Book Four, The Building Task

Chapter Five

Rosefall's POV

Tonight was a Gathering. It had been a moon after my kits were born and now they're very adventurous. My kits and Fallensky were fast asleep now.

I insisted that Fallensky should go to the Gathering but he quickly denied when he said he'd promised to play with his kits. I had simply rolled my eyes but I was grateful to have some time to myself, I mean, I do love my kits, but StarClan! They're a lot!

Dapplekit and Breezekit love playing with Lilly's tom-kits Shadowkit and Barkkit, and Primrosekit and Flickerkit love playing seperately.

I'm so happy my kits get to be raised around other kits, it feels right.

After all this thinking, I fell into a deep slumber.

I was woken by a head-butt to the stomach. "Dapplekit!" I heard Primrosekit exclaim. "Leave Rosefall to sleep!"

I raised my head. "Rosefall, you promised to let us explore camp today!" Breezekit mewed.

"Wait until Lilly and her kits are up, we can all go together.." I said tiredly, laying my head back down on the soft moss.

"They're already up!" Dapplekit prodded me with his paw.

"Alright fine. I'm up." I said raising my head again. I started grooming myself, then my kits. "Rosefallll!" Dapplekit protested, wriggling away.

I sighed. "You're meeting the Clan today. You must look proper!" I finished grooming Dapplekit. I groomed Breezekit then Flickerkit.

"Can we go out nooow?" Dapplekit urged, dragging me with his tiny claws.

"Hey could you take my kits too, I really need some rest, I didn't sleep well last night." Lily said with a yawn.

"Of course," I responded. I then nodded to Dapplekit. "Lets go." I gently pushed my kits and Lily's out of the den. I watched as they stared wide-eyed at the camp full with busy warriors.

"Rosefall, what are they doing over there?" Breezekit commented as she noticed that Larkfeather and Dewfall were patching a hole in Taro and Domino's old den.

"They're fixing up Taro and Domino's den." I felt sad as I remembered Barkkit, Shadowkit and Primrosekit have never met their father. He had left after the kits were named. Who would just leave their kits like that? Unbelievable.

"Let all those old enough to catch their own prey, join beneath the Greatledge for a Clan meeting." Batstar called from atop the Greatledge.

"Who's that cat? Also why do Larkfeather and Dewfall look different from us?" Shadowkit questioned. "That cat up there is Batstar, she's our leader and a very important Clan member. The reason Dewfall and Larkfeather look different is because they're dogs, not cats." I responded. "No more questions and no talking during the meeting. Okay?" I said sternly.

The kits all nodded and we walked to the center of camp and watched the meeting. "I've called this meeting to discuss two things. Firstly, Winnie has decided to dedicate her time to aiding queens in the nursery instead of being a warrior." Batstar announced.

"If there is a battle, she will take charge in defending the nursery." Batstar finished.

Nods of approval went throughout the Clan and some words of congratulations as they remembered what she did many moons ago.

"The second thing was we need to discuss what has been happening recently. At the Gathering last night, I recieved news that each Clan seemed to be enduring a drought." Batstar said with concern.

Worried words fled through everyone. "What's a drowt?" Asked Barkkit, mispronouncing "drought" entirely. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"A drought," I responded. "Is when there is little to no water left on our grounds, or really, anywhere." I said with a hint of sadness in my voice.

"Oh." Barkkit mewed.

"Due to this matter," Batstar continued when the conversations concluded. "There has been much fewer prey, therefore we will have to search a bit beyond our borders."

Gasps fled through everyone. "You mean into other Clan territory?!" Screeched Quartzshine.

"Of course not! I meant the border we share with no one." Batstar corrected. She took a breath and moved on. "Thankfully, the stream near Mothermouth hasnt lowered too to much."

Relieved sighs came from the Clan. I was glad too. Glad that my kits wont have to suffer by being thirsty and hopefully not hungry either.

"Now I, along with my strongest warriors are going to go past the border in look for prey. If we arent back by sunfall, Brambleheart will send a patrol looking for us." Batstar said firmly.

"Sweetwish, Skywing, Fallensky and Oakleaf, you all will accompany me on this journey. Meeting dismissed." Batstar hopped down from the Greatledge and beckoned her warriors to follow her out of camp.

I sighed and looked to the kits. "Well should I show you around then?" I asked them.

"Yes please!" Primrosekit squeaked. "Yeah show us!" Breezekit exclaimed.

"Alright," I chuckled. I sat up and headed toward the fresh-kill pile first. It was so low. I sighed.

"This is the fresh-kill pile," I explained to the kits. "When you get your teeth, you'll be eating the food from here."

"I already have my teeth!" Bragged Dapplekit. "So why can't I eat from there yet?"

"No need to brag, Dapplekit, we know okay?" Breezekit hissed in annoyance.

"Now now kits. No fighting." I gently told them. "Dapplekit, you're still too small to eat from this pile. You can probably try eating here when you're two or three moons."

"What's a moon?" Squeaked Flickerkit.

"Its the big round thing in the sky at night that changes shapes!" Barkkit replied.

I let out a mrrow of laughter. "He's somewhat right," I chuckled. "But every time the moon is completely full, there is a Gathering where all five Clans come together in peace. That's how we know a moon has come."

The kits looked at me all wide-eyed. I love it when they do that. "So... no fighting then?" Asked Primrosekit.

"Correct! At Gatherings, we talk about Clan news, like dangers or the announcement of new warriors or apprentices." I explained.

"I want to go to a Gathering!" Exclaimed Breezekit.

"You will, in time. Now, let's head on to see the Greatledge."

***

The tour lasted until sunhigh, then the kits got tired, so they went and slept in my nest. I now layed near the fresh-kill pile in a sunny patch.

I wonder when Fallensky will be back.. I know the kits were asking about him lots.

I sighed to myself. "Missing Fallensky already?" Ivysong startled me from behind.

"Ivysong, you really got to stop doing that." I said as she sat down. I swatted her over the ear.

"Aw you're no fun," Ivysong teased. "You should come hunting with me. You know our Clan could use it."

"Aren't there hunting patrols out already?" I yawned. Ivysong's face changed to sadness.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Ivysong. I'd love to come hunting." I smiled to her.

Ivysong's eyes lit up. "I'll race you to Big Rocks!" She raced off.

"Hey! No fair, I had to take care of kits!" I rushed after her.

I exited camp and felt the breeze throughout my fur and finally realized how much I had missed this.

Then an odd scent caught my glands. ShadowClan?! But I'm not anywhere near the border..