The Lichen That Grew In the Light of Thunder(close who signed up for the finding Lichenkit plot and Night as well))

Jubilance had only recently given birth to the small kit and she only being about 2 moons old now the kits eyes were open and she for what the rouge queen thought the could maybe hear. Luckily the grey white and gingerish she kit was asleep. She had some of her father's looks but hopefully nobody would ever recognize that her father was of Riverclan origins. Jubilance padded slowly into Thunderclan territory where she left Lichen in a nearby Bush that would at least shelter the kit from any predators she hoped. With that the she cat left never to be seen again.

Lichen although she had been asleep from the warmth leave from her and a lot of scents surrounded her she didn't know but one that she knew wasn t there was her mother's. She started to wail for her mother.

Leopardpaw stalked through the underbrush, sniffing the air for prey scents.  He had only been made an apprentice a few days before, but was determined to perfect his hunting skills as soon as possible.  While scenting the air, an unfamiliar scent drifting over his scent glands.  A sinking feeling in his stomach, he abandoned the rest of the patrol and chased after the suspicious scent.  I recognize that scent...it's-  He soon found his target; a tiny kit wailing in a bush.  it's rouge scent.

Sighing, he leaned down to sniff the tiny bundle, looking for injuries or defects.  She seems to be perfectly healthy; like I was.  The only way he could stifle a distraught wail was by picking up the kitten by it's scruff.  Another senseless abandonment!  How could so many cats be so...so heartless!  His face twisted in fury, he looked back at where he had left the patrol.  Will they show kindness to her, like they did to me?

The wail has come to a stop when she was picked up and she blinked open her moss green eyes. She squirmed for a moment"p..put me down"she mewed

Mottledwing supervised her son, wanting to make sure he was truly safe on a journey like this. The spotted golden tom was growing swiftly, and Mottledwing could barely keep up. She watched adoringly as he practised his newly-learned skills, claws acuminous. Anxiety still seemed to pique at Mottledwing as she watched him, until he strayed.

Following him nervously, she peeked around she shrubbery. What's this? she wondered, as her eyes spotted a young kit named... what? Mottledwing wasn't sure. They'd have to see. It gave her fond memories of when she saw Leopardpaw for the very first time, but it was cruel to leave a kit alone in the woods.

She bent over her. "It's okay," she hushed, eyes bright. "What's your name, little one?" Mottledwing asked.

Lichen had blinked not expecting more cats. She looked at the new she cat that showed up. She looked at the female still nervous but she relaxed a tiny bit."my....momma calls me Lichen......"She mewed quietly looking at Mottledwing.

"Lichen..." repeated Mottledwing, with a purr. "Beautiful name." Lichen stared up at her with those round, innocent eyes, and she couldn't suppress pity. But she began to grow worried at the mention of a mother. Another neglecting, abusive cat? Mottledwing thought. She didn't want to ask, but she inherited much from her father, Blacktwig, and no apple falls far from the tree. "W-What was her name?" stammered Mottledwing, inquisitively.

Leopardpaw sighed with relief as Mottledwing padded from around the corner. Hearing the little kit's protest, he only grunted. He didn't want to set the kit down, for fear that she would run off and possibly chase after her mother, like he had wanted to. Where would I be if I had? Defiantly not here, probably dead or starving. He listened patiently as his adoptive mother coxed out the kit's name, Lichen, and asked about her mother. Eyes confused and distraught, he waited for Mottledwing to give him an instruction.

Mottledwing flicked her ears dismissively at her son, as if to state that he was a free cat now—no longer a kit. He could speak to Lichen as much as he wished, as long as nothing confusing happened between them.

Lichen blinked and she squirmed a bit more as Leopardpaw held her by the scruff."my...momma...name was um...Jubilance I think..."She mewed quietly remembering her mother's name but not knowing why she left her

"Jubilance," pondered Mottledwing. She isn't coming back, she thought, swamped with woe. She hung her head, and then, her hazel gaze looked at Lichen. "I see," was all she could possibly omit from her maw.

Jubilance, what an odd name. I wonder if my mother had a name like that..... As the she-kit continued to wiggle, he set her down on the ground at his paws. Her stood over her, guarding the young kit and making sure she didn't bolt. Looking down, he could find no words to comfort the abandoned kit. Meeting her gaze, he tried to look as sympathetic as possible, even though he just wanted to scream. Another kit growing up without true parents, another orphan! Just like me....How could the world be this cruel?

Lichen didn't try to run after her mother. One because she didn't know where she was and she didn't want to get lost. As she continued to think about it a small whimper escaped the white grey and grayish ginger kitten

Mottledwing looked down at the small, dilute calico she-kit. The molly could barely resist fondling the tiny thing, but she had her own offspring to care for. She glanced around, seeing if there were any other queens. Emberheart! she thought, but wondered if the fiery russet she-cat would even care for more children.

Hear the kit's small, scared whimper, Leopardpaw bent his head to nuzzle the young she-kit. The tom did not often show affection to anyone, but this kit struck a chord in his heart. Giving the kit a swift lick on the ear, he picked her up again and began to walk back towards the main path. He would not let this kit be left alone.

Lichen blinked opening her eyes again when she felt she was picked up. Her whimpering ceased and she blinked her moss green eyes"a..where are we going?"she asked her voice wavering.