Open to Join In the Light of Dawn (part 2) [5CF21]

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
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Palestar was facing two ShadowClan cats, conversation in its final throughs as Duskmantle and Emberdust gave their patrol report. The Mad Rogue might have been taken care of but that didn't mean they had to forgo necessary border patrols to their upmost.

The she-cat was quick to notice a foriegn scent through camp, and turned her head once Ashcloud's voice reached her. Both Duskmantle and Emberdust's ears perked, squiveling around to catch the unlikely pair.

"I'll say... Where did you find this kit, Ashcloud?" She peered down at the kit from her poisiton, odd eyes trying not to be too imposing as she considered her judgement from what this could mean.

Duskmantle, the parallel to this apparent foundling, cocked a brow. He stood silent, making his own assumptions based off his own experience...of being 'abandoned', but not without purpose.

Emberdust, meanwhile lowered herself into a playful half crouch, pawing closer until she was almost touching noses with the kit. "Look at you, you even got some muck on your face!" She trilled, ever the self appointed mud expert.

In youth we learn; in age we understand.

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”I fount them on the western border, by the Heathlands Treeline. They were alone.” Ashcloud’s voice started confident, but dipped to a quieter tone on the word alone. No kit should ever be so alone in such a dangerous world.

The tom watched as Emberdust tried to goad the little kit into letting them try and clean the mark off their face. Ashcloud had been with the kit long enough to know it was much more than that. Especially based on them talking about all the cats where they came from having brown stripes. It was such a strange thing. He couldn’t help but wonder if it was going to come off before the fur shed…

”They need a home, Palestar.” Their was an edge of pleading in his voice. ”They were brought here by a cat called the Missionary. Who only called them the Supplicant. Can we give them a home?”

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
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Palestar gently shooed away the curious she-cat as both Ashcloud and the kitten spoke up. They weren't much older or younger than Murkkit when he was taken to ShadowClan from Fourtrees.

Heaving a very slow sigh, she blinked down at them, knowing what she must do. "We all know the code. We must not abide the suffering of kits... They will have a home here." It seemed that whatever led this kit to their territory and into Ashcloud's peripheral was destined to be.

She addressed the kit now, a small smile on her face reserved for the most vunerable of her Clan. "Would you like that?"

In youth we learn; in age we understand.

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”Oh, that’s so good!” Ashcloud’s voice brightened after the relief flooded him. The poor little thing had a home now. Thankfully all that they needed from here was a Queen to look after them.

And he had a plan for that, too.

Ashcloud looked carefully at Palestar’s face as she asked the kit if they would like to stay. Then, in a quiet voice, he spoke: ”I found them out there. Can I take care of them from now on?”

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
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The situation may have been strange. Missonaries. Supplicants...Whoever had left this kit to fend for themselves were not just fox hearted, but also alien in their ways. She secretly hoped that she wouldn't have the priviledge of meeting them - ShadowClan was partially sanctioned off from most of Clan drama based off being separated by the Thunder Path alone, but nevertheless she gave Ashcloud an encouraging nod. He had been the one to find them and surely Emberdust would try to skin her ears if she suggested she return to the nursery. "I'll call a Clan meeting." She told them before she moved to take her usual spot to address the whole of the Clan.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here in the shelter of the briar patch for a Clan meeting." The call was out and now she would wait until the rest would emerge from their dens if most weren't already aware of the unusual disturabance buzzing around them.

Every scar, every flaw, and every loss still belongs to the light that makes us whole.

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Brown curled ears perked at the commotion that had woken her from a rest in camp, her eyes opened promptly at the sudden call from Palestar. A meeting? It didn't seem like there was any real reason for one, the last meeting she had seen was for the apprenticing of Wolfpaw, Muddypaw and Swamppaw, and it wasn't yet time for the clan to gather for a gathering call. So what could this truly be?

It seemed as though Wolfpaw, who had been helping her with her bedding it seemed, was also alerted by the sounds but in a much more quiet way. Walking out into the camp at the leader's cry. For a moment, Eaglecry just sat, glancing around the camp from the elders' den before slipping out from her nest and following the scruffy dark apprentice into the clearing. And then she turned her head. Ashcloud was there, and... was that a kit?

Her aqua eyes held their gaze onto Ashcloud for a moment, then softened when they moved to meet the kit's. She knew better than to talk when Palestar called for a meeting, she had something to say about this, that was for sure. But she could hardly pass without muttering a brief, gentle greeting to the kit in passing. After all, Quailfeather got it from somewhere.

In youth we learn; in age we understand.

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Ashcloud leaned towards Palestar eagarly at the mention of a clan meeting. He was rife with excitment. It seemed like the Leader was going to put the kit into his care and he’d be able to keep them safe and surrounded by family! No one deserved abandonment. It wasn’t natural, something StarClan would never stand for. Maybe that was why they’d guided that vile Missionary fox-heart to leave the poor little thing here when they decided they were done with them.

“The sun was glowing in their fur.” Ashcloud told Palestar quietly, before she could head to the rise above the briar patch. “It was how I noticed them.” 

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
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Palestar took Ashcloud's suggestion into account, altough from how the light filtered through and hit the ticked strands of fur on this kit, she didn't doubt she would have thought of something equally inspiring. Still, as those gathered under the briar patch, she continued, the gravitas in her voice.

"Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to hear the name of this kit you see before you. By my authority as Clan leader and with the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment they will be known as Glowkit." She dipped her head over the new kit, of which would have every protection of being part of ShadowClan. "Ashcloud will look after them in the nursery. Emberdust and Quailfeather can help you situate your nest."

In youth we learn; in age we understand.

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Relief flooded Ashcloud when Palestar put the kit, Glowkit, into his care. He was confident they would settle in and learn that ShadowClan was an improvement on where they came from. “I’ll take the best care of you, Glowkit. I promise!” His rusty brown tabby ears leaned forward in eagerness and his eyes gleamed with genuine feeling. “Palestar’s given you a real name. StarClan knows it now, and they’ll protect you in ways that fox-faced Missionary never could. Just like I will!”

He moved to stand beside Glowkit. “The nursery is over there,” A quick flick of his ears indicated the eastern side of camp where a doorway peeked open amongst the briar walls. “We’ll build you a nest there! And if you’re hungry we can get you something to eat.” The pile of fresh-kill lay in the center of the camp, inviting anyone who needed it to take their share.

I can go the distance

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Their name was Glowkit now? It was that easy for her to just.. be named? Is that really what Palestar said? Their pelt prickled as he felt the eyes of the clan cats on her pelt as he was officially welcomed to the clan. The desire to run filled their limbs as their front paw began to tap against the ground and their gaze moved across the gathering cats quickly. Yet they otherwise kept themself still as Ashcloud returned to their side and their mobile gaze stilled on the other cat.

Glowkit's golden ear flicked as Ashcloud indirectly called their former name  fake, and yet again insulted the Missionary. They weren't bad.. The Missionary did keep her safe. But other than this minor show of annoyance the kit didn't dare state that point again. He was following what the Missionary said to do by staying here, and these cats were letting him stay. 

"Nest first.." They mumbled, so much was going on the last thing he could think about was eating. She just wanted to get away from being the focus of so many cats. 

In youth we learn; in age we understand.

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“Absolutely.” Ashcloud agreed quickly. The little thing had certainly had an exciting life so far. Too exciting for a kit. They should have been playing and sleeping and eating, not traveling with some abandoner. Soon enough they’d forget that monster. He’d make a point of never mentioning that monster again unless Glowkit did. “Embercloud and Quailfeather will help bring in what we need to build it. Let’s go find a spot you like in the nursery. We’ll get settled there, then you can meet the other two. It’s just us in there right now, so it’ll be very peaceful.”