a/n thanks for all those grammar corrections! SORRY FOR POSTING THIS LATE. I HAD WRITERS BLOCK .__. also, I was in a rush. Tell me if I made a dumb mistake and/or had wrong grammar, please! :)

Dewkit stared at the swaying branches of the trees above-head from the nursery, bored out of his mind. The leaves were still sprouting from the naked branches, and the warm season was slowly growing. The cats of the Clan often spoke of how great new-leaf was, and although he was excited to finally experience it, he realized for the first time ever how slow everything took to regrow.

Ravenkit gave a bored sigh beside him, and slopped over his back.

"Ravenkit, you're heavy!" Dewkit complained, shoving his sister. Unfortunately, she was bigger than him, and he was trapped under her weight. "Get off!"

Her sleek black fur was shown from the corner of his eye. "No way, there's nothing else to do but bug you," she replied, not moving even a bit. "It's all your fault for getting us in trouble."

Dewkit growled under his breath. "My fault? You're the one who said we should race!" He squirmed underneath her, until she finally fell off, landing on the floor with a loud squeak. "Thanks for always getting me in trouble, Ravenkit. Now we can't even go outside."

Ravenkit scrambled to her paws. "I'm not always getting you in trouble!"

"Are too!" he shot back, batting her face. How dare she not admit to her own silly games? He never came up with the ideas that got them in trouble all the time in the first place! She's being so unfair!

"That's it!" she snarled, and she leaped at him, pinning him to the ground with unsheathed claws. They dug into his shoulder, and he yelped before kicking her off with his back paws.

Before they could clash again, Silverleaf stormed between them, her nostrils flaring with anger. "Why in StarClan's name are you two fighting again?" she demanded, shooting them both angry looks. Dewkit shot a look of annoyance to Ravenkit, and the she-kit scoffed in response, looking to the side. "You know, you're not making this punishment better for you at all."

"She started it!" Dewkit blurted out, his big blue eyes giving his mother a pleading look. "Just because she was the one who got us in trouble, it doesn't mean she gets to attack me!"

"That's not what happened at all!" Ravenkit yowled angrily.

Shadekit growled in his sleep. "Be quiet, Ravenkit! You're so loud!" He opened an eye, and glared at the two younger kits. "Can't you two take this outside or something? Some of us are trying to get some sleep."

"I would, but I'm not allowed to leave the den, thank you very much!" she replied hotly, stomping a little paw down on the ground.

Shadekit gave a long yawn. "I'm never having kits when I'm a warrior," he mumbled, falling right back asleep.

Ravenkit rolled her eyes and looked at Silverleaf. Their mother gave a deep sigh, before she spoke again. "Ravenkit, your brother is right. You should stop proposing these silly ideas that keep getting you both in trouble."

"I told you!" Dewkit said.

"But," she continued, shooting her son a warning glance, "that doesn't mean it's all her fault. You don't have to follow what she does, Dewkit. If you stop encouraging her with her silly ideas, then maybe you both wouldn't have been in trouble right now."

Dewkit stepped up. "But that's not fair!"

"Life's not fair," mumbled Ravenkit.

Why does Silverleaf always take Ravenkit's side? thought Dewkit with frustration. I'm her kit, too! He looked up at his beautiful mother and sighed. It wouldn't work no matter how much he protested—Silverleaf always took control of everything. If she wanted, she could even change the way how his father lead the Clan! He saw the deep love they shared, and how they often listened to each other. If only she listened to her own kit like that.

Suddenly, he could hear something else going on beyond the nursery. He peeked outside the den, and his eyes widened when he spotted his Clanmates gathering around a tired Amberpaw.

"Wow, what's going on?" Ravenkit asked, pawing Silverleaf.

Silverleaf noticed it too, and her ears pricked. "You kits stay here," she mewed as she padded outside the den.

Of course, Ravenkit followed her. Dewkit wanted to call out to his sister to say that she was just going to get into more trouble, but instead, he decided to go after her. I should just remind her not to disobey Silverleaf, he thought. Besides, he wanted to figure out what was going on too. Shadekit was right at his tail, perhaps curious as well.

Dewkit got to the center of the clearing and stuck by his mother's tail, nervously peeking around. It was true that he already knew every cat of the Clan, but he felt shy since there were so many cats around the camp at once.

He looked around before his eyes landed back on Amberpaw, panting with exhaustion.

"What's going on?" Sharpfang asked the apprentice, padding up to her. Shadekit took a place by his father's side, and for the first time ever, Dewkit realized how much they looked alike. Shadekit was tall and had the look of a fighter, and he seemed so powerful even though he was just a kit. I'm always going to be small and helpless, he thought glumly. I'm going to be the worst warrior ever . . .

Ravenkit's ears perked with interest as she spoke.

"Sk-Skypelt has been crushed by a tree!" Amberpaw blurted out, trying to catch her breath.

Silverleaf stiffened, and Squirreltail gasped in a panicked voice, "I-is he alright?"

Dewkit pressed closer to his sister, feeling upset. Skypelt was Silverleaf and Squirreltail's father—they'd be devastated if anything terrible had happened to him. After all, they lost their mother when they were young and he was the only one they could look up to.

After Amberpaw recovered herself, she began to explain. "It's not as bad as it sounds, but his paw is trapped under the tree and Icestar, Bloodpaw and I couldn't get him free, especially because he's in pain." She looked at Sharpfang. "We need Sweetheart's medicine . . . and a few strong cats to help us get him free!"

Sweetheart nodded with understanding. "I'll prepare some herbs for you to take," she informed, before she rushed to the medicine den. Dewkit stared after the medicine cat, curious. How are herbs going to help him? Isn't getting him free more important? he thought.

"I'll go!" Ravenkit immediately called. "He's my kin, I've got to help him!"

"I thought I told you to stay in the den," Silverleaf snapped, pushing her daughter back with her hindleg. "Sharpfang, I'll go. Skypelt is my father and I have to make sure that he's okay."

"Me too," Squirreltail piped up. "I'll go too."

Sharpfang nodded. "I'll go too. It's decided, that's as much as we need. The rest of you stay here." He turned around and met Rainwhisker's gaze. "I trust you to make sure that the Clan is okay when I'm gone."

Rainwhisker gave a curt nod, and Amberpaw said, "Everyone's going to have to keep up with me. We're running all the way to DarkClan's borders and we'll have to be careful there because the territory is still unstable after the forest fire." Amberpaw met Dewkit's worried eyes, and she gave him an assuring look before she ran to the camp entrance.

Silverleaf returned a gaze with Sagepelt. "Please watch over those two troublemakers until I get back. This might take a while," she meowed. Then, she looked at Ravenkit and Dewkit. "I expect you two to listen to Sagepelt and Swiftbreeze and behave, got it?"

They both nodded, and Dewkit said, "Yes, Silverleaf."

They watched as they ran out of camp. Amberpaw was easily ahead everyone, her being one of the fastest cats in Clan. Shadekit also watched as they went, longing in his eyes perhaps to go out there as well.

When they were gone, the older kit sighed. "I wish I get to be an apprentice soon! For nearly six moons, I've been waiting in the camp like this. I haven't had any action since the Dark Battle!"

Sagepelt nudged her son affectionately. "Don't worry, you'll be an apprentice soon, and a good one at that," she encouraged. "Hey, don't you think Berrykit has her eyes on being a medicine cat?" She turned to the medicine den, and Dewkit looked too. He could see her dozing off on her makeshift nest.

"No way, she'll more likely be a warrior," Shadekit said. "She's tired of sticking around there all day."

"You'll never know," Sagepelt said. They continued to talk about Skypelt's incident, and Dewkit gave a bored sigh and padded to the direction of the nursery, his tail drooped to the ground. There was nothing for him to do; nowhere to go . . .

Ravenkit was at his side in a heartbeat. "Hey, where are you going?" she questioned, ears perked with interest.

"Back to the nursery. We're punished, remember?" he questioned as if she was dumb.

"Yeah, I remember." She paused and looked around the camp. "But Silverleaf left. That gives us the freedom to do anything!" Her eyes glinted with mischief. Dewkit knew that look too well; she gave him those eyes whenever she had an idea.

"Oh no, what are you planning this time?" he asked, taking a step back.

Ravenkit shook her head. "It's not a plan—I call it a scheme. I'm really good at scheming!" She sat down and licked her paw, drawing it over her ear. "Look around you . . . most cats are out on patrol, and all that's left won't notice us go."

"Just tell me what you want!" he snapped.

She leaned closer and whispered, "Let's go explore! The forest can't wait for another four moons until my paws reach it!"

Dewkit's eyes widened with horror, and he shook his head with fear. "No, no, no, that's the worst of all your schemes so far!" he exclaimed, bolting upright. He glanced nervously around the Clan hoping that no cat heard, but was relieved to see that the elders were still dozing off, Swiftbreeze and newborn Smokekit were still asleep, and Sagepelt and Shadekit were still talking.

Ravenkit's eyes became very pleased. "Why not? We won't have another chance!" She looked at Shadekit angrily. "The moment he steps out of camp, he'll be boasting to us how great it is to be outside! I'd feel great if I could just experience it first."

"But I'm less capable than Shadekit of handling myself within danger," he pointed out. "You too!"

"Not true! Amberpaw taught me how to fight!" Ravenkit stubbornly argued.

Dewkit rolled his eyes. "She taught us how to pounce."

"Sh-she taught me other things," mumbled the black-furred she-kit, her ears flattening with embarrassment. "It doesn't matter anyways, though. It's not like we're going to have to fight!"

"I'm not going," said Dewkit sternly, not eager to break the rules.

Ravenkit's nose flared and she held her chin high. "Suit yourself. I'm sneaking out!"

"How?"

"You're not coming with me, so you don't have to know." She padded away from him, and Dewkit rolled his eyes before sighing. Ravenkit was so troublesome! All she liked to do was make a mess out of things, get scolded for it, and make a mess again!

Icestar will be proud of my decision, he thought, padding to the nursery. I'll just wait until he comes back to tell him what Ravenkit's up to!

The moment he walked into the nursery, he heard an annoying scratching sound. He looked around but there was nothing here except for Swiftbreeze and her son Smokekit sleeping, huddled next to each other for warmth.

What could that be? wondered the white kit wondered as he peeked outside of the nursery again. The sound grew louder, so he took a step out into the fresh cold air. Suddenly, he realized where the sound was coming from—the back of the den?

"Hey, Dewkit!" called Berrykit. "Want to play with me?"

"Not—not now," he stammered. "Go play with Shadekit."

Berrykit shrugged, not detecting at all his suspicious attitude. "Alright," she mewed, padding away near the camp entrance. Shadekit and Sagepelt were still talking their heads off.

Dewkit focused his attention away from them and padded to the back of the nursery, spotting a familiar black pelt poking at the sticks and brambles of the camp's barrier. His fur spiked and his eyes widened. "What in StarClan's name are you doing?" he gasped.

Ravenkit jumped, startled, but the moment she saw Dewkit relief washed over her eyes. "Oh, I thought you were someone else! And I told you, I was escaping," she whispered. "So keep it down."

Dewkit got angry. "Escaping like this?"

"I've been working on this for a few days," she explained, her voice low. "It's almost done, and since there's barely any cat around, I'm taking this as an opportunity!"

He rolled his eyes. "It's not going to work—" he was cut off with a snap.

"I've made an opening!" she cheered softly.

"You're not really going?" Dewkit gasped. "Are you?" His heart pounded with a nervous, steady beat. He hated breaking the rules, and his sister knew that. So why is she always trying to do something wrong? he thought. It isn't fair!

"I'm going." Ravenkit turned her amber eyes on him. "If you want to come, you can, but I'm fine on my own." She turned back to the small opening, and crouched down so her head was at its level. Dewkit watched her, hoping she wouldn't fit through, but as she poked her forepaws and head through, he knew that she would. Her body slipped past the thorns and thistles, and he heard her from the other side slip through a bush until she was finally free. "I'm out!" he heard her cheer.

"P-please, think about what you're doing," he insisted.

"I did! I'm on my way now! Are you coming or what, Dewkit?" she called.

Dewkit shook his head to himself sternly. No, I can't, he thought. If I want to be a warrior, I have to follow the rules! After all, warriors are disciplined . . .

"Alright then, I guess I'll see you later," she meowed, beginning to pad away. As her paw-steps got fainter and fainter, he grew more nervous. What if she got attacked by a fox? What if she got caught by a patrol?

The fur near his haunches were prickling with fear, and he took a deep gulp. I can't just let her go by herself! If she gets attacked, I'll have to protect her! he reasoned with himself. He crouched down at the opening's level, and looked through to see if he'd be able to get through. He realized that he'd be fine since he was smaller than his sister, so he stuck a paw through the thorns, hoping he wouldn't prick his pelt. "Here goes nothing," muttered Dewkit.

"Hey, Dewkit?" called a new voice. It was Berrykit again!

Nervously, he pushed himself through the brackets quicker, slitting his pelt against one of the thorns along the way. He held back a yelp of pain as he forced himself to wriggle free from the bush, falling down to the forest ground.

"Huh, strange," he heard the older kit say. "Dewkit was just here moments ago . . . Ah, well, he's probably sleeping. I'd better go back to Sweetheart."

Dewkit stayed intensely still until she was gone. Once he realized that he was safe, he took a deep sigh of relief. "I did it!" he breathed. "Wait, I did it? I'm in the forest!" He jumped with realization, and looked at his surroundings quickly. The tall trees were endless it seemed, but the view from the outside was much more beautiful than from within camp. "Great StarClan," whispered Dewkit to himself as he observed the scenery.

Though the snow had mostly thawed, the forest had specks of white from here to there. The trees, though, were naked, with tiny budding leaves on its branches, along with small bird nests near the log. Slowly, he began to pad forward, eyeing his surroundings with both fear and excitement. It was amazing! Being out here seemed like anything could happen, but he felt like he had more freedom than he could ever wish for.

For a moment, he continued to enjoy the forest, slowly padding forward. He took in all the scents around him, before suddenly catching a whiff of Ravenkit's scent. I nearly forgot, he thought, jumping with surprise. I was going after my sister! But . . . where did she go? Dewkit looked around, hoping to see his sister's familiar black pelt and amber eyes excited to see that he had followed her out into the open, but she was nowhere in sight.

"Great," he muttered. "Now I have to go find her!"