The Runt That Gets Nothing

Strange Things (Chapter 4)

Before Hollowpaw could return, she was stopped by a small tuft of bright red fur. And because of Hollowpaw's small size and lack of lower body strength, the impact knocked her to the ground. 

The tuft of fire puffed up to reveal a small red she-kit, though she had so much fur, Hollowpaw had trouble believing she WAS a kit. She had a small button nose, round, curious, bright green eyes. She had one rusted brown spot on her left eye, though so much of her was obscured by bright red fluff it was hard to locate any defining features. Yet despite her abundance of fur, her tail was bobbed. 

"Do you see ghosts?" She asked hurriedly. "G-ghosts?" Hollowpaw started before the fur ball interrupted, saying, "Sorry! Force of habit." She talked quickly with a high, excited tone. 

"Aren't you the leader's apprentice? Thats cool. You're also the runt! I'd be the runt, but I'm the only one, my other siblings died, sad. Did you see a squirrel?!" 

Hollowpaw didnt know what to say or do. She sat there as she continued to squeak. 

"I'm Barkkit, by the way! I'm only one moon, but momma says I'm super quick and a good learner, so I got out, not really so, more 'and', but too late now, you can't take back what you said, well you can, but mom says that's 'the wrong way' like what's the right way? Boring old StarClan? No, plus I dont believe in that mouse dung, hey you're brother's really cute! I think he used to play with me in the nursery! Crowpaw, right?" 

At the mention of her brother's name, Hollowpaw snapped back to reality (and the kit). "Sorry, what about Crowpaw?" Hollowpaw asked.

"Well funny story, one day when I was younger he thought I was just a tuft of red fur and starts knocking me around the nursery, but I wasn't, obviously, so I squeaked- literally, actually squeaked, mind you- and he stopped and asked me a bunch of questions and we became friends! And I saw how he always stood up for you! I like your family! Except for Nightkit, she scares me, but you're cool!"

"Th-thank you!" Hollowpaw managed, still taken aback by her energy. 

"It was nice to meet you, Hollowpaw! And sorry for taking some of your time. You have training tomorrow."

She said this last bit in an odd tone. Hollowpaw hadn't felt any time passing as they chatted. 

Barkkit flew past her and it all ended. Hollowpaw looked up to see that very little time- if any at all- had passed. She shrugged it off, thinking that because of how fast the kit had mewed that little time passed, though talking to the kit made her feel...weird.

She chuckled to herself. "It's probably nothing." She thought aloud. "Just an overexcited kit."