrance. The kits were so small! “Why hello,” Blossom tucked a straying, black and white, kit to her belly, “I don't suppose that's for us.” “Correct.” One of the kits opened its eyes, a black one. It staggered to its paws and looked longingly at the prey, then at Clover, “Momma,” Its glance did not waver, “I want to be a great hunter! Like her!” It jumped up and down excited at the thought. “Well first,” Blossom looked at her kit, “You must explore, with your siblings, Feather.” At that, Feather prodded the two other kits with a short, black paw. “Go away,” the smallest kit, and the only tom ordered. “Momma said we can go outside!” The small white head popped up, “Really?” “Yes! Yes!” Clover had not noticed a black and white kit sorting feathers. The kit gently picked up a pile of soft feathers and placed them by Blossom, “I must finish my job first though!” “Can we go with her?” Asked the tom. “If she says yes, Cloud.” Answered Blossom simply. “Puh-lease!” All three kits said looking at her. “I can't say no.” “Yay!” Cloud jumped at her, “Attack sisters!” The kits toppled onto Clover, “Oh no, i have been defeated!” Clover went limp. Cloud scrambled onto Clover's head, then yowled victoriously. He got down a moment later, “Lets go! Let's go!” Clover shook herself off as the two she-cat kits got off. “Where to first?” “Dapple, Feather and I all want to go to where Hawk is!” “Hawk?” “The lucky rabbit got to go out with father at dawn to be shown around.” Explained Dapple. “Okay,” Clover thought for a moment, “Why not go to our borders?” The kits jumped, “Yes! Yes!” “Lets go,” The kits fell in line as Clover padded away from Blossom, who was stretching her legs. “Enjoy your prey!” “I will.” Cloud was almost shaking with excitement, “Let's go! Let's go! C’mon! C’mon!”
