A Wild Kit Appears!

When her father had finally exited his den, she sat up straight, her ears flicking as she stared at him as he questioned the kit. She pulled Cloudlykit slightly closer to her with her tail as she took in a deep breath. "Her name is Cloudlykit...Or at least that is the name I gave her...I found her stuck in the marsh all alone. I couldn't just leave her there so I brought her here."

"You already gave her a name?" He asked, his tail sweeping the ground behind him. He understood that the warrior code said to help any kit in need, but to give the kit a name already and just bring her into camp? Who knew where she belonged? "Does this kit have any place to go?"

Bearmask shifted slightly. "I had nothing else to call her by..." she stated softly, before she shook her head. "And no...She doesn't. She spoke of a brother but it sounds like he is...Gone," she said carefully, not wishing to tell the poor kit that she was sure her brother was dead. "I brought her here because she has no where else to go or anybody who can take care of her. I wish to care for her, father, but...Of course it is your choice if you will allow her to stay." It felt slightly strange, standing up for once. She normally was so easy going and follow others but she wanted Cloudlykit to stay in ShadowClan; she was alone in the world and needed somebody to care for her...And a Clan would do just that.

He pondered on it. Obviously, he couldn't just let the kit go back into the forest. She would surely die and that was against the code anyway, but letting in another non-clan cat? This was becoming a little crazy. But Bearmask was right. If the kit had nowhere else to go, then she could stay here. The warrior even offered to take care of Cloudykit, but it was just difficult to say yes to another rogue. He didn't want to have an angry mother somewhere from Twolegplace or the barn, yet after hearing about her dead brother, it didn't seem like that was going to be much of an issue. Letting out a heavy sigh, he looked back at his daughter. "So you are going to take care of Cloudykit? If that is what you want, then she can stay," he told her before turning towards the small kit who looked barely older than a newborn. "Well Cloudykit, do you want to stay with Shadowclan?" he asked. "Times might get tough. As you grow up, you will learn to catch your own food and fight for our clan. Are you still wanting to stay?" Even though trying to get this out of a kit was a bit futile, he needed to see where she might be one day. He didn't want her growing up just to turn on the clan because it got too hard.

Cloudykit looked between Bearmask and Thrushstar nervously. She looked at the leader with big eyes. "Please let me stay! I'm cold and wet and hungry! It's all I remember! I don't wanna be alone anymore!" She looked dejectedly at her paws for a moment, then again pressed against Bearmask and purred. "I'll help Bearmask and you and whoever I can! I promise!"

Alright then. Honestly, the little outburst from the tiny kit slightly surprised Thrushstar, but he was fairly satisfied with the answer she gave. It was almost cute. "Then we welcome you as a full member of Shadowclan, Cloudykit," he told her before turning once more back to Bearmask. "And I make her your responsibility. You said that you wanted to care for her, so you will. You may move to the nursery if you wish, but I'm sure that the other queens will not mind taking care of her."

Bearmask happily nuzzled Cloudlykit before she looked up at her father with a small, shy smile. "Th-Thank you," she whispered as she slowly stood up, before gently nudging the new ShadowClan kit. "Come on, I'll show you where you will be sleeping...But first, say thank you to Thrushstar," she said in a soft whisper.

"Th-Thank you!" Cloudykit said excitedly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Then, she looked back at Bearmask. "But d-do you mind if I have something to eat?" As if on cue, her stomach growled again. "Sorry."