The three little kits scampered around the clearing that had been roughly made for them. Misha was watching them, keeping a close eye. Ever since their mother had died, she had adopted the kits as her own.

     A white tom with red and blue on his face looked at his sisters. "Red! Clover! Bet you can't catch me!" The odd looking kit readied to run.

     A black dot covered cat liked at him. "Flame, it's too hot to run around."

     Flame looked at Clover. She usually chased him. Because he was a tom. Toms were gross, in her opinion.

     A red she-kit, named after a fallen cat, looked at Flame. "I'll chase you," she mewed. "Because I'm bored."

     Flame sat down. "No, it's okay," he meowed. His sisters were growing older, more mature. Flame wanted to stay a kit forever, chasing trails and being dependent on his mother. If Flame has the chance, he would stay a kit for all of eternity.

     Misha glared at the hyperactive kit. "Shut up," she mewed. "Some people are trying to sleep."

     In fact, ask the cats except for Flame were laying down, eyes closed. Flame decided to go explore.

     Soon, he came across a river. It was swollen with rain water from the previous day, but Flame didn't mind. He started to gulp down the refreshing liquid.

     The river was cool to the touch. Flame out his paws in; his burning pads were cooled. Little pebbles became loose under his feet. He decided to swim instead of exploring. Besides, he didn't like exploring.

     Soaking his white fur, Flame plunged in. His entire body was submerged. When he opened his eyes, something was skimming by him, touching his fur. Not bothering to see what it was, the kit pushed himself to the surface, and took a deep breath of shock. Looking down, he saw a small fish. He had seen mice bigger! Feeling foolish, he was glad that his sisters weren't there. He put his paws on the bank and tried to haul himself out.

     Flame was pushed by a strong current. His head was thrown under the water, and the fish scattered. He came up coughing and gagging in the middle of the river. Flame couldn't swim against the current, and he was choking. "Mother!" he tried to yell, but his head went under too soon.