a fallen sun

~~~

FOR A MOMENT, all Violetkit could feel was anger towards Ravenkit for his victory, uncaring about the warrior she'd bumped into. After all, most cats didn't care if a tiny kit crashed into them while playing. But when the warrior spoke, it was with a stoic, almost cold voice that made Violetkit's ears press to her head in shame almost immediately.

"You really should watch where you're going."

Looking up, the white she-kit met the clear blue eyes of Sunbounce.

She didn't like him very much, for simply one reason: he hated her. But really, Violetkit couldn't even say Sunbounce didn't like her, because he'd never done anything to prove the fact. He'd never been mean to her, or scolded her unnecessarily, or anything like that; but his vibes were just off.

Violetkit really couldn't explain it. It wasn't like Sunbounce acted any differently towards her than he did the other kits (except Brightkit, considering he was her father) but it just didn't feel right. It felt like she and Sunbounce really ought to be much closer, which in itself was a weird thought - why would she ever want to be best friends with her friend's dad?

When she'd brought up this concern to Swanfrost, her mother had licked her gently on the head and told her that Sunbounce was going through a rough patch right now. Both his sisters were dead (Violetkit being the namesake of the most recent one) and that these thoughts of Sunbounce's dislike for her was simply made up.

Still, Violetkit took a step back. "Sorry. I wasn't-"

"Dad!" Brightkit's voice interrupted the white she-kit as the calico sprinted over. "Dad, you're back from the hunting patrol! Catch anything good?"

The ginger warrior's face crumpled with affection as his kit approached. "Only a thrush. But you like thrush, don't you?"

By now, Sweetkit had trotted over, and the four kits relished in the idea of having a meal after running around all day. They found a spot in the corner and settled down with the thrush, splitting the bird into perfectly even pieces - Sweetkit and Brightkit were in charge of this job, as otherwise Violetkit and Ravenkit would tamper with each other's portions.

They were about halfway through the prey when a young apprentice by the name of Eaglepaw padded over, who'd only been made an apprentice a moon prior. "Hey, I'll trade you. Two mice for that thrush."

He was clearly joking, his voice light-heated with a suppressed purr.

Violetkit grinned, playing into the bit. "That's such a bad deal. A thrush is worth three mice at least."

"Well I haven't got three mice, I've only got two," Eaglepaw protested. "And it's not even for me - Dovesky's craving bird, and you wouldn't want to deny an elder her preferred piece of prey, would you?"

Violetkit opened her mouth to reply, but she was cut off by the sound of Eaglepaw's sister, Dapplepaw, calling for her brother. "Eaglepaw, I found a pigeon!"

The four kits looked over at the fresh-kill pile to see that the tortoiseshell apprentice had completely overturned the entire pile in search of a winged prey, finally discovering a pigeon at the bottom, her amber eyes glittering with triumph as she carried the bird.

"Nevermind, then, looks like the problem's solved," the brown tom mewed with an easygoing twitch of his pelt. "ThunderClan has the most picky elders, you'll understand soon enough. Enjoy the thrush."

As he padded away over to Dapplepaw, Violetkit found herself staring after him for a few heartbeats for some odd, unexplainable reason. In fact, it wasn't until Ravenkit spoke again that her attention was returned to her friends.

"Maybe Dovesky's on to something. I mean, thrush really is good."

Violetkit raised an eyebrow, uncaring. "Okay?"

Then he grinned his mischievous grin, and the white she-kit had a feeling something bad was coming. She was instantly proven right when he meowed, "Looks like I'm all done with my piece, though? Can I have the rest of yours, Violetkit?"

Violetkit blinked at him in miffed disbelief, and her response varied in a range that would have Swanfrost scolding her for the rest of eternity. So, she settled for something more mild. "Did you hit your head too many times today? Maybe I accidentally knocked it too hard during the game."

But Ravenkit seemed unbothered. "As you'll remember, according to the rules of our race today, the loser - you - has to say yes to everything the winner - me - asks for a moon. We were all there when you came up with that condition, no?"

Mousedung, he was right.

Violetkit's throat grumbled with a low growl, but there was nothing she could do as she shoved her piece of prey over to Ravenkit's eager paws. "You're awful."

"Awful but happy," the black tom-kit meowed cheerily.

Perhaps sensing that Violetkit's glare was a bit too intense to be considered a normal, kit fight, Sweetkit quickly tore half of her food and passed it over to her sister. "Don't mind him," she murmured quietly. "He just likes bothering you, that's all."

Violetkit ruffled her fur, still a little miffed despite her sister's comforting words, and instead touched her tail-tip to Sweetkit's shoulder rather than a verbal reply. As she dug into the food, her entire mind was focused on hoping that Ravenkit wouldn't ask for this piece, too; that was why she didn't even notice the fight break out until it was at its full height.

It was a fight between Sunbounce and Stormbird. Apparently it'd began with a solemn conversation about Sunbounce's deceased sister, Violetdust - then it turned into an ugly mess of teeth and claws, with Frostsky leaping in to sort it all out.

Now apart, the two toms were still hissing at each other, tails lashing with anger.

"You killed her!" Sunbounce was snarling Stormbird's way. "Everyone here knows you did it! Everyone knows you killed Violetdust!"

"I didn't kill her!" Stormbird retorted, and somewhere deep in his green eyes, was heavy pain and grief. "I would never-"

"You were the only one out in the forest the night she died," Sunbounce spat furiously.

"Clearly not, as I wasn't the one to do anything," the black warrior hissed back. "I wouldn't ever lay a claw on her! I-"

"Then explain what you were doing out that night," Sunbounce meowed tightly, with barely concealed rage. "Explain how, for StarClan's sake, you found her right as she was dying."

"I-" Stormbird swallowed thickly. It sounded as though he were debating between two answers, before finally deciding. "I already told you. I was just out on a walk and I heard her screaming, but when I got there her murderer had left."

"Likely story," Sunbounce sneered.

"It is a likely story, because it's true," Stormbird snapped. "I've defended myself to you again and again and again, and I shouldn't have to do so any longer!"

For a moment, Sunbounce didn't say anything or move; the only sign that he'd even heard Stormbird's words was a darkening in his blue eyes. Then, before any cat could stop him, he slid out his claws and jumped.