Totally worth it. I think.

Story keeper


Chapter one

River laid down in her nest thinking of what she remembered of the rainforest. She had only been one year old when her father had taken her from the rainforest and her mother. He had always said it was because an ancient queen told him too. River wasn’t the only one who had been brought to this island far out in the ocean. There were 7 others. However River was the only one lucky enough to have her father there. There were 5 adults there keeping track of the young dracocats. A few of them were less than pleased to be there but only one expressed that verbally. A roar broke Rivers thoughts. Springclaw the Tigerfur and Talon the lionfur burst into the room locked in each other’s grasp. “What in the world are you doing?” River asked, grumpiness lining her words. “Oh uh… sorry River. We were just play fighting!” Springclaw mumbled. “Play fighting indeed” River snorted. “Talons tail is bleeding! And your nose is bleeding as well!” “Plus you guys are way too loud.” A soft voice piped up from the other side of the room. “Some of us were trying to have quiet time.” Snowbell the Snowfur sniffed and then went back to what she was doing. “Sorry…” Talon said shyly. It wasn’t a secret about what the big LionFur thought of Snowbell. Although he didn’t admit it, even after all these years. “My goodness! I thought the mountain would fall down from your roaring. let alone the caves!” A sweetly sarcastic voice said from the entrance of the room. Lilly the CougarFur stood there with her tail twitching. Azea told me to tell you guys to stop being so loud. Azea the cougarfur was one of the caretakers. She was sweet and she was an expert in herbs. River grinned at Springclaw. Springclaw glared back. “Anyways I’m hungry. Anyone want to come hunt with me?” Lilly asked. “I’ll come” Springclaw volunteered. “Me too.” Snowbell said hopping out of her nest. “Azea said she would come with us” Lilly said with a sigh. While they were allowed outside, the kitlings (which was not an accurate term because they were almost 10 years old which was teenage years for dracocats) had to have one of the adults with them so that they didn’t run off. River sighed and jumped out of her nest and followed the others.

River and Talon both dragged deer into the cavern. River had caught the bigger one. Not that that mattered. Smallfoot the leopardfur and Speckle the cheetahfur were already waiting in the dining cave. “Where’s Honey?” River asked. Honey was the shy Darkfur who was the only kitling missing. “She’s with Dusk. She’s still pretty spooked from that prank SOMEONE pulled yesterday.” Smallfoot growled at Springclaw. “Sorry… I thought it would be funny.” He said feeling ashamed. “You didn’t think. You know how Honey gets. She’s so nervous as it is! With these new dreams she’s having and you poking at her I’m surprised she hasn’t completely disappeared!”Smallfoot hissed. River sighed and walked over to her best friend. “Honey will be fine.” She said. “I know! I’m just frustrated. Grasshopper was mad at me again. Grasshopper was the grumpiest of the caretakers. She had unusually brown fur for a leopardfur. “Ohh.” River sighed. “Hey guys.” River looked up and grinned. “Honey! We were wondering where you were!” Smallfoot purred. “I thought you had been eaten by a rock monster” Lilly joked. “No. I’m alive” Honey laughed quietly. She looked over at Speckle who hadn’t said a word. She touched noses with him and then sat down next to Smallfoot. “What’s wrong Honey? Did Springclaw bother you?” She asked. “Yea. But that’s normal. It this new dream. There’s this other darkfur and she keep telling me that it’s time. She says we need to the pool of the stars and find the amulets for the elements or something. Then after she says that she disappears and a huge purple spirit thing comes out of the ground and devours everything and all you can hear are screams.” Honey shuddered as she recalled the dream. The three dracocats sat there silently trying to comprehend what honey said. “Theres one more thing…” honey said quietly. “Before the other darkfur disappears… she always gives me a silver crown. She says be ready.” “Maybe that means you’ll be queen of the mysterious darkfurs!” River joked trying to get rid of the fear in her heart. Honey laughed a little and smiled sadly. “Maybe…”