▪️ FLAMEKIT ▪️

"Looks like the kittypet wants to play." Burnpaw glared down at Flamekit, a smirk lining his muzzle. The ginger kit took a startled step back as the larger tom unsheathed his claws. As the apprentice took a step towards Flamekit, he let his claws dig a deep ridge in the sandy clearing floor. The kits eyes widened in terror and he let out a small cry as Burnpaw reached to grab him. Suddenly the apprentice let out a startled yelp. Burnpaw raised his tail with a grunt to see a smaller ginger kit hanging on, biting his tail with a look of loathing burning in her eyes. She didn't let go, even as one of Burnpaw's friends Hookpaw tried to pry her off.

"Get off you little brat!" Burnpaw hissed before slamming his long tail into the sandy ground. Redkit let go with a tiny screech as she hit the ground and rolled away.

"Hey!" Flamekit growled, trying to stand tall and take the attention off of his sister. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size!" His challenge came out as a squeak with his high pitched voice, and the toms turned to face him. After one glance, the three started laughing.

"You want to take on us kittypet?" Flintpaw was barely able to talk through his fit of laugher. Burnpaw took a step forward, ignoring Redkit, now completely focused on Flamekit once more.

"Okay guys. What should we do first?" Flamekit took a step back, once again terrified as the group of apprentices closed in on him.

"Hey!" A voice barked behind them. They scrambled out of the way as a large grey tom stepped up behind them. "What do you think you're doing?"

Burnpaw's eyes flashed a look of uneasy before answering. "C-Cinderstorm." As the tabbies name slid off Burnpaw's tongue Cinderstorm narrowed his eyes.

"Are you bullying Flamekit again? Why don't you go do something useful and go clear out the heather in the elders den." The deputy snapped, tail twitching angrily. Hookpaw and Flintpaw gave each other quick before racing off to do as they were told. Burnpaw stayed for a moment more, sending Flamekit a glare before following his friends.

Flamekit looked down at his paws as Cinderstorm came up to him, giving him a swift lick to the top of his head. The kit shied away and Cinderstorm rolled his eyes. "You need to defend yourself. Did you try any of those moves I showed you?" Flamekit shook his head, still not looking up at his father. Cinderstorm sighed. "As your father-"

"Can you tell me more about mother?" Flamekit cut his father off. Redkit padded over at sat down, still looking slightly ruffled from her rustle with Burnpaw's tail. Cinderstorm looked over his two kits, before giving in and sitting down in front of them.

"There's not much else to tell you. She was amazing, especially for a house cat." Cinderstorm used the term instead of kittypet, kittypet seemed to much like an insult. "She would have been one of the best cats in the clan if she had been born in WindClan... though, I've never seen a clan cat with as much determination..." Redkit let out a small cough as their father began to drift off topic. He cleared his throat. "Right. Where was I? Ah... Your mother gave you both something." He turned so he could look directly at Redkit. "Redkit, she gave you her courage. I have never seen a cat so ready to protect and defend as you." He then looked over to Flamekit and opened his mouth to speak.

"Cinderstorm! Haystar!" A jarred looking she-cat raced through the camp entrance. Her ear was torn, and her flank was was bleeding heavily.

Without a word the deputy stood up and rushed over. "Barleypelt what happened to you?"

"What's going on?" Warriors and apprentices alike began to wander into the clearing.

"Barleypelt? What is it?" Haystar padded through the gathering cats as they moved to create a path for her to come through. The tan she-cat was out of breath as she spoke, and her words came out rushed and soft.

"RiverClan... invading... attacked the border patrol..." Cinderstorm's eyes widened and Haystar's ear twitched. The clan leader raised her voice.

"As all cats are already gathered, I will speak!" She called out, and the chattering warriors quickly silenced themselves. "RiverClan is on their way! They have already taken out Ryestorm's patrol. We must be prepared. Stormshadow, take a patrol of our fastest warriors and find out how far from camp they are."

A rustling sounded from the entrance to camp, and every cat turned their head to look. "We're already here." A fishy smell surrounded the camp and Flamekit immediately grabbed Redkit's scruff, trying pull her back towards the nursery. "RiverClan attack!"