Rise; the Tribe of the Falling Skies

Wordcount: 1238
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Bizzardkit took his first step outside the den at three moons old, paw pads moving from the soft moss that lined the den he had been kitted on to the frosted ground. He let out a hiss, surprised at the sudden change of temperature.
“It’s cold.” Blizzardkit meowed as he looked at his mother, who let out a purr of amusement.
“It’s leaffall,” Brightpelt meowed. “It will get colder still.” Blizzardkit wrinkled his nose.
“Ew.” He mewed, before darting fully outside of the den to pounce clumsily onto a fallen leaf. “Maybe one day I’ll fight off leafbare.”
Her mother let out another purr, moving to rasp her tongue over her son’s head. “My brave little warrior.” She looked down fondly as her only kit wriggled out of her reach. “Come now, little kit. Let’s go back inside to the warmth.”
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Leaving the camp for the first time with his mentor, Rainmist, Blizzardpaw was excited. He bounced around the elder cat, allowing him to lead the way through their territory while eagerly demanding to know where they were going, and when he was going to become a warrior.
“Stand still, young one.” His mentor meowed, gently. “Being eager will only get you so far. You must learn to simply perceive what is around you.” He glanced around. “Tell me what you sense.”
Blizzardpaw tilted his head. “I… see trees? And the forest.” His mentor nodded, flicking his tail to tell him to continue. “I can hear… us breathing, and talking. And the wind, that too,” he frowned a moment. “There’s something else. I don’t know what it is. I suppose it sounds like the wind, only much louder, and more distinct.”
“Very good Blizzardpaw. That is the river. What can you smell?” Rainmist watched his apprentice as he began to scent the air.
“Is that a mouse? It’s faint, that means it’s old, right?” Blizzardpaw looked at his mentor for confirmation. The elder cat nodded.
“You show promise. Come, I will take you around the rest of the territory. I want you to stay aware of your surroundings. Tell me what you sense around us as we walk.”
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Blizzardpaw had been training for several days, the silver tom that was her mentor had been ensuring that he knew how to balance when hunting, and the different types of stalking required for different prey. Blizzardpaw would be the first to admit that he definitely confused most of them with each other.
“Do you remember the way to the dark pines?” Rainmist asked him. He nodded, awaiting instructions. “You will attempt to hunt there. I will be watching. I want to see how you treat this exercise.” Blizzardpaw nodded eagerly. His first hunting trip! Excitement coursed through his veins. His mentor purred with amusement. “Go on then.” Before he had fully finished speaking, Blizzardpaw raced past him towards the dark pines.

It took several moments for him to realize that tearing through the forest was an easy way to scare off all the nearby prey, and so he slowed to a swift trot. His ears twisted this way and that, searching for the sound of life throughout the layer of undergrowth. He took a deep breath, scenting the area around him. The smell of the pines overtook most of the other scents, and he began to move on when he smelt it. Mouse. His ears immediately began to filter out the sounds around him, focusing in on the small rodent. He took another deep breath. Remain downwind. When hunting mice, they feel you, rather than see or scent. Keep pawsteps light. Balance your weight evenly over paws. In pine needles, keep your tail off the ground. Rainmist’s voice echoed in his head. He slipped into the crouch that he associated with hunting mice, his mentor’s familiar mew correcting her form mentally. He took his first step towards the rodent, managing to not disturb the foliage beneath her. Blizzardpaw’s next step was louder, and he winced slightly as the mouse looked up from the seed it was nibbling on. He froze, waiting to see if it would bolt, but it remained perched on the root and began to nibble again. He stepped forward, and took another silent step, and then another, and another. Then he realized that he was close enough to pounce, and he quietly began to prepare for the burst of movement he would have to produce. Blizzardpaw began to bunch his muscles, getting ready for the leap. And he sprung. The mouse looked up, as the apprentice pounced forwards, and his paws connected with the small body. On instinct, he leant down and nipped the rodent’s throat. He looked down at the piece of prey that lay below him, and he let out the breath that he hadn’t realized he was holding.
“I did it,” he breathed. “I caught it. My first successful hunt.”
A familiar, rumbling purr echoed from behind her. “Well done Blizzardpaw, that was an impressive catch.” Rainmist stepped out from the bushes several foxlengths behind him. “You did very well.” Blizzardpaw couldn’t contain his happy purr.
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Tonight was the night, Blizzardpaw realized. His warrior ceremony. He sat on the edge the tribe’s camp, tail flicking back and forth from a mixture of excitement and anxiety. He looked up as Briarstar leapt up onto the ledge of the cliff wall. The leader let out a yowl, calling the clan to a meeting. The tribe began to gather, giving Blizzardpaw proud looks. Once Briarstar was satisfied with the number of cats present, she called out to the group.
“One among us is ready to take his next pawsteps in life.” She surveyed the group. “Rainmist, do you believe that your apprentice has the patience, kindness, loyalty and integrity to become a warrior of our tribe?”
The silver tabby stepped forwards. “I believe that Blizzardpaw will be an exceptional warrior who has all of those qualities and more.”
“Then Blizzardpaw, please step forwards to gain your warrior name.” The leader stared down on Blizzardpaw, and the apprentice could feel the clan’s eyes on him. He stepped forwards to stand below the ledge.
“Make the jump to the next part of your journey.” Blizzardpaw leapt up the ledge, muscles bunching to give him a powerful lift as his leader commanded. “Well done. You have made the leap. You are no longer an apprentice. I name you Blizzardsight, in honour of your integrity.” His leader stepped forwards and licked his forehead. The pair turned to the tribe. “I present to you, your new warrior, Blizzardsight!”
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The fire burnt Blizzardsight’s nose as he fled. His heartbeats echoed in his ears in time with his pawsteps. He did not stop running. He couldn’t.
The fire had spread so quickly, consuming the camp, then spreading into the forest. Trees caught alight like kindling due to the drought that had been affecting the tribe for almost a moon.
Once he reached the hills that bordered the forest, which the tallfolk had cleared of trees, Blizzardsight turned to face what was left of his territory. A sorrowful sound escaped his throat as he looked out at the devastated land. The fire still burnt, however the growing clouds overhead signaled the coming of rain. Hopefully enough to put of the wild flames.
As the first drops began to fall, Blizzardsight mewed to himself.
”I will rebuild our tribe. I will make it strong again.”