Chapter Two - Fernkit's Disability

Three Moons Later...

Worry filled Sunleaf as she tried to help her third-youngest, Fernkit. In her mind, she skimmed through any type of information the other mothers had given her. They had told her about what to do when the kit couldn't sleep and how to get the kit to talk, yet they hadn't spoken a word about when the kit refused milk.

Fernkit let out another pitiful wail, her paws covering her ears. "Stop," she screeched loudly as she scratched the top of her head. "My stomach hurts!" Sunleaf licked Fernkit's pelt, hoping to comfort her kit, but it didn't seem to be helping.

Sunleaf glanced at her mate, desperate to stop Fernkit from crying. "Duskshadow, is Mintleaf coming yet? Fernkit's only getting worse and worse." She says sadly, her heart clenching in pain for her daughter. Duskshadow frowned at his familys' pain before nodding.

"Yes, she's on her way. How are the others?"

Sunleaf smiled slightly at the thought of her other kits, each one was healthy, thankfully. Fernkit was the only one who was unable to be fed properly, she refused to drink Sunleaf's milk.

'Maybe it's because I'm incapable of taking care of my kit,' Sunleaf silently notioned to herself, guilt welling up in her.

Duskshadow must've been able to read his mate's mind because he started licking her cheek. "It's not your fault," he mewed softly. "Fernkit is probably just sick and needs some medicine, Mintleaf will fix her. Don't blame yourself dear, it can't be helped."

Sunleaf couldn't help but smile at her mate's optimistic words, it seemed like he always knew the right words to say to make her feel better. She opened her mouth to reply when Fernkit wailed again, this time it was louder and more heart-breaking.

"Shh Fernkit, it's okay. Mommy and Daddy are here, everything will be alright," she cooed to her young kit, tears leaking from her sky-blue eyes.

Sandkit growled quietly at her brother, who was trying to get to their mother or more milk. Woodkit whimpered when Sandkit pushed him away roughly, her eyes dark with anger. Honeykit was hiding behind her older sister, eyes peeking with curiosity.

"Stay away Woodkit, stop being so greedy when our sister is in pain!" Raged Sandkit. Woodkit just sat there pathetically, crying.

"What do you mean Sandkit? Fernkit is in pain?" Asked Honeykit, horror flashing through her eyes at the thought of her other sister. Honeykit, surprisingly, had been quite bigger than Fernkit. Making Fernkit the runt of the four, much to the shock of Duskshadow and Sunleaf.

Sandkit's eyes lost their glare and she gave her sister a kind grin. "Yeah, Fernkit isn't taking mom's milk and she's getting really hungry. Imagine going without food for days! Fernkit has been crying ever since this morning and mom is getting worried. I hope she gets better soon."

"I hope so too! Maybe we can play together, I bet she'll like playing with the mossballs that Forestpaw always brings!" Exclaims Honeykit, her enthusiastic manner brightening the atmosphere, only to be darkened by Woodkit.

"It doesn't matter, if she refuses to eat, then she refuses to eat," huffed Woodkit. "It doesn't mean that it should stop us from having a good time and enjoying our meals!"

Honeykit gasped at her brother's outrageous words and started crying. Sandkit just stormed towards him, her paw raised to push him down. "Don't speak about our sister like that! She's part of our family and we never leave our family behind!"

Before Sandkit could hit her brother, Duskshadow stopped her. "And what do you think you three are doing?" He asked strictly, scaring his kits. They scrambled into a line, eyes avoiding his sharp gaze. "One of you explain."

"It's Woodkit's fault," says Honeykit, guilt shining in her eyes, she knew she shouldn't be ratting her brother out...but what he said was too cruel. "He said that Fernkit doesn't deserve to eat and that we shouldn't be worried over her."

Duskshadow tensed and turned to Woodkit. "Is she speaking the truth, Woodkit?" He asks in a low voice. Woodkit glares at Honeykit before smiling innocently at his father.

"Of course not! Fernkit's my little sister, I would never say such a thing." Woodkit spoke in a fakely sweet way and Duskshadow spotted his lie immediately.

"You liar!" Yowled Sandkit as she crouched to attack him, only to be stopped by her father again. He was staring at Woodkit, eyes unreadable.

"Woodkit, you should never say such a thing about anyone, even your greatest enemy." Duskshadow says sternly, but the anger in his eyes were dulled by the fact that Woodkit was his own son. Woodkit ducked his head and started shaking.

"I'm sorry father," he murmured quietly. Duskshadow nodded before padding up to Sunleaf and Fernkit, who were now being tended by Mintleaf.

"I can't believe you!" Snarled Sandkit as she herded Honeykit to the otherside of the room. "What kind of cat are you to be so horrible! You're worse than a mouse-brain! Come on Honeykit, we're going to make up some games to play for when Fernkit gets better."

"Okay sister," whispered Honeykit as she glanced back at Woodkit sadly. "I'm sorry Woodkit, but I couldn't let you get away with saying that."

"What do you mean she has a disability!" Spluttered Sunleaf at the insult, pulling her kit closer to her stomach. "She's perfect in every way! Don't you dare insult my precious kit!

"Sunleaf, I'm not trying to insult her. I'm just saying that she was the unlucky one of your litter and happened to be weaker. She was able to drink your milk when she was younger because she wasn't as weak, but now that she's growing...Her strength just can't keep up with her body and it's starting to affect her." Mintleaf tried to placate Sunleaf, explaining what was happening in a soothing voice. Soon, Sunleaf calmed down and licked her mate's shoulder.

"So what's going to happen?" Asked Duskshadow as he shared tongues with his mate.

Mintleaf sighed tiredly before staring at Fernkit, whowas now sleeping with a full stomach. Mintleaf had to give her an agent that gave her more strangth for that one moment. The kit would be out for the night, but at least she wasn't hungry.

"I don't know Duskshadow. I honestly don't know..."

~End of Chapter Two~