Warriors: Divided Loyalty

Chapter Two

Nightkit followed Gorsewhisper as he headed for a tree with a hole in the trunk, forming a den. As they passed by the den, the warrior began to speak.

"That's the elders' den, Nightkit." He meowed, flicking his tail to the tree. "That's where Cloverleap and Deerstripe sleep, and you'll be there one day if you so choose."

The black she-cat perked her small ears, looking into the den and making out the shapes of both elders sleeping inside. "What do they do to contribute to the Clan?" She asked, looking up at Gorsewhisper.

The tom looked down at the she-cat, eyes glinting. "They tell stories to kits like you, your littermates, and your denmates." He explained. "They used to serve the Clan for seasons and they have our respect as payment."

"Do they have kits?" She mewed, looking back at the nursery. "Are Littlekit, Honeykit, and Aspenkit their kits?"

Gorsewhisper shook his head, looking ahead. "As elders, they can't have kits. Either they're too old or too weak. Besides, if you were an elder, would you want to go through the pain of having kits?"

Nightkit shrugged, not knowing what to say. "Do Cloverleap and Deerstripe have kits that are warriors?" She asked, looking around the camp.

Gorsewhisper was quiet for a moment before answering. "Vixenpool is Cloverleap's daughter," he meowed. "Mistyflake, Halfthroat, and Flightpaw are Deerstripe's kits."

"Halfthroat?" Nightkit gasped, eyes wide. "Why is he called that?" She stared at Gorsewhisper, gaping at the tom.

Gorsewhisper looked down at her with shadowed eyes, making her uneasy. "When he was an apprentice, Halfthroat's name was Boulderpaw." He let out a soft chuckle. "He hated that name and made sure every cat knew as much."

Nightkit tilted her head, confused. "Why would he hate the name his mother gave him?" She asked. I like my name, I guess.

"Because my mother didn't give me the name of Boulderpaw," growled a rough, scathing voice behind them. Nightkit whirled around and yelped at the tom in front of her.

A gray tom with fierce green eyes and a horribly scarred neck made Nightkit sick. His eyes bore into hers, making her very uncomfortable.

"Hello, Halfthroat," meowed Gorsewhisper, padding towards the warrior. "How are you today?"

Halfthroat grunted, looking at the tom. "Fine, I guess." He meowed and looked down at Nightkit. "Who's that?"

"I'm Nightkit," she answered quietly, looking down at her paws. "I'm out of the nursery for the first time." Nightkit refused to look up, despite the thoughts racing in her mind. How did he get the scars on his neck?

"That's good," meowed the gray warrior and looked across the camp. "Well, I'll see you later, Gorsewhisper. Ivyheart wants me to share prey with her." Without another word from the tom, Halfthroat stalked away towards a silver tabby she-cat.

"And that, Nightkit, is Halfthroat." Gorsewhisper meowed after a moment. "Let's continue with the tour, shall we?"

**********

Nightkit dragged her paws back to the nursery, aching from the walk all around the camp. I'm so tired, I could sleep for an entire moon! She thought.

After the awkward conversation with Halfthroat, Gorsewhisper spoke less during the tour around the camp. Nightkit kept quiet during most of it, only asking questions that she desired to be answered.

"You're back," meowed Voletuft, gazing at her with tired amber eyes. "You look exhausted, come over here." She purred.

Nightkit didn't speak as she curled up with her mother, her eyes closing before she even laid down. She felt her mother's tongue rasping gently against her head as she drifted off to sleep.