"Sun?" a tortoiseshell she-cat whispered into the nearly identical cat's ear. "Are they for serious?" They were sitting high in the branches of a great oak tree. Three others were near it. Five cats stood on a big rock and were jabbering about creating "Clans." Her sister's whiskers twitched. "I think they are! This is ridiculous. Why can't we just hunt by ourselves? No we'll have to hunt for everyone in these 'Clans'!" Sun growled. "I know. I guess it makes a little sense, but I still don't like it. Which Clan should we stick with? We kind of hunt in the pines and in the scrub. And even for birds out past the big sycamore." Sun replied, "I think we should go with Shadow. We hunted with her a few moons back. We hunt in the pines mostly, anyway, and I am not going to let some tom boss me around, Flower!" she flicked her tail at Thunder.
Flower let out a mrrow of laughter. "Believe me, I know...Hey, speaking of toms, do you think Storm will go to ShadowClan? He might not want to be bossed around by Shadow, but he's always hunted in the pines..." A note of anxiety showed in her voice. Sun narrowed her eyes. "You seem awful worried about that tom. What's going on?" Flower looked shyly into her sister's curious yellow eyes for which she was named. "I'm expecting his kits." Sun looked half irritated half...sad? "Why didn't you tell me before?" She said in a hurt voice. Flower answered quickly, "I only just became sure. I didn't know until this morning. I was waiting for the right moment. Oh, look, here he comes!"
The gray and black tom climbed up the tree with ease and sat close beside Flower. "What Clan are you going to?" Flower exchanged a glance with her sister. "We think Shadow. Not totally sure, but it's the best choice I see." Storm's face warmed. "That's what I picked too. I'm not leaving the pines. Not ever. Well, until I die." Flower flinched. "Don't say that. I'm not ready for you to die just yet." Storm looked pleased and nuzzled her fur. Sun gasped with anger. "Did you two hear that?" Flower shook her head. "Nope. What is it now?" Sun snarled. "Those arrogant furballs said if we don't join one of the Clans, they'll drive us out! What if we want to be alone? This is just awful!" Storm hissed down at the five "leaders". "What? I can't believe this! They're forcing cats out of their homes! We have to live in camps!" he meowed scathingly, "Will all these cats stand for it?" Flower added gloomily, "I don't think they have a choice. The supporters outnumber the non-supporters. This is not the world I was born into."
The five cats set off for their separate territories, each with a wave of cats following behind. "Come on, let's go." said Sun, and scrambled down the trunk after Shadow's clan. Flower hung back a little with Storm and said, "I have to tell you something, Storm." The dark tom, concern in his deep blue eyes, paused. "I'm expecting kits." she told her friend, and a slow smile spread across her face. Storm smiled happily. "That's great!" he twined his tail with hers and set off towards Shadow.
As they reached the group, Flower recognized a few of the cats; Shadow herself, Lichen, Echo, and a few others. They traveled through the pine forest at a fast pace, and Flower's heart received a sharp pang as she saw the clump of trees she and Sun lived in. Or used to live in, she though miserably. Where their mother, Spots, had kitted and raised them. Where she died after another cat fought with her over a bit of prey she had caught to bring home to her kits. Where they had met their father for the first time. Wher they brought their prey and shared. Where they talked, laughed, and scuffled. Where she'd met Storm...It was her home.
They reached a sheltered hollow with stumps and sandy dens dug into the ground. Shadow leaped into a big, sturdy branch. "Cats, please gather beneath this branch so I may speak to you all as one unit. One Clan." her eyes flashed. The group converged into a tight-knit group. "My name is Shadowstar. You are all members of ShadowClan. I know its a lot to adjust to, but its for the good of all of us. Truly. You may not agree now, but maybe living with the Clan will convince you. Now, names are going to be very, very important in the Clans. So the first order of business. Kits younger than six moons, come forward." Five nervous kits came forward, with the two mothers nervous and guiding them. Shadowstar looked at the first. "What is your name?" The kit, a dark brown tabby, squeaked, "Mud!" Shadowstar looked at the queen's other two kits to tell her their names. "I'm Breeze! My sister is Blue." Shadowstar nodded. "You will be Mudkit, Breezekit, and Bluekit. What about you two?" She nodded at the two black furred kits. "They're Dew and Night-sky." they're mother said. "They will be Dewkit and Nightkit. Perhaps as a warrior, Nightkit will get her old name back." The queen looked a bit irritated, but dipped her head. This cat had nine lives, or so they say.
"Alright, any kits more than six moons but less than twelve, come forward." Seven came forward. Without being asked, they quickly said each of their names. They were Cloud, Moon, Grass, Patch, Thistle, Stream, and Mountain. Shadowstar named each, "You shall be apprentices. I will name your mentors later. But for now your names are Cloudpaw, Moonpaw, Grasspaw, Patchpaw, Thistlepaw, Streampaw, and Mountainpaw. When you become warriors, the 'paw part of your name will change. Alright, those two queens and any expecting queens, come forward." Flower pushed her way to the front, heart thrumming with a mixture of excitement she didn't understand. Much to her surprise, her friend, Lichen, stood beside her and winked. The two queens with their kits stayed in their places, keeping one careful eye on their kits.
"I am Lichen." said her friend confidently. She nudged Flower who stammered, "F-Flower." The other queens were Bright and Sparrow. Shadowstar thought for a moment, then said, "You will be Lichengaze, Dappleflower, Brightfeather, and Sparrowstripe. Okay, now for elders. These are retired cats unable to hunt for themselves. They will pass on their knowledge and wisdom to the younger cats. They are very important to the Clan." She said with steel in her gaze when some of the others tittered. Two elderly cats came forward. "I am Swift." said the white she-cat, while the gray tom next to her said, "Stone." Shadowstar looked at them with respect in her eyes. "Stoneclaw and Swiftheart. The Clan will hunt for you and tend to you. Lastly, my warriors. You will fight for the Clan, and hunt for your Clanmates without question. Except one of you. One of you will be the medicine cat, but that is a matter for another day. Please, one by one, tell me your name and I shall give you your warrior name.
"Sun!" Called out her sister immediately. Dappleflower smiled. "Shiningsun." Called back Shadowstar, and Dappleflower snickered. Her sister looked outraged. "Storm!" called her mate and Dappleflower glistened with pride. "Darkstorm!" "Echo!" called the black she-cat Dappleflower had befriended the previous moon. "Echofoot!" her friend wrinkled her nose. Not the best name, that was for certain. The other warriors became Aurorasong, Shadehawk, Oakleaf, Flamepelt, Nightberry, Birdflight, Ravenwhisker, Silvermist, Nettletail, and Smokewing. "Alright, Clan. Let's all sleep together for tonight in case of foxes. Queens, kits, elders, and apprentices in the center, warriors on the outside!" Dappleflower was jostled toward the center, and she felt a pang as she realized she wouldn't sleeping next to her sister.
No, she thought. We've been sleeping together since the day we were born, and that's not going to change. I can defend myself anyway. And my kits. She sought out Shiningsun and laid down beside her. "Hi there, Shiningsun!" she teased. Her sister growled. "What a stupid name. Stupid stupid stupid. Yours is decent! Why couldn't I be Dapplesun? Or Sundapple? Ooh, I like that. Sundapple. Maybe you should name one of your kits that." she sighed. "Oh well. Let's sleep." Dappleflower cast her gaze around for Darkstorm, and spotted him slipping through the throng of bodies toward her. A spark of warmth grew in her heart. "Darkstorm." she said his new name, rolling it on her tongue, trying it out. He frowned. "It makes me sound...evil. Like a killer storm or something. I don't like it. I like yours, though. Dappleflower is very pretty. Like you." She blushed. "Stop. Besides, Darkstorm is more like a powerful name than an evil name. Like the storm blots out the sun, making it dark. It isn't that bad. Not like Shiningsun's. Hers is so...girly. Totally doesn't fit her personality." By now her sister was fast asleep. Darkstorm let out a quiet purr. "I'll agree with that statement. Good night, my Dappleflower." She replied softly, "Good night, my Darkstorm." The hushed conversation came to an end as the sun bled into the horizon in a blaze of color.
A/N: So, how did I do on names? I had to make a funny on poor Shiningsun to fit the title. but I really do like the name Sundapple. I'll fit it in somewhere in the story. Anyway, the names that I made purposely bad were Shiningsun, Echofoot, Lichengaze (barf), and Nettletail. Lichengaze is just awful. I really couldn't think of anything for miss Echo, and Shadowstar isn't too great at this anyway. I guess Echofoot is destined to be a chubby feller. xD But my other names? Ok or not so much? R&R, and tell me how you like the first chapter! (Don't worry, this is boring introductory stuffage. It will get bettar!)