Wiggling his haunches, Sharkkit soared to the center of his the nursery cave, landing on the small piece of drift wood. Spinning on the floor to his silvery back, he tossed the wood into the air, grabbing it and gnawing at it like a sea otter. A growl emitted out of his throat, filling the quiet cave with the sound. Sharkkit threw his head back in laughter, releasing the brown and soft object from his grip and falling to the side.
Sighing, Sharkkit stood, shaking his fur. The den was empty and dark. His mother, Lobstertail, and his siblings, Pelicankit and Wavekit, had left to see the medicine cat. Pelicankit had hit her head hard on the solid rock when Wavekit had tackled her in a play fight. Concerned for her daughter's safety, and mad at her son, she rushed both of them out and into the medicine cave, leaving Sharkkit all alone in the dreary den.
It was boring in here all alone. And lonely. In all four moons of his existence he never felt as lonely as he felt now. Quietly, Sharkkit took off for the little crevice where his mother, siblings, and he slept. Curling into his corner of the large and feathery nest, he wrapped his sleek tail over his nose, making sure one striking green eye over his tail. Waiting, the minutes seemed to drag on forever. Finally, he could hear a muffled argument coming from the entrance tunnel.
"But Lobstertail!" wailed Wavekit as he stalked in after his reddish brown mother. "I didn't do it on purpose!" Sharkkit stood as Lobstertail reached him, a desperate look on his broad face. Lobstertail hissed in frustration.
"Even if it was an accident, Wavekit, Pelicankit still has to stay with Crevicenose to make sure you didn't hurt her head too much!" Lobstertail flopped down in the nest, glaring at her eldest son from the shadows. Sharkkit felt invisible as he stood there, the argument continuing on like he was not there. He settled back down, watching the distraught Wavekit walk back and forth in front of the nest.
"Crevicenose says that she'll be all better. I told you it was only an accident." He wailed, stopping in front of Lobstertail.
"You're still not allowed to leave the nursery cave." she hissed. Wavekit huffed, stalking across the cave and glowering in the shadows. Lobstertail groaned, folding her tail over her nose and shutting her brown eye. Sharkkit stood again, closing the small distance between the pair.
"Lobstertail?" he asked quietly, prodding the mother in the side with her small paw. "Lobstertail, will Pelicankit be OK?" Sharkkit asked softly, crouching down next to Lobstertail. Lobstertail groaned, turning over so her back faced her smallest kit. A sharp pain pierced his heart. His mother didn't want to talk to him. Fighting back cries of sadness, Sharkkit turned back to his spot, circling into the smallest ball he could fit into, clenching his eyes against the tears that threatened to spill over. This wasn't the first time he felt rejected. Is it because I'm small? Sharkkit asked himself, not really wanting to face the truth. Lobstertail always acted different around him.
As he fought to keep his sadness hidden, a thought dawned on the young kit. When I become an apprentice, he hissed quietly, extending his claw into the nest. I will make Lobstertail regret ignoring me. I will be the best warrior ever!
*****
A moon and a half had passed since Pelicankit had hit her head. Since then, the once tiny Sharkkit had grown to almost the size of Wavekit due to his almost constant playing and his eating of a lot of food. His promise still rang loudly in his ears, as well as the constant rejection of his mother and siblings. That was just fine with him; the silence was great for his own personal training.
