Here it comes! Chapter one! I've worked up a small buffer and I'm finally happy that I can post it without there being any inconsistent updating problems. I hope you enjoy chapter one of the story!
At first there was nothing, no thoughts. No choices. Nothing to see, nothing to hear, nothing to feel, nothing to smell. Nothing was thought. All the kit could feel was a warmth and the instinctual urge to escape from wherever she was.
A jolt of cold was sent through her body starting at the tips of her tiny kit-ears. Words that she couldn't understand flooded her ears. As her face slid out smells appeared and she smelt for the first ever time in her life, but would smell constantly for moons to come. Instinct pulsed through her. Something gentle pushed her towards a smell she recognised as mother. Relying on nothing but instinct, the small newborn kit suckled at her mother's belly, feeling another shape next to her, something warm and fuzzy. Another similar shape pressed against her, mewling loudly. A voice she did not know yet spoke in foreign words.
"All done now Sleeksong, three healthy little warriors for Riverclan!"
Something vibrated and a loud sound she recognized as a purr was heard.
"Can Dustcloud come in? I want him to help name them." A voice the young she kit recognized as mother spoke. The voice was soft and kind.
"Of course, I'll go get him and then leave you two be" A scent disappeared from the den and a new one appeared soon after.
"Their amazing! Good job Sleeksong! Have they been given names yet?" A new voice spoke. It seemed familiar yet unrecognizable. This voice was deep and imposing, but also protective and soft.
"I was hoping you would help me, how about you name the tom and the fluffy she cat?"
"Of course! How about Drizzlekit for the tom?" A paw nudged the shape next to her.
"Yes, that perfect! And I'll name this she cat Silver… no Shimmerkit!" A different paw nudged another one of the warm bodies at her side.
"And I guess that leaves this one, hmmm. She'll be called Rainkit" A paw nudged her this time. It was tender and soft, but still strong and protective.
Rainkit. The word repeated in the young she kit's mind. Somehow, she just knew that this was her name. Rainkit. The newly born kit mewled quietly before entering into sleep.
o0o
"Catch me if you can!"
"Oh I can!"
"Don't be so sure"
Laughter filled mews echoed through the den as Rainkits' siblings ran around. They were one moon old now and her siblings were swiftly becoming a rambunctious, excitable pair of kits. She was sitting quietly next to her mother Sleeksong. Shimmerkit and Drizzlekit had just opened their eyes yesterday. Rainkit was still waiting, she could talk okay for her age but her eyelids just weren't strong enough yet. Desperately she tried yet again to open her eyes, putting all her strength into the action she grit her teeth as she desperately tried. For not even a second, she could see a small flash of colour fade into view at the bottom of her vision but yet again, it disappeared almost immediately after its brief appearance. Leaving her eyes exhausted and her body a bit shaky.
"Mummy? When will my eyes be ready?" Rainkit mewled for the tenth time that day, her voice squeaky and high pitched.
"Don't worry dear, you will be able to see soon, and I bet you'll have the best eyes in all of Riverclan" Sleeksong licked Rainkit on the head lovingly. The action and words soothed Rainkit and a faint purr could be heard as the young kit faded into sleep, her fur merging with the soft belly of her mother, keeping her warm as the kit slept blissfully.
o0o
Rainkit awoke in the morning to the sound of bird song. Backing away from her mother a little she stretched tiredly and opened her eyes for the very first time. Her vision was blurry but that did not matter. The colours did. She could see brown brambles and reeds forming den walls and the mossy green nest. She saw the tinted yellow light filtering into the den and the sleeping, blue-grey form of her mother accompanied by two other grey blobs, her siblings. On the other side of the den was a black form with sandy coloured speckles sleeping alone and a pale grey and white patched mother curled around her three young kits.
Sleeksong's blurry figure stirred and slowly lifted what Rainkit guessed was her head. Two round amber orbs slowly appeared.
"Good morning Rainkit" Her mother mewed drearily.
"Good morning Sleeksong!" Rainkit chirped, her fuzzy tail high in the air.
"Oh-oh! Rainkit! You've opened your eyes!" Sleeksong purred loudly, waking Shimmerkit and Drizzlekit. The grey blobs wiggled around a little before popping up, four circular eyes widened as they stared at Rainkit excitedly.
"You've opened your eyes! Finally!" Drizzlekit bounded towards the fluffy she kit excitedly. Shimmerkit followed, her eyesight was obviously a lot more developed than Drizzlekit as she happily padded over behind him, walking a lot more confidently through the den.
Happily purring the two kits nuzzled their sister, soft kit fur merging into a mix of grey. Then, excitedly they began to teach Rainkit how to play moss-ball. Creating a ruckus and getting in the way of everyone. Bringing delight and annoyance to visiting warriors. They disturbed sleeping kits and mothers as the rested during the day and piled all over apprentices who came to clear the nests. Some visitors would play with them. Rainkit longed to go play with her older denmates, but they were all out in camp, enjoying the late leafbare snow that was scattered around Riverclan camp. Rainkit fell over and nearly hurt herself several times due to her blurry vision, but the blue-grey kit didn't care. This was the most exciting day of her life so far!
Whelp! That was it. Longest chapter I've ever written. That one chapter was three pages! The allegiances will come out as soon as I've put them all together, so hopefully before Rainkit's an apprentice but that's probably not going to happen so….
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