Walking On Sunshine

[Pretty Girl is Suffering]

Moonstripe lay down in a puddle of sunshine, soaking up the warmth of the midday sun. This was her favorite time of day. Unlike most ShadowClan cats, who prefered the shadows and darkness to the light and sun, the beautiful cream tabby liked the warmth of the sun, and the light of day. Not that she didn't like the shadows of the night. It was a part of her.
She decided to wash herself, and began grooming her paw, rubbing it across her face, to clean her whiskers and cheeks. Her pelt was immaculate as it was, but there was nothing to do with her time, so keeping her already beautiful coat perfect seemed like a good way to waste time. She had a feeling today would be a good day - she just knew it.

[Amber]

Thornkit was shuddering at the sound of voices inside his head. He didn't like yelling, it made him remember his past. He swallowed hard and jerked awake. A huge sigh escaped from him as he realized it was only a dream. His green eyes blinked and the little tom remembered he was the only kit, or well cat, in the nursery. Everyone had been made an apprentice and he was left alone. But his time would come soon to become an apprentice, he was six moons, and like any other kit he was excited.

The little black cat tumbled out of the nursery, hoping someone would be around to talk to. Someone that would keep him entertained for a few moments before having to leave on patrol or something. Thornkit didn't do too well with being all alone. He had been alone most of his life.

His green eyes soon spotted Moonstripe, and wondered what the she-cat was doing. With that thought in his mind, the kit trotted over to the medicine cat. He sat down a few feet away from her and attempted to smile. "Hi, Moonstripe." he mewed. Well, at least it was a start from a kit who didn't speak much.

[Pretty Girl is Suffering]

Moonstripe looked up from her grooming. "Hello, Thornkit. What can I do for you?" she asked happily. The only kit in the Nursery must be bored. Where were those apprentices? They were supposed to keep the little ones entertained. She smiled, her white teeth glinting in the sunlight, her pale blue eyes sparkling. The sun had set the little kit's pelt on fire, and she realized how big he was getting to be. He was bound to be six moons by now. The cream tabby wondered when his apprentice ceremony would be.

[Amber]

Thornkit's green eyes shifted toward the ground. He wasn't sure exactly what to reply with. A cat was talking back to him! This really was turning out to be the best day ever. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. Maybe speaking wasn't a strenth of his, but he had to do it.
"Nothing...I just wanted to see how you were, and if you needed help with anything. It gets kinda lonesome in the nursery." he said in his soft voice. He shuffled his white paws around as he lifted his eyes up to look at Moonstripe.

[Pretty Girl is Suffering]

"I'm sure the Nursery gets boring, there's nobody there but you," Moonstripe replied, nodding. "You'll be an apprentice in no time, though." She squinted her eyes. "I don't really need help at the moment, but you're free to hang out with me and talk. I'm here," she answered. The creamy tabby smiled at the kit. She was bored as well.

[Amber]

Thornkit nodded in agreement. Of course the nursery was boring without no one in it! How was he suppose to play, or well socialize if no one was in there? "Its gonna be even more empty soon, I'm six moons old!" he exclaimed proudly. "I can't wait!" he added, bouncing on his paws.

"You really don't mind me hanging out with you?" he asked, a bit shocked. He was used to being shooed away by others. Moonstripe had made his day. "Would you like something to eat?" he asked.

[Pretty Girl is Suffering]

Moonstripe nodded. "Yes, you'll be six moons old soon. You'll become an apprentice before you know it." She stretched a little more, her fur golden in the sunlight. "Of course I don't mind hanging out with you. The past is the past and you can't dwell on it." She smiled fondly at the kit, showing him she didn't care about what had happened in his past. "I learned that the hard way as well." Freshkill, she thought. Hmm... "Not really. Are you?"

[Amber]

"I'm going to be a big, strong warrior just like my dad was." The little kit mewed excitedly. His eyes sparkled at the thought of remembering his father.

"Your exactly right, the past is the past. I don't want what happened to my mother happen to me." Thornkit murmered. He shook the horrible memories from his mind.

"Me, no I'm not hungry. I'll wait until later to eat." he mewed.

The black and white kit's tail twitched with enthusiasm. "What would you like to do? I'm open for anything."

[Pretty Girl is Suffering]

Moonstripe nodded, laughing. "Yes, you'll be a big, strong warrior just like your father. I have no doubt about that," she replied, smiling. "I'm not exacty sure what to do. It's up to you, really." Lying in the sun was probably all she was going to do. Of course, she could bring him out to gather herbs, or bring him into her den to sort, but that was all she could think of.

[Gatoimp13]

Jadepaw had eventually snapped because of her sister, Nightpaw, pacing around the den. Jadepaw had pounced on her which had led to an aggressive playfight. Sighing, Moonpaw had pulled them apart before they had the chance to unsheathe their claws.

As the three sisters emerged from the apprentice den they spotted Moonstripe and Thornkit. "Geez Thornkit, you must be old enough to be an apprentice by now." He's probably bigger than Moonpaw by now! But Moonpaw is pretty small... Jadepaw thought.

Nightpaw let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah, then he can join the ranks of us." She mewed jokingly. "The amazing mentorless apprentices."

"Oh lay off," Moonpaw chimed softly. "You're going to make up think that the life of an apprentice is dreary and dull."

For us it is. Nightpaw bit back the retort, not wanting to freak out Thornkit.

"Hello Moonstripe, how are you?" Moonpaw asked in her usual kind and musical voice.

[Amber]

"I don't mind what we do. I can help you if you need help with anything, or if you just want to sit around, I can do that too." Thornkit purred. His tail twitched in anticipation. The little kit may not be the biggest kit, but at least he finally had started to grow. Considering that he almost died from his mousebrained mother, and it took forever for him to actually eat fresh-kill.

Thornkit stopped talking the instant the apprentices came around. His eyes sparkled at the thought of him being just like them soon. "I am old enough, I just turned six moons." he mewed answering the apprentices statement.

"At least it will be better than staying in the nursery all day. You guys can go out of camp and at least see the outside world. I'm stuck in camp all day trying to find something to do. And it doesn't help that I'm the only kit left."

[Gatoimp13]

"We don't have mentors yet, so we're not leaving the camp anytime soon." Jadepaw mewed with a sigh.

Nightpaw scratched the ground in frustration. Why do we have to sit around here doing nothing!? If we're apprentices, why are we doing the same thing as a kit? She wondered.

Moonpaw could tell that Nightpaw was on the verge of bursting. "Since we're all bored, why don't we do something together?" She suggested in her musical tone. "We know some hunting and fighting techniques. Why don't we teach Thornkit?"

[Pretty Girl is Suffering]

Moonstripe smiled at the Jadepaw, Moonpaw, and Nightpaw. "Hello, Moonpaw, Jadepaw, Nightpaw. I'm good, thank you. And how are you?" she asked, looking up at them. "And if Thornkit is up for it, it'd be great if he could learn some fighting and hunting techniques. And I'd love to watch what you three can do. Thornkit?" The creamy tabby turned toward the small kit, smiling.