Eclipsestar's Debut

Chapter One

Yellow eyes opened in the shelter of a dark, damp den. Wind howled outside, but the safety of the nursery kept the leaf-bare chills out. Beside her, Eclipsekit's littermates were huddled tight together in attempt to keep warm. Their mother, Icepool, had nestled them into the safety of her bright, white fur. Their nest, along with the rest of the nursery, was starting to get cramped because of how fast the four of them were all growing. Not to mention, Midnashadow's kits were nearly three moons already. The nursery was quiet with the sound of soft snoring, but not for long. Eclipsekit heard commotion outside, signaling the dawn patrol must be headed out. She parted her jaws in a huge yawn, her movement stirring one of her littermates beside her. A white she-kit raised her head and blinked open her blue eyes, an exact copy of her mother, "Eclipsekit? Why are you up so early?"

Eclipsekit shrugged slightly, the movement stirring the rest of her littermates. A sleek, black tom-kit looked up as well, followed by another striped, black and white tom-kit. The striped kit snorted, "Frozenkit, get your tail out of my face!"

Frozenkit bared his blunt, kit fangs at his brother, "Then move over, you big furball!" but then drew his tail around his paws and started washing. The commotion was enough to wake the other cats in the den, Icepool the first. She looked over her four kits and nodded, "Good morning to you all, my loves." She purred warmly in spite of the cold weather outside.

The white she-kit looked up at her mother, "Good Morning, Mama!" She chirruped happily. She nuzzled Icepool, blending their white fur together. Eclipsekit felt a pang of jealously that she didn't look like her mother. Whenever she had asked about their father, Icepool would just tell them a little bit and move on. Apparently she didn't like to talk about him. It probably had to do with the fact that he never came to visit. Eclipsekit wished she could see how much she looked like her father sometimes, because all she knew was that his name was Wolfsong and he was always busy with clan duties. Well… the latter she just assumed. Why else wouldn't her father want to see how much they were growing up?

But then again… he never watches us play fight or brings any of us fresh-kill… Eclipsekit thought to herself. She shook her head to clear her head, but some of the doubt still lingered. She wished she could bust her head against the nursery wall to rid any negative thoughts she had.

But that would probably make a hole in the den and get everybody sick from the cold… and it would hurt a lot…

"Watch out!" A playful squeak interrupted her thoughts as Frozenkit launched himself over her at her brother, the two tumbling over on the nursery floor. Eclipsekit flattened herself to the floor, avoiding the fight, but ready to hit back if one of them hit her. Frozenkit was pinned by her brother, whose paws were crushed on his chest, "Cobrakit! Get off!" He choked out.

Cobrakit laughed happily, "I win! I win! Do I get the first bite of the fresh k-?"

"Cobrakit, he can't breathe!" Her white sister stood up abruptly and dashed over to the fight, then shoved Frozenkit off of him. The tom-kit let out an 'oof' as he hit the floor, then scrambled to his paws and fluffed out his fur. But realizing his mistake, his yellow eyes fell to the floor in embarrassment. Frozenkit got to his paws and huffed for air, "Thanks Palekit."

"No need to thank me, really, but I did just save your life, after all." She boasted.

Eclipsekit laughed softly along with Palekit. They were pretty close, even though they looked nothing alike. Cobrakit went over to Frozenkit and nudged his brother's shoulder with his nose, "Sorry about that." He apologized.

Frozenkit flicked his tail, dismissing it, "It's alright," he smiled, "but next time make sure I can breathe."

Eclipsekit watched the three of them play fight a little while longer, until a brown warrior with two white stripes down his back stepped into the den with two starlings hanging from his jaws. Midnashadow, who was watching her own two kits, stood up and touched noses to her mate, "Hey Badgertooth." She purred happily.

Badgertooth dropped the two starlings at her paws and swished his tail, "I brought a starling for you, and a starling for Icepool. I hope that's enough? The prey around this time is really scarce for any cat to eat."

Midnashadow nodded and turned to Icepool, "Should that be enough for you?"

Eclipsekit's mother nodded gratefully, "Thank you, Badgertooth. That's plenty enough for me."

The brown and white tom nodded and picked one of them up again, and brought it over to Icepool. She took it out of his jaws and laid it down in front of her, smoothing out its spotted feathers. Eclipsekit watched as Badgertooth touched noses to Midnashadow and his two kits, before turning and heading back out of the den into the slightly-snowy camp. She sighed, another pang of jealousy coursing through her. The brown tom-kit across the den boasted to Midnashadow, "He's the best father a kit could ever want!"

Midnashadow purred happily and nuzzled her kit's cheek, "I know, Thunderkit. I couldn't agree more."