Today was the day. His mother finally agreed that enough time had passed since he had been born, undersized and mewling, in the makeshift nursery Thunderclan had established shortly after staggering into their new territory at the Southern Lake. Moons of famine and hardship had taken their toll– Sunkit was the only one of his litter born alive, and even then, barely so. The first few days had been terse and full of worry. Since then, his mother had dutifully kept the sickly kit in sight at all times. If she had her way he would stay in the nursery until his apprentice ceremony. But despite his difficult start in life, Sunkit had grown determinedly in fits and starts, first his ears, then his paws, until he was finally too big and full of energy to be contained. She conceded at last. He could finally venture outside, unchaperoned, so long as he stayed within camp limits.
Seemingly unaware of the hard times he had been born into, Sunkit tumbled joyfully out of his nest and into the frigid, cloudless day. His narrow chest rose and fell quickly as he blinked, looking around at the cats that padded busily around him. He had no idea what to do– he honestly didn't think that he would make it this far. Hesitantly, the golden tom stepped further out into camp. Already overwhelmed at the new sights and sounds that bombarded him, he teetered uncertainly on his feet as he drank in the world around him.
