ButterflyClan: Monarchwing's Journey

Chapter Two

Monarchkit stepped out of the nursery and breathed in sharply. "Whoa! I didn't know the world was so BIG!"

"I know, right?" replied Sparrowkit.

Dartpaw passed the two kits. "Just wait until your see our territory."

Monarchkit's eyes widened. "You mean there's more?"

Dartpaw laughed at her expression. "Of course. And the world stretches even farther!"

Monarchkit and Sparrowkit exchanged a glance. Apprentices must know everything! Monarchkit thought. 

"Well, I better get going. Apprentices are busy." Dartpaw flared her purple wings. 

Is she going to fly? thought Monarchkit. But Dartpaw just shook them out and folded them up neatly again.

"Come on!" yelled Sparrowkit, who was already half way across the clearing. "Let's explore!"

Monarchkit scampered after him, just as Sweetkit, Cynakit, Pearlkit, and Peacockkit stepped out of the nursery, blinking sleepily. "What took you so long, slowpokes?" Monarchkit called over her shoulder.

Monarchkit ran after Sparrowkit, opening her wings to feel the breeze. Suddenly there was a voice behind her.

"Oh no you don't!" It was Dartpaw's mentor. "It's against the rules to fly."

"She wasn't going to fly, Buntingflight. She was just stretching her wings." It was Dartpaw.

Monarchkit started nodding her head eagerly, glad that Dartpaw stood up for her. Buntingflight looked ready to bite her head off.

"Alright. But I'll be watching." Buntingflight turned and motioned to Dartpaw, then stalked out the entrance barrier. 

Monarchkit turned away, glad that Buntingflight had left. She realized that all the other kits had gone ahead. She spotted Sweetkit's tail disappear into a cave. That's probably where they are! She ran as fast as she could to catch up. She came in panting.

"What took you so long?" asked Sparrowkit.

"I had a run-in with an angry warrior."

The kits' eyes widened.  "Tell us about it!" begged Pearlkit.

Monarchkit took a deep breath. "So I was opening my wings, to feel the wind better, and Buntingflight came out of nowhere and was like 'Oh no you don't' and got real mad, but then Dartpaw stood up for me, and I didn't have to explain a thing!"

"Why was he so worried that you were trying to fly?" Peacockkit wondered.

"I know, right? It's not like flying is the end of the world," said Sparrowkit.

"Actually it is," mewed an unfamiliar voice from behind them. The kits whirled around.

"Hello, you must be Swanfeather and Azuredusk's litters. I'm Lotusbloom, the medicine cat. Welcome kits."

Monarchkit stared at Lotusbloom. She's so pretty! Lotusbloom's wings were a beautiful pale pink, fading into a light green. Her eyes were large, and a bright green color. Her horn was unusually large, and seemed to glow in the half light. She looked like a living flower.

Lotusbloom continued speaking. "Nobody's allowed to fly, and no one's allowed to work magic, except for me, of course. It's an old rule."

"But why?" asked Sparrowkit.

Lotusbloom shrugged and gave the kits a half smile. "I'm afraid I can't tell you. Nobody knows." She paused. "But if you want, I can show you some. Magic, I mean."