The water level is receding. The ground is still moist, and when anyone steps on it you can see water beneath their paws, but I've been told it was a lot worse. There was a time less than a moon ago when the water was all the way up to the base of the leader's den, angrily lapping at the edge of the last refuge available.

Sometimes I sit by the edge and wonder if the water will come back and drown us like it drowned so many warriors before us.

However, there are so many other things to do here besides wallowing in doubt and self pity. There are games to play, friends to meet, milk to drink... and revenge.

My cut ear stings slightly. It was only a few days ago that the incident happened. I still remember how easily his claw ripped through the tender skin of my ear. It may have been an accident, but that won't stop me from taking the perfect opportunity to pounce.

Like a clueless rabbit, he stops for a moment by Shadowstar, who is sleeping and covered in mud from a whole day repairing camp. I sneak around to the back of her, taking advantage of his momentary distraction to pounce. With a soaring leap, I fly over Shadowstar and land on top of Nettlekit, who squeaks as I bowl him over.

My tiny claws unsheathe, pinning him. "Rushkit!" he yells indignantly.

"What?" I ask. "Are you scared that I'll wreck up your ear?"
"This is the third time you've attacked me today." He continues struggling, and eventually manages to get off me with a powerful twist, throwing me sideways. I land a tail length from Shadowstar's back leg and get up.

"I want to make sure I get my revenge!" I show off my sharp teeth and raise my hackles like I'm preparing to attack again. He shrinks back, looking around for other kits.

Sure enough, Sharpkit butts in. "What are you two doing next to Shadowstar? She's trying to sleep and you're gonna wake her up!"

"Rushkit attacked me!" complains Nettlekit.

"He's just getting justice for what he did to my ear. Scarletsky says it's never going to heal." I state promptly. He looks guilty, flattening his ears aggressively but then looking away.

"Look, I don't care about your stupid fight. Get away from my mom and let her sleep." Sharpkit hisses.

"It's not even your mom." I mumble.

"What?!"
"It's not even your mom. It's Nettlekit's mom, and you're always bugging her so she never has any time for her real kits."

Sharpkit hisses loudly. "G-go away! Can't you just bug some other tom?"
"Maybe I will!" I say, stomping away with a swish of my tail. I notice Goldenkit, another one of Shadowstar's kits, nod appreciatively. It makes me feel better about what I have to do to Sharpkit for the other kits.

I look around for another tom I don't know well, and settle on the dark colored one watching the rain. He looks a lot like Shadekit, who I never talk to. I wonder if he's another one of Shadowstar's kits.

"Hello." I say, sitting down beside him. "You bored too?"
"Nah." He says. "I'm just looking at all this. It's really a beautiful world we live in."

I wrinkle my nose. "But it's so wet. The warriors are always sad and everyone up here is always fighting."
"It won't be that way for long. Things will be better when I take over."
My eyes widen. "Are you going to steal leader from Shadowstar?"
"No. I'm going to earn leader. The clan will be calling my name. I can't wait." I hear a purr in his throat. "Say... you're special, aren't you? I can see it in your eyes. They're dark blue, like water at night, but they're flecked with gold. Gold is a powerful color, you know... and eyes say a lot about everyone around you. They're the windows to the soul."
I nod, choking on air. "You think I'm special?"
"Yeah. I do."
"I... th-thank you."
He purrs. "I've never heard anyone take a compliment like that. Lighten up a bit. You know what? I actually have an idea. I think you'll like it."
"What is it?"
He turns away, pricking his ears. "Wait a second. Someone's out there."

"Oh." I say, looking over the edge of the leader's den into the rest of camp. Sure enough, a ginger tom is walking through the camp, in a clan where all the warriors are out on patrol.

"We've left ourselves vulnerable." The kit by my side hisses under his breath.

I gulp. "Is he a threat?"
"Nope. Just a curious rogue. Heard about this place from a friend." says the ginger cat below. He's about apprentice age, maybe a little younger. "I have to say, it's quieter than I expected. Who are you two?"
"Novakit." Novakit gets up from my side and walks all the way to the edge, getting a better look. "This is Rushkit. She's my best friend."
The rogue looks back up at us. "Alright then. I'll be back later when someone a little bigger is up to welcome me, but I'll remember the names. Rushkit. Novakit. You two kits stay out of trouble, alright?"
We both stand and watch him leave, neither of us uttering a word. "Are rogues usually that nice?" I say when he's gone.

Novakit shakes his head. "We got lucky. This clan is in shambles at the moment. That's why I want to fix it. I just can't do it alone. I'll need an accomplice by my side. The moon to my sun. The stars in my sky. The deputy once I'm leader."
I nod. "I guess so... but only under one condition."
"Yes?"
"You gotta be my deputy if I make it to leader first."

He smiles knowingly, and we return to watching the mist rise over the DragonClan camp.