Just a little higher[O[

Sootkit stretched up as far as his legs could go, his pale green eyes fixed intently on the loose branch hanging from the nursery entrance. The little tom tried jumping up, rearing on his hindlegs, stretching out his front paws, but no matter what he tried, he just couldn't reach the branch. Eyes narrowed in concentration, he crouched down and sprang up, waving his front paws frantically to try and catch hold of the branch. He fell short, and ended up as a lump of brown-and-white fur on the nursery floor.

His mind flashed back to the day before; an apprentice had entered the nursery with a huge rabbit to give to his mother. Sootkit had begged the apprentice to show him how to catch a rabbit, but the apprentice had told him to wait till he was bigger. "How much bigger?" Sootkit had demanded, determinded to grow as fast as he could to reach that size. "Tall enough to reach that branch," The apprentice had waved his tail absent-mindedly at the branch.

So here he was, trying his best to reach the branch so that he could catch a rabbit for his mother. The little tom-kit got back onto his paws and crouched down. His eyes narrowed, and he sprung up yet again to try and reach that branch.

"What are you doing Sootkit?" Aspenkit asked, out of curiosity. He was lying casually on the nursery floor, planning to take a nap, when he saw Sootkit jumping in front of a branch.

Sootkit turned around at the sound of his brother's voice. Quickly, he explained his predicment to Aspenkit, coupled with exaggerated movements in immitaion of the apprentice. "So, I have to reach that branch, since that's the only way I can learn how to catch a rabbit for mother," the little tom-kit concluded. A new idea suddenly struck him, and he quickly implored Aspenkit for help.

"Let's gather loads of pebbles, sticks and rocks, and make a pile for me to stand on! If the pile is tall enough, I can reach the branch!" He explained, green eyes bright with excitement. Without waiting for his brother's answer, Sootkit darted away in search of pebbles.

"okay," Aspenkit replied while seeing that his brother darted away already. Aspenkit sighed at his brother's excitement but decided to help. He wandered around the nursery, picking up pebbles that were in the corners of the nursery, some fallen sticks and rocks. Soon, he gathered those into a pile underneath the branch and waited for Sootkit to return.

Sootkit skidded to a halt next to his brother, a huge branch clamped firmly in his jaw. The tom-kit swept all of the other twigs and pebbles together under the branch and stuck his find into the center firmly. securing the branch in place, Sootkit dug his claws into the bark and scrambled ungracefully to the top. He stretched out a paw to the loose branch, leaning forward as he did do. It was so close... just a little further...

SNAP! The branch he had been gripping onto snapped in half and Sootkit landed on his face.

"Oh no! Sootkit! Are you okay?" Aspenkit asked Sootkit with concern. Aspenkit helped Sootkit up until they were both safe on the nursery floor.

Sootkit shook the dust off his pelt with a cross look on his face. "This isn't going go work," He signed, then yet another idea struck him. He turned to face his brother slowly, a blank look on his face. A smile worked its way into his face until he was grinning devilishly from ear to ear.

"Aspenkit," He began, "Stand below the branch for me, please."

Aspenkit looked at Sootkit's wide grin, wondering what he was up to, but decided to agree. "Okay!" Aspenkit responded enthusiastically, willing to do anything to help his brother. He stood under the branch, waiting further instructions.

As Aspenkit got into position, Sootkit crouched and sprung onto his brother, where he wobbled unsteadily for a few heartbeats before he managed to dig his claws into his brother's fur. "Sorry!" He called out as he reared on his hindlegs and stretched out his front paws. Almost there...!

His hindleg slipped as Aspenkit moved underneath him, and Sootkit found his head hitting the ground for the eleventh time that day.

Aspenkit felt Sootkit's weight lean in on him, and he wobbled. Sootkit was too heavy! Also he probably was unable to keep still for long since he was always so fidgety. "Are you okay?" Aspenkit mewed, concerned. "Sorry... your weight was a little too much and I could not support you..."

Sootkit glared up crossly at Aspenkit, but even he knew that it was not his brother's fault that he had fell. The tom-kit signed and his ears drooped. "I've ran out of ideas, but I still can't reach that branch," He wailed, his heart heavy in his chest.

Aspenkit received Sootkit's cold angry glare, flinching and feeling guilty that he could not help. Sootkit suddenly looked depressed. "Its okay Sootkit.." Aspenkit mewed soothingly, trying his best to comfort his brother.

"Do you want to try again? I will stand under the branch and try to support your weight as much as I can and also try not to fidget. Then maybe you can reach that branch!" Aspenkit suggested enthusiastically, trying to cheer his brother up.

Sootkit perked up instantly. "Okay!" He jumped to his paws and chirped, "Once I do, I can finally catch a rabbit for mother!"

Looking at his brother's happy and excited expression, Aspenkit stepped under the branch again, steadied himself, then responded, "Okay, you can get on now!" and waited for Sootkit to jump on him.

Sootkit hopped onto his brother's back, where he wobbled for a few heartbeats. the tom-kit reared up and jumped, flailing his claws at the branch. His claws snagged a twig, and suddenly the weight of the branch was sending the tom toppling off Aspenkit. The branch landed on him, trapping Sootkit under a cover of twigs. Sootkit yelped as a twig jabbed his cheek.

He glanced up Aspenkit sheepishly. "A little help?" He asked.