Solstice

 

 We all have our highs and lows

 This is gonna be bad

 Orange_divider.1400140432.gif







Allegiances.png












PrologueSolstice.png
Cold white-droplets of leaf-bare covered the pelts of sleeping cats, turning them white. The slience, that covered the camp, was lifted by the yowl of an angry cat and  pleading voices woke the came. White-droplets stirred in the wind  and angry chants echoing through the forest. Teeth glistened in the moonlight,  eyes flashed with emotion. As the creatures sparred with each other  lighting conflict in the camp. "Why are we keeping that rouge in our camp!"

"Larksong, is not dangerous in his state! The leader has spoken her words are law!" A queen sat in the shadows of the camp hiding her presence from the eyes of the cats , this was not her territory but she had to speak to that tom, she turned her head and  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">hissed at an approaching toabby tom who drew up his head pleadingly

<span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"Please" the tabby tom meowed "Don't leave me! <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> You'd never survive out there and don't forget our kits could arrive any day." "I don't care" hissed the queen "I have had enough of you <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">mouse-brain! I know what you've done, and you've lost me! You've never  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">loved me, I'm just your play-thing! You made me betray my clan" She spat the words at him, her eyes  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">had an unreadable expression, a mixered of hate, pain and love, her last words trailing off to full of emotion to continue. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">The queen turned, shook her head and sighed and meowed a farwell before <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">slipping away between the two oaks that had hid her. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Turning back to the battle, the grey tom heard a yowl from  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">above that silencend the writhing cats below. "ShadowClan I will not allow fighting among one another. Larksong will stay until further notice!" Tigerheart<span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">, the brown tabby, stood staring at the trees were she had departed meowing her name,   <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">panicking he ran to the leaders den, without a meow of welcome he ran in,   <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">the leader turned, she was sharing tounges with a small gray she-cat,   <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">she paused and raised her head "Yes, Tigerheart" She growled flicking her tail  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">agriliy at the interruption. Tigerheart forced his tone to remain calm <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"Can I please be exucused, the battle really shook me I need some peace for a while" His leader rose her head, anger filled her eyes "If that was what you interupted me for? Think about your manners" "I'm sorr-" Her tone softened, as she interupted "I know my choice has been hard, I fear that I am going to destroy my clan" The leader paused becoming <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">overwelmed with fear.

<span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"You are the best leader I could wish for your choices are always what is best for your clan which you are loyal to to the end" His leader smiled, the she-cat next to her turned her head "May Starclan light you path," "And yours..."

Outside the shelter of her camp, the queen wondered blindly through <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">white-mist until she had lost where she was completely, she could  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">just see the shapes of forest, when she clapsed underneath a gnarled old oak, its  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">branches sheltered bird nests and wild herbs blossomed at the base of it. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">She screamed for help, she had started kitting. A cat materalized  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">from the mist, answering her call, his pelt was grey covered with white-droplets and his mouth was full of leaves, he dropped them and calmly padded down to her side, his face screwed up in anger. "Dovewing!" The queen opened her mouth as if to reply but all that came out was a scream of pain. "We've been looking all over for you!" He spoke in a harsh tone trying to calm her <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"Lucky for you I was out collecting herbs" The queen opened her mouth a thin wail, escaping her parted jaws. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Jayfeayjer sighed he fetched a fern-like plant, a yellow flower and purple berries "Shhhh! Here, eat these they will soothe the pain" Dovewing bent down, sniffed the plants before her <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">and obdiently licked them up hoping the cat was truly meaning to help her,  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">she reluctantly licked up the seeds that tasted like crowfood on her tongue. Then the brown tabby emerged from the shadows. Tigerheart. He yowled a battle-cry waving his tail, stopping as soon as he saw the cat that stood beside her "Jayfeather!" He growled bristling his fur "What are you doing? Stand aside!" His <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">muscles tensed the mottled tabby <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> smiled "Humph, you wouldn't dare harm a medcine cat!" He laughed, purring. "Enough!" yowled Tigerheart sliencing him. Jayfeather narrowed his eyes, "Anyway what would you want to do with a ThunderClan queen?" <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Jayfeather  pushed aside the thoughts of medcine cat duties, grasping the distant knowledge that he had as his days as apprentices, as of no he though himself a warrior.<span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> Pricking his ears at the sound of a mechanical movement of unsheathing claws, Jayfeather growled "Get out of ThunderClan's territory!" he tensed his  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">muscles got ready to pounce, before another almost identical brown tabby emerged from the flora at the clearing's side.

<span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"Bramblestar!" <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">meowed Alderleaf bowing his head at his arriving leader. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Tigerheart's amber eyes narrowed 'A leader? I can fight a medcine cat but how can I fight a leader with  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">nine lives' He watched as his uncle padded over to the kitting queen. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> Bramblestar turned "What are you doing here, Tigerheart" He spoke suddently. "I don't have to answer that!" The tom retorted. Bramblestar stared at his nephew's kit-like behaviour, "I am your senior and you are in ThunderClan's territory, do you think it's wise to avoid questions" He meowed coolly. The dark striped tom slipped a lie from his mouth easily, "She was on our territory I was following her to question her why a queen wasn't in her nest" "Get out of our territory this doesn't concern you!" Bramblestar thrust his muzzle threateningly towards him. "This does concern me, I care for cats safety while ThunderClan lets their queens wonder" His voice gruff. A yowl of summoning called Bramblestar <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">to Jayfeather's side he bent over to his leader and whispered in her ear. Tigerheart was to far away to hear what the two cats had said to one another. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">He watched the cats intently waiting for a chance to evenge his mate but Bramblestar  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">had his eyes on him she wasn't going to let him suprise her. Once Jayfeather had finshed, the leader rose her head, nodded to Jayfeather and walked over to Tigerheart. The small grey tom watched them, then waited for his chance to speak, shaking he spoke "We know that she was your mate. Her last words were to her you, Tigerheart, her mate. But Dovewing" he began "- is dead..." Jayfeather finished his line quickly, to shocked to speak clearly as he once had, he turned his head to Tigerheart, <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">his eyes, blind, but showed anger, his expression displayed pure horror, disbelief and anger. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Tigerheart peered around Bramblestar's shoulder, his mate lay their in a pool of crimson blood. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> The medicine cat was delicately <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> holding two bundles of fur between his teeth. Tigerheart turned his head to his uncle eyes full of spite  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"You killed my mate" He whispered "You killed my mate!" He repeated, screaming in anguish " <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Jayfeather  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">has killed her he could have saved her, but he didn't!" The grey tabby dropped the  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">kits and snarled, forgetting his grief "Well if you hadn't interupted then perhaps she could  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">have been alive! If you hadn't ever met her she'd be alive! You killed her not me!" "Enough!" Hissed Bramblestar, after his long silence, he span his cranium around "<span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Jayfeather, come. Bring <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">her kits," The tom nodded, lifted the kits up gingerly and strode over to  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">his seat next to his leader. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Jayfeather <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> dropped the kits before Tigerheart. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"Here, are the kits." The dark striped leader uttered. Tigerheart lowered his broad head <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> to sniff the bundles of fur that lay at his brown paws. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"I'm taking the stronger of them my clan needs strong cats  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">and I want something to remember her by <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">" He pronouced  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"but I don't want the runt, you keep it, she was a beloved clanmate you'd want something to remember her by <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">" He signaled to the lifeless huddle of fur then lifted his chosen kit, then stalked towards his mate's body,  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">snarling as Jayfeather offered to help carry her, lifted her onto his shoulders and walked away, leaving a crying kit.

Bramblestar watched, his clear amber eyes now clouded, it looked as if he had just lost a life. I thought Dovewing was loyal.... The large tom shoke his massive head clearing his mind, he said nothing to <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">his medicine cat and picked up the small furball and started to walk to camp, then signalled for Jayfeather to follow.

<span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">The stars of silver pelt shone on the young kit's pelt, she cried longing to be  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">near her mother's belly, drinking the warm, white liquid, she was far from that now. Her soft nose twitched she could sense the  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">unfamiliar scents that made her head spin. Something above him groaned, she couldn't see  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">it, her eyes were sealed, the world was dark to her with only scent, sound and touch to guide her. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">The kit couldn't understand where her mother was. She was placed on a soft surface. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">A rough tounge licked the kit, comforting her cries. The Bramblestar left  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">and then leapt atop of a crumbling cliff top. "Let all cats, old enough to catch their own prey, gather here beneath Highledge for a Clan meeting" he yowled the clan's usual summons. In a heartbeat cats started pouring out from <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">their dens, his heart ached once he spotted Ivypool. The young and old, strong and weak gathered below him. Bramblestar signalled for Jayfeather to join him, then began his announcement "We have all recently found that Dovewing is missing, while I was out with Jayfeather, I found her kitting. She didn't make it....her kit survived." He meowed not wanting to add details, greif stricken yowls sounded from Ivypool, Birchfall & Whitewing.

<span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"Where is Dovewing's body?" The grievers chanted.

<span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"I have buired her between the borders of ShadowClan and ThunderClan. The scene of her death" Bramblestar lied swiftly. "What have you done with the kit?" a queen asked softly to her leader. "I've brought it here." "And what are you to do with it?" Yowled an elderly cat. Bramblestar stopped slience befell the camp. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Bramblestar  observed the crowd below, searching for a queen, the only she-cat available was <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Mudspalsh pregnant with kits. Bramblestar sighed "Cats of ThunderClan I have reached a conclusion, Mudsplash will you take this kit?" A small white beautiful harlequin she-cat stepped forward, her belly swollen with kits, her eyes two bright twin moons round with a mothers gaze. "Of course, <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Bramblestar ! I have decided on a name, it shall be Ruekit in honour of the season she was born in, rue the winter plant of the mountains."

No cat chanted her name, usual for an unfamiliar cat. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Bramblesta r jumped down and dismissed his clan. <p style="text-align:center;">

ChapterOne.png
<p style="text-align:center;"> <p style="text-align:center;">Ruekit felt the rasp of her mother's rough tongue on her creamy flank, <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">and the brush of her long feathery tail wrapped tightly around her. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Ruekit swatted at her mother's tail playfully it wouldn't be long  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">before full moon. Ruekit streched and opened her clear bright blue <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">eyes, the soft furred face of her mother, her muddy orange eyes  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">glittered with amusement. A grey tabby face appeared at the entrance  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">to the nursery. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"Stonestripe!" Ruekit purred running up to her father and rubbing  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">against his tall legs. Mudsplash looked up at Stonestripe, her mate. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"How are you?" Stonestripe asked quietly. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"I'm fine, your kits should be here soon, my love" answered <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Mudsplash her gaze warm with admiration. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Ruekit walked out of the nursery narrowly missing a ginger queen <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">. Ruekit bounded across the clearing,  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">she was currently the only kit in the nursery since Brackenkit and Pinekit  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">had moved to the apprentices den. She poked her kit-soft face through  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">the intertwined thorn and bracken entrance of the apprentice den. Empty! The dry grass and  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">moss beds still carried their scent was fresh in her soft black-and-pink  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">nose. Fox-dung! I've missed them. Ruekit's tail dropped in the sandy  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">floor, scaring it with a long twisting trail and he padded heavily   <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">across to Stonestripe whose tabby pelt was just leaving the nursery. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"Stonestripe! Stonestripe! Please teach me a battle move, I want  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">to be ready for my apprentice training so I can be a warrior  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">really quick!" She placed her paws on her fathers face, his eyes <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> minnows shinning in the dawn light. Stonestripe purred in  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">amusement, "You'll have to wait until your two moons!" She  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">paused, Ruekit dropped her head. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"But I guess a lighting attack won't hurt after all it's good  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">for attacking and hunting. Now, you see that moss ball over  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">there?" he pointed at it with a thorn-sharp claw, "Crouch  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">low and make sure you don't make a sound" Ruekit wriggled her  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">haunches in position, her fluffy tail low and sweeping, Bramblestar  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">had come out to watch his amber gaze burning into her fur,  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"Keep you tail up!" He called from across the clearing,  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Stonestripe flicked his ears to show he had heard and gently  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">moved Ruekit into place. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"Now spring and aim for it!" Ruekit  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">sprang, fell and tumbled into the fresh-kill pile and yowling as a huge  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">squirrel landed a top of him, Stonestripe ran over to her picking  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">her up gently and taking her back up the ditch, placing her on top  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">of the dip. "I've never seen a cat attacked by a squirrel before!"

<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Stonestripe's whisker twitching, Ruekit swatted playfully at his ear, purring.

<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"What about Bluestar!" she giggled  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"I'm so lucky to have a father as great as you!"

<p style="text-align:center;"> <p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">All the peace from that momment shattered as an agonized yowl sounded from the nursery, Stonestripe's eyes widened <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">in painic. Mudsplash! "Stay here!" ordered Stonestripe as he bounded  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">away to the nursery. The ginger queen he saw earlier was hurrying  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">towards the medicine cat den. The entrance swallowed her up and a few  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">momments later she came out again followed by a grey tabby carrying  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">a sweet-smelling bundle. Mudsplash's wail sounded again, the  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">tabby disappeared into the nursery, the ginger queen paced outside. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Anxiety rouse, swelling Ruekit's chest with pain, what is wrong with  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">her mother, was she okay? <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">A pelt brushed his. Whitewing. She lay down next to her tucking her  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">paws neatly underneath her, her tail twitching with happiness. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"Don't worry about your mother, she is a strong cat and my former  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">apprentice, it will be good to have new kits to stengthen the clan  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">and you will have some playmates." Ruekit's anxiety was joined  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">by a wave of exitement, I'll have someone else to play with! Whitewing <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> stroked her pelt comforting her as Ruekit turned her  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">wide eyes towards  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">her <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> friend's face, while she was still fearful,  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">she was glad she had such a great and wise cat to guide  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">her <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> through the  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">path of fear, the ginger queen walked over to the pair, her  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">steps heavy as she padded towards them, Whitewing dipped her head in  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">acknowledgement, "Greetings, Squirrelflight" she purred, Squirrelflight lay <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">down beside  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Whitewing <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">, her gaze soft, she whispered quietly in <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">the white she-cat's ear, "You miss Dovewing...." Whitewing <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> turned away from the queen and rose to  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">her feet, her emerald eyes distant and full of sadness, Squirrelflight  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">lowered her gaze, her eyes full of embaressment for reminding the grieving she-cat <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">. Ruekit had never met Dovewing, but he had heard many stories  about her, how she could hear things from far away and how she had stopped the dark forest<span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">. Another screech rose from the nursery, the dawn patrol had  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">returned, along with the early hunting patrols, they raced through  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">the entrance their battle-ready fur bristled, and silver claws   <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">shimmered in the dawn light, Bramblestar calmed the patrols down  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">explaining what is happening, the hunting patrol dropped their   <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">fresh-kill onto the pile, which swelled with the tempting prey-scents  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">that filled Ruekit's small nose, although she still relied on her  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">mother, she couldn't wait to taste the juicy prey it would mean  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">she could eat the same food as the warriors! Another yowl echoed around the   <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">clearing, this time a thin wail sounded with it. Ruekit's curiousity  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">rose she padded lightly across the clearing, still shrouded in the   <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">shade of the trees. She poked her head through the thorn and twig  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">nursery enterance, she was greeted by the face of the tabby face of  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Jayfeather, the medicine cat his eyes narrowed, "This is no place for <p style="text-align:center;">kits!" He scolded.

<p style="text-align:center;">"But it's the nursery it's made for kits!" Ruekit <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">protested.

<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">The tabby tom shoved his face into Ruekit's. Ruekit flinched. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">The small medicine cat  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">nudged the kit away quickly then bounded away into a large, shaded,  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">rock cleft the last of his tail disappearing through the dropping  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">moss entrance, only to appear momments later his jaws crammed with   <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">herbs, setting a brisk pace towards the nursery. Suddently the air  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">was pushed out from her lungs she yowled in surprise and twisted to face  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">her opponent, unsurprisingly Brackenpaw was gleaming down at him amusement  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">lit his orange gaze, he sprang off his ghost tabby black pelt bristling  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">in a playful challenge, "Think your a tough kitty?" He sneered, Ruekit  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">glared at him "You've hardly been a apprentice for a few days" She  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">growled playfully, and sprang landing clumsily on her back exposing  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">her kit-soft belly, Brackenpaw threw her off and placed his  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">paw firmly on her belly, "Maybe you should practice jumping." He  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">growled in amusement, lifting his black paw of his defeated target,   <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">turning his back and prowling away towards his mentor, Frostheart. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Frostheart turned his blue gaze towards Ruekit sympathy swelled his <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">gaze, "Do you want to watch us hunt?" He called to Ruekit, slowly   <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">approaching him, Brackenpaw trailed behind "But he's a kit." He  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">meowed mischief loomed in his orange eyes, Ruekit cuffed his ear "You're  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">barely an apprentice" Ruekit turned her head towards the nursery  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">she was concerned for her mother. Frostheart seemed to have read her  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">mind, "Don't worry about her all queens go through it. Where did you  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">think kits came from!" Ruekit nodded "Thank you, Frostheart, I'd like  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">that" As she padded through the enterance, her worries faded she was  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">greeted with the greatest view she could have wished for green trees  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">surrounded her which eventually opened up to a clearing where churning  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">waves crashed against the rocks like a angry badger, Ruekit was <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">startled by the churning water and crouched flat to the ground, cream fur bristling and eyes wide with  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">fear, underneath the towering shape of Frostheart. Brackenpaw purred  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">and pulled Ruekit out from under his mentor's legs, "It's just the <p style="text-align:center;">lake<span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">" Ruekit listened to the black  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">tabby tom, while Frostheart flicked his fluffy white tail impatiently, <p style="text-align:center;">"Are we hunting or what?" He growled, irritated at the stalling. <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">"Perhaps you should learn some discipline?" This time his gaze was softer, Ruekit <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';"> new that the white tom was know for being kind-hearted but he was a   <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">fierce opponent in battle, which also meant that he was impatient and  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">Bramblestar was watching Brackenpaw's progress intently, she didn't have another <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">choice for a mentor all the other warriors were too young and it would  <span style="color:rgb(255,165,0);font-family:'TwCenMT';">be a shame if Frostheart's battle skills weren't shared with other generation.

<p style="text-align:center;">

<p style="text-align:center;"> (( To be continued <3 ))