Embarrassing Love (For Spooky_Love_Raven's Contest)

Chapter 1

"I'm bored! When will we become apprentices?" Deerkit whined. Russetkit and Lifekit nodded in agreement.

"Soon, little ones." Mouseshine purred.

"Come on! Let's play moss ball!" Russetkit called from near the entrance. Deerkit and Lifekit bounced out of the nursery after their brother. The camp was a large clearing with grass that was soft under paw.

"Over here!" Deerkit called. Russetpaw batted the moss clump over to her.

"Back to me!" Russetkit called. The moss ball was batted back to Russetkit. Flamepaw strode through into camp after a border patrol. Lifekit stared at him, but looked away shyly when they made eye contact. He sat near the kits and watched them.

Now is my chance! Lifekit thought excitedly.

"Pass it to me!" Lifekit chirped. The moss ball was flung at her. She pounced on it and purred with satisfaction when it flattened under her paws. Lifekit looked up to see that Flamepaw looked impressed.

Mouseshine padded out of the den and started thoroughly grooming Lifekit.

"Look at how messy your fur is!" Mouseshine meowed in between licks. Lifekit's pelt turned hot with shame when she saw that Flamepaw's expression turned from impressed to amused.

"Mom!" Lifekit whined.

"You have to look nice while you are out of the nursery." Mouseshine scolded.Lifekit rolled her eyes and padded towards her littermates. Before she could reach them, Mouseshine had scooped them up and carried them into the nursery.

"But we were having fun!" Russetkit protested. Deerkit and Lifekit squealed unhappily.

"Well with a lot of fun comes a lot of rest. You can go outside again in a bit." Mouseshine mewed before curling up next to her kits.

Deerkit yawned after a few moments and soon fell into a deep sleep. Russetkit did the same. Lifekit yawned, but the noises of the camp kept her awake. She glanced at her mom and her littermates to make sure they were asleep then crept outside.

Flamepaw was sharing a vole with his sister, Lilypaw. Lifekit bounced over to them to see them sharing tongues.

"Hi Lifekit! Aren't you supposed to be asleep now?" Lilypaw asked.

"Well I couldn't sleep." Lifekit lied. Lilypaw nodded and went back to nibbling at the vole.

"You were really good at that game you played earlier." Flamepaw commented.

"Really!" Lifekit squeaked.

"Yeah. You should be an apprentice soon." Flamepaw meowed. Lifekit puffed out her chest proudly. Maybe I'll even train with him! Lifekit thought happily.

"What are you doing out of the nursery?" Lifekit spun around to see Mouseshine looming over her.

"I-um couldn't sleep." Lifekit stuttered.

"Well that's no excuse. You need to rest now. Come with me." Mouseshine scolded as she picked up Lifekit. She looked back at Flamepaw, sad to have had such a short discussion. Mouseshine laid her down in the warmth of her nest and curled up between her and the entrance.

Maybe when I'm an apprentice she will stop embarrassing me. Lifekit thought. She yawned and closed her eyes, finally realizing how tired she was. Lifekit's breathing slowed as she fell into a deep sleep.