Fernkit shivered as raindrops dripped from the hole in the roof of the nursery landed in her fur, making it spike.

"Did you ask Stonstar if he could get somecat to fix this roof? It's right above me." She asked her foster mother, Lightsky.
"I asked." Lightsky answered. "But remember, Stonestar doesn't have a deputy to help him right now."

"But why doesn't he just appoint a new one?" Fernkit's foster sister, Blackkit, mewed.
"Because, my kits, he's still grieving. The last deputy was his brother, Jaggedbranch, and he was killed right in front of his eyes. Give him time." Lightsky told them.

"Maybe he's just waiting for me to be a Warrior!" Boulderkit exclaimed.
Fernkit rolled her eyes. "Funny. I don't think so."
"How would you know, kittypet?"

"Boulderkit," Boulderkit's sister, Ashkit, broke in. "I doubt that Stonestar is going to make you the deputy. You're not even an apprentice!"
"Kits!" Ashkit and Boulderkit's mother, Swiftfeather called. "Nap time!"

"Aw... but mom..." Boulderkit complained.
"We're not tiny kits anymore." Ashkit mewed.
"No, but you're still very small."Swiftfeather purred. "And I do not want to have to deal with you later, when you're cranky."
"Ok."

Boulderkit and Ashkit reluctantly walked to their nest and lay down.
"Fernkit." Lightsky meowed. "You too."
"I know." Fernkit yawned.

She lay down, still annoyed that water was dripping onto her.
Lightsky sat down next to her and started grooming through her grey fur.

Fernkit fell asleep to the steady rhythm of her foster mother's tongue on her pelt.
"Sleep well, Fernkit."