"Shhh…! Quiet! Or else they'll hear us!"
"Quit moving! You're making too much noise!"
"Owwwwww! You're stepping on my tail, Spottedkit!"
"Well it's your fault for putting your tail there."
"YOU stepped on it!"
"Ah! Guys! Quit shoving each other or else we're all gonna-"
In a tangle of fur, claws and tails, out of the bracken hidden beside the camp entrance tumbled out four kits. Spottedkit shoved Thunderkit aside so she could get to her paws, licking at her ruffled fur with a gentle rasp of her tiny tongue before glaring at the golden tom.
"I blame Thunderkit for complaining." She hissed.
A shadow fell across all four of their forms. They looked up in surprise at a cat; a large light brown tom glared down at them. He had the most unusual orange eyes that stared penetratingly down at all four of them. Brightkit felt uncomfortable under his gaze and quietly moved behind Scratchkit. That's when she caught sight of his claws. They were long and hooked, unusually large and long and Brightkit's breath left her upon seeing them. So scary… She cried out in her mind.
"Having fun?" He growled.
"Ah, sorry Dirtclaw…" Scratchkit apologized, lowering his head to the warrior. Dirtclaw snorted before turning away where a calico with amber eyes intercepted him. She gently nosed his ear, twitching her own one black ear at him affectionately before training her gaze on the four kits. "Let them have their fun, Dirtclaw. They're only kits once."
He huffed in response. "Hmph, if I ever have the most annoying kit in the Herd as my son, I think I would go crazy." The calico shouldered him playfully before they padded through the camp entrance and outside of camp. Brightkit shook slightly from the encounter. What a scary cat… she couldn't help but think. She finally turned to Spottedkit, Thunderkit and Scratchkit.
"What now?" She asked.
"Well eavesdropping on the warriors doesn't seem to be working because someone was being too loud." Spottedkit turned to glare at Thunderkit who drew up on his hind paws in anger.
"It was your fault! You stepped on my tail and shoved me out of the hiding spot!"
"Me!? You were the one who shoved against me and pushed yourself out of the nest!"
"Ugh." Scratchkit groaned as the two kits began to bicker even more so then before. He moved towards Brightkit, whispering into her ear, "Let's go somewhere else."
Brightkit eagerly nodded, slinking away from Thunderkit and Spottedkit with Scratchkit. They headed back towards the center of the clearing. The clearing was empty except for Lightpelt, who was basking in the glow of the sun, her belly rising and falling as she enjoyed the warmth. Most of the warriors had exited the camp already that day, Brightkit and the others had seen them go before being spotted.
"Who was that cat that caught us hiding? The calico said his name was… Dirtclaw?" Brightkit asked Scratchkit. Scratchkit looked at her in confusion.
"Didn't he come visit you at all?" Brightkit shook her head and Scratchkit looked bewildered.
"That's Dirtclaw. He's Eaglehawk's brother, um, your uncle."
"Him?!" Brightkit couldn't help but squeak. "My uncle!?"
Scratchkit inclined his head to Brightkit. "Do you remember my uncle Thistlerain?"
She nodded. "The tortoiseshell? Yeah, he visits, like, every day."
"Well, he's like Thistlerain… only your uncle and not mine."
Brightkit tried to see the resemblance, but she could find none. Thistlerain was like sunshine. He was warm and funny and every kit adored him like an uncle of they're own. Dirtclaw… he was mean and angry and scary and… and…
"But he's nothing like Thistlerain! He's nothing like Eaglehawk either! I don't want such a scary cat as my uncle!" Brightkit felt tears in her eyes. She wanted to have a warm family like Scratchkit.
Scratchkit opened his mouth to say something when his attention was drawn elsewhere. Then suddenly, his ears perked and he called out with excitement, "Hey look!" He halted Brightkit's movements as he pointed with his tail towards a den next to a log. Two cats appeared from the den, one a brown tom with dark green eyes and the other a smaller, dusky brown she-cat with amber eyes. "It's Talonclaw and Mousetail, the elders!"
"Elders?" Brightkit looked at Scratchkit in confusion and he nodded.
"Yeah, they used to be warriors but now they're too old. They have lots of cool stories! Want to go listen to one?" Brightkit nodded eagerly and Scratchkit excitedly led the way over.
They approached the two elders slowly. The brown tom, Scratchkit had called him Talonclaw; lay sprawled on his side, his eyes trained on the sky with interest. The dusky brown she-cat, Mousetail, was nibbling furiously at something on the side of her leg. With great irritation, she came up from her nibbling with a groan and turned to glare at her companion.
"Don't just sit there. Help me with this."
Talonclaw turned his gaze to his friend, yawning. He had a lazy look in his eyes. "And what is it you wish me to help you with?"
"The fleas, mouse-brain!" Mousetail hissed angrily. She uncomfortably shifted in her seat, tail lashing from side to side. "There's an itch up my leg and one down my spine where I can't reach it. It's driving me insane."
"I see… so that's why you've been yowling in the night."
"Put a rock in it, flea-bag."
Talonclaw stretched lazily and rolled to his paws so he was crouching. He moved his head as though cracking the muscles of his neck. "Try to quiet down a bit, Mousetail. We have visitors." Talonclaw had not once made a move towards the kits nor looked in their direction but somehow he had known they had approached. Brightkit was astonished by his keen senses for such a retired warrior.
Finally Mousetail, who was still irritated, and Brightkit could tell by the incessant flick of her ears, turned her head towards the kits. With a harrumph, she plopped down into a more comfortable seating arrangement.
Talonclaw too turned his attention to Scratchkit and Brightkit's arrival and with a smile he murmured, "Hello little ones."
"Hello Talonclaw!" Scratchkit piped up. He moved Brightkit forward slightly with a touch of his tail. "This is Brightkit, Treepelt's daughter."
"Ah yes, I remember when she was born." He nodded and turned to face Brightkit, his dark green eyes were warm. "You have grown stronger, young one."
"Ah, thank you!" Brightkit mewed happily. Talonclaw seemed to be quite gentle. Brightkit turned to Mousetail and the older she-cat glared angrily back at her. Mousetail, on the other hand, was not so gentle, nor so kind.
"What are you here to bother us about?" She snapped and Brightkit moved instinctively behind Scratchkit once more. Scratchkit shuffled his paws across the dirt.
"We wanted to hear one of your stories…" He whispered lowly.
"Speak up, kit." Mousetail snapped, her loud response startled the two of them and both shrank away from her cold stare.
"Mousetail quit being such a grump." Talonclaw stared at his companion coolly. He turned to the kits, smiling. "Ignore her. I will gladly tell you all a story. Is there one in particular you wish to hear?"
"What about the story about the fire?" Scratchkit immediately jumped up. Brightkit turned to stare fixedly at him, curious. A fire? There was a fire? What happened?
Mousetail rolled her eyes and groaned loudly, making Talonclaw sigh and turn to face her as she spoke. "Not that story again. All they ever want to hear about is that mouse-dunged fire."
"I'm sure young Brightkit has never heard the tale before." Talonclaw nodded towards Brightkit and she eagerly shook her head in reply. She wanted to know about this fire too.
"Well I have a story for you, kits." Mousetail said, launching into a tale completely ignoring Talonclaw. "It revolves around your father," She pointed her tail to Brightkit and she started. Eaglehawk? She thought immediately and smiled slightly.
"When he was a young apprentice, he and his brother went around the camp like bees; they could never leave anyone alone they had to be a part of every little thing." Mousetail flicked her tail irritably. "Kind of like some kits I know of. In the end they went to bother ole Mousetail and I gave them a thrashing for doing so. In the end, Eaglehawk came out with a better understanding." Mousetail suddenly got very close to Brightkit and Scratchkit, so their noses were almost touching. "Don't bother Mousetail. Period." She bared her teeth, "Got it?"
Scratchkit and Brightkit could only nod.
"…that was a terrible story." Talonclaw spoke up, shaking his head. "And besides, as I remember it, you didn't thrash Eaglehawk and Dirtclaw, they knocked over all of your rebuilding so you chased them into the woods where they tricked you into falling into the river…"
"Lies!" Mousetail snapped, glaring at Talonclaw.
Talonclaw turned to Brightkit and Scratchkit; his eyes alight with amusement as he ignored Mousetail's snipping comments and lashing tongue. "And the moral of the story, don't play tricks on Mousetail or she'll make up horrible stories about you."
Scratchkit and Brightkit couldn't help but chuckle along with Talonclaw as Mousetail raged beside him.
"What are you doing to mom, Talonclaw?" A familiar voice called. Brightkit felt her heart leap as she turned to face her father, Eaglehawk, standing behind her along with Dirtclaw. Startled by their sudden appearance, more so by Dirtclaw's, Brightkit shrank away from the cold stare he gave the kits which then flickered towards the elders. How scary… Brightkit thought with dismay. I don't want him as my uncle.
"Well if it isn't the story's main characters." Talonclaw purred upon their arrival. Mousetail, fur on end, was still growling at Talonclaw but he seemed completely oblivious to that fact.
Eaglehawk wrapped his tail around Brightkit and she snuggled up against his fur, feeling content in his embrace. Scratchkit stood beside her; his eyes were alight with excitement. Dirtclaw took a step forward, a strange sound coming from his chest… was it a… purr? He was purring lowly but his face still looked grim, as far as Brightkit could tell.
"Calm down, mom." He brushed his tail down Mousetail's sides to calm her and she slowly relaxed. "Here, you should go relax."
"All this pent up fury has made me tired." Mousetail complained as Dirtclaw led her back into the den. Brightkit was surprised by Dirtclaw's sudden gentleness. She was struck utterly speechless.
"I guess I should go too." Talonclaw admitted, following after them. Eaglehawk laughed as they left and Dirtclaw reappeared soon after, whiskers twitching.
"I'm pretty sure they were both wrong. If I am recalling correctly, we destroyed the entire side of the Warriors den and were scolded so severely for it we had to stand in the river for a whole day." Eaglehawk said, chuckling. Dirtclaw, a strange expression on his face, Brightkit believed it to be a smile, nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I remember having a cold for moons after that."
"Good times…"
Dirtclaw looked surprised. "Hardly!" And then the two brothers burst into laughter. Brightkit and Scratchkit were astonished by the closeness of the two. Brightkit especially, due to the fact that she had no siblings, seeing this closeness was like watching Mosskit and Spottedkit or Scratchkit and Thunderkit playing together… only after years of living with one another.
Dirtclaw too didn't seem as scary a character as he had earlier. She had been frightened about having an uncle so mean unlike Scratchkit and Thunderkit's uncle, Thistlerain. But she could see now that Dirtclaw was in fact a good cat, if a bit gruff. Not so bad as I thought…? She hoped.
With eagerness, Brightkit, wholly excited and unable to contain her self, raced for Dirtclaw and tackled the tom, pressing her body against his fur. "I'm glad you're my uncle!" She gasped. Dirtclaw, embarrassed, awkwardly patted her head with his tail.
"Uh… right…" He murmured, "You can let go now." Brightkit snuggled even deeper into his fur and Dirtclaw sighed, defeated, as Eaglehawk chuckled.
A family… a family is warm… Brightkit thought happily. Treepelt, Eaglehawk, everyone… so warm…
Page Break
Brightkit found herself hiding in the bushes again the next day along with Thunderkit, Spottedkit and Scratchkit once more.
"We're seriously doing this again?" Scratchkit mumbled. His voice held a hint of annoyance in it.
Thunderkit shushed his brother. "Quiet! Or we'll get caught again!"
Scratchkit rolled his eyes. "It was Spottedkit and Thunderkit's fault last time." Thunderkit shushed him again. There was a moment of silence surrounding them as they watched, but there was no activity. The sun had already set and most of the warriors were sleeping by this point.
"We came too late. Everyone's already gone." Scratchkit murmured. "Why are we even here?"
"Quiet!" Spottedkit chirped suddenly. "Someone's coming!"
The huddled kits grew quiet at the appearance of a cream colored tom with white stripes. He appeared from the camp entrance and was soon followed by a familiar ginger cat. Brightkit's eyes widened as she saw Mosskit appear, yellow eyes alight with excitement as she trotted after the cream colored tom.
"It's Mosskit and Burrowfur!" Thunderkit gasped, turning to eye Spottedkit. "What's up with that?"
Spottedkit purred, seemingly unperturbed, "Mosskit and Papa always go out together really late in the afternoon to see the sunset. He takes me out really early in the morning to see the sunrise." Her eyes became very warm and Brightkit couldn't help but envy her.
Brightkit turned her attention back to Mosskit and Burrowfur. The two were chatting together happily. Mosskit was trailing after him; her eyes were so wide and bright. Brightkit had never seen such an expression in Mosskit's eyes before. Mosskit had always seemed more docile, especially when compared to her sister. To see her so animated was strange.
"They were out most of today together. I saw him this morning." Spottedkit went on, putting her head on her paws in almost a daze. "They are really close…" She yawned and stretched. "It's getting late. I'm tired." She emerged then from the bushes and called out to the two cats. "Papa! Mosskit!" At her voice, they turned to her.
"Spottedkit, what are you doing there? Come along." Burrowfur purred. Spottedkit scampered over to her father and brushed up against his side. He chuckled and drew his tail, bringing her close against his side affectionately. She looked up at him happily and Mosskit, smiling tenderly at her sister, padded behind them. They soon disappeared into the Nursery.
"Spottedkit is right," Scratchkit yawned too and nudged Thunderkit, who had begun to doze off. "Let's go back into the Nursery." They soon made their way out of the hiding spot and began to head to the Nursery.
Brightkit started after them before something strange caught her eye. A bright white light shimmered passed her vision and she went to follow it with her eyes. It seemed to trail towards a den in the corner of the camp. Brightkit had never been there before. She vaguely remembered Scratchkit pointing it out to her at one point. It was next to the large rock face and the bracken covered den underneath the rock where Flamesun had stood to give Mistyfur her warrior name. She had seen cats going to and from every day with fresh kill sometimes. She wondered what could be inside.
Curiosity overwhelming, Brightkit made her way after the white light that shimmered a path towards the den. She followed it behind the den towards the outer barrier of rock walls that covered and protected the camp. There was a gap where a tree stood but was large enough for a cat to squeeze through. Following the white light, which seemed almost like a firefly, Brightkit slipped through the small opening between the rock and the tree and made it outside of the camp. The white light soon ascended into the sky and disappeared from view but Brightkit was startled by the star that twinkled down at her. It was large and bright and the only light in the sky at that moment. Captivated, Brightkit sat and watched in awe as several more stars began to appear in the sky until the sky was lit up with tiny white light.
"Brightkit…" A voice whispered and she turned, with surprise, to a cat sitting beside her. A large tom with orange fur stared down at her and Brightkit jumped back away from him. It was her leader, Flamesun. She would recognize his flame colored fur from anywhere. After seeing him standing on the rock that day when Mistyfur became a warrior… it was awe inspiring now to be sitting next to such a cat.
"F-Flamesun," She gasped and dipped her head immediately. She was beyond nervous. How does one react when with a leader? She knew the others respected him greatly. Should she lie completely onto the ground?
A chuckle made her look up and meet into Flamesun's blue eyes. "I haven't been mistaken for my father in moons." He laughed and Brightkit looked at him in confusion before she suddenly realized something. She could see right through this cat. His fur was flaming but shimmered in and out of focus. It was like he wasn't really there.
Frightened, Brightkit took another step back. "W-who are you?"
He laughed again and looked back up at the stars. "Pretty, aren't they?"
Brightkit cautiously followed his gaze back to the stars and then back to him. "…yes."
He sighed and closed his eyes, and then he began to speak. "My name is Razorclaw. I was once a LionHerd warrior."
"Are you like Chillkit?" She asked immediately, remembering the talk between herself, Mosskit and Spottedkit some time before. Razorclaw's eyes opened to stare at Brightkit. His expression held confusion before recognition softened his features. "Right, you're still young. Very young." He laughed. "Yes, I am like Chillkit. We are ancestors of yours, living in the sun's rays. I come from SunHerd. That is the place where we go when we die."
"SunHerd…" Brightkit whispered the name.
Razorclaw knelt so he was level with Brightkit. He touched his tail tip to her nose. "It's important to listen to me here, Brightkit. I'm going to show you something. Close your eyes." Brightkit obeyed, slowly her eyes shut and a bright force entered her body. Struck with shock and feeling tingly, Brightkit gasped and instantly her eyes flew open. Standing before her were two cats, identical in features. Both she-cats with brown fur and golden flecks dotted their pelts. They were beautiful, one with blue eyes and the other green.
"Welcome Brightkit." They breathed and Brightkit was then conscious of Razorclaw sitting beside her once more. He chuckled upon seeing the two she-cats. "Mother," He dipped his head to the blue-eyed she-cat before turning his gaze to the green-eyed one, "Sister."
Brightkit was struck with awe upon her surroundings. They were seated in a place covered in white fluffy clouds, the things that fly across the sky during the day. She had learned that from Eaglehawk. What they were actually sitting on was a tree stump, it seemed. Brightkit had seen many in the forest from inside the camp's walls. It was, however, a larger surface then anything she had seen before.
The beautiful green-eyed she-cat came towards Brightkit and ran her tail down Brightkit's sides. "Do not fear, little one." She purred. "My name is Flowerheart." She licked the top of Brightkit's head as if to comfort the little kit. "Do not feel overwhelmed."
The blue-eyed she-cat moved forwards next. Her eyes were soft and filled with love as she looked down at Brightkit, "She is so beautiful…" She whispered softly and Flowerheart tightened her hold on Brightkit. Brightkit didn't know why but Flowerheart glared at the blue-eyed look-alike.
"Mother, please. Compose yourself." As though lifted from a trance, the blue-eyed she-cat's eyes settled and, though still soft with longing, she spoke in a clear and strong voice.
"I am Windswept." She turned to her children, "It's important that you understand something Brightkit. Listen strongly and remember this."
Brightkit could not speak. Flowerheart's warmth left her and Razorclaw too took a seat beside his mother. They really did all look alike, standing there. Mother and daughter two complete copies of the other, besides the difference in eye color. Razorclaw was the spitting image of Brightkit's leader but held the same cool, blue gaze of his mother and the soft features of her face.
Their voices were even identical as they spoke as one, "The clouds shall cover up the sun. A battle unwanted shall be fought and the light shall shine down upon the one with brightness in her eyes."
Brightkit could barely understand anything they were saying. She stared back at them with utter confusion and they exchanged glances, having expected as much.
"I knew it was too soon." Razorclaw grumbled.
Flowerheart drooped a tail over her brother's shoulders, "It'll be fine. We can remind her."
"They are growing stronger as we speak." Windswept spoke solemnly to her children. "She needs to know now."
"She can barely understand us as it is," Razorclaw shot back, fur bristling slightly. "We don't have a lot of time, I know. But she's barely old enough to understand the culture around her let alone something as trivial as this."
"You forget, son, she is old enough to understand."
"Be silent, Windswept." Flowerheart flicked her tail in front of her mother forcibly. "This was your decision remember. Don't jeopardize it." She glared at her mother and Brightkit, startled and confused, shivered by her self as she watched the bickering family. Eventually Windswept sighed and nodded her head, eyes closed and face sad.
"I know. I'll finish this."
Flowerheart, seeming to be satisfied, nodded and, as though she were only a mist in the air, disappeared in front of Brightkit's eyes. Razorclaw soon followed his sister, materializing away just as she had done. Now Windswept and Brightkit were alone, and Brightkit didn't know why her head hurt so much.
"Be still young one." Windswept gently brushed her tail across Brightkit's forehead and Brightkit felt soothed by her touch. "We have only one last thing for you to see."
Just like when Razorclaw had whisked her to this place, Brightkit's eyes closed and a tingling sensation went through her body. Her eyes were forced open again, and she found herself standing in a place unfamiliar to her… and dark. The trees were similar to the ones she had seen from inside the camp, but the place was scary and dark. There was a dark river, quiet but lapping silently in the night as it moved. Brightkit could hear the sound of the water sliding against stones. She turned her gaze and gasped with shock. Black rocks cut through the shadowed sky, jagged and piercing the air and Brightkit wanted to crawl away and hide.
Something warm pressed against her side. Windswept was with her, her tail wrapped tightly around Brightkit, almost as if protecting her. She felt content in that embrace. She was happy Windswept was there.
"Listen," she whispered and Brightkit strained her ears to hear. Voices suddenly rose from around her and the appearance of two cats spooked her. They were both black toms. Brightkit could not make out much in the dark. One was leaner and faced her; she could see the green of his eyes. The other was broader but she could see nothing else but his large back. Their voices were muffled and she could catch nothing from what they were saying but by the lashing of the broad shouldered cat's tail, it was nothing good. Then as suddenly as they had come, they parted.
Brightkit shivered as she realized the broad shouldered cat was heading her way. Frightened, she squirmed to move but Windswept's hold around her was strong. "Stay and wait. He will not see you." She whispered quietly into her ear.
He soon was upon them and Brightkit finally caught a glimpse of his face. She started with surprise and fear. She knew this cat.
"Be wary Brightkit," Windswept whispered. "For some are not as they seem."
"Brightkit?" Brightkit startled awake. She was lying outside the back of the camp where she had stared at the stars before meeting Razorclaw. She had fallen asleep. It had all been a dream? She thought with confusion. She turned her eyes to who had spoken and gasped at the flame colored tom sitting beside her.
"Razorclaw!" She gasped. "You are real!" The flame colored tom flinched beside her and his face drew closer to hers. She blinked as she stared into green eyes.
"How do you know that name?" He asked. His voice was rough and different from Razorclaw. It was low and shivered with stress, but she had heard it once before, loud and clear as he called to his Herd.
"F-Flamesun!" She gasped, immediately falling to the ground and lying completely onto the forest floor, legs sprawled out.
There was silence before he spoke again, "What are you doing?" He asked and Brightkit raised her head. No longer was the glimmer of need in his gaze but instead his eyes held amusement and Brightkit scrambled to her paws, feeling her ears flushing with embarrassment.
"Bowing…" she whispered.
"I have never been bowed to in such a way before." He purred and he got to his paws, shaking his head as if to clear it. He turned back to look down at her. "Come along. You should be in the Nursery with your mother."
"Okay…" She nodded and followed after her leader into the camp. Flamesun gently nosed open the ferns to the Nursery, letting Brightkit slip her way through. She turned to him, feeling sleepy again. "Thank you." She whispered. She looked up into his eyes through her hazy, sleepy fog and noticed the intense look he gave her. But as soon as she saw it, the look was gone and replaced with an unemotional one.
"Of course." He said, before ducking and walking away. Brightkit yawned and found her way over to Treepelt's side. She curled herself against her mother's belly. She wondered how long she had been away. Did Treepelt notice? I'm sorry Mom. She thought as she fell asleep.
Page Break
When she was shaken awake, Brightkit knew she hadn't had enough time to sleep. "Hurry Brightkit! Hurry! It's today!" Thunderkit excited pressed his tiny paws against Brightkit's belly. She blinked, staring down at him. She felt so heavy.
"What?" She asked, sleepily.
Riverfoot nosed Thunderkit gently, pushing him away from Brightkit, "If she's tired she doesn't have to come Thunderkit. Don't bother her."
Thunderkit pouted, "But Mosskit and Spottedkit really wanted her to be there when they became apprentices." Brightkit's eyes flew open and suddenly she was very much awake.
"That's today!?" She gasped and she was streaking through the Nursery and out of the den before Thunderkit or Riverfoot could blink. The camp was in fact filled with the bodies of all the warriors present. Brightkit spotted her mother among them, having left the Nursery ahead of her. She didn't wake me. Brightkit thought sadly, but then perked up. She probably noticed how tired I was last night, especially after coming in so late. She wanted me to sleep in.
"Brightkit!" Brightkit's eyes found Mistyfur beckoning to her. The silver she-cat was sitting next to Lightpelt, Owlpaw and Buzzardpaw. She eagerly took a seat beside the newest LionHerd warrior.
"How are you!?" She asked, smiling. Brightkit smiled back, catching glances from Owlpaw and Buzzardpaw sitting on Mistyfur's other side. Owlpaw's gaze was sharp while Buzzardpaw's a little calmer. Owlpaw leaned towards the black apprentice.
"Can you believe it? Spottedkit's going to be joining us in the den soon. Mousedung, I'll never be able to sleep properly anymore."
Buzzardpaw nudged Owlpaw with his shoulder and whispered something Brightkit couldn't catch before the two laughed. Lightpelt yawned from behind Brightkit.
"The Nursery will become a little bit roomier with Rabbitfur gone." She sighed before looking at her belly. "Until you all are born," She whispered lovingly.
"What do you mean?" Brightkit asked the golden she-cat. Lightpelt looked up and met Brightkit's gaze.
"Oh, yes, when Spottedkit and Mosskit gain their names they will be living in the apprentices den. Rabbitfur will return to the Warriors den as well."
Brightkit felt a feeling of loneliness enter her belly. "I won't see them anymore when I go to sleep?"
Lightpelt looked at Brightkit kindly. "It'll be okay, Brightkit. When you become an apprentice you will join them again in the apprentices den. It won't be long for you now either." Brightkit brightened up at that thought. She couldn't wait to be an apprentice.
"Shhh, look! There's Flamesun!" Mistyfur gasped with excitement. Brightkit and the others grew silent as all gazes moved to their leader. He stood at the edge of the Great Rock. His gaze was just as unreadable as ever.
At that moment, Brightkit caught sight of Mosskit and Spottedkit sitting beside their mother. Rabbitfur was beaming proudly, but not as proudly as Spottedkit. Spottedkit's grin was large and her fur as sleek and slim as ever, the dapples of her tortoiseshell fur glowed in the sunlight. Her green eyes were like tiny gems, accented by the pure white fur rimming them. Mosskit beside her sister was just as delicately groomed, her ginger fur looked almost like Flamesun's flame colored pelt but a glittering yellow flame. The white of her paws and white on the tip of her tail were like little drops of clouds in the sky. Her expression was more relaxed then her sibling's but her yellow eyes were glowing.
Flamesun's voice drew Brightkit's attention back to her leader. "We are all gathered here today to announce the sixth moon of two young cats. Mosskit and Spottedkit please step forwards." Spottedkit raced to her place below the Great Rock, her paws flying. Mosskit followed more slowly but the twitch of her whiskers betrayed her excitement. Flamesun moved his head towards Rabbitfur and Burrowfur, who were seated together. "Let us all have a moment of silence to remember young Chillkit, who would be standing up here with his sisters."
Brightkit watched Rabbitfur close her eyes and press her nose against Burrowfur's chest. The cream colored tom wrapped his tail around his mate, closing his eyes and pressing his nose against her ear. Mosskit and Spottedkit lowered their heads as well in silence. Brightkit noticed a single tear slide down Spottedkit's face.
Flamesun opened his eyes and then looked down on the two kits. "From this moment onwards, until they have earned their warrior names, SunHerd honors them with the names Mosspaw and Spottedpaw."
Brightkit saw Spottedpaw's shoulders quiver and she smirked. Mosspaw kept her body still and eyes on Flamesun.
Flamesun moved his gaze to sweep across the crowd before it landed on a figure. "Dirtclaw," Brightkit started as she heard his name called. The brown tom padded to the front of the crowd, his orange eyes blazing. Brightkit eyed him happily. "You are a strong and dedicated cat, not afraid to make your opinions known. You will fit Spottedpaw's charisma better then any other cat here. As of today you will be Spottedpaw's mentor. Teach her all of what you know."
Dirtclaw lowered his head to Spottedpaw's and the little tortoiseshell thrust her nose against his, almost too harshly. With a huff, Dirtclaw pulled back slightly and Spottedpaw apologetically touched his nose again but much more softly this time. A cheer rose up from the cats and Dirtclaw and Spottedpaw moved aside. Mosspaw was now alone underneath the rock. Her gaze lowered to sweep the crowd, as though she were trying to find her future mentor among the assembled cats. Brightkit tried to catch her gaze but was unable to.
Flamesun too scanned the crowd before his eyes focused on a cat near her. Brightkit started, wondering if he meant to choose Mistyfur. She was about to turn to congratulate the silver she-cat when he spoke the cat's name, "Darkheart." Brightkit froze as she saw Mistyfur lean away from her. Then a black cat pushed their way through, brushing right up against Brightkit. Brightkit stumbled out of his way, gazing up into his amber eyes as the broad shouldered black tom padded to the center of the clearing. Brightkit saw Mosspaw's eyes widen before they cleared and she moved to stare up at Darkheart quietly. Brightkit heard Thunderkit's voice from somewhere nearby.
"You can't be serious… she gets to be Darkheart's apprentice!?" A shushing from Riverfoot quieted him.
"Darkheart, you were a fine mentor to Runningstream, training him into the warrior he is today. You are a talented fighter and a strong warrior and I wish you to pass on all your skills to Mosspaw."
"Of course, Flamesun." Darkheart purred, turning to Mosspaw. Brightkit could not see his gaze from where she sat but she saw him lower his nose to Mosspaw's. The ginger apprentice rose to touch her nose to his in greeting and he murmured something to her which caused her to purr in response. Brightkit's eyes widened as she saw the determined look on Mosspaw's eyes and then, when cheers erupted from everyone and Darkheart moved with Mosspaw out of the clearing, Brightkit caught his eyes as well. They were dark and hungry and Brightkit struggled to keep her mind straight. For these were the same amber eyes she had seen in her dream. Darkheart was the cat she had seen in her dream.
Yo! Mosspool again. Thanks for sticking with us so far xD The Rewrite is so much better than the original version we wrote. I still laugh every time I read it. It's just so BAD. xD If you would like an update on what chapters we are currently working on, you can check out the Profile page. We will try to update consistently.
Next Chapter Brightkit will tour the camp and the rest of the characters in LionHerd will be introduced. They all have unique personalities and honestly, I love them all.
3 It's been six years. Gosh I feel old.
Comments/Constructive Criticism are welcome.