"Do you want to toss this ball around?" Pinekit asked Tanglekit and boredly hooked her claws into the shiny metallic ball.
"We have already played that today," Tanglekit complained with a yawn. "Maybe we can go play with Uncle Ginger."
Pinekit seemed fascinated by the idea, but then she remembered that Ginger went out that morning, probably to escape and get some peace. That idea was out. "Maybe Lila can tell us a story," she suggested.
The dark tabby kit looked at the sleeping figure a few tail-lengths away. "I think that idea is out too. When will Mom get back?"
Pinekit shrugged. Their mother had often left them to go to unknown places and left them in Lila's care until she returned. There was no doubt that Rose would return soon, maybe even with a good story to share. She wondered when Rose would take them on her adventures of granduer, but each time she would keep them here with Lila and Ginger until she got back. Well, Lila mostly because Ginger would normally leave to regain sanity. The two kits had even tried following Rose one time, but they didn't even get out of the alley before Tanglekit fell off a trashcan and gave them away.
"You two are getting pretty good at stalking, but you are going to have to do better than that, Tanglekit," Rose told him and led them back to the alley. "I have taught you two well. Maybe it is about time for you to become apprentices."
Pinekit wasn't sure if she was meant to hear that last comment for when she asked what an apprentice is Rose didn't give her a direct answer.
"What if something bad happened?" Tanglekit suggested.
"Don't say that. I am sure Mom will be back," Pinekit said although she wasn't exactly sure. She herself was getting concerned.
Ginger returned, trailing a big rat with him. The two kits stared at it with amazement. It had to be bigger than they were!
"Where did you get that? Cool, is it dead?" Tanglekit batted at its long slimy tail. "Can we eat it?"
"Actually I caught it for Rose. She seemed a litle troubled last night, and I thought it would make her feel better." Ginger groomed a few patches of blood from his russet-colored fur. "Yes, this little devil put up quite a fight."
Pinekit took a step back with disgust when she looked into those sightless eyes, leaving Tanglekit to mangle the body himself. "We don't know where Mom is. She never came back."
Ginger seemed a little surprised, but he kept on grooming. "Well, it is probably nothing to worry about. She is most likely out in the forest."
"Doing what?" the kits chorused. They had never been in the forest before and were itching to learn about a new part of the world they lived in.
"Not sure really, but she does come from the forest, so she might just be saying hello to some old friends..."
"Hunting. She told me she went out hunting," Lila meowed. Pinekit and Tanglekit hasn't even heard her approach them. "There is nothing left to discuss."
Tanglekit could sense uneasiness in the air and knew Lila was trying to get Ginger to stop talking about the forest. Why?
"Does TigerClan live in the forest?" Pinekit asked. "What kind of old friends?"
"No one you would know. Now go to sleep. You night owls have been up all night." Lila ushered the two protesting kits back to the box with her tail. "Naptime."
"But we aren't tired!" Tanglekit complained. "You just want to get rid of us."
"That is right," Ginger added and tossed the rat in the box for them to mangle. "You two catch on fast."
Pinekit and Tanglekit curled up in little balls to take the nap forced upon them. Then Tangleki asked, "I have a feeling something is wrong. Why ws Lila so quick to send us to out naps like that. Is it something to do with the forest?" he asked.
Pinekit lazily opened one eye to look back at him. "I don't know. Maybe. It doesn't matter I guess. We will get Mom to tell us when she gets back." The two kits fell to sleep dreaming of the three great Clans, LeopardClan, LionClan, and TigerClan.
