WillowClan/15

Fadingfrost nodded slowly, watching as the clan's leader disappeared into the depths of the nursery. He felt an odd tingling sensation in the pit of his stomach, since Fangflame had suddenly been made deputy. Hopefully he hadn't come off as too rude- he had been told by serveral cats that he gave off a bad vibe with his stoic tendencies. "It would seem so." The TundraClanner responded at last. -- Fadingfrost

Fangflame flicked an ear. “That’s good.” She said, before padding out of camp. “I’m going hunting for awhile.” She said. “I’ll be back.” - Fangflame

Fadingfrost silently nodded at the calico she-cat as she left camp before he awkwardly turned to face WillowClan's camp. *StarClan's, it's hot here.* -- Fadingfrost

The leader shifted and fidgeted from where he sat as Juniperberry trailed off. "...And? What if she doesn't?" Quillstar leaned forward to hear what Juniperberry had to say, earning a somewhat irritable glance from the ginger queen. "...Well, several things could happen. She could end up hurting the kits, even if they are pretty far along. Or, she could force herself to kit early." -- Juniperberry & Quillstar

Ripplepool returned to camp, dragging Cobaltsky and Icegaze’s body- along with the two newborn kits. He lad the bodies in the center of camp and then padded up to Quillstar, the kits in his jaws. “Quillstar, we found these kits around where Cobaltsky was killed.....” he trailed off. “I think these where his, and we followed the rogue’s- he seemed from what’s left of the Pack, and we found the red she-cat who looked like she’d recently had kits- I think she was the mother.” He meowed. Lowering the kits. “Perhaps Mothfeather can nurse them for now.” He meowed then sending a glance around. “Oh...” he shivered as he saw Quillstar and Juniperberry. “He knows doesn’t he....”-Ripplepool

Jaystripe looked at the small kits, and nodded in agreement with Ripplepool. - Jaystripe

Dewshine gasped as she saw her brother. “Ripplepool, do you know why Juniperberry is in here? Shes a medicine cat.” She meowed lowly, filling the tom up with fear. “E-Erm, well. You see, it’s complicated- I don’t, Dewshine....”-Ripple

Jaystripe’s eyes widened as he heard Dewshine and Ripplepool, and backed out, before leaving camp again, and began coughing again. - Jaystripe

Dewshine narrowed her eyes. “Why?” She asked. “Our parents already made it hard, our blood is already mixed and we were already hurt by it, what makes it okay that you have kits with her? You were so mad When Rainsplash said Hawktalon was our father. And medicine cats can’t have kits.” She meowed. Flicking her tail with worry.—Dewshine

Frozenkit dug his muzzle into his mother’s fur. “I shouldn’t have left...”-Frozen

Dewshine fumed as she dashed away from her brother and to camps entrance. Sitting and staring into the shadowed forest. She frowned.-Dew

Mosskit nudged Icegaze, sadly. “Well, she’s in StarClan now. With Mossystone, and Reedkit, and Flakekit.” He said sadly. “I guess she’s happy now.” - Mosskit

Flowerpaw drew in a breath. “Your right.” She admitted, “we do control ourselves.” She sighed. “But what if we can’t. What if we can’t control ourselves, and.” She paused before looking to the moonlit sky.-Flower

Wolfpaw flicked an ear. “We can control what we do.” He said. “It just might be hard sometimes. I guess we do lose control every now and then, though.” - Wolfpaw (WC)

Flowerpaw shifted. “I don’t know what came over me in that battle.” She chuckled uncertainly. “I tore someone’s eyes out....” she muttered.-Flower

Wolfpaw grinned. “Well was it a cat from the Pack? If so, that filthy rogue deserved it.” - Wolfpaw (WC)

Flowerpaw sighed. “I guess he did.” She looked up. “He killed my mother.”-Flowerpaw

Wolfpaw nodded. “There you go.” He said. “Some cats deserve that kind of thing.” - Wolfpaw (WC)

Flowerpaw sighed. “Okay.” She meowed. Then again, he didn't die. She shook her head. “what’s your plan?” She asked. “What now?” -Flowerpaw

Wolfpaw shrugged. “I don’t know. Become a warrior.” He said. “And hopefully soon.” - Wolfpaw (WC)

Flowerpaw nodded. “Yeah, I wanna be leader someday.” She meowed so suddenly. “Help the clan, steer them to greatness, even if the decision is hard, I’ll have a deputy and a medicine cat by my side, I’ll get to see generations fly by, I’ll see WillowClan stronger than ever.” She sighed peacefully.-Flowerpaw

Wolfpaw blinked. “Leader would be a big step.” He said. “But I guess we never know.” - Wolfpaw (WC)

Flowerpaw shrugged and gave him a bright smile. “I know! But someday that would be my plan, just be a big warrior and become leader. It would be a life’s accomplishment.” -Flowerpaw

Ivypaw padded over to lie next to the prey pile, wondering if she should go hunting. - Ivypaw

Flameheart's subconscious was running in wild circles as her she stared at the ground, trying to find some silver lining for the gaping hole in her heart. The battle had scarred her slowly developing conscience, and guilt was ever-present. But she knew what she had to do. She ran up to Scorchclaw, her forever cat. "Scorchclaw... I'm leaving. Will you follow me?" -- Flameheart

Scorchclaw was frozen. "Leave WillowClan?" Shock ran through him. Then he looked into his love's eyes and he knew he would leave. "Of course, then. If you want that. I will be with you forever." He leaped out of camp. - Scorchclaw

Quillstar had left the nursery to help with other matters, but as he did so, Juniperberry found herself kitting. In the end, the queen was left with two kits at her belly, a pair of she-kits, except... "StarClan, please....please don't punish us like this." The peach tabby's voice was heavy with remorse as she desperately tried to rub warmth into the tiny gray kit's limp form. -- Juniperberry

Ivypaw noticed Juniperberry, and padded over. "Are your kits doing okay?" She asked, and helped to groom the other kit. -- Ivypaw

Ripplepool gasped. “W-whats wrong with him.” He shivered. “Is he...” he sighed. StarClan had to so something about this. He sighed. “This must’ve been a punishment.” He sighed. Though the other looked fine thank StarClan.-Ripple

"And I think it's enough punishment for your breaking of your code, Ripplepool." Quillstar spoke softly as he re-entered the nursery, disturbed by the sound of Juniperberry's mournful cries. "Nobody deserves to lose family. That being said, I think it's important that you and Juniperberry take this as a warning from StarClan. Do not break your code again, but be thankful for what you have." -- Quillstar

Juniperberry bowed her head. *I should've listened to Birdsong. I should have stopped with trying to be a medicine cat...* "Yes, the kit's dead." The former medicine cat admitted with her head bowed in defeat, before finally her frosted blue eyes darted over to the remaining kitten. "But at least this one's still alive." -- Juniperberry

Fadingfrost was shown to a den where he could settle in for the time being. The TundraClanner slowly lay down in the nest, exhuasted from the change of temperature and his long travel. Slowly, the seal marbled tabby rested his head on his paws, but kept his ears perked as he observed WillowClan's activity. -- Fadingfrost

Ivypaw frowned. But they'll be okay, right? -Ivypaw

Fangflame crouched close to the ground, as she spotted a mouse. Although she tried to focus on hunting, she couldn’t get TundraClan out of her head. *Who’s the new leader? Will they be a the Gathering? Will Quillstar try and help TundraClan? Will Fadingfrost go back anytime soon? Will the new leader try and ambush WillowClan?* As she was thinking this, a twig snapped beneath her paws, and the mouse ran off. “Fox-dung!” Cursed the calico she-cat. - Fangflame

Ravenpaw sat in the apprentice den, playing with a ball of moss and wishing she had a mentor. - Ravenpaw

Stonetooth relaxed outside of the medicine cat den, rolling his shoulders before wincing at the sting of his healing wounds from the recent attack from the Pack. Poppy seeds helped take the edge off of his formerly broken leg that was riddled with arthritic pain, but his shoulder wound? It felt like it was raining quills and wasps. Yet, at the same time, he felt a bit of relief knowing that the stress of being deputy was off of shoulders now. Better yet...he didn't have Wolfshade breathing down his neck anymore. -- Stonetooth

The death of Juniperberry's kit threw Cinderkit back into reality: life was delicate. Not even kittens were spared from death. "Momma?" The rosetted she-kit spoke up softly, holding Ashbreeze's gaze. "Yes, dear?" The pale queen answered in a voice like silk, pulling her daughter closer. "...Do you think Leopardkit is ok, momma?" -- Cinderkit & Ashbreeze

Fangflame looked around, and decided to try again. - Fangflame

Ashbreeze forced a smile. "Your brother's strong, I'm sure he's just fine. We'll find him." She spoke with confidence, although doubt made her heart heavy. ScarClan had taken her son for a reason, and she was horrified that she might not get him back in one piece...but she couldn't let her daughter know that. "Go on outside and play, Cinderkit, it's a lovely day." The queen urged while nudging her daughter outside. Cinderkit revealed a small smile in response. "Ok." -- Cinderkit & Ashbreeze

Flameheart hesitated, trying to come to a decision. Scorchclaw, she knew, would come with her, but... "Wait. Let me... I'll decide tomorrow."

Padding up to her apprentice, she flicked him on the ear with her ruddy ticked tail. "Wolfpaw, you'll never become leader if you sit around all day. Go hunt, and bring back some prey for the clan. By yourself." -- Flameheart

Ravepaw went over to the fresh kill pile and selected a magpie. -- Ravenpaw

Wolfpaw nodded. “Alright, thank you!” He said, relieved to have an excuse to get out of camp. - Wolfpaw (WC)

Stormsong returned her camp her head low. - Stormsong

Stormsong spotted Stonetooth at the entrance of the medicine cat den. She noticed his shoulder wound. "Are you okay?" she mewed. - Stormsong

"Yeah, I think I'm ok." The former deputy greeted the gray she-cat as he slowly shifted to lay on his other side. "I think we all got our fair share of wounds from this battle." -- Stonetooth

Ivypaw wondered vaughly what to do. - Ivypaw

Spiderfang padded across the clearing. The aftermath of the battle still played in his head. But most importantly, Sunnyshine was dead. Grief was like little needles pricking him as he pushed his thoughts of the golden she-cat away. - Spiderfang

Streamecho sat by the nursery, her silver pelt gleaming. She narrowed her ice-blue eyes. - Streamecho

Ravenclaw scowled, glancing around for Forestfire. - Ravenclaw

Petalpaw groomed her short blue-and-white fur in the sunlight. - Petalpaw

Sprucefall was drifting in memories. The warm sunny greenleaf day was perfect for remembering the past. The battle had been bloody, but everything seemed to be settling down. She purred. - Sprucefall

Patch curled his fluffy tail around his paws. He missed Morningglade. He felt a little nervous around these cats, despite them being his Clan... Where was his confidence? - Patch

Lilacpaw was still in shock. She could only remember her sister's black-and-white tail flashing away as Wasppaw leaped through the trees. Why? Why had her littermate left her in the hardest part? She had no other real family left-well, except for Blizzardwing. Her father crouched in the shade, his thick fur bristling. His eyes landed on her, and he glared. Lilacpaw shivered and headed toward her new mentor, Fangflame. - Lilacpaw & Blizzardwing

Barkpelt spotted a she-cat at the entrance of camp-Dewshine. The tabby tom padded over. - Barkpelt

Stormsong felt the warm sunshine of greenleaf on her shoulders as she sat next to the gray-and-white tom. She felt finally at peace. No war raged in the clearing. It's seemed calm as she watched cats slowly shuffle around, murmurs filling the air, and the scent of prey thick out in the forest. - Stormsong

Dewhsine paused as she quickly turned to see Barkpelt. “Oh, hello Barkpelt.” She quickly covered her belly with her fluffy tail. “What are you doing out here?” She asked, “well. Over here.” She hid the grief and annoyance of her brother and her blood, how come it would never be perfect? As perfect as she saw the illusion was as a kit?**—Dewshine**

Ripplepool shivered before looking to Quillstar a bit shaken, “I’m sorry Quillstar...” he muttered lowly. Nudging he dead kit. “I think one litter is enough.” He sighed. Before being summoned by Flowerpaw at his den. He sighed before flashing glances to his mate and leader. “I need to go...” he meowed. And then turned to pad back to Flowerpaw. “Y-yes? Flowerpaw?” He asked. She flicked her tail uneasily before starting to talk in a whisper.**—Ripplepool & Flowerpaw**

Frozenkit mourned quietly as he stared at where they’d buried Icegaze. “This is all my fault, I shouldn’t have run over the black thing.” He cried to himself. And now all he had was Mosskit left. He felt his heart warm at the thought of his brother. After all, Mosskit was a little bit younger than Frozenkit. He paused and closed his eyes. *Don’t worry Momma, I’ll take care of him. I’ll be the best brother ever.***—Frozenkit**

Mothfeather stared at Dandelionkit, and the other two kits. She wondered as she saw Ripplepool leave, she looked to Quillstar from her kit. “Quillstar, I think if I too more borage, I could have enough milk for these two kits.” She meowed. Thinking. If Cobaltsky had a mate and kits- the Thought struck her. “Where’s Morningglade?”**—Mothfeather**

Quillstar turned to seek out Dustypaw to help with Mothfeather's request, but he felt his heart sink when he reminded himself that the young, enthusiastic tom was no longer with them. "Yes, we'll do that when Ripplepool gets the chance. Juniperberry's nursing her own kits, so she can't fetch herbs right now." -- Quillstar

Stonetooth allowed his tender shoulders to relax and his head to bow as he enjoyed the sunshine beside Stormsong. His mind drifted to his sister, curious of where Riverstone had gone in her travels- and above all things else, whether or not she was safe. *Now's not the time for worrying...* The tom reminded himself nonchalantly as he further sank down to the earth. -- Stonetooth

Fangflame padded back into camp with a sparrow in her jaws, dropping it in the fresh-kill pile. - Fangflame

Jaystripe turned his head towards the nursery, before grimly turning it back, wishing he could go see his new adopted daughter. But he knew it wouldn’t be safe for any of the kits or queens if he went in there sick. *Why am I even ill? It’s Greenleaf for StarClan’s sake!* - Jaystripe

Mosskit was lying next to Icegaze’s burial, still refusing to go back into the nursery. - Mosskit

Wolfpaw pricked his ears, and tried to find some prey. - Wolfpaw (WC)

Lilacpaw padded up to her mentor, Fangflame. She needed to do something to get her mind off Blizzardwing and Wasppaw. "Can we hunt?" she asked. - Lilacpaw

Fangflame looked at her apprentice. “Sure!” She said. “Let’s test your hunting skills.” The calico she-cat lead her apprentice out of camp. - Fangflame

Blossomkit looked around Arg when will i be an apprentice! --Blossomkit

Stormsong curled peacefully beside Stonetooth, simply enjoying the small bit of quiet time with a Clanmate after the battle. - Stormsong

Lilacpaw nodded and followed her mentor. - Lilacpaw

Barkpelt shrugged. He glanced at Dewshine. "How are you?" he mewed, dodging the "what are you doing here" question. - Barkpelt

Scorchclaw thought he ought to train his apprentice, Flowerpaw. He glanced around for the sleek she-cat. - Scorchclaw

Streakedfur called Twilightbreeze over. "Will you walk with me?" Twilightbreeze nodded her consent. They walked til they were at a private spot. Streakedfur took a deep breath, he had been racking up his courage to do this. Streakedfur moved until he was facing Twilightbreeze. "Uh...Twilightbreeze i have loved you since the first glance." Twilightbreeze purred," I love you too." Streakedfur meowed," Will you share that love with me by being my mate?" Twilightbreeze's eyes glowed with happiness as she meowed," Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes!" Streakedfur sighed with relief and touched noses with her. Twilightbreeze leaned her head on his shoulder and Streakedfur rested his head on hers. They stayed in that perfect moment. --Twilightbreeze and Streakedfur

Dewshine shrugged. “Not good.” She meowed. “Now a Ripplepool and Juniperberry are breaking the code too, just like out parents- but they weren't medicine cats.” She sighed. “I miss the illusion that we where born in WillWOA lan and are perfect again.”-Dew

Flowerpaw nodded as a Ripplepool dismissed her. At least he knew now. She then spotted Scorchclaw and padded over to him. “Can we train?” But hid, *let’s see if you’re anything better than Thunderflame.* Guessing he wasn’t, though she didn’t show her sour tongue and held a smile.-Flowerpaw

Wolfpaw eventually padded back to camp with three mice, and dropped them in the prey pile, before looking up at Flameheart. “I caught three!” He exclaimed. - Wolfpaw (WC)

Fangflame looked down at Lilacpaw. “Have you spotted any prey yet?” She asked in a low voice. - Fangflame

Flame nodded at her apprentice, although she wasn’t feeling herself today. “Give the queens some prey.” She ordered before starting to groom her ruffled fur.— Flameheart

Wolfpaw nodded. Padding towards the nursery, he dropped some prey in there, to give it to the queens. - Wolfpaw (WC)

Lilacpaw flicked her tail. She tasted the air. Yes, a mouse! She dropped into a crouch, slinking stealthily forwards. - Lilacpaw

Twilightbreeze and Streakedfur hunted a little before returning to camp. They dropped their prey in the fresh kill pile, except from Twilightbreeze's squirrel which they shared and then shared tongues. --Twilight and Streak

Barkpelt nodded, before he mewed, "Do you want to go hunting?" - Barkpelt

Fangflame nodded, and silently watched her apprentice. - Fangflame

Scorchclaw glanced at Flowerpaw. "Want to battle train?" - Scorchclaw

Lilacpaw stilled her tail, before leaping into the air, pouncing on the mouse. She swiftly killed it. - Lilacpaw

Fangflame stood up straight, and nodded. “Good job!” She said. - Fangflame

Cherrykit returned to the nursery after she tired herself from chasing flying insects around all afternoon. She sniffed Shykit curiously, who had accidentally shuffled away from the safety of his mother's belly. He recoiled and mewled in protest when Cherrykit touched his dappled form with her nose. -- Cherrykit & Shykit

Cinderkit rested on her side, laying in the sunshine outside of the nursery in hopes of clearing her mind. She felt like half the cat she once was without Leopardkit by her side to keep her feeling safe and confident. *I hope he's doing ok...* -- Cinderkit

Mosskit looked up, and looked at Cherrykit, who had padded into the nursery. He glanced inside and looked at Shykit. *I forgot Shykit was here.* - Mosskit

"They're tiny." Cherrykit commented, despite not being particularly large herself. "They're like little fuzzy mice. I hope they can get around and play soon, too." -- Cherrykit

Mosskit nodded. “Me too.” He said, observing the small kit. “I also hope I can become an apprentice soon.” - Mosskit

Cherrykit wasn't so certain about becoming a warrior apprentice herself- she'd seen the wounds left behind on the warriors from the Pack's attack. War had killed her parents. War had destroyed part of her clan. "...I don't think I want to become a warrior," the petal-patched calico admitted quietly. -- Cherrykit

“Why not?” Asked Mosskit. “Would you want to become a medicine cat?” - Mosskit

The cream she-cat thought on it for a moment before she nodded her narrow skull vigorously. "Yeah, I think I want to be a medicine cat." She was awfully young to make such a decision, but she was already firm on it. "They smell good! Plus, I love flowers. I could play with flowers *all day* and all of my life." -- Cherrykit

Lilacpaw warmed with approval from her mentor. - Lilacpaw

“How about we get back to camp?” Asked Fangflame. - Fangflame

Mosskit laughed. “I want to protect my Clan as a warrior, and make sure nobody ever gets hurt!” He said, smiling. - Mosskit

Lilacpaw agreed and padded in the direction of camp, the mouse dangling from her jaws from its tail. - Lilacpaw

She thought on her cousin's exclamation for a moment. "But if you're protecting the clan from something, doesn't that mean that someone's got to get hurt either way? That there's a threat?" Naturally, being a medicine cat meant that she had to deal with wounds, and so it...required that her clanmates get hurt. But what mattered was that she got to make them feel better. -- Cherrykit

Mosskit nodded. “I guess.” He said. “But at least I’d be able to protect my Clanmates. Maybe it’d mean hurting other cats. But still!” - Mosskit

Fangflame arrived in camp with Lilacpaw. - Fangflame

Stonetooth didn't mean to do it- really, he mentally willed himself to stay awake and merely *rest* his eyes. But before long, the former deputy found his body relaxing until he melted on the ground like an ice cube exposed to hot sunlight. Whether intentional or not, he found his charcoal fur lightly touching Stormsong's as he snoozed the afternoon away. -- Stonetooth

Cherrykit still didn't agree with the idea of causing intentional harm, but then again, she had no right to go stomping on her cousin's dream. "I'm sure you'll make a good warrior," the spotted kitten decided with a small smile. -- Cherrykit

“Yeah, and you’ll be an awesome medicine cat!” He said, although he didn’t see how that could be any fun. - Mosskit

Dewshine shook her head. “I can’t.” She meowed. “I’m expecting kits.” She meowed a little shameful. “These kits will be my downfall.” She cursed. Then standing. “Why don’t you go and hunt for the others. I think I’m gonna lay low.” She sighed as she quietly trekked through the woods. Alone. This was her chance.—Dewshine

Flowerpaw nodded. “I guess.” She meowed. Hoping Wolfpaw’s Mentor’s Friend wasn’t gonna train her like he was, then again, they had been in the DarkMasters, it was a possibility he’d push her to her limits. Once they got to the ground she lowered and unsheathed her class. Growling and flaring her fur up like porcupine. She quickly leaped to the right and left before slapping her mentor on the cheek, claws sheathed.—Flowerpaw

Frozenkit watched as her brother boasted about being a warrior. He could see Cherrykit a medicine cat. “C’mon Mosskit, I think warriors do more things than fight.” He giggled before shifting his gaze to Cherrykit. “I think being a medicine cat is a great thing! Did you know, Icegaze told me Birdsong was a medicine cats apprentice before stepping down for some reason? I think you’d be great!” He purred before noticing Cinderkit. He frowned and padded to her side. “I’m really sorry Cinderkit.” He meowed.—Frozenkit

Ripplepool stopped as he’d been called by Mothfeather. “Y-yes?!” He meowed, dashing to the nursery again, feeling the sting of a million wasps in his heart from the sight of his dead kit again. Then cursing at himself. You need to be there for your kits, they’re depending on you! And, Ripplepool, you’re a medicine cat, don’t prove the code was there and that the code was right, being a dad can wait. The clan is your family. He shook his head as he’d been torn in two inside. And then Mothfeather had pulled the two Cobaltsky kits towards her. He sighed as he then nodded as she’d told him she’d adopt them. and returned with Borage to feed her. To keep the milk flowing. Then to look back to Juniperberry, though seeing Frostbreeze there he smiled. “Congratulations Frostbreeze.” He purred. At least her kits would be fine.—Ripplepool

Mothfeather felt her heart fly out of her chest as she had taken in the scraps of brown Cobaltsky kits. She paid close attention to them as Dandelionkit played with the others. The she-kit was dark near her muzzle, ears, paws, and tail, well, her tail was shorter than expected. But it seemed to swirl in weird ways. “Swirlkit.” She meowed. Then shifting to the tom- he looked like his father, she could tell from the light gingerish flecks among his body. Though he was more fuzzy and large, than his sister. White paws too, “Mudkit.” She vowed. As she shifted her attention to her kit.—Mothfeather

Dandelionkit with her boundless energy had waddled to the other kits and smiled. “I wanna be a warrior!” She squeaked. “I wanna save others too!” Shifting her gaze from Mosskit and Cherrykit “I’m gonna do both!” She vowed. She then sneezed as a nearby butterfly caught her attention off guard as she chased it, tripping after every few steps.—Dandelionkit

Scorchclaw growled and leaped at his apprentice. Making sure his claws were sheathed, he aimed for her shoulder. - Scorchclaw

Barkpelt frowned. He padded off into the forest to look for some prey. - Barkpelt

*My mother did both, as did Juniperberry, her best friend.* Cherrykit felt a pit of guilt widening in her stomach as she reminded herself that Juniperberry had broken the code in order to essentially do both. Or, at least she was going to do both, once her kit was weaned and she could retrain to become a warrior. She shrugged her pair of delicate shoulders. "I dunno, being a warrior sounds all-too serious. I know being a medicine cat requires some serious focus as well, but...I like it, talking with StarClan and collecting herbs, it all sounds so *dreamy*." -- Cherrykit

"I'd really like to be left alone now, please." Cinderkit murmured in a voice that was practically a whisper as she stared at the stagnant camp, where its warriors and apprentices relaxed after a long and stressful moon of battle. Losing her brother caused her to feel as if she'd be torn apart. She didn't even want to be an apprentice anymore- not without Leopardkit. Only he could keep her safe from the Dark Forest, and now, he was gone. -- Cinderkit

"Danita," the silver spotted tabby corrected the medicine cat with a small smile, pulling her tail closer to her swollen belly that had a strange sensation rippling across it. "But thank you. Quillstar and I are very excited for their arrival." -- Danita

Birchpaw and Cedarpaw gazed around camp, sharing a piece of prey between them. "WillowClan is big," the tabby apprentice sighed, casting her green gaze around with a slightly terrified gaze. "I wonder what happens when we're warriors." --Cedarpaw

"Well, we gain responsibility. We already have some as apprentices, we'll probably gain more as warriors." Birchpaw cocked his head to the side as he thought. "I wonder what that responsibility is..." --Birchpaw

Jaystripe looked at Dandelionkit as she began to play with the others. His sight was beginning to slowly come back to him. - Jaystripe

Mosskit looked at Dandelionkit, and cocked his head. “How can you do both?” - Mosskit

Dandelionkit purred. “I can fight! And heal!” She mewed.—Dandelionkit

Flowerpaw grlpwed as she crouched below his swipe. Then pouncing, knocking him to his back to the floor.—Flowerpaw

Frozenkit nodded. “Okay.” He meowed. Then wondering, if Leopardkit made Cinderkit happy, maybe he should go and find wherever Leopardkit went, but he needed info. He looked around for- “Ashbreeze? Do you know where ScarClan lives? Didn’t they attack us too?”—Frozenkit

Ripplepool dipped his head. “Thought of any names, Danita.” He meowed. He’d never imagined Quillstar and him to be fathers around the same time- he’d never thought he’d be a father at all by the fact. Then shifting his gaze to Juniperberry.—Ripple

Quillstar summoned his clan to call the cats attending the gathering. "Fangflame, Ripplepool, Stonetooth, Patch, Stormsong, Streakedfur, Forestfire, Shadowhollow, Wolfpaw, Ravenpaw, Mistpaw, Flowerpaw, Cedarpaw, Birchpaw, and Oakpaw will attend the gathering tonight." He agreed to let Fadingfrost tag along as well, to see how his old clanmates were doing, and just to irritate Loststar. But little did the leader know, when he returned from the Gathering...he would officially become a father. -- Quillstar

Ripplepool nodded. He quickly headed to the medicine cats den in hopes Dustypaw would be there- but he sighed before he followed the others.-Ripple

She hated to see Quillstar go, she feared that he'd leave and never return since his life was threatened in battle. Not only that, but Danita was finding herself in a lot of pain and discomfort. She shifted in her nest, gritting her teeth when the pain only got worse. *What's wrong with me??* -- Danita

Ripplepool then peaked inside the nursery. “Anyone think they’ll need help and if I should Stay?” He asked.—ripple

The silver spotted queen dismissed the pain as a thorn in her nest, or soreness from the previous battle. "No, we're fine. Hurry along before you get too far behind." The pain would subside, she was certain of it. -- Danita

Ripplepool nodded. “Okay, but if anything goes wrong, get someone to get me.” He meowed. Then turning to follow the others.—Ripple

The feline sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, waiting for darkness to fall and for sleep to take its hold. Yet, the pain kept her awake and tossing and turning until finally the pain grew intense. Realization welled up in her gut when Danita began to kit. -- Danita

Flowerpaw purred as she jolted with the others to go to the gathering. Finally, her FIRST gathering! And after the training session, eh.... could’ve been better. Maybe she should’ve resisted unsheathing her claws because Scorchclaw did it back-.—Flowerpaw

Night had fallen and the Gathering cats had left. Cinderkit retreated instantly once the sun fell and the shadows stretched across camp, for she had found a new quirk about herself: she was terrified of the dark. Ever since Wolfshade exposed her bloodline being connected to the Dark Forest, she found herself hopelessly petrified of shadows and darkness. -- Cinderkit

Shykit innocently and obliviously tucked himself away at his mother's belly, unaware that his life was about to completely change. -- Shykit

Danita found herself kitting shortly after the cats left for the Gathering. She prayed to StarClan that Quillstar would miraculously come running back to camp to help her, but she knew that was foolish to think. He knew nothing to what was going on- perhaps he could sense it, but he couldn't just up and leave. She found herself in intense pain, but how could she not be struggling when she was tiny, and Quillstar massive? The kits were bound to be just as large as he was. In the end, the exhausted queen was left with three furballs at her belly: two giant grizzled kittens like WillowClan's leader, and an oddly tiny silvery kitten that resembled her mother. Danita already had a name picked out for one: Bearkit, the black grizzled tabby she-kit. For the others...she'd wait for Quillstar to help her. -- Danita & babies

Mosskit awoke as he heard commotion and saw Danita and her kits. He padded over to them. “Wow!” He exclaimed, quietly. “What are their names?” - Mosskit

Flameheart

```
​turned her head to see Danita licking her newborn kits. She nodded her
​congrats but stayed in front to guard the camp. The moon was still

```

high, and the light made her fur look like a burning fire. She felt
another fur brush hers and saw Scorchclaw beside her. He laid his tail
on hers and whispered, "Can I guard with you?" Flame smiled and nodded.
It had been a while since they talked to one
another.--Flameheart and Scorchclaw

The spotted queen rested her tail on the stocky black grizzled she-kit. "This is Bearkit." Danita allowed her gaze to briefly dart over to the silvery kitten similar to herself. Quillstar had been adamant about naming a kit "Iciclekit" in her honor, and it seemed to be a suiting name for the pale kitten. "Her sister is Iciclekit." Danita decided with a soft smile before she glanced to the only tom in the litter, so similar to his father. "I'll wait for Quillstar to help me name him." -- Danita

Mosskit looked at the three kittens, with interest. “Cool names.” - Mosskit

(I think she’ll take Baykit too-) Whiterose grinned as her gaze loomed over the empty yet quiet clan camp. *WillowClan has always been the biggest clan. They must have many kits since it’s early Green-Leaf.* She grinned as she crept silently behind the nursery to reveal old looking holes in the den’s thorny walls, *huh. Idiots can even keep their camp organized and strong*. She thought. Then quietly she looked around as the queens looked snoozy and the kits where silent. She grinned as she fastened her teeth around some, two near a calico Queen, one from the snowshoe queen- she twitched uneasily as the darker, smaller spotted queen twitched an ear, though Whiterose widened her eyes as she saw how big the kits where. She grinned as she quietly grabbed a smaller, delicate looking she-kit, and last she knew she could fit one more in her mouth, so she looked around to see a single kit. Looking strong but scenting of many herbs. She gripped that one as the tortoiseshell tabby she-kit squealed loudly Whiterose widened her eyes as she had hoped no one heard it. (For Juniper)—Whiterose

While the others were fast asleep, the sound of a cry from her daughter immediately pulled Juniperberry from her sleep. "Baykit?" She was astonished to find her daughter missing, and the tail of a stranger leaving the nursery. She was no warrior- Juniperberry did not know how to fight, but she'd die trying if necessary. "Thief!" The peach tabby snarled as she desperately hurled herself at the outsider. -- Juniperberry

Whiterose threw the kits to the ground as she’d tossed Juniperberry off. “Heh. I am no thief.” She growled as she’d looked at the she-cat For weak points. She flattened her ears as she’d gotten back to her paws, Whiterose quickly leaped at Juniperberry and sank her teeth into the Queen’s throat.—Whiterose

She tried to fight back, but only found herself fidgeting in the warrior's jaws, struggling and fading out. Was it the end, so soon, when her wonderful life of family had only just begun? Juniperberry could not fight back. As a last act of motherly love, she reached out with a paw towards her tossed daughter, to touch her one last time, before finally she grew still. -- Juniperberry

Whiterose dropped the queen until she heard gasps erupt from the camp, she then scooped all the kits up and ignoring her bloody snout, she dashed back to TundraClan.—Whiterose

Flame
tried to chase the stranger, but her scent was already stale. She
growled, “I will find you and make you pay.” She then padded back to
camp to find the former medicine cat dead and queens sobbing. Flame
shook her head as she tried to comfort them.—Flameheart

Dewshine wailed as she saw Juniperberry’s body. “Holy StarClan! Where are the kits!?”-Dew

Exhaustion had kept Danita asleep. When she awoke, she wailed mournfully to find her newborn daughter missing. "She can't be gone...She was only just born, she'll die without nursing!" -- Danita

Mosskit, leaped up, eyes wide, as he saw the dead queen, and a lower number of kits, than there were before. “Woah!” - Mosskit

Mothfeather wailed as she’d then stood gently up, “I’ll be right back little ones,” she meowed with concern edging her tone, “okay I can try and scent who it was,” she meowed. Then watching the bloody path she’d scented it and growled. “What?” She gasped. “TundraClan?”-Moth

Forestfire could've yowled. "The kits?! Gone? No!"

Scorchclaw was lowkey panicking, and ran up to Flameheart. "The kits! They're missing." -- Forestfire & Scorchclaw

“Juniperberry’s dead!” She heard other cats yowl, Dewshine shook her head. “We need to get Quillstar back! And Ripplepool! And the Clan!” She yowled.-Dew

Ravenclaw nodded sadly and pressed against Forestfire. He turned to Dewshine. “No. We should wait in case they come back- they're sure to return, whoever stole the kits.”—Ravenclaw

Mothfeather sighed. “But Quillstar will know what to do, Fangflame isn’t here, nor do we have any medicine cat here to help Juniperberry.” She thought hard.-Moth

Spiderfang did is best to stay calm. *The kits are missing?* - Spiderfang

Petalpaw waited anxiously for the rest of the Clan to return. - Petalpaw

Lilacpaw frownes and shifted. - Lilacpaw

Dawnrise screamed "Oh starclan my baby is gone!" Blossomkit pouted in a corner *no one cares about me of course.... --*Dawnrise and Blossomkit

Mothfeather rested her fuzzy tail on Dawnrise’s shoulder. “Cobaltsky’s are too, well, at least Swirlkit.” She sighed.—Moth

Barkpelt returned from hunting, laying a fat vole on the fresh kill pile. - Barkpelt

As more tensions grew in WillowClam, so did Frozenkit’s worry for Cinderkit. And now he knew she’d assume the Dark Forest was coming for her, and that they took the other kits. He couldn’t handle it. He was bigger, and stringer, AND had a battle scar, he HAD to help her. And what a better way than going off to find Leopardkit. He hadn’t really ever left camp, except..... yeah..... he shook his thoughts as everyone was trembling, shrieking, and yelling, he squeezed through the crowd and ran into the forest, but all he knew was where the pack had fled. That could be his clue.—Frozenkit

Dandelionkit finally got out of the drama. But as she saw Froze kit leave she grinned playfully and dashed over to Mosskit. “MOSSKIT! CHERRYKIT!” She whispered loudly, as she found the two she bounced playfully. “Frozenkit is leaving camp! Let’s go with him!” She meowed in a semi happy, yet cautious tone.—Dandelionkit

Mothfeather watched as Mudkit started to try and walk. She knew it was a bad time, but as she walked by his side, he’d pushed her paws away with his, as if he didn’t want her help. But she helped anyways, even if he growled in protest. But something about the kit felt so.... off.—Mothfeather & Mudkit

Poolpaw took in a breath as the little kit sway in his mouth, he’d run awhile through ThornClan territory and here he was outside WillowClan’s camp, he padded into the camp, but as he did He’d been pounced on, he gasped as he saw the cat. (Anyone)- Poolpaw

Mosskit nodded, and followed Dandelionkit out of camp. He motioned for his cousin to follow them, but didn’t wait as he bounded after his brother. - Mosskit

Frozenkit hadn’t had a great nose, but he could tell the stale scent a little, ScarClan and Pack scent smelled bad anyways, so he could recognize the scent any day.-Frozen

”who are you!” Dewshine hissed. Poolpaw trembled under the queen’s claws. “I-I’m Poolpaw! from TundraClan!” He meowed, and added. “Irismoon, former deputy told me to return this kit!” He cried. Dewshine then released him. “Go.” She hissed, flicking her tail to the nursery, he carried the kit into the nursery, Dewshine followed. “He claims to want to return a kit.” She meowed to the queens.—Dew

Sage was walking towards WillowClan territory. *Do they really eat bones? Cool!* The stout young tom strode confidently towards what the wild cats called their "camp". "Hello? Anyone here? I want to join your Clan." -- Sage (Swallowpaw)

Mothfeather gasped as an intruder stalked into camp, bristling and grabbing Mudkit, stalking back into the nursery where Poolpaw stood. “Danita! He has one of your kits!”—Moth

Danita rushed forward with a soft, depressed glow to her blue eyes when she discovered her newborn daughter to be dead in the stranger's jaws. "You...you *killed* her!" It was all the queen could muster as rage fell over her like a dark cloud, ears pinned against her delicate skull. "She was only just born, and you took life away from her, you took her away from us! She could have lived, could have had laughed, could have been a warrior!" -- Danita

Poolpaw winced, “n-no! I, I couldn’t kill a kit! It was them! I never did anything!” He shivered. “It was Whiterose! And Loststar! Irismoon told me to take her back, she tried to nurse this kit back- I’m sorry...”- Pool

Dewshine hissed. “If you’re from tundraClan, and you brought back a stolen kit....” Dewshine then growled. “This was a plan!” She yowled. Not until she lurched forward at the pain in her belly, “My Kits!”-Dew

"That's the problem," Danita replied quickly in a stern tone, her venomous eyes narrowed into a pair of slits. "You didn't do *anything*. You should have returned her home as soon as you saw her, knowing that she was helpless agaisnt the cold and needed her mother. But you didn't." When she heard Dewshine cry in pain, she looked around in hopes of finding Juniperberry to assist the queen, but...she was dead. -- Danita

Poolpaw twitched, “I never saw her, and even if I tried to help, they’d just attack me, I’d die trying and the kit would’ve died to.” He growled. Though he did feel guilt. He let his ears droop. “I’ve gotta go back to my clan, if I’m even found to be outside- they’d kill me.” He meowed as he then turned.—Poolpaw

Dewshine has watched many queens have kits, but it looked easier than it really was, she tensed as she looked around for any cat who knew herbs. She rasped, “does someone know how to use herbs? Let alone kit a queen?” Followed by another painful screech.—Dew

When Quillstar and his warriors returned from the Gathering, camp seemed to have turned to chaos. Dewshine was screeching, two strangers had appeared, and the scent of death wafted past the leader's nose. "What in the name of StarClan is going on?" The typically anxious leader spoke in a grave, deep tone that rang out across camp to silence all that opposed. As his scanned camp, he felt his belly tense to see Juniperberry's body, motionless and mottled with blood. *Oh Ripplepool, I'm so sorry...* However, before that grief alone could set in, he noticed Danita's mournful appearance, and saw a tiny, stiff, motionless furball resting between her paws. Was their only kit...dead? "Danny!" Quillstar called out, instantly shedding his authorative appearance and darting over to his mate like the concerned parent he was. "Danny, what happened?!" **-- Quillstar**

Ripplepool stared in shock, “No!” He yowled, breathing hard as tears bubbled in his eyes. “I can’t lose anyone else!” He sobbed into Juniperberry’s coat. Only as Dewshine’s screech’s distracted him, he wiped the tears as he then raced to retrieve the correct herbs, bringing Dewhsine’s kits to the light of night.—Ripplepool

Birchpaw and Cedarpaw returned to camp alongside their Clanmates, only to realize that chaos had broken loose in their departure. The former's lip raised as he sniffed death. "Someone's died... it might be multiple someones..." --Birchpaw & Cedarpaw

Stormsong stood, shocked. *What is happening? Juniperberry is dead?* - Stormsong

Scorchclaw sat at the back of the crowd thinking. *What is going on? Clanmates have died. And here we are just talking about it, thinking it would just disappear.* He drew his lips back in disgust.— Scorchclaw

Wolfpaw stared at the dead bodies, bitterly. More death. Of course. WillowClan needed to be stronger than this! And when he became a warrior, he would make it stronger. - Wolfpaw (WC)

After the kits had been delivered, Ripplepool left the den before he was even thanked or talked to, he ignored the stares, the stars, and focused on his mate. He dug his nose into her fur. “I’m such an idiot.” He whispered. “If we hadn’t,.... you’d still be here, with me, as medicine cats.” He sobbed. First his mother, then his son, and now....” he let out a breath he’d locked in. then not lifting his gaze from Juniperberry. “Q-Quillstar..... Can I take a look at your kit? To see more to how she....” he paused instead of saying how she died. Though it was clear she most likely froze before developing hunger, or she’d died hungry and frozen. But his thoughts were all over Juniperberry, reminding him he had a kit too, ‘Where’s Baykit?”-Ripple

"TundraClan stole the kits," Danita admitted quietly with her head bowed, exhausted from all the trauma of the day. Back in the nursery, Bearkit and her brother squeaked in protest, hungry for a meal. "Juniperberry tried to stop them, to save Baykit, but...the thief fought back, and killed her. They took Iciclekit just after she was born, and then...she died. So they brought her back. To *torment* us." The spotted queen's voice shook with emotion, leading to Quillstar pulling her in closer to comfort his mate as grief nipped at his heart. He had to do something- for his mate, for his deceased daughter, for his best friend's murdered mate...he embraced Danita for several more moments to help her recover from the loss before he leaped onto the meeting mound. "May all cats old enough to catch their own prey join me beneath the mound of a clan meeting!" **-- Danita & Quillstar**

Ripplepool hadn’t been at the meeting, well, he was out, he didn’t gather. He was sitting next to Juniperberry’s body, but he pricked his ears.—Ripple

Flowerpaw padded to sit near Wolfpaw. “we should send an attack quickly.” She muttered.-Flower

Quillstar watched the warriors gather. "While out at the Gathering, TundraClan launched a raid and stole some of our kits, in addition to taking the life of our dear former medicine cat, Juniperberry. From this day forward, border patrols will be doubled. Based on Loststar's attitude at the Gathering, I doubt that WillowClan was the only clan that was raided. As such, we will begin discussions with other clans to launch a party together to retrieve the kits." His voice shook, he couldn't help it. In those moments, he couldn't be the fearless leader that they needed: his daughter was dead. The kits were missing. Juniperberry lost her life. How could he not show emotion, his mournfulness? "But now more than ever, we need our warriors. That being said, we have apprentices ready to rise in the ranks and accept this task. I, Quillstar, leader of WillowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Wolfpaw, Flowerpaw, Petalpaw, and Lilacpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" **-- Quillstar**

Wolfpaw nodded at Quillstar. “I do.” He growled. - Wolfpaw (WC)

Flowerpaw smiled. “Of course! I do” she meowed, looking to him with excitement. So much risk and for this reward.-Flower

Lilacpaw nodded. "I do." - Lilacpaw

Petalpaw nodded. "I do." - Petalpaw

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Wolfpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Wolfrunner. Flowerpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Flowerbreeze. Petalpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Petalheart. Lilacpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Lilacwhisper. StarClan honors your ferocity in combat and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warriors of WillowClan." Quillstar waited for the cheering to stop before he turned to the stranger. He had gotten word that he was asking to join, and at this rate...WillowClan needed all the future warriors it could get, in order to save the kits. "Sage, you have come to us interested in joining our clan. During these troubled times, we ask that you be loyal and shed your life as a loner and accept the warrior code as an apprentice to our clan. From this day forward, you will be known as 'Swallowpaw'. Your mentor will be Stonetooth." **-- Quillstar**

Flowerbreeze squealed with excitement. “I’m a warrior!” She purred, “this is so cool!” But she’d been reminded of Howlpaw. “This was for you, mom... dad, Howl....” she smiled.-Flower

Ripplepool only gave the new warriors a glance and a fake smile before returning to Juniperberry, he nuzzled her cheek before he sighed, he padded to the entrance of camp, he knew he’d have to get more lavender, and.... pretty flowers for their graves. he sighed as he just sat and stared into the forest.-Ripple

With the ceremonies and announcement finished, Quillstar retreated into the nursery to see his other two kits: copies of himself. The female was a little more on the smaller size like Danita, but still, the cats were clearly hybrids like their father. The newborn kits already seemed to have long, slender legs as they paddled at Danita's belly. The leader curled himself around the quiet queen affectionately, pressing his muzzle into her soft silvered fur. "Have you named them yet?" Quillstar finally asked after a long period of silence. "Just one: Bearkit, the daughter. I figured I'd let you name your only son." Danita answered in a hushed tone as she pulled the two salt-and-peppered kits closer. -- Danita & Quillstar

Wolfrunner lifted his head. He was finally a warrior! (Okay about a moon in rp time, he’ll start killing a few cats) - Wolfrunner

Ripplepool decided against leaving camp. He just curled next to Juniperberry’s body and fell asleep.-Ripple

Dewshine watched her brother, silently, she sobbed for him. “She meant so much to him...” she muttered. “But....” her own supposing secret mate wasn’t even her mate, he meant nothing to her. she looked to her kits. “You’re all a mistake. This shouldn’t have happened. Oh Rainsplash, help me..”-Dew

"Bearkit. I like it." Quillstar purred fondly, lifting Danita's spirits a tad. He turned to their only son and began to think of potential names. "...Pinekit." He decided after several silent moments, a smile growing on his maw. "He looks like a Pinekit to me." -- Quillstar & Danita

Dewshine watched as Quillstar and Danita decided names, maybe she should name them, before Sleet found out. “Okay....” she cast a glance to the lighter gray one. Looked like Ripplepools kit, maybe it would’ve made him happy that Pebblekit was honored as her nephew. “Pebblekit.” She meowed. Turning to the “and white” she-kit. Naming it Wrenkit after when she first met Sleet, Tidekit after her wavy looking stripes, and Fernkit after her feathery fur. And her aqua eyes. But she never looked away from Ripplepool.-Dew

Cinderkit listened in attentively as the leader and his mate named their last kit. "I like their names," she spoke up unexpectedly yet quietly, as she always liked to listen to learn the names of her new nurserymates. The rosetted she-kit hung in her nest with her paws drooping over her mother's pale tail, glancing down at Danita's litter with a fond glow in her eyes. "I hope we can be friends. They can play with me 'n Cherrykit, I promise. We'll look after them." Lazily, the exhauted kitten glanced over at Dewshine's litter. "Same with them. I promise we'll be good friends to them." Starclan, she missed her brother... -- Cinderkit

Dewshine sighed. She never wanted these kits though. Maybe she could just give them to Kittypets and do an Ambereye move? But it would tear them apart...-Dew

Mosskit looked at all the kits in the nursery. He wished he could become an apprentice already. - Mosskit

Lilacwhisper purred. She was a warrior at last! But her joy was shadowed as she glanced at her father, Blizzardwing. He wasn't smiling. - Lilacwhisper

Petalheart breathed a sigh of relief. A warrior, finally. - Petalheart

Stormsong bounded over to Wolfrunner. "Congratulations!" she purred loudly. - Stormsong

Wolfrunner pressed his muzzle against his mother’s. “Thanks!” He told her, smiling. - Wolfrunner

Flowerbreeze bounded to her sister. “Well, warriors at last eh?” She purred.-Flower

Petalheart smiled. "Yes," she mewed. - Petalheart

Swallowpaw felt he might burst with excitement. *They accepted me! I'm a wild cat, at last!* He bounded up to Stonetooth, the cat that Quillstar had named his mentor. "Hi! I'm Sage- Swallowpaw, now. Can we go see the territory? Can we hunt? Fight?" -- Swallowpaw (WC)

Flowerbreeze purred as a certain ambitious kit caught her eye. “Why can’t I be a warrior already!” Mudkit hissed, spiking his fur up. Mothfeather licked his fur flat. “You’re only 2 moons, you can’t kill anything, let alone eat meat properly.” She meowed. Then taking him back into the nursery. “Hmmm.” She meowed.-Flower

The light grey kit heard a voice, and he could tell it was talking to him. "You will be Pebblekit." *Pebblekit,* the little kit thought. He was happy with the name, and continued to suckle. - Pebblekit

Stonetooth touched his nose to Swallowpaw's sleepily with a small wave of the tail. "It's just after the Gathering, I really need some rest tonight," the even-tempered decided to be very honest with his new apprentice, considering that he had to adjust to clan customs. "I can take you out first thing in the morning, I promise." -- Stonetooth

Cinderkit fell asleep with her face resting against Ashbreeze's tail. The queen offered her brother-like figure, Quillstar, a small smile. Perhaps Ashbreeze couldn't have found happiness in a mate- everything with Muddyfang had been fake, just for the sake of him stealing away Leopardkit for StarClan-knows-what. But at least Quillstar was happy. He deserved that much. -- Ashbreeze & Cinderkit

"Right. Yeah. Okay, sounds good!" Swallowpaw was eager to please his new mentor, who seemed like a nice cat. "See you in the morning! Where should I sleep? Should I use the old nest of a new warrior in the apprentice's den?" -- Swallowpaw (WC)

Ripplepool found himself caught in a dream, but as usual. Not a good one. All the time he’s been having dreams of blood, and.... now.... he saw himself face to face with Juniperberry, her wounds had blood sapping from her throat, but her eyes stay unblinking and colorless, he gasped and took a step back to reveal the flood was mounded with blood, but Juniperberry ran through, away from him. “Wait!” He yowled, dashing towards her, “Wait!” He called again as he then squinted as he found himself staring at a small hill of flurrying snow with something on its peak. He followed Juniperberry up to it as he then saw.... Baykit? He widened his eyes as he then jerked awake, to find himself at Juniperberry’s side again. “I understand.”—Ripplepool

He’s lost so much. And yet you still pity him! Her voice echoed in her head. Dewshine hissed to herself. “He broke the code!” but in a low mutter. Then sighing.... he had lost everyone, Dustypaw... Rainsplash- would their mother be seeing them? Does she know about this, would she help? ‘Cause they’d all would love the guidance of StarClan right about now.-Dewshine

The next morning, Swallowpaw paced in front of the apprentice's den, waiting for Stonetooth. *First day of training! Well...I've already practiced hunting and fighting with my littermates...maybe I'll become a warrior early!* The thought made him pace faster. -- Swallowpaw (WC)

Birchpaw, having not completely woken up yet, heard the pacing outside the apprentices' den. "...You alright out there?" At the sound of her brother's voice, Cedarpaw shifted in her nest, a sign that she was awake as well. --Birchpaw & Cedarpaw

Stonetooth stiffly stretched out his bad leg before he hobbled from the warrior's den. He was still recovering from the assassination attempt by Wolfshade, but now, he had a new apprentice depending on him. "Alright Swallowpaw, let's go tour the territory." -- Stonetooth

When Quillstar entered the nursery at dawn to greet his mate and check in on his kits, he had that goofy, head-over-tail-in-love gleam in his eyes. Danita raised her head to squint at her mate. "What's wrong?" She asked with a minor sign of concern, only to have the leader nuzzle against her. "You just look very pretty today, Danny. The nursery is crowded...I want you and our little juniors to sleep in the leader's den with me. I want to keep all of you safe." -- Quillstar & Danita

"Yes! Yes! I mean... yeah, let's go!" Swallowpaw's tail stuck straight up with excitement. "I already practiced some hunting and fighting where I came from because a cat once came from the Clans and showed me the hunter's crouch and some things you use as fighting moves! But I'm not very good at it...you'll have to show me!" -- Swallowpaw (WC)

"The territory is lots to cover, I can guarantee that your paws will burn like nothing else after we're through it all. If you're up to it later, we'll assess what you've already learned. If not, we have tomorrow." Stonetooth began to explain as they exited camp. He prepared to take him to the ThornClan border first, as it was one of the most important. -- Stonetooth

"Yeah! Isn't this...like...SeaClan? Or PrickeClan? I once met a cat from the Clans! She showed me how to hunt and told me about the wild cats! But the strangest thing, it was in a *dream!* It was the best dream, though! And it kept repeating and she'd tell me more! She said she couldn't stay, though, and that I needed to come. My father Chase also encouraged me because my two sisters had already joined a big city cult and yeah! Also my father's sister's daughter lived in the Clans." -- Swallowpaw (WC)

((Aight...me and Rowan worked something out, Phoenix's father Chase is actually Scar's brother, making Flame Phoenix's cousin. Chase had Phoenix's mother Shade as a mate, then she died, and he took another cat, Swallowpaw's mom, as a mate. So yeah...Swallow is Flora's and Phoenix's half sister, and all three of them are Flame's cousins. Whew...lineage drama is fun)) -- Hawk

(ikr!) Ripplepool then had sighed, looking around, he’d then padded into the nursery to meet Quillstar. “He stood up tall even if he felt so weak, “I’m off to bury Juniperberry.....” he meowed in more of a whisper, pain shown in his voice. “I’ll be back soon...”-Ripple

Quillstar glanced up from his mate's side to send Ripplepool a small nod of approval. "Take all the time you need," he responded quietly before gently picking up Pinekit in his jaws to help Danita carry their litter to his personal den. Once they were grown and ready to play with the other kits, he'd ensure that they had their time in the nursery. He wanted to be a perfect father for them, to raise *good* kits, so it was important that he made them socialize. -- Quillstar

Ripplepool nodded as he then Carried Juniperberry to where all the other graves had been, it was a shame there was so many, he placed her down beside a magnolia and started to dig, his mind clouded by Baykit.-Ripple

"The nursery's getting awfully crowded," Danita admitted as she set Bearkit down in Quillstar's nest, despite the fussy she-kit's squeals of protest. Pinekit was silent as he was placed in the soft moss, and instead blindly crept closer to his mother's belly. "It is. But we lost so much during the war..." Quillstar murmured with a frown as he sat down to have a few moments for conversation with his beloved mate. "I might chat with our warriors to see if we have supplies to expand the nursery, so we can have more room when the kits grow. I know we're missing some now, but...I'll stop at nothing to have them returned from TundraClan. I want to see if Redstar and Foxstar were hit as well, that way we can work together to search TundraClan." -- Quillstar & Danita

At dawn, Cherrykit convinced Cinderkit to beg her mother to escort them beyond camp's walls. Ashbreeze was hesitant to venture outside of camp, ever since the Pack's attack and the disappearance of Leopardkit. With the Dark Forest's blessing running through her veins and Cinderkit's...StarClan knew what cats might do to use such a faculty. "Alright, let's be quick now." Ashbreeze murmured as she helped Cinderkit and Cherrykit just barely outside of camp, so that they could play among the flowers. -- Cinderkit & Cherrykit

Flowerpaw- no, Flowerbreeze, watched as the kits played, then reminded of ScarClans appearance, She then padded up to Ashbreeze. “At the gathering..... Muddyfang appeared with ScarClan claiming to be he leader..... I think he has Leopardkit, speaking.... he said he has something called an ‘elite’ back in ScarClan....”-Flowerbreeze

In an instant, the molly's entire world came crashing down. She had hoped that Muddyfang had left for good, to move far beyond the clans in self-exile, but instead...he planned to have his revenge on WillowClan. "Flowerbreeze, do you understand the gravity of this situation?" Ashbreeze lowered her voice to a tense and dangerous tenor as she cautiously flashed a glance in the direction of her daughter, to ensure that she hadn't overheard. "Leopardkit's a misjudged kit- he's in a bad place, with how Wolfshade's *goons* treated him. He's vulnerable. He has my blood, *Azkaban's* blood- if he doesn't get out of there, if Muddyfang trains him to be an Elite...it could be our downfall." The agony of a mother was evident in her stressed pale blue pools. "...And then, they'd kill him. He'd know no better." She had to tell Quillstar, but...with so much going on, it'd be selfish of her to prioritize her own son over the lives of so many other kittens that had been stolen but the night before. **-- Ashbreeze**

Flowerbreeze stared wide eyed, “wow, uh, yeah.... wow....” to know..... “we need to get him back, we know exactly where he is right?” To be honest.... it was more fear in her that forced her to not want Leopardkit to be a bad cat.-Flower

The queen looked to her paws. "He'd be in ScarClan's camp, but...nobody knows where their camp is. Those who see it that aren't among their ranks never live to tell the tale. It would only make sense to capture and pressure one of their own mercs into giving away the location..." Ashbreeze squinted as she desperately forced her mind to work, to search her old memories for bits and pieces about ScarClan, but to no avail. "Our best bet would be to turn them against their own. But knowing which cats are ScarClan spies? It's near impossible. They're trained for life, all for this." **-- Ashbreeze**

Flowerbreeze closed her eyes. Lost in thought. “There has to be a former ScarClan cat somewhere we can use..... maybe..... Do you remember? Was anyone else from ScarClan or at least close to ScarClan? Perhaps I can go and check their territory out?” She felt a new task come to mind. Saving Leopardkit before it was too late.-Flower

Cinderkit brushed past Cherrykit, who was babbling on and on about the identification of a few certain flowers, to notice that her mother's body language had changed to something much more solemn. The rosetted she-kit cocked her head, concerned. "Momma?" She asked in a gentle murmur, taking a small step forward while holding up a paw hesitantly. "Are you ok? What's going on?" When Ashbreeze heard her daughter, she turned to her with a forced smile. "Yes, sweetheart, go play with Cherrykit." Once her offspring was out of earshot once more, she shook her head slowly. "...No. I can't remember much." **-- Ashbreeze & Cinderkit**

Flowerbreeze then narrowed her eyes, annoyed they hadn’t gone anywhere. “Alright..... maybe- at the gathering! Perhaps we can follow their scent back to their camp before it dissapears?” it would take the best trackers if they had decided to cloak their scent. -Flower

Birchpaw and Cedarpaw, at last awake, began to train with each other, quickly getting to a play-fight that ended with the former pinning his sister to the ground. "I win." She glanced over her shoulder at him before throwing him off. "No," she called, "I win." --Birchpaw & Cedarpaw

"No, they'd know better...they would have rolled in garlic to hide their scent before attending the Gathering, no doubt. They think out every single move." Although, with the idea of Gatherings... "...My memories seem to return when I'm exposed to something familiar. I think I need to go to the next Gathering. Maybe there, I can recognize an old ScarClan member." **-- Ashbreeze**

Flowerbreeze shifted uneasily. “Okay, but I’ll try and see what I can do to help. We can’t wait too long.” She added a little sigh released from her mouth.-Flower

Stormsong headed out of camp to get some fresh air, inhaling the scents of greenleaf. - Stormsong

Wolfrunner looked after Stormsong, before looking up at the sky. He wondered if Crowpaw was a warrior. He shook his head. *Forget about her!* - Wolfrunner

((Mudfrost is in BC, not WC)) The mottled queen nodded slowly as she glanced away from Flowerbreeze to instead watch her daughter as she played with Cherrykit among the safety of colorful flowers. "...Thank you," Ashbreeze murmured her thanks silently to the young warrior who seemed to eager to help. Cinderkit eventually jogged up to her mother, covered in pollen from head to toe. Cherrykit trotted up to the rosetted kitten's side, her mouth filled with fragrant flowers that she had picked. "We're ready to go back now, Ms. Ashbreeze! Thank you." -- Ashbreeze, Cinderkit, Cherrykit

Swallowpaw and his mentor continued up the border. "How long does it go? Do we rule the *whole forest?*" -- Swallowpaw (WC)

"No, our border ends here with ThornClan. It is important that we respect all boundaries, and guard our own with our lives." Stonetooth allowed the tom to investigate their end of the ThornClan-WillowClan territory before he began to move northward towards the SeaClan border. -- Stonetooth

Fangflame looked at Fadingfrost. “It was TundraClan who stole WillowClan’s kits.” She told him. “Your a TundraClan cat. Maybe you could help us try and get them back!” She said. - Fangflame

The marbled tabby closed his eyes and drew in a long, tense breath. "If I had been there, I could have made a difference. I knew nothing of the plan, but...knowing Loststar, I'm not surprise. He goes that low." -- Fadingfrost

“Well, he is an exile.” She said, closing her eyes. “But you still know TundraClan territory, right?” - Fangflame

"Yes. I know it like the back of my paw, ever since..." He trailed off before cutting himself short. Never mind- didn't need to get that personal with it. "...I was an apprentice. Yet, there's no knowing how many rogues Loststar might have hired. I think it might be best to unite with the other clans in order to steal back the kittens." -- Fadingfrost

Fangflame hesitated, before nodding in agreement with him. - Fangflame

"Cool! So that is WaterClan over there?" -- Swallowpaw

Stormsong returned from hunting, dropping a shrew on the pile. - Stormsong

"SeaClan," Stonetooth corrected as he nodded to the steep, rock-ridden slope. "That semi-cliff separates our territories. I don't recommend trying to climb it- Quillstar nearly died trying to climb up the rocks when he ran off to find the cure." -- Stonetooth

With Quillstar off to handle clan politics, Danita was left alone with their two newest additions. Bearkit...well, she was already somewhat of a thorn in the side. It seemed that the newborn never settled- constantly paddling her mother's belly and squealing in protest whenever Danita attempted to groom her. Pinekit, however, was the perfect son. He was quiet, at least in comparison to his troublesome sister. -- Danita & kits

"Oh...wow!" Swallowpaw stared in awe at the *rocks of death*. "So we're friends with SeaClan, right?" -- Swallowpaw (WC)

Birchpaw gave his sister a smirk and charged at her. "Yeah right, you haven't won yet!! Try harder!" He flung himself at her, knocking her back into the bushes. "Hehehe, you fell right into the berry bushies!!" --Birchpaw & Cedarpaw

Stonetooth seemed to hesitate. "Well....sort of, I guess. We're not *enemies* at least. SeaClan's pretty neutral with just about every clan." -- Stonetooth

"Okay, cool!" Swallowpaw looked over the border. *I wonder who's over there...*

"Can we go over there?" he pointed at the Skytree with his white-and-silver tabby tail. -- Swallowpaw (WC)

Stormsong wondered where Stonetooth was as she settled down. Probably training with his apprentice. - Stormsong