#spindlekit

“By the tides, what were you even thinking?” Dustjump cut in.

Spindle did not answer.  In her five moons of life, Spindle had found that when an adult cat was angry with you or wanted to talk to you about something, the best course of action was usually to sit there quietly and nod while they got it all out. They almost never actually wanted a kit to answer, just to listen and thus reassure them that they were Very Important.

“Well?” Dustjump growled.

Apparently Spindle was expected to answer, this time. That must mean they were really mad. When an answer was actually expected, that usually meant the trouble you were in was much, much bigger.

Spindle shuffled her paws again. “I just went out for a little while,” she meowed, trying to make it not sound like a whine. “I only wanted to see the octopus Sand and Current found on patrol yesterday. Current told me it was red and slimy and and had eight legs!” She wrinkled her nose in distaste. It truly sounded like a yucky creature. That was why she had wanted to see for herself. Well, partly. “He also told me about Sand’s weird story about a ship’s cat being turned into one. I wanted to see if the octopi could still speak to us.”

“Octopi speaking with cats,” Dustjump snorted. “I’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous.”

Spindle didn’t see why she thought it was so ridiculous, but this was one of those times when being quiet was the best choice. “Sand shouldn’t have been filling Current’s brain with that sort of fluff in the first place,” Dustjump continued. but Shell didn’t look so certain. Spindle remembered some cats saying that Shell had been a ship’s cat before the wreck. She didn’t remember much of anything before life on the beach, but she had heard enough stories to figure out a few things.

“Let it alone for now, Dustjump,” Shell said, though not unkindly. “That isn’t the important part. Spindle, you didn’t even know where the Tidepools are. Even if you had, a dozen predators could have picked you off between there and camp, and none of us would have been around to help you. You simply must remain here, where we can keep an eye on you.”

Spindle couldn’t take it any longer. “But it’s so boring in camp!” Her voice rose to a plaintive wail. “I’ve explored every clawlength of the old wreck by now. I could navigate it blind! And there are no other kits for me to play with and the adults are always busy. I just want something to do!”

Shell’s eyes softened, and Spindle felt a warm tail brush along her spine. “I know it’s hard being the only kit in camp,” she murmured, “and it might help you to know that you won’t be stuck in camp much longer. I’ve decided that six moons will be the age for all kits to start an apprenticeship.”

Six moons... that was less than a moon away! Spindle could wait that long. She could be patient. Probably.

“Think you can stay out of trouble until then?” Shell asked.