Of Kits and Queens - #Wattys2016

Chapter Two

The nursery was in a tall, stone building. Inside, the walls were gray and the ground was soft and a dark blue. The windows were sealed for the safety of the kits, and the door was cracked and nearly closed--yet easy to push open. In the den were five nests, one of them in use, and the other four filled with old, unchanged moss.

To the side on one wall, a large box held many strange object left by the Twolegs. Small, wide, hard on the outside, yet fragile--like leaves on the insides. In the center of the nursery, mossballs and fun looking Twoleg objects lay for kits to play with from generation to generation.

It was nearly sunhigh. A dark gray tom with tabby stripes pushed the door open with his muzzle, padding in. Behind him came Kestrelsong, and behind her, a wobbling Halfkit.

"Sunstar was expecting you last night," The elder grunted. "He got sore when you weren't here at sundown yesterday." He flicked his tail to a large nest. "I suppose you can use that one, I'll tell Fallowpaw to get the moss and all,"

Kestrelsong nodded and padded over to the miscellaneous pile of Twoleg objects. "What in the name of StarClan are these?" She questioned, pawing at a bright and shining ring.

"I don't know," The tom replied.

"It's shiny--never seen one before,"

"Hm," The elder thought, sitting on his haunches. "Tell you what--some rogue came to us once, said she was going to have three kits. She gave birth, and left after a moon or so to raise them as Sewer Cats. That was from her nest." He explained. "I don't know...kits like to toss it around like a mossball."

Halfkit sneezed and toppled over. He watched Kestrelsong with an open mouth. When the queen seemed satisfied with the response, she placed Halfkit in their assigned nest. Her stomach growled.

The elder chuckled lightly. "I guess Sunstar will come up in a moment." He informed, then quietly added, "He's a bit impatient. Under the highrock, in the warrior and apprentice building, he tried to call a meeting, just to ask where you and your kit were! And he sure does give little Fallow a tough time."

"Little Fallow?" Kestrelsong asked.

"Sure. Fallowpaw's the only apprentice in EmpireClan right now. Both his siblings died at birth...along with his mother."

She stayed quiet for a moment. "The only apprentice, huh?"

"Yes indeed--he's a nice apprentice, though. He's a little shy, but does what he's told. Clawscar gives him a hard time, especially during battle training. Fallowpaw doesn't care too much, though. He plays around with the Twolegs things he collects in the apprentice nest."

"Oh...how...how is Sunstar?" Kestrelsong asked. "And have you seen Driftmask around lately?"

"Sunstar--he's one of the best leaders. And I should know...I'm the second oldest cat in the clan." He admitted.

Halfkit picked the old moss out of the nest, it was itchy and bugged him. When he yawned, another cat padded into the nursery. The tom was strong looking and had gray splotches in contrast to his ginger fur.

"Sunstar," The elder dipped his head in respect.

Sunstar chuckled. "No need, Smoketail," He turned to face Kestrelsong and Halfkit. "Ah, apologies. Your name?" He asked.