The next generation

[Wildheart]

Copperheart watched her two children tumbling over one another and hissing playfully as they batted with still-clumsy paws. Raccoonkit was encouraging Owlkit to swipe at his ears, though she looked nervous. She was a shy, gentle little thing.

"Morning, Copperheart." Russettal, a calico queen with pretty blue eyes, came out to lie beside her friend. Her four kits stumbled around her, a little younger than Copperheart's pair. Nightkit, the biggest of the litter, tottered over to see the two bigger kits, while the other three curled up beside her mother to nurse. Russetfur blinked nervously as Nightkit patted at Raccoonkit's tail. "Be careful!" She called with worry.

[Halftail]

A stone gray tom-kit stummbled into the nursery, his eyes alight with laughter as he glanced back at the kit stummbling after him. Coat full of reds and browns, Birchkit swiped at the gray tom-kit's tail.

Pulling his tail out of reach, Graykit laughed, pausing when he sighted Cooperheart and Russettail. There kits playing all around them. "Hey Cooperheart, hey Russettail," he called his greeting only to be takling from behind by Birchkit. Going down with a grunt, Birchkit laughed, "just wait when were apprentices I'll be so much stronger then you!"

"Yeah right!" Graykit retorted playfully. Shoving the other kit away he twitched his tail turning his teal gaze onto the other kits, "your all getting bigger every day I swear!"

[Wildheart]

Nightkit was used to his mother's frequent worry and was able to tune it out. He capered over to Graykit and Birchkit and bared is tiny milk teeth. "We're big and tough!" He growled. He pounced at Graykit's tail to proove it.

Finishing her meal, little white Autumnkit with her pretty red patches came to join them, giggling and beaming at the bigger kits. "He big and tough. I little." She announced, and indeed, beside big, dark-furred Nightkit she was a mere scrap.

[Halftail]

Lifting his tail high over the other kits head, Graykit chuckled, barely missing Nightkits swipe. Glancing over at his friend Graykit shrugged, however Birchkit's attention was on Autumnkit.

Grinning ear to ear, the reddish-brown tom, "yeah well being small isn't so bad, you have a lot of advantages! When you become a warrior you'll be more agile, a harder target to hit, you know!" He spoke the words without real understanding them, but he seemed pleased with himself. He had been thinking about warrior and apprentice stuff for the past few days. Because it would only be a few more days before he was to become an apprentice. His feelings of excitement were back, who would his mentor be?

Suddenly shoved heavy to the side, Birchkit went sprawling onto the ground, glaring up at Graykit who looked smug. "You know a really apprentice would never let his guard down."

Growling Birchkit launched at his friend, the two rolling around in a playful heap.

[Wildheart]

Autumnkit's eyes brightened at the attention from the bigger kit, making her feel important. "Not fink of that." she replied, beaming up at Birchkit. Then when he went flying, she squeaked in surprise. Then burst into laughter - it was kinda funny to see Brichkit go flying like that!

Nightkit wanted to join and and prove he was just as big as these tough bigger kits! He hurtled himself headlong into the melee, trying to grab Graykit by the scruff.

Russetfur jumped to her paws. "Nightkit!" She began, but Copperheart touched her friend's shoulder, gesturing for her to sit down. "Leave them be, Russetfur." she purred, looking indulgently at the playing kits. "They're having fun."

[Halftail]

Slightly surprised that Nightkit had jumped in Gray laughed, acting wounded as the the younger kits tiny teeth poked him. Rolling away he softly swiped the kits ears, just as Birchkit lunged at him again. Letting out a surprised yelp he leaped out of the way, "Ahh! Nightkit help!" Graykit meowed jumping behind the younger kit.

Birchkit laughed, "haha! As if Nightkit can save you now! I have Autumnkit on my side!"

[Wildheart]

Autumnkit looked thrilled. She was really a big kit now! Birchkit, big and strong and soon to be an apprentice, wanted her on his side!
"Yeah!" she puffed out her tiny chest and sprang clumsily at Graykit. Nightkit snorted and hurtled himself at Birchkit. "I stronger than Autumnkit!"

[Halftail]

Acting wounded Birchkit fell to his side, "ahh! This won't be the end!" Making sure not to put all his strength into it Birchkit pushed Nightkit aside to leap to his paws, staggering to the side, his face twisted in fake pain. "I'll get you for this Nightkit."

Taking a small leap forward he batted the young kits ears, before jumping around him and nudging him on the side.

Graykit scrammbled back away from Autumnkit, Graykit hit the wall. Cornered now Graykit sprang forward, careful not to hurt the younger kit as he batted at her ears and side. "Haha! Try and beat me now!"

[Wildheart]

Nightkit hissed in triumph. "I win! I win!" He crowed, then glared and jumped aside as the older kit batted at him. "I win!" He insisted, nipping at Birchkit's legs.

Autumnkit giggled and backed up a few steps from Graykit to pounce on him. She bumped into her brother, throwing him off balance. He whirled on her with a scowl. "Look out!"

[Halftail]

Stummbling back at the young kits nips Birchkit fell to his side, letting out a dramatic dieing cry before he went limp.

Graykit, let out a triump meow, "good job Nightkit!" His gaze never leaving Autumnkit, waiting. When her attention was turned he took a step toward her batting at her ears. "Gottcha."

[Wildheart]

"Oh no!" Autumnkit pushed at Graykit to one side and went bounding over to her new ally Birchkit, shoving Nightkit away. Surprised, the black kit tumbled to the side, having been concentrating on Birchkit. He growled warningly, but Autumnkit was nuzzling anxiously at her new friend. "Birchkit?"

[Halftail]

Continuing to lay limp, Birchkit held his breath. Feeling his lungs tighten. How long could he keep this up?

Graykit perked his ears, shacking his head in annoyance, "get up Birchkit! Your not fooling me!" When the young tom-kit didn't answer, Graykit bound over, batting at his friends head. "Wake up loser!"

Giving a frustrated hump Graykit sat on him, causing Birchkit to grunt in pain. Gasping for breath the red tom shoved Graykit aside, glaring at him briefly before he turned to Autumnkit and Nightkit with a grin. "Sorry about that, thought it would be funny"

[Wildheart]

Autumnkit squealed and bounded back, then back to where she was swiftly. "Birchkit! Are you sure you're okay?" She asked, nosing him anxiously.

Nightkit snorted and stalked away. "Graykit right. You a loser."

Autumnkit pawed down at Birchkit's ear. "You scareded him." She whispered confidently. "He grumy getting scarded."

[Halftail]

Birchkit nodded, nudging Autumnkit softly, "yeah I'm fine."

Graykit grinned, brushing his tail over Nightkits ears as he passed. Birchkit watched Nightkit leave, nodding slowly at what the she-kit was saying. "Oh...."

Shrugging Grakit bounced on his toes, his eyes moving back toward the other two. "Man Birchkit you ruin everything! Why do you have to be so stupid." Offended Birchkit rose to his paws, "shut up Graykit! I was just playing around!"

"Yeah, maybe you do that to much," he meowed not realizing just how hypocitical that sounded. "You'll never make a good warrior, I don't even see why you try."

Pelt bristling Birchkit charged the other kit, slaming into him. The two crashed to the ground, hissing and snarling. A small ball of raging fur and claws.

[Wildheart]

Autumnkit squeaked in horror and backed off, her ears flattening, and her little pink mouth opening in a yowl for help. Nightkit jumped in surprise.

The adult she-cats swung towards the noise. Russetfur gave an exclamation of dismay, sweeping her kits towards her. Meanwhile, Copperheart sprang between the fighting kits, and swatted at them, claws in of course. "Hey - break it up!"

[Halftail]

Backing away from each other the two kits, glared, never taking there eyes off the other. "Loser!" Graykit called.

"Mouse-brianed!" Birchkit snarled back.

Turning with a snort Graykit stormed from the nursery, leaving Birchkit glaring after him. Giving a great big hmpf, Birchkit spun around, leaving his back to the other kit. And reluctantly he glanced up at Cooperheart to apolagize, "sorry about that." Turning to Russetfur to give her the same apolagy.

[Wildheart]

"Clanmates are more important than anything." Copperheart lectured, staring down at Birchkit sternly - though she cast a worried glance after Graykit.

Autumnkit hid behind Russetfur, peering out anxiously at Birchkit.

[Halftail]

Tight lipped Birchkit nodded, not wanting to admit that what he had done was childish and that Copperheart was right. Marching over to his nest he plopped down glancing at Autumnkit and Nightkit he motioned them over with his tail.

Hopefully they could at least talk to him for a while more, if there mothers would allow it.