A calico she-cat dipped her head to the tiny cat. The kit returned the gesture, and then spoke. "A new lesson, Speckleheart?" She said quietly.
"Yes. You must learn the next lesson." Speckleheart responded.
"The next lesson? What is it?"
"Well, first, I will tell you about a cat I once healed. His name was Thornleaf." The kit sat down, curling her tail around her paws.
"He was a fierce warrior, but one time, a badger caught his shoulder with it's claws. Is was quite similar to that rogue's injury. Thornleaf came to my den, unable to move his front leg. You see, the badger had ripped through the muscle there, and a tiny bit of the tendon that let him move it. I prescribed gentle exercise, which he did determinedly. Soon, he could move it, but it was always stiff, and he couldn't really raise it. He was lucky to be able to walk! He retired to the elder's den, and never went back onto the battlefield. However, a few days after he was able to move it, a unjust battle erupted, and StarClan was so angry that they sent a storm, which sent all the cats down the river, to the Twolegplace. Some of them never came back. He lived peacefully, and helped to train the next leader. So, my sweet kit, just remember, everything is meant to happen, and that… you can't save everyone."
The kit sighed. "But I need to! You're teaching me, so I'm going to save her, right?"
Speckleheart groaned. "You completely missed the point of that story, didn't you?"
Littlekit shook herself awake. Dawnpaw was grooming herself in the center of the clearing, a freshly caught rabbit and a squirrel next to her. When she saw Littlekit, she walked over to her. "Want to share?" She asked. The little kit nodded, "But shouldn't we bring something to Sugar?"
Dawnpaw smiled, "That's what the squirrel is for. It's for Sugar, and maybe a few other cats if she's not hungry."
"Oh. Okay!" Littlekit said joyfully. Dawnpaw bent down and took a small bite of the rabbit. Littlekit munched happily with Dawnpaw, the two friends sharing a happy moment. Then Moon came running out from the bush where he was sleeping. "Hey, Littlekit? Can you check on Sugar?" He asked, his grouchy attitude not showing through. Littlekit nodded, took a last bite of rabbit, and headed back into the bush. Sugar was still laying down, her shoulder up. Littlekit lifted up the cobwebs, sniffing the poultice to make sure it wasn't stale. Sugar yawned. "Oh, hey, Littlekit." She said. "How are you feeling?" Littlekit asked anxiously.
"I can kind of walk? I guess?" Sugar said.
"No, you will stay here until your shoulder heals." Littlekit said sternly. Sugar sighed, then shakily got to her feet. She bent her paw under her and hobbled along on 3 paws. Shaking her head, Littlekit followed.
"Sugar! You're up!" Moon said happily, nuzzling his sister. Sugar nearly fell over. "Yeah, but not for long if you knock me over!" She teased. Moon purred softly.
"Sugar! I caught a squirrel for you!" Dawnpaw called, picking up the prey and dropping it at Sugar's feet. Sugar purred in thanks and started eating. Moon took a small bite and swallowed it. "I'm going to go hunt. Apple! Cara!" Moon called. The cats rose from their slumber and walked over to him. "Yes? I was sleeping!" Cara complained. "We're going hunting." Moon said. The rogues raced off into the forest.
Sugar licked her lips and looked down, "I don't think that I can eat that much." She said. "Sure. We'll give it to the kits, then." Dawnpaw said, shrugging. Dawnpaw lifted it up and carried it over to the other kits, with Littlekit following behind, and Sugar limping around the clearing, trying to strengthen her injured leg, although Littlekit guessed it would be no less than a quarter moon before they could continue.
My favorite part: "You completly missed the point of that story, didn't you?" (: