Chapter 31
Ashwinter surpressed a grunt of annoyance as Daykit tumbled roughly on top of her.
"Sorry Mama!" he squeaked.
Ashwinter flicked her ear in response, "Be careful, okay?" she warned.
"Yes, Mama," Daykit mewled obediently.
The light gold kit scrambled off once more to wrestle with his sisters. Ashwinter closed her eyes contently, listening to the excited squeals of her kits. At nearly four moons, the three of them were growing quickly. The passage of time after which they had been born went by surprisingly fast—leaving the proud parents amazed at the fact that soon their little babies would be apprenticed.
"Mama," Solsticekit began, "can we go outside? There's not enough space in here!" She eyed the sunlight dappling the lined ground of the nursery.
"Well…" Ashwinter replied thoughtfully. Her daughter was right, there really wasn't any room for the rough games of three kits inside the small den anymore, but she still thought they were too young to be outside. What would happen if they strayed too far from her?
"Please?" Solsticekit pressed.
"Oh, do we have to? Can we just stay here?" Nightkit, Ashwinter's other daughter, piped up cautiously.
Nightkit was frail, her mother observed once again. Much smaller than her siblings. The black shekit didn't take too kindly to Daykit's and Solsticekit's wrestling. In many ways, the little one reminded Ashwinter of her deceased brother.
Shaking the comparison from her mind, Ashwinter looked at her kits and mewed softly, "Go ahead, but make sure you stay just in front of the nursery, okay?"
With excited yowls as replies, she watched them charge off and out of the den. With an amused purr to herself, Ashwinter hauled herself to her paws and followed her children closely. She blinked painfully as daylight flooded her vision. She was much more accustomed to the darkness of the nursery.
Ashwinter settled down with her tail wrapped around her paws as her kits roughhoused. Leopardstar picked her way around the kits to address their mother.
"Leopardstar," Ashwinter greeted her leader, dipping her head courteously.
"Ashwinter," Leopardstar meowed warmly, "How are the kits?"
"They're doing very well, thank you. They've grown up too fast."
"Indeed," Leopardstar replied, "I should like to apprentice them soon."
Ashwinter was taken aback. "So soon?"
Leopardstar sighed. "Yes. RiverClan is in desperate need of warriors. This business with BloodClan is intensifying."
"Not my kits," Ashwinter meowed defiantly, "Not them. They're too young to be wrapped up in this."
Leopardstar turned her amber gaze on the queen. "Ashwinter, they were wrapped up in this since the time you were pregnant. They're strong, fine kits. You should be proud."
"I am proud," Ashwinter replied hollowly. It was the truth, she was—but her stomach sunk at the thought of her babies faced with battle two moons early. She wanted them safely in the nursery, not out fighting full-grown warriors.
"Then I'd like to apprentice them four sunrises from now. I need time to choose their mentors."
Ashwinter nodded bleakly. She knew there was no use arguing with her leader. With a curt nod, Leopardstar took her leave. Ashwinter remained rooted to the spot, staring at her kits with wide eyes.
"Mama?" Daykit squeaked, "What did Leopardstar say?"
Ashwinter blinked quickly. Fighting the impending feeling of dread in her belly, she purred loudly.
"Nothing," she mewed, giving him a quick lick of affection, "Nothing. Now, you three stay here, okay? I have to speak with your father."
After their obedient nods, Ashwinter rose to her paws and padded around the camp. Finally, she caught sight of Dustrise by the entrance. She hurried over to him, watching him walk to meet her.
"My love," he greeted her.
"Hello," she purred, giving him a lick.
"What's the matter?" he inquired, picking up on her nervous air. His eyes flashed with concern.
"Leopardstar has decided to apprentice the kits early," Ashwinter whispered.
Dustrise stood motionless for a moment, his tail flicking with shock. "When?" he asked quietly.
"In four days."