Pressing On {{CLAN MEETING}}

[Hawky]

Redstorm surveyed the land in front of him, his new territory. He was glad that they had found the place quickly, they had been lucky. They had needed a place to keep the newborn kits, along with their weakened mother. Breathing in a deep sigh, he glanced about, looking for his warriors and the others. There was still a big part of him missing that he had left back in the Brookclan borders. Hailstorm. He missed her terribly, especially since now he was more lonely than ever. Of course he hadn't much time to deal with such things as his social life at the moment, but he missed the glances of encouragement that he knew she would have been sending his way, or the way that when he really needed it, she would have brushed up against his pelt and given him a quick lick to give him the confidence he needed. It was hard enough trying to start up the clans again, and now he was alone. Not even his deputy trusted him, and how could he expect Ravenflight to? There were holes perforated into the tapestry of Cherryclan's brotherhood, and he wasn't sure how to fix them yet, other than wait, hoping they would thread themselves together on thier own. But at least they had found somewhere to stay, and they had a safe place for the new kits to grow up. He would have to perform the ceremonies for the them soon. It had been long enough, and they were much overdue to be apprenticed.

Then again, why couldn't he just do it now? It would bring up the morale of the clan to say the least, and would probably give them a little extra energy after working so hard for the last few moons to ready not only their camp, but their territory as well. Redstorm narrowed his eyes in a small smile and hopped up onto the closest thing that was above all the other cats, a large dead tree stump covered with moss and creepers, but much higher than anything else in the camp. It was a good time to give more kits mentors, especially now that they could be trained in their new home. Now that the clan had had a chance to check out the territory, it would be easier to think of places to train them. Taking another deep breath, Redstorm called out to his clan, "Cats of Cherryclan, gather around the Half-tree for a clan meeting."

((Yes, I know that this post is much like the beginning of the other thread, but I've been really short on time lately and I wanted to get this thread going for the kits, sorreh ))

[Wazo]

It's hard to imagine that energetic Fawnpaw would be able to sleep soundly before such an important day, but if one would peek into the nursery, they would see a bundle of fluffy brown fur sleeping soundly next to her mother and siblings. Her face was tucked into the nook of her delicate paws and her side rose up and down slowly with tiny breaths.

Upon hearing the words of their leader, she stirred, blinking the sleep out of her bright brown eyes and stretched her slender legs one by one. Then, as if being hit by a bolt of lighting, she sat upright. Today was the day!

Not just any day. The most important day in her short life so far. Today, her and her siblings would recieved their mentors. Fawnpaw could hardly contain the excitement spewing out of her little body. She turned around to her brother and sister.

"Wake up, wake up!" she cried with joy, prodding them with her tiny tabby striped paws. Then without even waiting to see if they had heard, she bolted out of the nursery. Sitting outside the nursery entrance, her tail swished back and forth with enthusiam as she impatiently waited for her mother.

[D a R K - R a H]

))Technically still Fawnkit, Wazo.((

It was still early. At first, she merely groaned lightly, moving her paws as if to brush away the awakening. But moons of living with kits had had its toll on her. Just the sound of Fawnkit's movement (yes, she could tell exactly which one of them it was) brought her right back to the waking world. With a small sigh, she opened her amber eyes, blinking any remaining sleep from them. Sure enough, there was her little Fawnkit prodding her siblings with a small tabby paw. The dark queen sat up slowly, yawning widely. As her litter came back into focus, Brackenwing couldn't stop a look of pride from filling her eyes. Sure, it was kind of strange that all three of her kits looked almost exactly like their mother, but the young tabby queen didn't mind too much. At least this way her kits wouldn't grow up wondering why they looked like a cat they didn't know. Fawnkit was the closest like her father. Her fur was lighter than the other two, more laced with brown than Deerkit or Stagkit. Brackenwing's only son was her closest look-alike. He had the same dark tabby fur. Deerkit's tabby fur had a more mottled look to it. She had slightly less brown than Fawnkit, but her stripes were less pronounced on most of her body.

Her smallest daughter's body quivered with excitement. A new sort of emotion filled the queen's face. Sure, she was excited to see her first litter become apprentices, but... As they got older, there was no doubt that all three of them would grow further and further from their mother. And Brackenwing absolutely hated the thought of not having their warm bodies curled up next to her at night. At least I have one hope... Her amber eyes turned towards the nursery's newest denmate. Gray tabby Ashenwind still had some time before her kits came, but it wasn't that long. And Ashenwind was certainly too young to handle an entire litter all by herself. Brackenwing herself had had Clearpool to help her out in her earliest days as a mother. Just the thought of brand new kits sent a light shiver down her spine. And she couldn't wait to see what their personalities and appearances turned out like! The kits of Clearpool's outgoing and friendly Pantherstorm and shy, loyal Ashenwind. Brackenwing certainly looked forward to it. All the same, having her own kits grow up still filled the tabby she-cat with emense feelings of bittersweet happiness.

Speaking of the ceremony... Her black-tipped ears perked up at the sound of Redstar's voice. With another light sigh, Brackenwing pulled herself to her feet, her tail flicking about her paws. "Come on," she urged, following Fawnkit's example by prodding her other two kits with a sheathed paw. Deerkit's amber eyes opened up at once, as if she hadn't been very much asleep at all. "Your ceremony is right now."

Deerkit's tail was the only part of her to show her excitement as she pulled herself to her dark paws and slipped from the den ahead of her mother. But she couldn't maintain the stillness. As soon as her amber eyes locked on Fawnkit, the energy sprang from her, and she leapt onto her sister with a playful cry. Her soft, young teeth nipped playfully at Fawnkit's brown tabby neck before she quickly rolled off her. Deerkit's eyes locked on Redstar, and she padded forward as if nothing had happened. Still, her small tail flicked lightly back and forth.

Who would it be? The question kept echoing about in her head. Maybe Arcticwind? The pale tabby tom seemed perfectly ready for an apprentice. Or perhaps Pantherstorm? She doubted that one; he was still a very young warrior. Ashenwind would have made an excellent mentor. But Redstar won't choose her; not with her kits coming soon. Frowning lightly as she pondered, Deerkit lifted one paw to run her tongue over it. She felt a pelt brush hers and knew at once it was her mother joining her. Deerkit continued licking her paw, pretending she didn't know Brackenwing was there. Suddenly, a paw caught her in the side, and Deerkit tumbled over. Without a word, her mother's tongue was rasping over her dusty fur. Deerkit let out a snort of annoyance, but didn't move to stop her. Might as well let her get it out of her system... she thought to herself, glancing towards Fawnkit as if pleading for help. Why did her mother have to embarrass her? And in front of Redstar, too!

[Stormeh]

Ravenflight turned his cool, golden gaze towards where Redstar
stood. He took a deep yawn and stood. He extended his legs in a
stretch, claws sliding out of their sheaths as his toes moved apart
from one another. He had been out late last night on a patrol and
still was feeling the slightest aftermath of it.

Yes, everything had been peaceful, but the deputy still wasn't quite
sure about what the park had to hold in store for the Clanners. It
was best to keep a watchful eye, wasn't it?

The ebony tom padded towards the stump where Redstar stood. He
bowed his head respectfully, allowing his thoughts about the leader
to trickle through his head. What was the tom thinking about? What
could he be thinking about besides the Clan, though? Running
a Clan was a demanding, full-time responsibility. Surely nothing else
could be of any more importance to him.

And besides, he had proven himself quite a bit. Ravenflight didn't
trust him completely [And why would he? He was from BrookClan,
the Clan of traitors!], but he was doing his best, and that accounted
for something...well, lots of things. He was beginning to be won
over by the tom, but, at times, he found himself just being forgotten
about as being the deputy. In previous situations, such as with
Nightstar and his deputies, the deputy had been consulted with
about everything from Gathering announcements to mentors for
kits. And these kits were going to be given mentors today and he
didn't know who a single mentor was! He felt like perhaps most of
his annoyance came from the fact that he wasn't spoken to most of
the time, not just the fact that he was a BrookClanner. After all,
Ashenwind had turned out to be a perfectly loyal warrior, and
Redstar had done nothing to give any cat doubts.

Ravenflight sighed. He just wanted to feel more like a deputy in his
own Clan. By his rejection of Redstar, he felt like Redstar had
rejected him, too, and that was his reason for not trying to reconcile
their differences and just get along.

What a pitiful existence.

&&

A heap of tortoiseshell fur littered the medicine cat's den. The ears
of the cat twitched and Tawnystone raised her head. Her blue eyes
seemed to register nothing and fear crossed them for a moment
before she finally relaxed. She looked around, making sure that
Firestone hadn't seen her.

She had just been awoken by Redstar's voice from a horrendous
nightmare. One of her final days in the forest had been the day of
Nightstar's death, and it had been replayed in her unconscious
mind. She hated Fernstar, she hated the foxes, she hated the cats
who killed her beloved. She even hated the cats who had forgotten
about him. But what was she doing to keep him alive in memory?

Nothing.

He walked in her dreams, though, often. He allowed her to walk
with him on many nights. They would sit in StarClan's tall grass and
stare at the beautiful stars, tails intertwined. She had also been
given the privilege of being able to see their daughter, Goldenwing,
in RavineClan. Her life in StarClan was better than the one she lived
in CherryClan by far. She could live with Nightstar and love him with
all of her heart, all of it that wasn't reserved by what they had
made, the form that roamed RavineClan's territory without a single
hint of the knowledge that the deceased leader and the miserable
medicine cat alone held.

And Tawnystone knew she was getting old. The tortoiseshell aged
much more quickly than her brother because of her heavy burden on
her heart and mind. She didn't have much longer before she didn't
have to just join her love at night in her dreams, she knew.

She had but one more mission:

To see Goldenwing and tell her the truth.

The she-cat exited her den and sat at the very front of it to watch
the ceremony. The kits would be fine warriors, she was sure; they
were Brackenwing's, and she was a fiery she-cat if she had ever
seen one. The she-cat had taken fine care of her kits.

As Tawnystone watched them, she sighed.

She would have given anything to see her Goldenwing at
moments like this.

&&

Ashenwind padded from the nursery as she heard Redstar's calling.
She was excited for her new-found friend. What an experience it
must be to see your kits become apprentices right before your eyes!

She wondered if she would be able to watch this moment happen to
her own kits. She had felt them kick every single day now; they
moved so much! Certainly they were becoming warriors in the
womb. She let out a tiny purr at the thought.

As the little lives began to develop inside of her, she was starting to
like the idea of them more and more...not that she really had a
choice about them. They were coming whether she liked and
wanted them or not. Her excitement grew along with them,
however, leaving no place for fear or problematic thinking. They
were hers, and she was theirs. They depended on her; they thrived
because of her.

She stared at Brackenwing's kits. Would she feel like her heart was
about to burst with pride when her kits became apprentices? And
what about warriors? Would she even live to see them achieve that
rank? Would they live to see themselves earn it? What would their
apprenticeships be like?

She only prayed to StarClan that all would go well with them from
the moment of their birth, the moment that they breathed their first
little breaths and let out their first shrill mews, until long after they
were warriors, preferably elders.

She sat down slowly, her bulging belly a small obstacle in this
action.

CherryClan's newest little warriors would be here soon.

[Wazo]

Fawnkit joyfully ran after her sister and mother, leaving her brother sleeping behind in the nursery. He had better wake up soon she thought, thinking it would be horrible to miss your own ceremony, or worse, have to be waken up and brought in late by your mother. Fawnkit made a face as she thought about it and sat down with her family.

Her whiskers twitched in amusement as she watched her mother forcibly clean Deerkit. She almost let out a purr of laughter when it dawned on her that she would probably be next. Her large brown eyes were sympathetic for her sister and she looked away, hoping that Brackenwing would forget about tiny Fawnkit. Maybe Stagkit would wake up soon and he would be next.

Instead Fawnkit looked around the camp clearing, curiously watching the other clan members with interest. Fawnkit was infamous for poking her nose into other cat's business and no doubt the clan would be hearing about her apprenticeship all day. Ravenflight looked irritated, Tawnystone sad, Ashenwind, a little of everything. Wisely she decided not to go bug any of them. It was her special day after all and she didn't want Brackenwing getting mad at her. And she had to start acting like an apprentice from now on. With a little sigh, she wondered if it would be any fun.

[Raven-chan]

In a corner of CherryClan's Nursery, a dark-tabby lump of fur was sleeping. All you could really see was the dark brown fur, tabby stripes, and the rising and falling indicating that some sort of breathing process was occuring. Other than that, it just looked like a lump of fur.

In truth, it was Stagkit. The smells that stayed with him in the night were gone- vanished. Where were they? Hmmm...what was happening? Clan...clan what? CLAN MEETING? A tangled mass of long legs and bones and limbs shot up, racing towards the Nursery exit, tripping and stumbling over one another as each long leg tried to beat the other. Stagkit hadn't grown into his lanky limbs quite yet...he was getting there, but not yet.

With such momentum the poor kit had no choice but to go hurtling into his mother, with a quiet "oof!" of shock as he bounced back onto the ground, his legs all tangled, his tail twitching behind him. With his typical charming smile, Stagkit looked up, meowing excitedly in his kit-voice, "There's a Clan meeting, Mama?"

[D a R K - R a H]

))Hawky? Your turn to post...((

[Hawky]

<sup>Redstar looked about to make sure that everyone had shown up that needed to. There were a few missing, but everyone that was involved was standing below him, looking up expectantly. This was still new to him, and he could hardly help his claws sheathing and unsheathing into the damp, dead wood beneath his paws. There was a thrill to being the leader of a clan, and this was definitely one of the times when he felt it most. Redstar could see the excited faces of the kits that knew their time was coming, it was time to become apprentices, and not long after, they would become warriors. It was the epitome of what clan life was all about, learning to fight, to protect, to hunt, to grow. A fresh breeze encouraged him as it ruffled through his dark-striped fur and the sun shone through it, making him look like a beacon of fire above his clan. As he searched the eyes of his warriors, he stopped on Brackenwing, the mother of the kits that were soon to become apprentices. She was cleaning one of her kits, much to it's protest. Redstar's mouth pulled up into the closest thing to a smile that he could manage. He didn't smile much now adays, not with Hailstorm gone and no one else to give him much reason to smile. He looked down at the kit that was struggling with dismay in her mother's paws, giving Deerkit a quick wink as he turned his gaze back to his clan.

"Cats of Cherryclan," Redstar's voice boomed throughout the camp, and it gave him a little extra burst of pride and confidence. It was truly his clan now. "Today is one that you have been waiting for for many moons. We have recently aquired a few new warriors, and they've made excellent additions to our clan. They've been invaluable while we searched out our new territory, and have kept their word to keep the clan safe from harm and work hard to follow the warrior code. The seasons have smiled upon us and granted us new kits to apprentice, and today they enter into their training to become warriors. For those of you that aquire new apprentices today, we honor you with your diligence and hard work for the clan, showing for everyone to see that you have been true to your clan and can handle the task of teaching another to do the same." Redstar paused a moment, building the tension in the group of cats that stood below him, all worthy of the chance to prove themselves. After the treachery of the old clan, he could harldy complain about this new one, the ones that had come with him to the new home and re-built everything, without complaint or hesitation. They had all helped, and were settling in well when it came to the clan rivalries. There was hardly any traces of the fact that this clan had once been two.

Redstar turned his gaze back to the three kits, close to their mother and looking excited. He could hardly contain his own excitement, this being the first litter of kits that he would apprentice. Redstar searched Brakenwing's eyes, almost asking for permission even though he knew she would give it. Gazing down at the three kits in turn, he called out again, so that everyone could hear him. "I would like the kits of Brackenwing to step forward, Fawnkit, Deerkit, and Stagkit." He didn't announce the names of the mentors yet, he wanted it to be more of a suprise than anything else. The cats that he was giving apprentices to deserved it most, and he didn't want to spoil it just yet. He gazed down at his warriors again, at the faces of excitement that shone all around him. Days like this are what made him love being the leader of his clan, days when he could almost smile again. If only Hailstorm were here to share it with him...

OOC: sorreh XP, I keep getting so busy lately</sup>[/sup]

[D a R K - R a H]

Lucky for her, Brackenwing seemed distracted by other cats coming to the meeting and released Deerkit before she was completely finished. The small tabby scurried just far enough away that both her siblings were between her and her mother. Stagkit had joined them, his dark tabby fur still showing the signs of sleep. He stumbled forward, long legs getting tangled. It was strange; where Fawnkit and Deerkit remained small and kit-like, their brother was already beginning to shoot up. Didn't things like that usually happen the other way around? She shrugged the thought off, purring a small laugh as her brother bounced off their mother.

"There's a Clan meeting, Mama?"

Deerkit rolled her eyes. She stood and stepped over to her brother, prodding him with one paw. "Not just any meeting, stupid. We're becoming apprentices!" She couldn't contain her excitement and a rare grin spread over the mottled tabby's face. She was about to say more when her attention was forcibly removed from her brother's face. A dark warrior moved lithely past them. A look of awe spread across Deerkit's face. Now, there's the perfect mentor! His fur was mostly dark, but rich and rippling over thick muscles. Her pale amber eyes stayed glued on Ravenflight as several other cats joined them. the young tabby didn't even glance about expectantly for her uncle Firestone, instead watching the clan deputy with a look of sheer awe. Ravenflight didn't have an apprentice, either! There was actually a good chance that one of them would be apprenticed to him. She grimaced slightly. Deerkit didn't think she'd be able to bare watching Stagkit become his apprentice. That'd be horrid, especially if Stagkit decided to rub it in... She frowned.

Turning her gaze to her two littermates, Deerkit wondered which warriors would be best suited to each kit. Petaldance would probably be good for Fawnkit, but Deerkit wondered if the young warrior had enough patience for such an apprentice. But it didn't seem to her that Fawnkit would do so well under a warrior like Ravenflight. She needed a mentor who would give her straight-forward praise, instead of pointing out every little problem with what she did. Stagkit, on the other hand, would probably do well with any warrior. She doubted he'd have much problem with even the dark deputy, although she felt he'd want someone who was a tad more fun. She was just about to consider who would be best for herself when a strong voice rang out over the camp.

"I would like the kits of Brackenwing to step forward, Fawnkit, Deerkit, and Stagkit."

Her eyes widened. The leader had specifically said her name! She blinked lightly, glancing at her siblings. It felt strange, their names echoing about camp. They were three names that would bind the three of them together long after they became warriors. It would be pretty hard not to understand that Fawnkit, Deerkit, and Stagkit were all of the same litter. Especially with their very-similar pelts. But she didn't want to keep pondering. Feeling herself a bit brave [not to mention, wanting to catch Ravenflight's eye] Deerkit took a few steps forward before her siblings. Her small amber eyes stared up at the only leader she'd ever known, swallowing her nervousness as she tried to hold her head high. She could almost feel her mother's prideful gaze on her back...

[Wazo]

A little shiver ran down Fawnkit's back, but not from fear or worry. Hearing her name and her sibling's names ringing throughout the camp had established this moment. The clan was here for them, to recognize their start to becoming full members of this clan, and not just dopey kits in the nursery.

The golden brown kit looked back at her mother, warm brown eyes meeting Brackenwing's. Her mom's were shining with pride, at her three kits becoming apprentices. Another though suddenly struck Fawnkit. Yesterday was their last night in the nursery. Their last night cuddled next to their mother, waking up to her voice, and to her siblings. They might grow apart, they would make new friends, they wouldn't spend their time together anymore.

But she couldn't let that thought scare her. She had to be strong, for her mother and for her siblings. She didn't want Brackenwing to worry about her after all. She smiled at her mother and then turned back. Her eyes blinked as Deerkit moved first. Usually it was outgoing Fawnkit with the courage. Not to be outdone, she stepped forward as well, waiting for her brother to join them.

[Raven-chan]

His heart thudded in his chest as their names rang out through the clearing. Fawnkit, Deerkit and Stagkit. The three kits of CherryClan, soon-to-be apprentices. A shiver ran down his spine as Stagkit stood, arranging his legs in a normal fashion walking forward as calmly as he could in this climactic moment.

But the excitement was fizzing all through him, all around him, nearly tangible in the oh-so familiar Clan air. Stagkit, the only tom of the litter, Brackenwing's only son, stood proudly next to his smaller sisters, not daring to look back. He wondered where uncle Firestone was, their laughing, teasing uncle, who always teased Stagkit for growing so tall so quickly, out of order with his sisters.

At this point, it didn't matter. He was becoming an apprentice! He looked up at Redstar, amber eyes almost exactly like his mother's shining in bright anticipation. Now, the next question rang in his head over and over again...who would be his mentor?