Chapter 1

Acornkit rolled over in her nest that she shared with her littermates, swishing her dark tabby tail in boredom. "Come on! Let's got play hide-and-seek." Mousekit said jolting to his paws. "Yes!" Acornkit exclaimed getting excitedly to her paws. Hawkkit, Tulipkit and Owlkit all got to their paws. "I'll be seeker first!" Acornkit said in excitement. Mousekit nodded and Acornkit dropped into a crouch and covered her eyes with her paws. "Be careful." Cinnamonpelt warned. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25!" Acornkit counted and jumped to her feet "Ready or not here I come!" she yowled at the top of her lungs and scampered off. She found Mousekit first, his white pelt standing out against the greenery. She then found Hawkkit who was trying to climb a tree. She then found Tulipkit who was hiding in the apprentice's den. Lastly, Acornkit found Owlkit who had hidden in the flower patch. "I'm it!" Owlkit said "No you're not." Podflight – their father – said "It's getting dark, head back to the nursery." he growled. "We can always continue tomorrow." Tulipkit said as they trotted back into the nursery. Runningleaf was waiting for them when they got inside "Did you have fun?" she asked her kits as they curled up in their nest. "Yeah!" Acornkit squeaked "But then Podflight ruined it." Owlkit said. Runningleaf blinked at the kits "Maybe you'll have more time tomorrow." she said settling down into her own nest. Acornkit settled herself next to Mousekit ate the edge of the nest and curled her tail around her nose and fell asleep. She dreamt she was playing hide and seek in a dark forest when a cat approached her, a reddish-brown tom "Hello Acornkit." the tom rumbled. "Who are you? Are you here to play hide-and-seek?" Acornkit asked her tail kinked curiously behind her. The tom shook his head "I'm Thistlefur. I'm here to help you train." he said. "Train? I'm only four moons." Acornkit said, Thistlefur gave an amused purr "We won't be training today little one. Today I'll be showing you the training grounds. That's if you accept of course." he said. "Of course, I'll accept!" Acornkit said excitedly. Thistlewish's eyes glowed with approvement "Good, just follow me." he said. He padded off and Acornkit followed along her tail lashing in excitement. Thistlewish leapt over a small gully in the ground. Acornkit bunched up her muscles and leapt over as well "Here is the training clearing." Thistlewish said indicating to a sandy dip in the ground with a fallen tree and some boulders. Acornkit sniffed and smelt other cats coming to the clearing. Thistlewish's eyes lit up "It's Alderpelt and her apprentice Stonepaw." he said. Two cats came padding to meet the two cats "New apprentice?" Alderpelt said her eyes on Acornkit "Not yet. Just showing her around. This is Acornkit." Thistlewish responded. Acornkit glanced up at Stonepaw, he towered over her and muscles rippled beneath his pelt as he paced impatiently. "Can we train now?" Stonepaw complained to Alderpelt. Alderpelt nodded and dipped her head in farewell to Thistlewish. The tom returned the gesture and continued on. Acornkit followed him at a run. They halted at a clearing surrounded by trees "This is the meeting hollow. The last important thing you need to see. Return home now." Thistlewish said. Acornkit closed her eyes and woke to the nursery "Don't tell anyone about this." Thistlewish's voice rang in Acornkit's ears. Acornkit bounded outside the den and emerged into the dawn sun. She saw Podflight leading a patrol out of camp, Mistpaw – his apprentice – following closely behind. Acornkit watched the warriors leave camp in envy. Soon she'd be walking around the territory hunting and fighting, just two more moons – no one more moon – she realised. Owlkit, Tulipkit, Hawkkit and Mousekit joined Acornkit in the clearing. "It's Mistpaw's, Vinepaw's and Lightningpaw's assessment today." Acornkit realised as Podflight and Mistpaw ducked back into camp and joined Brackenfur, Snapclaw, Vinepaw and Lightningpaw in the clearing. Lightningstar came padding out of her den, followed closely by Rabbitface. Acornkit approached the group wanting to hear what they were saying "They'll hunt until sunhigh and then bring their prey back to camp. Then they'll demonstrate how to correctly mark and patrol the border." Lightningstar said. Podflight dipped his head in agreement and Rabbitface turned to the apprentices "You'll each take a different route, your mentors will follow you watching you in the shadows you won't see them but they will be there, so no cheating." the deputy said. Podflight signalled to the apprentices and they left the camp. The mentors waited for a few heartbeats before following their apprentices out of camp. Acornkit padded away from the group and joined her littermates at the entrance to the nursery. Runningleaf slid out of the nursery and joined her kits. Acornkit trotted over to the fresh kill pile and grabbed a butcher bird from the pile. She carried it over to her family and began to eat it quietly. "Let's continue playing hide-and-seek." Acornkit said after she had finished and buried the bones of the butcher bird. Owlkit got to her paws "I'm it now!" she declared. Acornkit ran into the shadows behind the medicine cat den. "25!" she heard Owlkit declare and heard the skitter of paws as Owlkit went off to look for her littermates. Acornkit sunk further back into the shadows but she could still see Owlkit. Owlkit's head turned to look at the apprentice's den "I found you Mousekit! Your white pelt sticks out everywhere but snow!" she called out. Mousekit came stomping forward his blue and yellow eyes angry. "It's not fair!" he complained. Acornkit shrank further back in the shadows as Owlkit began to seek again. Soon Acornkit was the last left "Alright Acornkit! I give up!" Owlkit called after several more heartbeats. Acornkit got to her paws and scampered out from her hiding spot.