[OLD AND OUTDATED] Warriors: Ravenflight's Wish

Chapter 19

Ravenflight scrambled into camp. He raced to the nursery, Hollowstep at his side. Thicketstripe lifted her head sleepily.

"We found a kit." Hollowstep panted, dropping the tiny kit gingerly at her stomach.

"Found or stolen?" Bristlenose hissed crossly, she was curled in a tight ball on the other side of the nursery. Ravenflight swallowed. Was Bristlenose really angry that she expected kits now?

Hollowstep snarled. "It has no mother!"

"Or, her mother must have been hunting," Thicketstripe pointed out.

Ravenflight pointed to the kit's stomach, it's ribs shown.

"Okay. I'll nurse it." Thicketstripe mewed, heaving herself up with effort. She nudged the kit closer to her stomach. The kit firmly gripped her stomach, suckling all it could. "I'll name them. . . Badgerkit."

An agonized yowl was heard through the nursery. Ravenflight flattened his ears, trying to block out the noise. Bristlenose was expecting her kits. He saw Treekit and Nightkit waiting outside, fur bushed from the cold. Thicketstripe was wrapped around them, Badgerkit at her side.

Badgerkit snarled angrily, leaping up into the air and landing sideways. The small she-kit growled. "I can't do that move Nightkit showed me!" She mewed, her amber eyes looking down. Nightkit let out a purr and leaped into the air, landing on his paws. He stared at Ravenflight brightly.

Ravenflight let out a purr. He had shown Nightkit and Treekit that move, and now they had mastered it like apprentices. They should be apprentices any moon now, Ravenflight thought to himself. They were growing big and strong and played roughly. Another yowl splitted the air, filled with pain.

Thrushleg padded out the nursery, sighing.

"What's wrong?" Ravenflight asked Thrushleg.

"The kits are refusing to move," he said bluntly, turning to the medicine den to get herbs.

I'm sure Bristlenose will be fine, he hoped nothing bad would happen to his former mentor. He was sharing a vole with Hollowstep now, being uncomfortably aware of the yowls of pain that came from the nursery. Hollowstep seemed to not be aware of it.

"I heard that Frostpaw is getting her warrior name soon." His mate mewed.

"She is?" he thought, "isn't she deaf?"

"Blueleaf will continue to train her, despite her warrior name." Hollowstep pointed out.

Ravenflight just shrugged. The deaf apprentice seemed to be coping well, she was smart too.

"I can't stand this noise." Ravenflight growled, gripping the ground.

"It's normal." Hollowstep frowned.

Ravenflight cocked his head. "Have you kitted before?"

Hollowstep shook her head. "I just know."

After the yowling had died down, and Shrewwhisker had left the nursery, bringing news of four new kits, Ravenflight had gone to visit them. He saw Bristlenose hunched over one kit, her eyes brought grief.

"What. . ." Ravenflight whispered. He padded closer, the kit she was not looking at was dead. The stench of death filled the air, he felt grief build in him too. "I'm so sorry, Bristlenose."

Bristlenose snarled under her breath. "It was bound to happen."

Ravenflight had woken up to hear the news that Bristlenose's other kit had died as well. His heart ache with grief for the queen, but at least she still had her two others. He padded down to the camp. They mostly were sharing tongues, and eating prey. He walked past Foxtail and Sunblaze, then Lightspark and Quillflight.

He peered in the nursery, seeing Bristlenose curled over her two remaining kits. Her fur matted and dull. Ravenflight felt pity for her, he pushed it away when Badgerkit, Treekit, and Nightkit trotted over to him.

"Can you teach us how to fight again?" Treekit pleaded.

"Sorry, kits. Not now."

He ignored their disappointed faces and padded away.

"You will be known as Nightpaw!" Yowled Featherstar. "Beetlewing you will train him, I hope you teach him the ways of a moor-hunter!"

Beetlewing puffed out his chest fur proudly. Next was Treekit. Ravenflight's claws itched with anticipation to know who was the tabby tom's mentor.

"Treekit, you will now be known as Treepaw. Ravenflight will be your mentor."

Treepaw let out an excited skip of delight, he scrambled over to Ravenflight. Ravenflight touched noses with him, he felt excited now, knowing that he had an apprentice now. And I will teach him as much as I can!