Darksong's Struggle

Chapter 2

A moon later, Crookedcloud gave birth to two she-kits: Quickkit, a silver cat with a very long tail, and Pricklekit, a handsome white she-kit. Both of them spent all day nursing or sleeping, their eyes sealed shut and their ears flattened against their furry heads. Brindlekit appeared to have forgiven Darkkit, and he and Webkit slept peacefully now.

Today was a morning like no other, with the leaf-fall sun casting pale shadows into the nursery. The air was crisp and chill, and Darkkit felt warm and cozy in the crook of his mother's belly. Webkit and Brindlekit pressed against him, so he felt like a squished leaf between two branches.

As his awakeness returned, Darkkit's eyes opened. He pressed up against Willowspeck, using his mother as support as he struggled to sit up.

Brindlekit lay beside him, with Webkit slightly behind the big black tom. Outside, the clearing seemed crisp and milky, with a cool wind blowing stray leaves into the camp. Darkkit yawned and scrambled over his brother, flopping ungracefully onto the mossy ground. Crookedcloud was asleep in the other nest, Quickkit and Pricklekit resting beside her.

Darkkit limped out of the nursery, feeling crisp autumn air hit his face. He squinted and stumbled across the clearing, the cool floor freezing his paw pads. He shivered. The dawn patrol will be struggling, I bet!

He spotted the fresh-kill pile beneath the Highstump, and padded over to it. He gave the prey a sniff. There were a few bits of pigeon, squirrel, and a mouse. He dragged the mouse out of the fresh-kill pile and towards the nursery where he could eat.

"Nice mouse you got there."

The voice startled him. Turning, Darkkit saw Ravendust emerging from the warriors' den, his eyes blinking kindly at Darkkit.

Darkkit looked at the mouse. "Is it okay if I have it?"

"Of course, little one." The deputy chuckled. He glanced at the warriors' den. "When are those kits going to wake up?" He looked at Darkkit with a smile. "I tell you, warriors are as lazy as apprentices. They only go on patrol if I wake them." He turned his paws towards the warriors' den. "Enjoy your mouse, kiddo."

Darkkit blinked with awe. He had talked to the deputy!

He felt pride race through him as he dragged the mouse back towards the nursery. He set it down and started to gnaw at the soft flesh, enjoying the taste more than the warm milk his mother often gave him.

The nursery rustled, and Brindlekit and Webkit emerged with a yawn. Darkkit pushed the mouse towards his brothers. "Want the rest of it?"

"Sure." Brindlekit crouched down and gnawed on the mouse, while Webkit looked towards the thorn tunnel. Following his gaze, Darkkit saw Pineflower, Adderstep, Birchpaw, and Deadfrost emerge from the warriors' den and disappear into the thorn tunnel.

"We shouldn't be awake so early," Webkit mumbled.

Brindlekit snorted and licked his lips. "It's fine," He insisted. "We'll be apprentices soon, and then we'll have to wake up early."

"I'd love to be an apprentice," Darkkit mewed wistfully. "I want to be a great warrior like Ravendust."

"Or Pineflower," Brindlekit added. "I bet I'll be able to climb the tallest trees!"

Webkit chimed in, his voice high and excited. "I'll be able to pluck birds out of the sky!"

"Like that could happen!" Brindlekit snorted. "Birds don't just fly into your claws!" He looked at Webkit through narrowed eyes. "Maybe you should be a medicine cat. Then you can heal Darkkit if he falls out of a tree." He lifted his chin smugly. "Not like I ever will! I have the best balance in the entire Clan!"