Chapter 3

"Are we supposed to be doing this?" Smokekit asked from beside Batkit as the two kits struggled through the undergrowth, following their father. Lionblaze was at the head of a small patrol and they were joined by Ivypool, Foxleap, and Cherrypaw, as well as Molepaw who needed something to do as Rosepetal was currently sick. Neither kit could believe that their father would request to take them out into the forest, nor would they believe that Firestar would actually say yes. Kits were not allowed out of camp, and at four moons old, the two kits were still not ready yet. But somehow they were given permission and going down by the lake. The warriors and apprentices kept a even pace to make up for the kits' short legs and took turns carrying them over obstacles. But the distance was telling on Batkit and Smokekit's strides, they didn't have the endurance or stamina for it. As her paws began to slow, Batkit felt teeth gently plucking her up by her scruff and was grateful as Ivypool carried her onward. The forest ended and the lake opened up before them. The two kits heard that the lake was huge, though at one time it was so low that there was practically a small puddle in the center and was surrounded by dead fish. But now...Batkit couldn't believe that ever happen. Gentle waves lapped the shoreline, a shade of crisp blue that was only a bit dark than the sky above them. "It's so big," Smokekit breathed as they were sat down on the bank. The two kits knew there was more beyond their nursery and beyond the camp, but this...they felt small as fleas. Batkit's eyes drifted around trying to see it all, but her eyes were not sharp enough to see and she frowned, frustrated. Lionblaze gently touched her shoulder with his tail tip. "You'll see it all, one day," he meowed to her and the little gray kit. "I want to see it all today," Batkit protested. Ivypool joined them. "Sometimes you have to be patient, but it doesn't mean you can't have a head start in learning." Smokekit had crept down and carefully tapped the water with a paw but jumped back when Cherrypaw and Molepaw rushed past, mewling like excited kits as they played in the shallows. Foxleap watched them and heaved a sigh but used his auburn tail to keep Smokekit from falling into the lake. Ivypool pointed her tail to a distant shore that had bracken-colored grass and hardly any trees. "The moors belong to WindClan, then the pines," her tail pointed to a smudge that was hard to make out. "Belong to ShadowClan. RiverClan is across the lake and they mainly swim and catch fish." "Are they part RiverClan?" Smokekit mewed from beside Foxleap, watching the two apprentices sit up straight with wide eyes. The red-brown tabby purred. "They may just be, next they'll be catching fish." Molepaw and Cherrypaw rushed out of the water, looking embarrassed as they sat down, soaking wet. The small patrol stayed by the lake, enjoying the sights and sound. Batkit was quiet, though. Her eyes drifting around to take in all the sights and sounds, and the smells...there was so many kind of odors. But the little kitten was not thinking about that, she was wondering. How big was the world? Was there more? She heard tales from her Clanmates, how they went to the mountains, how her father had went to unblock the stream. She also heard of how Leafpool and the WindClan warrior, Crowfeather, had left the Clans and traveled into the unknown. But what was beyond those places? And...was there more beyond the warrior code, beyond StarClan? All this wondering was making her sleepy and she curled up beside her brother, tucked at Lionblaze's side, and slept.

Lionblaze watched his two kits sleep with a loving smile. They were perfect and it still awed him with how these two kits came to be. His gaze trailed over their forms. Smokekit was the oldest, but slightly smaller than his sister and was a smokey gray color, his tail was short, though no like Berrynose, and his eyes were Lionblaze's shade of amber. Batkit was a true mystery. Her coat was dove-gray, but the hairs were tinted with gold so that she twinkled like sunlight on dew. Her tail was fluffy, but the most curious sight...was her eyes. They were blue like Jayfeather, but also amber like his and they seemed to swirl almost. It was like she had a tiny cycle of the sun and moon in her eyes. But yet...Lionblaze's joy was dampen by the single thought that had been present when Jayfeather stumbled into camp with two very tiny kits. Which was the Fourth? Was it Smokekit who had a rough start of life, or was it Batkit? Jayfeather said that StarClan hadn't give him a sign, but Lionblaze couldn't help but wonder if it was StarClan who was behind this. The golden tabby carefully stood and stretched then with Foxleap, picked up the two sleeping bundles, and carried them back to camp.