The bright summer sun rose on the horizon. Its graceful rays of light shone upon the dewy grass. Somewhere in the large forest, two large black paws padded across the ground. Its red nose sniffed the ground, searching for something.

🐱

I stretched out my paws and yawned silently. Across the den from me was Uncle SmokeTail. He snored loudly and his chest rose and fell as he breathed deeply. I looked down at my twisted paw.

It had been giving me pains since it was first injured, by the Shadow or Black Ghost in the circle of trees.

I thought about that night. It was a living nightmare. I always try to forget what happened, what I saw, but I can't.

The memory of Uni's screams, calling for help. Then my mind went blank, and I felt like I was in a dream. Like I couldn't control my limbs anymore, and my mind was foggy, I barely remember what happened, but whenever I tried to remember, I got flashes of what happened. Like a dream you knew you had but you don't remember it.

I remembered when my eyes turned to slits, I remembered walking somewhere. Like an invisible force was pulling me there. Then I remember finding myself in the circle of trees.

Uni's body hanging lifelessly off the tree branches, among the thousands of other bodies.

The sight was so gruesome and horrifying I didn't even notice the horrible smell it must've had.

Then I saw the Shadow, and everything after that was a blur of fear, pain and mostly adrenaline.

It only really became clearer when I awoke in the tree with Vamp.

He could've killed me in that tree, I would've been completely defenseless. So why didn't he?

I stood up on my paws and padded to the exit/entrance of the den. I took a moment to admire the beautiful day in the forest. A few butterflies and bees hovered around some flowers, and the sun was especially warm.

Too bad it's going to be Autumn soon, I thought sadly. It'd be good to experience all the different seasons, but there was something about summer that I found so comforting. Like it brightened up the mood whenever you'd look at the blooming flowers and the bright sunny day. Mother had told me Autumns and Winters were full of dark dreary days, and it rained and thundered all the time. And just the thought of being wet and cold in a dark forest sounded terrible. It sounded depressing and creepy.

I shrugged the thoughts away. I might as well enjoy the last month of summer while it lasts. I took a deep long breath to smell the sweet scent of the flowers.

I breathed out and smiled. It was a beautiful day. But before I had time to admire the day anymore, a black thing landed, paws first on top of me!

Its paws were on my shoulders, and its face was in front of my face. I fell backwards from the pressure of the creature tackling me, and landed back first on the den floor, the creature on top of me. Its large black paws were almost the size of my head.

Two green eyes met mine.

"Blue!" The familiar voice called.

"Blackhawk?!" I meowed in surprise as I recognized the black dog.

Blackhawk got off me, and I stood up.

I noticed SmokeTail had woken up and looked at us from the corner of the den curiously. "What are you doing here?"

I asked. I couldn't help the excitement in my voice. "Well, I couldn't leave you could I? I made a promise." Blackhawk said. "So, you decided to leave The Peace Clan?" I asked.

"Well, no, they didn't let me in, so this was really my only other option." He admitted. "Oh" I said, my voice not so excited anymore.

"But of course I still wanted to come back to you, I never got along with those other cats anyway." Blackhawk said. I turned around to uncle SmokeTail. "Hey uncle, can Blackhawk please stay with us?" I asked hopefully, itching with excitement.

SmokeTail stood up and looked Blackhawk up and down, then looked at me. "Hmm..." SmokeTail hummed with a mischievous grin on my face.

"On one condition." He started.

"Oh no, I'm not gonna like this." I mumbled.

"If I see you ever, ever disobeying one of the rules, Mr.Blackbird leaves that instant." Uncle SmokeTail said.

"Blackhawk." I corrected him.

"And, it's a deal." I said as I smiled.

Uncle SmokeTail looked at me suspiciously. "Paw promise?"

He asked, putting his paw out.

I put my front right paw on his front left paw that he had out. "Paw promise."

I replied. This was a way of showing how meaningful your promise is. My mother taught me this back in HomeValley. I didn't know anyone actually used it.

"Alright, alright, so I'm in?" Blackhawk asked impatiently. We both put our paws down onto the stone and soil ground. Uncle SmokeTail looked at Blackhawk with a slightly amused expression. "For now." He replied.

"Yes!" I cheered as Blackhawk let out a relieved sigh. "Thanks uncle SmokeTail!" I said as I cat hugged him, wrapping my paws around him.

Uncle SmokeTail chuckled and ducked out of my cat hug. "Don't get too clingy.

And yes, your welcome." Uncle SmokeTail said with a large smile on his face, just like me. As for Blackhawk who sat, unamused and bored looking as he licked and admired his paws.

🐱

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside the den. The sunlight shone brightly and my eyes squinted open. I looked around the den. Blackhawk lay sleeping on his back. He snored so loud I was surprised he didn't scare the birds away.

I noticed Uncle SmokeTail wasn't in the den, maybe he was out hunting for breakfast? I thought as I got up, stretching my legs. I padded towards the exit of the den. I couldn't see Uncle SmokeTail anywhere, so I hopped out and instantly saw him, sitting beside a tree with his back towards me.

I padded towards him, then sat down.

He turned his head to look at me.

“Good morning BlueWhiskers, you finally decided to wake up?” Uncle SmokeTail grinned.

“It's a good day to sleep in.” I replied with a smile as I looked in front of me.

The sun shone brightly onto the dark green leaves of the trees.

It had been a few weeks since Blackhawk joined us.

My throat got tight as a thought that had been bothering me for days, reappeared in the front of my mind.

It'd be Autumn soon. And I may well never experience a Summer again.

I concentrated on the warm sunshine that shone on my pelt.

The days would be cold, wet, dark and depressing. The thought sounded dreadful. I didn't remember what Winter or even Autumn felt like, but I didn't want to find out.

I decided to think of something a bit happier. “Anything for breakfast?” I asked, turning my head to look at Uncle SmokeTail. “I thought we'd go for another hunting lesson today.” Uncle SmokeTail said. “Could we bring Blackhawk this time?” I quickly said hopefully. “You know he gets lonely here, being alone all day..” I added.

Uncle SmokeTail sighed. “He always ruins the lessons, he isn't patient enough to let you learn..” He said.

“But please, I will make sure he lets me do it this time.” I said pleadingly.

Me and Uncle SmokeTail looked towards the den as Blackhawk walked out, yawning drowsily.

“Fine…” Uncle SmokeTail sighed unhappily. “Yes!” I cheered in excitement. “Oh joy..” Blackhawk sighed sarcastically. I knew he didn't want to hunt, or even walk right now, he was still sleepy and just wanted to relax, but later on when he'd woken up a bit, I'm sure he'd be happy he came.

🐱

“Your Uncle is annoying.” Blackhawk stated boredly. I looked up at Blackhawk in curiosity. “Why? He took us both in, he is taking care of us and teaching me how to hunt, what did he do wrong?”

We were walking to find a good place to hunt. Me and Blackhawk stood beside each other, while Uncle SmokeTail walked a few paces ahead.

Blackhawk turned his head over his right shoulder to look at me.

“I don't know. He's too strict. He's like a parent.” Blackhawk said unhappily.

And for the first time, I wondered where Blackhawk’s parents were. Maybe it wasn't a good idea I asked the question I did, but curiosity was lingering in my bones, and I had to ask.

“Where are your parents?” I asked curiously. Blackhawk turned his head slowly to look ahead. He seemed to be thinking deeply about the question.

Until finally he spoke. “I don't wanna talk about it..” He said softly, then walked ahead and fell in pace with Uncle SmokeTail.

I felt awkward and a bit guilty that I had asked. Suddenly Uncle SmokeTail and Blackhawk came to an abrupt stop. I halted so fast I almost tripped on a stick in front of me.

Uncle SmokeTail made a motion with his head, clearly signing ‘come’.

And so I did. I padded up beside him, and looked around, then I spotted it.

There was a small clearing, scattered with rabbit burrows. I almost began to salivate just looking at the plump brown rabbit that came hopping out.

“Okay, BlueWhiskers.” Uncle SmokeTail started. I looked at him and smiled.

“Okay.” I breathed out a bit nervously.

“Remember the signals.” He reminded me. Uncle SmokeTail had told me the basics of hunting signals.

They were used only during hunts, so the hunters could exchange information without speaking, because that'd scare off the prey. Apparently Senior patrollers learned a similar language.

I thought about Ra. Did he know the language. I kind of missed the grim faced cat. I had grown to like him.

Uncle SmokeTail flicked his tail forward suddenly. That had meant to ‘start the hunt’. I quietly stalked the rabbit.

I kept myself low and placed each paw carefully as Uncle SmokeTail had taught me. I watched Uncle SmokeTail from the corner of my eye in case he gave a signal. And he did. He suddenly stiffened his tail, that was normally calmly moving around or hanging.

I remembered that meant that ‘the prey has spotted you’. I halted quickly and waited, staring as the rabbit that looked around, suddenly on alert. I must have stepped on a twig or placed a paw too loudly, catching the rabbits uncertain attention. I watched without moving.

I felt a leaf blow in a small gust of wind and land on my back fur.

I held back the urge to scratch the itch away. When the rabbit finally seemed to be assured that no one was around, continuing eating, I started creeping closer. I was soon only about two metres away from the brown rabbit.

I was practically holding my breath.

Any slight noise would startle the big eared rodent.

I quietly lifted me left right paw and stepped forward, placing it down gently.

I lifted my front right paw, while slowly leaning more and more weight onto my left paw. Suddenly, something clicked in my left paw, making me collapse onto it.

I looked up frantically as the brown rabbit spotted me and ran. I pushed myself back onto my paws, but my left paw throbbed in pain and it felt incredibly weak. But I couldn't lose the rabbit, I couldn't go another day with no food. I couldn't fail the hunt.

I ran as fast as I could with only three paws. Limping awkwardly as I ran, but over time, my already unstable body, with no support from my left leg, leaned too much to the left, tumbling to the ground.

I lay on my left side, watching as the rabbit hopped hurriedly away, and the sound of Uncle SmokeTail and Blackhawk’s paws, rushing towards me.
Great. I failed.

BlueWhiskers1
BlueWhiskers: {Book two}
Awakening Shadows.
Chapter 8.