Present
I watch with interest as Whitey climbs up the great Fallentree in the center of the camp. Usually only Leader and Deputy go up there, so what must Whitey have done to go up there? How strange. Then again, this whole day was strange; Mother had been grooming our pelts in a really superfluous manner. She fussed so much over us and it's not like it'll stay that way forever, right?
Leader was waiting for Whitey at the peak of the Fallentree, looking particularly majestic in the late morning's light. The cream tabby beckons to a tortoiseshell and after a long time of mouthing, they touch noses. A few moments after, the air fills with vibrations. Woah. Never heard it this overwhelming before.
Everyone moves their mouths in the form of Frostpaw. Frostpaw. Hehe. What a dumb name. Whitey suits her much better, I think, but this intrigues me. They had other names? What could White be? Or mine? I feel a little prickle of sadness.
Next, it is White who heaves herself up the Fallentree, and this time, Leader lures a gray tabby tom onto the tree as well. It is the same process: mouthing, touches noses, more loud ripples in the air. She looks a little haughty up there, it must be a really big thing.
Remembering me previous discovery, I look around. Cloudpaw. How redundant. I shift uncomfortably.
Finally, Mother nudges to me in the direction of the Fallentree. Wait, what? She can't expect me to...
She forces me onto the angle of the tree and I try, pulling myself up with sharp claws. When I finally reach up, I feel a little nervous. Never knew the Clan had this many cats.
Leader must have stopped mouthing (it was notably longer than my sisters' speeches), because suddenly another cat appeared beside me. I had been anticipating this moment, and I was surprised to see that that cat was Brown-white. Interesting. Wasn't I supposed to be linked up with a stranger?
I hastily touch noses and look down at the crowd below. Most were chanting happily. Others looked uneasy. One looked sad.
What were they mouthing? Was that Icepaw, Icepaw, Icepaw? I never made a name for myself, I was just... me, myself, and I. But at the crowd's vibrations, an unexpected glimmer of hope flared in my chest.
Okay. So I am Icepaw.