Clumsy

## Chapter One

> Hello, kits. Wait, you want me to tell you another story? Well, sure.
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I was walking around the barn, looking for something to do. Suddenly, I had a 'bright idea'. I wanted to cause mischief, being the kit I was. So, I cluttered up the barn with hay. "I know who did this," snarled Barley.

I backed farther into the hay loft I was nestling in. He sniffed the hay. "Turtlekit!"

I was about to cry in laughter, but I somehow kept it contained. Ravenpaw suddenly raced over. "What's-" he cut himself off when he saw the mess.

"Turtlekit!"

## Chapter Two

I raced away, howling with laughter. I didn't care if the two heard me, all I cared was that they couldn't find me. Suddenly, I realized I was in the woods. "Oh..."

I stepped forwards. It sloped uphill, so I decided to go. The forest was covered with pinestraw and full of pine trees. It led me out onto a Thunderpath. "Oh StarClan, I better not," I decided.

I raced back on the path I had came, but I was met with a turn. I took the left way, which kept going for a while. I was getting encouraged it was the right one but it suddenly came to a dead end. I raced back and took the right one. I started mewling. "Anyone? Help!"

Just then, a shadow advanced towards me.

## Chapter Three

I could finally make out the cat. She was black-and-white. "D-don't hurt me," I whispered.

The she-cat suddenly realized that I was only a kit. "Oh, sorry. Here, I feel like everything is a threat," she confessed.

"What's your name?" I asked.

The she-cat was silent for a few heartbeats, but then, she spoke up softly. "My name? O-oh, my name is Gemmie," she mewed, her paws shaking.

I padded up to the small cat. "I'm Turtlekit," I squeaked, bouncing.

We stood in silence for a little while, listening to the gentle wind in the trees. I was about to leave, when Gemmie suddenly put a paw in front of me. "Don't make any moves," she whispered through gritted teeth.

I looked up to see what she was talking about. I would never forget it. It was a white dog with gray patches. It was huge, too. It had one small eye, with one bigger eye. It didn't look like any I had ever seen before. Gemmie suddenly leaped up and scratched it's nose. It's read collar jingled as she ran away, tail tucked between her legs. "Wow," I breathed.

I looked up at Gemmie. This she-cat was brave. "Will you help me get home?"

## Chapter Four

I tensed as the she-cat hesitated for a moment. "Okay," she sighed, "I have nothing better to do."

I squealed in joy. Gemmie smiled at me. It made me feel happy. As we were walking, Gemmie asked, "What does your home look like?"

"It's a barn. Tall, red, and has a black roof. There are two other cats living inside. Barley, a black-and-white tom, and Ravenpaw, a black tom."

Gemmie nodded. We padded along in silence the rest of the way. We went by a river. Had I seen this before? I couldn't remember. The reeds clattered together, making loud noises. Wind rushed in the sky. I looked up. Storm clouds were brewing. "We have to get back fast," I blurted out.

Gemmie looked confused. "Why? Are you afraid of a little rain?" She teased.

With that, thunder rumbled in the sky and lightning crackled. I suddenly ran ahead as rain started whipping my body. My fur was plastered to my sides. Gemmie called out, "Wait!"

I didn't listen.

## Chapter Five

I headed into a fog. I turned around, waiting for Gemmie, but I couldn't see her. "Gemmie?" She called.

"Over here!"

Gemmie's voice seemed to echo all around. I sank to the grass, hopeless. I let the rain batter my pelt. Suddenly, something picked me up. "I've got ya!"

It wasn't Gemmie's voice. "Barley?"

I looked at him. It was surely the familiar black-and-white pelt. "Thanks," he called to Gemmie.

I couldn't see what was happening. Rain was whipping all around me, I couldn't bear to open my eyes.

> Well, wasn't that scary? I'm glad I'm safe now. Move along, kits, before that happens to you.
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