Warriors: Powers of The Clans ~ Paws of Life (Book 2/6)

Chapter Two

(cat featured above is Sootkit)

The brambles to the camp entrance trembled as a brown and white tom pushed his way through it, his extended claws poking into the damp soil. Dockkits heart swelled with hope, before she dropped her tail again. Just Pinefrost. The white marked tom nodded his head at the kits, and headed to the fresh-kill pile with his thrush.

She glanced at Sootkit, whose eyes shone with hope as another head popped through the thicket. "Flameclaw!" He leaped to his paws, and Dockkit snapped her head back to the entrance, where her flame-colored brother emerged.. Flameclaw looked up from the ground, his eyes lightening when he saw his younger siblings. Flameclaw rushed over to the kits, smiling, as he dropped his blackbird.

"How long have you two been sitting here?" He questioned, a hint of amusement toning his voice. His bright orange tail flicked to one side, as he held it on his side.

Dockkit shrugged. "Not long. We aren't even cold, or tired." She boasted, puffing out her chest with pride. Sootkit jumped up, nodding his head in agreement.

"Can you play moss-ball with us?" Sootkit pleaded, waving his tail from side-to-side.

Flameclaw tilted his head to the side, and glanced up at the endless black sky. He began to speak, when his mate, Brightsky padded up to them. The pretty cream tabby touched noses with Flameclaw, purring with warmth in her eyes.

"I'm going to be leaving soon for the night patrol, soon." She informed him, whisking her fluffy tail to the side.

Flameclaws body tenses. "Should I join? I didn't do much today, I should probably-" Brightsky cut him off with a flick of her tail on his muzzle.

"No, the patrol has enough cats. And you've overworked yourself the past few days, you need rest too you know." She answered, her meow as firm as a mothers. Flameclaw sighed, his tail sagging slightly.

Flameclaw returned his gaze to his younger siblings. "It's far too late, and cold to play a game right now, but I can in the morning before the hunting patrols are sent out." Dockkit frowned. She wanted to play now. She dropped her nub tail, and met the gaze of Sootkit.

"We should go back to our nest anyways, I am getting sleepy." Sootkit mumbled through his tail as he crouched down, his head on his paws.

"Okay, fine." Dockkit grumbled. "Goodnight Flameclaw and Brightsky." She mewed, lifting her bob-tail.

"Goodnight, kits." Brightsky purred back, smiling warmly. Dockkit trotted slowly back to the nursery, and felt her jaws forming another yawn. Sootkit was slowing down too, and now Dockkit felt grateful for the fluffy nest she was looking forward to, alongside her mothers thick pelt.

As Dockkit began to creep into the nursery, a large shadow loomed in her way, and she bumped into a fluffy gray leg. "Oh, Dockkit. Always running into things." Her mothers familiar voice purred.

"Am not." Dockkit yawned. "Why are you exiting the nursery?" She wondered aloud.

Smoketail didn't seem to hear her daughter, and gave a swift lick on Dockkits head, then Sootkits before quickly walking off, and leaving the kits alone in the entryway to the nursery.

"Mother?" Sootkit asked, his eyes drooping.

Dockkit entered the nursery, confused on her mothers sudden leave. "Doveheart?" She asked, her voice trembling slightly. The dark gloom of the den added to the affect scaring Dockkit slightly. Doveheart was alone in her nest, and Dockkit wondered where her kits had been.

"Yes, dear?" She lifted her silver tabby head, smiling warmly at Dockkit and her brother.

"Where is my mother going?" She wondered aloud, peering back at her mother, who was greeting Cinderstripe far away.