Wolfkit watched in dismay as Tigerpaw, Oakpaw and Forestpaw said their goodbyes. Wolfkit had only known them for a moon and a half but he had looked up to them greatly. They had been there, running about the nursery and pretending to fight before he could even walk and he admired them greatly. He was sad to see them and Owltooth go. Wolfkit pouted and frowned when Oakpaw flicked his tail at Wolfkit in goodbye. 

           "Come on. Why are you mad?" asked Oakpaw, twitching his tail. He couldn't hide his excitement of becoming an apprentice but he put on a neutral face for Wolfkit. 

           "I don't want you to leave. It's not fair," grumbled Wolfkit briskly. "I want you to stay here and play with us."

          "Just because I live in the apprentice den doesn't mean I won't be able to play with you. I'll even hunt for your prey and bring it to you here," promised Oakpaw. Wolfkit thought for a bit then grumpily agreed. 

          "Great, so it's a deal then?" asked Oakpaw. 

          "Fine. But I don't eat prey yet... but I'll still try it," Wolfkit said. 

          "Alright then it's settled," smiled Oakpaw before padding out of the nursery. Berrytail rolled onto her side and closed her eyes. 

          "Ahh, time to relax," she said. Wolfkit shuffled to Berrytail's side for a drink fo warm milk but Berrytail pushed him away gently. 

           "I think you're old enough to get your own prey," smiled Berrytail. "I'll bring you to the fresh kill pile and you can chose." Wolfkit gaped. He thought for a moment before nodding. 

           "Alright! I'll be like an apprentice," Wolfkit grinned. He shook his brother who was snoring gently. 

           "Hawkkit! I'm going to eat real food. Do you want to come?" he asked. Hawkkit opened one of his little eyes groggily then closed it again, mumbling softly. Wolfkit shrugged and trotted to the entrance of the camp. Berrytail signaled to Lilypool to watch over Hawkkit and followed Wolfkit out. The sun shone bright down on the camp. Wolfkit skittered on the soft soil towards the high rock. At the bottom was the fresh kill pile. Berrytail walked behind him, watching him with a smile. They reached the pile and Wolfkit studied it carefully.

          "What should I eat?" he asked. 

          "You can chose," said Berrytail. Wolfkit's eyes went wide. 

          "Anything I want?" he gasped. 

          "Anything," agreed Berrytail with an amused smile. "But you should try the frog first." Wolfkit made a disgusted face. 

          "Ew, that's disgusting. They're slimy," grimaced Wolfkit. 

          "Don't say that," sighed Berrytail. "Warriors work hard to hunt frogs. Anyways, I'll peel the skin off for you. The inside is nice and soft. Come on." Berrytail picked up a frog and they padded down the island and through a few bush and settled down gazing at the stream flowing in front of them. While Berrytail peeled the frog's skin off, Wolfkit bounded up to the stream and licked the cool water. It was cold, fresh and clear. It was shallow and the bottom was covered in pebbles. Owltooth had told Wolfkit that the camp was chosen to be next to the stream so they could get water easily and it was not dangerous. Wolfkit sprang into the stream and paddled furiously. He could not touch the ground but there was no current and the water brought him nowhere. Berrytail had brought him twice here so he could practice swimming. Kits were to learn to swim at a very young age. After-all, it was Riverclan not Shadowclan.  Wolfkit swam about until he lost his breath and pulled himself out and shook his pelt. Berrytail had finished peeling the frog. 

           "Here, take a bite," she said, pushing the frog forward. Wolfkit sniffed it tentatively. He scrunched up his nose. 

           "It smells weird," he commented. Then he opened his mouth and showed his small fangs and bit into the frog. His eyes went wide but he took a bite. Berrytail waited as he chewed slowly then gulped. 

          "Tastes..., good," Wolfkit said after some thought. He took another bite. After another two bites, he was full. 

          "Go drink some water," Berrytail urged before gulping down the rest of the frog. 

          "What are you going to do with the skin?" inquired Wolfkit, lapping the stream water. "Throw it away?" Berrytail shook her head. 

          "Never waste. I'll see if one of the elders want it. They don't do much so they might like to chew on something to pass time. The skin is very chewy. You can spend days chewing on it," explained Berrytail, flicking, her tail. Wolfkit bounded after her. 

           "Can I follow you," Wolfkit asked. 

           "Yes, if you don't annoy them," Berrytail said with the frog skin in her mouth. They ducked under a log with moss growing around it and under the shadow of a large tree. Under the tree basked two cats. A light grey spotted cat, Rainwhisker and a dark red cat, Leafclaw. 

           "Hello Rainwhisker, Leafclaw. Everything alright?" asked Berrytail. Wolfkit looked around in awe. He saw the elder den behind the tree. A big bush with a nice and cosy space inside. 

           "I'm Wolfkit!" Wolfkit said, coming up to Rainwhisker. Rainwhisker smiled. 

           "I'm Rainwhisker," she purred. She loved kits. She was a mother herself. 

         "I thought maybe one of you would like a frog skin?" asked Berrytail. Leafclaw flicked his tail. 

           "No thanks. Not for me," he growled. Wolfkit frowned. He already didn't like this elder. 

           "Do you sleep all day?" asked Wolfkit pointedly. Leafclaw growled and flashed Wolfkit a look. Berrytail wrapped her tail around Wolfkit and pushed him back. 

          "Wolfkit," she scolded softly. "Don't be rude."

          "Rude? He's not being rude, he's just being honest and curious," Rainwhisker said. 

          "Kits my days were kept in the den silent the whole time till they became apprentices and when they did, they brought back food for the elders without fail," snapped Leafclaw. "Oakpaw, Tigerpaw and Forestpaw aren't doing a very good job."

           "Sorry to disturb you then," Berrytail said. "Where is Sunfall by the way?" Just then a light orange cat crawled under the log and padded forward. She had white and faded fur at many places. 

           "Did someone say my name?" asked the sleek cat. Wolfkit bounded up to her. "Hello young one. Ah Berryfall is here, so you must be Haw- no Wolfkit."

           "Yeah!" cried Wolfkit. 

          "Sunfall. Nice to see you," smiled Berryfall. "Would you like this frog skin?" 

          "Ooh, I'd love it thank you," Sunfall said, taking the frog skin and falling to the ground. She chewed on it thoughtfully. 

          "Well, we won't disturb you anymore," Berrytail said. "Come along Wolfkit." Wolfkit nodded and scampered under the log. 

           "He's got a lot of potential that one," Rainwhisker said approvingly. Berrytail smiled proudly and dipped her head under the log. She followed Wolfkit into the clearing and navigated him back to the nursery. She could see his muscles getting tired. 

          "Rest now," Berrytail said. Wolfkit was about to argue but he thought better of it and curled up in the warm sand. Hawkkit was just waking up. 

           "He made not a noise," Lilypool said. 

          "Good. Hawkkit do you want to eat?" Berrytail said. "I just brought Wolfkit to eat some fresh prey." Hawkkit's eyes went wide. 

          "Really?" he asked. 

          "Yes," nodded Berrytail. Just then Lilyfoot collapsed to the ground and started panting. 

          "Ow," she grunted. Hawkkit sprung to her side and pressed her tummy. 

         "Are you ok?" he asked. Wolfkit's eyes opened and he leapt up in excitement. 

         "She's kitting," exclaimed Berrytail. She crouched to Lilyfoot's side. Wolfkit watched in awe while Hawkkit took a step back, scared. 

          "Wolfkit! You know where the medicine den is. Go get Blackfur. Now," hurried Berrytail. Wolfkit took the responsibility with pride and scampered out. Hawkkit attempted to follow his brother but he had shorter legs and stumbled. 

          "Hawkkit don't go, stay here," Berrytail ordered. "I don't want you wandering off." Wolfkit made it into the clearing and looked around. He tripped over a stone but quickly got back up and made his way towards the medicine den. A white and black cat spotted him. 

          "What's wrong Wolfkit?" asked the cat, Badgerfang. 

          "Badgerfang! Lilypool's kitting. Berrytail told me to get Blackfur," Wolfkit sai. Badgerfang sprung into action. 

           "Lilypool's kitting," yelled Badgerfang, racing to the medicine den. A slim white she-cat appeared from the warrior's den followed by a tortoiseshell cat. 

           "Wolfkit, is she alright?" asked the white cat. 

           "She's ok for now Snowflame because Berrytail is with her," meowed Wolfkit sweetly. Badgerfang emerged from the den followed by Blackfur, carrying herbs. Blackfur ran to the nursery and slipped inside. Moaning and groaning could be heard. The tortoiseshell cat, Sorrelpelt. 

          "Come Wolfkit, you can join your mother," Sorrelpelt said, picking Wolfkit up by the scruff. More cats were coming out to know what the commotion was about. Sorrelpelt brought Wolfkit to the nursery entrance and Wolfkit scurried in. He ran to his Berrytail's side. She licked him lovingly. 

          "You did well," she whispered in his ear. Hawkkit pressed closer to Berrytail, scared for Lilypool. 

           "She's going to be fine right?" asked Wolfkit, watching Blackfur tending to Lilypool. Lilypool was bitting hard onto a stick. 

            "Blackfur will take care of her," assured Berrytail. Suddenly, the first kit arrived. Blackfur passed it to Berrytail. Without him telling her what to do, she licked the kit. Wolfkit watched in amazement. 

           "It's so small," he gaped. 

           "You were just like that," Berrytail murmured between licks. Hawkkit watched nervously. Lilypool's panting and cries of pain got louder. Hawkkit covered his ears. 

           "It's ok Hawkkit," Wolfkit said expertly. "Blackfur will take care of her." There was some hurried talking outside of the nursery then a ginger cat slipped into the nursery. He had a worried look. 

            "Lionheart, good you're here," Blackfur said. "Another kit is coming." Lilypool gasped then another kit was born. Lionheart took it in his mouth gently and in awe. He lay down next to Berrytail. He licked the kit just like Berrytail. 

            "Two healthy kits!" cried Lionheart between licks. "Come on Lilypool. You're doing great!" Berrytail nodded in encouragement. Lionheart bit his tongue as she yelped in pain. One last kit was born, it was smaller than the others and weaker. Blackfur licked it himself and made sure it was clean then pushed it to Lilypool's side to keep him warm. 

            "You're alright," he said. "The other kits are clean. Give them back to Lilypool. Two she-cats and one tom." Lionheart nodded numbly and slowly brought his kit to Lilypool's side. Berrytail did the same then ushered her kits to the side to watch silently. Lionheart was whispering encouragements in Lilypool's ear. He licked her cheek. 

             "They're so cute," Lilypool gasped finally. 

             "Yes, and strong," noted Berrytail. "What will you name them?"

            "This one is coloured just like you," said Lilyfoot to Lionheart, nodding to one of the she-cats. "You should name her." 

            "Duskkit," said Lionheart. Berrytail smiled wistfully and padded closer. She let Wolfkit and Hawkkit approach the kits and look at them with big eyes. 

           "I'm naming the tom Volekit," said Lilyfoot. The small light brown tom seemed to wiggle in response. The last kit was coloured like Lilypool, lilac coloured. 

            "Lilackit," smiled Lilypool. Lionheart brushed his face against his mate. 

            "They're perfect," Lionheart breathed. Blackfur padded into the den and smiled, a few other cats poked their heads in. Lilypool informed him of their names.

           "They're doing fine," Backfur confirmed after a simple check out. "This one, Volekit seems to be smaller and weaker than his sisters but he'll survive." Lilypool and Lionheart nodded fondly. Blackfur twitched his tail and walked out. 

          "We'll be able to play with them right?" asked Wolfkit. 

         "Not at the moment, look how small they are," said Berrytail. "And Lilypool needs to rest. And you too Wolfkit, don't try and get out of it." Hawkkit curled up in a ball without a word but Wolfkit relented. Everything was exciting. It was a waste of time, sleeping. He could do that at night. Berrytail pushed him down and he sighed and curled up next to his brother. Berrytail lay next to her kits and watched the happy couple. After a while, Lilypool got tired and closed her eyes, her kits sleeping pressed close to her. Lionheart solemnly padded out, head hung low, glancing back every few seconds. 

           "You can stay," whispered Berrytail. Lionheart brightened and slipped next to Lilypool and rested his chin on her. Wolfkit didn't see any of this. He was already fast asleep.