Maplekit's P.O.V
A small ginger kit and auburn kit tumbled into the camp clearing. With them were three slightly younger kits, all of them just bouncing bundles of fur.
"Move!" Cactuskit snapped playfully, trying to get around Burntkit, Maplekit laughed at this.
"I'm hungry, I call the fattest lizard." Hibiscuskit claimed going around the two fighting kits toward the fresh-kill pile.
Maplekit jumped around her brother, rolling her eyes at him mockingly before joining Hibiscuskit in shifting through the pile. After finding a plump jumping mouse to eat she moved to the shade of one of the dens. The sand underneath her was still warm but that was fine. As she ate Maplekit could see the border patrol, led by Thistleflower, returning from the Earthclan border.
She smiled brightly at her father as he walked by, Bramblescar dipped his head in acknowledgement before heading towards the Medicine cat den. Maplekit frowned, ever since she was three moons old Littlefire has been confined to the Medicine cat den. Her mother had defended her and Cactuskit when a rattlesnake got into the nursery during the night, she was bitten but didn't die. Fireclan cats are notorious for eating poisonous snakes, toads, and even large insects, which is probably why Littlefire didn't die. However she has remained sick ever since.
Although she had never left camp, which is surrounded by cactus and tumbleweeds, the camp is made from large boulders with caves inside and underneath them and a clearing surrounding the boulder formation. Maplekit could see from the top of the boulders over the camp barrier and view the rocky desert beyond, farther than she could see. Thornpelt had told her about the river that runs through the territory where grass and some trees grow.
Maplekit found it a bit funny, according to the older cats most of the other clans had trees growing all over their territory, but here was Maplekit who was named after a tree, and yet she's never even seen one and she'll be an apprentice in a few sunrises.
After she finished eating Maplekit went and joined the other kits at the spring. Under the boulders in the largest cave in the formation is a spring where the clan gets it's water. There is a hole in the roof of the cave that leads to the top of the boulders which lets light into the cave. It's also where most of the clan tends to lounge during the day.
"Maplekit, who do you think would win? Turtlesnap or Emberstar?" Alderkit asked as they laid in the corner.
"Although Emberstar is our leader, Turtlesnap is our most experienced warrior, so Turtlesnap." Maplekit replied, she'd seen Turtlesnap basically throw Ashpaw over the camp barrier once when the apprentice had called him an insane mange pelt.
"That makes sense, Turtlesnap was once the greatest warrior in our clan." a voice said from a far. The kits turned their heads to see Coalwing, the pale mottled she-cat was laying next to her mate Scorchtalon.
"Really?" Cactuskit asked leaning to place his head over Maplekit's shoulders. Scorchtalon nodded.
"Turtlesnap was the son Coyotefang and Shadowrunner. They were the two best fighters in the clan during Hawktalon's warriorship. When they had Turtlesnap and his sister Desertbloom, they trained them to be the best fighters. When they died Turtlesnap proved himself to be the strongest in the clan when he defended camp from a coyote all on his own. So it makes sense that he could defeat Emberstar if he really wanted to." Scorchtalon explained, Coalwing cleaning behind his ears.
"What happened to Desertbloom?" Hibiscuskit asked, tilting her head to the side.
"She died from an ambush from Waterclan. Back then Waterclan and Fireclan where constantly fighting for the land around our river. Which we need since during times of drought the spring here runs dry." Coalwing replied, "She was my mentor, a great warrior she was. Desertbloom was very loyal to the clan."
"Okay, thanks for telling us." Maplekit thanked the older warriors.
"No issue kit. Now how about a story from when Fireclan won a battle against Waterclan." Scorchtalon purred. The kits cheered, but Maplekit was more focused on what happened during the facts of the story than anything else. Waterclan has always been the rival of Fireclan, many battles, wars, and deaths had been caused by their two clans fighting.
After the story ended the other kits began to head back to the nursery but Scorchtalon stopped her. "Maplekit." the dark tom mewed.
"Yes?" Maplekit asked as she turned to look at the warrior.
"I may not know you well, kit, but I can tell you're different from the rest. You're destined for something great, I just know it. Take it in stride and don't let any cat hold you back." Scorchtalon mewed quietly so the only ones to hear him was Maplekit and Coalwing.
"Scorchtalon has a good sense of cats, Maplekit, he's never been wrong. Do what you are destined to do." Coalwing added, smiling at her. Maplekit smiled back and nodded before bounding out of the cave and heading back into the nursery.
She settled down next to her brother in their nest of fur and feathers. Cactuskit looked at her curiously.
"What did Scorchtalon want?" Cactuskit asked rolling over to face her better.
"Nothing much just wanted to tell me he hopes Littlefire gets better soon." Maplekit lied with surprising easiness. Cactuskit hummed softly before laying his head onto his paws.
Maplekit watched as he brother slipped off into sleep before looking around the den. Thornpelt was gone, probably catching bats with a hunting patrol. She yawned before snuggling against her brother. As she began to lose consciousness Maplekit thought back to what Scorchtalon had said. Different from the rest. Huh, he might just be right.