CHAPTER 3
The dappled sunlight filtered in through the roof of the nursery. Adderkit let out a huge yawn and glanced over at his siblings. Amberkit was snoring softly and Finchkit was twitching, his body contorting in his sleep. Adderkit huffed. No one understood his anger with his brother's decision. Didn't they see that it was making their family even stranger?
Adderkit licked at his ruffled pelt. If this clan doesn't appreciate us for who we are, I'll certainly treat them the same. But something inside him still felt off. Adderkit shook off his contrasting thoughts. "Just be normal. For today at least," he whispered to himself.
"Whazzat?" Amberkit mumbled sleepily, stirring from her deep slumber.
"Nothing. Go back to bed," Adderkit told her.
"Happy to," she meowed, shuffling a bit before dozing back off. Adderkit watched her for a moment before he stood, gazing out the nursery entrance. I'll head outside, he decided, padding toward the entrance. He wove around the sleeping lumps of Tidekit and Ravenkit, and realized with a start that Dovewing hadn't slept in the nursery with them. Is she okay? Adderkit's mind was swirling.
He padded out of the nursery and glanced around, sighing with relief as he spotted Dovewing sharing a squirrel with Ivystern and Marrowfoot. Adderkit immediately tensed when he saw Marrowfoot, who was looking right at him. Ivystern finally noticed Adderkit and beckoned him over, shuffling to the side to give him room to sit.
"Big day, huh?" Ivystern asked him as he sat down between her and his mother, avoiding eye contact with Marrowfoot.
"Yeah," Adderkit grunted, glancing at his mother. She glanced at him and saw his annoyed and puzzled demeanor, and her eyes widened.
"Oh, right, Adderkit, I forgot to tell you. I didn't sleep in the nursery last night because it felt a bit crowded and warm. And anyways, it was your last night there," Dovewing explained, shuffling her paws.
"It's no big deal," Adderkit grunted. Actually, it was a big deal. But Adderkit was too proud to admit that. Especially around smug-faced Marrowfoot.
"Well, pretty soon the warrior's den will be quite crowded, with Badgerpaw and them becoming warriors," Marrowfoot put in.
"Mothclaw will be joining the elders soon, though. She should've long ago, but who were we to stop her from fighting for her clan?" Ivystern meowed, taking a bite out of the squirrel. Dovewing nodded in agreement.
"But anyways, I should probably wake up the dawn patrol. Everyone seems quite sleepy today," Ivystern added, standing up and stretching.
"Who's going on the dawn patrol?" Adderkit asked, curious.
"Ghostmask, Badgerpaw, and Foxleap are going to the WindClan border, and Silverstep, Rabbitleap, and Cranetail are going hunting," Ivystern told him, taking a few steps toward the warrior's den. Adderkit nodded and watched her pad off, ducking into the warrior's den and disappearing from his sight.
Adderkit swiveled his head to the side to see Marrowfoot rising and beginning to pad toward the camp entrance, probably to hunt. Dovewing let out a yawn and began to groom herself, her tongue lapping steadily against her pelt. Adderkit sighed. You should be excited, his mind chided. Adderkit swatted away the thought.
Adderkit stood up and turned around as Ivystern and a crowd of some more cats exited the warrior's den. Ghostmask broke off and padded into the apprentice's den before emerging with Badgerpaw. Badgerpaw gave Adderkit a small nod from across the clearing before turning and following his mentor.
All at once, the clan seemed to erupt into sound. Birds began chirping, and Adderkit could hear cats chattering all around the hollow. Loud snoring echoed from the elder's den while the soft lapping of tongues came from the nursery. The sounds blended together to form a symphony of comfort and joy. Adderkit curled his tail happily, a surge of joy and pride pulsing through him. Then suddenly, it died away, and Adderkit's emotions faded away.
"Good morning, Adderkit!" Finchkit mewed, startling him. Adderkit hadn't noticed his siblings leaving the nursery. Now, Amberkit sat where Dovewing was a moment ago, grooming herself.
"Hi," Adderkit replied with a yawn, still puzzled from what had happened a moment ago.
"Are you okay? You seem…distracted," Finchkit told him, cocking his head to the side.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just anxious for later, I guess," Adderkit meowed.
"I overheard Moonstar saying that we'll have our ceremony right after the dawn patrol gets back," Amberkit informed them, looking up from her wash.
"I'm so excited!" Finchkit exclaimed, wiggling back and forth. "Applefoot said she's going to teach me about harvesting herbs when we tour our territory!"
"I can't wait for border patrols. And our first battle!" Amberkit meowed, excitement flashing through her eyes.
"Well, I can't wait to go hunting. And battles will be fun too, I guess," Adderkit told his siblings. He could picture it perfectly. Him, slinking through the dappled shade of the trees, his pelt perfectly camouflaged in the shadows. His bold muscles tense, ready to spring.
"Isn't it funny?" Finchkit mewed, startling Adderkit from his thoughts.
"Huh?" Adderkit blinked, confused.
"I mean, you're really strong and broad shouldered, and Amberkit is a quick thinker and has a powerful spring. I feel like she should be the hunter and you should be the fighter, no?" Finchkit explained.
"I disagree. Adderkit's good at camouflaging himself and he's really quiet and sneaky. I'm fast and small, so I don't need to be super strong in battles. Besides, I'm braver than him." Amberkit flicked her tail affectionately over Adderkit's ear.
"I'm brave!" Adderkit protested. Amberkit chuckled.
"You prefer hiding in the shadows than being out socializing," Amberkit snorted.
"Sometimes it's better to be sneaky," Adderkit sniffed.
"I know, I know. We're different, but that makes us the perfect duo in battle," Amberkit meowed, smiling at her brother. "But seriously, you do need to be more social."
"I hung out with Badgerpaw and Reedpaw!" Adderkit protested.
"That doesn't really count. They're only your friends if they ask you to hang out with them," Amberkit told him. Adderkit sighed. She was right.
He did need to be more social. If he didn't make any friends besides his siblings, they would leave him behind. Adderkit already knew that Amberkit would make friends with the whole clan as soon as they were made apprentices. He had to catch up.
Suddenly, Adderkit's stomach rumbled. "I'm hungry!" he announced.
"Go on without us," Amberkit told him with a nod. Adderkit waved his tail good bye and padded over to the small stash of fresh-kill that sat in the. center of the hollow.
"Sorry," Adderkit meowed as he bumped into Jinxkit, who was gazing at a raven.
"No worries," Jinxkit replied. She paused a moment before adding, "Want to share this? It's too big for just me to eat."
"Sure," Adderkit agreed. Maybe making friends won't be too hard after all.
The two dragged the raven a fox-length away, where they both plopped down and began to eat. "So, are you excited to be an apprentice?" Jinxkit asked.
"Honestly? I don't really know what to think," Adderkit replied with a sigh.
"Oh? Do tell," Jinxkit meowed, taking a bite of raven.
"Well, sometimes I feel like I don't really belong here, that's all." Jinxkit snorted.
"You feel like you don't belong? Everyone in the clan loves you and your siblings! Try being me or Ravenkit for a day," Jinxkit meowed.
"Not everyone in the clan likes us," Adderkit protested. "Marrowfoot certainly doesn't," Adderkit added, his voice low.
"I get the same feeling! He's always glaring at me while I'm minding my own business," Jinxkit told Adderkit.
"I know, right!" Adderkit agreed. "My siblings think I'm being dramatic, of course."
"Well, Amberkit is very opinionated," Jinxkit chuckled.
"She keeps telling me to be more 'social'." Adderkit rolled his eyes, bending down and tearing a chunk of flesh from the raven.
"Well, Tidekit definitely seems to like her," Jinxkit meowed, glancing over at her brother, who was padding toward Amberkit. Adderkit nodded his agreement, stifling a snort as Tidekit tried to awkwardly flirt with his sister.
Suddenly, Adderkit turned his head around, feeling Jinxkit's piercing gaze on his pelt. "What?" he asked, suddenly self-conscious.
"O-oh. Nothing, sorry," Jinxkit stuttered. "Anyways, I should probably go wake Ravenkit up." Jinxkit suddenly rose up and bounded off, leaving Adderkit sitting there with a half-eaten raven and a brain clouded with confusion.
What was that about? Adderkit sighed. So much for making friends. He finished the raven quickly and padded back over to Amberkit, who was now sitting alone, staring at him.
"What was that all about?" Amberkit asked as Adderkit sat down across from her.
"I don't know. She started being weird and then she ran off," Adderkit told her.
"Huh. I guess I was right," Amberkit mewed thoughtfully.
"Right about what?"
"Nothing."
"Amberkit…"
"It's no big deal!"
"Amberkit!"
"Fine! Gosh." Amberkit stared at her brother for a moment before meowing, "Jinxkit definitely likes you."
"Likes me? Why would she like me?" Adderkit asked.
"Because you're handsome, mysterious, and surprisingly, quite funny," Amberkit meowed, rolling her eyes like it should be obvious.
"I'm not handsome," Adderkit snorted.
"Yes, you are, bee-brain. C'mere." Amberkit turned around, her tail waving, and padded off. Adderkit followed until they both paused in front of a small puddle left over from a rainstorm a few nights ago. "Go on. Look," Amberkit ordered. Adderkit stepped forward and peered down into his reflection.
Staring back at him was a handsome cat. He was broad shouldered and muscular, with deep amber eyes and a well-groomed pelt. His chest was puffed out in pride, and his face held a gallant and courageous expression. The sunlight caught against his pelt, making his black stripes stick out against his now glowing orange-brown pelt.
"So you really think I'm handsome?" Adderkit asked, stepping away from the pool.
"Yes. Now stop fishing for compliments." Amberkit swatted her brother in the side and ran off. Adderkit smirked as she ran away, but something panged in his heart. Jinxkit liked him, but what did that mean? He thought she was pretty, sure, but he didn't really know her.
Get to know her better! Amberkit's voice rang through his head. Adderkit sighed. Of course Amberkit had to be right. Suddenly, a voice echoed through the hollow.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting!"
It was time.
Notes: Awwww, Jinxkit and Adderkit are kinda cute together. Twist coming later…