Chapter 1: Only Light
Ever since she first opened her eyes, her world was bright and cheerful. She heard melodies when no birds were singing. She felt warm sunlight even when it was cold and dreary. She saw the beauty in everything, even as a kit.
She would watch the sky for hours, just staring at the clouds that drifted by. While the other kits in the nursing den entertained themselves with balls of moss, pouncing on beetles or playing "kill the fox", she always stood to the side. Alone. Content.
Happy.
Her parents loved her just like they loved their other kits from the second she was born. But after a while, they started to worry. She wasn't ever part of her brother and sister's games, but she never wore a frown on her face either. Her blue eyes sparked joyfully as they reflected a light from outside the den, from somewhere off that they couldn't see, whether it was a sunny day or not. She seemed obsessed with going outside, exploring every crack and pebble and tuft of grass in her way. And the way she gazed out at the starry night, her aqua orbs filled with a longing that her parents couldn't even place their paw on, was a bit surprising to them.
But on that first day when the little golden kit arrived into the clan with her two brothers and sister, she was still blind, unseeing, unhearing, and with no contact to the outer world other than touch, she was already the most energetic of the group.
On that newleaf day, the medicine cat had shooed the other cats out of the nursery as she tended to the new mother. Even the she-cat's mate was forced to stay outside, and he could only anxiously, impatiently pace back and forth around the nursery.
"All good, Firepetal," a smooth voice mewed from inside the den.
A small sigh of relief came from a ginger tabby she-cat who was laying on the den floor in a corner. She was panting, her tail thumping feebly on the ground, but the wide smile that spread across her lips definitely couldn't be mistaken.
A spotted light brown she-cat picked up some poppy seeds on a leaf from the ground and grasped it in her jaws, careful not to let any of the useful seeds fall. She padded over to join the new mother and placed the herbs down in front of her muzzle. Firepetal sniffed and brought the poppy seeds into her mouth, swallowing them at last.
"They'll help you numb some of the pain you might be feeling," the medicine cat explained.
"Thank you, Larkfeather," Firepetal breathed out, rolling onto her side and letting her head rest on the ground.
Larkfeather cast her leafy green eyes at her for a few seconds more before asking gently, "Do you wish for Stormclaw to come in?"
"Yes," Firepetal replied without hesitating, another smile forming. "I'd like him to meet his new kits."
Meanwhile, the dark grey tom waited outside, his teeth clenched tightly and his tail flicking back and forth nervously, waiting to hear the news that everyone wanted to know at this moment. He almost jumped a bit in surprise as a familiar spotted she-cat padded out of the den. The tom's ears pricked up instantly.
Larkfeather's lips curled in the faintest of a smile, but Stormclaw caught it and his eyes widened in happiness.
"Come meet your new sons and daughters," the medicine cat mewed.
The grey tom almost burst inside the nursery immediately, to which Larkfeather hissed quietly to him, "Gentle!" She sighed and walked to her medicine den, sorting out some herbs in the meantime while leaving Firepetal with her mate and new kits alone for a while.
Stormclaw's deep blue eyes widened as he (quietly, this time) padded into the den, brushing back some of the leaves and thin branches that overgrew and fell at the entrance. His vision focused on his mate and the four tiny shapes huddled at her belly, and it felt like everything that ever happened, that he ever had to endure, was completely worth it now.
"Wow…" the dark grey tom breathed, making his steps as silent as possible to not disturb the newborn kittens. He settled down beside his mate and pressed his muzzle into her cheek affectionately. "They're beautiful."
Firepetal only smiled and nuzzled into his fur while he gazed lovingly at the little kittens. Two toms, a grey-and-white one and a dark ginger one, and two she-kits, a grey tabby and a golden tabby.
"Have you thought of names yet?" Stormclaw whispered into Firepetal's ear after some time, his gaze still not taken off his new sons and daughters.
Firepetal shook her head slightly, her amber eyes half-lidded. She looked up at Stormclaw. "I was hoping we could name them together."
Stormclaw entwined his fluffy grey tail with Firepetal's thinner ginger one. Making a thoughtful expression, he finally answered, "Well… I've always wanted to name one Firekit." He eyed the dark ginger tom and gave a small smile at Firepetal.
"Firekit it is," Firepetal chuckled. She swept her tail across the ground and turned to the grey tabby she-kit. "How about Fallenkit for the grey she-kit?" she mused, tail flicking.
"Fallenkit sounds great," Stormclaw purred. "And for the other tomkit, what do you think about Hailkit?"
Firepetal just gave a soft purr in response, meaning yes. They both gazed at the last one. A bright golden pelt she had, and though she couldn't even see the world around her, her seemingly tireless energy did surprise both of them a bit.
Stormclaw gently nudged the golden she-kit back to her place with a chuckle. They both saw a great future for all of them, but there was something about her that cheered up both of them right that moment just a tiny bit more. And all they wished for now was for the path she walks on as she grows to only be filled with happiness and light.
So when the word came out of their mouth in unison, it simply harmonized as one.
"Lightkit."