I sat beside Fuzz as we watched our kits go out the nursery for the first time. Featherkit pawed the ground from the nursery with wide eyes. "Go on, Featherkit. Your clan is waiting to see you." Fuzz mewed. The kits slowly walked out the nursery and winced as the sun shone in their sensitive eyes. Then Featherkit darted into the clearing with a squeal. Swiftkit followed her with Stormkit.
"Come on, Stormkit! Quit being a slow slug!" Swiftkit called.
"Wait for me, guys! You know I have smaller legs than you!" Stormkit complained. I purred as I watched them run off to explore camp. Fuzz licked my ear.
"There they go. Off on their first adventure." he breathed. We both winced when Stormkit fell on his snout then got back up and tried to catch up with his siblings.
Stormkit's POV:
I followed my sisters to the apprentices' den. I saw two apprentices play fighting by the tree stump while one was keeping score by making claw marks in a branch. Featherkit walked over to them with her head high. "Hello, you three. I'm Featherkit and these are my siblings, Swiftkit and Stormkit." she meowed. I watched the wrestling cats with wide eyes. The tom keeping score turned to us.
"Hi! I'm Thornpaw. These are my siblings Fernpaw and Ashpaw." he mewed. Fernpaw jumped away from Ashpaw when she saw us.
"Aww! You're so cute!" she exclaimed. I gagged at the word.
"Cute? We're supposed to be superior!" I snapped. Featherkit nudged me.
"Can you take a compliment without saying something smart for once?" she scolded. I rolled my eyes and flicked my ear. Swiftkit looked up at the apprentices.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"We're practicing the new moves we learned. Thornpaw's helping us keep score on our wins." Ashpaw explained. I widened my eyes.
"Can you show us a move?" I asked excitedly. Thornpaw shared a look with Ashpaw.
"You're too small to learn the moves. Maybe when you get older?" Thornpaw mewed. I growled as I realized he was talking about my size.
"Just because I'm small, doesn't mean I can't be as great as you!" I snapped. I flattened my ears as I realized they weren't listening to me. Featherkit bounced excitedly.
"So I crouch like this?" she asked. I gaped at her as Thornpaw was instructing her the move along with Swiftkit. That's not fair! I lifted my snout into the air and stomped off. Fine! They want to leave me out the fun? Then I'll have my own! I couldn't help but feel lonely and neglected as I heard my sisters' giggles as they learned how to fight. Then I bumped into something furry. I looked up to see Leopardstorm. Her eyes were looking down at me with curiosity.
"Stormkit? Why are you by yourself? Where's your sisters?" she asked. I flattened my ears.
"Having fun without me." I muttered. Leopardstorm looked over my head with narrowed eyes. "They said I was too small to learn the moves they're doing."
"That's not true!" Leopardstorm snapped. I flinched at her harsh tone. Then I felt her tongue lapping at my head. "I didn't mean to snap. It's just that your sisters should've stuck up for you." she murmured. I flicked my ear and walked off.
"Well who needs them, anyway? I can have fun all by myself!" I declared. Leopardstorm followed me.
"Follow me. I want to show you something." she mewed. I followed her to a shady area that was hidden by bushes and shrubs beside the warriors' den. She sweeped the bushes away with her long hazel tail revealing a tunnel. I widened my eyes. "You have to keep this a secret, ok?" she whispered. I nodded excitedly as she led me through the dark tunnel. I heard water dripping in from afar and sunlight was shining through the other end.
"Are we outside of camp?" I asked. Leopardstorm hushed me.
"They can still hear us." she warned. I lowered my voice and padded to her side.
"Are we?" I asked again. Leopardstorm nodded.
"We're the only cats who know about this." she whispered. Then she nudged me. "It's our little secret." I smiled and purred.
"Only ours?" I asked. Leopardstorm nodded and sped up the pace as we reached the end of the tunnel. I gasped as a brighter sun pierced my eyes. We were in a clearing that was surrounded by a stream. Butterflies flew around the flower patches as the sounds of the trickling water flowed through my ears. Leopardstorm watched as I looked around with awe stricken eyes.
"Isn't it great?" she asked. I nodded and dabbed a paw in the stream. I shivered as chills went down my spine.
"It's cold!" I chuckled. Leopardstorm giggled and placed her paw in the water. I glared at her challengingly and placed both of my front paws in the water. Leopardstorm chuckled and padded into the water. I gaped at her.
"What? Afraid to get wet?" she chuckled. I growled playfully and leapt into the water. I squeaked as the cool water soaked my fur. Leopardstorm looked at me in awe. "You're not scared?" she asked.
"It's just water!" I mewed. Leopardstorm laughed and shoved me into the water. I squeaked in laughter and chased her as she ran. "Hey!" I exclaimed.
"It's just water!" she teased. I chuckled and leapt at her tail. Her paws kicked up water making it rain down on me in glittering droplets. I dove under the water and jerked up with a gasp. Leopardstorm looked at me with an amused look. Then she stopped running and rolled over in the water. I giggled as her long hazel fur darkened as the water soakened it. I jumped onto her back as she rolled over.
"Your fur is soaked!" I exclaimed. Leopardstorm jumped to her paws and shook out her fur. I giggled as the water sprinkled me.
"You might wanna shake your's too. Can't let the clan find out where we were, can we?" she mewed. I jumped out the water and shook my short fur. I looked up at her.
"Why do the other cats think that I can't do the things they can do? I know I'm short but…" I muttered. Leopardstorm sighed and sat down in a flower patch. I laid beside her and sneezed as a butterfly landed on my nose.
"That's just how cats are." Leopardstorm murmured. "Don't let cats bring you down because of your size. Show them that your size isn't your weakness. It's how you use it." I narrowed my eyes in thought. "Besides, your size isn't who you are. Just remember that." I nuzzled her shoulder and looked at the sky.
Leopardstorm's POV:
I looked down at Stormkit. His eyes were slowly drooping as the sun's warmth soaked into his fur. I smiled and licked his head. I heard him mumble something under his breath. "What was that?" I asked.
"I love you, mama." he murmured. My voice cracked into a loving purr.
"I love you too, my little warrior." I mewed. Stormkit's breathing deepened as he drifted off to sleep. I watched him as he slept. Sometimes a tom who seems to weep, is really a tom, who is tough to beat. Head held high, pride in his heart, is what really holds his clan part by part. His size is small for a tom so strong, but if given the chance, can be proven wrong. I widened my eyes in realization. Were the three prophecies… talking about my kits?