Title: Squirrelkit's Adventure
Author: GoddessJess
Summary: Squirrelkit ventures out of the nursery for her first time.
"Don't wander too far, little one!" Sandstorm called out as Squirrelkit stumbled out of the nursery. She looked around in awe. The camp was so huge!
"Yes, Sandstorm!" She ventured further into the camp and was immediately swamped by so many scents. One scent she recognized as her father's and she followed it to the Highrock. A lichen curtain was at the entrance of the den and she sniffed it. The curtain was covered in his scent. Without hesitation she pushed through it and entered.
A moss nest was towards the back and Squirrelkit padded over to it. Firestar's smell was strong and made her purr in content. It made her think of the times when he visited her and her sister Leafkit in the nursery. She looked around one more time before exiting the den and back into the camp.
Another familiar scent came to the kit and she followed it to the apprentices' den. A tortoise-shell and white she-cat was curled up in a nest and had the same scent that she was following. Squirrelkit recognized her from the times she brought fresh bramble and moss for the nests in the nursery.
"Sorrelpaw!" She shouted. The apprentice shot to her paws in alarm and relaxed as she saw Squirrelkit. "Hi!"
"Hello, Squirrelkit." Sorrelpaw padded to her and touched her muzzle with hers. "What are you doing in here? This is the apprentices' den."
The kit sat her tail waving energetically. "I followed your scent here!"
She purred in amusement. "Very good for a kit, but," The apprentice picked her up by the scruff of her neck and took her outside the den where she sat her gently, "You will make the apprentices' den yours soon enough. Just be patient and keep out until then, Squirrelkit."
Sorrelpaw disappeared back into the den and she grumbled over being taken out by force. She got up and started off in a random direction. Soon her spirits lifted and she bounded off to the medicine cat clearing. Cinderpelt, the medicine cat, looked up as she entered and mewed, "Well hello, Squirrelkit."
"Hello, Cinderpelt." She noticed the herbs at the medicine cat's paws. "What are you doing?"
The medicine cat returned to her work. "Preparing traveling herbs for a few warriors who'll be escorting Firestar to see the moonstone."
She watched for a few minutes and, once bored, mewed, "Okay. Bye!"
"Good-bye." Squirrelkit didn't hear her as she left and yawned. She padded to the nursery and curled up beside Sandstorm. Her mother wrapped her tail around her and licked the top of her head affectionately.
"How was your adventure?"
Squirrelkit yawned. "It was great, but it made me tired."
Sandstorm purred, "You can continue it after you sleep. Rest well, little one."
She fell asleep dreaming of familiar scents and exploring.