Sootkit's POV
It was the day we turned ten moons old. I sat obligingly in front of Lightwing, allowing her to groom me one last time. No, I didn't like it when she fussed over me, but she was probably just sad. Today might be the last time she ever saw her kits. Once we were apprentices, we had the choice of leaving our mother and seeking our life elsewhere. And I was going to do just that. So I let her fuss and groom because she was going to lose a kit, possibly forever.
Cinderkit was, as usual, sitting by the edge of the nest trying to quickly wash herself so Lightwing wouldn't be able to keep cleaning her for long. Rainkit was standing nearby, waiting patiently for his littermates to finish being cleaned, his own fur fluffy and clean, every hair in place.
Lightwing gave me one last lick and smiled down at me, her eyes glimmering with pride and sadness. "You're finished," she meowed, then turned to her last kit. "Cinderkit, come on!"
Cinderkit gave her fur a couple last, quick licks before turning to face Lightwing.
"Well, don't you look pretty?" Lightwing meowed, smiling.
Cinderkit looked up hopefully. "Does this mean I don't need a bath?"
"No, you still need one."
Cinderkit's face fell and she opened her mouth to protest. I quickly sent her a thought message. She wants to wash you one last time. Let her say goodbye to her kits before they become apprentices and start growing up. Cinderkit shut her mouth and padded over to Lightwing, her head drooping sullenly. Lightwing purred in amusement and bent to give Cinderkit a quick once-over. Then, she stood up and led the way outside.
It was a beautiful morning. Golden sunlight slanted through the branches above, each one covered thickly in bright green leaves. The leafy mulch on the ground crunched pleasantly underfoot as I stepped out of the den into the forest clearing and sat down in front of Lightwing. Cinderkit came to sit on my left side and Rainkit on my left. Lightwing turned around to face us, smiling widely though I could easily see sadness in her eyes.
"Cinderkit, my oldest kit," she murmured, resting her muzzle between her ears. "You have exceeded my expectations in battle. You are the best fighter out of all my kits. Though you sometimes overdo your teasing, you have a good heart and I trust you will grow to do great things. You are my little warrior. My independent kit, I assume I am right in thinking you will be leaving me."
Cinderkit bowed her head. "Yes, Lightwing," she meowed softly. "I must go seek my life elsewhere."
I asked her a telepathic question and she replied with the slightest nod, the smallest smile. I had to work hard to suppress my own smile as Lightwing moved on to me.
"Sootkit, you are my middle kit, the rock-hard anchor in the middle of a sandstorm. You have always thought before you acted and are good at anything you try. The world could use more cats like you. I know that wherever you go, whatever you do, you will succeed. Make me proud, Sootkit."
"Of course I will, Lightwing," I said, smiling up at her. "You can count on it." Lightwing blinked hard as she turned to Rainkit.
"Rainkit, my youngest kit. You were always the sweetest kit any cat could have. It is an honor to be your mother." She touched her nose to his forehead as she'd done to both Cinderkit and me. "Cats may tell you you're still a baby, that you need someone else to follow, but that's not true. You are just as able to lead as you are to follow. You meet any challenge with a happy heart and an open mind. You always put yourself in other cats' paws before you judge them. You will go as far as you want, surpass any boundaries you set for yourself. Your loyalty to your littermates makes it obvious you will go with them."
Rainkit bowed his head sadly. "I didn't want to leave you, Lightwing," he whispered. "I know how sad I'm making you feel. But I just can't let Cinderkit and Sootkit go without me. I have to be out there, by their side. I need them."
"And they need you," Lightwing said, smiling widely even though her eyes looked overly bright. Then, she stepped back. "Now, I give you your new names. Cinderkit, you will be known as Cinderpaw. Sootkit, you will be known as Sootpaw. Rainkit, you will be known as Rainpaw. You will keep these names until you discover your purpose in life, after which you will change them to fit your new life. And Cinderpaw," she gave Cinderpaw one last loving glare. "I forbid you to make your warrior name Cinderbloodscarfighterstar."
Cinderpaw laughed. "Don't worry, Lightwing. That was just a joke."
I looked at Cinderpaw, then at Rainpaw. They both met my gaze with steady, blue-eyed stares. They could have sent me messages telepathically but they didn't need to. Their ascent for my plan was written plainly in their expressions. I took a deep breath.
"We're going to the lake. We want to find Ashthorn, our father."