Gilafang's Resentment (Book 4)

Chapter 2

Gilakit lay in the nursery, glaring across the camp at the cave under the BloodRock where his mother slept. The nursery was lonely, with just Sunsetkit and him sleeping in the large woven bramble-cave, but it was better than sleeping with his mother. He still didn't speak to her, going to Splashflight for water and asking for prey instead of milk, even though he was 2 moons old.

He curled his tail around his sleeping sister, and his belly rumbled. He wished for the sweet, warm milk from his mother, longing for the warm feeling of it guzzling down his throat. But he pushed the fantasy away. I hate her. He reminded himself, taking a second to spit in the moss beside him. She's a meanie!

He got up and yawned, stretching his brown paws in front of him in a bow. His back was arched and his fur standing up as he yawned, and then wiped the sleep from his eyes as he trotted outside. He looked around at his clanmates. They look so happy... He thought to himself. How can they be happy with my mother ruling them? It didn't make sense to him, he couldn't comprehend it. His mother was just horrible!

He padded over to the fresh kill pile, inspecting his options. The warm greenleaf sun had started to fade, leaving a chilling wind to cool his back as he searched for a suitable meal for he and his sister. After a while, he selected a small but plump mouse by the tail and dragged it towards the nursery, tail fluffed up against the chilling wind. Leaf fall was approaching fast.

When he reached the nursery, his sister poled her head out of the small opening, rubbing her eyes. "Hey, bro," she yawned tiredly, stumbling out. She stretched, and yawned one more time before smacking her lips. "Ooh, mouse!" She said happily. Gilakit smiled and purred.

"Wanna go get Yewpaw?"

Sunsetkit nodded. "Sure thing, bro! But only if you can beat me at a game of Warriors!" She cried, leaping unexpectedly at Gilakit. He jumped back in surprise, paws flailing to get in contact with his sister. He laughed.

A paw connected lightly to his cheek, and he in turn landed a soft blow to Sunsetkit's head, making sure to be gentle enough not to hurt her. She growled playfully and threw all her weight to one side, throwing Gilakit off balance and sending both kits tumbling towards the center of the camp. Gilakit purred and kicked his sister's stomach and she giggled. Then an amused voice sounded from above.

"Hey! Watch your paws, silly!" Lemurtail laughed as they tumbled over her paws. Her eyes were light and friendly as they gazed at Gilakit. When Gilakit met her gaze, he realized she was looking a tad to his right. What? He cocked his head to one side, but then decided to drop it. Probably no big deal anyways...

Sunsetkit smiled. "Fine, you got me," she admitted modestly. "I'll fetch Yewpaw to help us eat." She trotted off, towards the direction of the medicine den. Gilakit was about to follow her when he heard the distinct call of his mother from the other side of the clearing.

"Gilakit! Come here please!" She called. Gilakit's cheerful expression quickly went sour as he dragged his paws to the nursery where his mother sat. He sat next to her and stared at her paws.

"What." He mumbled, making it clear he didn't want to talk. I have nothing to say to her.

Morningstar opened her mouth to respond when a scream erupted from the medicine den. It sounded high, scared...

Feminine.

Gilakit shot up, not missing a beat. Clearly Lemurtail had the same idea, and they raced to the medicine den together before Morningstar grabbed Lemurtail and shoved her away. Gilakit dove into the den and looked over his shoulder to see Morningstar growling over Lemurtail.

"Leave her!"

Gilakit backed away. No... No! Morningstar?! He turned around, expecting to see his sister's broken, dead body on the ground, twitching and dying. Oh please let her death be quick! He begged in his mind, shaking hard in fear. But as he spun around, he saw not Sunsetkit laying dead on the floor, but Yewpaw, with foam and blood at her mouth, the mouse she had been chewing for Sunsetkit open and bleeding with bloodred berry juice. Deathberries. Gilakit stared in shock, mouth wide open.

He snapped back into reality and rushed to his cowering sister to soothe her, ushering her out, and shooting a killer glare to his mother as he passed her.

She will not get away with this.

*****

Gilakit was up all night, the horrible images of Yewpaw flashing in his mind. Sunsetkit had left him to sit vigil for her friend. Gilakit looked at her as she huddled beside Splashflight and Snowtip, those were the only cats sitting with her.

When Gilakit finally drifted into a restless sleep, he was haunted by the screams of pain from Yewpaw, and the eager glare of his mother as she watched the medicine den for signs her cruel scheme had worked. He tossed and turned until dawn, when he woke.

It's no use trying to sleep, he thought to himself, getting up to stretch. He sighed, trotting outside to stare at the rising sun. As the stars above disappeared he watched the sky brighten with the sun. Suddenly his sister cane up beside him, sniffling quietly.

"Hey..." She mumbled beside him. Gilakit smiled and licked her nose.

"Hey, sis." He said gently. "You feeling better?" He asked, hoping she was fairing better than him. She didn't respond, just leaning her head on his shoulder and sobbing silently. Wet tears fell onto Gilakit's shoulder and he closed his eyes. They sat there, together, until the sun rose, starting a new, clean day, hoping this one would be better.