Prologue
It was a warm morning in late new-leaf. The scent of pine was strong, and insects buzzed among the branches of the pines. The first light of the day slipped through the trees, casting warm patches of light on the springy pine needles that coated the ground. Toadstar made his way to the nursery, ducking into the hollow beneath the thorn bush, the branches catching lightly on his long fur.
The healer, Embersinge, nodded as he passed, moving aside to let him through. Inside, Fennelseed lay curled around four little grey-and-white bundles, her face exhausted, but her gaze warm. Toadstar touched his nose to hers affectionately before turning to regard the newborn kits."They're magnificent," he said, his voice filled with admiration. "What a blessing they are. Shadowclan is growing stronger every day."
Fennelseed purred warmly, her sapphire eyes gleaming with love for her family and clan. "They are," she agreed. She nudged one of the kits with her nose, the tiny creature wriggling closer to her for warmth. "Ferretkit," she murmured, watching the kit's ears perk up at the sound of its name. "It suits him, don't you think?"
Toadstar purred, pleased with the name. "Ferretkit, yes," he said. "And what of the others?"
Fennelseed looked down at the darkest kit, whose fur was a soft pale grey sprinkled with white patches. Her voice was thoughtful as she said, "I was thinking of calling this one Palekit," she said. "Though, maybe it's a little strange, since her fur is darker than the others..."
"Palekit it is," Toadstar said firmly. Palekit was snuggled closely with her sister. The light of the sunrise caught on the other kits fur, bathing it with red. "And perhaps this one could be Redkit," he suggested.
"Palekit and Redkit," Fennelseed echoed thoughtfully. "I like that." She turned her attention to the final kit. "That just leaves the big one."
Toadstar's gaze fell upon the largest of the litter, his grey and white fur so similar to Toadstar's own. Toadstar's eyes glinted with a fierce light, and he held his head high as he announced, "This one will be named Windkit."
"Windkit?" Fennelseed blinked with confusion. "Isn't a little... Strange, to call our kit after another clan?"
"Oh, it's not strange at all," Toadstar purred with faint amusement. "After all, by the time he's grown, Windclan will be no more."