Nightfrost's Choice

Chapter 12

"My turn!"

"No, last time was your turn!"

"So? Last time you stepped on my tail! So now you owe me!"

"Ugh... I always have to be the StreamClan warrior!"

"So then you're used to it?"

"Rawr!"

Nightpaw watched the kits play as she scraped the moss off her paws, a purr rumbling in her throat as Silverkit pounced on Squirrelkit.

The kits were three moons old now- Old enough to get in the way of training! Nightpaw thought amusingly as Squirrelkit tumbled underneath Rockshade's paws.

"Watch it." The dark warrior growled, but there was a fond look in his eyes as he nudged Squirrelkit away and took a vole from the Fresh Kill Pile.

A few moments later, Squirrelkit raced up to Nightpaw, his green eyes shining.

"Hide me!" The kit squeaked as Silverkit came into view.

Nightpaw purred with amusement as Squirrelkit dove under her pelt, and she rested on the ground without suffocating the kit, hiding his ginger pelt from view just as Silverkit scampered up to Nightpaw.

"Where's Squirrelkit?" She demanded, fluffing out her silver fur, her water-blue eyes as demanding and beautiful as her mother's. "I know he's here somewhere!"

"Nooooo..." Nightpaw meowed, making her fur spike out and her eyes go round guiltily. "He's not heeeerreeee!"

"There!"

Nightpaw jumped off Squirrelkit just as Silverkit pounced on her brother, pinning him to the ground.

"Cheater!" Squirrelkit whined. "You were peeking!"

"Was not!" Silverkit shoved Squirrelkit and Squirrelkit snarled and reared up on his hind legs, swiping at her muzzle, making her wobble a bit.

"If you want, I could teach you the paw swipe." Nightpaw offered, feeling a spark of interest to teach these kits, especially the tomcat, who seemed more adventurous than Silverkit.

Squirrelkit's eyes gleamed.

"Yes! Yes, of course!"

"What's this about battle moves?" Ripplefur emerged from the nursery, her pelt sleek and shiny and her belly back to normal now that she had kitted. Her beautiful eyes gleamed with defiance as she wrapped her tail around her kits and gave Nightpaw a questioning look.

Nightpaw felt her face turn hot.

"Oh... Umm, I thought I'd teach the kits the paw swipe so it's more fun when they play fight." She explained, shifting her paws, and Ripplefur gave her a warm look now.

"Of course. Just make sure they don't get hurt." The queen added, and Nightpaw dipped her head in respect.

"I won't get hurt!" Squirrelkit yowled, swiping at the air with his claws. "I'm a warrior."

Silverkit nudged him.

"Oh yeah? I'm deputy!"

"I'm leader!"

"No you're not!"

"Yes I am!"

"Hush, you too." Ripplefur scolded them, and she turned to Nightpaw again. "You think you can watch them for a while? I want to catch up on some sleep." She parted her jaws in a yawn, and Nightpaw nodded.

"Sure. I'd be glad to." Nightpaw purred her clanmate, and when Ripplefur nodded and ducked back into her den, Nightpaw turned to the kits.

"Teach us!" Silverkit squealed, bouncing up on her paws, but Squirrelkit just sat down and focused on Nightpaw, like an apprentice to a mentor, Nightpaw noted.

"Alright young warriors." She meowed, puffing out her fur. "If you want to learn the paw swipe, pay close attention. You want to swipe at the warrior's throat, to knock him off balance, and then finish it with a hard blow."

She swiped at the air as she spoke, miming the battle move Cedartail had spent so much time teaching her.

"But won't that hurt the warrior?" Silverkit squeaked, fear sparking her gaze, and Squirrelkit nudged her.

"Of course silly!" He meowed loudly. "Isn't that the point?" He turned to Nightpaw for an answer, and Nightpaw nodded.

"Well, yes, Silverkit, but remember, killing is against the warrior code." She pointed out, and the little shekit seemed to relax. "Ok, so why don't you two try it out on each other?"

Squirrelkit nodded and dropped into a crouch, his tail lashing, and Silverkit let out a mock snarl:

"Bring it, StreamClan scum!"

Squirrelkit straightened up and let out a groan.

"What? How come I'm StreamClan again?" He complained, Nightpaw tried to comfort him.

"StreamClan may be bad, but they have strengths, too. There's a lot we can learn from them." She quoted her mentor's words, but even to her, the words sounded forced and fake.

Squirrelkit sighed.

"Ok." He agreed, and then he lunged at Silverkit.

Nightpaw watched as Silverkit dodged out of the way and swiped blindly at her brother's pelt, but Squirrelkit shook his fur and Silverkit jumped back, squealing.

Squirrelkit leaped onto his sister, pretending to bite her throat, but Nightpaw watched with interest as the silver shekit shoved Squirrelkit off with her hindleg and swiped at his throat, missing him by a hair.

"Keep going!" She encouraged, and the only thought that constantly flashed through her mind, was:

I can't wait till I'm a mentor!

And then a tiny, small thought that made Nightpaw consider her future as leader:

I can't wait to have kits.

With who, was the question...