Ivy's Journey (Book 1) A Warrior Cats Fanfiction

Chapter Twenty One

Harekit's POV

Sunlight filtered through the brambles, casting dappled patterns on the mossy floor of the nursery. Inside, Harekit lay curled up, feeling the weight of boredom. The other kits were outside, their tails sticking up in joy, their jaws opened, probably letting out shrieks of joy.

For once, Harekit was glad he couldn't hear.

Harekit tried to entertain himself by pawing at a stray piece of moss, but it wasn't the same as joining in the boisterous play outside. His round eyes wandered around the nursery, looking for something—anything—that could capture his attention.

Just then, Stoneclaw, a burly warrior, padded into the nursery carrying a bundle of feathers. He dropped them onto the patch of moss in the corner, where they fluttered and settled into a soft, inviting heap.

Harekit's ears perked up. His gaze followed the feathers as they drifted gently through the air. His heart skipped a beat. Feathers, he thought. I can practise my stalking and become even better than the other kits!

Harekit's tiny face lit up with excitement. He scrambled to his paws, his round belly wobbling with the effort. Without another moment's hesitation, he flattened himself against the ground. His tiny paws began to creep forward with exaggerated caution, his eyes squinting as he focused on a particularly enticing feather that had settled a short distance away.

He shuffled forward, each paw movement slow and deliberate, as if he were on a real hunt. The feather wobbled slightly with the breeze, and Harekit's gaze narrowed in concentration. He pressed his round belly close to the moss, feeling the texture against his fur.

Harekit's tail was completely still, barely twitching as he moved. He took another step forward, his little body gliding across the nursery floor with practiced stealth. He was so absorbed in his stalking that he didn't notice how the feathers around him were slowly becoming disarranged, creating a growing mess.

As he inched closer to his target, he let out a tiny squeak of excitement. His tiny paws reached out, barely brushing the feather. He pounced, his little body leaping forward with a burst of energy, his wide eyes sparkling with triumph.

The feather danced away from his grasp, and he tumbled into a fluffy pile of feathers, causing them to scatter even more. He scrambled to his paws and tried again, his enthusiasm undeterred. Each attempt seemed to create more chaos, feathers flying in every direction.

Stoneclaw entered the nursery once more and froze in his tracks as he took in the sight of the mess. Feathers were strewn across the floor, and Harekit was in the middle of it all, his small form covered in white fluff.

"What is this?" Harekit read the old warrior's lips, and could see the slightly annoyed expression on his face. "Harekit, these feathers are meant for the nests, not for playing."

Harekit looked up with wide, innocent eyes, his tiny face smeared with feathers. "But I thought I could practice my stalking and be even better than the older kits!" he meowed eagerly.

Stoneclaw's whiskers twitched with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "They're for the nests, not for your games. And now look at the mess you've made."

Harekit's face fell. "I didn't mean to make a mess. I just wanted to practice."

Stoneclaw sighed, his frustration softening a little at the sight of Harekit's earnest expression. "Well, you'll need to clean this up. But for now, you should stop and let us sort this out."

Harekit nodded, his ears drooping slightly as he started to gather the feathers. His small paws worked diligently, but his efforts only seemed to spread the feathers further. He was so focused on trying to fix the mess that he didn't notice Fallowflame approaching.