It was a new day, Granite's eyes snapped open at first light. As he drowsily groomed his fur, he wondered how the little kit that he'd found was doing. He supposed that he ought to go check-in with Magpiefeather.
Once he was done grooming his sleek fur, he padded off towards the nursery. He poked his head into the den. He could see that cats in the nursery were awake, so he slid through the sheet of bracken that covered the entrance.
"Granite!!" exclaimed a small voice, and before Granite had time to look, a small, black kit leaped up onto Granite's back.
"Ravenkit! Get off of him!" Magpiefeather scolded the excited kit. "Granite doesn't need you climbing all over him" she added. Ravenkit puffed out his white chest, "Granite loves me!" the young kit mewed smugly.
Magpiefeather let out a quiet, but an, unmistakably, warning growl, as she scowled at Ravenkit. Granite felt Ravenkit shudder slightly, before leaping off from Granite's back.
Granite blinked softly, "that's alright, kits will be kit's!" he responded.
"How is the kit doing?" Granite asked, as he gazed down at the little red kit.
"Parsleypelt came to check him over not long ago, and he said that the kit seems to be absolutely fine!" Magpiefeather mewed before gazing down at the kit, who was drinking Magpiefeather's milk.
"That's good to hear, you should expect Laurelstar at some point today, she said she wanted to come and see him" Granite mewed. Before Granite could say anything else, Laurelstar pushed her way through the bracken, and into the nursery.
Both Granite and Magpiefeather lowered their heads respectfully. "Hello Laurelstar" Magpiefeather mewed softly, Laurelstar blinked warmly and nodded.
"Good morning, Parsleypelt told me our new arrival is seemingly healthy, I'm glad to hear it" Laurelstar responded as she approached Magpiefeather, "I thought as leader, I should come and meet him for myself..." but before Laurelstar could carry on talking, she flinched a little.
Granite and Magpiefeather exchanged confused glances, "what is it Laurelstar?" Granite asked, concern lingering in his tone.
Laurelstar gave her chest a quick lick, "his pelt, it looks just like one of the feathers I have in my den..." she broke off, continuing to lick her chest. "Oh, you have so many feathers, which one?" Magpiefeather purred, as she started licking Ravenkit, who had just started suckling alongside the red kit. "I'll be one moment," Laurelstar mewed before trotting out of the nursery.
Once again, Granite and Magpiefeather exchanged confused looks. It wasn't long before Laurelstar returned into the nursery, this time with a red and orange feather clutched in her mouth. Laurelstar released the feather from her jaws. "When I had just received my warrior name, I was sitting my warrior vigil..." Laurelstar mewed as Granite and Magpiefeather listened with their ears pricked, both the kits had stopped feeding, their gazes following the feather as it slowly fell to the ground.
"A bird flew from a nearby tree, and this feather fell at my feet. I've kept it since that day" Laurelstar mewed. "I can see what you mean, the feather has the same colours as the kit's pelt!" Granite replied, his gaze switching between the feather and the kit, who was now peering over at the feather.
"When I first shared tongues with Star Clan, once I was made leader, I was made leader, they showed me the very same feather, and they said - 'when a cat who reflects this feather crosses paths with Pheonix Clan, you mustn't turn them away. For they, are the future of Pheonix Clan'... they also said, that the feather is a feather of a Pheonix" Laurelstar explained, her words leaving her mouth more slowly as she went on, staring at the little red nameless kit, who was now batting at the red and orange feather.
Granite flinched, remembering that Star Clan emplored him to bring the abandoned kit back to Pheonix Clan. Could this be the reason why? Was this little kit part of a prophecy?
"When I found this kit, Star Clan told me to bring him home, they were quite adamant" Granite mewed. Magpiefeather nodded her head, recalling Granite telling her this when he first brought the kit into the nursery. Laurelstar straightened her posture, "if you ask me, you finding him was no accident, and I am happy that you listened to Star Clan" Laurelstar mewed, Granite raised his head proudly.
"So, what shall this kits name be?" Magpiefeather asked before grooming herself."I think it's clear, his name will be Pheonixkit!" Laurelstar mewed proudly, gazing down at the kit, who was now playing with Ravenkit."Pheonixkit..." Magpiefeather purred, Granite also echoed the kit's new name."Welcome to the clan, Pheonixkit" Laurelstar mewed, before turning away and leaving the Nursery.