Written By: Kaylan Chapman

Chapter 1

Running away

"Aspen, come here right now!" I knew I was in trouble for something I didn't do. "What's this," she says pointing to her new pillows. Her son stood behind her smiling evilly. 

*Meow*

"I've had enough of this," she said picking me up. She threw me outside where it was very hot. "You're sleeping outside tonight to teach you a lesson." She turned her back but then stopped and continued, "I heard there's a storm coming better find somewhere to sleep." She slammed the door as hard as she could. I turned around so I could find some shelter for the miserable night I was about to have.

There was no shelter to be found in the backyard so I sat down and hoped it wouldn't rain. A few hours later, I was about to fall asleep but then I heard a loud strike of lightning. It startled me. I sit up and the rain starts to pour. So I get up and try to find shelter once more. But none was found. So I lay on the muddy wet ground and think 

I need a better home. 

So I decided to run away. Running away was my only choice for a better life. I have to do it. So I get up on all fours and trot my way out of the backyard. But before I step out of the backyard entirely, I look back at the house and then look at the ground 

I will never come back here. Even if it gets hard I won't ever come back. 

I take a deep breath and leave the backyard.

I look back at the house and I see the little boy looking at me and screaming. Then the mom comes running to her son and then looks at me.

I stop.

Then she comes running outside for me in the rain yelling, "Come back! Come back, Aspen right now!" I start running. She comes chasing after me then she stopped. So I stop. I turn my head and I see the forest. I look back at her and her face is red with rage. I dart into the forest where she did not follow me into.

Chapter 2

Lost

Even though she stopped running after me. I didn't stop. I didn't stop running until I was far, far away from her and her evil son. Once I felt safe and far away, I rested. I looked around the forest and said to myself, "I think I'm lost." I didn't know what to do, or where I was but one thing was for certain I was lost. I didn't try to find out where I was, I just kept walking in the pouring rain with my head down not knowing what to do. Hours and hours passed and the rain finally decided to go away, the ground was still muddy and wet, but I didn't mind. The sky was getting dark, so it was almost nighttime, I wanted to rest and go to sleep but I heard howls from the wolves of the night.

I was frightened by every wolf that howled, because, every howl became clearer and clearer. Which meant they were getting closer and closer. Just up ahead of me was a white rabbit. Harmless and innocent. Just then a wolf pounced on top of it and ate it. Blood was everywhere.

I froze with fear.

When the wolf finished its midnight snack it looked at me.

Oh, no

I thought to myself.

Run!

I started running as fast as I could. But the wolf was faster! I started sweating with fear!

If I stop running will the wolf eat me? Or will it just say "I'm lonely, I just want someone to talk to".

I look back at the wolf, and I see it bearing its teeth and licking its snout.

Yep, the wolf is trying to eat me.

I look in front of me and I see a tree. I dodge it. But, the wolf rams right into it.

Oof!

I think to myself.

That's gotta hurt.

I keep running and running, and I keep running until I'm really far away from the wolf.

I stop to catch my breath. Then start walking once I'm far away from the wolf.

Chapter 3

Catnapped

That was a close one.

I think to myself. I was so tired from running that I fell onto the mucky, muddy ground. I closed my eyes for a moment, but then, I hear something. So my eyes are wide open and looking around everywhere.

What was that noise?

I think.

Is it the wolf again? Has he come to get his revenge by tearing me to shreds and eating every last bit of me!?

I didn't know if the wolf was going to pounce on me as it did on that poor innocent rabbit.

My heart was pounding. I was frightened! So, instead of being brave and staying where I am. I decide to run.

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!

I hear the wolf running through the trees.

Is this it? Is this going to be the day I die?

I try not to think about it too much because if I do, I'll slow down and the wolf would just snatch me and I'd be its second-midnight snack.

Or who knows? Maybe I'll be its fifth-midnight snack. You never know.

I start to run out of breath. So, I slow down. Then I stop. I stand there wondering what going to happen. Just then, everything goes black.

What happened? Have I died?

"Hello," I hear a voice, "My name is Fire-Stone. I am a warrior. "What kind of warrior?" I ask. "The cat kind," Fire-Stone replied.

The cat kind?

Just then, I see bright lights, I feel the nice green grass under my paws. It feels so good. "Where am I?" I ask

Chapter 4

Meeting everyone

"You're in Lacata." "What?" I say. "La-cat-a," he repeats but slower. "Lacata," I say. "Yep," he says back. "Wow!" I say. "I know," he replies, "Pretty amazing right?" "Yeah," I say amazed by all the wonderful things in Lacata. "Here," he says, "I want you to meet some of the villagers." "This is Thunder-Song. She's been in Lacata for about five of four months. " "Hi," I manage to blurt out. She nods. "She's just trying to act cool," Fire-Stone says, "But, deep down she's really excited to meet you." "Ahh," I mumble. "Oh, and that's Night-Fall." He says pointing to a beautiful calico cat with blue eyes. "And that's Smoke-Frost," he said but less happy.

"I'm assuming you don't like him," I say. 

Fire-Stone grunts.

We stay in silence for two minutes, and then he says, "Well, are you ready to meet the leader?" "What?" I say confused. "The leader," he says again, "The one who will see if you should be apart of the tribe or not." 

My mouth dropped.

"Uhh," I say. "Good," he replies going behind me and pushing me to a little hut. I walk in seeing a scared cat talking with another. The leader shooed the other cat away. "How may I help you," she says. "I found this one alone in the woods. I think she's the one," responds Fire-Stone.

The one? I think.

"Hmm," mumbled the leader.

She looked at me for two minutes. "Fine," she said, "I'll shall give her a chance but if she fails she is never to return."

If I fail?

Fire-Stone nodded his head "Come with me," he said. Then the leader spoke, "Wait!" Fire-Stone and I turn around. "I do not know your name?" She said. "Aspen," I say, "And I do not know your name either." "I am Jade-Tree."

That's a cool name! I think to myself.

I turn around and leave the hut. Fire-Stone then leads me to where I will sleep for the night. "What did you mean by I think she's the one?" I ask. Fire-Stone turned to me and said, "Legend says that one will arise above us all and become the great one."

I was so confused.

"The great one?" I say

"Look," he says, "Just be prepared." "Be prepared for what?" I ask. "The simulation."

The Simulation?

Chapter 5

Learning how to survive in the wild

When I woke up I heard a loud noise coming from outside. I go to see what it was and it was a blowhorn.

It's way too early to get up! I think.

Just then Fire-Stone looks at me and smiles. I smile back to be polite. I trot towards Fire-Stone and ask, "What's going on?" "Well, it's time for the simulation."

Ooooh.

"What do you do in the simulation?" I ask. "You'll see," he says.

Oh, no. This is gonna be bad.

The horn blows again. "You better go get in line," said Fire-Stone. "Okay," I said, "Where is the line?"

"Everyone in line!" Fire-Stone shouted. It startled me. "Here's how it's going to work. You will train until you can't feel anything and if you still do you'll train even harder." Everyone looked at each other. "Hey, eyes right here," Fire-Stone said getting everyone's attention, "If you do good in your training you'll get to do the test. But if you don't you will leave this place and never come back." 

The test?

"But if we're not allowed to stay then where will we go?", asked someone in the crowd. "I don't know," Fire-Stone replied, "you'll live on your own out in the wilderness." I got very scared at that moment.

What if I don't pass the test!? What if I have to live alone for the rest of my life!? Will the wolves eat me!?

I knew I wasn't the only cat thinking about all the possibilities of what might happen if we don't pass the test.

As everyone started whispering and chatting Fire-Stone shouted, "Enough!" The crowd went silent. "None of you will pass the test if you keep chittin' and a chattin'," he said very bossily. No one made a sound. "Good," he said, "now let's train."

"Alright," said Fire-Stone, "the first thing you're going to do is climb this tree and steel the egg. Very simple."

That is pretty easy.

"But," he said, "It looks like there are only eight eggs, and there are twelve of you." Everyone looked at each other. "Only four of you are not going to get one."

Oh, no.

"Who'll get one first--- GO!"

All the cats raced up the tree with their sharp claws. But one didn't climb.

Maybe the cat's owner declawed him something?

I didn't care I just had to get myself an egg before anyone else. When I reached the top there were only six eggs left!

I have to grab one!

Once I did, I had to think of a way to get down the tree without breaking the egg.

This is gonna be hard.

As I slowly get down the tree branch-by-branch I hear a bird coming! Once I heard it I rush to the bottom of the tree. When I reached the bottom Fire-Stone came up to me and said, "Well done." "Thanks," I manage to say out of breath. I look up and I see the bird attacking all of the other cats.