Warriors: Blazing Fires

Chp. 2

Chp. 2

....................

Thornkit awoke with Blossomkit at his side. They were both still in the small cave with Blossomkit still asleep. Thornkit listened to Blossomkit's soft snoring and gentle breathing as he lay there with his ears pricked, listening to the sounds in the camp as well as the sounds Blossomkit was making.

All seemed quiet in the camp, but he wasn't sure how long they had been asleep so he didn't know if he was being missed or not. Thinking about whether to leave the cave or not, Thornkit decided to go make sure his mother knew he was okay. He prodded Blossomkit in the side and waited for her to awaken. She got up without question and they both squeezed out of their hideout.

The camp was really quiet as the sun was setting. Thornkit and Blossomkit padded side by side back to the nursery and went through the entrance. No one was in there which he found strange. Blossomkit peered around and, spotting nothing, padded out of the nursery. Thornkit didn't want to stay in there alone so he padded out after her.

Blossomkit made her way over to the elders den and walked inside. A relieved meow came from Darkfrost, who was the only LeafClan elder. Thornkit walked in after her and heard Darkfrost meowing, "Do you know where Thornkit-" he broke off as he saw Thornkit came through the entrance and let out a relieved sigh.

"Where have you two been? The clan has been worried sick!" Darkfrost scolded them.

"W-we're sorry. We were still in camp, if that makes you feel any better," Blossomkit meowed.

"Actually, we-" Blossomkit slapped her tail over his mouth, knowing perfectly well that they had actually been a few rabbit hops out of camp, but wanting to keep it a secret.

Darkfrost didn't seem to notice. "Well next time, don't go hiding in such a tough spot. Go find another warrior and show yourselves to them."

"Yes Darkfrost." Blossomkit and Thornkit padded away but before they could get very far, Darkfrost meowed loudly to them.

"Oh, and stay with your mother from now on. Some of the patrols have scented dog on our territory." Blossomkit's eyes widened in terror and Thornkit's fur bristled. I'll teach that dog to stay out of our territory, Thornkit thought.

Thornkit bounded out into the clearing with a frightened Blossomkit behind him. "Hey," Blossomkit meowed, "Stay away from that dog." Thornkit snorted. "I mean it Thornkit! Stay in the camp."

Blossomkit padded away leaving Thornkit alone in the middle of the clearing. It was getting really dark outside so Thornkit turned around and trotted towards the nursery. Duskkit and Tigerkit had returned and were arguing about something. Hearing Thornkit come in, they turned around and mewed in relief.

"Where were you?" Duskkit asked, padding over to him.

"Oh, here and there." Seeing her glare at him, he added, "Hey, I was still in the camp!"

Tigerkit snorted. "I'll believe that when StarClan disappears forever."

"I was! Okay, maybe not exactly, but it was really close."

Blossomkit padded into the nursery. "I found Fallensnow. She was going to go find the search parties." She padded over to our nest and laid down inside it. Thornkit padded over to it and laid down beside her, waiting for her to fall asleep. Sure enough, her breathing slowed and she fell asleep. Thornkit laid there for a few minutes, thinking about what to do now. He wasn't very tired so he just laid there until he heard the patrols get back to camp.

Moonfeather rushed into the nursery and began licking Thornkit ferociously. Thornkit squealed, waking Blossomkit, and tried to get away from his mother's tongue. After squirming around for a while, Moonfeather gave up on him and switched to Blossomkit.

"Don't you ever run off on your own again! You worried so much." Blossomkit tried to scramble away, but failed.

"We were inside the camp," Blossomkit protested. "Same place as a few days ago!"

"You two are too adventurous, if you ask me," Moonfeather mewed.

"Where are Nightkit and Petalkit?" Thornkit asked.

"In the medicine cat den, with Amberpaw," Moonfeather replied. "I suppose you want to go play with them also. Okay, go ahead. I won't stop you." Moonfeather licked Blossomkit one last time before the two kits raced out into the clearing. Thornkit raced into the medicine cat den with Blossomkit close behind him.

When Thornkit arrived in there, he practically laughed out loud. Amberpaw was showing them all of the herbs! When Petalkit saw them, she quickly rushed over to them with Nightkit following close behind, glad to be away from Amberpaw. "Come on, let's go play a game in the clearing," Petalkit meowed and raced out the entrance. Thornkit, Blossomkit, and Nightkit followed her, with Petalkit yowling, "Thanks for showing us the herbs! Bye!"

They ran out to the center of the clearing, panting. "That was the worst thing ever! I'm not going to be a medicine cat anyways, so why should we have to know about herbs?" Petalkit complained. Nightkit muttered an agreement and Petalkit continued mewing. I wish-."

Petalkit broke off as voices came from the bramble entrance. Thornkit sniffed the air, tasting a new strange scent. His fur bristled. Enemy cats! He stared at the entrance to camp and watched as a LeafClan patrol filed through the bramble tunnel with only two strange cats. The LeafClan warriors looked not angry or hostile, but almost happy to see them. Or, at least, most of them did.

Thornkit watched as Nightkit bounded forward curiously. The first newcomer, a dark gray tom with white paws and muzzle, looked over at her. He purred and meowed, "And who would this be?"

"That's Nightkit and over there are her littermates, Blossomkit, Petalkit, and Thornkit," Oakfoot replied proudly. Thornkit straightened up as his name was said. "Those are mine and Moonfeather's kits."

"Moonfeather," the newcomer meowed uncertainly. "Is that Moonpaw or Moonkit?"

Oakfoot purred. "I forgot that you were gone for a long time. Moonpaw. She received her warrior name quite a few moons ago, and Moonkit became a warrior just earlier today."

While they were talking, a few more LeafClan cats crowded around the newcomer. "Do you wanna go say hi?" Blossomkit meowed to Thornkit quietly. He shook his head. Blossomkit shrugged. "Suit yourself," she called over her shoulder and padded over to the group hanging around the newcomers.

Thornkit didn't feel like checking out the new cats so he padded over to the nursery and laid down in his nest. Soon, he let the darkness take over as he drifted off into sleep.