Spore's Warrior Fanfic!, Please be gentle. :3

[Sporelett]

Gathering Storm

Chapter 1: Fight and Flight

Pearl hissed violently, her back arched and pale grey fur stiff with fury. She lashed out with a paw, catching the fox on the muzzle. Snapping angrily, it lunged, forcing her backwards. Behind her two small kits wailed pitifully. Unable to spare them any attention, she focused on the fox. It stepped forward, hungry eyes anticipating.

Bracing for its attack, Pearl flattened her ears and hissed a final warning. Her amber eyes glowed in the dark evening, daring the fox to come closer. It lunged and bowled her over. She could feel its hot breath, foul against her face as she struggled to avoid the fox’s snapping jaws. She raked at its belly with her hind paws, drawing a yelp of pain. Abruptly the fox leapt up, away from her. She struggled to her feet, ready to chase it off, but her eyes widened. The fox looked ready to retreat, but not without taking what it came for. It spun around and focused its beady eyes on Pearl’s kits.

Suddenly something flew out of the nearby bushes, landing on top of the fox. It yowled and bit the fox on the ear, causing it to yip and roll over, attempting to dislodge its assailant. Two more shapes streaked out of the bushes, screeching battle cries. They were cats. The fox, noticing the arrival of two more foes, struggled to its feet and managed to shake off the first cat. Turning, it bolted away with two of the felines giving chase.

Taking her chance, Pearl rushed over to her kits and licked them comfortingly before turning to the remaining cat. It was the one who first attacked the fox, a brown tabby. “Thank you for attacking that fox,” Pearl told him. “You saved my kits.”

“We taught it not to mess with us for a while. I don’t think it will be coming back,” he said confidently. “What are you doing here? This is ThunderClan territory, but you don’t smell like a Clan cat. If you’re a rogue you’ll have to move on.”

She stared blankly at the strange cat, absorbing his words. She had borne her kits in a Pinkpelt barn, but had moved on when the Pinkpelts started coming in to do Pinkpelt things. Pearl had been wandering ever since, looking for a home where she could feed and raise her kits in safety. When she first came to the forest it had looked like a good place, as it was sheltered and full of prey. Now it looked like she had to move yet again.

“I have nowhere else to go,” she told the cat, but what he had said before intrigued her. “What is a Clan? Are there more cats in these woods?”

The tom nodded briskly. “There are four Clans in the forest, ThunderClan being one of them. Many cats live here already, so you cannot stay,” he said gently. Just then, the other two cats returned from the chase. They spoke excitedly to the tabby.

“We chased that fox all the way to the border, Pinestripe!” said a calico female. “Now he’ll know not to mess with ThunderClan!”

“And what is it we have here?” asked a sand-coloured tom.

“A rogue with kits,” the one called Pinestripe said. “I was just telling her she can’t stay here.”

Pearl thought frantically. Her kits wouldn’t survive if she had to move again! At only one moon old, they couldn’t travel any further. She blurted out, “Can I join your Clan?” The other cats stared at her, but she hurried on. “My kits can’t travel anymore,” she pleaded. “Please, I can’t move again!”

Pinestripe looked hesitant and the other tom appeared shocked, but the calico spoke up. “We should take her to Icestar,” she mewed. “She can decide.”

Pinestripe looked at the calico, then at Pearl. “Are you sure you want to come? I’m not guaranteeing you can stay. If our leader doesn’t allow it, you will have to leave.”

Pearl looked steadily at him. “I’m ready,” was all she said.

“Let’s get moving then,” the calico meowed. She looked at Pearl’s kits. “I’ll take one,” she said, waiting for Pearl’s nod before moving to pick up the tortoiseshell kitten. Pearl picked up the other one, a black male, and Pinestripe beckoned with his tail.

“Let’s go then, we haven’t got all night.”

Moving briskly, they led her deeper into the forest. The strange cats slipped like shadows through the undergrowth, never slowing or resting. Her legs burned with exhaustion long before they came to a sloping stone tunnel filled with brambles. Pinestripe pushed his way through, but, noticing Pearl’s hesitation, the calico stopped and dropped her burden gently on the ground so she could speak.

“It’s okay, this is the entrance to our camp,” She said reassuringly. “Just go through carefully and your kits will be fine.”

Pearl placed her kit on the ground, giving it a few licks before she turned back to the calico. “Thank you for all you’ve done, even if I can’t stay after all. My name is Pearl.”

“My name is Snowleaf,” the calico replied. “And it’s not me you should thank. Pinestripe can’t bide a cat in distress, though he doesn’t like to let it show. And don’t worry; I’m sure things will work out.” She then retrieved the tortoiseshell kit and motioned to the tunnel, following Pearl in.

[yellowstar]

=O I read this on the other forum! It's still good. ^^