Splashflight's Mistake (book one)

Chapter 2

Splashkit padded back and fourth around the outside of the nursery, pacing relentlessly. Aquastar had ushered the kits out at nearly moonhigh, because Spottedfern was kitting a moon early. Morningkit and Dawnkit were complaining about how they had been woken from their beauty slumber, while Splashkit paced with worry, wide awake. He droned out the whines of his sisters while he nearly panicked.

"Ugh. Why does Spottedfern have to be kitting now? In the middle of the night? I swear, it's like she chose to annoy us." Morningkit groaned, complaining relentlessly.

Dawnkit nodded silently, earning both of them a scolding from Aquastar. Splashkit would have listened, if he could keep his mind from wondering.

What if the kits didn't live? What if Spottedfern died? She was one of the kindest queens he had met, and he couldn't bear the thought of her not being here. What if the kits were small and got bullied like him? That was even worse. He would never let these kits be hurt by Morningkit. There were endless possibilities.

He heard groans and quiet whimpers, and Thistleshine, who was pacing next to him, finally sat down, and started bouncing his paws, fidgeting in worry. He had nearly tied his tail in knots by now! After a moment, he jumped as Poppystem's head popped out of the den, her face beaming broadly. "Three healthy kits, Thistleshine. Congratulations!" She announced, and Poppystem barely had time to scramble out of the entrance before Thistleshine had began pushing his way into it. Splashkit wanted to see as well, his tail flicking. He looked at his mother for permission, and she smiled, so he gave a crow of delight. Poppystem looked uncomfortable, and called after Thistleshine. "Wait-" She ducked into the den after him, her tail disappearing. Splashkit followed.

Spottedfern and Thistleshine were purring, tails interlocked. They were stroking their three kits, one a dust colored hairless tom, another was a grey tabby tom just like his father. But the one that caught his eye was the last she kit, a beautiful orange tabby, bright as the sun.

Thistleshine licked the tabby, right over her forehead. A tuft of fur that fell over her left eye shifted, and revealed.... Nothing. Thistleshine glanced at Poppystem. "Where's her eye?" His tone wasn't at all angry, just curious, like any father would be. Poppystem sighed and dipped her head.

"I don't know why, but she never developed a second eye. It's nothing, just a hollow hole behind her lid." Poppystem smiled. "But she is perfectly healthy." Thistleshine nodded, and nuzzled his mate lovingly.

"What are their names?" Splashkit asked politely after Poppystem had cleared out. He asked for them all, but he was really only interested in knowing the she-kits name.

Spottedfern purred. "The hairless one is Dustykit. The grey tom is Fallingkit, and the she kit is Brightkit," she said slowly, pausing between each name gingerly.

Brightkit. What a perfect name... Sppashkit felt his cheeks blush, as he stared at the perfect kit.

He purred. "Pretty names, Spottedfern," he said to the calico queen. "I can't wait to play!" He crouched in a playful hunters crouch, and he was poked in the rump by sharp claws. "Owie!"

He turned to see Morningkit, a perfect sneer on her delicate face. "Psst, Splashkit!" She whispered. He ignored her. All that will come out of this will be hurt. "Psst! Psst!" She said again, poking him harder. "Psst!!"

Splashkit finally turned, knowing she wouldn't leave him alone. "What, Morningkit?" He huffed, annoyed. Morningkit rolled her eyes, flicking her tail to signal him to follow.

"Hurry up, bird brain." She muttered under her breath as Splashkit struggled over the brambles to leave the nursery. He tumbled flat on his face as he left, and got up swiftly, hoping Morningkit hadn't noticed.

Sh led him towards the back of the nursery, flicking her tail impatiently when he stopped hesitantly. She scoffed and faced her back to him, waiting for Splashkit to catch up. He finally made t to her side, and sat down, panting.

Morningkit turned around suddenly, unsheathing a claw to slash his face mockingly. Splashkit shrank back, holding a paw to his now bleeding nose in shock and hurt. Morningkit grinned, showing her teeth.

"Aw, little Spwashkit has a cwush," she said in a baby voice. She spat in his eyes. "Ha! She's the most pathetic cat on earth! Can't you choose someone more, I don't know, normal?" Morningkit paused for a heartbeat, as if pretending to ponder it. "Oh wait, you can't, because you aren't even normal yourself! You're the perfect match!" She said, ending in a high-pitched voice, her eyes shining with triumph when Splashkit showed the hurt on his face. She shoved him down, and put her nose in his face.

"You don't deserve anyone's love," she growled, her blue eyes stony with hatred. They cut into Splashkit's own fearful ones like daggers, before she turned around, whacking him in the face with her tail before she left Splashkit alone in the dust, to clean his bleeding face and cry.