Morning Visitors

[Yoko]

Bristlepaw was snoozing lightly. He was curled up tight in his nest. His dreams were fantastic! He was a warrior at last, and as big as a tiger! He was in battle, but it wasn't all bloody and scary like Mudpelt told him. He imagined fields of gold with the sun shining bright. He whacked his enemies aside with his claws sheathed, and they were so hurt, tired, and frightened that they fled from him! All the Clan cheered for him! It was amazing!

But wait, an enemy had come back! The enemy warrior was scratching his side!

Sleepily, the exhausted apprentice batted at the scratching creature. "Go away," he mumbled. "I'm trying to sleep!"

"Bristlepaw!" a high-pitched mew hissed.

Bristlepaw opened his eyes. That didn't sound like an apprentice! He looked down to see two kits at his side. By scent he recognized Violetkit and Stormkit. "What are you doing here?!" he mewed in a hushed tone, looking around to see the den was mostly empty.

"We need to talk to you about the Gathering!" Violetkit whispered urgently.

[nightstorm]

((Heh heh...nosy little Silverkit....)

Silverkit poked her head around the corner. Her eyes widened as she heard Violetkit waking Bristlepaw up, and her fur bristled slightly. Bristlepaw was so big? What happened if he found out she was spying? Would he get mad? Curiosity overcame her, however, and with a slight hesitation, she entered the den. "Stormkit," she hissed, her eyes passing over Violetkit without hostility. "What are you doing? Mother told you not to leave the nursery! She'll get mad if she finds out..." While she whispered this, her gaze kept flickering to Bristlepaw, and she edged a little farther away. His claws looked sharp...and he was twice her size!

[Yoko]

Stormkit jumped so high he looked like a fledgeling sparrow attempting flight. He whipped his head to look over at Silverkit. When he landed, which seemed to take a few seconds, he replied in a whisper, "Hush up! Do you want to wake the entire den!"

Though admittedly, there were very few apprentices in there. The only other one he recognized was Ripplepaw.

"Won't she be even angrier that you followed us?"

"We don't have time for this!" Violetkit hissed quietly. She whipped her head back to the confused apprentice. "Tell us what we need to know and we'll be safely in our nests before you can blink."

Bristlepaw looked unsure about answering.

[Amber]

Ripplepaw had been up late the night before, she had sat staring at the nursery for what seemed like moons. Her brother was completely ignoring her now, not paying any attention to her. How was she suppose to train to become a warrior when her mentor wouldn't even leave the nursery for more than five seconds? Maybe she shouldn't be so stubborn about having him be the only one to train her, but respect didn't come easily for her, so the she-cat was facing a dilema. When she had finally gotten into the apprentices den and fallen asleep it seemed like no time that she heard voices that sounded like they didn't belong in there.

Seeing several kits her blue eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding me. These kits are everywhere!" she mewed, covering her head with her paws. Maybe this was all a bad dream and she would awake from it soon. Ripplepaw opened her eyes again and saw the kits were still there. Great, this day was turning out to be perfect. Her eyes glanced to Bristlepaw as if wondering what he was thinking about all this.

"You will find out soon enough, I think your mother is suppose to talk to you." Ripplepaw yawned staring at the kits. It was bad enough her brother spent time with his kits, and now there were kits visiting the apprentices den? What's next Thistlefrost actually training her?

[nightstorm]

Silverkit flicked her tail. "Well, Mother didn't tell me not to leave the nursery, like she did to you..." she muttered, shifting her paws. But hearing her brother and Violetkit's question, she looked at Bristlepaw excitedly, her fear about him disappearing in her curiosity. "Yes, tell us!" she begged. "Mother and Sandtail were all bristling and upset! Did RiverClan try to take over Sunningrocks again or something?" Her eyes were wide as she hopped from one paw to another. Hearing Ripplepaw, she whirled on the other apprentice. "Will you tell us what happened please? Mother has been in such a bad mood lately...I'd rather hear it from you..." Her voice was quiet, but excited.

[Yoko]

Bristlepaw glanced over at Ripplepaw. At least she wasn't as prickly this morning. Or was that just her being tired? Either way, he sighed with relief at her reply.

"There, you see, your mom will tell you."

But Silverkit's guesses were almost a little much to bear. She was so far off. She would probably go into shock when she heard the real news. All the more reason for her mother to tell them.

He shifted his paws uneasily. It was so hard to say 'no' to such young. "That's not quite it, Silverkit. Please believe me when I say, you'll want to be with your mother when you hear it."

Violetkit squinted her eyes at the apprentice. He was just about to crack. She could tell. "Okay then, let's go," she mewed, touching her tail to Stormkit and glancing at Silverkit.

Stormkit's eyes widened. "No way! What about-?!"

"Shhh," Violetkit hissed, giving him a knowing look. He should not ruin this plan!

She nudged Silverkit towards the entrance and Stormkit reluctantly padded out of the den.

They walked straight for a while, then veered towards the nursery and out of sight from the apprentice den entrance, Violet curved to hide ouside of it. She motioned her denmates to do the same., listening through the brambles.

"Thanks, Ripplepaw," Bristlepaw mewed. "I just felt so bad for them I almost answered..."

[nightstorm]

Silverkit cocked her head uneasily. With the way Brackenpaw was acting, she was worried, and a bit frightened. What was so bad that he couldn't tell them? Why did they have to hear it from Mother?

When Violetkit turned to go and called her, Silverkit turned, her eyes confused. "But-Wha-?" Her head swivled, and she looked back and forth, as if trying to decide whether to stay and continue to pressure Bristlepaw into telling, or following her denmates. But when Violetkit shot Stormkit a glance, Silverkit decided to follow. She looked back over her shoulder at the apprentices as they left, her eyes large and innocent.

She thought they were heading back to the nursery, but was surprised when Violetkit veered off course, settling out of sight of the apprentices, and motioned for them to get down. Silverkit crouched, tucking her tail out of sight so she wouldn't be spotted. She almost spoke up, then froze as Bristlepaw spoke. Was he going to inadvertently tell them what the news was?

[Amber]

Ripplepaw just stared at the kits. They were all mental, maybe they had caught the disease her brother had. That could possibly explain a lot*. Which probably also meant the disease would pass to his kits. What if it passed to her, she was his kin? Great, now she was getting herself all nervous and paranoid. She really needed to get out more. Oh wait, she couldn't. Her mentor wouldn't train her. Thistlefrost was such a mousebrain. And so were his kits, they were just pests that needed to have never been born. Then she could have her brother and mentor back.

"No problem. I could tell you were about to give everything away. And no one wants them to know just yet. But I don't see how they haven't figured anything out yet." Ripplepaw mewed, licking her paw and swiping it over her face. "Plus I'm glad they're gone, kits kinda freak me out." she added.

[Yoko]

Bristlepaw tilted his head. Were Thistlefrost's kits bothering her that much? He wanted to tell her that her brother still loved her too, but he didn't know either sibling that well and he did not want to offend her. Not when they were actually speaking for the first time in a few days, more his fault than hers.

He scuffled his paw in the dirt and looked down at the squiggle he was drawing. "Well, don't you feel sorry for them?" he mewed casually. "I mean, I know the nursery is pretty full but I think I'll really miss them if they go."

[Amber]

The white and brown she-cat dug her claws into the ground. Bristlepaw just had to mention feeling sorry for someone. The only person she felt sorry for was herself. She was behind in her training, this she knew for a fact. Thistlefrost hadn't trained her in what seemed like moons, and probably wouldn't for a while. His precious kits were more important than she was, and that was something she couldn't handle. Not when she had been the center of his attention since she was born. Ripplepaw was doing her best to control her anger. If things kept going on like this, her brother's kits would be apprenticed before she could even think of becoming a warrior. That was what she was sorry for, sorry that she had Thistlefrost for a brother and mentor.

"The only reason the nursery is full is because my mousebrained brother's kits. If they weren't born there would be no reason for the kits to even think about going anywhere." she huffed. "But I have a feeling no one is going to let them go without a fight. Even if their heiritage is a bit screwed up they still are WindClan kits. They were born here and deserve to stay here, who their parents are shouldn't matter. And I think that if we keep them then WindClan could possibly outnumber ShadowClan in cats, and eventual warriors. I don't think we should be sorry for them, they don't need pity, they just need to be told the truth. How would you feel if you were being lied to and everyone dodging your questions?"

[Yoko]

Bristlepaw's ear twitched as RIpplepaw clawed the ground. Is there nothing I can say that won't anger her? He supposed it was his own fault. He had been selfish for most of his life, concentrating only on being a great warrior like his parents both were and as a result he had not often spoken with denmates. Thus, everything he said seemed clumsy and out of place. He supposed the best he could do was speak honestly and not try to offend any cat.

"I'm sorry your brother is ignoring you," he mewed, and realized instantly that she would not want his pity. He added quickly, "But you're a tough enough cat to get by without him! You could be a warrior within a moon if you'd just train without him. I'm sure Harewhisker wouldn't mind helping out, or any warrior if you just asked. Then Thistlefrost can be all jealous that he missed out on your training!"

He paused, hoping all that was enough to make up for his earlier slip.

Violetkit didn't hear anything beyond Ripplepaw's last few words. It was not much but it was more than enough. Stormkit was wide-eyed and strangely silent.

A dark expression overcame the little kit and she pawed Stormkit's side gently. "Let's go," she whispered and turned away from the apprentice den.

"But if that's true...." Stormkit trailed. "The Clan will go to war over us right? And we'll stay...right?"

Violetkit padded ahead in silence for a while, as if determined to make it to the nursery before speaking. "Silverkit, come on too! We have to get back before Sandtail and Rivermist wake."

"Violetkit!" Stormkit mewed angrily, waiting for reassurance from the older kit.

"No, Stormkit, not if the Clan decides it can't risk war to keep you," Violetkit mewed calmly, still walking.

Stormkit paused in his steps and watched her go. He was filled with such confusion and frustration that he didn't know what to do. How could he go into the nursery and pretend everything was okay now? What would he and Silverkit tell their siblings? Stormkit turned to his sister.

"What do we do?"

[Amber]

Ripplepaw's icy blue eyes gazed straight at Bristlepaw. She didn't like having someone feeling sorry for her. It was making her feel sorry for herself, and she didn't need to feel sorry for herself. His idea was actually a good one, she had to admit. And who knew, maybe he was right, she could prove to her brother that she could do something without him. Then it hit her, this would mean that she couldn't act like her diva self and be completely into herself anymore, she would have to let someone help her other than Thistlefrost. Someone would actually be let into her life other than her big brother.

"Do you think you can help me?" Ripplepaw murmered. It was hard for her to talk to anyone, she was alright talking to other apprentices, but warriors were a different story. And it was slowly killing her inside that she was having to ask help from someone else. But Bristlepaw seemed like someone she could trust. "I have a hard time talking to anyone else, why else do you think I got my brother as my mentor?" she added pausing for a moment.

[Yoko]

Bristlepaw looked mildly surprised. No cat had ever asked for his help before, outside of doing apprentice chores that is. For a moment he doubted he could do it. After all, he was only an apprentice himself. But I'm a good one. And I'm older. Besides, his heritage was great! If his mother and father really did do all of those heroic deeds before they died, then surely he inherited their skill! Helping another apprentice out should be no problem.

"No problem," he mewed confidently. "We can practice some battle moves later. But right now, I'm guessing my mentor is waiting on me."

He stretched and padded towards the entrance. "I'll tell you all about it, and then we can practice." He bounded off, slightly excited by this new idea. This would be so much more fun than being a normal apprentice.

[nightstorm]

When Silverkit heard the apprentices' words, she froze, a shocked expression on her face. Clan war? Her eyes widened, and she remained where she was, until Violetkit called to her in a low whisper. Blinking, the little she-kit looked up, and stood shakily, her movements dulled.

"Will we have to leave?" she whispered to no one in particular. When Violetkit kept on walking calmly, her fur unruffled, Silverkit felt a pang of rare anger shoot through her. How could she be so calm?! After all, she and Stormkit were friends, right? Hearing her brother, she met his gaze, seeing her own confusion, fear, and fustration in his gaze. Come to think of it, what would they do? She hung her head. "I-I don't know," she said softly. "All I know is that this must be why Mother is so upset. I guess we need to be strong now, for her and for our siblings." It then struck her; they didn't know about any of this. How was she supposed to act normal, knowing what she did?

She pressed her fur into her brother's, seeking comfort. "Oh, Stormkit," she mewed sadly. "What will happen to us?"

[Yoko]

Stormkit felt totally numb. Violetkit was already in the nursery now. Was she telling every kit what she knew. No, Violetkit wouldn't do that. But what did she think they should do? Why didn't she tell them? Stormkit huffed in frustration. This isn't about her anyway! She probably doesn't even care!

Stormkit took a deep breath. Bristlepaw ran by but they didn't pay any attention to each other. He looked excited about something or another. How can any cat smile like that when we might be leaving? Stormkit thought angrily.

Calming himself to answer his sister's questions, Stormkit mewed "We have to tell them. Maybe it will convince them to stop arguing, and if we're good enough...the Clan will keep us."