Dawnkit woke up with a start, jerking out of the nest she shared with her mother and her littermates, Gingerkit and Oakkit. 

She sank into a stretch, small sharp white teeth showing in a yawn. Shaking out her fur, she tiptoed across the den and poked her head out of the nursery.

The sun was peeking through the tree branches of the forest, letting warm light sweep through the camp.

Dawnkit gave a skip of excitement and emerged fully into the clearing. The grass was still wet, and she unsheathed her tiny claws and sank them into the ground. While waiting for the other kits to wake up, she explored the camp once more. There was the warriors' den, hidden under the dense bramble bushes, there was the nursery, right next to it, woven into the roots of a tree, then the apprentices' den, where loud snores rumbled from. The medicine den and clearing were on the other side, partially hidden from the rest of the camp.

Soon the kit heard someone shriek her name "Dawnkit!", and a ginger blur flew at her.

"Gingerkit!" Dawnkit purred, untangling herself from her sister. "Finally, you're up, you dormouse!"

Gingerkit growled at her. "How dare you call me a dormouse!"

She leaped at the bigger kit, knocking her over in a flurry of paws and fur.

Dawnkit rolled over, purring, and pinned her down. She then released her and yowled a loud greeting to Oakkit, who had just emerged from the nursery, Needlekit following close behind him.

"Gingerkit, Dawnkit, guess what?" Oakkit asked.

Needlekit shoved him aside, her amber eyes glittering. "You shouldn't tell them anything, Oakkit!" she purred. "Come on, let's go outside the camp, just the two of us." she shot a glance at the other two kits. "And you can't follow us, you mouse-brains." she padded off, dragging Oakkit off behind her.

"I am so, so sorry about Needlekit," another voice said behind them. Dawnkit spun around to see a tuxedo she-kit with three white paws and another black tom kit standing behind them.

"Crowkit!" Dawnkit shrieked, and rushed to her best friend. "Hi, Leafkit," she added after.

Leafkit gave a nod to her, while Crowkit moved shyly closer to her.

Dawnkit sat down, the other kits sitting down beside her. Crowkit joined them, sitting as close to Dawnkit as she could.

"Let's play hide and seek!" Dawnkit mewed. "I'm going to be the seeker."

"No, I want to be the seeker!" Gingerkit whined.

"No!" Dawnkit fired back. "Go hide."

The kits scattered, and Dawnkit turned her head to look at the floor.

Dawnkit was going to turn 5 moons old soon, and that meant she would start apprenticing in under 2 moons! Dawnkit was already excited, she dreamt of her day to come by the rock and touch noses with her mentor while the Clan shouted "Dawnpaw! Dawnpaw!" For now Dawnkit did everything she could to sharpen her skills so she could be the best warrior in the Clan.

"...four, three, two, one!" I'm coming for you!" she yowled, spinning around and sniffing the air. Crowkit had gone in the direction of the medicine den, so she would find her last, but Gingerkit was close by. Following the scent trail, Dawnkit cautiously skirted around the opening of the warrior's den and went behind it. "Found you, Gingerkit!" she squeaked.

Gingerkit gave a mock growl from where she was crouching in the leaves and followed her sister out.

"Let's find Leafkit next!" Dawnkit whispered, and they both ran to look around the camp.

A couple minutes later, there was a shriek of: "Found you, Leafkit!"

Dawnkit raced in the direction of the sound and skidded to a halt as Leafkit climbed out from behind the thorn barrier and Gingerkit stood beside him.

"Great hiding spot!" Dawnkit mewed, impressed.

Leafkit stared into her eyes for a moment longer than she thought he should, but then looked away. Dawnkit rolled her eyes and raced off again, towards the medicine clearing. The other two followed them, but were no match for her speed. "Crowkit!" she called softly once she arrived. "Crowkit, where are you?" But there was no sign of the black she-kit. Dawnkit looked up, and did a double take - Crowkit was sitting on one of the lower branches of a tree, gazing at her.

"Well, looks like you found me!" she purred, and slid down the trunk. Once she reached a good spot, she jumped off and landed on Dawnkit, knocking the calico to the round with a 'oof'.

"How did you get up there?!" Dawnkit exclaimed, touching noses with her best friend. "You could have fallen!"

"Well, I didn't, and that's what matters," came the retort.

Dawnkit purred and went back to the other kits. As soon as she saw them, Crowkit seemed to become more shy and move away from them as if she didn't want the attention. Who didn't want the attention? Dawnkit could never, ever, live without attention. She really wanted to become Clan leader one day! Dawnkit switched her attention to the other kits. Gingerkit waved her tail.

"Can I be the seeker now? Please?" she asked, her fur shining in the sun.

Dawnkit shook her head bossily. "I think we need to find Oakkit and Needlekit."

Crowkit scowled when Needlekit's name was said, but followed Dawnkit through the barrier. On the other side, though, they saw the dawn patrol, led by Feathershine. The grey-she cat dropped her prey in surprise.

"Kits!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing outside the camp?"

Dawnkit gazed up at her pleadingly with her big hazel eyes.

"Oakkit and Needlekit went outside the camp!" she squeaked.

Brambletail stepped forward, his brown tail twitching with distress. "We need to find them - Smallfoot, Blazepaw, go drop off all the fresh-kill, then come find us. We'll go look for the kits. And, er, Cloudpelt, get these kits inside."

"We can go by ourselves!" Gingerkit protested, her tail stiff and head held high.

"Mhm," Cloudpelt murmured, and picked up the wiggly kitten by her scruff. With one last look at the patrol, Dawnkit followed the white warrior inside.