Short prologues are good, but must always be accompanied by an extra long chapter. ;3
Stormkit bunched his muscles, ready to pounce. Not too far away from him was a stick, probably the thing he was targeting. The tom wriggled his haunches. He then jumped forward, yelling "Go!" as he did so. He landed on the stick and bit down on it. "I win!" He crowed as an orange-colored tom ran up to him.
"That wasn't fair!" The other tom whined. "Stormkit, you cheated-"
"Did not!" Stormkit cried indignantly. "You're lying, Firekit!" He growled, then bowled the other kit over excitedly. Typical kitten behavior.
They began to fight when there was a voice from behind them. "Hey!" A she-cat with forest green eyes and a dark tabby pelt approached them. She was evidently their sister from the looks of her. She had Stormkit's fur and Firekit's eyes. "Why didn't you wake me up? I wanted to play after our nap too!"
Stormkit rolled his blue eyes and snorted. "Yeah right!"
"Be nice, Stormkit." Firekit defended their sister. "It wasn't nice that we excluded Leopardkit. We're sorry." He shot Stormkit a look.
"Yeah, whatever." The tom mumbled, awkwardly shuffling his paws. He, like his sister, had the looks of his father, Bramblestar. The only things different about the two were their eyes and the fact that they never got along. Firekit was the one in the middle, though he was constantly finding himself choosing sides in arguments instead of stopping them.
Firekit also looked awkward. "Uh...let's eat! I'm hungry. Race you to the fresh-kill pile!" They also had a knack for making everything into a contest.
The three of them took off, abandoning the stick. This time Leopardkit won, and she got to choose what she would eat first. "Ha! In your faces!" She gloated.
Stormkit sniffed. "That didn't even count." They were all sore losers.
Firekit bit into his prey, and closed his eyes. "This is delicious." He sighed. Stormkit cast a glance at his brother quizzically.
"It's just prey."
The flame-colored tom shrugged. "It's good to be thankful every once in a while. You never know when there might be a shortage of prey. We should be grateful that we have such good fortune."
Leopardkit stared. "Um..."
"Well said, young warrior." The three of them turned to see their mother, Squirrelflight, padding toward then. Amusement glinted in her eyes. "You two should appreciate that you have such a great role model for a brother."
Stormkit snorted. "Pfft, role model." His mother gave him a look and he shut up. His blue eyes flashed with envy, and he opened his mouth again. "We should also be happy we have so much territory."
"Showoffs..." Leopardkit muttered.
Squirrelflight chuckled as she left them be, off to organize patrols. After they'd become old enough to eat prey, she had returned to her regular duties as deputy.
Stormkit beamed, and then his sister bowled him over. She nipped him, and they broke apart. He shook his fur, annoyed that she's bitten him.
"This means war!" Stormkit hissed. Leopardkit scowled.
"Indeed." She spun around and dragged the rest of her meal with her. "Let's go, Firekit!"
Firekit tried to protest, but he couldn't do anything but follow his sister. They trekked across the camp to the other side, where the elder's den was located.
Stormkit grumbled. Leopardkit had taken one of his only allies! Now he needed to get his own. He would get even with her!
...Though he couldn't really remember why they were at war with each other anymore.
The blue-eyed tom shrugged and quickly finished his prey. Then he headed off to the leader's den, A.K.A His Father. He knew his mother would disapprove of their argument, but that Bramblestar would hardly take him seriously. At least he would have a sort-of ally instead of none at all! He was about to visit his father when he ran into Berrynose.
"What're you up to?" The cream-colored tom asked. Stormkit wanted to roll his eyes. Berrynose was acting all high-and-mighty, but he didn't even know who he was dealing with. Stormkit was the son of the Clan leader!
Or so he thought.
As it turned out, senior warriors technically did have a right to boss him around. Anyway...
The tom was delayed by Berrynose and was forced to 'listen to the elders' tales; they're very interesting' because he looked 'bored and needed something to do'. As he was sent on his way he could swear he saw amusement in Berrynose's eyes. The nerve.
Some cats just didn't understand! Stormkit grumbled as he trudged toward the elders, knowing that Leopardkit was there. And he'd thought he could avoid her!
"What're you doing here?" His sister asked, her green eyes narrowed. "We're at war you mouse-brain!" She bared her teeth. "Stay outta our territory!"
Firekit meekly bared his teeth, obviously not wanting to join in.
"What's going on here?" The three kits turned to see the sandy-colored she-cat known as Sandstorm. The elder looked amused as she looked at them. "A war, I hear?"
Stormkit nodded. "Yeah! And I'm going to win!" He growled. "I won't let Leopardkit get away with...with...what she did." What exactly did she do?
"You know, there are better ways to do this other than war." Sandstorm's tail flocked back and forth as she shared a piece of her wisdom. "It's called a negotiation."
Leopardkit tilted her head. "What's that?" She asked, confused. Seizing the moment, Stormkit puffed out his chest.
"Ha! I know what it is, mouse-brain!" In truth he actually had no idea what Sandstorm had been talking about. Not that he was going to admit it! "Oh well." He shook his head in mock disappointment. To his delight annoyance sparked in Leopardkit's eyes.
"Liar!" She declared. "If you really know, then why don't you say it?" She demanded.
The dark tabby looked at her smugly. "You wouldn't understand."
"Yes I would!" Leopardkit cried indignantly. "Meanie!" She lunged at him and they began to fight again.
Sandstorm sat patiently and even began to wash herself.
Stormkit growled and pushed Leopardkit off with his hind legs. "Ha!" He mocked. "I'm a natural fighter, you're not!" His sister hissed and swatted at his ears, claws out. He tried to duck but her claws snagged in an ear. "Ow! Stop!"
"Look who's weak now!" Leopardkit tackled him again and bit his paw.
"Hey! I said stop! Stop!" He tried to wriggle out. "What's wrong with you? It hurts!" Then he decided to bite her back.
Stormkit's eyes flashed with anger and he clamped his jaws down onto a leg. He used all the strength he could, and didn't let go. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sandstorm still sitting there, watching.
He heard Leopardkit mewl in pain and he suddenly tasted something metallic. Still in the heat of the moment, he continued to bite down, using his hind claws to attack her face while hooking his forepaws around her body, almost pinning her down.
"Stop it! She's bleeding! Let go, Stormkit!" Surprised, he did so. Firekit had intervened? Huh, this was a first. Usually he would just stand and watch or choose a side.
Leopardkit growled, licking her leg. "Stormkit! What were you doing?" He was about to snap something at her, but then he saw genuine hurt flash in her eyes.
It made him realize how the whole time they argued and fought was because that was their way of having fun. Their 'war' was just a game. What he had just done was mean. Really mean.
For the first time, he apologized sincerely. "I'm sorry, Leopardkit." He bowed his head in shame.
"Whatever." She replied coldly.
"Why don't we go see Jayfeather?" Firekit suggested. "And Stormkit, you should wait here for now." Firekit and Leopardkit padded away, the orange tabby helping her walk.
Stormkit looked at Sandstorm, suddenly remembering. "Uh...you never did explain what Negotiate...negotiation means."
"Your brother was a fine example." Then she yawned and stood up. Sandstorm entered the elder's den, probably to take a nap.
"Huh?"
Stormkit shrugged and turned away. He felt bad...
Then he saw a hunting patrol enter the camp. Oh, food! He was about to race toward them when he saw red. Suddenly he felt sick to his stomach.
His Clanmates were covered in blood and wounds, and he began to panic. Wait, Bramblestar hadn't been in camp...he was on the patrol, wasn't he? On no, where was he?
Then he saw the body and Lionblaze beside it. "What happened?" He asked, breathless. His heart pounded in his chest.
Lionblaze winced as he tried to explain. "Your father's fine, little one. But you should go get Jayfeather. We're all injured." But Stormkit saw something else in the tom's eyes. It was panic and confusion, as though he'd seen some sort of ghost.
"O-okay!" Stormkit dashed off, intent on helping his Clanmates. What had happened? Why were they all injured? What had they seen?
He saw Leafpool already rushing toward the patrol, Jayfeather in tow. They must have heard them come in. "Get me cobwebs!" She ordered quickly to some of the more useful bystanders.
Firekit and Leopardkit approached the scene, eyes wide. "What happened?" Firekit asked.
"They were attacked..." Stormkit answered, feeling useless. "It must have been really strong to have injured Dad. But he's okay!" He said desperately.
"Stormkit! Leopardkit! Firekit!" Squirrelflight quickly found and herded them into the nursery, her eyes wide with fear. That was a rare sight to see. "Stay in here!" She growled at them, her tail lashing. They did, knowing that she was really serious.
Stormkit curled up in their nest, shaking slightly. Leopardkit must have forgotten about him injuring her, because she pressed against him. Firekit laid next to them too.
He was surprised that he was so tired. At least a good rest would take his mind off of worrying about his injured father. Within moments he slipped into an agitated sleep.