Chapter 2
"I can't believe you two would do such a thing! Your sisters didn't!" Lightningcloud scolded. "We are really sorry." Ratkit looked at his paws. "There is enough trouble as it is, and I don't need you two to be Shadowclan food!" She started to pace around the den sighing. "Take it easy, nothing happened to them." Hawkstripe tried to comfort her. "But something could have. They are just lucky Darkstar didn't take it too seriously." Lightningcloud paced again. Flamekit's head just lied down. He didn't want to look up, it was too embarrassing.
A paw then lightly tapped his ear. He looked up to find Ravenkit and Lightkit smiling. "What do you two want? Just to rub it in my face?" Flamekit turned his head away from his smirking siblings. "No. We wanted to see if you wanted to play moss ball with us." Flamekit turned his head around to find Ravenkit paw a moss ball near him, "What about Ratkit?" Flamekit asked. "Haven't you seen him?" Lightkit pointed with her tail tip toward him. Flamekit looked in that direction, "I am sorry! Don't make me and apprentice late! Please Lightningcloud!" Ratkit begged their mother.
Flamekit pricked his ears at the sound of the two she-cats snickering. "Come one Flamekit lighten up. You know she can't do that. And he sounds pathetic!" Ravenkit and Lightkit laughed quietly. Flamekit forced out a laugh, still too ashamed of what he had done. But then again, it was Ratkit's idea. He sighed and looked at his sisters, "Alright, I will play moss ball, but only one round." Ravenkit smiled and Lightkit chirped happily. Why did I listen to him?
Ravenkit stood up with her tail in the air, "Toms against she-cats!" Flamekit fluffed up, "What? But I am the only tom playing?" Lightkit tipped her tail to Ratkit bounding toward them, "I can play!" "All right, let's go!" Before Ravenkit could flick the ball, Ratkit stopped her, "Who died and made you leader?" Ravenkit straightened up, "It is just a game Ratkit. Besides, no one else is taking charge, so I might as well."
Ratkit started to fluff up, but before anything happened Foxkit and Moonkit interrupted, "Can we play?" Moonkit asked eyeing Flamekit. Flamekit became hot and looked the other way. "What? That is not fair! Four against two?!" Ratkit stammered. "I can join the toms." Moonkit volunteered. "There Ratkit, it is even." Ravenkit exclaimed and calmed her tone down. Why is she being so bossy around Ratkit? Does she not like him? "How about we just go and play around the camp?" Flamekit asked. All eyes then lay on him.
"That is a great idea!" Moonkit lifted her tail and smiled. Flamekit relaxed and looked up at Lightningcloud for agreement, "I suppose, just stay in the camp this time." She sighed and lay in her nest. Flamekit's tail quivered. Ratkit was the first to bolt outside; Flamekit following. "Such a beautiful day, right Flamekit?" Lightkit's mew surprised Flamekit and he widened his eyes, "I suppose." He sniffed the wet air. "Well, I am going to see Darkstar." "Why?" Flamekit questioned. "Just to say hi, we never get to see him anymore, so I might as well do it while I can." She pranced over to his den.
Flamekit looked around for something to do. His tail laid still and the sight of everyone being busy. A slight movement caught his eye and he swerved his head around to find a raven feather. The black feather started to drift away. Flamekit felt determination set in and chased after it. The wind then stopped altogether. The feather laid still. Flamekit dropped into a crouch and pounced, but missed for the wind started up again. The feather then flew up into the trees; out of sight. "Nice crouch kit, but you still have a lot to learn." Flamekit's ears perked up to see Clawheart. Her coat still matted and spiked up.
"Hi Clawheart." Flamekit looked at the ground, embarrassment taking over. "Look fur ball, if you don't want to be noticed here, don't anything out of the ordinary, like sneak off with him." Her tail pointed to Ratkit chasing Ravenkit's tail. Was that mockery in her tone? She then snorted loudly, "Who am I kidding? Your just a little kit, you'll never listen." She then walked off. What a weird cat. Flamekit turned to find Ravenkit admiring the old Warrior as she walked off. "You like her?" She turned and stared at Flamekit, "Wouldn't you like to have her as a mentor?" Flamekit wrinkled his nose at the thought of the soon to be elder telling him what to do.
"Not really." Ravenkit fluffed up in surprise, "What?! But she is clearly the best hunter, fighter, and mentor in Thunderclan! How could you not?!" "She doesn't seem to like me either." Flamekit thought about last night at the Shadowclan border. "She seems like the type to not let you go so easily." Ravenkit stared at Flamekit intensely, "What do you mean?" "She will keep you as her apprentice even when you are a warrior." Ravenkit answered. I don't want her following me around as a warrior! "I would want Stormclaw, the deputy." Flamekit thought of the experienced warrior teaching him the hunter's crouch. "He seems too arrogant to me." Ravenkit argued.
"What are you two talking about?" Ratkit interrupted. Ravenkit wrapped her tail around her paws and quietly answered, "Nothing." "Then how about we finish out battle!"Ratkit didn't wait for an answer and tackled Ravenkit, "Get off! I don't want to play!" Ravenkit struggled under his weight, but didn't sheath her claws, she stayed gentle and calm. Ratkit pretended to swipe at her cheeks, but with his claws out. "Ratkit! Put the claws in!" Clawheart sounded from nowhere and stepped all over Flamekit knocking him to the ground. "I am not hurting her am I?" Ratkit turned to face Clawheart, "Arrogant fluff." Clawheart muttered.
Ratkit looked back at Ravenkit, but before he could pretend to swipe her again, she kicked him off with her hind legs and quickly stood up. "Stop Ratkit, I don't want to play anymore." She turned her head and started to walk away. Ratkit crouched, thensprang. He bumped into Ravenkit's flank. She yowled with pain as Ratkit slowly got off of her, blood staining his mouth. His eyes widened with horror, "I didn't mean it, I am so sorry!"
Shrewleaf quickly emerged from the medicine den and ran to Ravenkit, how can a blind cat know what he is doing? "Just a small scratch. Cobwebs should stop the bleeding." Shrewleaf helped Ravenkit up and took her to the medicine den
"Ratkit! Get in here right now!" Lightningcloud screamed. Ratkit slunk down and slowly trudged to the nursery. "Can't say I didn't warn him." Clawheart walked back towards the medicine den. Flamekit followed her and peered into the den, "That should do it for now Ravenkit." Ravenkit slowly emerged from the den, "Dungbrain." "Are you ok?" Flamekit asked, "Just fine." She then turned toward the nursery. Flamekit's shoulders slumped, why can't Ratkit just take it easy for once?
"Wow Lightkit, what a sense of humor you have!" A deep mrow of laughter sounded from behind Flamekit. He looked behind him to find Darkstar talking to Lightkit. "Well, I got it from you." Lightkit smiled and looked up; admiring their dad. Before Darkstar could make another complimenting remark, Lightningcloud's head shot out of the nursery, "Darkstar, come and give Ratkit a talk. He has been getting into a lot of trouble lately!" "Coming!" Darkstar flicked his tail at Lightkit as if saying to come, and headed toward the nursery.
I wonder what I could do to make Darkstar notice me. "Hi Dark…." Flamekit was cut off by Darkstar trampling over him towards the nursery. Darkstar looked back at him, "Oops, sorry Flamekit. I didn't see you there." Then left as quickly as he came. Flamekit sighed and stared at the ground. He could hear Lightningcloud's angry mews from the nursery as well as Ratkit's whining. Flamekit started to walk toward the nursery, but stopped. This wasn't his problem, it was Ratkit this time. It was all of Ratkit's fault; it had nothing to do with him! Flamekit flicked his ear and started to walk the other direction. He can handle this situation without me. All he has done is get into trouble.
"Hello Flamekit!" A frail mew came from a warm den to Flamekit's right. He peered in the den and discovered the three elders huddled up sharing fresh kill. "Come in; you can share." Leafspot invited and shifted to the left leaving Flamekit space to eat some fresh kill. Flamekit was about to say no, but then he noticed beautiful white fur next to Flickernose. Moonkit! Flamekit ran into the den with no second thoughts. "Whoa! Slow down!" Speckalface murmured from the other side of the den. "Hey Moonkit, I bet when I am an apprentice, that I am going to catch the most fresh kill Thunderclan has ever seen!" Foxkit chirped. Oh, she is here too. Well, I guess it is kind of obvious. Those two she-cats are inseparable. "Even better then Clawheart?" Leafspot asked. "Well, maybe second best." Foxkit replied, still cheerful as always. "Oh, hi Flamekit." Moonkit smiled flicking her tail. Flamekit managed a smile; too embarrassed to speak. "You can sit here Flamekit." Leafspot motioned with her tail.
Flamekit sat down, ignoring the smell of the den. He stared at the fresh kill and heard his stomach growl. "You can have some, don't be scared. The whole clan shares this wonderful prey given to us by Starclan. Speckalface, could you pass Flamekit a squirrel?" Leafspot called to the old tom. He nodded and wolfed down another bite as he tossed a fresh squirrel towards Flamekit. "Thank you." Flamekit dipped his head and stared at the squirrel with only one thing running through his mind. How can I get Moonkit to like me? He stared at Moonkit; hoping she wouldn't notice him mooning over her. "So, how is it in the nursery Flamekit?" Flickernose asked licking her lips. "Good." Flamekit quickly answered. "What about that whole Ratkit scenario?" She ventured further. "We are just kits, it will all blow over." Flamekit heard Leafspot snort behind him, "He is so arrogant." "He will be a good strong warrior Leafspot. That is just what Thunderclan needs. The only powerful and consistent hunter we have now is Clawheart! And she is about to move in the elders den with us. Haven't you seen his shoulders? He is already the size of an apprentice halfway done with his training!" Speckalface exclaimed. "Oh Speckalface. Every warrior knows a true warrior isn't measured by his strength, but by the…." "Strength of his heart" A mew interrupted Flickernose. Flamekit looked toward the entrance and saw Clawheart with a huge hawk at her paws.
"Hello Clawheart. How are you?" Leafspot asked cheerfully; quickly avoiding the fight brewing in the den. "I could be better." Clawheart sighed, "This is for the kits. I have heard they haven't tasted a hawk before." She pawed the hawk in the middle of the den. Flamekit looked down at the squirrel once looking like a hefty meal now dwarfed by the size of the hawk. "That thing is as big as me!" Foxkit squealed. "See, just what I mean! She is one if the only Thunderclan warrior that brings a hawk back from every hunting patrol she takes!" Speckalface yowled; even though it was muffled from the huge bite of pheasant in his mouth.
"Maybe not the only for long; some of the kits in the nursery looks like they have potential." Clawheart rasped. "See Flickernose! Like I said, Ratkit will be the new Clawheart!" Speckalface yowled. Leafspot and Flickernose both snorted. Flamekit looked at Clawheart and noticed as she spoke, she was looking at him. She did see me chasing a feather. But that can't make you a great hunter, right? I just hope she isn't my mentor. "Well, I better get going." The elders mewed their goodbyes as Clawheart left the den. "It was nice to eat with all of you, but we better get back to the nursery; Hawkstripe might be worried." Moonkit stood up along with Foxkit and left the den. But as she was leaving, her tail smacked Flamekit in the face. He looked up at her blue eyes.
"Meet me outside the nursery." She then left as quietly as she came. Leafspot started to chuckle, "She is a keeper. She'll be a beautiful cat when she grows up." Flamekit could feel himself become hot again. "I better get going too." He ran out of the den ignoring all of the other remarks of the elders. I wonder what Moonkit could want? Flamekit could then see Moonkit's pelt glow against the walls of the nursery.
"What do you want to tell me?" Flamekit reluctantly mustered enough bravery to talk. "Well, I really like you, as a friend. But, maybe…" "Why, hello Flamekit and Moonkit." Darkstar cut Moonkit off. Thank you! "Are you two about to go in the nursery?" Moonkit nodded, "We just said goodbye to the elders." Darkstar smiled, "They can tell great stories sometimes. You might want to listen to one another day." I am done with elders right now. Darkstar looked down at Flamekit, "See you later Flamekit and Moonkit; I have to get back to my duties." He then ran off into the distance. Flamekit snorted, "He never has any time for us." He thought about howLightkit had said she would see him while she can.
He is the leader." Moonkit replied. Flamekit's eyes widened. She heard me?! "I guess so. But still…" "Give him a little break Flamekit. And be happy you actually have a father." Moonkit looked at the ground, whispering her last sentence. Flamekit cocked his head, "Remember Rainfoot?" Moonkit replied. "Now I remember. Didn't he dielast moon by a Shadowclan invasion?" Moonkit nodded solemnly. You mousebrain! You are going to make her cry! "But, he will always be looking down at you from Silverpelt." Flamekit quickly mewed. Moonkit nodded, "I suppose so." She then took a step near Flamekit. She opened her mouth to speak, but a loud meow broke her words, "Shadowclan had invaded!"
A/N: Hey sorry for the long wait. My friend was vacation for spring break and we couldn't really talk to each other. Also if you are a fan of Fall Out Boy then check out my story "She said, She said, why don't you just drop dead" on my Wattpad account.
