Chapter 7
The naming ceremony

Leaf woke me up the next morning saying we have to name all the cats in our group forest names including us. "Shall we wake the others?" I asked.

"No, the names must come first."

"Let's go brainstorm then." Leaf nodded solemnly.

We had ideas for most of the cats names except me and Leaf. I thought hard and I suddenly an idea popped in my head! Leafdapple!" "Shall we share our names later during the ceremony?" Leaf nodded.

Me and Leaf were standing on a ledge in the hollow that had a small trail leading up to it. Leaf and me decided to call everybody to sit in front of it. "May every cat, big to small, please sit in front of this very ledge for the first Legendary meeting." The words sounded rich in my ears. I watched as every cat came out of the small caves where they slept. Most of the cats were puzzled but Moss ran and stumbled up to the front of the ledge and looked awed at us sitting up on the ledge. I smiled at Moss and he almost toppled over. Leaf started to speak as every cat was sitting down in front of the ledge.

"We are going to have a naming ceremony so we have proper names in the forest." I spoke next.

"May our little Moss climb up here so I may give him his new name." Moss walked proudly up the ledge as he was the first cat picked. "Moss, from this day forward till you begin your training, you will be named Mosskit." I rested my chin on top of Mosskit's head.

Then I started cheering for Mosskit. "Mosskit! Mosskit! Mosskit!" Then everybody joined in.

"Mosskit! Mosskit! Mosskit!" Mosskit stared up at me, his face clearly saying thank you.

Leaf called up the next cat. "May our cat named Star climb up here so I may give her her new name." Star walked up, smiling as she did so. "Star, from this day forward, shall you become leader, you will be named Starspoke." Leaf then rested her chin on top of Starspoke's head. "Starspoke! Starspoke! Starspoke!" And on and on this went, Tom becoming Sharptooth, Spot becoming Spottedpelt, Rascal becoming Mudspot, Softie becoming Sparrowtooth, Night becoming Nightheart, Tersa becoming Shallowshade until my friends.

I did Husky next, "May my friend named Husky climb up here so I may give him his new name." Husky stared up at me as he went up. Then I spoke. "Husky, from this day forward, shall you become leader, you will be named Husktooth." I rested my chin on Husktooth's head.

I called out first, Sarah second, Leaf third, until finally the rest. "Husktooth! Husktooth! Husktooth!"

Then it was Sarah's turn. Leaf did her. "May my friend named Sarah climb up here so I may give her her new name." "Sarah, from this day forward, shall you become leader, you will be named Goldenheart." Leaf rested her chin on Goldenheart's head.

I called out first, Husky second, Leaf third, until finally the rest. "Goldenheart! Goldenheart! Goldenheart!"

It then was me and Leaf's turn. "May my friend named Leaf walk over here so I may give her her new name."

"Leaf, from this day forward, shall you become leader, you will be named Leafdapple." I smiled at Leafdapple, she gave me a look of pure affection. I rested my chin on Leafdapple's head.

"Leafdapple! Leafdapple! Leafdapple!"

It was my turn. "May my friend named Emma walk over here so I may give her her new name." I stepped towards Leafdapple. "Emma, from this day forward, shall you become leader, you will be named Goldenflower." I stared at Leafdapple with a look of affection and pride.

Leafdapple smiled and whispered "How did you like it? It took me all morning."

"I love it!" Leafdapple rested her chin on my head.

Everybody cheered at once. "Goldenflower! Goldenflower! Goldenflower!"

Then Mosskit started squeaking "Goldenflower! Goldenflower! Goldenflower!" I stared at him with love and affection and so did he.

After we ate some prey, Leafdapple brung me aside and asked me the very thing I loved and wanted to ask and then asked the very thing I dreaded. "Do you want to take on Mosskit as your kit?"

I replied only I think too excitedly. "Yes!"

Then she whispered in my ear. "Is he your kit?"

I felt then a mixed feeling of dread and relief because I wanted to get the secret out. I sighed and then replied "Yes."

Leafdapple stared at me with eyes full of sadness for me and the question why?

"It was a stormy day. Me and Mosskit were playing a game of Hide and go seek but when we were playing and we were deciding who was going to seek next and that's when the thunder and lightning started." I sniffled. The thought of that event still brung tears to my eyes even though I have my little baby back. "He ran away from me and hid. I thought he just was done deciding and wanted to hide and me to seek. By the time I realized that wasn't the case and my son was missing, it was too late. I tried calling him because I couldn't find him anywhere. I cried and cried and the kid came to me to see what was wrong, when he realized, he got his mom and dad to help look but they couldn't find him anywhere. One time I was going to check the roads, but the sight of him getting run over or was already, I couldn't bear it. I eventually gave up, convinced I was never going to see him again." I started crying.

Leafdapple then said softly "It's alright he's here."

"I know." I said half sobbing because of my silly mistake.

Leafdapple whispered softly in my ear. "Who was his father, Goldenflower?"

"Husky, Husktooth was his father."

"Oh my." It was a new voice. I turned around and saw Sarah and Husky. Husky just had a sad look in his eyes asking why didn't you tell me? I could tell it was Sarah who spoke. She continued "I had some kittens once, they were black, white and orange. They got stolen from me when they were old enough." Husky's look was too much.

"I'm sorry Husky!" I blurted out "I'm sorry I didn't tell you! I was going to show you him as a surprise that day but it was too rainy and I didn't want to tell you after I lost him!"

"I could have helped." "Oh Husky, I wasn't thinking straight, I lost him and oh, it was just too much."

"It's alright Emma. Come you need to rest." Husky took me to the cave.

When I woke up in the morning, Mosskit was curled up beside me. I fell back into a deep sleep.