Banditfoot's sorrow (WIP)

Chapter 8

"You'll be okay to leave the medicine den soon, but first we need some moss." Ferretwhisper meowed.

"Okay." Banditkit meowed, staring down at the nest she's laying on. Rubbing her eye with her paw, screeching in pain as reality came back to her. Her scar is still there.

Ferretwhisper nudged Banditkit with her nose, licking her. "You okay?" She meowed, worried.

Banditkit nodded, looking away, embarrassed. Ferretwhisper prodded her with her paw, purring.

"It's okay, Banditkit. You don't have to hide anything from me. So, tell me what's wrong?" Ferretwhisper asked, looking at the kit.

"I can't tell you what he did" she meowed in a sorrowful manner.

"Tell me who ' he ' is." Ferretwhisper exhorted, worried for the kit.

Banditkit looked back down at the ground, ignoring the answer Ferretwhisper had previously demanded. Pouting, frustrated and upset with all the pressure she's been put under. She wanted to tell Ferretwhisper everything, but if Bearslash found out Banditkit had told somebody she'd be dead the moment they next crossed paths.

"Banditkit, you can't just ignore my question!" Ferretwhisper hissed, sighing. Shooting a concerned look towards Banditkit "You need to tell me these things" She meowed.

"If I tell you and he finds out, he'll kill me" She squalled.

Ferretwhisper gave in, there was no way she was going to get an answer. "Okay, you're good to go now!" She purred, nudging Banditkit with her muzzle.

"Will these cats dislike me?" She meowed, scared to enter the clearing.

"No, they won't. They're very welcoming, in fact!" She meowed "Tidestar and Lost forest are going to love you!" She purred.

"Okay..." Banditkit hesitated, entering the clearing. Her muscles tensed as she walked into camp, fearing judgement.

Murmurs spread throughout camp, a tortoiseshell cat approached her. "Hey there, Banditkit, right?" Banditkit nodded "I'll be taking care of you, Coalkit and Silentkit are my kits. Treat them like you would your littermates." She meowed, becoming more serious as she finished her sentence. She didn't sound too thrilled.

"Follow me" She commanded, Banditkit froze, attempting to run back to the medicine den.

"Last time I followed a cat I almost died!" She cried, running off, Coalkit and Silentkit playfully chasing after her.

"Wait up, Banditkit!" Silentkit meowed, falling behind before her mother picked her up. Coalkit continuing to pursue the she-cat.

"Get back over here, Coalkit!" The queen hissed "I'm trying to make a good impression!" She sighed.

Coalkit ran back over to his mother "Sorry, mama..." he meowed

"It's okay, just never do that again." She meowed, shooting a gaze back at Banditkit. "If you're curious my name is Willowsplash, find me in the nursery, just don't get too near me. You're not my kit!" She hissed.

Banditkit nodded shakily, walking back into the clearing where the murmuring continued. Willowsplash walking off, Coalkit following while Silentkit stayed behind. "I'm sorry about her, she can be very... Uh... Picky when it comes to her kits" She meowed, "It's best you ignore that" She added on, following Willowsplash.

Banditkit walked over to another tortishell she-cat, her amber eyes seemed to soothe Banditkit. The tortie mewed "Hey! You must be Banditkit, Tidestar told me all about you, I might be old but I'm a worthy deputy. My name is Lost forest but I'm sure they've told you my name already! You should meet Cloudstep, no doubt he'll be my deputy!" She sounded excited and playful.

Banditkit knew she'd love this cat as soon as she laid eyes on her, she was really friendly. Why can't this cat be her adoptive mother?

"I think I've met Cloudstep before, I'll go find him!" Banditkit meowed happily.

She looked at all the cats in the clearing, spotting Cloudstep. Running up to him and purring loudly, she couldn't help but notice a smile on his face. "Hey there, Banditkit" He purred, licking her behind her ear in a friendly manner. "You should get some rest, most of the cats won't be here tomorrow night, there's a gathering." Banditkit nodded, running over to the nursery and greeting Willowsplash.

"Hello, Banditkit" Willowsplash grimaced at her, Coalkit and Silentkit snuggling up against her while Banditkit laid in a different nest, freezing. "I wish Stormkit was here with me" She cried. "Quit complaining and rest!" Willowsplash hissed "How am I supposed to rest when my mother just died?" She cried "Cope!" Willowsplash scrunched up moss from her nest in her paws in anger. Banditkit got up from her nest and attempted to run off, Willowsplash picking her up and reopening one of her wounds on her neck in the process.

Banditkit mewed in pain, making another escape attempt, this time successful. She ran into the medicine den, spotting Ferretwhisper sleeping in a nest. She quietly approached the she-cat, falling asleep next to her.

(Chapter end)