Leaf-bare continued to bring white blankets of snow for another quarter moon when Mintleaf finally agreed to let Mistkit and her siblings outside to explore. ''But you must stay near the elder kits," Mintleaf pointed out.

The three groaned but agreed. Mistkit glanced at her mother. ''Are you going to come with us?" she asked as her brothers scrambled towards the three elder kits. Mintleaf seemed pleased at her daughter's curious eyes. ''Do you want me to?" she responded.

Mistkit glanced over to her fellow den mates then to her mother. ''No, you don't have too; just curious," she admitted, trotting to Blossomkit's side before asking, ''Why are all the queens acting stranger?"

Blossomkit seemed surprised them grinned. ''Hollypetal thinks that Morningdawn's kits are coming soon. Her mentor suggested that the kits give her some space until their positive," she explained. Mistkit's eyes widened. Morningdawn had been getting plump, and did seem to be a bit on edge.

''Do they think they'll be alright," Mistkit questioned, generally concerned for her soon-to-be den mates' well beings. Blossomkit nodded. She explained as she led Mistkit outside.

''You, Graykit and Snowkit turned out fine and you guys were born during a storm; that was one of the coldest nights I've ever felt." Blossomkit seemed proud for a reason unknown to Mistkit.

Once outside, Mistkit squinted against the glare of the snow and surveyed the area. Many cats shared tongues by a large oak tree near the center of the clearing, some of whom Mistkit recognized as fathers, friends and kin of the queens, a few sharing pieces of fresh kill alongside the sunniest area in the camp. Mistkit continued to gawk as two cats, young yet older than the kits, trotted to the group. ''Hey, you guys showing the new kits around?" the tabby striped tom asked, his eyes brightening as he spoke.

Both toms had similar red-brown pelts and amber eyes, obviously kin at first glance. ''Mistkit, Graykit, Snowkit, this is Lionpaw and Oakpaw; they're the oldest apprentices right now. Lionpaw, Oakpaw... You know the rest, right?" Shadekit said, waving his tail at each cat in turn.

Lionpaw smiled at Mistkit and nodded a small greeting, Oakpaw flicking his ear as a response. It was no wonder they were so much bigger than the kits, an apprentice was at least six moons old or older. One question nagged at Mistkit. ''Are you guys training to become warriors?"

Lionpaw flushed slightly and nodded. ''Yeah, we can show you some hunting techniques if you want."

Mistkit wanted to say yes, but Wolfkit interrupted her thoughts, ''No thanks, we want to show them the dens and stuff." Mistkit angrily puffed up her fur but kept her thoughts to herself as they walked away from the apprentices and towards stone paths leading up into the higher areas of the hollow walls. Graykit seemed to notice her behavior and slowed to walk alongside her.

''Did you want to watch them train?"

Straight to the point, as always. ''Yes. I want to know how to hunt and fight and be one of the best warriors in the clan..." She averted her gaze to her paws as Graykit pressed his pelt into hers.

''You will, when you get older. We'll be apprentices soon enough."

Shadekit scampered to Graykit's other side. ''And when your apprentices, you stay here." He waved his paw towards a well placed cave surrounded by small patches of grass and ferns with brambles covering part of the entrance. Mistkit had to admit, it seemed to be a pretty good place for apprentices, not too far from the ground and the perfect place to practice what they'd learned in the grass patches and ferns.

'Soon, I'll be here,' Mistkit promised, a grin touching her muzzle.

The three elder kits continued their tour around the camp until they came to the large oak tree that stood at the center of the clearing. Mistkit sat in the shade, panting slightly. ''I never thought exploring the camp could be so tiring," she grumbled. Graykit took a seat beside her, obviously tired as well.

''Your muscles will get stronger as you get older." The two turned to see Lionpaw taking a seat with a small thrush and sighing. Mistkit couldn't help her eyes lingering to the thrush. It was oddly small.

''Why is it so small?" she asked.

Lionpaw let out another sigh, taking a bit of the bird. ''Because we can't find many; in leaf-bare the prey is slower and are harder to find. When new-leaf comes, prey will surely come with it."

Mistkit nodded, slowly understanding the logic.

''All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath High Oak for a Clan meeting," a powerful voice roared through the stone hollow. Featherstar, his white fur barely visible against the snow, leapt up to a ledge bulging out of the trunk of the tree. His powerful muscles rippled as he sat and watched his clan gather below him.

Mistkit watched in awe as the cats gathered before her father. ''He's going to make an announcement," Lionpaw said taking a seat beside Mistkit, thrush forgotten.

His pelt was thick and warm against her long fur, letting her know that he was truly older and stronger. Soon, she'd be like him; strong and lean.

''We gather here to recognize the point in a Clan cat's life when he or she becomes a warrior. Today, we have two who have been trained and assessed under the training of our Clan. Lionpaw, Oakpaw, please come to the bottom of High Oak," Featherstar meowed, watching his clan with his gleaming eyes.

Lionpaw stood from beside Mistkit and traveled to the base of High Oak, Oakpaw meeting him halfway alongside two other cats. Mistkit stared in awe as her father leapt down from the ledge and greeted the four.

''Dustypelt, you have trained Oakpaw in the ways of our Clan and how to honor the code of the Warriors and StarClan. Do you believe he is ready to become a full warrior?"

Dustypelt, his dark pelt fluffed from either the cold or pride, stood and nodded, announcing loudly to the Clan, ''Yes, he has shown skill in fighting and honoring the code of our ancestors."

Featherstar nodded his approval. ''Then, I, Featherstar, leader of ShadowClan call upon my ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn."

''Oakpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan at the cost of your life?"

Oakpaw shuttered before responding, "I do."

Featherstar raised his head to the sky, looking to the stars above. ''By the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Oakpaw, from now on you will be known as Oakpelt. StarClan honors your loyalty and fighting skills, and we welcome you as a full warrior."

Mistkit strained to see as her father bent his head. The crowd of cats was large and many cats stood well over her height. ''Graykit, I can't see!" she whined.

Graykit didn't respond. Mistkit turned to see the spot beside her vacant. She felt her pulse race as she spotted him play fighting with Shadekit and Wolfkit. Her pelt felt heavy as sorrow set in. She was small, too small to play fight with. She wouldn't be able to even learn anything if she wasn't bigger.

''You'll grow, just wait and see," a soft voice drifted to her, stirring her ear fur slightly. Mistkit blinked and glanced around; no cat was close enough to have spoken to her. She sat there for a moment then noticed a frail brown wired furred cat sitting by the shade of a stone overhang.

Mistkit stood as her father began speaking again, ignoring his words. She trotted over to the cat and waited for a response to her approach. The cat perked its ears and turned dull yellow eyes to her. ''Are you alright?" Mistkit asked when she was close enough.

The cat squinted then smiled; ''I am fine, child, just wary and tired as usual."

''Oh..."

Mistkit sighed and took a seat beside the elder. Lionpaw was barely visible from where she sat, but she could tell he was excited. Featherstar's head rose again as he called upon their ancestors to look down upon Lionpaw as a new warrior.

''By the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Lionpaw, from now on you will be known as Lionstripe. StarClan honors your courage and independence, and we welcome you as a full warrior."

The Clan began to chant the names of the new warriors, pride and joy swelling with their voices. ''Oakpelt! Lionstripe!"

It was then that everything went wrong. A wail pierced the cold air filled with sorrow and regret. Mistkit turned to see Mintleaf exiting the nursery alongside Bumbleflight, both with heads bowed and eyes sorrow filled. Thrushwing bounded out of the crowd and towards the queens. Mistkit heard parts if the conversation.

''Are they here? How many? Is Morningdawn alright?" he asked.

Mintleaf exchanged a glance with Bumbleflight and Mistkit's heart sank. ''There were four born..." Bumbleflight muttered, her voice trailing off. Thrushwing looked desperate for answers. ''...Two are dead. One is near death and the last is barely breathing."

Thrushwing's face fell and he charged into the nursery.

The elder sat there, watching the scene unfold. ''When a kit dies, StarClan weeps for the life with no name," she whispered, sorrow lining her voice. Mistkit looked to the elder and felt regret fill her as she realized what she meant.

Blossomkit had been wrong. Morningdawn wouldn't be alright. Mistkit now knew what it meant to feel pity for another.

AN: Just so everyone knows, I'll be changing from third POV to first POV in the next few chapters. It will switch POV every so often and I will inform you of when this happens.

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Ouka-noir