Shadows in the River : Darkening Path

Chapter Four (Creamkit)

        With the bright sun at its peak, many warriors and elders were sunning themselves. It had been raining the past few days, so Honeyshade didn't allow her kits to explore further. Now that the sun was out, Shadekit ventured to the leader's den while Creamkit was studying the medicine cat's den. The medicine cat, Comfreyheart, was rummaging through a stack of herbs. 

         "Comfreyheart, may I be a medicine cat?" questioned the tan kitten.

         The medicine cat rested her gaze on the tiny kit and answered, "If that's what Moonclan has laid out for you my dear."

         "What's Moonclan?"

         Comfreyheart's soft hazel eyes put Creamkit into a soothing trance, "Well, Moonclan is  where good cats go when they are no long her with us. They help the living in times of questions and needs."

         So, it's when cats go when they... die... The kit shook the thought out of her mind and asked Comfreyheart another question, "If good cats go to Moonclan, then where do-- " Creamkit gave a pause before continuing. "where do bad cats go?"

         "The Dark Forest," the medicine cat gritted her teeth as her words came out.

         "Can you tell me more about the... Dark Forest?" asked Creamkit.

         Comfreyheart snarled, her warm gaze was replaced with a menacing stare. The sight frightened poor Creamkit, but she was determined not to seem weak. Finally, the medicine cat replied, "I'm sorry if I gave you a fright, Creamkit. But we do not speak of the Dark Forest."

        The kit nodded solemnly as silence casted over the den. The awkward stares from Comfreyheart made Creamkit feel uncomfortable, so she got up to leave. As the kit exited the den, she was startled by her mother, who forcefully picked the kitten up. Honeyshade marched towards the nursery with Creamkit in her jaws.

         Creamkit struggled in her mother's grip, "What are you doing! Put me down!!"

         "Your not going anywhere missy!" said the queen sternly.

          Honeyshade plopped the tan colored kit on the nursery floor next to Shadekit. Creamkit looked around for her brother, but couldn't find him anywhere. She shifted her gaze back to Honeyshade and asked, "Why did you---"

         The queen didn't allow Creamkit to finish her sentence,"You two! Do you have anything to tell me about the moss in the apprentice's den!?"

         "We um-- we.." stuttered Shadekit. Creamkit opened her mouth to speak, but her throat turned dry and the only thing that came out of was a raspy cough. She stared at her paws in shame, wishing that she could just disappear. 

        Honeyshade snapped, "If you have nothing to say for yourselves then I will confine you to the nursery for half a moon! I will have no more of this nonsense." The queen flicked her tail and rested herself neatly on a bed of moss. She closed her eyes to take a nap but was interrupted by Shadekit.

         "This is so unfair! All we did was have some fun!"

         Creamcloud mewed sternly, "Your actions will have many results. They can be either good or bad. To become a successful warrior or medicine cat, you must be wary of the results. Now, don't interrupt me any longer. If you're bored, then play a game of mossball" The queen rested her eyelids, and slowed her breath. 

         Shadekit grumbled and clenched her jaws. Just then Salmonkit burst into the nursery. He started jumping up and down with an excited expression on his face.

         "You won't believe it!!" squealed the maroon kit. Before he could continue, Creamkit rested her tail on his muzzle, and pointed to Honeyshade who was asleep. Salmonkit understood the hint, and resumed talking in a whisper, "So, as I was saying. I met Splashtail today!! He was busy with his duties, so we didn't get to talk much. But he did have enough time to show me a new hunting move."

         Shadekit couldn't contain her excitement, "What was it!! Show us!"

         "Sure! Let's do it outside of the nursery so we don't wake Honeyshade," declared the tom.

         Shadekit and Creamkit looked down at their paws, embarrassed. "The thing is. We're not allowed to go out of the nursery as a punishment." mewed Creamkit, sheepishly.

        "What did you do this time?" he asked recalling their little prank on Birchpelt the other day.

       Shadekit didn't look like she wanted to answer their brother's question, so Creamkit spoke again, "When we were exploring the camp. We decided the take a rest in the apprentice's den. Shadekit said that the moss was really fluffy and soft, so we started bouncing on it. By the time we stopped, the moss was all over the place. We tried to put it back together, but we failed..."

        Salmonkit sighed, "You always have to get in trouble, do you?"

        "It's not our fault that Honeyshade is being so mean, and that the apprentice are tattletales" snapped Shadekit. Creamkit agreed with her sister, but she didn't talk, fearing that her opinion would make the argument even worse.

         The maroon tom gasped and growled, "You did not just say that! First of all Honeyshade is our mother, and without her we wouldn't even be here. Second of all it yours and Creamkit's fault for messing up the moss in the apprentice's den." 

        Creamkit couldn't hold it anymore before she could stop herself, she blurted, "You think you're such a know-it-all Salmonkit. But hear this, you're not! We don't need to learn your mouse-brained move, Shadekit and I will learn another one, and we don't need you helping." 

         Even Shadekit gasped at the tan kitten's hurtful remarks, but Creamkit felt no regrets. She even smiled as the tom mewed weakly as if he were kicked in the stomach,"Wow. That-- that hurt."

         All the commotion made its way to Honeyshade who started twitching her ears in surprise. The queen slowly rose to her paws with her eyes still half closed. She forced them open as she took in the conversation. Finally understanding what was going on Honeyshade mewed in an angry voice, "Creamkit apologize to your brother instantly!! You are littermates, and littermates do not fight. The bond between you is very important, so make sure you don't break it. What Salmonkit said was right, it is your  fault that you  are being punished. Now I don't want to see anymore of this nonsense or I will extend your punishment to a moon!"

         "I knew it! Salmonkit is the special kit who never gets into trouble because he is so perfect!" Creamkit mewed bitterly.         

        "Creamkit!" growled the tan and grey queen. "Apologize now!"

         Creamkit could sense the angriness in her mother's voice so she mumbled, "Sorry..."

         Honeyshade seemed to sense Salmonkit's miserable state of mind even after the apology, so she picked him up by the scruff and exited the den without a comment. Great, now Salmonkit gets to play outside with the Warriors, while I'm stuck here! The tan kit plopped herself down on Honeyshade's nest, as she began to imagine the sharp scent of herbs in the medicine cat's den, the calming sound of Comfreyheart's voice, and the warm sunshine on her pelt.