Someone was talking…
"-see her. Brightheart, when can we leave?"
That voice… Whitekit would know it anywhere. It was her father's. He had been here often enough for her to remember his voice, how he smelled and what he looked like.
Yes, she had opened her eyes three sunrises ago, when her father had visited her mother and her with a fat squirrel. It was the best decision she had ever made. There were so much to see and so much to learn as well. And her parents were so proud that they had both showered her with caresses and licks, as if she was a gift from StarClan.
Well, her parents, especially her mother, had often told her that. She remembered always being showered with affection and love, her mother curled around her, her father crouching nearby, whispering sweet things to her, their voices laced with awe and tenderness.
Yawning, she cracked opened her eyes, blinking them several times, only to see Cloudtail, her father, sharing tongue with her mother, Brightheart. As she stretched, she saw her father drawing his tongue gently over the scarred part of her mother's face.
She had heard what Spiderkit and Shrewkit said about her mother. They told her that Ferncloud told them that Brightheart had fought against dogs in the past and it was the dogs who had left her face scarred and hard to look at. Well, at least that was what they could say before Whitekit huffed and told them that her mother was the most beautiful queen in the Clans. Spiderkit had snorted and argued that, no, Brightheart wasn't pretty, prompting Whitekit to growl at him threatingly while Shrewkit tried to stop his brother from being claw by their much smaller denmate.
The truth was, Whitekit had never met another queen who was as pretty as her mother. True that her face was horribly scarred, as the others, except her father, had pointed out, but to Whitekit, that was the proof of her mother's bravery. And of course, even though her face scared many cats, Brightheart had a shining soul, being one of the kindest cats in ThunderClan.
"Whitekit, did we wake you up?" Brightheart gently passed her tongue over her daughtesr's fluffy white pelt, finally drawing her attention away from her mate. "I am so sorry if we did, dear."
"No you didn't." She assured her mother, licking her paw and began washing her muzzle. "Does Papa have to go somewhere?" She asked while smoothing her whiskers, watching as Brightheart and Cloudtail exchanging a look.
"No, no, dear Whitekit." Cloudtail assured her lightly, his tail thumped softly against the ground as he gazed lovingly at her. "I am not going anywhere, unless your mother and you come with me." He meowed.
Whitekit had heard Shrewkit complained that Cloudtail was so rude before Ferncloud sternly told him not to say things about warriors. Spiderkit had, for once, kept his mouth shut but Whitekit knew he shared his brother's complaint. Ferncloud had looked apologetically at Brightheart and Whitekit before she turned back to her own kits while Sandstorm watched curiously from her nest, belly swollen with the kits she was carrying. She was mates with Firestar and he was Cloudtail's kin so the kits Sandstorm was bearing would be Whitekit's kin too. Privately, Whitekit wondered if one of them was white like her. Then Spiderkit and Shrewkit wouldn't tease her that she would be a bad hunter because of her white pelt.
Whitekit had also noticed her father snapped at other cats a lot. However, he had never raised his voice at her mother or her. Cloudtail always addressed them gently, and caringly while he snapped at every cat inside and outside of the Clan, including the leaders.
"Cloudtail, I told you I love the idea but Whitekit is too young to go out of camp." Brightheart sighed exasperatedly as her mate frowned, his tail lashing lightly behind him. The white-and-ginger queen gazed fondly at her kit while Whitekit looked at her with confusion in her green eyes.
"Out of camp?" She echoed her mother's words with a delighted tone. Her fluffy tail waved excitedly behind her as she gazed expectantly at her parents. "I can go out before I am apprenticed?" She asked; a little prickle of doubt edged in her meow.
Cloudtail turned to his mate with a satisfied look. "Looks like our daughter is ready to go." He meowed teasingly while Brightheart flattened her ears, playfully glaring at him with her one good eye. He leaned down and touched his muzzle to Whitekit's ear. "We are going to meet my mother." He murmured in her ears, knowing that Brightheart heard but the queen just painted a confused look on her face to the amusement of their kit while the white kit nodded happily, her tail curling up in pleasure.
"Are you going to share with me?" The queen demanded playfully, flicking her tail at her mate and kit, blue eye lit up mischievously as the two flattened their ears and let out a startled meow when Whitekit pounced on her, nuzzling her fiercely.
"Nope!" The white kit meowed brightly, poking her mother with her tiny paws. "It is our little secret, Mama." She let out an amused mrrw, glancing at her father who snorted when Brightheart pretended to cower.
"Oh, oh, get this ferocious warrior off me!" Brightheart moaned dramatically, flailing her paws wildly as the little kit purred deeply in her throat. Cloudtail watched his mate and daughter fondly, bliss shone in his blue eyes and he soon joined in their little game.
The next morning, Brightheart lead Whitekit out of the nursery toward Cloudtail, who was waiting by the entrance with Firestar, conversing softly under their breath. The camp was buzzing like any other day, obvious to the two whispering cats.
Frostfur was sunning herself by the elder's den while Sootpaw was practicing battle moves with Thornclaw in the clearing. Cinderpelt limping toward Dappletail who was lazily sharing tongues with Speckletail in a spot of sunlight. Mousefur and her patrol padded pass the two cats at the entrance and deposited their prey at the fresh-kill pile.
"Cloudtail, we are ready." Brightheart called as the mother and daughter approached the two. She dipped her head to Firestar who returned with a dip of his own before entwining her tail with Cloudtail's plump one.
"Come on!" Whitekit whined, kneading the earth with her tiny paws, blinking hopefully at her father. "I want to go now!" She meowed, looking longingly through the entrance, envisioning what Cloudtail's mother looked like. Was she a white queen with a soft, white pelt like her son or did she possess a fiery ginger pelt like Firestar? What were her eyes like? Were they blue like Cloudtail's or green like Firestar? Whitekit couldn't wait to find out.
Firestar purred as he leaned down and gently touched her head with his muzzle, green eyes sparkling good-naturedly. "Off you go then." He meowed, turning to Cloudtail with a longing look. "Say hello to Princess for me. I would love to see her again but…" He trailed off, eyes stopped at the bramble covered nursery with a sigh.
Whitekit blinked, not knowing why her leader sounded so torn. Suddenly, it hit her. Oh! "Are you worried about Sandstorm?" She piped up, her voice tinted with curiosity while the ginger tom stared at her with a horrified look. "Don't worry. She will be fine." She reassured him as gentle as a mother would to her kit.
Brightheart stifled a mrrw of laughter while Cloudtail snorted as Firestar flattened his ears, looking back and for as if he was scared of something. "Hush!" The leader growled, neck fur bristling before he turned to the white kit with horrified green eyes. "Don't ever suggest that to Sandstorm." He warned, watching the kit as she blinked in confusion.
"What? I know she can take care of herself." The kit pouted, glancing at the nursery fondly. "You don't need to worry about her. She is a great cat who will give the Clan beautiful kits who will probably be as courageous and determine like her." The kit finished her speech with a lash of her tail.
Whitekit honestly liked Sandstorm. She was fun to be with and she was good with kits. She often played moss ball with Whitekit even Spiderkit and Shrewkit were out hunting leaves. And of course, Sandstorm was fierce! She stood up to every cat. Even to Firestar and he was the leader. Whitekit wanted to be fearless like her when she grew up. And of course, she wanted to be as brave and kind and beautiful as her mother too.
"I know she will." Firestar meowed softly, giving the white kit a swift lick. "She is snappish at the moment so it wouldn't be wise to provoke her." The ginger leader sighed before turning to Cloudtail. "I will take my kits to Princess after they are kitted and strong enough to travel. And if Sandstorm doesn't claw my ears off…" The last part was mumbled under his breath as he ushered the little family out of camp when Sandstorm slid out of the nursery.
Whitekit purred as the leader glanced at his mate. Brightheart brushed her tail along his flank as they left. "We will be back soon." She promised. "And if we can, we will bring back prey."
Cloudtail took the lead, with Brightheart nudging their kit behind, eyes scanning the forest. Even when the Clans were at peace, there was no reason why they shouldn't keep their ears opened, especially when they had their kit with them.
Whitekit, however, looked around in astonishment, unaware of her parents' worries. She scanned the Twolegplace ahead with wide green eyes. "Wow, this is so cool!" She exclaimed excitedly, waving her fluffed out tail high, whiskers twitching with enthusiasm.
Brightheart purred as she nudged her kit playfully. "This is your first time out of camp, isn't it?" She asked, flicking her daughter's ear with her tail. Suddenly, her eye grew sad as she picked her way after her mate and daughter.
Whitekit, sensing her mother's change of mood, pressed against the queen worriedly. "What is wrong, Mama?" She asked, worry laced in her meow as her mother looked at the Twoleg thing that separated the Twolegplace from the forest.
Sighing, Brightheart nuzzled her kit tenderly. "Nothing is wrong, my dear. Let's keep going." She meowed, looking up only to meet with Cloudtail's concerned eyes. "I am fine." She hissed, taking the lead with her tail held high.
Whitekit winced. It was the first time she had heard her mother so angry. And sad too… But why would she be sad and angry at the same time? Earlier, she seemed so pleased to take her to meet Cloudtail's mother. Was there something she didn't know?
"Brightheart!" Cloudtail gathered the white kit with a sweep of his tail and gingerly trailed after his mate. He muttered softly under his breath, so soft that even when Whitekit strained to listen, she couldn't even hear a word.
Eyes round with concern, she looked up at Cloudtail. "What is wrong with Mama?" She meowed fearfully. Her mother seemed so nervous, pacing near the Twoleg thing, waiting for her mate and daughter, fur bristling as her only eyes darted around.
Cloudtail soothed her flank with his tail as they approached the queen. "I will talk to her." He promised before wounding himself around Brightheart, purring soothingly. "Don't worry Brightheart. I will protect you." He meowed, nuzzling his mate fondly.
Whitekit looked at her parents with admiration. Her parents seemed to be attached to each other. They seemed to share everything. She wondered if she could ever find a mate who would love her as much as her parents loved each other.
Brightheart looked at her mate with such pain in her eyes that Whitekit winced and she pushed her muzzle into her mother's fur. "Can you protect me from the whispers?" Brightheart murmured so softly that Whitekit nearly missed it. "The last time she saw me, she jumped in like she had seen a badger." She meowed, for once, her voice was bitter and she seemed exhausted, like she had given up fighting.
A purr rumbling in Cloudtail's throat as he gently groomed his mate's fur. "It will be fine." He insisted, glancing at his daughter, who met his eyes squarely. "She will get used to it."
Whitekit nodded. Though she wanted to meet Cloudtail's mother, she loved Brightheart fiercely. No one should hate her mother because of her scars. They were just proof that her mother was a brave cat. If Princess couldn't see that, Whitekit wouldn't want anything to do with her.
They stayed like that for a while, taking comfort from being close to their loved ones. Whitekit pressed close to her mother's flank while her parents curled around each other, purring contentedly. Suddenly, Cloudtail untangled himself from the pile of fur and let out a loud yowl at the direction of the Twolegplace.
Startled, Whitekit blinked curiously at her father before feeling her mother nudging her toward the Twoleg thing. Scared, she let out a small whimper and stared at her with fear in her green eyes though the queen only assured her with a low purr in her throat.
"Don't be afraid." Cloudtail soothed his kit with a brisk lick before turning his attention to the Twoleg thing. His tail lashing in anticipation and nervousness as a small shape emerged from one of the Twoleg's dens nearby before launching itself up the Twoleg thing.
With a gasp, Whitekit recognized the thing as a cat, a small brown tabby with white paws and chest. With a cry, she landed safely in front of the Clan cats. Whitekit's nose twitched as the cat's scent drift into her small pink nose. She smelled so unlike the cats in ThunderClan, with a mixture of bad-smelling things that weren't in the forest. However, under that, was a smell that she had grown familiar. A touch of the smell that clung to her father's pelt as well as Firestar's…
"Whitekit, meet Princess, my mother." Cloudtail murmured, touching his nose softly against the tabby cat who purred in pleasure as she returned the gesture. "And Princess, meet Whitekit, my daughter." He grunted as the she-cat started to cover his face and neck with loving licks
The brown tabby had pulled herself away from covering Cloudtail's face and neck with licks and met Whitekit's green eyes with her own amber ones that seemed to glow with affection. "Cloudtail told me so much about you." She meowed warmly before dipping her head to Brightheart. "I am so glad that my son has found his own family in the forest with a loving mate and a cute kit." She sniffed a mrrw of laughter while Brightheart ducked her head embarrassedly.
Whitekit blinked her green eyes at the she-cat. Her tail puffed up in excitement as she wound herself around the tabby. "You've heard about me?" She squeaked, excitement building inside her at the thought of finding out what had her father's mother heard about her.
Princess meowed with laughter in her meowed. "Of course! Cloudtail was meowing up a storm about how adorable you are two sunrises ago before Firestar came and dragged him away for a patrol." He glanced affectionately at her son, who flattened his ears playfully. "He kept telling me how beautiful you are, both you and your mother." Her tone was heart-felt as she directed her warm amber gaze at Brightheart, who shyly buried her head into her mate's fur.
"He mentioned me?" Brightheart's meow came out, muffled by her mate's fluffy white pelt. The queen acted as if she was a nervous apprentice facing a Clan leader as she turned her blue eye on the brown tabby.
"Of course!" Princess meowed like it was as obvious as the sky was blue. "You are his mate and a brilliant cat. Why shouldn't he bring you up?" She sounded puzzled as she gazed at Brightheart. Suddenly, her voice grew sharp. For a moment, she sounded like her son when he was in one of his moods. "Did some cat mistreat you?"
"What?" Brightheart spluttered with her eye wide as Whitekit pressed herself against her mother's fur, bristling in disbelief. Who would mistreat Brightheart? She was such a kind and thoughtful cat! Surely she deserved much better than being mistreated!
"Princess, no cat is mistreating me." The queen assured the tabby as she turned to nuzzle her kit. "Cloudtail would shred them if they even glance at me wrongly." She meowed brightly, a little too brightly perhaps but Princess purred and shot her son an approving look while Whitekit let out a soft mrrw of laughter.
Flattening his ear, Cloudtail gave his chest a few embarrassed looks. "You should have seen Firestar when Thornclaw suggested Sandstorm leading a patrol after she announced she was expecting." He muttered, wanting to draw the attention away.
Princess rolled her eyes as she gave Whitekit's pelt a sniff. "My brother worries too much…" She murmured to herself. "He is lucky to have Sandstorm to keep him in line." With a sigh, she turned to Brightheart. "Like him, my son is lucky to have you to look after him." She meowed, watching Brightheart looked away embarrassedly before giving Whitekit a brisk lick. "I shall be waiting for the good news."
Dipping his head, Cloudtail wound himself around his mother, touching her nose with his. "You will hear about it when Whitekit becomes an apprentice." He promised before nodding at Brightheart. "It is time." He meowed briskly as Whitekit pouted. She did not want to go back so soon.
"Don't sulk." Brightheart advised as she nudged her kit into the trees with Cloudtail trailing behind. "You will see her again." She meowed as Whitekit turned around, only in time to see the brown bundle of fur that was Princess leaped up the Twoleg thing before disappearing into the Twolegplace.