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Chapter 3

The image is Talonspring

"Hey!" Russetpaw mewed, running up to Talonspring, her eyes slid to Softkit, then looked back at the warrior. "How are you today?"
Softkit smiled, this was the distraction she needed. Carefully, the tabby she-kit slipped out of the camp entrance, past the two chatting cats. Her tail swished when she was finally standing in the forest, and she looked up, looking at the trees. It was beautiful, bright green with the sun peaking through the trees. She smiled, waking on, lowering her head from the sky. She couldn't believe she'd waited this long to come out here, no wonder other kits snuck out of camp. Why weren't kits allowed out anyway. It didn't seem dangerous out here. She shrugged, and made her way deeper into the territory, taking in all the new sights, smells, and sounds. Her ears twitched as birds chirped, and she continued walking for a while. Then she came across a lake, she paused, her front paws touching damp sand. The kit looked at it, eyes wide. It was huge, and she didn't know how to swim! She stepped closer, dipping a paw in- she immediately took it out with a quick mew, it was cold! She shook her paw to get the water off, then stepped back. Maybe she should turn back now.. She turned, and began to slowly make her way back the way she came. Wait she paused, cocking her head to the left, her ears twitched as she heard movement in the bushes. The kit opened her mouth and tasted the air mouse! She recognized the scent from the freshkill pile, though obviously the scent was different. This one was very much alive. Softkit crouched down, and tail swaying she approached very slowly. She was careful not to make noise of let her tail drag, but then it suddenly seemed alert. She paused, thinking it couldn't be her, she thought she was doing everything right. But then it proved her wrong, looking straight at her. Softkit froze, not sure what to do, but then it scampered away and she lept into action. She jumped out of her crouch and bolted through the underbrush. The chase went on for a while, then Softkit launched herself at it, claws unsheathed. She managed to grab the mouses tail under a claw and yank it back. It squealed as it was yanked back and she made the final bite, it dropped limp under her claws. She picked it up and began making her way back towards camp. Luckily they were in the middle of a guard swap, and before a new cat got to their post she bolted through the entrance. The kit dropped her prey on the freshkill pile and padded to the nursery, feeling tired. Her mother watched the tired kit as she entered. "And where have you been?" The queen asked.
"Exploring..camp." Softkit mewed, cuddling up next to the queen, and laying on her side.
Rowanspots looked down at her youngest kit. "Hmm.." The queen said, but didn't say anything else-not for anwhile anyway. "What's that?" Her eyes shifted to one of Softkits paws.
"Hmm?" Softkit looked up at her mother, wondering what she meant. Then she realized she was looking at her paws. Had she gotten her paws dirty? She looked down as well. Oh. There was something sticking out of one of her paws. She lifted her paw, turning the paw pad up. It was a thorn! And it was pretty embedded in the pad, how hadn't she noticed?
"It's a thorn.." she mewed, in response to her mothers question.
Rowanspots looked confused, probably wondering why her kit wasn't squealing, or why she walked so normally on it. "You better have Orangepool take care of that." The queen mewed to her kit.
Softkit sighed, but she knew her mother was right. She should get it taken out. The kit rose to her paws and exited the nursery, wondering when she'd picked up the thorn. It had to have been when she was outside of camp. Softkit made her way towards the medicine cat den, and when she entered she looked around for Orangepool. When the Orang tabby spotted the kit, her eyes softened and she walked over. "Softkit. What brings you here?" The medicine cat asked, her tone soft and caring.
"Hi Orangepool." Softkit mewed, tail flicking. "I got a thorn in my paw." She explained, moving to sit down. She lifted the injured paw and turned it to show her. Orangepool looked at it.
"Alright, I'll take care of that for you." The tabby mewed and moved closer to Softkit before she sat down. Orangepool licked around it carefully to soften the area, then pulled it out swiftly. Softkit just looked at her paw, watching the medicine cat work. Then Orangepool stood up, and Softkit assumed she was done until Orangepool began to mew again.
"Wait there, I need to apply dock." The medicine cat said, going into the back of the den. Shortly after Orangepool came back with dock. "This might sting a bit." The she cat warned, then began applying it to Softkits paw. Softkit watched, waiting patiently, it didn't hurt at all. She looked up, waiting for Orangepool to release her.
"Ok, you're done. Just be light on that paw for a few days."
Softkit nodded. "Thank you Orangepool." She mewed, and left the den. She turned back to the nursery, walking back in.

It's a few words less than I wanted, but I wanted to give you guys another chapter.

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