#ebonykit

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Robinpaw's black and white fur flashed from under a bush. Orangekit crouched close to the ground, still as a rock, watching silently as the older cat stalked a bird. Her stance was off, and she moved too slowly, but it was the best she could do. Nearby, Ebonykit sheltered under a thorn bush, her thick fur protecting her from scratches. All three kits held their breath. Robinpaw pounced.

The bird flew swiftly up to a branch, twittering down at them triumphantly. Robinpaw rose to her paws, tail drooping, defeated. "I'm sorry."

Neither of the other kits replied. They'd all tried to find food.

Nobody had caught anything.

Eventually, Ebonykit wormed out from under her bush. "Let's go." Her voice was heavy, much too tired for someone her age. Robinpaw padded slowly after her, whisking her tail around Orangekit, who stayed close to her side.

His paws were shaking. Bones starting to show.

Robinpaw bowed her head. I'm sorry.

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Back in camp, Ebonykit vanished into the medicine den. The bodies in the middle smelt like a carrion pile, and all the kits kept a wide berth around it. Ebonykit especially didn't want anything to do with it, and, figuring the clan needed a medicine cat, spent most of her time trying to work out the herbs.

Orangekit lay down as soon as he was out of the way of the entrance. Despondently, Robinpaw settled next to him, resting her black-and-white head on cold paws.

We need help. All three kits shared the thought. Orangekit lifted his head, looking towards the entrance. His ears twitched. Whiskers curled fowards.

"Ro!" He yelped, and she looked at him, unenthused.

"What."

"I can smell some cat!" He met her gaze, wide-eyed. "Maybe they can help us!"

"They're probably sick." Robinkit turned her head away. "Or starving. Like every adult cat." She exhaled in a long sigh. "Who would want to help a group of kits, anyway?"

"I would."

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Black and white fur ruffled in the wind. Bright blue eyes flickered open, and Robinkit stretched, blinking across the clearing. Her small body froze when she saw the newest addition to the bodies in the center of the clearing. Reddish-brown fur. Blank amber gaze. No.

"Mom!" Her cry woke the other two kits lying next to her. Eyes lit with panic. Paws carried her across the clearing, giving out next to her mother's body.

Ebonykit stared, eyes blank with shock. Another dead? Beside her, Orangekit padded slowly across the clearing, his pale pelt blending in with the snow as he lay down next to Robinkit. Annoyance sparkled beneath her pelt. He's not even close to Firstar. Her paws moved of their own accord, taking her to Robinkit's side. Large, fluffy tail curling over the other kit.

"Mom," Robinkit buried her pink nose in her mother's fur. "Wake up. Please. I need you." She knew, she knew, she knew her mother wasn't coming back.

None of the others had come back.

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"Ro," Ebonykit whispered after a while. The sun burned on their backs, snow starting to melt. "Ro."

"Go away," Robinkit muttered. There was a pause, and she craned her head to look into the younger kits black, fluffy face.

"We need you," The other kit mewed. "You're the oldest now."

Robinkit put her head on her paws. "I can't do anything, Eb. We're only kits. I'm only five moons."

"Nearly six..." Ebonykit tried. Nudged her side. Licked her cheek.

"Ro?" A small, shaky voice stammered behind them. With a sigh, Robinkit got slowly to her paws and turned. Orange eyes burned into hers. A small shape huddled in the snow.

"What do we do now?"

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Robinkit stood in the center of the clearing. Her head dropped; tail lay limp behind her. Ebonykit flanked her, eyes glittering as she stared at the sky. "Ro, I think... I think you have to be an apprentice."

Robinkit looked at her. "I think so too."

Orangekit padded closer, whiskers drooping. "There's no prey."

"I don't... I don't know how to hunt," Robinkit glanced desperately up at the sky. Help me! She was so young. So much responsibility.

The other kits looked at her. Sadness in one pair of eyes, terror in the other. Nobody knew what to do. "Ro..." Orangekit whispered. His whiskers trembled, fragile body shivering despite the burning sun. Eyes still shone with shock and grief. "What do we do?"

She didn't reply for a long moment. Then, her gentle 5-moon-old shoulders drooped. "I don't know."

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