I'm back! It's been a while, but I try to keep a few chapters on the side and I was struggling so much on a certain character's POV that it delayed this update.


Being nearly six moons old was the worst possible age, had promptly decided Hootkit.

He felt old enough to do so many things, but he wasn't an apprentice yet and was still confined in the camp. Of course, he had sneaked out a few times, but he remembered – if somewhat fuzzily – how difficult the journey to reach the territory of MistClan had been, and the memories made him careful to never stray too far. He had only been caught once, when he had accidentally crossed Blossomstar's path as she came back from a hunt. She had forced him to visit the medicine cat den and, after Pricklesong had deemed him perfectly healthy, he'd been in for a good lecture. If he thought about it too much, Hootkit still felt the scruff of his neck sting.

It wasn't his fault if the nursery was empty and boring! He hadn't said it to the leader obviously, because he knew that she sometimes felt guilty for bringing him alone and causing the situation – he had heard her discuss it with Snaildapple, even though Webhollow had made him swear to stop eavesdropping on others. If they talked right next to the dirtplace, he couldn't really help listening in, alright?

Anyway, Blossomstar often looked tired – maybe visions of StarClan didn't work like regular sleep – and he didn't want to bother her too much. Besides, Hootkit was certain that she was going to make him an apprentice soon. And if it seemed like she would forget, well, he could always ask Mumblepond or Alderwhisper if they could remind her – not Webhollow, because she was too nice and amazing and he had to look grown up in front of her to be her friend and sleep near her when he would be a warrior.

The last moments he had to spend in the nursery would be much more bearable than before, as Bluestripe, the deputy's mate, had just moved in three sunrises ago. She was a queen for now, maybe until the kits became apprentices, so he was sure that he wouldn't spend the rest of his time there alone. She couldn't play much and he didn't know her well, but she had been friendly from the beginning, so he had showed her the comfiest spot in the den. Like that, the kits would be born properly sheltered. Hootkit didn't know much about newborns, but no one liked draughts or leaks, no matter how small. It was also said that Alderwhisper might join the nursery next moon – that, he had heard while passing in front of the medicine cat den; if Webhollow asked, it was an accident too – so that needed to be fixed soon.

Bluestripe said that they had to wait at least a quarter-moon before kitting; but even if she couldn't run around with her heavy belly, she could still tell stories. Hootkit was all ears each time she recounted hunts and battles, dreaming of living his own share of adventures soon.

"…And my old mentor who wanted to retire to the elder's den as soon as I was made a warrior caught the hare. It was as big as you! I couldn't believe it. He was so old that his muzzle was greying and he held that hare as though it was nothing, like it hadn't kicked me in the chest so hard that I has stopped breathing…"

But, as epic as these tales were, they weren't Hootkit's favourites. They were good, of course, still he much preferred to extort stories about his parents from Bluestripe. She had been a bit older but she had known them at least a little. And she was easier to talk to than Blossomstar. From her, he had learned that his father, Jumpshade, was an excellent fighter despite his impulsiveness and that he had died after a gruesome battle against a badger. His mother had been renowned for her hunting skills and she had been planning to join her sister to build the Clan, but she had succumbed to a virulent illness before the departure date.

Naturally, it made him a bit sad, however he didn't remember either of them; they had joined StarClan to early in his life. MistClan was the only family he knew, and it wasn't a bad one at all. Everyone stopped to talk with him, groom him or bring him fresh kill. For the first two moons, there had almost always been someone in the nursery with him – often, it had been Pricklesong so she was the closest thing he had to a mother figure, but she wasn't exactly… maternal – and when there wasn't, it was never difficult to find someone to reassure him before returning to his nest. From what he had gathered listening to Grasslilac and Mumblepond, the other Clan hadn't been that peaceful.

Anyway, it was alright, even if he was restless on some days, impatient to learn all the awesome things that everyone else was already doing. He could almost see it in his dreams.

Which was why Hootik was a bit disappointed when he abruptly woke up from a very pleasant one, the mouse he was following escaping in the confines of his imaginary forest. It took a while to identify what had divested him from the joy of catching his prey – even if it was only a chimera – but his sleep-addled mind finally registered a few gasps and whimpers. The pained sounds came from Bluestripe's nest and he immediately felt more awake.

Hootkit cautiously approached the queen and tried to draw her attention by whispering gently.

"Are the kits coming?"

In the absence of verbal answer, he took the tense jerk of her head for a confirmation and, at a loss of what to do, he hesitated for a moment. Then, the most logical solution suddenly came to him clearly.

"I'm going to get Pricklesong, alright? I'll be right back with her, don't worry."

He ran to the medicine cat den, and shook her awake as fast as possible. She was on her paws as soon as she understood what he wanted, but she wasn't panicked at all. Instead she directed him towards the moss, told him to soak some in water and join him in the nursery. Hootkit watched the white and brown she-cat leave with a stick, feeling a lot of respect. Being a medicine cat seemed hard, keeping calm in such stressful situations definitely wasn't for him, he mused as the moss swelled with water.

When he entered the nursery, Pricklesong was gently pressing her paws on the queen's belly, whispering encouraging words. With a flick of the tail, she ordered him to put the moss near Bluestripe's head so that she could drink if needed. For Hootkit, she seemed already quite occupied biting the stick, but he wasn't about to contradict a medicine cat in the middle of taking care of a kitting queen. He waited for a few moments, watching the two she-cats, before he couldn't take it anymore – the pain, the smell, the sounds, everything was foreign and overwhelming – and he had to do something else.

"Do- do you need help or can I go outside?"

Pricklesong blinked at him like she had forgotten he was there.

"Yeah, you could get Snaildapple," she finally mewed. Just as he was reaching the exit, she called back. "You did well, Hootkit. They'll be fine."

Getting into the warrior's den wasn't difficult, but finding the deputy without waking everyone proved to be a challenge. Hootkit managed to wake him up after narrowly avoiding stepping on Alderwhisper's tail, and the tom was out of the den before he had even finished his sentence. As he poked his head out, he saw a dark grey-speckled tail disappear into the nursery. Deciding that it was enough excitement for one night, he chose to stand guard near the entrance instead of going back in.

He was almost falling asleep while sitting when Pricklesong emerged, purring loudly.

"It's over and everything is alright, thank the stars. Come on in, Hootkit, you won the privilege to meet the kits first! When you're done, come sleep in my den, I'll have some space cleared for you."

He slowly went inside, careful to be as non-disturbing as possible. Bluestripe laid where he had last seen her, exhausted but visibly happy with her mate at her side, licking her cheek tenderly. Four small bundles wriggled against her flank and, once she allowed him to come closer with a nod, Hootkit leaned in to smell them better. Their scents were clean and new – despite the underlying smell of bodily fluids he refused to think about – under their parent's. Maybe it was because they were nursing, but he could also sense the faintest hint of milk.

"Did you name them already?"

The new father pointed his tail at the biggest grey-speckled kit.

"Olivekit. And the only silver-speckled and white one is Silverkit. They are both toms." He took a small breath before continuing. "These two are she-cats. The one that looks just like me is Lichenkit, and the other who is a little lighter is Mousekit."

Lichenkit looked small next to the others, but newborn kits were all tiny and she seemed in good health, nursing greedily, so he decided against bringing it up. After a few moments of curious staring, he bid his goodbyes – along with heartfelt congratulations – to the whole family and made his way out. Once in the clearing, Hootkit took a deep breath then headed to the medicine cat den. Pricklesong was busy ordering various herbs, and he barely had the time to wish her a good night before sleep claimed him.

He woke up at sunhigh, when Webhollow nudged him, and followed her in the clearing to eat. She'd been on the morning patrol, so after their meal, she settled next to him for a grooming session – which meant that she was going to clean him up, like a small kit, and expect him to be mature about it.

"I'm not that interested in sharing tongues, but rumour says that you've had a busy night."

And so, Hootkit told her everything. When he was done, the she-cat laid back down and threw him an expectant look. He blinked owlishly, not understanding and she sighed.

"I've taken care of you, now it's your turn."

"But… You've never let me do it before."

"Well, you're not three moons old anymore, are you? You behave exactly like an apprentice should have last night. I don't need to peek on any conversation to know that Blossomstar will make you an apprentice today for sure. Tomorrow at the latest. You're certainly old enough to groom me. Just be careful, my fur is much longer than yours, don't swallow it."

He went to work diligently but quickly, lest Webhollow change her mind, while listening to her explanations about the patrol.

At sundown, when everyone was in the camp, Blossomstar jumped on the Flatrock and called for a Clan meeting. She began by formally introducing Bluestripe and Snaildapple's kits. They all rejoiced: it was still early greenleaf, a good time for them to grow strong before leaf-bare. He was so caught up in everything that he almost missed his name when the leader called him to stand in front of the Clan. As he went, he could feel Webhollow's smugness; if it hadn't been rude to interrupt, she would have mewed 'I told you so' with a self-satisfied air, for sure.

"Hootkit, you have reached the age of six moons old, and it's time for you to be apprenticed; From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Hootpaw. Your mentor will be Flipspot. I hope Flipspot will pass down all that she knows to you."

He felt the older warrior come up beside him and he was shaking with nervousness and excitement. She had been Blossomstar's mentor! And Webhollow's! He would really learn exactly the same things!

"Flipspot, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received an excellent training from Rowanwater, and you have shown yourself to be brave and wise. You will be the mentor of Hootpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."

Flipspot was very tall and she had to bend a lot to touch his nose. He was certain that he heard her huff a laugh when she brushed against his muzzle. Probably because he was nearly vibrating out of his fur.

"Hootpaw! Hootpaw!"

The Clan was chanting his new name, and it felt like real life was finally beginning.


He's not the Clan's baby anymore! Look at him, behaving all grown up...