CotS #2: A Brighter Future (currently being rewritten)

Chapter Two

Eveningprimrose, the river cats' deputy after Mothtail had been disabled, came over. She listened patiently to Silverdusk's story with a few interjections from Lightningkit and Barbpaw and finally decided to call Minkfur. Minkfur called her mother, Poppyseed, one of the elders and the wisest cat in the Clan.

"Where is the smoke?" Poppyseed asked impatiently. Her impatience when she was normally a patient cat showed them how grave the matter was.

"The forest area. The tiny strip of forest in the middle of the moor," Silverdusk answered her, worry in her eyes. Rainkit watched, intrigued.

"If it's only that part, it's not natural," Poppyseed grunted. "The Twolegs are doing something, and it's not good." Worry was also shining in Poppyseed's eyes.

"They're burning up the moor?" demanded Lightningkit, feisty as ever. She didn't seem to think it was dangerous, and there was pure exhilaration in her voice.

"Yes, little one," Poppyseed meowed gravely. She didn't seem amused by Lightningkit's bounciness and excitement about the situation. After all, Rainkit thought, frowning, what was there to be excited about? Smoke in the moor? Which was near to the river? That was bad, and Lightningkit was grinning about it.

"I'm not little!" Lightningkit protested. She didn't even seem to notice Poppyseed's grave tone.

Lightningkit's enthusiasm was infectious, so Poppyseed smiled kindly at her. "Apologies, Lightningkit, but when you're my age, everyone is little. Especially my little baby Minkfur."

"That's our leader!" Lightningkit gasped dramatically.

"And I'm her mother," Poppyseed responded.

Silverdusk also smiled at Poppyseed, but the smile wasn't as energetic as the ones Lightningkit always gave. Then again, who was as energetic as Lightningkit? Rainkit's sister was the most enthusiastic cat in the Clan, over anything at all. Rainkit was one of the quietest, most mysterious cats in the Clan. She'd never talk to anyone much unless her family was there. Even so, with a single member missing, she'd quiet down fast. Their family was missing Hiveclaw right now, so Rainkit let Lightningkit do the talking.

"What do you think my warrior name will be?" Barbpaw was asking, tail high.

"Barbclaw? Barbmouth? Barbtooth?" Lightningkit kept on guessing, gushing over the snooty she-cat without even knowing it.

"Hey, how about me?" Stormpaw asked. He leaned over to Lightningkit, eyes bright.

"Stormcloud, Stormtail, Stormstrike," Lightningkit meowed decisively, grinning at him.

"And me," meowed Shardpaw.

"Shardclaw, Shardtooth, Shard... foot?" Lightningkit stumbled on the last one, out of ideas.

Shardpaw frowned. He clearly didn't like it that he was the only one which she had trouble with.

"What about me?" Lightningkit asked, bouncing.

Stormpaw smiled. "We'll each guess one! Lightningheart."

"Lightningstrike," Shardpaw meowed.

"Lightningspark," Barbpaw meowed.

"Ooh! I like Lightningstrike and Lightningspark. Lightningheart is cringe!" Lightningkit feigned horror, and Stormpaw had the audacity to look sheepish.

"It's so fitting, though," Stormpaw said with a grin.

Lightningkit stuck her tongue out. "Wait till I'm an apprentice! I'll give you grief!"