Hgai! Hey, I was thinking something. You know, the clan list thing is going to change every so often, there's no denying it. So I was thinking that maybe I could do it again every five chapters or so, maybe every ten if I can keep with the story that long, just so that everyone has something to look at so you aren't going back and trying to figure something out on an outdated list. Tell me whatcha think!

Thanks for the lovely reviews from Anidori-Isilee, Purechaos4u, and katzsoa!

Chapter 4

"Mosskit? Duckkit? I need to have a word with you and Leopardkit." Duckkit and Mosskit leaped across the log. They had had a good day with Justin, and had arrived home somewhat early. His twolegs' kits had wanted to show him to the neighbors.

"Yes Mudfoot?" Duckkit went to sit beside Leopardkit. Leopardkit had been spending her time in the nursery or with Sharpeyes; she had wanted to spend her free time listening to the stories of battles and hard leaf-bares.

"You know you will apprentices in a moon," Mudfoot began. "And when that happens you won't be able to spend your days playing. Mosskit, Duckkit, are you ready for that? You'll have to wake up early and spend the day working. No more free time, you won't be kits anymore." Duckkit and Mosskit nodded and agreed but only half-listened to the speech.

No more free-time? Will I not see Justin anymore? The thought ripped Mosskit's heart. Mudfoot finished her talk and sent them off. Leopardkit followed her mother while Duckkit and Mosskit went back to the log.

"So I hear you two just got the new apprentice talk." They turned to see Batpaw and Splashpaw sitting beside one end, smiling in a friendly way. Batpaw continued, "You know, I bet we'll be warriors before you finish your training. I'd love to train one of you, if I could." Mosskit smiled. She'd like to be trained by Batpaw. The large eared apprentice had something very important in common with Mosskit: both were good listeners, and neither was easily accepted.

"That'd be cool." Duckkit had set his soul on being trained by Thistleprick, Batpaw and Splashpaw's father, who was also the clan's deputy.

"Yeah, well, we'll see. Later fellas," Splashpaw said as he left the two kits to their playing.

Batpaw stayed behind, for one reason or another. "Well, do you two need anything?"

Duckkit opened his mouth to refuse, before asking a question with an answer that would haunt him for moons to come. " . . . what's it like to be an apprentice?"

Batpaw was quiet for a moment, her large ears going back against her head as she looked upward in contemplation. "It's . . . rewarding, I suppose. It was a shock to have such little free time all of the sudden. Goosetalon was very pushy about making sure things get done, and I was always to tired to move at the end of the day. Now that I've gotten used to it, it's not quite so hard, but it's still pretty rough. Practically no time to myself anymore. I once asked him if this is what being a warrior is like, though."

Mosskit's eyes opened with interest, and she nodded for Batpaw to continue.

"It's not that far off, although us warriors do get a bit more time to ourselves." All three young cats whirled around to see the speckled tom. "But not a whole lot. After all, the clan as a whole is much more important than ourselves as individuals."

"Hi Goosetalon." Duckkit murmured as Mosskit waved her tail.

"Hello kits, how are things?" He smiled warmly.

"Do you need me for anything?" Batpaw asked quickly.

Goosetalon nodded. "I figure I can trust you to gather moss on your own?"

Batpaw nodded and turned to head out. "Oh, wait a moment! Would you mind taking Mosskit with you? I think it'd do her good to get out of the cave once in a while." Mosskit ducked her head with shame. If only you knew . . .

"What about me?" Duckkit yowled with protest. "Well, I'm going to teach you a fighting move!" Goosetalon eagerly knocked his son over, and fell down onto his stomach when Duckkit leaped up to retaliate.

Mosskit smiled at the exchange when a voice surfaced in her ear. "Let's leave the toms to their foolery, shall we?" Mosskit smiled and nodded, quickly following the apprentice.

As they reached out, Batpaw trotted along, Mosskit keeping well pace. "Wow, you're pretty fast for your age." Batpaw smiled warmly.

Mosskit nodded absentmindedly.

"Something wrong?" Batpaw slowed and Mosskit quickly shook her head, waving her tail at a tree with a good coat of moss.

They hurried over after Batpaw's quick comment of "Good eye!"

Mosskit watched Batpaw carefully collect the moss before asking for assistance in carrying it back. Mosskit grabbed as much as she could carry and they both headed back.

Goosetalon greeted Batpaw at the entrance and quickly took up Mosskit's share of the moss, leaving her alone with her equally worn out brother.

Duckkit and Mosskit sat in silence for a moment, simply waiting for something to happen, until Duckkit voiced the thought plaguing their minds.

"Can we play with Justin anymore?"

OoooOOoooOOoooOOooo * wiggles fingers * DRAMA! So, yeah, I'm debating on what to do with this. See, I'm trying to catalog Mosskit's entire, unspeaking life. So, here's what could happen: She and Duckkit could sneak out at night and try not to get caught, or they could not see Justin again until they become warriors. D: But if they sneak out at night, they'll have to be sneaky, and they'll have to miss a night of sleep. But if they don't, then it'll be a while before we see Justin again, and I really like him. See, with most stuff I've seen when that happens, we skip ahead to the part where we see them again, but we can't with this . . . I suppose we could do half the chapter Mosskit and Duckkit and half the chapter Justin . . . huh. So many possibilities. Tell me whatcha think! :D