Warrior Cats

They entered the tall reeds that spread out from the banks of the river like a spill of milk spreading across a kitchen floor. It was still many walks to their destination. Jadeshadow spoke up again. “But why do we take these things to the river?” Her voice was muffled by the spoon she carried in her mouth, but that hadn't stopped the kit's constant questions.

Cloudchaser's ears went flat, but only for a moment. He was a tutor, tasked with teaching the stories and the ways to the young ones, to guide them gently down the path. It was easier to remember that with some kits than with others. “Where were you last story day?”

“I was there,” Jadeshadow said, nearly dropping her spoon as she half-yowled the protest.

“Your body was there, kit, but I think your mind was chasing butterflies in the field,” he growled. Gently guide, tutor. He told himself. Gently guide. “Very well, I will tell you again. What lives in the river?”

“Long water cats! Everyone knows that.”

“Right. And what do long water cats love more than anything else?”

“Um...”

“It's something very close to you right now, Jadeshadow.” There was a long pause as the kit looked about, puzzled, her head heavy with the weight of the spoon in her mouth. Cloudchaser sighed again. “Very close.” He turned and bumped the spoon she carried with the pair in his own mouth.

“Two-leg eating things?”

“Yes! Or anything shiny. Now, when do we take these to the river?”

“Every year,” Jadeshadow said promptly, high-stepping with pride. The effect was spoiled slightly as a grassjumper sailed overhead and the kit jerked her head around to follow, throwing herself off balance. Cloudchaser jumped back and pushed his head into her flank, righting her before the spoon could dip into the soft mud that was beginning to well up between the reeds.

“Yes, every year. Is it easy to get these?” He looked down, making sure the kit was stable, and then headed off again.

“Well, pretty easy,” Jadeshadow said thoughtfully as she trotted to catch up. “The two-legs sleep a lot at night, and they don't hear very good. But you have to find the right ones, and then drag them out, and they're heavy. Plus we have to carry them all the way here. That's hard.”

“So why would we cats go to all that trouble?”

There was another long pause as Jadeshadow thought about it. Finally she said. “There must be a good reason. You should never work without a good reason for it.” She looked at Cloudchaser hopefully, but the older cat didn't even look back, just kept marching along. She thought some more. The spoon was heavy, and the mud was starting to smell. Not bad, but it was strong, and it was starting to get thick. She was going to get her paws dirty. Maybe even her legs. And they did this every year? “It must have been something big!” She said, with sudden realization. “Some big good reason, and I bet it happened this time of the year a long time ago. And we're still working to pay for whatever it was, a long time ago.”

Cloudchaser stopped, and looked back at her kindly. “That's right,” he said, and she could hear the proud note in his voice. He wasn't that bad, for such an old cat. She vowed to try to pay more attention during story days in the future. But there was a story here she'd missed. A secret. He tail twitched as if she were ready to pounce. “So what is it? What did they do? What happened?”

Cloudchaser laughed a little. Jadeshadow was a good kit, smart, inquisitive, quick to pounce on a clue. If her mind was prone to chase butterflies, well, that was the prerogative of the young, wasn't it?

“Alright,” he said. “I'll tell you the story...”

Check it:

The excellent Warrior Cats Obsidian Portal Page

Also:

The Gutter Skypes

Monkeys Took my Jetpack

catchyourhare.com/diceroller

Laser Ponies

QAGS

Monkey Con Zero