Brightkit sat just outside the nursery, absentmindedly flicking her tail. The piercing claws of Goldenkit reminded her why she was no longer free to do so near the nursery.
"Ow, that hurt!" she cried, wrenching her tail away from Goldenkit. The little furball tumbled away before rushing back up to Brightkit and preparing to pounce. "No way," Brightkit meowed and jumped out of the way of Goldenkit's flailing paws.
"Come on. Just play a little," Goldenkit complained.
"Can't you play with Frostkit?" Brightkit huffed, her tail still stinging.
"She's with Sedgekit listening to the elders." Goldenkit batted at the air. "And I don't want to listen to their raspy voices all day."
Brightkit lightly cuffed Goldenkit over the ear. "Don't speak that way about the elders."
Goldenkit launched herself at Brightkit, succeeding in knocking the bigger cat over. "I won't, if you play with me!"
Brightkit pushed the kit off. "That's not how it works."
Goldenkit wasn't listening, though. In a flurry of paws and fur Brightkit was splayed on the ground with Goldenkit's forepaws pressed into her shoulder.
Giving in, Brightkit mewed, "Don't think you've won." In an instant Brightkit shook off Goldenkit and grabbed the kit's scruff in her teeth. "Surrender," she mumbled around the fur.
Goldenkit squirmed, her paws flailing in the air. "Never! ThunderClan never surrenders!" But the kit couldn't shake loose from the older cat. Her thrashing became weaker until she quietly mewed, "Put me down, please."
Brightkit placed her on the ground and waited for the kit to attack again, but she made no such move. I hope I didn't dishearten her by beating her so easily. "Do you want to see a hunting crouch?" Brightkit asked, hoping it might perk up Goldenkit.
Goldenkit looked moderately interested. "Sure," she replied.
I may not be any apprentice but I think I have the basic hunting crouch down, so it's not like I'm teaching her anything wrong. Hopefully.
Brightkit spent the rest of the morning showing Goldenkit how to do a hunting crouch and even how to do a proper pounce. I'm probably going to regret this later. Goldenkit had lots of energy but around sunhigh she started getting slow and bumbling. "Alright, time for you to rest." Brightkit nosed the sleepy cat into the nursery where Larkwing was curled in the shadows.
"I was just about to go get her. Thank you, Brightkit," Larkwing mewed.
"No problem." Brightkit dipped her head before heading out of the nursery. She spotted Sorrelflower talking with Sandpelt near the Highrock. Sorrelflower looked pleased and meowed a few things that Brightkit couldn't hear at the deputy before padding across the clearing to Brightkit.
"You and Sedgekit are going to be made apprentices tomorrow," Sorrelflower purred.
Happiness exploded through Brightkit like fire. An apprentice! She was going to be an apprentice. "I'm going to tell Sedgekit!" she squealed before shooting off to the elders' den. Finally, she could start training to become the best warrior ThunderClan had ever seen.