A moon had passed since the birth of Brindlesongs' kits. Swiftkit was sitting outside the nursery as she watched the small kits tumble out of the nursery. She rolled her eyes, unimpressed by their excitement. She stood, even though she herself was just about a moon and a half older then them. She flicked her ears, as she watched one of the more interesting kits peer up at her in an almost harsh manner. She turned, padding away to her siblings and her friends. She heard the sound of those small kits following her though. She glowered slightly, not turning to face them until she was with the other older kits. They stared wide-eyed, before ducking down in what seemed like nervousness.
      "So.. you'd like to join us in our games?" Swiftkit asked calmly. The young kits nodded, looking hopefully at them. She turned her head to the others, a question in her eyes. They all nodded, and a small smirk rose to Redkit's face. "Well then kits, you'll have to win at a game." She said calmly. They looked to each other for help slightly, and Swiftkit stood tall. "Each of you will be... initiated. By a game of Find the pinecone. None of your siblings can help you, and you can ask for a hint only twice. So choose wisely." She meowed calmly. "One mistake, can cause the end." She warned. The small kits nodded in agreement, and first stepped up Pinekit.
      "I'm going first. But if I win without any hints.. I get in." He meowed. Swiftkit rolled her eyes.
"You get in with or without hints if you find the pinecone kid." She replied sarcastically. She watched as he shrunk back slightly, his ears twitching. She just chuckled, before telling Redkit to go hide the pinecone. She watched as he slunk off to grab it, and she flicked her tail slightly. She scrutinized the bundles of fluff before her, an almost haughty sniff leaving her, before Redkit returned to her side. Then she flicked her tail. "Alright, Pinekit. Go find the pine cone. Maybe if you're lucky enough you'll find it and not be related to your namesake." She said, harsh words hiding behind a joking tone. Her gaze travelled to Pinekits siblings, after the small Tom scampered away. She leaned towards Redkit "Make sure you hide the pinecone very well for these next kits. If they find it, they can be.. followers. Our little posse." She said softly, her calculating gaze bright with mischief. Redkit nodded, his own small grin forming, before flicking his tail towards the scampering kit, looking high and low for the dear article of his initiation. Just as Swiftkit was about to sit down from pure boredom, a squeal of excitement came from Pinekit.
     "I think I found it! I think I found it!" Both Redkit and Swiftkit stared apprehensively at the kit, before he pulled from under a few sets of somewhat thorn bushes a pine cone. Swiftkit glanced at Red, who nodded. Pinekit rushed up to them, "This is the pine cone right..?" The two exchanged a look again, before the lithe she stood.
     "Good job, kit. You managed to find the right pine cone. So, you've managed to join our ranks. You should feel lucky. We'll see if your dearest siblings have it in them, yes?" Swiftkit asked tartly, her facial features giving away nothing to how she felt. Of course, as Redkit stealthily moved away once more to hide the pine cone, she got a good look at the two she-kits. They were small, seemed fine to her. Or as fine as they could be for moon old kits. She turned away, sitting down, ordering with a silent flick of her tail for Pinekit to sit beside her. He obliged quickly, not before Swift noted the regretful glance over his shoulder to his siblings.

     After what felt like moons to Swiftkit, the two had either given up or found the pine cone. The results, while it took forever to receive, were that the pine cones were found. Swiftkit could of course teach them the ways of their group. After all, her dear shadowy friend has taught her before on how to carry around an aura of power and command. Which, she greatly enjoyed, as it seemed to hold very well over her dear friends. She flicked her ears, before standing. "As much as I desire to keep this day going, I do believe the sun is going down. You three have been initiated. Welcome, and may you understand, we are all here to protect each other. Fighting between each other isn't. Tolerated." She commanded gently, before flicking her tail. She regained her innocent composure though as the queens called from outside the nursery to come in. The younger kits scampered quickly, while Swiftkit and Redkit slowly approached. After they entered Swiftkit could feel the pull of her dear shadowy friend, meaning she quickly bid goodnight and curled up, expecting her shadowy teacher to appear the second she closed her eyes.
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Woops! Cliffhanger, hahaha...
Well, next chapter you get a real meeting of some important characters. Maybe. We'll see.~
Don't forget to vote and.. stuff. And see you in the next chapter!
      -Empress_Of_Night