Chasing Dreams

Book One: Going Down

Characters:
Smokepaw: Fluffy gray tom with blue eyes

Myra: White she-cat with blue eyes

Crow: Black and white tom

Rat: Brown tom

Shrew: Gray she-cat with black paws

Olive: Tortoiseshell she-cat

Scorch: black tom

Prolouge
The gray tom was standing on a ledge, looking down into a yawning abyss.

"High, isn't it?" He whirled around to see a huge black and white tom standing behind him, smirking.

"Blackstar!" The young tom flung himself at the larger cat, but the white tom flashed out a paw. It struck the gray tom across the chest, and he went skidding across the ledge.

"Father!" The young cat cried as his hind paws slipped over the edge. "What are you doing? It's me, Smokepaw!" The white tom ignored him and strode forward. He reached out one huge black paw, unsheathed his claws, and planted it on the gray tom's paws. He yelped in agony and slipped his paw out from under the black one, forcing himself to grip the ledge only with one paw. The bigger tom snickered and stepped hard on the other gray paw.

The young tom groaned and jerked his paw free - only to be sent plummeting into the gorge.

Chapter One
Smokepaw was awoken by a sharp paw jab in his side. He groaned and rolled over, blinking his eyes open to see the bright eyes of Olive above him.

"Come on. Mama says if you're gonna follow the scent trail home, you better do it now. It's getting ready to rain." Smokepaw groaned again but nodded and struggled to his paws, swaying a bit. He'd hardly got any sleep, and now he had to travel over the mountains and find his new home. He shook his head, hoping to clear some of the grogginess away, but the lethargic fog stayed veiled around his head.

"Is there anything to eat?" He asked, hoping it didn't sound too slurred.

"Yeah, Crow and Rat brought down a decent sized eagle just outside the cave with some leftover rabbit. The poor thing had been reduced to a scavenger." Smokepaw staggered unsteadily to the small cave in the corner where the mountain loners stored food. There was a large eagle there, still warm, only missing a small piece. He gratefully tore off a chunk and settled down on the cool, smooth rock to dig in. He'd only just swiped the last drops of juice from his lips when Crow trotted up.

"Let's go. I'll escort you to the main trail, but then you're on your own." Smokepaw sighed as Myra's kits bounded up to say goodbye.

"I'll miss your scary eagle games!" Shrew wailed as she flung herself at Smokepaw's legs. He laid his muzzle on her small gray head as he stroked Olive's trembling flank with his tail.

"I'll miss you!" The tiny tortoiseshell howled. He pulled away from the small she-cats to face their brother, Scorch.

"Bye," The black tom mewed gruffly. Ignoring his temper, Smokepaw strode forward to lick his ear.

"Bye." He padded to over to Myra and Rat, where they were sharing a piece of eagle together.

"So long, mountain cat," Rat murmured, flicking Smokepaw's ear.

"Come on, Smokepaw!" Crow sounded impatient. "It'll start raining soon!" Smokepaw nodded and padded to the black and white tom's side. Crow nodded and whisked out of the cave. Smokepaw took one last look at the cave - his place on sanctuary in the unforgiving mountains - and turned his back on it forever.

Chapter Two
Coming Soon