"Go faster! Go faster!" Poppykit squealed, riding on top of Branchkit's back; her small claws pricking his skin. Annoying furball... "Okaaay," the brown tabby huffed, picking up speed. It had been a little over a moon since Branchkit lost his leg - and now he was strong enough to give the smaller kits badger-rides. "I don't get why you're upset. I have three on me!" Thornkit grumbled, giving Frondkit a sidelong glance. "Amberkit, I want you to go ride Frondkit." Amberkit sheathed her claws, sliding down Thornkit and trotting over to the gray tom. While Branchkit watched his brothers distractedly, he stopped moving - until he felt a paw whack his muzzle. "Poppykit! What was that for?" 

Branchkit looked around the nursery for one of the nursery cats. However, he knew that they wouldn't be there. They had decided to 'go on a walk', and trusted Poppykit to look after the other kits. She is the princess after all. "You stopped moving!" Poppykit straightened up on Branchkit's shoulders before clearing her throat. "I demand for you to start moving at once." Branchkit giggled, "And what if I don't?" Poppykit growled playfully, "Then I'll have to-" Before she could finish, Branchkit sat down suddenly; Poppykit slipping off of him. The dark ginger she-kit squeaked with anger, "Oh! That's not fair!" She batted at his only forepaw, before scowling. "Fine," she mumbled, "I'll ride Thornkit."

As if summoned by her words, Thornkit whipped around. "Not until these two," he turned his head to look at Onekit and Wrenkit who were perched on his shoulders, "get off of me and ride someone else." Branchkit purred with amusement as he watched Thornkit stomp over to Frondkit. My brothers are daft fuzz-brains! 

Poppykit trotted over to the two bickering toms, Branchkit following. "I haven't really seen you give the kits badger-rides. You've only just started. How about you stop being such a lazy furball!" Frondkit crouched down, letting Amberkit slide off him. Once she was off, he rolled onto his back, exposing his belly. "How about no?" Branchkit could see Thornkit bristling with anger; quite evident just by looking into his amber eyes. Wanting to resolve conflict, Branchkit hobbled until he was in front of Thornkit. Frondkit can be so stone-headed whenever he wants to be. "How about they all ride you, Thornkit?" Before the dark brown tabby could protest, Branchkit continued. "We can see how strong you are!" Frondkit sat up, "Yeah! Let's see if you can carry all of them - or if you are too weak!"

Thornkit's eyes lit up. "I'll have you know that I'm in no way weak!" He glared at his green-eyed brother before sweeping his gaze to Poppykit and Amberkit, who both were looking up at him expectantly. Crouching down slowly, to not have Wrenkit or Onekit fall off of him, he let Poppykit and Amberkit scramble onto his back. Poppykit looked down at Branchkit defiantly, sticking her tongue out. Branchkit huffed, stepping back to where Frondkit was sitting. "You think he can do it? I don't think he can. He's got four kits on him!" Branchkit shrugged, "We'll just have to see."

Thornkit started padding around the nursery, stomping to the kits' will. "I'm doing it! I'm not weak, Frondkit," he panted, speeding up his pace. Right when he was about to stop, the nursery cats came back into the den. "I see you've all been having a fun time?" Minnowflight chuckled, looking at the young, small kits. "You're really strong, Thornkit. You should be an apprentice already." The Queen's amber eyes glittered with admiration. She then looked at Frondkit and Branchkit, "You all should be apprentices. You just need to wait one more half-moon." Although the Queen meant no harm, Branchkit couldn't help but feel left out. Branchkit shifted his gaze to Frondkit who was scowling. "We're strong too," Frondkit whispered, looking at Thornkit who had the expression of smugness. What if I'm not strong? I'm missing a leg so I might not be as strong as the other kits. And if I really am weak I'll have to become a medicine cat! 

Minnowflight spoke to each kit in the nursery, before going to her shared nest with Poppykit. "Time to go to bed, little one." She licked the dark ginger she-kit's ear. Branchkit heard her protest, but she soon fell asleep in her mother's embrace. "Stonefeather wants to see you in the medicine den, Branchkit." Fernshade, Branchkit's mother, whispered briskly. He noticed her looking dismally at the empty space where his leg should have been. "Okay," he piped, hobbling out of the nursery and towards the medicine den. Fernshade didn't look too happy. Did she and Stonefeather fight again?  Branchkit closed his eyes, recalling their last argument.

. . . . .

Branchkit, Frondkit, and Thornkit were huddled in the nursery. It was nighttime, and the kits were supposed to be asleep, yet they couldn't. Stonefeather and Fernshade were arguing near the entrance of the nursery; and all because of me! Branchkit peered out of the den - able to see most of what was happening in camp. "He will not become a medicine cat if he doesn't want to! Branchkit is doing great with his exercises!" Stonefeather hissed, glaring at Fernshade with narrowed eyes. Before Branchkit had time to blink, Minnowflight shot out of the nursery when a bloodied Snowleap appeared beside King Kestrelfall. The gray-and-white Queen looked from Snowleap to Kestrelfall. "What happened to you? You're all bloody!" "They were from a..." Snowleap looked up at the king before continuing, "A thorn, in my nest. I got rid of it." He lowered his ears, not wanting to hear the rest of the dispute. "Don't worry, Branchkit. It's not your fault that they are fighting." Branchkit looked at Frondkit. He sighed, nuzzling into his brother's gray tabby fur. "Yeah, don't worry about it. How about we go to sleep now? Things will be better in the morning." Thornkit mewed, looking aside. Branchkit sighed, looking at his littermates. "Okay." The brown tabby purred, resting his head on his left paw. But before he could drift to sleep, he yowled out in pain. "My leg feels on fire!" Through blurred vision, Branchkit was able to faintly see the gray pelt of Stonefeather rushing forward.

. . . . .

Branchkit shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Stonefeather?" Branchkit was at the entrance of the medicine den, watching the medicine cats sort herbs. The apprentice turned around. "Hello Branchkit!" "Hi Beechpa- Beechtuft," Branchkit corrected himself. During the medicine cats' last visit at the Moonstream, Beechpaw had gained the name Beechtuft. Stonefeather turned around as well, walking towards Branchkit. "It's nice to see you again, Branchkit." Stonefeather watched as Beechtuft went back to sorting herbs. The gray tom shifted awkwardly, "I'm sorry about all the arguments my - your mother and I have gotten into. They won't happen again." His blue eyes lit up as he continued. "We came to a decision. I have convinced Fernshade, King Kestrelfall, and Queen Minnowflight that you should become an apprentice training under the ways of a warrior. Just as long as all those horrible pains go away..." Stonefeather muttered the last part to himself.

The kit felt his heart leap with joy. I'm going to be a warrior! "Really!?" Branchkit purred, a huge smile planted on his muzzle. Stonefeather nodded, "Yes, you are! That means that for now on you can sleep in the nursery until you are apprenticed." Branchkit nodded at a loss for words. I really will become a warrior! "You can go join your brothers in the nursery now. I'm sure they'll be waiting for you." Branchkit searched Stonefeather's gaze. The older tom's voice held something more than just pleasure, but his eyes revealed nothing. Branchkit hobbled out of the medicine den. I really will be! I can't believe it! 

. . . . .

Once settled in the nursery, Branchkit told his brothers the exciting news. "And then he said that I would be able to become a warrior apprentice! And now I get to stay in the nursery!" The brown tabby tom whispered excitedly, proud of himself. "This means that we can all train together - and you don't have to smell herbs all day!" Frondkit wrinkled his nose, pretending to sniff herbs. "We'll get to battle train together, and fight foxes!" Branchkit looked over at Thornkit, who looked on approvingly. Then, Branchkit looked at Fernshade who was sitting near him and his brothers. "Are you proud of me, Fernshade? I'm strong enough to be a warrior!" Fernshade looked at him, blue eyes filled with warmth. "Of course. You should be a great warrior someday," she whispered. Branchkit grinned from her response before hobbling towards the entrance of the nursery. Is it sundown already? "Sundown, but nearly moonrise, which means you'll be having to go to bed soon." Fernshade, who was now sitting beside him, echoed his thoughts.

For a while, Branchkit and Fernshade watched as the sun's rays relinquished; Thornkit and Frondkit joining as well. "It's time to go to sleep," Fernshade whispered, looking down at her kits with warmth. The four cats padded over to their shared nest, laying down. We're the only cats who are awake in the whole nursery. "It's getting crowded in here," the mother chuckled, "you'll be apprentices soon enough. Then I'll finally have my own nest," the cream-colored she-cat teased. Branchkit closed his ice-blue eyes, pressing himself against his mother and brothers. I'll be a warrior apprentice...Frondkit, Thornkit, and I, training together.  Branchkit ebbed off into a deep sleep; dreaming of happy adventures that he and his brothers would have as warriors.

I think I did good on this chapter. It took around 2-3 days to write. I mean, I like the chapter, so it's all good. I wrote a second version of this in mid October, but I didn't like it so I deleted it. Then, in the beginning of November, I was like "This needs to be published-" so I wrote it, and now it's published. Anyway, I think that I'll just be adding Author Notes to the end of each of my chapters (I know that nobody likes reading them, but I'm just adding these for my own entertainment xD). If you are reading this, tell me which character you like so far!