Personification

A mouse sat in front of me. In the roots of a beech tree, it nibbled. I lightly placed my paws down, one in front of another. It didn't see me. I sneaked closer, shifting my weight to three paws, as I moved the other forward, then repeated the ritual. I was almost there. I shifted all my weight equally, as I prepared to pounce. The mouse looked at me, unmoving. Easy food, I thought, as I tightened my haunches. The mouse made an odd sound, a growl of sorts. This is odd... I thought, and blinked.

I was in my nest, squeezed up against Featherkit, Cloverkit, and Goldenstep, with my stomach yowling at me. All I'd eaten the night before was a scrawny lizard. Maybe I should sneak out and get some food...? No, I can't. I may be a kit now, but in under a quarter- moon, I'll become an apprentice. I should break my habits of eating before anyone else is awake.

I wouldn't miss Featherkit moving around throughout the night and kicking me in the side, or waking up pressed against Goldenstep's side with Cloverkit on top of me. Draftstar had offered to let my mother, Goldenstep, move back into the warriors den, yet she simply wouldn't allow it.

The bramble bush around us acted as walls, with leaves interwoven on the top so it didn't flood during rain, and the inside was lined with moss. My stomach growled again.

Goldenstep yawned and peered at me sleepily. "Icekit?"

"Sorry. I didn't eat much yesterday."

"It's fine, no need to apologize."

Goldenstep's breathing became heavy, as she attempted to fall back asleep.

"May I get something to eat?" I asked.

"You should wait until the rest of the Clan awakens. It's not even sunhigh yet!"

"Don't kits and elders eat first?"

"Yes, but you're almost an apprentice."

"'Almost,' not quite."

"You should wait."

"Why?"

"You'll wake your sisters."

"Not if I'm careful."

"They're right next to you, squishing you against me."

"So?"

"So, no matter what you do, they'll wake."

"Then I'll share with them."

"No, you can wait."

"But all I ate yesterday was a single, emaciated lizard!"

"That was your choice, there was plenty of other fresh-kill to choose from."

"But I was allowing the older Warriors to have better food."

"That was kind of you, but still your choice."

"But they won't miss it if I eat it before they wake up."

"No, they'll think a fox came in and stole it."

"But I don't smell like fox."

"So?"

"So, they shouldn't be mousebrained enough to think it was a fox."

"You can wait."

"No I can't"

"Can."

"Can't."

"Can."

"I'm STARVING!"

"You've never been truly hungry."

"My stomach doesn't agree."

"Well your stomach has no brain."

"So?"

"So, your stomach can't decide for you."

"But it can disagree."

"No it can't, it has no brain nor mouth."

"I disagree."

"Oh?"

Just then my stomach growled, and Cloverkit stirred in her nest. "You know I can keep this up forever."

"Oh, fine."

"Thanks!" I hopped out of my nest and raced for the fresh-kill pile.