THERE WAS SO MANY QUESTIONS I WANTED to ask. *Why can't I open my eyes? Why can't I speak? Why do I feel so weak? Where am I? What are all these scents?* But, for some reason, I couldn't even mew.
"So," I head a tom mew, "what are you going to name them?"
*What's a name?*
A she-cat then rasped, "The two she-kits will be called Mistkit and Nightkit."
"Lovely names, Leopardfoot," the tom praised. "What about the tom?"
"The tom?" the she-cat--Leopardfoot--rasped, "I think I'll call him...Tigerkit."
Then, Leopardfoot's tongue licked between my ears.
"That's a fine name," the tom meowed, "but he seems awfully weak. I don't know if he'll make it."
"He will," Leopardfoot cooed. "I have high hopes for him, Featherwhisker."
The tom--Featherwhisker--then sighed, "You must rest now, Leopardfoot. You've lost a lot of blood, and I think sleep will help."
"Where's Pinestar?" she asked, "I'm sure the father would want to see his kits."
"I don't know," Featherwhisker replied. "I haven't seen him this morning, since he took Lionpaw out for training. He should be back soon."
Leopardfoot sighed. "He wasn't here last night, and I'm getting worried. What will happen if the kits don't make it? They wouldn't be able to know who their father is before their eyes even open!"
"Don't worry," Featherwhisker reassured, "just get some rest."
I heard rustling as Featherwhisker's presence ceized.
"Tigerkit," I heard my mother breathe my name. I couldn't wait to open my eyes, so I could see everything.
*Tigerkit,* I thought, *Is that my name? I guess that's what I'm going to be called for now on...*
Chapter 1, Part 2 coming soon!
