WARRIORS | The Flooded Trail | Sorrowful Path

Chapter Two

Violetfur's death changed the clan. Cats in camp stayed quiet and made their way around camp slowly. Cloudsky had refused to leave the new nursery, saying that she'd rather die than go back into the territory that murdered her best friend.

Mousekit wasn't fed much by Cloudsky anymore. The occasional drops of milk felt like a sweet reward for suffering. Other times, Mousekit would head to the fresh kill pile, only to be stopped by warriors that said she wasn't old enough.

Though Mousekit didn't have her mother's company, she never stayed outside of the nursery for too long either. Flamepaw would sometimes sneak Mousekit out at night to see the camp. Other times, Mousekit would try to leave on her own, but that always failed.

Mousekit often wondered about her apprenticeship, and how it would affect the clan. She doubted that anything would change, that the clan would leave her alone now that she wasn't a kit. But the thoughts in the back of her mind said otherwise. She might never become an apprentice, and just move into the elders den. Northstar could possibly suspend her apprenticeship until she looked old enough to not be caught by twolegs.

But will I ever look that old enough? Mousekit shivered. She sat outside of the nursery, taking in the final warmth of greenleaf. The trees that weren't pine had started shifting into yellow and red leaves, and some of them floated into camp. A large orange leaf drifted it's way into the clearing, making Mousekit's ears lift a bit.

She looked back into the nursery, seeing her mother's body resting in an old nest. Mousekit quietly stalked out of the nursery with her tail low, trying to not be heard. She got low to the ground to pounce on the leaf when a gust of wind came out of nowhere. The leaf quickly went up in the air and Mousekit launched into the air. She bit down on the leaf, sending bits of the leaf out in different directions. The kit landed clumsily on her side and squeaked quietly. She stood up, now with only a few bits of leaf in her mouth.

Mousekit looked around the clearing that she had now hopped into. Many cats had ignored her playing while others, like Winterpaw, rolled their eyes at the act. Mousekit spat out the rest of the leaf and sat in the middle of the clearing, waiting for another leaf to be in her grasp.

After what felt like moons of waiting, a small breeze flew through camp. Mousekit followed a large red leaf that started to fall into the clearing. She crouched down and waited for the perfect moment to pounce at the leaf. Her body was still, but her tail flicked every now and then from excitement. Right as she lept, a white flash flew over her like a fast cloud. She hopped into the air with nothing to catch, instead falling clumsily into the dirt. Mousekit looked over to see Winterpaw holding the leaf in his jaws, sinking his fangs into the leaf as he held it.

"That was my catch!" Mousekit stomped over to Winterpaw.

The white tom scoffed, "It's just a leaf. Real warriors catch prey," he lifted his chin. Mousekit rolled her eyes and padded away, heading to the apprentices den to find Flamepaw. She peeked into the den to find Willowpaw resting from an early patrol, but no sign of Flamepaw.

Winterpaw padded into the den. "If you want to find him you're too late. He went training with Foxtail a while ago," He flicked his ear. Mousekit's ears drooped as she backed out into the clearing. She tried backing away towards the nursery, but bumped into Blizzardfur. The white warrior glared warningly at Mousekit with blazing amber eyes.

"Watch it you piece of prey," Blizzardfur snarled. Mousekit gaped at his insult before padding into the nursery. Cloudsky still had not woken from her sleep. The queen's fur was matted and unkempt, with slivers of dead moss all over it.

"Mom?" Mousekit shook her mother a bit. The queen lifted her head, slowly, and looked emotionless as she stared. Mousekit shuffled her paws, "Do you want to get fresh bedding? We can go outside too-"

"Enough with that nonsense Mousekit!" Cloudsky snapped. Her tail puffed up and twitched angrily as she curled back up. Mousekit's eyes flashed with worry as she backed away. Mousekit wailed and ran out of the nursery sliding into the clearing. She plopped down into the dirt and quietly sobbed. It wasn't long until other cats padded over to her. She felt eyes staring at her with pity and annoyance. One cat picked up Mousekit by the scruff, her legs dragging on the ground as she was pulled into the medicine den. The cat who carried her was Ravenberry, and her eyes were still filled with hurt from the loss of Violetfur.

Brightspeckle quickly came over to Mousekit, telling Rowanpaw to have herbs ready. "Mousekit, what seems to be the issue?" The yellow tom meowed calmly.

Mousekit pushed away Brightspeckle's affection and huffed loudly. The yellow tom shook his head and pulled Mousekit closer with a firm grip. "Leave me alone!" She squealed, trying to scratch the medicine cat with her tiny claws. Brightspeckle ignored the scratches and started licking Mousekit's head kindly, like a soft queen who just had her first litter.

Mousekit relaxed at the soothing licks before sighing and sheathing her claws. She cuddled closer to Brightspeckle as he continued lapping her forehead gently.

"It's mother," Mousekit started, "She hasn't been eating or keeping herself healthy," she whimpered. Brightspeckle flicked his ear and stopped licking the brown kit.

"It's been a few days Mousekit, she might still be grieving-" Brightspeckle started.

"I can't wait any longer!" Mousekit snapped. She looked away from the yellow tom. "I haven't had much to eat since Violetfur's death," Mousekit closed her eyes. She knew she had to start eating prey, but she didn't want to do it without some cat there to help her.

"Oh Mousekit.." Brightspeckle murmured. He stood up and headed out of the medicine den, calling for Rowanpaw to follow him

Again, Mousekit was alone. The medicine den felt so much bigger now, with herb piles in the back and a small water stream. She padded over towards the stream and began gently drinking the water. The cold sting shocked Mousekit a little as she drank, and she looked up to see Brightspeckle and Rowanpaw padding back inside of the medicine den. Rowanpaw was carrying a small vole, while Brightspeckle was holding a shrew.

Mousekit shifted in the soft moss bedding, wondering why they had prey. Both cats dropped the prey in front of her and settled down. Brightspeckle looked at Mousekit calmly and pushed the vole forward. Mousekit looked at Brightspeckle and Rowanpaw with worry.

"Mousekit....you need to eat," Rowanpaw said quietly. He started to eat the shrew while Brightspeckle stared at Mousekit.

Mousekit pulled the vole forward, feeling it's soft fur against her pads. She grabbed the vole with her jaws and pulled a bit off of the body. She felt the soft meat touch her tounge and blinked in surprise. When Brightspeckle reached for the vole, Mousekit pulled it close and began eating quickly, making Brightspeckle chuckle.

"I take it you enjoy the vole?" Brightspeckle purred amusingly. It was hard to hear over the sounds of Mousekit munching away, but she nodded. She stopped eating the vole with about half of it left for Brightspeckle.

Mousekit licked her jaws, "That was amazing!" She squeaked. Brightspeckle ate the rest of the vole while Rowanpaw nodded at the brown she-kit. Brightspeckle finished the rest of the vole before heading over to the herb pile and sorting through it.

"I thought you would need some herbs for being fed less, but with enough food you should be at normal size again," Brightspeckle meowed. He shook some herbs off of his paws and stared in the direction of the nursery. The medicine cat sighed, "You can stay in here for now," he looked down to Mousekit.

Rowanpaw nodded and twirled his tail playfully. "Don't worry Mousekit! I'll keep you company and give you moss balls to play with!" He purred. Mousekit glanced over at him and gave him a small smirk. She turned towards the nursery, emotion washing over her orange eyes. The loss of her mother felt terrible, yet Mousekit felt like a weight was lifted off of her shoulders. She knew that Cloudsky would come over her grief one day.