I don't like this chapter as much :/ At least I have room to improve. If you chose "Read By Yourself" (or just want to read along): The Gadget Tragedy Chapter 2: The taller twoleg ran in and grabbed a handful of bottles, one of what appeared to be medicine. He was about to turn around when he looked up, shocked that the room was bright. He quickly recovered from his surprise, set the items down and started running toward me. I knew it was now or never. I reared back and slammed full force into the window, the glass breaking under my weight, despite the lack of momentum. I felt the clear material scratch me in various places, shaving part of one antenna off my head. I tumbled through the air. I was going to die. I hit the ground a split second later. I looked up. For once, I was grateful for twolegs and their one story buildings. I got up, unharmed, except for my broken antenna. I looked around. The sunlight was brighter than before. It was all around me, blinding. I closed my eyes again, and thankfully got used to the light quicker than before. I started running towards the trees. I ran with a speed I never felt before, the wind rushing over my face. I jumped into the bramble and was engulfed in darkness. As the branches stung my sides, I blindly broke through the bushes to find a small clearing. I could smell that other cats were there, but their scents were old, maybe about a day old. I felt dizzy, tired, and weak. I decided it was time to rest, I had time before the twolegs could find me. I awoke to shouts. I jumped up, my ears pricked up. A blur, a flash of fur slammed into my side, and sent me tumbling. I got up again, and was knocked down once more. “Yield!” a voice spat at me. I looked up. A yellow and gold colored tom with cinnamon colored legs and a fierce look in his red eyes was staring me down. “No chance,” I muttered as I sprang to my feet, slamming into him with my head. I caught him by surprise and he fell over. “Gosh you're a heavy…. Whatever you are,” he said. He struggled to his feet and put his ears back. “You should have surrendered.” He tried to knock me over, but I planted my feet and he bounced off me, landing on his back. “I'm so gonna kill you for this,” I snarled. I extended my claws and was about to swipe when a cat emerged from the bramble. “I'm here! What did I miss?” A grey tom with brown spots and light grey stripes asked. He took in the scene and his eyes went wide. “Woah… what in great Starclan are you?” He asked when he stared at me, a blend of wonder and shock in his eyes. “Get away from me,” I spat as I backed away slowly. “Let's all take a breath,” the grey tom said. “I'm Duststripe, that impulsive son-of-a-gun is Tideheart. Now, I repeat, who in Starclan are you?” I was still suspicious of these cats. Peace is never an option, I knew. I started thinking about how I could escape without them following. “He looks like a weird kittypet,” the cat known at Tideheart called out from behind me. I swung around and swatted him, knocking him down. “Never call me that again. I'm no pet,” I spat as I said the last word, “I'm on my own. I'm… um…” It occurred to me in that moment I didn't know who I was. I bowed my head and tried to think of my name, but it didn't come to me. “You're who? Just say your name, it's not that hard,” Duststripe said, getting slightly annoyed. “Listen, I tried to take a peaceful route, but all you're doing is attacking us. So we're going to try this one more time, or I'm calling more warriors from our clan and you are going to die right here.” I looked up at Duststripe and stared at him. I abandoned the idea of escaping without them following. “I'm not sure who I am, to be honest. I just escaped a huge twoleg building. In there, I was remade into this twisted version of myself. I lost all my memories, but I know one thing. I'm not a social guy.” With that I jumped into the thicket and ran. I could possibly lose them in this maze of branches and leaves. If they follow me, I'll make it difficult. A few minutes passed, and I stopped and listened. There was no rustling in the bushes anymore. I was about to rest when I saw glowing red eyes in the distance, staring straight at me. A buzzing filled my ears, and my head started hurting. I blinked, and it all disappeared. I looked where I had seen the eyes, but didn't notice anything. No paw prints, no grass flattened by the weight of anything, nothing. I thought I felt something behind me, and I whirled around, to see nothing. I walked back to the clearing where I had seen it, laid down and took a few quick breaths. I dozed off. Continued in Notes & Credits, because the description was too long.
Art, story, characters, and voice by me. Music is The Heat II: Moonlight and The Heat III: Goodbye by American Arson. Continued: I awoke when Duststripe, of all cats, stepped out of the bushes. “You thought I’d let you get away, did you?” He asked with a smirk on his face. “You'd make a fine warrior, that is if you wouldn't run away from danger. Come with me.” “You think I'd just follow you into somewhere I don't know? You probably have many others waiting to kill me. So no, I won't go with you.” I replied, glaring at him. “Your loss, kid. Have fun surviving this place alone tonight.” “And what happens at night?” My curiosity got the best of me. Duststripe walked into the undergrowth. Against my better judgment, I followed him. “What happens here at night?” I repeated, getting slightly frustrated. He turned and looked me in the eyes. “The Disquiet.” That was all I needed. The tone he said it in made the word give me chills. I thought back to the vibrant, piercing red eyes. I stared at the ground as we continued walking. “So… where are we going? Someplace safe?” I asked. “Yes, we're going to my clan’s home. It will be safer there. You'll meet the rest of your new clanmates. That is, if you accept the offer to join us.” “Or survive Tideheart. He’d try to kill me first chance he got.” “On the contrary. He was impressed you got back up. Usually other cats yeild when knocked to the ground with a clear disadvantage. He's a loyal companion, it would do you good to try to befriend him. We're a small clan, so we're a very close group, but still have space for more cats. You'll be assigned a mentor soon after you accept.” I looked at him. “It looks like you're my only chance of survival, so it seems I have no choice but to agree to your offer.” I climbed over a fallen log after him. “How far away is this place anyway?” “Just over this hill and a patch of thicket.” He started walking up a small incline. As I crested it, I could see a medium clearing with a large stone in the center, and various sized dens cleared out of the brush surrounding the clearing. A well-worn path was visible through some of the shrubs, giving entry to the camp below. I was impressed. Duststripe started heading down. “Welcome to MistClan. We are not very well known by the other clans, only mentioned in whispers. They've never actually found our camp, due to us keeping to ourselves and being hidden by the forest’s fog.” I followed him through the entrance, and took in the sights. It was an amazing place, full of cats working hard on various tasks. “So you are the leader of this place?” I asked Duststripe. “No, that's Roguestar’s job. You haven't met her yet. You'll meet all the others at some point.” He looked around. “Wait… something's wrong.”
