Mintkit POV! Cause we all love her, right?

Chapter 3

Mintkit sighed as Sleetkit glanced over in her direction, before whispering to Windkit urgently. The light gray she-cat looked at her paws, before trudging to her nest. Three days had passed since she'd told Ashkit about Rosekit, and he hadn't kept his mouth shut, and word got out to Windkit and Sleetkit.

She closed her eyes, before falling into her nest, breathing in the scent for comfort. Splashflower's nose touched her ear, but soon, it brushed away, and she departed."Duskshine, please watch Windkit and Mintkit for me. I'm…I'm going to speak to Tawnyfire," Mintkit opened an eye to see Splashflower standing up, looking toward the entrance of the nursery.

Duskshine nodded. "Yes, Splashflower," she meowed, giving the other queen a thoughtful blink.

Mintkit covered her muzzle with her paw, shutting her eyes tightly. Splashflower's tail-tip brushed her softly and tenderly, before leaving her. Her loneliness coursed through her veins as the nest she knew so well became empty and cold.

"Mintkit," She hissed as Ashkit leaned over her nest. "Are you okay?" he asked, his left forepaw in her nest now.

Mintkit flopped on her other flank, staring blankly at the wall. "What do you think?" Hurt stung her throat, making her voice shift.

Ashkit breathed loudly, and Mintkit knew he was going to speak, when Sleetkit intervened.

"Ashkit! What are you doing with a loser like Mintkit?" The small kitten flattened her ears to her head, curling in a ball.

She felt Ashkit's fur press onto hers, just for a small heartbeat, before it left. "Nothing. I was just saying 'hi,' nothing to be afraid of, Sleetkit," he growled, his paw-steps fading as he padded away from Mintkit.

Again, she was left alone, while her own sister and her friends laughed at her despair. And for what? Having an imaginary friend? Mintkit sighed, before getting, up moss clinging to her pelt.

Shaking off the clumps, Mintkit bounced out of her nest, giving a glance at Duskshine. "I'm going out into camp," she meowed, flicking her tail. The black-and-white queen nodded, before turning back to watch her children and Windkit play.

The sunlight splashed onto her thick coat once she padded outside. None of the other cats seemed to mind her at all; they just carried on with their regular duties. The kit didn't know where to go, but the elders den was an option.

No. I go there too often, and the others could pad in any moment. Mintkit's eyes drifted towards the fresh kill pile, and for the first time that day, her belly growled.

Two warriors, Brackenfire and Goldenfur, were already lying by the prey pile, sharing a rabbit. Mintkit padded over, waving around the two cats. Sniffing the food cautiously, she became satisfied at the choice of a mouse, and tugged it away.

Mintkit half-dragged, half-carried the mouse over to a spot where she could eat in peace. The silver-furred mice cannot be silver in the wild, try brown rodent with a white belly lay crumbled on the grass, dried blood dimly shining. She placed a paw on the head of it to keep it from flipping in the dust, before biting its flank. The warm, succulent blood flowed into her mouth, salty, but a tad tasty. Mintkit ripped its flesh from the bone, before chewing on it contently.

Her eyes narrowed as Sleetkit and Windkit appeared from the nursery, bounding to the fresh kill pile. Ashkit trudged after them, glancing in Mintkit's direction for a heartbeat, before looking away.

Mintkit's paws shifted before she returned to her mouse. As soon as her meal was done, she quickly dug a hole in the earth, before tossing the remains inside. Patching the hole back up, Mintkit stretched in the sunlight.

"Hey, Mintkit," She opened one eye to see Rosekit trotting toward her, the creamy-brown she-cat's eyes bright.

"Rosekit!" she purred with satisfaction, rubbing noses with her.

Rosekit's creamy-brown fur shone brightly, the sunbeams lighting it up beautifully.

Mintkit smiled, "Why are you groomed? There're no ceremonies today," Mintkit's head tilted to the side.

Rosekit grinned, her white fangs gleaming in the sunlight. "There's a gathering at moonhigh," she meowed.

Ears drawn back, Mintkit stared wide-eyed at Rosekit. "Yeah, but we can't go!" she mewed.

Rosekit narrowed her eyes. "We can if no one sees us," she meowed, tail high.

The light gray she-cat just gulped in fear. Sure, she always wanted to attend a gathering, but not this way. If Silverstar or Tawnyfire caught them, they'd be in huge trouble.

"Tonight, I'll be four moons old, and then I'll be an apprentice in two moons. We can wait," Mintkit stared at her paws, before looking up at the disappointed Rosekit.

"Wait? Mintkit, this is the chance to have fun! Come on, you can't just sit there and be all droopy," Rosekit batted one of Mintkit's ears, before laughing lightly.

Mintkit paused, shifting uncomfortably. "Well…if we get caught—"

"We won't." Rosekit seemed to get aggravated now, her eyes narrowed, and her tail-tip twitching. A silence stretched between them, feeling like moons.

She flattened her ears to her head, before nodding. "I trust you," She sighed, opening her eyes again.

Rosekit beamed at her, before padding away. "I'll be in the nursery," she called over her shoulder, bounding into the stone den.

Mintkit just sighed, before turning around, padding toward the medicine cat den. Maybe Embersky or Birdstreak would need help collecting some herbs. The small cave that used to house a wolf, according to legend, seemed to be vacant. Maybe they're out. But that doesn't mean that I shouldn't go and see… Mintkit peered into the medicine cat den. No Embersky or Birdstreak.

"Moving her into the elders den? That's cruel," Mintkit's ears pricked as she heard Tawnyfire's voice hissing loudly. She dashed behind a small fern, keeping herself hidden from her father.

"Tawnyfire, did you listen? The other kits are picking on her! I overheard Ashkit telling Windkit and Sleetkit that she has an imaginary friend named Rosekit," Mintkit looked inside, seeing Splashflower shrinking back from her mate.

Are they talking about…me? Her eyes welled from remorse, but she listened on.

"But I won't allow my daughter to live with the elders until she becomes an apprentice. Splashflower, that'll cause more bullying. And how do we tell Mintkit? Hm?" Tawnyfire growled, his eyes narrowing.

Splashflower looked guilty for a heartbeat, but she faced Tawnyfire. "We don't have to extend our point. Ask Silverstar to tell her, at least," she meowed, her eyes pleading.

But Tawnyfire just turned, hiding his face. "I don't understand how you could do this. Windkit gets to stay in the nursery with you, but Mintkit is forced to sleep inside of the elders den by herself,"

"She will not be by herself. She'll be with my father, Rabbitspring and Larkwing." Splashflower got up, eyeing the entrance of the medicine cat den. "I care about our daughter. That's why I'm doing this. Tawnyfire, if you took some time out of your schedule, and actually see your children, you will see that she isn't happy," Splashflower growled, starting to walk away.

"I can't. You think it's easy? If you hadn't gotten pregnant with Eagleheart's kits, then you would have been a warrior for more than a moon," Tawnyfire snarled, his back arching.

Pregnant? With another tom's kits? Mintkit's eyes grew wide. She hadn't known that.

Splashflower's eyes flashed with pain, until fury replaced it. "I told you. Never speak of that. Eagleheart died, along with two of those three kits. I got over it, and then we became mates, Tawnyfire. Don't act like you can pin it on me now," she growled, turning around.

Two of the three? Mintkit moved closer, now fully seeing her parents.

"Oh? So you pretend like Swanpaw doesn't exist? You mated with a CedarClan tom. And you're lucky the other cats of this clan got over it because we became mates." Tawnyfire barked at her, before shouldering her out of his way.

Mintkit pressed into the clump of bracken, hiding herself completely as Tawnyfire was half out of the medicine cat den.

Before leaving, he looked over his shoulder. "This isn't what's best. Mintkit is my daughter, Splashflower, and I won't allow you to ruin her life. Sometimes I wonder if all you care about is yourself," He growled, before padding away like nothing happened.

Mintkit blinked slowly, registering what just happened. Splashflower was going to send her to the elders den? All because of the bullying? It was nothing!

She looked up, seeing Splashflower push the brambles away. Her mother's gaze was calm, despite everything that was happing. Mintkit fell back into the bracken, but stopped halfway, snagging her claw in the dirt. Splashflower's ear pricked, glancing at the ferns where Mintkit was hiding.

Splashflower's eyes narrowed, taking a step to the bracken bush, when she suddenly stopped. You used bracken too much, try thorn or something.

"Splashflower," Her mother looked up. Mintkit turned, seeing Silverstar poking her head out of her den. "Come in my den, please." Splashflower gave a last glance at the ferns, before bounding to Silverstar's den. That was so close; Mintkit shook the dirt and pieces of loose grass from her fur, before bolting from her hiding spot.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Mintkit, this is for the best. Your parents are just so concerned about you. The elders won't mind; I've already told them." Silverstar meowed as she lead Mintkit away from the nursery and to the elders den. Mintkit looked over her leader's tail, seeing Ashkit, Sleetkit and Windkit staring suspiciously at her. Mintkit looked away, and back to the old cedar tree.

"But…" She begun to say, but closed her mouth. This isn't fair! Silverstar is allowing Splashflower and Tawnyfire to move me to the elders den! How is it supposed to help me?

"….and the less contact you make with the other kits, at this age, the less the bullying will go on." Silverstar's green eyes flickered with sorrow as she glanced down at Mintkit, but she quickly looked up once more.

Mintkit's head hung. "Yes, Silverstar," she grumbled, her winter-blue eyes grief-stricken. Her paw hit a rock as she slumped along, but she just bounced on three paws, not even registering to ask Silverstar if she could see Embersky or Birdstreak.

"Here we are," she meowed, nudging Mintkit towards the elders den. "Just go in; the elders won't mind you."

Mintkit let out a long sigh, before padding inside of her new den. Rabbitspring, of course, was asleep, Larkwing beside him, was also slumbering. Crowclaw was the only elder awake.

"Hello, Mintkit," he meowed, giving her a warm smile.

"Hello Crowclaw..." she almost growled, trudging further into the den.

Crowclaw sighed. "Your nest is right here," Crowclaw pointed a tail to the fresh moss right next to him. "Darkpaw and Snowpaw made sure it was nice and warm, so I'd thank them in the morning." He smiled once again, before shifting, and putting his head on his paws.

"Yes, Crowclaw," Mintkit padded over to her new nest, before collapsing into it.

"It's for the best." Her ears pricked once she heard Silverstar sigh, before the leaders paw-steps faded away.

It isn't for the best. Her eyelids suddenly began to close, sluggishly, as the shapes of the clan life begin to blur, then darken. If it was, I'd be happy.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Mintkit," a voice hissed into her ear. Mintkit slowly opened her eyes, rubbing a small paw on it.

She flinched as she saw Rosekit's amber eyes blinking at her, glowing in the night.

"Oh, Rosekit, it's just you," she sighed, inhaling deeply after her shock. "Wh…Why did you wake me up?" She yawned, her jaws stretched wide, until she looked at Rosekit curiously.

Rosekit pawed at her ear. "Because, stupid, we're sneaking into the gathering, 'member?" She hissed lightly, glancing around to see if she'd woken any of the elders.

Mintkit stared at her paws for a heartbeat, before looking up at Rosekit. "You're…serious?"

The creamy-brown kit rolled her eyes. "Yes," She sighed, her tail lashing.

Mintkit flattened her ears to her head. "Rosekit…I don't think we should…"

"Oh, come on!" She growled, before clamping her tail over her mouth. Crowclaw snorted in his sleep, before yawning.

The elderly tom opened his eyes for a heartbeat, before falling back to sleep. That was a close one.

Mintkit glanced back at Rosekit, seeing her friend's eyes pleading her. She sighed deeply, before nodding, knowing that she couldn't win. "Fine, I'll do it, Rosekit, but if we get caught…" She growled; her eyes narrowed as she struggled to stand. Groggily, she blinked, her eyelids weighing down on her. Sleep pulled at her eyelids as she blinked groggily, longing to flop back onto her nest.

"We won't. Silverstar is just now leaving, and I believe Brackenfire and Rowanberry are watching camp," Rosekit whispered, silently bounding from the elders den. Mintkit followed her silently, slumping along the shadowed dens.

Cats that were going to the gathering filed out of camp, disappearing into the vine-swirled tunnel that lead out into the thickly wooded forest. Rosekit snaked along the lush bracken, dark, dappled shadows camouflaging her pelt to the cats in the camp clearing.

Mintkit kept herself from hissing as she spotted Splashflower grooming Windkit. Of course, She narrowed her eyes, before stopping beside Rosekit, she's now pretending that I don't exist, just like her other daughter, Swanpaw or whatever.

"Mintkit," Rosekit hissed in her ear. "We're sneaking out through the hole behind the warriors den," Rosekit flicked her tail to the large bramble bush where the warriors lay.

She nodded mutely, before padding beside Rosekit, placing one paw before the other quietly.

If any cat where to look outside their dens, they'd see two, silent, shadows.

The brambles stabbed at Mintkit's side, but she just gritted her teeth. She wouldn't let out a yelp that would tell any other cat what they were doing.

Rosekit placed a claw to her lips, before holding out a dark paw. She moved the brambles aside, and Mintkit could see the trees, the bushes, and the untouched wildlife. Wow. I'm only supposed to go out of camp when I'm an apprentice, but this is a whole new level. Mintkit grinned, before leaping out of camp, and stumbling out into the forest.

The silvery moonlight glittered, touching the rough tree bark. The long stalks of grass blew against her fur, brushing against it. The crystal moonlight cut through the canopy, touching the rough tree bark, so that the shadows beneath unfurled like claws. The long, silver-edged grass blew against her fur, brushing past gently.

Rosekit leaped after her, slamming into her tail. "If you want to make it to the gathering, I'd suggest we get moving," She spat, bounding forward. Mintkit followed, unsure how Rosekit could remain so calm. Mintkit was bursting with excitement!

She crept along the bushes, her paws lightly touching the ground, before lifting away just as fast.

"…and I'm getting concerned of Nightflower. She's usually there when our border patrols come, her and Graywing. Redpelt follows, but hardly." Her ear pricked as she heard Falconclaw, Ashkit and Sleetkit's father, talking with Silverstar.

"If Nightflower wants a fight, she'll get one. I'll ask Rainstar about this, but I doubt he'd have much knowledge. He usually is calmer about these situations," Silverstar meowed.

Mintkit narrowed her eyes. Splashflower had mentioned Nightflower in one of her nursery stories. CedarClan's deputy was very sneaky and ambitious, and she hardly cared for another cat besides herself.

Graywing seemed to be the same thing as Nightflower; calculating, sneaky, ambitious, manipulative. But Mintkit didn't know anything about this 'Redpelt'.

"Be quiet," Rosekit snapped quietly. "You're practically crashing through the ferns." Her amber eyes flickered with annoyance, before she turned, picking her way through the bracken.

Mintkit sighed quietly, before silently padding after Rosekit.

Silverstar's lithe silver frame came into view at the head of the group. Tawnyfire wasn't a long way behind her, with Embersky standing at his side. Nightflower and Graywing seem to be bad… Mintkit narrowed her eyes, before stepping over a twig. I wonder if they'll start anything at the Gathering.

The moon was at its highest point, turning the cat's pelts to silver. Mintkit blinked, almost stepping on Rosekit's tail-tip. They were at the brow of the hill now, looking over at a clump of oak trees with three rivers slicing through the grass. One for each clan, she remembered, inhaling the fresh air. BriarClan, CedarClan, and RobinClan.

"Let's hurry. BriarClan is already there, and I believe CedarClan is well on their way." Mintkit looked up, seeing Silverstar looking back on the gathering cats. She flicked her tail, and the other cats followed her down the hill and to the grassland below.

Worry prickled through Mintkit's fur as she looked at the long stretch of grass. There are no trees or ferns! How are we supposed to hide? Mintkit flashed a glance to Rosekit, who was staring at Silverstar.

"Rosekit," she growled, "How are we supposed to hide now?" Her patience was thinning by the time Rosekit turned, blinking at her.

"We'll just stay behind the group," she snorted.

Mintkit rolled her eyes, before ushering Rosekit forward as they crept behind the black silhouettes of their clanmates. I'm glad we're kits. If we were apprentices, they'd see us.

Her eyes widened at the sight of the huge oaks standing tall, crumbled amber-brown leaves glowing in the moonlight. The great oak loomed overhead, its crumpled amber-brown leaves edged with quicksilver. It looks amazing, Mintkit's fur fluffed up from the cool air. I just hope it shelters us from the air.

Her nose wrinkled at the thick, mud stench. BriarClan. Mintkit covered her nose with her thick-furred tail. It smells like they just wallow in mud all day.

The RobinClan cats shapes disappeared into the oak trees, their scent blending in with the BriarClan cats.

Rosekit bounded forward, standing behind a tree. "Let's hide here," she whispered. "You can still see where the leaders gather."

Mintkit blinked thankfully at Rosekit, before padding beside her.

Silverstar padded across the clearing, before jumping onto a stone. Her white paws were tucked neatly underneath her tail, and her green eyes glowed with content. A tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat sat on another boulder, dipping her head to Silverstar.

"That must be Brightstar," Mintkit whispered to Rosekit. "I remember Splashflower telling me that she was a tortoiseshell, but I always imagined her eyes to be green, not amber." she meowed, looking at the pretty dappled she-cat's fiery eyes.

Silverstar smiled warmly to the BriarClan leader, before dipping her head as well. They look about the same age, she realized, looking closely at their facial features. So I suppose that means they knew each other when they were apprentices.

A bush rustled not far from where they were hiding. Mintkit cringed in fear. What if someone found them? Two kits out of their camp? Mintkit gulped, looking at Rosekit for an answer.

A dark blue-gray tom shouldered his way out of the bracken, his icy blue eyes fixed on the other two leaders. Rainstar. Mintkit blinked as the CedarClan leader walked right by. I always thought of him being mean, but he just seems…calm. She narrowed her eyes as a mottled dark gray tabby she-cat sneered at the other two clans, her yellow eyes glittering with malice.

Rainstar padded calmly and collectively by the other two clans, his tail high. Mintkit's eyes widened as huge cats passed by her, all big enough to kill her with one blow.

"If all clans are here, then let the gathering begin!" Her ears pricked as she heard Brightstar call for the gathering to start, her voice carrying over the chatter of the other clans.

Rainstar just grunted as Silverstar looked to him; probably telling him to start.

"CedarClan is well. Greenleaf is ending, and with that the chill of Leaffall begins. We have two new warriors, and a new apprentice! Swanfeather and Cloudheart have successfully chased a fox from our territory. Whitepaw is now an apprentice, and is learning quickly." he announced.

Swanfeather! She must be my half-sister…the one Tawnyfire says Splashflower is beginning to forget… Mintkit looked at the silver-and-white tabby she-cat, who sat next to a white tom with amber eyes.

"Swanfeather! Cloudheart! Whitepaw!" The other clans cheered. Mintkit noticed a few RobinClan cats looking smug, probably because of Nightflower.

"Other than that, we have nothing else to report." Rainstar meowed, indicating for Brightstar to take her turn.

"BriarClan has grave news to report. One of our elders, Brooksong, has died of an unknown disease. Smallfeather couldn't understand why this happened, but Brooksong had the symptoms of greencough, except for her fur beginning to fall off." She meowed with a grief-stricken voice.

Murmurs and meows came from the cats below, whispering about this sorrowful news.

"Other than this, nothing," Brightstar finished, sighing.

Silverstar straightened up, casting a glance to Rainstar. "RobinClan is doing fine. But, we are concerned of one clans interfering with our borders and snapping at border patrols. Rainstar? Care to explain why almost every border patrol we get reports Nightflower and Graywing there, and harassing them?" Silverstar hissed.

Rainstar blinked in shock. "I have no idea—"

"CedarClan's business isn't for you to snoop around in, Silverstar. Keep your oversized pink nose out of it," Mintkit looked at the far end of the clearing, to see the mottled dark gray tabby she-cat baring fangs at Silverstar.

Silverstar appeared to be calm, but Mintkit could tell that anger try wrath, rage, or ire was seething from her eyes. "Leaders speak at gatherings, Nightflower. Not deputies who can't keep their mouths shut," she retorted.

Nightflower sprang up, her tail lashing and fur on end. "Why don't you come down here and say that?" she snapped, amber eyes flaring with challenge.

Silverstar didn't look shaken. "Sit down. The full moons aren't time for fighting, they're times of peace," she meowed calmly.

"Make me."

Rainstar stepped in, eyes narrowed. "Nightflower. Sit. Down. Silverstar, I am truly sorry about my deputy's behavior, really." He meowed.

Brightstar just growled. "There is nothing else to report. This gathering is over." she hissed, leaping from the boulder she was sitting on.

Nightflower looked angry, hissing as Tawnyfire stalked by. Great StarClan she has a temper. If I were Rainstar…I'd resign her immediately.

Rosekit let out a laugh. "That was awesome." She chuckled, placing a paw on her nose.

Mintkit blinked. "What? That wasn't awesome! Nightflower just undermined Silverstar in front of the other clans!" She growled.

Rosekit just rolled her eyes. "Yeah, okay," She mewed, scratching behind her ear. Mintkit shut her mouth as RobinClan and BriarClan walked by, separating into their own territories.

CedarClan's warriors seemed outraged, talking about Silverstar's stupid accusation. But Mintkit didn't pay any attention to them; she was looking for one cat. Swanfeather.

The silver-and-white tabby was at the end of the crowd, walking by herself. She kicked a stone, sending it clanking against a tree root. She looks miserable. Mintkit blinked in sorrow.

Mintkit caught her breath as Swanfeather walked past her and Rosekit, unaware of their presence.

The warrior paused, looking at where Mintkit was hiding. Her green eyes blinked slowly, before they narrowed.

"I know you're hiding," She growled lowly. Mintkit blinked. Her voice sounded just like Splashflower's.

Before Mintkit had a chance to get up and reveal herself, Swanfeather just bounded away, catching up with her clan.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mintkit half walked, half dragged herself to the elders den, dawn already approaching into the sky. She and Rosekit swiftly padded back into camp. She didn't talk at all. The confrontation with Swanfeather was quite awkward.

Why didn't she tell her clan? Why did she just leave? She wondered as she slumped, exhausted into her nest.

Mintkit closed her eyes, smiling at the thought of sleep.

"Rise and shine, Mintkit!" Crowclaw meowed enthusiastically, nudging her up.

Mintkit cursed under her breath, smiling faintly. "Oh, great, morning," She yawned, struggling to her paws.

She padded out of the elders den, seeing Splashflower grooming Windkit, while talking to her. How long will it be before she forgets about me, too?

Warg! Sorry about this update! The ending was rushed, I know, and it's been a few days!

R&R!