~The Prologue~
A black she-cat laid in a nest of moss and bracken, panting with the effort of giving birth. The moon shone down through a hole in the roof of the den, shimmering on the she-cat's fur, explaining her name Moonshimmer.
A dark brown tabby tom entered the den. "How is she, Jayfeather?" he asked.
The medicine cat glanced up from where he sat by Moonshimmer. "She's doing just fine," he mewed with a flick of his tail.
A few minutes later, a brown tabby tom landed on the floor of the den. "Oh, look Duststar," Moonshimmer mewed to the brown tom, "He looks like you!"
Duststar purred.
A few moments later, a fluffy black she-kit landed in the nest next to her brother.
"She looks like you Moonshimmer," Duststar meowed. Jayfeather watched, whiskers twitching with amusement. Suddenly, they all stiffened.
A rouge she-cat entered the den.
"What are you doing here, Frost?" Duststar snarled.
Frost. Her name could have come from her frost-white fur or her cold, frosty blue eyes. Or perhaps it was the cold menace that came with her mere presence.
"I ran into no trouble with your little warriors on my way in," she sneered. Moonshimmer hissed.
"There's something I'd like to ask of you," Frost meowed, suddenly serious. For the first time, the clan cats noticed the little bundle of white fur at Frost's feet.
Jayfeather gasped.
"A kit!" mewed a ginger queen, standing up from her nest on the other side of the den. Her kits, Sorrelkit and Lionkit, peered over the edge of the nest; Sorrelkit's gaze resting on Frost and the kit, Lionkit's resting on the black she-kit born moments ago...
"Yes, Brightleaf. A kit, my kit. I want Thunderclan to raise my kit as one of their own. Tell her she's yours. Don't mention me at all. Oh, and her name is Waterkit," Frost meowed, not letting anyone interrupt.
Jayfeather, Duststar, Moonshimmer, and Brightleaf gaped at each other.
"I'm serious. No tricks," Frost mewed.
Moonshimmer and Duststar looked at each other. Duststar nodded and Moonshimmer turned to Frost.
"I will raise Waterkit with Ravenkit," she mewed, touching the tom with her tail, "and Nightkit." touching the she-kit. Frost nodded and left the den.
Jayfeather stood up. "I think you'll be fine now. I'll check Waterkit and then get some sleep."
Shortly after, he left. Brightleaf settled down with her kits, and Duststar said good night and left. Moonshimmer fell asleep, exhausted from labor. Lionkit peeked over the edge of the nest at Nightkit.
"Do you think Nightkit will play with me?" he asked his mother.
"I'm sure she will," Brightleaf answered.
"I hope so..." he murmured. Nightkit blinked her eyes, raising her head. Her flame orange eyes gazed into his amber ones. Then, she laid her head down and fell asleep. Lionkit stayed up, gazing at her, into the night...