Thank you DappledleafTheBootiful for reviewing. I look forward to developing Foxkit's character based on your suggestions. If you have any ideas for pranks, feel free to let me know.
Now on to the chapter!
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Silverkit slowly opened her eyes as she recalled yesterday's events in her head. With a sudden rush of worry, Silverkit turned to Moonkit and gently pressed her nose into Moonkit's side. The hairs on her spine flattened as she realized that Moonkit was sleeping calmly and her breathing was normal. With a sigh of relief she began to fully take in her surroundings and that is when she realized there was a cat in the den that Silverkit had never seen though her smell was slightly familiar. Silverkit turned towards her mother and nudged her gently careful not to wake her sister who clearly needed rest.
"Mama, mama, wake up." Whiteflower slowly opened her eyes and addresses her kit.
"What is it sweetie?"
"Whose that cat over there, I don't recognize her."
"That's Mapleleaf, she is the other queen, she had already left the den when you woke up. By the time you and your sister got back you were too out of it to notice her." Whiteflower explained.
"Oh, who is her mate? Is she nice? Does she like me? When are her kits coming" Silverkit listed of quickly. Her mind lingering on the last question as she studies the calico's obviously bulging side. Not that she would say anything out loud. That is just rude she thought.
"Her mate is Goldenstar. I believe her to be very sweet. She has cooed over you and your sister many a time when you were sleeping and her kits are due in about two moons. Any other questions." Whiteflower surmised with a slight purr.
"No, thank you ma." As Silverkit finished up, Moonkit started to stir.
"Sorry, sis. You can continue sleeping. I didn't mean to wake you." Even as Silverkit protested, Moonkit continued to get up and stretch slowly. Seeing as Moonkit was not listening, Silverkit decided to question her.
"How are you feeling? Are you okay after yesterday?"
"I'm fine. I am feeling a lot better and I am ready for today!" Moonkit announced her tail twitching with anticipation.
"Now, you two are not doing anything crazy today. I do not want Moonkit overexerting herself again. Got it?" Whiteflower warned them.
"Yes, Mama" they answered in unison. The two then sat down as they began to think about what to do for the day that wouldn't be too much for Moonkit.
"We could help Softfoot with herbs." Silverkit suggested.
"Ew, no," Moonkit shook her head in disgust," How about we play moss ball instead?"
"I think that is too much strain for you today, we should save that for another time," Silverkit argued knowing their mother would never agree, "How about hide and seek?" Silverkit suggested instead.
"That's not fun with just two cats!" Moonkit wailed starting to get frustrated. Silence lapsed between the two cats as they tried to think of something better. Silverkit's eyes widened as she squealed with delight.
"I have the perfect idea!'
"What? What?" Moonkit asked, unable to wait any longer.
"We should hear a story from the elders!" Moonkit nodded her assent and the sisters turned towards Whiteflower for approval. She purred "That sounds perfect, just make sure to come back right after." With a nod of agreement the two kits headed out and towards the elders den.
When they came to the den, the slipped in quietly only to be surprised that all of the elders were already up.
"What are you youngins doing in here so soon?" Scareye croaked.
"We wanted to hear a story. Mama wants us to do something that won't overexert me."
"Ahh, yes, I heard about that, are you feeling better?" Kinktail asked the young kit.
"Yes, but a story would make me feel even better." Moonkit said sweetly while making her eyes as big as possible while Silverkit followed her lead.
"Well, who could ignore two such sweet kits. Very well, I will tell you the story of clans long lost to the ages." Missingnose announced. Silverkit was at first surprised by the nasally elder being the one to tell the story but was soon put to shame by her quick judgement. And so the story began.
Every kit is told of the stories of the original clans consisting of the big cats: lions, tigers, and leopards. What the stories do not say is the long lost clan of the fourth big cats, the panthers. These majestic creatures wore jet black pelts and owned the night like the tigers could not. They stalked amongst the trees and even lived in them. They were beautiful but also feared especially by the lions.
The four clans lived in peace for many seasons but the fear of the panthers grew. The lions spread the fear to the tigers who in turn hated them for taking what they considered theirs, the night. For the most part the leopards stood out of the mix, not wanting to cause more problems. They, at the time, were content with what they head and did not want to fan the flames. However, no cat could predict what would happen next. And it was a truly disastrous thing.
Instead of talking things out with the panthers or discussing it with their ancestors. The lions took things into their own paws. They met the tigers in secret and they made a plan to rid the world of the panthers. The lions had convinced themselves that the panthers were evil spirits and would destroy everything they love. The lions convinced the tigers of the same. So one midafternoon, they planned an attack. Later the cats would realize that attack was not the right word because what they did was more of a slaughter.
All clans knew that the panthers slept during the day when it was hottest especially in newleaf as their pelt's drew in heat. So the lions and tigers attacked then. The panthers slept in trees but this became their down fall on the day of the attack. The cat keeping was the first to fall victim to the lions and tigers. They did not even have a chance to let out a warning call before they were felled down. Sadly, the elders came next. They were the closest to the ground due to the fact that they couldn't jump as high as they once could. The lions and tigers showed no mercy as they killed the elders. However, they did not get the last elder fast enough and the elder let out a warning cry before their throat was torn open.
At this point all chaos broke lose. Unfortunately the panthers were doomed from the start. The panthers were already a small clan and they were fighting against two clans worth of cats with the intent to destroy. One cat after another fell. Some broke necks and spines as they were yanked from the trees by their tails.
However, not all hope was loss. A heavily injured queen carried her one surviving kit and fled the scene. She ran to Leopardclan in hopes of finding refugee for her kit as she already knew she was beyond saving. As she approached the clan, she collapsed. She was quickly surrounded by many spotted cats. Her dying words were a plea to help her kit. The cats around her figured out what was going on. They knew they were too late to help save Pantherclan. So they did what they could. They took the kit into their clan to raise as one of their own. They named the kit Nightkit, in honor of his lost clan, knowing Pantherkit would be too obvious.
Moons came to past and Pantherclan became another myth for the stories for both Lionclan and Tigerclan. However, Leopardclan had a new legacy. Nightkit became part of the clan but was not the first black cat in the clan. Every few generations a new black cat was born as a reminder of the once mighty Pantherclan. Leopardclan never forgot them and even later named their own kits after them.
Silverkit was left gaping as Missingnose finished the story.
"You could have chosen a less violent story for their first." Kinktail scolded the fellow elder.
"Oh, hush. I didn't give details and plus the kits loved it." Missingnose growled back.
"Well, one of them did." With a twitch of her whiskers as Kinktail flicked her tail to the sleeping form of Moonkit. Her fur was smashed against Silverkit and she drooled slightly into the long feathery fur of Silverkit. Silverkit didn't seem to mind as she stared at the elder.
"Do you really think that all happened?" her voice filled with awe.
"Whether or not it happened, there is a moral to the story. Do you know what it is?" Missingnose challenged.
"Don't kill an entire clan?" Silverkit announced with slight sarcasm in her mew. Missingnose chuckled at her response.
"Not, quite. Try again, the answer is not quite as obvious as that." Missingnose directed gently.
Silverkit's brow wrinkled in concentration. Her eyes lit up as she said proudly," Don't let fear overcome you and cause you to make stupid choices!"
" Not quite how I would put it but you are right. Scareye was right about you two being bright." Missingnose praised her.
Silverkit's mouth stretched opened in a long yawn as she settled by her sister's side. Her eyelids slowly closed as she fell into a light doze.
"Silly kits." Kinktail mumbled as he curled around the two kits to keep them warm. The two kits rested peacefully against the elders side as the day drew, the two kits felt safe and warm within their clan.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Also for anyone who reads this story, please leave a review. even if it something short like "this is good" or "this sucks". Reviews are the only way for me to know whether or not I should continue this story. Thanks in advance!
Also the main plot is already constructed but as far as the in-between details, there is less. So, if there any thing in particular you would like to see or adventure ideas for the kits, leave a review and I may put it in the story.
What did you think of the chapter? Did you like the elder's story?
See you next Chapter!
