"Get up, you sleepy badger!" squeaked Shadekit.

         Creamkit could feel Shadekit prodding against her.It had only been a few sunrises since Comfreyheart had declared that she was free to go from the medicine cat's den. Creamkit grunted in reply, not wanting to wake up. Shadekit would tease her for being so sleepy, but she didn't mind. 

         Salmonkit interjected, "Leave her alone, Shadekit. She'll wake up if she wants to."

         "You have no say in this, 'Tinykit',"the grey kit taunted.

         Honeyshade seemed to have noticed the commotion, and responded, "Calm down little ones. You'll wake up Birchpelt. Now, Shadekit, I've scolded you about bullying before, don't make me repeat myself! You will let Creamkit sleep as long as she wants to, and you will say sorry to your brother."

         Creamkit had to see Shadekit's reaction, so the tan kit opened one of her eyelids. Shadekit scowled at her mother, but Honeyshade's piercing glare shot Shadekit down. The grey kit lowered her head and muttered an apology to Salmonkit. Salmonkit shot an amused glance at his sister, but didn't say anything.

         "Now can we go play outside the nursery?" pleaded Shadekit.

         "If your sister wakes up, then I might consider it. But remember, only if she wants to," replied Honeyshade. Shadekit grumbled and plopped herself down.

         Do I want to explore outside? I like it here, safe and warm, but if I can go outside of the nursery then I can ask Comfreyheart more questions. I guess I should wake up, it would make Shadekit and Salmonkit happier. I don't want them thinking I'm weak! 

         Drowsily, the tan kit opened her eyes and got to her paws. She galloped over to her sister and nosed her fur. Shadekit seemed to take the hint and padded over to their mother. Salmonkit got up too, eagerly eyeing Shadekit.

         Shadekit cheekily mewed, "Can we go outside now?"

         "I still think your too young. You may exit the nursery at 3 moons." said their mother, twitching her whiskers.

          "But, but, I thought you said we could go out when I woke up!" Creamkit whined.

          Honeyshade thought about this and responded, "So, you were listening the entire time, huh. Well, if you were listening closely, I said that I would consider it. I thought about it, and I still think your too young."

          Creamkit recalled her mother words, and she did say that she would think about it. She fumed at Honeyshade's cheeky wordplay. Creamkit was bored now. She had woken up for nothing!

         A small voice asked, "May father come and visit us at least?" It was Salmonkit! Creamkit had totally forgotten about her brother. He was always so quiet, not like Creamkit quiet but, patient; quiet.

        Creamkit waited for some more wordplay but instead their mother said, "If your father isn't on noon patrol, I'll ask him to come. Now, how about you three play with some moss?"

         "But I thought you said moss was only for sleeping?" questioned Salmonkit.

         Honeyshade purred and said, "I know, but you won't be ripping up all the moss, just a little. Here." Honeyshade clawed a ball of moss from her nest and handed it Shadekit. "Toss this to Creamkit, then Creamkit can toss it to Salmonkit, and Salmonkit can send it back to you. Whoever can hit back the most moss balls win!"

         "I bet I can hit back the most moss balls!" boasted Shadekit

         The three kits tossed the moss ball to each other. Shadekit's blows were hard to hit, because she would use her claws to throw it into the air. Sometimes, the ball would go over Creamkit's head and land on the other side of the nursery, near Birchpelt. Luckily, the other queen was sleeping, so getting the moss ball wasn't a problem.

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         "Kits, I'm here." greeted a deep voice.

         "Father!" Salmonkit squealed in excitement. 

         Shadekit had been winning at the mossball game and Creamkit was second. Leaving, poor Salmonkit last, but the sight of their father soon cheered him up. Yellowwhisker was a very respected and fierce warrior which meant that he was very busy, leaving him less time to play with his kits. Shadekit, out of them all, loved her father. The tiny  she-cat admired her father's strength and courage.

         Yellowwhisker purred, "Honeyshade reminded me of you three, so I decided to come along and visit. How bout' I teach you some fighting moves!?"

         'reminded'? How could Yellowwhisker forget us? Does he even want us? Creamkit shared the same puzzled look with her brother. They both wondered what Yellowhisker's words meant. Shadekit didn't seem to notice Yellowwhisker's words and continued bouncing in excitement. He must mean that he was too caught up in his duties to visit, right? wondered Creamkit. She shrugged the thought off and resumed playing with her father.

         "Now, lift your paw and strike it forward." the black tom instructed.

         Shadekit and Creamkit did it well with only sloppy performance, while Salmonkit tumbled forward due to his small size.

         Honeyshade had seemed to notice what Yellowhisker was doing and responded accordingly, "Yellowwhisker, don't you think they're a bit too young for battle training? After all, they're only two moons old. Maybe some hunting tips would be better."

         Yellowwhisker's only reply was a grunt, but Honeyshade seemed to have won that argument. Yellowwhisker plopped himself down and lifted his paw again. He pretended that he was in front of a river waiting for the fish. Suddenly, he lashed out his claw and swooped it at the ground, holding out an imaginary fish. Shadekit tried to copy her father, but instead of a neat swoop, she clawed of up the dirt. Salmonkit on the other hand, almost perfectly replicated his father. Creamkit tried maintain her posture but even waiting for imaginary fish was boring.

         A pine colored tom with big white spots poked his head through the nursery reeds and mewed, "Yellowwhisker, you're up for an evening hunting patrol if you don't mind."

         "Sorry, kits, but I have to go. I'll see you again soon!" remarked Yellowhisker and disappeared through the reeds.

Well, that took forever. I kept postponing this chapter, but I finally did it. If you were wondering, the kits are 2 moons old. The picture is Yellowwhisker