Poolstar's Destiny

Chapter 33

"Look!" Featherkit trotted across the snowy clearing and tossed a moss ball at Splashkit. "I found another one!"
Splashkit crouched, ready to pounce, but Riverkit and Robinkit scooted past her and pawed the ball to each other.
Lakekit, Dovekit, and Berrykit sat like three baby owls outside the nursery, their eyes fixed on the moss as the older kits tossed it back and forth.

Poolpelt purred as it rolled to her black paws. She hooked it up and held it high, making the kits jump for it.

Ashfall and Swiftfur lay dozing in the pale leaf-bare sun. Ashfall opened one eye. "Thanks for keeping them busy, Poolpelt."
"I enjoy it!" She tossed the moss ball into the air and watched the kits scramble for it.

It was easier to play with Featherkit now that Blackfrost was out with Shadowpaw so much.
He was working his apprentice hard, waking him before dawn and drilling him in the cold hollow any time they weren't patrolling or hunting.
Shadowpaw had grown so quickly that he looked like a warrior after only a moon of training.
Poolpelt wished he didn't have to show off his battle skills in the camp quite so much.

"Teach me a battle move!" Featherkit begged her daily.
"You're not old enough," she would tell her.
She was going to make sure she made it to a warrior without any serious injuries.
She owed it to her and Feathershine.

"Throw it again! Throw it again!" Splashkit came bouncing back, the moss ball jiggling from her jaws.
She dropped it at Poolpelt's paws and looked up pleadingly. "Please."
Poolpelt scooped it up and dangled it from a claw, her whiskers twitching as she watched the kits stare intently at the jerking clump of moss.
Then she tossed it to the other side of the snowy clearing and the kits hared away, kicking up snow.

"Poolpelt?" Icestar was padding toward her. "I want you to find Blackfrost and Shadowpaw in the cold hollow." She glanced at the sun, rising high in the milky blue sky.
Poolpelt cocked her head. "Why?"
Icestar looked solemn. "I've been getting reports of kittypets crossing the border, and I want you go with them to investigate."

Poolpelt knew exactly who'd made the reports.
Blackfrost had been spoiling for a fight with kittypets for moons.
Even more so since he'd become Shadowpaw's mentor, as if he wanted to make sure Shadowpaw understood that kittypets were their enemies.

Poolpelt dipped her head to the IceClan leader and headed toward the camp entrance.
Featherkit pounded after her. "Where are you going?"
"Just to check the border," she explained.
"Is DawnClan invading again? Or SmokeClan?" Featherkit reared onto his hind legs and swiped at the air.
Poolpelt wondered whether he had learned that battle move from Shadowpaw.

"Just some kittypets sniffing around."
"Are you going to shred them to pieces?"
"They're just kittypets," Poolpelt told her. "A hiss should be enough to send them running."

Featherkit sighed. "I wish I could come with you."
"Another few moons and you will," Poolpelt promised. "Now run back and play with your denmates so Ashfall and Swiftfur can rest."
Featherkit charged away, and Poolpelt headed for the cold hollow.

"Now lunge at me," Blackfrost commanded.
Poolpelt could see the pair through the frozen bushes just ahead of her.

Baring his teeth, Shadowpaw rushed at Blackfrost, slamming into his flank.
Blackfrost turned and flung his apprentice away with a hefty blow that left Shadowpaw staggering.
"Frost-brain!" Blackfrost growled. "You should have seen that coming."
Shadowpaw shook his head, looking dazed. "Let me try it again," he begged.

Poolpelt hurried forward to interrupt.
She couldn't watch such brutal training.
She was sure Duskwing had no idea that Shadowpaw's mentor was so rough with her kit.
Should she warn the IceClan leader what was going on?