"Oh, what are you doing here?" Mintspot asked, as if just noticing Willowkit. Willowkit had been curled up in the corner. Mintspot tilted her head. Willowkit shrugged. 
              "What are you doing? Pouting?" Mintspot raised her eyebrows. 
              "No," mumbled Willowkit. 
              "Go out," Mintspot said. Willowkit frowned. Wasn't that what Mintspot wanted? For Willowkit to be quiet. "You've been in here doing whatever you're doing for a quarter moon. Just go out." Willowkit scuttled outside. The fresh air was nice. Acornkit trotted to her. 
               "Hey," he grinned. "Do you want to play?"
               "Not now," sighed Willowkit. She retreated to her usual spot in the bracken bush.
               "You promised the other time and you never did," Acornkit frowned.
               "I don't feel like playing," mumbled Willowkit.
               "Why not?" asked Acornkit.
               "Leave me alone," muttered Willowkit. Was it too hard? What did he want with her? He could play with Snailkit, with anybody. Anybody but her. She wasn't important... She wasn't wanted...
                "Tell me why you're sad," Acornkit said, sliding beside Willowkit. Willowkit let out a small sigh. 
                "You don't need to know," mumbled Willowkit. She was slightly confused. Nobody had ever asked her to tell them what was wrong. She didn't know how to react.
                "Yeah I do. You're my best friend," Acornkit said firmly. Willowkit went still. Best friend? Her heart started racing.
                "Really?" her voice squeaked.
               "Yeah, of course," Acornkit said as if it was obvious. Willowkit felt something warm sprout in her heart. Her body trembled slightly. 
               "Oh ok... you're my best friend too," she mumbled softly. Acornkit smiled.
                "So why are you sad?" he asked. 
                "It's Stormkit," blurted Willowkit. "I didn't know why everybody hated me before. But now I do. Mintspot even told me. It's because everbody... everybody wishes Stormkit was here. Playing and laughing and everything. They wish it was him instead of me. You must to." Acornkit's eyes widened. 
                "What do you mean?" he squeaked in disbelief. "Of course I don't think that. I haven't even seen Stormkit. I like you. You're my best friend." 
                "Don't lie," Willowkit sighed sourly. 
                "I'm not lying. Why would I prefer Stormkit? I don't know him," Acornkit rolled his eyes but then saw Willlowkit really was sad. "Anyways, what do you care about other cats' feelings?"
                 "That's what everybody thinks," said Willowkit. 
                 "They don't think that," Acornkit said. 
                  "Of course they do," Willowkit said, her body shaking. 
                  "Do you want me to call Troutfur?" asked Acornkit. Willowkit shook her head wildly. No. She didn't want attention. That would be the worst thing that could happen. 
                  "No I want you to leave me alone," she almost snapped. She didn't know what had overcome her. She had always found it easier to talk to Acornkit but she had never been so strong or angry with him. She usually just went with what he said, quietly and happily. 
                 "I'll stay with you," suggested Acornkit. "So you're not sad." 
                 "You can play with Snailkit," said Willowkit. 
                 "I don't want to. He can be annoying sometimes," replied Acornkit. 
                 "Ok," Willowkit relented. They stayed huddled together. Willowkit found herself appreciating her company. She never would have thought that possible. She normally watched others, alone. She liked being hiding with someone else. Acornkit curled up into a ball, pressing next to Willowkit. His warmth spread to her body. She smiled. She closed her eyes and buried her face in her paws. Her body was tingling. With something she only felt sometimes. When her mother paid attention to her. When her father paid attention to her. It was the small happy trickle of love. She would take as much as she got. Maybe this was what it felt to have a brother. Maybe if Stormkit was there, he would be curled up against her, leaking his love and warmth to her. She wished, for the millionth time in her life, that Stormkit was back. It would mend everything. Maybe. Then they could curl up together, brother and sister. He would comfort her. Like Acornkit. But for now, she would take what she had. She wished Stormkit was there but... Acornkit was also enough. She was his best friend. He was her best friend. She could pretend they were siblings. For now, he was enough. More than enough.