Hollykit meowed indignantly as she felt herself being pushed away from her mother's stomach. She patted her forepaws and wriggled up higher. She heard her mother sigh lovingly and begin to purr. The rhythmic noise and the warm milk soothed Hollykit and she was soon asleep.
"Why hasn't Hollykit opened her eyes yet?" Hollykit heard her sister squeak. "She will when she's ready Fawnkit." She heard her mother purr. "Mossheart?" she heard a deep tom's voice. "What do you want Stormheart?" she heard her mother reply stiffly, "I wanted to come see my kits." He must have looked at them both because he next said, "Fawnkit will grow to be a fine warrior. But this piece of scrap, doesn't deserve to live she's obviously very weak, get rid of her." Hollykit flinched, the next thing she knew her mother was on her paws, "I will do no such thing! Get out of here you piece of fox-dung!"
Hollykit braced herself then slowly opened her eyes she was shocked, not just because the nursery was so bright but also because there stood two grown cats with their hackles raised, one was a pretty brown cat, her mother. The other was a gray tabby. She looked to her side and saw a pale gray/tan kit beside her, Fawnkit her sister. Looking behind she realized two other full grown cats her lying down, one was a plump pale brown she-cat. The other was dappled she-cat with two kits tumbling over her, another sat on the edge of the nest watching the two cats intently with sharp green eyes.
Hollykit turned back to the cats in front of her. Mossheart's teeth were curled back, and Stormheart's claws were unsheathed. "Mossheart?" Hollykit squeaked, Mossheart spun around and her eyes flew open, "There! I told you Stormheart, she would open her eyes in her own time!" She turned back to the gray tom, "Now get out before I shred you." Stormheart took heart to the threat because he turned and left. "You know he was right" The pale brown cat meowed from behind, "This scrap of fur won't last a moon." Mossheart spun around and grabbed Hollykit and whisked out of the nursery.
Out in the camp the sun was bright and the world was huge! Hollykit staggered when her mother set her gently on the ground, Hollykit turned to her mother, "Was that my father, the gray cat?" Mossheart's voice was firm but pain was glazed in her eyes when she answered her daughter's question, "No. That was not your father. Don't ever go near him. Don't ever talk to him." Hollykit nodded to appease her mother.
The camp was busy cats padded around everywhere, some going into dens other coming out, most shared tongues and others ran swiftly out of camp. She could hear the purrs of amusements as apprentices raced up trees while their mentors sat at the bottom watching. Hollykit tilted her head and turned around, she saw her mother wasn't paying attention and Hollykit scampered into the nearest den. She looked behind and saw her mother still distracted, not realizing her daughter was missing yet. She turned back to see a silver pelt in front of her nose, unable to stop she charged right into the sleeping form. "Oof!"
The silver cat jumped to his paws and spun around pelt bristling and teeth barred. Hollykit backed away terrified that this huge cat was going to attack her. The silver cat relaxed a little but then lowered his head and got right in her face, "What are you doing here?" He hissed. Hollykit flattened her ears, "I don't know… I was just… just exploring." The silver cat snarled, "Well some cats are sleeping so if you don't mind get your skinny, little-," "Moonpaw!" The silver cat turned at the sound of his name, ears flat and saw a big, pale, gray tom sticking his head in. Moonpaw shrank back from the big tom.
"Moonpaw! What do you think you are doing exactly?" The gray tom hissed, "This little fur ball interrupted my well earned sleep." Moonpaw said trying to sound confident. The tom shook his head, "Well now you've earned yourself a moon of cleaning the elders. I never want to hear you speak to a clan mate like that ever again." Moonpaw's eyes widened but he dipped his head in respect, "Fine." He snorted then stomped out of the den toward the elders.
Hollykit turned toward the big gray tom, "Are you Kinkfur?" Hollykit asked, the thought she recognized his sent from the nursery when he went to go visit Deerpelt in the nursery. Kinkfur nodded, "And that was my apprentice Moonpaw, I hope your not scared of him, he's a grouch." Hollykit purred in amusement she shook her head, "It's ok it was my fault." All of the sudden the den entrance burst open and Stormheart flew in, "Hollykit!" he hissed. "What are you doing in here?" Hollykit trembled and took a step back, "I'm…I'm sorry Stormheart I was just exploring… I was curious" Stormheart's hackles rose, "Well Moonpaw just confronted me and explained just how curious you were." Hollykit trembled and shrank back, "I'm… I'm sorry Stormheart… I didn't mean to."
Stormheart looked as if he wanted to kill her He took a step and hissed, "This clan would be better off without having to look after a useless piece of fox-dung." Then he growled "Go back to the nursery and leave the apprentices and warriors alone." He turned tail and whisked out of the den. Hollykit stared after him terrified; Kinkfur was looking at her sympathetically. "It's all right Hollykit, he is just still-," Hollykit turned around and left the den. She stepped out and saw across the camp Stormheart playing with Fawnkit, while Mossheart watched her family lovingly.
All of the sudden Hollykit was knocked off her paws with a startled yelp. She realized she was being attacked and turned and pawed at a brown pelt. She suddenly realized it was Thrushkit. "Thrushkit! Get off me you great lump!" Thrushkit had her pinned and refused to get off, Sorrelkit suddenly appeared and knocked Thrushkit off of Hollykit and turned back to her, "Come on Hollykit, lets get him!" Both little she-cat attacked the fluffy brown tom. Suddenly a light black pelt appeared taking on Hollykit. Hollykit yelped at the sudden attack, she turned and saw Rainkit charging at her again, the kit was bigger then she. Hollykit turned to call Sorrelkit but she was lock in combat with Thrushkit. Hollykit turned and narrowed her eyes watching Rainkit charge and her, as she neared her she sprung up and landed on the toms back.
Surprised Rainkit stumbled and tried to shake her but she wound her paws around his neck and held on. Rainkit tried but her couldn't shake her off, but then he rolled on the ground and smashed her underneath him, smothered she let go and tried to push him off. Rainkit suddenly flipped around and pinned her underneath him, she craned her head and saw Sorrelkit was pinned by Thrushkit. Hollykit turned back to Rainkit and their eyes met for a fleeting moment. Thrushkit sprung off Sorrelkit and bounced around the clearing yelling, "Yes! You Cloudclan scums take that! Treeclan is awesome and we won!" Rainkit stepped off of Hollykit, "Come on Rainkit lets share a victory mouse!" Thrushkit flounced over to the fresh-kill pile. Rainkit followed his brother more calmly, looking back one more time at Hollykit, her breath caught in her throat when their eyes met.
