Warmkit couldn’t believe it.
LeapClan was something they made for fun; something to amuse them. They would have accepted Archkit anyway, faux-ceremony or none. She was eager and cheerful. So why, he wondered, is this thing getting more and more complicated?
They were in the nursery, sunlight streaming in from above the thick branches of a bramble bush. He was watching Sandkit pace back and forth in front of them. Twigkit, Archkit and he were all lined up in front of her. She held her head high, with an airy glow in her eyes.
“Listen, my loyal warriors.” She spoke confidently. “Today, we shall go through our code again. Three rules.” She stopped her walk and turned towards them. “I want you all to remember this.”
Twigkit yowled in protest. “A set of rules you make? And we have to foll—“
“First rule of the code.” She stepped dangerously towards Twigkit, looking him straight in the eyes. “Do not ever interrupt or question your leader.”
For a heartbeat, it looked like Twigkit was going to break, his jaws open in a look of indignation. But he just bowed his head, and muttered something under his breath. Is Sandkit getting too much power here? Warmkit asked himself, finding himself beginning to feel the same way Twigkit did. It was all so unfair!
Archkit looked unfazed, and still wore the cheery glint in her eyes. She actually looked like she was having fun. I suppose when you’re that young, you can’t get annoyed at someone yet. Warmkit made a guess.
“Rule two. You do not harm a fellow Clanmate, and help them in any times of need.”
The other three nodded solemnly. Warmkit noticed that Sandkit was beginning to look like she’s finally realized that maybe they weren’t having fun now.
“It’s all fine, guys,” she assured them, “I’m still Sandkit after all. I’m not going to go power hungry and such.” She paused before continuing. “We’re all just kits for now.”
That statement made Twigkit cheer up, the angry fire in his eyes now replaced with cool relief.
“I don’t know what the third one is yet,” Sandkit admitted, “Feel free to approach me if you have a suggestion.”
Twigkit’s stomach growled audibly. Archkit let loose an amused mew. Warmkit couldn’t help but do so as well.
“Looks like someone’s hungry.” Sandkit smirked at Twigkit, who dipped his head in embarrassment.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” To the ‘kill pile!” Archkit mewled, and all four kits ran out of the nursery energetically.
They rushed to the freshkill pile, each taking a piece of prey. Archkit got a small mouse to share with Sandkit, and Twigkit took a vole to share with Warmkit.
Warmkit dug into the soft meat, relishing it. It tasted so good, after so long living on nothing but milk. Twigkit was liking it too. They were both too busy eating to talk to each other.
The four kits ate close to each other, underneath the shade of a rock. Close by were Leafpaw and Hazelpaw, who had just wrapped up their meal.
They whispered to each other, then they slowly inched over to where Warmkit and Twigkit were sharing their food.
Warmkit was too busy eating to notice them. Leafpaw and Hazelpaw noticed this, and sneaked over behind him. It was already too late when the black-and-white kit felt claws latch onto his tail. The piece of meat he was swallowing caught in his throat. He kicked back with his hind paws, and he saw the world turn upside down as he somersaulted in the air.
He landed on all four paws, surprisingly. He didn’t know he could balance so well. He faced them, still breathless from the shock.
Leafpaw and Hazelpaw were purring loudly. It was annoying to him.
“You are right; it is fun to mess with kits!” Leafpaw’s tail curled. “They get frightened so easily.”
“I know, right?” Hazelpaw gave her fellow apprentice a slight push. “Next time, let’s get Archkit.”
“Don’t let Moondrop see you!” she warned. They hopped off to the apprentice den, giggling and chattering loudly.
Warmkit lashed his tail. “I’ll get you two back,” he vowed.
He turned away pointedly and walked over to where he had been eating beside Twigkit, resuming his meal. Twigkit was just staring at him, looking shocked.
“They’re so annoying, aren’t they?” Warmkit tore off a largish piece of the vole, chewing it hard. “You know, maybe we should put ants in their nests. That’ll show them.” The thought of getting even with them simmered and boiled within his head. Where can we get ants? I think there’s a nest close to the dirtplace.
Twigkit just kept staring. “Whoa,” he mewed finally.
“Whoa?” Warmkit echoed, puzzled.
“I think you must be SkyClan or something.” Twigkit still had chewed meat in his jaws as he spoke.
Warmkit didn’t yet know what SkyClan was. He figured it must have been something the elder Flametrail told him. He was not as social as Twigkit. He knew his way around the camp. He visited the elder and the medicine cats all the time, it seemed. Warmkit, in comparison, preferred to stay in the nursery. There he mostly spent his time talking with Archkit, sleeping and eating. His silver littermate would simply come back to the nursery from time to time to tell them stories the elder told him. He admired Twigkit and the ease at which he got along with everyone.
“What makes you say that?” Warmkit tried to sound confident. He didn’t want to show Twigkit that he didn’t know most anything he did.
“You jumped so high!” Twigkit raised his gaze to the air. When he turned back to him, his eyes shone with awe.
“Did I really jump that high?” Warmkit asked.
“Yep.” Twigkit replied, suddenly rising to his paws.
“Quick!” He called Warmkit, already in the middle of the clearing. “Let’s get to the elders den. They’re going to tell us all about SkyClan!”
Warmkit looked down at the vole they were eating guiltily. It still had a lot of meat on it. “But Twigkit! The vole!”
Twigkit waved his tail at the vole dismissively. “We’ll return for it later.”
Warmkit stood up and followed Twigkit. He went forward while Warmkit glanced one last time at the prey. We’ll be back anyways. He entered the elders’ den.
The elders den was built under the branches of a beech tree, reinforced with honeysuckle. It’s like the nursery, somehow, Warmkit thought, it keeps the rain out well and it’s easy to defend.
Flametrail was the only elder now. Yellowleaf told him that the last leafbare had been hard. It took away Molepelt and Honeytree. Warmkit felt for him. It must be incredibly lonely, without your friends.
Flametrail’s eyes lit up as soon as he saw Twigkit. “Twigkit!” he exclaimed, licking him furiously over the ears. Twigkit seemed to like it though, closing his eyes.
Warmkit settled himself. Flametrail noticed him, and he squinted to get a better look. “Chervilroot?”
“That’s my littermate, Warmkit.” Twigkit corrected him gently, “You don’t get to see him often, since he usually just stays in the nursery.”
“Oh!” Flametrail exclaimed. “For a moment there, I thought you were someone else.” Warmkit’s thoughts jumbled. What someone else?
He forgot the thought as soon as he remembered what he was here for in the first place. “I…want to know about SkyClan.” Warmkit mewed tentatively.
“You should have seen him jump, Flametrail!” Twigkit bounced, looking back at him. “I thought he’d reach the sky!” Flametrail looked at him with astonishment.
“Really?” He seemed incredibly interested.
“I was scared out of my wits,” Warmkit explained, turning away in timidness. He was unused to such sudden attention. “You would have jumped high too.”
“Here, little one.” He patted to a spot right next to him. Warmkit walked over and sat down. He found it easy to settle down. Here, it was warmer. He could probably fall asleep here.
From his position, he could hear Flametrail’s purrs clearly. He’s so happy.
The noise was so loud, Archkit woke up. “What’s going on?” she mewed, rising shakily to her paws.
“SkyClan,” he began with a deep voice, “was the fifth Clan. That was way back then, when the Clans still lived in the forest.”
The forest? Aren’t we living in one? What does he mean? Why isn’t SkyClan here anymore? The questions were threatening to spill over. But Warmkit held his tongue, and let the elder continue. He’ll explain.
“Now, we’re living by a lake, but back then, there wasn’t a lake. Instead, there was a Twolegplace close to ThunderClan territory. That used to be SkyClan’s before the Twolegs came. They were a great Clan. Their major attribute was that they could jump far and high, from their leader, Clear Sky. They had powerful hind legs, which allowed them to leap into trees easily and catch squirrels who decided to hide in the branches. They also had hard pawpads, which meant they could run long distances on rough ground. They were powerful.”
Warmkit found himself in awe of these cats. They’re so awesome! He found himself wishing he was a SkyClan cat. If he had half the traits these warriors had, he would be honored.
“However,” Flametrail’s eyes darkened, “SkyClan was driven out of their territories by Twolegs. They came in and turned their territories into a Twolegplace.”
Warmkit and Twigkit gasped in shock.
“Yes… and they asked for the other Clans’ help. The others refused to offer them territory, and SkyClan left, saying they will never believe in StarClan again. There have only been four Clans since.”
Warmkit felt depressed all of a sudden. Why didn’t they offer SkyClan some territory? Where are they now?
“Well, I suppose they’re out there somewhere. Clan cats are survivors. They’ve probably found another place, like we did.” Flametrail licked a paw, and started washing his face. What he said comforted Warmkit, and he was sure that they were living somewhere.
“Speaking of SkyClan, there are probably some of us with SkyClan blood in them. Maybe you have some, if what Twigkit says is right.” He leaned forward, and his gaze locked with Warmkit’s. “You’re such an interesting kit. I’d like to listen to you talk once you’ve warmed up to me.” He turned to Twigkit. “Invite him over whenever you come here. It’s a lot more fun with two kits here.”
Twigkit got up energetically. “I’ll invite Sandkit and Archkit over as well!”
“That would be great, thank you.” Flametrail dipped his head at both of them.
“Oops, almost forgot.” His sudden meow made the two kits stop, just as they were about to exit. Warmkit and Twigkit looked back.
“Stories need prey. Get me a nice piece of freshkill.” The two kits glanced momentarily at each other before racing to the fresh-kill pile to haul in a sparrow.
The elder pulled it closer with a hooked claw. “Thanks,” Flametrail said, ears flicking contentedly. “you two may go now.”
The two kits raised their tails goodbye before leaving, and allowing in Cloudcover. It looked like she was worried, from the way her tail was flicking slightly at the tip. Her ears were flattened too. What does she want to ask Flametrail?
He scanned behind him, and saw Cloudcover looking back at him, eyes filled with something he couldn’t describe. Seeing the usually kind and caring medicine cat so serious scared Warmkit, and he skittered away as fast as he could.
“Warmkit!” Twigkit’s high-pitched mew alarmed him further. He quickly went to his side, and noticed he was staring blankly at something. He followed his gaze to where the half-eaten vole they were having was covered in sand and dirt. Nearby were Archkit and Sandkit, ears flattened as they shifted their gazes guiltily from the vole to Twigkit and himself.
His heart dropped. What a waste of prey!
“We…” Archkit began, staring down at the ground, refusing to meet his eyes. “we were playing around, and then…” She trailed off, not wanting to say anymore.
“What’re we going to do?” Warmkit asked his nurserymates.
“I know exactly what I’m going to do.” The deep rumble from behind him chilled his veins. He jumped back to face the cat. It was Maplebranch, and behind him was Goldenfur. Their jaws were curled in a malicious smile. “You, Warmkit, will never become an apprentice or a warrior.”
He glanced back at Goldenfur, sharing a conniving nod. He swivelled around and started walking to the warriors’ den. “We’ll make sure of that.”
Warmkit’s legs felt like they were made of heavy stone as he walked into the leader’s den. It wasn’t me, he yowled silently, I wanted to finish the vole, but I got distracted. Now I just might never find my place in the Clan ever again.
Escorting him were the two cats, Maplebranch and Goldenfur, both towering over him. Their presence was intimidating, to say the least. Warmkit kept his tail low, hoping not to attract attention.
“What’s happening now?” Yellowleaf’s voice rung throughout the hollow, and many of the cats in the clearing who previously hadn’t paid attention suddenly swivelled their heads around. Warmkit winced. As if things couldn’t get any worse.
Yellowleaf bounded up to them. “What is going on?” she demanded firmly, “Where are you taking Warmkit?”
“We caught him wasting prey,” meowed Maplebranch bluntly. Warmkit’s felt like he had sunk to the bottom of the lake. That’s a lie! He wanted to shout, but he couldn’t. He was in big trouble as it was already. He didn’t want any more.
His spirit felt shattered when he turned his gaze to look at Yellowleaf. The emotion radiating off her was one of pure horror. His legs shook. He was paralyzed; try as he might, he found that he could not move one step further.
“But I—“ Warmkit’s weak protest was cut off abruptly by Goldenfur’s growl. “Save your claims for later, you half-Clan mistake!” The clearing fell to a hush.
His heart broke, and it felt like the ground had just given way underneath him. That’s a lie. All lies. Why? He shut his eyes tight, hoping that it was all a dream.
“You…” Yellowleaf growled, and Warmkit turned around to face her. He felt petrified, expecting a claw aimed for him. And there was a claw, raised high and glinting in the sun. But it wasn’t for him. Goldenfur barely dodged a killing swipe to his neck.
Yellowleaf jumped on him rabidly, tearing fur and clawing at his face. Goldenfur fought back, his jaws parted revealing white teeth. Rainstorm had to rush forward to stop Yellowleaf, and Maplebranch had to put himself between the two tussling cats. Warmkit’s heart was pounding.
Rainstorm succeeded in calming down Yellowleaf, who was now sitting down, flanks heaving. Goldenfur was the same, with Maplebranch whispering furiously in his ear.
“That’s about enough!” A loud yowl called all cats to its source. Warmkit turned, and saw Ivystar just outside her den. She did not look pleased at all.