CHAPTER THREE
A deep voice woke Chesterkit from his sleep. He let out as yawn and stretched himself before opening his eyes. Fangfire was peering into the nursery, his broad shoulders and head blocking out the light. "It's nearly sunhigh and time for you to help me." Fangfire repeated as Chesterkit got to his paws. Chesterkit had dreamed of giant herbs attacking him, but despite that he was determined to put his best paw forward.
"Go wake up the others," the ginger tom muttered "and be fast about it I have work to do." And with that he disappeared from the den entrance.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine," a soft voice whispered and Chesterkit turned around to see that his mother had woken. "If you need anything I'm just a couple pawsteps away." She gave him a reassuring lick on his head.
"Thanks mom, I'm really sorry for what I did. It was only a game"
"I know, chesterkit. Just don't get into more trouble."
Chesterkit nodded his head and slunk his way over to wake up Birdkit. Birdkit woke up, stretching his back, "I really don't want to do this" he mewed softly. Mosspelt shifted next to her son and before she could say anything Chesterkit stroked a tail tip down his friends side. "It will be fine. I'll look after him," the last part was directed towards the tortosishell queen who only narrowed her eyes in answer.
Birdkit crawled out of the nest and they bounded over to Rainkit. The dark she-kit woke up slowly her ears twitching relunctantly. "It sucks how we have to do this"
"Hurry up in there" came Fangfire's hiss from outside as he shoved his head into his nursery. "What are you doing that's taking so long? Growing the herbs?" then laughing at his own joke he retreated his head.
"It's not like you have anything to complain about,"Bbirdkit muttered as the three kits made their way slowly to the entrance.
"What do you mean? I nearly had my ears chewed off by Yellowstar, Peachfur, Scarfur and Whitenose"
"Yea but it was your idea. And we never should have listened to you. You got us all in trouble but you said we wouldn't get in trouble." Birdkit was shushed as they passed by Dapplewhiskers as she curled her tail around her two sleeping kits. "Sorry," he squeaked.
They made their way out of the nursery. The air was chilly, the sun hidden behind some clouds. The newleaf warmth had faded into leaf-fall temperatures. Dead leaves swirled around the camp as a breeze ruffled Chesterkit's fur. Froglegs, Sparkfur and Willoweyes had just returned from a hunting patrol and the freshkill pile looked restocked, nothing like the mess it had been yesterday. Preyclaw and Clawfur were sitting outside the elders den muching on a freshly caught sparrow. "I wish there were more apprentices in the clan. Only Shroudedpaw is one and she already has a lot on her paws as a medicine cat's apprentice." Croaked Preyclaw.
"What?! Speak up, you've got feathers in your mouth," Clawfur rasped.
Burfur and Rockpelt were talking by the tree stump. "Did you hear what happened yesterday? Rainkit, Birdkit and Chesterkit ravished the prey pile," the gray warrior exclaimed.
"These young kits, they don't know the meaning of hard work," Burfur replied. Chesterkit felt his pelt burn. Would the clan ever forget what he had done?
Fangfire beckoned the kits with his tail to follow him. The three made their way sullenly to the medicine cat den which was behind a pile of rocks. Inside it was dark and cool, and big. Certainly bigger than the leaders den. Light only reached so far into the den and a back wall could not been seen, the darkness stretching as far as Chesterkit could tell. Water dripped from a stalactite into a small indoor pool and there were several empty feather lined nests surrounding the pool. Slabs of rock that jutted out from the walls had herbs stacked on them.
"Woah this place smells weird." Rainkit mewed licking her nose. Weird scents of herbs and earth flooded chesterkits nose.
"Watch your tongue," Fangfire warned. "One day these herbs may save your life."
The kits stood next to the entrance while Fangfire examined some of the herbs on the shelves. "Shroudedpaw, you've done a splendid job with sorting the herbs"
A sleek all back she-cat appeared from the shadows at the back of the cave and bowed her head. "I was only doing my job," she murumered around a mouth full of brown leaves.
"I have another task for you. Can you look after these kits for a full moon. It's part of their punishment for yesterdays incident."
Chesterkit felt embrassment prick his pelt as the black apprentice gazed at the kits. Even she knew about it. Starclan, everyone knew. Did that include the other clans too? Chesterkit could imagine it being told as a story at gatherings, every cat laughing at the three stupid Thunderlcan kits who thought they were so smart.
"I'll try my best," she answered but didn't look too pleased.
"It'll help for when you have to heal kits," Fangfire lashed his tail. "I'm going to go replenish the coltsfoot supply." And then he left.
Shroudedpaw gazed at the kits with her green eyes seeming to study them as if she could read their thoughts. Silence filled the cave. Birdkit shuffled his paws uneasily until Rainkit finally spoke. "So what do we do?"
Shroudedpaw let out a sigh. "I don't have any task you can do now. So why don't you walk around the camp. I'll call you if I need anything."
She ushered the kits out of the den before returning to her task of sorting herbs.
"Now what?" Chesterkit mewed. The kits looked at each other.
"I guess we can walk around camp," Birdkit replied.
"I have an idea!" Rainkit yelled her whiskers twitching with excitement.
"No, no more of your ideas," Birdkit shuddered. "You always get us in trouble."
"This time I won't. I promise."
"That's what you said last time before Peachfur yelled at us."
"Just trust me. We can walk around the camp but pretend that we're mentors teaching our apprentices."
Chesterkit was interested. "And whose the mentor?"
"Me of course" the black she-kit waved her tail high. "You both can be apprentices."
"But a mentor can only have one apprentice," Chesterkit pointed out.
"Well you can be my apprentice and Birdkit can be someone elses."
"Are we really going to do this?" Birdkit asked.
"Yea, we can't possibly get in trouble for this," Rainkit started padding toward the camp entrance with her friends following her.
"I hope you kits aren't looking for more trouble," Rosepelt stated as she padded past them to the entrance. "You've already made a mess of certain things."
Chesterkit ducked his ears in embarrassment but it was Rainkit who answered. "No the medicine cat told us to look around the camp."
Rosepelt sniffed but said nothing else as she disappeared through the thorn barrior.
Rainkit positioned herself in front of Chesterkit and Birdkit who sat down expectantly in front of her.
"My name is Raincloud," she announced.
"Why Raincloud?" Chesterkit asked his whiskers twitching in amusement. "Because your only as scary as a cloud?"
"Not funny," Rainkit mewed but Birdkit mrrowed in laughter. "Quiet birdbrain," she directed at the small tom.
"As I was saying, Birdpaw and Chesterpaw I'm Raincloud and this is the entrance to the camp. It is protected by a thron barrier to keep out unwanted guests. Now follow me as I take you to the warriors den."
Chesterkit and Birdkit padded obiedently after her as she lead them to a giant hollw tree that lay flat and overgrown with ivy.
"This is where the warriors sleep, close to the entrance so that they may be the first to attack and protect the camp if enemies come in."
Chesterkit and Birdkit both peered in to see Pointyears, and Flamefur sleeping there. The nests looked very comfortable. Chesterkit couldn't wait to be a warrior. He'd be the best!
"Next is the nursery, where it's always hot." Rainkit lead the way to the far corner of the hollow. The nursery was barely visible behind a bunch of ferns, as it was a shallow scoop in the ground. It was made this way so that it would be hard to find by the other clans. As they padded away they reached the back of the camp where a huge cliff greeted them. The climbing stones crawled up the side of the otherwise smooth cliff face. It was the only way to reach the top. Chesterkit remembered how the leader had skillfully carried two kits down and he shivered. It looked so high up. The den inside had been spacious but dark.
"This is the clan leader's den. Yellowstar is a great cat who fought to bring down the evil Shadowclan before they could take over the whole forest." Rainkit started and climbed unto the lowest stone. She puffed out her chest. She was starting a story that Chesterkit had heard many times around his clan.
"Many moons before we were born there was a cat named Sagestar who was very scary and ugly. He smelled like the worst crowfood. He wanted to take over the clans but Yellowstar wouldn't let that happen. He gathered the rest of the clans and fought against Shadowclan in what is called the Great Battle. Thunderclan was victorious and Sagestar was destroyed."
Chesterkit puffed out his chest "And don't forget that Sharpclaw fought too, like the whole of Thunderlcan alone." Chesterkit had heard his mom speak of his father with wonder glittering in her eyes. She told him how Sharpclaw had fought bravely.
"And my dad too," Birdkit piped up.
Rainkit lashed her tail dismissevely before climbing down the rock. "Your dad's too weak to do anything."
"He's not!" Birdkit protested. "He caught like, two birds yesterday."
"So," snorted Rainkit padding on to the elders den. "Scarfur catches way more than that. He could have practically been deputy but Patchcloud was deputy before him."
"But he's my dad," Birdkit blinked back the hurt in his eyes. "Rainkits so mean," he sniffed. Chesterkit flicked his ears in sympathy.
"Hey guys what are you doing?"
The three kits looked back as Mistykit zoomed out the nursery towards them. "Are we playing a game?"
Rainkit nodded and quickly explained what they were doing.
"Cool, can I be a mentor?" the she-kit asked bouncing around on her paws.
"Yea, you can be called Mistybounce, cause your always bouncing around," Rainkit decided.
"Alright," Mistykit mewed. "What about Mistyleap? Or Mistystar?"
They arrived at the elders den which was sheltered behind a bramble thicket and poking their noses in found that all the elders were soundly asleep. "Of course," rainkit snorted and turning to the other kits added "This is where you will go after you serve your clan."
"I'll never get old," Chesterkit boasted "I'll just be a warrior forever."
"Me too." Bridkit added and Mistykit smiled at him, as it was decided he was her apprentice.
"That's if some bird doesn't pick you up as a snack," Rainkit muttered. Birdkit lashed his tail angrily but didn't say anything.
The apprentice den was only a couple of pawsteps away and it looked a bit run down as the clan hadn't had any apprentices in moons. Chesterkit felt his paw pads tingle with excitement. Soon he and his friends would be sleeping there.
"What are you kits doing?" came a growl far away. Peachfur was approaching them from the warriors den. Great starclan what does he want?
"Aren't you kits supposed to be helping out in the medicine den? Are you trying to stir up trouble again Chesterkit?"
"I'm not," Chesterkit mewed and the cream colored tom snorted.
"Sure. I know you're a troublemaker. You have Sharpclaw's blood in your veins."
"It's okay!" Mistykit piped up. "We were just walking around camp. And Chesterkit is a nice kit!"
Rainkit, Birdkit and Chesterkit held their breath waiting to see what Peachfur would say. Mistykit was oblivious to how much the tom seemed to hate kits. But the warrior purred.
"Mistykit it's better if you stay away from him. Same goes for you Rainkit and Birdkit"
"It's Mistybounce, Raincloud and Birdpaw," Mistykit corrected.
"There you kits are!" Shroudedpaw cut off Peachfur before he could reply and he focused his sharp tongue on her as she bounded up to them.
"You should do a better job of watching over them. I caught them almost sneaking out of the camp"
Chesterkit stiffened at the blatant lie Peachfur was telling and he could tell the other kits were not happy about it too.
Shroudedpaw dipped her head in apology. "I will take care of them," with that she ushered them away to the medicine cat den. Chesterkit could feel Peachfur's cold gaze on them as they left.
"We weren't trying to leave," Chesterkit tried to clarify to Shroudedpaw.
"Yea," joined in Rainkit. "Peachfur just doesn't like us"
Shroudedpaw sighed. "You guys are clanmates. He is trying his best to take care of you."
"He treats us like..like we're a different clan though," Chesterkit countered.
"I'm sure when you grow up you'll realize it was for the best. Mistykit you can go back to your mom," Shroudedpaw mewed as the tiny gray she-kit followed after them.
"But I want to help! The nursery is too small" she pouted.
"We'll be picking ticks from the elders. Are you sure you still wanna help?"
"Sure!" Mistykit was enthusiastic but the other kits weren't.
The black apprentice dug around the herb supply and pulled out a vile smelling item.
"What is that?" Rainkit inquired.
"Mouse bile. It helps to remove the ticks." Shroudedpaw answered. She held a stick between her teeth gingerly with one end dripping a green liquid. "Follow me," she mewed, careful to not drop the stick.
The kits tumbled out of the medicine den after her and padded over to the elders. "Hello Preyclaw, Grayspots, Clawfur," the she cat greeted. "I hope you all had a good nap."
The three elders gave a stretch and yawned as they woke up from their nap. "It'd be better if you didn't have to wake us up from our nap," grumbled Grayspots. "And you've been brought kits," he added as the four kits tumbled in.
"Don't be like that," mewed Preyclaw. "They only want the best for us."
"We're here to help," Mistykit mewed excitedly. She bounded over to Grayspots and poked a nose into his fur. "Ticks you better run away!" Grayspots couldn't help himself from letting out a mrrow his gaze softening on the enthusiastic she-kit. "Alright, maybe it won't be too bad." He flicked his tail at her playfully and she leapt on it pretending it was prey.
Shroudedpaw padded up to Preyclaw. "Do you have any ticks?"
Preyclaw twisted around to check her back, "I can't tell she admitted but my pelt does itch."
"You probably have fleas," Shroudedpaw muttured and then turned to the kits who were waiting by Clawfur's nest. "You kits will check the elders for fur. Chesterkit and Birdkit check Clawfur, Rainkit and I will examine Preyclaw and Mistykit you can check Grayspots." Chesterkit contained an inward shiver while Rainkit wrinkled up her nose. He padded up to Clawfur and started searching through her clumped fur with Birdkit. "Watch the claws!" She hissed and Birdkit mewed back an apology.
"Crack the fleas once you find them," Shroudedpaw instructed Rainkit who was working on Preyclaw's fur.
"I am cracking them," Rainkit retorted.
Once the kits were all done and Shroudedpaw had applied the mouse bile she waved her tail dismissively at them.
"Your done for the day. Go back to your mothers."
"I'm gonna stay here," Mistykit announced. "Grayspots promised to tell me a story."
"Okay. Just don't stay too long or your mother will worry." Shroudedpaw exited the nursery as the three elders drew their nests closer to one another so they could all hear the story Grayspot's had to tell, while Mistykit snuggled up to his side.
"Finally, we're done," Rainkit breathed an sign of relief and the three kits pushed their way through the brambles. Dusk had fallen on the camp and a chilly breeze cut through their fur.
"I'm so hungry. It feels like my stomache is gonna fall out," complained Birdkit. Chesterkit's stomache grumbled and he realized he'd been so busy with the elders he hadn't even noticed he was hungry too.
"I could sleep for a moon," added Rainkit "I don't know how that Mistykit can stand being with the elders. Their so old and gross," she shuddered. At last the kit's paws carried them to the nursery. The queens were all inside. Flowernose touched noses with Chesterkit as he settled down next to her. "How was your day?" she asked. Chesterkit launched into a story of it, while Rainkit and Birdkit padded over to their moms.
"You better not get into anymore trouble, you hear or Starclan help me, I'll feed you to the foxes myself." Growled Whitenose as she gave Rainkit a sniff and then wrinkled her nose. "Why do you smell like mouse bile?"
"I was helping the elders," Rainkit responded, "and I promise I'll be a good kit." Rainkit was only tough with the other kits but once it came to her mom or any older cat, she lost her tongue.
Whitenose bent her head to lick Rainkit's fur while the she-kit squirmed under her mother's sharp tongue.
Mosspelt was gentler on Birdkit. "It's good to see you," she breathed as she gave her kit a lick on the head. "Doing medicine cat tasks might help you learn who you should spend time with." Birdkit settled next to his mothers side as she started to wash him.
"Well that's quite the day you had," Flowernose commented as Chesterkit finished his story.
Chesterkit nodded his head in enthusiasm as Flowernose got up. "I'll fetch you something from the freshkill pile," and pushed her way out of the nursery. Chesterkit waited patiently for his mother to come back will his stomache gnawed in hunger.
Dapplewhiskers and Shadowlake were both awake and chatting. Grizzlykit was poking a ball of moss lazily back and forth across the nest.
"I wonder what my kits will be like," Shadowlake mused. "I hope they can grow up to be strong and healthy."
"I'm sure they will," Dapplewhiskers reassured the dark she-cat. "Have you thought of any names?"
"Not yet," admited Shadowlake, "I don't know if I can come up with any good ones."
"You'll know when the time comes" the tortoiseshell queen soothed. "When I had Grizzlykit and Mistykit the names just popped into my head as I gazed at them."
Flowernose returned to the nursery carrying a vole and mouse. The rich smells made Chesterkit's mouth salivate. Flowernose laid the mouse next to him and then padded to the back of the den where Moldynose was silently washing herself while Goosekit and Silverkit were playfighting next to her.
"I've brought you a vole. I thought it would be nice if you could talk to us. We're not here to hurt you."
The den fell into silence as the queens all looked at the exchange, fur prickling. Moldynose gazed up at Flowernose her tongue half out as she was in mid lick. Silence filled the air and Flowernose looked directly into the queens eyes.
"What's going on?" Rainkit asked only to be silenced by Whitenose.
As if Rainkit's mew had broken the concentration Moldynose bent her head to finish washing. Goosekit and Silverkit looked up at Flowernose.
"Wh-" Silverkit's mew was cut off by Goosekit who silenced her.
Flowernose lashed her tail, "I hope you can change your attitude towards us, Moldynose."
"Yes." Joined in Dapplewhiskers and Flowernose blinked gratefully at her friends support. "It'd be healthier for your kits to be able to talk to our kits."
"I'd love to hear advice from you about kiting," Shadowlake added eagerly.
"And frankly that supier attidude of yours is irritating," added Whitenose. "You'd better change it," Whitenose flexed her claws.
Moldynose continued to lick her pelt.
"Mom shoudn't we answer them?" Silverkit fretted.
"No, remember what Peachfur said. We don't talk to them!" Goosekit hissed in her sister's ear.
Flowernose flicked her tail. "So Peachfur is putting you up to this. You can't let him control your life." She sent Moldynose a concerned look before returning back to Chesterkit.
"Mom what was that?" Chesterkit asked as he bit into the mouse.
"Nothing," replied Flowernose as the queens slowly started chatting to one another again. Chesterkit glared at Moldynose, who had stopped grooming herself and pushed the piece of freshkill aside as if it were crowfood. Silverkit gazed longily at the other queens and kits but Goosekit nudged her and the both of them curled up to their mother's belly to sleep.
Chesterkit wondered what was wrong with the queen and her she-kits. Peachfur, it seemed was behind it. Peachfur, Chesterkit hissed, his fur rising. That cat had caused a lot of trouble. Chesterkit vowed to make him pay once he was a warrior.