Post by *Spanglestar on Sept 18, 2008 19:25:40 GMT -5
This is a book I wrote in school. By the way, I got an A xD
HIGH TIGER
Prologue
Cold fog enveloped the city of spirits high in the clouds. The Sky-tellers, or the Starpack, were always watching from above, predicting and prophesying the future. They were known to take care of the tigers, and end their pain if necessary. They knew all the living tigers by name, their personality, color, and what their destiny was.
Rita, an elderly tiger, the old leader of Icepack, watched in the Fog-Pool, where the tigers’ destiny shone in the moonlight and clouds, mist polluting the cold, still air. Her unblinking amber eyes widened in surprise. “No!” she growled. “This can’t be!”
“What can’t be?” A silver tiger stepped from the mist, the fog evaporating from around her, the stars shining even brighter in her gray-streaked silver-black pelt.
“Oh, Sylvia! I have just seen something terrible arising in the future! But I can’t tell if it is good, or evil!”
“Well, what did you see, Rita?” Sylvia asked, her blue gaze troubled.
“Well, it’s gone now, but I saw a green type of grass, moss, I think, with claw marks etched into it, being shredded and torn with great claws, and snow falling lightly on top!”
Sylvia smiled. She was Rita’s littermate, and was always very close to her only sister. “Well, now, it looks like you’ve gotten yourself a prophecy.”
“Sylvia! This is no time for jokes! Something is coming!” Rita pleaded for her sister to believe her.
A deep voice spoke. “Moss, claw, and snow will join together, and be more powerful than the Earth itself,” it boomed.
“Than the Earth itself?” Rita gasped. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
The owner of the voice padded forward. “Rita,” he rumbled. It was Cherokee, the leader of Icepack before Rita. The only tiger known to have a pure and jet-black coat, with a great green gaze. Cherokee was one of the wisest tigers among the stars. “A time is coming. The moss, claw and snow will be powerful enough to control everything.” Great tail swishing, he walked away without another word.
Rita groaned. “Not only will I have to figure it out, but I will have to tell it to someone. But which Pack? And who? Any old tiger at random? The leader? The Healer?” On custom, it was either the leader or Healer to receive signs. The she-tiger sighed. “What do you think, Sylvia?”
No one answered. Rita, among the stars, alone, was left with a prophecy dropped in her paws and nowhere to put it.
Chapter 1
Moss
Moss charged through the river, droplets of water dancing around her huge and clumsy baby paws. Stumbling over stones, she arrived at the other side drenched thoroughly. She sighed, feeling the water seep through her young body.
The four-month-old, barely out of the nursery, was now a full member of Icepack. Well, almost. She still had more training from Spotlight. She couldn’t call herself an active member yet. In fact, Jewel, the leader, probably wouldn’t even remember her. Most likely she was busy picking ticks from that flea-bitten coat of hers, caring nothing about the outside world.
Moss sighed. Right now, she would have to settle for being Spotlight’s minion. At least she could trust Spotlight to teach her the ways of the wild tiger.
A shadow stepped in front of Moss’s small head, making her jerk upwards. Hot breath steamed in her face, making her wince.
“What are you doing on Waterpack’s territory?”
Moss looked around nervously. She had forgotten about the borders! “I-um, was fishing and fell in and got dizzy. I-I passed out and when I-I woke up, I-I-I forgot which side was which and headed this way.”
“A true wild tiger always can scent which way is which. That is no excuse. You’re coming with me!” the white tiger hissed, his great head revealing sharp teeth and narrowed eyes.
“No, she’s not!” Said a voice from across the river.
Moss almost exploded from relief. It was Spotlight!
“Come here, dear one.” Spotlight called, her yellow, white, and black pelt catching the sun’s rays.
Moss squeaked and flew over to her mentor. “T-thank you!” she mewed appreciatively as they headed back through the forest.
“Yeah? Well, that’s the third time this moon I’ve had to save your pelt.” Spotlight growled. “Last time I told you not to make it a habit. I see you’ve no care whatsoever about the things I tell you.” She stopped, her golden eyes flashing with anger. “You’ve a lot to learn before you can be accepted into Icepack as a true tiger.”
Moss nodded, although her mind was screaming, No! I’m ready! I’m ready now! “I guess so.” She stopped. “Will I be punished?”
Spotlight twirled, her gold eyes searing right through Moss. “Of course you will! For at least three moons!”
Moss mumbled something. Three moons?? It wasn’t like she had poisoned her mentor.
Sadness swept over her. She sighed. When they got back to camp, she stamped over to the cave where the minions slept. She closed her eyes, her sleep troubled.
Chapter 2
Claw
Claw spun into the air, claws unsheathed, landing squarely on Squirrel’s back. The gold and black fluffy she-tiger squeaked in surprise and turned, trying to shake her four-month old minion off. Claw hung on tight, then leaped off. This wasn’t supposed to be so heavy-duty.
Squirrel touched noses with her minion. “Very good,” she murmured. Her green eyes closed.
“What’s wrong?” Claw asked, his orange head turning sideways.
Squirrel sighed. “Fire has asked me to do something, and I’ve not the courage to do it.”
“What is it? I’ll help you!” Claw mewed. He wasn’t usually this helpful, but an order from the leader?
“Thank you, Claw.” Squirrel’s troubled meow sounded relived. “He wants us to go to Icepack and ask why a baby tiger was seen on our territory. He thinks it might be an attack.”
Claw’s pelt puffed out instinctively. A real fight! Just what he’d always wanted! To fight with the urgency to save your pack, and help it win! “Okay! Can we go now?”
“I-I guess,” Squirrel said, padding forward.
By sunhigh, they reached the edge of Icepack’s territory. Claw raced forward, his pads scraping the ground.
“Claw, come back! You can’t just barge in! We have to wait for an escort!” Squirrel’s worried call reached Claw’s ears, but he ran faster.
He came to the camp entrance and stopped. A white and black she-tiger with piercing blue eyes was sitting at the entrance, sulking. She looked up and glared at Claw. “And just what do you think you’re doing here?”
Chapter 3
Snow
Snow was training to be a Healer. She loved healing, and she was very good at it. She flicked her tail excitedly. She hoped she would get her first real Healer dream from the Star-tellers today. She closed her eyes, and a dream overcame her.
The pure white she-tiger was standing in a clearing. A tiger approached her. “Greetings. My name is Rita.”
“Oh, wonderful! I’ve been waiting and waiting for a dream!” Snow exclaimed.
“That’s not the point, Snow, my dear,” Rita said with a tone of impatience. “I have a prophecy to give you.”
Snow stopped hopping around and her blue-gray eyes widened. “Me?”
Rita nodded. “Moss, claw, and snow will come together to have powers overwhelming everything.”
Snow looked worried. “What-what? Do I have to figure it out? Should I tell anyone?”
Rita blinked. “No, don’t tell anyone. Not yet. There is a reason I’ve given this prophecy to you alone, Snow. When the time comes for you to tell, you will know. I believe in you, Snow.”
“I can’t tell Moss?” Snow wailed. “Or Roan?” She wanted to tell her sister and mother.
“No, Snow.” Rita said. “I must leave you now. Farewell.”
Snow pouted, but sat down. The next thing she knew, she was standing in the den she shared with Kayliee, the Healer. Kayliee was gone. Snow stretched, her white pelt shining in the sun.
She wandered outside. She clamped her jaws shut. Snow saw Moss talking with another tiger outside. “Hmm?” she whispered. Sighing, she raced away to find Kayliee.
Chapter 4
Moss
“Go away!” Moss snapped to the intruder.
“No!” meowed the orange tiger sharply. “I have been sent to talk to Jewel.”
“Well, I guess I could take you to her…” Moss said. “Come with me.”
For the first time Moss got a good view of the trespasser. He was broad-shouldered, muscular, and strong. His amber eyes blazed like fire. He had a handsome orange pelt with stripes perfectly arranged. Moss padded up to Jewel’s den. “Jewel,” she called softly. “You have a visitor.”
“Come in.” came the sharp voice of the leader. Moss padded forward with Claw. “Not you!” snapped Jewel’s voice. Moss sat on her haunches, anger pulsing her paws. She heard whispering and suddenly the orange tiger was thrown out. A very anger Jewel approached, her gold pelt flaming in the sun. “Moss! Do not bring intruders into camp again!” she turned sharply, her tail lashing.
“Wow.” The orange tom said.
Moss nodded. “So you’re from Waterpack?”
“Yes. My name is Claw.”
“I’m Moss.” said Moss. “Sometimes I think maybe I should join Waterpack. But I have to take care of my sister. She’s the Healer’s minion.”
“Well, I’d like to join Icepack.”
“But you don’t have Icepack blood!” spurted Moss.
“Maybe I do. I know, it’s a wild idea. I know that my mother was banished by both Packs. My father was of Waterpack. They say that my mother ‘brought me to live in Waterpack.’ Of course I don’t remember.”
Moss saw white ears prick. Snow. She shook her head. “You don’t even know what your mother looked like?”
“No,” Claw said. “I wasn’t nursed by her. But I do have faint memories of a reddish tiger.”
“Hmm…” Moss thought for a moment. “I want to go for a walk. Want to come?”
“Okay. And then I can ask Jewel to join?”
“Maybe.” Moss said. She surged forward, energy hot from her paws. She thrashed through the forest, her paws barely skimming the ground. Suddenly she shot upward. She was flying! And flying very fast! A tree loomed ahead. Moss put her hind legs forward pushing off the bark of the tree, reversing. She tried to land, but landed in a heap, somersaulting over and over.
Claw raced up, panting. “Are you all right?” he asked.
“I-I think.” Moss said.
She shivered. Something was happening. She had a power. But she hadn’t had it before, had she? And how did she get it?
Chapter 5
Claw
Claw shook his head. Something had happened to Moss. “You sure you’re okay?” he asked.
Moss nodded. “Now, do you want to go back to camp and ask Jewel?”
“Okay!” Claw mewed. He ran next to Moss. He wanted so much to be accepted into Icepack. Especially now that he had a new friend.
But nervousness pricked his paws. He remembered what Jewel had said last time. Would she be any better now?
As they approached Jewel’s den, Claw padded forward. “I come in peace.” He mewed bravely.
A voice sounded. “Well?”
He walked into the den. “Jewel, I’d like to ask your permission to join Icepack. I’m from Waterpack, and I swear in the name of Starpack that I’m not a spy. I think I’m meant to belong in Icepack.”
Jewel thought for a moment. “Well, we could use a few more minions, but we don’t have enough mentors. But I do know of one. I guess it’s okay. I’ll make an announcement.” She pulled herself to her paws. Tall and bold, Jewel was a beautiful tiger.
“Thank you!” Claw said. “My name is-“
“Claw.” Jewel finished. “I know.”
Claw stared in amazement, but followed Jewel.
Jewel leaped onto a huge boulder. “Cats of Icepack! All summon below Tallrock!” As cats began to pour in, she continued. “We have a tiger who is willing to join us. Claw will be a minion to me. Thank you.”
Claw gasped. The leader’s minion? He knew how great an honor that was! He stood proud and tall. He clawed the ground, leaving a hard mark on the dirt. He felt like he could live forever. And maybe he could.
Chapter 6
Snow
Snow stirred in her sleep, her ears twitching. “Rita!” she called.
A shape stepped forward. “Snow.”
“Rita! I know what the prophecy means! Me, Claw, and Moss! We will overtake the world! And our powers! I can heal everything and see things no other cat can. Claw has immortal energy. And Moss can fly!”
Rita smiled.
“But why did we get these powers? Why us?” Snow complained.
“Because you are siblings.” Rita said.
“Really?” Snow tilted her head. “Amazing! Can I tell?”
Rita frowned. “No. Not yet.”
Snow sighed. “Fine.”
She awoke, her paws pricking with excitement. She stretched and saw Jewel leading Claw out of camp. She saw Kayliee and padded up to her.
“Good mor ning Kayliee.” She mewed politely.
“Hello Snow. Would you like to gather herbs with me? Or you could stay. Daisy has a cough.” Kayliee suggested.
“I’ll stay.” Snow mewed. She liked Daisy. The gentle elder had watched over her and Moss as kits. She raced into the den to treat the sick elder.
Chapter 7
Moss
Moss lay in the minion’s den, alone, the cold moonlight shining in on her white pelt. She leaned back and saw the stars between the leaves. A slight breeze ruffled her pelt. How long until I become a true tiger? she wondered.
Suddenly the entrance shook and Ghost padded in. He was a black minion with brown and white stripes. “Hi,” he mewed, sitting down.
Moss nodded politely and closed her eyes, willing morning to come.
A paw prodded Moss in the side. She rolled over. It was Spotlight. “Come,” Spotlight said. “There is trouble in the forest, and Jewel wants us to go. And we’re taking Claw with us.”
Moss yawned and nodded, blinking sleep out of her eyes. She wondered what the trouble was.
As they padded out of camp, Claw bounced along happily. Moss surged forward. She stopped short. A shape lunged in front of her. It was something huge. It smelled of blood and evilness. The shadow loomed on Moss, and her tail quivered. What could she do? And what was that thing?
Chapter 8
Claw
Claw snarled, his lip curling. He sprang at the whatever-it-was, tearing at its throat. It knocked him off. Claw stood, his pelt fluffed in all directions.
“Stay back.” Spotlight ordered. Claw stepped back. Then a second shape leaped on top of him. Or was it the same one? He shook wildly, gasping for air. Winded, he collapsed.
The next thing he knew, he was back at camp. “This thing must be defeated!” he growled, snarling.
Chapter 9
Snow
Snow raced up to her brother. “Claw!” she meowed. “You need help fast!” She started to put herbs on his bleeding fur.
“I’m fine!” Claw protested, shaking her off. “I don’t need your help.”
Snow rolled her eyes. “Well, if you’re in such great shape, get Moss to come here, please.”
Claw started to argue, but changed his mind. “Moss!” he shouted.
As Moss padded up, Snow sighed. “Listen. There’s something you guys need to know.”
Chapter 10
Moss
“We’re siblings? All of us?” Moss stared at her sister in amazement.
“I never knew…” Claw said.
“Well, that’s not all.” Snow said. “There’s a prophecy. About us. The moss, the claw, and the snow will overpower the world. That’s us. We have powers, and they’re meant to defeat someone, or something.”
Claw shot up straight, his claws digging into the hard earth. “The monster.” He said.
Moss nodded. “Snow, we saw something terrible. A great black shape. It was undefeatable.” She thought for a moment. “I guess we’ll have to use our powers to defeat it?” she guessed.
Snow nodded. “Now I’m not exactly sure how healing can help defeat it, but oh well.”
Moss stood up straight. “Let’s go defeat it!”
“Me too?” asked Snow.
Moss nodded. “We need you, sister.”
Chapter 11
Claw
Claw stalked quietly, moving soundlessly through the grass. He led the small patrol to where they had met the attacker. He could still smell its stench. Suddenly it started to snow.
Then a shape leaped in front of him. In the daylight, even with the snow falling, he could see it now. It looked like a cross between a dog and a lion. It was black, with huge fangs. It was bigger than him, bigger than probably any tiger in the land. He growled and leaped ontop of it, spitting and hissing.
Sounds told him that Snow had also leaped onto this monster. He could see Moss flying overhead, then crash into a tree, sending snow flying down on top of them. It roared, then growled fiercely. Claw sank his teeth deep into its pelt, and it yowled.
“Claw! Snow! Out of the way!” Moss screeched, and as he leaped, a tree crashed on top of the monster, killing it. Moss landed, panting.
“Yes! We did it!” Claw shouted triumphantly.
“Did what?” It was Jewel.
Chapter 12
Snow
It was Snow who spoke. “Jewel, we have defeated the monster.”
“The rabid panther?” Spotlight’s eyes went wide.
“Yep!” Moss said proudly.
“You have saved us! I can never thank you three enough!” said Jewel happily.
“You needn’t.” Snow mewed in her quiet voice.
And this is where our story ends. And they all lived happily ever after.
HIGH TIGER
Prologue
Cold fog enveloped the city of spirits high in the clouds. The Sky-tellers, or the Starpack, were always watching from above, predicting and prophesying the future. They were known to take care of the tigers, and end their pain if necessary. They knew all the living tigers by name, their personality, color, and what their destiny was.
Rita, an elderly tiger, the old leader of Icepack, watched in the Fog-Pool, where the tigers’ destiny shone in the moonlight and clouds, mist polluting the cold, still air. Her unblinking amber eyes widened in surprise. “No!” she growled. “This can’t be!”
“What can’t be?” A silver tiger stepped from the mist, the fog evaporating from around her, the stars shining even brighter in her gray-streaked silver-black pelt.
“Oh, Sylvia! I have just seen something terrible arising in the future! But I can’t tell if it is good, or evil!”
“Well, what did you see, Rita?” Sylvia asked, her blue gaze troubled.
“Well, it’s gone now, but I saw a green type of grass, moss, I think, with claw marks etched into it, being shredded and torn with great claws, and snow falling lightly on top!”
Sylvia smiled. She was Rita’s littermate, and was always very close to her only sister. “Well, now, it looks like you’ve gotten yourself a prophecy.”
“Sylvia! This is no time for jokes! Something is coming!” Rita pleaded for her sister to believe her.
A deep voice spoke. “Moss, claw, and snow will join together, and be more powerful than the Earth itself,” it boomed.
“Than the Earth itself?” Rita gasped. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
The owner of the voice padded forward. “Rita,” he rumbled. It was Cherokee, the leader of Icepack before Rita. The only tiger known to have a pure and jet-black coat, with a great green gaze. Cherokee was one of the wisest tigers among the stars. “A time is coming. The moss, claw and snow will be powerful enough to control everything.” Great tail swishing, he walked away without another word.
Rita groaned. “Not only will I have to figure it out, but I will have to tell it to someone. But which Pack? And who? Any old tiger at random? The leader? The Healer?” On custom, it was either the leader or Healer to receive signs. The she-tiger sighed. “What do you think, Sylvia?”
No one answered. Rita, among the stars, alone, was left with a prophecy dropped in her paws and nowhere to put it.
Chapter 1
Moss
Moss charged through the river, droplets of water dancing around her huge and clumsy baby paws. Stumbling over stones, she arrived at the other side drenched thoroughly. She sighed, feeling the water seep through her young body.
The four-month-old, barely out of the nursery, was now a full member of Icepack. Well, almost. She still had more training from Spotlight. She couldn’t call herself an active member yet. In fact, Jewel, the leader, probably wouldn’t even remember her. Most likely she was busy picking ticks from that flea-bitten coat of hers, caring nothing about the outside world.
Moss sighed. Right now, she would have to settle for being Spotlight’s minion. At least she could trust Spotlight to teach her the ways of the wild tiger.
A shadow stepped in front of Moss’s small head, making her jerk upwards. Hot breath steamed in her face, making her wince.
“What are you doing on Waterpack’s territory?”
Moss looked around nervously. She had forgotten about the borders! “I-um, was fishing and fell in and got dizzy. I-I passed out and when I-I woke up, I-I-I forgot which side was which and headed this way.”
“A true wild tiger always can scent which way is which. That is no excuse. You’re coming with me!” the white tiger hissed, his great head revealing sharp teeth and narrowed eyes.
“No, she’s not!” Said a voice from across the river.
Moss almost exploded from relief. It was Spotlight!
“Come here, dear one.” Spotlight called, her yellow, white, and black pelt catching the sun’s rays.
Moss squeaked and flew over to her mentor. “T-thank you!” she mewed appreciatively as they headed back through the forest.
“Yeah? Well, that’s the third time this moon I’ve had to save your pelt.” Spotlight growled. “Last time I told you not to make it a habit. I see you’ve no care whatsoever about the things I tell you.” She stopped, her golden eyes flashing with anger. “You’ve a lot to learn before you can be accepted into Icepack as a true tiger.”
Moss nodded, although her mind was screaming, No! I’m ready! I’m ready now! “I guess so.” She stopped. “Will I be punished?”
Spotlight twirled, her gold eyes searing right through Moss. “Of course you will! For at least three moons!”
Moss mumbled something. Three moons?? It wasn’t like she had poisoned her mentor.
Sadness swept over her. She sighed. When they got back to camp, she stamped over to the cave where the minions slept. She closed her eyes, her sleep troubled.
Chapter 2
Claw
Claw spun into the air, claws unsheathed, landing squarely on Squirrel’s back. The gold and black fluffy she-tiger squeaked in surprise and turned, trying to shake her four-month old minion off. Claw hung on tight, then leaped off. This wasn’t supposed to be so heavy-duty.
Squirrel touched noses with her minion. “Very good,” she murmured. Her green eyes closed.
“What’s wrong?” Claw asked, his orange head turning sideways.
Squirrel sighed. “Fire has asked me to do something, and I’ve not the courage to do it.”
“What is it? I’ll help you!” Claw mewed. He wasn’t usually this helpful, but an order from the leader?
“Thank you, Claw.” Squirrel’s troubled meow sounded relived. “He wants us to go to Icepack and ask why a baby tiger was seen on our territory. He thinks it might be an attack.”
Claw’s pelt puffed out instinctively. A real fight! Just what he’d always wanted! To fight with the urgency to save your pack, and help it win! “Okay! Can we go now?”
“I-I guess,” Squirrel said, padding forward.
By sunhigh, they reached the edge of Icepack’s territory. Claw raced forward, his pads scraping the ground.
“Claw, come back! You can’t just barge in! We have to wait for an escort!” Squirrel’s worried call reached Claw’s ears, but he ran faster.
He came to the camp entrance and stopped. A white and black she-tiger with piercing blue eyes was sitting at the entrance, sulking. She looked up and glared at Claw. “And just what do you think you’re doing here?”
Chapter 3
Snow
Snow was training to be a Healer. She loved healing, and she was very good at it. She flicked her tail excitedly. She hoped she would get her first real Healer dream from the Star-tellers today. She closed her eyes, and a dream overcame her.
The pure white she-tiger was standing in a clearing. A tiger approached her. “Greetings. My name is Rita.”
“Oh, wonderful! I’ve been waiting and waiting for a dream!” Snow exclaimed.
“That’s not the point, Snow, my dear,” Rita said with a tone of impatience. “I have a prophecy to give you.”
Snow stopped hopping around and her blue-gray eyes widened. “Me?”
Rita nodded. “Moss, claw, and snow will come together to have powers overwhelming everything.”
Snow looked worried. “What-what? Do I have to figure it out? Should I tell anyone?”
Rita blinked. “No, don’t tell anyone. Not yet. There is a reason I’ve given this prophecy to you alone, Snow. When the time comes for you to tell, you will know. I believe in you, Snow.”
“I can’t tell Moss?” Snow wailed. “Or Roan?” She wanted to tell her sister and mother.
“No, Snow.” Rita said. “I must leave you now. Farewell.”
Snow pouted, but sat down. The next thing she knew, she was standing in the den she shared with Kayliee, the Healer. Kayliee was gone. Snow stretched, her white pelt shining in the sun.
She wandered outside. She clamped her jaws shut. Snow saw Moss talking with another tiger outside. “Hmm?” she whispered. Sighing, she raced away to find Kayliee.
Chapter 4
Moss
“Go away!” Moss snapped to the intruder.
“No!” meowed the orange tiger sharply. “I have been sent to talk to Jewel.”
“Well, I guess I could take you to her…” Moss said. “Come with me.”
For the first time Moss got a good view of the trespasser. He was broad-shouldered, muscular, and strong. His amber eyes blazed like fire. He had a handsome orange pelt with stripes perfectly arranged. Moss padded up to Jewel’s den. “Jewel,” she called softly. “You have a visitor.”
“Come in.” came the sharp voice of the leader. Moss padded forward with Claw. “Not you!” snapped Jewel’s voice. Moss sat on her haunches, anger pulsing her paws. She heard whispering and suddenly the orange tiger was thrown out. A very anger Jewel approached, her gold pelt flaming in the sun. “Moss! Do not bring intruders into camp again!” she turned sharply, her tail lashing.
“Wow.” The orange tom said.
Moss nodded. “So you’re from Waterpack?”
“Yes. My name is Claw.”
“I’m Moss.” said Moss. “Sometimes I think maybe I should join Waterpack. But I have to take care of my sister. She’s the Healer’s minion.”
“Well, I’d like to join Icepack.”
“But you don’t have Icepack blood!” spurted Moss.
“Maybe I do. I know, it’s a wild idea. I know that my mother was banished by both Packs. My father was of Waterpack. They say that my mother ‘brought me to live in Waterpack.’ Of course I don’t remember.”
Moss saw white ears prick. Snow. She shook her head. “You don’t even know what your mother looked like?”
“No,” Claw said. “I wasn’t nursed by her. But I do have faint memories of a reddish tiger.”
“Hmm…” Moss thought for a moment. “I want to go for a walk. Want to come?”
“Okay. And then I can ask Jewel to join?”
“Maybe.” Moss said. She surged forward, energy hot from her paws. She thrashed through the forest, her paws barely skimming the ground. Suddenly she shot upward. She was flying! And flying very fast! A tree loomed ahead. Moss put her hind legs forward pushing off the bark of the tree, reversing. She tried to land, but landed in a heap, somersaulting over and over.
Claw raced up, panting. “Are you all right?” he asked.
“I-I think.” Moss said.
She shivered. Something was happening. She had a power. But she hadn’t had it before, had she? And how did she get it?
Chapter 5
Claw
Claw shook his head. Something had happened to Moss. “You sure you’re okay?” he asked.
Moss nodded. “Now, do you want to go back to camp and ask Jewel?”
“Okay!” Claw mewed. He ran next to Moss. He wanted so much to be accepted into Icepack. Especially now that he had a new friend.
But nervousness pricked his paws. He remembered what Jewel had said last time. Would she be any better now?
As they approached Jewel’s den, Claw padded forward. “I come in peace.” He mewed bravely.
A voice sounded. “Well?”
He walked into the den. “Jewel, I’d like to ask your permission to join Icepack. I’m from Waterpack, and I swear in the name of Starpack that I’m not a spy. I think I’m meant to belong in Icepack.”
Jewel thought for a moment. “Well, we could use a few more minions, but we don’t have enough mentors. But I do know of one. I guess it’s okay. I’ll make an announcement.” She pulled herself to her paws. Tall and bold, Jewel was a beautiful tiger.
“Thank you!” Claw said. “My name is-“
“Claw.” Jewel finished. “I know.”
Claw stared in amazement, but followed Jewel.
Jewel leaped onto a huge boulder. “Cats of Icepack! All summon below Tallrock!” As cats began to pour in, she continued. “We have a tiger who is willing to join us. Claw will be a minion to me. Thank you.”
Claw gasped. The leader’s minion? He knew how great an honor that was! He stood proud and tall. He clawed the ground, leaving a hard mark on the dirt. He felt like he could live forever. And maybe he could.
Chapter 6
Snow
Snow stirred in her sleep, her ears twitching. “Rita!” she called.
A shape stepped forward. “Snow.”
“Rita! I know what the prophecy means! Me, Claw, and Moss! We will overtake the world! And our powers! I can heal everything and see things no other cat can. Claw has immortal energy. And Moss can fly!”
Rita smiled.
“But why did we get these powers? Why us?” Snow complained.
“Because you are siblings.” Rita said.
“Really?” Snow tilted her head. “Amazing! Can I tell?”
Rita frowned. “No. Not yet.”
Snow sighed. “Fine.”
She awoke, her paws pricking with excitement. She stretched and saw Jewel leading Claw out of camp. She saw Kayliee and padded up to her.
“Good mor ning Kayliee.” She mewed politely.
“Hello Snow. Would you like to gather herbs with me? Or you could stay. Daisy has a cough.” Kayliee suggested.
“I’ll stay.” Snow mewed. She liked Daisy. The gentle elder had watched over her and Moss as kits. She raced into the den to treat the sick elder.
Chapter 7
Moss
Moss lay in the minion’s den, alone, the cold moonlight shining in on her white pelt. She leaned back and saw the stars between the leaves. A slight breeze ruffled her pelt. How long until I become a true tiger? she wondered.
Suddenly the entrance shook and Ghost padded in. He was a black minion with brown and white stripes. “Hi,” he mewed, sitting down.
Moss nodded politely and closed her eyes, willing morning to come.
A paw prodded Moss in the side. She rolled over. It was Spotlight. “Come,” Spotlight said. “There is trouble in the forest, and Jewel wants us to go. And we’re taking Claw with us.”
Moss yawned and nodded, blinking sleep out of her eyes. She wondered what the trouble was.
As they padded out of camp, Claw bounced along happily. Moss surged forward. She stopped short. A shape lunged in front of her. It was something huge. It smelled of blood and evilness. The shadow loomed on Moss, and her tail quivered. What could she do? And what was that thing?
Chapter 8
Claw
Claw snarled, his lip curling. He sprang at the whatever-it-was, tearing at its throat. It knocked him off. Claw stood, his pelt fluffed in all directions.
“Stay back.” Spotlight ordered. Claw stepped back. Then a second shape leaped on top of him. Or was it the same one? He shook wildly, gasping for air. Winded, he collapsed.
The next thing he knew, he was back at camp. “This thing must be defeated!” he growled, snarling.
Chapter 9
Snow
Snow raced up to her brother. “Claw!” she meowed. “You need help fast!” She started to put herbs on his bleeding fur.
“I’m fine!” Claw protested, shaking her off. “I don’t need your help.”
Snow rolled her eyes. “Well, if you’re in such great shape, get Moss to come here, please.”
Claw started to argue, but changed his mind. “Moss!” he shouted.
As Moss padded up, Snow sighed. “Listen. There’s something you guys need to know.”
Chapter 10
Moss
“We’re siblings? All of us?” Moss stared at her sister in amazement.
“I never knew…” Claw said.
“Well, that’s not all.” Snow said. “There’s a prophecy. About us. The moss, the claw, and the snow will overpower the world. That’s us. We have powers, and they’re meant to defeat someone, or something.”
Claw shot up straight, his claws digging into the hard earth. “The monster.” He said.
Moss nodded. “Snow, we saw something terrible. A great black shape. It was undefeatable.” She thought for a moment. “I guess we’ll have to use our powers to defeat it?” she guessed.
Snow nodded. “Now I’m not exactly sure how healing can help defeat it, but oh well.”
Moss stood up straight. “Let’s go defeat it!”
“Me too?” asked Snow.
Moss nodded. “We need you, sister.”
Chapter 11
Claw
Claw stalked quietly, moving soundlessly through the grass. He led the small patrol to where they had met the attacker. He could still smell its stench. Suddenly it started to snow.
Then a shape leaped in front of him. In the daylight, even with the snow falling, he could see it now. It looked like a cross between a dog and a lion. It was black, with huge fangs. It was bigger than him, bigger than probably any tiger in the land. He growled and leaped ontop of it, spitting and hissing.
Sounds told him that Snow had also leaped onto this monster. He could see Moss flying overhead, then crash into a tree, sending snow flying down on top of them. It roared, then growled fiercely. Claw sank his teeth deep into its pelt, and it yowled.
“Claw! Snow! Out of the way!” Moss screeched, and as he leaped, a tree crashed on top of the monster, killing it. Moss landed, panting.
“Yes! We did it!” Claw shouted triumphantly.
“Did what?” It was Jewel.
Chapter 12
Snow
It was Snow who spoke. “Jewel, we have defeated the monster.”
“The rabid panther?” Spotlight’s eyes went wide.
“Yep!” Moss said proudly.
“You have saved us! I can never thank you three enough!” said Jewel happily.
“You needn’t.” Snow mewed in her quiet voice.
And this is where our story ends. And they all lived happily ever after.
