Little lost bird

[sweetsong]

Rogue Group 



Leader: Hawk: White tom



Second: Owl: Light brown tabby tom



Healing: Cream: Cream-coloured she-cat



Scouts: Petal: pinkish grey she-cat



            Wing: tortoiseshell she-cat



            Wave: Blue eyed ginger tabby tom





Hunters:  Berry: White tom with ginger patches



              Arrow: Reddish tom with scar on one eye



             Dust: Black-grey tabby with dark brown eyes

             

             Forest: Brown tabby tom





Gatherers: Rose: Black she-cat with pink-grey eyes and a light pink nose. 



                Creek: Yellow she-cat with bright blue eyes



Kit-Bearers: Honey: Golden she-cat with beautiful green eyes



                    Daffodil: Tortoiseshell she-cat



Learners: Leaf: Sandy tabby tom, not yet 6 moons



              Feather: Silver she-cat



Kits: Thrush: Mottled grey she-cat



        Sparrow: Brown tabby tom



Blue= Fighter





Prologue:



Honey collapsed to the floor, her belly swollen with unborn kits. She couldn’t bare to go forward, travelling for days at a time until the rogues had found a place to stay. Cream, her sister, looked round at her in worry. “Hawk, Honey can’t go on. Her kits are due any moment now,” she cried, stopping by her sister. Hawk, the rogue groups leader, turned to see the problem. He sighed at the sight of his mate beside her sister, but he knew that he couldn’t stop kits coming. “Petal, Wing, go and scout out a place to sleep. Berry, Arrow, go and hunt over in that direction. Owl, Creek, go the other. Me and Dust will find moss for a kit-bed. Is that ok with everyone?” Hawk glared at the cats he ordered. Despite how kind and respected he was, he was powerful and menacing. No cat would challenge him. All the cats went off as Hawk instructed them. Cream lay beside Honey, who was breathing shallowly. Cream hesitated, then called, “Rose! Take care of Honey, I need to go somewhere quickly.” Petal hesitated, not wanting to take orders from this young she-cat. Cream glared at Petal. She was the leaders mate and, if she didn’t find what she needed, her sister might suffer. Petal sighed and walked over to where Cream sat. “I’ll be back once I’ve found what I’m looking for,” Cream dashed out into a patch of woodland that was nearby. She sniffed around for a bit. Unfortunately, no coltsfoot was around for Honey’s breathing. Cream was about to give up until she found borage leaves. She picked a few stems, then dug up the plant to find the seeds. Hopefully the tale that borage seeds helped breathing was true, Cream had never found out. She ran back to the others.



“We have to go on!” Owl demanded. He looked over at Honey, his mate, who still lay on the floor. “We can’t wait for one cat to appear! We must reach this new sleep-place by sun-fall!” Hawk hesitated. He knew that it was important to leave… but he loved Cream. “Don’t worry, I’m here!” Cream yowled, her voice muffled by the herbs she carried. Honey, still breathing shallowly, struggled to get up. Rose helped her, supporting her with her shoulder. Cream rushed up, dropping the herbs. She licked her sister. “Here, I have borage seeds for you. They might help your breathing,” Cream picked them up and pushed them towards her sister. Honey licked them up and all of the rogues headed to their new sleep-place.



“It’s OK, Honey, you’re doing fine,” Cream soothed her sister. Honey hissed at her as her body was hit with another contraction. It was moon-high, yet the kits had not come. Owl popped up at the entrance to the small cave that Honey had settled in. “Are they here yet?” He asked anxiously. “She’s been kitting since sun-high, shouldn’t they be here?” He peered round Cream. “’She’ has a name, you know!” Honey yowled. Cream let out a little gasp. “What? What’s wrong?” Owl demanded. He tried to keep his claws sheathed. “A Tom! Quick, lick it, another’s coming!” Cream pushed a brown tabby kit towards Owl. He licked it furiously. Finally he was a father! He glanced at Cream. “A she-kit! Two lovely, healthy kits,” Cream sat back and smiled. The kits were suckling from an exhausted Honey. Owl sat beside her, proudly watching them. “I love them. I was thinking about names,” Honey started. She licked the she-kit, a mottled grey. “Thrush for the she-kit, after my mother. Would you name the Tom?” Owl licked the Tom as Honey had done. “Sparrow, perhaps?” Honey smiled weakly. “That’s a lovely name. I need to sleep now.”

[sweetsong]

Chapter one

Thrush yawned and opened her eyes. Honey was dozing in the patch of sunshine that reached into the cave. Sparrow was curled up beside her. Thrush shook him. “Come on, let’s look outside,” She whispered. “Don’t bother your brother Thrush,” Honey opened an eye. “He’ll open them in his own time. Then you can go outside to play together.” “But Honey, I want to play now!” Thrush wailed. Honey sighed impatiently. “Wait for your brother. It’s not fair on him!” Honey snapped. “But if I go out then it will encourage him to open his eyes,” she pleaded. “Please, Honey, I won’t wander off.” Honey gave up. “Oh, all right. Don’t go farther than the learners den and for every cats’ sake don’t annoy any cat! We’re on a ledge in a gorge- no, you can’t ask another cat to play- so be careful. Have fun!” Honey lay back down. Thrush was excited. She was out! Cautiously, pawstep by pawstep, she left the den.

It was like a new world, everything was so big and bright! A river flowed gently on the edge of her den, but Thrush only had eyes for the rest of camp. Hawk was giving orders on a rockpile. Owl was talking to Rose. Thrush ran down to greet him. Suddenly, the rocks along the edge gave way and she slipped. The teeth grasped at her scruff. Her gaze was met with one of an angry yellow tom. “Rabbit head, what are you doing! Back to Honey for you!” He purposefully carried her back to Honey. Sparrow, who was sitting by the entrance, mouthed ‘What?’ up at Thrush. She hit the ground with a thud.
“Honey, keep your kits under control. Thrush nearly fell off out there! She would have got hurt if I hadn’t saved her, then we would be held up and unable to move to our Leaf-bare sleep-place. She’s under everycats’ paws! Control her!”
Honey’s expression of confusion turned to anger. “Oh. So, you only care that we would have been unable to move soon, not about how hurt my kit would have been!” Honey yowled furiously. “Our sleep-place would still be there next Leaf-bare, but not my kit!” Her voice was rising. “You think of yourself as all high and mighty because you’re a learner, Leaf, but technically you’re still a kit, only five moons old. I told her where she could go, no cat knew that the rocks would fall, but of course, word of the learner-kit is law!” Leaf leaped on top of Honey. Thrush gasped, backing into a corner. Honey, prepared for the attack, jumped out of the way and slashed him with her claws. Leaf back away, blood seeping down his leg. “Give up, kit,” Honey sat back down calmly, tail wrapped around her legs. Thrush and Sparrow scampered up to her. She licked them both and tucked them close. Leaf staggered out. “Five and a half moons old,” he muttered. Thrush looked at him, then felt something against her head. Sparrow grinned triumphantly at her. A moss ball lay at her feet. She grinned and threw it back. It hit Sparrow square in the chest, so he fell over backwards. In a few moments, the kits were playing together like Leaf had never appeared.

[sweetsong]

Last of Chapter One

“What’s over there?” Thrush asked her mother. The three of them were sitting outside their nest in the dusk light. Honey looked up from her mouse. “That’s a twoleg sleep-place. Kittypets also sleep there, lazy mouse-brains,” she purred in greeting as Owl sat next to her. Sparrow scampered around his paws. “How are my dearests,” her chuckled. “Three moons old already! Stop growing so fast.” Thrush tried to jump up onto his back but Sparrow pushed her back. She fell with a bump and shook her head. Sparrow had grown to about double his size, but she’d hardly grown at all. He would beat her in any fight. “I nearly caught a mouse yesterday!” Her brother boasted, puffing out his chest. “That’s my son, skilled and adventurous until the end,” Owl purred. “Only by jumping on your sister,” Honey pointed out. She pulled Thrush in closer with her tail. She snuggled against her mother thankfully. “She got in my way! She insists on doing things as a ‘team’! That’s not how you hunt,” He smirked at his sister, who glared back. She was about to retort back but Honey quickly mewed, “We ought to get to sleep now. Goodnight, Owl.” Thrush followed her mother back, tail drooping. Her father clearly favoured Sparrow. What was wrong with doing things as a team? Then if it escaped one cat, the other could try to catch it as it ran. She curled up beside her mother. If her father wanted an adventurous kit, then why shouldn’t she try to have an adventure?

Faint dawn light filtered into the cave. Rain drummed rhythmically against the cave roof as Thrush awoke. Her brother was likely already out, playing in the rain. Daffodil twitched in her sleep next to her. The cave was medium sized, but the nests were uncomfortably close together to avoid rain. Dandelion, Daisy, Dawn and Dusk had been kitted two sunrises ago and took up a lot of space. She got up and peered outside. Her brother was indeed playing outside, pretending that a twig was an enemy. Thrush admitted to herself that he was likely to become a fighter, some of the most respected cats in the clan. Her father and Hawk were fighters, with hunting being their main attribute. Leaf was training as a fighter, with Owl being his trainer. She was caught off guard as the twig hit her and her brother, too focused on the twig, leapt at her. She stumbled and plunged down into nothingness, her eyes shut tight. She expected to slip away, to disappear, like what her mother said happens when a cat dies. Instead, her pelt just got wetter and water surrounded her. It threatened to slip in and choke her. She kicked her legs instinctively and the water faded away, only to then come back. She opened her eyes and was in the stream. Or was it the stream? A current pushed against her paddling legs and it was much bigger. Teeth grabbed at her and the water dripped off her pelt. She stayed dangled above the water. Thrush opened her jaws in a faint mew. After what felt like seasons she was dropped down onto a log. She shook the water from her pelt. “Owl!” yowled an all-too-familiar voice. Thrush crouched down and tried to ignore the sound of her father running down from the sleep cave. “What is it?” He gasped. She looked up to see Honey and Owl standing at the edge of the flooded stream. Her mother looked particularly scared. “I was having a drink when I heard Sparrow. He was play fighting with a twig outside the kit den,” He began. “I watched and he was doing well, until Thrush came out to watch. He threw it at her and then pushed her off the ledge. She fell into me and we both fell into the stream. Tell him to be more responsible.” Honey gasped, but Owl seemed unimpressed at Thrush falling. “Of course, Leaf. Good to know that Sparrow will be a fighter. Thrush should be more careful, though Cream should check you both out,” he leapt up onto the log and picked Thrush up. Honey perched uncomfortably at the edge of the group. “I’ll go and talk to Sparrow.” She watched over Thrush. It looked as if Thrush took after her more than she thought.

[sweetsong]

Chapter two
Thrush yawned. Dandelion had jumped on her earlier and she hadn’t been able to get back to sleep. She was down at the fresh-kill pile when she heard a familiar chuckle behind her. She sighed and rolled her eyes. “What’s up, Leaf?” Thrush said sharply. Leaf sat down beside her. “You sound like a grumpy elder,” He laughed. She gulped down the remains of her mouse and got up. Daffodil’s kits were a half moon old, so they were normally playing outside by now. Sleep certainly sounded good right now. “Wait, where are you going? Did I do something wrong?” Leaf called out behind Thrush. She turned around to see him up and following her, a thrush in his jaws.
“To my nest, I was up before dawn,” She continued up the path when Leaf passed her suddenly. She watched curiously as he ducked into the Learner’s den and came out after a moment. He placed a bundle of sheep’s wool at her paws.
“For your nest. I found it yesterday hunting. You like it?” He asked expectantly.
“Have you dipped in water or something?” She asked suspiciously. He purred.
“Who do you think I am? And anyway, you saw me get it out of my den,” He looked at her again. Thrush still didn’t trust him.
“I still think of the time you got angry at me 4 moons ago, when I was exploring outside my den. And for your den, I haven’t seen inside. I guess I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt,” She picked it up. Surprisingly, it was just sheep wool, nice and soft. Thrush nodded a thanks before dashing up to the nursery. Honey and Daffodil were sharing tongues as she came in. She spread the sheep’s wool on the edges of her nest and curled up tight.

“Attack!” Thrush yowled in surprise at being awoken. She pushed her brother away, hissing. He purred at her anger. Honey rushed in, alarmed. “What’s wrong? Is someone attacking? Is anyone hurt?” She mewed.
“Yes! Sparrow attacking me when I’m sleeping!” Thrush yowled. Honey breathed out slowly. Sparrow purred arrogantly.
“Not my fault she isn’t prepared for an attack. I would always be prepared!” He puffed his chest out. Thrush had an idea that she knew she would regret. She leapt and bit down on his ear. He yelped in surprise and bit her leg. She used her other front paw to push him off and gracefully jumped beside her mother. Sparrow shook his head and stared at her furiously. She purred.
“Always prepared, huh? Maybe if you stop boasting!” She meowed. “Right, Honey? Honey?” She looked up at her mother, who was looking back at Thrush with wide, unfocused eyes. She blinked and looked back at Thrush.
“You two should stop fighting,” She stumbled out. The siblings looked at each other in confusion. A mew from outside disturbed their thoughts.
“My kits! My kits are gone!” Daffodil yowled in distress. Cats gathered around to calm the distraught kit-bearer. Hawk leapt up onto a large rock. “We’ll find these kits! Owl, Arrow and Forest, go that way. Berry, Wave and I will go in that direction,” He ordered. The cats Hawk ordered split into groups and headed off. Honey sat beside Daffodil and licked her shoulder.
“Owl will find them. He’s an amazing fighter and will protect your kits,” she soothed the young she-cat. Sparrow and Thrush stood awkwardly a little way off. They didn’t want to upset Daffodil any more. They looked at each other.
“They’re not going the right way. I can smell their scent that way,” Thrush said suddenly, gesturing to the small twolegplace behind them. Honey’s head whipped around. Daffodil and her mate, Dust, also looked at the kits, shocked.
“You mean… You recognise and can smell their scent in that direction?” Honey asked. Her breathing quickened and calmed. Daffodil rushed up.
“If you can smell them, then find them!” She yowled. They shrunk back. Dust came up and licked her head. Honey sat protectively in front of her kits.
“They’re too young. Another cat would have to go with them.” 
“I will.”
Every cat turned as Leaf approached. He sat down neatly, tail wrapped around his paws. Daffodil ran up to him. “You’ll go with them to get my kits back?” She asked desperately.
Please no! Anyone but him!
“Of course, I will, Daffodil,” He repeated. She sniffed and smiled.
“Thank you.”

[sweetsong]

This might not be very good, I'm terrible at action scenes, but I spent a lot of time on this.
Rest of chapter two
“Are we close yet Thrush?”
“No, not yet. It’s getting stronger though and is mixing with other cats. Kittypets most likely, they have twoleg stench,” She rolled her eyes. Sparrow stayed back and she was regretting ever saying she could scent the kits. Leaf was possibly the worst company ever, talking about anything he could think of, the weather, prey, pelt colours. Who found that interesting? She certainly didn’t. What did it matter if only she-cats could be tortoiseshells or if it once snowed in New-leaf?
“My mother always told stories of clan cats. She said that they live in big groups, only stay in one camp. There’s lots of them, a leader, a deputy-that’s a Second-a medicine cat-that’s a healer. They also have weird names, depending on age. It’s like, Learners have paw at the end of their name and kits have kit at the end of their name. I’d be Leafpaw and you would be Thrushkit. Strange, huh?” he purred. Thrush pricked her ears up. This was the most interesting thing he had said all day. They sounded strange but similar to them in the ranks. “How many are there? How do they fight and hunt?” she asked. Leaf seemed happy at her replying and quickly answered, “My mother talked about four of them, Shadowclan, Windclan and… another two. I’m not sure.”
“Thunderclan and Riverclan,” Thrush said absent-mindedly. Leaf stopped and stared at her. She turned around. What? Thunderclan, Riverclan, Windclan and Shadowclan,” she stopped midway through her sentence, realising what she had said. “Honey must have mentioned them or something. Continue.”
“Well… they fight as a sort of team, against each other if necessary or against us rogues if we cross into their territory. Say one cat is attacked, another cat of its clan would help them. Cowardly, if you ask me. They should fight for themselves, like us rogues. Don’t get me started on kittypets.” Leaf went into a long rant about kittypets but Thrush wasn’t listening. She couldn’t think of any reason why she would know about the clans. She opened her jaws to yawn when she realised that the kit scent had gone. She dropped into a crouch and crept back. The kit-scent was found back a bit and lead in another direction.
“Leaf, over here,” Thrush called as she followed the scent. It lead to a few nests beside a forest. Then the scent seemed to vanish, as if they got there and went back. Leaf darted around a nest and sighed in relief as he saw Thrush. “Don’t do that, I thought I lost you! Why have we stopped, anyway?”
“I can’t scent the kits. They might have turned back, but… I think their scent is masked by kittypet scent. I don’t know but maybe a kittypet took them?”
“Well done. Your smart for a young cat. Too bad it was wasted.” The two young cats froze and turned. A big ginger tabby kittypet tom stood before them. The kits were behind him, guarded either side by a sleek black tom and a fluffy white she-cat. They all had scars and Thrush could scent the blood from the tom’s pelt. Leaf stood in front of her protectively, his head held high. The tabby’s lip curled up in a grin. He took a step forward and bent down. “So that’s how you want to play it.” He jumped and landed where Leaf had been a moment ago. Leaf was running, but the she-cat leapt in front of him, growling. Thrush ran and raked her claws down the cat’s back, claws unsheathed. She yelped in pain and turned on her. She sank her teeth deep into Thrush’s back leg. Crying out, she bit the kittypet’s back leg in return while digging her claws into her tail. Thrush leapt back and darted around her and nipped her claw. The cat yowled and clawed her ear. Thrush jumped and bit her head whilst the kittypet bit her back. The she-cats released each other in pain. Thrush glanced at Leaf. The black tom was writhing on the ground, a wound on his ear bleeding heavily. The ginger tom had a wound on his side, but was still biting at Leaf, whose ear was torn and had a bleeding wound on his back leg. Thrush gave the she-cat a last bite on her tail before rushing over to help Leaf. She jumped and dug her claws into the tom’s back. He screeched and raked his claws down her cheek in rage. Then he shook her off and kicked her into a nearby tree. Blood blinded Thrush as she lay feebly on the ground and fell into unconsciousness.
Leaf looked in horror at Thrush’s limp body. Blood slowly seeped from her wounds and she breathed in shaky, shallow breaths. Every cat was silent. Then the big tom let out a yowl of triumph and the others followed. Leaf, still silent, turned to the kittypet. His eyes were narrowed.
“Big. Mistake.”
He leapt, yowling, claws unsheathed. The tom was prepared however and darted out of the way. Leaf dove under the tom’s big front paws and dug his claws into the soft underbelly. He then proceeded to slide out of the tom’s grip and bit down sharply on his back leg. The kittypet gave a loud yowl in pain and sank his claws into the ground, crouching down upon them in agony. Leaf turned to see Thrush, who had regained consciousness, sitting up and watching him fight with wide eyes. A small wail from the other direction distracted the cats. The kits were huddling together in fear. Leaf rushed over and picked up the kits, placing them on his back to carry back. He yowled a quick,” Come on!” to Thrush as he started rushing back as fast as he could. Thrush tried to catch up, but found she couldn’t move. She turned to see the ginger tom, awake and angry, a large paw on her tail. She tried harder to run, but he tightened his grip. “You’re not going anywhere, little one,” The tom pulled her closer.
“Go, GO!” Thrush yowled back to Leaf and the kits. He hesitated, then ran away. Thrush took a deep breath and looked back at the kittypet. His claws were unsheathed and he licked his lips in an unsettling way. He then lifted her by her tail and looked her dead in the eye. She shook backwards and forwards, aware that she was light as a feather. The kittypet held up a claw menacingly. “No-one messes with us!” He spat. He sunk his claw into her hind leg. Thrush’s vision blurred and her eyes began to close. The last thing she saw was a large grey blur barrelling into the side of the ginger tom.


Feel free to give some constructive criticism, I need to improve.

[sweetsong]

Chapter three
Thrush blinked and sleepily opened her eyes. A small ginger tabby was in front of her mixing something on a rock. She tried to get up, but she fell back down as if a rock sat in her stomach. The she-cat turned around and smiled at her.
“You’re awake? Thank goodness! You were in bad shape when Greystorm found you,” She disappeared into a small cave behind her and came back out with a dried poppy head, Thrush recognised, as Cream used them. The cat shook some seeds out of it. “Eat these, they’ll ease the pain,” She paused. “I haven’t told you my name yet. How rude of me. I’m Gingerheart, Thunderclan medicine cat since my mentor died. Greystorm, the cat that rescued you is our Deputy.” Thrush paused and tried to understand what she was saying. “So… Greystorm is the second and you’re the healer? Like aunt Cream?” Thrush asked slowly. A rustle alerted her as a big muscular grey she-cat came in. She looked curiously at Thrush.“Cream? A healer? I knew a cat named Creampaw but she left with her sister Honeypaw. She was happy but would follow Honeypaw to the end of the world,” The cat said, sniffing at Thrush. She wriggled away awkwardly and replied,” I don’t know if Cream was ever a clan cat, but she’s my mum’s sister. Oh, and my mum is called Honey.” The cat’s eyes widened happily. “Honeypaw was my best friend! She never felt that she belonged in the clan,” The cat explained. Her tone was joyful but there was a hint of sadness in her gaze, directed at Thrush. A loud yowl from outside cut the conversation short.
“Greystorm!”
She rolled her eyes. “Sounds like Preystar wants me. I’ll be back later.” Thrush watched as Greystorm made her way to Preystar’s den. She craned her neck, but lost sight of her as she turned a corner. Thrush slumped back down, suddenly tired. Sleep, like a wave, consumed her as she curled up in the Thunderclan medicine den. She didn’t know where it was or if her family was ok, but something about this place gave her a feeling of security.

[sweetsong]

The sounds of urgent howls and howls of pain woke Thrush. The medicine den was filled with cats, bleeding and bruised. Gingerheart had an air of authority about her, sending the ones who could walk to nests into them and treating the worse there and then. The sight of so many injured cats disturbed Thrush and she curled up small on the edge of her nest. She gave a cry as a claw caught her tail. She leapt up and fell back, remembering that her leg was swathed in cobwebs. A small white tom looked guiltily at her. One eye was faded blue whilst the other was dark.
"Sorry, I didn't see you there. Here," the tom picked her up by the scruff and gently put her back in the nest. He looked around, but nearly all the other nests were full or the cats were being treated. "There's room for two," Thrush offered, moving up. The tom blinked gratefully at her as her slid in beside her.
"So, who are you, little one? I haven't seen you around before," Thrush lifted her head to see the Tom, her injured leg splayed out. He had long white fur, rather like Hawks, and the light blue eye had a scar running down it that part his fur. His tail was long and bushy, whilst the rest of his fur was long and thick. He seemed muscly fir his age and size. "I'm Thrush. I'm a rogue, though my mother was a thunderclan cat first, apparently. Her name here was Honeypaw. That's what Greystorm told me. Isn't Greystorm nice!" Thrush said with a rush. She looked up at the tom.
"I never knew Honeypaw, but my mum told me about her. Greystorm is my mum, by the way. I never knew my dad, he was killed by a fox when I was a kit. I'm Fristpaw, by the way.I wish she was my mentor, but she mentors Frogpaw. I don't like Frogpaw, she always runs away when I speak, or hits me, or something. I think mum wanted to mentor her because she mentored her mother, Silverfur, and knew her dad pretty well," he paused. "Has Greystorm told you anything else about Honeypaw?" His tone suggested that he was trying to make sure he didn't give anything else away. Thrush was confused. "Actually, no, that's all I know. Is your eye all right?" She asked. Frostpaw sighed. "My eye is fine, I only hurt my paw in the battle. I have to go," he got up and headed toward the den exit.
"Wait, what's wrong?" Thrush asked. He didn't meet her eyes. "I just need to see Greystorm." She stayed in her place as he left, pushing his way out of the den. Thrush tilted her head in confusion. Frostpaw and Greystorm were talking outside. She peered out. They were arguing about something. She was about to ask them what they were arguing about when Greystorm suddenly yowled a chilling fact.
"No, you can't! You can't tell her her mother was half-clan!"

[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]

Aww so sweet!

[sweetsong]

Thanks!

[sweetsong]

Leaf led the kits back, his tail drooping. The four kits were mainly unharmed, apart from a few scratches. He held two at a time, one in his jaw and another on his back. He was tiring quickly, each pawstep sending pain through his leg. He didn't focus on it. All he could see was Thrush.
Her body unconscious against the tree.
Her laying at the paws of the big tom.
Her body lifeless.
He shook the thoughts out of his head and continued home. The hardest part would be telling her family.

"My kits!" Daffodil let out a cry and raced forward, nearly pushing Honey off the ledge. Each kit tumbled forward, feebly mewing for their mothers milk and warmth. Dust ran down beside her and pushed the kits nearer her. Both were purring loudly. Hawk leapt up onto the large rock beside his den. "Daffodil's kits are back! Let us celebrate!" The cats currently in camp were cheering and sharing out fresh-kill. The sight would normally make a cat purr in delight, but it made Leaf's heart sink. These cats had yet to realise the truth. It would be best to simply go to sleep and then plan out what to say.

"Where's Thrush?" 
Honey sat nearby, tail flicking. Her eyes were narrowed and gaze sharp. Though her voice was steady and calm, there was a firm undertone. It wasn't really an invitation to answer. More of an order. Leaf breathed in. "She's..." Lost? Dead?
"Gone."
Honey raised an eyebrow. "Really? I had no idea. Where?"
What should he do? He wanted to be tactful, but honest. Realistic, but gentle. Practical, yet sensitive.
He explained it, adding details where needed but leaving out parts that she didn't need to know, such as the details of the fight.
"That last thing I saw was a grey cat blocking the attacks, but I needed to get the kits out," Leaf ended, watching the river so he didn't have to look at the heartbreak in Honey's eyes. The two sat in silence, the cheers from  the group behind them taunting them, mocking them in their grief-stricken state. As the sun set, and the cheers died down, the twos eyes met.
"What do we do now?"

[sweetsong]

Quick allegiances
(Some cats are from WC:UT. Some are mine)
Leader: Preystar
Deputy: Greystorm
Medicine Cat: Gingerheart
Warriors: Silverfur
Shadefur
Swiftheart
Iceheart
Skypool
Icewing
Primroseroot
Smallflame
Queens: Breezewhisker (Fawnkit, Cloudkit, Lavenderkit)
Silverdapple
Apprentices: Frogpaw
Frostpaw
Featherpaw
Elders: Cloudclaw
Nightheart
Scartooth
Tanglefern

Riverclan
Leader: Clearstar
Deputy: Jadepelt
Medicine Cat: 
Warriors: Eaglewhisker
Blazepelt
Queens: Silverstone
Scarshine
Apprentices: 
Elders: Coldfur

Shadowclan
Leader: Goldenstar
Deputy: Silverstorm
Medicine Cat: Tatteredpelt
Warriors: Greyfang
Goldenfall
Queens: Flamesong
Apprentices: Leafpaw
Elders:

Windclan
Leader: Tanglestar
Deputy: Firefrost
Medicine Cat: Spotridge
Warriors: Oneleaf
Featherpoppy
Birchshade
Poppystem
Queens: Moonfeather
Dawnbreeze
Apprentices: Duskpaw
Elders: Leapfur

*The other clans have more cats. I was just too lazy to write them

[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]

Niice!

[sweetsong]

Thanks!
Chapter 4
"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the highrock for a clan meeting!"
At once, the clan began to assemble. Preystar was already there, Greystorm sitting next to him and the senior warriors murmuring to each other. The apprentices and young warriors, who had been eating or idly chatting as one might on a calm evening, got up from their groups and answered their leaders call. The elders, who had been dozing in the setting sun, made their way to the others, some grumbling, others dipping their heads to Preystar. Thrush, Frostpaw, Gingerheart and a warrior, Swiftheart, sat at the entrance of the medicine den. What did Preystar want?

"Mum, get off!"
Fawnkit wrestled away from her mother and resumed playfighting with her brother, Cloudkit. Breezewhisker sighed. Her daughters pelt was covered in dust and mud from playing outside, yet she refused to have it cleaned. Cloudkit was even worse; his white fur was more of a dusty brown. The young queen just didn't know what to do with them. "Kits, your fur is dreadful. I need to clean it," She put out a paw and stopped the two. Cloudkit jumped up. "When we're apprentices and warriors, our pelts don't matter as much as defeating enemy warriors," he said importantly, head held high. Fawnkit nodded, saying "We need all the experience we can get" before attacking her sister. Lavenderkit lifted her head, batted her away and turned toward her siblings. "We're not apprentices yet. There's another half moon until then. There really isn't any point in playfighting," she returned to stripping the leaf she had to the stem. Fawnkit pouted. "You're no fun Lavenderkit. At least we have experience!"
"In what?" She snapped back. "Pushing others over? Running around? If I wait, then my mentor can teach me what I need to know without me needing to get my pelt dirty!" She stopped short when she saw her siblings faces. She sighed. "You can playfight if you want. But I don't want to."
"Oh what am I going to do?" Breezewhisker put her head in her paws, seeming defeated. "I have two kits who care so much about fighting that they don't care how dirty they get- and one who wont get dirty at all! What am I going to do?"
"Love them with all your heart?" Everyone jumped as Silverdapple spoke, opening one eye with a smile. She was an old nursery queen who had never got her figure back after her third litter. She was going to retire after her last kit, Bluekit, had grown up, but a bout of greencough had taken her. She sat up. "Fawnkit, Cloudkit, you need to be careful when playing outside, and don't bother those who don't want to play. And Lavenderkit, you shouldn't care as much as you do about your appearance, as other things are more important."
"Yes, Silverdapple," the three kits sighed. Despite not wanting to admit faults, after five moons they had grown to respect the older queen and each had felt her sorrow when Bluekit died. Breezewhisker blinked gratefully and Silverdapple smiled back. "Appreciate this last half moon of them being in the nursery with you. It's one of the best bits of motherhood."
"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the highrock for a clan meeting!"
The kits began clamouring. "Can we go outside? We'll be good!"
Breezewhisker smiled. "Why not. But stay close to us!" She called as the kits rushed out. Silverdapple smiled as the younger queen chased after her kits. She sighed. If only her kit had survived.

Preystar watched the assembled cats for a moment before speaking. "I'm sure you have all noticed the kit that has been injured and we have decided to keep her as part of the clan." At once the clan began to clamour, but Preystar lifted his tail for silence. "She is young and has survived despite the odds. Greystorm has watched her in a fight and she has natural talent. She is to join our clan and to be accepted as a member, so she won't be the same as her mother," He narrowed his eyes. The older members seemed to recognise what he meant and shifted awkwardly. He waited, then continued. "Lastly, she needs a mother," He turned to Silverdapple. "Will you take her?"
A silence befell the clan. A tense silence, where no one knew what would happen next. Silverdapple breathed in.
"Why not? This must be Starclan giving me a second chance as a mother," she smiled. Greystorm let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.
"The clan's dismissed."

[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]

Awesome!

[sweetsong]

Silverdapple sat in a daze while the clan moved back to their respective tasks.
I have a kit. I have a new kit
"Silverdapple?"
She jumped. Gingerheart was next to her, her gaze gentle. "Go back to the nursery. I'll bring her along later." She turned to leave.
"W-wait!" Silverdapple called, louder than expected. Gingerheart turned around, a questioning look in her eyes.
"What's her name?"
Gingerheart relaxed. "Thrush. When she starts her apprenticeship, I expect her name will change." Gingerheart disappeared into her den. Taking in deep shaky breaths, she went back into the nursery. Breezewhisker was laying down. Lavenderkit was settling down at the edge of the nest, her fur still perfect. Fawnkit and Cloudkit were jumping around, batting at each other. They ran up to Silverdapple.
"Who's our new denmate?"
"Can we meet them?"
"What's their name?"
"What do they look like?"
Silverdapple raised her tail for quiet. "She's called Thrush. She's about your age. I don't know what she looks like."
The two, seemingly happy with that, curled up next to their mother and fell straight asleep. Breezewhisker was lying awake, waiting for their new denmate, but soon fell asleep. Lavenderkit fell asleep fast as well, as if keeping her pelt in perfect order was incredibly tiring.
"Silverdapple?"
Gingerheart smiled at the entrance. She nudged a small mottled grey kit forward. Her eyes, while slightly nervous, were inquisitive. She was taking in the den with interest. Gingerheart nudged her closer. Silverdapple crouched down to the kits level.
Please like me!
"Herro," The little kit mewed. She spoke with an accent.
"Hello, little one," Silverdapple smiled at the kit. "Are you tired?"
"Yes... Verry tired," She mewed quietly. She pattered forward, her back leg, covered in cobwebs and bindweed holding a stick in place, sticking out behind her awkwardly.
"Come sleep here, little one," Silverdapple helped her into place. She blinked up at the older cat before falling asleep instantaneously. Gingerheart had left a little while ago and Silverdapple stayed awake a little longer, feeling the presence of her kit near, a sensation Starclan had cruelly robbed from her before. Now, with everything right in the clan, she allowed herself to relax.


I will likely add more to this later, but I need to sleep now.


Oh, and Thrush speaks with an accent. I always imagined the rogues speaking like that.