Bearheart's Shame

Chapter 1

Bearkit leapt onto the falling snowflake, melting it as her paws hit the cold figure.

"Hey Bearkit! Wanna play snow race?" Pinekit called.

She sat bolt upright.

"Yeah..." Bearkit whispered.

Her littermates, Dustkit, Lionkit, and Doekit, got to him before Bearkit could.

She ran over as fast as she could on her stumpy legs, and sat down when she met Pinekit's burning green gaze.

Sprucekit, a very young kit, began to venture toward the older kits, clearly hoping to join in on their game.

Iriskit, Pinekit's sister, rounded on the scrap.

"Go away Sprucekit! Go back to the nursery!"

Sprucekit's fur bushed up and his eyes stretched wide with fear, but he didn't move.

Iriskit began prowling toward him, her lips drawn back in a snarl.

Bearkit automatically jumped into the white she-cat's path.

"What are you doing, Iriskit?" Bearkit demanded.

"I'm getting rid of a problem." She growled.

"No. If anything, you're the problem." Bearkit turned to Lionkit. "Get Hawkfern. I'll make sure Pricklypelt doesn't kill this poor scrap of fur."

Iriskit's eyes blazed with fury, and she leapt onto Bearkit's shoulders, knocking her over into the snow.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe I am the problem." She hissed into Bearkit's ear.

Bearkit snarled, afraid of what the older she-cat would do.

Suddenly, the weight vanished.

Skyshell and Falconheart were pulling Iriskit away, scolding her, and Sprucekit was nuzzling into Hawkfern's fur.

Pinekit was soon at her side.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" He worried.

"I'm fine." Bearkit grumbled.

But when she stood up, she realized she wasn't fine.

The scratches on her shoulders were deep, and pain pulsed through her as she made her way back to the nursery.

Antwhisker abruptly came and blocked her path.

"Your wounds need tending." He told her.

"But... but... I'm fine!" Bearkit stammered.

"No excuses. My den. Immediately."

Bearkit's tail drooped as she padded across camp on her short legs.

Pinekit bounded up to her.

"Do you think you'll be out in time for my ceremony?" He asked breathlessly.

"Yeah, I think." Bearkit mumbled. Pinekit and Iriskit were to be made apprentices today, if Sparrowstar didn't hold them back because of what had happened.

"Good. I want you to be the first one to call my name." He whispered, the hint of a challenge in his voice.

"Oh, I will be!" She nudged him playfully.

"We're wasting daylight!" Came Antwhisker's annoyed voice.

Bearkit rolled her eyes and stumbled through the snow, into the medicine den.

"Sit down there." Antwhisker gestured with his tail to a pile of flattened out moss.

Bearkit nodded, and sat down as Antwhisker dressed her wounds.