Willowkit cocked her head. She stared up at the stars. She waited for Mintspot. Where was Mintspot? Acornkit poked his head out. 
              "Are you coming in?" he asked. "Aren't you tired?" 
               "No," replied Willowkit. "I'm just waiting... for Mintspot." 
               "I thought-" Acornkit said but Wrencry interrupted him. 
               "Acornkit, get back inside," Wrencry said firmly. She then slipped outside to Willowkit's side. 
               "Come inside, Willowkit," Wrencry said gently. "It's late. You should be asleep by now." Willowkit frowned. Where was Mintspot? She knew Mintspot didn't exactly care for her but she cared for Mintspot. 
               "It's getting really late. Mintspot....- You know what, I'm going to go get her," decided Wrencry. Willowkit tilted her head as she watched Wrencry trot towards the warrior's den. A few moments later, she came back out with Beetlejaw instead. Wrencry whispered something into his ear then slipped past Willowkit and into the nursery where Snailkit and Acornkit started asking her many questions. Beetlejaw approached Willowkit. Willowkit's eyes lit up with hope. Was he going to tell her a story? Bring her on a walk? Put her to sleep? She couldn't ruin this moment before it started, so she didn't say anything, just stared hopefully. 
              "Willowkit," started Beetlejaw slowly. Willowkit nodded eagerly. Beetlejaw hesitated then said, "H-how was your day?" Willowkit almost burst with happiness. 
               "Good, great. I-" Willowkit stopped. Firstly, her day hadn't been good. Secondly, she didn't want to speak too much or Beetlejaw might get bored and just leave. She stopped. 
                "Yes?" Beetlejaw pushed. 
                "I had fun," finished Willowkit softly. 
                "Ok," said Beetlejaw. "About Mintspot... She's missing being a warrior. So, she's going to be staying in the warrior's den... For- for some time." 
                  "Not in the nursery?" Willowkit furrowed her brow. Beetlejaw nodded. 
                "I know you won't mind, right?" Beetlejaw said. "You're independent. And it's only to sleep." Willowkit nodded. Her voice seemed trapped in her throat suddenly. Her eyes were watery and blurry. Beetlejaw had tried to make it as easy as he could but she could read between the lines. Mintspot just didn't want to stay with Willowkit anymore. 
                "Willowkit?" Beetlejaw said, after a long time of silence. 
                "Y-yeah," said Willowkit, her voice hoarse. Beetlejaw gulped. He wanted to rush to her side and cuddle with her. He wanted to press her close to him. Tell her that everything was alright. He wanted to bring her into the nursery. Reassure her that she wasn't unloved. He would stay with her in the nursery the whole night with her. But that wasn't how their family worked. That wasn't how Mintspot worked. And how about Stormkit? Stormkit was somewhere out there. And he wasn't getting this kind of treatment. He wasn't getting loved. He wasn't getting cuddled. It wasn't fair. So Beetlejaw just stood there, staring at his daughter, his kit. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. Willowkit shrunk under his gaze. He must be thinking about how annoying I am, she thought. She wished that she could do something to make her parents proud. 
             "Goodnight," Beetlejaw said finally. He approached her, as if he were about to give her an affectionate lick. Instead, he then swivelled around and padded away. He disappeared into the warrior's den. Willowkit rolled up in a ball. She didn't bother going in the nursery. Snailkit and Acornkit would just stare at her. Wrencry would feel that she had to comfort Willowkit. She would just be another pitied burden. So instead, Willowkit curled into a ball and buried her face in her small tail. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths. Her mind raced, bad thoughts played again and again like a movie in her head. It was only hours later that she finally fell asleep.