The warm sun beamed through the cracks in the roof of the ThunderClan nursery. New-leaf was finally here, and every cat in the clan was enjoying it. Except Mothwing. Her golden dappled fur felt heavy and hot as she lay in the nursery, a frown on her face. Sometimes Owlkit wondered what the heck her mom's problem was.
The tiny gray she-cat prodded her mother's tail with her paw. Mothwing didn't respond. Irritated, Owlkit laid down and put her face on her paws. Stupid Mothwing never wanted to play. She was always depressed or busy. And her siblings were always asleep! What a boring life she had. Owlkit's pale blue eyes scanned her family's mossy nest for anything fun to do. Nothing. Just Sunkit, her brother, and Hollykit, her sister, sleeping.
Voices from the next nest over caught Owlkit's attention. Her ears pricked and she turned around, expression curious. The gray queen, Cinderheart, was talking to that orange tom that came in to see her every five minutes. Owllit rolled her eyes. Lionblaze was his name. He was always fretting over Cinderheart, asking if the kits were coming and bringing her prey. As annoying as it was, Owlkit couldn't help but wish she had a father who cared about her like Lionblaze already cared about his unborn kits.
The tiny she-cat turned back to her own nest, deciding to ask Mothwing about that. "Mama, how come our daddy doesn't come see us?" Owlkit asked her mother. Mothwing seemed surprised to hear that question. "Um...because he's a very busy warrior." She answered quickly. Owlkit noticed Cinderheart and Lionblaze exchanging a glance. She wondered why the topic of her father was so awkward for everybody.
Sunkit rose from his nest, shaking pieces of dirt and moss from his orange tabby pelt. His green eyes focused quickly on Mothwing. "Can you get him to teach us to hunt, then?" He asked their mother. Mothwing dodged the question. "Are you hungry?" She asked instead. Owlkit rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. She was itching to run around and play, but Hollykit was asleep, and Sunkit was apparently more interested in eating.
"Why don't you and Owlkit go and get something to share from the freshkill pile?" Mothwing suggested. Owlkit looked back, finally interested. "Our first meat?" She squeaked, rising to her paws. Mothwing nodded, trying to look cheerful. "Yeah!"
Sunkit was already out of the nursery, running as fast as his little orange legs would carry him to the freshkill pile. Owlkit hopped out of the nest and trotted after him. She breathed in the scent of camp, feeling the warm sun on her pelt and the cool dirt on her paws. Loads of cats were gathered all over the place, a few of which she recognized.
Bramblestar, the leader, was talking to the deputy, Squirrelflight, about moving to the nursery soon. Owlkit hoped Squirrelflight would have her kits pretty soon, because her siblings were boring. Cinderheart too, would be giving birth soon. Owlkit really needed some playmates. A sudden voice pulled Owlkit out of her thoughts. "Are you going to get a piece of prey or are you just going to stand there and wait for it to come to you?" She spun around to face a big gray tom with blue eyes, who was looking down at her like she was a piece of crowfood.
"Sorry." Owlkit replied shortly. Jeez, he was a grump. She backed away from the pile, trying to find Sunkit. She squeaked in surprise as she backed into a puddle. Before leaping out of it, Owlkit peered into the little collection of rainwater. Her reflection rippled as she touched her little gray paw to it, and curiously, Owlkit glanced back at the big gray cat.
"You look just like me." She observed aloud. The tom's eyes widened and he looked Owlkit dead in the eye. "We do." He agreed, almost awkwardly. Owlkit took a step towards the strange tom. "What's your name?" She asked, eyes flashing. Why was this tom being so weird arouns her? He was acting like he wanted to run away.
"My name is Jayfeather. I'm the medicine cat." The tom answered. Owlkit nodded slowly. "I'm Owlkit." She mewed, politely introducing herself like her mother always told her to. Jayfeather smiled faintly. "Oh, I know. I helped your mom deliver you and your brother and sister." He mewed, sitting down, curling his tail around his paws.
Owlkit was confused. "Deliver?" She asked, tilting her head to the side. "Yes. I helped your mom, Mothwing, give birth to you." Jayfeather mewed. "Oh. So you already knew my name, then." Owlkit realized. Jayfeather smiled strangely. "Yeah...I have to go organize some herbs. I'll be going." He mewed, padding away quickly.
How odd, Owlkit thought. Jayfeather seemed to be trying to get away from her. He had been friendly, though. Just awkward. Shrugging it off, the gray kit padded back towards the nursery to see what kind of prey Sunkit got to share with her. When she entered the nursery, her brother was already devouring a little mouse. Hollykit had awoken too, because she was helping him eat it.
Mothwing looked worried. "Where have you been, Owlkit? Sunkit was back awhile ago. I was starting to worry." She mewed, green eyes narrowed. Owlkit flicked her tail. "I was talking to the medicine cat, Jayfeather." She answered coolly. Hollykit stopped eating, and her fluffy black fur bristled slightly. "No fair! You got to meet the medicine cat?" She cried. Owlkit smiled, remembering that her sister's dream was to be the medicine cat.
"Yup. He was super cool!" Owlkit boasted. She could tell her sister was jealous. Mothwing flicked her tail for silence. "Try not to dilly dally next time, okay, Owlkit? You had Ms worried." She mewed, lying on her side. Hollykit resumed eating. Sunkit looked up for a moment, face stained red from his meal. "You better come eat, Owlkit. We've almost finished this mouse!" He mewed loudly, as if he were her parent. "Shut up, Sunkit. You're not the boss of me. I'm not hungry anyway." Owlkit grumbled, lying back down in the nest.
"Owlkit, be nice!" Mothwing ordered. Owlkit snorted and rolled onto her side so she didn't have to look at them. She was absorbed in her thoughts again. Mothwing seemed pretty touchy about the medicine cat, though Owlkit had no idea why. And now she wasn't going to get any food anyway, for snapping at Sunkit. Stupid siblings.
