Secrets the Forest Holds Chapter 1

*Vanilla's POV*

I was sitting outside on the garden fence, staring out into the moorland in front of me. It was beautiful. The scents wafting from the distant prey, mice, voles, rabbits, and maybe even a thrush! It makes my mouth water just thinking of what's out there, waiting to be caught!

"Day dreaming about the meadows again are we?" I heard the soft mew of my older sister from the fencing next to me. I glanced over at her and purred.

"Good to see you're up and about Chloe. How are the kits?" I asked and curled my tail around my paws.

"Most of them are lazy, accept for my oldest. He keeps trying to get outside to play in the grass. I don’t think he likes being cooped up like that." Chloe sighed and looked out to the moor land.

My sister was a part of my mother’s first litter. She stayed longer than any of my other brothers and sisters. So she actually got to meet our mother and father.

"Have I ever told you where father came from?" Chloe asked and turned towards me. I shook my head and looked at her with great interest.

"He said he lives with the Clans, whatever those are, and that he is very important in the ranks. A deputy or something." My eyes widened and my tail lashed excitedly.

"I've heard of the Clans! One of the loners wander around over here, hunting mice and blue jays, she told me stories of a Clan called WindClan. It sounds so amazing to live there. Out in the open, hunting with cats." I said and looked back out at the moor in front of me and my sister.

"Well, maybe you could convince her to take you. Father said he was in a Clan called WindClan." Chloe purred and nudged my shoulder. "If you do go, be sure to tell me, okay?" She said and licked my ear and pounced off the fence and into her own garden.

I took a deep breath and leaped off the fence and on the grass of the moorland. I opened my mouth to see if I could scent Rave anywhere near.

"You're on the wrong side of the fence hun." I heard the familiar meow of Rave. She padded out of a bush with a large tom following closely behind. "Hello Vanilla, looking for another story?" Rave asked and we touched noses in greeting. I nodded and looked at the male cat.

"This is my mate, Kage. Kage this is Vanilla." Rave purred and rubbed her cheek against Kage's affectionately.

"We're expecting kits in a few moons" Kage purred happily. I noticed a small bulge on her belly. I purred loudly and curled my tail over my paws.

"Could you possibly tell me about the Deputy in WindClan?" I asked, my fur pricking in excitement. Rave's ear twitched and she purred in amusement.

"Why don't you talk to him yourself?" I heard a deep voice growl from behind the bushes. An older pure white tom stepped out of the bushes with a grey she-cat with long fur.

"Hello Whitetalon, Fallstar." Rave purred. She and Kage dipped their heads respectfully. I copied their actions, but kept my head looking at the grass under my paws.

"Vanilla, who are you talking to?" I heard Chole hiss from the top of the fence. I didn't look up. I heard her gasp and soft paw steps running towards our small group of cats.

"Father, I haven't seen you in moons!" Chloe purred and rubbed her head against our fathers'. I looked back down at the grass and shuffled my paws awkwardly.

"So is this one of your kits?" Whitetalon asked, I looked up at Chloe and she shook her head.

"No. She's one from your second litter. She was taken before you could meet her." Chloe said and flicked her tail across my flank. Whitetalon purred and sat next to me.

"So this is my youngest kit. I'm glad I finally got to meet you." He purred and licked my ear. I glanced up at him and purred. Fallstar just sat silently, further away from the rest of us. "Fallstar, shall we head back? ShadowClan is probably getting up to no good again." Whitetalon growled when he said ShadowClan.

My ears pricked forward as Whitetalon stood up and padded towards Fallstar. "Wait!" I called as they started to walk away. "C-Can I come? I want to help if there's trouble." I said and took a few paw steps towards my father. Fallstar turned to face me.

"Can you fight? Even though you have the blood of a warrior, you still have the blood of a kitty-pet." Fallstar said smugly. My eyes simply narrowed and I stared at her. "I'll bring one of the apprentices here tomorrow at sun-high tomorrow. So be prepared young kit." Fallstar gave me a slight purr and her and my father walked away together.

"Wow. I've never seen Fallstar willingly give a kitty-pet the chance to be a part of her Clan. You should be honored Vanilla." Kage meowed and stood up. "Let’s go Rave. You need to lie down and relax." He purred and walked away with Rave trailing behind, she flicked her tail at me as she disappeared through the shrubs.

"Well. I think that you'd be great in the Clan, kitty-pet or not. If you do join the Clan then you better be careful." Chloe meowed and licked my ear. "Go get some rest, and practice some moves." Chloe purred and leaped over her fence.

I looked out on the moorland one last time, as the sun started to set and the moonlight started to wash over the fields. I closed my eyes and imagined what life would be like in the Clan. I hope they'll accept me. I thought to myself then hopped over my fence and into my house.

I curled up in my small bed, ignoring the disgusting little pellets my two-legs give me as food. I tucked my paws underneath my chest and curled my tail over my nose. I closed my eyes and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.