Chapter one
Bisonkit tossed the crumbly moss ball to Reedpaw. The patchy black and brown tom purred, catching it in his mouth and placing it in the pile of old moss in the corner of the elders den.
"Thank you for helping me, Bisonkit." Reedpaw purred
"You're welcome!" She squeaked, jumping around and pawing the pile of moss.
He laughed softly, "Don't undo all the work we already did! Why don't you help me build the new nests?"
Bisonkit nodded vigorously and got to work, helping the apprentice weave new nests for the elders. Finally, once they had finished, she bounced out of the den.
A cold breeze blew through her whiskers, and she twitched. The leaves had only just started turning golden, and orange, and amber, and she loved the way the trees looked like they were bathed in bright, golden sunlight. There were burned limbs of trees still lingering in camp after a forest fire that occured many moons before, but otherwise the camp was pleasant.
On the far side of the camp, Daisyshriek was watching her kits play. The two kits tumbled around camp in a mock fight.
Bisonkit could also hear Dawnlight sending out sunhigh patrols, his authoritative voice ringing out above the noise of camp.
Warriors not being ordered on patrol were lounging around camp, or they were watching Daisyshriek's kits play, cheering on one kit or the other.
Bisonkit turned to her left, where Sootfeather, a mottled gray she-cat, was waiting patiently for Reedpaw to finish cleaning the elders' den.
"Can you tell me a story now?" Bisonkit's eyes were wide and pleading.
"Of course!" Sootfeather purred, "Why don't you go get Firekit and Icekit?"
"Alright." Bisonkit's mew had a tone of disappointment. She didn't like listening to stories with Swandance's two kits.
Bisonkit rushed to the nursery, running through a pile of pine needles on her way across camp.
"Hey, watch it!" A golden brown tom growled, who had been sweeping them up with his tail.
"Sorry, Nettlepaw!" Bisonkit squeaked, not stopping on her way to the nursery.
"Whatever." Nettlepaw rolled his eyes, turning back to his work.
Bisonkit reached the nursery, and poked her head through the brambles. Icekit, a blue and white tabby she-kit, was cuddled next to her mother's belly, snoring loudly. Bisonkit giggled, and shook the she-kit.
"Wake up, sleepy badger! Sootfeather's going to tell us a story!" Bisonkit whispered, nudging Icekit with a paw. Icekit groaned and turned to the other side, ignoring Bisonkit.
Bisonkit huffed and turned to Firekit, an orange and white tabby tom. He was curled up, breathing softly like Icekit. Bisonkit shook him hard, accidentally pulling out a bit of his fluffy fur.
Firekit jumped up, his fur bristled and on end, "What was that for?" He hissed.
Bisonkit shushed him, "I'm sorry, it was an accident, but Sootfeather wants to tell us a story!"
Firekit flattened his fur, and glared at Bisonkit, "And?"
What's wrong with him? Sootfeather's stories are great! Bisonkit's eyes widened, "And she wants you to listen to them!" She urged.
"I'd rather sleep." Firekit grumbled, plopping back down.
"Lazy badger." Bisonkit muttered under her breath, and squeezed back out into the clearing. She trotted back over to Sootfeather, who was sitting with her gray tail tucked neatly around her paws.
"Where's Firekit and Icekit?" Sootfeather inquired, tilting her head slightly.
"They're being lazy badgers." Bisonkit huffed, glaring back at the nursery.
"Since they're being so very lazy, you get to choose the story." Sootfeather purred, standing up and padding inside the elders den with a flick of her tail, "Come."
Bisonkit jumped up and down happily and followed, "Oh, oh, oh! I know, tell me the story about the beginning of the Clans!"
"If you insist," Sootfeather sat down in a nest and inhaled before beginning her story, "Way back when, there were cats that lived in the mountains. They lived peacefully, for they were all one Clan, a tribe they called it. But there was hunger, much hunger during leaf bare. Many cats went hungry, and many died."
"Finally, the cats decided it would be easier to feed the tribe if some left to find a new place to live, where there would be abundant prey, and warmer weather. A few brave cats took on the task, and slowly traveled down the mountain.
"When they reached their destination, that stayed on the moor-"
"Why?" Bisonkit asked.
"- It was the first place they saw when they arrived, and it was the closest to what they were used to in the mountains. They were accustomed to clear spaces to run. "
"They were peaceful, and one cat named Clear Sky decided he wanted to live in the nearby forest. He took a group of cats with them, venturing in and creating a camp of his own.
"But this cat started creating borders as well, and becoming hostile. This caused a great war that killed many cats. The cats started splitting up the territory, some cats stayed on the moor, some to the pine forest, some to the river, and others into Clear Sky's forest.
"Another cat, named Thunder, established a second territory in the forest. But soon, a deadly sickness hit the five territories, killing many. The only cure was a five petaled flower that was guarded by rogues-"
"Why was it guarded by rogues?" Bisonkit tilted her head
"- If you keep asking questions you'll be here all day!" Sootfeather meowed exasperatedly.
"Fine." Bisonkit flicked her tail.
"Now, where was I? Oh, yes. They wanted control of the forest. Another great battle was fought, and the flower retrieved, healing the sick that were left.
"Finally, after many moons, the five territories were at peace. They established the Clans, ShadowClan in the marsh, ThunderClan and SkyClan in the forest, WindClan on the moor, and RiverClan by the river."
"And that brings us to where we are today!" Bisonkit finished for Sootfeather. Sootfeather nodded, chuckling.
"I should be getting some sleep, young one. These old bones need some rest." Sootfeather flicked her tail, and her eyes closed sleepily.
Bisonkit watched the gray she-cat disappear into sleep.
The young she-kit exited the den quietly, then bounced around camp to look for something to do.
"Bisonkit! Come play with me!" Bisonkit turned and saw her friend, Meadowkit, a cream tabby tom gesturing to her. She purred and hopped over, sitting down.
"What do you wanna play?" Bisonkit asked.
"Hunter and Mouse?" Meadowkit suggested.
"Sure!" Bisonkit jumped to her feet, "I'm Hunter! Run, run, as fast as you can!"
Meadowkit jumped to his feet and ran away, Bisonkit chasing him happily. Suddenly, Meadowkit skidded to a halt. Bisonkit, unaware, slammed into Meadowkit, her big paws crushing him.
"Ow!" He squeaked, pushing Bisonkit off.
Bisonkit shook out her pelt, "Got you!"
When Meadowkit didn't answer Bisonkit looked up, confused. Dawnlight was towering over them. The pale ginger tabby tom frowned down at the two kits.
"Hi,"Bisonkit squeaked, jumping up to her paws.
"Hello, Bisonkit." Dawnlight looked down at Bisonkit with disdain.
"Did you find anything interesting on your patrol?" Meadowkit asked, looking up with wide green eyes at Dawnlight.
Dawnlight sighed, "Yes, actually." He stepped over the kits, and a strange cat padded through the thorn entrance. He was a blue and ginger tabby tom, with amber eyes, like hers, and his pelt was full of pine needles.
Bisonkit leapt up, full of excitement. Someone new! She thought happily, "Hi! Who are you? I'm Bisonkit. Where did you come from? Have you been here before? Did I mention I'm Bisonkit?" The large she-kit bombarded the new cat with questions, bouncing over his paws.
Meadowkit stomped on her tail, and she turned to glare at him.
"Whoops!" He mewed sarcastically, then turned to the dark tom, "Are you aware that your pelt is littered with pine needles?"
The tom's eyes sparked as he chuckled at the kits and shook his pelt, "I'm Darkriver,"
Bisonkit turned back and groaned, "What about my other questions!" She whined.
Dawnlight cleared his throat, catching the attention of Darkriver, "Come," Darkriver nodded, and padded after Dawnlight.
Bisonkit huffed, slumping down. "I wanted to talk to him more!" She complained
"Why don't we continue our game?" Meadowkit suggested
Bisonkit looked up with a twinkle in her eye, "I have a better idea."
Chapter one! I hope you enjoyed getting to know Bisonkit, and Meadowkit a bit, I know I did. It took a bit to write it at first (I had five chapters and deleted the whole thing and started over; it was very painful.)
So, a stranger enters camp. That's really kind of it, although Bisonkit seems up to something. You'll just have to find out tomorrow.
Again, I hope you enjoyed!
— Theoneandonlylonelypotato