R&R! Once again, I need at least one review or I might not continue. :[

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Gingerkit chased playfully after a crusty leaf that the breeze was blowing. Thrushfur and Gingerfur sat side by side, watching their kit carefully as she pounced on and caught the leaf. She lifted her head with pride.

"She's a good hunter," murmured Gingerfur, wind blowing his ginger pelt. "I hope she can catch live prey as good as she caught that leaf." His voice was tinged with a stern tone.

"She's only a kit, Gingerfur, so don't be too hard on her," Thrushfur mewed, letting out a short, quick sigh. "I'm glad I'm fit to go out of the nursery and continue on with my warrior duties." Thrushfur was changing the subject before Gingerfur launched into a speech about tough love.

"Me as well. I've missed you out on the hunting patrols and border patrols." Gingerfur's eyes concentrated on Gingerkit continuing after yet another crusty leaf being blown by the breeze.

"Did the patrol catch some good fish today?" asked Thrushfur, turning her head to face her mate, pulling her eyes off of her kit.

"Oh, yes. Blackwhisker caught the biggest fish today."

At the mention of Blackwhisker, Thrushfur flinched, and she fought the urge to let the fur on her pelt bristle with anxiety. Blackwhisker seemed like a shady character. He used to be in ShadowClan, for one thing. Though Thrushfur had thought long and hard, because she was from another Clan, along with her kits (Except Gingerkit). They were from ThunderClan, but Waterstar had accepted them into his Clan, even when Thrushfur said the reason was because of her falling in love with Gingerfur.

"Well, that's nice," answered Thrushfur finally.

Reedheart, the deputy of RiverClan, came over to Gingerkit, who automatically, distracted, stopped chasing the leaf. She licked Reedheart's right forepaw.

Gingerfur strained his ears to hear Reedheart and Gingerkit's conversation. His ears were pricked, and his eyes stared intently out at the two. Thrushfur's ignored Gingerfur altogether, and eyed the fresh-kill pile.

"Hello, Gingerkit. And how are the leaves treating you today?" asked Reedheart politely.

"Great! I've caught four already today," Gingerkit answered, eyes wide with happiness that Reedheart was even acknowledging her. She had a crush on Reedheart. A big one.

"That's excellent. You'll make a good apprentice, and an even better warrior," Reedheart meowed, giving Gingerkit a tiny lick between her tiny ears. "Between you and me, I'm going to ask Waterstar when the time comes if you'll be my apprentice. Would you like that?"

"I would love that!" exclaimed Gingerkit, water-blue eyes shining with anticipation.

"Well, you'll be an apprentice soon enough, Gingerkit, and I'll try my best to make sure I'm your mentor." Reedheart smiled at the young kit. "Well, it's time for a hunting patrol. Stay out of trouble, little one." With one last nuzzle, Reedheart began gathering his patrol. He called Thrushfur, Blackwhisker, and Gingerfur, along with Blackpaw, Gingerfur's apprentice, and they all set off.

Gingerkit was sleeping, curled up into a nice, fuzzy ball, in the nursery. No other kits were there with her; she was only there with a queen called Greentail. She was expecting any day now for her kits to come into this world.

Soon, dawn's colors stained the sky, and Reedheart was out of the warriors' den, and traveling towards the fresh-kill pile. Gingerkit's ginger-furred head rose and she opened her mouth in a wide yawn, revealing tiny sharp teeth. She always woke up at this time; when Reedheart woke up.

Gingerkit quietly made her way out of the nursery, and towards Reedheart, who was inspecting the fresh-kill pile for the perfect piece of food.

"Oh, hello, Gingerkit. Ready for our dawn fresh-kill?" Reedheart asked. He quickly plucked a water vole from the pile and sat it in front of Gingerkit. He grabbed a blue-gray fish and began to eat.

"How'd the hunting patrol go yesterday?" Gingerkit asked, after swallowing a mouthful of water vole.

"Excellent. We caught lots of fish." Reedheart took another bite of his fresh-kill. "Blackwhisker had bad fishing luck. He was sour about it all day and night."

"That's Blackwhisker for you." Gingerkit sighed after she finished the last bit of water vole. Reedheart finished his as well.

"Well, I must gather the dawn patrol before it gets any later. See you, Gingerkit."

Reedheart stood up and walked over to Waterstar, asking him if he would like to join the dawn patrol, and he nodded.

One day, I'm going to be in Reedheart's dawn patrol, thought Gingerkit excitedly. And she bounced off after another leaf being blown in the wind.

Reedheart returned. His pelt held the scent of fish and the scent of water. But it also held the scent of ShadowClan. He and Waterstar were talking urgently together, whispering low. Blackwhisker and Gingerfur were standing side by side, eyes gleaming with a hatred and power-hungry feeling that Gingerkit did not recognize.

She bounced over to Blackwhisker, and she nuzzled him.

"Hello, Blackwhisker!" she mewed quickly. She swiveled her head towards Gingerfur. "Hi, dad."

"Hey, Gingerkit. And how's my favorite kit today?" he asked, the hatred and power-hungry feeling vanishing from his eyes. "I caught a special fish for you today."

"I'm good. And thanks!" Gingerkit mewed, the look in Blackwhisker's eyes forgotten.

"You look tired. Been chasing those leaves again?" purred Gingerfur.

"Yes. I'm getting really good at it."

Reedheart's eyes were hard as he approached Gingerfur and Blackwhisker.

"Come with me, you two," he hissed low. Gingerkit had never heard Reedheart hiss before. "May I steal these two away from you for just a moment?" Reedheart asked Gingerkit politely.

"Sure. I'm going off to find mom anyway. Bye, Reedheart, dad, and Blackwhisker!" Gingerkit purred, bouncing off.

"Such a sweet kit." Reedheart sighed. "Too bad she has a rotten father, along with his accomplice. I know you and Blackwhisker have been over to ShadowClan. I knew I smelt the faint trace of their retched scent on your pelts. Come with me. Waterstar has a few words for you. Hopefully they are about exile." Reedheart flicked his tail for the two to fallow, and they reluctantly did.