The Darkest Moons (Warrior Cats)

51. Walks With Friends

     The gentle breeze that washed over the forest was welcomed, but so was the hot sun above as it beat down. Palemist, sprawled out on a stone by the elders’ den, listened to the voices of his Clanmates. While many shared tongues, others munched on prey. The sun sat in the center of the sky; patrols were finished and the freshkill pile was full. 
     “Hey! Give me back my leaf!” Spiderkit squeaked nearby. “Skykit!” 
     Palemist opened one eye and watched as the kits bounced about. Pinekit clobbered with short, stubby legs after his brother, who ran away with a huge beech leaf in his jaws. Tawnykit tackled Skykit and tugged at the leaf. It ripped in half, and Spiderkit gasped and huffed at his littermates. 
     “You tore my leaf!” The young cat whined.  
     “I’ll get you an even bigger one,” Palemist assured the kit, tucking his paws under his chest. “I’ll get all of you one if you want.” 
     The four kits stared at him and ran towards him. “Thank you!” Pinekit chirped. 
     Spiderkit climbed onto the rock and pulled himself onto Palemist’s back. “Can you give me a badger ride?” 
     “Me too!” Skykit yelped. Palemist grunted as he and Pinekit clambered onto him.  
     “Be careful!” Rosepetal scolded.  
     Palemist blinked gratefully at her. “They’re fine! Tawnykit? Do you want a ride?” 
     Tawnykit shook her head. “I think I’ll go see what Echolight is doing!” 
     Palemist watched as she scampered off and twitched his ears as they were batted by Skykit. “Let’s go!”  
     “Onward!” Pinekit ordered, sniggering. 
     Palemist pushed himself up and lowered himself down the rock. He swayed purposely as he walked around the camp, the kits clinging to him with paws wrapped around his sides. He tromped around the camp, passing the nursery and the warriors’ den. He heard a snort of amusement from Poppy, who held a pigeon in her jaws.  
     “Need any help?” Scorchwing called. Palemist shook his head and continued.  
     “Stop clinging to my tail,” Pinekit snapped at Spiderkit. 
     “Sorry!” Spiderkit mewed. 
     The weight of the three kits began to weigh on him, and Palemist crouched. “Alright, time to get off. I’m getting tired.” 
     Skykit and Pinekit promptly slipped off. Spiderkit, on the other paw, crept past Palemist’s shoulders and laid his head between the warrior’s ears. “Thank you,” He cheeped. “You’re really nice.” 
     “I try,” Palemist replied. 
     “Can I stay in your nest? Skykit keeps kicking me in his sleep and Tawnykit snores,” Spiderkit questioned. 
     Palemist sighed softly. “You’d better stay in the nursery. Rosepetal would miss you.” 
     Spiderkit rolled off and jumped to his paws. “Will she miss me when I become an apprentice?” 
     Palemist nodded. “Definitely.” 
     Spiderkit looked uncertain. “I think she thinks I’m weird.” 
     Palemist met the kit’s gaze. “You’re only a moon old. You’re far too young to worry about being weird. Besides, you’re not. Why would she think that?” 
     “I have weird dreams,” the kit answered. 
     “Dreams are always weird. Rosepetal loves you very much, even if you love leaves a lot and have funny dreams.” Palemist sat up and stretched. “You should go bug Rosepetal. I have to go on a patrol.” 
     Spiderkit pouted at him for a few seconds before teetering towards his mother. Palemist watched as the queen licked her kit’s fur clean. He’s a good kit. Not really odd at all. But I know how it feels. 
     Scorchwing plopped down beside Palemist and licked his lips. “So we’re going by the outer border.” 
     “Yep. I think Yellowfoot is coming too.” Palemist angled his ears towards the older warrior. 
     “Have you eaten yet?” His friend questioned.  
     “I’ll eat when we get back.” Palemist stood and stretched, yawning loudly before sauntering towards the camp’s tunnel. He glanced back and waited for Scorchwing to fetch  Yellowfoot. When the two were nearing, he ducked into the tunnel and emerged into the forest. He walked briskly, not bothering to look back at his Clanmates.