Yup, new story. Little muse is a bit . . . tied up at the moment about Storm of WindClan, and me and a friend were talking about Warriors . . . last year at some point, and this popped into my head when I was thinking about that nice talk. It might have actually been earlier this year . . . I dunno. This is mostly because I feel like I work better when I have more control over what's going on, you know? I want to make my own territory, craft my own strengths, and eat my own prey.

Also: I know I re-use names. That doesn't mean it's the same character. It's a different story completely, and if I re-use a name, I re-use a name. Y'know, some of these are friend's warrior names, and I like to try to toss some real-life stuff in. Kay?

Now, without further ado . . .

Welcome to CavernClan

Leader:

Darkstar:

Black tom-cat; dark gray around eyes; blue eyes

Deputy:

Thistleprick:

Spiky-furred gray tom; brown on paws and back; amber eyes; father of Logpaw, Splashpaw, and Batpaw

Medicine Cat:

Oakleaf:

Light brown she-cat; darker stripes; green eyes

Medicine Cat Apprentice:

Logpaw:

Muddy brown she-cat; lighter spot on chest; amber eyes

Warriors:

Goosetalon:

Stone gray tom-cat; white speckled on his back; green eyes; father of Mosskit, Leopardkit, and Duckkit

Rockclaw:

Smokey gray she-cat; dark brown spot on her back; amber eyes; mother of Logpaw, Splashpaw and Batpaw

Frogleap:

Brown tom-cat; lighter paws; green eyes

Weaseltail:

Brown and white tom-cat; gray around muzzle, particularly long tail; amber eyes;

Apprentices:

Splashpaw:

Dark brown tom-cat; white stripe down his back; amber eyes

Batpaw:

Pale gray she-cat; large, dark ears; blue eyes

Queens:

Mudfoot:

White she-cat; brown paws; blue eyes; mother of Mosskit, Leopardkit, and Duckkit

Kits:

Mosskit:

Black she-cat; white speckled on her back, white marks above her eyes, white front paws, white tail tip; fluffy fur; green eyes

Leopardkit:

Ginger she-cat; dark brown spots on her shoulders, back, leg, tail, tail-tip, eyes, and left ear, dark brown toes; green eyes

Duckkit:

Fluffy dark brown tom-cat; short tail; dark amber eyes

Elders:

Sharpeyes:

Dark gray she-cat; light gray paws; yellow eyes

Non-clan cats:

Puk:

loner in twolegplace; white with dark paws; green eyes; father of Justin

Cali:

kittypet; light brown with a paler stomach; green eyes; mother of Justin

Justin:

kittypet; white with dark paws; green eyes

Chapter I

Soft paw-steps echoed through the cave, dimly lit via tiny holes in the roof (holes that were covered with sticks and leaves to let light through, but keep out rain, which was mildly common in this clan's territory). The she-cat that was causing it, who was light brown, with darker brown stripes, carried herbs and leaves in her mouth. She walked through the caves, down a sloping entrance tunnel with a floor paved with large, flat rocks, but still with cracks beneath to keep rain from getting too far into the cave. She came to a place where the floor continued to slope, then come back up. The entire floor of this area was dirt and moss to soak up rain, and across it was a long, flat log. She crossed it quickly, never doubting it's sturdiness. After crossing it, the ground smoothed out, with a long cavern. Caves branched out from it, with two caves on her right, two on her left, and a large, open area straight in front of her. The entire roof was dotted almost randomly with the covered holes, so she could see somewhat clearly. Generations of cats living in this environment had strengthened their eyes to the dim light, which also assisted. She slipped into the second cave on the right, and came upon three cats. The first, a white she-cat with brown paws, was round with kits and breathing heavily. Her mate was at her head, doing his best to be comforting. He was stone gray, speckled with white on his back. And at the mother's stomach was the brown she-cat's own apprentice, trying to help with the kits. She turned, giving the brown she-cat a passing glance.

"Everything's been fine while you've been off, Oakleaf," the muddy brown apprentice said quietly. "The kits are coming soon."

"Good." Oakleaf responded quickly, moving to assist the apprentice. "Have any come yet, Logpaw?"

"The first is on it's way." Logpaw was swift in her responses, focused well on the task. "What herbs did you bring?"

"Nothing important; just precautions." Logpaw nodded. "Mudfoot, the first is almost out."

The white she-cat nodded, closing her eyes and focusing on the emerging kit. Oakleaf took it and set to licking. "Goosetalon, you better take that." Logpaw decided, already helping the second kit emerge.

"Mhm." Goosetalon quickly agreed, grabbing the kit. It was a dark brown tom, which quickly set off to mewling.

"The second one is out." Oakleaf handed the second, an orange and brown patched she-cat, to Logpaw. It too, began to mew.

Oakleaf smiled. "They're as loud as you were, Mudfoot."

"That's good, isn't it?" Mudfoot strained out.

Oakleaf nodded. "The last is almost out." And out it came. It was a speckled black she-kit, with some white marks. Oakleaf licked at it quickly, warming it up. The other kits ceased their squealing as they latched onto their mother, suckling for milk. Oakleaf froze; the cave had fallen silent.

"Oakleaf, is the last one suckling?" Mudfoot craned her neck to see.

Oakleaf let out a steady breath. "No, Mudfoot. The last kit is silent."

Goosetalon's head flew upwards. "It's not . . . ?"

Oakleaf shook her head. "No, she's alive. Perhaps she's just not a mewling kit; there have been some. We can wait and see if she'll speak when she's older." Oakleaf picked up her herbs and nodded to Mudfoot and Goosetalon, who were looking down at the kits fondly, if not worriedly.

"What will you name them?" Logpaw had been calm during the birthing, but she was young herself and was eager and curious as to the kits.

Goosetalon looked down at the dark tom, who's fur was starting to fluff out. "How about Duckkit?"

Mudfoot nodded. "And Leopardkit, for the orange and brown one."

Logpaw looked at them. Duckkit was already become a hassle; squirming over his sisters to get to the milk. Even when angered by her sibling, the black speckled kit was silent.

"Mosskit." Mudfoot finally decided on the name for the final kit. Goosetalon nodded.

Logpaw looked at them one more time curiously, then nodded to the new parents and slowly walked out.

Three Moons Later

"Duckkit, dear, don't tease Mosskit like that." Mudfoot slowly spread the two apart. Mosskit's eyes blazed with fury, but she didn't speak.

"Well, I WOULDN'T tease her if she'd just talk to me sometimes!" Duckkit protested loudly.

"Shush!" Mudfoot quieted the kit. "You're going to wake Leopardkit! And Mosskit would reply if she could, you know that! Now get along or I'll make you come back in!" Mosskit, Mudfoot, and Duckkit were outside in the sun. In their clan's rainy terrain, a good day of sunlight was not to be wasted trapped in the cave. Leopardkit was using it to take a nice nap on one of the many, abundant stones, while Mosskit and Duckkit were playing. While to the rest of the world, Mosskit and Leopardkit seemed like the best of friends, she was much closer to Duckkit. Despite his constant teasing, she still spent more time with him and communicated with him more then others.

Mosskit stuck her tongue out playfully at her brother and dashed away. "Hey!" Duckkit yowled and dashed after her. Despite Mosskit's lack of voice, she was faster then the other two and could jump and climb quicker then even the apprentices. As she bounded away from Duckkit, gaining more ground each leap, a flash of lightning stuck through the sky. She skidded to a halt, Duckkit repeating the motion.

"Alright kits, in we go." Mudfoot gently picked up Leopardkit, turning and going down into the tunnel. Duckkit turned back to Mosskit quickly.

"Wanna play on the crossing log?" Mosskit nodded, hurrying into the cave.

"I bet I'll get there first!" Duckkit yowled cockily as he dashed, but quick as he was, he couldn't match Mosskit as she bounded over his head and reached the log swiftly before him.

"Mmmfm!" Mudfoot scolded him through Leopardkit, treading slowly and carefully as she headed back to the nursery.

Duckkit watched her closely, waiting until she was gone. He rushed to Mosskit. "Let's go back outside!" She looked at him swiftly with horror etched on her face. "No worries, we'll be back before Mudfoot notices! It'll be done in a snap!" He grinned encouragingly, and she slowly stood up, following him out of the cavern.

Okay, first chapter, whatcha think? Good? Bad? Need changes? Open to suggestions!

Also: Sorry if the birth scene sucks. I'm not good with birth scenes.