Turtleheart's Path

Chapter 1

Turtlekit lifted her head and stretched her eyes open. She looked around, feeling the squirming of her three siblings' bodies. She looked at her sleeping mother then smelled the fresh scent of prey. As she turned, Hawkgrowl entered the den. "You're awake," He purred softly to her. Turtlekit smiled, "Is that for us?" She asked. Hawkgrowl shook his head. "You are too young for a rabbit, it's too big, maybe a mouse or vole for all four of you." He set down the rabbit then turned to her. "Want to come with me to find one? We can surprise your siblings." He invited her. "Hunting?" Turtlekit tilted her head. "No, to the fresh kill pile. Kits that are three moons old can't leave the camp, you have to be six moons old before you leave with your mentor." Her father explained. Turtlekit leapt over Lionkit's twitching tail and then over Briarkit's paws. She turned her head as Ivykit sneezed then coughed then she continued from the den.
Turtlekit squinted as she came from the shade of the den and into the sun. Hawkgrowl's pelt glowed in the sun as he shook off the dirt. Turtlekit bounded to keep up as the tom trotted down the slope into the clearing. She saw Sheeppaw and Lightpaw dragging dirty moss from the elders' den while Whitepaw and Birdpaw dragged fresh moss inside. Woolfur sat outside accompanied by Stoneclaw. The sun was warm on her fur and it warmed the cool ground beneath her. "Newleaf is always well." Hawkgrowl purred down to her. "Look at the fresh kill pile." He flicked his tail. Directing her attention to the side, she looked at the tall pile of slumped over prey. "Is it always that tall?" She lifted her chin to see the top. "Not always, only when our warriors are lucky. Newleaf always provides prey though." He said. "We'll get a vole out." Turtlekit sat down and watched as Hawkgrowl clawed a vole from the top of the pile and carried it to the den. She lifted her head, looking around at the layout of the camp. Then, Turtlekit followed, watching three warriors who she didn't know return from a patrol and touch noses with more warriors who left camp. She huffed. "Am I supposed to know the names of all the warriors?" She asked. Hawkgrowl shook his head. "No, Turtlekit, you are only three moons. Before you are apprenticed you'll know them all." He explained. The two padded into the nursery. Lionkit and Ivykit lifted their heads. Bramblestar and Briarkit were still asleep.
As Lionkit finished up the vole, Turtlekit chased her tail happily purring in the open space of the nursery. "Bramblestar badgers moved into the old set! There's three of them!" Echolight scrambled up the slope and popped his head in the den. "Who is there now?" She demanded. "No cat, they came straight back as they saw them. Two adults and one baby." He reported. Bramblestar nodded. "Hawkgrowl bring the kits into the clearing, please." She mewed and climbed from the den. Hawkgrowl began to herd them into the clearing. Turtlekit followed her mother cautiously. "What's a badger?" Lionkit mewed. "Hush, dear." Bramblestar mewed before leaping onto Tall rock.
"Gather! Echolight has told me of badgers that have moved into the old set close to camp. He will lead the first attack wave then Stoneclaw will lead the next. Echolight takes Haresprint, Waspear, Yellowwhisker, Timberwhisp. Stoneclaw takes Redcall, Mumblejaw and Graytooth. Go! Drive those badgers out. Me and Hawkgrowl remain here with the apprentice's. Actually, Take Birdpaw, she is the fastest. Birdpaw is a messenger she does not fight. If something goes wrong she comes back and Hawkgrowl and I will join the fight." Bramblestar said, kneading her paws on the rock below. "Attack!" She caterwauled the battle cry. The warriors yowled back before turning and separating into groups and leaving. Turtlekit watched as warriors rushed away, her eyes shifted to Ivykit as she hurried with the group. "Ivykit!" She scrambled after her, the crowd of warriors still around her. Turtlekit weaved around the large paws, pushing her own paws further to find her sister.
Turtlekit caught up to her sister, they were out of camp and panting. No warrior had noticed them, they all seemed to be blinded by anger and the knowledge of battle. "Ivykit, how do we get back and how could you?" She trembled. Turtlekit looked around. All the warriors had disappeared but their scent remained, why did it feel as if they were nearby? "Turtlekit move! There's kits out there! Attack!" Echolight's fearful yowls sounded. The patrol of warriors leapt out, almost landing on them; they were so close. "Move!" Birdpaw screeched, grabbing Ivykit's scruff and knocking Turtlekit over with her paw.