Moon 1
It took Thunderhawk all moon to reinforce the bramble wall around camp, though it might’ve taken a shorter amount of time if he didn’t have to hunt as well as keep the kits trapped in the nursery. Cinderkit hated spending so much time hiding in the den. It was starting to get stuffy and Fogkit and Leafkit’s attempts at play fighting and mossball made Cinderkit’s self appointed job at guard duty hard.
She watches from the entrance of the den when Thunderhawk went out to hunt, toes barely outside the walls. She wanted to be fully out, guarding like a real warrior, but something in her stopped her. A hidden fear she barely recalled. Today was no different. She was watching from the den, eyes wide and alert. Twigs and grass crunched as Thunderhawk trudged through the entrance and mewed a hello to the anticipating kit.
Excitedly, she bounded out of the den before the other kits and scrambled across the clearing to meet him. “What’d you get? Did you find something good? Something weird? Oh! Is it a frog?”
Thunderhawk dropped his meager catch, a tiny lizard, making Cinderkit’s heart sink. “I know it’s not a lot, but,” he paused for a second as the kits approached cautiously. “Well, I bet there’s more now that I gave the prey a break. I should head out to find something other than this thing.” He flicked the tail of the critter with his paw.
Leafkit frowned as he shuffled his paws. “It’s getting late though… You were out all day.”
Thunderhawk gave a weak smile, but Cinderkit sensed he was hiding something. She squinted at him suspiciously. “Don’t worry, kit. Some prey comes out at night. I also don’t want you guys to starve all day.” He glanced down at the lizard. “If you guys can share this, it might hold you over to tomorrow morning.”
“We’re gonna starve all night?!” Fogkit squeaked. Her brown fur was puffed up in shock. Cinderkit almost wanted to scuff her over the ear for her silly worries, but she could feel the gnawing hunger as well. The lizard was small and rather pathetic looking, but it was enough for Cinderkit to feel content with. She glazed between her brother and Fogkit, wondering if she was going to have to use claws to get it. No, she couldn’t hurt Leafkit, he was too gentle. He couldn’t even hurt a flea if it snuggled in his fur. Fogkit might be quiet and keep to herself, but Cinderkit knows she’d stand up for herself if pushed.
“It’ll be better when the weather warms up and the prey comes out of their holes,” Thunderhawk said assuredly. “And when you guys grow up, I can rely on you to help find prey.”
Cinderkit sat up straighter. “I can go out now and catch the biggest rabbit!” she insisted. Her tiny claws kneaded the grass excitedly as she pictured hauling a huge rabbit, bigger than Thunderhawk, through the barrier.
Thunderhawk glared at her sternly. “Absolutely not. I promised I will keep you three safe. And if you go out and hurt yourselves I-.” He stopped as his fur began the bristle. The scent of fear crossed Cinderkit’s nose. Thunderhawk shook his head and said more gently, “Let me worry about food for now. I can’t worry about where you are while finding prey at the same time.”
Fogkit nodded and Leafkit sniffed the lizard as Cinderkit watched Thunderhawk head back to the tunnel. When his ginger tail disappeared she started following.
“H-Hey!” Leafkit called. “What are you doing?” Cinderkit looked back at him. His muzzle was red with prey blood and the tail of the creature was sitting at his small paws. “He wants us to stay here! W-we can’t-”
“He can’t do it all on his own.” Cinderkit argued. “We’ll be apprentices in no time! So we gotta step up!” She turned back to the entrance and bounded forward, ignoring her brother’s pleas. She was determined to prove she could hunt.
The light the sun was providing burnt the sky a golden red, and the night sky slowly bled a deep violet. Cinderkit could see the stars start to twinkle into existence as she trudged through the tall grass. She could barely smell Thunderhawk now, he must’ve ran far ahead as soon as he got out of the camp. Cinderkit followed as best as she could.
Deep into the territory, she took steps too big for her little body to follow the lanky teen. By this point, sundown was over and the sky was shades of purple and blue. She still followed what she thought was Thunderhawk’s scent to the tall trees that were suffocating the sky. This wasn’t Cinderclan’s territory, Cinderclan cats proudly stood among the grass that swept the plains.
Why would Thunderhawk come here? For other prey? Cinderkit’s eyes widened. Is he stealing prey for us?
Cinderkit hurried forward and perked her ears up. Thunderhawk’s scent was stronger. He was definitely here. She pushed forward. Whispers softly trailed through the grass towards Cinderkit, her ears pricked for words.
“What happened?”
“It was horrible….kits to take care of….I need prey to feed them, Lavenderpaw.”
Who? Cinderkit jumped forward to get closer, the sound of thick grass swaying made the conversing cats to hush.
“Bye, Thunderpaw,” Cinderkit heard it was a she-cat more clearly before the sound of rapid scurrying faded. She scrambled forward and ran into Thunderhawk’s rump as the tail of a black cat disappeared into the trees’ shadows.
“Cinderkit?!” Thunderhawk hissed angrily. “What are you doing here? You could’ve gotten extremely hurt! Or-”
“Who was that?” Cinderkit demanded. Thunderhawk’s blue eyes widened slightly before he narrowed them. “Why were you asking for food from an outsider? I thought you were loyal to Cinderclan!”
“I am!” Thunderhawk growled. He slapped his paw down in frustration and paced back and forth. His tail flicked back and forth in agitation.. “Trying to feed three kits and myself. It’s a lot! I’m barely 11 moons and I need to think about you , Leafkit, and Fogkit! And myself!” He turned sharply to look at the small gray kit. The fury in his eyes made Cinderkit take a step back. “Not too long ago we were relying on a whole clan! Now it’s just us!”
Cinderkit’s eyes widened. Thunderhawk’s agitated body language made her nervous. She couldn’t tell if he was angry at her. She’s never been in trouble, at least to this extent. He looked so…beastly in the gathering midnight. “I-I’m sorry…” was all she could squeak before tears rolled down her small cheeks.
Thunderhawk blinked slowly. His eyes were wide as his fur along his spine fell slowly. He didn’t look angry now, but concerned. “Cinderkit,” he sighed. Cinderkit couldn’t hold it, she sniffled and wailed. “Oh, please don’t cry. You’re not in trouble. I mean, I’m upset you followed me but,” Thunderhawk trailed off as Cinderkit kept crying. She could barely see him through watery eyes, but he had sat down with his head down. Eventually, she heard him mumble, “I-I’m not fully grown yet, Cinderkit.” He laid down in front of her to be at her level. “I-I feel like I was made a warrior far too soon. And trying to be responsible is so hard.” He dipped his head down and sighed. “Leafbare leaves us worse for newleaf. Prey doesn’t run as quickly as it does for clans like Beechclan or Marigoldclan. They live in the forest and the trees provide more warmth and debris for prey to scurry through. I thought…If I asked a friend, we’ll make through these harder days.”
Cinderkit sniffled. Blinking hard to force the tears away, she could see the ginger tom was also crying a little. She didn’t know he had so much going on and her rambunctious spirit must be making him feel worse. She noticed his ribs poking through his thick fur and the bags under his eyes. He looked so old and tired. “I-I’m sorry,” Cinderkit said shakily. “D-Do you want my portion of the lizard when we get back home?”
Thunderhawk laughed and wiped his eyes. “No, Cinderkit, but thank you.” He sat up, smiling sadly. “But we should go home. Come on. I’ll carry you.”
“I’m not a kit!” Cinderkit argued as she was lifted by her scruff.
“Yes you are,” Thunderhawk mumbled around her fur. “It’s in your name, cottonhead.”
Event: Thunderhawk sneaks out to meet with a cat from another clan, but got caught by a Clanmate.