"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the log to hear my words!" Shadowstar's voice rang through the camp. Ravenkit, Ashkit and me followed our mother out of the nursery. Iceshadow took a seat beside the clan deputy, Foxtail. She pulled us closer to her, wrapping her tail around the three of us protectively.
"As many of you already know, today is the day of the ceremony." Shadowstar stopped, many of the cats shuddered.
"Today is the day when we must meet with the other three Clans where the trees grow the tallest for the naming ceremony. No cat is to leave the camp until we leave." Shadowstar's gaze fell upon all the kits. He's afraid some kits will run away. I thought. Shadowstar padded into his den. The StormClan cats began padding away to do their own things.
"Let's go and see Shadowstar in his den." Iceshadow mewed, releasing us from her grasp. She nudged Ashkit towards the nursery. The small kit nodded before racing after Snakekit and Frostkit.
"Why?" I stared at my mother blankly.
"Because he's your father." Iceshadow hissed.
"He's never visited us." Ravenkit mewed.
"He's Clan leader, he's had other things to do." Iceshadow explained. Ravenkit nodded.
"That's not it. It's because he's ashamed of us. Just think how embarrassing it is for him, he's so perfect and the Clan expects us to be perfect too. I bet he's glad to get rid of us." I scoffed.
"That's not true!" Iceshadow hissed.
"Than how come he wants to see us now and never before?" I prompted.
"Because he wants to spend time with the two of you before the ceremony." Iceshadow growled.
"Why not Ashkit?" Ravenkit asked.
"Because Shadowstar knows that once we leave this camp, we're not coming back. It's our last day and he knows it, the whole Clan knows it." I scoffed.
"Tawnykit quit talking like that!" Iceshadow growled. I rolled my eyes at her.
"It's true!" I hissed. I stalked away. I don't care that Shadowstar wants to talk to me. I hate him. I don't care about what he has to say. Why is he starting to care about Ravenkit and me now? Now of all days?
"Shouldn't you be in Shadowstar's den?" Swiftkit asked.
"No." I hissed. The tiny kit trembled.
"Tawnykit don't speak to him like that, you know Swiftkit get's scared easily." Dustkit mewed.
"Sorry Swiftkit." I mewed. The small tom just smiled at me.
"Tawnykit, it's time to go." Ashkit called. I nodded, following my brother out into the clearing. Ravenkit was just padding out of Shadowstar's den. All the kits were gathering around their parents. Foxtail was with his kits. Snowberry was alone with her two kits, Frostkit and Snakekit. No one knew who their father was. Dustkit and Rabbitkit were standing proudly beside their father, Vinepelt. Ashkit and me padded over to our mother and Ravenkit. Shadowstar leapt onto the log.
"Now it is time for the ceremony. We will go where the tree's grow the tallest." Shadowstar leapt down from the log and padded to front of the Clan. We began following him. I padded beside my two brothers, Ravenkit on my left and Ashkit on my right. If there was ever a time that I felt closest to them, it was now. I didn't pay attention to how long we walked, but before long strange scents began filling my nostrils. That must be the other clans.
"Tawnykit." Shadowstar padded over to me. My mother nodded and led my brothers away.
"Look Tawnykit, I know we haven't exactly gotten along,"
"Don't you think it's a little too late for apologising? Just answer me one question, why do care what happens to us now? You never have before." I snapped.
"I've always cared. You just reminded me so much of Mistykit. Every time I glanced into the nursery I saw her in your eyes, the way you walked, the way you talked, it was exactly like her. I couldn't help but staying away. I'm not allowed to mourn for Mistykit." Shadowstar mewed.
"And what's you excuse for Ravenkit?" I hissed. Shadowstar remained silent.
"That's what I thought. It's too late to apologise to me. What does it matter anyways? It won't be long before you can go back to your perfect life without the burden of disobedient kits weighing you down." I spat, padding away. I sat beside Ravenkit. We watched as all four leaders sat on the great rock.
"We will start this ceremony off with the naming of the Wanteds. Clan leaders will give mentors to the Wanted kits in their own camp. I will go first." said a gray tom.
"I, Rabbitstar of ShadeClan, will announce the names of the Wanteds. The Wanted kits are, Bramblekit, Berrykit, Flarekit, Lilykit, Sorrelkit, Grasskit, and Redkit." Rabbitstar announced, taking a step back.
"I, Runningstar of BreezeClan, will announce the names of the Wanteds. The Wanted kits are, Robinkit, Tallkit, Oakkit, Barkkit, and Hollykit." Runningstar took a step back.
"I, Pebblestar of BrookeClan, will announce the names of the Wanteds. The Wanted kits are, Runningkit, Dapplekit, Deerkit, Squirrelkit and Leafkit." Pebblestar took a step back. Finally, Shadowstar stepped forward.
"I, Shadowstar of StormClan, will announce the names of the Wanteds. The Wanted kits are, Ashkit, Rainkit, Shrewkit, Fernkit, Sandkit and Frostkit." Shadowstar took a step back.
"Now for the naming of the Unwanteds." Rabbitstar spat the word 'Unwanted' in disgust.
"I, Rabbitstar of ShadeClan, will announce the names of the Unwanteds. The Unwanted kits are, Blazekit, Boltkit, Flamekit, Firekit, Heatherkit, Willowkit, Rowankit, Graykit and Sweetkit." Rabbitstar took a step back.
"I, Runningstar of BreezeClan, will announce the names of the Unwanteds. The Unwanted kits are, Rosekit, Thornkit, Hawkkit, Lionkit, Skykit, Jaykit and Cedarkit." Runningstar took a step back.
""I, Pebblestar of BrookeClan, will announce the names of the Unwanteds. The Unwanted kits are Cloudkit, Smallkit, Foxkit, Nightkit and Tigerkit." Pebblestar took a step back. Shadowstar stepped forward once more.
"I, Shadowstar of StormClan, will announce the names of the Unwanteds. The Unwanted kits are, Snakekit, Rabbitkit, Dustkit, Ivykit, Swiftkit, Ravenkit and Tawnykit." He mewed, taking a step back. His eyes showed no emotion. He's probably glad to get rid of us. I could smell Ravenkit's fear scent beside me.
"We're going to be okay." I whispered softly, placing my paw on his. We both know I'm wrong, but he nods in agreement anyways.