The Finding of Life
Chapter 1
A small kit woke up in a tree far above the forest floor. The kit gave a frightened cry. Down below, two cats were hunting.
"Streamleap, did you hear something just now?"
"No Waterpaw, but see if you can find it's source."
Waterpaw looked around, "Streamleap! Up in the tree!"
Streamleap looked up and saw the frightened kit.
"Waterpaw, stay here. I'll be right back."
Streamleap climbed up the tree and came down with the kit, who looked about six moons old.
"We should get her back to camp! She's just fur and bones!" Waterpaw gasped.
"Spiritstar will want to know of this she-kit," Streamleap added.
As soon as Spiritsatar saw the kit, her eyes narrowed, "What's this?" she asked.
"I found her in a tree!" Waterpaw exclaimed.
"Well then, feed her something!"
Waterpaw rushed off to retrieve a Thresh from the fresh-kill pile.
"Moonflight, we may need you," Spiritstar called to the medicine cat.
"I'll be right there, Spiritstar," she repiled from the medicine den.
As Moonflight reached the small group around the motionless kit, Waterpaw returned with the Thresh.
Moonflight took the bird and held it to the kit's nose.
"Take a bite," she said softly.
The kit opened it's mouth feebly and began to eat the prey one bite at a time.
As she finished the Thresh, Spiritstar asked, "What is your name, little one?"
THe kit looked up Spiritstar and replied, "My mom named me Life, since I almost died at birth."
Spiritstar asked, "Would you like to join our clan?"
The cats present were shocked by their leader's decision.
Life looked at Spiritstar, "Yes."
Spiritstar jumped up onto a pile of pine boughs, "May all cats old enough to hunt report to the Pine Mound for a clan meeting!"
Cats began to emerge from the trees surrounding the camp and from their dens to hear what their leader had to say.
"Since this kit is six moons old, she shall become an apprentice today."
"But she just joined the clan!" interrupted a warrior.
"All the more reason to!" Spiritstar turned her gaze down to him, "It will help her learn our ways more efficiently.
"Yes Spiritstar," the tom sulked to the back of the assembled cats.
"Lifekit," she turned attention back to the kit, "From this moment on, you shall be trained as a Pineclan apprentice until you recieve your warrior name."
She scanned the crowd thoughtfully,"Moonflight, you shall mentor this cat as your apprentice until she is ready to take your place."
Moonflight smiled and touched her nose to her newly-made apprentice's.
"You shall now be known as Lifepaw. May Starclan light your path as you train to become a medicine cat under Moonflight's watchful eye. We hope this will help you better understand our ways."
"At the half moon we will go to the Star Cave to have Starclan welcome you to the ranks of medicine cats with your first dream in Starclan," Moonflight told Lifepaw, "Now, I suggest that you get some sleep in the medicine den. I'm going to show you around the border tomorrow and where to find herbs and how to tell them apart."
"Ok Moonflight," Lifepaw replied, heading to the Medicine Cat Den for the night.