Bracken stretched open her green eyes about a sunrise after Briar opened her ivy green ones. Hazel yawned. She hadn't gotten much sleep since the two she-cats were born. She licked Bracken's scruffy fur. She was surprised that Bracken had russet colored fur because her own was pale golden and Rock's was dark gray. Her eyes teared at the thought of her deceased mate. Both of the kits had Rock's eyes. Her amber eyes were beautiful, Rock had said. She went to hunt for her kits. She smelled a sparrow, but also smelled a tom. She crept closer to the tom. She didn't want it to get near her kits. She hissed when she first saw the tom. But then she stopped. His gray pelt was almost as dark as Rock's. He turned. She flattened herself down to the ground. She looked in awe. The tom's eyes were a sky blue. He spotted her. "You can come out." He called. Hazel slipped out of the bush. "I'm Hazel." He stared. "I'm Stone. My mother's best friend had a kit that had a mate named Hazel! His name was Rock. He died when she was carrying his kits." Hazel's eyes teared up. "He was my mate. We have two kits named Bracken and Briar." Stone pressed up against her in a way that meant he felt sorry for her. "I don't need you pity." She hissed. "My life was much better before I met you." She stalked off towards her kits, with no prey. When Hazel got to her kits, they started wailing in hunger. She pushed them towards her thin stomach and let them suckle.