• Nanuuku watched the medicine cat with big, bright blue eyes, her tail trailing in the clear, dappled water of the pond. Fish occasionally nibbled at the tip, but the kit took no notice. She was too intently focused on the application of mouse bile to some ticks on Beral's back. Beral was a Warrior, proud and strong. He was also Shinyal's best kithood friend; a strong-willed silver tabby with aqua-green eyes that stared straight into your very soul. Better than most on the battlefield, his gait was proud as he walked out of the den after thanking Shinyal.
    "What mouse I wouldn't give to be in Ulam's place," Nanuuku mewed softly. She watched the cat shake the stick, to rid it of bile, then toss it in her direction. The pond was not far from the medicinal den, so it landed in the water with a soft splash. The droplets gently showered Nanuuku's coat, making bits slightly damp. The Siamese gently shook and sped off to the Birthers' den. Birthers were female cats like her mother, who brought kits into the world. They had their own den, so that it was no crowded with Warriors or apprentices. Usually, the fathers were Warriors. Gental, the clan Leader, had a Birther mate of his own. Zinnia was expecting kits soon. She was a beautiful Russian blue, blessed with her soft, shaded coat and green eyes. Gental was also a Russian, now sitting erect on his sunning rock.
    Nanuuku's brother Frernal rushed past, being chased by their sister Phideity. He mewed in happiness, and Phi had a smile on her face. The passing siblings made wind run through Nan's fur with an amazing speed.
    The truth was, Nan had a crush on 5-moon-old Ulam. She had just never admitted it. Ulam liked the kit too, but he was afraid it would be awkward if he ever said anything. As the Siamese walked into the den, the apprentice jauntily greeted her.
    "So, Nan, what might you need?"
    "Just some berries, Ulam," Nan replied nonchalantly. "The ones that help with hairballs. Menchi's been hacking up stuff." Menchi was Nanuuku's younger sister. She had recently learned how to clean herself correctly, so she'd done hours worth of lapping up fur. Now she was paying the price.
    "Oh, that. Okay." He wrapped the supply into green leaves. "This should help," he meowed through the package. "Tell her to stop licking so much. It's like every time I see her cute little mug, she's cleaning." The Siamese nodded before streaking off with the leaf bundle.
    "Here you go, Mother," Nanuuku sat the bundle before her. "Just as you asked." Jenuyn smiled at her daughter. "Thank you, Nan. You may run along now." As her daughter padded off, Jenuyn began to feed Menchi the berries. The kit gobbled them up, then realized how sour they were. Men scrunched up her little face, but continued to eat the berries.
    Ulam was sitting idly in the medicinal den, having nothing to do. Maybe go find someone to play cat and mouse with? Go visit Menchi and see how she was doing? That sounded good, so the calico set off in the direction Nan had just come from.
    "Hello, Jenuyn!" Ulam said cheerfully. "How's Menchi coming along?" There was a loud hacking sound, and the kit coughed up a bit of a long-wedged hairball. "She's doing fine, thank you for asking, Ulam." Jenuyn carefully watched the puking kit with a mother's eye.
    "That's good to know." The apprentice noticed that the Birther was not the least bit repulsed, and didn't cringe as Menchi coughed up more of the hairball. He, however, was a bit disgusted, even though he'd seen worse in the den. He shuddered inwardly, and said, "Well, I better be off."
    "Okay hun, drop by later if you want."
    "I'll be sure to, Jenuyn." Ulam walked off, on his way back to the den. Just then, Nanuuku came streaking into him. Both cats were knocked to the ground, but each quickly jumped to their paws.
    "Ulam!" Nan cried. "Shinyal needs our help, badly! Gental's fainted, and he won't come round!"
    * * *