Frecklekit pounced on Riverkit, her claws sheathed.
"I caught you, mouse! Now I have something to eat today!" she giggled.
"Heyyyy!" the grey kit complained. "No fair! My back was turned!"
Strengthclan, though not being exciting, was a fun place for every age. Despite the constant quarrels at gatherings and furious shrieks at battles, the constant banter coming from each cat made up for it once they were back in camp, safe and sound from the angry shouts.
That would change soon, however.
Masterclan had been created recently when the cats realized that there were many with each talent provided by each clan, and that they were constantly being judged by their clanmates, so they made it for others who could do all three things.
"Too bad! I caught you, it's the rules!" Frecklekit replied tauntingly.
Frecklekit was found by the bank of the Golden Stream, where she was seemingly abandoned with a pink kittypet collar on her. She was only a moon old, and was starving and dehydrated.
Rather quickly, the patrol consisting of Tallmutter, Duskfeather, Morningtree, Fawnwillow and Quailshard rushed her back, filling her with all the milk that Jaggedear had left from her litter of Wolfkit and Graykit. Riverkit had a familiar story.
"But- but- I'm always the mouse!" Rainkit yelped, suddenly changing the topic.
"You NEVER want to be the warrior! It's not my fault!" she scowled.
The sun had just rose, shining it's light over the cats of Strengthclan. Everything was anticipated to go normally today, just as every day had. There was a gathering later, and the early warriors and apprentices were chattering about it as Rainkit and Frecklekit played 'Warrior And Mouse', Graykit and Wolfkit asleep
"You NEVER play fair!" their argument continued.
"Now, Now, kittens." Jaggedear purred. "Don't argue. Why don't you go to Tinybite? I hear he has a new batch of stories that you two wouldn't wanna miss."
"Really?!" Frecklekit exclaimed.
"Come on, Frecklekit, let's go!" Rainkit spun around and dove off. The grey kit had met Tinybite when she was being punished for running off, and had to clean the elders' ticks for a moon. Soon, every tick-cleaning session was another time that her and Frecklekit could listen to his stories.
Frecklekit stumbled after her with passion in her speed.
Noblefang grunted as the two kits scrambled over her thick-furred body, the white she-cat opening one yellow eye to glare at them as Tinybite came into view. She then shut them silently and let out a short sigh. It was useless to yell at them now.
"Tinybite!" the two kits yelped.
"Tell us one of your stories, please, please, pleaseee?" they whimpered. The white cat's black paws shifted as he chuckled.
"Alright, alright. Well, a long time ago, when I was an apprentice…"
Frecklekit closed her eyes, imagining every scene playing out with great detail in her head. The two gasped when he told them how the dogs lunged at him, laughed when Tinybite explained how he fell into the fox dung and applauded when he told them how he lured the dogs away and got his warrior name, Tinypelt.
Noblefang stretched, coming over. "You may have a great legacy, but didn't I ever tell you 'bout how I led a patrol into Gooseclan territory?"
"Gooseclan?" the two kits exclaimed in confusion.
"It was long, long, long ago. A bunch of cats who called themselves Gooseclan invaded the forest, trying to claim it as their own… but of course, we wouldn't let them!"
After her story ended, the two kits couldnt help but feel tired and hungry.
"Why, our stories have taken so long that the sun's come down! The gathering's soon, we should get ready, Noblefang." Tinybite said, turning to his sister.
"Alright." Noblefang stretched and yawned once again before she itched herself. "My back itches like fury." they heard her mutter.
Rainkit's belly grumbled. "Well, I dunno 'bout you, but I'm gonna go get something to eat!" the gray kit mewed before hopping away.
Frecklekit followed after her friend, feasting on a mouse as a clan meeting began from behind them and cats assembled to go to the gathering.
Fawnwillow, Quailshard, Humblepaw, Ignitespring, Shrewpaw, Tinybite, Noblefang, Midnightfern, Hollowstem, Juniperheart, Berrytooth, Tallmutter, Goosewing and Pinestar gathered up before leaving.
"Aw! No fair, they get to go but we don't?" Graykit complained, Wolfkit blinking his yellow eyes with fury.
"Yeah!" the gray she-cat mewed loudly.
"Hey, why don't we play clans? Me and Rainkit will be in… hm… Frecklerainclan, and you and Wolfkit can be in Gooseclan."
"Sure!" Graykit mewed excitedly.
"I call leader!" both Wolfkit and Rainkit called out excitedly.
"Why, what are you four kits playing?" Morningtree and Duskfeather came over.
"Clans! Me and Rainkit are in Frecklerainclan, and Wolfkit and Graykit are in Gooseclan!" she exclaimed.
"Hm, that sounds exciting, may we join?" Duskfeather asked, his brown ear twitching slightly.
"Sure!" Graykit smiled.
And the night went on until their bed-time came.
Hope you enjoyed Chapter 1!