"I think it's time to name everyone." Sugar announced after she had finished eating with Marmalade. Their Clan was days old now, so she decided it was time to get everything finalized. The cats circled around her and Sugar looked around, trying to remember what she'd decided to name all the cats. Swift stepped forward. "You can name me first."
Sugar nodded, her mind racing. "Swift, your new name is Swiftleg, for your quickness."
The black she-cat looked happy with the name and moved back to her spot, only to be replaced by Cat.
"Cat, your new name is Yellowfur, for your ginger pelt." Sugar looked at Jingle and purred a bit. "Jingle, your name will be Silvernose, for your silver muzzle. Marmalade, you will be Tabbyfur, for your fur. Viper, Smalls, and Star, you will all be apprentices so your names will be Viperpaw, Smallpaw, and Creampaw. Ace, you'll be Gingerstripe, and Oreo, you'll be Spottedfur."
"What's your name going to be?" The newly named Silvernose asked. Sugar tilted her head, she hadn't thought of that. "I don't know, what do you think?"
"Sugarstripe!" Timber squeaked. Sugar dipped her head. "Good idea Timber. Also, the kits will be named Nightkit, Timberkit, and Flowerkit, and I've decided to change Icykit's name to Icekit."
"I'm Flowerkit and I'm hungry." The little she-cat mewled. Sugarstripe shook her head with bemusement and led all the kits to the kit cave. Ace followed her and when the kits settled down at Sugarstripe's belly, he sat in front of her.
"What?" Sugarstripe asked, with a hint of a growl. Ace narrowed his eyes at her. "What's wrong between me and you?"
"Seriously?" The she-cat meowed. "We've only been a Clan for about a day, and you're challenging everything I say. The other cats are noticing and I'm worried it's going to make them question me. Just listen to me."
"Well, I can't help it if you aren't doing things the right way." He mumbled.
"Put a mouse in it, Gingerstripe." Sugarstripe snapped. The tom rolled his eyes. "Whatever, it doesn't even matter."
Sugarstripe felt like her heart was breaking in two as he left. Maybe they shouldn't have done this. They'd never fought when they had their own homes. Sugarstripe set her head down and waited for the little muffled snores from the kits before she got up to go back to the Clan. Gingerstripe was sharing tongues with Tabbyfur, and Silvernose was basking in the setting sun with Yellowfur. Sugarstripe padded over to the two toms and laid beside them.
"How are the kits?" Silvernose asked. Sugarstripe shrugged. "Fine, they all fell asleep, surprisingly."
Yellowfur tilted his head to the side. "Why? Aren't they doing okay now?"
"Oh, yes they're fine." Sugarstripe assured. "It's just that I was arguing with Ace, I mean Gingerstripe. He still won't listen to me."
Silvernose shook his head. "I don't get that. He seemed fine when he was trying to get all of us in the Clan. He backed you up on everything and now I don't see that."
"Are you two still mates?" Yellowfur asked. "You don't have to answer, but I was just wondering."
"That's just it." Sugarstripe sighed. "We've never officially been mates, but we've always sort of been mates, if that makes sense."
"None at all." Silvernose chuckled. He stood up and went to the warrior sleeping cave. Sugarstripe watched him go and Yellowfur let out a quiet laugh.
"What?" Sugarstripe demanded.
"You're mooning over him." The tom whispered, so Gingerstripe wouldn't hear.
"No I'm not, we're just friends."
The sun set and gradually the cats all went to their assigned caves. Sugarstripe was in the kit cave and couldn't go to sleep. She was too worried about Gingerstripe. Finally, after what seemed like moons of worrying, she dozed off.