BOOK 1~A Broken Beginning

Chapter 4

Songbird had smelled a stale scent of two small kits, but it wasn't strong.

     "You smell that?" Songbird asked Dustpoppy.

     "No," He replied, "But if I'm, wrong, the hunting patrol just went out. Maybe they'll find something."

     "Maybe..." Songbird said through the vole, as she had just picked it up. She padded towards the Queen's den with the vole and dealt with Dirtkit and her own kits.

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     Snaketail's paws hit the forest floor as he climbed a tree. Frostpaw looked up at her mentor, then at Thornbush.

     Thornbush looked at the apprentice, "Go check by the creek, alright?" He told the small cat.

     "Alright," Frostpaw said, padding to the creek with Thornbush.

     "What do you think we'll find?" Frostpaw asked the warrior.

     "Something, maybe." Thornbush froze, staring at Echokit and Hollowkit.

     "Kits!" Frostpaw exclaimed.

     "Help me carry them back, quickly." Thornbush said before picking up Hollowkit.Frostpaw picked up the small black she-cat and carried her and followed Thornbush.

     "Let me go!" Echokit snarled. Hollowkit gave her a quick glare and stayed still in the toms jaws. Echokit twirled and kicked out at the apprentice angrily.

     "Stay still," Frostpaw hissed through a mouthful of fur. Echokit snarled and swung backwards then forwards again and again gaining moment before she finally swung high enough and kicked the apprentices throat. The apprentice dropped her and Echokit darted forward a few steps and began padding Thornbush who has Hollowkit protectively.

Frostpaw quickly dashed towards the she-cat and snatched her with her jaws. Snaketail bolted down the tree and took Echokit from the apprentice's jaws. Echokit squirmed and struggled away from the large tom to no avail. Hollowkit looked at his sister, then up at Thornbush.

     "Let me go!" Echokit hissed, swinging her paws trying to hit the tom.

     "We are here to help." Frostpaw told the black she-cat, trying to calm her down.

     "We don't need any help!" Echokit wailed.

     "Sis, calm down!" Hollowkit twitched his tail.Echokit closed her eyes and stopped struggling. She sighed in defeat as the strong tom had a good grip and she couldn't hit him, either.

     "Who's this?" A brown furred tom looked at the patrol.

     "Leafclaw, we found these kits at the creek." Frostpaw replied to the deputy.

     "Alright. I shall talk to Thistlestar right away. Take them to the queens. Maybe they can play with Dirtkit, Snowkit, Bramblekit, Blazekit, and Cougarkit." the large tom purred at the patrol, his warm gaze looking at the kits.Frostpaw walked off with Leafclaw towards the Leader's den under Highrock. Snaketail and Thornbush walked into the warm Queen's den and set the two kits down near three small kits.

      "Hello!" A fluffy white she-cat purred at Hollowkit and Echokit.

      "Who are you?" A brown tom looking similar to Leafclaw asked the kits enthusiastically.

      "There's someone new? Did Daisyfeather finally have her kits?" A blind orange tom asked.