White World

[Blackie]

Flurries of fine powder shimmered in their spirals as they floated down to the white world below. The snow made a thick wall in it's descent, blocking the view of everything else. It was relatively warm, but cold enough to freeze a cat. Especially if that cat were still small. And it was certainly more than enough to get lost in if you didn't know the territory. The wind became gustier and changed course, driving the snow in the direction of a small figure huddled in a snow bank. It was pale, almost as white as the flakes falling around it. A few dark places were spaced across it's body. At first glance, it would appear to be a scrap of nothing. But if you were to come closer and peer carefully, you would recognize the shivering body of a young kit.

Ice clung to his fur tips as his coat was rushed flat against him by the wind. He shut his eyes tight, trying to keep the whirling snow out of his gray orbs. The kit shook and tried not to cry out. He had come out here on purpose, he couldn't cry and squeal like a newborn. But he wanted to. His perpetual cold had formed a crust around his nose, worsened by the wind and snow.

When the wind had died down a little, Snifflekit forced his eyes open. He was beginning to wonder if his coming out here had been a bad idea. The cold was getting to him, slipping through his leafbare thick coat to his skin. But he couldn't give up, not now. He knew the consequences of staying in the midst of danger. He'd seen cats get killed because they hadn't been able to defend themselves and had had no place to hide. A snow bank wasn't going to protect him from the cold.

Forcing his eyes open, Snifflekit stood up and wobbled though the rising whiteness. It was definitely time to return to camp. If some cat started to worry about him and found he wasn't there, he would be in big trouble. But which way was camp? The black and white tom turned in a circle, trying to find the paw prints he had left behind on his way here. Slowly, it dawned on him that the prints were gone, covered by the snow. Gone forever.

Panicking, Snifflekit bolted in all directions trying to find some familiar landmark to guide him. But all he saw was a white world. He knew what sort of threat was being posed for him here. He could get lost in the snow and freeze before one of his Clanmates ever found him. His heart thumped, screaming at him for his stupidity. Had he thought he was being brave? Did he think Mothkit would praise him for his courage when he returned to camp? He certainly wasn't thinking that anymore. Now he thought he had finally reached that time when he would join Quiverheart and Flutterkit in death. Cold, frozen death.

Snifflekit floundered through the snow, searching for a reasonable shelter. There was almost nothing in the thick blanket. It muffled his distressed mews and made it hard to walk. Snifflekit tried to fluff out his fur to the cold, but the wind kept driving it back down. Ready to collapse, the kit took one more step.

His paw landed on something solid. A rock. Snifflekit looked down and then looked up. His heart began to fill with so many mixed emotions, he was about to burst. He knew this place. Fear, relief, sadness, anger, hope, they all rushed in on him at once. Was he really back? Did he want to be back? Snifflekit took a deep breath. It had kept him alive once, maybe it could do it again. Forcing himself onward, Snifflekit struggled to the mound of snow that now loomed above him. Beneath the snow were boulders and a protective hollow. With a great deal of difficulty, Snifflekit finally found the opening and squeezed himself inside. He was bigger now and almost couldn't fit, but he somehow managed to wriggle himself in.

It was warmer than the outside world, but still unpleasantly cold. The wind made a hollow moaning sound as it drove around the boulders. Trying not to shake, Snifflekit padded to the far side and curled into a tight ball. This is where it had happened.

His mother had shoved him in here that night when the dog attacked her. She tried to put Flutterkit in here too, but the dog had grabbed his sister and his mother tried to save her. Snifflekit had been too afraid to watch, but he could remember the roar of their voices in battle. He could remember coming out into the dusky gloom, his sister's frail body thrown to the side and his mother lost to him forever. Snifflekit sighed and shut his eyes.

What was he going to do? There was only one thing he could do, really. Wait. Wait for the snow to stop, or wait for a cat to find him. At that moment, Snifflekit wouldn't have minded if a hostile rouge discovered him. Just so long as he was found.

Thinking he would die, he whispered faintly, "I'm sorry Mother. I'm sorry Mothkit. I'm sorry."

Then the stones clattered, and the black and white kit's head shot up. His gray eyes flared wide. His claws ripped out of their sheathes. His tail puffed up.

What was that?!

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Mothkit

[/color]
WC KIT

"Snifflekit! Snifflekit where are you?"

Her voice, now high-pitched with fear and desperation, was carried across the snow-covered moor. She blended in quite well, with her nearly entirely white pelt. Her ginger tail stood out perfectly, almost like a signal flare, against the white blanket of snow. The wind buffeted her fur, making her wince and duck her head to shield her eyes. She would keep going though. She had to keep going. He was out there, he had to be. He wasn't in camp anywhere. She tried to tell someone that her friend was missing, and they had gone to find him. But they told her to remain at camp. She refused though. She couldn't just stand by while her friend was gone, and possibly... something else as well.

No, she wouldn't think like that. If they didn't find him, she would. Her blue eyes showed her determination as she padded on. Mothkit knew that he was out there, but she didn't know why. Why wasn't an important question to her now, though. What was important was that he was out there. What was important was when she'd find him. Mothkit glared at the snowy blanket of ground, fluffing out her pelt as she moved forward. She'd lost his scent a long time ago, and had lost his tracks long before. She wouldn't stop; she couldn't stop. She'd lost her mother, her father, her brothers... but she wouldn't lose her best friend. She wouldn't allow it. She had to find him. Her teeth chattered as she started to shake, now uncontrollably.

"S-S-S-Snifflek-k-kit!" It was as if the wind threw her cry back into her face. Tears stung Mothkit's eyes, from both fear and the wind blowing into her face. What if she died out there? What if Snifflekit was already back at camp, snug and warm, while she was deserted out here? Well, at least Snifflekit would be safe. That was the only thing on Mothkit's mind at the moment. Her safety was irrelavant in her still kit-like mind. All that mattered was to find Snifflekit, to make sure he was okay. Everything else was pushed far back into her mind.

Suddenly, her paw caught itself on something below the snow. She let out a muffled cry as she tripped, falling on something hard. Her cries were silenced by the snow, pushing itself into her face. She shuddered, staggering back to her paws. Mothkit tried to put weight on her front right leg, but it hurt. She knew then that she had injured it when she fell. Perfect. Not. Mothkit wanted to give up at the moment. She was done for. Her leg could've easilly been broken at that moment. There was no way she'd make it back to camp.

Mothkit tried to push on, when she suddenly saw an opening in the rock formation. Thankful for shelter, the young kitten limped forward. The air was much warmer inside the cave-like rock, but that wasn't what she was focusing on. She was focusing on the kit, not much older then herself, curled up in the far corner. Mothkit grinned with a sudden amount of relief and rushed forward, burying her nose in the cat's fur.

"Snifflekit! Thank StarClan I found you!"
[/blockquote]

[Blackie]

The black and white kit sneeed suddenly; the cold weather was worsening his cold. Absently, he rubbed his nose against his foreleg. He was so cold and tired. He wanted to sleep, but something kept him awake. Fear. He was afraid of freezing to death, afraid of never being found. Would he die in the very place that had once saved him? Would his Clanmates ever find him? He was also hungry. The nagging reminder of his last meal throbbed painfully in his stomach. Why hadn't he eaten before he left camp? Grumbling, Snifflekit curled up more tightly.

"Snifflekit! Thank StarClan I found you!"

The black and white head shot up at the sound of her voice. Hope blossomed and flared within his small body. She was here! She was with him to face the danger. His heart quivered with delight while the rest of him shook with cold. Knowing how cold he was, he could only imagine how she felt. Getting up, he pressed his trembling self closer to her snowy fur.

"Mothkit! I can't believe it's you! How did you get here?" his voice shook with an uncontrolable purr. He nuzzled her, shoving his nose roughly under her chin. Then he began to wash her face fur with his scratchy tongue. Between each vigorous lap, he mewled in an excited, high-pitched voice.

"I thaught I would never see you again! I thought I would die! Did you come to look for me all by yourself?"

He brushed up against her again, knocking into her shoulder. He jumped up. The joy he recieved from Mothkit was making him playful despite the cold and fatigue he felt. With a delighted squeal, he tried to knock his friend over and wrestle her to the ground.

"Your my best friend! My bestest friend!"

[/size]

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Mothkit

[/color]
WC Kit

Mothkit's fit of laughter rang through the cave-like structure as Snifflekit nuzzled her and licked her. They were together. Best friends, until the end. Nothing could harm them now, they had each other. She purred, her voice shaky from the cold on the slight pain in her leg. She pushed the pain away, just glad to have her best friend with her again. He was alive. They both were. Mothkit let out a squeal as Snifflekit tackled her to the ground. The pain was unnoticable as she landed on her leg; maybe it was from the numbing cold, or maybe her joy blocked it out. The little kit batted at Snifflekit with her paws, wanting so badly to bury her face in his fur. She wasn't alone anymore. Snifflekit was there. Their danger was slowly pushing into the back of her mind.

"You're my best friend too, Snifflekit!" she mewed in her high-pitched, joyous voice. "You have no idea how scared I was! You were GONE; I couldn't find you! No one would come with me to find you, they all told me I had to stay at camp." Tears started to push into her eyes as she remembered Snifflekit's disappearance. "I thought you were gone. Promise me you won't leave me again, please!" Mothkit licked her best friend's shoulder before gently pulling out of his tackle, waving her tail. She started to shake again, but she ignored it. Maybe if they kept play-fighting, they'd stay a little warmer. Grinning now that the terror had all past, Mothkit crouched low and awaited Snifflekit's next attack.[/blockquote]

[Blackie]

Snifflekit crouched, rolling his shoulder and haunch muscles. He listened to Mothkit's story, understanding her dismay when she found he had left her. "Next time I go out of camp, I'll take you with me." he promised.

He growled playfully and faked a lunge to see if she would dodge him. He was so happy to have her here, that everything else seemed to rush away. Outside, the wind picked up and rushed against the stones. It sung through them, hollow and deep like a howl. Every hair on his body stood up. With a terrified shriek, Snifflekit rushed into Mothkit for protection. The memory of that night came whirling back with the windsong. It came into his mind's vision, so real and vivid that he almost could have sworn tht it was happening again.

"Hide, Mothkit! Hide!" Snifflekit shrieked. "It's a dog! We haveta runaway!"

If this was how he reacted to the wind, how would he react to a real dog? What if some day he had to face one in battle? What if it meant a cat's life if he didn't fight it? Snifflekit didn't think about that of course, but it was a reality he would someday have to face. And all he knew was that he wanted Mothkit to be there with him.

[/size]

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Mothkit

[/color]
WC Kit
Tell me, tell me, what makes you think that you are invincible[/color]

Mothkit grinned. "You'd better," she growled playfully. At Snifflekit's fake-lunge Mothkit rolled out of the way, suddenly feeling the sharp pain when she put more weight on her leg. She sucked in a sudden breath, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment. It hurt more then she had thought. Surely it wasn't broken, was it? No, she knew she would've been in agony if it was. It would most likely just be bruised. Still, it hurt. Mothkit got back up, listening to the howling wind outside their cave. Her neck fur rose in alarm, feeling a burst of cold air as another shudder rolled down her spine. She sneezed once, her whiskers quivering as she did so. It was so cold... so cold... But she was with Snifflekit, it'd be fine. Right? Right. She had her best friend, the one thing she had left.

Snifflekit's shriek caused Mothkit to jump. The femme felt Snifflekit push against her for protection, making her lose her balance momentarily. She grimaced, feeling her leg start to throb again. Pushing it behind her, Mothkit pressed close to Snifflekit, shushing him gently and softly. She knew about Snifflekit's fear of dogs, knew about his past. Mothkit licked him soothingly a couple of times, hoping to calm him down. "It's okay, it's just the wind." I hope... she added to herself silently. Suddenly furious with the dog, or wind, or whatever it was, a determined expression suddenly flew across Mothkit's face.

"If it is a dog, if that mutt so much as sticks his head in hear, I'll claw his ears off. Then, I'll put his ears back on, and claw them off again, only this time it'll be much, much more painful!" she growled. No one would hurt Snifflekit. Her claws unsheathed just at the thought. If anyone even wanted to sniff him, they'd have to get past her. She'd stand up for her friend, she'd protect him. Mothkit remained pressed up against Snifflekit, enjoying the warmth and comfort she recieved from him. Mothkit smiled at him, not moving from her spot.[/blockquote]

[Blackie]

Mothkit's lack of fear was more of a comfort to Snifflekit than anything else. He couldn't say he believed her when she told him it wasn't a dog. However, he did believe she would fight it for him. The fact that a dog couldn't fit it's nose into the shelter never crossed his mind. Cautiously, Snifflekit looked up at his friend. His gray eyes searched her blue ones.

"Do you really think it's just the wind?" he whispered. Even while he asked, his ears swiveled around to pick out the snow-muffled noises. He was willing to admit that he had over-reacted if Mothkit was certian there was no dog. The little tom shuddered and sat back so he wasn't leaning against his friend anymore. He layed his ears back and ducked his head.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if Flutterkit were here with us? We would be three best friends."

Snifflekit's eyes clouded when he thought of his little black and white sister. It saddend him to think of her, but the idea that she might be as close to them as he and Mothkit were to eachother was a sweet one.

Snifflekit sighed and wrapped his tail around his paws. "When do you think someone will find us?"


ooc: Sorry, losing muse

[/size]

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Mothkit

[/color]
WC Kit

Mothkit gazed into Snifflekit's gray eyes, listening to his whispered question. She bit her lip, trying to hide her face so Snifflekit wouldn't see that she felt a bit uncertain. There was a chance that there was a dog, but she didn't know how great that chance was. I'll protect him if there is one, she thought determinedly. Mothkit opened her mouth to reply, but Snifflekit had pulled away and hung his head. Her mouth shut, and she listened to Snifflekit's quiet voice. Mothkit remembered seeing Flutterkit around when she was younger, but had never really gotten the chance to know her. It was after Mothkit's own brothers' deaths that she and Snifflekit had become friends. She knew that Flutterkit would've been an amazing friend though, if she was anything like Snifflekit.

"That would've been great," Mothkit murmured. "You know I want that. Sometimes I think the same things about my brothers, wishing they could've been around, too." Her ears flattened as she remembered her brothers, remembered her mother dying and father leaving, placing all the blame on Mothkit's tiny shoulders. She started to shake again as Snifflekit asked his next question. Mothkit sneezed once more, feeling her leg starting to hurt again. She sat down, not wanting to put anymore weight on it.

"S-S-Soon, I hope," she mewed, wrapping her tail over her paws.

((Should one of us bring in one of our charries to find them, or should we ask someone else to join? Or neither and let them wait it out I guess))[/blockquote]

[Blackie]

Snifflekit nodded at his friend, watching her settle down. He frowned slightly. She seemed to be favoring her paw, but he had only just noticed it. Before, he had been too excited to have Mothkit with him that he hadn't bothered to find out if she was okay. You're going to be apprenticed soon., he scolded himself silently. You need to start thinking like a warrior and make sure you actually take care of Mothkit.

Carefully, Snifflekit stretched out a paw so that it gently touched her leg. He could feel her soft fur beneath his pads and the warm pulse of blood that coursed through her. Concerned, the little cat glanced up at his friend.

"Did you hurt yourself?" he mewed. "Because if you did you should lie down. An' don't worry. I can take care of you." Snifflekit stood up and leaned closer to the young she-cat so he could give her ear a reassuring lick. He would always be there to take care of her; nothing would ever be able to separate them. He was so sure of it. The reality of life, that there will always be a problem somewhere, was a concept so far away from Snifflekit. How could anything go wrong just so long as he had Mothkit? He didn't ask himself how long the friendship would last. He didn't dwell on how delicate it might be. His young heart had a hold on his simple mind. Mothkit would always be there for him and he for her. They loved and depended on eachother to much. To separate was to die.

And for her to be in pain was as an agony for Snifflekit. He would fight anything that tried to hurt her. A fellow WindClan cat to even a dog; anything that stood between him and her. Snifflekit would tear down mies and miles of fences if it was the only way to be with Mothkit.

"Now," Snifflekit mewed sternly, trying very hard to sound just like Badgersoul or Windstar. "Tell me what hurts."

[/size]

[Burningwing]

RAVENQUILL

Treading softly through the snow, the midnight black tom picked his way across Windclan territory. His steps left pockmarks in the smooth surface of the snow. The wind blustered around the fine powdered snow, so small it was like specks of silky white sand gusting through the sky, but instead of radiating heat that it gathered from the sun’s rays, this powder was frigid and nipped viciously at anything that it could reach. Someone ought to put a muzzle on it ; Ravenquill thought testily, his black leather nose was iced over and frosted from the cold, and each breathe stuck to the inside of his nostrils like glacee icing. Like most direct Windclan descendants, his fur was short but thick, the dense hair stems covering all but nose, eyes and paw pads. Although he trudged forward steadily on his long-limbs, clearing the built up snow with confident steps, his small body was beginning to feel the cold, and his heart palpitated frantically to keep his body fluids running through him and prevent from freezing. He had, after all, been scouring around the blanketed moors for quite some time already, and he was starting to give up hope he would ever complete the task he had set out to do. Find those kits. Those kits were the cause of him being out in the middle of a blizzard. But besides that, Ravenquill couldn’t bring himself to be angry with them. He could understand the yearning to leave camp, to free yourself from the nursery and have room to truly stretch your legs. He had dealt with it for over twelve moons, and most cats had thought he was still a kit due to his miniature size.

Shaking his head briefly against the harsh wind, Ravenquill peered anxiously into the swirl of lively snowflakes, his vision scanning over various clumps and angular snow drifts where large mounds of dirt and boulders lay. Kits wouldn’t last to long in weather like this, and the wide open plains offered little protection from the gradually rising tempest. The weather was dipping and diving, becoming meek and merciful at one moment, then whipping up a tantrum in the next moment. If the kits were able, most likely they would seek shelter in a snow drift, burrow into the middle to protect themselves from the ululating of the wind. His own fur had been spiked up by the wind and held frozen by the cold. He let out a snort of disgust, and his breath whooshed out in a spiral of steam that was quickly lost into the storm. He glanced quickly down at his paws, they were being blanketed as he stood there. “ Gotta keep moving…” He grumbled quietly, or rather it sounded quiet because of the howling all around him. That’s when he heard it. Just a faint noise, tossed to him by the wind. He didn’t wait a moment to leap after it, ears pointing forward in full attention as he strained to pinpoint where the voice had come from. Luckily, the storm was beginning to die down, and the fine grains of snow began to come down more lazily, clumping together and landing softly on Ravenquill’s spiked pelt. Almost immediately, he spotted colour. At first it confused him, just splotches of dark and ginger against the falling snow, but gradually he could make out bright eyes and shadowed coats.

“Mothkit! Snifflekit!” He cried out, picking up his pace and running clumsily through the thick blanket of white. Finally found them…: The small tom wriggled through the narrow entrance into the cave, worming around as the granite scraped his ebony fur. Ravenquill finally stood beside the kits, stilt-like legs holding him above them. The Windclan deputy looked down curiously, at least they had found a cave to keep safe from the wind in, he let out a relieved sigh. He smelt the blood before he saw it. It was salty and intense against his thawing nostrils, and he looked down in alarm to see a trickle of blood beading from Mothkit’s leg, vibrant against her white-and-ginger fur. Blinking rapidly, Ravenquill appraised the wound, but he wasn’t Bagersoul, and it could be worse then it looked. There were splatters of blood on the cave floor, dark burgundy and frozen from the cold, it seemed the two kits had been playing or something…but that wasn’t the priority. Suddenly strict, the deputy glared down. “ What are you two doing out in this storm? Kits aren’t even supposed to leave camp…”

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Mothkit watched as Snifflekit examined her leg, just then noticing the trickle of blood that was starting to flow from it. Mouse-dung. Had she cut it on the stone when they were playing? That had to have been the case. She cringed away from the sticky red liquid, flattening her ears. The smell made her nauseous, and the young femme wanted to vomit. The only thing that made her smile was Snifflekit. Mothkit couldn't hold back the giggles that sounded from her throat as her friend started to talk to her. He was trying so hard to sound like Windstar or Badgersoul, too hard, to be honest. She stopped laughing after a moment, knowing that Snifflekit was trying to be serious and help her. Still, the humor she felt glinted in her bright blue eyes.

"I'm sorry," she purred. "It was just so funny to hear you talk like a leader." Suddenly, she stopped. Her ears pricked, her heartbeat racing at a sudden quick pace. A voice... She'd heard someone! The voice sounded so soft thanks to the wind, but Mothkit heard it clearly. Someone had found them! Mothkit mewled with delight, wanting to jump to her paws and race toward the voice, not caring if it was even Ferretpelt at the moment. They'd be found. They were saved. "Did you hear that?" she whispered to Snifflekit, voice high-pitched with excitement. Before she could continue, she saw the black-pelted Ravenquill enter the cave.

"Ravenquil!" Mothkit mewled. "We're sorry, we're really sorry! I had to find Snifflekit, though. No one was gonna let me help when I told them he was missing, and I couldn't just sit there..." Her eyes became desperate. "Please, just take us home."

[Blackie]

Snifflekit's nose scrunched up with mock anger at Mothkit's giggles. He only knew too well that if he had been in her place, he would have laughed too. He let her have her laugh, teasing her as she did.

"What's that, you naughty kit? Are you laughing at me? Do you know who I am?" He threw up his head and started to strut back and forth, waving his fluffy black tail. "I'm Badgersoul!" he made his voice high pitched and squeaky. Ready to mock the medecine cat where no one would ever find out, Snifflekit was prepared with another line until Mothkit interupted him.

"Did you hear that?"

The young cat paused, his ears flicked up and his gaze intent on the rock den entrance. He blinked at the bright snow, which blinded him momentarily. But he deffinantly did hear something.He held his breath. Were they rescued? Or was it more danger? It was possible the howling they had heard really was a dog. A hungry tired dog who would trap them here until they died. Slowly, the fur on Snifflekit's back began to rise. He would die here by Mothkit. At least it was Mothkit and not a cat he wasn't close to. He had always imagined himself and her dying side by side in the most terrific of battles. Whimpering gently, Snifflekit edged backwards until he was beside his friend. He didn't cower this time, but stood up straight with his gray eyes intent on the snowy outside world. And then, suddenly, a black face appeared. Snifflekit hissed.

"Ravenquil!" Mothkit greeted the deputy, plunging into excuses and asking the black tom to please take them home. Snifflekit's eyes went wide with shock. He stared at Ravenquill for a long moment before coming up with an outburst of his own.

"I thought you were a dog!" he shrieked. "I can't believe you sneaked up on us like that! Don't ever do it again! I was going to kill you!" By now he was shouting, angered by his obvious fear. In his mind, he had behaved like a mouse-brain. In front of Mothkit too! He didn't know why, but impressing her was one of his greatest ambitions. To fail to impress her was like giving her a good reason to make fun of him. He hissed again out of frustration before whirling around and stamping to the far side of the cave. With an irritated humph, the kit sat down with his back turned on the other cats. His tail twitched back and forth.

[/size]

[Burningwing]

RAVENQUILL

"Ravenquil!" Mothkit mewled. "We're sorry, we're really sorry! I had to find Snifflekit, though. No one was gonna let me help when I told them he was missing, and I couldn't just sit there..." Her eyes became desperate. "Please, just take us home."

Ravenquill blinked slowly, twisting his tongue around his mouth in an effort to say something heroic, something strong and leaderly that a deputy would say. He couldn't find anything. Heck, he didn't even look the part. Thin, small and gangly. Not muscular, tall and cordinated. Was he really able to complete this task set upon him? Keep care of the clan alongside Windstar? Ravenquill shut his eyes for a moment, his ebony fur speckled with melting snow. It seeped into his hide, then freezing on the tips and chilling him to the bone. There was no time for stopping to think about each answer, and then think about being a deputy and whining about it in his head. He had to get these kits back to camp, that was what he was supposed to be doing right now, and thats what he would do.

" Its okay, Mothkit, I understand that you wanted to find Snifflekit, and it was vcery brave of you. Now is not the time for me to be telling you the wrong you did and repeating the warrior code, for now, we should just get out of her and go back to camp." It sounded decent enough, Ravenquill thought, twitching his whiskers as Snifflekit began shouting angrily things about worrying that Ravenquill might have been a dog. " Snifflekit," He began, for the kit had tramped over to the far side of the cave," It was very foolish for you to come out here, and I know you may not care about your own life, but maybe you should think about those that are trying to look out for you? Mothkit might have frozen to death looking for you!" Not to mention myself...

Ravenquill stared out through the tunnel entrance. The storm was quieting down, though large flakes of white snow still fluttered down and prevented him from seing out very far. They would have to make a break for it before the blizzard picked up again. Fluffing out his sleek black coat as much as he could, and gestured for the two kits to come over. " Well, are you two all ready to go? We should get back to camp as soon as possible, the cln will probably be worried sick by now, we've all been gone for a long while..." The Windclan deputy cast another doubtful glance out into the storm, yellow eyes flashing, then hesitantly put one paw on the snow.

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Snifflekit's angry reaction to Ravenquill surprised Mothkit. Wasn't he just as happy as her? They were safe! They could return to camp, they could stuff themselves with fresh-kill and lay int their warm nests. Sure, the deputy had scared them, but it hadn't been on purpose. The ginger and white kitten didn't know what to say. All she knew was that she was cold, freezing, in fact. She just wanted to go home. Yet as she listened to Ravenquill's words, Mothkit felt a stab of anger. It wasn't fair to make Snifflekit feel guilty! They were all okay, no one was hurt. Well, taking Mothkit's bleeding leg out of the equation, and yes, they were all okay. Mothkit glared at Ravenquill, icy blue eyes infuriated. The little femme quickly ran over to Snifflekit, not wanting him to be upset by the thought of anyone getting hurt.

"But we're all okay," Mothkit added to Ravenquill's speech, resting her tail on Snifflekit's shoulders. "You don't need to feel bad, okay? Everyone's safe now. Let's just go home, Snifflekit." Her eyes pleaded with her best friend before she turned to look back at Ravenquill. Taking quick pawsteps, she joined the deputy at the entrance to the cave. Oh, how she just wanted to sleep in her nest! The pain in her leg had numbed, probably from the cold. Mothkit looked back at Snifflekit, beckoned to him with her tail, and she too took one step out into the snow. Though the storm had calmed, the blistering cold shocked her and caused her to recoil and tumble back into the cave.

"A-Are we far away from camp, Ravenquill?" she mewled. "You know the way back, right?" Mothkit didn't want to show it, but she was afraid. What if they got stuck out in the cave forever? What if they died out there, and no one ever found them? Her eyes that had once been glaring at the deputy now stared widely up at him, innocence brimming in their depths. She was just a kit. A kit who wanted to go home.