Open to Join Flowers Bloom on Smoky Winds (9 FG '21)

Brightmaple hauled herself to her paws and stiffly followed Heatherkit into the clearing, having finished giving both her daughter and Oatkit a more thorough than usual grooming before allowing either to leave the den. She sat down next to Barleyswipe, aiming to press her bright red and brown fur to the other's paler apricot and white. Even if she was feeling the cold and her age, her fluffy white chest puffed up in pride as her golden eyes glowed. "It'll be nice to share your warmth again tonight." She purred softly to the older elder.

Boulderdash peered into the camp from where she sat guard at the entrance. She knew that since a meeting was being called, she could go join her clanmates and resume her guard duties after, but she could hear just fine from where she was and since she was unaware of a particular reason she needed to attend physically, she remained where she was. Green and blue eyes glittered with curiosity as she wondered what the meeting was about and she twitched her bobbed tail as she continued to listen.

Oatkit scampered from the nursery after his sister, curious what the meeting Fawnstar had called was about. His pelt was still slightly damp from the vigorous licking his mother had given him only a few heartbeats before. He had wriggled in protest, not because he didn't like being groomed but because his dame was being overly fastidious in he and Heatherkit's appearance. Blue eyes were wide as he watched his clanmates emerging from wherever they had all been.

Copper eyes scanned the gathered clan beneath her and Fawnstar purred to herself as she spied the cats she was especially wanting at the meeting. She could hear the soft murmuring as cats speculated what was coming and conversed softly with each other as they waited for the meeting to actually start.

"This meeting will be filled with good news! So, first off, I'd like to start off this meeting by announcing that Aspenberry has kitted! She has four strong kits- three toms and a she-kit!" She announced in a clear, strong voice, her posture proud and her expression pleased. "Let us welcome Ashkit, Cinderkit, Flickerkit, and Smokekit to Windclan!"

The Windclan leader paused to listen to her clanmates greet the new kits (even if they couldn't hear it yet) and call their congratulations out, knowing that her deputy would hear these calls, even tucked away in the nursery as she was.

"Now, it's time to make a couple kits into apprentices! Heatherkit and Oatkit, please step forward." She announced the second part of the meeting and looked towards Brightmaple and her litter with soft, glowing eyes.

Brightmaple raised her voice to greet the kits and add her congratulations, remembering helping the medicine cat and the poor deputy in kitting her large litter. It was a lot of kits for a first time mother. All four kits were strong and feeding as they should be however. Gold eyes glowed and her white chest puffed up in pride as her kits were called forward. When Oatkit seemed reluctant to do so, she nudged him gently with a purr of encouragement and she gave Heatherkit's ear one last lick of affection before letting her daughter move forward.

Oatkit joined the rest of the clan in cheering and calling out to Aspenberry when the new litter was announced and named. When Fawnstar called him and Heatherkit forward, he balked and stared before glancing unsurely at his sister and dame. Wait, what?! An apprentice?! Already?! But he liked the nursery and being curled up with Brightmaple and Heatherkit! Though with Cedarkit and Berrykit getting bigger and now the new kits having been born, he supposed it might get a bit crowded but still! He hadn't expected to be made an apprentice yet! However, at a nudge from Brightmaple, he pattered forward on clumsy paws until he stood before his leader.

Fawnstar patiently watched the two kits, her copper gaze affectionate but amused, as realization hit them as she called them forward. As they gathered their wits about them and scampered forward, excited but uncertain. She had been thinking long and hard on who she wanted their mentors to be, eventually coming to the decision she had and knowing it was the best pairings for each kit. Seeing how excited the tortoiseshell she-kit was, Fawnstar decided to start with her.

"Heatherkit, from this moment forward, until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Heatherpaw. Your mentor will be Bayflower." Lifting her head, she locked eyes with the dark she-cat before continuing. "Bayflower, you are ready for your first apprentice. You are observant and respectful and I expect you to train this new apprentice to the best of your ablities."

She waited while the newly named Heatherpaw and her mentor touched noses and for them to settle temporarily while she assigned the mentor for Heatherpaw's brother.

"Oatkit, from this moment forward, until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Oatpaw. Your mentor will be Shadesleek." Looking around, Fawnstar located the other mentor she had in mind, amusement contiuing to brighten her gaze as she noted what the young blakc she-cat was up to. She had a feeling Oatpaw would agree with his new mentor's train of thought at the moment. "Shadesleek, you are ready for your first apprentice as well. You are focused and disciplined and I expect you to train this new apprentice to the best of your abilites."

Again, she waited for the newly named Oatpaw and his mentor to touch noses before raising her voice and leading the clan in greeting the new apprentices by their new names.

Heatherpaw! Oatpaw!