Spottedpath again! :) Chapter 4 explores the camp in more depth and we get to meet the rest of Brightkit's Herdmates. Some tensions begin to rise in this chapter that will later be played out in more depth as the story progresses.. Once again, enjoy!
"Come on, Brightkit!" Scratchkit exclaimed, beckoning the young she-cat over. "There are so many cats to meet in such little time!"
"Okay!" Brightkit let out a squeal of excitement. She couldn't wait to meet all the Herd's warriors! She knew there had to be more that existed beyond her mother and the other queens plus the few cats she had already met. She shot after Scratchkit and pranced at his side as he led her to a neat little den. It was sort of like a cave with a small waterfall trickling into it. As Scratchkit led Brightkit inside, she noticed a few mossy nests lay out throughout the den and the floor was warm and soft. Sand… Brightkit beamed at having instantly recognized the texture beneath her paws. In the back of the den, the small waterfall trickled into a nice pool.
"This is the medicine cat den." Scratchkit explained, turning to face Brightkit. "Those nests are for Goldenwing herself and for the sick and injured if they're ordered to stay here overnight. Your mother stayed here when she had you!"
"Really?" Brightkit blinked in awe.
"Yeah. She allowed no one to come in to visit for a whole quarter moon! Then she came out with you." Scratchkit smiled. "It was scary; we all thought something bad happened!"
"Wow!" Brightkit felt her heart's pace quicken. To think she possibly could have been so near death…she shuddered. Thank SunHerd I'm still here!
"Yeah." Scratchkit flicked his tail in the direction of the pool of water. "That pool back there is for cats to get water; rather than walking out to the nearest stream there's a fresh bit back here."
"That's so cool." Brightkit mewed.
"And that crack in the wall over there is where Goldenwing keeps her herbs." Scratchkit explained. "She uses all sorts of leaves, seeds, and flowers to heal us! I have no clue what she uses but I know it works well!"
"You've been here before?"
"Yeah. One time, Thunderkit and I ate a bad mouse and we had to come get herbs for bellyaches. They didn't taste so bad." Scratchkit beamed.
"Didn't you say that medicine cats also interpret signs from SunHerd?" Brightkit asked, tilting her head to the side. Maybe Goldenwing will know what my dream meant… or maybe it just means nothing. Brightkit wrote off her thoughts as the second option as Scratchkit opened his mouth to answer her, but another voice beat him to it.
"Yes, I do." Brightkit and Scratchkit whirled around to see a beautiful golden tabby she-cat with blue eyes padding over to them. Her gaze was warm as she looked on at the two young kits. "You must be Brightkit; it's so wonderful to finally meet you."
"Hi." Brightkit squeaked. "Are you Goldenwing?" The golden she-cat purred and nodded her head.
"Yes, I am." She answered. "What brings you two here?"
"I'm giving Brightkit a tour of camp!" Scratchkit puffed out his chest. "All by myself!"
"Well done, Scratchkit." Goldenwing chuckled. "When you get the chance, can you have Lightpelt come by my den later? I need to check up on her and make sure everything is all right."
"Sure!" Scratchkit exclaimed. Then he turned to Brightkit. "Lightpelt is also her sister." He whispered.
"Wow!" Brightkit's voice filled with wonder and Goldenwing laughed.
"She and Quailtail shall make wonderful parents." Goldenwing meowed. "I can tell there will be lots of kits as well; have you two noticed how swollen her belly has gotten?"
"Oh yeah!" Brightkit exclaimed. Scratchkit let out an annoyed sigh.
"Boring." He muttered under his breath. "Come on, Brightkit; we can go to the elders' den next."
"But I already met Mousetail and Talonclaw." Brightkit protested; she really wanted to go visit the warriors! Scratchkit chuckled.
"The elders tell really great stories; we'll go there and then I'll show you the apprentices' den and then we shall go see the warriors and then meet Rufflefur and Flamesun formally." Scratchkit decided.
"Sounds like you two have a busy day ahead." Goldenwing mewed. "I'd best be on my way anyhow; it's the half-moon tonight and I will need to be at the Moon Rock by dusk." She started to pad back to her herb storage.
"What's the Moon Rock?" Brightkit asked curiously.
"It's where all medicine cats and leaders share tongues with SunHerd." Goldenwing replied. "Every half-moon is when the medicine cats from all Herds meet. This will be Whitewing's first meeting as a full medicine cat."
"Whitewing is the PantherHerd medicine cat." Scratchkit added in quickly. "Her mentor died not too long ago."
"Yes; they didn't come to the last meeting because Redscar was so gravely ill." Goldenwing's eyes clouded with sadness. "Now that he is dead, Whitewing is on her own."
"Wow." It seemed to be the only word Brightkit could think of now. Goldenwing chuckled.
"Yes, but I think Whitewing is more than capable of handling things herself. She is a skilled medicine cat and has been training for moons." Goldenwing sighed. "What will be strange, though, is not to have Petalthroat around."
"Ooh, I know her too!" Scratchkit beamed as he turned back to Brightkit. "She was the former TigerHerd medicine cat apprentice but she left! Her mentor was Tinymoon and he's super old!"
"Scratchkit…" Goldenwing's voice grew stern. "That's no way to talk about the elderly." Scratchkit's head drooped and he sighed.
"Yes, Goldenwing." He mewed meekly. Then he brightened up. "Alright, Brightkit, we should leave now!" Brightkit nodded her head before dipping it at Goldenwing.
"It was nice to meet you." She mewed.
"As it was to meet you." Goldenwing's eyes were filled with adoration but there was another emotion her blue gaze held that Brightkit couldn't read…
"To the elders' den!" Scratchkit yowled. Brightkit let out her own excited cry of joy before bounding after Scratchkit. They raced over to where Mousetail and Talonclaw sat outside their den chatting quietly amongst themselves.
"I swear leaf-bare arrives quicker nowadays." Mousetail complained.
"Mhm." Talonclaw agreed. "This leaf-fall is unusually cool."
"Hi, there!" Scratchkit exclaimed.
"Hi!" Brightkit mewed. Talonclaw and Mousetail purred as they welcomed the two young kits.
"Why hello, there." Talonclaw greeted. "What brings you two here today?"
"We wanted to hear a story!" Scratchkit replied.
"Please!" Brightkit added in quickly, knowing Mousetail would have their whiskers off for demanding a story without saying 'please'. Mousetail nodded her head curtly, seeming to appreciate Brightkit's manners.
"A story is all we are good for." She mumbled. Talonclaw purred.
"We would love to tell you a story." He meowed, casting a glare in Mousetail's direction. "What would you like to hear about?"
"The treehunters!" Scratchkit mewed, eyes growing round with fascination.
"Treehunters?" Brightkit echoed, tilting her head to the side. What were treehunters?
"Ah, that's right. Young Brightkit doesn't know of those dastardly beings." Talonclaw blinked before settling down comfortably in his spot. "Well, then; let's begin."
"Okay!" Brightkit lie down next to Scratchkit, pressing herself close to him for warmth. After all, they were friends, and friends shared their warmth. Scratchkit seemed a bit surprised but he didn't say anything as he turned back to Talonclaw excitedly.
"The treehunters have been around for as long as we have been." Talonclaw began. "They have always been in competition with us for our land."
"What are treehunters?" Brightkit asked.
"They're horrible." Mousetail wrinkled her nose. "They're tall and have ugly pink skin with no fur! And they walk on two legs." Brightkit gasped.
"No way!"
"Yes." Mousetail nodded her head, narrowing her eyes. "They are horrible creatures, always tearing down trees and scaring off our prey."
"They sound so mean!" Brightkit's whiskers quivered.
"Some cats actually like them." Talonclaw meowed. "They live with the treehunters in giant gardens and eat the slop that they feed them. It isn't fresh-kill. And these cats don't know how to hunt or fight and they're soft. They are small and insignificant. They are smallpets."
"But…but the treehunters hurt our forest!" Brightkit mewed.
"They're monsters!" Scratchkit roared, leaping to his paws. "They ride inside the bellies of giant monsters that breathe fire on huge Blackpaths!" Brightkit's eyes widened and she lay her ears flat against her head.
"No way!"
"Yes!" Scratchkit's eyes gleamed. "And they have dogs that will tear you limb… from limb." Scratchkit leaned close to Brightkit and spoke in a low voice. Brightkit squeaked and hid her face under her paws.
"That's enough, Scratchkit." Talonclaw scolded. "The treehunters are usually only around in green-leaf when it's hot; they like swimming in the river bordering TigerHerd territory. They usually have treehunters in their territory throughout all the seasons. All Herds have one small stretch of Treehunterplace in their territory, but TigerHerd got the worst of it."
"T-treehunterplace?" Brightkit stammered, peeking from her paws. Scratchkit looked a little guilty for scaring Brightkit the way he had while Mousetail was busy grooming herself. Talonclaw nodded.
"It's the place where the treehunters and their smallpets live." He explained. "There's a small bit at the edge of our territory but that's all. Like I said earlier, TigerHerd has the worst of it. Those mouse-brained treehunters are there all the time doing something stupid."
"Often it scares away their prey." Mousetail looked up from her grooming, eyes narrowed. "And TigerHerd suffers through leaf-bare with hardly any prey to live off of. We all have problems, but TigerHerd has it the worst because of those flea-bitten treehunters."
"If I ever meet one, I'll show it how a real warrior fights!" Scratchkit boasted. "I'll claw its skin until it's crying for mercy!"
"Hmph." Mousetail huffed. "And who told you that?"
"No one." Scratchkit shook his head. "But I'm going to be the best warrior ever!"
"Hmm, yes. I'd love to see that." Mousetail rolled her eyes and got to her paws. "Come along, Talonclaw. Our warm nests are calling us." Talonclaw heaved himself to his paws and waved goodbye to the young kits with his tail. Brightkit watched the two elders leave, still stunned by the story she had heard. Those treehunters sounded horrible! And their smallpets…what disgraces to the warrior code!
"I'm sorry for scaring you, Brightkit." Scratchkit mumbled, glancing at his paws sheepishly. "I guess I just got too crazy."
"That's okay." Brightkit smiled. "I'm alright now."
"Okay." Scratchkit beamed. "Why don't I show you the apprentices' den? It's where Spottedpaw and Mosspaw are sleeping now!"
"Okay!" Brightkit exclaimed, leaping to her paws. Scratchkit bounded away and Brightkit raced after him until they came across a small tree stump covered with fern and filled with mossy nests.
"This is the apprentices' den." Scratchkit meowed. "Buzzardpaw, Owlpaw, Spottedpaw, and Mosspaw stay here."
"That's cool!" Brightkit mewed.
"Look at this!" A voice exclaimed from behind them. "I think these kits lost their way!" Brightkit and Scratchkit turned to see Owlpaw making his way towards them. He had a smirk on his face and his tail was lashing from side to side. Then Brightkit noticed Buzzardpaw behind him. The black tom's green eyes glittered with uncertainty as Owlpaw loomed over the two smaller kits. "Well? Why are you here? Don't you know the nursery is over there?"
"Of course!" Scratchkit exclaimed. "I was just showing Brightkit the apprentices' den!" Owlpaw laughed and glared at Brightkit.
"You think you can just prance over to our den and expect a warm welcome and a tour of it?" Owlpaw sneered. "Guess again! I have a nice hole dug up over there for two annoying kits like you!"
"Owlpaw…" Buzzardpaw began quietly.
"What is it, Buzzardpaw?" The younger tom turned to glare at him. "I could fit you in that hole too, if you'd like! It would be a tight squeeze but it would give me a good laugh!" Buzzardpaw frowned and stepped back. Owlpaw smirked and turned back to the kits. "Leave. You've seen enough, and you don't belong here." He jeered. Scratchkit bared his teeth at Owlpaw before stalking away. Brightkit hissed at Owlpaw and he snorted as she left. For a fleeting moment, her eyes met Buzzardpaw's. His green gaze was apologetic but Brightkit turned away before he could say anything. Buzzardpaw was a coward! Couldn't he see just how rude Owlpaw had been? He surely could have said something.
"What mouse-brains!" Scratchkit growled, flopping down in the middle of the clearing. "Owlpaw is so mean and Buzzardpaw is just his follower!"
"I know." Brightkit sat down next to him. "They were very rude."
"It's like Owlpaw is the treehunter and Buzzardpaw is his smallpet." Scratchkit glared in their direction. Brightkit stiffened at the comparison but didn't say anything as Scratchkit got to his paws again. "Come on; let's go to the warriors' den."
Page Break
"Here we are." Scratchkit mewed as they stepped into the warriors' den. It was huge and Brightkit could see several cats curled up in their nests sleeping. Some were sitting and talking quietly with each other too. "This is where all the warriors sleep. The senior warriors get to sleep closer to the center 'cause it's warmer there."
"Wow!" Brightkit blinked in wonder as she looked around her. I'll be sleeping here one day! She thought.
"Oh, is this the new kit?!" A voice exclaimed. A beautiful orange tabby she-cat with white paws and yellow eyes padded over to them. She was very young; in fact, she didn't look much older than Mistyfur and Buzzardpaw. Brightkit guessed she hadn't been a warrior for very long. "She's so cute! Hi, there! I'm Leaffall." She purred.
"Hi." Brightkit squeaked. Leaffall purred loudly and nuzzled Brightkit.
"Oh, she's just too cute!" She exclaimed. "I can't wait to have kits of my own! They'll be just as cute as you." She cooed. Brightkit giggled.
"This is Brightkit." Scratchkit introduced. "She's Treepelt and Eaglehawk's daughter." Leaffall sighed dreamily.
"Of course she is." Leaffall's smile was huge as she doted on Brightkit. "Kits are just so cute!" She squealed. She ruffled Scratchkit's fur and he giggled. I really like her! Brightkit thought, marveling at Leaffall's behavior. She's so nice!
"I'm giving Brightkit a tour." Scratchkit explained. "She hasn't quite met everyone yet."
"Of course she hasn't!" Leaffall beamed. "I'll help you two! Come on, Brightkit!" Brightkit pranced after Leaffall happily, smiling widely. Scratchkit followed after them, seeming a bit bothered that Leaffall had interrupted them but he didn't say anything to object her help.
"Where is everyone?" Brightkit asked, noticing some nests were empty. Leaffall purred as she turned to answer Brightkit.
"Some are out on patrols." Leaffall explained warmly. "I can show you where they go! Oh, that would be fun! It would be just like having an apprentice!" Brightkit's eyes widened.
"Now, now, Leaffall." A familiar voice meowed from behind them. "Don't scare my daughter." Brightkit beamed and charged over to a large brown tabby tom.
"Daddy!" She exclaimed. Eaglehawk chuckled and bent down to give Brightkit a few licks in between the ears. Leaffall's eyes lit up at the sight and she gushed again.
"Oh, that's just too much! Too much!" She purred. "Eaglehawk, she's beautiful."
"I know." He smiled, looking down at Brightkit. She squeaked happily and pressed herself closer to her father. "Thank you, Leaffall."
"Of course!" She beamed. "Come on, Brightkit! There's still so much to see!"
"Not outside of camp." Eaglehawk ordered. "Kits can't leave camp until they're apprenticed anyways. As my former apprentice, Leaffall, I'd expect you to know that." His voice was stern and Leaffall flinched slightly. She bowed her head and muttered her apologies before lifting her head and smiling at Brightkit. She beckoned her over with her tail and Brightkit reluctantly left her father's side.
"Bye, Daddy." She mewed.
"Don't worry; I'll be right here waiting for you." He promised. Brightkit beamed and nodded her head before darting after Leaffall.
"Leaffall isn't usually this eccentric." Scratchkit whispered in Brightkit's ear. She jumped at his voice; she had totally forgotten he was here! "She just really loves kits is all. She did the same thing to me and Thunderkit when we first met everyone."
"Okay." Brightkit whispered as Leaffall stopped them in front of a sleeping brown tabby tom. Leaffall's eyes were light as she prodded the tom awake. Sleepily, he looked up and glared at Leaffall.
"What are you doing?!" He hissed. "I just feel asleep! Rufflefur forced me on the dawn patrol this morning and I just got back!"
"Brightkit is here to meet you, silly!" Leaffall purred.
"Who?" The brown tabby frowned as he turned to face Scratchkit and Brightkit. His eyes narrowed at the sight of the small she-kit. "Oh."
"Runningstream, this is Brightkit." Leaffall introduced. "Brightkit, this is Runningstream. He is my brother." She meowed proudly.
"Wow!" Brightkit exclaimed, bouncing from paw to paw excitedly. "I wish I had a brother!"
"Hmph." Runningstream growled, turning away. "Get them away from me. I'm tired and I want to sleep." He glared at Brightkit again.
"You're such a stick in the mud, Runningstream." Leaffall complained, her voice soft and whiny. "Come on, Brightkit. I'm sorry for my brother's rude behavior. He usually is pretty cool." Brightkit nodded her head and followed after Leaffall, but she could still feel Runningstream's cold blue stare following after her as she left.
"Why is he so grumpy?" Brightkit asked, shuddering.
"Don't worry; he'll be more friendly after he gets some sleep." Leaffall meowed. "Now this is Quailtail!" She introduced, stopping in front of a gray and white colored tom with green eyes.
"Hello." Quailtail meowed. Brightkit stared up at him in wonder. She could see his muscles rippling beneath his fur as he stretched. His eyes were warm as he looked at Brightkit. "I'm guessing this is Brightkit?"
"Yes!" Scratchkit mewed, smiling widely.
"I know you!" Brightkit mewed. "You visit Lightpelt in the nursery all the time!"
"She is my mate." Quailtail purred. "And she's having my kits."
"Yeah!" Brightkit beamed and Quailtail purred.
"She's smart." He commented to Leaffall.
"And so cute!" Leaffall gushed. "I'll be jealous of any cat who gets mentor her."
"Of course, Leaffall. You know you said the same thing about Spottedpaw and Mosspaw when you met them as well." Quailtail purred.
"Well." She huffed, straightening up. "Who wouldn't be? Those two are the cutest! And their brother…Chillkit was just darling!" An uncomfortable silence fell over them and Quailtail cleared his throat.
"Well, it was nice seeing you, Brightkit." He meowed. "When you can, tell Lightpelt I will be in to visit her later. Rufflefur assigned me to lead the next hunting patrol and I'll bring back as much prey as I can."
"Okay!" Brightkit mewed. Quailtail purred again before padding away and out of the warriors' den.
"Hello, there!" A new voice meowed abruptly. Brightkit turned to see a pale white she-cat with icy blue eyes. Her gaze was gentle and warm as she looked down at Brightkit. "I see young Scratchkit here, but who's this young one?"
"Treepelt and Eaglehawk's daughter." Leaffall answered, dipping her head to the white she-cat. "This is Brightkit."
"Hello." The white she-cat bent down to Brightkit's level and smiled. "My name is Angelheart." Brightkit smiled widely.
"Hi!" She squeaked.
"Angelheart is LionHerd's most senior warrior." Scratchkit explained. "She's Burrowfur's mother." Brightkit recalled meeting Burrowfur not too long ago; he was Spottedpaw and Mosspaw's father.
"Cool!" Brightkit beamed.
"She's also the daughter of LionHerd's former leader Cloudsun." Leaffall meowed. "He died before either of you could meet him however." Angelheart's gaze clouded with sadness briefly before she gave Brightkit and Scratchkit a small smile.
"Oh, and she's Buzzardpaw's mentor." Scratchkit added in quickly. Brightkit couldn't help but notice Leaffall's eyes light up at the mention of the young black tom.
"Speaking of that furball, have you seen him? He could use a training session." Angelheart purred, sitting up.
"He was in the apprentices' den with Owlpaw." Scratchkit reported. Angelheart purred and nuzzled Scratchkit before starting to the entrance of the warriors' den.
"Thank you. And it was wonderful to finally meet you, Brightkit." She meowed before disappearing into the clearing. Brightkit smiled widely as Angelheart left. She really liked her. She was really nice.
"So…you two already met Owlpaw and Buzzardpaw?" Leaffall asked. Her eyes flashed again as she mentioned Buzzardpaw's name.
"Yes." Brightkit nodded her head. "But Owlpaw is really mean."
"He's an arrogant furball." Leaffall agreed, rolling her eyes. "I think it's just because he never met his real parents."
"Really?" Brightkit asked, eyes widening.
"Yeah." Leaffall shrugged. "Flamesun found him in the fire and said his mother died so Raintail looked after him."
"Who's Raintail?" Brightkit asked curiously.
"She's Buzzardpaw and Mistyfur's mother, and Rufflefur's mate." Scratchkit explained from beside Brightkit. "She's sleeping now though." He flicked his tail in the direction of a sleeping silver tabby she-cat. Brightkit could see she had white paws and was small compared to some of the other warriors. She must be really nice too. Brightkit thought, remembering how Mistyfur had acted when she first met Brightkit.
"We'll go find someone else to introduce you to." Leaffall purred, leading Brightkit and Scratchkit further into the den. "Aha! Here, Brightkit." Leaffall stopped in front of young calico she-cat with one black ear and amber eyes. She was busy grooming herself when Brightkit and the others appeared, but the moment her eyes fell on Brightkit, she lit up and grew warm.
"Hello." The she-cat purred. "I'm guessing you're Brightkit."
"Yes!" Brightkit beamed happily.
"I'm Poppyfeather." She mewed. "It's nice to finally meet you; Eaglehawk has not stopped talking about you." Brightkit lit up happily and giggled.
"Isn't she cute?" Leaffall gushed.
"Adorable." Poppyfeather agreed. She gave her chest a few quick licks shyly. "I hope that when Dirtclaw and I have kits they'll be just like her."
"Oh, they will!" Leaffall purred, touching her tail tip lightly to Poppyfeather's shoulder. Brightkit lit up at the mention of Dirtclaw's name; she knew who he was! He was the big brown cat with the really long claws that Flamesun made Spottedpaw's mentor, and he was her uncle!
"He's Spottedpaw's mentor!" Brightkit exclaimed. Poppyfeather purred.
"Yes, he is." She beamed happily. "And he will make her into a fine warrior. I'm sure his paws are full with that one though; Spottedpaw was always the wildest of Rabbitfur's litter."
"It's true." Scratchkit muttered. Brightkit shouldered Scratchkit jokingly and Poppyfeather's whiskers twitched with amusement.
"Well, look at what we have here!" Someone else exclaimed, appearing from behind Poppyfeather. Brightkit glanced up in awe as a ginger colored she-cat with green eyes appeared. She looked much older than Poppyfeather and Leaffall but still appeared to be younger than Angelheart. Brightkit gasped as she recognized her to be the she-cat who had been sharing tongues with Darkheart when she first met him! "We finally get to meet Eaglehawk and Treepelt's esteemed daughter! So many of us have been waiting for you to come pay us a visit!" She purred. Brightkit stood rigidly and said nothing as the ginger she-cat continued to purr.
"Brightkit, this is Yellowfang." Leaffall meowed. "She is Darkheart's mate; you met him, right?" Brightkit nodded, still not daring to say anything.
"I'm sorry he gave you quite a scare." Yellowfang apologized. "He really isn't all that bad; he's just a bit grumpy."
"Okay." Brightkit mewed, still a bit wary of Yellowfang. She seemed to be nicer than Darkheart though.
"Did I miss something?" Another new voice meowed, sounding tired. Brightkit turned around to see the silver tabby she-cat Leaffall had pointed out padding over to them. Her eyes were filled with sleep and she yawned as she took a seat next to them.
"Young Brightkit has come to visit us." Poppyfeather purred.
"Isn't she just so cute?" Leaffall gushed, beaming at Brightkit.
"She is." The she-cat purred. "I'm Raintail."
"I know." Brightkit mewed.
"She's a smart one." Yellowfang mumbled.
"With Eaglehawk as her father, I'm not surprised." Raintail purred.
"Mm, true; he was always a smart one." Yellowfang agreed.
"He got the brains and Dirtclaw the looks." Poppyfeather purred. She looked embarrassed after she said it and Leaffall shouldered her, laughing slightly. Raintail chuckled as well, smiling at Brightkit.
"I assume they talked about me while I was sleeping?"
Brightkit shrugged. "Only a little bit."
"And what did they say?" Raintail frowned at them all and Leaffall averted her gaze jokingly. "Nothing mean, right?" Brightkit smiled slowly, giggling.
"No! They just told me you're Rufflefur's mate and Buzzardpaw and Mistyfur's mommy." Brightkit mewed. Raintail's gaze grew soft and she purred.
"Yes, I am." She meowed.
"And she's my aunt!" Scratchkit boasted. "My daddy is her brother."
"That would be Skullhawk." Raintail sighed. "Where is he?"
"He just left before Brightkit and Scratchkit got here to take Owlpaw out training." Yellowfang meowed. "But I assume you met Skullhawk, Brightkit."
"Yes." Brightkit answered.
"A lot of us are missing." Leaffall commented.
"Well, Dirtclaw and Darkheart have taken Spottedpaw and Mosspaw out training. They're practicing battle moves today." Poppyfeather explained. "And Quailtail just took out a hunting patrol; I'm assuming he took Burrowfur, Eaglehawk, Mistyfur, and Thistlerain."
"Where's Rabbitfur?" Raintail asked. "Has she forgotten that she sleeps in the warriors' den now?"
"I think she's talking with Lightpelt and Riverfoot." Yellowfang purred. Brightkit pricked her ears forward as she listened to the four older she-cats talk. Scratchkit leaned close to her.
"If we sneak away now, we can meet Flamesun. He's bound to be going out on patrol later and if we don't leave now we'll miss him!" He whispered. Brightkit nodded her head; she really wanted to meet Flamesun but she didn't want to be rude. Everyone she had met had been so nice to her! Well, everyone except Runningstream. Brightkit shot a glance over her shoulder to see the young brown tabby tom still sleeping.
"Hey!" A voice called inside. Brightkit turned to see Rabbitfur standing at the entrance of the warriors' den. "Rufflefur just ordered me to take a patrol out by the Blackpath. He wanted me to take Yellowfang and Raintail." Yellowfang and Raintail both sighed and trudged over to where Rabbitfur stood.
"It was really nice to meet you, Brightkit." Raintail called softly.
"Oh, Brightkit is in here?" Rabbitfur smiled warmly. "Why, Brightkit how much have you grown while I've been away? A warrior already?!" Brightkit giggled and Rabbitfur's whiskers twitched with amusement. Yellowfang chuckled and waved her tail goodbye to Brightkit as she disappeared behind Raintail and Rabbitfur.
"I would take you to the apprentices' den and introduce you but it seems you already met Owlpaw and Buzzardpaw." Leaffall meowed. "Isn't Buzzardpaw nice?" Scratchkit snorted and Brightkit shrugged.
"When he isn't with Owlpaw he isn't all that bad."
"He's amazing." Leaffall sighed dreamily. "I got to train with him briefly when I was an apprentice. He's an amazing hunter." Brightkit blinked and Scratchkit cleared his throat. Poppyfeather chuckled and shouldered Leaffall.
"Oh, stop your nonsense, Leaffall; you're boring them. It seems as though Scratchkit and Brightkit have somewhere else to be." She purred.
"Of course they do!" Leaffall smiled. "Would you like me to come with you?"
"That's okay." Scratchkit mewed. "Brightkit and I have almost finished the tour anyways."
"Okay." Leaffall's whiskers twitched and she bent down to Brightkit's level. "Please come visit again! I'd love to play with you!" Brightkit beamed and nodded her head excitedly.
"Okay!" She exclaimed. Leaffall grinned and sat back up.
"And I promise you next time Runningstream will be better behaved." Leaffall meowed. "He can teach you a few battle techniques if you'd like. He's a very skilled fighter."
"Alright!" Brightkit smiled politely but she hoped Runningstream wouldn't accompany Leaffall when she visited again. Brightkit didn't really like him and she believed that maybe he was always very unfriendly.
"Bye, Leaffall! Bye, Poppyfeather!" Brightkit and Scratchkit chorused as they padded away.
"Goodbye, little ones." Poppyfeather purred. Brightkit was beaming as she and Scratchkit left the warriors' den. She couldn't wait to meet Flamesun and Rufflefur!
Page Break
"This is the leader's den." Scratchkit explained, heaving himself on top of the Great Rock. Brightkit followed his lead and stood next to him. She looked on at a large den with lichen hanging from the front, probably for privacy. "Flamesun sleeps here." Scratchkit lifted his muzzle and smiled excitedly. "Good! It smells like both Flamesun and Rufflefur are in here. They're best friends, those two."
"Like us." Brightkit beamed, shouldering Scratchkit. The young tom looked surprised by Brightkit's sudden displays of affection, but he grinned back at her and led her into the den quietly.
"Flamesun." He called in hesitantly. Brightkit peeked her head in behind Scratchkit and stared in side in wonder. The cave was giant and the stone that made up the ground was cool beneath her paws. Sitting in the far corner of the den near the giant mossy nest, which Brightkit presumed belonged to Flamesun, was a sleek black tomcat with white paws and a solid orange colored tom. The orange tom's pelt looked like a burning flame, and when he turned to face Scratchkit and Brightkit, she could see that his eyes were a bright green color. The black tom also turned to face the two kits, and Brightkit could barely make out the brown stripes on his head. His blue eyes were filled with warmth as he got up to approach the kits.
"Hello, Scratchkit." He meowed kindly. "What brings you here?"
"I'm giving Brightkit a tour of the camp." He mewed proudly, eyes gleaming. "She's Treepelt's daughter." Brightkit blushed as the black tom turned his gaze to Brightkit curiously.
"Ah, yes. The Herd's newest member." He purred. "I'm Rufflefur, your deputy."
"Hi." Brightkit squeaked, dipping her small head quickly to show her respect. Rufflefur chuckled.
"Have you met the other warriors as well?" He asked.
"Yes." Brightkit nodded her head.
Rufflefur smiled, his eyes growing soft. "Then you must have met my mate." Brightkit blinked and tried to think back to earlier when she had met the warriors.
"Raintail." Scratchkit whispered in her ear.
"Oh, yes!" Brightkit smiled and Rufflefur purred again. "She's so nice." I wonder if that means he's Buzzardpaw and Mistyfur's daddy… Brightkit thought.
"That she is." Rufflefur agreed.
"What have these kits come to see us for, Rufflefur?" The flame-colored tom asked, rising to his paws to join his deputy. Brightkit puffed out her chest at Flamesun's approach and lifted her chin, hoping to look bigger and more important than she really was.
"Just coming to visit. Scratchkit is introducing Brightkit to everyone in the Herd." Rufflefur's whiskers twitched in amusement as he turned to the Herd's leader. "What tour would be complete without meeting the Herd's deputy and leader?"
"True enough." Flamesun smiled. "I am pleased to meet you, Brightkit."
"Same here." Brightkit mewed, dipping her head respectfully.
"What do you think of LionHerd?" Flamesun asked, whiskers twitching.
"It's amazing." Brightkit spoke in awe. "I can't wait to be a warrior!"
"You have a long way to go." Rufflefur purred. Flamesun nodded his head, the smile on his face warm and friendly.
"Agreed." He meowed. "Enjoy your time as a kit while you can; when you become a warrior you will long for these days again. I guarantee it." Brightkit nodded her head respectfully, not wanting to argue with her leader, but in her mind she couldn't think of anything better than hunting and fighting for her Herd as a true warrior would.
"Speaking of which, why don't you two run along and play now that you've finished your tour?" Rufflefur suggested.
"Okay." Scratchkit meowed, dipping his head at both the leader and deputy before beckoning Brightkit to his side. She pranced over to him and dipped her head just as he had done before following him to the exit.
"Bye, Flamesun; bye, Rufflefur." She called, waving her tail. Flamesun purred and Rufflefur waved his tail in return as Brightkit left. While Scratchkit proceeded to head down the steps to the clearing, Brightkit lingered for a moment longer. In the den, she could hear rustling sounds as Rufflefur and Flamesun moved.
"What is it?" She could hear Rufflefur's faint voice from outside the den. She strained to listen closer.
"It's nothing." Flamesun replied, but his voice sounded…sad.
"I've known you a long time, Flamesun. Something is clearly bothering you." Rufflefur persisted. Brightkit heard Flamesun let out a sigh.
"It's just…she looks…she looks a lot like Windswept…" Flamesun's voice trailed off, and before Brightkit could hear anymore, Scratchkit was calling her down. She leapt off the Great Rock quickly, wondering who this Windswept cat was, and what it meant to look like them.
Page Break
"Look at my first catch!" Spottedpaw announced proudly as she dropped a mouse in the fresh-kill pile. Dirtclaw, her mentor, snorted as he padded past her to take a seat next to Poppyfeather. Brightkit stared in amazement at the mouse. Spottedpaw had caught her first piece of prey!
"That's a pretty measly mouse! I bet it could hardly feed Mousetail alone!" Owlpaw called from across the clearing. He began snickering as Spottedpaw whirled around. Her eyes narrowed as she met his gaze, but instead of threatening him, she just stared at him. Owlpaw blinked once before turning away. No words were exchanged between the two cats and they went back to doing what they had been doing before.
"That's a great mouse!" Brightkit squeaked.
"Thanks, Brightkit." Spottedpaw purred. "Dirtclaw said that I'd make a great hunter!"
"I did not." Dirtclaw snorted, glancing up from his conversation with Poppyfeather. "I said that when you stopped stampeding through the forest and talking nonstop like a squirrel, maybe you'd have a chance at being an okay hunter."
"Do squirrels really talk a lot?" Spottedpaw asked, ears pricking forward in interest. Dirtclaw rolled his eyes and ignored his apprentice as he returned his attention to his mate.
"Where's Mosspaw?" Brightkit asked. Spottedpaw turned back to face the young kit before shrugging her shoulders.
"I'm not sure. All the apprentices were training together today, and Angelheart decided to take Buzzardpaw on a patrol, so I'm guessing Darkheart and Mosspaw joined her. Dirtclaw and Skullhawk took me and Owlpaw hunting, and then brought us back here." Spottedpaw beamed. "I love being an apprentice."
"Is it fun?" Brightkit asked eagerly.
"Of course." Spottedpaw grinned. "I can't think of anything better. Well, being a warrior would be awesome. That way I wouldn't have to clean out the elders' smelly bedding…but it's so much better than being a kit stuck in camp all day."
"I bet." Brightkit mewed glumly. Spottedpaw purred.
"Look at the bright side; at least you don't have to clean out Mousetail's bedding and listen to her complain about ticks and thorns." Spottedpaw rolled her eyes. "Sometimes she can be so rude too. I mean, is it really that hard to say please?" Brightkit giggled and Spottedpaw smiled before sitting up straight, suddenly alert. The other cats in the clearing did the same as Spottedpaw had done, and Brightkit frowned, confused by the sudden change in atmosphere.
"What is it?" She whispered to Spottedpaw. The young apprentice narrowed her eyes.
"Shh…something isn't right." She hissed. Brightkit sat rigidly next to the tortoiseshell she-cat, staying alert. Now that everything was quiet, she could hear the ferns at the camp entrance rustling.
"What's that?" Brightkit asked fearfully.
"Rabbitfur's patrol is back." Spottedpaw got to her paws suddenly, eyes filling with fear. "But something isn't the same." Cats around them began murmuring as Rabbitfur, Yellowfang, and Raintail all entered the camp together. A collective sigh of relief was released, but by the nervous looks in the three she-cats' eyes, Brightkit could still tell something wasn't right. And then Raintail stopped and turned back to the camp entrance, whispering something quietly. Slowly, two small kits emerged from the ferns as well. One was an unusually small ginger tabby tom, and the other a white she-cat with pale gray flecks. Both looked no older than Brightkit, and they were both incredibly skinny and sickly looking. Several gasps of shock sounded in the clearing.
"What is this?" Skullhawk asked angrily.
"Rogues!" Owlpaw hissed, jumping to his paws and unsheathing his claws. Spottedpaw narrowed her eyes at the sight of the two kits and sniffed disdainfully. She rose to her paws as well and watched as the two small cats shrank back against Raintail in fear.
"Look at them; they're pathetic." Spottedpaw taunted. "They reek of fear." Brightkit glanced up at Spottedpaw in surprise; she'd never seen her friend so cruel before! Even Owlpaw looked surprised as he turned to face the younger apprentice. She met his gaze evenly and did not betray any feeling that may or may not have been there.
"Spottedpaw!" Rabbitfur's eyes widened at her daughter's outburst, but the young she-cat only met her mother's gaze with a cool iciness that chilled Brightkit to the bone. They can't attack these kits! They're so tiny and no older than me! Brightkit thought helplessly. Thankfully, it looked as though Rabbitfur, Yellowfang, and Raintail weren't going to let anyone near the two small bundles of fur.
"What is going on out here?" Flamesun asked as he emerged from his den with Rufflefur at his side. They both glanced down at the two new kits, who looked up with wide scared eyes. Rufflefur stiffened and Flamesun's eyes narrowed slightly before turning to face Rabbitfur. "Rabbitfur…who are these kits?"
"Let them tell you themselves." Rabbitfur retorted. She nodded at Raintail, who hesitated for a moment before gently nudging the two kits forward. Both were trembling with fear, and the small ginger tom cowering behind the white she-cat. Brightkit stared at them in wonder.
The small she-cat lifted her chin, trying her best to avoid as much eye contact as she could before speaking clearly.
"I am Snow, and this is my brother Swift."