A young white-pelted she-kit bumbled out of the WindClan nursery, giggling as she chased a grey kit around the camp.
"You'll never catch me, WindClan scum!" the grey tom-kit squealed, green eyes dancing with excitement. The white-she-kit flicked her tail in annoyance, jumping out and landing on the grey tom.
"Don't laugh at me!" the white she-kit snapped as she pinned the grey tom beneath her. "It's mean to laugh at she-cats, Pouncekit!"
"Just get off of me," Pouncekit grumbled. "I wish you would actually play the pretend games instead of taking everything seriously."
"Yeah, Leafkit," a third cat, a brown tabby tom-kit walked up to the two others, helping his brother up. "This is why we don't play games with you." Leafkit's pelt burned in embarrassment. She looked away from the brothers.
"Sorry," she muttered, curling her tail around her paws as her ears flattened. "I just... hate it when you laugh at me."
"Then stop acting like a newborn kit," Pouncekit hissed, stepping away. "Let's go, Barkkit." The brown kit, Barkkit, nodded and followed Pouncekit back to the nursery with narrowed eyes. Leafkit suddenly shivered as she felt a shadow fall over her. She looked up to see a large golden tom.
"Hi, Bumbleflare," Leafkit perked up at the sight of her older brother.
"Looks like you were having a lover's quarrel," he teased. "Pouncekit, eh?" Leafkit frowned.
"What do you mean?" she asked, nudging his shoulder with her nose.
"I mean that you two are soulmates," Bumbleflare laughed. Leafkit wrinkled her nose.
"I still don't understand," she stated confusedly. Bumbleflare let out an exasperated sigh.
"Why don't you go ask an elder? I'm sure that they'd love to tell you," he finally replied. Leafkit jumped to her feet.
"Okay!" she agreed with a smile. "Thanks, Bumbleflare!" Without hesitation, she barreled over to the Elder's den, panting as she came to a stop.
"Whoa there, young one," a grey tom grumbled, staring Leafkit down. Leafkit squeaked in surprise, jumping away as she realized she had crashed into his nest. Moss was everywhere, dug up by her small paws.
"I'm really sorry Ashenfall!" she apologized nervously. "I'll clean it up, I promise!"
"See to it that you do, Leafkit," Leafkit turned at the gentle voice to see a black she-cat with a white paw and kind blue eyes. "While you are hard at work, I can tell you a story. My voice has been itching to tell one all morning anyways. Do you have any preferences?"
"What's a soulmate?" Leafkit eagerly asked, unsheathing her claws to start reorganizing the moss around Ashenfall's nest. The black she-cat drew in a sharp intake of breath.
"I know it's painful for you. You don't have to tell the greedy kit, Nightfrost," Ashenfall reminded her sourly. Nightfrost shook her head.
"She's just a kit," Nightfrost mewed. "She didn't understand. But she will soon. Listen close, Leafkit." Leafkit's ears were pricked as she listened to Nightfrost, paws busy fixing the nest.
"Soulmates are your one true partner in life," Nightfrost began. "Soulmates don't necessarily have to be romantic, though they are in most cases. They represent your love, life, and everything you hold dear. Not everyone meets their soulmates. It's mostly up to chance. But when they do, it's unclear at first that they are meant to be together. They can end up separating, especially if one has a fear of love."
"Why would someone fear love?" Leafkit interrupted, eyes wide.
"Because love is a dangerous thing," Nightfrost sighed. "It can cause a life of eternal joy and feelings of belonging. Or it can cause pain, sorrow, and regret. Love is the single most dangerous weapon ever fathomed. Love without restraint should be cautioned. Love with binds should be released. Either way, it is always balanced with hate, and you will always be unsure which to expect."
"But then why do people fall in love?" Leafkit wondered, tail flicking to the side. "It sounds awful!" Nightfrost let out a light laugh.
"It's hard to understand as a kit," she truthfully replied. "But sometimes the greatest challenges have the greatest rewards. Without your mother and father's love for each other, you wouldn't be standing here today."
"So falling in love is scary?" Leafkit asked, nosing some moss in place. Nightfrost nodded.
"Scarier than the bloodiest battles," she whispered with a soft smile. "But it makes you stronger than the largest strikes of lightning."
"I think I understand," Leafkit grinned. "Thanks, Nightfrost!" She jumped up, and much to Nightfrost's amusement, dashed out of the nursery.
"How are you feeling?" Ashenfall requested. "That couldn't have been easy for you."
"I'm alright," Nightfrost looked out at the Camp, eyes soft. "She's a kind kit, and curious at that. I didn't mind one bit."
"I'm sure my brother misses you," Ashenfall murmured. "Oakbranch always told me that his greatest fear was losing his future with you."
"He should have thought about that before he ran into the danger," Nightfrost sighed. "But I forgave him long ago. The threats have long passed, and now I await the time that I too shall join him."
"Not soon, I hope," Ashenfall looked alarmed, and he sat straighter.
"Of course not," Nightfrost laughed. "I have yet to see Leafkit become a warrior. I have many moons left in me, if it means I get to see my kin grow up." Ashenfall smiled at that, licking Nightfrost's ear.
"Time will tell."