Authors note:
Survival test is a test that kits have to take every moon of their kit hood, starting at two moons old. They are sent out on their own for 2-4 days/nights completely unsupervised. After four survival tests they can become apprentices. These survival test have been practiced ever since the original leaders, Death, Wild, Barn, and Stocky, created the Quarry-clans, and has been used ever since. It is a very delicate procedure, that teaches kits to respect the uses of nature and supplies.
*****
Bristlekit felt the moon light reflect off of his yellow coat, he and his sibling had just turned two moons old and they were on their first survival test. He should stay with Honeykit and dovekit, but he wanted to be on his own while they slept. As he slinked through the Falling-house he was no longer the kit everyone worried about because he was tiny, he was Bristlerain, the leader, the provider. That was what he was doing right now, looking for the mice that came out in the night.
He heard a crack in a fallen piece of wood and he instantly stopped. A mouse scurried out into the open, its brown body plump from the seeds from the trees outside that blew into the holes of the house. Bristlekit crouched down into the hunting stalk that his mother had taught him, this mouse would be enough to feed himself and his sisters for a little. 'Keep your tail straight...' His mother had told him, 'Do not make any noise to startle the prey...' He remembered clearly.
The mouse had its back to him, eating a poppy seed it had picked up, he was the greatest hunter ever! Not even the legendary clans of Stealthclan and Stalkclan could hunt better than him, he was the greatest! The mouse had yet to scent the small kit, mainly because there was no wind to blow his scent over to it, Bristlekit accidentally stepped on a twig, which snapped. He held his breath as the mouse turned around to face him, he had to kill it now.
He lunged onto the mouse, sticking it with his needle like claws, it squirmed and bucked, just then Bristlekit realized how small he really was. This mouse was about the same size as him, no wonder everyone fretted over him. Anger about his size welled up in him and he bit now angrily on its neck. Bristlekit jumped off the mouse as itt began to twist in its` long going death, it startled Bristlekit to notice that he was laughing at it and its helplessness, and he did not know why...
Suddenly a new voice filled the musty air, "Great strength can only be matched by great weakness, things are never as it seems." It said, filling the air with its melodic tune. Bristlekit blinked in surprise, it must have been a prophecy from Ancientclan! But what did it mean, what strength, he knew of none that also paciest great weakness. How could weakness and strength be equal with each other? He shook the confusion from his mind and started to drag his freshly killed prey to where his sisters had denned for the night.
The prophecy was probably not a prophecy at all, just a chorus of night owls and other birds, for why would Ancientclan want to talk to a tiny kit like him?
*****
"I fear for him Bird..." The large she kit told her brother worriedly while looking down at his small living brother. "You saw how he laughed at death, what if he becomes like our dad?" He added.
"Hawk, I promise that Eagle, um... Bristlekit, will not end up like Falconblood, he is stronger..." Bird ensured.
"Yes strength, but weakness is around the corner..." Hawk whispered lowly, looking away from the Looking-pool in Ancientclan`s scared ground. "I just hope that his fate takes a turn." She frowned sadly.
*****
"Brightcloud, look to the west... it is darker over there than here..." Redheart pointed out to the medicine cat.
The white she cat sighed, "Of course I saw it Redheart, Honeykit and Dovekit are over there." She told him back, "Oh yes, and Bristlekit, my it is easy to forget that kit." She added.
"Do you think that it`s a sign from Ancientclan?" He asked.
Brightcloud sighed again, "If so, it would be for Deathclan... that`s their territory." She replied simply to the deputy. 'I hope that`s for them, because if it is for us then... well it probably won`t be good...' She thought miserably to herself.