"Catch me if you can!" Blazekit shrieked, dashing out of the nursery. A brown, cream, and tortie blur scrambled after him.
"Hey! No fair!" Brightkit squealed, "You're faster!"
"Exactly!" The ginger tabby grinned, cream paws bouncing up and down on the hard packed earth, green eyes shining. Brightkit burst out of the dark nursery, leaving the warm milky scents behind her. The tiny she-kit blinked, the sudden brightness blinding her.
The camp was bathed in soft, sweet golden light. The sharp, thorny bristles of the brambles that made up most of the dens glistened with morning dew, as did the blades of grass scattered in patches throughout the clearing. Highrock shone with the early moisture, and it gleamed brightly, almost majestically in the dawn rays. That must be what the Moonstone looks like, Brightkit decided, like she did every morning after seeing the grand stone slab, only shinier. Sunlight danced in shimmering golden beams throughout the canopy above camp, causing the emerald leaves to glow as if lit from within. The foliage wove and laced together intricately, as if it was a tapestry spun by a delicate hand, thrown over bare treetops to bring life to the forest. The brilliant cerulean sky shone above it, vastly endless, speckled with pearly white puffs of clouds encircling the all-powerful glowing orb. Brightkit couldn't even lift her gaze to it directly, with it's burning intensity that seared her eyes. Birds twittered and sang ditties back and forth, and squirrels bounced upon boughs and rustled the leaves, like a rambling, offbeat percussionist.
Home, Brightkit thought pleasantly, forgetting about her troublesome brother for the moment, Always has been, always will be. Thunderclan. The kitten smiled and pranced over to her brother, who had, by now, given up the game of chase and was lolling about in the dirt, cream-colored tummy facing the sun. He looks peaceful, Brightkit thought, far too peaceful! The mischievous she-kit braced herself, and unsheathed one tiny claw. She jabbed Blazekit in the side, and lept away almost instantly. His reaction was typical, expected, and hilarious.
"EEYOUUUCHHH!" He shrieked, leaping up, green eyes wide. Tail stiff, body rigid, whiskers quivering, he glared at his sister. "Hey, you, what was that for?" He growled, lunging at her. Brightkit wasn't quick enough to dodge the feisty tom, and they rolled to the ground tussling, a mound of wild gold-ginger fur and cream and brown tufts.
"Thas' my ear!" Brightkit squeaked, trying to wriggle out from underneath her brother, his thorn-sharp kit teeth nipping at her delicate ear skin. She gave up the struggle and went limp, causing Blazekit, in victory, to loosen his grip. Brightkit immediately twisted around and scrambled on top of Blazekit, pinning him to the ground and gnawing contentedly at his ear.
"No fair! Cheater!" Blazekit huffed, pulling himself out from underneath his sister grouchily.
"You're not gonna get away from me that easily!" Brightkit giggled, throwing herself at Blazekit and tackling him into a patch of tall weeds. Her brother, being a fair bit larger, turns the tables easily, and sat on her haunches, smirking.
"I win," He grinned cheekily.
"Humph," Brightkit muttered, crossing her eyes straining to look up at the ginger-gold tabby. He looked down at her as well, and giggled at the sight of her efforts.
"You look funny like that," He chuckled.
"Yeah? Well your face looks funny every day. Cuz you're stupid!" Brightkit stuck her tongue out at him.
"Sure. Says the one who thinks she can beat me in a fight," Blazekit rolled his eyes, sliding off of Brightkit's back, allowing her to get up and shake herself off. But she doesn't. Instead, the she-kit was intensely focusing on something moving in the tall, prickly weeds. Blazekit looked down at her and scoffed.
"What's so interesting? A speck of dirt?" He asked.
"Shuddup," Brightkit hissed, "See for yourself." Blazekit crouched down low beside his sister…to find an ant.
"What's so interesting about an ant?" He mewed quietly, tail twitching.
"It's carryin' sumthin'," Brightkit whispered, blue gaze fixed on the tiny insect.
"Whaddaya think it is?" Blazekit asked, curious now, staring at the ant. It was carrying something, a little white speck. Suddenly, the white speck wriggled.
"You think it's carrying…its kit?" Brightkit wondered.
"Maybe…it is moving," Blazekit agreed.
"Cool," Brightkit grinned, sitting up.
"You're so weird," Blazekit smiled, shaking his head.
"How?" Brightkit pouted.
"I dunno. It's just…weird, I guess," Blazekit meowed thoughtfully.
"Whatever. An ant kit is still cool. I don't care what you mew about, Blazekit, it is," Brightkit sighed, swatting her brother playfully on the nose, "Hey, wanna go find Thunderheart?" She asked. Blazekit nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah! Dad'll play mossball with us! He said so yesterday!" Blazekit purred. The two dashed out into the center of camp, eyes desperately searching for the familiar thick, shaggy dark gray pelt, and the amber eyes.
"Hey, Burrpaw, have you seen Thunderheart?" Blazekit asked, bounding up to the spiky-furred brown apprentice.
"Nope, sorry." The she-cat mewed with a shrug.
"Have you, Finchpaw?" Brightkit asked, turning hopefully towards the slight, white and gray-splotched tom. He shook his head.
"Great Starclan you two are useless!" Blazekit cried out dramatically. Burrpaw rolled her eyes.
"And you're obnoxious. Go bother some other cats, huh?" She grumbled, and looked at her friend with a scowl, "Kits!"
"Apprentices!" Blazekit shot back, "Come on, Brightkit. Let's go look somewhere else," He huffed.
"Okay," Brightkit chirped, looking back at the apprentices over her shoulder, "Bye guys!"
"Bye," Finchpaw meowed quietly. Burrpaw merely sneered and turned away.
Grump! Brightkit thought. She bounced over to her brother, who was waiting impatiently and scanning the camp clearing for Thunderheart.
The medicine cat apprentice, Heronsplash, was chatting enthusiastically with two young warriors, Gorsewhisker and Hailspots, while his mentor sulked in the corner. Lichenshade wasn't one for idle chatter, or for socializing at all, really. He preferred his thoughts. He's troubled, that one, Brightkit remembered her mother saying, It's best to let him be. Nutpaw and Oddpaw sat together, sharing a sparrow, while Morningpaw practiced with his mentor, Mottleclaw, nearby. Pricklepelt and Sablefoot were discussing cats for the Dusk Patrol, and Songmist slept in the shade, Driftkit and Copperkit prancing about her. Poppykit and Rosekit play fought at her side. Brightkit rolled her eyes. So young, and so annoying! She thought, watching the two-moon old apprentices play. Wolfstep glanced at the two wandering kittens.
"Are you two looking for something?" He inquired curiously, sidling up to the pair.
"Yep. Have you seen our father?" Brightkit squeaked. Wolfstep paused, thinking.
"Yes, I have. He's out on patrol now, though. Why? Do you need him?" The warrior said.
"We wanted him to play mossball with us," Blazekit sighed.
"Well, I could play with you." Wolfstep meowed.
"Oh, would you?" Brightkit purred. The large silver-blue tabby looked at her carefully, with his big yellow eyes, and then smiled.
"Anything to make you happy," He said. But Brightkit and her brother paid no attention to it.
"Well, d'you wanna play Badger?" Blazekit mewed eagerly. Thunderheart always refused to play Badger with them. He said Blazekit got too rough.
"Alright," Wolfstep nodded, crouching down and baring him teeth playfully. Brightkit shrieked gleefully as the game began, getting into character immediately. She bounced away from Wolfstep, tail waving.
"Blazeheart, Blazeheart, a badger's in our camp!" She cried, using her brother's play-name.
"Don't worry, Brightflower, I'll save you!" Blazekit announced, puffing up with pride, and then racing eagerly toward Wolfstep.
"Attack!" Brightkit called, launching herself at the tom. The large silver-blue warrior shook his pelt to try and get the clingy little kits off.
"Gar, I'm a big scary badger! Get off of my back!" He roared.
"Never, until you leave Thunderclan alone!" Blazekit said, swiping at Wolfstep's ear.
"Ah, the pain!" He howled playfully, falling to the ground.
"Admit defeat, you monster!" Brightkit squealed, pinning down his head with her two forepaws.
"Never!" Wolfstep growled from his place on the ground. He writher, throwing the kits off, and then he reared up on his hind paws. As the great silver paws came crashing back down, the kits scampered out of the way.
"We need a bigger patrol!" Blazekit exclaimed, "Brightflower, gather the new recruits."
"On it!" Brightkit grinned, dashing over to where the four younger kits were playing. Brightkit and Blazekit, being five moons old, were three moons older than these kits. Driftkit, Copperkit, Poppykit, and Rosekit all looked up to them. As Brightkit skidded to a halt beside them, Songmist raised her head and looked at Brightkit bemusedly.
"Hello," The queen purred.
"No time to talk now! We need the new warriors on the front lines right away!" Brightkit said, hoping the kits would play along, even when she knew they wouldn't pass up the chance. The four younger ones looked at her, intrigued.
"Okay!" Copperkit was the first to reply.
"Copperclaw, you and Rosedust take the right, and attack from there. While the badger's distracted, Driftfoot, Poppytail and I will sneak up from behind." Brightkit explained quickly. The kits hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. "What're you waiting for, then? Let's go!" Brightkit called, racing away. Her patrol followed her, while the other two hurried over to where Blazekit was alone, battling the badger bravely.
"Get him!" Copperkit shrieked, hurling himself at Wolfstep, who took the blow well. Rosekit lept after him, clutching at the warrior's broad shoulders. Brightkit and the last two snuck up from behind, half stalking, half wriggling their way over to the distracted badger. With a flick of her tail, all three attacked. Driftkit roared fiercely, and Brightkit soared through the air, hurtling at the silver-blue warrior's flank as if she were shot out a cannon. Poppykit squealed with delight as Brightkit knocked Wolfstep to the ground where he squirmed under the weight of all the kits. Finally, to end the struggle, Blazekit perched himself atop the big tom's chest and swiped at his throat with sheathed claws. Wolfstep shuddered and dropped his head to the dusty camp ground, eyes rolling back in his head, tongue lolling out the side of his mouth.
"Ungh!" He grunted before remaining still.
"We've won! The badger is dead!" Brightkit cheered wildly, leading the other kits away from the "body" in a victory parade. Her brother raced to the front and began his triumphant chant:
"I've killed the blasted old badger, I've killed the blasted old badger!" He squeaked happily. The younger kits gazed up at him in awe, as if he really had slayed the vicious beast. Brightkit pouted. She'd won the battle too, not just Blazekit.
"Yeah, well it was my strategy! It was all my idea for the two patrols!" She argued, but the others were still crowding around Blazekit, applauding his valiant kill.
"Don't worry. They'll learn soon enough that battle isn't all blood and claws." Wolfstep murmured from behind her. She turned to face him, curious.
"They will?" She mewed hopefully. He nodded, and his gaze was serious.
"Oh, yes. And now that the Clans have realized she-cats can fight, well," He shrugged, "they'll realize that you're the true leader here." Brightkit grinned.
"You really think so?" The praise of a warrior was so rare she basked in its glory.
"I know so. Now, run off and teach your brother who's boss!" He laughed, pushing her away with a gentle silver paw. Brightkit smiled giddily and darted away, her heart now swollen with pride.
"Wolfstep said today that I was a better leader than Blazekit, Mama." Brightkit said as Moonlily groomed her fur meticulously. A rough tongue swiped at her cheek, trying to untangle the matted, long fur.
"Mmmhmm," Moonlily mumbled, focused on cleaning her daughter. Thunderheart was doing the same to Blazekit across the den.
"He said that since everyone knows she-cats can fight, they'll figure out that my strategies are more important than Blazekit's kills," Brightkit stared up at her mother, willing her to listen, "He said war isn't all blood and claws."
"Wolfstep is right, darling," Moonlily purred, pulling away from her daughter to gaze at her with admiration, "And I have no doubt you'll make a wonderful warrior."
"I could be leader!" Brightkit exclaimed.
"Yes you could, my love." Moonlily smiled, nuzzling her, "Now let's get to sleep."
"I'm not tired!" Blazekit called from where he sat with Thunderheart.
"You should get some rest anyway," Thunderheart chuckled, "Starclan knows you'll miss sleep once you're an apprentice next moon."
"I don't even want to think about it!" Moonlily sighed sadly, looking down at her babies. Thunderheart purred and touched his nose to his mate's cheek gently.
"It will be nice to have you back in the warrior's den," He murmured, "It's getting lonely."
"But I don't want my kits to grow up!" Moonlily exclaimed, nudging Blazekit into the nest. "Soon they'll be training and fighting and catching their own food and sleeping by themselves…they won't need me anymore." The brown and white she-cat's green eyes glowed with warmth and wistfulness. Thunderheart hummed, a deep thrumming from within his chest, and drew her closer. Head tucked beneath his chin, Moonlily closed her eyes for a moment and let herself melt away into his thick gray pelt.
"Mama!" Blazekit whined, and she reopened her eyes to peer amusedly at her little tom.
"Yes, my tiger?" She cooed, removing herself from her mate's embrace to nuzzle her kit.
"I'm still not sleepy!" He muttered as she licked the top of his head to make that one stubborn tuft of ginger fur lay flat.
"I'm sorry, my love, but I'm afraid I'm the authority in this nest." Her voice was gentle, as not to wake Songmist and her dozing litter.
"I'm not tired either, Mama. Can't we stay up to see the stars tonight?" Brightkit begged. Moonlily gazed affectionately at her daughter and her green eyes grew soft.
"Oh, Brightkit, you know Greenleaf nights come late. Far later than you're supposed to be awake!" Thunderheart chided before his mate could speak.
"But Papa the stars-" Brightkit protested to no avail. Her father was not having it tonight. He shook his head firmly.
"Not another squeak, little miss, or you won't be seeing much of anything tomorrow." He warned before giving Moonlily a sweet lick on the cheek.
"Goodnight, lovely. Don't let them give you any trouble, the rascals." He glanced lovingly back at the kittens before exiting the nursery. Moonlily peeked out the den's entrance, watching her mate as he made his way through camp to the warrior's den. She waited until he'd disappeared from sight, and then turned back to the kits, her grin sly.
"I think it would be a shame not to watch Starclan appear on such a clear, beautiful, Greenleaf night." She mused, cocking her head playfully. The kits bounced in the nest excitedly.
"Really?!" Blazekit squealed. Moonlily's eyes widened and she looked quickly to Songmist to make sure the queen and kits hadn't woken.
"Hush! This is a special secret." She said quietly.
"We won't tell Papa." Brightkit assured her with a wide smile. Moonlily nodded, pleased, and then flicked her tail toward the little exit.
"Remember: shh!" The queen giggled softly before leaving the den. Both kits followed, scampering after their mother eagerly. Brightkit wriggled her way out of the nursery after her brother, trying not to snag her thick brown and white pelt on the tangle of brambles that so ensnared her paws this morning when she tried to fetch their breakfast.
"Hurry up!" Blazekit hissed as she stumbled after them.
"Shut up!" Brightkit retorted, swatting at his tail. The pair scurried across camp after their mother, who paused under the tall sycamore that stood proudly along the edge of the ferns, its long shadowed branches stretching across the inky, velvet sky. Moonlily stopped and the kits gathered about her, looking eagerly up at their mother, whose glowing green eyes surveyed the tree's stately trunk with an air of playful adventure.
"Are we gonna climb it Mama?" Blazekit asked enthusiastically, ginger tail waving like a signal flag in the half-light. Moonlily chuckled lightly.
"Climb it? Not you two. But…" She mused teasingly, keeping them in suspense just long enough for the fur to stand up on the backs of their necks, "I could carry you!"
"Oh my Starclan, would you Mama? Really?" Brightkit gasped happily, overwhelmed by Moonlily's adventurous spirit that night.
"Let's see…you first, my tiger." Moonlily winked at the kits before scooping Blazekit up in her mouth like a limp ragdoll. He tried not to squirm for even though he normally kept up his brave façade, Blazekit feared heights and being dropped as much as anyone else. Brightkit giggled as she watched her mother scale the trunk, Blazekit's wide green gaze disappearing up in the tangle of leaves and limbs.
"Whoa," She whispered as Moonlily's cream pelt and long brown tail vanished amid the rustling green tangle atop the sycamore. She heard soft mumblings and a frightened squeal before her mother's face appeared through the leaves. She smiled, assuring.
"He's alright, little dove." Moonlily called down softly, and Brightkit watched in awe as her mother picked her way down the tree gracefully. Her body was slim and lithe, elegant and graceful, and Brightkit aspired to be as confident and lovely as her mother. As brave and sweet, kind and smart. Moonlily was, in Brightkit's eyes, the perfect warrior, the most wonderful mother. As soon as the larger she-cat had set foot on the ground, Brightkit felt her mother's firm grasp on her scruff. It was not painful, for Moonlily knew to curl her lips over her sharp white teeth before picking up her little daughter.
"How high is the sycamore? How old?" Brightkit wondered as they danced through the winding boughs, swaying with the gentle summer's breeze and watching the flashing fireflies as they flitted about the branches.
"Older than me and you, and all of our ancestors." Moonlily replied through Brightkit's thick fur, "Taller than the oaks and pines and maples. It scrapes the sky, my darling, and some say it has even touched Starclan themselves."
Brightkit stared, openmouthed, at the glory of the ancient tree and the life it seemed to hold within its sacred heart, the way it appeared to breath and sigh with every touch of wind. Squirrels scampered down below, chittering and chattering excitedly to each other, and twittering birds called from various knots and hollows in evening song. The fireflies floated behind leaves, illuminating them from the inside out, casting a magical glow about the canopy.
"Oh, Mama! Look!" Brightkit squealed excitedly as a firefly landed gently on her nose. She shivered with delight and it flit away. Soon, they came top a clearing in the canopy where leaves had been torn away by a recent summer storm. A thick, flat, y-shaped branch hung sturdily out over the camp, exposed to the sky. Moonlily stepped onto it carefully, and Brightkit spotted her brother crouching out on the limb staring up at the moon. Her mother let her down slowly, making sure she didn't tumble to the ground, before urging her to venture up toward Blazekit. The pair made their way toward the little tom and once they'd arrived, Brightkit stared up at the sky.
"They're beautiful!" She cried out happily.
"Aren't they?" Moonlily purred, delighted by the kits' joy. The blue-black twilight sky was speckled with the first stars of the night, who twinkled like far off diamonds in a sea of ink-dipped sapphires. Blazekit turned to his mother in wonder.
"Are they all Starclan cats, Mama?" He asked.
"Yes, my love." Moonlily murmured, pulling them close to her with a gentle paw, "They're the souls of our ancestors laid to rest in the heavens by the first four."
"Thunder was the best, wasn't he Mama?" Brightkit chirped, snuggling close to Moonlily's soft belly. Her mother nodded.
"He was the strongest, the most courageous, and the kindest of them all." Moonlily sighed, "While Wind was the wiliest, the fastest, and the cleverest. Shadow was the most mysterious, most cunning, and most skillful. River was the wisest, the most resilient, and the only founder to which the gift of water was bestowed upon." Blazekit leaned in close, for he loved Mama's old legends.
"Are they watching us right now?" Brightkit asked, glancing out at the sky that had turned a deep, endless black that sparkled with lights.
"They're always watching, my loves." Moonlily laughed, "For in you," She gazed lovingly down at her kits, "They see the hearts of warriors."
"The heart of a warrior." Brightkit murmured to herself, staring out at the largest star in the distance, a splash of glimmering light nearly as bright as the moon itself.
"I am warrior."
That's right, I'm back! This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, because I love my username and think she deserves a story of her own that, until now, has gone untold.
QOTD (yes, I'm still doing these silly things): How do you feel about the characters so far?
This story will include some elements from Promise that I simply adored: the style and structure of the story (third person) as well as the same Starclan, though this story is set long in the past about ten or eleven generations the beginning of the Clans in the old territories.
Later gators,
Bright :)