Warriors: The Broken Heart

Chapter 1

"Applekit! C'mon we're gonna play mossball with Robinkit and Poppykit!" Ripplekit squeaked.

Applekit felt the sun warm his pelt from the top of his nose to the tip of his orange tail. He bounded off with his tail high in the air towards his siblings and denmates.

As he padded to the group of kits, snow crunched under his paws and made then tingle like needles.

Applekit, his sister Ripplekit, and his brother Ashkit were close with Robinkit and Poppykit, the leader's daughters. Applekit and his siblings were going to be apprentices tomorrow, so this was their last hurrah as kits before they started their warrior careers.

Robinkit had the small green ball in her mouth and waved her orange tail. She placed it on the ground and kicked it to Applekit. Applekit extended his paw and aimed it to Ripplekit, who dove in the dirt to catch the ball, which missed her by a lot.

"You are foxdung at aim!" Ripplekit sneered.

"Shut up! At least I can catch, mouse brain!" Applekit sneered back.

Ripplekit crouched and attacked Applekit, her brown fur clashing with his orange and peach fur. They rolled around in the dirt until they were stopped abruptly. Applekit could feel a paw on top of his back pry him off of his sister.

Applekit scrambled up to see Coalfur, his father, glaring down at him. He huffed, "this doesn't seem like behavior coming from almost apprentices. Knock it off. Some cats are trying to make sure you get fed when we can't even feed ourselves because of this cold." Coalfur turned away and stalked off to meet Goldenfur and Leopardheart.

"What a jerk!" Ripplekit hissed. "Maybe if you'd lighten up a bit we'd let you hang out with us!" Ripplekit's black striped tail was lashing frantically.

Coalfur had never been interested in anything Applekit or his siblings did. Their mother, Leafstorm, was the only parent he had ever known. He didn't understand why his father didn't want anything to do with him, but he assumed it was for the best since, based on his judgement, Coalfur didn't have good social skills anyway.

"Don't worry about him," Applekit meowed at last, "soon we won't be kits anymore and he'll have to at least acknowledge us."

"Yeah. Especially me." Ashkit grunted. "I'm going to be the most respected cat in WindClan. Soon, I'll be scolding him for misbehaving." The gray tom puffed out his fluffy chest in pride.

Robinkit bounced forward and faced Applekit. "Who do you think your mentor will be?" She asked, eyes bright.

Applekit thought for a moment. "Hmm.. well, I guess I'm fine with anyone. As long as it's not Coalfur." Applekit joked.

Poppykit rolled her eyes and stood next to her sister. "Mouse brain. Your parents can't be your mentor."

Applekit forced his fur to lay flat. Poppykit always seemed to not like Applekit for whatever reason. But, Applekit and Robinkit got along great. "I know that, mouse brain." He murmured at last.

Poppykit growled. "Well then I don't know why you would say that."

Applekit heard Ripplekit sigh. "He was just kidding."

Poppykit sat with narrowed eyes.

Applekit rolled his eyes in annoyance. He sat down and began lapping his fur.

"Applekit, Ripplekit, Ashkit! Come here please!" Leafstorm, Applekit's mother called his siblings to the nursery.

"We have to go, I guess. Leafstorm wants us." Ashkit mewed.

"Ok! See you later then?" Robinkit purred.

"Yeah." Applekit mewed in response. Robinkit smiled and sat.

The three kits trotted near the nursery and left their den mates in the middle of the clearing, who seemed to start chatting after the left.

Leafstorm sat at the opening of the moss and stone covered den, her orange fur was very neat, but her blue eyes clouded with sadness.

She purred a greeting. "It's starting to get late."

The sun was beginning to set over the hills and behind the trees lining WindClan territory, coloring the sky bright orange and red.

"The end of the day already? Leaf bare's days are so short!" Ripplekit complained.

"It feels like just yesterday I was preparing for your arrival in greenleaf," Leafstorm's eyes gleamed, "time goes so incredibly fast, my kits."

She turned her head away. "I'm going to miss you."

"We aren't going anywhere!" Ashkit protested, "we'll just be busy learning how to become the best warriors in WindClan!"

"Yeah! We'll make you proud!" Ripplekit squeaked and rubbed her face on Leafstorm's.

Applekit didn't know what to say. He was going to miss his mother as well, there was no doubt in his mind about that. But, he didn't quite know what to say to his mother to cheer her up, but Ashkit and Ripplekit were naturals.

"You'll make me proud whatever you decide to do. Just knowing you all are excited to contribute to much to WindClan, makes me the happiest mother in all of the clans." Leafstorm purred.

Applekit's heart swelled with love. His mother was such a kind soul, and was heavily respected by most of the clan. She was deputy before stepping down to raise Applekit and his siblings. Most of WindClan was supportive in her decision, but others were not as supportive.

Applekit yawned. He began to feel his eyes droop as night quickly surrounded the camp. He gave his paws a stretch. I don't want to sleep yet! The night's so young!

Ripplekit and Ashkit yawned as well. The kits made their way to Leafstorm's stomach as she purred, licking their heads as they nuzzled into her ginger fur.

Applekit felt his mother's warmth fill his fur. He breathed in her sweet scent and purred, kneading the ground in delight. Tomorrow, this would all be but a memory. Applekit would now have to grow up and start to care for everyone in his clan, whether they trusted him or not.

However, through his general discomfort in thinking about the rest of his life, Applekit did have some optimism about becoming an older warrior. He would be able to do whatever he pleased without asking permission from Leafstorm, and he would be able to meet his clanmates more.

As Applekit closed his eyes, he began imagining what tomorrow could bring, who his mentor would be and how he longed to make Leafstorm proud of his teachings.

Soon, Applekit felt as though he was falling, but into a deep sleep, and he allowed the darkness to engulf him, covered by the safety of his mother's fur.