As the light of the sun slowly disappeared, a pale brown she-cat bounded into the nursery. As she entered, she spotted her three kits playing in the corner. Two moons old and they're already fighting like warriors. She thought warmly. One of the kits, a cream furred tom with thick fur and a dark brown tail-tip, looked over at her with wide pine-green eyes that resembled her own.
"Acornfur!" He exclaimed
Acornfur smiled and padded over to her three kits. She watched the three kits bound over, but sighed as she watched her only she-kit stomp over. Great Starclan don't let it be her...She thought grimly.
"What's wrong Honeykit?" She asked
"I lost again. It's not fair that I'm the runt." Honeykit growled
She wrapped her tail around the small she-kit. Honeykit shot her a glare and Acornfur gave a little sigh.
"Finchkit, Jumpkit, why not go play for a bit." She meowed
Finchkit, the one with brown paws and a stripe across his cream furred face, looked up at her. He nodded with a smile and ran off with Jumpkit. Acornfur gave a small smile, but it was quickly replaced with the grim memory of The Release that would occur tonight. It's not my first one...For I had to let go when I had my first litter. Thank Starclan Dawnbreeze and Ryepelt are still here. But, Fallkit had to be released. She looked down at her daughter.
"Honeykit," She began
"I'm not wrong. I know I'm not. Jumpkit and Finchkit taunt me because they know they can! You don't do anything!" She hissed
Acornfur felt as though claws had raked across her heart. "Honeykit. You know I love you."
"Then do somethin'!" She said
"Try fighting better or play a different game.." She mewed
Honeykit snarled at her and leapt from her grasp. So stubborn. But, I guess she'll...No. She watched her daughter run out of the nursery. Acornfur growled and followed Honeykit.
"Honeykit!" She shouted, "Get back here now!"
Her daughter turned around, but Acornfur still saw the pure hatred in the dark blue eyes. She bolted after Honeykit, who wasn't nearly as fast as her. She gripped her daughter's scruff and padded back over to the nursery.
"One day you will have now power over me Acornfur!"
Acornfur felt her gaze grow blurry. Starclan will tell me tonight. Maybe they'll be kind. She laid down and placed Honeykit down. She looked into her eyes.
"Go..Go sleep. It'll help." Acornfur ordered
Honeykit snorted and laid down, away from the pale brown she-cat. Finchkit and Jumpkit ran over and nuzzled her belly. Jumpkit began suckling a bit with Finchkit.
"Come get something to eat." Acornfur told Honeykit
Honeykit didn't get up. Acornfur noticed the gentle rise and fall of her chest and shook her head. Let her rest..Finchkit yawned and shut his eyes as Jumpkit nuzzled her belly and curled up next to her.
"Goodnight my kits. I hope I shall say it tomorrow to all of you."
...
A gentle breeze washed over Acornfur as the familiar scent of Starclan came to her. She opened her eyes and padded around, looking for her ancestors. She ran across the moorland, purring at the memory of her home. She stretched her legs out and spine, letting her reach full speed. The wind flattened her pelt as the moonlight washed over the moor.
"It's..It's perfect." She meowed
"Acornfur." Someone said
She froze as the tom's deep voice came toward her. She spotted a pale brown tom pad toward her. His white paws padded across the moor as the starlight danced in his freshly groomed pelt. However, he was small, but not kit size.
"Gorsepaw." She murmured in awe
"Yes. The others are coming soon." The tom replied
She padded toward her brother and laid her head on his back. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you as well. Although I died because of greencough, I know it was my time."
A new scent washed over her as a tortoiseshell appeared. The she-cat smiled at her, her green eyes sparkling. "Acornfur."
"Jayleaf."
My mother and brother. Starclan don't let my father show up.. She watched her mother walk over to her. She nuzzled her flank as Acornfur breathed in her mother's starry scent. The cold scent stuck to her fur and had replaced the old scent of the moor. Jayleaf stepped back and took a seat next to Gorsepaw. Her brother's tail was wrapped around his paws as a pure black she-cat appeared. Cloversong! She thought happily as her friend appeared.
"My dear friend...You know Blackpelt misses you."
"I know. But, I am glad he is with Duskfeather for now." She replied
But, Acornfur could see the longing in Cloversong's amber eyes. She sat down next to Gorseapaw and Jayleaf.
"You know why you're here." Cloversong mewed
"Unfortunately...yes."
"You know why it has to be done." Jayleaf said
To control the size of the clans and to prevent any evil entering the clans. I know. "Yes."
"I...I'm sorry Acornfur." Gorsepaw began, "You won't be keeping all your kits."
"Yes. Starclan has decided to let you keep Finchkit and Jumpkit." Jayleaf stated
Tears welled up in her eyes as her heart twisted in her chest. No..Honeykit will truly think I didn't care about her!
"Honeykit will be knocked out until sunhigh tomorrow. You must report to Dapplestar and tell her to leave her at the Moonpool. There, her spirit will be collected by us." Cloversong told her
Acornfur nodded and padded away, hearing nothing behind her. However, the scent of her friends had disappeared. Honeykit will join them. She thought sadly.
...
Acornfur awoke in her nest and saw the sleeping bodies of her three kits.
"I..I can't. Honeykit is mad with me and I don't want her to die being mad at me." She whispered
She wrapped her tail around her kits. "I..I won't. Our clan will be fine with Honeykit. She isn't evil and our clan isn't huge."
She sat up and looked outside the nursery, seeing the few stars in the sky.
Acornfur spat, "You won't take Honeykit. She will live in Windclan and you won't steal her from us."
