Warriors: Softstar's Tale

Chapter 3

Softkit prodded the moss ball.

"Come on! Will you toss it already?!" Blackkit complained.

Softkit couldn't get Flowerpelt's words out of her head. There will be one out of four, who will return to live twice. What did it mean?

"Hey furball! Toss the stupid ball already!" Orangekit kneaded his paws into the ground.

Softkit shook her head and whacked the moss ball with her paw. It soared through the air and over the bramble barrier.

Whitekit groaned. "Great. Nice going, Softkit."

"Sorry!" Softkit apologized. "I'll get it!"

Before anyone could object, Softkit bounded towards the camp entrance. She made her way through the tunnel and out into the forest. She had to stop and stare. The trees loomed over her. It was her first time outside the camp.

"Wait a second!" Blackkit followed her outside. "We're not supposed to leave the camp by ourselves!"

"I'm only going to get the moss ball," Softkit said. "It's no big deal."

"You mousebrain," Blackkit cuffed her littermate around the ear. "Be quick about it."

Softkit padded around to the side of the bramble wall where the ball had flown over. It didn't take long to find it. She snagged it on her claw and called, "Found it!"

"What are you two kits doing out here?" a stern voice said.

The kits froze as brown fur appeared in their wake.

"L-Leafpelt?" Blackkit managed to mew.

Leafpelt's amber gaze bore into the sisters. "You realize that kits are not allowed off the Clan camp grounds, right?"

Blackkit bowed her head in submission, but Softkit just puffed out her chest. "We know. We were just playing when our ball went over the wall. We just came to retrieve it. That's all."

The deputy flicked his tail. "I won't report this to Wildstar or your parents, but next time I will if this happens again. Now head back to camp at once."

The kits made their way back through the tunnel, where the others were waiting for them.

"What took you so long?!" Orangekit huffed, but he immediately backed off when he saw the young tabby deputy standing before them. "Oh. Hello, Leafpelt."

"You kits should be more careful. Don't let me catch you outside again. Understand?"

They all dipped their heads in response before he padded off to the warriors' den.

"What's got his tail in a knot?" Blackkit said. "I've never seen him like this."

"Maybe something happened?" Whitekit chimed in.

Softkit looked at her paws, remembering the scene she had witnessed last night. Flowerpelt had told Wildstar about a prophecy. Did Wildstar tell Leafpelt about it? Was that the reason why he seemed a little colder than usual?

"Hey! Softkit! Anyone home?!" Whitekit waved a paw in her face. "What are you, daydreaming?"

Softkit hadn't realized how lost in thought she was. "Oh. Sorry."

"Can we go back to playing now?"

"Yeah." Softkit shook her head to clear and kicked the moss ball, but the prophecy kept tugging at her deep down. What did it all mean?

.........

"Leafpelt, Briarfang, Smallstone, and Nightpaw will take this Sunhigh's patrol. Ravenwing, Feathersong, Speckleleaf, and Dawnpaw..."