Family? [Lilyvalley]

The she-kit was stretched just outside the nursery, the night air pleasantly cool against her fur as she gazed wistfully at the camp entrance. A patrol had left earlier, and she had tried to sneak out with them, but had not gotten more than a foxlength from the nursery before being called back. 'You'll be six moons soon enough' one of the queens had told her. Foxdung, Briarkit had thought in response, though she had simply ducked her head and returned to the nursery's entrance to sit.

She wasn't pouting, not at all, as she watched a few of the warriors moving about camp. Leopardstar was on patrol, Tawnyflare was sleeping, her siblings were all asleep and since sleep wouldn't find her, she had chosen to stay outside for just a little longer. A vaguely familiar she-cat had caught her eye,

"Hey!" She squeaked, "Lily...something... Lilyvalley? Lilyvalley, right?" Briarkit gazed up at the calico she-cat, "You were made a warrior recently, what's it like? They still won't even let us become apprentices, we're too young, or something." It was days like this where Briarkit's impatience showed, but maybe hearing about what it was like from others would give her something to hold her over for another few hours.

"You were a warrior before?" Briarkit tipped her head, gazing up at the she-cat with curiosity, "Why did you have to go through apprenticeship twice?"

Pineblossom had said being a warrior was dangerous, Lilyvalley seemed to think it was boring. Impossible, it had to be! "It can't possibly be more boring than being stuck in the crowded nursery all day." Briarkit declared with all the certainty of a kit who clearly thought she had things figured out, "You get to explore the territory - but I guess it's not really exploring if you know it all, and hunt and fight! All I get to do is sit in camp and play mossball or sleep."

Lilyvalley let out a bit of a chuckle. "I had been away for a very long time. When I came back, a lot had changed. I needed to readjust. And part of me wanted a fresh start, too."

She gave Briarkit a look as she claimed she still wanted to go out, and Lilyvalley lowered herself. "You know what? You're right. It's not always boring. But do you want to know the real reason you can't leave camp? I want you to take a good look at me."

Lilyvalley paused, letting the kit take in her features. Briarkit had to learn that things weren't going to be better outside of the camp walls.

"I was not always like this. But I had come across a badger. I was a warrior, at the time, and even then I almost died. I would give anything to be a kit playing with my littermates again."

She would give anything to have her littermates again, but that was something better left unsaid. She sat up, and then gave the kit a smile.

"It's not all bad out in the territory, but we really don't want you kits getting hurt, okay? That is why we keep you in camp. I promise, when you are an apprentice, I will take you out any time you want. For now, though, enjoy what you have. Trust me."