Dawn light shone through the entrance of the nursery. Shimmerkit padded to the entrance and looked over at the small body lying in the camp. Sweetkit had told her the night before about how Cloverpaw had died, under a Thunderpath monster. But she hadn't seen the heap of tortoiseshell fur next to Cloverpaw.
"Is...is that…" Sweetkit nodded, her eyes so wide that Shimmerkit could see the white part.
"I...I think it is," she stammered.
"Let's go sit with her, Shimmerkit." The two kits tiptoed out into the quiet camp.
"Go back to the nursery!" A voice growled. Shimmerkit jumped and looked straight into Stormwhisker's face.
"But-" Sweetkit protested.
"Go back." Stormwhisker spat. He turned around and went back to the warriors' den. The camp was getting louder as the warriors went on patrol. Cherryflower swept her tail over Sweetkit's back.
"It's okay, little ones. I understand. Come, let's sit with Blossomheart together." They walked over. Shimmerkit buried her face in her mother's soft fur.
"Why, Cherryflower? Why did she leave us?" she wailed. Cherryflower sighed.
"She is still watching over you. She will never truly leave her daughters, Shimmerkit. And one day you can join her in StarClan." Cherryflower ushered the kits back to the nursery. Oakstar, Mothflight, and Moleheart were there.
"We needed to discuss how Shimmerkit and Sweetkit would be fed. They are too young for fresh-kill." Oakstar began. Moleheart nodded.
"Right. It would be the best for the queens if Cherryflower and Mothflight each took one," he meowed. Cherryflower and Mothflight had listened. Now their heads were together, talking.
Finally, they turned around.
"We don't think it would be wise to separate them, Moleheart," Cherryflower began. She glanced at her denmate. Mothflight dipped her head.
"They have been through enough already. They should spend their next three moons in the nursery like any other kits," she added. Oakstar looked at his medicine cat.
"Is that okay, Moleheart?" Moleheart nodded again.
"Mothflight should take them both, then. Cherryflower, you already have four. You don't have enough milk for more." Oakstar turned and left the nursery, his medicine cat following him.
"Speaking of kits, what do you want to call ours?" Darkflight purred from next to Cherryflower. He nuzzled his mate and all four of his kits.
"Featherkit for the gray she-cat, Emberkit for the black tom, and Flamekit for the red tom."
"Those names are perfect, my sweet." Darkflight breathed.
Cherryflower brushed her tail over the last kit, a brown one.
"I wanted to name this one after the fallen apprentice. This one will be called Cloverkit."
Well, that's Chapter 2! Look out for new apprentices, because there will be some in the next few chapters!