Lillyheart's Secret

Chapter Three

     "Wavecloud." A calico she-cat leapt off a large rock, and trotted to the entrance of the camp. "Mossfang told me that you have brought a rouge into our camp. You know what I said, they must be chased out." A smug looking Mossfang sneered at Wavecloud , and Lilly resisted the urge to hiss.

     "Did Mossfang fail to mention that the rouge is a kit?" Wavecloud replied, sweeping Lilly forward with her tail.

     The she-cat turned and glared at the brown tom. "He did not tell that to me, no. That is on him, but there is still a problem here. You disobeyed my orders, and the leader's word is law. For such, you shall be punished. And the kit will be shown off the territories. You are dismissed." She spun around with disdain on her face.

     "Wait! She has no mother!" Wavecloud pleaded, choking back a sob. The entire clan brought their eyes on the frantic warrior. "She has no home." The leader's eyes softened, and she slowly padded to the small kit.

     "Is this true, young one? Have you no home, or family?" Lilly hesitated, then squeaked out the answer. Creekstar stroked the kit's cream fur. "Very well. She may stay, but Wavecloud, you must be responsible for this kit, in everything. Tonight you must move to the nursery with the kit if she is to stay."

     "Of  course, Creekstar. Thank you for your kindness, Creekstar. Come along Lilly, let's go make our nests." Wavecloud ushered Lilly forward, and the other cats went back to their lives.

     "Now Lilly, there is one thing I need to talk to you about." Wavecloud sat down next to the reeds and started gathering them. "Your name... It needs to be changed." Lilly's eyes grew wide, and Wavecloud hurried to finish. "It won't be changed much, it's just going to be more like the other kits your age."

     "What will you change it to?" Lilly mewed, distress clear on her face.

     "Lillykit," Wavecloud meowed. "All of the kits have names like that. My name was Wavekit when I was younger."

     "You mean you don't keep the same name forever?" Lilly gasped. "How would cats know what your name is if it's constantly changing? How would your upw-" Lilly broke off, realizing what she was about to say. How would your upwalkers call you? Lilly shook all over, but the strange feeling did not leave. Guilt? Embarrassment? Lilly couldn't identify it. "Lillykit is fine," She muttered, shredding the grass beneath her paws.

     "Are you sure?"

     "Yes."

      "Oh, okay then. Have you got your reeds?" Lilly nodded. "Then let's go to the nursery."

     "The nursery? What's that?" Lilly's words were muffled by the reeds in her mouth.

     "The nursery is where queens take care of the kits." Wavecloud replied, leading Lilly across the camp.

     "Queens?" Lilly blinked in confusion. So many new words to learn. And there are so many cats!

     Wavecloud sighed. "Queens are she-cats that are pregnant or nursing kits. They live in the nursery until the kits are six moons old, then they are apprentices."

     "The queens become apprentices? That doesn't make sense." Lilly waited as Wavecloud pushed her way into a large hawthorne bush. Inside, two she-cats were talking while their kits played with a reed-ball.

     The she-cats' heads popped up and started at the little kit in the entrance. "Swiftleap, Heatherwind, this is Lilly, she's our newest clan member." Wavecloud purred, giving Lilly a swift lick on the head.

     "Oh, she's darling!" The grey she-cat exclaimed. She called two of the kits over, and they raced to see her. "These are my kits, Murkkit, and Siltkit. Murkkit, Siltkit, say hello to Lilly."

     "Hi!" They chirped. Murkkit butted his head against Lilly's, and Siltkit batted the reed-ball over to her. "Want to play with us?"

     "Ok!" Lilly pounced on the ball, and three other kits joined them.

     "Dovekit, pass the ball!"

      "No way! I'm not passing it to you, Owlkit! Lilly, catch!" Lilly tossed herself into the air and nabbed the ball. Soon Owlkit, Murkkit, and Siltkit were on her tail.

     As they thundered across the nursery, Heatherwind directed them outside, where there was more room to play. "Larkkit! Help!" Lilly was trapped against the rushes, and was trying hard to protect the ball. The brown kit raced to the rescue, distracting the others long enough for Lilly to toss it to Dovekit.

     Lilly was about to dive back into the game when she heard a voice call out.  "Let all cats gather here for a clan meeting." Creekstar was perched on the page stone in the center of camp. Soon, cats were swarming out of dens, and the leader nodded solemnly. "Today we greet a new member of Riverclan. Lilly, please step forward." Murmurs broke out as Lilly strode to the stone. "Lilly, are you prepared to be one one with the clan, and to help them in all things?" Lilly nodded, and Creekstar continued. "Then I give you your new name. Lillykit!"

     The cats chanted the name, and Lillykit saw Wavecloud purring with excitement. Creekstar leaned down and touched noses with the small kit. "Welcome to Riverclan, Lillykit."

Hi!

Are guys liking the story so far? I know it's a little slow, but Lillykit has to be introduced to Riverclan before anything can happen. It'll be more exciting, I promise! (Btw, if you comment on possible names I will be selecting some to place in my story. Thank you!)