A black and white spotted cat with frosty blue eyes pawed through the open space towards a cave in the mountains. He carried two birds in his mouth. Elvest was glad he had joined Hiddenclan; it gave him a purpose in his boring life, and he had enjoyed the company of his new clanmates. Hiddenclan was a clan built of loners and kittypets who had wanted to join the clans but were turned away. Sterlingstar, who was Sterling at the time, made camp in this hidden cave near the mountains. Later, cats joined, and they decided to form our little clan. Elvest gave a little smile. Today, he would get his warrior name. In Hiddenclan, only male warriors would get names, but every cat would become a warrior. However, it wasn’t unfair, for only the she-cats could be leaders. He didn’t know why it was like this, but it was. He was hoping his name would be Elveststrom, but it was Sterlingstar’s choice, not his own. When Elvest neared the camp, he heard new voices. *Sounds like we have new campmates.* He thought. It wasn’t rare for new cats to come along; word had gotten around about this new clan, and so far, most cats have taken a liking to it. Elvest ducked through the entrance, shaking his fur. He looked around to find two dark-furred cats speaking to Sterlingstar at the edge of the cave. A she-cat and a tom by the looks of it. He trotted closer to hear what they were saying. “Of course you can!” Sterlingstar purred, “You can stay with the warriors over there.” She swished her tail over in the direction of a bunch of warriors sitting in moss nests, chatting. “Thank you,” One of the new cats dipped his head. The two cats left Sterlingstar and started to walk over to the nests, but Elvest stopped them in their tracks. “Hello,” Elvest studied the two cats, “I’m Elvest, what’s your name?” The tom spoke, “I’m Spider, and this is my mate, Robin. Nice to meet you, Elvest.” “Elvie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” A loud meow sounded from the camp entrance, causing Elvest to turn. A white cat with a single black paw ran up, a black cat with green eyes following, “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!!!!” Elvest turned to Spider and Robin, “Sorry, this is my sister and my brother, Nimbus and Sable. I’ve got another brother around here somewhere, but he’s shy.” Robin looked interested, but there was something else in her eyes that Elvest couldn’t quite place, “What’s his name?” "Rune." “Enough chatting like little birds!” Nimbus looked impatient. “Sterling said we couldn’t get our names till you returned!” “Well, calm down, I’m here now.” Elvest stretched and flicked his tail over to where Sterlingstar usually made announcements, “Looks like she’s heading over there now.” He yawned. “All cats come join the clan circle!” Sterlingstar yowled. Cats began to shift around to make a circle, but Spider and Robin stayed out, almost looking uninterested. Elvest, Nimbus, and Sable stood at the center of the circle with Sterlingstar next to them. The circle opened and closed as Rune slowly joined his siblings. “Cats of Hiddenclan! We are gathered here today for the making of new warriors!” Sterlingstar looked around, stopping a bit on Spider and Robin, “They have trained hard and are ready for their role as warriors. Elvest, Nimbus, Sable, and Rune, will you protect this group with your lives?” “Yes!” They all spoke in unison. “Then Elvest, you shall be known as Elvestfrost! Nimbus, you shall be known as Nimbus! Sable, you shall be known as Sable-eye! And Rune, you shall be known as–” Sterlingstar didn’t get to finish. “Can I stay as Rune?” Rune spoke up. “Rune, you shall be known as Runeshard,” Sterlingstar growled while finishing. “But–” Runeshard started. “No buts, Runeshard,” Sterlingstar flicked her tail angrily, “Now, Nimbus, join the circle.” Nimbus shot a sympathetic glance at Runeshard, then backed up to join the other cats. Sterlingstar nodded to the three brothers, then did the same. As Sterlingstar took her place in the circle, she stomped her paw on the ground once. Cats raised their muzzles to the cave’s ceiling. Sterlingstar stomped her paw twice. Cats opened their mouths and started shouting, “Elvestfrost! Sable-eye! Runeshard! Elvestfrost! Sable-eye! Runeshard!” Runeshard flinched at his name. ---- part 2:
