At the crack of dawn I rushed out of the shelter with Patches at my heels, or so I thought. I flopped onto my stomach, dazed I turned back to see a big white paw, pinning my tail to the ground. The white paw was attached to a brown tabby with calm amber eyes. "Dad, come on let us go!" I whined.

He chuckled. With a swipe of a paw, he pulled my brother and I close. "On one deal, tell me where you're going." He said simply. Patches answered the question with excitement.

"Jay and Violet are going to show us the hideout, which is safe if I might add." Dad studied our faces. "Well, okay then, off you go. But be safe and aware, got it?" The release from his grip I tore off. "Got it!" We shouted in unison

I walked beside my brother, our ears and our scent glands were on high alert for anything dangerous. Jay told us to meet them by the broken fence, that stood in front of us. "Finally! And I thought you could not get any slower." Said a voice.

We looked to our l left and spotted a light grey tabby tomcat with darker stripes that made his blue eyes stand out. Behind him was a silver she-cat with unusual yet beautiful purple eyes.

I felt my pads scrape the hard ground as I pelted over to them. "Vi!" I cheered, brushing her soft fur against mine. "Glad you guys came, especially you Nut, It would be different without your fiery spirit." I beamed. "Hey! Are you girls coming or not?" Called Jay. He and Patches were at the gate. "We're coming, keep your fur on" I muttered. Violet laughed as we approached them. The hideout was nothing but an old building. Broken glass, creaking wood frames, it was the most dangerous yet exciting place to be as an alley cat. It was one of the places where you can do amazing flips.

Violet swept in front of me. "Follow me, don't wander on or-"
"You'll get hurt." I finished. It was 101 rule for alley cats traveling in a group. Nodding for her to lead, I heard heavy pawsteps other than our light and lively ones. Freezing on the spot, I pricked my ears and opened my mouth to let the scent wash over me. It was a tangy smell, the smell of a tomcat. "Nutmeg!" Violet called from the entrance, shuddering I raced inside. The others were frowning in disappointment.

"What does the 101 rule mean to you Nutmeg?" I ignored them and tried to locate the scent."I think there is another cat among us." I hissed. Patches sneered. "Oh really? I think Dad's lectures are getting to you Nut, what other cat would be there than our own father?" Could it be true? Is Dad just spying on us? I recalled the scent and frowned. "It isn't Dad's scent! I'm telling you there is another cat here!"

The others looked at each other as if to decide whether to believe me or not. Those stubborn brutes won't listen to me! I growled. The others dismissed me in a second as we walked deeper into the house. As I listened to my companions chatter about a new trick to flip they heard someone did, I was distracted by the odd cat scent, worry crawled beneath my fur. My worry self was intrupted as Jay cut across from me. I watched Jay run up a wooden plank then did a backflip with a full body twist, facing us when he landed. "Woa! Jay, how did you do that? I meowed excitedly. Jay just shrugged, washing a paw. "It's nothing much, wait till I show you my next move!" His eyes flashed with humour. A crash made us jump. Looking around wearily I let my claws rake the creaking floorboards. The same scent waved around us, making me sick. The rest flinched, Patches gave a small whimper.

I glared at them. "What do you think now Patches?" I glare at him, his odd silver eyes melted in fear. "I never thought dad's extra caution drills will be in use!" Well, you're a mouse brained excuse for an alley cat think so! I thought, but I diverted my mind to to the cat that approached us. His fur was brilliantly white and thin; covered in scars and bruises. The one on his right cheek was deep by the look on it and was old, fading nicely. He was short in comparison to my father but I his icy blue eyes told me he was just as dangerous. At once I recognized who he was. Frost, my father's banished adopted brother.

"Well, well I found who I was looking for." he said smoothly, so calm it made me on nerve. I don't like this cat. He circled us. "Don't be afraid, I'm not gonna hurt you, "Tell me kittens, who is your father?" We strunked in the corner. Bravely I approached him against their will. "You are Frost, the one who was banished by Walnut's word. Now you tell me what are you doing here in his territory?" I hissed. Frost's gaze rested on me. Suddenly anger flared from him like the fire near the garbage place. "You're his daughter!" He spat. I glared at him keeping his gaze even with the fear that was rising at an incredible speed. I am not in fear but feared by, I am not in fear but feared by! My mind repeated.

"He isn't my father, my father is dead." I lied.
"I see the lie on your face kitten, but my so call brother will kill me if I kill you, so you are to leave without harm. But tell your so called dead father a warning, I will not give up so easily!"
He gave us a clear path to escape. Breathlessly we ran all the way to the park, crashing into dad who was surprised. Once we told him all that happened, he escorted us home. Then took Jay and Violet home to their mother.

...

Patches P.O.V:
I sat outside the shelter clearly bored. With Nut out to vist our aunt Shadow to tell her about our encounter with Frost I decided to spend my time alone. But I didn't have any idea what to do. I raised to my paws and let my feet lead the way. Then a mouse skirted pass my paws and stopped a couple tail lengths ahead of me. I swipped my jaws and began stalking it. I was in pouncing distance when a silver striped kitten roughly my size chased it off. "Hey!" I growled. I walked up to her nose flaring. "What gives? I almost had it now you scared away my lunch!" She gave me a scarstic look. " Oh no! What will you ever live on now?" Then her green eyes sharpened. "That mouse was never a good meal to have anyway. I have been keeping a good eye on it and I can tell you kitty you don't want to know where it lives or eats. It might as well be poisoned. So your welcome. " In a flick of her tail she stalked off . I watch her fluffy striped tail disappear around the corner. What am I going to eat now? I decided to trail back to the Shelter and find something to eat from the food basket. I pick a squirrel and make my way up to the roof.
Looking over the busy streets. Cars honking, people chattering and the smell of food tickles his nose. I felt my eyes begin to droop as I was about to let my tired out self take over for a well deserved nap, when a loud snarl woke me. I looked down and could see the silver striped white cat I met earlier, sprinting into a blur while 3 dogs at her heels. Feeling the anger I felt earlier, I clambered down and landed squarely on my paws and ran over to where I saw the cat go last. I caught her sweet scent and followed, it taking winding turns only to come up to a dead end. "Where did she go?" I wondered. I was about to turn and give up when I heared a screech to his right and a bunch of barking. I angled my ears trying to locate it's source. Near my feet was a half uncovered manhole. I pressed my ear against it. A wail echos follow by hiss. My anger against her melted into concern. Am I actually going to do this?
"Leave me alone!" He heard her cry out in distress. Looks like I am. Sighing, I pushed the heavy metal cover off to the side then clambered down into the unknown darkness.
With my eyes adjusting to the darkness I parted my mouth and draw in her scent and followed it, using my whiskers I made my way through the darkness. Finally I found her flatten against the tunnel's wall the 3 mongrels surrounding her gaping wide with baring teeth and dripping saliva. With no hesitation I leaped at them, claws out. I felt their fur being ripped in shreds. I sank my teeth into their fur growling. "Leave her alone!" I spat. Finally they got the message and started to retreat with their tails between their legs, their whimpers echoing in the dark tunnel.
I turn my attention to the she cat beside me. Her bright green eyes were laced with fury. "Who are you to save me? I had it under control!" I heard her hiss.
After all I have done I was expecting more of a thank you or even a nod. I remember mama mentioning there were two types of alley cats the fair and and the ruthless. It looks like I stumbled upon a ruthless one. I gave her a shrug. "I don't know, a cat who nearly ate a poisonous mouse but was saved by a sarcastic kitten? I never got the chance to thank you, even though I am mad you still cost my lunch."
"Yea well don't expect on getting a gold medal kitty. I had it under control." I gave her a seriously? Look and smirked. "If you say so princess."
I am not a princess." She frowned at me. "I have a name you know."
"Well then do you mind sharing it? I would like to know who I wasted my time on." The silver kitten walked up to me, her nose pointed. "My name is Shard. What is yours pussy cat?"
My eyes sharpened as I looked down at her. "Patches."
"Well then Patches it looks like I need to bid you goodbye." She turned to leave . I turn also but then all of sudden I find myself lost in the darkness. I look up but no sunlight shine through teling me someone had covered the entrance I came. I look back and can still see Shard a few strides away.
" Hey! Shard!" I called out. I notice her ears twich but she doesn't look back or slows down. Clearly ignoring me. Of course she is ignoring you bee brain, she was saved by yours truly when she clearly didn't need to be. I race over and pinned down her thick tail. Shard's head snaps my way, sending me a death glare, good enough to send shivers to my spine. I let her go but I press on . " Do you know your way around here?" I asked, trotting along beside her. "Of course I do, why? You're telling me you don't? And you say you're an alley cat?" Shard scoffed when I fail to respond. "If you must know we are under the northern part of the city."
"So you live down here?" I asked. She shrugged. "It depends on my needs. I live with my uncle so where ever he goes I follow. Here." She directed me to a tunnel where their were difdrnt entrances on both sides. "We are underneath the train station here you can go either East or West of the city." Then she pounced at me, knocking the wind out of my breath. She starts burring her nose into my soft yet dusty fur, sniffing my colorful pelt. "You smell like a south western cat. If you go to any of those lower ones you'll find your way home." She informed me. Shard let me go and I dipped my head in thanks. "Will I see you again princess?"
" I told you, I have a name."
I let off a soft purr. "I see you around Shard."
I step though to entrance when I felt my tail being pinned. I looked back into Shard reflective green eyes. "See me tonight, I'll show you more of the tunnels, might be helpful. Someday. "
"Okay."
"Oh and Patches?"
"Yes princess?"
"Not bad for a dusty furball" And with that we separated. I left feeling happy. I was glad proven wrong. Dad always says never trust anyone especially the ruthless northern cats but Shard was kind enough to say thanks, in the best way. I was eager for later. I went home in high spirits and with my tail high in the air.
At night I slept beside my mother who was giving my sister a bath when I came back. I spent the rest of my afternoon playing tag with my sister and eating dinner. It was twilight when I was about to slip out when my eyes caught my sister watching me slipping out. Lets see how clever you are, Nut. Carefully I skipped ahead of her without a sound. Took the winding paths, being high on alert for any danger. At last I came to the manhole and pushed it aside and climbed in , being careful to slid it back. It was hard but once it slid into place I caught my sister's scent. I watched her through the cracks pondering on the spot, figuring out where her brother went. For the longest time I wondered why I wasn't telling her about wheere I was going since we did everything together. But before I could open my mouth m she shook her head and left. Too late to do anything now anyway. I clambered down and by memory I found my way under the train station.
"I thought you were going to be a no show." I spun around on my heels. Shard green eyes glowed from the shadows as she aproches me. "Come on I want to show you something I found yesterday. "
I followed her deeper into the underground tunnels. We came to a secret enclosure and I was certain I stepped in haven.
For the room was filled with cat towers high as the ceiling all types of cat toys littered the ground. There was even a high beam to make tricks on, but the best part was it was abanded, left for us to explore. "Wow!" I gasped.
"Don't just look at come on lets play!" Shard chucked. In seconds we raced over and began playing with the equipment. We played with the yarn balls first then the scatchtower then the high beam. I don't do tricks often like Jay or Nutmeg do but I did quite a few. Showing off my skills. I noticed Shard was playing with a bell with strings. Suddenly mischief flooded my brain. I was bound to get scratched or even worse but my brain is the size of of a bee so I do it anyway. I stalked her with me downwind. Once I was in pouncing distance. I let my tail twich . With a friendly hiss I pounced on her. She let out screech in surprise and we began to roll around. Pinning down each other. Finally we loosened our grip laughing. I pulled my spine into a stretch flexing my muscles. "Its time for me to go." I said to Shard who was laying beside the basket of toys. Her ears perked at my words. "Already?" She whined. Eyes lookimg hurt. " Don't worry princess, I'll be back tomorrow. I might even bring my sister. "
"Okay furball. Now get your filthy pelt out of here." Her words were cold but her eyes where shining. A purr rumbled out of my chest.
I left the tunnels and walked home, sneaking back into my nest.
I was about to close my eyes when I noticed a furious Nutmeg walk in, eyes burning locked on mine. I returned the glare with an innocent look.
"Where did you go?"
"I could ask you the same thing Patches, why would you walk off like that?" She replied hotly. I shooked head. "You're seeing things Nut." I rolled over and my breathing slowed as I slept. Noticing Nutmeg's eyes still locked on me. It was nice to know my furious littermate cared about me and where I go every second of the day. At the same time I wonder why I was keeping Shard a secret from my sister. I'll tell her tomorrow. I decided. I turned onto my side and curled up, wrapping my tail around my nose as I slept. Dreaming of endless ball of yarn fresh mice falling from the sky.

...

Meanwhile underground Shard was putting back the toys in the basket when a certain hiss from the shadows caught her off guard. "Very good princess." Shard looked up to the shadowy figure. He remained hidden but his cold eyes gave away his location. "Soon, in the proper time he will know the truth." Shard looked away in the direction where she saw him last. "Yea, in time." She said dryly.

......................................................................
Hi everyone!
My name Amelia Arrows  this is my first story here so if you like it it will help a lot!
This story is obviously not finished. I am going to go chapter by chapter so you must wait to find out what happens next.
Who is the cat in the shadows?
What is Frost up to?
Should we trust Shard?
Why is Patches keeping Shard secret?

To clarify I do not own Warriors (obviously) but I am a big fan so you might come across some words that might be familiar if you ever read Erin Hunter Warrior series.
My schedule:
At the moment I am not certain how long it will take since I already wrote a big chunk of this story originally on my desktop so for the most part I'm copying and pasting and filling in the blanks. But having said I will be going chapter by chapter and they will be long as this one since I notice a lot of people complain they are too short for some writers.

If you would like to see something in the story coming up just comment! But please if you hate it leave a good reason!

That's all for me, See you on the other side!