Mama Blazefang pt. 2 (Salamanderkit)

One duty of motherhood that Blazefang had found herself coming to terms with was bath time. Sure, she knew mothers groomed their kits. But finding the right kit out of five and convincing them to hold still? Not the easiest thing in the world. Right now, her goal was to get Salamanderkit’s coat clean. But would that be easier said than done?

As usual, Salamanderkit had vanished. Blazefang remembered she’d done the same thing at that age. Is this some kind of revenge for Mother? She’d heard jokes about grandparents in StarClan sending their children difficult kits, but she’d never really understood them before. Nose to the ground, the ginger queen picked up her daughter’s scent. “Hmm… I wonder where my little lizard went?” she wondered aloud. Playing along, she wandered around camp a bit, pretending to look for her kit. “Let’s see, not in the elders’ den. Not by the fresh-kill pile. Not in the nursery…” Falling silent, Blazefang dropped into the hunter’s crouch and crept behind the nursery. “Gotcha!” she purred, wrapping a paw around the wayward kit.

Blazefang rolled her eyes. Kits. “Come on, little lizard,” she mewed, the slightest bit of growl to her tone. “You’ve… got… to get… clean…” she scolded between rough but affectionate licks. At the invitation to fight, she raised a brow. “Really, now? You do realize I’m a full grown warrior who’s trained three apprentices, right?” Seeing her feisty daughter was serious, Blazefang gave the kit a gentle swat. Not enough to hurt, just a sparring blow. “Best save that for when you’re apprenticed, young lady.” Salamanderkit seemed determined to fight her mother, though. “Trust me, there’s plenty of time to fight when you’re older,” she mewed before finally giving in and pouncing, giving the kit plenty of openings but still making her own strength and agility clear.