Graywing's Troubles

## Prologue

The rain was pouring as the howling of dogs drew closer. The two shady figures kept running away from the noise, their breath evaporating in the air. The she-cat let out a cry of pain as her swollen stomach felt heavy. The tom in front of her turned around, pain crawling in his eyes.

"They're here." his voice was grim, but it sounded as though pain was grasping his body. The she-cat nodded vigorously, but the pounding of paws was getting nearer. The two of the cats had the same idea. They needed to get away.

Their paws felt like air as they ran through the foilage, as a resounding howl echoed in the forest. The she-cat let out another yowl as a bolt of pain shot through her. The tom looked at her, the pain rushing through his eyes.

"We're almost there... I promise." The two cats had run away for a little while because of their dvided loyalties. They were rested and cared for by the two-leg place with a kittypet named Hark. They soon realized they needed their clan, and they needed their home. So, here they were, running through the forest, rain splattering on their once glossy fur, allowing it to cling to their bodies.

The tom looked once more at his mate saying, "Please, Rosestep.." and he rushed away, with the beautiful she-cat at his heels.

They head the barking once more, louder this time. "Come on!" the tabby tom said, as he darted for a nearby tree. He helped his mate up, and he quickly followed. They relied on the branches and their leaves to keep their stentch away from the dogs. They heard their pawsteps as closely as ever, and the sienna tom flicked his tail. He snarled, but didn't call for action. He didn't want to risk having his mate scold him.

The she-cat looked at him, fear looking bright as ever in her eyes. "Wonderskip. They're gonna come... soon. Please we--we need to go." she twisted her head downwards. The dogs were slowly entering into the foilage across from them. She turned her head towards her camp, and Wonderskip felt as though she was pleading for him.

"I-" he paused, "If you believe, I will come." He looked at where the dogs had exited at, and he flicked his tail in conclusion they were gone. The dark she-cat slid down the tree, and she slipped slightly, but held firm. She flicked her tail, safely.

Her mate slid down the tree, and he landed beside her. She smiled, but then a shadow appeared at the other end of the clearing. Two large eyes stared at them, then it looked like it kept doubling as more of that kept showing up.

The two cats looked at themselves, then the figures. The darker tom said, "Rosestep... run!" he yowled. "No! Wonderstep!" the she-cat yelled as her mate ran towards the figures. He let out a yowl at her to run, and she was panicked and she ran, her belly swishing and more pain shot up her limbs. She heard as Wonderstep was flung across the clearing, and she heard a yowl of protest.

Blood was splattered as she saw Wonderskip's lifeless body being examined by the dogs. She kept running, faster than she'd ever done before. The dogs didn't notice her, as they started digging into her mate's flesh. They let out barks of triumph. A crow cawed out at the edge of the clearing.

She made it into a familiar forest, and smells overwhelmed her senses. She kept running, until ahe reached a small clearing where cats were sharing tongues. One kit cried out, "Mommy, who's that!"

Some more cats looked over, and Barkwing, the medicine cat, noticed her wounds as well as her swolen belly. "Make way! I think we have a queen ready for kitting!"

* Wonderskip
* Rosestep
* Barkwing
1/3

## A Mother's Tale

Rosestep was grooming her fur when Appleseed came in. Appleseed looked charmed at the three little bundles squirming together. Rosestep smiled and dipped her head in greeting. "Welcome." she purred.

Appleseed looked delighted, and replied, "Thank you, and welcome back." she sat down next to Rosestep. "Who's the father? They look a lot like Lionwing."

Rosestep looked at Appleseed sadly. "It was Wonderskip." she flattened her ears. Appleseed looked at her, shocked. "You mean another clan cat!?" Appleseed turned her head.

"He died for me..." Rosestep hissed. "I can't let anyone know-but I feel like I can trust you." Rosestep's eyes pleaded. One of the kits mewled, and started budging, hoping for a way out of his siblings fur. "A pusher." Rosestep mewed, contently, pushing the subject aside.

"What are their names?" Appleseed continued. She looked at Rosestep, perfectly content on keeping her friend's secret. "Well, I was hoping for... perhaps a Snowkit, Graykit, and maybe a Sorrelkit?" Appleseed looked at the three kits, "Beautiful names, Rose."