Chapter XII
"Why did you make her your apprentice?" Swallowpath asked as she entered Rosestar's den. For once, the black-and-white cat wasn't organizing patrols. "Huh?" Rosestar yawned as she lifted her head. It was, in fact, early morning and Rosestar was not yet fully awake.
"Why did you make Cinderpaw your apprentice?" Swallowpath repeated, plopping down at the far end with her head at a curious angle. The leader sighed. Swallowpath was, of course, rather intelligent. But not all the time.
"She's the kit of destiny." Rosestar said, rolling her eyes. Swallowpath's eyes grew wide. "Really?" She said, inching forward.
"Yes." Rosestar replied, starting to groom her long fur. "Now will you get out of my den?" She asked quite plaintively. Swallowpath heaved herself up and, flicking her tail, exited the den.
#-#-#
"The Gathering's today!" Shadowpaw meowed loudly. Cinderpaw sighed, amused. Shadowpaw could be so… energetic, sometimes. "We know, Shadowpaw." Brindlepaw started grooming herself. "We're not blind squirrels. We can see the moon."
The apprentices burst into laughter, but only for a brief moment. They knew that they had apprentice duties, and if they didn't hurry up they would surely get a scolding from their mentors.
After thoroughly grooming their pelts, the four apprentices headed out. It was drizzling outside, but Cinderpaw's siblings bounded off towards the warriors' den. "Stagpelt? Whitewhisker? Aspenleaf?" Bramblepaw called down the tunnel.
Cinderpaw looked away, heading to the leader's den and almost colliding with Rosestar. "Whoah, you sure are sprightly today!" Rosestar laughed, splaying her paws out. Cinderpaw half-smiled, looking down shyly.
Suddenly, a yowl came from the nursery. "Snowhaze!" Hawkeyes, the young queen's mate rushed to the nursery tunnel. Cinderpaw watched as her siblings stopped moving, eyes wide. Shadowpaw mouthed something, and Cinderpaw understood - we've never witnessed a kitting before! This would be amazingly cool, was a paraphrased version of what her brother had said.
Goldenfern and Blazepaw hurried to the nursery from their aboveground den, carrying various herbs. Cinderpaw followed Rosestar as the older she-cat ran towards the tunnel, guarding it.
#-#-#
After quite some time, Cinderpaw returned from training, hot and panting. She had gone to train with her siblings as Rosestar had had to stay in camp.
"Hey, come see the kits!" Petalflight waved to them with her tail, looking out from the nursery. Brindlepaw looked pleadingly at Aspenleaf and she nodded, heading to the nursery herself. "Come on!" Brindlepaw called over her shoulder, bouncing towards the nursery in anticipation.
Cinderpaw meticulously picked her way after Brindlepaw, scrabbling into the burrow. Inside lay - believe it or not - five tiny kittens, snuggled up next to Snowhaze. "Cool!" Bramblepaw said loudly, from right behind her. His youngest sister shushed him with a frown and a twitch of her ear.
"Their names are Breezekit," Snowhaze brushed her tail over the biggest one, a light gray tabby with amber eyes. "Falconkit - named after her father," Cinderkit thought this was an odd name for a she-cat, but let it pass. "These sweeties are Mintkit and Leafkit." She turned her head to look at two squealing gray and white dappled she-cats.
"And the littlest one - Smokekit." The young kit was squirming around, meowing. He looked defiant, even at a newborn age. He seemed to be proving himself, saying "I'm not helpless" - all those things Cinderkit admired.
She promised herself, she would take good care of these kits.
Especially Smokekit.
A/N: Well hi there again! Another juicy chapter for my lovely fans.
I'm sort of upset because I only have 20 reviews for 11 chapters so far. I mean, does anyone know how hard it is to write these chapters insightfully? I had to sacrifice last-minutes to work on Divided.
I hope you appreciate this chapter, and review please. I told you - anyone can review. Don't be shy, because I love your reviews.
Thanks for all your (sometimes nonexistent) support~~ Katia