A Spark in the Night, part one: The Spark Ignites

Chapter fifteen

It was nearing moonhigh, and while Softcloud was night hunting, she saw a glimmer of reflected light. Curious, she approached it. She was surprised to see that it was a kit, who couldn't be more than two or three moons, with sleek black fur and glimmering purple eyes. Next to her, was a queen, and two other kits, tainted with the scent of death. They're all so thin. Softcloud picked up the small she-kit, the only one alive. "Don't worry. You'll be safe in MistClan, little one."

Softcloud pushed through the thorn burrier. "Emberstar!" she mewed around the small scrap of fur. Emberstar padded out of his den.

"Softcloud, It's moonhigh, what-" he cut off and his eyes softened as he noticed the helpless kit.

Softcloud put her down. "I was night hunting, and I found her next to a dead queen and kits. Emberstar, I couldn't just leave her to die, I had to take her. Besides, you can't say anything to refuse it, the Warrior Code says-"

"Softcloud," Emberstar interrupted her. "Of course we're taking her in. Flowerbreeze has extra milk, especially since Dovekit–" Emberstar cut off. "Did you come up with a name for her?" He changed the subject.

Softcloud nodded. "Shiningkit, because I only found her because of her shining pelt, and in honor of Shinepaw."

"Strikestone!" It was nearing dawn when Softcloud began prodding her mate awake.

Strikestone opened one eye. "Dawn patrol?" he asked, groggily.

Softcloud shook her head. "Come here, follow me!" she meowed.

Strikestone slowly began moving towards the den entrance. "What is it?" he asked again.

"I was night hunting, and I saw this glimmer in the distance, so I-"

Strikestone playfully rolled his eyes. "Get to the point."

Softcloud grinned. "I found a kit!"

Strikestone's jaw gaped. "Wow."

Softcloud swished her tail one time. "She was so helpless and small, her mother and littermates were dead, and I called her Shiningkit, because of how I found her, and to honor Shinepaw."

Strikestone glanced at her. "Who's nursing her?"

"Flowerbreeze," Softcloud meowed. "But she needs cats who really care for her, to raise her, and that could be us!"

Strikestone stopped walking. "Softcloud, we agreed-"

Softcloud looked back at him. "Please, we won't be full-on raising a kit, but we could love her as our own."

Strikestone closed his eyes.

"Please, trust me! You'll love her!!" Softcloud pleaded.

Finally, Strikestone nodded. "Okay, fine, I trust your judgment."

Softcloud smiled. "Thank you!" she mewed, as the two stepped into the nursery.

Softcloud pointed with her tail at the tiny black scrap in Flowebreeze's nest. Strikestone smiled warmly. "Poor thing." he meowed.

As he talked, Shiningkit's tiny jaws gaped in a small yawn, and she opened her beautiful lavender-colored eyes.

Strikestone smiled fondly at the kit. "She's so small."

Softcloud nodded. "She was so lucky I found her, and so are we." she meowed, as Shiningkit slowly got to her paws and wobbled towards her.

"Hi," she squeaked. "I like this place."

Softcloud smiled. "That's good."