Swiftpaw's tale

The first shock

"Patrol! I smell Thornkit warriors!".

"You are correct. We're right here. Atleast your sense of smell works. What a comfort for you.".

"Cats of my Clan, attack and show these foxhearts what we do to those do dare hunt on our trespass beyond our boundaries. NimbleClan, forward!".

A day like any other, where we played border patrol. As usual, Nimblekit was one of the Clan leaders. Thornkit was the other. Frostfur's kits had started getting a chance at leadership ever since they complained to Spottedleaf. I was Nimblekit's deputy, and Galekit was Thornkit's. Cinderkit and Brightkit were our warriors. Brackenkit and Honeykit were ThornClan's warrior.

When Rainkit and Dawnkit had first joined play, they didn't even last five heartbeats. I mean, we didn't even rough them up. Well, Cinderkit had leapt on Dawnkit, who had been to little to throw her off. And yes, she had suffocated a bit, afte Galekit, who had been in Dawnkit's team had pounced on Cinderkit, and the two of them had play-wrestled on Dawnkit's back. Lucky Brackenkit had had the intuition of pulling Dawnkit out after her mewling stopped. Anyway, she came back to consciousness by sunhigh, so that wasn't saying much.

And I really had no way of knowing that a simple swipe like that would make Rainkit bleed. And neither did Thornkit. We'd seen the apprentices try it out that very morning. Since Brackenkit, who was Rainkit's partner was too busy with Dawnkit, he was up alone against us. I mean, Honeykit and Nimblekit did have more heated fight. And we ourselves let him go soon enough. It's no fun fighting someone to dazed to fight back. Anyway, despite Honeykit's fears, none of Rainkit's cuts (and there weren't so many, anyway) got infected.

Since then, Rainkit. And Dawnkit were always made queens.

"We'll be back soon Rainflower. Don't you worry. Your kits will be safe.", Nimblekit had benignly tried to reassure Rainkit.

"My name's not Rainflower.", the grey tom replied sourly. Something had put him in a bad mood. "Why can't I fight?".

"Now, now, Rainpool- how's that for a name, eh?- if something happens to you, who will look after your kits?", Cinderkit asked, her whiskers twitching in amusement.

Rainkit just flexed his tiny claws and looked away.

Up on the other side, we could see ThornClan bidding farewell to their queen. Dawnkit didn't look much happier. She settled her pelt, Dark blue-grey and orange, just like the sky at sunrise down on the Earth and rolled her amber eyes.

Back in the present, our two Clans were locked in a tussle. My first opponent was Honeykit. She was a poor fighter. I had her begging for mercy in a few heartbeats. Next, I took on Thornstar himself. I soon overpowered him too. Not to boast or anything, but I am the best fighter.

"Wow, that is so cute!", a voice nearby remarked.

"Remember us at that age?", another asked. I looked up, and released my claws from around Galekit's neck. All around me, fighting ceased. My Clan had been winning anyway. I looked around for the speakers.

Sitting a few feet away were Greenpaw and Greypaw. These two were the youngest and friendliest of the apprentices. Dustpaw an Sandpaw condesenced to us. Ravenpaw was shy.

"Don't stop!", Greenpaw urged. I guessed that she was named for her eyes, which were bright green, for her pelt was a flaming shade of orange. Her littermate, on the other had, was obviously named for his thick, grey pelt.

"Yes, and we're getting bored here. You're our only source of entertainment.", Greypaw added.

"We weren't fighting for your pleasure.", Dawnkit said. "Entertain yourself." She was still in a foul mood.