Warrior cats: Rainstar's Choice

Chapter One

"Hey!" A young golden and gray tabby kit sat back on his haunches, tail thrashing back and forth. "You can't do that! That's not fair!"

Another kit, this one light brown and a tad bigger than the other, stood on the opposite side of the tree hollow, fingering a ball of moss between his tiny claws.

"Life's not fair," he sneered, before letting out a sharp yelp as he was scent flying across the den, right into the only kit in the den who had yet to wake up.

Rainkit whimpered as something hit his flank hard. his head shooting up out of his nest, and panic causing him to leap into the air.

"Oh Rainkit..."

the black and white kit felt the fur on his neck relax slightly at the familiar voice, oh, I guess Snakekit and Flickerkit were just playing moss ball again.

His relief soon turned to embarrassment though as he noticed the other two kits gazing at him with undisguised amusement.

"Honestly Brother," Snakekit purred, his whiskers twitching as he walked over to nudge his littermate affectionately. "It's a wonder you don't run from your own shadow!"

Rainkit frowned, shaking a few bits of loose moss from his coat.

"Yeah well." He paused a heartbeat trying to come up with a decent retort. After all, it wasn't his fault he was so jumpy. If Snakekit had the kind of dreams he did, he would be a bit on edge too!

Luckily he was saved from the pathetic attempt, for a shadow filled the nursery. And the three kits glanced up, Curious as too who had come to visit them. Spiderwing had only just left with Stormtree to go for a walk through the forest, so it couldn't be her. Rainkit cocked his head as through the nursery entrance walked a huge black cat, the entire right side of his face a scarred mess. The one good eye he had, however, was shimmering with happiness.

"Dad!" Snakekit squeaked, racing over to their father. His green eyes bright with joy. "You bring us anything to play with?"

Ratstar's eye rested on his energetic son for a heartbeat before he glanced away. Rainkit frowned, how come dad never seems to like to look at Snakekit?

Before the kit could ponder this long, his father's deep voice broke through his thoughts.

"Sure did!" He walked past Snakekit and over to Rainkit, setting at his paws a huge brown hawk feather. Rainkit felt his eyes widen at the pleasant surprise. But the excitement was short lived as he caught sight of the hurt look on Snakekit's face.

"I found it on the ground while out on a patrol, and thought you might get some enjoyment out of it." His father purred, obviously pleased with himself. Completely ignoring Snakekit as the kit came to sit at his brother's side. "What do you think?"

"I-I think it's great, thanks alot dad!" He mewed awkwardly, glancing between his dad and brother. He loved his father, he really did. Still, sometimes he wished Ratstar would stay away from the nursery. He hated seeing his brother's feelings hurt, and that's what winded up happening every time Ratstar came to see them. it wasn't that he was mean toward Snakekit per say, he was just... cold.

"I think it's amazing dad!" Snakekit meowed loudly, desperately trying to draw the leader's attention over to him. "Did you and the patrol see the hawk that dropped it? Did you have to fight it?"

Ratstar didn't even glance at his other kit, his eyes staying firmly glued to Rainkit.

"No, it probably fell of the bird as it flew over our territory." He answered bluntly, before addressing Rainkit once more. "so little one, Spiderwing tells me you've been having some pretty rough dreams, what's that all about?"

Rainkit ears flattened and he began to lick intently at his chest fur. Oh, Spiderwing! Why did you have to tell him! He probably thinks I'm some sort of coward now, getting all jumpy over a few stupid nightmares.

"I-." He trailed off, trying to figure out something to say.

"Oh don't worry about him, dad!" Snakekit jumped in, much to the surprise of his littermate. "We went to see the elders a few sunrises ago and Bonefur told us some pretty scary stories about the battles he fought in, I think they were enough to make any cat a bit skittish!"

Finishing his explanation, Snakekit glanced over at Rainkit flashing him a quick wink. Rainkit hid a smile as he nodded to clarify his brother's tale. Snakekit really is the best littermate anyone could ever have! He purred mentally.

Ratstar still refused to look at Snakekit, but he let out a soft marrow of laughter at his son's words.

"Oh, yes," the leader chuckled. "Bonefur's stories are enough to scare the fur off a fox!" He leaned down, briefly resting his head against Rainkit's. "I'm sure you'll get over it soon enough though, uh my little warrior?"

Rainkit gave his father a half smile.

"Yeah..." he meowed, uncertainty clawing at his chest. I'm not so sure I'll ever get over these...
Flickerkit, who had been silently watching the interaction, finally spoke up.

"Yeah, Rainkit, don't worry." The fluffy kit sat back, licking at his shoulder fur. "I once had a nightmare that I was being chased by a huge herd of mice!"

Rainkit bit his tongue to keep from responding to that. Unfortunately for Flickerkit, Snakekit had no such boundaries.

"I don't know what we should be more concerned about." Rainkit's brother snickered, shaking his head back and forth in disbelief. "The fact that your mind comes up with stuff like that, or that dream you is running away from prey."

Flickerkit growled playfully, leaping at the other kit, and they both went down in a ball of fur.

Ratstar shook his head, his eyes glowing with amusement.

"Kits," he muttered under his breath, before lifting his gaze to meet Rainkit's. "So, just one more moon and you'll be an apprentice, you must be feeling pretty excited uh?"

Rainkit gave his father a shy nod, sure I'm excited, but it's pretty scary to think about! Wonder who I'll get as a mentor. It would be great if they gave me Stormtree! Rainkit grinned at the thought of the wise warrior, he would be the best!

His father chuckled at his obvious joy.

"Yes, I still remember my apprentice ceremony..." Rainkit frowned as a look of sudden sadness washed over the leader. "I was so nervous... but your mom encouraged me enough, so that when I finally got up there I was totally prepared for anything that came my way."

Rainkit blinked at the mention of his mother, and out of the corner of his eye he noticed Snakekit shove Flickerkit off him. His brothers ears were perked intently, as both kits hungarily hoped for more. Dad never mentions mom!

Rainkit felt his breathing grow shallow as he watched his father stare at the nursery wall. Though it was evident his mind had drifted to a time many moons ago.

"So, how did mom do at her ceremony?" Snakekit mewed, his voice hestient. Ratstar's head jerked back at the reminder that he wasn't alone. He narrowed his eyes at a spot above Snakekit's head, but before he could answer a sudden yowl sounded from outside the nursery.

All four cats stiffened at the angry sound, but before the kits could even think of moving. Ratstar had pushed them all to the back of the den.

"You three stay here!" He barked, turning and pelting out of the den. Leaving the three kits frozen in terror.