[Hellion]

---

Content with remaining dry a certain golden tabby watched the rain fall from the entrance of the nursery. He and his siblings were quickly growing too big for the darkened den, but he wasn't aloud to be an apprentice. It was quite frustrating for the young tom who wanted noting more but to have permission to leave the safety of the LightingClan camp. Dathi had settle quite well into what was Clan life. He talked with his adoptive parents and learned a lot about what they stood for, but what he didn't understand was why he hadn't been given an apprentice name. Plenty of kits younger than him had left the nursery with their apprentice names. He and his siblings were the oldest that remained.

It was his father, Flashbrook (Burningleaf was often referred to as dad) that told the young tom that he needed a clan-name. Dathi sounded too much like a loner name to be used. That little bit of information only served to further his frustrations. Mama gave him that name why wasn't it good enough?

However, as the tom-kit thought more about in in the days since he asked the more he realized Father was right. A lot of the kits and older cats had two part names, with the first reflecting something about their apperance, or in some cases about their birth. Dathi did mean anything to the Clan cats and the meaning of it was lost on him considering the she-cat who named him had past away.

This entire situation left Dathi on the border between being a Clan cat and just a well treated loner. Firestar had visited the kits from time to time to check on their strength. He once over heard the small leader asking if it was the right time to take the kits to find their own home, but it was often met with Burningleaf or Flashbrook politely telling the leader the kits hadn't learned some survival skill or another.

Nearly bored out of his mind, Dathi watched the water continue to fall as he waited for Father or Dad to arrive.

---

_Amber

[Fawn]

M I N A ! LightningClan. 8 Moons. She-Cat. A white-furred face peered out of the entrance to LightningClan's nursery, poking her head far enough past the 'roof' that she could feel the rain touch her whiskers. Mina shivered at the sensation, flicking the droplets free before ducking back inside. She could feel the frustration radiating off of Dathi, and Mina's soft heart panged, heavy with the weight of uncertainty. Mina did not speak much, preferring to harbor her worries inside, rather than openly share her distress with others. But this was not a personal issue—this was something they all had to face. Mina gently nudged her brother's forearm with her cheek, her posture meek and questioning. "Do you think they will make us leave?" Mina whispered, as if afraid voicing aloud her concerns would suddenly guarantee their chances of happening. If Firestar and the scary tom with all the scars... If they didn't let them stay... w-where would we go? It was such a frightening thought, she whimpered softly, the sound as quiet as the whisper of wind in the grass. Perhaps Father or Dad would come soon, and assuage some of her fears... Wishing she could hide her face in her mother's pelt like she'd done before, Mina's tail wrapped around her paws, curling and uncurling in a silent fit of nervousness. We're the right age and size to be apprentices... Does Firestar not like us? Does she want to get rid of us because we aren't from LightningClan? The cats here were proud. Very proud. The sense of kinship, of belonging, was very strong. Mina didn't fully understand it, but she knew what being an outsider felt like. At least the other kits didn't avoid them... Her heart wouldn't have been able to handle that.

Word Count: 287 Words Tags: Hellion , Amber Notes: --

[Deleted]

Niko was content to remain curled in their nest, breathing in the lingering scents of the toms he had come to know as parents. He couldn’t deny that he had quickly become attached to them; they did, in a way, save the lives of him and his siblings. Yet no matter how much he grew to love the two toms, he still couldn’t forget their Momma and how much she loved them. He clung to the memories he still had of her, trying to prevent them from growing fuzzy and fading away.

There was a light rain falling, and Niko looked toward the den entrance to see his brother staring out into it. Still, he remained curled, until he heard Mina’s whispered words. “Do you think they will make us leave?” Niko lifted his head, jaws opening in a small yawn before he rose and padded over to them. “Dad and Father won’t let that happen.” His voice was calm, and he sat down next to Mina, pressing his flank against hers.

Like Dathi, he had overheard conversations between Dad, Father, and the leader, and Dad and Father stood up to her every time, defending the kits and keeping them safe a little longer. And he still couldn’t forget the promise Dad had made to them: “I will protect you.” So far, that promise had been kept, and Niko truly believed that Burningleaf would continue to keep his word. He looked down at Mina, giving her what he hoped was a reassuring smile, reaching over and giving her ear a comforting lick. “We’ll be okay.” He looked up to meet Dathi’s eyes over Mina’s head and gave him the same smile. Turning his head to watch the rain with his siblings, his tail flicked out behind him before settling behind Mina, a small holding gesture meant to comfort both of them.


Hellion, Fawn

[Hellion]

---

Golden ears flickered as he heard the softest whisper of Mina's voice. Lowering down the tom-kit nuzzled her cheek softly in an effort to comfort his little sister.

He wanted to tell her that Firestar wouldn't send them away, but he couldn't be sure. LightingClan seems so carefully set in their ways that he was afraid that they would. Continuing to purr softly against her to ease her worries, Dathi hid his own. If LighitngClan sent them away he'd work until his last breath to ensure his siblings survived. He'd fade away just as Mama did if it meant Minda, Pricilla and Niko kept on living.

It was Niko's voice that spoke up instead of his and Dathi welcomed his brother's words. He wasn't all that talkative about troubling things, preferring to let his actions speak for him. A nod of agreement to what Niko had to said, Dathi felt perhaps just a smidge better. Dad and Father would protect them, considering they already gave up so much in caring for such odd kits.

"Mina, I think you'd be a great warrior for LightingClan so I'm sure they will let us stay." Dathi tagged along to his brother's last statement. His words were meant for Mina but also encouarged him. He might not have 'clan-blood' but he was determined to proved he and his siblings belonged.

-----

Firestar with her pelt welcomed left her den and headed straight for the nursery. She had sent a brief message for Flashbrook and Burningleaf both to join her at the nursery. The time had come to determine the fate of the loner kits.

---

_{Fawn Amber
note: ^-^Just carrying this on into what the thread was intended for}

[Fawn]

M I N A ! LightningClan. 8 Moons. She-Cat. -☂- Oh where would she be without her family? Just when her happiness, her emotions felt as if they teetered on the edge of a deep, dark lake, there was Dathi and Niko to hold her by the tail. To steer her away from the dark waters of her anxiety-ridden mind. Expressing her gratitude through a purr as quiet as her speaking-voice, Mina blinked gratefully at the both of them, her melancholic, worried demeanor seeming to lift a little. Until a terrifying face poked her head through the entrance to the nursery, and Mina squeaked in surprise. Firestar! Any urge to speak or express herself vocally disappeared, covered up like the sun under heavy storm clouds. Silently, she pressed closer to her brother, seeing Dad and Father appear soon after helped assuage her fears—but only a little. In spite of everything Dathi and Niko had said... What if this really was goodbye? Mina held her breath, not daring herself to look directly into Firestar's eyes, yet so afraid of looking away, she simply went rigid, anticipating a rejection right down to her bones. Dad and Father wouldn't... wouldn't let Firestar just abandon them. That's right, abandon... Even if the others did not feel the same way, Mina felt as if... as if she and her siblings had a place here. If only we had Clan names, she mourned this thought privately, at war with herself over appreciating the name her mother had given her and wanting desperately to belong.

Word Count: 245 Words Tags: Amber , Hellion Notes: --

[Deleted]

BURNINGLEAF

SEVENTY-SEVEN MOONS. TOM. SENIOR WARRIOR. LIGHTNINGCLAN.

Burningleaf walked into camp, a young rabbit dangling from his jaws. It had been a lucky catch, and he was eager to bring it to his kits. He had hunted earlier, bringing in a few mice and a vole before going back out again to make up for the four extra mouths he had brought into the camp in leaf-bare. So far, he was holding up the promises he had made to Firestar and his kits, that he would work overtime providing for the Clan and that he would protect the kits. In the few moons they had been a part of the Clan, he had come to think of them as his own, and couldn’t even imagine a future without them in it.

A few pawsteps into camp, he was stopped by a warrior delivering a message from Firestar to meet her at the nursery. A small flash of panic went through him. Would she really kick them out? He shook the thought from his head, though. He would fight for his kits, no matter what. If she decided they needed to leave, then he would as well. He looked around for Flashbrook, wanting to arrive together, show a united front. He saw him and padded over, the rabbit still in his mouth. He met his mate’s eyes and tilted his head toward the nursery, hoping he would get his message.

Burningleaf crossed the camp, seeing Firestar already at the den. He dipped his head in respect before peeking into the den, showing the kits his offering. Their eyes seemed to light up, and he smiled around the rabbit’s fur. He squeezed past them, laying the rabbit down and looked to Firestar. “Before you ask, I’ve already hunted for the Clan.” When the kits went over to the food, he slipped out of the den, sitting just outside the entrance facing Firestar. He curled his tail over his paws, waiting for her to speak first and guide their conversation.

----------

Niko smiled at Dathi’s words, running his tail softly over Mina’s back. Mina squeaked, and Niko’s eyes shot to the den entrance. Seeing it was Firestar, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of nervousness. He pushed it down, though, and wrapped his tail around Mina a little tighter. Not long after, Burningleaf appeared, holding a rabbit. Niko’s eyes lit up; he hadn’t realized he was hungry until he saw the gift Daddy had brought. He rose and moved aside, giving him the space he needed to enter the den and set the rabbit down.

Niko moved away from his siblings, padding over to the still-warm rabbit. He brushed against Daddy’s leg before the ginger and white tom went back outside. The coal-striped kitten settled himself next to the rabbit, sitting where he could still see the nursery entrance. Burningleaf had made sure to place the fresh-kill far enough away that he couldn’t hear much of what the adults were going to say. Before he started eating, he looked around at his siblings, waiting for them to join him before taking a bite. He felt that the adults were having an important conversation, most likely regarding their fates. He was curious, but could understand that Burningleaf had likely brought food as a distraction so they wouldn’t eavesdrop. And for now, Niko was content to eat, despite his curiosity.

EIGHT MOONS. TOM. KIT. LIGHTNINGCLAN.

NIKO

Hellion, Fawn

[Hellion]

Before she became a deputy she was a mother. Her small frame brought into the world two wonderful kits. A stunning she-cat with her mother's pelt and father's slightly more reserved nature. Along side her daughter came along her son. His dark russet coat was a mirror image of his father, save for his naturally short tail. He carried his mother's passion but his own flare of recklessness.

It was with her family's blessing she pushed for herself forward. Climbing the ranks to deputy and finally leader. But the lessons learned as mother were not forgotten and she didn't need the warrior code to remind her how sacred kits were.

However, the time had come. Burningleaf and Flashbrook had been given the chance to raise a litter of four kits from the darkness of leaf-bare to the warm sunny days of Greenleaf.(Ignoring the fact that it was currently raining upon the valley.)

Firestar's attention was taken by Bunringleaf as he and his male-mate joined her. Flashbrook had no words for their leader, instead he took up a protective posture by sitting closer to the kits. Dathi welcomed his presence as he encouraged Mina, Priscilla and Niko with soft purrs to eat before him. Dathi rarely ate first.

There was no surprise, she was caught off guard at the first words spoken by Burningleaf. It was then she realized that it everyone was on guard, she held their fate in her paws. With a kind smile toward the bundles of quickly growing kits, Firestar was taken back for a moment.

Memories of her own days in the nursery flooded back. Russetfall had been a diligent mate and even spent extra time hunting to ensure a large enough meal was presented to her. It was her smaller size that enlarged her appetite. Not to mention nursing two very active kits.

"I do not wish to split up your family," She told him flatly, speaking mostly to Burningleaf but also loud enough for the rest of them to hear. Dathi's ears perked up as he pulled away a bit of the rabbit's meat. He nearly choked on it as he registered what the LighingClan leader had said.

"However, we must honor what they want to do. It was under dire circumstances that they came to LighitngClan. Perhaps in a different season they would not have, so neither you or Flashbrook should try and persuade them to one life or another," Firestar went on to say, this time moving her attention from Burningleaf to the kits still huddled around their meal.

"None of you will be kicked out of LightingClan, but you all have a choice to make. Do not let the choices of your siblings reflect the choice you make for yourself," She added before focusing her attention on Dathi.

"Do you Dathi wish to stay in LightingClan and give up your loner name and become an apprentice? Or do you wish to learn from your fathers how to hunt and defend yourself before making your own home somewhere outside of LightingClan territory?" Her words were carefully chosen, but carried an immense amount weight.

It was the golden tom-kit's turn to struggle with his words. It was just moments ago he was contemplating asking for a Clan name or keeping the one his mother gave him. Did Firestar mean that by giving up his loner name he'd give up Mama? That was something he feared most of all, but from within his brave young heart something stirred. To his mama he'd always be her little Dathi to the rest of the world he'd be what ever Clan name Firestar gave him. Mama would be proud of her little boy. He then let his eyes glance toward Burningleaf then Flashbrook. They had Clan names and they were both strong, kind and generous to them all. Why not have a Clan name and be like them. He could prove that he was worth his father's love and their devotion. He had lost his mother but he wasn't going to lose his new home.

Looking toward his siblings he mustered the courage and opened his mouth to reply.

"I'd like to stay in LightingClan with a Clan-name." He told her firmly, his voice surpisingly unshaken despite the nerves that still fluttered in his belly like a bee. Firestar's smile was enough to ease the buzzing.

"I am glad, think for a moment what kind of name you would like," She told him before turning her attention to Mina. Firestar had seen the she-kit from afar and recognized her soft heart and kind nature. She needed a softer touch and it was then Firestar turned on her 'mom voice'.

"Your turn sweet kit, what do you wish to do?"




_{Amber Fawn
791 words!}

[Fawn]

M I N A ! LightningClan. 8 Moons. She-Cat. -☂- For the smallest, shyest of the litter, Mina had believed their opinions carried no weight with the all-powerful leader of LightningClan. That Firestar stood before them and asked what they wanted made Mina's heart rise like a cloud into a clear blue sky full of hope. "May I stay? I want..." Mina swallowed, glancing at Flashbrook and Burningleaf. Pulling her rainy blue eyes from her fathers, she worked up an answer in a voice so quiet, calling her Mousekit wouldn't have been a stretch. "I want to be a Clan cat." She would always be Mina. Niko would always be Niko. Dathi would always be Dathi. In their hearts, their names would be the same. But she did not mind if she was given a Clan name. Would the others like them more, if their names ended in -paw? Surely. Surely they would belong then. Mina nuzzled Dathi's flank, then Niko's, and finally Priscilla's, before she shyly went to stand between her fathers, rubbing her cheek against Burningleaf's flank, feeling her whisker's catch in her father's fur. We will stay together. A family. All of us. The little tabby-and-white she-cat gulped; fear had mixed in with the elation, chasing each other by the tails around her heart. What if Niko or Priscilla didn't want to stay? She couldn't be the thought, and trembled in troubled silence.

Word Count: 230 Words Tags: Hellion , Amber Notes: --