Heronkit woke to a strange sound. He blinked the sleep from his eyes and yawned. It was still very dark in the nursery. It wasn't time to get up yet. He reached out with his paws to touch his mother's warm and familiar flank. It wasn't there.
Confused, Heronkit swung his head around. "Momma?" He squeaked.
There it was again. That sound that had woken him. It was low and long. It sent shivers up his spine.
Fearful now, Heronkit struggled to his paws and stumbled over Crowkit's tail.
"Momma!" Heronkit cried. He scrambled to the edge of the nest and slipped on a feather. He tumbled over the edge of the nest and rolled right into a furry flank. He looked up and blinked hopefully. He could hardly see in the darkness of the den, but he thought he recognized the silhouetted ears.
"Papa?"
Papa didn't move. Heronkit tilted his head. What was Papa doing here?
"What happened?" A soft voice was saying. It wasn't Momma's.
"She was like this when I woke up." That was Momma's voice. It sounded like Heronkit felt after he spent too long playing outside.
Heronkit reached up and pushed on his papa with both forepaws. He tried to speak but his voice felt shy in his throat.
Finally, Papa turned to look at Heronkit. His amber eyes glowed softly in the gloom.
"Heronkit, you should be asleep." Papa chided softly. He drew Heronkit close with his tail anyway.
Heronkit huddled close to Papa's flank. He closed his eyes and smelled the air for Momma. He could smell her, but he couldn't see her. He could also smell the pungent, herby smell of the medicine cat, Plumleaf. Had she brought them more icky herbs to eat? Heronkit shivered at the thought.
"She isn't responding." Plumleaf's voice was saying.
Momma's mew followed, but Heronkit didn't know what she said. He felt Papa stiffen beside him.
Heronkit's brothers began to wake.
"Momma, where are you?" Crowkit's mew was distressed. It was followed by a wail from Hawkkit.
Heronkit looked up at Papa, expecting him to help the others like he had helped Heronkit. Papa didn't do anything.
Heronkit felt a new tail slip in beside him and drew him gently away from Papa. Heronkit looked up and recognized the blurry shape of Spottedfur. She reached a gentle paw into the nest and drew Crowkit to her flank. Hawkkit followed, sniffling.
"Come here, kits." Spottedfur trilled in her cheery voice. "Would you like to go on an adventure?"
Hawkkit brightened immediately. "Where?" He demanded.
Crowkit eyed Spottedfur more solemnly. "Momma says we aren't to leave the den after dark."
"This is a special occasion." The older queen chirped. She nodded at Papa's still figure. "Your Papa says it's fine, right Falconstorm?"
Papa nodded stiffly. "Do as she says, kits." he murmured.
Crowkit seemed satisfied. He itched an ear with a back paw. "Where are we going?"
"What are we gonna do?" Hawkkit asked. He dropped into a crouch and wiggled his haunches in excitement.
Heronkit looked around, confused. "Where's Dovekit?"
Spottedfur's green eyes flicked over to where Momma and Plumleaf were talking. "Dovekit isn't feeling well. She'll stay here with Ferntail."
Hawkkit sniffed. "Serves her right. She stole my mouse tail!"
Heronkit cast a glance back at Papa. His belly wriggled uncomfortably, but when Spottedfur began to usher him and his brothers out of the den he followed without complaint.
It was cold outside. The moon shone bright in the sky. Heronkit gazed up at the whiteish splotch in the inky expanse. He knew there were stars up there. He was excited for the day he could see them.
Spottedfur wasted no time and hurried the kits the few fox-lengths across the frosty ground towards a fallen log on the other end of the clearing. Heronkit felt a spark of excitement that warmed him despite the chill as he recognized the elder's den.
Spottedfur guided the three tom-kits into the warmth of the den. Heronkit blinked a few times, adjusting. The elder's den was lighter than the nursery, but it was still hard to see. He could make out three lumps of fur huddled close together in the darkness.
He let his nose guide him forward and he found the scent he was looking for. He tottered up to the closest nest and prodded the lump within.
"Beepelt." he squeaked. "Wake up!"
"Yeah, sleepy-mouse, wake up!" Hawkkit had joined him. Crowkit hung back, staying close to Spottedfur.
Beepelt stirred and raised his black-striped head over his graying shoulders. He peered at them with one amber eye.
"Kits? In the middle of the night?" He muttered. "Must be a dream." The old cat made to curl up again.
"No!" Hawkkit cried. He pummeled the elder's back with his tiny tabby paws.
"No!" Heronkit joined his brother in chorused protest. He ran around to Beepelt's head and stuck his nose in the old cat's face. He was met by Beepelt's twinkling eyes.
"Oh? Not a dream, you say?" He said in his creaky purr.
Heronkit shook his head. "Spottedfur brought us for a special visit." Surely Beepelt knew what that special visit was all about.
Beepelt looked up at Spottedfur. "Did she now?"
Spottedfur nudged Crowkit forward with her dappled muzzle. "I thought you could tell them one of your best stories." she said.
The other elders in the den were stirring. Foxtail grumbled. Hollowtree raised his head for a moment before adjusting in his nest and curling up once more.
That was okay. Beepelt was the best elder anyway. He always had the greatest stories.
Without waiting to be asked, Heronkit wriggled into Beepelt's nest. Hawkkit scrambled in beside him, followed more slowly by Crowkit. While the brothers squabbled over seating, Spottedfur leaned in and murmured something in Beepelt's ear. The old cat's eyes flashed with an emotion Heronkit didn't recognize. It was gone in a moment.
"I have the perfect story for you. Every CedarClan kit should know it." Beepelt said as he drew the littermates close with his striped tail. Heronkit kneaded the floor of the mossy nest in excitement. All three kits fell silent and waited.
"Long, long ago, before even my father's father was born, there were three tom-kits in the nursery." Beepelt began in his rumbling voice. Heronkit leaned in to feel the vibrations of the old tom's mew deep in his chest.
"Just like us!" Hawkkit said, his blue eyes stretching wide.
Beepelt nodded. "Just like you."
"Nu-uh, what about Dovekit?" Heronkit complained. He gave his brother a shove.
"Quit interrupting!" Crowkit whined.
"Now, now, let's all be still." Beepelt chided them. The kits fell silent and waited for the story to resume. Beepelt shuffled in his nest and continued.
"The three tom-kits were called Redkit, Graykit, and Whitekit. One night, Redkit couldn't sleep. They had been cooped up in the nursery all day, and he was much too full of energy to rest."
Heronkit frowned. Being in the nursery all day was annoying.
"So, being a rambunctious kit, he hatched a daring plan. He, and his brothers, would sneak out of camp and have an adventure in the forest."
Crowkit gasped while Hawkkit made a low sound of awe. Heronkit kept his eyes trained on Beepelt.
"'Wake up!' Redkit whispered to his brothers. He was careful not to wake their mother. 'Let us go out into the forest and have a grand adventure!'
"'Should we?' Asked Whitekit, for he was a sensible kit. 'It is cold and dark in the forest.' 'If we go out and catch a mouse to feed our mother, we will surely be made into apprentices.' Graykit reasoned. Redkit agreed. Finally, Whitekit did too, for every kit dreams of the day they are given their apprentice name."
All three kits shivered as they thought about that day. Heronkit wished that Dovekit could be here with them so she could imagine it too. Heronkit decided that he would bring her to Beepelt tomorrow so she could hear the story as well.
"So, one-by-one the three tom-kits sneaked out of the nursery and into the cold winter camp. They fluffed out their pelts and tip-toed right past the warrior on duty. We are quick and silent, thought Redkit, surely, we can catch a mouse and show every cat how talented we are.
Redkit led the way into the cold, cold forest. They saw many grand things and scented many new smells on their adventure. Soon, Whitekit began to complain.
'It is much too cold, Redkit. Can we go home?' he said. Redkit was cold too, but they hadn't yet caught a mouse. They hadn't even smelled one yet.
'I will find you a hole.' Redkit announced. 'You can stay there if you like.'
Whitekit and Graykit nodded. They were frightfully cold.
Redkit used his nose and found a good hole for his brothers to curl up in. They crowded inside and looked out at Redkit.
'Come in, Redkit.' Graykit said. 'We can look for a mouse another time.'
Redkit hesitated. He wanted to find a mouse and become an apprentice, but his paws had numbed and his teeth chattered in the wind. Perhaps he should..."
Beepelt paused for effect, and the tom-kits began to clamor.
"What did Redkit do?" Hawkkit demanded.
"They should never have left the nursery!" Crowkit declared, his blue eyes wide.
"Tell us, tell us!" Heronkit pleaded.
Beepelt purred and went on.
"Redkit was about to decide what to do when there was a noise just behind him! He turned and saw something that would make even the bravest kit cry out." Beepelt paused again. The kits were silent. Heronkit held his breath.
"A weasel!" Beepelt said sharply. He lifted his tail up in a swift movement, making all three kits jump.
"A greasy, slimy, clever weasel. Redkit had heard of weasels. Every kit in CedarClan had. They were sneaky things that would carry away any kit that strayed too far from their mother's belly. The evil-eyed thing was slinking towards the kits. Its little round ears were twitching in the cold, and its black eyes darted this way and that."
Beepelt waved his tail back and forth in the slow, snake-like movement of a weasel looking for its prey. Heronkit stared, mouth open, as he imagined the weasel here in the den. He shuffled closer to Hawkkit.
"Redkit shrunk back into the hole, wondering what to do. How silly he had been to think that he was ready to brave the outside world! How mouse-brained he was to imagine an escape from this most terrible foe. Oh, StarClan, thought Redkit , please save us!"
Heronkit was transfixed by Beepelt's waving tail. He felt cold despair fill him up. What were three kits to do?
"Then, just as the weasel spied its prey, Redkit saw a figure through the trees. A white cat was walking through the forest. Knowing that the weasel was coming for him, Redkit closed his eyes and cried out. 'Help us!'
Just as he yowled, the weasel struck." Beepelt thrust his tail towards the three kits in his nest.
Heronkit's belly lurched, and Hawkkit and Crowkit gasped in unison.
"It came at the kits with squeals and bites. Redkit shrank away, and felt his brother's shaking pelts against his back. As Redkit raised a trembling paw towards the foe," Beepelt flicked his tail away from the kits with a sudden, jerky motion, "the weasel was dragged back. It lunged again, but was foiled. Redkit watched as Shypaw, a CedarClan apprentice, yanked the weasel by its tail away from the kits!
Shypaw fought like a lion. He grappled with the wily beast until it shrieked in pain and fear. Redkit, Whitekit, and Graykit watched with awe as they were saved by the brave apprentice. Soon the dastardly weasel was defeated, and Shypaw limped up to where the kits were hiding.
'Thank you!' They said. Shypaw gathered them close in the little den. 'It was foolish to come out here alone, kits.' the wise and brave apprentice said. The kits hung their heads. They all knew they had been very lucky.
'How did you find us?' Redkit asked.
Shypaw looked out into the snowy forest. 'A strange white cat showed me the way.' he said. 'Perhaps it was a StarClan warrior.'
Shypaw kept the kits warm and safe against his ginger fur until the sun had risen and he could take them back to their mother. Redkit was grateful for Shypaw's help, but he wondered who else it was that he had seen that night. He silently thanked StarClan for sending the white cat to lead Shypaw to him and his brothers. He vowed that night that once he was old enough, he would become an apprentice just like Shypaw. Brave, wise, and strong.
So, as Redkit and his brothers learned that night, the forest is no place for kits to wander alone." Beepelt curled his striped tail comfortingly around the brothers. He closed his eyes, then reopened one to fix them with a twinkling eye.
"But, if you do ever find yourself in need of help, call out. Perhaps some cat will answer."
Beepelt finished his tale with a flourish and the kits began to chatter immediately.
"I'll never be like that mouse-brain, Redkit." Crowkit declared.
Hawkkit gaped at his brother. "But Redkit was so brave! He protected his brothers!"
"No, he was 'fool-hairy'." Crowkit shot back with a sniff.
"That's not a word!" Hawkkit complained.
"Is too! Papa called Cherrypaw 'fool-hairy' for picking a fight at the Gathering." Crowkit said.
Heronkit didn't join the squabble. He looked up at Beepelt. "I'm going to be just like Shypaw one day." he told the elder. "I'll be brave and wise and strong."
Beepelt purred. "I'm sure you will."
"Couldn't you have told them a less exciting story?" Foxtail grumbled from her nest. She was glaring at Beepelt and had her tail over her ears. "They're making a racket."
Beepelt hushed Crowkit and Hawkkit's quarrel and began telling a quieter story about StarClan. Heronkit had heard that one before, so he let his mind wander. Tiredness began to make his eyelids feel heavy and when Hawkkit gave a hearty yawn Heronkit couldn't help but follow suit. Soon, all three kits were dozing in the space between Beepelt's flank and tail.
Heronkit closed his eyes and thought about how good it would be to finally be an apprentice. He would learn to fight and hunt and defend his Clan alongside his brothers and, of course, Dovekit. It was what every kit dreamed about.
Heronkit didn't know how long he had been asleep when he was awoken by a soft touch. He cracked one eye open and peered through the gloom of the elder's den. A white shape fuzzed before his eyes. He raised his head and blinked a few times, confused.
The white shape came into sharper focus. Small paws. Rounded ears. Patches of soft gray amidst the white.
"Dovekit?" Heronkit whispered.
She turned and faced him. Her pale blue eyes sparkled. She turned and padded out of the mouth of the den.
Heronkit almost called after her, but felt like he shouldn't. He didn't want to get her in trouble. Instead, he carefully wriggled free of Beepelt's flank and wobbled down the side of the nest. He followed Dovekit out into the cold.
Dovekit was already several fox-lengths away by the time Heronkit left the den.
"Dovekit, where are you going?" Heronkit called softly. "Come back!"
She didn't reply. Heronkit fluffed out his pelt and hurried after her.
A small group of cats were gathered in the center of the camp clearing. They had their backs to the kits. Dovekit stopped just short of them and turned to face Heronkit. The little white and gray she-kit sat down and curled her thin tail around her paws. She looked up at the cat next to her. As Heronkit crept forward, he recognized the pelt as a copy of Dovekit's.
It was Momma. There was Papa, sitting beside her. Plumleaf was there too. What were they doing out here so late?
Heronkit faltered as he drew near. He would be scolded for leaving the warmth of the elder's den. He didn't want to get in trouble.
Dovekit turned her solemn gaze on him. Then she looked up at Momma's face. There was deep sadness in the kit's eyes.
Worried, Heronkit scampered the last few tail-lengths to Momma's side. He pressed his fur against her flank. He was shivering.
Momma looked down at him, eyes wide in surprise.
"Heronkit! What are you doing out here?" Her voice was strained and soft. Instead of scolding him and sending him away, she drew him close with her long, curly tail.
Suddenly feeling very tired, Heronkit leaned against Momma's front leg. "I'm sorry." He mumbled. "I followed Dovekit."
Momma got tense and she pulled him even closer. "Dovekit?" she said in a voice as thin as a cobweb.
Heronkit closed his eyes and nodded into her fur. There was a long pause. Then Momma spoke. Her voice shook a little.
"Dovekit has gone to StarClan, my love."
Heronkit opened his eyes, confused. "But I just..." He craned his neck, looking for his sister. She was gone.
Momma lowered her chin and pressed her nose against the top of Heronkit's head. He let her snuggle him close.
Heronkit knew that every cat went to StarClan. It was where their ancestors lived. Perhaps Dovekit had gone for a visit. Maybe she would be back soon. In that case, he didn't know why Momma was so sad, but he would let her hold him close for now if it made her feel better.
. . .
The night grew colder as dawn approached. A mother sat in the center of camp, her mate beside her and her son cuddled close to her belly.
Her daughter lay close by, wreathed in sweet smelling herbs and frost. Grief hung like a low mist over the camp as cats silently emerged from their dens and joined the vigil.
The black and gray tom-kit lay curled against his mother's fur. He dreamt of a sister he did not know had died.