{~Over the Horizon~}

{~Chapter 6~}

Kainalu padded across the beach, the hot sand warming his paw pads. A soft breeze carried the scent of strong seawater.

It was a warm early morning and Kainalu wanted to spend some time alone that day. He was finally ungrounded after being grounded for a quarter moonfall, which he was grateful for "Kainalu!"

The young tomkit turned around, spotting Kjartan bounding down towards him. The two had grown closer during Kainalu's punishment. Kjartan caught up to him, looking a little bit taller than the days before.

"I was looking all over for you!" Kjartan mewed, his tail high in the air "What for? So you can brag about your height?" Kainalu teased, raising a cat brow. Kjartan rolled his eyes "Don't be jealous that I'm growing and you're not."

Kainalu glared at him playfully "Just you wait, I'll be taller than you in no time!" He declared. Kjartan bumped his shoulder playfully, the two giggling together. They walked on in silence for a moment before Kjartan paused.

Kainalu glanced back at him, not noticing that he had stopped "Kjartan?" He called, tilting his head. He came back over to his friend, who was now just staring at him "I have to tell you something."

Kainalu's ears perked up and he stared at Kjartan with confused dark green eyes "What's up?" He inched closer to Kjartan, his tail twitching "It's Umina and I's ceremony tomorrow. We'll be becoming official trainees."

Kainalu stared at Kjartan, a wave of sadness hitting him. He didn't want Kjartan to leave the Kit Carriers' den "Are you sure? Maybe you got it mixed up with another day?" Kainalu asked, hoping it weren't true.

"Unfortunately, it is. Orca spoke to my parents 2 sunrises ago, and Orca believes we're ready," Kjartan responded, his tail lowering "Well, what does Ngaio think about this? Surely she's worried sick about you two."

Kjartan shook his head "No, she agreed. And so did Murray. They all think we're ready," Kjartan murmured. Kainalu stared at Kjartan, almost at a loss for words "Well, do you think you're ready?" Kainalu asked.

Kjartan shook his head shyly "No, I don't think I'll ever be ready. Especially since I'll be leaving you behind." Kjartan responded, taking a quick glance up at Kainalu before looking back down at his paws.

Kainalu scuffed "You'll never leave me behind! I'm an annoying burr that won't get off your pelt!" Kainalu teased, puffing his chest out. Kjartan looked up, surprised, but a smile soon beamed across his face.

"More like a tick," he retorted, sticking out his tongue at Kainalu "How dare you call me a tick! I'm the most wonderful tick you'll ever have!" Kainalu exclaimed, playfully sticking his tongue out back at Kjartan.

"Yeah right! Ticks and wonderful don't belong in the same sentence idiot!" Kjartan meowed, tackling Kainalu over "Oh yeah they do!" Kainalu retaliated, the two beginning to play fight in the sand.

After play fighting for a while, they both flopped down, relaxing on the hot sand. Exhausted, they both let out a deep sigh. The sea water splashed a couple of crab lengths away from them, the smell of salty water fresh and strong.

Kainalu rolled onto his back, staring up at the sky. It was a clear day with hardly any clouds visible. Kjartan rolled onto his back as well, staring up at the beautiful clear sky. A soft breeze ruffled their fur, another wave of ocean water hitting them.

"Do you think I'll do okay?" Kjartan asked suddenly, glancing over at Kainalu. Kainalu glanced at his friend, a proud smile on his face "Of course. You'll be the best worker anyone has ever seen!" Kainalu declared, winking at Kjartan playfully.

Kjartan giggled, a bright smile once again on his face "I really hope you're right," Kjartan mewed, his tone half teasing. Kainalu puffed his chest fur out "Of course I'm right, I'm always right. Why must you question my righteousness!"

"You're not always right! If anything, I am!" Kjartan retorted, sticking out his tongue at Kainalu "Yeah right!" Kainalu nudged Kjartan's shoulder playfully. Kjartan sat up, tackling Kainalu playfully.

"Watch it you giant fur ball!" Kainalu squeaked, nipping Kjartan's ear "Ow! Watch the ears you crab snatcher!" Kjartan yelped, trying to pull away from Kainalu's grasp "Hey!" A voice shouted, startling both kits.

They sat up, their ears perked. A white head poked out from behind a palm tree patch, her hazel eyes stern "Uh oh, that sounds like Kairi." Kjartan meowed nervously, getting off of Kainalu. The two kits stood up, cleaning off the sand from their pelts.

Kairi, who was the Head Protector of their group, marched down to them, her patrol slowly following behind "What the hell are you two doing out here?" Kairi snarled, her fur ruffling "We were just hanging out."

"Don't you two realize that we've been looking for you two? Ngaio and Danu have been on my tail about you two since this morning!" Kairi hissed, her tail lashing. Thalassa trotted down beside Kairi, running her tail along Kairi's spine.

"Calm down, Kairi. They weren't doing any harm." she murmured softly. Kairi whipped around to glare at Thalassa, but was met with a stern glare from the large molly. Kairi let out a snarl, turning back to Kainalu and Kjartan.

"Let's go. We're going back to camp." Kairi grumbled, angrily turning away and marching off. Thalassa followed her, Kainalu and Kjartan trotting after them. They walked side by side, trailing after the older cats.

Among the patrol, besides Kairi and Thalassa, were Llyr and Zale, two Gatherers that Kainalu barely knew. He never really spoke to many of the older cats, so it felt odd being with them. Even then, he doesn't know much about Thalassa either.

He only knows about Kairi because she's always yelling and ordering others around. In Kainalu's eyes, she was very bossy and rude. How could Orca have made such a hot headed molly her protector?

Kainalu heard stories about Kairi's ceremony, stating that the old Head Protector died from an infection and Orca had picked Kairi as the new one. I'm sure someone else would've fit the role better than Kairi.

Finally, they made it back to camp, where Kjartan and Kainalu's mothers hurriedly came over "We were worried sick! Thank goodness you're okay!" Danu exclaimed, showering Kainalu with brisk licks.

"You all could've gotten hurt out there!" Ngaio wailed, curling her tail around Kjartan. Kainalu moved away from his mother "We're fine mom, we were just hanging out on the beach." he muttered coldly, glaring away from his mother.

Danu blinked at him, a somewhat surprised look on her face. Kainalu got up, heading away from his mother and padding over to where Varuna sat. He flopped down beside his brother, curling up into a ball.

He felt Varuna give him a gentle lick and curl his tail around him. He was thankful for his brother's comfort. Hopefully things will be better tomorrow.