Warriors: Divided Loyalty

Chapter Five

Nightkit opened her eyes, seeing the sun rays streaking the entrance of the nursery. She blinked, trying to get rid of the sleep that fogged her eyes.

Voletuft was still snoring, so Nightkit made sure she didn't wake her mother as she wiggled her way out of the nest. Reedkit was sleeping on his back, snoring loud enough to wake a badger.

Songkit was sleeping on top of Dawnkit, mouth wide open as his snores filled the nursery. Every once in awhile, he'll snort and kick at the air with his hind paws.

Over in Russetbriar's nest, the queen was sleeping peacefully while her kits were scattered around like leaves. Nightkit saw with a bolt of amusement that her kits were sleeping like her siblings.

Swiftkit and Wrenkit were sleeping back to back, Pinekit was sleeping on top of Volekit, and Russetbriar was curled in a ball. Nightkit smiled at the family and turned away, looking at her siblings.

Sighing as Songkit kicked the air again, Nightkit ducked out of the den and peered around the camp. She saw the apprentices, Littlepaw, Honeypaw, and Aspenpaw chatting with a starling between them.

I'll be sharing a den with them any day now! She thought with a wide grin. A moon passed since the ceremony and Nightkit couldn't wait to become an apprentice.

"Someone is up early," meowed a soft voice from behind her and Nightkit spun around, pelt burning as she met the gentle eyes of Voletuft.

"I-I was just thinking of being an apprentice," Nightkit meowed quickly, looking at her paws.

Voletuft purred, sitting down next to her daughter. "It's alright, Nightkit," she meowed. "You'll be one today, you know."

Nightkit nodded, excitement rushing through her once more. "I can't wait!" She squeaked. "I wonder who my mentor will be," Nightkit craned her neck up at peer at her mother, who was smiling.

"You'll know when your littermates wake up and get cleaned," purred the voice of Russetbriar as she stretched her legs. "I wonder how well that will go." She added, sending Voletuft a playful look.

Voletuft rolled her eyes and looked down at Nightkit, her eyes gleaming. "I'll wake them now and give them a wash." She paused. "Why don't you tell Applestar I want the Clan to start gathering?"

Nightkit tensed, the thought of speaking to the Clan leader terrified her to the core. Nonetheless, she nodded quickly to her mother and turned to exit the nursery.

Her paws trembled as she stepped into the camp, glancing around to see if cats were staring or speaking about her in hushed whispers.

She scanned the clearing, timidly padding further to the heart of the camp. Nightkit couldn't see Applestar but she could see most of her Clanmates.

Iceleaf was sharing a rather plump squirrel with Tawnywillow as they talked with Flightclaw and Blueheart. Marigoldscar and Bravebranch were basking in the sun with two mice lying with them, untouched.

At the medicine cat den, Mottlesong was lying out herbs to dry in the sun on a rock while Blackheart's shape could be seen checking the stores.

Nightkit looked at the Tall Tree, the tallest tree in the forest. Applestar would call meetings often from the third branch so he could see the entire Clan.

His den was in the trunk, hollowed out by a huge flood that carved out the tree generations before Nightkit was even thought of. Sure enough, Applestar's yellow tabby pelt appeared in the den as the leader pushed his way into the clearing.

On nervous paws, Nightkit hobbled towards the leader, gulping. What was she going to say? 'My mom wants you to hurry with our apprentice ceremony, you old hag.' Certainly wouldn't please the tom.