Before The Stars Came Wishing Wells -- Moon Zero

Instructions

"Hold still." "I- I'm trying-! OW!" "Bite down on that twig. It'll stop you from crying out and attracting unwanted attention." "..." "There. You can stop breaking your teeth now." A silver-gray she-cat with glittering green eyes spat out the stick she had been biting down on. Puffing, she turned to look at her kits. "Dragonfly, you said there's be /two/," the she-cat huffs, still catching her breath, "So why is there only one?" The brown-ginger she-cat beside her dips her head apologetically. "Seems I miscalculated. Apologies, Silvermoon." Silvermoon let out a croaky laugh. "You mouse-heart. Relax, for once! It's fine. Things like that happen all the time." she nuzzes the small gray tabby kitten beside her. "Aw, what a sweetie. I think I'll call her River. Eh, Riverkit? You like your name?" the she-kit mewls in what seems like agreement, causing both older she-cats to laugh. A brown tabby queen peeks through the entrance. She gasps when she sees Riverkit. "Congratulations, Silvermoon!" she purrs, crossing the room to nuzzle her friend. A small brown tom trots beside her, peeking at Riverkit occasionally. "Hey there, Woodkit." Silvermoon purrs, calling the tom-kit over with a flick of her tail. "This is Riverkit." Woodkit blinks at the younger kit. "Careful." his mother warns him. "Let him, Juniperfern." Silvermoon objects. Tentatively, he pads over towards Riverkit. "H- hi..." he mews. Juniperfern watches, cautiously. Woodkit leans towards Riverkit, giving her a small sniff. "You smell weird, but kind of nice. You're nice cat." Woodkit tells her, oblivious to the fact she had just been born and couldn't hear a word he said. After a quick glance at Silvermoon to see if it was okay, he settled down next to Riverkit, pressing his flank against hers comfortingly. Riverkit seemed to lean into his warm, fluffy fur. 'This cat is nice,' Woodkit thought, 'She will be a good friend.' Juniperfern opens her mouth to tell Woodkit to get away, but before she can, Dragonfly tackles her good-naturedly, shoving her paws over her sister's mouth so she couldn't order her kit away. Silvermoon gigges, and Woodkit would have, too, if he hadn't fallen asleep, still with his flank pressed to Riverkit's own soggy flank. ~ ~ ~ Curiousstar settles atop the Willow Tree and calls for her Clan. "May all cats old enough to scale a tree gather beneath the Willow for a Clan Meeting!" she yowls. Cinderash, Curiousstar's faithful deputy, settles next to the Willow, waiting for the Meeting to begin. After a sufficient amount of the Clan had gathered, Curiousstar made her move. "Today, we have two kits that have reached the age of six moons. Ashenkit, Cedarkit, please step forward." Ashenkit and her sister exchange excited glances, rushing to sit beside the Willow. "Ashenkit," Curiousstar continues, "From now on until the end of your apprenticeship, you shall be known as Ashenpaw. Fairgaze, you are strong and true. I expect you to pass on these traits to your apprentice." Fairgaze steps forward, xe's almost-white fur glittering in the sunlight. "I swear to you, by the Stars and the Moon, that I shall train my apprentice to the limit of her abilities, be it both physically and spiritually." Ashenpaw steps forward to tap noses with her mentor, and Fairgaze leans over to tap xe's to xe's apprentice's. "Then it is done." Curiousstar concludes, smiling at the two. "Now." "Cedarkit," she meows, "From now on until the end of your apprenticeship, you shall be known as Cedarpaw. Minkfur, you are brave and wise. I expect you to pass on these traits to your apprentice." Minkfur stepped forward, dipping their head politely. "Yes, Curiousstar. I bind myself by my own blood under the Red Moon to train my apprentice to her absolute." he swears, slicing a small cut on their paw and holding it out for the Clan to see. "Then it is done." Curiousstar nods her head respectfully, jumping down from the Willow. "Clan dismissed."