Warriors: Divided Loyalty

Chapter Three

"Come on, Nightkit! Play with us!" Meowed Reedkit, his green eyes bored. "We're playing moss ball!"

"Yeah, Nightkit!" Sneered Songkit, shoving her to the ground. "Come play with us! Unless you're too scared."

Nightkit looked up at her littermates in fear, why were they acting like this? She had done nothing wrong! "I-I'm not scared!" She retorted, only half lying.

In truth, she was terrified of Songkit and Dawnkit. They always bullied and shoved her around like a mouse. Teasing and sneering was practically plastered on their faces whenever Voletuft wasn't around.

Nightkit didn't know what she did wrong, that is, if she did something wrong in the first place. She was their sister and she had to deal with their constant pestering.

Out of the two of them, Reedkit was the one who was the nicest to Nightkit. Always asking about her day and asking if she wanted to play or go to Cloverleap and Deerstripe for a story.

Nightkit liked the tom, and often played with him when Dawnkit and Songkit weren't around to chastize her about whatever they could.

Reedkit was her friend. Her only friend and Nightkit treasured the small friendship they ignited a moon or so ago.

A moon and a half ago, Russetbriar moved into the nursery expecting Blizzardflake's kits. Nightkit never knew why she would move into the already cramped nursery.

A swat at her ear made Nightkit squeak in pain as claws met the tip of her ear. A warm and sticky liquid trickled down the tip of her ear and down her cheek. Blood!

Songkit was swiping at her, his claws unsheathed. Another blow made her crash to the ground, her cheek bleeding. She looked up at her brother, seeing hatred and cold malice in the amber depths.

"S-stop!" She begged, her ears flattening to her skull as the tom kept swatting at her. Nightkit shut her eyes, shaking with fear as her brother pummeled her with painful blows.

Suddenly, she heard a grunt and the pain stopped being inflicted on her body. Nightkit opened her eyes, seeing Reedkit standing over Songkit, his lips drawing back into a snarl.

"You leave her alone, you mouse-heart!" He hissed. Songkit's claws sheathed, his eyes wide with terror. "When she tells you to stop, you listen!"

Dawnkit let out a hiss, but quieted when Reedkit glared at her. For a moment, all four kittens where quiet. When Nightkit shakily got to her paws, Reedkit was there in an instant.

"Are you okay?" He asked, genuine worry in his mew. She shook her head, pain all over where Songkit rained blow after blow on her. "Come on, I'll help you get to Mottlesong and Blackheart."

As Nightkit was escorted by a very comforting Reedkit, she couldn't help but notice that some cats stared at her. She shrank in her fur, trying to hide herself.

Cats' eyes pierced through her black pelt and Nightkit felt uncomfortable. At least Reedkit like me, right? She wondered, glancing at the black and white tom.

"Do you see the blood on her fur?" That comment from one of the warriors made Nightkit stop in her tracks. She scanned the clearing, ignoring the weird glance from Reedkit.

She saw a group of three or four warriors looking at her with narrowed, resentful eyes. They seemed to be talking about her and that made Nightkit's tail droop.

Pushing past Reedkit, Nightkit sprinted the rest of the way towards Mottlesong and Blackheart's den. She barged right in, startling Blackheart, who was bundling a pile of herbs together.

"StarClan's name, Nightkit!" Blackheart exclaimed. "What happened to you?"

Reedkit spoke before Nightkit could and burst out with anger lacing his mew. "Songkit attacked her!" He hissed, short tail lashing side to side. "I saw it with my own eyes!"

Nightkit flattened herself to the ground, shame washing over her. "I-I'm okay," she murmured.

Reedkit turned to her, his eyes blazing with anger. "No, you aren't!" He argued. "You were shredded by Songkit because he's a bully!"

"Calm down, Reedkit." Blackheart chided. The tom looked at Nightkit, something in his gaze made Nightkit frown. "Come over here, Nightkit, and I'll get the herbs to get you treated."

Nightkit nodded, shuffling herself closer to the medicine cat apprentice as he turned away to look for the herbs he needed. What will Applestar think? Would he delay my apprenticeship because I couldn't defend myself? She shuddered, suddenly chilled to the bone. Will I have to become Blackheart's apprentice if I can't be a warrior?

Nightkit winced in pain as Blackheart applied herbs to her scratches, focusing on her paws as he did so. Reedkit left the den, returning to the nursery to tell Voletuft what happened.

She won't punish Songkit, she thinks he's so precious. Nightkit thought, disappointed. She caught the medicine cat apprentice's gaze without him noticing.

Was that longing in his eyes? What did he long for? A mate and kits? She thought, shifted her gaze away from Blackheart.

"What happened here?" Came the voice of Mottlesong, Blackheart's tortoiseshell mentor. Nightkit spun around, seeing the she-cat trotting towards her.

"Just a little scuffle between Nightkit and Songkit, Mottlesong." Blackheart explained, licking the kit on the head. Nightkit shrank back, his tongue feeling like thorns on her head.

Mottlesong watched as he licked her head, her eyes like a hawk's. A low, barely audible growl rose in her throat and Blackheart looked away quickly.

"You're all patched up, Nightkit." The tom meowed quietly. "Go back to the nursery."

Nightkit didn't need to be told twice. She hurried out of the medicine den, eager to leave. What was Mottlesong so judgemental about when Blackheart treated me?