Lightkit stayed in the nursery for the rest of the day, not really wanting to go outside after the whole ordeal that had happened that morning. Later on, at around sunhigh, her father, Flamewisp and her brother, Brokenkit, came in to comfort her.

"Do you want to go play again?" Brokenkit asked hopefully, his blue eyes glinting.

"Sure." Lightkit replied, feeling like she should at least do something. They padded out into the camp, running straight into Echopaw.

"Oh hi!" she mewed cheerfully.

"Do you want to play with us?" Brokenkit asked.

"Of course!" Echopaw replied, her tail floating up to the sky. They all raced to the apprentices' den, stopping near the tree stump.

"So who wants to be the ShadowClan warrior this time?" Brokenkit pointedly tipped his muzzle towards Lightkit.

Lightkit turned away just as Echopaw mewed "Me!"

"OK." Lightkit meowed, almost just as soon as Brokenkit did. They both sat on top of the stump, their backs turned to Echopaw as she tried, and failed to creep up to them silently.

As she approached, both Brokenkit and Lightkit sprang around and on top of Echopaw, flooring her. She fought to get back up, and then flopped down in defeat. Just as Brokenkit and Lightkit yowled their victory, she sprang up, so hard that both the kits were knocked off their feet.

Lightkit stood up, shaking the sand out of her pelt, when she saw Echopaw bearing down on Brokenkit. Lightkit sprang into action, running as fast as her legs could go, but she was just too late. Echopaw pounced on Brokenkit, pinning him to the ground. He struggled helplessly as Echopaw lifted a paw, claws sheathed, to slash across his face.

Lightkit reached them, just in time to block Echopaw's blow. She jumped and spun, landing squarely on Echopaw's back. The silver she-cat fell flat on her belly, caught by surprise. Lightkit stayed on her back, making sure the she-cat couldn't move. Echopaw struggled, nearly knocking Lightkit off, but failing with a final sigh.

Lightkit sat there for a while, triumphant. But then, she remembered Echopaw's move from earlier. That wasn't going to happen this time. She could feel Echopaw's muscles starting to tense, ready to spring up, but before she could, Lightkit flicked her tail downwards, and the whole sky came crashing down.

* * *

Lightkit woke up in the nursery, Hollycloud curled around her and her littermates. She snuggled deeper into the pile, wondering what had just happened.