first time out [o]

[sparrowkit.]

It was actually the sunlight that aroused her, not pure curiosity. Wouldn't a normal kit feel curious to see her so-called Clan and Clanmates? The little tabby-and-white she-cat was nearly a half of a moon old now, and ready to go out of the nursery. She had just opened her eyes the other day, and like her brothers, they were robin shell blue. But already there were tints of what their real color would be - light brown. Her soft blue eyes had faded streaks of tan in them, some actually silver. Most of it was blue, though. Sparrowkit - what her mother, Howlingsong, had named her - yawned loudly, showing small , glistening white teeth. She wasn't even dangerous looking at all - she looked nothing like the hardy, battle-scarred warriors she was about to see. Soon enough I will be big and strong. Like father, she thought proudly, standing up on her nimble paws. Father is a good warrior. I want to be like him when I grow up. I want to be like my dad, Darkthorn. Sparrowkit didn't realize that RiverClan warriors weren't supposed to be quick-pawed, but bigger and fatter. She didn't know that her real father was Thistlestorm, warrior of WindClan. It would explain why she had a firm build but light paws. Stretching out her paws, her thin claws unsheathed and dug into the grass beneath her toes. A yawn parted her jaws, showing teeny tiny teeth. The little kit wasn't very dangerous looking and showed no signs of being a bloodthirsty warrior. But maybe it would show soon in a good amount of time. Sparrowkit looked over at her three brothers and mom. Howlingsong had named her littermates Slatekit, Zerokit, and Sparrowkit. In the two short weeks that she was alive, she seemed to enjoy being with her gray tabby brother the most, Slatekit. She loved them all the same, but she thought he could easily be attached to, while the others would take some time. Then an idea came into her little head. I bet I could leave the nursery while mama's not looking. She crouched low, how she thought hunting should go, and sprung out from her nest. She quietly crawled out of the nursery, eagerness lighting her eyes.

The sunlight nearly blinded her, making her close her bright blue eyes. After a moment she allowed her eyes to adjust to such high level of light. Then she stared in awe at the camp that surrounded her. Everything was so big and amazing! This was her first time out of the nursery since she'd opened her eyes not too long ago. She stood up proudly, but for a kit, she was rather small. Sparrowkit was the smallest in the litter, but she refused to be down about it. "Hey, guys!" she squeaked loudly, trying to get some attention her way. She couldn't wait to see another warrior! All she knew were that mysterious gray cat that wasn't her mother, Darkthorn, and Howlingsong. Those were the only adult cats she'd seen so far in this short life. She wanted to know more! I wanna explore! she thought, waggling her tail. Suddenly, the little kit leaped forward with powerful back legs, hooking a fallen leaf and holding it up in front of her face, eyes round. "My first catch! Just wait until I tell Howlingsong! I caught something!" She was good enough to be an apprentice now. But she didn't want to be - she wanted to stay in the nursery more. It wasn't all bad, but later she'd probably get bored of it. She flicked the golden leaf away from her claw and looked around RiverClan's camp again. Where was the warrior's den? She wanted to go in there and make such a loud racket that everyone had to wake up. Where is that gray cat? she wondered, then she was taken back to her birth. Why had the gray cat been there? She wasn't even her mother! Curiosity shown throughout her whole body. She just wanted to know! But it had been such a long time since she'd seen that cat and wondered if she would come back or not. I hope I can find her. She smelled weird when I first saw her. I also want to ask her a few things. Sparrowkit looked around, growing bored of everything. With a dramatic yawn, Sparrowkit flipped onto her back and played with her own paws, blue-tan eyes sparkling with that kit joy.

[Darkthorn]

Darkthorn

She ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout
What’s really goin’ on right now

His eyes shifted over the water, his claws out and his body still. THere was a silver streak that flitted to the surface and disappeared. As it rose again his paw shot out his pad brushing past the scaly smooth flesh of the prey. He curled his paw his claws digging into the soft flesh of the fish. He pulled his paw back toward him and stood all in the same motion. The fish rose from the river and into the air. With the greatest ease Darkthorn pushed against the ground and sprang into the air. His mouth opened and as the fish passed above him he closed his teeth around it and killed it. His paws hit the ground and he smiled to himself. Good catch. Thank you starclan He thought and flicked his ears toward the horseplace where he had left Starlingpaw. The conversation hadn't gone exactly as he expected. He shook his head and turned back toward camp and padded away. As he moved forward he thought about his life. What a lucky tom he was. He had a daughter whom loved him. One whom, well...he didn't want to think about Starlingpaw. He flicked his tail and trotted into camp. As he slid through the reeds and towards the freshkill pile to drop off his quick catch, a scent hit his nose, so strong he froze. What's she doing out of the nursery. He dropped his kill on the pile and spun in time to see his daughter Sparrowkit leap on a leaf. He sighed seeing the joy in her eyes and padded toward her.

"Wonderful catch my beautiful little warrior!" He said and licked her ears as he stood over her looking down at her beautiful face. He couldn't get enough of her. He was wrapped around her paw tighter than a vine around an oak tree. He'd give his life to protect her, and he'd do anything to bring a smile to her face. He took up the opportunity to pour a little into his daughters life. "Want me to show you the best way to catch a fish?" He asked smiling. He'd show her his technique. The one he'd still to teach Frostpaw, and the one he'd never gotten to teach Starlingpaw. He flicked his tail pushing the memory from him. He didn't want to think about her. Not now. He wanted to focus on his second chance with Sparrowkit. He knew he should be scolding her for being out of the nursery, but he wanted to badly to be a part of her life he would over look that small oversight to spend time with his daughter. She doesn't know this isn't just a finshing lesson. We're making memories she'll remember long after I'm gone. Hopefully one's she'll remember with fondness. He thought to himself and a lump grew in his throat. He forced it down gratitude and appreciation flooding his eyes. Gratitude for the gift starclan had given him in a second chance. Appreciation for the mate and kits he had, and the clan in which to raise them. He glanced around wondering whom else would be about this time of day.

But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in
And she thinks we’re just fishin’

(Lyrics credit to "Just Fishin'" by Trace Adkins)

Ooc: AWE!!! =D

[frostpaw - *]

Darkthorn had went out hunting and without his mentor, Frostpaw felt absolutely lost.

There weren't many apprentices in RiverClan. Just him and that grumpy bird-faced Starlingpaw. (I know Starling has a brother, but he's not played, so I didn't mention him. >>; ) He couldn't say he disliked the black she-cat. She was actually pretty entertaining when he got the chance to rub her fur the wrong way and then dart off. She made for interesting conversation and believe it or not, the she-cat actually got busy... leaving Frostpaw feeling alone. He couldn't complain much, really. There were kits in the nursery, Darkthorn and Howlingsong's kits, and soon, they'd be apprentices! Even though by that time, he'd be well into his warriorship. And once again, Frostpaw could not complain about that!

The day had been relatively calm, breezy, and sort of dull. It wasn't the type of thing that Frostpaw wished for on a daily basis, but it was fine enough to relax. He had settled down in the entrance of the apprentice den, staring out into the center of camp. The fresh-kill pile could use an addition or two. His earlier catch of a minnow that wouldn't even fill a kit's belly stared back at him almost eerily and Frostpaw shuddered. Creepy.

The apprentice's fishy staring contest had came to a sudden end when a voice rang through his perked ears, "Hey, guys!" The frosty tom lifted his head from his paws and looked in the direction of the pitched voice. The dappled tabby pelt made him aware that it was none other than Sparrowkit. Frostpaw wondered just what she was doing out the nursery, but he had no right to reprimand her. He knew from experience that the nursery was comforting, yet boring. Queen talk was nothing that he wanted to hear every heartbeat of the day.

Slowly, Frostpaw rose to his paws to leave the entrance of the den, only to catch the scent of his mentor and fish. Obviously, Darkthorn had just returned from his hunt and his daughter was bouncing around camp. For a moment, he was concerned if she would get in trouble and his different colored eyes flickered to the kitten, only to see her snatch up a leaf.

"Great catch!" Frostpaw exclaimed at nearly the same time as the warrior tom. It seemed they'd been spending too much time together. He watched as Darkthorn's tongue grazed over Sparrowkit's ears and he decided that then he'd properly invade the father-daughter-time just as the dark pelted warrior mentioned the best fish-catching tactic. "Why learn to catch fish when you could be meeting the bravest warrior in all the forest?" The white apprentice puffed his chest out and stretched his legs, hoping to appear taller. He spared a glance over at Darkthorn and only grinned, his tail tossing in his mentor's direction, "Darkthorn's as cool as newleaf, but he learned from me, Frostfury the magnificent."

So, it was his lame attempt at glorifying himself, all the while making sure that he didn't down Darkthorn. Frostpaw tried to keep a straight face, though his nose squinched as he held down a laugh and a purr was forming deep in the bottoms of his throat.

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[Slatekit]

[bg=e3e8e8][atrb=width,401,true][atrb=border,0,true] The tabby kitten squirmed and wiggled in his sleep, his paws flailing about cutely, though perhaps not for his littermates, and his bright blue kit-eyes were squeezed tightly shut. He heard his sister squeak and call for them to go outside with her, but he didn’t really wanna. Slatekit felt a paw from one of his brothers, though, and opened one eye a smidgen so he could half-glare at whichever clump of fuzziness did it. With a tiny sigh, he wriggled out of the chubby clutches of his brothers’ wide tummies and tumbled toward the entrance, the force of his last jerking movement causing him to land on his butt, his tail flopping wildly. Scrambling to his overly big, frosty-white paws, Slatekit squinted to try to see what lay beyond the borders of Mummy Realm. Were there… monsters? Did StarClan cats fall from the sky? What was going on out there? The kit’s former tiredness was squashed by a surge of burning curiosity. Was the world dangerous? Of course not! That wasn’t even a question that entered Slatekit’s mind; he accepted that he was immortal (his subconscious did, anyway), and that was that. As only a moon-and-a-half, there was very little he knew, though he might puff out his chest and squeak out that he knew everything – one of his few phrases. He was one of the quieter kits, always thinking, but unbearably sweet and actually affectionate, as many toms refused to be. Of course, being a kit, that was to be expected, though it would most likely continue through to his adult life, his compassion. Taking a few tentative steps forward, the kit flinched back when his forepaw tapped the ground with the light on it. What was it? Was it… magic? Was it something out of a story? Was it insanity?! Slatekit asked none of these questions, but rather found it fascinating and bright. What was it like outside, then? Fantastical and large? Or maybe it was just the size of the den, and the nursery was actually another world itself. Amazing! Crouching down, Slatekit stalked forward with his pale belly fur brushing against the comforting ground of the nursery until, alas!, he entered the light and winced, almost fully closing his eyes. With flattened ears, he became accustomed to the brightness and peered around, noticing his sister, father, and another massive cat that was… was… Slatekit looked down. The color of his paws! Did Slatekit’s paws make this other creature? If Slatekit put his paws on this other cat, would his paws disappear? He didn’t want that to happen. Even though he was quite young, Slatekit was indeed attached to his paws, both emotionally and… well, literally. Slatekit blinked some more in the sunlight, growing accustomed to its harsh glare on his sensitive blue eyes, which would change to become a more aqua-ish color when he was older. With a flick of his striped tail, the tabby kit rushed over to his sister’s side, staring around at everything with wide eyes. The cats were talking at Sparrowkit, and Slatekit didn’t know how to react or even if he should react. What was going on, then? Why was everything so massive? There were even things around that were bigger than Mama!

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[sparrowkit.]

It wasn't long before she grew bored of playing with her white-dipped paws, and pursued another game. But what was there to play without mama and her brothers? Everything was boring! She flipped over onto her belly, tail writhing like a recently caught fish. She'd spotted her next prey, this time a small, orange little animal. It was small - smaller than her paw or even her eye - and it had tiny black freckles. She peered down closely at it, getting real close so she could get a good look at it. Sparrowkit batted it tentatively, then it tried to escape! The little kit pounced on the poor ladybug, trapping it beneath one beige paw. When she removed it a couple moments later, it soared above her head quickly and desperately. Sparrowkit tried to snatch it out of the sky, but it flew away until it was no longer visible. But the insect was easily forgotten when she finally smelled a new cat. It was Darkthorn, her father! She spun around, straightening herself up. Right now, she had the usually curiosity of a kit, but later that would grow out of her. Then she'd become shy and cautious, wanting to do anything that any cat asked her. The little she-cat meowed loudly, "Oh, dad!" She looked up at the gray-and-white tom with beautiful blue eyes. "I'd love it if you taught me it! I can't wait until I'm a warrior!" That was all that she wanted to be. A lot of cats dreamed of becoming a leader, but that was the last thing on her mind. She didn't want to be leading anyone, just paying off her Clan by hunting and fighting for it. But she couldn't think about fighting - here came a huge white cat! I wonder if they'll want to play with me! she thought with delight. Sparrowkit didn't realize that Frostpaw had told her that she had a great catch, but squeaked anyway, "You're a warrior?" Her voice was full of awe. Then she saw a small smile on his face and heard a distant purr. Was he just jokin' with her? "You're kidding, right? You must be one of the apprentices." Sparrowkit spoke with such formality that one could probably think she was older... if it wasn't for her small size.

"You're pretty big to be an apprentice," Sparrowkit meowed like she knew it all. "You should be a warrior by now. When are you one? I bet you're a better hunter than..." She didn't know anyone but her parents and now this big white tom that could hunt. Then that gray cat that had been there at her birth popped into her head. If she told them about her, then maybe she'd find out why she was there. "...that weird-smelling gray cat." Her voice sounded awkward, even for her. She folded her ears onto her head out of nervousness. Then she quickly meowed, trying to make them forget about what she'd said, "Will you guys teach me something or play a game with me?" Sparrowkit flashed them a sweet yet uneasy smile. The kit looked over toward the nursery, and much to her surprise, one of her brother's were padding toward her! Slatekit! "Hiya, Slatekit! Isn't the camp big?" So far she liked Slatekit best out of her littermates. She loved them all of the same, but she could connect to Slatekit since they were almost exactly alike. She flicked her tail, then turned her attention back to the white cat. "What's your name?" she meowed, trying to cover up the fact that she'd asked for the medicine cat.

[▮ zerokit]

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[atrb=background,http://i44.tinypic.com/rupw69.png] "Speaking." || Thinking. || "Ant"

[/i] || "Flare"[/i] || "Envy"[/i] || "Shiver"[/i][/center]

A blissful sigh escaped the sooty grey and white kit's gaped maw as he thrust a hindpaw out, stretching it as far as he could until in pummeled against a furry body. Probably one of his brothers or his sister. Before he had time to withdraw his tiny paw, another set of paws flailed about and caught him in the tummy. "What's the big idea?" his high voice squeaked as his eyes opened. This was one of the first times that he had made such a movement, having been a 'late kit' and only opening his eyes just days earlier. Unlike his siblings, his eyes hadn't been a light blue. Instead, they had been a light tawny amber which was gradually beginning to darken as the days flew past. His wide gaze caught the movement of his sister, Sparrowkit, getting up from the nest but remained down, wanting to surprise his sister when he jumped up and yowled "Boo!"

But it was too late as Sparrowkit had wandered out of his line of sight and Zerokit's hearing still wasn't good yet. With a huff, he rolled onto his tummy and gazed at his mother. She was huge, larger than he was, and pretty too. Howlingsong he whispered in his mind, pausing after every syllable. A beautiful name for his lovely mother. "Are you done yet?" a husky voice growled from the depths of the kit's mind, snapping him back to reality and out of his daydream. Zerokit desperately wanted to literally claw the voices out of his head but knew it was impossible. They were etched in his brain. Leave me alone! I told you to go away and leave. me. ALONE![/I] the soot and alabaster colored tom screamed in his mind. With a shake of his head, he scrambled onto his tiny paws with every intention to sneak out of the nursery like his two siblings had done. He had never walked around the reed nest much and it showed as he stumbled toward the entrance. His thin patched tail lashed wildly as he fought for his balance in each step he took. 

Finally, he reached the entrance and stepped into the warm sunlight for the first time. Zerokit cringed as his eyes were momentarily blinded by the sudden harsh light, having been accustomed to the dim light of the nursery. "It hurts, doesn't it?" another voice purred in satisfaction. Zerokit decided to ignore it as he gazed around camp with wide eyes. It was hu-u-u-uge! He had thought that Mama was big and the nursery the size of the entire earth but this.. this was even bigger Mama and certainly him! "It's hu-u-uge! Wow!" the grey and white tabby tom squeaked at the top of his high voice. After having turned a wide circle around where he was standing, struggling to take in all the giant things his eyes passed over, he noticed several of his family members with a white cat. Who was of course, huge. Zerokit hesitated for a moment, considering going back into the nursery where he was sure he wasn't going to be in danger of being stepped on by those big cats. He wasn't much of a talker and was somewhat the loner, Sparrowkit and Slatekit always together. But crushing his fears, he clumsily ran forward towards the group of felines. As he neared the group, a sudden screech startled him and he rocketed forward instead of coming to a stop. Scampering as fast as his nimble paws could take him he yowled at the top of his voice, "It's coming! It's gonna eat meeee! Hellllppp!" With his eyes rolling in terror and head whipping from side to side. Zerokit couldn't see where he was going until.. wham! He tripped over a stone and tumble head over heels, only a nose from the strange white tom. 

"Is- is it gone?" he whimpered, staring about. His ears pricked when he caught the strange white tom's words as he scrambled to his paws. "What's a warrior? What's a newleaf? What's a Frostfury? What's a magnificent?" he asked curiously, question after question tumbling out of his mouth as soon as they came to mind when he recalled the white tom's words which he had heard from a distance. Hey, he was loud enough for the kit's weak ears to hear. "For goodness sake! Shut up already, fish - breath!" a voice growled in irritation but was ignored. Tawny amber eyes gazed at the tom with confusion. "We live in the same Clan.. but why do you look different from me?" Zerokit asked quietly, almost to himself as he took in Frostpaw's solid build before staring at his own lithe and skinny build. As if snapping out of a trance, the intense seriousness that had shadowed the tabby tom's eyes when he had asked the question vanished, leaving behind his normal shy yet daring look. "Teach me too?" he inquired when Sparrowkit mentioned something about his father teaching her something. "What's an apprentice? How come you know so many things?" the patched kit whined to his sister. "She smells yucky. Like- like.. umm.." Zerokit volunteered when his sister mentioned something about the grey cat who had been present at his birth. He blinked and cocked his head slightly, a frown emerging. "Why, my name's Zerokit. I thought you knew.." he mumbled.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- -> ant has a deep voice and makes Zerokit get crazier than he already is
- -> flare has a high, whiny voice which can be extremely irritating at times
- -> envy has a husky voice and is always the one that interrupts Zerokit when he is having happy thoughts
- -> shiver has a soothing voice and is pretty much the only one that doesn't drive Zero too mad but he does have the tendency to make Zero do things against his will

OOC: I didn't even realize that Zerokit was like magically appearing before Slatekit.. I'm really sorry.. Muse just came out Dx Uhh.. Maybe he could have been wandering about and in the meantime, Slate went to Dark, Sparrow and Frost? I fail.. Some kind of coding problem that I don't know how to fix as well...
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[Darkthorn]

Darkthorn

And he said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love,
A secret that my daddy said was just between us."

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A purr rumbled in his throat as his kits tumbled out of the nursery and came toward him. Life was too good. He smiled and flicked his tail as Sparrowkit answered. he turned as Frostpaw, his apprentice, came over and started boasting, like he was a warrior. Darkthorn lifted his paw and gently cuffed Frostpaw's ears, shaking his head. "Don't go around filling my kit's heads with nonsense Frostpaw, or you'll be checking the elders for ticks for the last two moons of your training." he said and turned back to his kits, a swell of pride filled him as three of the four of them came to the clearing. He was aware that this was their first time out and he let out a purr of satisfaction. My kits, He thought and turned his attention to his precious daughter again. He opened his mouth to answer one of her questions when a squeak of alarm sounded and Zerokit raced toward the group. Immediately darkthorns fur fluffed out and he let his eyes tear around the clearing looking for the foe that had scared his son. He'd tear them to shreds. Seeing nothing he chocked it up to another small episode of Zerokits. He didn't understand that kit, but he shook his head good naturedly and turned to slatekit who had joined them as well.

He could tell that Sparrowkit was quickly establishing herslef as the leader of the litter, and his heart swelled with joy. He wanted nothing more than for her to be the greatest warrior she could be. As he thought on his dreams for his kits, he realized that his role in their lives would be crucial. He hadn't taken this into account with his first litter, but now the weight of his responsibility threatened to overcome him. He dug his hind claws into the ground and made a vow to himself. I will love my kits no matter what path they choose. If they hate me, still I will love them, if they cut me down, and find that I'm not who they thought, still I will love them. I will strive to be the best father I can. Starclan willing I'll see these kits have their own, and perhaps I'll have passed on something to them. He looked at Frostpaw and knew that he too was someone that he included in that vow. He wasn't kin, but he was his apprentice and that was a bond that could never be severed. One so strong that the trials of warriorship would never break it. His sea-green eyes flashed with determination but it was gone as quickly as it had come. As he looked at his kits and his heart swelled again with pride and love for all of them. Even Starlingpaw and Blackpaw.

He turned his attention to Zerokit, whose words had tumbled from his tongue like water over a cliff. "Slowdown little one." He said flicking him with his tail gently. "You'll learn all those things soon enough. right now your job, all your jobs is to be kits, to have fun, to get into trouble, and to make me proud." He said and flicked his ears. "I'm already so proud of you." hw felt his words leave his mouth and his eyes flickered over his kits, Riverkit must still be sleeping. His eyes flicked toward the apprentice den wondering if Starlingpaw and Blackpaw were inside, or if they were out on patrol. Howlingsong was probably asleep in the nursery. She could do with a walk by the river, perhaps he would suggest that later. He shook the thoguhts from his head and turned abck to his kits, his eyes dancing with pride and joy.

He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.
It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."

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(Lyrics Credit to "Love without End" by George Strait)

[frostpaw - *]

He could hear the shock in Sparrowkit's voice as she asked if he was a warrior, and with a dignified nod, Frostpaw grinned down at her. And then, the little brown kit showed that she was just too smart for her own good. "Me? An apprentice? 'Course not. I've long since been through my training."

"You're pretty big to be an apprentice. You should be a warrior by now. When are you one?"

[/b] She continued on afterward, mentioning some weird smelling gray cat, but Frostpaw decided to ignore it, laughing quietly to himself. He could already tell that Darkthorn and Howlingsong definitely had their paws full.

Frostpaw - or should we say, Frostfury - would have continued with his ramblings if it hadn't been for the swipe he earned from Darkthorn. His mentor's white paws made contact with his ears and dramatically, Frostpaw reeled with a quiet yelp, pressing his body flat to the ground as if he had been pounced on. The threat to his training didn't go unheard, and unsure if the warrior was teasing or not, he decided that lying to the newest members of RiverClan wasn't such a great idea. "Alright, alright, Darkthorn. Got it." The apprentice mumbled as he straightened back up.

Another kit tumbled from the nursery, this one much quieter than his sister. The tabby kit had looked down at his paws, then to the apprentice, and Frostpaw wondered just what was going through the kits mind before he moved over to his littermate's side. "Welcome to the world outside the nursery, filled with surprises and mystery." He greeted eagerly, wishing that he made a good first impression on the kits. Being close to Darkthorn, it was natural that Frostpaw wanted to befriend the new additions to the Clan. In a sense, they felt like the family that he lacked and the building attachment was something that the white tomcat was becoming fond of.

If Frostpaw was correct... there were two more kits. Both toms. He peered into the nursery, curiously, wondering just where the other scraps of fur were. His eyes focused on the dim den and he flinched as the next kit came out wailing frantically. "It's coming! It's gonna eat meeee! Hellllppp!"[/i] Frostpaw darted to his paws hurriedly, blue and gold eyes searching for the thing that spooked the small kit. His tail lashed, though as he saw nothing, he proceeded to nose the tom up after his rocky fall. "Bad dream?" Frostpaw guessed, feeling the fur on the back of his neck flatten. He'd really gotten worked up, but felt his high emotions running low when the previously terrified kitten began to churn out questions from his made-up story to Sparrowkit. Darkthorn handled it quickly, and just as he feared, the conversation was starting to get terribly sentimental and mushy. He saw the enjoyment in Darkthorn's eyes, and decided not to tease him about being such a pansy. Already, Frostpaw knew that he was going to be a good influence on this litter of his despite Starlingpaw's obvious dislike for him and her mother.

"Before any games start, I wanna make sure I have everykit's name right. Don't tell me either, Darkthorn!" Frostpaw began, eyeing the three bundles of fluff that sat before him. He scooted closer so that he was only pawsteps in front of them and remembered back to when he was first introduced to them. Already, they had come a long way from being the crying, smelly, whiny kits that couldn't do much at all for themselves. His tail pointed to the only she-kit and he grinned. It would be hard to forget her name. "Sparrowkit," The quiet gray tabby was next and his ears flicked as he thought back. "No, not Riverkit..." Frostpaw hesitated for a second, before stating confidently, "Slatekit," And finally, the white and gray splashed kit, "Zerokit, right?" It was an odd name, one that he'd never heard throughout the forest, but that just made this kit in particular unique. And unique was good.

"I'm Frostpaw... an apprentice, but just as good as any warrior." The white tomcat glanced back at his mentor and rose to his paws, wondering just what they could demonstrate to the kits or play. Might as well make their first time out a moment to remember! Darkthorn had mentioned the best way to catch fish earlier and... suddenly it dawned on Frostpaw that he didn't even know the best way. A few secrets had been tossed his way, but nothing that sounded that important. "Fish catching is pretty tricky. They're shiny, slippery little creatures that can breathe underwater. A fish'll chew your nose off if you get too close." Well, everything but that last part was true and Frostpaw forced back a smile as he lightened his position on his paws, angling his body so that his shadow wasn't directly in front of him, pretending that he was hovering over the river. "Can you kits stand like this?" He looked over at Darkthorn, wanting his approval. He wouldn't want to teach the kits the wrong thing.
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