What if Snowkit wasn't deaf?

I crouched beside the nursery wall. Every muscle in my body was tense; the slightest movement was all I needed to trigger my pounce.

“...and Tawnykit was pretty scared, Mother.” Bramblekit was crowing. They were talking outside and had been doing so for what felt like forever.

“In your wildest dreams!” came the hissed reply. Same old Tawnykit, I thought happily. After what seemed to be a hundred moons, the littermates and their mother padded closer. And closer...

“Gotcha!” I shrieked, bowling Bramblekit over. He was knocked off his paws instantly; I was much bigger than him.

“It’s not funny!” he protested through a mouthful of dust. Not wanting to hurt my friend, I let Bramblekit back up again. His sister was standing a little way from us, purring. I didn’t even have to look at Goldenflower to know the disapproval flaring up in her eyes.

“That wasn’t what a true warrior would do, Snowkit.” My mother, Speckletail, snapped. I rolled my eyes. Queens can never have any fun, can they? Anyway, Speckletail couldn’t care less about Bramblekit because of his daddy. That wasn’t fair, because Bramblekit wasn’t his daddy. But she was still giving me a hard time for knocking him over. Same old Speckletail, then.

But she was partly right. I shouldn’t have attacked Bramblekit with so little warning. If Fireheart had seen, he’d never choose me as his deputy when I was big enough. Being leader was definitely something on my “to-do” list. Of course, I wasn’t about to go around killing cats just to be leader. If I was going to lead, it would be through my skill. Just like Fireheart. Obviously, Bluestar was our leader, but she wasn’t a good fighter like Fireheart. Fireheart was the coolest deputy in the world. Every cat knew that, except from maybe Bramblekit’s daddy. But Bramblekit’s daddy was the equivalent of a badger killed at the time of Lionclan that had been rolled in fox dung and left to rot ever since. Bluestar had said so several times.

“Sorry, Mother. Can I still be an apprentice?” I blinked my eyes slowly, just the trick I’d seen Fernpaw do whenever she wanted something. It seemed to work.

“Of course you can, Snowkit. You’re a strong, healthy little kit.” Cinderpelt exclaimed, bustling into the nursery.

“You smell of water mint. It never hurt any cat to wash their fur.” I announced. Cinderpelt purred loudly, even though no cat had told a joke. She was weird like that sometimes.

“It’s not nice to tell a she-cat she smells funny. How will Tawnykit ever fall in love with you if you can’t learn how to...” Bramblekit began, but I cut him off quickly. Even if it was a joke, it wasn’t funny.

Cinderpelt, still purring, pushed a few herbs towards me. I stared at them. They didn’t look nice at all.

“I’m not sick.” I pushed them away, and went to play Clans with Bramblekit. But Cinderpelt, as ever, would not let me get away.

“I didn’t say you were sick. These herbs will make your throat a bit itchy, but they’ll stop your scratches from getting infected.” She mewed. Sighing, I swallowed a tiny bite. It didn’t taste so bad. I took another bite. To be honest, it was no different to water mint.

“Hey, Snowkit.” Brackenfur padded into the nursery. I leapt to my paws.

“Brackenfur!” I exclaimed, bounding up to the golden warrior. Except from Fireheart, he was the most skilled warrior in the clan and would hopefully be my mentor

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“Well, Fireheart and I were talking. It’s almost time you were an apprentice and I’d be more than happy to be your mentor. Of course, it’s up to Fireheart, but I’d just like you to know that.” He mewed quietly. I yowled in delight.

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“I’m going to be the best.... FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEHHHEAAAARRRTTTTTTT!” I yowled. I supposed going to say that I was going to be the best warrior ever, but my concentration was never exactly great, and Fireheart doesn’t walk into the nursery often.

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“Well, I’m glad to see someone is happy to see me.” The ginger warrior blinked. Speckletail cuffed me gently.

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“Show some respect!” she hissed. Goldenflower glared at her.

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“It’s okay, Speckletail. I was just going to say that it’s almost time for Snowkit’s apprentice ceremony.” He explained. I felt a surge of happiness rising up in my chest. I wanted to sing like a bird and soar like an eagle. I was almost an apprentice!

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“What about Bramblekit and Tawnykit? They’re about the same age.” Goldenflower hissed. Fireheart looked anxious.

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“I’m not sure if they’re ready yet.” He mewed. I could sense that this pleased Speckletail yet angered Goldenflower. It’s funny how cats react differently to different situations.

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“Why not? Does having Tigerstar’s blood make them automatically less skilled? They have as much of my blood in them as they have of Tigerstar’s. Do you hate them for having my blood? Do you?” she challenged. I was suddenly glad that I wouldn’t be facing her in battle any time soon.

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“No, of course not. I was only worried...”

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“Worried that my kits were going to hurt your precious Sandstorm? Those kits are going to be apprentices as soon as possible, and I will personally arrange to take them to Shadowclan if you don’t agree!” she snarled. Fireheart looked confused. Eager, I waited for him to attack or breath fire or do one of those things that Fireheart was somehow capable of.

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“Very well.” He dipped his head and walked out of the nursery.

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">I have often wondered why he didn’t fly away instead of going by foot.

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“Snowpaw! Bramblepaw! Tawnypaw!” the clan chanted. Brackenfur touched noses with me, but I was only half concentrating on him. I was too envious of Bramblepaw to pay attention to Brackenfur. The lucky thing! He was going to be educated by the strongest warrior in the history of all warriors!

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“You’ll be Tawnystar before you know it!” I heard Sandstorm mewing as she touched noses with Tawnypaw. She sounded nervous.

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“I don’t want to be any kind of leader unless it’s through my own skill.” Came Tawnypaw’s hissed reply. I could hear Bramblepaw at my right, saying something similar. I really felt for them. Speckletail was a grumpy old badger at times, and that was bad enough. Being the kits of a ruthless killer must have been even worse.

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“So... would you like a tour of the forest?” Brackenfur mewed nervously.

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal">“Yeah!” I tried to sound eager, but I couldn’t help but notice that Fireheart and Bramblepaw were already ahead of us and discussing battle techniques. I wished with all my heart that I’d been given a better mentor.