Creamfluff's Hope

*/\* Chapter Eight */\*

A half-moon had passed since Lilypurr's kitting and Creamkit was a moon older, two moons and a quarter-moon to be exact. Lilypurr's kits were now a half-moon old, eyes open and ears unfolded. Creamkit hoped she could play with them now, but Rainspeck said they were still a bit too little to play with her yet.

Softkit was squirming in Lilypurr's nest while Butterflykit lay sleeping next to her mother. The feather Creamkit had given the kits was all chewed up and wet. The moss ball was flatter than it should be, but Creamkit's pinecone was still in good shape.

Creamkit had watched Thrushwing and Silverleaf in the medicine den. Thrushwing's cut on his leg was healing nicely but taking a long time to do so. Another battle had taken place at Moss Rocks with Hawkpelt, Windycloud, Blizzardspots, and Aloeheart being able to fight the ShadeClan warriors without gaining many injuries. Creamkit heard that there was only three ShadeClan warriors in that attack.

Right now, Creamkit was playing a game with Aloeheart. Aloeheart was supposed to hide somewhere around camp and Creamkit had to find him. The game with kind of like hide the pebble, but Creamkit named the game find the warrior. She was walking around camp, looking for the brown tom.

Nightmoon was cleaning herself in the middle of camp, her tail pointing in the direction of Aloeheart's hiding spot in the apprentice's den. Creamkit didn't take any notice of her tail and continued searching for him, walking past the nursery, elder's den, and leader's den.

Acornstar was eating a thrush outside of his den, watching Blizzardspots organize patrols. Nightmoon looked up from her grooming at Creamkit, who walked straight pass her, and tapped her with her paw.

Creamkit looked at the young warrior with confusion but smiled when Nightmoon pointed to the apprentice den. Creamkit bounded towards the den and ran inside. Aloeheart was sitting at the back of the den, watching Creamkit as she crawled towards him.

Snowymeadow had been teaching Creamkit some basic hunting moves: the hunter's crouch and a leap. Creamkit was in the crouch she'd been taught and was about to leap on Aloeheart's paw. She did so, Aloeheart squeaking in surprise.

"You found me!" He purred, sliding his paw out from underneath Creamkit's tinier ones. "I think you have to hide next."

"Yeah! I'm hiding next!" Creamkit's tail twitched from side to side happily. "Go out in the camp!" Aloeheart nodded and walked outside of the den. Creamkit took a look around the apprentice den before running outside of it. She saw Aloeheart sitting up, talking with Blizzardspots. Creamkit leaned forwards to hear what was being said.

"Aloeheart, you know you can't spend time with your kit all the time," Blizzardspots was meowing. "You're a warrior, not a queen."

Aloeheart had his tail curled over his paws, not at all looking like he'd just been playing with a kit. "I know that."

"And Creamkit has other kits to play with now," the deputy mewed.

"Rainspeck won't let her play with them."

"Then talk to her about it, or something," Blizzardspots frowned. "Now go join the hunting party over there." She pointed to Cloverpetal and Mapleleaf with her tail. The two warriors were waiting for Aloeheart to join them.

Aloeheart turned to look at Creamkit, who tried making it look like she hadn't been eavesdropping. Aloeheart padded over to her and touched noses with his kit. "I'll be back in a little bit." Creamkit nodded and watched her father walk over to the patrol. Mapleleaf led them out of camp and Creamkit was lonely again.

Creamkit was watching Lilypurr's kits shakily lead themselves around the outside of the nursery on their stubby legs. They were slow, and new to standing on four legs. They were also still tinier than her, with stumpy little legs and tails. Creamkit's tail had grown in the past two moons, and her legs were a tad bit longer.

Butterflykit was struggling to get on her paws, falling down with a squeak of surprise. Softkit on the other paw was doing good. He was standing on shaky little legs and moving one paw at a time.

Aloeheart had gotten back from his hunting patrol a little bit ago. He and Creamkit had finished their game, Creamkit winning by hiding behind a warrior as he slept. Creamkit had also played with Lilypurr's kits by waving the feather above their heads for them to swat at. She'd been surprised Rainspeck had let her play with the kits.

Creamkit had had another daydream about becoming a warrior. Except this time her daydream was about her being a queen with her own kits and a mate. Creamkit purred when she looked back at the thought. Rainspeck had told Creamkit stories about how when she was a kit, her mother, Crimsonbird, didn't care about her one bit. Grayleaf was the only one who took care of Rainspeck as a kit and apprentice.

Creamkit had also asked Rainspeck about her real mother again while Aloeheart was on his patrol.

"Creamkit, I'll tell you about your mother when you're older," was what Rainspeck had told her. Creamkit had responded with a frown. She had also heard Rainspeck mumble something about Creamkit even being able to remember her real mother when she was older. 

Thinking about all this, Creamkit hadn't felt Softkit bump into her. Creamkit smiled at Softkit who looked up at her with wide eyes. He smiled back, adding a mew of happiness.

Creamkit smiled at Softkit again. His sister was being picked up by Lilypurr as she headed back into the nursery. Creamkit tried grabbing Softkit by his scruff and started dragging the kit towards the nursery. Softkit instantly let out a wail for his mother and Lilypurr came running out. Lilypurr angrily took Softkit away from Creamkit and ran into the nursery.

Creamkit stood there with a frown before heading into the nursery. When Lilypurr saw Creamkit enter, she curled her tail over her kits as if Creamkit was some evil rouge. She walked over to Rainspeck who had that one look on her face.

"Creamkit," Rainspeck mewed. "You don't drag other kits around."

Creamkit frowned again. How did she find out? Lilypurr probably told her. "I know, but I just wanted to help Lilypurr with her kits!"

"Lilypurr can take care of her own kits," Rainspeck mewed calmly. "Please don't do it again."

"Fine." Creamkit had just been trying to help. Now she was in trouble for helping, something Rainspeck said she should always do. Creamkit removed her frown and kept a straight face as she started suckling, no purrs or anything. Just a straight face.