"Storm! Holly! Wolf! Time for a vole!" I turned around from playing with the moss under the Burnt Tree. Heron let us play here while she was out hunting. Yes! My favorite, vole!

"I'm gonna get there first!" I meowed, my small paws making me faster than my littermates. I soon sped ahead of my siblings, Wolf and Holly, who are huffing with their bulkier builds. I burst through the grass, almost tumbling into my mother's white leg. "Ha!" I yowled in triumph, my siblings still running behind me.

"That's not fair, Storm. How can you be the runt and the fastest of us?" Holly huffed, parting the grass with one long leg as she slowly came into the clearing. She sat down on my left, her black ears pinned back, her head down in defeat. "Can we eat yet, Heron?"

"Wait for Wolf, Holly. We can't eat without your brother." Heron meowed, looking at her kits with warm affection.

Wow, Wolf is so slow! How can he still be running? Just then, a large black and white ball of fur came hurtling into the clearing. "Oh come on! How are you guys so fast?" Wolf huffed, skidding to a halt and sitting on the other side of Holly.

Holly chuckled, her head shaking back and forth. "How can you be so slow?"

"Now, now kits. Be nice. Remember to pass the vole around for everyone to eat." Heron scolded us, passing the vole to me first.

Yes! I get to eat first this time! I took a small bite of the vole, tasty juices pouring into my mouth. I passed on the vole to Holly, waiting for it to be passed back to me. Holly took an angry bite, tossing the vole to Wolf afterwards.

"Holly... what's wrong?" Heron asked my littermate.

Ooooh! She's in trouble! I looked over to Holly, her dark amber eyes full of anger.

"I don't get it! Storm is the runt, but she's the fastest and Wolf is the largest and strongest. Why don't I have something special about me?" Holly huffed, staring at her paws.

"Oh Holly... you don't need a title. I'm happy with who you are, with who all of you are." Heron smiled and licked Holly's forehead. She took a large bite of the vole and passed it back to me, walking off to set up our nests for the night.

I took another small bite of the vole. I guess I am the runt... but that isn't a bad thing... right? I stood up, leaving the little remains of the vole to my littermates. "Heron?"

"Yes, Storm? What do you need?" Heron asked me, putting down the moss for our bedding and turning to me.

"Can we hear another story about Flint? Please?" I pleaded. I just thought that he was awesome! I want to be just like him when I get older!

Heron smiled and sat down. "Of course, but you've already heard all of the stories about him.." She smiled. "and may I say more than once. Are your littermates done yet?"

At the sound of my mother's voice, Holly and Wolf came running over. Of course, Holly was in the lead, her long legs propelling her forward with Wolf not too far behind her.

"Can we hear a story? Please, please, please?" Holly begged, still running towards us.

"Yes. Sit down my kits." Heron meowed, smiling as we all huddled near her on our bedding. "Once upon a time..."

- (In Heron's POV)

I sat down, my tail wrapping around his. "Flint, dear. We must go catch something for tomorrow. What do you think... a vole?"

Flint smiled at the mention of his favorite piece of prey. "That sounds good to me!" He got up, leading the way to the best spot for voles, in the trees near the riverbank.

I smiled as I followed him, stopping and flicking my tail for him to creep over to the other side of the vole as I caught the scent of one. Getting into a hunting crouch I move silently towards the squeak of the vole. I had already learned this crouch seasons ago, in my Clan. Sometimes I regret the decision I made, but then I remember that I would never have really met Flint, and I don't know how I could live without him. I saw Flint's tail twitch slightly, signaling me to head to the other side of the vole. I slowly crept over, hiding in a holly bush. With a yowl, the multi-colored tom chased the vole over to me, scaring it into the bush. I quickly snatched it up, killing it with a bite to the neck, the salty blood warming my tongue. I stood up and walked out of the bush, seeing Flint's proud gaze. I smiled and sat next to him.

"That was a good catch, Heron. Did you learn how to do that in the Clans?" He looked me in the eyes, his dark amber orbs glowing in the darkness.

I smiled and chuckled. "Of course I learned how to do that in the Clans, mousebrain." I licked his muzzle, purring. I grabbed the vole and we walked side by side back to the clearing in the tall grass. He stood taller than me, his long legs moving slower than my normal-sized ones. We twined our tails, getting back to the clearing as the moon rose near the horizon. I dug a good-sized hole and stuck the vole in to preserve it. I covered the vole in dirt and padded back over to Flint. I went over next to him, lying in front of him. The loud boom of thunder and the dim yellow lights of lightning off in the distance soothed me. I stared at the moon, the sound of a wolf's howl echoing in the valley. I smiled as I put my head on my paws, closing my eyes and falling into a deep sleep.

- (Back in the present)

"... and that is how you three got your names. Holly, Wolf, and Storm."

"Hey! Why did I get named after a bush?!"

~

Hello! Hope you liked the first chapter! Written by Spirit. Have a good day! ~Spirit

Edited by BrEz again.