IDnC Chapter 2

Instructions

Snow'Kit sniffed the the nursery's sweet, milky aroma. He was snuggled up against his mother, and he nuzzled her belly fur while purring. Next to him, his brother shifted restlessly. His brother's back paw struck him in the rib, causing him to squeak. He wailed aloud, "Ow! Ashen'Kit!" Ashen'Kit was given a stern look by his mother as she opened one amber eye. "Ashen'Kit, mind where you put your paws." She meowed as she tucked Snow'Kit up against her light brown belly. "Say you're sorry to Snow'Kit." "I'm sorry." With his grey muzzle, his sibling rubbed his shoulder. "It's okay." he murmured, blinking his golden eyes drowsily. His mother comforted him by licking the side of his face with her warm tongue. He yawned and shut his eyes once more. He angled his white ears to the bracken. "Would you like to join us for a game?" With her eyes sparkling, Fern'Kit's huge outline came into sharp focus. "Oh, that sounds fun. Ashen'Kit, you wanna come to? " Snow'Kit meowed, trying to stand up. His paws found purchase on his mother's flank, and he launched himself off her. Sparrow'Seeker grunted as his paws thumped into her side, and she flicked her brown tail. "Yes! That sounds AWESOME! I'm the best at moss ball!" Ashen'Kit lashed his stubby tail, eyes shining. Snow'Kit giggled, starting towards the tunnel, then stopped and looked back at his mother for permission. "Go. Have fun. " she purred lovingly, closing her eyes and resting her muzzle on her paws. "Goodness, you two are getting too big for the nursery!" Night'Stripe purred from her cozy corner. The black-striped queen blinked warmly at the brothers, and Snow'Kit purred. "Maybe we'll be apprentices soon!" Ashen'Kit mewed, bouncing on his paws. "Oh, no. I don't think so, youngster!" Night'Stripe chuffed, "You still have a moon to go!" "Aw..." Ashen'Kit said, his tail drooping. "Don't worry, Ash! You'll get there soon!" Fern'Kit mewed encouragingly. Easy for her to say, her ceremony was tomorrow. "Yeah, whatever..." Ashen'Kit scraped at the nursery floor, a sullen look on his face. Fern'Kit glared at the grey kit, her tail lashing irritably. Snow'Kit sensed the tension between the two, and he fidgeted with his tail. "Uhm..can we go play now?" he asked, intimidated. Fern'Kit smiled at him, "Of course, Snow. Apologies." the she-kit nodded to the two queens, and trotted back up the tunnel. Snow'Kit and Ashen'Kit padded after the black she-kit, nosing their way out of the nursery. Snow'Kit blinked and squinted as his eyes adjusted. At the foot of High Ledge, Quail'Foot and his mate, Lone'Soul were sharing tongues. Sorrel'Paw was picking through the kill pile, her cream paws sorting the pieces of prey. She flicked her ears in triumph as she found a shrew, nipping it and carrying it towards the shady ferns near the medicine den. Yarrow'Paw and Curl'Paw scuffled in a play fight next to the apprentice den, while their father, Wind'Runer, watched with a distant look in his eyes. "Hey, Snow'Kit!" a musical mew sounded to his left and he looked away from the two dark grey apprentices. Whisker'Fall. She was an exact copy of her mother, from nose to tail. She even had her mother's musical voice. "Hello..." he mewed, blinking at her. He'd never really been fond of the cream she-cat. She always seemed to be to busy padding after a tom or she-cat, too infatuated with her latest crush to be a good warrior, much less daughter or sister. Whisker'Fall never once brought prey to her hardworking sister in the medicine den, or helped her other sister train. "I really hope I get you as my apprentice!" her voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "It'll be exciting, yeah?" Whisker'Fall mewed, blue eyes sparkling. "We'd have so much fun together!" Snow'Kit frowned. "But, what about battle training? That's not supposed to be fun. Battle isn't fun." He looked up at the cream she-cat, uncertain. "Oh, pfft. The 'Warrior Way'? Are you kidding me? I don't understand why we all have to fight over land! Why can't we all live in peace?" the molly scoffed. "Because that isn't how the Clans work. We pride ourselves on being able to defend our Clan from danger. We work together, one with the Warrior Code. It's something you wouldn't understand, Whisker'Fall." Fern'Kit mewed, elongated fangs flashing. "Now, if you'll excuse us, I was going to teach Snow'Kit something." The cream she-cat glared at the huge black kit, "It's not fair to discriminate against me just because my father was a farm cat and I was born outside the clans!" she hissed. "I never said that." the large molly mewed. "I just don't think you understand what the Clans truly mean." Snow'Kit felt Whisker'Fall's anger, and it scared him. With a whimper, he ran to Fern'Kit, who gently nuzzled him. With a last look at Whisker'Fall, the black molly padded away, Snow'Kit on her heels.