"Can't catch me, Icekit!" 

"Can too!" 

Two small kits ran around the RiverClan camp, laughing and chasing each other. Salmonkit, the short, burly brown-furred tomkit with dark tabby stripes and amber-gold eyes laughed at Icekit, his eyes dancing with amusement as he ran away from her. The moon-white she-kit with a grey dappled pelt and piercing blue eyes snorted in frustration and joy as she chased after him, her legs shorter than his but her body more lean. 

"Come on, Icekit, you call that running?" He teased, jumping over a reed. 

"When I catch you I'm gonna feed you to a fish!" Icekit threatened, laughter lacing her voice as the two ran around camp, warm sunlight lighting down on the clearing. A soft, cool breeze made its way through the reeds and the leaves of trees dappled the camp in shade. 

A loud, kind call interrupted them. "Salmonkit, Icekit, come here!" A she-cat called, her misty fur standing out against the nursery wall. 

"Coming, Greyfin!" Icekit called, racing Salmonkit to their mother and barreling into her. She purred in amusement and licked the fur on the top of their heads, smoothing it down. 

"Come and eat; remember, your apprentice ceremony is at sun-high," She warned, her gaze warm.

Salmonkit's ears perked and he grinned. "Yes, mama!" 

Icekit smirked at her eager brother, her tail twitching. It wasn't every day you got to train to be a medicine cat apprentice. The two of them padded side by side to go find the biggest fish, both silently celebrating the fact they got to get out of the stuffy nursery. Icekit put on a burst of speed and dragged a trout from the pile and crouching by it, her tiny jaws parted to take a bite. Salmonkit crouched next to her and bit in, licking his lips and sighing. 

Icekit began to eat her part of the fish, thinking. Did she really want to become a medicine cat? She could never have a mate nor kits, and her friends--if she ever made any besides Salmonkit-- would be distant. She knew she was different, with her icy pelt and shining eyes, from her mother and her brother. She always heard the rumours and cruel whispers that shadowed her like the night, but she usually chose to ignore them. Her ears flattened against her head as she finished her fish, feeling stuffed. 

"Hey, Icekit, I'll see you later. Greyfin asked me for some help in the nursery," Salmonkit mewed, licking her shoulder in a friendly gesture and then trotting off. Icekit sighed and then looked up. Well, she the rest of the day to play--might as well make the most of it.