Not It

Chapter 12

Swiftkit burst into the nursery, sending scraps of moss flying through the air.

"GUESS WHAT? GUESS WHAT?" She yowled excitedly.

Troutkit lay down and covered her ears with her paws. Beside her, Applekit tilted her head.

"What?"

"I just overheard Shatterstar! He was talking to Rushnose about making some of us apprentices soon!"

Troutkit's ears perked up from beneath her paws.

"Really?" Pigeonkit asked.

"Yeah!"

"Did he say when?" Inquired Applekit.

Swiftkit shrugged. "In a moon or two."

Pikekit gasped, then groaned in frustration. "What? That's in, like, forever."

"Fear not!" His sister exclaimed, "I have a plan."

"For what?"

"Becoming an apprentice sooner!"

"A plan?" Asked Cloverkit.

"Yes."

"You have a plan," mewed Pigeonkit.

"Indeed."

"On a scale of one to ten," Pikekit scoffed, "how stupid is this plan of yours?"

"I'd give it about an eleven," answered Pigeonkit with a smirk.

"No, no it's perfect!" Swiftkit mewed, fur prickling with hostility.

Applekit sighed. "What even is it?"

"Duh! We're gonna break out of camp and catch lots and lots of fresh-kill."

"I–I'm sorry," started Cloverkit, "but isn't that against the rules?"

The white she-kit shook her head. "No one will care about rules once we feed the whole Clan."

Pigeonkit rolled his eyes and lay back down on his side. "Sounds boring."

"Oh, come on!" Swiftkit's voice rose into a shrill cry. "Guys, they'll be so impressed with us that they'll just have to make us apprentices early."

"I... I d-don't want to d-do t-that," Troutkit whispered shyly.

Swiftkit appeared taken aback. "Whatever, I didn't invite you anyway."

"Not fair!" Applekit interjected. "You need to invite everyone."

"No, it's my plan, so I can invite whoever I want!"

"Not fair!'

"What's 'not fair'," Swiftkit snarled, "is that I have to share a den with you."

"Shots fired," Pigeonkit muttered.

Despite her habitual apprehension, Troutkit took a step forward and frowned. "T-that's not... v-very nice."

Swiftkit shrugged, trying to play off the situation. "Not my fault Applekit smells."

"I do not!" Applekit retorted.

"She's right," Pigeonkit added. "The stink comes from Pikekit. He always reeks of fish!"

"At least I actually know how to swim, mouse-brain," Pikekit shot back defensively.

"GUYS!" Swiftkit shouted to regain everyone's attention. "The plan? Aside from Troutkit, who's with me?"

"Not me," Cloverkit answered.