Chapter 3

Orangekit wiggled out of the nursery the next morning. He had decided not to tell the medicine cats of his dream. He'll let it be his little secret.

He hadn't fallen asleep that night, and had stayed up thinking. He decided that "observing" would somehow sharpen his skills. Maybe it would help him be a better warrior.

Orangekit sat down and "observed" camp. It was located in the middle of MountainClan territory and was a rocky ravine. The middle was sandy but the sides were rock. Trees grew in the sandy parts, surprisingly. The elders den was located under the roots of an oak. It was supposed to be cavernous and huge, so huge that a kit could get lost forever. Or that's what the apprentices said, but Orangekit doubted it.

The nursery was under a shrub that gave beautiful white flowers in newleaf. Not that Orangekit had ever seen them. He was born in greenleaf and it still was that season. The leader was like the elders den, a hollow at the bottom of a tree. If he peered hard enough, he could make out Cheetahstar's nest. It was empty.

Must be on patrol, Orangekit guessed. The warriors den was a large hole in the opposite rocky side feom the nursery. It was larger on the inside, Orangekit was sure. MountianClan had a lot of warriors and they were larger then regular warriors, as the story of Galestar said.

Then his eyes landed on the medicine den. The entrance was a bush but Orangekit knew that the rest was like the warrior's den.

The medicine den reminded Orangekit of yesterdays show. Maybe he should go "observe" the medicine den more closely, and while he was there, find out what happened to the she-cat.

He jumped up and was about to make his way over when Bronzekit made his way out. His eyes were silent and he didn't even seem to acknowledge Orangekit.

He sat down and closed his eyes, his ears pricked.

Orangekit went over to him and sat down again, wondering why Bronzekit was so silent.

Finally, Bronzekit spoke. "Do you think you could become a warrior blind?"

The question stunned Orangekit. What kind of a question was that, anyhow?

"Um, I don't see why not, as long as he knows how to hunt and fight," Orangekit answered a little unsteady. "What's with the sudden curiosity?"

Bronzekit sort of laughed, though it sounded sad. "If only you knew."

Orangekit sat there next to Bronzekit whose eyes were still shut.

Did he have a dream too? Orangekit wondered. Had a voice told him to listen? Maybe that's why he's thinking about blindness. Because blind cats can just hear and feel.

That had to be it. Orangekit turned to ask Bronzekit when suddenly the entrance to the medicine cat den shuddered and Longclaw popped out and stretched.

Orangekit jumped up and ran towards her, Bronzekit's strange behavior being left behind.

"Hi Orangekit," Longclaw called as she spotted him running towards her. She was grooming her scruffy pelt, which was ruffled all over.

"Hi," he answered when he reached her.

"I suppose you came over to hear about the she-cat, huh?" Longclaw asked mischievously as she licked her paw.

Orangekit nodded, not trying to hide his excitement.

"She's the rouge that got attacked by the badger that's for sure," Longclaw said. "Her leg's injured and she's a pretty good fighter. She has a bite like a rat! I should know; she bit me when we woke her up yesterday!

"She won't tell us her name though. I had to guard her last night. The way she attacked Huckleberry yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to slit his throat while he's asleep."

Orangekit digested this information.

"She must be pretty tough to have walked so far from the river to the camp entrance," Orangekit murmured.

"Tell me about it!" Longclaw purred. "She could become a good warrior if she wanted to be one."

"Do you think she would become one?" Orangekit wondered.

"Probably not," Longclaw answered. "She doesn't even want us to tend to her wounds; much less train her, I'm sure. She'll probably leave as soon as she's good and well."

Longclaw picked herself up and made her way to the camp entrance. She turned back and meowed, "Tell Rocktooth it's his turn to guard her. She's asleep for the moment. He's in the warrior's den, okay?"

Orangekit nodded and rushed to the warrior's den. He stared at the large whole, not really wanting to go inside when a large brown tom padded out.

He was huge and had battle scars lacing his flank and face.

"Are you Rocktooth?" Orangekit asked, trying to be brave. He wasn't sure how this tom would react to him, as he remembered Blacktooth.

"Yes," the tom said, scratching his ear with his hind paw. "And you are…?

"Orangekit," he answered his heart pounding.

"Crystal-Eyes' kit, right?" Rocktooth asked curiously.

"Um yes," Orangekit answered, trying to contain a squeak from escaping his lips. Please don't be like Blacktooth. Please, please, please.

"Huh. I was wondering when I would finally get to meet you," Rocktooth purred. "You seem like a strong kit. I hope I get to mentor you."

"Um thanks…" Orangekit stammered. He was so relieved that Rocktooth wasn't like Blacktooth. Then he remembered Longclaw. "Oh, Longclaw told me to tell you that it's your turn to guard the she-cat from yesterday."

"Alright then," Rockclaw said, padding towards the medicine den. "Thanks for telling me."

Orangekit dipped his head and watched the tom go. He hoped that he would become his mentor too.

. . .

"Hey," Orangekit called to his brother as he trotted over to the nursery. Bronzekit was sitting in the same spot where Orangekit had left him.

Bronzekit slowly opened his eyes, and when Orangekit looked at him closely, he saw a faint twinge of fear in his eyes.

"Um, are you alright?" Orangekit asked warily.

"Yeah. Just listening," Bronzekit said. Orangekit knew that he was trying to fake acting normal.

"Something's bothering you," Orangekit mewed softly, his eyes concerned.

Bronzekit sighed. "It's just… I have a secret. And it's the kind that's scary."

Orangekit continued to look at him, not interrupting.

"I can't tell anyone though. And I'm…" Bronzekit trailed off, his eyes not hiding anything.

"Scared?" Orangekit guessed. "Don't worry, I'm here and I'll always be here."

He began to lick his fur soothingly, trying to comfort his brother.

As much as he wished to know what the secret was, he wouldn't bother his brother with it; he would just try to protect him.

I promise nothing bad will happen to you, Orangekit thought, determined. I promise.