Warriors-Secret of the Realms-#1 Dark Tunnels

Chapter 2

Reedkit

Reedkit looked around frantically. He saw Stormpaw nervously walk away to slip into the apprentices den, Violetkit has leaped down from the rock, and was now beside Leopardkit, leaning over Owlkit worriedly.

Then Nettlepaw was spotted at the entrance of the camp, walking in with bundles of herbs between his jaws. "Nettlepaw!" He yowled across the clearing. Graywhisker had raced across to the medicine den to see if Whirlwind was there.

Nettlepaw whipped his head into the direction of Reedkit, then turned his attention to the rock, where the two she-kits lay over a seemingly lifeless body. Nettlepaw trotted across the camp to the medicine den, and came back empty-pawed.

"Why didn't you bring any herbs? Owlkit needs immediate attention!" He urged. Nettlepaw turned to Reedkit, aggravating him more to see how calm Nettlepaw was.

"It can't be that bad," he said to Reedkit. "He only fell off the rock didn't he?" He asked Reedkit. He reluctantly lowered his gaze.

He knew something was wrong with Owlkit. he could feel it. Nettlepaw padded over to Owlkit and nudged the two she-kits aside. "He'll be ok, right?" Asked Violetpaw worriedly.

"Sure" replied Nettlepaw. Reedkit felt more annoyed by how cool Nettlepaw was acting. "Just fix Owlkit and leave" growled Reedkit. "You clearly aren't worried about losing him."

Nettlepaw's gaze softened at his words and he replied, "I will do the best I can." Reedkit's worries slipped away as he dragged his weary paws back to the thrush. He didn't feel like eating, so he dragged it back to the nursery.

"Snowcloud!" He Mewed a greeting. "I'm back." Snowcloud lifted her head, her eyes full with worry. "What's with all the yowling?" She asked. "Never mind it" he said to his mother.

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Reedkit glanced around, trying to understand where he was. Then one cat ran ahead of him, leaving a trail of blood.

He crouched down, examining the blood, it had a strange starry glisten to it. But the most strangest thing was the reflection- it wasn't his.

Startled, he jumped, the reflection slowly parted from the blood and the shape of a cat formed in front of him.

"Find the pool of blood, For only it can see behind the shadows" echoed the tom. The pool of blood? Reedkit shivered at the gruesome thought.

Then darkness ebbed into his vision, and the dark cat gradually faded. "Wait!" Reedkit exclaimed. "Where is the pool-" his dream ended and he was back in the nursery

What happened? Thought Reedkit. That dream was scary! But a real warrior wouldn't be scared of it, I have to be brave! Reedkit reassured himself. I should check on Owlkit. And Reedkit scampered out the nursery.

"Owlkit!" He called from the entrance to
The medicine den. No reply. "Nettlepaw?." His call was greeted by silence. "Whirlwind?" He asked.

A muffled greeting answered him. Whirlwind padded out from behind the herb store, carrying bundles of leaves. He spat them out and curled his tail protectively around the leaves

"How can I help you Reedkit? Do you have a fever? Bellyache? Feeling lightheaded?" Whirlwind went on until Reedkit stopped him. "I'm here for Owlkit"

"Owlkit? Oh, right! Owlkit!" He called to Owlkit. Owlkit peeked his head around the corner. "Reedkit!" He squeaked excitedly.

"I'm ready to go back to the nursery! It's so boring here, I want to go back. I hope I don't miss my Apprentice ceremony. It's going to happen in a couple of moments, right?"

"Yes, Owlkit." Reedkit replied. Reedkit had forgotten! His Apprentice ceremony was today.
He scampered out of the medicine den and ran straight back to the nursery.

"Leopardkit! Violetkit! Our ceremony is today!" He yelled into the den. Flowerkit jerked her head up. "Your ceremony? I want to watch!" She squealed In excitement.

"Shh! Whiteout might wake up. She's scary!" Whispered Reedkit. Flowerkit stiffened. "My mother is not scary! Snowcloud is ugly then!" Yelped Flowerkit. Reedkit growled at Flowerkit. He leaped onto her tail and swiped at it with his claws unsheathed

Flowerkit leaped back and reared up on her hindlegs. She swiped a forepaw at his eye with her claws unsheathed. Reedkit yowled but not loud enough to wake up Snowcloud or Whiteout. He leaped onto Flowerkit and knocked her onto her back.

Blood trickled down his eye. And splattered over Flowerkit. He wasn't going to kill her but she needed to be taught a lesson for blinding him. He cuffed her ear and nipped her foreleg. Then a call rang from the highrock.