Lilykit's heart pulsed hard in her chest to the point were she was sure all the forest could hear it. I shouldn't be out here...This is so against the rules!! She knew it was wrong. Knew that at this moment Wildstar could be furiously looking for her. Then again, maybe they just thought she was hiding from Fishkit? Maybe no one even noticed she had left? Swanfeather and Reedwhisker had been very busy lately now that the kits had gotten older. The kits' parents had resumed patrols and training as usual. I'll just stay out for a bit... no one will ever know.
Lilykit noticed a feather drifting across the coarse forest grass. Claws extended she pounced, "Ahah! My first kill!" Rolling around in the flurry of feathers she bit and slashed till every one was smashed and crumpled. Losing interest in that, the young calico she-kit scented something moist and pungent. Bounding forward through the tall reeds, she saw it. A glimmering bubbling stream, the rocks a tint of mint green. This was certainty smaller than the river in camp, but there was something different about the bubbling waters. Unlike the dark rushing river, it was slow moving and clear. In a flash Lilykit's amber eyes were wide and intent on the surface. Her body pushed low to the ground she moved forward slowly. Body tingling, eyes darting; this water was filled with something. Fish.
Lilykit had tasted fish many times in the past quarter moon. Swanfeather had been weaning Fishkit and her off milk, substituting it with the salty silver creatures. Her mouth drawing multiple times over her muzzle, the she-kit crept forward. Maybe Wildstar wouldn't be so angry I was out if he knew I was contributing to the clan. I will catch one! Lilykit's delicate ear fur pulsed with the sound of the river's voice. The silver bodies of fish flicked through the water unknowing of their hunter's preying eyes. One swipe and your mine.
"Good hunting today Drizzlepaw. Starkpaw you did well too." Lilykit jumped out of her fur at the sound of Whitewater's deep mew. Every calico hair on end, she swung her head around wildly. "I'm dead!" Her soft whisper was shaky as she searched desperately for a place to hide. "Thanks Whitewater! But personally I think I did better than Starkpaw. He only caught a fish. I caught a fish and a bird." Drizzlepaw's boasting mew sounded, then the sound of scuffling told Lilykit Starkpaw had pounced on his friend. Stepping backward as quietly as she could, Lilykit tried to hide in the reeds.
Cold pierced the soft white fur and pink pads of the kit's paw, and before she could move water engulfed her. In heartbeats shock was pulsing up Lilykit's small body. The current of the water seemed to carry her in all different directions till she didn't know which was up and down. The peaceful waters turned frigid and tugged at her pale calico fur. I'm going to die!! It seemed like the world swirled around forever until finally the pierce of sharp pebbles hit Lilykit's back. The ground! Now knowing which way was up, she pushed off the ground hard flailing her paws until her lungs felt as if they were going to explode.
I can't take it! I have to take a breath! Her lungs exhaled the old air sending bubbles upward and just as she gulped in a new breath expecting to suck in water, her head broke surface. In an instant, heart pounding, Lilykit waded to shore gasping and coughing. She remembered that Whitewater, Drizzlepaw, and Starkpaw were somewhere near and tried to stifle the hacking. The tall grass was like a warm drink of Swanfeather's milk as Lilykit collapsed in the cover of some ferns. Her eyes were blurry, still flooded with water, and her nose and mouth trailed the liquid. After a few moments, her breath returned to normal and her ears cleared. Silence.
The croak of frogs, buzz of bugs, and tweet of birds went on as if nothing had happened. The patrol didn't hear me? Relief flooded through Lilykit as she laughed to herself quietly. Being half drowned was enough for one day, it was time to head back to camp. Her paws dragging, she padded quietly back to her secret pathway that she had used to sneak out. The threat of being caught was still fresh, so the kit's ears stayed pricked and swiveled to the sounds of the forest. Lilykit thought dreamily of the warm mossy nest she could easily fall asleep in the moment she returned home. Swanfeather would curl around her with soft white fur, and Fishkit would boast about the stories of the day until she fell asleep.
So I went this way right...No maybe it was this way...Ugh! There's that same tree stump! Head spinning Lilykit raced around through the pathways, blundering blindly. Panic was slowly swallowing her up as her eyes darted through the terrain looking for something that would lead her home. I'm lost! It seemed like she had been running in circles for moons, each paw step tiring her out even more. Limbs aching, chest heaving, wet fur heavier than usual, Lilykit let herself slump to the ground not bothering to keep cover anymore. On one paw, she could yowl for help. Someone would come eventually. On the other paw that would mean she would get into trouble, but if she didn't she was in danger of being lost or maybe attacked by a fox or owl.. I'm doomed no matter what I do! Starclan help me!
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