⤴

⤴This is Potatopaw⤴

Puddlekit shyly followed his mother into the clearing. Today was his first time out of the medicine den that he had been stuck in for three and a half-moons. Everything was so big and bright outside the dark, cosy den.

"Hi, Puddlekit." His sister, Carrotkit, bounded up to him. "It's great out here isn't it?"

"I don't like it," whimpered Puddlekit, moving closer to Codpear. "It's too big and loud and scary."

"You'll get used to it," she shrugged.

Across the clearing, a brown cat smiled at him. Puddlekit recognized her as the she-cat who kept bringing him fresh-kill. 

What was her name again? Potatopaw? Yes that was it, thought Puddlekit.

"Come on." Carrotkit's mew startled him. "I'll show you around." 

Before Puddlekit knew what was happening, Carrotkit had nudged him towards two big kits, playing with a moss ball.

"Hi Goldkit, hi Yellowkit," Carrotkit mewed to the kits, who had stopped their game, and we're now looking at Puddlekit. "This is my brother, Puddlekit." Puddlekit shank in behind Carrotkit when his name was mentioned.

"Puddlekit," mused Yellowkit (or maybe it was Goldkit, Puddlekit didn't know). "I've heard of you. You're the sick kit, who's never allowed out of the medicine den."

"Well, he's allowed out now, Yellowkit," smiled Carrotkit, proudly. Puddlekit hated being the centre of attention. He whimpered and hid behind Carrotkit.

"Carrotkit," Potatopaw came over to them. "I don't think Puddlekit likes being introduced to the other kits yet. Give him time to get used to being out here." Any other kit would be mad if an apprentice had even tried to say anything like that, but Puddlekit was just relieved that he didn't have to talk to the older kits. He smiled weakly at Potatopaw. She smiled back. "Would you like something to eat," Potatopaw asked Puddlekit.

"No," replied Puddlekit. It wasn't that he wasn't hungry. He just didn't want to go over to the fresh-kill pile when it was so crowded. But Potatopaw seemed to read his mind. "I'll get you something," she mewed gently.

Puddlekit watched Potatopaw hurry over to the fresh-kill pile and choose something for him. When she returned, she was carrying a fat squirrel. "Let's share," she mewed to him. When they had finished, Puddlekit felt a drop of water fall onto his nose. "It's raining," mewed Potatopaw. "Let's go inside." They went back into the medicine den and Puddlekit sat down in his nest. There was a rumble of thunder and Puddlekit curled up in fear. Only when he felt Potatopaw gently licking his fur did he calm down and eventually fell asleep.