Hi, everyone! Spottedpath here. This is my first time addressing you so I'd like to say...I hope you enjoy our story! Thank you for taking the time to read it and I hope you enjoy the unique-ness of it:)
I believe that Mosspool and I have created a plotline with a lot of twists and good qualities for a great story:) our characters are all unique and interesting and have a depth I truly enjoy writing. In this chapter, we get to witness Brightkit as she grows and finds her voice and meets some of her Herdmates. It was a fun chapter to rewrite xD
I hope you all enjoy it as well:)
"Psst…Brightkit…" Brightkit groaned as she recognized the voice whispering in her ear. It was Spottedkit. She closed her eyes tighter, still much too tired to want to wake up. "Brightkit…" Spottedkit's voice was a little louder now. She heard the rustling of paws as she sat back.
"Maybe she can't hear you." Another small voice suggested. It was Mosskit.
"You try." Spottedkit hissed. More sounds of paws scuffling across the nursery floor filled Brightkit's ears until she felt Mosskit's warm breath near her ear.
"Brightkit!" She exclaimed, startling Brightkit awake. She jumped to her paws and showed them her tiny thorn-sharp teeth in annoyance. What bumbling mouse-brains! She thought, sitting down at her mother's belly. Treepelt stirred but didn't awaken.
"Wow! She woke up!" Spottedkit beamed before shouldering her sister proudly. "Great work, Mosskit!" Mosskit's eyes shone with pride as she glanced at her sister. Then they both turned back to Brightkit. Her eyes were narrowed with annoyance at being woken up but she couldn't help but prick her ears forward in interest. What had Mosskit and Spottedkit woken her up for?
"We wanted to play with you!" Spottedkit exclaimed, leaping forward. Brightkit started and fell back against her mother's belly. Treepelt stirred again before blinking open her golden eyes groggily. Spottedkit and Mosskit squeaked and fell to the floor, closing their eyes and pretending to be asleep.
"Brightkit." Treepelt fixed her daughter with a stern gaze. "What are you doing awake? Go back to sleep!" Brightkit let out a squeak of protest and glared at Spottedkit and Mosskit as Treepelt closed her eyes again. One of Spottedkit's light green eyes flew open before she beamed and got to her paws and prodded her sister to let her know everything was okay. Mosskit leapt to her paws with a huge smile on her face.
"We'll be apprentices soon! Only a half moon more!" Mosskit mewed. Her paws scuffled underneath her for she could barely contain her excitement.
"Yeah!" Spottedkit chimed in. "So we won't be able to play together as much. That's why we want to play with you now!"
"Why?" Brightkit's voice was a muffled squeak as she spoke. Her eyes narrowed. "It's still night. See? The big star is still out." She flicked her tail to an opening in the nursery ceiling to where 'the big star', commonly known as the moon to every other cat, shone. Spottedkit and Mosskit's eyes flew open in wonder before they exchanged excited glances and squealed in unison.
"She spoke!" Spottedkit cried, leaping over to where Brightkit stood. Brightkit frowned and pushed her away. Still, Spottedkit ran around the nursery and squealed excitedly. Mosskit followed her sister's lead and they began to chant together.
"She spoke! She spoke!" Their small voices filled the nursery and Brightkit frowned. She didn't understand what the big deal was; her voice wasn't really that wonderful to listen to, was it? Mosskit and Spottedkit were just humiliating themselves. And how was it that none of the other queens were waking up? They must be deaf! Brightkit thought, laying her ears flat against her head. She just wanted to go back to sleep.
"Say something else!" Spottedkit demanded, stopping in front of Brightkit with gleaming eyes. Mosskit nodded her head as she stood beside her sister. Brightkit sighed as she glanced between the two of them before opening her mouth to speak once more. Before she could say anything, Spottedkit slapped her tail to her mouth, eyes wide. "Say my name!" She exclaimed.
"Mine too!" Mosskit added in.
"Spottedkit and Mosskit…" Brightkit blinked.
"She said my name!" Spottedkit cried.
"She said my name!" Mosskit repeated. Both kits leapt around together again and Brightkit groaned. Will this ever end? She thought. Suddenly, as Spottedkit leapt backwards, she landed on Thunderkit's tail. The tiny golden yellow tom's head shot up and he let out a cry of pain.
"Owwwwww!" He yowled. Mosskit and Spottedkit froze before glaring at Thunderkit. The young tom blinked at the two of them with wide blue eyes before glaring at them. "Who stepped on my tail?"
"Brightkit." Spottedkit pointed her tail at Brightkit instantly.
"No!" Brightkit hissed at Spottedkit. "It was Spottedkit."
"Well, that's more believable." Thunderkit glared at Spottedkit. "Thanks, Brightkit—wait, did you just tell me Spottedkit stepped on my tail?"
"Yes." Spottedkit mewed bitterly, glaring at Brightkit.
"So she spoke!" Thunderkit's eyes sparkled. "Cool!" He shook Scratchkit awake. The tiny brown tom blinked up at them sleepily.
"Huh…?" He seemed confused. Brightkit giggled as he looked around the nursery. "What's going on? Are we being invaded?"
"No, mouse-brain." Mosskit hissed.
"Oh." Scratchkit frowned before glancing up at Brightkit. "Oh, hi, Brightkit." He smiled. Brightkit beamed and lifted her chin.
"Hi, Scratchkit." She spoke clearly and confidently. His name sounded strange and unfamiliar on her tongue, so she repeated it multiple times. "Scratchkit, Scratchkit, Scratchkit, Scratchkit!" Thunderkit chuckled and Scratchkit's blue eyes widened.
"You spoke." He marveled at the sound of her voice. Brightkit nodded her head.
"Yes." She liked the sound of her voice. Spottedkit let out a hiss of annoyance.
"Great. Now we have no time to play with Brightkit 'cause you two are awake." She glared at Scratchkit and Thunderkit.
"Mouse-brains." Mosskit muttered, glaring at them as well. Scratchkit and Thunderkit looked bewildered.
"You woke me up!" Thunderkit protested.
"And you woke me up!" Scratchkit cuffed his brother over the ear. Brightkit giggled again. Both toms beamed at the positive reaction from Brightkit.
"What's going on here?" Rabbitfur lifted her head sleepily. All five kits froze as the she-cat blinked at them. Her eyes narrowed when she saw her two kits on the other side of the nursery. "Spottedkit, Mosskit, come over here now!" The two kits spat in Thunderkit and Scratchkit's direction crossly before stalking back to their mother with their tails drooping. "What were you two doing?" Rabbitfur demanded. Spottedkit and Mosskit both shrugged as they snuggled into their mother's warm tortoiseshell fur.
"We wanted to see Brightkit." Spottedkit mumbled.
"You should have been sleeping." Rabbitfur scolded. Spottedkit rolled her eyes and shrugged her shoulders before smiling up at her mother who purred in response as she gazed at her daughters with a warm expression.
"Spottedkit stepped on my tail." Thunderkit spoke up. Rabbitfur glared at Spottedkit momentarily before her eyes grew soft again. She licked Spottedkit in between the ears and murmured something to her before glancing away. When she wasn't looking, Spottedkit hissed at Thunderkit and Mosskit narrowed her eyes before snuggling close to her sister and tucking her nose under her tail. Spottedkit yawned before turning to Brightkit.
"We can play tomorrow." She mewed happily. Brightkit nodded her head. Spottedkit and Mosskit weren't so bad…they were just a bit loud for her taste.
"Okay." Brightkit smiled. Rabbitfur purred as she looked at Brightkit.
"I see you found your voice." Brightkit glanced at her paws shyly before nodding her head.
"Yes." She mewed. Rabbitfur chuckled before lying back down and wrapping her tail around Spottedkit and Mosskit to keep them warm. The cool leaf-fall breeze caused Brightkit to shiver and press close to her mother's belly.
"Good night, Brightkit." Scratchkit whispered.
"Good night." Brightkit smiled. Scratchkit purred before lying back down and closing his eyes. Thunderkit did the same but stared at Brightkit intently.
"Good night, Brightkit." He murmured. Brightkit smiled politely.
"Good night, Thunderkit." She yawned before resting her head in her paws again. She shivered slightly and wished Treepelt would curl her tail around her just as Rabbitfur was doing to Spottedkit and Mosskit, but she did no such thing. I hope I don't catch cold. Brightkit thought fearfully before she drifted back to sleep.
Page Break
"Brightkit, wake up!" A gentle voice called. Sleepily, Brightkit opened her eyes and yawned. Standing before her were Scratchkit, Thunderkit, and Riverfoot, their mother. She shivered as she realized the warmth of her mother was missing.
"Where's Mother?" Brightkit squeaked.
"So you did find your voice." Riverfoot purred. "That's all Spottedkit and Mosskit were talking about this morning. Don't worry; your mother is just outside. She wanted to stretch her legs and visit Eaglehawk. Remember him? He's your father."
"Yes." Brightkit beamed.
"We can take you outside." Thunderkit offered. "That's where everybody is."
"Yeah; Flamesun will be doing Mistypaw's warrior ceremony today." Scratchkit smiled. "Remember her? She came to bring us prey yesterday."
"Of course." Brightkit smiled. "But…I don't know what any of that means." She frowned and glanced at her paws, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Riverfoot purred. "Come along, little one. I'm sure Scratchkit and Thunderkit would be more than happy to explain." Scratchkit and Thunderkit nodded their heads vigorously with shining blue eyes. Brightkit smiled.
"Okay." She got to her paws and followed Riverfoot and her kits out of the nursery before she gazed around her in wonder. She had only been outside a few times before and she never quite got used to it. The feeling of the cool forest breeze ruffling her fur was amazing. The scents were overwhelming and stimulated every nerve in her body.
"I will be sitting over there with Rabbitfur." Riverfoot meowed. "Don't wander too far and don't get in anyone's way."
"Okay." All three kits mewed in unison. Riverfoot smiled warmly at them before she padded across the clearing and took a seat next to Rabbitfur. The tortoiseshell queen was busily watching Spottedkit and Mosskit wrestle with a larger cream-colored tom with warmth in her eyes. I wonder who he is. Brightkit thought curiously.
"So you want us to explain how everything works?" Scratchkit asked. Brightkit nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes!" She exclaimed. Thunderkit smiled widely and pushed Scratchkit aside.
"Well, it's not that complicated." He began. "You see, there are four Herds: LionHerd, PantherHerd, TigerHerd, and LeopardHerd. We live in LionHerd and we are loyal to LionHerd." Scratchkit's eyes glittered in annoyance and he pushed Thunderkit aside.
"All four Herds and the cats within them believe in SunHerd." Scratchkit continued, gazing up at the sky. Brightkit glanced up as well, marveling at the bright light in the sky. "SunHerd is a Herd of our warrior ancestors; they look down on us from the sun's rays and help keep us safe. It's where we live when we die."
"Down here, the cats of each Herd are separated into different categories." Thunderkit interrupted, glaring at Scratchkit before smiling at Brightkit. "We are kits until we reach our sixth moon; then we become apprentices and train to become warriors. Warriors defend and protect their Herd even at the cost of their life. They battle against anything that threatens our Herd and hunt for the elders, queens, and kits."
"Really?" Brightkit blinked.
"Yes." Scratchkit mewed. "Being a warrior is the single most best thing."
"Well, there are medicine cats too." Thunderkit mewed. "Each Herd has one medicine cat but they can take on an apprentice to train under them. They're trained differently; instead of learning how to hunt and fight, they learn to interpret signs from SunHerd and heal the sick and wounded with the knowledge of herbs."
"That's cool!" Brightkit exclaimed. Scratchkit and Thunderkit both wrinkled their noses and shook their heads.
"Not really. Being with all those smelly herbs is really boring." Thunderkit mewed.
"Oh." Brightkit shuffled her paws.
"But if you like that sort of thing, I guess it's cool." Scratchkit jumped in.
"I like warriors." Brightkit mumbled. That's what I want to be! She thought.
"They really are super cool." Thunderkit puffed out his chest. "I'm going to be the best warrior ever!"
"I'll be even better!" Scratchkit shot back.
"What else is there to know?" Brightkit asked before Scratchkit and Thunderkit could start wrestling.
"Oh." Scratchkit shuffled his paws, obviously embarrassed. "Well…we have a deputy. All four Herds do. Deputies are like the second-in-command of the Herd. They become leader if the current leader dies. They have to have mentored one apprentice to be chosen though. They assign patrols and do other stuff."
"And each Herd has a leader." Thunderkit continued. "All leaders are granted with nine lives from SunHerd so they can protect their Herd with all they are."
"How do you become a warrior?" Brightkit asked curiously.
"Well, when you turn six moons old, you become an apprentice. You're given a mentor and you train with them until they think you're ready to become a full-fledged warrior of the Herd. You have to pass a final assessment and then Flamesun will give you your warrior name at a special ceremony!" Scratchkit mewed excitedly.
"Flamesun?" Brightkit echoed.
"Our leader." Thunderkit meowed. "He's really awesome."
"Let all the cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Great Rock for a Herd meeting!" A voice yowled. Brightkit stared up in wonder as a flame-colored tom leapt atop a large rock. His green eyes held no emotion as he gazed down at the cats gathering beneath him.
"That's him." Scratchkit whispered in her ear.
"What's going on?" Brightkit asked.
"Remember Mistypaw from yesterday?" Scratchkit asked. Brightkit nodded her head as she remembered the silver she-cat. "Well, she passed her final assessment, so today she will become a warrior."
"Wow!" Brightkit felt her pelt prickle with jealousy. I want to be a warrior!
"Yeah." Thunderkit purred. The two older kits took a seat on either side of Brightkit as everyone finished gathering beneath the Great Rock.
"Look, that's Mistypaw over there!" Scratchkit whispered, inclining his head to where Mistypaw sat. Her blue eyes were filled with excitement as she stared up at Flamesun. Sitting at her left was a black tom with green eyes that was about the same size as her. On the other side sat a small silver tabby she-cat with white paws. Her gaze was filled with pride as she looked on at Mistypaw.
"Today we gather here for a very special reason." Flamesun called out loudly. His gaze dropped to where Mistypaw sat. "Mistypaw has passed her final assessment and is ready to earn her warrior name." Cheers erupted from the group of cats as Mistypaw got to her paws and padded up to meet Flamesun on top of the Great Rock. "Mistypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your Herd, even at the cost of your life?" There was no hesitation as Mistypaw spoke.
"I do." She meowed clearly. Brightkit watched on, amazed, as Flamesun stepped forward so he was only a tail-length away from where Mistypaw stood.
"Then by the powers of SunHerd, I give you your warrior name." He rested his muzzle on her head. "Mistypaw, you had a wonderful mentor in Lightpelt and proven yourself fiercely loyal to LionHerd time and time again. From this moment onward, you will be known as Mistyfur. SunHerd honors your bravery and thoughtfulness." Mistyfur blinked gratefully at Flamesun and licked his shoulder before stepping back, her eyes shining.
"Mistyfur! Mistyfur!" Everyone began to yowl. Brightkit glanced at Thunderkit and Scratchkit, who began to take up the call. Brightkit blinked before joining in. When the cries died down, Mistyfur leapt off the Great Rock.
"The meeting is over!" Flamesun called. Cats began to disperse before another voice called to them.
"Wait!" Brightkit strained to see who had called the command to wait.
"Who was that?" Thunderkit hissed.
"I don't know!" Scratchkit mewed, struggling to see as well. A golden yellow she-cat padded up and leapt onto the Great Rock with happiness in her eyes.
"Oh, that's Lightpelt!" Thunderkit exclaimed. "She was Mistyfur's mentor! I wonder what she has to say?" Brightkit nodded her head and pricked her ears forward in curiosity.
"Lightpelt?" Flamesun asked, frowning slightly. "Is everything alright?"
"Of course." Lightpelt purred. "Now that Mistyfur is a warrior, I am at liberty to say I am expecting mine and Quailtail's kits. I will be moving into the nursery today." Several shocked cries rang through the clearing before several cats raced forward to congratulate her. At her side stood a gray and white tom. His own gaze was filled with happiness and warmth as he looked down at Lightpelt. He pressed his pelt close to hers and licked her in between the ears.
"Wow! That means Lightpelt will be staying with us!" Scratchkit exclaimed. Brightkit blinked as she stared at Lightpelt and the gray and white tom before turning back to where Mistyfur stood. She purred her congratulations to her former mentor before turning back to where the black tom stood. His green eyes were filled with joy as he looked on at the silver she-cat.
"Congratulations, sister." He purred, pressing his muzzle to her cheek. Mistyfur broke into a purr as she licked the black tom's cheek.
"You won't be far behind me." Mistyfur promised. The black tom's eyes clouded over briefly as he looked up to meet Mistyfur's blue eyes.
"I just wish I could've been up there with you today." He sighed.
"It won't be long now, dear brother." Mistyfur meowed quietly. She flicked her tail and the two cats padded away together.
"Who was that?" Brightkit asked as she watched Mistyfur and the black tom leave camp.
"The cat with Mistyfur?" Scratchkit asked. "That's Buzzardpaw. He's Mistyfur's brother." Brightkit frowned.
"Why didn't he become a warrior too?" She asked.
"He got sick, so his apprentice ceremony was delayed and happened after Mistyfur's, so he still hasn't completed his training." Thunderkit explained. "Come on; let's head back to the nursery." Brightkit nodded her head and the three kits padded away.
Page Break
"Brightkit, you want to come play with us?" Mosskit was standing at the entrance of the nursery with hopeful yellow eyes. Behind her stood Spottedkit, who was jumping up and down excitedly. Brightkit nodded her head before turning back to her mother. Treepelt was busy grooming herself.
"Can I, Mama?" Brightkit asked. Treepelt paused and glanced down at Brightkit before purring slightly and nudging her towards Mosskit and Spottedkit.
"Sure." She mewed. Brightkit squealed and darted out of the nursery behind Mosskit and Spottedkit.
"What are we going to play?" Brightkit asked.
"Uh…" Spottedkit frowned in thought. "How about 'the hunter'?"
"Okay! How do you play?" Brightkit asked.
"You've got to find your prey and hunt it!" Mosskit mewed.
"Like this!" Spottedkit chimed in. She scanned the clearing until she rested her gaze on Scratchkit. She dropped low to the ground and crept forward slowly. Brightkit pricked her ears forward curiously as she watched Spottedkit stop only tail-lengths away from where Scratchkit stood. He was calling out orders to Thunderkit, who copied them with perfect accuracy. Then Spottedkit leapt into the air and landed squarely on the Scratchkit's back.
"Hey!" Scratchkit exclaimed, struggling to free himself from Spottedkit's grasp. The tortoiseshell she-cat laughed and beckoned for Mosskit to attack. The ginger tabby bounded over and leapt onto Thunderkit.
"This isn't fair!" Thunderkit wailed. "You both are bigger than us!"
"That's what makes it fun!" Spottedkit yowled.
"Help us, Brightkit!" Scratchkit pleaded, trying to throw Spottedkit off of him. Brightkit paused; Scratchkit and Thunderkit were her friends too. Should she help them?
"Go catch your prey, Brightkit!" Mosskit cried. Brightkit beamed and darted away.
"No, Brightkit!" Thunderkit yowled. Brightkit ignored their cries and giggled as she scanned the clearing. Her gaze finally rested on the black tom she had seen with Mistyfur the day before. What was his name again? Brightkit frowned as she struggled to remember. Oh, yeah! It was Buzzardpaw! Brightkit lowered herself to the ground just as Spottedkit had done before she crept forward slowly. She could hear Lightpelt and Rabbitfur chuckling at her not too far away, but she ignored it. She focused on nothing other than Buzzardpaw. He was pawing through the fresh-kill pile, trying to find a suitable piece of prey. Brightkit paused when she was only a mouse-length away before leaping into the air and landing on his tail. Buzzardpaw jumped and whirled around before his gaze rested on Brightkit batting at his tail.
"Hi, there." Buzzardpaw mewed warmly. Brightkit rolled around on the ground until she lay on her back and batted at his tail with her paws. Finally, her gaze met his. His green eyes were filled with amusement as he stared at her. "You're Treepelt's daughter, right?" He asked. Brightkit nodded her head, finding herself unable to speak. "I'm Buzzardpaw." He introduced himself.
"I'm Brightkit." She squeaked, rolling back over so she was sitting again. Buzzardpaw purred.
"I know; you're all Eaglehawk has been talking about." Buzzardpaw chuckled.
"You know my daddy?" Brightkit's eyes lit up and Buzzardpaw nodded his head, his green gaze growing soft.
"Yes. He's a great warrior."
"I'm going to be just like him one day." Brightkit puffed out her chest and Buzzardpaw laughed.
"I'm sure you will make a great warrior." He meowed solemnly. They were quiet for a moment before another voice interrupted the silence.
"Hey, Buzzardpaw! What are you doing with that kit?" Both of them jumped and turned to see a brown tabby tom padding in their direction. It's that cat that put me in the hole! Brightkit realized. She flattened her ears against her head and whimpered slightly. Buzzardpaw looked torn as he glanced from the brown apprentice to Brightkit. "Are you thinking of going back to the nursery, Buzzardkit?" He added extra emphasis to the last part of Buzzardpaw's name. At this, Buzzardpaw narrowed his eyes and got to his paws.
"No." He mumbled. He glanced back at Brightkit apologetically before turning back to the other apprentice. "I was just telling her that the kits play over there." Brightkit felt her heart drop; Buzzardpaw wasn't nice. He was just like this cat!
"Hey, Owlpaw!" A voice called from behind them. Brightkit turned around to see Spottedkit marching over to them; her light green eyes were flashing with anger. The smug look in Owlpaw's eyes disappeared and was instead replaced by a look of terror. "Don't you have better things to do than mess around with kits?"
"I'm not messing around with her!" Owlpaw argued.
"Yeah, right." Spottedkit scoffed. She stopped directly in front of Owlpaw so their noses just barely touched. "If you mess with us again, I'll make sure to chase you straight into a fox den." For the briefest of moments, Owlpaw's eyes flashed in horror before narrowing again.
"Whatever." He grumbled. He turned away from them. "Come on, Buzzardpaw. Leaffall wanted you for a patrol." The black tom hesitated before following after Owlpaw reluctantly. Brightkit watched them leave before letting out a sigh.
"They're so mouse-brained." Spottedkit rolled her eyes. "Owlpaw especially; he's an arrogant fur ball."
"What about Buzzardpaw?" Brightkit asked curiously. Spottedkit blinked.
"Well, he's okay. He's Mistyfur's brother, but he got made an apprentice later 'cause he got really sick." Spottedkit paused. "He and Owlpaw are foster brothers so Owlpaw is really close to him and sometimes I think Buzzardpaw forgets he's his own cat! He follows Owlpaw around like he's his small pet! It's mouse-brained!" Spottedkit shook her head. "Come on; let's get back to playing. Thunderkit found a ball of moss we can toss around!"
"Okay!" Brightkit nodded her head excitedly. She pushed the thought of Buzzardpaw to the back of her head before racing after Spottedkit to where the rest of the kits stood.
"Buzzardpaw is such a mouse-brain." Scratchkit spat as they approached him. "He lets Owlpaw boss him around like he's some sort of leader."
"He didn't seem so bad." Brightkit mewed. Scratchkit narrowed his eyes but said nothing. Buzzardpaw just needs to break away from Owlpaw and then he'll be one of the nicest cats in the Herd! I just know it! Brightkit thought, taking a seat.
"Let's play the game." Thunderkit meowed. He lifted the ball of moss and tossed it to Scratchkit. The brown tabby kit leapt to catch it but Mosskit was faster and intercepted the throw and batted it in Spottedkit's direction. She let out a shrill cry and leapt for it, hitting it with her paw and sending it flying in Brightkit's direction.
"Catch it, Brightkit!" Spottedkit yowled. Brightkit gathered her muscles beneath her and sprang into the air. She felt joy rise within her as her paw hit the ball and sent it flying back towards Mosskit.
"No fair!" Thunderkit cried. "Why can't Brightkit be on our team? She's closer to our age then to yours." He scowled and Spottedkit lifted her chin.
"Because we're all she-cats." She grinned triumphantly as Mosskit held the moss ball in her paws. "Throw it, Mosskit!" The ginger tabby beamed and threw it towards Spottedkit, but this time, Scratchkit intercepted the pass and hit it to Thunderkit. He leapt to meet the moss ball and batted it with his paw so it soared straight over Scratchkit's head and towards Brightkit.
"Oops." Thunderkit gaped as he watched the moss ball fly through the air.
"Get it, Brightkit! Get it!" Mosskit shrieked. Brightkit leapt in the air to meet the ball of moss and caught it in her jaw. She tumbled backwards and ran smack into a large black tom.
"Oof!" Brightkit glanced up at the large black tom. His amber eyes glinted angrily and he bent down close to Brightkit.
"Watch it!" He snarled. Brightkit's eyes widened and she scrambled away.
"Hey! Pick on someone your own size!" Spottedkit squeaked. The black tom turned to glare at her and she let out a little shriek before ducking behind Mosskit. The ginger tabby's eyes widened and she glanced at her paws. Scratchkit looked a bit uneasy as he beckoned Brightkit back over with his tail. Only Thunderkit stared at the black tom with awe in his eyes.
"Keep to the nursery!" The black tom spat before he padded away grumpily. Brightkit watched him leave, shaking slightly. He's scary! She thought.
"What a fun-killer." Spottedkit grumbled. She took the ball of moss from Brightkit and pushed it between her two paws.
"Who was that?" Brightkit asked. She watched as he took a seat next a ginger colored she-cat. Her gaze was warm as she stared at the large black tom. He flexed his muscles before pressing his pelt close to hers. They began to share tongues.
"That was Darkheart." Scratchkit mewed. "He's not very friendly."
"Yeah, he's not too fond of kits." Mosskit added in.
"Or anyone, for that matter." Spottedkit wrinkled her nose.
"But he's a really brave warrior." Thunderkit beamed. "He's really strong and a great fighter! He was at the battle where Lonewhisker, PantherHerd's former deputy, died! I want to be just like him when I grow up!" He puffed out his chest.
"You're too weak." Spottedkit stuck out her tongue.
"Yeah, Thunderkit." Mosskit chimed in; her yellow eyes were light with teasing.
"You're just jealous." Thunderkit huffed. "He's going to be my mentor."
"Yeah, right." Scratchkit huffed.
"Darkheart has better things to do with his time than train someone like you." Spottedkit smirked. Thunderkit's eyes narrowed and he hissed in their direction before stalking off to the nursery.
"His name sounds scary." Brightkit whimpered, shrinking away. Scratchkit purred.
"He's not that bad; he is a great warrior, and he's super strong!" Scratchkit smiled. "So you don't have to worry, Brightkit." She glanced up at him and blinked before turning away and staring at Darkheart again. The black tom met her gaze with narrowed amber eyes. Brightkit shuddered.
Scratchkit's wrong. She thought. Darkheart is really scary and I know it.
"Brightkit! Your mother wants you back in the nursery!" Lightpelt called. Brightkit tore her gaze away from Darkheart and padded back to the nursery wordlessly. As she passed by the golden yellow she-cat and took a seat next to Treepelt, Brightkit could feel Darkheart's cold amber gaze following her inside.