A kit (or Three) Gets a Stone's Protection

Stoneheart looked down at the bundles of fur he had just saved. Their parents were nasty and vicious, acting in no way how a guardian should be towards their kits. Whether the warrior code stated it or not, something in his gut pulled him towards these kits, urging him forward to protect them from their biological parents. Stoneheart was surprised at this own actions, for he highly valued the blood bond of a parent to a kit. But today, all it had taken was a mewl for help for his paws to scoop them out of their mother's reach and take them outside the nursery to wrap his tail protectively around them. 'Don't worry kits, I will keep you safe!' He thought with determination. At the time, the large gray tom had no idea that in doing this, he would be adopting them and becoming their father.

Looking down at the kits, Stoneheart smiled with his dorky yellow eyes sparkling with relief. "Is everyone okay? Any paws hurt? Bleeding?" He stressed excessively.

Cloverkit's fur was fluffed up and his eyes were wide with fear after what just happened and this newcomer. He tried shrieking away from the older tom by hiding behind his siblings. He was always the more quieter one and always the one their parents yelled at first. In his mind he thought maybe they hated him cause he was the more smaller one out of the three and cause of his shyness. But when he saw his parents yell at his siblings too he didn't know what to think. This newcomer on the other paw seemed nicer then them but he didn't care to find out. As he buried himself in his siblings fur he noticed liquid coming down from his cheek at first he thought it was tears as normal but he noticed it was red. Bringing a paw towards his cheek he pulled back to reveal that he had a large claw mark against his cheek, much bigger then any kit could do..

Stoneheart smiled at Sandkit's antics. "I'm sure you are," he replied with a rumble of fondness, "That's why you should look out for your siblings." He looked at Cloverkit, who was hiding between his two siblings. When the kit's head turned, he revealed a large gash in the shape of a claw. His yellow eyes widened before relaxing to not scare the kits.

Cloverkit needed medical attention, but the gray tom also felt strongly about not leaving the other two back in the nursery on their own. An idea popped into his mind. "Okay kits, who wants to go on an adventure?"

Cloverkit saw the older cat's eyes widened as he looked at him which made him stiffen up more. Did he do something wrong? Is he about to get yelled at again? So Stonehearts question confused him he shook his head immediately making the blood drip more from his wound. He didn't want to go anywhere with this stranger. He would rather go back to the nursery to sleep.

Thornkit smiled."I want to go on an adventure! Where are we gonna go?" he asked excitedly. He looked at Cloverkit in concern, noticing that there was a large claw mark on his face. He was glad that he was okay, but wished that he could have said the same for Cloverkit. His tail flicked back in forth as he looked at the older tom who was talking to them.