Lost in the Shadows

Nightwhisper was off on a lone hunting patrol when she caught the sent of a small mouse. Well it's better then nothing. she thought as she went into a hunter's crouch. Slowly inching her way to the tiny creature as its ears twitched. She would have to be carfull not to scare it away.

A young kit, about four moons old, wandered through a small wooded area near the edge of ThistleClan's territory. Despite being scared, the black furred kit didn't utter a noise as she searched for her parents. Eventually she stopped and curled up in the tiny bit of shelter that a small bush provided. Her bright blue eyes stared at the soggy ground. The young kit had reached the edge of that small wood and was now closer to the marshlands that made up most of ThistleClan's territory.

Just a few mouse-whiskers closer. Nightwhisper thought as she crept closer. The mose too busy eating a seed failed to notice the black cat that was nearly on top of it. The young cat let out a growl and clawed the mouse spooking it. It took off trying to flee but Nightwhisper wasn't going to let it get away. the mouse was heading towards the bush close to the black kit.

The young kit turned her blue eyes from the ground, realizing that there was a mouse running straight towards her. She smiled, remembering those times when she had watched her mother pounce at her prey.Thinking on her feet, the young kit leaped at the mouse, landing right on top of it.
However, she didn't know how to kill it. The kit just held it there, unsure of what to do next as it started squealing.

Nightwhisper heard the panic sounding squeks comeing from the mouse. "Must of hurt itself." she mused as she ran into the bush. Coming out of the bush she was a small black kit with her paws on the mouse. Thinking of the Warrior Code she spoke softly to the small cat. "You know it's not a good idea to be here alone." she said keeping one eye on the mouse and another on the black kit.

The young kit just looked up at the older cat, tilting her head to the side slightly. Her blue eyes then looked back down at the mouse still squealing under her paws. She hoped that this older cat knew what she was supposed to be doing with it.

This kit is so young yet she caught a mouse. the black cat thought. "I'll show you what to do. But first you need let the mouse go." she said putting her paw on the mouse's tail not wanting it to get away. She also noted that the kit didn't utter a word, She has to be at least 4 moons old. So she should be able to talk. the older black cat thought.

The young kit did as she was told and let the mouse go. It quickly tried to scramble back onto its feet and run away. The kit however, watching with wide curious eyes as she waited for the older cat to show her what she was supposed to do.

Nightwhisper took the mouse in her mouth and made a swift movement and snapped its neck. "This is the best way to make sure that your kill doesn't get its blood everywhere; ok? Where are your parents? Your not from the other clans." the she-cat stated. Nightwhisper was wondering how long this kit had been on her own.

The young kit nodded as the warrior explained that the best way to kill prey was to snap its neck. Quick, efficient and didn't cause the mouse any unnecessary pain. She then looked up at Nightwhisper as she asked about her parents. The young kit opened her mouth as if to say something but then shut it again and just shook her head.

Nightwhisper sighed when the kit was about to say something but stopped herself. "My name's Nightwhisper. What's your name? You don't have to tell me but you can try to show me." she said trying to make the kit feel comfertable.

The young kit looked up at Nightwhisper with her bright blue eyes. Luckily for her a jet black bird conveniently fluttered past at that moment. Most likely a crow or raven.
The kit nodded towards it as it flew away.

Nightwhisper looked up in time to see a jet black bird flying off. "Raven." she said out loud. she looked down at the small black kit. "Your name is "Raven" huh?" she mused. She smiled at the young kit thinking of taking her to the Clan camp, she couldn't just leave the kit alone out in the forest. "Come with me, little one." Nightwhisper said fliking her tail for the kit to follow. She picked up the mouse and started walking.

The little kit nodded at the word 'Raven'. She smiled, her blue eyes suddenly holding more emotion than anyone would think a young kit could have.
Nightwhisper beckoned the young kit to follow her, and Raven obliged. The black furred kitten happily bounded after the warrior without question, almost as if someone had told her that everything would be alright if she did.

Nightwhisper kept her ears perked on the way back to camp but kept a closer eye on the kit making sure that she was still fallowing. "It's not vary far now but becarful on the way in. There are thistles along the barrior. If you have any sort of trouble just let me know ok?" she explained as they drew closer to the camp.

Raven just nodded, picking her way through the driest parts of the marshes that she could find.
As they reached the camp, the young kit noted the earlier mentioned thistles that surrounded it. She would make sure not to get herself pricked by one of those, the thorns looked like they could be quite painful if she got any number of them stuck in her pawpads.

Nightwhisper seemed to slither around the thistles and came into the clearing. She looked behind her to see if Raven was having any difficulty. She could hear some mummers from some of the cat's that were in the claring. Ignoring them the kept her eyes fixeated on the enterence.

The small kit weaved around the thorny plants as if she had been doing it her entire life. Raven's curious blue eyes glanced around at the other cats as she entered the camp.
Her jet black pelt admittedly stood out against the sandy brown and green colors that made up most of the camp, but she didn't seem to care much as her curiosity got the better of her.

"Come on let me put this into the fresh-kill pile then we can go see the Leader ok?" Nightwhisper said to the kit as she started to look around. With the mouse in her mouth Nightwhisper went straight over to the fresh-kill and placed it near the bottom for an aprentece to get for whatever reason. "Stay close Raven." Nightwhisper stated not wanting to lose track of the small kit.

The little kit nodded., observing Nightwhisper's every move as she put the prey on the pile. Her blue eyes then once again turned back to the other cats as she tried to deduce which one would be this leader that Nightwhisper had mentioned.

Nightwhisper headed towards the Leader's den. "Raven this is the Leader's Den. The Leader is the one in charge of the Clan. So be on your best behavior, understand?" she asked the kit. She turned her head slowly to the den, "Duskstar. You in there?" she called into the hole.

A quiet yawn could be heard from the depths of the den. Rustling followed this until finally a black she-cat emerged. Her piercing blue eyes locked onto Nightwhisper. "What was it you needed?" she asked, whiskers twitching slightly. As she noticed the young cat beside of the warrior, she began sizing her up. She seemed strikingly familiar but Duskstar just couldn't figure out why. With a mental shrug she returned her gaze to Nightwhisper.

Raven nodded to Nightwhisper as the warrior told her to be on her best behavior.
The young kit watched as the clan's leader rose and padded out of her den. Her curious blue eyes not missing a single movement as Duskstar 'sized her up'.

With a respectful bow Nightwhisper awnsered her Leader's question. "I found this Kit whil I was out hunting. I don't think she can talk but she motioned to a raven when I asked her her name. Raven this is Duskstar the Clan leader." Nighwhisper explained to Duskstar and added to the kit. The kit was very observent no doubt she would make a fine Warrior.

"Pleased to meet you young one. I assume you have no family. Well, that's okay. All of ThistleClan can be your family. That is, if you are willing little kit." Duskstar hopped down from her 'pedestal' and stood beside Raven. "Of course, this isn't an offer I make lightly. There will be pain and sorrow. But above all, there is love and friendship, fun and a bit of war. But hey, now I'm being redundant." The leader winked at her last statement. On normal circumstances, she wouldn't have offered this at all. But ThistleClan needed to keep growing in strength and having apprentices and kits were the only way it could happen. Besides, the kit should easily adapt to ThistleClan ways of life.