Hello! There will be two chapter updates today, because this chapter is pretty short. If you're enjoying the story, feel free to leave a review and let me know what you guys are thinking!

~ Tangleflame

Fawnkit ~ Chapter 4

"Mommy, why are her eyes not open yet? Like all of us?" A small brown she-kit was staring down at a much smaller she-kit curled up against her mother. At the sound of her voice, the smaller she-kit pricked her ears, but her eyes remained closed. The kit who had spoken, watched her sister with wide and curious eyes. Their mother, a beautiful brown she-cat, glanced down at the smaller kit with disgust in her hazel eyes.

"Because she's weak," Her voice was harsh, and kits surrounding her shrank back. Fawnkit, still curled up on the ground, also flinched but lifted her head and let her eyes open for the first time. Her eyes opened just in time to see the hateful look in her mother's eyes, and her ears flattened in fear. Turning her head away, Fawnkit turned her green eyes onto her siblings.

"Her eyes are open! Hi Fawnkit! I'm Featherkit and this is Heatherkit and Windkit!" A long-haired brown she-kit with cream flecks exclaimed, her feathery tail waving behind her, her blue eyes bright with excitement.

"Hello" Fawnkit's mew was soft as she unsteadily stood up from the nest. She stumbled in surprise as Brownfeather let out an angry hiss.

"Kits! Come here, don't talk to her," Brownfeather nudged Fawnkit's littermates away.

"But why Brownfeather?" Isn't she our sister?" Featherkit asked indignantly, taking a step toward Fawnkit.

"Hush Featherkit. She is not a part of this family; do you hear me?" The three kits slowly nodded their heads, looking like they still wanted to question Brownfeather, but chose to listen to their mother. Shifting in her nest, Brownfeather pushed Fawnkit behind her and faced the other three kits. She watched them play while Fawnkit sat wide eyed wondering what had just happened. Did I do something wrong? Why doesn't Brownfeather want me? Am I really not a part of that family?

Fawnkit wanted to ask Brownfeather what she had done wrong, but as she opened her mouth to speak, she quickly closed it. The brown she-cat scared her. Isn't she supposed to be my mother?

Instead, Fawnkit looked around the nursery. It's kind of crowded in here. A pale silver tabby she-cat was curled up in a nest near the entrance to the Nursery. She had no kits of her own, but Fawnkit could see that her belly was rounder than the other cats. She must be expecting kits. Would she love her kits? In a nest next to the tabby, farther from the entrance, was an unusually spotted brown she-cat. Curled up next to her were three kits. All three of them looked bigger than Fawnkit, but around the same size of her littermates. Next to them, in a nest closer to Fawnkit, a gray-blue she-cat was quietly telling her kits a story. One of the kits, a gray she-kit, looked much bigger than the other two. She was hanging onto every word her mother said, her gray ear pricked intently. It looks like their mother loves them, she's telling them a story. I wonder what she's telling them.

Fawnkit wanted to hear the story, but her legs felt too weak to move. Her muscles ached at the small strain of effort she put into trying to stand. Not wanting to try again, Fawnkit lay her head on her paws. The small dark brown she-kit felt a pang of hunger and hoped that Brownfeather would offer some of her milk, but the she-cat remained with her back to Fawnkit. Fawnkit waited, willing silently to be noticed, but after a few minutes her eyelids felt too heavy to keep open and she let them close.

Fawnkit pricked her ears towards the entrance to the nursery as she heard the sound of c at entering, but the scent was unfamiliar. She tasted the air and smelt that it was a she-cat and there were strong smells of different plants coming from her. Curious to see who it is, Fawnkit opened her eyes wide enough to see a light brown she-cat standing next to her mother. The she-cat looked similar to Brownfeather, but the patterns on her pelt were different.

"Brownfeather! Where's Fawnkit?" The she-cat was looking around wildly but didn't notice the small kit in the shadows behind Brownfeather.

"It's taking a nap peacefully behind me, Kestrelwing. Don't disturb it," Brownfeather's voice was dry and she replied, her pelt prickling. Kestrelwing narrowed her eyes at her sister, but they softened when they saw Fawnkit. Fawnkit on the other hand, couldn't keep her eyes open any longer and let them close. Her surroundings becoming darker and darker.