Third-Person POV:

It was late, even by cat standards. Two perfect kittens had already been born. Darkkit was proving to be a strong warrior already, firstborn and healthy. She was large and equally large muscles inherited from her father already showed, waiting to be trained. Icekit was already annoying the heck out of Reedfur the medicine cat and the other queens with her mewing. Their father, Nightstalker, paced outside the Nursery, waiting. He was ThunderClan's best warrior, the deputy. He lashed his tail impatiently, the full moon gleaming down on his namesake black fur, battle scars prominent. Their mother, Moonlight, was exhausted from this last kit and already exasperated with her. She already had two perfect kits! What was the point of a third just getting in the way?

Just as the moon came to its highest point in the midnight sky, the third kit was born. Ugly, deformed, and too small, Moonlight cast away her third daughter, disgusted. She pulled the first two close and lapped eagerly at the wet moss waiting for her. Reedfur prodded her belly just to be certain before announcing, "That is them all," and plodding away to his den to sleep.

"Can I come in now?" Nightstalker asked impatiently.

"Of course," Pearlthorn, the eldest queen croaked. She was on her third litter of kits, currently five moons and eager for apprenticeship. After them, she would go to the elders' den. Pearlthorn and the other queens, Cindernight, Cherrysoar, and Robinstride, were observing the new arrivals. The newest they viewed with disgust (but Robinstride secretly liked her).

A mere millisecond after receiving the answer, Nightstalker barged into the den and glowered around the space, his bright green eyes gleaming. His gaze finally softened when he saw Moonlight and the kits. He seemed quite pleased with the first two kits. Darkkit was big and strong like him; she could be easily trained to be one of ThunderClan's finest warriors. They even looked the same, minus the battle scars. Icekit was so much like her mother that what wasn't there to love? His gaze hardened once more, however, when he saw the nameless third kit. "What is that one called?" he demanded, pointing with his tail. He had been informed and consulted for the names of Icekit and Darkkit, and he even named Darkkit himself.

"I haven't named her yet," Moonlight responded. One could tell she was exhausted merely from her tone alone. One could also tell that she hated the disfigured kit already from her cold tone. Well, hate is a strong word. She disliked the kit, how she looked, and how much effort was put into her, whereas the others were so much easier. Did I mention this was Moonlight's first litter?

"Well, I want nothing to do with it," Nightstalker spat.

"Any suggestions?" Moonlight asked the other queens hopefully.

There was a small pause before Robinstride hesitantly volunteered, "Smokekit?" This caused Cherrysoar to gasp in surprise at her littermate for many reasons.

"There. It has a name. I'm going to sleep," Nightstalker said angrily. He lashed his tail, then left for the warriors' den.

"And I suggest we all do the same. Come on, then. Let's leave the new mother in peace while she still has it," Pearlthorn said in the voice of experience, breaking the momentary silence. Everyone obeyed except for Robinstride, who curled up around half of her sister's large 2 moons old litter of 6, as she had done every night since the kits' father died. She, however, did not sleep, but instead, she watched the queer, new kit who she named for her smoky patches of fur and after her own father.