Plushstar's Journey

Chapter 3

Plushkit pushed pass the entrance to the warriors den and spotted Deerheart near the back with his back turned to her. The kit took this opportunity and crawled over the nests as a couple warriors watched her make her way over to the new warrior, giving sad looks like they know what was going to happen.

"Deerheart?" The kitten called and Deerheart flinched and turned his head slightly to her. "Go away Plushkit. Please ." He said with a sad and worried look in his green eyes. "But why?" She asked. "Is it something Pidgenfeather said?" The tom nodded. "But-" Deerheart cut her off. "Oh Plushkit," He put his paw on her head and ruffled the fur, giving a small, weak and fake smile. "for someone so smart, you are also so naive." He said. Taking his paw off her head he shifted so his back was facing her. "Please Plushkit, just....leave me alone." He asked again.

Plushkit felt her tiny heart break a bit. The only time he asked to leave him alone was when he was tired and trying to sleep. "But you can't just let Pidgenfeather's words get to you! You're Deerheart! You never let anyone get to you!" "Plushkit!" The ginger tom yowled her name.

The kitten flinched. Did he.. just yell at her? The kitten shook with anger as tears ran down her face. "Fine! Be that way! Sorry for wanting to be there for someone I thought was a friend!" She squeaked and ran out the den, not hearing what Deerheart had muttered.

Plushkit ran inside the Nursery and curled into a small ball of fur and cried. She felt someone curl up next to her and smelled Briarkit and Barkkit on either side of her.

"It'll be ok." Squeaked Briarkit's voice. "We're here for you. No matter what Pidgenfeather says. "Barkkit said and she felt him nuzzle her cheek. She then smelled the familiar scent of Heavytail and her head shot up to greet her father. "Come with me real quick Plushkit. I want to talk to you." His low, soft voice sounded grim. The kit got up and followed him out the Nursery, ears down, tail dragging behind her.

Heavytail lead her to the corner of the camp where no cats are around and stopped, turning to face her and sat down. Plushkit followed his movements and looked towards the camp. She can see Berryheart blocking the entrance to the Nursery, not letting Pidgenfeather in. "Sleep outside for all I care!" The queen hissed and swiped at the grey queen. She then saw the same thing happen with Lionclaw when she tried to enter the Warrior's Den.

"Plushkit." Heavytail's voice called her attention back to the bigger cat. "Are you alright?" He asked, laying his tail on her shoulder. "No, why doesn't Deerheart want nothing to do with me all of a sudden?! He was always there from the time I opened my eyes! Just because Pidgenfeather said-" "That's what I wanted to talk to you about Plushkit." Her father cut her off. "I won't get to into detail but I just want you to know that Deerheart did what he did for a reason. He still cares about you, even if he doesn't show it right now. But sadly, Pidgenfeather's got a point. Cats will start talking if he's constantly around kits that's not related to him or an apprentice that he's not mentoring." He told her but she's confused. "But he's a good cat! Why would anyone think he's something else?" She squeaked, feeling tears wail up in her eyes again.

The ginger tom sighed and blinked. "Plushkit. I want you to listen to what I have to say and keep this mind when you're a apprentice, warrior or medicine cat. There are cats out there that are than what they show. Don't judge a cat because of looks and who they're around. Judge a cat for their motives and how they achieve that goal. And remember to listen to your gut. It'll speak the strongest about how you feel about a certain cat." He said, then looked away with regret in his eyes and muttered. "I should've listened to mine when it came to Pidgenfeather."

The kit felt a pang go through her heart. Did he regret having her, Berrykit and Barkkit?

Heavytail must've seen the hurt in his kit's dark blue eyes because he quickly said. "That's not to say I don't love you and your brother and sister! I love all three of you very much!" He said, gently pushing her with his muzzle, making her giggle and bat him playfully. "You three are my pride and joy and I love having you around. No matter if you are medicine cat, fall for a outsider, leave to join DuskClan or leave the clans all together, I will love all three of you till the day Silverpelt vanishes forever. Even if that happens, I'll still love you because you're my kits." He licked Plushkit's head. "Now, I'm going to bed, I have a big day tomorrow." He said with a huge smile and patted to the Warriors Den.

Then Spotstar walked up with Pidgenfeather behind him. "Hello Plushkit, are you alright?" The hairless cat asked. Plushkit nodded and smiled. "Just because I can't be around Deerheart anymore" She glared at her mother. "doesn't mean I can't be around him when I'm a warrior."

She then got an idea. "Is it possible for me to choose my mentor?" She asked. Spotstar and Pidgenfeather gave her curious looks. "Normally not. Leaders give apprentices to warriors based on what skills they think will shine through the most from the apprentice." He said. "Well, don't you think a small cat like me needs to be strong or fast so I can defend myself in battle?" She asked. Spotstar hummed. "Small? You're the right size for a kit your age." He said. "That's not what Pidgenfeather says. She says me, Barkkit and Berrykit are smaller than the average kitten." She said, seeing Pidgenfeather glare at her from behind their leader. "You're just fine to me. Besides smaller cats means they can go in hard to reach places, such as crawl holes or root dens." He said, then looked at Pidgenfeather. "You can sleep here for tonight. It's shaded and dry." He then looked back at Plushkit. "I'll walk you back to your den. I need to talk to Berryheart about something." He said.

Pidgenfeather walked around Spotstar and growled at Plushkit for her to move, which she quickly did. "I'll have an apprentice get you bedding so you can sleep more comfortable tonight." Spotstar said but the queen huffed. "I'm fine." She said, turning in circles and croching down, wrapping her tail around her. "Very well. Let's go Plushkit." He said and walked back to the Nursery.

Plushkit looked at her mother, who hissed at her. "What are you looking at?" Plushkit blinked. "N-nothing!" "Plushkit!" Spotstar called. "Coming!" The kit scrambled after him.

When they reached the Nursery, he began talking to Berryheart. She didn't listen to what they were talking about, she was looking at her mother, who looked annoyed and angry, like usual. But she also had a small hint of hurt and sadness in her green eyes? She then saw her father walk up with a bit of bedding and placed it around her. She didn't seem to say anything, just letting him build a nest for her.

She then watched as Heavytail cuddled Pidgenfeather and repeatedly prod her cheek with his nose with a soft smile on his face, chasing her head as she tried to move it away, making her smile and laugh. It was something that surprised her. She recalled Berryheart saying the last time Pidgenfeather was generally happy was before Plushkit and her siblings could walk. She strangely felt a pang of sadness and jealously to see her mother happy like that with another cat. She knows that cat is her mate and Plushkit's father. 'If only she was that happy with us.' Plushkit couldn't help but think.

"Goodnight Berryheart, have a good rest." She heard Spotstar say and looked away from the pair and up at Spotstar. "Good night Plushkit." He said and walked away. "Good night Spotstar!" Both her and Berryheart called after him.

"Come to bed Plushkit, I'll take care of you and your bother and sister till your old enough to leave the Nursery." Berryheart said. "Alright." She said and went inside. She went to lay in her old nest when Brairkit called to her. "What are you doing? You're gonna share a nest with me and Berryheart!" She said excitedly. "I just.. want to sleep alone tonight, if that's alright." She asked. Berryheart nodded in understanding. "If you ever get cold or change your mind, you can come over anytime." Berryheart said, curling around the kits in her nest and laying a tail over them.

Plushkit curled up, tail over her muzzle as she recalled the day's events. Ravenpaw's apprentice ceremony, Deerheart's warrior ceremony... Deerheart.. her heart ached at the thought she couldn't be around him. She then thought to Pidgenfeather and Heavytail and tears started to run. 'Why couldn't we have a loving mother like Berryheart or Mistyeyes?' Was the last thought through her mind before she silently cried herself to sleep.