"Brawnkiiiiiiit!"

Ugh…those annoying little brats…

A dark brown tabby kit opened up his eyes and found two other kits on top of him, one a tortoiseshell, while the other was a golden tabby. He growled in annoyance when the golden kit's paws stepped on his tail, causing him to whip it away from the two.

"Brawnkit! Wake up sleepy-head! We wanna play!" The two squeaked in unison.

Brawnkit groaned in response as he rolled the oppposite way, his back facing the two kits. "Why don't you go play with Blackkit instead of bothering me…" Blackkit was his brother, who was sleeping next to him. The brown kit was surprised that he didn't wake up from all the loud noise the two smaller and younger kits were causing.

The two siblings both whined, "But we don't wanna! You're more fun!"

Brawnkit rolled his eyes, not having any other idea of how to get rid of them. "Alright then Koikit and Jabberkit, at least let me get up in peace."

They both were about to scream in happiness, but quickly shut their mouth when they realized he told them to be quiet.

Brawnkit staggered to his paws and stretched himself out, showing off the suppleness of his spine. He stood up proudly, noticing how sleek and muscular he was. The tom was only five moons old, and he already looks like a mature apprentice!

Koikit and Jabberkit then began to tumble out of the nursery so the three could go play outside. Brawnkit followed them slowly, only to be stopped by a paw slapping down on his tail. He turned around and saw a tortoiseshell queen staring right at him through half-closed eyelids.

"Brawnkit…where are you going?"

He pulled his tail away and blinked at his mother, muttering, "Koikit and Jabberkit are pestering me to play with them…"

Leafwind, his mother, gazed at him for a moment before withdrawing her white paw and resting her head back down, yawning. "Alright…once you're done, wake up Blackkit for me…"

Brawnkit nodded and slowly made his way out of the cave-like den, into the bright light. The sun was up high and shining down on him, warming up the kit's pelt. He closed his eyes and let out a luxurious stretch for a moment, letting it bathe into his fur. Suddenly, sand was kicked into his face. He shook his head in frustration and blinked open his eyes, seeing Koikit giggle uncontrollably.

"Oh shut it," Brawnkit snapped, wiping a paw across his amber eyes to try and clear away the sand. His answer was the she-kit giggling even more and racing across the beach, towards the ocean where the water was gently lapping against the tan colored grains. Jabberkit scrambled after his tortoiseshell sister, making Brawnkit reluctantly follow.

The two both began to splash around in the shallow water as small waves began to come in. Brawnkit growled at the two, "Geez, pay attention!" The tide hit the two kits as they were sent skidding across the sand and at the tabby's paws. He looked down at them with an unimpressed expression on his face. Koikit was the first to get up, shaking her wet pelt fiercely before looking up brightly at the tom.

"That was fun!" She exclaimed, waving her tail back and forth as Jabberkit rose to his paws next. "Y-Yeah…" He agreed, still stuttering after the impact.

Brawnkit snorted, "It's not going to be fun when you get carried off into the ocean."

They didn't seem to hear his statement and proclaimed, "Teach us how to hunt!"

He blinked in response and replied, "There's hardly any fish in the shallow water though."

Koikit looked unconvinced as she puffed out her cheeks, pouting. "Nuh-uh! I saw you catch a fish three days ago!"

"That was just luck. You have to go deeper to actually find more fish. And don't you two even think about going in there!" Driftkit growled, then realizing he hadn't answered their question about how to hunt. "Geez, just go splash around 'til a fish comes flying out into your mouth."

Now they believed him, because they were already scurrying across the sand and back into the shallow water, jumping up and down and sending water droplets everywhere.

Out of nowhere, a black figure collided against Brawnkit, knocking the breath out of him. He quickly regained his composure and leaped to his paws, whipping himself around to face his attacker. It was Blackkit. Immediately, Brawnkit hissed, "What was that for?!"

The dark gray tabby shook his fur and looked at his brother with bright green eyes. "I wanted to surprise attack you! And it worked!"

The brown tom sniffed, "Well, you're lucky that I didn't shred you to pieces if it wasn't you."

Blackkit giggled, "I'd like to see you try!"

Brawnkit smirked and immediately lunged at his brother, barreling into him and knocking him off balance. The black tom was caught by surprise and sent flying a fox-length away from him, lying there moaning.

"Okay okay…I get it…" Blackkit muttered, his paw lifting slightly in the air in surrender.

The dark brown tabby strode over and placed one paw on his brother's back, "Who's the strongest cat you know?"

"You are…"

Immediately, they were both cut off from a growl.

"What are you two doing?"