“Come on, Ravenkit!” Cloudkit squealed, scampering across camp as quick as her little paws could carry her. Ravenkit scurried after her with their siblings Sootkit and Falconkit at his heels. With the easily excitable nature all young kits exhibit, the foursome skids into the elders den, knocking into each other and landing in a heap of oversized paws, stumpy tails, and gangly limbs earning a mrrrow of laughter from the watching elders. Disentangling herself from the pile first, the smallest of the kits, a gorgeous dark gray she-kit with a white belly, chest, and paws, scampered up to a light silver she-cat with darker gray flecks littering her pelt.
“Will you tell us a story, Silverfrost?” She squeaked, her green eyes wide and hopeful.
Cloudkit, her sister, hopped forward, white fur gleaming. “Yes, tell us the one about the Raven and the Falcon!”
“But we’ve heard that one a gazillion billion times!” Falconkit wailed, glaring at his sister.
“I think it’s a lovely story. And besides, it’s about who we were named after.” Sootkit whispered, earning an equally piercing glare from the large tomkit.
“Come on, Falconkit, lighten up!” Ravenkit teased.
“So will you?” Sootkit squeaked.
The silver she-cat glanced at her sister, a pale ginger she-cat with green eyes. “What about it, Appledawn?” She asked.
“It is a lovely story, as Sootkit so eloquently put it.” Appledawn mused, rising to her paws. “I think it is a fantastic way to pass the afternoon.”
Silverfrost nodded and narrowed her milky eyes, thinking about where to begin. After a long moment, she began to speak in a soft, soothing voice.
Many, many seasons ago there lived two beautiful birds. One a raven with inky black wings that resembled the night sky; the other a hawk with piercing emerald eyes.
