The Adventures Of Nimblefoot

Story 3 (part 1): The Gathering

Just an FYI: I changed Starlingkit's name to Snowkit, since she's white and a starling is black. Which is unfortunate because I really liked that name. Oh well. Enjoy!

Over the next moon, the kits spent a lot of time with their father. He was their Idol, their hero! They would DIE for him! But there was one itty-bitty problem...

"Oh c'mon, Dad!" Nimblekit whined. "We can't protect you if we aren't Warriors!"

Quailfoot sighed and looked at the kits. "You have to be an apprentice first for six moons," He said, "And for the last time, to become an apprentice, you have to be six moons old before Nightstar can even think of letting you out of camp."

"But she can make an exception, right? Cause we're the kits of the future deputy?" Breezekit protested.

Nimblekit butted in beside her. "Don't forget that we're all-powerful and handsome!"

"But I'm a girl, I can't be handsome! Only beautiful!"

It was early morning in WindClan camp. Where the sun should have been shining, clouds covered the sky and instead rain was pouring hard on the roof of the nursery. The kits, due to their parents insistence, were stuck in the nursery. The small space was so chaotic that some kits even had to leave. Wolfkit went off to visit the elders along with Gorsekit and Falconkit (StarClan only knows what torture he was going through), while Nimblekit, Breezekit, and Snowkit stayed back in the nursery with the queens and Quailfoot.

"Would you keep it down, Nimblekit?!" Snowkit yowled over from a few nests down. "I'm trying to sleep!"

Nimblekit, who had been opening his mouth in a retort, quickly snapped it shut. He was being kind of loud, louder than Breezekit. Wait, why am I listening to another kitten? Nimblekit thought. And a She-kit of all cats!

"Okay, but still! We really want to be warriors so we can go to the gathering and keep you safe, Daddy." Nimblekit said, lowering his voice.

"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaassee?" Nimblekit and Breezekit both pleaded, giving the cutest kit looks they could muster.

Quailfoot sighed. Is he gonna let us?! Nimblekit wondered. I hope so. I really really wanna see the other clans! It would be so much fun! Maybe we could play Hunters and Mice, or Moss B—

"No. And that's final."

"B-b-bu-" Breezekit stammered.

Appletail looked up from her nest, saying, "No buts. Listen to your father, kits."

Nimblekit was aghast. Clearly, he was old enough to go to just one silly gathering! He was a WHOLE MOON OLD!!

Suddenly, Grasswind burst in the nursery. "Quailfoot! Thank StarClan I found you— There's another badger near the ThunderClan border! I can't find Nightstar, and Jaggedstep is busy being treated for his back pains. You gotta help!" She paused for a moment to take a breath and said, "Hawkclaw is already th—"

Grasswind never finished. "I'm on it. Sorry kits, I gotta go," said Quailfoot. Before he left, he muttered, "Gah, I'll get that Hawkclaw one day." Hawkclaw was Quailfoot's rival. Jaggedstep, the deputy, was growing old, and would retire soon, which was well known throughout the clan. Most cats were content with staying normal warriors, but two— Quailfoot and Hawkclaw— wanted to rise up to be the deputy, which caused an even greater rivalry. It didn't help that they had been enemies since kithood, when Hawkclaw stole Quailfoot's favorite feather to sleep with for himself.

Grasswind ruffled her long, silver fur after Quailfoot left. "Toms. Always so rude," she said rolling her eyes.

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