Chapter 1: Friends
Lightkit and Tawnykit sat side by side, happily. Tigerkit and Thunderkit were wrestleing in front of them. Tawnykit leaped into the jumble of fur, followed by Lightkit. The two siblings played with the other two kits, who were as good as brothers. Tigerkit and Thunderkit had been born at the same time, to different mothers, making them as close as brothers.
The four kits split from each other into groups of two, Lightkit play-fighting with Tigerkit, and Tawnykit with Thunderkit.
"I got ya!" Tawnykit rammed into Thunderkit. Thunderkit fell over, as winded as you can get while play-fighting. Tawnykit sat down, "Sorry."
"Its fine," Thunderkit panted, "I only got all my wind knocked out of me!" Thunderkit exclaimed and smiled, obviously trying to crack a joke.
"Nice one, Tawnykit." Lightkit spoke while padding over, having just finished losing to Tigerkit.
"So, get beaten by a cat smaller then you, Thunderkit?" Tigerkit asked, smiling.
"Tigerkit, weight isn't all. Tawnykit is a strong young she-cat. Remember, she's only a half-moon younger then you," Jadestone padded over to them from behind Tigerkit. Jadestone was a very small she-cat. She smiled at Tawnykit.
"Yeah!" Tawnykit looked at Tigerkit with a smug look. Jadestone looked down at her, laughter in her eyes.
"Now, now," Jadestone said.
"Kits!" Bluestripe called from the entrance of the nursery. Crystalspirit and Poppysong were standing beside her. Tawnykit looked at Lightkit, Thunderkit and Tigerkit. The four kits were looking at each other. Crystalspirit took a step forward. Crack! Crystalspirit looked up. She jumped forward. A piece of the rock fell to the ground with a large crash behind her.
"What happened?" Shadestar was running from her den.
"A rock fell, but it missed Crystalspirit!" Poppysong called over to her. Shadestar raced over.
"Is everyone okay?" Shadestar asked worriedly.
"Yes," Bluestripe replied, "But do we have to keep our kits in a crumpling den?"
"No." Shadestar said, "We will move you into the birthing den."
"Kits, come here." Crystalspirit said. Tawnykit, Lightkit, Tigerkit and Thunderkit padded over quickly.
"Firepaw, Graypaw, Make nests in the birthing den!" Shadestar called. Firepaw dipped his head. Graypaw scowled.
"Come on," Graypaw rolled her eyes. The two apprentices hurried off.
"Get the kits up there," Shadestar said. "I'll have the nursery checked and reinforced."
"Come along, kits." Poppysong led the way up. The four five moon old kits followed, and behind them, Bluestripe and Crystalspirit. The three queens led the way into the den.
"Time to sleep, kits." Crystalspirit said gently. Tawnykit closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.
