Splashes and Spots

[Nala]

Splashkit wandered around her territory. I can't believe I got out of camp, she thought, still surprised at how easy it was to slip out of camp undetected. I also can't believe I'm doing this, she thought. She never left the camp, much less the nursery. Her mother thought it was dangerous. Splashkit walked along the territory until she heard the river nearby. Splashkit ran up to it, wondering what it looked like. She was blind. Suddenly, a great gust of wind blew her tiny body right into the water. She was a RiverClan cat, yes, but she was only a kit. She couldn't swim! Splashkit paddled her tiny feet and squealed in terror, wondering if this was going to be her last breath.

[Crosshatch♠]

Willowleaf was walking to the river to hunt for her Clan when she heard a shriek. A RiverClan Kit shriek. She ran the rest of the way, diving into the rushing river without hesitation as she rushed to save the kit. Splashkit! she thought recognizing the kit's scent, which was almost washed off by the current. She swam strongly through the running waters to the wailing kit, her ears ringing from the sound. "I'm coming!" Willowleaf screamed. She pushed ahead, struggling to get to the kit before she was drowned.

I'm almost there, she thought, her heart pounding with fear as she thought of the kit drowning. I can't let her drown! Her paws paddled feebly through the water, but they were strong enough to get her afloat. She gave one last push and managed to get to the kit. She grasped Splashkit's scruff and tried to drag her back to shore. The kit's soaked fir dragged her down though. Are we both going to drown?!

[Nala]

Splashkit stopped squealing when she thought she heard her Clanmate Willowleaf. Suddenly, a cat grabbed her by the scruff. "Willowleaf!" Splashkit could tell that Willowleaf was being dragged down from the wet fur of them both. Splashkit knew that her mother was the best swimmer in her Clan, and that she would have inherited it too. Splashkit thrust her feet expertly through the water, trusting her instincts. Finally, after what she thought was going to be forever, she and Willowleaf bumped into the shore. Splashkit would have leaped for joy, but she was too exhausted. "Thank you, Willowleaf," Splashkit breathed, panting.

[Crosshatch♠]

"No problem." Willowleaf grunted, dragging the kit up onto the bank. "Next time don't go take a swim until you actually know how." she teased. She shook out her wet fur, droplets spraying everywhere. "Sorry." she meowed when she saw that she had accidentally splashed Splashkit. She sighed, hoping that her fur would dry soon. "Are you okay?" she asked. The kit had almost drowned, so she might be suffering from shock. Willowleaf hoped that the kit was okay.

[Nala]

"Yes." Splashkit's voice was hoarse from the terror she had gone through. She tried to stand, but immediately fell back down. "My leg..." Splashkit whimpered, not knowing why it hurt so much.

[Crosshatch♠]

Willowleaf sniffed it. "Let's take you to the medicine cat." she meowed, picking the kit up by the scruff. She began to walk to the RiverClan camp, her tail dragging on the ground. She was still soaked, and a cold breeze wasn't making it any better. She shivered, water dripping off of her. She wanted badly to run, but the kit would get hurt. She sighed. "So, why were you even out here? You know that kits aren't allowed outside of camp unless they are with a warrior." she asked. She was upset that the kit had disobeyed and ran off anyway. She better have a good excuse, the warrior thought.

As she waited for the kits response, she looked around, her ears pricked up to hear any sound. She couldn't scent anything, but she could at least use her other senses. Alert for other warriors or enemies, she went on.

[ezelia]

Speckledstar heard the kit and the warrior returning from the parolus river. She padded next to them and licked the kit to make sure its body heat staid level." Willowleaf, tell me what has happened. She saw the cats emerge from the river, and wanted to know what got them in there in the first place....

[Nala]

Splashkit wriggled away from her leaders' tongue. "I'm not gonna die! I just fell in the river! Or is it because I'm blind that I'm so useless and can't even leave the camp?" Splashkit glared up at her leader, her unseeing eyes challenging her. She hated cats treating her differently just because she was blind.

[Crosshatch♠]

Willowleaf hissed furiously. No kit that she would help raise would speak like that! "Watch your tongue!" she growled, her tail lashing. "No, that is not the reason why you're being treated like this. You fell into the river, and I risked my life to save you!" she pointed out, her voice as cold as ice. How dare this adventurous kit speak so badly about kindness. "Hush now." she scolded gently, her fur flattening so she didn't scare the kit, who was otherwise, fine.

[Nala]

Splashkit flattened her ears and tried to run away. She ignored the gentle tone that Willowleaf suddenly used. It sounded too forced. Splashkit turned and ran, not knowing where she was going. Anywhere away from Willowleaf's harsh voice. Yes, she knew she shouldn't have left the camp, and shouldn't have talked to her leader like that, but the truth was, she was only trying to find some watermint. She overheard the medicine cat saying that they had no more. She was just trying to help.

[ezelia]

Speckled star shook her head. " Ill follow her Willowleaf. Let her family that Ill be with her." The leader nodded in dismisle and padded after the kit. When she was next to her she slowed down and matched her pass." Splashkit, please sit so I may tell you something..."

[Nala]

Splashkit wanted to go on and be by herself, but she knew that she couldn't outrun her leader with her tiny legs, so she sat down with a reluctant sigh. "I was just trying to get more herbs. I heard someone saying they needed more..."

[ezelia]

Speckledstar nodded in aceptence." That's good of you to be beconcerned Splashkit, but, its dangerous to be by the river when you alone. I've been through you situation before and I know this well.." She sighed, she was going to tell this kit about her past that she had never told any one before..." When I was your age, no, younger than you. I ran away from camp because my leader had green cough and I wanted to prove to them that a kit like me wasnt useless..." The spotted leader, looked down at the kit and took in a deep breath before she prepared to continue her story...

[Nala]

Splashkit pricked her ears up in interest. She always loved listening to stories.

[ezelia]

Speckledstar took a breath before continuing..." I found a herb that I thought would help... it was bright red and looked tasty,but, a few moments later a cat from my clan ran infront of me and slapped my paw away. He said it was a death berry and scolded me. He called me a nucence, so a ran away but not to the camp. I ran to the forest without a backwards glance. The tom never followed me, so I was alone..." The ginger she-cat was looking into the distance remembering how she felt..." I didnt return for a moon. During that time, I was terrified of the larger creatures around me. One of those nights, a hawk flew overhead and I ran to the nearest tree hollow. I cried for my mother and just wanted to be in my nest. That was the day I returned and I never left the camp again." Speckledstar sighed." Thats is the reson I followed you to tell you this. If that warrior had followed me, I would have been safe and would have this terrible memory..." She Froze and looked a the kit." Do you understand why I stoped you?" She asked the young kit...