A new -life, a new }~~~beginning

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

Moonkit stepped out from the Nursery. So much to see and explore, but that was of another kit's interest. Moonkit wanted to learn about it all. He decided to start by seeing what the Medicine Cat was doing, so he trotted over to Littlesong's den."Hi Littlesong," he mewed faintly.

[SHADE. :D]

"Moonkit!"
The anxious voice rang from outside the nursery, followed by Cherrysmoke. The red-brown queen looked annoyed and worried. "Moonkit, don't go too far." The she-cat lay down in the sunshine, enjoying the warmth of the day. Her two moon old kits were already causing her stress by running off. They had found their eyes, ears, and paws recently and now were hard to stop from running riot. She let out a blustery sigh, closing her green-blue eyes.

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

Moonkit tipped his head down lightly and looked up at his mother. "I'm only going to see Littlesong," he mewed. "I'd rather not rough around."

[brook]

Littlesong had been sorting out juniper berries. Taking out the bad ones and smushing some for different remedies. He sighed and took out a rotten and then chewed a good one and put if in a knock on the cave wall. Things never seemed to change but he had much to do these days. Suddenly, he heard the voice of young Moonkit. He looked up at him with his one good eye and smiled. "Hello Moonkit,"he meowed and gruntted, as he moved a large rock away from his private stash of marigold, which he liked to keep away from the sun so it wouldn't dry out. He took two leaves out and chewed them. He then spit them out into another remedy and set it on the shelf. "How are you today?"he asked.

[SHADE. :D]

Cherrysmoke murmured disbelievingly, but stayed where she was and made no attempt to call her son back to her. She knew she would die if she lost Moonkit. He looked just like Crescentgaze. She purred.

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

"I'm fine," he mewed in reply. "I just decided to see what you were doing. I might want to be a medicine cat one day." He tilted his head to the side and considered all of the qualities of a Medicine Cat.

[brook]

<sup>Crescentgaze had been hunting when he came through the camp entrance. His gray tabby pelt was shining in the sunlight that hit the camp and then Cherrysmoke as well. He saw her sunning herself near the nursery. He set his prey on the pile except for a large rabbit. He then padded over to where she lay and dropped the rabbit in front of her. He gently nuzzled her cheek and laid down beside her.

Littlesong tilted his head in surprise. "Is that so?"he asked as he pushed the rock back into it's place. He then buried the bad juniper berries and looked around the den. Everything was in order except he needed a few more poppy seeds but there was plenty for a little while. Everything was just how he wanted. He picked up a stray poppy seed and put it with the rest. "There,"he gruntted and looked back at Moonkit.</sup>

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

Moonkit nodded. "Yes, it seems very interesting to me."

[brook]

^{Littlesong shrugged. "It's not boring,"he mewed and sat on his moss bed, near the entrance of the den. He set his tail over his front paws and licked his chest a few times.}

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

Moonkit smiled and dipped his head slightly. "Well, it seems everything is done. I might as well go back to the nursery, unless you'd like me to stay?"

[SHADE. :D]

Cherrysmoke scented her mate, and opened her eyes. She smiled warmly at the grey tabby, and pressed her nose affectionately into his muzzle. She then pushed herself into a sitting position. She still looked tired and strained, as if her kits had been born only yestarday.

[brook]

<sup>Littlesong shrugged and stared at him with his one good eye. "Well that's your choice,"he meowed and licked his shoulder and then the other.

Crescentgaze looked worried. He gazed at his mate and gave her a little nudge. "You alright?"he asked with a worried tone.</sup>

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

Moonkit thought for a moment's time, then stood up. "Well, my mother was a bit worried about me when I was coming here, so I'd better be off. I'll come back later maybe." He flicked his ears in goodbye and trotted off towards his mother and father.

[brook]

^{Littlesong watched him go and the went back to grooming his herb covered fur.}

[SHADE. :D]

"I'm fine," Cherrysmoke reassured her mate. She licked Moonkit between the ears as he approached, then gently pulled the silver kit over to herself and began to give him a thorough groom. By the herb scent on his thick tabby fur, she could tell he had been in Littlesong's den. Again. She hoped her son was not annoying the elderly medicine cat.

[brook]

^{Crescentgaze sighed and licked his mates ear. "I hope you are right,"he murmured softly in her ear and watched his one and only son. He wanted him to train to be a warrior but lately he had been going over to Littlesong's den. He sighed and smiled at his son.}

[SHADE. :D]

Cherrysmoke gave her son a last, careful lick. "Go back to the nursery now. Go carefully," she instructed the little silver tabby tom. She watched him with clouded eyes.

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

Moonkit smiled at his mother. "Okay." He then rested his small head on her back a moment and trotted into the nursery.