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Chapter Text

The sun rose over the quiet camp. Patrols had already been sent out and Whispertail laid awake in the medicine den. Tangledpaw was sorting the herbs he had collected earlier that morning. Cloudstar stood atop clanrock, the sun shining down on his fur. Sat next to him was his mate, Pinefur.

Whipsertail stared at them from the medicine den across the camp. She envied them and their relationship. A medicine cat isn't allowed a mate. Seen as everyone's sibling. Whispertail hated it.

"I think we're short on juniper." Tangledpaw told Whispertail but she wasn't listening. She was still glaring at them. Tangledpaw had to hit her with his tail to snap her out of it to which she tilted her head in confusion.

"We're severely short on juniper." He told her again. He was sitting in front of her now. "You need to gather some."

"Why me? You're the apprentice, not me. Plus, I'm severely visually impaired" She flatly stated. Her tail twitching as she spoke.

"I'm currently sorting our herbs and I don't want you to continue to stare at them, it's weird and concerning." He mewed before returning to sorting. "Remember there is a bush near the thunderpath."

"Fine." Was all she said before leaving the den. Walking past a patrol entering the camp as she was leaving. They greeted her warmly and received a glare as thanks.

She treaded along quietly, occasionally humming to herself. She looked around at the surrounding trees, they stood tall, overlooking the sky. How she wished she were a tree. They weren't bound to the same rules as Whispertail. They were free to sway in the wind and they helped everyone, covering all those who seek shelter in the rain.

Whispertail shook her head and continued walking towards the sound of the thunderpath. She didn't hear many monsters but still heard them every now and then, the loud deafening roar was never something she could get used to.

She grew closer to the thunderpath by the seconds until she was right on the edge of it. She stared across the thunderpath, she wondered about the life of those in that clan, Thunderclan.
She stared for seconds longer before turning away from the thunderpath in search of the bush.

Her nose was practically in the ground whilst sniffing for juniper berries. She finally stumbled upon the bush Tangledpaw must've been referring to. A mere tail-length away from the thunderpath. Whispertail began picking some berries with her teeth, placing them on the ground in front of her, hovering her paw over them.

Whispertail jolted at the sound of something across the thunderpath. She left her berries and crouched behind another bush to peer to the other side of the thunderpath. Whispertail spotted the source of the noise. Her breath hitched at the sight of this cat. The mixture of the orange and brown across the cat's coat, the white underbelly. A beautiful cat.

All Whispertail could even comprehend was this cat, this beautiful cat from another clan. A beautiful cat who probably had a mate. A beautiful cat who she could never love. Despite all this Whispertail stared at the cat, many thoughts rushing through her head. She seemed frozen, unmoving. She stared, unblinking until her eye got the others eyes.

They stared at each other from across the thunderpath for what seemed like hours. The cats eyes were a beautiful green, like the leaves of trees. Whispertail could only hear her own heart beating in her ears. This time of seeming tranquility was interrupted by a monster roaring past, when it passed the other cat was no longer there. This cat was almost like a dream, a mirage.

"Maybe I didn't eat enough." Whispertail spoke to herself. She went back to grab her juniper berries. Shaking her head as she started back towards Shadowclan camp. Sulking, she dragged her paws all along the way.

Chapter Text

"Tangledpaw, wake up. We must prepare for your ceremony tonight." Whispertail told the sleeping Tangledpaw, prodding him with her paw.

"No…" He groaned, rolling over onto his back. Whispertail chuckled at him before kicking his flank.

"Wake up, you're gonna get your name today unless you want to wait another whole moon." She said to him, her tail twitching.

"Fine." He groaned before standing up and stretching.

"Though, before we go we have to make sure everything is in good shape with the other cats."

"Nevermind." He stated before plopping right back on the ground. Whispertail then stepped on his tail, resulting in him jolting back up.

"Tangledpaw, go check on the queens and their kits. Daisykit has been having a bad coughing fit for these past days." Whispertail demanded. She proceeded to toss him some herbs. "Take those, now."

"Yes, on it." He quickly stated before scrambling away with the herbs, slightly hobbling his way towards the nursery.

"Now, Newtstrike. How is your paw?" Whispertail questioned, not even facing the elder.

"I've told you time and time again, my paw is fine." Newtstrike flatly stated.

"But, mother, I must take care of you." Whispertail said sorrowly. "It is my duty, I can't lose you too, mother."

"Whispertail, come, sit with me for a second." Newtstrike said, her voice calm and soothing. Whispertail walked over and sat beside her mother, who was laying on her side, her ribs outlined by her fur. "I love you, and understand me when I say you are my pride and joy. The best successor any mother could ask for. You have suffered through many things and still stand with your head high. You have that apprentice a second chance and I want you to understand there is practically nothing you could ever do to disappoint me or even Starclan."

"Mother, stop getting all mushy, it scares me." Whispertail chuckled out. This led for Newtstrike to let out a long sigh.

"Whispertail, I want for you to know that I feel my time ending near. You as my only kit have shown me the wonders of motherhood and please forgive me when I depart one of these days. I will love you even in Starclan above." Newtstrike said, her eyes looked tired. Whispertail pressed her head into her mother's shoulder, tears rolling down her face.

"Mother, please stop saying these things." Whispertail said, her voice giving away at the choked back sobs. "You're scaring me.. Please, stop…"

"My dear, let's go, I am wanting to tell stories to the kits." Newtstrike said. She didn't even acknowledge Whispertail's pleas. Newtstrike promptly hauled herself up, her paw tucked closely to her body. She exited the medicine den without further words. Whispertail quickly followed.

Daisykit ran out from the nursery stopping right in front of Newtstrike. Tangledpaw following right behind him.

"Daisykit, get back to your mother, now." Tangledpaw instructed. Daisykit didn't acknowledge him, he instead looked eagerly at Newtstrike.

"I want a story!" Daisykit mewed. His eyes widened with excitement.

"Well of course. Who am I to decline a kit a story of great telling." Newtstrike said before coughing but played it off as a chuckle. "Now, return to your mother or you won't get that story."

"Yes!" He mewed excitedly before running back into the nursery. Tangledpaw following him before being stopped.

"Tangledpaw, come, let's clean up the den." Whispertail said, her tail pointing towards the medicine den. He only nodded.

–

The sun was setting when Whispertail and Tangledpaw set off to Moonstone. Along their way they encountered nothing, no one as well. The forest seemed dead this evening. Tangledpaw loved the silence but it made Whispertail uneasy but she dare not to interrupt the beauty of the silence.

Once arriving at the Moonstone they were greeted by Riverclan's medicine cat, Rainstalk. He said no more after the greeting. Tangledpaw decided to rest right next to him, whispering words in which Whispertail could not hear. She was curious but didn't interfere with their conversation.

In the darkness Whispertail heard fur scrape the rocky ground. She had no time to think before she was tackled by a cat. Pebblepaw.

"I told you I'd get you some day!" Pebblepaw exclaimed. Whispertail chuckled at the Riverclan apprentice.

"Just as energetic as always." Whispertail stated. Pebblepaw smiled, showing off her teeth.

Just then they all looked towards the entrance upon hearing more voices. Sagewhisper entered, Juniperwood and Dewfur following in suit gossiping about some as those two usually do. Sagewhisper, the Thunderclan medicine cat, rolled her eyes at them. The two Windclan medicine cats promptly sat up, giggling at each other every now and then.

"Hello." Whispertail greeted the three of them. They greeted her as well.

"Since it is not moonhigh, should we let them talk, inevitable but better to get it down with quicker." Sagewhisper proposed. Rainstalk nodded his head at this.

"Why not." Whispertail said. Juniperwood and Dewfur immediately started rambling on.

"Have you heard of the new Windclan deputy?" Dewfur asked.

"He is absolutely huge, like a lot taller than Cloudstar." Juniperwood added, "He also rescued some kits which he is now raising."

"Isn't he raising them with that one warrior? Crow-something?" Dewfur questioned.

"Crowstride. I'm pretty sure, but… literally nothing else is going on. That's basically it, I think." Junipertail finished.

"Though I must ask, Whispertail. I've heard rumors of a Shadowclan warrior whose been seen quite often with a Riverclan cat. Would you know anything about this?" Dewfur pried.

Whispertail sat there for a moment, dumbfounded. "Who am I to know the lives of the warriors of my clan? You know very well none of those cats talk to me. They pity me in the worst way possible." She hissed.

"No need to get testy." Juniperwood butted in. Whispertail only grunted at him.

They all sat in an awkward silence from then on before someone broke the silence.

"Putting that aside, I'm happy for you, Tangledpaw. You did great to reach an accomplishment such as this. My apprentice journey wasn't easy, especially when there were no medicine cats to mentor me in my own clan." Rainstalk stated, his tail laying right next to Tangledpaw's paws. Tangledpaw merely nodded in acknowledgement.

"When will it reach moonhigh? I'm super bored.." Pebblepaw groaned out. She began to stretch out her front legs.

"Hush, moonhigh shall come soon, be patient." Sagewhisper hissed at the apprentice. Pebblepaw hissed back, but more playful than Sagewhisper.

The stone began to glow behind Whispertail, she could finally see the cats as they were being illuminated by the light.

Whispertail turned to the stone, placing her nose against it. "Starclan." She whispered out.

"Shall the ceremony commence." Sagewhisper said. She walked up to Whispertail's side, she gave her a comforting, encouraging look.

Whispertail began reciting the words her own mentor used for her ceremony.

Chapter Text

Tangledfoot awoke near the Moonstone, he was still sleepy eyed when he stood up, almost tumbling over with drowsiness. He struggled walking most without a leg but it worsened when he was drowsy. Rainstalk was thankfully on his side, helping him stand. Whispertail joined in front of them both, he was finally able to fully see those in front of him, though most had already left.

"Tangledfoot, we must depart now." Whispertail told him, her eyes were soft. Rainstalk gave him a look that not even Starclan could decipher, it merely confused Tangledfoot.

Tangledfoot took a step towards Whispertail before speaking. "Shall we leave?" He simply asked. Whispertail nodded simply before turning towards the tunnel.

She began towards the tunnel, Tangledfoot right on her heels, like he always is, looking up to her like she's the big sister he never had.

Whispertail suddenly dropped to the ground, her tail signaling him to do the same.

"Over there, there's a fight…" Whispertail whispered to him. He looked over and saw what looked like Pinefur and two of their warriors. He struggled to see them through the bushes but he could make out two cats who he did not recognize.

"Brother! Please wake up!" One of the foreign cats yowled, laying next to what Tangledfoot assumed was the cat's dead brother.

Whispertail suddenly shot out from the bush, beelining towards the scene. She stood right in front of Pinefur who was about to attack the foreign cat. Tangledfoot followed shortly after heading towards the dead cat. His insides were no longer inside. The foreign cat hissed at him as he approached, he paid her no mind.

"I can't go home to my clan." She whispered to herself. "I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't go home. Please don't send me home. Please, please, please." The cat began pleading. She tried to stand to move forward but instantly collapsed. Her leg was injured, the fur was matted with blood.

Tangledfoot looked over to where Whispertail was berating Pinefur. "You can't just kill cats! What were you thinking? What if Cloudstar hears about this? What if Starclan curses our entire clan because of your mistake?" Whispertail was livid, Pinefur was cowering. Who can blame her for cowering though? Whispertail is scarier than even Cloudstar when she was angry.

"We can figure this out." Pinefur said, her voice was a little shaky. Whispertail only huffed in response before walking over the foreign cats.

"Shall we bury your brother?" Whispertail calmly asked the foreign cat. She merely nodded. "Is it fine within our territory? I don't think you'd want to head back home after what you said." She nodded again.

"What is your name?" Tangledfoot asked, trying to make the cat speak.

"Sunpatch." She stated quietly.

"Rapidjaw, Spidershine. Go dig a hole by the base of that tree." Whispertail instructed, motioning towards a tall pine tree. They immediately began digging not wanting to feel her wrath. "Now, we shall not return to our camp until your brother is given a proper burial. You're coming with us, Sunpatch, you are in no way in a mental state to return. Your physical condition is only merely better though."

They all sat in silence besides Sunpatch's choked back sobs as she laid her head on her brother's corpse. She occasionally whispered to herself, the words seemed slurred and mixed up, at least from what Tangledfoot could hear.

The sun was at its highest peak by the time the warriors finished digging the hole. Pinefur was instructed to bury the corpse.

"I'm sorry we can't give your brother a proper burial." Whispertail muttered to Sunpatch.

"His name is Snakefoot. Call him Snakefoot." Sunpatch hissed out.

"Then I'm sorry we can't give Snakefoot a proper burial." Whispertail said. "We'll allow you to pay your respects and say few words, but we must then hurry back to camp to explain your situation to Cloudstar. Hopefully he'll be understanding."

"I did as instructed, he's been buried." Pinefur told Whispertail who didn't even bat an eye, merely nodded.

Whispertail sat there in silence, she was seeming to be waiting for the foreign cat to move. Sunpatch stood up suddenly, limping over to where her brother lay for the rest of time. She sat next to his makeshift grave muttering words, words that could be filled with sorrow, fear, regret, anger, many emotions entangled into one. Pinefur sat near the mourning she-cat, she even muttered few words, words that could only be regret or else Whispertail would be angered. Rapidjaw and Spidershine followed in suit, sitting near the grave muttering words to a cat they will never get to know. Whispertail finally sat near his grave, near Sunpatch, in a way that would consoling.

Sunpatch was the first to stand up, or at least try to stand up. She fell back down immediately, letting out a pained yowl. Whispertail was by her side in a heartbeat. "Spidershine, you'll help her back to the camp, leave her in the medicine den. Tangledfoot, you'll tend to her wounds. Rapidjaw, Pinefur, you guys explain this mess to Cloudstar." Whispertail instructed.

"And you?" Pinefur inquired.

"Me? I will be collecting some cobwebs, we may have some but I highly doubt it's enough." She informed them before leaving the she-cat with them.

Once she was out of sight the group of cats began their way back towards camp, Pinefur and Rapidjaw discussing how to explain this to their leader. Spidershine offered a shoulder to the she-cat and they were trekking alongside each other. Tangledfoot trailed behind them all, lost in thought, lost in the thought of the wrath of Starclan.

Chapter Text

Pained hisses were let out from Sunpatch when the concoction of crushed up herbs was put on her open wound. She would've tried to run away but only if she could.

Tangledfoot hissed under his breath. "Will you stop squirming? I'm trying to help you."

"Then get someone capable cause you don't seem to be." Sunpatch hissed back.

Tangledfoot glared at her. "Well, I guess I'll let your wound get infected." He spotted out before turning and ducking out the entryway.

"Good riddance." Sunpatch said to herself. She tried to sleep but to no avail.

She felt the sharp shooting pain in her leg even as she laid still in the nest. She pondered on how to get one of the medicine cats' attention but decided against just yowling for one of them. She instead decided to haul herself up, more so just her front, and crawl out of the nest and through the entryway. She barely made it out of the nest den before getting tired.

Paws suddenly appeared in her vision, grey paws, nothing like Tangledfoot's brown paws. Whispertail, the scary medicine cat. Scary enough to make her leader's mate do what she instructed.

"What in the name of Starclan would've compelled you to move from your nest with an open wound? Hm? Thought you would've known better." Whispertail lightly scolded Sunpatch before helping Sunpatch up and escorting her back to her nest. Whispertail lightly laid Sunpatch back into her nest.

"Please… please don't leave me here alone." Sunpatch pleaded, reaching her front paws up towards Whispertail who stood above her.

"Go to sleep, you're so obviously delirious." Whispertail said sternly. Sunpatch only grunted in response, her paws still up in the air.

Whispertail gently pushed Sunpatch's paws back towards her body. "Go to sleep." She whispered to Sunpatch.

Whispertail removes her paw and leaves the den. Sunpatch's eyes followed Whispertail out the den. Her eyes lingering at the corner in which she turned.

Chapter Text

The sun had risen and some cats laid down, basking in its warmth. The air had begun to grow cold and some cats fell under some sickness spell that always paid its visit in leaf-bare.

"Alderkit's condition has worsened. I'm not expecting her to make it through leaf-bare." Tangledfoot informed Whispertail while they were restocking supplies for the harsh weather.

"She seemed very energetic yesterday though, but I must admit, I do think she's blind and something about her is rather different than any of the other kits."

"She progresses much slower, she's far smaller than the kits who are younger than her even. If she gets sick I don't think she'll make it."

Whispertail sighed deeply. "There's nothing we can do to prevent her inevitable demise, but we can postpone it, give her the life a kit deserves."

Tangledfoot sat there, herbs scattered at his paws. He stared at his paws, his tail flicking slowly beside him. "Should we tell Wolfslip?"

"Yes, we should also warn the other queens, but I'd recommend away from the kits, especially Batkit. I'm unsure she'll take this… news very well."

"I can babysit the kits." A voice behind Whispertail said. It was Sunpatch which was both comforting and concerning. How long had she been listening?

Tangledfoot looked at Whispertail with a questioning look and then whispered to her. "Do we really trust an outsider with our kits?"

"We'll have to see what the queens say about you. They're still very wary of you so don't take a no harshly. Follow." Whispertail told Sunpatch despite Tangledfoot's opposing glares.

Tangledfoot reluctantly follows the all too giddy Sunpatch, who's limping, towards the nursery, his eyes glaring into the back of her head. Whispertail peeked her head into the nursery asking a few questions. Sunpatch doesn't hear a no from any of the queens upon hearing the question of babysitting. They were reluctant and Whispertail had to partially convince them but still not no so she marked it as a win.

"Let's talk outside, shall we?" Whispertail said, it was less of a question, more of command to which the queens obliged. Tangledfoot sat beside Sunpatch and followed her into the nursery, Sunpatch assumed it was for precautions.

She was instantly bombarded by the kits.

"Are you really a Thunderclan cat?" A kit with protruding fangs questioned.

"What's the big scratch on your leg from?" The smallest kit questioned.

Sunpatch chuckled lightly and crouched down to their level. She was instantly jumped on by the kit with the protruding fangs.

"Daisykit! Come up here with me. I feel so tall!" The kit called out to the kit with gray forearms and black spots on his legs. His pelt was orange throughout the rest of his body. He jumped and stood next to the other kit, his orange fur mixing with the fanged kit's brown fur.

"Batkit, get off! And stop causing trouble." Tangledfoot instructed the kit with fangs.

"Aw… you used to be fun to play with." Batkit groaned. Tangledfoot merely sighed.

"Hello Thunderclan cat. I'm Ivykit." The kit with heterochromia said, standing in Sunpatch's field of view, blocking it entirely. "These two are my sisters, Honeykit and Leapkit."

"He seems really professional…" Sunpatch whispered to Tangledfoot who chuckled at her joke but stopped himself midway.

"I'm Alderkit!" The smallest kit said. Her eyes were big and staring up towards Sunpatch.

"Hello Alderkit." She said, her voice calm.

"Want to be friends?" Alderkit asked, her eyes still big and her ears were perked up.

Sunpatch giggled lightly. "Of course." She told her. Alderkit jumped up and ran around and bumped into several of the other kits.

"She's blind." Tangledfoot muttered quietly to Sunpatch. Sunpatch huffed a response.

"How long are you gonna be here?" Honeykit asked, her ears were much larger than that of her siblings.

"Wish I knew." Sunpatch stated.

"Why are you here then?" Leapkit questioned.

"I didn't wanna go home."

"Why?"

"No more questions, how about we play a game?" Sunpatch prompted.

"A game?" Batkit asked, playfulness filled her voice.

"A game-" Sunpatch started but was cut off by Whispertail walking into the nursery.

"Let's go." She said, turning around. Tangledfoot right behind. Sunpatch hobbled slowly after.

"Come back soon friend!" Alderkit called after her.

Sunpatch hobbled into her nest in the medicine den. She winced as she laid down on her nest. Whispertail sat next to her, she began applying an ointment to her wound. Sunpatch winced upon the coldness of the ointment being applied. Tangledfoot stood at the entrance.

"How'd they react? More importantly Wolfslip." He asked.

"She seemed fine, I'm assuming she knew beforehand. Blind kits have never been known to live long, especially if they may be born that way. Like my own sister." Whispertail told him. She began putting cobwebs on the wound to help keep it closed and covered.

"You've never mentioned a blind sister." Tangledfoot state, curiosity very present in his voice.

"You never asked."

"Would've asked if I had known."

"She never made it to apprenticeship. Branchkit. She was so sweet, so caring. But tranquility never lasted long with anyone. She was small and got trapped in a rogue clawed trap." Whispertail said, still caring for Sunpatch.

"Just like me." Tangledfoot said.

"More or less. But it makes me fear for Alderkit more than ever, bareleaf is soon and… What if she gets lost in the snow? What if…" Whispertail spiraled. Sunpatch moved her head close to Whispertail's.

"How about when the snow starts we move them into here? It's warm and raised and I can keep constant surveillance if needed." Sunpatch proposed, she stared into Whispertail's striking green eyes. Whispertail turned her head towards Tangledfoot, her stare questioning.

"It could work." Tangledfoot said.

"It could." Whispertail agreed. "Go inform the queens about this." Tangledfoot quickly turned and left towards the nursery leaving the Thunderclan cat with the Shadowclan medicine cat.

"You're pretty smart for a Thunderclan cat." Whispertail chuckled.

"Hmph, you flatter me." Sunpatch joked. "Can I ask a question?"

"Why not."

"How'd he lose his leg exactly?"

"A rogue clawed trap, he was searching for herbs and was caught, chewed his own leg off." Whispertail said.

"Badass." Sunpatch stated. Whispertail chuckled.

They sat in silence while Whispertail continued to treat her wound. Sunpatch winced occasionally which caused Whispertail to stop momentarily before continuing the treatment. She began grooming the fur around the wound to keep it from matting. Sunpatch suddenly broke the silence.

"You don't have to go that far. You already cleaned the wound, this seems a tad bit excessive." Sunpatch huffed out.

"Last thing you need is a leg full of matted fur." Whispertail said before continuing. Sunpatch merely laid her head down on her paws.

Lionspirit ran into the den suddenly startling both Whispertail and Sunpatch. She was huffing trying to catch her breath. "Whispertail, it's your mother." She barely huffed out. Whispertail's eyes widened and her pupils thinned.

Chapter Text

Lionspirit began explaining the entire situation to Whispertail. "She decided to join us on a short patrol and then began coughin up blood. We merely walked, nothin too exhilarating."

"Coughing up blood? She's never done anything like that prior." Whispertail responded, her pace quickening causing Lionspirit to slightly struggle to catch up.

"Yes, so, this is why Hawkflank sent me directly to you. She stayed with Newtstrike, we were near the burnt sycamore when she began her coughin fit." Lionspirit added.

"Who else was out on patrol with you? Besides Hawkflank and Newtstrike."

"Suncreek, and that's it. All we was doing was mostly talking and walking, occasionally looking for anythin remotely suspicious. " Lionspirit said.

Whispertail could see the burnt sycamore not far from their current location. She felt her heart quicken with fear as she saw a pile of white fur laying down in a heap next to the tree's trunk. An orange she-cat stood over the heap of fur, trying to support the older cat's weight.

The other cats finally saw and recognized Whispertail as she neared closer, concern written all over her face.

"Whispertail! There you are!" Suncreek said, her face also full of concern as well as fear.

"We were afraid to move her because we're unsure of how her body would react to any sort of stimulus." Hawkflank said, her face expressionless as always but her eyes were full of concern as were everyone else's.

"Let me see if there's any visible damage." Whispertail responded before striding up to her dying mother, her eyes scanning over her mother's body, her white fur tinted brown from laying in the dirt. Her muzzle was colored a deep red from the blood she had coughed up.

Her head laid onto a small pile of a mixture of dirt and blood. Her chest shook unevenly before she coughed up more blood into the pool of it already formed around her head. Whispertail placed her own head upon her mother's chest, tears falling from her eyes coating her mother's fur. She knew there was nothing to do to save her mother from the unforgivens of death, all she could do was cry and mourn her inevitable and painful death. Soon Lionspirit sat beside Whispertail, draping her tail over her back, licking her shoulder, comforting Whispertail. Hawkflank joined beside them, placing her nose against Newtstrike's shoulder as a final goodbye. Suncreek, who stood on the opposite side of Newtstrike as they did, placed her head upon Newtstrike's stomach, her tears also coating her own fur as well as Newtstrike's.

They all sat there around her dying body, not daring to utter a single word, only to mourn in silence. Mourning the loss of a loving mother, a strong and resilient warrior. Newtstrike's chest heaved one last time, blood spilled out of her mouth one last time. Her body became still, her eyes stared blankly ahead.

"Let-Let's get her back to camp, o-one last time." Suncreek shakily breathed out. Her eyes filled with tears and sorrow.

Hawkflank and Lionspirit stood on either side to lift up her limp body. They began walking back towards camp. Whispertail stayed behind.

"I'll catch up soon!" She called out to them.

She waited till they were out of sight before digging her claws into the ground where her mother laid mere moments ago. She stuffed her face into the ground, tasting dirt and blood. She cried out in pain into the ground, the dirt silenced her cries of pure unbridled despair. She lifted her head, her mother's blood coated the left side of her face, it dripped down onto her legs and ran down onto her paws.

"Mother… I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I'm sorry I couldn't save Father. I'm sorry I couldn't save Branchkit. I'm sorry I could be a good enough medicine cat to save my own family." She muttered out to the ground in front of her. She sat there in silence, the occasional sound of wind passing by and ruffling her fur.

She wanted to join her family. She wanted to join them in their final resting spot. She wanted to be reunited with them. She wanted to see them happy and lively. She wanted her family. She didn't want to live in a cruel world without her family. Despite not wanting this life anymore she decides to keep on living, hoping that she'd find cats to call family whether it be by blood or by bond.

She finally stood up, her body slightly swaying from the wind and the tears that racked her body. She turned towards the camp and began her short journey back, not bothering to clean her mother's blood from her face.

Upon arriving back at camp, she felt all eyes on her. She didn't know if it was from the blood or from the fact it was her mother's body that lay in the middle of camp but she could care less. She trotted right up to her mother's bloody and dusty corpse in the middle of camp. She pressed her nose into her shoulder and took in the scent of her mother, she normally smelled of trees and dew but now only smelled of blood and death. It jerked at her heart, her smell was no longer comforting.

She whispered into Newtstrike's shoulder. "I'm sorry. May Starclan welcome you and treat you with great respect. Tell Branchkit and Father I miss them. I miss you already." She whispered it all so lightly she was afraid she had barely said anything at all. She lifted her head and stalked towards the tan cat with lightning like markings over her body. Whispertail's sorrow was replaced by anger.

"Pinefur!" She yowled out. "You know what you've done? You've disgraced our clan! You've cursed us!" Whispertail's eyes were narrowed as she got closer to the leader's mate.

Pinefur looked towards Cloudstar nervously. "I have no idea what she's speaking of." She breathed out shakily.

"Oh, you haven't told him of your little mistake." Whispertail said, getting close enough to Pinefur that she could hear each individual breath she took. Cloudstar jumped off his rock and landed near them.

"What is she referring to?" Cloudstar questioned.

"I have no idea." Pinefur became defensive.

"Liar! Tell him or I will!" Whispertail hissed out, the hair along her back raised.

"I did nothing wrong!" Pinefur hissed back. "I only did it in self defense!"

"He didn't even attack you! You just went straight for the kill! You have never thought of the repercussions of any of your actions because you think that just because you're fucking around with the clan leader nothing will affect you! You useless scum! You have cursed our clan and angered Starclan!" Whispertail growled at Pinefur.

"Why're you defending another clan and accusing your own clan mate? Why don't you go fuck around with one of their clan members? Oh, wait, you already are!" Pinefur growled out in response.

Whispertail had enough and pounced on Pinefur, pinning her by the shoulders into the ground. Whispertail snarled at her, baring her teeth at her face. Whispertail's claws dug into Pinefur's shoulders. Pinefur tried to bite any part of Whispertail that she could reach but failed miserably. She was completely overpowered by the half blind medicine cat.

"Enough!" Cloudstar finally yowled out, putting himself between the two cats. "Whispertail, leave, go back to your den and get cleaned up."

Whispertail turned away from the leader and his mate. She was a short while away when she overheard Pinefur hiss out "Crazy fucker." Whispertail hissed to herself, feeling the fur along her back rise.

She entered the medicine den, Tangledfoot looked at her apologetically and Sunpatch limped over and began cleaning the blood and dirt off of Whispertail's face, she was extra careful around the scars along her face despite them being a long time healed. Whispertail felt her heart rate quicken slightly, but not from fear, from a new and foreign feeling. Whispertail let her face soften from the scowl that overtook her face. She leaned in slightly to the warmth that Sunpatch radiated, closing her eyes, she felt comfortable and at ease.

Chapter Text

Days passed since Newtstrike's death and the air in the camp was thick and heavy. Side-eyes, whispers, rumors, anger, glances. They dimmed down as the next full moon neared, the gathering. But as these dimmed down, coughs could be heard from around the camp, the mystery sickness, yet no one was projectile vomiting blood. Some had bloody noses and some threw up but no one died besides Newtstrike.

"You're staying behind." Whispertail instructed Tangledfoot whose mouth opened to protest but was quickly closed.

"C'mon, this'll be my first gathering as a full-fledged medicine cat." Tangledfoot finally said.

Whispertail sighed. "Someone has to watch over that injured cat."

"You do that a lot." A voice behind Whispertail said, startling Whispertail only slightly.

"You do that a lot." Whispertail said, turning to look at said injured cat.

"You sigh a lot, you should stop. It doesn't suit you." Sunpatch said.

"Oh? Then what does?" Whispertail inquired.

"Not sighing, that's for sure."

"I'm gonna agree with the Thunderclan cat for once, but you sigh a lot." Tangledfoot inputted.

Whispertail huffed before leaving to join those who were leaving for the gathering, the sun had begun to set and was casting a gentle glow that lit up the camp. Sunpatch sat back on her haunches watching the medicine cat join the group.

Cloudstar stood in front of the group, Rabbitflame at his side. "We do not mention this curse unless any other clan mentions it, we do not want them to despise us for being the one's who may have possibly brought upon all of us."

"I doubt their curses would be even remotely similar to ours. I mean everything about our clans is different." Adderbrook spoke, she had herself slightly elevated on a rock nearby so she could be seen. A lot of the cats within the group hummed in agreement.

"Well, if we're clear on the instructions and ready, we shall begin our journey, no?" Cloudstar asked, not expecting much of a verbal answer and more so expecting the group to follow behind him as he left camp.

Rabbitflame kept herself towards the back of the group, keeping all them in-line. Whispertail didn't have time to see who joined along when she sided next to the group.

Whispertail spotted Hawkflank and Lionspirit being as lovey as ever. Spidershine was whispering lightly to Rubblesea who merely stared slightly shocked at him. Meadowheart stood next the dwarfed cat, her already impressive height making Adderbrook look even smaller than ever but despite the length between both their faces they shared words throughout the journey. Icedust, Suncreek, and Applefang all stood near one another talking about anything and everything. Lastly the two apprentices who Cloudstar cleared to tag along, Stagpaw and Jaggedpaw who were practically jumping around in excitement.

They were the first to arrive at Fourtrees and upon arrival Cloudstar left them being followed Rabbitflame as they headed themselves towards Great Rock. Cloudstar perched himself in a branch amongst the tree's above the rock, Rabbitheart stayed on the rock but towards the back, away from center stage.

The other Shadowclan cats stood around before moving towards the far side from their entry point.

Riverclan was the next to enter, Pebblepaw practically bounced her way over to Whispertail, Rainstalk in tow, his eyes tired. The rest of Riverclan, apart from their leader and deputy, began to intermingle with those from Shadowclan, talking in hushed voices, private conversations.

"A pleasure to see your ugly mug tonight." Whispertail attempted at a joke, her voice matching the tiredness in his eyes. Despite his tired look he chuckled.

"Ditto." He replied simply before settling down next to Whispertail. Pebblepaw was still jumping around, staring excitedly around.

"When will the other clans be here?" Pebblepaw questioned.

"Hard to say. Thunderclan is more often late and they better stay late, I got a bet going on with Lionspirit. If I win then she's gotta go herb gathering with me before the worst of leaf-bare." Whispertail said, eying the entryway to fourtrees that Thunderclan commonly used. Whispertail then dropped her voice to a whisper for only Rainstalk to hear. "Birchstar is an incompetent leader. He has shit judgment and is a bit more egotistical and so is his deputy."

Rainstalk stayed silent for a moment before speaking. "We're losing food in Riverclan, the water has been changing colors and becoming more and more shallow with each passing day." He sucked in a breath. "I fear we will not be ready for leaf-bare."

"When did it start?"

"Three days ago."

This time it was Whispertail sucking in a strangled breath.

She exhaled as she saw Windclan enter, meaning she won the bet. Glancing over at Lionspirit, catching her eyes and sticking her tongue out slightly.

Dewfur and Junipertail headed over towards the supposedly designated medicine cat corner.

"Aye!" Dewfur greeted, her voice chipper and light.

"Hallo." Juniperwood greeted as well, his voice sounding tired.

"Has anything seemed… odd… in any of you guys' clans lately? Cause there has been some off things about Windclan lately." Dewfur suddenly asked.

"We're losing water and fish." Rainstalk said.

Whispertail sat there for a second, staring at her paws, thinking of how to go about explaining Shadowclan's situation to them.

"Cats are falling ill, yet nothing like I've seen. They cough, vomit, sleeping spells, swollen eyes, all so much for one simple thing yet it seems to not even be remotely simple. We've already lost one, afraid to lose others. That's why I left Tangledfoot, to care any who suddenly fall ill." Whispertail said, quicker than she thought she was to say.

"That's a whole lot." Dewfur said.

"It is and yet something is going on in Windclan. Spit it out." Whispertail said, no malice or anger in her voice, merely concern and curiosity.

"Our prey has become less and less over these past days. Some of the youngins have fallen slightly ill but hopefully they'll prevail this shortage. The elders as well." Juniperwood informed them.

"Odd, we're all being affected by something at the same time. Obscure." Rainstalk muttered to himself. His last comment left all of them in silence.

Their silence was only temporary as it was broken when the final medicine cat entered the scene. Her tone was curious and concerned, as everyone here seemed to be. "Why are you all so silent? Pebblepaw is often running her mouth and yet she's quiet. Are you lot alright?" She questioned them.

"Not entirely." Dewfur answered for all of them. "Sagewhisper, has anything… out of the ordinary occurred within Thunderclan?"

Sagewhisper sat back facing the five other cats. She inhaled and exhaled deeply a few times before answering. "The ground beneath our paws has been… trembling… like a frozen kit. Sometimes small patches of the ground will fall and create ditches in the ground. Nothing fatal yet. Yet…" She trailed off towards the end.

"Peculiar." Rainstalk commented, his voice distant.

Before Whispertail could say anything else, all of the cats quieted, no noise to cover the medicine cats' discussion.

"The rivers have run dry and shortened our food supply." Ripplestar announced. "I have an assumption based on the physical look of most other cats here, it's not just us."

"Elaborate." Mistfire, the Thunderclan deputy, demanded.

"Everyone seems beaten down. Tired. Slower than usual." Ripplestar continued.

"The weather is growing colder, may that be why we are tired and slow." Leafstar added. "Though not us, Windclan has been seeing a shortened amount of prey and gusts of wind have been kicking up sand leaving us in a small sandstorm."

"See? Something is off, something has happened that angered Starclan. I can feel it." Ripplestar said.

"Shadowclan has been sick." Cloudstar added from up in his perch in the tree. "An odd and dangerous sickness with no clear pattern and no clear antidote. We lost one of our elders."

"And you brought this sickness with you? To a crowded space?" Mistfire asked, his tone accusatory.

"You should let your leader speak for once." Rabbitflame spat, seemingly fed up with Thunderclan's deputy. Mistfire only huffed in response.

"Birchstar, tell." Leafstar demanded, her tone was calm yet stern.

"The dirt beneath our paws has been giving out in small patches. Some fear that the entire camp is going to fall." Birchstar finally spoke. Mistfire's face was askew with distaste.

The cats amongst the ground began mumbling and talking, the air filled with fear and concern.

"Starclan must be punishing us."

"No one's done anything outlandish. Right?"

"I bet it was some dumb Shadowclan cat."

Everyone fell silent at that comment, eyes searching for the source.

"Ashflank." a voice muttered.

Eyes concentrated on the Riverclan tom.

"What is your damn problem?" Suncreek practically growled at him, the fur on her back rising. Applefang sided up beside her and used her body weight to force Suncreek away from the tom. Applefang's eyes did not attempt to cover the anger she felt towards the tom and doubtful she wanted to even hide it.

"My damn problem is your clan. One of your little cats is always causing problems for the rest of us to deal with." He spat back. Lightmoon stood right next to him, eyes wide.

"How bout you get some common sense. Doubtful your clanmates want some incompetent twat becoming the image for your clan." Stormstep, a Windclan warrior, hissed at Ashflank. She took no time to begin belittling him. Her teeth bared as she slowly neared him.
"Let your ego deflate before you start floating away."

She was stopped from getting closer to him by Rabbitfoot, her face stern.

"Let's not fight, especially at fourtrees underneath a beautiful moon." Stagblossom cut in. She stood next to the other two Windclan warriors who were near Ashflank. "We don't want to upset Starclan any further. Hm?"

"Your tone is condescending. I hate it." Ashflank spat, malice coating his voice.

"And your face is ugly. I hate it." Keensight added to the argument. Ashflank hissed at her, he looked ready to pounce on her but they all stopped bickering when lightning struck not far, the booming noise silenced all the noise.

"Look at what you did!" Stormstep spat. "You pissed Starclan off! You twat!"

"I did no such! It must have been Shadowclan!" Ashflank spat back.

"Oh shut up with it always being Shadowclan! Just accept that you know how to fuck up everything for once in your life." Whispertail finally added, fed up with Ashflank and his antics.

Whispertail's voice silences everyone yet again. They all stared at the pissed off medicine cat, even Shadowclan cats were startled.

"And what if I don't? Huh? You going to run to your mummy and cry?" Ashflank did a mock baby voice. A smirk plastered on his face. "Oh, wait I forgot, she's dead, isn't she? Damn. Well, at least if I cry I got a mother who cared enough to live. Cause, you know, she's alive."

Before Whispertail could retaliate, Lionspirit tackled him to the ground. Her eyes filled with rage.

"Shut the actual fuck up! You do not speak like that to any cat, especially a medicine cat you fucking insubordinate, egotistical, maniacal bitch!" She growled at him, having him pinned down by his back. His legs sprawled out underneath him from the sudden weight.

"Lionspirit!" Whispertail called out, nearing the scene. "Lionspirit, stop!"

Lightning flashed all around fourtrees, thunder after thunder. Rain began pelting down on the cats. Many ran towards shelter underneath large leaves offered by the tree's.

Whispertail dragged Lionspirit off of Ashflank as he scrambled away trying to find his footing whilst slipping on the new mud.

"I told you Shadowclan cats always cause problems! They can never be civil about anything! They're feral!" Ashflank said as he reached shelter.

Lionspirit bristled next to Whispertail who guided her towards the rest of Shadowclan who waited near the exit. Whispertail looked back towards the other medicine cats, Rainstalk stared apologetically, Ripplestar beside him with the same look. She dipped her head down, bidding goodbye.

"He- he. Ugh! I hate him!" Lionspirit complained to Whispertail who nodded knowingly. "And then he brought in Newtstrike.. and all I felt was anger, its all I could ould think of. Cloudstar, I'm sorry."

"Do not apologize, he's an obvious instigator." Cloudstar responded. "If I were you I would've silenced him permanently, it would possibly benefit all clans."

Whispertail sighed, looking up towards the stars that were now covered by clouds. She her closed eyes but kept walking. Please learn to forgive us. I never meant to anger you. She pleaded in her mind.

The walk back to camp was silent, except for the sound of rain hitting leaves above them and the squelching of paws in mud. When they arrived back at camp Whispertail quickly retired herself to the medicine den where Tangledfoot and Sunpatch looked at her expectantly.

"I don't wanna talk about it." She huffed before laying herself down and shutting her eyes with much force.

She heard them shuffling around before everything went quiet. She couldn't sleep and didn't plan on it. She instead silently wept to herself.

Chapter Text

Whispertail woke up to a paw poking her shoulder. Words were spoken to her but she was too consumed with sleep to understand the words. She finally came to senses, sitting up fully, stretching and yawning. Sunpatch was still poking her.

"Cloudstar called a clan meeting, let's go." She spoke urgently.

"For what?" Whispertail asked, yawning once again. Sunpatch merely shook her head before heading towards the exit of the den.

Whispertail lingered a moment longer, looking around and not seeing Tangledfoot. Sunpatch poked her head back in for just a moment to say, "Tangledfoot is already out here, hurry." before going back out. Whispertail finally stood up leaving the den, all warmth leaving her body.

The ground was covered in snow and snow was still falling down.

"It got significantly colder from the other day." Whispertail said to herself staring up at the sky, her eyes following a single snowflake til it landed on her nose. She shook it off. She saw Sunpatch staring at her on the outskirts of the group at the meeting rock, smiling. Whispertail couldn't help but smile back before making her way over.

Cloudstar looked at Whispertail before speaking. "Batkit, Alderkit, you have both reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you two to be apprenticed. From this day til you earn your warrior name you shall be known as Batpaw and Alderpaw."

Whispertail saw the excitement in Batpaw's eyes, she always went on about how she was going to be the best warrior. She looked over at Sunpatch who's expression was soft, caring, motherly. Whispertail smiled again.

Cloudstar continued, "Applefang, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from Darkear, and you have shown yourself to be strong and resilient. You will be the mentor of Batpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to Batpaw."

Applefang walked up near Batpaw, noses touching. Then the clan erupted into chants of "Batpaw!"

Cloudstar waited until the clan was silent before continuing. "Rubblesea, you as well are ready to take on an apprentice. You yourself received excellent training from Willowtalon, and you have shown yourself to be brave and determined. You shall be the mentor of Alderpaw, and you are expected to pass on all you know to Alderpaw."

"With honor." Rubblesea said quietly before touching noses with Alderpaw.

"Alderpaw! Alderpaw!" The clan chanted as the two new apprentices began to know their mentors better.

Whispertail stood up, shaking off the snow that accumulated on her back, and began heading towards Applefang who looked stand-offish. Whispertail stood next to Applefang whose face was scrunched up with what seemed like worry.

"You're going to be a great mentor." Whispertail said quietly, almost a whisper. "I can tell you're nervous, but it's going to be fine."

"What if I don't do it right? What if I mess up?" Applefang asked, her voice also quiet. Whispertail smiled.

"Then we learn, we adapt, we overcome. An obstacle is something that many run into but more often than not there's a way around it, all you've gotta do is trust yourself." Whispertail said.

Applefang stared at her, her face was no longer scrunched up. "You know, you're pretty good at these pep talk things."

"I try."

"And succeed." Applefang said before heading back to where Batpaw jumped around Alderpaw, Rubblesea watching over them diligently. Wolfslip and Oakshade standing off to the side, also watching them diligently.

The rest of the clan began to disperse as Rabbitflame set up the patrols for the day. Whispertail wandered back into the medicine den, Tangledfoot already there.

"I have a task for you."

"When do you not?" Tangledfoot huffed.

"You seem pissed, more than usual anyway." Whispertail said, prodding for an answer.

"I just… I hate being a medicine cat sometimes. There's so many walls built around being a medicine cat. I think that's what I hate about it."

"You could've denied this position, you could've become a warrior like your sister."

"But that's not who I am."

"Neither is that who I am." Whispertail added. "Albeit, I also hate these laws we must follow. Though I still need for you to go out and look for some herbs." Tangledfoot huffed again.

"Stop huffing and get Lionspirit, she's gonna help you. You're gonna need to get marigold, catmint, juniper berries, coltsfoot, and see if you can find any lungwort." Whispertail instructed before Tangledfoot left the den and Sunpatch entered, her limp painfully visible.

"Do you ever actually gather herbs or do you just leave it to him?"

"You know I gather herbs." Whispertail said.

"I do?" Sunpatch asked but was left with no response as Whispertail left the den. "I do. Shit."

Chapter Text

It had snowed lightly and I followed closely to the sounds of snow crunching underneath the warriors feet. I could hear the lighter steps of my sister, Batpaw, and her happy chirping.

"What do you have planned, Rubblesea?" I heard Applefang ask. Her walking stalled as well as Rubblesea's.

I hear Batpaw's teeth chatter slightly, the snow shuffling beneath her feet trying to warm up.

"I saw something simple. Perhaps…" He stopped and exhaled deeply. "Perhaps tracking. Well, it's not exactly simple in these conditions but perhaps."

"You say perhaps a lot!" Batpaw exclaimed.

"Stop bullying him, Batpaw." I told her.

"Is not bullying.." I hear Batpaw mumble quietly.

"Applefang? What're your thoughts? Did you have any other ideas by chance? I can't really think of much myself, these are rather poor weather conditions if I do say so myself." Rubblesea rambled, his teeth also lightly chattering.

She was quiet for a moment, possibly thinking it over before answering, before saying "Maybe not that, there are like no tracks to… well track. It may be light snow but there is not a hint of anythin."

"Then what?"

"Teach them to climb."

"Are you an imbecile?" Rubblesea practically hissed at her.

"'M not. But we can't have new apprentices try and track somethin that ain't there." Applefang retorted. "Unless, Rubblesea, you're fine with bein the somethin."

Rubblesea seemed to have contemplated the idea of me and Batpaw tracking him before dismissing it with a huff. "No, I say we find something else, much easier for these new apprentices."

"Well, what's easier?" Applefang asked, she was obviously extremely annoyed with Rubblesea and she didn't even try to hide it in her voice.

"Ask the apprentices."

"Why don't you? You're the more experienced one here."

"Fine. Fine. How about we just do a little tracking before the snow picks up. Hm? With these weather conditions not much is possible." Rubblesea retorted, he sounded antsy.

I heard Applefang grunt and her tail swish against the snow covered ground. "There's many thins possible in these conditions, you just too scared. Hm?"

"I say we don't fight. Mother always told us only to fight over more serious things and to not bicker over simple decisions." Batpaw stated, I could practically imagine her with her chest puffed whilst speaking.

"You're making that up, she never said that." I said while trying to find Batpaw and swat at her right shoulder.

"You were asleep."

"Whatever you say."

"Let's just do tracking."

"For a short time?"

"Obviously, look at the weather." Batpaw said and I only turned my head in the direction of her voice. "Sorry…"

"So tracking it is." Rubblesea confirmed. "Applefang and I'll go ahead into the thicker parts of the trees and you two will track our scents. Think of it as hide and seek. Yeah?"

"Try and use ya nose the most." Applefang added.

"Give us a head start and then follow. And try to work alone, even if working together seems more efficient we need to hone your individual skills." Rubblesea continued.

"Roger sir." Batpaw said, she deepened her voice in an amusing way.

I heard Rubblesea's paws turn in the snow before the picked up pace, most likely running so Batpaw loses sight of him. Applefang shortly followed after, her pace possibly slower.

"We aren't working together." I clarified with my sister. I could feel the frown on her face.

"But we do everything together. Like growing up." Batpaw complained.

"That's because we're from the same litter." I said, playfully swiping at where I figured her head to be.

"Hmph. Should we go after them yet?" She groaned out.

"Let's wait a little longer." I said. "Can you still see them?"

"Not at all, and the wind and snow definitely got faster. I say we should look for them now before we get completely snowed over." Batpaw said, a slight hint of concern in her voice. I only hummed in agreement before I stood up and heard Batpaw follow ensuite.

"They most likely split up so how about you find your mentor and I find mine?" I proposed the idea even though it is very doubtful they actually split up. I heard Batpaw grunt in agreement before I heard her paws running in the snow.

I stood there a moment longer trying to pick up Rubblesea's scent while only receiving snow covering my nose. I decided to just follow the path I assumed he took from what I remember was the direction I heard him run towards.

As my vision got darker I assumed I was no longer in the open field, now hopefully covered by trees and not going to get endlessly pelted by snow. I was able to pick up his scent for a moment before I lost it again. I wandered aimlessly growing colder and colder.

My vision grew lighter, the shade the trees provided now abandoned. Back in the open field. My head hurt and paws hurt. My throat hurt and so did my eyes. I felt my stomach twist and turn. I felt my throat squeeze and I stumbled back towards the treeline. Stumbling into countless trunks before coughing up whatever clogged my throat. The metallic taste lingering in my mouth and then filling it again as I coughed up more and more.

My legs had given out by the first cough and I tried to prop my body against the trees but only found snow and more snow. It began melting and filling up my nose and I struggled to breathe. As my eyes became heavy I felt more what I could assume was blood pooling in my throat and mouth, drowning me. I coughed it up only to have more and more accumulate. I could feel like weight of snow as it covered my whole back now, it was cold and I couldn't breathe.

I was so, so, so, cold.

I was shaking, breathing unevenly as I heaved out more blood onto the snow by mouth.

I was cold.

It was cold and dark.

So cold and so dark.

And so, so alone.

Then it was dark for what could only be eternity.

***

"Retire her to the queen's den or so help me." Whispertail huffed out. Cloudstar stood in front of her, his head held high like always. "She is very noticeably pregnant and it's not likely she's fit for warrior duties as of now."

"Why don't you tell her? I'm afraid she'll snap at me." Cloudstar said, his eyes darting away from Whispertail.

Whispertail only stared before Cloudstar he got the message and only nodded before heading towards the warrior's den where she assumed Pinefur must be.

"She really has grown over this past moon." Tangledfoot said before settling on Whispertail's right, she eyed him curiously. "So the weather…"

"Cut the shit." Whispertail practically groaned out, the medicine den was empty of its stowaway cat as she was currently babysitting in the nursery because apparently Duckfoot and Flintpelt didn't want to deal with the kits today and were instead possibly gossiping with Darkear in the elder's den away from everyone else. Wolfslip with them as her kits, or well grown-up kits were out being apprentices.

"I'm bored, it's weird when she's not bothering us endlessly." Tangledfoot admitted. This caused for Whispertail to eye him with even more curiosity.

"I see what you're getting at." Whispertail also admitted. "It's weird not having her making stupid jokes and even flirting more stupidly, if you even call it flirting."

"Flirting?!" Tangledfoot whisper-yelled.

"Did I say flirting? I meant uh… fuck."

"She cannot flirt to save her life, let's be honest, I can just tell. Though, what I couldn't tell was that you were absolutely smitten by her." Tangledfoot practically bullying Whispertail with that last comment.

"Don't you tell a soul or I'll make sure you're down another leg." Whispertail whispered to him in a stern tone.

"Come on, just some playful banter." Tangledfoot chuckled.

"Not if you're on the receiving end. Oh, mother would hate me." Whispertail groaned.

"Doubt that, she'd love her or whatever." Tangledfoot said.

"The way to talk sometimes confuses me. Like are you some old cat or some young cat. Only Starclan knows." Whispertail chuckled out. Tangledfoot swiped at her shoulder but missed and stumbled over and landed face first in the pile of snow by his paws.

"And if we're gonna talk about crushes, then let me tell you. I. Know." Whispertail said in a low voice before chucking and covering Tangledfoot's face in snow.

He sat up abruptly. "No. No, you don't."

"Oh, but I do. Neither of you two are very slick about it either. Staring at one another constantly, and you're only bothering me because this cat I apparently don't know you're making googly eyes isn't here right now."

"Most of the clan isn't here, they're on patrol and they'll be back soon." Tangledfoot said. He now had his front paws covering his face as he tried to bury his face in the snow.

"C'mon, don't be embarrassed."

"Starclan is gonna hate me."

"Well, we'll be the same. You know, I'm only telling you this because you're also a medicine cat but… a little bird told me some if not most of the other medicine cats have, had, going to have, whatever you wanna say, been in similar positions. I guess seeing another cat even though medicine cat law forbids it, but times change and we can only hope this fucking law does. Easiest way to put it is we all practically see past this law because who gives a shit." Whispertail said, laying her right paw on Tangledfoot shoulder. "How many more times will I tell you that? That law shouldn't define us or whatever you do with this life Starclan gave you."

"A little overboard, don't you think?" Tangledfoot said, raising his head out of the snow and looking up at Whispertail with a shine in his eyes. Whispertail only giggled.

"What was that heavenly noise I just so happened to have heard." A voice came from Whispertail's left, causing her to turn her head to see the cat.

"Sunpatch, aren't you supposed to be babysitting or something?" Tangledfoot asked before Whispertail could process what Sunpatch had said not even a minute before.

"They're all asleep."

"It's cold, go lay next to them, keep them warm." Tangledfoot instructed, like he was the one in charge.

"Don't be so mean, you just said you missed her." Whispertail said, smiling a little bit, because of both Sunpatch and Tangledfoot denying saying such.

"I knew it! You can't go a whole day without me! I'm so influential!" Sunpatch smiled, brandishing all her teeth, her eyes closed. Whispertail could only state at this face she made, her eye following the curves and folds of her face while she smiled. The way some of her teeth were slightly crooked.

Sunpatch stopped smiling so widely, her eyes open once again and made eye contact with Whispertail. Her eyes were such a light and bright green, reflecting her bright nature, Whispertail noted. A contrast against Whispertail's dark green eyes. Whispertail couldn't help but find it extremely entrancing to stare at Sunpatch's eyes before her own grew watery from not blinking. They held eye contact for what felt like eternity before Tangledfoot coughed destroying the trance both of them seemed to have been in.

"The kits, they're probably cold. Go." Tangledfoot instructed. Sunpatch immediately hurried away, seemingly embarrassed as her stride was more limp than usual and she stumbled much more than she normally did, almost not making it to the nursery. "And I'm the one making googly eyes? Make it make sense."

"Hush." Whispertail said.

They sat in silence and watched as the sun set. The sun was mostly out of sight by then, the sky was blue and orange intermixed with one another, a beautiful sight. The shadows being casted by the towering trees didn't even reach their half of the camp.

Tangledfoot tried to break the silence. "So a Thunderclan cat-" He abruptly cut off as they both stared at a frantic Rubblesea. Then followed by Applefang carrying her apprentice by the scruff, possibly to not lose in the snow. A cat was noticeably missing.

"No, no, no, no no." Whispertail frantically told herself as she got up and followed Rubblesea as he looked for who she could only assume is Wolfslip. He found her before Whispertail got over to him. Tangledfoot shortly behind her and sidled up beside the frantic Rubblesea and laid his tail across his back hoping it to be comforting for the slightly older tom.

"Wolfslip… I… I'm sorry.." He breathed out, his voice shaking and so was his body. The fur around his eyes was visibly wet. He fidgeted with his front paws.

"Please…" Wolfslip started her voice breaking as Oakshade walked into the scene. His face hinting at him already placing the pieces together. He wrapped his tail around her body. "No. Please. She's gotta be out there. Please. Please."

Wolfslip continued to plead to who could only be Starclan. Her eyes welled up with tears. Her tail twitched with anger and sadness. Batpaw, having escaped from her aunt, ran up to her mother and father to which Wolfslip brought her close to her body and nuzzled her wet face into Batpaw.

"Mama, I'm sorry… I'm…" Batpaw's voice also broke as she nestled closer to her mother. Oakshade now pressed his face into his mate's shoulder to possibly hide his face.

Whispertail decided it was best if she left the grieving family alone, gesturing for Rubblesea and Tangledfoot to follow. Tangledfoot never left Rubblesea's side that night, constantly trying to comfort him, convince him it wasn't his fault.

Whispertail saw Sunpatch, poking her head out from the nursery, Sunpatch's face laced with confusion, concern, sadness. Whispertail could only give her a sad smile as her own tears coated the right side of her face. Sunpatch stood up, looking back at the kits before closing the distance between them and stood beside her.

"I was.. only hoping she'd be able to make it… I feel… I feel sad. Like a failure." Whispertail said, her voice quiet. She rested her head on Sunpatch's shoulder as she grew tired from crying silently to herself.

"Let's get you to sleep."

"Look who's helping out now. Bet it'd surprise everyone, especially Tangledfoot."

"I'm extremely helping." Sunpatch lightly protested. "And consider it payment for helping me with my wound."

"It's my job." Whispertail said, her body growing weaker as they neared the medicine den. It was normally warmer but it felt colder than outside in the snow.

Sunpatch laid Whispertail down on her bedding before getting up to head towards hers.

"Wait. Please… it's cold and I don't want to be alone and I have not a single idea as to when Tangledfoot is going to be back." Whispertail cursed herself for pleading for something so simple.

In the dim light Whispertail could see Sunpatch's face visibly soften before she limped back over and laid her head on Whispertail's shoulder and Whispertail doing the same with Sunpatch's. "If it'll help you sleep."

Whispertail couldn't ignore the very obvious butterflies in her stomach. Cursing at herself again for being so obvious. She hoped that Sunpatch only saw it as something friendly and not even remotely loving like how Whispertail's brain interpreted it.

"Thanks." was all Whispertail could conjure without spilling every emotion she's ever felt towards this she-cat. She heard Sunpatch hum in acknowledgement and even felt as her chest vibrated with the hum.

That night Whispertail slept warm and not so alone like as those days and nights prior.

Chapter Text

The air was cool. The sky was warm. It was perfect.

Laughter was heard as two kits ran around in the tall grass. Not a care in the world. They tumbled down the small hills and played under the shade of the trees.

They were unsupervised but they were safe.

They were happy.

They were family.

–

To say Sunpatch cried was understatement for how she felt. She couldn't help but cry for Batpaw, Wolfslip, Oakshade, and Alderpaw.

She knew what it was like to lose a sibling but she never thought about how it must feel to lose your kit.

To watch them grow and become their own cat just to be killed before they could live. To not even find the body. To only hear that they were dead.

Tears streamed down her face when she saw Batpaw the morning after she (attempted) and Rubblesea sat vigil through the night. The tired look in Batpaw's eyes. She was far less joyful today.

Rubblesea had only returned momentarily before leaving to go on a walk. Tangledfoot attempted to persuade him to let him join but his efforts were fruitless. He opted for sulking around the camp.

The camp was desolate, cats were either in their dens or off on patrol. No one dared to utter a word to break the silence as it hung across the entire camp.

Rubblesea didn't come back until the sun had nearly set, beelining for Cloudstar's den the moment he stepped through the entrance. After a few moments they both stepped out of the den, heading towards the entrance. Applefang, who was guarding the entrance, eyed them curiously.

Sunpatch wanted to follow them desperately but knew better since Whispertail had her eyes glued to her at all times.

The sun had long been set before they reappeared, harboring new company. Rubblesea was casted to the side the moment they entered. Three new cats sat in the center of the camp, the two kits eying everything curiously. Finally someone spoke.

"If we are to accept you your kits will harbor warrior names, not no kittypet or rogue names. They will learn the way of Shadowclan cats if you choose to stay." Cloudstar said, standing in front of them. "So what'll it be Cyber."

Sunpatch assumed Cyber was the name of the queen, her fur was blue with a long white stripe down her back. Her eyes even bluer as they eyed the Shadowclan leader.

"I accept, but who chooses their name? Me? Or one of you?" She asked, her eyes never leaving Cloudstar.

Cloudstar was silent for a moment, "Your choice."

"You, you must know the names best, I do not trust myself." Cyber concluded. Cloudstar eyed her, slightly bewildered at the fact she wants him to name her kits. "I haven't even given them names anyway, it makes my job easier." She mumbled the last part before looking at her two kits.

One was the spitting image of her except the kit's face was entirely white. The other kit only had her eyes, the fur was light orange with dark brown spots everywhere.

"Then I'll name them Mothkit and Beekit." Cloudstar said. "Do you know how old they are?"

"Not that old, probably no older than that one." Cyber said, pointing her tail towards Ivykit.

Cloudstar sat silent, eying the cats who gathered at the edges of the camp staring at these new cats. "Do you choose to keep your name?"

"Yes." She responded instantly.

Cloudstar huffed. "You know nothing of the warrior code so starting tomorrow I'll have someone instruct you until I feel that your knowledge is adequate. Go sleep, it's late and you must've walked a long distance." He said, his tail pointing towards the nursery.

Wolfslip had this incredulous look on her face. She muttered something to Oakshade who merely shook his head at her, denying what she said.

Everyone began to settle back down, not one cat mentioned anything about everything that happened.

The following days were uneventful, snow fell gently for those days, the clouds kept the sky covered, making everything dreary.

–

Another gathering was already upon them and this time around Cloudstar opted for a small amount of cats to drag along. Rabbitflame, Whispertail, Meadowheart, Adderbrook, and Spidershine. Afraid that having too many would make the other clans think he was planning on getting them all sick.

The small group set off for Fourtrees. No one dared utter a word, that's how it's been in Shadowclan for days, no one spoke, too afraid of how anyone or anything would react. As if each word spoken broke the wall that kept them safe.

When they arrived Windclan was already there, they all looked skinnier than normal, their faces hollow.

The first thing Whispertail noticed was that Leafstar was nowhere to be seen. She set off in a hurry towards Juniperwood who looked far more tired than normal.

"Leafstar? Where's she?" Whispertail whisper-yelled at him.

"She retired, she was far too frail to carry on."

"But she's so young?" Whispertail balked.

"She's always been like that, miracle she made it so far." Juniperwood supplied. "You also brought so few cats."

The last bit made Whispertail realize how few Windclan cats there were, Juniperwood, Deerstar (she assumed), Whiteripple, Sootfall, and Stormstep.

"Feared you would think we're trying to get all these cats sick." Whispertail attempted to humor him.

They were silent as Riverclan entered. Ripplestar looked slightly larger than before but her face was just as hollow as everyone else's. She brought more cats than the other two clans but it was still far less than normal. Thunderclan appeared shortly after. The medicine cats of those clans walked over to Juniperwood and Whispertail. Rainstalk and Sagewhisper said nothing.

The gathering was lacking so much. The energy and spirit of the cats there wasn't present at all, everyone was silent.

The most talking that got done was the overall congratulations towards Deerstar for his new role as leader of Windclan. Nothing else happened as the four clans departed.

Everything was silent when they returned to camp, the only noise that could be heard was the sound of snow hitting the ground softly.

–

A few days passed before something finally occurred, or at least something eventful.

Pinefur was giving birth. The days leading up showed no sign of birth being near but here she was. Most thought that the birth was sudden and were shocked when they heard her practically yowling in pain.

Tangledfoot took over the process since Whispertail was out of the camp helping Sunpatch do things normally. She mostly didn't wanna be there with Pinefur, still beyond pissed with her.

"Stop sulking Whispy." Sunpatch said, hopping around. "It's a beautiful day!"

"Whispy? Where'd that come from?" Whispertail chuckled, a smile plastered on her face. Sunpatch smiled at her, her eyes crinkled to the point where they were practically closed.

"I don't know, it's silly so why not use it." Sunpatch stated. She continued trekking towards a large tree.

She looked up the trunk, the branches were dense and obstructed her view of the sky.

"Should I try and climb it Whispy?" Sunpatch asked, still staring upwards.

"If you wanna break all your legs then yeah, go for it." Whispertail said, laughing slightly. Sunpatch looked back at her and smiled, baring her teeth ever so slightly.

Without another word Sunpatch attempted to claw her way up the tree. She had completely forgotten that it would be wet due to the melted snow on it and struggled to grasp onto the bark and slid down after only getting a few tail lengths up. She slid down the trunk pitifully and slumped at the base.

Whispertail couldn't help but laugh hysterically at the slump form of Sunpatch. Her eyes squeezed shut with laughter. Sunpatch looked at her, her eyes fond before she stood and attempted to knock the medicine cat over playfully. She ultimately failed and Whispertail did the same but was far more successful.

Sunpatch rolled around in the snow, when she stood up her entire pelt was covered in a thin layer of snow. A few snowflakes landed on her face. Whispertail stared at her, she studied each part of her face, the scars of her face to the bright green of her eyes.

Whispertail remembered that not long ago that there wasn't a shine in her eyes after her brother died. The shine was there now, there was life in Sunpatch's eyes and body and Whispertail only wanted to keep it burning, keep it shining.

She wanted to follow it and find out where it led, no matter the consequences, no matter the journey. She wanted to feel its warmth. She wanted to keep it and make it hers and hers alone.

The sound of a twig breaking behind her broke her out of this trance. She whipped her head around preparing to defend the Thunderclan cat but was only met by Icedust.

"Cloudstar sent me to find you." She started.

"Why?"

"To meet the new kits, I think." Icedust said timidly.

"Why?"

"I don't know, you know how little he tells us about anything. I'm in the dark as much as you." Icedust said, her voice was frantic. "Just go back to camp so he'll stop pestering me." Icedust left without another word.

Sunpatch eyed Whispertail who only motioned her head in the direction of camp and started in the direction. Sunpatch followed after, her limp far less noticeable.

–

Once back at the camp Whispertail ran into Cloudstar who instantly rushed her into the nursery where she saw Pinefur nursing 5 kits.

"Why'd you need me here?" Whispertail asked, facing Cloudstar who stood at the entryway of the nursery.

"So you can meet them."

"For what reason? They aren't mine."

"But if they get sick then you'll have to know them and their names." Cloudstar said.

"I'll learn their names when I need them." Whispertail stated before striding out of the nursery not sparing Cloudstar a look back.

She headed directly towards the new warrior, Cyber, who stood outside the nursery with a blank expression. "You never introduced yourself or your kits to me. I apparently need to know you to help you."

Cyber only eyed her slightly before staring back at the nursery.

"What's your fucking problem?" Whispertail growls lowly at the side of Cyber's face. "Why don't you fucking talk to any of us."

"Because I do not want to associate with crippled cats, especially ones like you." Cyber said, not even batting an eye.

Whispertail strode past her, making sure her tail hit the queen as she fully passed her on her way to the medicine den.

Tangledfoot was near the herbs conversing quietly with Suncreek. They both looked up at Whispertail as she entered the den. Suncreek motioned her over to which she complied.

"That new queen is strange. I've tried asking Rubblesea about her and all he does is deflect anything about her." Suncreek whispered to Whispertail. "He's being weird and Cyber creeps me out, not to mention the two kits, I haven't heard either of them speak."

"The only thing Rubblesea told me about them was that they knew something and then he shut his mouth immediately, before leaving me alone and confused. Maybe they're blackmailing him?" Tangledfoot added.

"What would they blackmail him on? What kind of dirt could you have on him?" Whispertail asked.

"Obviously we haven't found out anything regarding it all. Cyber definitely knows something that we don't and is being an outright stuck up bitch about it. Like, genuinely, what's the point? We're giving her a safe place to raise her kits and she's being mysterious and whatnot." Suncreek said, eying their surroundings carefully.

Tangledfoot nodded in agreement. "I tried asking about her kits but she completely blew me off. Literally the other day Beekit had a thorn in his paw and Cyber told him to walk it off which made it more difficult to get it out." Tangledfoot added. "She didn't care about what happened to him at all."

"She's rarely spending time with him. I only see her with her other kit, Mothkit." Suncreek said, adding onto the fact the Cyber seemed to only care for Mothkit.

Whispertail remembered when she went into the nursery to check on Pinefur she saw Beekit laying in a nest by himself while Cyber played with Mothkit, completely ignoring him as asked to join.

"So, you two are saying that Cyber is only here because she possibly has blackmail on Rubblesea and that she completely neglects one of her kits?"

"Yes, but all in all we concluded that Cyber isn't a good cat. There's something wrong with her." Suncreek said before her eyes got wide.

"Someone say my name?" A voice behind Whispertail said.

"Oh, yeah, we were talking about your kits and how much they've grown since you've first arrived." Tangledfoot said, pushing the other two aside.

"Both? Huh." Cyber muttered.

"Why don't you show Beekit the same attention as Mothkit?" Whispertail asked, hearing the small gasps of Tangledfoot and Suncreek.

"Are you seriously accusing me of favoritism or something?"

"Not accusing. Asking. So how about you answer?" Whispertail said with no hesitation.

"I'll have you know I don't-"

"Lies, speak the truth." Whispertail said, her voice flat.

"No."

"Then go and change your fucking demeanor. Doesn't suit you." Whispertail instructed. She could've sworn she saw Cyber smirk at her slightly before turning away and out of the medicine den.

Sunpatch entered right as Cyber was leaving. She eyed the queen as she left before looking over at the two medicine cats and Suncreek, a confused look on her face.

"Don't worry. Everything's fine." Suncreek comforted the Thunderclan cat before leaving the den as well.

"Is she right?"

"Should be." Tangledfoot said, shrugging. He turned to Whispertail and whispered to her. "I'm gonna go talk to Rubblesea, I'll tell you if he spills anything."

Now it was just Whispertail and Sunpatch in the medicine den. Sunpatch could feel the heat of Whispertail's gaze on her back as she curled up, seemingly tired from failing to climb a tree earlier.

"You can sleep in a warmer nest." Sunpatch shot her head up at Whispertail speaking to her. "You can get first dibs, the other sicklings aren't in here, first come first serve. Plus, you're shivering."

"Won't that make them hate me?"

"If they decide to hate you simply over a nest then they can fucking suck it up because that's stupid." Whispertail smiled. Sunpatch matched that smile before heading to one of the warmer nests near the thicker walls of the den.

Later, the two sick cats, Suncreek and Otterstreak walked into the den, side by side.. Both of them only having Whitecough but overall were fine but were being kept away from the majority for safety. Tangledfoot showed back up much later, his eyes were sad, at least sadder than normal. Whispertail didn't press for any information and instead she let him go to sleep.

Whispertail couldn't sleep at all the night, she stayed up watching the snow fall and coat the ground. Every now and then she could swear she saw bright blue eyes staring at her when she peered out of the den but brushed it off as nerves.

There's no way someone was watching her in the dead of night.

There's no way Cyber was watching her every move every minute of every day.

She felt like she was going insane.

Chapter Text

“Skysong! Skysong! Skysong!” The clan chanted around the newly named warrior, he held his head high. Staring at Cloudstar with an unwavering look.

Skysong bowed his head, a smile playing on his face. Lifting his head back up he looked around at his clanmates. His smile only grew and showed more teeth each passing second.

His gaze landed his former apprentice companions with a sad look in his eyes. Stagpaw only grinned back at him, her eyes barely visible with her wide grin that was all teeth. Jaggedpaw had a small smile with a slight crinkle to her eyes. Webpaw held a stern face before she locked eyes with Skysong and broke into a wider grin than even Stagpaw.

Through all the cheering and congratulations no actual conversations could be heard into the night. Even when the excitement died down the night was loud and no cat could sleep.

—

“Skysong! Skysong!” Troutglow shook the limp tom's body with his paws. “Come on! Wake up! Wake up!”

Skysong's body convulsed for a second before he made choking noises as blood began to spill from his mouth.

Whispertail rushed in, Suncreek right behind her, with Tangledfoot at the rear. Whispertail immediately took to inspect the white tom's neck finding a deep slash. She put as much as pressure as she could with her paws without causing him to choke more. Tangledfoot was at her side and helped prevent the blood from leaving by using the moss and cobwebs he brought with him.

Eventually they were to stabilize Skysong and move him to the medicine den, even though he was still coughing up blood but it was far less severe. Tangledfoot laid next to Skysong for some time to make sure that he wasn't going to bleed out at any given moment.

Quietkit, Pinefur's youngest, walked into the medicine den. She laid herself flat against the ground not far from where Skysong laid. Whispertail eyed her curiously from across the den where she was checking on Sunpatch's leg, which she barely limped on anymore.

“You can interrogate him when he's healthier,” Whispertail told Quietkit while focusing on Sunpatch.

“But he was healthy the other day. Momma says he did something bad,” Quietkit responded. She then looked up and over at Whispertail, “Did he?”

“I'm not sure.”

Quietkit didn't respond, she only stared at the white tom, her eyes searching for answers that had to have been hidden within him.

“Let him rest, we already have enough eyes on him as is. You should rest as well, it's late,” Tangledfoot said to Quietkit after a moment of her staring.

“But five eyes is better than three,” Quietkit said, her head tilted to the left in confusion. Tangledfoot snorted while Whispertail glared at him.

“Pinefur is going to wonder where you are,” Whispertail said before she stood up and ushered the kit out of the den.

“Momma has four more,” Quietkit protested, trying to scrape her way back into the den.

“Go,” Whispertail demanded, her voice soft yet stern. Quietkit hung her head low and she slowly backed out of the den.

Whispertail turned back to the warmth of the den, Tangledfoot had sat up and was eying her expectantly. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off.

“We know what happened. There's no denying, this irrefutable evidence proves it difficult to deny,” Whispertail said, staring at Skysong's body had his chest rose and fell.

“Then, is it best to keep him asleep? What if they reach him again, he could die,” Tangledfoot responded.

Whispertail considered him for a moment before looking back down at Skysong, “I don't know.”

“What do you mean you don't know?” Tangledfoot asked, his voice full of fear and worry.

Whispertail was silent for a moment longer. She exhaled a deep breath, “Starclan didn't teach me anything on this.”

“What about Foxstrike?”

"She's gone and was gone before she could teach me anything excruciatingly important,” Whispertail told him, her voice wavering at each word, her face seemed to be quivering as though she might be fighting back tears.

Tangledfoot stared ahead, his pupils narrowed before he exhaled, closing his eyes. “You're becoming more emotional and it's concerning. Something is wrong, you're barely yourself.”

Whispertail didn't look him in the eye, she turned away from him and Skysong. She flicked her tail, “call for me when he wakes up,” Whispertail then disappeared to the outer part of the medicine den.

—

“He woke up in a craze,” Tangledfoot explained to Whispertail as he walked her back to where Skysong now crouched.

“Skysong,” Whispertail said, her voice took upon a caring tone as she spoke to him, “You're safe here.”

Skysong's eyes were wide and his pupils were thinned against his green eyes. Tangledfoot tried to place a paw over Skysong's back to comfort but Skysong bristled at his closeness.

Tangledfoot looked up and locked an eye with Whispertail's. Whispertail frowned and her eye began searching the den.

“How long?”

Skysong mumbled something incoherent as a response.

“How long?” Whispertail repeated, her voice rising.

Skysong mumbled an answer again.

“Speak up.”

Skysong flinched at the growl. He opened his mouth a little before closing it again and looking away from Whispertail. “I- I don't know.”

“Yes, you do! You know!”

“I don't!”

Whispertail took a step closer to Skysong causing him to take three steps back. She lowered her head to be one his level. “Either tell us or all these cats will hate you.”

“Hate me for what? I didn't do anything, it was all against my will. They tried to kill me!” Skysong said, exasperated, tears welling in his eyes. “He tried to kill me! He told me to kill her or he'd kill me! Please! I didn't- I didn't have a choice.”

“Who tried to kill you?” Whispertail asked, staring at him as he had this wild look in his eyes.

“I-” Skysong stopped speaking and tried to breathe. “I don't know, he never told me his name, he was always just a shadow of a cat. He told me to kill her, I couldn't kill her!”

“Kill who? Who did he want you to kill?” Tangledfoot asked, standing just behind Whispertail.

“I don't know!”

“What do you mean you don't know?” Whispertail asked, bewildered.

Skysong looked up, his eyes glossed over. “All he said was she wasn't from here. He said if I didn't kill her he'd come back and kill her himself.”

Whispertail looked back at Tangledfoot who only stared ahead. “Do you think-” Tangledfoot started but Whispertail cut him off with rapid nodding.

“She needs to go, she's overstayed her welcome.” A voice that wasn't his own came from Skysong. Whispertail stepped back and eyed the young cat. The voice spoke no more and Skysong collapsed.

“Help him,” Whispertail instructed Tangledfoot. He immediately obeyed and took his place next to the slumped cat as he tried to hoist him up and walk him to a nest.

As he passed by Whispertail, Tanglefoot spoke, “She'll have to leave, for everyone's safety, especially his.” Tangledfoot's voice was solemn. He left Whispertail by herself.

She looked up, staring at nothing and closed her eyes.

“A few more nights, please. That's all I ask Starclan.”

She breathed out slowly and opened her eyes.

“You've already taken enough away from me.”

Chapter Text

Whispertail sat near the storage in the medicine den, her tail wrapped around her paws. She peered at the herbs in store with an empty look in her eyes.

“Hello?” Cyber popped her head into the den, her eyes immediately locking onto Whispertail. Whispertail grunted in a response. “I was sent here by-”

“Cyber! Hey!” Tangledfoot interjected. For the past quarter moon Tangledfoot has been keen on getting to know Cyber.

“Oh, hey,” She responded with a small smile. “Ad I was saying, I was sent here by Cloudstar to take Sunpatch out into the woods.”

“Why you? You're new,” Whispertail asked with a tilt of her head, her pupil narrowed.

“He said something about how we can learn from each other or some shit like that. So, can I?” Cyber explained, her head tilting similarly.

Whispertail's eye surveyed the den before staring into Cyber's eyes. “No.”

Cyber's face slacked in a pissed off way. Tangledfoot stepped up beside Whispertail. “Just let her, as a sign of trust,” He whispered to her.

Whispertail huffed and turned away from the two of them and plopped onto the ground. Tangledfoot smiled at Cyber, “I think that's a yes, I'm great at convincing.”

Cyber smiled in response before heading out of the den and towards Sunpatch near the nursery.

Whispertail turned her head to look at Tangledfoot, a scowl on her face, “This is a bad idea.”

Tangledfoot shook his head and chuckled a little bit, “They aren't gonna kill each other, so is it really that bad?”

“How are you so sure?”

“I just am.”

Tangledfoot then whispered to himself, “Maybe she'll help fix our problem.”

—
Sunpatch and Cyber were silent until they reached the edge of the thunderpath, where Thunderclan territory lay right on the other side.

“Why did he tell you to take me on a walk?”

“He didn't,” Cyber said.

“Then what did he tell?” Sunpatch inquired.

“Nothing. I lied,” Cyber stated. Sunpatch turned and looked at her with an incredulous look.

“What,” Sunpatch said, her mouth gaping slightly and her eyes were wide.

“I said I lied.”

“I heard that,” Sunpatch growled, “but why?”

“You need to leave,” Cyber stated, her face calm.

“Who are you to decide what I need to do? You're just some kittypet with a savior complex,” Sunpatch hissed, her tail twitching with swift flicks.

Cyber only smiled.

“Answer me, you fucker,” Sunpatch berated her but Cyber only stayed calm and get her face level with an unwavering expression, Cyber sat on the grass calmly and continued to smile at the riled up cat in front of her.

“I don't know who you think you are but you can't just show up some random day and expect to run the place,” Sunpatch stated, her pupils narrowed exposing more green.

“I don't know who you think you are, because I know you aren't a Shadowclan cat so how bout you run away and back to your clan. Run back crying to your mommy cause all you'll ever be is a mistake,” Cyber said, her voice steady with the smile still on her face.

“Shut up! You're just a dumb kittypet,” Sunpatch said, her voice breaking as she backs up slowly. Not getting far as Cyber then has her cornered against a tree.

“I can replace you. I can be better than you ever were. I didn't get my brother killed, I didn't betray my family, my blood. I can Whispertail the one thing you can't seem to commit to, a relationship. I will be better than you ever were and ever will be. Leave.” Cyber's face darkened at the last word, she bared her teeth and unsheathed her claws.

Cyber stepped closer until her claws tore down the fronts of Sunpatch's legs, leaving deep crevices in her legs. Sunpatch attempted to counter it but resulted in here stumbling and spreading her own blood against the grass and the trunk.

Sumpatch found her footing and reached up the claw at Cyber's face but only nicked the end of her muzzle. Cyber's face contorted into disgust and then swiped her left claws into the side of Sunpatch's face and pressed them deep into the flesh before tearing them down and across her jaw.

“Leave. Run away because that's all you'll ever be good at.” Cyber growled and then dove into Sunpatch's with her teeth into her left shoulder until she felt blood gush into her mouth.

Sunpatch tried to pry off Cyber and dislodge her shoulder from her teeth but it resulted in some flesh of her shoulder getting torn out. Sunpatch clawed at her ear and ripped off most of it, leaving it a bloody mess.

“Run away!” Cyber roared and reared back on her hind legs to propel herself into Sunpatch, slamming Sunpatch into the trunk.

Sunpatch looked up at Cyber, her eyes stung with tears and blood. She pulled herself up and tried to run across the thunderpath and into Thunderclan territory but she struggled so much as to move at a constant pace without limping and stumbling.

Cyber watched from the shadows of the trees as the she-cat hobbled across the thunderpath and how she created a trail of blood as she went. She stayed there even after Sunpatch disappeared from her view, she often left after sleet began to fall, helping to wash away some of the blood.

The sun was setting, making the already dark sky become even darker.

“They wanted you gone anyway,” Cyber smiled wickedly as she licked blood from her teeth.

—

“You killed her!”

“I didn't, I swear! She just ran away!” Cyber defended herself. “She attacked me before running away! Though not successfully.”

Cyber stood at the entrance of the nursery, her fur drenched from the melting ice that clings to her fur. There were several cats that stood around her bombarding her with insults and questions alike.

“Listen!” Cyber shouted, “We were talking and then suddenly she says something about commitment and then she attacks me. Her injury definitely messed up her coordination and she scratched me across my nose, runs away towards…” Cyber paused for a moment, in thought, “Thunderclan territory is across the thunderpath, right?”

“She ran back to Thunderclan?”

“What if she tells them? Oh Starclan!”

An uneasy feeling fell upon the crowd around Cyber as they talked to no one with their wails. Finally a Hush fell over the crowd as Whispertail stomped to stand in front of Cyber. Her eyes unmoving as she shrunk the distance between them.

“She wouldn't dare,” Whispertail stated, as if it was fact.

“To which? The tattling like some bratty kit? Running away from here, from you?” Cyber sneered.

“She wouldn't,” Whispertail said.

“Believe what you want but she puts blood before bond. She didn't give a shit about your relationship or whatever you wanna call it,” Cyber said as she held her head high. “Just accept that she used you in some way, exploited your feelings and kindness.”

“She- she wouldn't,” Whispertail hung her head. “You're a liar!”

“You need to believe me! I'm telling you the truth! I swear! I-” Cyber was cut off by a sob rising from her throat. “Please! Just believe me, believe that she's just a traitor! I defended your honor, your name! I defended you.” She finished with a body shaking sob.

Whispertail opened her mouth to speak but shut it with a sigh.

“Please,” Cyber pleaded, looking at Whispertail through teary eyes.

“It's late… everyone, leave. Now,” Whispertail said, her voice felt empty, it lacked any emotion.

Cyber sat there while the other cats scrambled to get away as the sleet because of the increase in amount.

Beekit stumbled out of the den, his sister as his tail. “Hello mama!” Beekit exclaimed, baring his tiny teeth in a smile.

“Hello my dear,” Cyber replied fondly. “The other day some of these cats accused me of favoring your sister. You know that's not true, right?”

“Of course mama!” Beekit said, jumping up and down as the frozen ground crunched beneath his paws. Cyber bent her head down to lightly lick the top of Beekit's head before standing up.

She wrapped her tail around Mothkit to direct her back into the den, Beekit followed right behind, still bouncing with energy. She led them both to their nest in the far right corner. She laid down and curled around them.

—

Cyber stalked into the medicine den, a determined look on her face. She found the one eyed medicine cat looking over the newest warrior.

The medicine cat saw her as she entered the den and eyed her suspiciously. Cyber headed straight for the cat and stood only a whisker length away from her as she looked up from Skysong.

“Why'd you get so pissed at me? You wanted her gone. You should be thanking me,” Cyber said, locking eyes with the medicine cat.

Whispertail stood up, her tail motioning for Tangledfoot to take her place and walked a little ways over. Cyber didn't follow but her eyes did.

“What you did was wrong.”

“How? I protected your territory from a Thunderclan cat who wasn't wanted.”

Cyber's expression was strictly bewilderment. Whispertail sighed deeply.

“You tried to kill her.”

“She tried to kill me. You can't keep protecting cats who don't matter. You're blinded by whatever the hell it is you're going through,” Cyber stopped talking to catch her breath. “You need to be able to see clearly, cats have been talking and it doesn't take a genius to figure this shit out.”

Whispertail stared at her. “What the fuck do you know?”

“Enough to know that this isn't who you actually are. Even Tangledfoot can tell. You've been losing it,” Cyber said, baring her teeth as her voice rose.

Whispertail looked over at Tangledfoot, who looked away sheepishly. “Is it true? Tangledfoot, is it true?” Tangledfoot looked back sadly before diverting his full attention onto Skysong. Whispertail looked back at Cyber who only stared on.

“Thank me. I'll help fix you.”

“You don't even know me.”

Cyber smiled in response. “You're right, I don't. Though as much as I'd love to argue some more, I have more pressing matters.”

Whispertail's ears perked up in response.

“My daughter, she's been unresponsive since birth, verbally,” Cyber said.

“Why didn't you tell me this when you first showed up? We could've been helping her this entire time and now she'll be an apprentice in no time and we have no idea what's wrong with her?” Whispertail was shocked.

Cyber shrugged, “I thought medicine cats were supposed to be all-knowing but you're obviously not yourself so I'm not sure what to expect anymore.” Cyber looked over at Whispertail who sighed.

“Bring her here and I'll examine her.” Whispertail said, her voice sounding defeated. Cyber grinned in response before leaving the den.

“She barely knows you and yet read you so clearly.” Skysong said, his voice weak.

“Whispertail, I know you hate her but you've got to admit she's right. You've been different and it hasn't been good. Trust her, just this once.” Tangledfoot pleaded.

Whispertail looked at him, her face stern, “I've trusted her once before and we lost a cat-”

“She wasn't even our cat to lose.”

“But still-” Tangledfoot cut her off again.

“Just this once. Trust her.” His voice was dark and stern.

Whispertail sighed, her eyes looking sad.

“That's all I'm asking.”

Chapter Text

Whispertail sat on the edge of a cliff. Colorful flowers were littered around the cliffside, the outlines were fuzzy, making abstract shapes as they swayed in the wind. Down below there was an ocean, the water glittered as the moon and stars shined down. The water crashed against the cliffside, covering Whispertail in a mist that didn’t bother. She tilted her head up towards the moon and closed her eye.

“Why are you here?” Whispertail heard a voice to her left say. She opened her eye, looking towards the voice. A kit sat there, gray with a white face and black paws. The kit’s outline was fuzzy and emitted small amounts of what looked like stardust. “You’re not meant to be here.”

Whispertail didn’t respond, she only stared at the kit with her eye, she lowered her head slowly. She didn’t take her eye off of the kit.

“Who do you miss?” The kit asked, turning their head to stare at Whispertail. Whispertail’s eye widened only slightly at the question before sighing and began to eye the water below her. “People only visit me when they miss something. Why are you here?”

“Why are you here?” Whispertail snapped, her eye still trained on the water.

“I cannot be forgotten if I am not remembered. I cannot be missed if no one knows of me. This is where I reside, on this cliff. I am trapped until someone requires my help. I know you need what I can provide.”

Whispertail spoke, her voice was small, “I am here because I miss someone.”

“I know that much.” Whispertail shot the kit a look before continuing. “I know who it is as well.”

Whispertail’s glare stuttered as she took in the new information. “Then why are you asking me all these questions? You already know it all apparently.” Her voice betrayed her agitation. Her normally slicked back fur seemed to bristle as she spoke.

“You have to admit if I’m to help. I can’t do anything if you can’t admit it.”

Whispertail grunted, looking away. “I miss my mother-”

“Wrong.”

Whispertail whipped her head around, “What do you mean I’m wrong?”

“That is not who is plaguing your mind.”

Whispertail flicked her tail, squinting her eye. “I have no idea what you are talking about.” She turned her head away.

The kit seemed to anger slightly as their tail flicked around rapidly, “Everyone in your clan knows who. So stop lying and admit it.”

“Nobody knows anything.”

“Stop stalling and say that it's that Thunderclan cat.”

Whispertail turned to stare the kit down, her whiskers twitched, jaw ticked. She exhaled a deep breath, turning her towards the water below, trying her best to ignore the kit beside her.

“This isn’t my first run with you.” Whispertail’s ears twitched in curiosity. The kit continued, “The stars gave you another chance, giving me another chance. Rebirth is not something that you should use to mope and wait. I am tired of waiting. Say it.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say!”

“Yes you do! Just say that you miss Sunpatch!” Hearing her name seemed to suck all the oxygen out of Whispertail’s lungs. Her vision seemed to go fuzzy around the edge. She began to breathe again, at a fast pace, nearly hyperventilating. “I am your guide. Please let me help you.”

“What do you get out of helping me?” Whispertail asked.

“Freedom.”

Whispertail finally looked at the kit in totality. The pupils of their eyes took the shape of a star and were purely white surrounded by a color darker than shadows.

“This seems like freedom, no one holding you back, and the breeze. It’s wonderful here.”

“It is blurry and hell.”

‘How are you going to help me?” Whispertail inquired, still entirely unsure.

“I’m not sure, the last times never got this far.” The kit said.

Times? Whispertail only stared for a moment, processing the kit’s words. “How many?”

“I lost count but every time you denied my help and I was left to watch you two dance around each other.” Whispertail flicked her tail, hoping the kit would continue the story. The kit tilted their head before seeming to understand. “The two of you existed before the clans did. She was a cat by the name of Storm Crasher, Storm Crasher was wild and brash, everything that you, Falcon’s Song, were not. Even their fur was as different as it gets, one bright and orange as if the sun had gifted the color, the other was dull and blue, almost like the moon. Storm Crasher had a large family, but he never fit in within them, getting along with them was easy for him, but he never seemed to be like them. Falcon’s Song was alone, losing everyone in his life, leaving him with nothing more than a name and fading memories. He ventured for moons in silence, seeing sights one could only dream of seeing. Storm Crasher lived a normal life, grew up with constant noise, yet he never minded. His family combined with others, creating something akin to a clan, more of a collective though. Falcon’s Song stumbled upon this group of cats who welcomed him with bright smiles, never a hint of aggression. He met this cat who moved fast but talked faster. He instantly craved the noise he was always lacking, and proposed that this cat who knew only noise and warmth follow him into a life of what only promised silence and coldness.”

Whispertail had shifted to a more comfortable position to listen to the kit’s story, laying her head upon her paws. Stretching her limbs out underneath herself.

The kit continued after watching Whispertail move.. “Storm Crasher accepted because he wanted to know more than his family, but wanted to know even more about this quiet cat. As Falcon’s Song ventured, he was no longer surrounded by silence, there was always a voice talking to him, even if he sometimes never responded. The warmth in Storm Crasher’s voice never dwindled and every time Falcon’s Song bathed in it, as if this noisy cat was the sun itself. Storm Crasher fell in love with Falcon’s Song, but always harbored the feelings. Bottled them up for moons as they traveled together. Only when it was too late did one confess. Cliffs are slippery when it rains and Storm Crasher slipped during a nasty storm, trying to bring himself up as he slid down the cliff before losing his grip entirely. He was impaled by a stone spike. Falcon’s Song had screamed as he watched him fall, in those final moments was the time that Storm Crasher had heard that much raw emotion from his partner. In a sickening way it made his flutter. After the storm passed, Falcon’s Song found a way down the cliffside and found where Storm Crasher had died. The spike was the same color as Falcon’s Song fur, he felt responsible for the death of Storm Crasher, his entire existence led to his death, if only he stayed, if only he wasn’t so entranced. Falcon’s Song laid beside his still body, looking into his lifeless eyes and confessed. Saying how much he loved him and how he wishes he could hear. He finally swore that his soul would find its way back to his so they could finally be together. His words that day had permanently intertwined your souls together till the promise was fulfilled. Every rebirth since then ended with Storm Crasher’s blood on Falcon’s Song’s paws.”

“Neither has rested in generations?” Whispertail asked.

“Look down.”

Whispertail stood up and looked over the edge of the cliff. Focusing on the land meeting the water, she could see the faintest silhouettes of two cats below. Neither were impaled or weeping. They were sitting side by side at the edge of a mountainside cave. She looked back up at the kit, a quizzical look on her face.

“They are stuck here too. You cannot speak to them.”

“But its wonderful here, they can stay here and live with each other till they fade.”

“What about them exploring and adventuring for moons together makes you think they want to be trapped here like me? Accept my help and I can guide you and we can free them.”

“Why isn’t Falcon’s Song my guide? If he’s basically me, he should guide me.” The kit frowned in response.

“He is your guide, in a way, but he isn’t as cool as me!” The kit seemed to adopt a different demeanor now, one that is more kit-like. “Accept it and say it.”

“I miss Sunpatch.” Whispertail said as she stood up. Immediately the ground beneath her fell through, the kit in front of her dissipated, everything continued to fall into the void, including herself.

—-

Whispertail startled as she woke up, her breathing was quick and uneven. Prying her eye open she saw star shaped pupils, she recoiled immensely, she hit her back against a dirt packed wall. She shook her head, eye closed, as she straightened herself out and stood up. She tried to reason that she was hallucinating until she heard an unfamiliar voice that made her stomach drop.

“Opossumkit!” The voice hissed.

“Sorry!” The voice of the kit from her dream replied.

She opened her eye, startled. Seeing the origin of the voices added no comfort. There the kit stood, next to a cat who was a dull blue, nearly gray, patches of near white fur scattered around his body. He had a slicked back coat and deep green eyes that rivaled the color of grass during Newleaf. He smiled a sorry smile. Whispertail only frowned at the two infront of her. They were in a silent stand-off until the kit spoke up.

“This is the Falcon’s Song I told you about.” He seemed excited about Whispertail seeing literal ghosts, they even had that ghostly stardust outline.

“I can see and talk to ghosts, half the clan already thinks I’m going crazy and now this.” Whispertail grumbled, not even caring if the two infront of her heard the words she was saying.

“We’re not ghosts! We’re your guides.” The kit said. Whispertail only eyed him before ignoring the two of them as Tangledfoot stuck his head in, always with the worst timing.

He smiled upon seeing her, yet it seemed sad, “You’ve been asleep nearly all day. Are you okay? You’ve been seeming almost depressed.” Whispertail saw the look that the kit shot her.

“I’m fine. Probably haven’t been sleeping enough these past nights. Too busy making sure no one gets sick.” She said as she snaked past Tangledfoot in the entryway. He frowned in her direction but she ignored it.

“Are you sure because I think you’re still hung up over–”

“No,” She said too quick, immediately regretting how quickly she spoke with how the look on Tangledfoot’s face changed to a sympathetic one.

“Okay.” He said cautiously, toeing the line, seeing how far he could go before she blew up on him. “Listen it's fine to miss her, we all do.”

“It's not the same!” She nearly yelled it, frowning at her own words. “I’ve been having dreams, more like messages. They’re just stressing me out. That’s all it is, okay?” She walked away before he could respond. She tried to figure out her facial expression, putting the mask of calmness on before wandering around camp. She faintly heard the steps of cats in the snow behind her, knowing they weren’t Tangledfoot’s.

She was about to turn around to talk to the ghosts but was abruptly stopped by Otterstreak, her expression was seemingly empty. “My kits are soon to be warriors.” Whispertail nodded, following along. “And Skysong…” She stuttered, her face betraying her fear.

“He is a special case, your kits are going to be fine.”

“Special case, as in insane? Did he try to kill himself? Is that it?” Otterstreak rambled.

“What? No. Something happened to him, it isn’t going to happen to your kits, I promise.” Whispertail assured the frantic mother.

“You can’t just promise things out of your paws.” The unfamiliar voice said from behind her. “Especially about the dark forest.” Whispertail’s face shuttered for a moment, but Otterstreak saw her face change for just a moment and her worry immediately returned.

“What’s wrong? Are they not safe?”

“Nothing is wrong, everything will be fine. I just breathed wrong.” She lied through her teeth, trying to ignore her immediate guilt. She left Otterstreak who headed over to the apprentices den, supposedly to fuss over her kits.

Whispertail left the camp, trudging through the snow, making sure she was far from camp and any patrols this time of day, before turning herself to face the blue cat.

“What do you mean dark forest?” She immediately questioned the ancient cat.

“Waking up with wounds like that is obviously something of the dark forest.” Whispertail huffed in response.

“Do you know who?”

“I know very little.” Whispertail huffed again, this one was more exasperated.

“What help are you?”

“I’m your guide. There is a line of cats that precede you. All our experiences and lives will guide you.”

Whispertail whipped her head to the kit. Opossumkit had the guts to look sheepish. “You!”

“What did you tell her?” Falcon’s Song questioned the kit.

“I may have lied, a little.” Opossumkit said. “I’m desperate. I’m sick of the cliff and I’m sick of sorry souls pining for generations.”

Whispertail felt like she was missing something. “Are you not here to help me?”

“No, no, no, we are. We’re your guides, honestly, we just seek freedom.”

“From?”

“The cliff, every cat before you has died at this cliff, I think he missed this part. Ultimately, they're all trapped.” Falcon’s Song said, sitting down on the cold snow.

“So I can just avoid the cliff.”

“No!” Both ghost cats yelled in unison.

“Our souls won’t rest until my promise is fulfilled. You’ll always end at the cliff, doesn’t matter, she’ll die at this cliff.”

Whispertail pondered for a moment. “So me loving Sunpatch is solely for your freedom?”

“Yours too, your soul is a chain of ours, we exist together, in a way.” Whispertail frowned again.

“I don’t get it, I’m basically living your life again.”

“No, it’s your life. We’re just trapped.”

“Because of your own promise, you brought this upon me because you were too much of a wuss.” Whispertail bristled. Falcon’s Song only let his head fall, he seemed to fade till only the kit stood in front of her.

“You’ll come around, it’s tricky to understand, but I think you’ll do fine.” The kit had the audacity to smile, all teeth. Whispertail only bristled more.

She turned away from the kit, who scampered after her. She was sick of the cold and sick of the silence, even more sick of ghost cats.

Chapter Text

Opossumkit sat up, bleary eyed and quietly mewling. He looked up into the eyes of his mother, a dopey smile on his face.

They had been staying under the cover of the cliff above them. The air around them was thick and smelled of salt.

“Mama!” He purred happily, but her face was full of sorrow.

Opossumkit stood up and walked over to where his mother sat, unmoving. Her eyes didn't follow his movement, they stayed staring at where he once was. Looking over his shoulder he saw it. He saw his own body, laying still as the water creeped up on his still paws. He looked back at his mother, who had started to cry, a sob wracked through her body. He started to cry as well.

“I'm sorry Mama. I'm sorry I was strong enough.” He said to his mother. Her brown eyes seemed to be growing redder as she cried.

Her gray and black fur was now damp with tears, the mask of black on her face shined as the light reflected off the tears that rolled down her face.

He was her only kit. She was the only cat that he knew. Now he only felt like the only disappointment in her life.

Eventually his mother dug a small hole in the ground below her, still too large for Opossumkit's body. When she laid his body there, she made sure that his body looked peaceful, curled up around himself as if he was only taking a nice nap. He stared as she tried to close his lifeless brown eyes that were a mirror of his mother's. She covered the makeshift grave and had to use all her willpower to leave.

As she went up the slope to the top of the cliff, Opossumkit followed behind her. Where her large paws made noises as the dead leaves beneath got crushed and crunched, his steps were silent.

He followed her everywhere, making sure to watch over his grieving mother. He watched as the seasons changed. As snow began to fall Opossumkit was excited to feel snow and taste it. Remembering how his mother said that when snow fell she felt safe. Saying how it's cold but with enough of it piled, it was like a blanket of warmth. She told him how it reminded her of her home on a cold mountaintop. He always wondered why she left.

When he awoke from his faux slumber a thin layer of snow coated the ground, slowly leaking in the burrow that his mother resided in. He lept up like a bundle of energy.

“Mama! Mama! It snowed!” He said to her, knowing she couldn't hear him but he didn't mind it anymore. He ran out of the burrow into the snow, excited to feel the cold against his fur. His smile faltered as his paws touched the snow but he felt nothing. It wasn't cold, it wasn't soft, it was empty. Just like how the sun felt on his back, it wasn't warm, it wasn't comforting, it felt empty.

He scowled at the ground, mostly in frustration at himself for thinking that he'd be able to experience snow like every other cat. He looked back just in time to see his mother emerge from the burrow, her face was the brightest he'd ever seen since he died. She had a soft smile on her face. Even though the snow felt empty, his mother's joy was anything but. He couldn't help but smile at his mother's joy.

He watched as she began to act like kit, all joyful and energetic. She rolled around in the snow until it cringed to the ends of her fur. Opossumkit did the same, albeit without the snow clinging to him, he rolled around and laughed when his mother laughed. He felt like her kit again. In that moment he was perfectly content with watching over his mother.

While he wished that his mother would stay safe, he knew he could prevent everything she did. He watched as she changed over the moons he followed her. He watched as she became more and more aggressive. She began to lash out at any passing cats. She constantly got into fights.

He barely recognized his mother, the cat who was once covered in perfect fur but full of sadness was now covered in fur that stuck out in odd ways, scars littering her body from her face to her tail. Opossumkit can't even remember her getting some of them.

One night when his mother was asleep, he stayed awake and just watched. He heard rustling from outside of the hole in a tree where they stayed that night. He peered outside the tree and saw beady yellow eyes staring through him.

He ran over to his mother and began to try to nudge her awake, “Mama! Mama! Please wake up! There's a monster outside!” The monster peeked its narrow orange head through the hole and snapped at the kit and his mother. His mother woke almost instantly. the monster began to crawl into the hole. It wasn't much bigger than his mother but it looked more feral and leaner.

He could watch and cry and his mother and the monster fought. He watched as his mother sank her teeth and claws in the flesh of the monster. He screamed out when the monster had grabbed his mother in its jaw and threw her out of the tree. He found himself at her side as her breathing began uneven. Her once gray and black coat was now splattered with blood. Even in this weak state his mother was determined. She tried to haul herself up but failed as her legs gave out beneath her.

For the first time ever, Opossumkit saw his mother give up. She just laid there as the monster growled and barked at her, baring its blood stained teeth. She didn't move, she only glared at the monster. She hissed once before the monster took her throat in its mouth and ripped it to shreds.

“Mama!” Opossumkit yelled out, but it was always too late. There wasn't a thing he could've done. He sobbed into her limp body after the monster had done its worst.

“Darling.” He heard a voice above him say, the voice was soft and full of sugar. He looked up and saw his mother looking at him for the first time in moons. Her eyes were soft, even if her exterior looked rough and hard, he knew those eyes.

“Mama!” He ran and curled himself around her front paws, weaving between them. His mother curled herself around him, she ran her tongue across his fur as the sun began to rise.

“You're so strong my darling.” She said, a warm smile on her face. He purred happily at his mother, closing his eyes contently. He breathing evened out until he fell into a slumber.

–

When he awoke his mother was nowhere to be seen. He stood up and walked around. He saw his mother's mutilated body, if he could vomit, he would've. Her blood had dried since the night. It stained her fur and the grass around her. He saw as her organs were splayed all around the outside of her body. Even with body in such a horrific condition, her face was serene, it wasn't stuck in a state of horror like he would've expected.

He wandered around with no destination in mind. It began to storm but he paid no mind. Even the strong gusts of wind went through him. He eventually reached the cliff where he was born and where he died. The ground was slick, it had become a mud. He wandered to the edge of the cliff and sat at the end, staring out into the water below. The water was an inky black as the dark gray clouds covered the sky with no end in sight. He sat there for a while, the storm had only gotten worse so he stumbled down the cliff to a little hidden cave. Before he entered the cave he heard a screech.

He turned around just in time to see an orange cat fall onto the jagged rocks below. Killing him instantly, his body impaled. Opossumkit looked up and saw a blurry shape of a face looking down. Looking back over at the orange cat, he now saw him standing, staring up at the face. The orange cat whipped his head around and spotted Opossumkit, he watched as dread took over his expression.

Opossumkit wandered towards the stranger as the face disappeared yelling something that couldn't be heard over the storm.

“I'm supposed to be somewhere else, I died. Why am I still here?” The orange cat rambled to himself. The face from above appeared below and ran towards the orange cat's body.

The dull blue cat whispered something Opossumkit couldn't hear. The next thing he knows he sits upon the cliff, the dull blue cat and orange cat sit below. The storm had disappeared but now in its place was an endless sky of blue, no cloud in sight. When he tried to leave he found himself standing next to a kit who had sour expression on her face, he watched her.

He didn't know how or why, but he knew he was supposed to watch over her, guide her, but he didn't know what the goal was so he let time do it's thing.

Every single time he watched a pair of cats die at the cliff. Every single time hurt more than the first. It wasn't till the fifth time that he knew what he was supposed to guide them to. He finally knew what would end this cycle, but no time was he successful. They were all stubborn and denied anything and everything. But, no matter what he always persisted, he never gave up on them. If he couldn't help them he tried to befriend them, tried to subtly guide them.

Over the years he got to know Falcon's Song, the face from the cliff. He told him all about Storm Crasher, the orange cat who died. Even if it was all Falcons's Song fault he's stuck here, he never blamed him. He would of done the same for his mother if he could. He'd live countless lives just to be with his mother.

Chapter Text

The full moon could barely be seen through the thick dark clouds above them. Stepping down from the makeshift log bridge Whispertail kept closer to her clan instead of looking for her fellow medicine cats. Tension thick in the air.

Opossumkit was padding alongside her, his starry outline more prominent in the moonlight, looking more like a lost soul than a guide. He began to weave between her legs, though she couldn't feel it she could've sworn she felt the ghost of a touch as his tail wrapped around her legs.

Settling down beside the rest of her clan, Whispertail laid her tail on top of her paws, trying to keep to herself. She looked at where the leaders were settling, immediately noticing the Windclan leader, Leafstar, was nowhere to be seen, in her place was her deputy, the huge tom. Deerflight was much larger than the other leaders, dwarfed next to his huge stature. Despite his abnormal size there was a look of timidness in his eyes. She could hear others noticing Deerflight up there instead of Leafstar.

Suddenly, Leafstar, as thin as can be, scrambled atop the rock and stood next to Deerflight. A hush fell over the cats.

“I'm too sickly and weak to lead. I am no longer Leafstar, please call me by what was once my warrior name, Leafsoar.” She spoke, her voice trembling as so did her body. She broke into a body racking coughing fit. Deerflight sided up beside her supporting her shaking body and aided her off the rock. He bounded back, his look more wary than before.

“I am Deerstar, the new leader of Windclan,” He said, despite his expression his voice was strong and powerful. “Quailshadow has been appointed as our deputy. I do not expect full acceptance during this tension filled time but I do wish that you would at least treat us how you treated Leafstar.”

Silence followed after. Quiet enough a cat could hear the rustle of another's whiskers. Finally another leader spoke up.

“Deerstar, before I thought it was mentioned that your food sources are scarce. How are you not thin?” Birchstar asked, his deputy right at his side looking on.

Deerstar turned his head to his left slightly to face Birchstar more. “We've been rationing our kills and we have a system on who eats the kill first. It's simply how we were taught to survive these conditions.”

“So you've had no scarce food this entire time?” Ripplestar asked, her belly looked larger than the moonlight before. “We all have cats to feed and you hog it all,” her voice raised at the end.

Deerstar looked a little frantic before responding. “I feel you got it all wrong, we aren't keeping it to ourselves, we ration because we know what each cat needs to eat. You should try it.”

“Our rivers have run dry, there is no fresh kill to try for. Since you seem to have an abundance of food, why don't you lend some land for us to use.” Ripplestar said with a sneer. Deerstar's eyes widened a little.

“We do not have that much of an abundance, what we catch daily barely feeds our clan as is. There is no way we can share and allow for both clans to survive. Thunderclan territory isn't experiencing a drought, their floor is just caving in. They're bound to have more prey there. Do you not?” Deerstar looked past Ripplestar towards Birchstar.

Birchstar didn't like getting put on the spot and his expression showed it, “Well we aren't experiencing the drought but the caving floors are causing hunting route troubles so it's probably not the best idea to share that, I don't want Riverclan cats to die on my territory.” Mistfire nodded his head along with his spiel.

Deerstar was silent as he processed his thoughts, “Cloudstar, don't you have that carrion place-”

“Off-limits,” Cloudstar said sternly. “It is unsafe and riddled with disease, what they carry there is more likely to kill you than measly hunger.” His face too adopted a sneer.

Rippestar huffed, “I'd rather die with a full belly than with nothing to eat.”

“Your belly already looks full,” Mistfire spoke up for the first time. Ripplestar bristled at his comment, heated whispers could be heard from where Riverclan cats resided.

Birchstar looked at his deputy with a look of astonishment, “You do not speak like that.” Birchstar stood in front of Mistfire, despite his smaller stature he stood like he had a spine for the first time.

“Who do you think you are to speak to me like that?” Mistfire asked, raising his head. He looked down at Birchstar with malice in his eyes.

“Do you forget where you stand? Do you know what you are to me? You are just the deputy, stop acting like you're something more,” Birchstar hissed, lifting his head higher to be closer to eye level.

Mistfire backed down after seconds of intense eye contact. He shrouded himself in the shadows of the leaves above them.

“Never thought I'd see the day Birchstar put that tom in his place,” Lionspirit murmured to Whispertail, she merely hummed in agreement.

She shifted her focus to Opossumkit who was continuing his route weaving between her front paws. She even flicked her tail a few times to watch him try and swat at it.

Before she knew it everyone had begun departing the area, the tension was still thick if not even thicker. She had stood up to follow her clan when she was stopped by some cat running in front of her. Sagewhisper stood in front of her, staring her down.

She stalked closer till Whispertail was practically leaning back. She looked into Sagewhisper’s green eyes. “You knew he was dead, you fucking knew,” she snarled at Whispertail. Whispertail tried to keep herself composed, but shes sure that her eye gave away everything. She couldn't keep her eye from darting everywhere.

Sagewhisper leaned even closer, her teeth bared. She then tumbled over as Rabbitflame shoved her away, “Come, we're leaving.” Whispertail found her footing again and bounded after Rabbitflame, keeping an eye on her bobtail.

Whispertail could feel those green eyes piercing into the back of her head. In front her she could've sworn she saw blue staring back at her.

~~~

Sunpatch was wandering outside of camp, her clan was gone for the meeting. Under constant surveillance she wasn't able to do anything. She found a slow stream and stared down at her reflection. Seeing the forming scar tissue on her face from what the former kittypet did to her.

Staring more into the moving water she saw icy blue eyes staring back at her. The shape of a cat formed above the water, looking at Sunpatch with hollow, pupil-less eyes. The expression the form help was sad, grieving. Piquing her curiosity she leaned her head closer to the figure, similarly the figure moved their head closer, noses touching.

“Who are you?” Sunpatch asked, her voice was raspy.

The figure smiled, “I am you, or at least once was. I am a part of you,” The figures eyes were even sadder looking now.

“What is your name?”

“Blizzardstar, I was the leaders of Windclan from moons before you were born, my fate was more gruesome than most others,” Blizzardstar had said.

“How are you me if you're here in front of me?”

“Follow me, Sunpatch.”

Blizzardstar began walking down the stream, despite being a mere figure their paws caused the water to ripple around with each step. They reached a where the stream had began, coming slowly from a crevice in some rocks.

“Sunpatch, if you will, please put your head in,” Blizzardstar asked.

As skeptical as she was she did so, sticking her head in there and immediately she felt cold, felt the chilling water rush into her nose, caress her eyes, fill her ears. After a while of what felt like drowning her eyes shot open against her will.

Her sight was hit with images of cats who seemed at once so in love, so infatuated, only to die once every thing seemed well. The images slowed down on Blizzardstar or at least she assumed.

Blizzardstar was with a cat whose fur was shades of orange that looks like flames lapping against their fur. They both looked young, at least younger than how Blizzardstar's figure looks now. The both of them had their heads pressed against another, calmly breathing in the dead of night. No other cat could be seen, serene and peaceful. As quickly as the vision had appeared it left even quicker.

Replaced with a sequence of events with the same cats. The orange one could be seen turning more corrupt, their eyes which were once a brighter purple-blue were not a dark and unfriendly purple, as if the dark forest itself consumed them. It followed them killing queens, killing Windclan cats along with their own clan. Eventually Blizzardstar stared them down, a look of betrayal in their eyes, fear. The orange cat had blood dripping down their mouth and off their fur.

In the end the two had killed each other. A story of love and betrayal. Corruption and infatuation.

She pulled her head out of the water, gasping for air. Blowing the water out of her nose and shaking her head, dislodge water from her ears.

“That was Blazesong, he was once the cat I loved. He became corrupt and shut me out. Despite everything he did, I still loved him. He betrayed my love and found a new family. He changed drastically, he said we'd run away but he ran from what we had,” Blizzardstar spoke while Sunpatch was still ridding of water from her body.

She looked up at Blizzardstar, “Why show me this?”

“So you dont make the same mistakes I did, we both became distant, there was nothing we could've done because we were afraid. Now, even in death, we are so far,” Blizzardstar became teary eyed. “Please dont be afraid, just know I'll always be here. Any body of water, I'll be there, for you. Let me help.”

She stared at Blizzardstar, “I already messed up, I already made irreversible mistakes.” She looked back down eying her own belly. “This can't be undone.”

“Does any other cat know?”

“No.”

“Then why?”

“I need to earn my father's trust back,” She said, a sorrowful look in her eyes.

“Doing that by leading on someone who you dont love, leaving the one you do just to please your father,” Blizzardstar sounded outraged as he said this. “Please don't let this lead to your downfall.”

Chapter Text

Sunkit tackled her brother Snakekit, knocking him over into the ground below. Dust flew up into the air around them, showering their fur in the pale color. She smiled down at her brother as the dust showered everywhere. He smiled back up before pushing her up and overpowering her to where she laid back on the ground.

“I win,” Snakekit said smugly. He smiled so large his eyes were closed.

Mistfire sat a few lengths away, watching them with curious eyes. Sunkit saw the way his eyes lit when Snakekit was able to overtake her, she felt shame, a stinging, horrible feeling. She looked over at Snakekit as he got off of her and paraded around and up to their father. Her face fell, she was disheartened.

“Sunkit, come here,” her mother's soothing voice called. Sunkit turned around and bounded up to her mother. Elmvine's dark green eyes were soft as they stared down at Sunkit. The orange freckles littering her face looked just like her mother's.

“Mama!” Sunkit said as she bounded around her mother. Elmvine chuckled at her kit.

Elmvine then looked rather serious, “Come with me, darling.” She began walking towards the nursery, Sunkit in tow.

Settling down in her nest she beckoned Sunkit near her, “What's going on Sunkit?”

Sunkit stared up at her mom, “I'm not like Snakekit. Why can't I be like Snakekit? I just want dad to like me.” Her voice was small as she said this, her eyes seeming to water.

“Oh, Sunkit,” Elmvine pulled her close with her paws, tucking her under her chin. “Don't let them define you, you don't have to be your brother, just be yourself. You are so much stronger than you think. You can become better than you'd ever expect. It's in your blood.” Sunkit stared at Elmvine before burrowing her head into her mother's fur.

“I'm sorry, mama,” Sunkit sniffles out, her voice was muffled but Elmvine brought her closer, wrapping her paws around Sunkit as much as she could.

They were startled by a sudden noise as Snakekit came crashing through the nursery, tumbling over and laying sprawled out on the ground below. Elmvine and Sunkit both had their heads jut up as he laid there on the ground.

He stood back up, eyes lit up, “Cuddle party!” He shouted before tumbling into Elmvine and Sunkit. Elmvine laughed at her son as he thrashed around trying to get comfortable, his paws kept hitting Sunkit so she kicked him in retaliation.

Eventually he settled down and they all laid down, their mother hugging them tight, running her tongue along their small heads. She looked up when she saw her mate walk up to them, dipping his head down and touching his nose to her head. She moved her head to press it into his neck, “Lay down with us.”

He moved to curl himself around his mate and kits, resting his head on her left hip, wrapping his tail around Elmvine and their kits. Both kits laid in their mother's arms, both were purring loudly as they slept.

—

Mistfire slashed his claws against Sunpaw's face, above and below her left eye and across her nose bridge she began to bleed. Covering her face with her paws as she backed away from her father.

“Why can't you be more like your brother? You've gone through and fucked up this hunting trip by being an annoying brat!” Mistfire growled at her as he stalked closer to her.

Snakepaw pushed his way between them, standing facing their father, protecting his sister. He bared his teeth at Mistfire.

“Stop protecting your weak sister!” He hissed at Snakepaw.

“She's my sister!”

“And she's my daughter! I can choose when she dies!”

The two male cats were going head to head, and Sunpaw turned away and ran.

She ran and ran, blood and tears filling the vision in her left eye, shaking her head to see clearly. She ran until the sun went into hiding. Even when her paws ached she ran, paws pounding against the ground and blood dribbled beneath. She reached what felt like the edge of the world, a cliff overlooking water. Smelling the air she scrunched her nose at the salty smell.

She looked up, a full moon shining down on her, its light brighter than all the other full moons she's seen. The stars also shined just as bright, it made the water below the cliff glitter like a portal to a safer world. She felt the wind pass through her fur and curl around her limbs as she stood there, eyes closed, just breathing.

She looked down into the water, past the glittering of the stars. “Oh Starclan, he wants me dead. I could do it for him. I could make him proud to never see me again,” Sunpaw whispered to herself, she began to choke back on sobs as tears spilled down her cheeks, coating her fur. She laid down and pressed her snout into the damp grass below.

“I shouldn't have been born. My mother was wrong, I'm not strong, I'm weak,” her claws ripped at the soil below. “He's right, I'm nothing like my brother.”

A cold breeze rushed through her fur, accompanying the breeze were voices.

He's being hard on you to make you strong.
He's ridding you of fears.
He wants a warrior.
A warrior, not a whiny bitch.

Sunpaw whipped her head around looking for the source of the voices, but she was alone. Her, the wind, and the waves below. She turned back toward the moon and the stars.

“I can be a warrior.”

—

Sunpatch was running alongside her brother, Snakefoot. They were having a race through the forest, weaving through trees and dodging low branches.

“Come on! Catch up!” Sunpatch shouted back at her brother as she took the lead. He lunged in her direction but missed, tumbling into a bush. Sunpatch kept going.

She entered an open field where she could feel the wind beneath her fur again. She sat near a patch of blue flowers, feeling as the wind brushed past her.

Her peace was ruined as Snakefoot came barreling into her back toppling them both over and rolling in the grass below. She managed to pin him down as they both laughed at anything.

She moved off of him and laid down on the grass beside him, sprawling out as much as she could.

“Sunpatch, promise me we'll be together forever?” Snakefoot said, looking over at his sister.

She chuckled, “What's gotten into you?”

“I'm not sure, but I want to know that you care about me as much as I care about you. You are the best sister ever and I never want that to change. I want to see how everything grows with you.” He huffed out, avoiding eye contact. “You're my best friend.”

Sunpatch grinned at him, “I promise, nothing will tear us apart.”

—

Sunpatch watched in horror as her brother laid dead before her. She jumped to cover his already wilting body with hers from those around them. She winced with every movement of her left hind leg.

“Snakefoot, please, wake up,” She muttered into his fur. “I need you Snakefoot. You're my brother, my best friend.”

Her eyes welled with tears and they soaked into his once brown fur now stained with his own blood. His once life filled blue eyes were now a dimmed gray of a cloudy day.

“Please, we have to go home,” Sunpatch cried as she nudged his body hoping for any response, a cough, a smile, anything. “He's going to kill me.” She buried her head into his fur deeper, she could smell the nursery, their mother as she groomed them for apprenticeship, the sun beating down on them in the field.

“Snakefoot. Come back. Please.” She sobbed as the Shadowclan cats escorted her away from her brother.

—

“We're a lot alike, you and I. We both lost our siblings.” Sunpatch said one night to the one-eyed medicine cat.

“Hmph,” Whispertail replied. “I suppose so, but you got to know him more than I got to know my sister, and even my other siblings. You knew you loved him, I can only assume I did.” She was tending to the new warrior as he slept.

“My mama taught me to love- care about everyone, no matter how little you've known them. I've stuck by that for moons,” She smiled at Whispertail. “Besides, everyone cares differently, so you definitely did.”

“I can't be sure, Sunpatch, she was going blind as a kit. But she looked like our mom, I took after our father a lot more. My mom always said that I had my father's caring heart.” Whispertail said. “Branchkit should've had our mother's resilience.”

“What happened to them all?” Sunpatch asked.

“They're just gone,” Whispertail turned away.

“I'm sorry, I keep forgetting it's a touchy subject,” Sunpatch apologized, standing up to get closer to Whispertail.

“Sunpatch, my mother had three litters, 2 in each, I'm the only survivor. It is beyond just a touchy subject.”

“What happened to the others?” Sunpatch asked before getting a look on her face. “Actually, nevermind. Don't answer. Forget what I asked.” She then walked over to her nest to lay down.

Whispertail padded quietly to then settle down near her. “Tell me about your brother.”

Sunpatch's face lit up, brighter than the sun, even at night.

—

It was late at night, every other cat was asleep and Sunpatch wanted it to stay that way. She bit down on a stick as Owlpaw helped coax her through it. All she felt was pain.

They were in the field where she once laid with her brother, the grass was damp and soft against her body.

She bit back a scream as tears welled in her eyes. Owlpaw gave encouraging words throughout it all. He had promised to help Sunpatch because she was afraid. She was still afraid as three kits began suckling, as she began to clean them.

“They're perfect,” She said, but sadness consumed her tone.

Two toms, one she-cat. One tom was brownish red with three stripes down his back. The other looked like her father as he had the tan and blue, but she wouldn't let him be anything like him. The last one, her only daughter, was a beautiful array of browns, a dark brown patch across the back of her neck and ears.

“Sunpatch, are you sure?” Owlpaw asked.

She looked at him, “I want them to be safe, healthy, loved. I cannot give them that, not here, not me.”

“What about Cedarstride?”

She looked back down at her kits, “I wish I could tell him the truth, but I can't. I can't have him knowing I was never his, I can't have him knowing where I wish to lie. I care about him, but not in the way I love her.”

“Leading him on? What do you gain?” Owlpaw said as he helped scoop a kit up.

“My father's respect.” Sunpatch said before she grabbed the last two, her daughter and her son who looked like her father.

They began their trek.

—

“Whispertail! Come here! Quick!” Spidershine called for the medicine cat. It was late at night and she really wanted to sleep but he sounded terrified.

She moved quickly to where he ran off to, the entrance to the camp. Then she heard it, mewling. Kits. She ran across the camp quickly, almost knocking over Spidershine. She looked around before Spidershine pointed with his tail.

In a bush there were three small kits laying there. “Take them to the medicine den, now.” Whispertail commanded. She grabbed one while Spidershine grabbed two of them.

Placing them down, she turned to Spidershine. “Is Pinefur still nursing?”

“I think so.”

“Go wake her.”

Spidershine left the den, returning after a little bit with a pissed looking Pinefur. Her expression immediately softened when she saw the kits at Whispertail's feet.

“Can you just do this one favor for me?” Whispertail asked.

Pinefur looked at her, yellow eyes meeting a green one.

“Please don't ask where or whose, we don't know.” Spidershine butted in.

Pinefur huffed, “I will, after everything I've done to you and everyone else.”

“Don't apologize now, later you can,” Whispertail said. “Just help these kits.” Pinefur nodded.

“Should we name them?” Spidershine asked.

“Maybe,” Whispertail said and Spidershine's face lit up.

“Can I name one? Please?” He pleaded. Whispertail chuckled at him.

“Yes, you can,” Whispertail said.

The kits were cuddled against Pinefur, nursing happily.

“The red one, Rustkit. I can tell he's gonna be just like me.” Spidershine said, puffing out his chest, his curled fur bouncing.

“They aren't even yours,” Pinefur chuckled out. “This one,” she nudged the brown she-cat, “Newtkit.”

Whispertail froze, looking at Pinefur who smiled up at her.

“She'll be just like her, a strong and protective warrior, like both of them.” Pinefur said. Whispertail's eye teared up at Pinefur's words.

She looked down at the last remaining kit, he was blue and tan and striped all over. A small gust of wind blew through the den, leaving behind a trail of blue flower petals, “Petalkit, he'll be Petalkit.”

Chapter Text

The trees were thick, blocking the sun from hitting her fur. Whispertail laid on the dew covered grass. She rolled around on the soft and warm ground. She knew this was just a dream, because when she woke up all she would feel is the cold pricking the air and seeing her breath in front of her. Every time she opened her eye it felt like she was looking through both, as if she were still a kit nursing on her mother and playing with her sister.

“I missed this, Whisperkit,” A voice said to her, a voice she could never forget even if she tried to.

“I missed this too, Branchkit,” Whispertail responded, afraid to look over, tears already welling in her eyes. She was afraid that if she looked over her sister would be gone, she’d settle for just hearing her voice again if that’s all she could have.

Whispertail heard some rustling on the grass. “I wish you could meet our other siblings, but you still have a lot to live.” Branchkit said, her voice seemed closer, older than Whispertail remembers.

“They made it to Starclan?” She asked, swallowing hard after.

“Yeah, all of them are there, our entire family.” The tears threatened to spill from her eyes, “Well, not our entire family, you’ve found your own without us, you’ve made your own.”

“What- what do you mean ‘my own’?” Whispertail asked, her voice cracking.

“You found love Whispertail, you formed bonds that are unbreakable, you are a lot different than you make yourself to be. I’ve always watched you and everything you’ve done. You're compassionate and caring even if the cat had wronged you. You mean a lot more than you think you do to so many cats. Whispertail, you’re my own blood but the bonds you've formed rival that of our own. I’m proud of you, and so is mom, dad, and everyone else.” Branchkit said.

Whispertail felt Branchkit nudge her head with her own. She looked up and looked her sister in the eyes and saw the eyes of her mentor, Foxstrike. Branchkit’s eyes held so many cats in them as if she was a vessel of their family.

Whispertail stood up and approached Branchkit, who was now her own size, and shoved her face into the fur along her neck and sobbed into her fur, her body shaking with each sob. She smelled like their mother, Newtstrike. Branchkit moved her head to tighten the hold they had on each other and began grooming Whispertail’s already smooth fur.

“Love those kits as if they’re your own just like so many other cats love you.” Branchkit said into Whispertail’s neck.

“I will, Branchkit, I will.”

—

Once the kits had begun to walk they were nothing but trouble, yet Whispertail would’ve wanted it no other way. Just like Spidershine had said, Rustkit is just like him, always planning some sort of prank. His most recent victim has been Ivypaw, Duckwatcher’s son.

The poor apprentice can never catch a break from the rambunctious kit having been woken up by a spider crawling on his face, strategically placed by Rustkit. Newtkit was the one who aided in catching the spider. The entire camp was woken by the terrified screech. The triplets weren’t even startled by how loud the screech was, they all doubled over laughing making a pile of colorful fur. Even Petalkit took part in the prank this time by making sure no one caught them.

Whispertail ushered them into the medicine den, which was empty besides from Oakshade, as Tangledfoot was harvesting herbs as Newleaf often yields plentiful bunches. Oakshade had recently experienced the symptoms Newtstrike had before she had died, and Whispertail wants to prevent Wolfslip from experiencing the loss of another mate.

She turned to face her three kits as they stood in a line. She huffed a sigh, “Newtkit, I thought you were the mediator or something.”

“No ma’am! Not today!” She said excitedly, puffing her chest. Whispertail only sighed again.

“I already know it was your plan, Rustkit. Might as well tell me why.” Whispertail said as she began to pad over to her nest and lay down. She’s been feeling weaker and weaker for a few days now, but hasn’t said anything, even to Opossumkit.

“Ivypaw was being stupid! He said mean things to Petalkit, called him stunted and messed up! I couldn’t let him get away with it!” Rustkit said, exasperated at the fact that Ivypaw had said anything about his smaller brother.

Whispertail thought for a moment before responding to Rustkit. “Did you do anything else prior to this? Either talking or doing something with Ivypaw?”

“I had a talk with him,” Newtkit said, her pupils seemed to shrink as she said it, “He was not a good talker.”

“He just said more bad things about Petalkit!” Rustkit interjected.

Petalkit, who hasn’t said anything, waddled over to Whispertail before curling up against her stomach, tired even though the sun just rose. Whispertail dipped her head to reach his face and cleaned up the fur on his head.

“If that’s the case, I say tell Leappaw. A little birdie told me that he is afraid of his big sister.” Whispertail grinned at them and winked before the two larger kits scrambled out searching for Leappaw. She returned her attention to Petalkit, “Are you alright, darling?”

“I’m fine, mama, sleepy.” He said, his voice dull and quiet.

“Me too, baby. Let’s take a nap.” Whispertail said before curling her body around his. She wasn’t tired but she stayed curled around him to protect him from things she doesn’t even know.

Her other two kits came bounding into the medicine den making a ruckus before seeing their sleeping brother and promptly quieting down. Whispertail motioned for the two of them to come over, they both laid beside their brother. Whispertail moved a paw to cover the three of them protectively and curled herself tighter.

“You mean so much to me.” She whispered to them once she saw their chests rise and fall slowly.

Chapter Text

“You lost your kits?” Mistfire asked, his voice heated. “The one damn thing you were useful for and you somehow fucked it up!”

Mistfire and Sunpatch weren’t at their camp, they instead were far away and Sunpatch was terrified. She was afraid he’d kill her.

“I’m sorry, father.” She said, her voice breaking more and more with each word.

“Apologizing doesn’t fix the fact you went and fucked up my lineage!” He was getting more verbally aggressive each passing second. She was afraid to run, she knew he’d chase and she knows he’s stronger, her leg is healed but it isn’t at its best.

“I can try again! I can be a good daughter!” She cried at him, tears she didn’t know formed spilled down her face as she faced him. His eyes were full of heat and hate, one wrong move and she’d either obtain a new scar or she’d die at her father’s claws.

Mistfire moved up into her face, “Listen here, bitch, fuck this up again and I’ll kill you for the entirety of Starclan to see. You have one more chance.” His eyes were nothing more than rage.

—

Sunpatch woke up, her breathing heavy and her fur stuck up everywhere as if she had been rolling around all throughout the night. She shook her head to rid of remnants of the nightmare.

“Are you alright, Sunpatch?” She looked over and saw Cedarstride, her mate, looking at her with concern. The egotistical tom had found himself enraptured by a she-cat who only cares about him as a friend. She regrets accepting his advances and leading him on, but she wanted to hide her true intentions and feelings.

“Yeah, I’m alright, just a bad nightmare.” She responded, giving him a half-smile.

“If it was about Mistfire again, don't listen to it, you don't owe anything to him.” He said, his eyes drooping with sleep. She smiled at him.

She moved closer to him before laying down again and closing her eyes. She knew she couldn’t fall back asleep and that the nightmare was still plaguing her mind but she wanted to give Cedarstride the benefit of the doubt to make him worry less.

In silence she heard the trees rustle as wind blew by them and as birds began to chirp. She was startled when she heard the ground beneath her crack. She jumped up, yelling, “Everyone, move! Get out! It’s gonna sink!”

Cats all in the warriors den scrambled to get out of there as the ground began to crack and crumble more beneath their paws. She nudged Cedarstride to try and wake him, he was always a heavy sleeper. After failed attempts he finally jolted awake and Sunpatch sighed a breath of relief before scrambling after her clanmates.

She kept running away until she heard her name be yelled, “Sunpatch!” It was her mother. She turned around and saw her mother on the edge of the sinkhole struggling to get a grip to get up.

“Mom!” She screamed before dashing over to the edge in front of her mother. She bit down onto her neck and hauled her up, panting.

She looked down into the sinkhole below and saw dust pluming around and jagged rocks all in the pit. She felt her heart drop seeing a clanmate who had fallen victim to the disaster, their body wasn’t whole, it had a sharp, jagged rock protruding from their mouth as it had impaled them through the chest. Blood spilled all down into the pit mixing with the dirt. As the dust in the air settled Sunpatch was able to make out the cat who had fallen, but she realized there were two, one whose body still convulsed as if they could still breathe. The one who was already gone was Palefoot who was barely recognizable with all the blood covering her beige coat. The cat who was still breathing was Nightwatcher, her once clean and well kept fur was now coated in layers of blood.

Both cats’ siblings rushed over to look into the sinkhole, dreading the worst. Though the first that screamed shook her to the core and reminded her of what she once felt too.

“Palefoot! Please!” She saw her leader, Birchstar attempt to go down into the sinkhole, but Darkgaze stopped him. The mated pair both lost a sibling today, but now all they could focus on is what they need to provide to their clan.

The day went on and as the ground felt more stable they sent warriors to retrieve the corpses of their family, their friends, their blood. Birchstar brought their clan together that night under a dim moon.

“A terrible disaster today has resulted in the loss of two beloved warriors,” His voice was raspy from sobbing, “Palefoot and Nightwatcher, two glorious and determined warriors were lost. They both had much longer to live and I know they could've accomplished great things. I do not know why Starclan has forsaken our own family to this horrible fate, but the most we can do is know they are now among the stars without fear in their heart.”

Darkgaze walked to stand beside her mate, “I lost my sister as well today, you all lost a friend, a clanmate. We all know grief at this moment, but knowing that life was merciful on some is enough to keep my thoughts at bay. We shall mourn and grieve our lost family, but we should appreciate what they gave while they were here. My sister, Nightwatcher, was the wisest cat I knew, she always had advice and supported every choice I had ever made. I will miss her much more than the stars can understand.”

“Palefoot never wanted to retire from being a warrior, but now she can rest. She lived an exciting life and saw so much. I can only hope she wants to watch over us and see everything Thunderclan can withstand and accomplish.” Birchstar said, his eyes full of sadness. “Please, say your goodbyes.”

One by one Thunderclan cats stopped by Palefoot and Nightwatcher to say their final goodbye as they made their way to Starclan. When Sunpatch stepped forward she was reminded of her own brother, he never got a speech to honor his death, their clan had never said goodbye to them, instead their father took his place as deputy once he’d gone missing. She didn’t resent Palefoot or Nightwatcher for being honored, she just wished her brother could’ve gotten the same treatment.

Touching her nose to both of their cold, dry noses she said, “Make sure he’s okay for me,” because if she can’t see him herself then she’ll hope they can and make sure he’s safe.

—

The next day was gloomy and so many cats were lethargic, too many were afraid to sleep and afraid to move in fear of the ground crumbling beneath their paws and killing more. Sunpatch had left the camp as early as she could and traveled to the edge of the thunderpath.

The thunderpath was awfully quiet but it allowed Sunpatch to think. She thought about her kits and how she wishes she knew their names and not just what they looked like. She wishes she could hear them call her ‘mama’ and see their personalities grow every passing day. She can only remember the way their fur felt in her mouth and the sound of their newborn mewling. She hoped they knew she loved them even if they were far away and didn’t know of her.

She trusts that Whispertail would love them the way Sunpatch wishes she’d be able to.

She was too caught up in her thoughts that she didn’t notice the blurry black and white kitten standing on the other side of the thunderpath. They were staring right at her. Unblinking, unmoving. She squinted her eyes to try and see the kitten better but when she blinked the kit disappeared as if they were never there.

“Go back to her.”
“Go back.”
“Go back.”
“Go back.”

Sunpatch shook her head to clear her head of the booming voice in her head. She didn’t want to follow her wants or her needs, she had to follow her father’s, that was all that was important to her. She needed to prove she could be better than Snakefoot, that she has so much to give to the clan.

“You should do what you want, and do it for yourself,” Tangledfoot had told Sunpatch one day when Whispertail was collecting the herbs.

“Did you? I thought you became a medicine cat because of the trap.” Sunpatch said, curiously.

He huffed a small laugh, “No, I was given a choice but when Whispertail took care of me during then I saw that this is where I want to be, that this is where I belong. Being a medicine cat clicked a lot more than being a warrior, I grew up thinking I had to be a warrior but seeing how strong and kind Whispertail is made me realize that she is who I wanted to be like, not a warrior, a healer.”

She thought intently on what she wanted, but only one thing popped into her mind.

Whispertail.