Black-kit stood outside the nursery, behind the little tree she used to climb up to get away from her brother. She truly was a spectacular climber, even when she was only two moons old. But now her brother could climb too. At least small distances. Black-kit wished she could exit the camp, run away and climb a tree. "What are you doing back here?" Her brother, Shadowkit, hissed.
"None of your business brother." Black-kit replied, with a hint of coldness in her tone.
"Well, come on. Quick-kit is just begging to be teased." Shadowkit smiled cruelly.
"No." Black-kit stuck her tongue out defiantly.
"What did you say my dear sister?" Shadowkit asked sweetly.
"No. I said no. I will not torment cats when they have done nothing wrong! It's just evil, and cruel." Black-kit bit her tongue, and hissed.
"Are you sure? Are you calling daddy and mommy cruel?" Shadowkit sneered. "And evil for that matter?"
"What do you think you piece of fox-dung?" Black-kit spat. She felt bad saying those words but they were true.
"I'm telling and you'll get in trouble!" Shadowkit teased, running away, but Black-kit knew he would follow through.
"Need to get away from camp for a little while?" A brown tom with glinting amber eyes padded out of the nursery.
"Yeah." Black-kit replied, sighing.
"You up for an adventure guys?" Reedkit grinned, and his siblings, including Riverkit, stepped out of the nursery.
"Ready as I'll ever be!" Dapplekit smiled warmly.
"Sure Reedkit!" Littlekit shrugged his shoulders but smiled.
"You think I wouldn't go?" Riverkit asked, smiling.
"I'm up!" Black-kit heard herself saying, then slowly, she smiled.
"Then let's go!" Reedkit whispered joyfully.
"Ooh, can I come too?" A sweet voice asked from the entrance of the nursery.
"Of course! The more the merrier!" Reedkit answered.
Quick-kit hopped out of the nursery but stared solemnly past Black-kit and speaking to Reedkit in a low tone. Although, Black-kit could hear. "Why is she coming?" Quick-kit's frightened eyes widened as she realized Black-kit could hear. A cold stone plummeted in Black-kit's heart. She didn't want Quick-kit to be frightened of her. Black-kit didn't even like teasing Quick-kit. It was only because Shadowkit made her do it. Black-kit needed to tell Quick-kit that some day but not now when she was as frightened as a mouse of her.
"C'mon guys!" Reedkit whispered, slipping into the bushes. Somehow, they divided into three groups, Reedkit and Black-kit, Littlekit and Riverkit, Dapplekit and Quick-kit.
Riverkit took over once the groups met up again after heading a bit away from where they came in. "Okay, here's the plan. In case of some cat following us, we split up. Reedkit and Black-kit, you both are together, Dapplekit and Quick-kit, you're together. and Littlekit, you're with me. We head on until we meet up at the river, and if we run into trouble, yowl for another group. Now, let's go Littlekit!" Riverkit and Littlekit bounded off, going straight. Quick-kit and Dapplekit turned right and Black-kit with Reedkit ran left.
Reedkit started to slow down after they were a good distance from the other groups. "She's afraid of you, you know." He meowed softly.
"I know." Black-kit sighed, as she knew instantly who Reedkit was talking about. "I wish she wasn't. If only, Shadowkit was nicer."
"No." Reedkit meowed firmly. "If only you were bolder."
"What do you mean Reedkit?" Black-kit asked, feeling a slight twinge of hurt.
"I'm sorry for being so sharp." Reedkit apologized as almost as if he knew what Black-kit was feeling. "I just mean, if you were just a bit braver... hmm, that didn't come out right either."
"It's okay Reedkit. I understand." Black-kit mewed warmly, licking his fur gently.
"Well, we could play together if you'd like. And I'll help you stand up to Shadowkit." Reedkit offered.
"Uh... that's a great offer but..." Black-kit trailed off, not wanting to turn down the spectacular offer but not wanting Reedkit to get hurt either.
"But you don't want me to get hurt by your family." Reedkit finished. "Say, why don't we go to my father. I'm sure he can stop this."
Black-kit's eyes shone. "Really? You'd do that?"
"No, we will." Reedkit purred. Black-kit started to smile, tail twitching with excitement.
"Thank you Reedkit." Black-kit purred, although not exactly knowing what for.
"Your welcome." Reedkit and Black-kit's eyes met and held for a few long heartbeats before they both looked away at the same time.
"Hey..." Reedkit mewed at the same time as Black-kit.
"Well, I suppose great minds think alike!" Black-kit laughed, twirling her tail in the air happily. Reedkit leaped at her tail, grinning. "No mere rouge will attack my tail!" Black-kit declared in mock seriousness.
"Are you so sure about that my pretty?" Reedkit cackled evilly yet playfully.
"For my clan shall be one!" Black-kit jumped up into a defensive stance. Reedkit leaped and crashed into her while they collapsed in giggles.
"We." Black-kit purred through giggles. "Should. Probably. Be."
"Getting back. To the. Others." Reedkit finished.
"Well, do you know where the river is?" Black-kit asked, her giggles finally subsiding.
"Maybe we should retrace our steps." Reedkit suggested.
"Good idea." Black-kit agreed.
"Or maybe..."
"We should follow that water." There was a faint humming noise of a running river nearby.
"I wonder if that's the right one." Reedkit pondered aloud.
"Well, it's a start!" Black-kit replied. The small group rushed towards the water, running as fast as they could.
"You're finally here! We were getting worried!" Riverkit meowed as they came into view.
"Sorry." Black-kit apologized. "We didn't mean to be late."
"It's alright." Riverkit smiled warmly.
"Raining rivers! What are you doing out of camp?"
(Ooh. A cliffhanger! Please review for more reviews equal faster updates as always!)