Chapter 20: Little Hunter
A morning soon after, Darkstripe knew he'd overinflated a certain kit's ego since Brindleface was calling out that her kits were missing. Immediately Darkstripe was in panic mode. He knew somehow it was his fault. He made his way to the camp center and sat paralyzed until he saw Fireheart. Darkstripe mustered up some initiative to give Fireheart his theory.
"I think the kits went off hunting. Its my fault. I said Cloudkit had the makings of a good hunter, and he must have assumed now."
Longtail noticed Darkstripe's conversation and that he was hyperventilating, so he decided to step in.
"Go find those kits Fireheart. I'll deal with Darkstripe until you get back. They couldn't have gone far since they left on their own."
Fireheart nodded while Longtail led Darkstripe back into the warriors' den. Longtail had to comfort his old mentor. It was something he'd done since he was an apprentice.
"It's not your fault."
"But I told him he could be a good hunter. I told him stories of a cat who doesn't follow the code."
"And?"
"And! He's doing this because my stories and what I said put that confidence in his tiny little head."
"Kits are kits."
"What are you even saying?! I shouldn't have told him those things! I shouldn't…"
Longtail cut him off forcefully.
"Look at me Darkstripe!"
Darkstripe looked at Longtail's face expecting hatred or betrayal, but what he got was concern.
"Did you tell the kits to go out?"
"No…"
"And did you tell the kits it was right to break the code?"
"No, but…"
Longtail cut him off again.
"Then it isn't your fault. Every cat knows kits have a big ego and want to emulate their heroes. You didn't expect Cloudkit to try to hunt when you told him he'd make a great hunter. Why would you? Every parent and warrior tells kits the same thing. You need to stop blaming yourself. Tell me, why did you tell the kit those stories or that he'd make a great hunter?"
"I was stressed out over the whole Brokenstar situation and something else when he snuck up on me. Its quite impressive for a kit. I told him that skill might make him a great hunter, and all that stress just disappeared. He looked up to me, and I couldn't help myself. I had to give him a story. He just fills something I feel like I'm missing. He feels like he's my kit even though he's got kin here and an adopted mother who treats him like he's hers."
"There's nothing wrong with that. As long as I've known you, you've always been defensive. You put up these barriers and only let a select few get to know you. I know you and Queen are close like siblings ever since you set up your dealer thing. I've even seen how you act around kits. You love their attention. That's why you tell stories. This kit snuck right past your barriers into your heart. Afterall, kits are very good at getting into and out of places they aren't supposed to."
Darkstripe gave a halfhearted chuckle before moving to an angle he could watch the camp entrance. He watched, waiting of either the good or bad news. He didn't know if he could take it if it were bad news. Then he saw Fireheart enter camp carrying a certain white kit who happened to be holding a small snow encrusted vole. Darkstripe let out a breath he didn't know he was holding as he watched the little spitfire vehemently claim to Bluestar of all cats that he did what he thought was right for the clan. It reminded him of Longtail of all cats. The little kit was headstrong but had a good heart. As the wandering kits were escorted back to the nursery, Darkstripe decided to follow to try and give the kit a piece of his mind.
Brindleface was warming up the kits as Darkstripe entered. She had never been a big fan of him.
"Is now a good time? I feel I have to tell the kits off a bit for this."
Brindleface was initially going to just force the tom to leave, but something with the way he held himself, the way he faintly shivered, and the way his face held a careful neutrality told Brindleface everything she needed to hear. Darkstripe had been scared for the kits. She relented with a light nod. Brindleface nudged the kits to get their attention.
"Darkstripe wants to talk to you a bit about what you did today."
Cloudtail happily toddled over to Darkstripe before realizing Darkstripe wasn't proud of him. The other kits approached more warily.
Darkstripe carefully tried to keep his voice in tone and not show his fear and anger.
"What you kits did today was reckless. You scared the clan badly. You are lucky things did not end worse."
Cloudkit decided to voice his opinion. "We wanted to help the clan. The clan needs food."
"That's not your job! Not yet!" Darkstripe snapped harshly scaring the kits. Brindleface moved slightly to a more aggressive position. Meanwhile Darkstripe desperately tried to calm himself.
"I'm sorry, but you kits don't realize what you've done." Darkstripe stated smoothly having calmed himself.
"There are reasons kits are kept in camp until they're apprentices. Outside the barriers of the camp is danger. Dangers you are not ready to face. Warriors are trained to fight these dangers, and apprentices are to learn how to fight them. Dangers aren't always a fox or a badger you can claw or bite. I'm sure you are familiar with one after today. The cold can be just as dangerous as a hawk, especially to something as tiny as a kit. There was a very real chance one if not all of you could have died. Cloudkit, your pelt lets you hide in the snow easily, but how would we find you if you got lost or hurt out there? We wouldn't be able to see you. You'd have been alone. That's why it scares us so much when you do things like this before you are ready. Its why we have apprentices instead of cats becoming warriors right away. You have to give it time and we'll make you ready to face what's out there."
All the kits heads were bowed as they apologized.
"Sorry Darkstripe."
"I get it. You want to be like your heroes, and you will be one day. Just give it time. I promise you that someday, you'll be ready for out there. Maybe you'll even get some cat ready themselves when you've become an experienced warrior. Just have patience. Nothing lasts forever except maybe Starclan."
Darkstripe left relieved. He had gotten those chaotic emotions out of his system and knew the camp was back to normal. He padded off into the woods to hunt. Afterall, a certain kit had told him that the camp needed more freshkill.