A New Division

The clan leader sat down on the peaty nest next to the nursery, his deputy right beside him. He eyed the small but sheltered den dug in the ground. Out from inside it peeped three sets of glowing eyes- yellow, blue, and green. The mother was evidently sleeping.

"Do you think it's time?" He murmured to Two-Eye.

"Definitely. If any kits could face the sorting early, it's these ones."

"Okay." New-Star took a deep breath and walked inside.

"Grass-pelt, I'm sorry to wake you, but it's time for your kit's sorting." Grass-Pelt's eyes slowly fluttered open, and a wave of emotions flew through her face. First annoyance, then confusion, then sadness.

"Okay, New-Star. I'll have them ready in a minute." She got to work, licking each kit's coat clean and whispering her goodbyes to them. New-Star slowly padded to the far side of camp and jumped to the rock ledge.

"All cats old enough to honor our ancestor the tiger, gather round!"