Chapter 3
Graystorm spun around. Mistkit noticed that Flintflight was walking toward her, looking angry. "Why are you speaking?!" he asked furiously. Graystorm opened her mouth and words tumbled out. "I was just sitting here, mindin' my business, when out of nowhere Ratkit comes and starts babbling some mouse-dun-" Mistkit's eyes widened at the swear word, and Flintflight looked at her, then gave Graystorm a warning look.
"That's no excuse. She's just a kit," he mewed. Mistkit's heart lifted. Does this mean I'm not in trouble? "But still, I will punish her." Mistkit's heart sank back down to the bottom of her chest. I guess not. Now Applekit and Bluekit are going to make fun of me! "You have to clean the elders' ticks and bedding from now on." Graystorm hissed. "WHA-" Flintflight glared at her. Graystorm's mouth snapped shut, and she shot Mistkit a death glare. "Little piece of mouse-dung, you stupid baby rat," Graystorm snarled under her breath, just loud enough for Mistkit to hear.
"I won't let you be off the hook. Your mother will choose your punishment," meowed the Clan Deputy. Mistkit felt honored. Even if she was in trouble, she got to talk to the Deputy of the Clan, who might one day even be Leader! Flintflight led her back to the nursery, to her mother's nest.
"There you are, you silly frog! Where did you go?! I was so worr-" Raintail noticed Mistkit's nervous look, and Flintflight standing behind her looking serious. The gray she-cat's eyes narrowed. "What happened?" she asked suspiciously. "Your kit was trying to talk to our new warriors," Flintflight reported. "I promised punishment, what will you punish her with?"
Mistkit simmered with indignation. "Hey, I was trying to congratulate them!" she cried. Raintail sighed. "Well, I guess she should be helping out the medicine cats," she mewed, "and maybe changing bedding?" Mistkit frowned. She didn't want to do boring, stinky chores! "That's fair," agreed Flintflight. "I'll leave you be, then. She starts tomorrow." He turned and left the den.
Mistkit climbed into her mother's nest, and snuggled at her belly. "You've been very naughty, but hopefully you will learn your lesson," purred Raintail gently. "Can you tell me a story, Mommy? About the brave Firestar?" Raintail smiled. "Of course, dear. Once upon a time, long ago, far away in the old ThunderClan forest, there was a kittypet named Rusty..."
(*)~~~~~~~(*)
The silver kit must've fallen asleep to the brave tales of how Firestar fought tiny-but-evil Scourge, because next thing she knew, Bluekit's voice woke her up. "Haha! You have to help the medicine cats, Medicine-stinky!" Applekit joined in. "Medicine-stinky! Medicine-stinky!" Mistkit sighed. They had been bound to find out about her punishment some way, but still. It was humiliating to be called 'Medicine-stinky' in front of her crush, Seedkit.
"Hey!" Seedkit mewed. "She's not a medicine-stinky!" Mistkit was flattered and very grateful for Seedkit to defend her. "What do you know, Dirtkit?" sneered Applekit. "Go to the Dark Forest and die with Brokenstar!" Shinewater looked up from her nest and hissed, "Don't say that! Go outside and get some fresh-kill without hurting everyone's feelings by telling them to go to the Dark Forest. You're big enough to eat meat." Shinewater watched, glaring, as the kits scampered from the nursery. She comforted Seedkit, who was upset. "I-I don't wanna go to the Dark Forest and see evil Brokenbutt," whimpered Seedkit. "It's okay, dear," soothed Shinewater.
The golden she-cat looked at the tiny kit and meowed, "Mistkit, go help the medicine cats like you've been told." Mistkit sighed, shoulders slumping. "O-kaaaayyy," she groaned, and walked out of the den, heading to the Medicine Den. "I was told to help you," she meowed to Pinespeck. The golden tabby tom looked up, reminding Mistkit how he was related to Shinewater. "That's great! I need more paws, since Frogpaw is out getting herbs."
Mistkit turned at the sound of someone walking in. "Hey," growled Graystorm. "Stupid Ratkit got me into trouble last night. I need mouse bile." Pinespeck told her where it was. As Graystorm passed Mistkit she snarled quietly, "I will never forget this. Never."
