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"Get back here, Snowkit!"

The white shekit skidded to a halt at the yowl and turned back in disappointment, looking earnestly up at her mother, "You said we could go out today!"

The tabby and white queen purred gently and licked Snowkit's forehead, "Yes I did, but you have to wait for your brother." She turned and meowed at their nest, and a black and white kitten crept out, looking up nervously at their mother, "Do I have to?"

"Oh, don't be such a beetle-brain, Reedkit!" Snowkit tumbled over to her shy smaller brother and batted him about the ears, "We're going out today! It's going to be great."

A surly hiss emitted from another nest in the nursery, "Dawnfur, can't you keep Snowkit quiet?"

Dawnfur whisked her two kits closer with her tail, shushing them, "Lilyfoot is trying to rest. Come, let's go out into the clearing."

Snowkit could barely contain her excitement as she bounced after Dawnfur, little Reedkit trailing behind, dragging his paws. Snowkit opened her eyes wide as they slipped through the nursery's entrance. The camp's clearing was so big! Reedkit cringed underneath Dawnfur's belly, but Snowkit prodded him with one paw, "Don't be afraid Reedkit, I'm here with you."

Reedkit looked at his sister and nodded, and they scrambled further into the open space within the reeds. Snowkit perked her ears, "I can hear the river!" She turned, wide eyed, and looked at the nest beside the nursery, "That's the warriors' den, isn't it? I can't wait to be a warrior!" She raced towards the den.

Dawnfur blocked Snowkit's excited run, "Don't bother the warriors, Snowkit. There's plenty of space to play and explore out here. But stay in sight, and don't you dare go near the river."

Snowkit flicked her tail, mewing in agreement, and turned to Reedkit, "Let's explore!"

With her brother on her tail, the adventurous white kit explored the entire camp, sticking her nose in the elder's den, where she found a friendly old tom named Rippleclaw, and there had been a dappled sleeping queen. Rippleclaw told them that her name was Minnowtail, and she hated to be woken up. They left then, and found another nest, where they were chased out by the medicine cat, Rainblink.

Still more excited than she can describe, Snowkit spotted a broad faced red tom laying comfortably nearby, and she crouched, wriggling her rump.

"Let's pounce on him, Reedkit!" she whispered loudly. Ignoring his nervous squeak of protest, Snowkit narrowed her eyes and then leaped! She bounced off the red tom's hide and tumbled to the ground. Snorting, the object of her play sat up and stared down at both kits.

"Snowkit! Reedkit!" Dawnfur's embarrassed yowl made both kits flatten themselves to the ground as she hurried over. Turning to the cat Snowkit had pounced on, the queen dipped her muzzle politely, "I'm so sorry, Tumblestar. It's their first time out of the nursery."

Tumblestar! Snowkit squeaked with fright, realizing she had pounced on their leader.

Tumblestar narrowed his eyes as he looked down at the kits, then he purred, "No harm done, Dawnfur. Such kits will be a great asset to RiverClan. Just look how bold they are!"

Snowkit didn't feel very bold at the moment, and knew Reedkit felt even less so, but she straightened up and looked up at Tumblestar in admiration. How amazing it must be to be Clan leader! The big tom blinked at her in a friendly manner, then turned back to Dawnfur, "Have you taken them swimming yet? A proper RiverClan can must swim."

Dawnfur shook her head, "Not yet Tumblestar, but soon. I don't want to rush them."

The Clan leader nodded, then flicked his tail and padded away, leaving Dawnfur to glare down at her two kits. She nudged them towards the nursery, scolding them the whole way, "What were you thinking, Snowkit, to pounce on the leader like that."

"I didn't know he was the leader!" Snowkit protested, but she and Reedkit were bundled back into their nest anyhow. As they were settling down with Dawnfur, another cat pushed his way into the nursery, and both kits gave excited squeaks.

"Mossnose!" Dawnfur purred, touching noses with the blue furred tom.

"How are you feeling, Dawnfur? Are our kits well?" Mossnose lowered his muzzle so that Snowkit and Reedkit could touch noses.

"Oh yes. I took them out today, and Snowkit had the nerve to pounce on Tumblestar." Dawnfur shook her head in exasperation. Mossnose laughed, causing Lilyfoot to hiss from her nest. Flicking his tail in apology, Mossnose lowered his voice.

"I'm going to the gathering tonight - Willowtail told me when I returned from patrol."

Dawnfur pricked her ears, "Do you think Tumblestar will confront Featherstar?"

Snowkit listened with intense interest as her parents talked, but Reedkit curled into a ball, closing his eyes.

"I don't know, but if ThunderClan thinks they can keep trespassing on our land, we'll teach them differently." Mossnose's claws slid out and dug into the ground for a moment, then he shook himself and nuzzled his mate once more, "I'll come see you when we return."

Snowkit waited until her father had left before looking up at Dawnfur, "Will there be a battle? Can I be an apprentice now, and fight in it?"

Dawnfur's eyes stretched wide and she gently cuffed Snowkit over the ears, "Absolutely not. You can't be an apprentice until you're six moons old."

Snowkit huffed softly, but settled deeper into the nest and closed her eyes.

It was pitch dark when Snowkit woke up to Mossnose softly calling to Dawnfur.

"Are the kits asleep? Can you come out?"

Snowkit remained very still as she felt Dawnfur pass her whiskers over her and Reedkit before answering, "Yes. What's happened?"

"Tumblestar's called a meeting."

Snowkit waited for Lilyfoot and Dawnfur to leave the nursery, then she stood up and crept to the edge of the nest. A sudden paw on her tail nearly made her shriek, but Snowkit swallowed it and spun around to see Reedkit looking at her. He shook his muzzle and whispered, "We're supposed to stay."

Snowkit huffed, "I want to know what's going on."

Reedkit just shook his head and crouched in the nest, so Snowkit wriggled her way through the woven reeds until she could see into the camp's clearing. Tumblestar was stalking back and forth, fur bristling, while his deputy Willowtail sat stiffly, her tail tip twitching back and forth in agitation. The warriors were muttering to each other in angry voices. One voice rose above the rest.

"What will you do, Tumblestar? You can't let Featherstar get away with this!"

Snowkit trembled with excitement as the Clan leader spun around and addressed the Clan, his muzzle lifted.

"Featherstar and ThunderClan have demanded fishing rights in the river! She claims with leafbare coming, they need our fish to feed ThunderClan."

Yowls of protest rang across the clearing and several warriors leapt to their paws.

"Never!"

"ThunderClan must fend for themselves!"

"Thieves! Prey stealers!"

Tumblestar gave a ferocious hiss, flattening his ears, "Featherstar says her warriors will fight to take our fish!"

Snowkit gasped, eyes wide as the camp exploded with more ringing cries of fury from the warriors.

Willowtail stood, flicking her tail, and looked to Tumblestar, "Then we will fight! No ThunderClan fox-heart is going to take prey that rightfully belongs to us."

The warriors meowed their support of the deputy, calling out from the crowd.

"We'll tear their pelts off!"

"ThunderClan will drown themselves just trying."

"My claws are ready!"

Tumblestar flicked his tail to quiet them, and looked approvingly at his thin grey furred deputy.

"We will fight - double the patrols, Willowtail. No ThunderClan warrior must step even a tail length across the border!" The leader's gaze raked the rest of the gathered cats, "I want every warrior to train. Take turns between hunting and border patrols. We WILL be ready!" Tumblestar yowled, and the rest of the Clan raised their voices to join his.

Snowkit dug her tiny claws into the reeds, eyes shining. Suddenly, there was nothing more that she wanted to do than lead her Clan into glorious battle.