The Talk (Mintleaf Kits Unite)

[Amber]

It was time for them to know the truth, the real reason their father was no longer around. She had put it off for several days, trying her best not to grieve in front of the kits. They were so young and fragile, they were her babies. But they were getting older, and it wouldn't be long before they were apprentices. They were halfway through their kithood. The young queen just couldn't believe it. Her babies were growing up. Mintleaf wished they could stay little forever, so she could keep them with her and not let anything bad ever happen to them. But here they were off doing their own thing. Well at least one of her kits had to be around the nursery. Right? "Alright you four, I need to have a talk with you." She said, attempting to locate the four kits.

Mintleaf knew for sure Dawnkit was probably not in the nursery. That kit never seemed to stay put. She waited patiently for the kits to come, and knew Dawnkit would probably have to be dragged.



Mintleaf was right about Dawnkit not being in the nursery. The kit seemed to stay outside of it. It was hard to keep track of her. Dawnkit had left the nursery when she woke up, and padded around the camp looking for something to do. She was looking for Thistlefrost for a few moments, until she became distracted by someone better...her aunt Ripplepaw. The kit soon became Ripplepaw's stalker, and even though Ripplepaw grumbled at her to leave her alone, Dawnkit continued. Once again she became distracted as she saw the exit of camp. Her eyes glistened at the sight. Maybe she could just sneak a tiny little peak. Her paws began to move in the direction, and before she knew it she was almost there.

[mushu]

The fluffy, gray, little kit had been lying outside the nursery sunning himself when he heard his mother's call. Twitching his tufty little ears, he decided to fetch Dawnkit, knowing she wouldn't come willingly. Stretching out his little body, his sparkling eyes scanned the camp for his sister. He spotted her trailing after Ripplepaw, their kin, as usual.

"Dawnkit!" He called and began to make his way towards her. Before he had crossed even half the camp, he could tell she was going to be difficult as usual... She had strayed from Ripplepaw's side and was heading towards the camp entrance.

Narrowing his eyes, Dewkit sped up his pace and loped towards her, "Where do you think you're going?" He hissed, flattening his ears, but did not wait for a response, "Mintleaf wants us, come on."

[. s p o r e l e t t ♪]

Kestrelkit was growing up. She was three moons old now, and much bigger and stronger than she had been just a couple moons ago. Far from being the fat little bundle that had lain at her mother's side to nurse, her frame was now slim and leggy, her short pelt sleek and smooth. She was still small, of course. The rabbits that warriors brought back for prey were around her size. But of all of her (quite fetching) features, she thought, her eyes were the nicest.

The other cats in the nursery had repeatedly remarked as her eyes started to change that one of them was turning a different colour from the other. Now that they were done, it was obvious for any cat to see that while one eye had turned liquid gold, the other was still blue as the sky at sunhigh. Most cats had eyes that were the same colour. Hers were different. And that made her special.

"I'm right here Mintleaf," the lanky little kit mewed, sprawling over the dusty ground in front of the nursery where she had been lying. Her pelt was nice and dusty now, but she didn't mind. It felt nice to roll around. "Who knows where the others all are? But I'm here, so you don't have to worry about me~"

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

The sound of she she-cat's voice drifted into the nursery, reaching the little tom's ears and causing them to perk up with curiosity. Swiveling around, they angled toward the direction that the sound was coming from, and his eyes lit up with recognition. Mother! She wanted him! With a little excited bounce, the kit got to his feet, clumps of moss falling off of his brown tabby pelt and to the floor of the den. Cedarkit glanced around the nursery, seeming to search for any of his siblings, and his face fell slightly when he realized he couldn't spot any of them. They all must be outside, he figured, even though he hadn't noticed when they'd left. Oh well, he would see them now!

Cedarkit made his way out of the nursery quickly, his developing muscles allowing him more steady movement than the wobble he got around with a moon ago. His senses were more alert now, and he was getting stronger, although not by much, because he still preferred to avoid the rougher games that his den mates played. He was a sweet kit, yet to develop the spirit of a warrior that he would need later on in life, but that didn't bother him. Being with his family made him happy, and as long as they were safe he had nothing to worry about.

"I'm here, Mother!" he chirped as he bounded out of the nursery, tripping and nearly toppling over the nearby Kestrelkit in the process. "Eep! Sorry!" he squeaked as he scurried away from his calico sister, hoping he hadn't angered her by almost accidentally stepping on her. He shook out his fur, attempting to rid his pelt of dust that had accumulated since that morning, and fixed Mintleaf with a curious look. "What is it?"

[Amber]

Oh, there was no doubt about it, she wasn't deaf. Dawnkit had heard her mother calling her and her siblings, she had been nearby the nursery before she had become distracted. The blue-gray kit just couldn't quite help herself, she was too curious for her own good. Her father had always caught her just when some crazy idea would pop into her head. He said she reminded him of her aunt Ripplepaw. Dawnkit loved this, Aunty Ripplepaw was the bestest. But Daddy hadn't been around lately, and Dawnkit was wondering why, maybe he was just really busy. It didn't matter to her, though. She had a little more freedom now.

Dawnkit's whiskers twitched as she became more and more excited. Maybe this was the day she could finally sneak out of camp. The older kits had done it when they were her age, now it was her turn. The stories the elders told about them sneaking out probably didn't help the curious kit.

It was then that she heard her name being called. It didn't sound like her mother, and it was too kit-like to be her father. So that means it must be...glancing around she noticed she was correct. Dewkit had caught onto her little escape plan. This was perfect, why did he have to ruin all her fun? As she heard his pawsteps approaching, she began to speed up a little. Stupid paws that were too slow!

Dawnkit sighed when Dewkit caught up. She could chose to ignore him, but he would probably go and tell their mother or someone that would bring her back before she could even think about sneaking out. "I was gonna go on an adventure." she mewed her eyes wide with excitement. "You can come if you want." Dawnkit had to add this, knowing he probably wouldn't buy into this at all. Couldn't hurt trying. "She's probably just wanting to clean our fur or something. It can wait."

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[mushu]

Dewkit let out a small sigh at catching Dawnkit, for he knew as soon as she got out of camp, there was no getting her to come back anytime soon. His fluffy tail tip twitched impatiently as she spoke, letting the words float in one ear and out the other.

Does she think I'm completely mousebrained? Dewkit thought furiously, his fur near bristling as his sister finished speaking. He knew Dawnkit was only inviting him so that she could go at all but his paws weren't nearly as reckless as hers. Kits were not allowed outside of camp, and even if they were both apprentices, she was not going out there without him... She was not going out there at all today, he'd make sure of it.

Didn't she know what was out there? There were foxes and badgers and Twolegs and enemy warriors for StarClan's sake! She could be killed or crippled or captured... I'm not afraid of anything out there, he thought, flexing his claws. So it's my job to keep everyone safe, because without me... Dewkit suppressed a shiver and focused his slitted eyes back on his sister.

"Mintleaf needs to talk to us," Dewkit repeated, his tail lashing back and forth, "And it sounds important. This is no time for another one of your adventures."

[Amber]

Dawnkit was getting the feeling that Dewkit was having a talk with himself in his mind. That couldn't be good for her. If he was talking with himself, he was thinking of her. Great, her adventure would be just a thought now. She watched him for a few minutes, wondering if he was going to just give up and let her go. But it seemed that was not the case, he was deep in thought.

All Dawnkit could think about is what she could be met with when she went out of camp. She could catch a rabbit for the Clan! Even though they were bigger than she was, she still could catch it, she just knew she could. Or maybe she could run into a cat from another Clan! That would be an awesome thing to happen. She could prove how good of an apprentice she could be. Or maybe she could find her father out hunting or on patrol or something. He would be so proud she found him! Ooh, maybe she could find a fox or a badger or some cool looking dangerous creature. That would just make her day.

Her tail twitched as the ideas came flooding into her mind. She just couldn't wait. Her paws were itching to move forward. When Dewkit spoke again she tried not to laugh. "Really Mintleaf needs us right now? I didn't hear that at all the first time." she grinned. "If it was so important she can tell me later. You go and be a good little momma's boy and listen. I'm gonna go on one of my awesome adventures." Dewkit was wrong, it was always time for an adventure. "Now move, so I can get back to my fun."

[/blockquote][/color]

[mushu]

Dewkit continued to stare at his sister, his fur prickling as Dawnkit spoke again. He could feel his temper rising and the fact that she wasn't taking him seriously was not helping. The fluffy tom licked a paw and slowly drew it over his ear, rising to his paws but not moving from where he now stood in front of her, blocking her escape.

"Dawnkit, this is serious." Dewkit meowed, contemplating dragging her back by her tail but knowing her protests would be heard in ShadowClan, "Haven't you noticed the way mother's been acting lately? And what about father? Where is he?" He hoped this would grab her attention, for he knew how much she loved their father. Well... He knew how much he loved his father and prayed to StarClan she felt the same way. Dewkit wasn't at all thinking that his sister didn't love their father, but he knew that he felt more strongly connected to his family than most cats. As he tried not to glare at his sister, he wondered if he was too protective of his family...

No, that can't be. He thought, shaking his wide, furry head.

"Can't we go out after Mintleaf talks to us?" Dewkit suggested... Maybe if his sister knew he would go out with her later, she would agree. And he couldn't allow her to go by herself.

[Amber]

Oh no..he did not just block her way out. The little kit now had her hair fluffed out in annoyance. Her brother was being very rude right now. That was just not acceptable. Dawnkit's blue eyes glared at Dewkit. This was unreasonable. She didn't care if he was bigger, he had gone too far.

"Dewkit, I am serious." she mocked. Oh, it was on now. Dawnkit was bored by the end of Dewkit's little speech. "Our mother is fine. She just is sick of seeing you so overprotective and not letting me have fun. And daddy is just out doing Clan stuff. You worry too much." she was now beyond bored.

"Not all of us are daddy's favorite like you are. He worships whatever you do. The rest of us could fall in a hole, and daddy would still love you more." Dawnkit hadn't ever really been close to their father. She was always searching after Ripplepaw, which her father didn't like. Now that daddy was scarcer, she could be a little more adventurous. Mommy was always stressed, it seemed, and she couldn't watch all four kits at once.

"You can go after you talk to Mintleaf. You seem so eager to talk with her anyway, why don't you just be the good little kit you are and go to mommy." Dawnkit hissed. "Now move before I make you." she added. Plus, he would only slow her down. That was her reasoning and she was going to stick with it.

[mushu]

The usually carefree and watchful kit flattened his ears, his patience so clearly at its end. Dewkit could no longer disguise the anger in his yellow gaze as he glared at Dawnkit, her dismissal of everything he held dear making his fur bristle.

"I don't need you to tell me father likes me best," He hissed, more coldly than he intended, but he couldn't stop himself, "I'm the only one in this family who cares enough to be a favorite. Something's wrong, you mousebrain, and if you cared to look outside your own whiskers, you'd see that."

Dewkit took a step towards his sister, knowing exactly how this would end but ignored the nagging voice of reason inside his head. Reasoning with his selfish sister was clearly getting him nowhere and he wasn't about to continue mewing about like an elder. He knew Thistlefrost would be disappointed when he found out his son had resorted to this and Dewkit felt a pang of guilt at the thought of his father. But he wasn't here right now and it couldn't be helped. He'd just explain it when he saw him next... He was always able to make father understand.

The gray kit lunged forward, gripping his little sister's scruff in his jaws. Dewkit began to drag her back to where Mintleaf waited, maneuvering himself and his struggling bundle backwards. Being older and bigger came with its many advantages, dragging Dawnkit back to the nursery was one of them.

[Amber]

Normally Dawnkit wouldn't push this many buttons, but she was getting sick and tired of already halfway to her apprenticeship, and yet nothing fun had happened in her life. All she wanted was a little adventure, was that so wrong? It seemed as if she had pushed too far this time. Her brother was getting a little worked up. Whoops. Wait, she had gotten Dewkit angry? She could see it in his eyes. Well that was new. The kit smiled at her achievement. She had officially made Dewkit mad.

His whole little conversation about their father was ignored. She didn't want to talk about Thistlefrost right now. Dewkit was acting just like their father..not letting her have fun."I don't want to be anyone's favorite, never have. I just want to do something to take my mind off of everything. I wanna see what I'm good at. Maybe I'll find my answer somewhere other than the nursery." Dawnkit was trying to calm herself down. But then the last words he spoke might have sunk in...slightly.

And now he was getting closer. What was he thinking? She stood in her spot, keeping her paws firm on the ground. It was then Dewkit did something completely unexpected. Dawnkit felt herself no longer on the ground. Dewkit was picking her up...no one picked her up. She didn't even like it when Mintleaf or Thistlefrost picked her up. "Put me down now Dewkit! I am not a rabbit that you can just drag around when you please." Dawnkit hissed, trying her best to get out of his grasp. Her eyes were now angered. This was crossing the line. "Stupid mousebrained tom". she kept muttering while doing her best to get away.

[mushu]

"You're a kit, for StarClan's sake," Dewkit murmered through the fur in his mouth, "What on earth do you need to get your mind off of?" He didn't know if his sister understood his muffled meow, or even heard it through her hissing and struggling, but he didn't care.

It seemed as if every one of his brothers and sisters had not a care in the world, and he knew Dawnkit was just looking for trouble, there wasn't a thing for her to need relief from. They weren't the oldest kit. They hadnt noticed how Mintleaf had been acting lately. They hadn't noticed the ominous absence of their father. They weren't trying to single-pawedly protect the whole family. Dewkit knew they had Thistlefrost, wherever he was, but he was hardly ever around and that's why the gray kit knew it was up to him to care for his family. He knew his father loved them, but he was a warrior, and had bigger things to worry about.

But what could be more important than family? A small voice inside his head asked, but he ignored it. Father's probably on some sort of warrior mission! He was one of WindClan's bravest and best warriors... Pushing the thoughts of his father from his mind, he concentrated on reaching Mintleaf before Dawnkit escaped his grasp.