Chapter 3

I woke up in a dream. But it may have been a nightmare. Trees loomed around me, and there was no place to go.

A shadowy figure stood before me, and I marveled it's muscles. "Fleck," it murmured. "We have been awaiting your arrival."

Who? I questioned.

The figure chuckled. "Us." he turned to reveal dozens of ancestors behind him.

I gasped. What makes me so special, I can't even talk!

"That is exactly why we chose you, your lack of voice. You shall defeat the evil young child, along with the cat who comes from where the brindle grows." the figure smiled.

"You," he started to fade, his words echoing in my ear. I waited in silence. What am I waiting for? I asked myself. I shrugged and started wandering.

The trees where thick.
I wandered, aimlessly.
I reached a stream. As I looked in, I saw a reflection.

Myself.

I had no stars on my hair like the figure had, but my hair was messy. A patch of sap was stuck on my ear. My smokey ash head was mottled with twigs and the brown flecks looked like dirt.

But I saw a pair of eyes. Amber. They where glowing back at me like the sunset over the lake.
I stood, staring at my reflection. If only I could talk... I sighed.

A hand nudged me and I woke.
Bright morning sunshine sparkled and shone in on my face. I was sure my eyes where glowing about now.

Snow stood in front of me. "Wake up sleepy head." She whispered.
It's Fleck, I growled to myself. She kissed me. "How are you today?"

I shrugged.

"Well.... that's good, right?"

I nodded.

"Cool, well, what now?"

I shrugged again.

She smiled and sighed. "Not good at conversation, huh?"

I nodded. That's me, the boring mute kid.

Snow shrugged. "Let's go!" She started trotting out of the den. I followed.

We emerged into the bright clearing. I squinted my amber eyes to shield myself. Once my eyes adjusted, I saw the camp, well again. But this time, I took a closer look.

The other kids where playing in the corner of the camp by the nursery. Tawny was sharing a shrew with Rowan.
My head swivled around camp, watching everything.
And then I saw Black.

His face was twisted with guilt. And once again, hate. It gleamed in his yellow eyes and slunk through his teeth which were bared in disgust.
Why don't you like me? I thought. He simply turned his head and walked to the edge of the clearing were he sat. His head was cocked as if he were thinking about something.

"Hey! Smallie!" I turned and saw the ginger boy

"Yeah, you. What's you name?"

I mouthed Fleck.

He stared at me in confusion.

I pointed to one of the brown mouse-eye sized flecks on my gray hair.

He snickered. "Dirt? What kind of name is that?"

I glared at him. I mouthed Fleck!

His sister came up.

"Sharp, you are mouse brained! He's saying Fleck!"

I nodded gratefully.

He turned on the little ginger girl.

"Thanks a lot Sweet! Now it is no fun!"

Sweet snorted and turned to me, she smiled. "I'm Sweet, and this is my brother. His name is Sharp."

She turned and gave him a glare.

"Anyway, he can be a little annoying sometimes. Don't listen. He is just mouse brained."

Sharp snorted.

I nodded happily.

Her amber eyes pierced mine.

"Why don't you talk?" She asked gently.

I snorted and mouthed random words.

All of the kids cocked their heads in confusion.

I bared my teeth in annoyance and turned to walk away.

It was him, again.
Black.
He was glaring at me again. His eyes narrowed. He nodded to himself, as if finnaly making a decision. He then turned and jumped onto the high rock. "Let all people old enough to catch their own prey join beneth the high rock for a clan meeting." He yowled.
The humans gatherd. I turned and saw Snow. She had her gaze fixed on Black, it was full of fear.

Black turned and saw Snow. He nodded.
Snow walked over to me. "Let's go back into the nursery, it's getting crowded!"

I mouthed a few words of regret as I followed her back.
She had me lay in my nest. "Stay." she instructed. She glanced at me once more. "I will be right outside the den if you need me."
She then disspeered outside.

I wasn't going to be left out. I pushed my head into the side of the nursery until I could faintly see the glow of Black's white hair
"Hurry!" He growled.

Once everyone was gathered, he signaled for silence. "We are gathered to discuss a certain child."