Despite my slow growth though, Thistleclaw took a liking to me. I'm sure you three have heard of Thistleclaw, right? Snowfur's mate, Whitestorm's father? Yes, Adderkit, that would be him. Between the warriors' comments on my size, and me being comparing me to my father, Thistleclaw's interest in me grew, and he began to plan for me to become his apprentice.
Tigerkit exploded from the nursery with an irritated huff. He couldn't stand it in that den anymore! Since Spottedkit, Redkit, and Willowkit had been born, the nursery just wasn't nearly as quiet as it was before. The three kits found it funny to wander around the den and climb into anyone's nest! Not only that, but Frostkit and Brindlekit badgered him all day with questions and attempts to get him to play hide-and-seek.
And don't even get him started on Whitekit! His poor friend as been in such a depressing mood for the past few days, that Tigerkit could hardly stand to be around him anymore. Since Snowfur had died on the Thunderpath, Whitekit had been left alone and without a mother. He said very little and ate very rarely, and Tigerkit just did not know how to act around the tom anymore.
Outside in the fresh air, Tigerkit searched around for something to do. Part of him wanted to simply sulk on the edge of the camp, but another part of him itched to do something active. He would not waste the day sulking! His eyes scanned the camp until they fell on three warriors beside the fresh-kill pile. It was Thistleclaw, Adderfang, and Stormtail.
Tigerkit bounded over to them, and stopped to listen to their conversation from a tail length away. Maybe one of the warriors would teach him a fighting move, or maybe even the hunting crouch!
"... That's what she said at the last Gathering at least." Stormtail was meowing. "However, it could be different at this upcoming one. You never know how RiverClan might react to-" He paused as he felt Tigerkit's eyes watching him. He turned and saw the kit, "Oh, hello Tigerkit. Escaping the nursery again, aren't you?"
"Yes, Stormtail." Tigerkit nodded vigorously, and wasted no time in asking his question. "Will you teach me something? Please?"
Stormtail pretended to consider his request deeply. "I suppose I could." His whiskers twitched good-naturedly. "Alright, let's see your hunting crouch."
Tigerkit slipped into his best hunting crouch. He stalked forward a few paces, then leaped onto a mouse laying at the base of the fresh-kill pile. Despite it already being dead, he bit it for extra effect before turning around to see the reactions of the watching warriors.
"Your tail was sticking up in the air like a twig." Adderfang told him, though his eyes showed his amusement. "If you were out in the forest, you would have brushed some undergrowth and alerted your prey."
"Here, show me your crouch again and I'll fix it." Stormtail purred, and Tigerkit followed his orders. "You seem to be leaning to your left. Try to balance your weight evenly on all paws- yes, like that. Now, try to get the prey."
Tigerkit stalked forward once more, this time much more smoothly and balanced. His tail was held level with the ground behind him, and it made his steps much quieter. Though, it was hard not to let it move with his emotions. He paused, a tail length from his already caught prey, and then leaped. He landed a little clumsily that time, but the mouse was still directly between his paws. He bit it with a playful growth, then whipped around to get more critique from the warriors.
Thistleclaw looked mildly impressed, "You learn fast, Tigerkit." He nodded with thought, "Despite your size, I think you could become a great apprentice."
Tigerkit purred at his praise, and turned to practice his stalking again. He moved forward slowly and deliberately, focusing with all of his effort on keeping his pawsteps even and his tail still. Every now and then, Stormtail would fix his stance, but Tigerkit quickly grew proud of his newly learned skill. He couldn't wait to show Whitekit!
"I can already see Pinestar's adventurous spirit and ambition within you, Tigerkit." A voice made him pause midstep. He looked up to see Larksong, one of the elders, padding up to them. She paused at the fresh-kill pile to sniff curiously at a day-old squirrel before moving on in search of a fresher piece of prey. "It will make you strong one day."
A growl rose in Adderfang's throat. "Don't speak of that traitor here." He told her. "Pinestar is an embarrassment to the Clan- not a cat you should be proud of."
"If you had known Pinestar as a warrior, you would think otherwise." Larksong looked at him with deep disgust. "He was a loyal and brave warrior, worthy of all his nine lives."
Adderfang turned away from the elder rudely, "If he was such a great warrior, then why did he leave his Clan?"
Larksong simply picked up a bird and padded away, apparently not in the mood for a big argument with the tom. Thistleclaw snorted as she vanished into the elders' den. "I could be a better leader than Pinestar could have ever been. All I need is an apprentice." Adderfang and Stormtail murmured their agreement.
Just then, Tawnyspots padded up to them. "Thistleclaw, Adderfang, you are both on border patrol. Bring Dappletail with you." The two warriors nodded without complaint and went off in search of the she-cat. The deputy turned to Stormtail now, "You are joining my hunting patrol when the next one returns."
Now that the group of warriors were busy, Tigerkit found himself wandering back to the nursery. He ignored Brindlekit and Frostkit's questions as he entered the den, and instead padded over to his empty nest to lay by himself. Briefly, he wondered where Leopardfoot was, but he didn't give it much thought. His mind was more focused on Pinestar, and what Larksong had said.
Was he really like Pinestar? There's no way Pinestar could be the great warrior that she said he was, if he chose to abandon his Clan in the end. Larksong wasn't the only cat who still supported the old leader though, and that confused him. Leopardfoot supported him still, and so did a couple other warriors and elders. But the majority of camp was angry, and rightfully so in Tigerkit's eyes. If being a kittypet was so bad, then why would cats still look up to him after he became one?
His confused thoughts kept him up for a long time, and he pretended to sleep to keep Frostkit and Brindlekit away. Eventually though, as Leopardfoot returned to the nusery and settled down in the nest beside him, he finally fell asleep.