Excited squeals woke Gray Wing. His muscles ached. Yesterday's battle and then staying up for Moon Shadow's vigil had been really tiring.
He yawned and pushed his way out of the warrior's den to see his kits playing and tussling. They were healthy and strong at two moons, but still so small.
He and Turtle Tail had finally named them. The she-kit was Sparrow Fur, who also had matching green eyes like her mother's to go along with her beautiful pelt. Owl Eyes was named for his big, unblinking amber eyes. Pebble Heart had been named by Turtle Tail because of the splash of white fur on his chest.
Brave, Sassy, and Quiet.
They were Gray Wing's kits.
He smiled and padded over to them. Turtle Tail sat by Rainswept Flower watching them while Hawk Swoop held Acorn Fur and Lightning Tail back, saying they were too little. Thunder and his sisters were passing a moss ball between them, but had their eyes on their new denmates as well.
Tall Shadow sat outside the warrior's den grooming herself, Shattered Ice, Jackdaw's Cry and Yellowfang were heading out on a patrol, and Cloud Spots was outside of his den, laying shriveled herbs out in the little sunshine there was. Clouds mostly covered the sky, promising snow.
He padded over to his mate and crouched beside her. "The kits are lively today." He watched as Owl Eyes jumped on Pebble Heart starting a wrestling match while Sparrow Fur ran around them jeering encouragement.
Turtle Tail nodded. "Yes, I'm glad they weren't born in snow, but they were still born in leaf-bare if anything."
"They'll be fine. They're healthy. And strong."
As he spoke the three kits came bundling up to them. "Mama, Papa, can we go out of camp today?" Sparrow Fur asked.
Gray Wing smiled at his daughter but felt a touch concerned. "I dunno, if you're old enough."
Owl Eyes pouted and mewed, "but Thunder said you took him out of camp when he was our age."
"They'll have to leave eventually," Turtle Tail decided. "We won't go far, we can just take them up to the Climbing Oak. That isn't so far."
"Alright, let's go, kits!" Gray Wing said. "Who wants a badger ride?" All the kits scrambled on and he slowly made his way to the entrance.
"I'm gonna catch a mouse!" Owl Eyes declared.
Turtle Tail followed as they headed up the slope towards the trail that led to the Climbing Oak.
"The forest is so big!" Sparrow Fur exclaimed happily.
"And beautiful," Pebble Heart murmured in awe, leaning down to brush his nose interestly against some purple flowers that had yet to be touched by the biting frost.
"The world is much bigger," Turtle Tail purred. "Remember about the mountains I told you about?"
"Can we visit them now?" Sparrow Fur asked.
"Not today. Let's stay close to camp for now," Gray Wing answered.
Gray Wing and Turtle Tail paced slowly towards the Climbing Oak while the kits ran back and forth chasing each other.
"Mama, look! I caught a caterpillar!" Owl Eyes yowled happily, pouncing on said bug and squishing it. "I can hunt!"
"Yes, you can," the tortoiseshell purred before whispering to Gray Wing, "the poor thing never stood a chance." The gray tom purred with amusement at his son.
Suddenly, he heard pawsteps and he stiffened, all happiness evaporating as Bumble crashed through the bracken, covered in wounds.
"Bumble?" Turtle Tail gasped as the kits crowded nearby, looking curious and worried. Turtle Tail then shook her head. "Don't tell me you've been through Thistlestar's territory."
Bumble nodded shakily.
"And it looks like you've barely managed to escape," Gray Wing murmured.
Graystripe woke up. He would have felt anticipation and energized at the upcoming ceremony. After all, he was getting his own first apprentice.
But all night he could only remember Sandstorm falling over the edge, her desperate scream drowned out by the roaring, raging water down below.
He noticed Frostfur slip out of the nursery and herd her four kits towards the Highrock. Brindleface followed but crouched outside so she could be near her kits. Featherkit and Cricketkit tumbled after the gray queen only to be pulled back in by Mistyfoot, who sat beside Brindleface outside of the nursery.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"
Graystripe waited for Dustpelt to trail over to him and together, the two warriors padded over to the crowd. Ever since Sandstorm and Ravenpaw had died, they had grown close now that they were the only former denmates as apprentices left.
They joined Mossflower and Mousefur, the other two mentors for Frostfur's kits, and sat down.
"We are gathered tonight to make four new apprentices," Thistlestar began and beckoned the kits forward. Cinderkit and Thornkit dashed forward while Brackenkit walked more solemnly. Brightkit just trailed after her serious brother calmly.
"From this day forward until she has earned her warrior name this apprentice will be Cinderpaw. Mousefur, you are ready for your first apprentice. I hope you pass on all you know to her."
Graystripe watched the two touch noses before they moved away.
"From this day forward until he has earned his warrior name this apprentice will be Brackenpaw. Graystripe," Thistlestar continued and he stepped forward. "Lionheart was your mentor. Pass on his skills and bravery onto this apprentice."
For once Graystripe felt a surge of pride as he touched noses with Brackenpaw, who looked just as happy. He led his apprentice out of the way and watched Thornpaw being apprenticed to Dustpelt and Brightpaw to Mossflower. His heart clenched. Sandstorm had been promised Brightpaw a moon ago.
He shook his head as the clan crowded around to congratulate the four new apprentices.
I'm a mentor now. He told himself as he grinned at Brackenpaw proudly. And I'll make him the best warrior ever.
"She'll be okay," Dappled Pelt murmured, sweeping her tail over Bumble's flanks which was plastered with herbs and cobwebs. Skystar had let her stay until she recovered and then she would be escorted back to Twolegplace.
"Why did she come in the first place?" Turtle Tail asked worriedly.
"Didn't she come to visit you?" Jackdaw's Cry asked from where he hovered behind a worried Fire Heart and nervous Ravenpaw.
"No, no," Turtle Tail shook her head. "I told her to stay put and that I'd meet her. She knows Thistlestar's clan is dangerous."
"Not…all of us," Ravenpaw whispered, green eyes full of sorrow. Turtle Tail jumped as of she had just realized the former ThunderClan tom was there.
"Of course not," she murmured apologetically. She shook her head and looked back at Gray Wing, Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt. "Point is, she's never tried coming to me again. So she must have had some urgent message."
"I wonder what," Gray Wing murmured.
"We can ask her when she's better, but right now she needs sleep, so shoo!" Dappled Pelt said and the warriors crowded out of the den.
The sun was setting and the clan was either sharing tongues or going to sleep early. The kits raced over to their parents.
"Will Bumble be okay?" Owl Eyes asked, worried.
"Will uncle let her stay?" Sparrow Fur asked Gray Wing.
Pebble Heart just raced around them into the medicine den. Gray Wing chased after him, saying, "Pebble Heart, stay outta there!"
"I wanna help!" The tabby kit meowed.
"Bumble will be fine," Turtle Tail meowed, touching her nose to the little tortoiseshell and little gray kits' heads. "Now come along. It's time for bed."
She looked nervously around the clearing and caught Ravenpaw's gaze. The black cat's gaze was wide with worry. Turtle Tail blinked as she pushed her kits into the nursery.
Does…he know something the rest of us don't?