Robinpaw padded through the vined entrance to the leader's den. Inside, a large brown queen paced back and forth, with two small kits curled together in a nest behind her.

"Uh. What is it you needed me for?" Robinpaw asked sheepishly.

The leader grinned. "I just needed someone to watch my kits for a little while. I was hoping you could."

Robinpaw smiled widely. She nodded to Butterflystar. "I'm good with that!"

The leader nodded, and padded out of the den. Robinpaw sat down next to the kits, asleep in their nest. They were only two moons old, and the whole clan had been shocked at their birth. Butterflystar didn't seem to have a mate, so no cat really knew the sire of Snowkit and Dustkit.

Still, they really were adorable.

Cedarpaw chased after a mouse, Rockpaw close behinds her. It was the older tom's assessment, so she'd have to be extra smart about this, and not screw it up for him.

The blind apprentice leapt at the mouse, tumbling over her paws as she landed on it. Cedarpaw sat up, and shook out her fur. She'd grown quite a bit recently, and it was taking some getting used to.

She made out the blur of Rockpaw inspecting the crushed mouse. He nodded. "I think we have enough prey." The gray tom mewed matter of factly.

As the pair padded back to camp, there was some sort of awkward silence between them. Cedarpaw guessed Rockpaw didn't want to jinx it by saying anything.

When they arrived, Rockpaw's brother, Windpaw, was there, with a plump rabbit in his mouth, and a dead crow at his feet.

Cedarpaw dropped her two mice gently, and Rockpaw did the same with his skink and sparrow.

A tall she-cat, white with ginger patches, looked over the prey. She sighed. " Well. Technically, you both pass. But, Rockpaw, I'm afraid I'm going to have to postpone your ceremony until you're a bit more mature."

Rockpaw's face fell. "B-but, Acornspot! You can't be serious, can you?"

Acornspot sighed. "I'm sorry, it just has to be this way." And with that, the she-cat padded off. Windpaw looked overjoyed, and quickly glanced around, and ran over to a young warrior, Grasswing, a white she-cat with striking green eyes. Cedarpaw had noticed that Window was very fond of her. She didn't reciprocate his feelings, but seemed to like him as a friend. Cedarpaw chuckled to herself, she had some idea why Windpaw had been so eager.

"What, you think this is a joke?" Rockpaw's voice startled her from her thoughts. He looked downcast, and as she was about to pause and reassure him, he padded off, head down.

Sorry, Rockpaw.

Robinpaw giggled as Dustkit climbed over her tail. The two kits had been a delight. Suddenly, Snowkit's ears pricked. "Mama's back! She said we get to go to the gathering tonight!"

Snowkit squealed, running up to her mother.

They're too young, aren't they?

okay then, the next few chapters have smth good coming ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Next chapter is the gathering, and another fun fact, Acornspot is the deputy, and Robinpaw's other mom.