At first I thought the festival was going to be boring.

I know what you're thinking, what are you talking about Nepal? You're son of the chief and heir to the throne of the Ice-claws! The whole world is your silver mouse.

Hahaha, no.

My father, Crowther, was this huge dark brown tabby with intimidating silver eyes. One of his ears was half missing and his feathers were often ruffled and tattered. He was a war grown claw and he wanted me by his side.

My best friend, Rusty, couldn't see why I was always falling asleep during battle tactics and snoozing in Battle-claw training. His real name is Augustus, but everyone calls him Rusty, because of his orange fur. Rusty wanted to be general when he was old enough to hold a rank, it didn't matter to me because in four years I would turn twenty and inherit the throne. No choosing for the bloodline, being born ultimately gave me respect. It was one of the things I disliked about being heir.

And the my least favorite holiday was the festival. The Festival of Nature was like a spring celebration. New life, more food, yadda yadda yadda. I usually was forced to follow my father around and talk with the other chieftains. They had kits too, but Jamboree wanted to talk about peace treaties and all of Regulus' siblings just chatted about was frogs and face paint.

Have I painted a perfect picture of pain perhaps? The flight to the clearing was about the most freedom I ever had.

"Stick by me, don't wander off-" Crowther started.

"And don't go home with other Claw Tribes." I finished, remembering last year's festival.

Rusty chuckled to himself in spite of the seriousness, flashing his pine green eyes at me, brimming with happy memories.

My father whacked the back of his head with the tip of his wing, but there was a sly grin dancing of his muzzle as well.

A thirty minutes later the Festival was in full swing. I had managed slip away from my father and Rusty and I were sampling different foods the Birds had, like this weird stuff they called bread.

"This stuff is so weird." Rusty said hooking another chunk with his claws.

I preferred honey honestly, it was my favorite treat and tasted good on mice.

Rusty started chatting about how you could probably mix bread with a few things and get a completely different food. I was listening, until a certain claw caught my eye and all noise slowed into useless pratter.

Before my eyes, a white she-claw was making her way towards us. And she was drop dead gorgeous, flashing her sky blue eyes at the claws and other creatures surrounding her with such majesty and intelligence. Her wings were white as well, clean and shiny, throwing off rays of green iridescence.

I didn't know my jaw had dropped until Rusty had shoved another piece of bread into mouth.

"I swear to Glamora have you even been listening to me Nepal? What are you looking at?" He coughed with disapproval.

I spat out the loaf and pointed at the she-claw. Rusty followed my gaze and after a few minutes smiled wide at me.

"Go talk to her."

I panicked. "What? No! Of course not, I wasn't even looking at her."

Rusty shook his head. "You need to work on your confidence around she-claws."

"Agh!" I chocked. "She's coming over here!"

"Just act natural, you're getting ahead of yourself."

The white she-claw breezed up next to me while all I could hear was the pounding in my chest. She had blue eyes, they were so big and beautiful, like her own personal diamonds.

I looked down, trying not to feel awkward and stuffed myself on mouse, nearly choking when she spoke up.

"Hey, what's your name?"

I glanced up, my fur growing warmer by the second. She was staring at me, with those intense blue irises.

"Uh, my name, is uh, Nepal." I squeaked.

"Cool, my name's-"

"Arietty!" Roared a loud vioce.

She winced, and a dark blue he-claw stormed over, thunderclouds practically forming over his head, with lightning thunder and everything. He looked much older than us, and he carried with him the smell of plants and medicine. That meant he was a Meðal-claw, a healer. Only I didn't recognize him as Wynola, our Meðal-claw.

"Why did you run off like that? You know I hate it when you disappear." He pouted, then seemed to notice me.

"Who is this fishmonger?" He glared at me with his piercing yellow eyes.

"Dad, I told you a thousand times, all boys are not fishmongers. This is a gathering of peace for the sake of Suka, we were just talking." She rolled her eyes at me, I smiled weakly.

"Dad, this is Nepal and..."

"Rusty." Augustus introduced himself.

"Guys this is Nightwatcher." She said.

"Wait did he say his name was Nepal?" Nightwatcher gasped.

Then I had my paw swept out from under me. Literally.

Nightwatcher had latched onto one of one of my paws and was hissing profusely, staring at my silver claws.

"An Ice-claw! I knew it! And a prince at that. I've heard about you two trouble makers! You are not fraternizing with my daughter!"

My jaw dropped as he dragged Arietty away. She was hissing in rebellion, before she was was out of eye-shot, I saw her mouth the word sorry.

I swallowed again.

"Well that went well." Rusty commented dryly.

"Don't blame him, Nightwatcher has been through a lot." A voice said from behind us.

I jumped and swiveled around, only to see another claw, pure black, with green eyes. He looked a bit strange, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"What?" I asked again, feeling like a bird brain.

"There's a reason he's so overprotective." The claw said again.

"Who are you?" Rusty questioned.

He glanced at us sadly. I was taken aback by the pure amount a bittersweet sorrow in his eyes. It was like watching a kit die.

"A friend." He sighed, his voice cracked.

The two of us stared at him for a moment, unsure of what to say.

"Intriguing, isn't it?" He sighed. "How different creatures can come together like this in the name of peace. Then the next day lives are claimed in the name of war. What a hypocritical world."

I was surely at a loss for words now. I felt like this black claw was trying to tell me something, but it was hurting him to do so.

"Uh, what's your name?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

He turned towards me, those mournful eyes holding more secrets than I would ever have.

"Antonio." He answered, speaking clearly.

"Oh, well, would you like to hang out with us?" I attempted, he looked about the same age as us.

He smiled softly. "I'm afraid not, claws are expecting me soon. Just remember not to let Arietty go."

"Nepal!" I heard Arietty's voice coming from a nearby bush.

I glanced over to where Antonio had been, then to my disappointment he was gone. He had left without a trance.

I looked behind the bush to find Arietty smiling like a kit with a mouse.

"I slipped away from my Dad again, and was wondering if you would like to go on an adventure!"

Her eyes sparkled. I looked over at Rusty, who shrugged. I remembered Antonio's words not to let her go.

"Okay, take me on an adventure."'