CHAPTER TWO
"You can't get me!" his gray-and-orange denmate yowled as his silver tabby brother raced after her excitedly. He yanked back on her tail and she went crashing down into him, but they busted out into laughter.
Shadowkit's eyes rolled and then his eyes narrowed. Briarkit definitely brought the soft side out of his brother, it annoyed him. "Ashkit!" he snapped and watched his brother look over at him, his head drooping in disappointment. "We're going to be apprentices in a moon, you need to grow up before Pebblewing sees you acting like a kittypet," he snapped and glanced around the clearing for his father, but didn't spot him. He was probably out on patrol with their mother, Tawnyfur. Mountainpelt was standing nearby and she nodded in approval at Shadowkit.
"Yes, Briarkit, listen to your denmate! You'll be an apprentice in two moons and you need to learn quickly how things work around here. We do not play." Mountainpelt looked down at Ashkit in disappointment, but said nothing to him as she quickly led Briarkit away.
Shadowkit glared at Ashkit with his piercing amber eyes. "I can't believe you ruined our fun again, Shadowkit!" Ashkit whined, looking at him with sparkling yellow eyes. "We aren't apprentices yet; we can do what we want." His brother made the same speech almost every day. Shadowkit was no closer to letting him play.
"Pebblewing doesn't want to see one of us become another Songbird!" he spat out in disgust like her name was a foul piece of prey. Songbird was their father's sister. Was because she was now living in SkyClan having a soft kittypet life. Pebblewing wanted them to be strong, brave, and fearless. Everything Songbird wasn't. "Tawnyfur despises her so don't let her see you playing." He emphasized playing, knowing that Ashkit would be too scared to play knowing that their parents would be disappointed in him.
"Ashkit! Shadowkit! Front and center!" a familiar, rock-hard voice yowled and instantly Shadowkit whipped around and darted to where their father was standing at the entrance of the nursery.
He bowed his head and Ashkit copied him. Their father had certain expectations and if they didn't comply with them, they'd be sent to sleep alone in the dirty, dark, empty cave at the edge of camp where StrikeClan kept prisoners. Both Ashkit and Shadowkit had slept in the cave at least twice since they were born, although Ashkit had been sent there more times than Shadowkit.
Pebblewing nodded at them, his gazing also showing approval. "It is time I bring you outside camp for a bit. Just up the ravine." He flicked his tail to the camp entrance where their mother was talking to Tigergaze. "Come now."
Their father whisked off towards the entrance and Shadowkit hurried after, hearing Ashkit struggling behind him. Shadowkit was much bigger than Ashkit: longer legs, bigger paws, longer tail, stronger jaw, wider shoulders, bigger muscles. Ashkit could've been a newly born kit and Shadowkit could be a newly made 'paw and no one would suspect anything different.
Tawnyfur smiled at them as they padded up to her and Tigergaze. "Going to see the ravine?" she asked, glancing over at Tigergaze who was looking at us with amber eyes that were clouded in sadness.
"Yes. Our first trip out of camp. I'll have them back before sundown," Pebblewing promised and slipped past Tawnyfur and Tigergaze and we followed after him.
Tigergaze watched us pad away until he was gone from view and outside of camp a steep hill stood in front of us. There were little rocks jutting out that could act like a step though.
"Why weren't you made deputy, dad?" Ashkit asked as he jumped onto the first rock and he followed after him, looking back at their father.
Pebblewing sucked in a deep breath as they climbed the ravine. "Because Tigergaze is more qualified than me," he mewed shortly and he jumped onto the next jutting out rock. "Which, actually, isn't true because he fell in love with a traitor and Crimsonstar took pity on him. Weak," he hissed and then his face softened up as we were nearing the top.
He peeked over the edge and jumped up onto the top. The trees were shimmering in the light wind and the ground below them was filled with lush green grass and warm dark soil. He wanted to race down and roll around in the dirt, but he held his ground, glancing over at his father and brother.
"Wow, it's so beautiful," Ashkit breathed in awe and looked over at Pebblewing who was gazing out at the forest. Their father seemed lost in his thoughts. "Pebblewing?" Ashkit nudged him gently.
Pebblewing flinched a little and looked down at them, his eyes clouded. "Yes, sorry… I was just remembering the first time I-I was up here…" He looked down at his paws and turned around, jumping onto the first rock. "Let's get back into camp, Tawnyfur will be missing you."
He led us down the ravine, which was faster than going up it, and into camp where Tigergaze was lying next to Crimsonstar under the Giant Rock and Tawnyfur, Mountainpelt, and Briarkit were outside the nursery tossing a moss ball.
StrikeClan didn't have elders. Crimsonstar said they made us weak and were just extra baggage. If a cat could no longer hunt or fight for StrikeClan, they could no longer be a part of StrikeClan.
Pebblewing led them across the camp to where their mother was and she instantly smiled widely.
"How was your time outside camp?" she asked, looking down at Shadowkit and Ashkit warmly. "We should get your two down for the night."
Ashkit mewed loudly, "It was awesome! I can't wait to be an apprentice and be able to explore all of its beautiful glory!" He jumped up and down in happiness.
Tawnyfur frowned as she watched her kit jump up and down. "Ashkit!" she hissed, just loud enough for us to hear. "Stop acting like a kit! You're about to become an apprentice and you need to act like it!"
Both our parents were frowning at Ashkit who was crouched down with his ears flat on his head in shame. "Sorry, Tawnyfur…"
Shadowkit smirked to himself and looked at his mother whose dark amber eyes were trained on him. "It was beautiful and I also cannot wait to become an apprentice."
Tawnyfur nodded in agreement and turned towards the nursery, leading us past Briarkit and Mountainpelt.
We slipped into the nursery that was completely silent and empty and Tawnyfur slipped into her nest, Ashkit slipped into the nest to her left and he went to her right. She didn't want them to sleep in the same nest because it showed weakness.
"Goodnight Tawnyfur! Goodnight Shadowkit!" Ashkit purred and then there was some shuffling around and silence again.
Shadowkit closed his jaws tightly and tucked his tail under his nose, feeling sleepy now.
He couldn't wait to become an apprentice as long as his brother stopped acting like a kit. Otherwise he'd be forced to avoid Ashkit...
