This Is What We Know ✔️

ii. the river

chapter two;
the river

f i n c h k i t

"Finchkit! Hurry up, you're gonna miss the trip!" Grousekit's measley voice was warm and eager, stirring Finchkit from her warm sleep nestled against Poppyfang's side. "Finchkit c'mon, Sabledusk and Yarrowleap are waiting!"

The deputy?

Finchkit clambered to her paws immediately, looking to her mother with wide eyes. Poppyfang was sleepily at peace and nodded her head to encourage her to adventure with the two mollies waiting for her outside the nearly empty nursery. She used a paw to move aside the vines protecting the entrance and glared into the sunshine, stumbling over a stray twig and tumbling towards the small collection of cats.

Yarrowleap giggled before nosing her to her paws with affection Finchkit was used to from him. "Ah, there you are little one. We're going to the river today, would you like to join us?" He inquired, lowering his head to eye level with the tiny orange furball who was fluffed up at his remark. "Well, you and your brother, that is."

"He's sleeping!" Finchkit exclaimed, bouncing over to Larkkit and Grousekit and sitting at Sabledusk's paws. "Hi Sabledusk!"

Sabledusk's green eyes were as warm as Yarrowleap's, and his tail came to rest around her body. "Hello, Finchkit. Sleep well?" The kit nodded her head enthusiastically, adoration dancing in every crook of her countenance. "Very well then, let's be on our way. Yarrowleap does have deputy duties to attend to before the warriors wake for dusk."

Yarrowleap laughed again, pressing his body against his mate's while the tom cat licked the fur of his head. "Proud of you," Sabledusk whispered, lost on the two kits tussling, but not the orange molly with her ears pricked.

The group wandered through AlpineClan territory until Grousepaw stopped suddenly. "The river! I can hear it!" Sure enough, the sounds of water rushing over the rocks, stirring up the soil and pebbles settled at the bottom, stole Finchkit's breath and attention.

Three pairs of paws scampered to the edge of the path, revealing the grand AlpineClan river rushing below them.

"Don't get too close," Yarrowleap advised, using a paw to nudge the three away from the edge. "The last thing we want is to find a body washed onto the shore."

Finchkit nodded in agreement. They wouldn't want that.