Cursed (Book 2 of the Outcast Quartet) Is Cancelled

Chapter 11 (Spiritpaw)

            “My paws hurt!”

            “I’m tired!”

            “Are we there yet?”

            “Can we take a break?”

            “I want something to eat!”

            “Will they ever shut up?” Sharppaw hissed under his breath while lashing his tail in annoyance and shooting a dark glare at the four wailing Clan-Born kits. “A blessed moment of silence is all I ask.”

            I flicked my ear in agreement while giving the complaining kits an unsympathetic look. I just couldn’t bring myself to care for those spoiled brats. Sadly it wasn’t much of a surprise when Nightfrost back tracked to join the kits. He murmured something to them before calling out. “Oceansplash, Redspark, Blackfang and Treefall, come here!” by now the group had stopped to watch as the four Stolen padded up to our leader, their heads bowed respectfully. “We still have a long way to go before we can rest, I want you to carry these four until then.”

            “Of course Nightfrost,” Oceansplash murmured and I watched as she silently glanced over at her own kits, the three of which looked just as exhausted as the Clan-Born.

            Nightfrost snorted his approval before returning to the front of the group. “I’ll keep an eye on your kits,” I exclaimed to Oceansplash who had now picked up a much more satisfied Flashkit. Her eyes gleamed her relief and she nodded slightly as I padded past her and joined the three kits.

            “Spiritpaw,” I looked down at Mintkit, whose frosty blue-green eyes gleamed with concern as he stared at Dustkit. Her face was set with determination as her small legs struggled to keep up with Venomkit. “I’m worried about Dustkit, do you think you could help her?”

            “Of course,” I smiled down at Mintkit in order to hide my frustration. These kits deserved kindness just as much as the others.

            “I don’t need help!” Dustkit protested and she frowned stubbornly back at me. “I can take care of myself.”

            “Of course you can, but there’s nothing wrong with having you having help from time to time,” I responded while bounding over to her and scooping her up, despite her protests. Talking around the squirming kit I instructed Orangepaw and Sharppaw. “Carry Mintkit and Venomkit, alright?”

            They nodded and headed towards Dustkit’s brothers. So with the three of us carrying a kit each, we continued to walk in silence. I wonder what it’d be like to live in a normal Clan… they never had to travel like this I’d bet. Everyone would support each other and there would be no prejudice among the members. An average Clan sounded just like an unreachable utopia.

            “You guys are a traveling kit thief Clan aren’t you,” our group froze as an unknown cat spoke, I glanced around and finally found a slim black tom with blue eyes standing casually on a tall rock not too far from us. Agilely leaping down, he padded confidently up to Nightfrost. “If you want, I can show you guys to a nearby Hideout.”

            Nightfrost narrowed his eyes down at the slightly shorter cat as he considered the offer. “Hollynight and Spiritpaw will accompany you, we’ll wait here for their return. If, by sun-high tomorrow they aren’t back, we will presume it is a trap and will continue without them.”

            “If that is what you desire,” the black cat who, with a closer look, had small white flecks running along his spine smiled. “Now then, which of you are Hollynight and Spiritpaw.”