Birdkit raced across the clearing as fast as her short legs could carry her. Only a moon away from being an apprentice, she still was very small for her age. Her littermates, Quickkit and Mothkit outpaced her, running to the eldersâ den.
Largekit, Lightningkit, and Frogkit stood outside the den, hissing loudly. Considering they were a whole moon and a half younger than Birdkit and her littermates, they werenât very intimidating âShadowClan warriorsâ, but they would have to do. After all, the other five kits in the nursery were too young to be playing with them.
Birdkit skidded to a halt beside her littermates, her sides heaving as she tried to catch her breath. She may have been outpaced, but she was just as determined as her bigger siblings.
Quickkit, a sleek black tom, flicked his tail in impatience, the only sign that they had noticed her falling behind. She sent a glare her brotherâs way- it wasnât her fault he was so fast!Â
Lightningkit stepped forward, âI am the leader of ShadowClan! You stole our prey!â
âThunderClan would never steal prey!â Birdkit protested, shaking her head, âWe arenât foxhearts like you!â
âShadowClan, attack!â Lightningkit yowled, leaping onto Quickkit, the two rolling over in a flurry of paws. Largekit, the biggest of his littermates, leapt at Birdkit while Frogkit went after Mothkit.
The big white tomkit struck, missing Birdkitâs naturally-curled ears by a whisker-length. She pounced onto him, squashing him against the ground. Despite being smaller than her siblings, she was still bigger than Largekit.
Largekit hissed in protest, trying to roll over, but Birdkit hooked her claws into the ground, âGive up?â
âShadowClan never gives up!â Largekit snarled, but the fight slowly went out of him. Birdkit looked around to see that Quickkit and Mothkit had also defeated Lightningkit and Frogkit.
âShadowClan, retreat!â Lightningkit panted, squirming out from underneath Quickkit and running for the nursery. Birdkit stood up and let Largekit run after his fellow âShadowClan warriorsâ.
âSo this is the future of ThunderClan, huh?â a voice purred from behind them. Birdkit turned around and immediately felt warm under her pelt.Â
âI feel much safer,â Rabbitpaw continued with a wink, âIf ShadowClan really attacks, I donât think theyâll be stealing any kits.â
Birdkit was practically glowing until Rabbitpawâs brother, Sunpaw, spoke up, âTheyâre just stupid kits- theyâll wet themselves if they see so much as a ShadowClan catâs whisker tip!â
She and her siblings glowered at the rude apprentice, but said nothing. Mothkit stuck her nose in the air and stalked off towards the nursery, Quickkit following behind. Birdkit, on the other hand, snapped, âYou were kits a moon ago, too! Why do you always have to be so mean?â
Sunpaw sneered at her while Rabbitpaw gave her an apologetic look.Â
âKits are nothing but trouble,â Sunpaw scoffed, lifting his nose into the air, âStay out of my way. Youâll only slow me down.â
Birdkitâs pelt bristled, âOne day, Iâll be a warrior too! And I bet Iâll be even better than you!â
Rabbitpaw nudged his brother, âCome on, give them a break. Theyâre only playing, just like we used to.â He winked at Birdkit, whiskers twitching as he said, âBesides, they might be the next cats to save ThunderClan from ShadowClan!â
Birdkit puffed out her chest at his words, but Sunpaw just rolled his eyes and said, âWhatever.â
Birdkit glared at Sunpaw as he padded away, her tail lashing, âIâll show him!â
âIgnore him,â Rabbitpaw said softly, giving her a warm smile, âHeâs just upset I beat him in training. If you ever need someone to show you some moves, let me know.â
Her fur grew warm again and she nodded, âThanks, Rabbitpaw, Iâd like that!â
Rabbitpaw trotted off after his brother, leaving Birdkit standing in front of the empty eldersâ den, her paws tingling with determination. One day, sheâd be a better warrior than Sunpaw ever could and, boy, would he be jealous then!
Birdkit tossed and turned in her nest, stopping only when she heard Quickkit hiss for her to stop. She shot a jealous look across the nursery at the three queens, each with peacefully-sleeping kits cuddled up to their bellies.
If only their mother hadnât died shortly after they were old enough to eat freshkill, maybe Birdkit could sleep peacefully. Although Oaktree, their father, did so much for them, he slept in the warriorsâ den instead of the nursery.
She could hear the quiet voices of warriors gathering outside for the dusk patrol and she imagined herself out there with them. Her fur ruffled by the evening breeze, her eyes heavy with sleepiness, but her claws ready to skin any cat that dared to cross ThunderClan borders!Â
The voices of her Clanmates raised enough for her to overhear, and she strained to hear one voice in particular: Rabbitpaw.
Even though Rabbitpaw was only an apprentice, he was everything Birdkit aspired to be. She admired him so much- the way he encouraged the other apprentices and how he seemed to be excelling in his training. He was brave, smart, and kind- and Birdkit wanted nothing more than to follow in his pawsteps.
Birdkit slipped out of her nest and went to the edge of the nursery to peer out into the clearing. She spotted Rabbitpaw among the warriors on the dawn patrol and she held back a purr. Moonlight bathed the clearing in its pale light, making the short-tailed apprentice look almost mystical, like a StarClan warrior.
âEnjoying the view?â a knowing voice came from beside her, making her jump. Birdkit swiveled around to see her father, Oaktree, sitting beside the nursery. He gave her an affectionate lick and settled beside her, his thick tabby fur brushing against her lighter pelt.
âI wanna be on the dawn patrol too!â Birdkit whispered.
âYouâre too young, little bird, and the other clans are too fierce,â despite turning her down, Oaktreeâs tone was gentle and understanding, âShadowClanâs always giving us too many issues and Iâm afraid they may not realize youâre a kit if you come along...â
âWhy do we always have to fight them?â Birdkit wondered, her gaze drifting to the trees towering over the gorse tunnel.
âThatâs just how itâs always been,â Oaktree replied, âThunderClan and ShadowClan donât see eye to eye. Theyâre stubborn, like us.â
Birdkit stared into the distance, wondering what ShadowClan cats were like. She pictured them as dark, shadowy figures with eyes that glinted with malice. âDo you think⊠that there may be a ShadowClan cat whoâs just like me?â
Oaktree blinked in surprise. Then, he touched his nose to her forehead, âMaybe thereâs a kit over there right now, asking the same thing about ThunderClan.â