Beekit snuggled into her mother's fur, feeling her heart thudding against her chest. Her fur was soft and warm, like always, and the flower-like spots on her tail were wavering as her tail flicked back and forth. Watching that moving tail made her smile, and want to pounce on it.

"Mother," Beekit whispered, standing up and nudging Flowertail with her head. She stepped back and ran closer, shoving up into her mother. "Wake up already!"

Flowertail groaned, shoving Beekit aside with a paw. "Go back to sleep, Beekit. It's only dawn."

Beekit whined, approaching the sleeping queen once more and pawing at her flank. "But I want to play now. I don't want to wait until you wake up."

"Go play with one of Badgerstripe or Windfur's kits," Flowertail moaned, blinking open one eye to stare at her daughter. "They like your company, right?"

"But Horsekit and Icekit are in the medicine cat's den with whitecough. Rowanleaf would never let me in! Hawkkit's a weirdo, so I don't want to play with him," Beekit complained, annoyed at her lazy mother who refused to get off of her bottom and come play with her only living kitten. "I wish I had my six siblings. They'd want to play with me, wouldn't they, mother?"

"Of course they would, darling." Flowertail opened both eyes and dragged herself to her paws. "What about Toadkit and Sorrelkit? Aren't they your friends?"

"Toadkit's a weirdo like Hawkkit. Toms have koodies!" She sighed, blowing out air through her bottom lip and rolling her eyes with frustration. "Besides, Windfur's too protective over Sorrelkit. She'd never let me play with her. She says I'm too dangerous, or whatever."

Tipping her head in confusion, the pale she-kit watched as her mother tensed and her lips curled a little bit.

"What's wrong, mommy?"

"Nothing, Beekit. Now, why don't you go run along and see if Rowanleaf and Olivepaw need any help with their duties?"

"Mommy, how come you're always encouraging me to go and see the medicine cat's den? I don't want to be a medicine cat." The furry kitten wrinkled her nose in disgust at the thought. "I want to be a warrior, fierce and proud like you and daddy!"

Flowertail sighed. "Well, I actually think you would enjoy being a medicine cat. I mean, you'd be safe all day, helping other cats feel better. Wouldn't you like that?"

Beekit sighed. "No. That sounds boring! Are you going to be like Windfur, overprotective of me? Just because I'm your only kit doesn't mean I'm going to die off anytime soon! Why can't you let me do what I want?"

"You'll understand when you're older, child."

"Ugh, you always say that!" Beekit whipped around and charged out of the den, her paws stomping on the ground with fury. "I'm going to go play with one of the warriors then."

Beekit squealed as she was picked up from behind. Flowertail had grabbed her scruff. "I don't think that's a good idea," the queen stated with a nervous twitch of her tail, setting Beekit down on the mossy nest beneath her.

The kit frowned. "Why not?" she growled. "Mother, why am I different? Why do you treat me differently?" Curiosity was buzzing all over her, and it was in her scent. "Why can't I play with any of the other kits or cats in the Clan? What's wrong with me?"

"Sweetie, there's…there's nothing wrong with you. It's just…it's…you'll understand when you're older."