With unsheathed claws, Snowkit drew lines in the compacted, dry earth. He was sitting alone, as per usual. It didn't bother him too much: after all, he considered himself an introvert. So, there he was, in the back of the nursery entertaining himself. 

Once bored and unsatisfied, the tomcat walked over to his mother, Dancingleaf. The grey molly was facing one of the nursery's walls, her tail curtly flicking around her paws. Nothing out of the ordinary, Snowkit thought, groaning. "Mother," he murmured, "may I take a mouse from the freshkill pile?" He was only allowed to leave the nursery with permission.

"I don't care," Dancingleaf hissed in response. "Do what you want." With her paw, the molly roughly nudged Snowkit away. 

Collecting himself, the white tomcat nodded, approaching the exit of the nursery. However, he abruptly halted when he heard a voice call his name. He turned, seeing Stonekit wave his tail towards him. Snowkit gave a small smile, trotting over to the dark grey spotted tomcat. 

"I noticed you're leaving the nursery," Stonekit said, gliding a paw over his ear. "For what?"

"For a mouse," Snowkit replied. "A little bird once told me that eating helps you grow," Snowkit chuckled, referring to Stonekit, "and I'm desperately in need of growing."

Although evidently confused for a few moments, once Stonekit realised Snowkit was referring to him his blue eyes lit up. "Oh, really? I would've never guessed!" After a few moments the grey tomcat stood up. "I'll go get it for you," he declared. "I was already going there, anyway. Notice how we're the only kits in here right now? Might as well eat the boredom away." With that he turned away and started to walk out of the nursery.

Snowkit sighed, sitting down. Out of all the other kits, Stonekit was the kindest to him. Be that as it may, there was often an awkward silence when the two tried to converse; although, that was often the case no matter who he or Stonekit were talking to. Yet almost always, the conversations would end in Stonekit's rants about medicine. 

It's not fair, Snowkit thought, that I'll be forced to be a medicine cat. I might be tiny but I can learn to fight! As he continued to ruminate, he noticed that a few minutes must have passed. Where's Stonekit? He's been gone for too long to just be taking freshkill. 

After stretching, the white tomcat started to walk towards the nursery's exit. As he approached it, he nearly knocked into the two kits entering. "Oh, Snowkit!" one of them exclaimed. "I was looking for you." 

Oh no, not this! Snowkit pinned his ears against the side of his head, backing away. "I wasn't doing anything, I've been here this entire time!" he tried reasoning. However, as expected, he was met with a body barreling into him and sending him crashing to the ground. He felt claws dangerously close to his throat, embedding his skin. His mother was still facing the nursery wall, ignoring the scene. A little bit of help, please?!

"When you say stuff like that it makes it sound like you're up to no good. Jeez, be more careful," Kestrelkit huffed. "You're so stupid, seriously. So puny, too. I could kill you right now and there'd be nothing you could do about it 'cause you're so puny!" Contrasting from what he was saying, Kestrelkit had a grin upon his face.

The kit he entered the nursery with, Nightkit, kept his eyes wavering between the aggressor and the victim. Silently, the black tomcat slunk out of the nursery, returning a few moments later with Bramblekit and Fernkit. By then, Snowkit and Kestrelkit were still in the same position, with Kestrelkit continuing to verbally tear at Snowkit.

"Oh my, what's going on?" Fernkit's voice was full of concern as she stared at Snowkit and Kestrelkit. The molly glanced at the cowering Bramblekit, "Why are tomcats so violent? You've scared poor Bramble!" Padding forward, the diluted calico forcefully shoved Kestrelkit off of Snowkit. "I would've expected more from you, Kestrel. But, you always do this, so-"

"I've arrived with your- oh. Oh?" Stonekit, voice muffled from holding a mouse, unintentionally interrupted his sister as he stepped into the nursery. He stood stiff, slowly processing the scene. "Alright then." Awkwardly shuffling his paws, the grey tomcat padded towards Snowkit, dropping the mouse beside him. 

"I can scent your fear," he stated, ignoring the others. "If you want, I could go get you some juniper berries. Juniper berries are known for calming cats down, they help balance emotions and breathing." The tomcat smiled, "They're really pretty. You've seen them before, haven't you? They're blue, round, and tiny. One could call them perfect." He continued, "But, I'm getting side-tracked. Not only do they calm cats, but they-"

"Will you shut up about this already?! Nobody cares about your stupid plants!" Kestrelkit hissed.

"You're being rude," Stonekit growled. "We are not supposed to be rude to our Clanmates, ever!" Gliding a paw over his ear, Stonekit raised his voice. "I suggest that we all leave the nursery and turn to the elders."

"Nu-uh, I'm not speaking to a bunch of grey-pelts right now," Kestrelkit muttered, starting to exit the nursery. Snowkit, back on his paws, watched as Stonekit followed him, presumably going on a tangent about how offensive the term "grey-pelts" is. Fernkit and Bramblekit gave the small white tomcat apologetic glances as they too went after the two tomcats. 

Sighing, Snowkit pawed at the mouse Stonekit brought for him. Why is Kestrelkit so cruel to me? I can't help that I'm so small. Maybe he's right about everything he says. Maybe I am useless. Maybe that's why- the tomcat held back his tears, maybe that's why not even my parents love me.

"Did you forget that I'm still here?"

The sudden voice startled Snowkit from both his bleak ruminations and choked-up state. He looked up at the tomcat speaking to him.

"Don't worry, I won't take offense to it." Nightkit smiled, slowly blinking. "I'm pretty forgettable, anyway." The black tomcat sat next to Snowkit, his green eyes soft and warm. "He's been hurting you for a long time, hasn't he? Kestrelkit, I mean. I've always seen it but I never tried to stop it. I should've, but I didn't... for reasons."

Nightkit... I've never really heard his voice before, Snowkit thought. He usually keeps to himself, and when he's not he's usually with his brother, Kestrelkit. Why is he..? He trailed off as Nightkit began to speak again.

"You won't say much right now, will you?" His voice sounded innocent enough as he once again smiled. "Neither would I." The black tomcat stood up. "Talk to me whenever. We've got two months before we become apprentices, so we might as well make something out of it." 

Snowkit watched as Nightkit slunk out of the nursery, leaving him alone once more. As he ate the mouse, he continued with drawing lines in the soil. Maybe, he thought in between chewing, I can try being friends with him. He seems like he'd be nice. 

. . . . .

Once night arrived and marked the end of another day spent doing virtually nothing, Snowkit laid near, but not too close to his mother. He never curled up next to her like the other kits did with their parents, for reasons partly out of fear, and partly because he knew she wouldn't allow him to. 

As everyone else drifted asleep, Snowkit remained awake. Checking that his mother was truly sleeping, he silently left the nursery. The camp was silent- minus the distinct chirping of crickets -with all of MistClan's members asleep in their dens. As he gazed upon his surroundings, he heard movement, and past that movement was the figure of an approaching kit. 

"Hey," the kit whispered, "you're that one kit who isn't allowed out of the nursery, right? You've never met me then, have you? The name's Rainkit, y'know, one of the princesses." 

"O-Oh, yeah, that's me," the white tomcat confirmed. "Nice to meet you, Princess Rainkit. I'm Snowkit."

"I already know your name, I've heard it in passing. Also, don't call me 'princess'. I don't wanna be one." The blue-grey molly huffed, "Minnow and I aren't allowed out of Mother's den. The only cats we talk to have to come to us." After a few silent moments Rainkit purred with content, a smirk across her face. "So, I guess we're quite similar, huh? Never dared to disobey her until I peaked out and saw you out here, disobeying your mother's rules. Makes two of us." 

Snowkit smiled. "Well, when you put it that way, I guess you're right." 

"How old are you?" Rainkit suddenly asked. "You're smaller than me, so you're younger than three moons, right?" 

Although the question was innocent, Snowkit couldn't help but feel a bit disheartened. "Four moons, actually," he murmured. "I'm just a smaller cat than most."

"Oh. Never mind then," Rainkit replied, flicking her tail tip. "This was a short meeting, but I need some sleep. Since we both aren't allowed to leave our dens, tomorrow night let's meet up again?" the molly proposed. "You seem like you're interesting."

"Sure," Snowkit said, watching as the molly smiled before heading back to her den. Interesting, she said? I... can't tell if that's a compliment or an insult. Knowing most, it's probably an insult, he decided. Yawning, the white tomcat reentered the nursery, curling up in his usual spot. Guess I have no choice, he thought, but to sleep. That'll make tomorrow come faster. Hence, closing his yellow eyes, Snowkit soon fell into a deep, alluring slumber.