“Not quite,” Yellowfang meowed. “A squirrel might think that you’re a tree and try to climb up you.” Brokenkit let out a squeal.
“I’m a tree! I’m a tree!” He jumped up and down until the bark fell off his head.
Owlwhisker approached his mate from behind, pressing his face to her soft ginger fur. He'd smelled her irritation, seen her tail tip twitch back and forth. She seemed surprised when he'd approached. "What's the matter?" He asked, softly.
"Nothin', baby, I just...don't like Brokenkit hanging out in the medicine den." Owlwhisker licked the she-cat's ear slowly. He knew she still carried the pain from Yellowfang's rejection all those moons ago, when the old ShadowClan medicine cat had turned her down to be an apprentice. Was she worried that Brokenkit would get rejected too?
"He's okay," Owlwhisker said, "He was getting teased by the other kits. He just went somewhere safe."
"Is it safe there?" Blossomfeather growled. Owlwhisker pressed against her further but Blossomfeather padded away, walking up to Yellowfang who was teaching Brokenkit how to carry moss. The dark brown tabby vibrated with excitement when Blossomfeather approached and flew to her legs, winding around her and purring loudly.
"Mommy, mommy! Yellowfang is my friend! She's teaching me stuff about medicine cat-ing!"
"I see that," Blossomfeather said with a smile. Yellowfang was disgusted when the other she-cat's hypnotic eyes snapped to hers. "Are you having fun?"
"Yeah but I'm sleepy," Brokenkit yawned, "Can I take a nap?"
"Why don't you go lie down with your father?" Brokenkit's eyes widened.
"Are you not going to come lie down with us?"
"I will. My paw hurts, I just want to have Yellowfang take a look at it." Sedgewhisker walked up behind Yellowfang as Brokenkit bounded towards Owlwhisker. Blossomfeather lifted her paw. "Look at it just in case he looks over."
"I told you not to spend time with him," Sedgewhisker growled, "I told you."
"I can't save my son from getting teased?" Yellowfang protested, pawing at Blossomfeather's small paw.
"That is MY job," Blossomfeather growled, "I am his mother. ME."
"Oh you're jealous?" Yellowfang laughed, "That's why you're mad he's spending time with me." Sedgewhisker shook at the evil glint in the ginger and white she-cat's eyes.
"I don't need to be jealous," Blossomfeather said, ripping her paw back from Yellowfang's paw, "I have what you don't have."
"And I'll always have what you don't have," Yellowfang sneered, "I know how much you wanted to be a medicine cat. You didn't deserve it."
"Yellowfang, stop it," Sedgewhisker growled. Blossomfeather smiled and looked at her paw.
"Being a medicine cat is a job," she shrugged, "I have what you'll never have. Family. A mate who loves me. And your kit." Yellowfang's ears pinned back, snarling as she lept towards the she-cat.
"MOMMY!" Brokenkit's voice knocked her out of her trance, her muscles bunched ready to slash Blossomfeather's face. She looked up as the camp stared at her. Brokenkit dashed back to Blossomfeather and placed his little paws on her face. "Mommy are you ok? Did she hurt you?!"
"Naw, sweetheart, Yellowfang just lost her temper, that's all."
"Medicine cats shouldn't lose their tempers," Owlwhisker snarled.
"You're absolutely right, they shouldn't," Sedgewhisker snorted, "Yellowfang apologize."
"I will not!" Yellowfang snapped, "She baited me!"
"You sound like a kit," Sedgewhisker growled, "Yellowfang apologize NOW. You're embarrassing us all." Yellowfang stared down at the ginger and white she-cat who was smiling smugly at her.
"I apologize," Yellowfang croaked out, "I lost my temper."
"We all do from time to time, sugar," Blossomfeather purred, "No harm done." Yellowfang ground her teeth behind her lips.
"Yeah you'd better be sorry! Hurting my mother!" Brokenkit snapped, "You're not my friend anymore!" Yellowfang's face stayed stoic but she was stung by the kit's words. Blossomfeather looked up at her before pressing her face to Owlwhisker's cheek. Brokenkit stopped sneering at Yellowfang and joined his mother, rubbing against her. "I love you Mommy."
"I love you too, kitten," she purred.
"More than Dad?" Brokenkit gasped.
"Hey!" Owlwhisker chuckled softly. Brokenkit growled playfully.
"I'll fight you!" Brokenkit giggled. The family walked off leaving Yellowfang to glare after them. Blossomfeather. turned over her shoulder, winked, then went back to her family. Yellowfang scoffed, marching past Sedgewhisker who was trying to speak to her. Blossomfeather would influence her kit negatively, she thought, and she wouldn't be able to do a damn thing to do about it.