Special thanks to Leafsplash-of-ThunderClan for letting me adopting this.

R&R!

- Stuffed Watermelon.


Quiet For A Reason

Chapter 1

Leaf-fall was ending; leaf-bare is coming. Sunlight streamed into the nursery, landing on the only queen in the den. A nest was nicely made for her, lined with swan's feathers, clean moss, and much more. However, on the queen's face was not happiness, but sadness and regret. Her belly was no longer swollen, milk scent lingered on her fur; she had kitted.

A silver and white she-cat stood rigid at the nursery entrance, her icy blue eyes boring into the gray queen inside.

"Stonestream? You know who I am," A comforting purr rose up the unknown tabby's throat.

"Go away," Stonestream spat, flicking her tail and batted the leaves around her.

Littlefern sighed, and squeezed through the nursery entrance, leaving only one sentence, "Your kits need you, especially the small one."

Stonestream's heart immediately filled up with love, when the three kits entered her mind. One is a mini version of her, the other white with gray paws and the last one, exactly like her father. No! I cannot think of him. Not anymore.

"She's a runt, anyway. Those kits should not have been born. All of them." Stonestream grunted, heading for the medicine cat's den. Littlefern twitched her whiskers in amusement; that gray-striped she-cat has a sharp mouth, but her words never matched with her heart.

"Here they are," Littlefern clawed apart a pile of moss, revealing three little kits. Stonestream settled herself; since she will be here, in this position for quite awhile, why not rest comfortably?

"There," The medicine cat nosed the smallest kitten, pushing her onto her mother. "Aren't they cute?"

"Yes, yes they are. Leave now, Littlefern." Stonestream spat in annoyance. "Either you leave, or I will."

"Fine," Littlefern got up and stretched her legs. "Remember, kits are always a blessing, not only to their clan, but also their parents." But Stonestream rolled her eyes.

Of course the tabby medicine cat will not take Stonestream's bad attitude to heart; she had known the queen's aggressive character for ages.

"I will go and check on Fernheart then," Littlefern muttered to herself, holding Blackberry leaves tightly in her jaws. "She's suffering from bee stings."

"I told her not to provoke the bees before. This is the outcome for not heeding my advice." Littlefern's voice trailed behind.

"You three, are a mistake," Stonestream licked the runt. "Especially you." The three kits seemed to have heard what their mother had just said, as they began squirming under Stonestream's licking.

"Three ungrateful mutts," Stonestream snorted as dread began to cloud her brilliant blue eyes. The memories that she struggled to keep in her deepest part of her heart had floated back, attempting to strike her again. And this time, they succeeded.

"Frostpaw?" A dark ginger tom mewed. "I told you over and over again that you need to have light footsteps when hunting! Now you have scared away all the prey! Seriously, if this is how you go on, you are not going to become a warrior. I will make sure Brightstar make you stay as an apprentice until you master your hunting skills."

"Fine, but I did well in fighting, didn't I?" Frostpaw puffed out his chest. "That's more important than hunting. I will protect my clan from the others!"

"Let me repeat: you can infer from the warrior code that violence does not solve everything, Frostpaw. You need to learn to calm down, not always hot-headed and think you are always right." Darkpelt scoffed.

"Stonestream!" Littlefern's mew brought the queen back to reality.

"What names do they have? You need to decide the naming, Brightstar wants to hold a welcoming ceremony for them."

"Didn't he believed that they are a rogue's?" Stonestream rested her head on her paws.

"Can you cooperate for once?" Littlefern sighed. "Or I will just name them for you."

Stonestream frowned, looking down at her kits.

"This one," Stonestream prodded the replica of her. "She will be Graykit, in honor of his gray fur. The other will be Willowkit, named after the willow tree that sheltered the nursery from rain and storms. And the last one," Stonestream paused for a while.

A tiny snowflake fell from the dark gray sky. "Leaf-bare is closing," Littlefern murmured. "Herbs will be hard to find again." The medicine cat turned back to the gray queen. "Stonestream, you better take good care of the kits, I don't want them to suffer from Greencough or Whitecough or any illness. I do not have any catmint left."

Stonestream rolled her eyes again. "And the last one will be Snowkit," Stonestream continued. "Don't interrupt me next time."

"Graykit, Willowkit and Snowkit, welcome to SkyClan. I will report to Brightstar now." Littlefern purred.


"Willowkit!" Stonestream flicked her tail. "I told you not to push Graykit!"

"He will not feel any pain," Willowkit chuckled. "You thick-furred beast! Surrender to the most awesome leader ever, Willowstar!"

Graykit purred, and faked a shivering tone, "Let... Let me off, Willowstar, I beg you."

Stonestream sighed again and looked at Snowkit. "You are always quiet, and observant. I am glad you will rather listen than talk."

A mottled brown tom pushed his way through the entrance, eyes burning with fury.

"Stonestream!" Grassclaw called. "Tell me who the father is."

"It's none of your business! Anyway what rights do you have to interfere? They are my kits, not yours." Stonestream spat.

"I am your father, my blood flows in them." Grassclaw glared at his rebellious daughter. "I need to make sure that they have pure clan blood. And which father don't dare to acknowledge his kits? Tell me who is he, and I will make sure he takes up his responsibility as a father."

"It's not like you can do anything about their parentage," Stonestream laughed, diverting her attention to Willowkit and Graykit nearby.

"Who are you?" Willowkit squeaked, with Graykit following behind.

"My dear Willowkit and Graykit, I am your grandfather," Grassclaw wrinkled his nose in delight. "What fine kits are you two! So strong and muscular. I'm sure you two will be noble warriors!"

"Grandfather, where and who is our father?" Graykit inquired, his deep green eyes filled with curiosity.

"I would like to know that too. Perhaps you want to ask your mother?" Grassclaw twitched his whiskers and pointed his bushy tail at Stonestream.

"She won't tell us no matter how we beg her," Willowkit huffed, placing her little tail over her white paws.

"Wait! Grassclaw have you heard of LeopardClan?" Graykit asked, chasing her grandfather's tail.

"Of course!" Grassclaw purred, swishing his tail across the ground slowly.

"Can you tell us about it? The elders nag so much that the story does not sound interesting anymore. I bet you will be different from them, Grassclaw," Graykit piped up.

"Alright then," Grassclaw picked Graykit up by his scruff and set off to the Warriors' Den, with Willowkit scrambling behind.

"Don't you want to go with them?" Stonestream closed her eyes.

Snowkit shook her small head wildly, her wide eyes seemed to be saying 'I want to be with you.'.

"It's a bit unusual to have a kit as quiet as you," Stonestream laughed and nuzzled her little kit.


"Snowkit!" Willowkit cried. "You are no fun! You need to say 'Surrender to me'!"

Snowkit just opened her mouth. No sound came out.

"Are you playing mute?" Graykit frowned. "If that is the case, me and Willowkit will not play with you anymore!"

Snowkit flattened her ears as her siblings stalked away.

"Snowkit? Do you mind to help me sort herbs? Since you are free anyway." Snowkit shrugged and stuck her tongue out; she was in such a bad mood and Littlefern told her to sort herbs! After seeing Littlefern's angry face, the little white kit bounded away, she knew that she should show respect to the medicine cat.


"Snowkit!" Littlefern complained. "She gave me a I-will-rather-die-than-help-you-sort-herbs look and even stuck her tongue out at me! Such disrespectful act from such a cute kit!"

"Stonestream, I haven't notice Snowkit speaking at all." Brightstar's eyes clouded with worry. "Is there something wrong with her?"

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with her!" Stonestream's fur bristled. "There is nothing wrong with my kit!"

"Fine then, allow me to check her." Littlefern stuck her nose in the air, and led Brightstar and Stonestream to find Snowkit.

'Great,' Littlefern thought once she spotted the little kit curling up to sleep nearby.

"Snowkit!" The medicine cat called, pouncing on the white kit and gave Snowkit a nip on her left ear.

Snowkit seemed terrified as she struggle to break free. Blood formed at her left ear and Snowkit closed her icy blue eyes.

"Littlefern! You are hurting her!" Stonestream pushed the medicine cat away. "You bad medicine cat!"

"See? Even with such pain she didn't make a noise. Normal kits should have yelped by now." Littlefern took no notice of the fuming mother and took a step nearer to the shuddering Snowkit.

"She is mute!" Littlefern declared. "I knew that there was something wrong with her! She was so tiny when she was born!"

"Then she cannot become a warrior," Brightstar cut in. "We cannot have a mute warrior. This did not happen in the clans before."

"She just cannot speak! She is not deaf! She can listen and obey commands! She can listen and learn the skills needed!" Stonestream snarled.

"She cannot be a warrior!" Littlefern argued.

"Yes she can!" Stonestream scowled.

"No she cannot!"

"I will decide if she can after a meeting with the senior warriors." Brightstar mewed, stopping the heated argument.

Littlefern stomped off and Brightstar padded back to his den. The thistle bush near Stonestream rustled.

"Is there really something wrong with Snowkit?" Willowkit's shivering voice came.

"There should be nothing wrong with my precious kit." A flicker of uncertainty flashed across Stonestream's eyes.

'Is this retribution? Is this the punishment?' Tears welled up in Stonestream's eyes. After leading the three kits into the nursery, Stonestream thought again. 'What if I did not make that mistake? Will everything be different? Will I be happier?' And in her heart, she knew the answer to her last question was: 'Yes you would.'

Stonestream sighed, as she let the memories flood her mind yet again.


"Let me repeat: you can infer from the warrior code that violence does not solve everything, Frostpaw. You need to learn to calm down, not always hot-headed and think you are always right." Darkpelt scoffed.

"Don't be too harsh on him," Deerstep mewed, resting her tail on her clan mate.

"At least you get such a good apprentice." Darkpelt spat. "Stonepaw is so obedient, unlike some apprentice I know."

"Anyway, let's focus on hunting now, the fresh-kill pile is getting low." Deerstep suggested, flicking her tail. "The one who hunts the most will get to choose a prey from the fresh-kill pile!"

Stonepaw purred; she will surely win with an opponent as lousy as Frostpaw.

"Ready, steady, go!" Deerstep ordered, as the two apprentices glanced at each other.

Frostpaw rushed off, while Stonepaw stayed at the same spot, sniffing the air.

"I smell mouse," Stonepaw muttered, getting into her stalking position.

"Stupid Frostpaw, he should not have rushed off!" Darkpelt wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Stonepaw is so calm and patient, while Frostpaw is just hot-headed and rude." The dark ginger tom compared.

"Don't worry, one more moon and Frostpaw will become a warrior." Deerstep's amber eyes filled with sympathy. "Just you luck to get Frostpaw as your apprentice."

"Seriously, if Frostpaw don't pass his warrior assessment, I am going to be stuck with him for another two moons!" Darkpelt sighed. "Even a three-moon-old kit can do better than him!"

Deerstep purred, "Lets wait and see."

"From this day onwards, this apprentice will be known as Frostheart. StarClan had blessed Skyclan with a noble warrior who is not only cunning, quick-witted but also loyal," Brightstar beamed as Frostheart licked his leader's shoulder respectfully.

Stonepaw snickered, "Frostpaw is the exact opposite of how Brightstar describe him!"

"Shhh... Stonepaw, it's your turn now," Nutpaw and Flamebreeze mumbled back to the gray apprentice.

"Stonepaw, you will be known as Stonestream, SkyClan honors your agility and patience. Although, you need to change your attitude a bit, I trust that you will make a great warrior," Brightstar mewed, bending down to let the new warrior lick his shoulder.

"Nutpaw, you will now be Nutblaze, thank you for your skills and effort spend in protecting and building SkyClan. We honors your strength and speed. Welcome to SkyClan as a warrior," Brightstar gazed at Nutblaze warmly.

"Flamebreeze! Frostheart! Stonestream! Nutblaze! Flamebreeze! Frostheart! Stonestream! Nutblaze!" Yowls of cheers filled the camp and the stars shone brightly in the dark sky.

Stonestream's eyes filled with pride as she and the others held their head high when padding outside the camp for their vigil.

Although that night cold wind blew and ruffled Stonestream's pelt, the memories of cheers still warmed her heart. It was the best day ever in the gray warrior's life.


I know, an odd place to stop. I hope the next chapter will be ready as soon as possible! Please review so that I know if I should continue.

Some questions for you to think of:

-What is your favourite name and why?

[ Mine is Breezekit and I just like it. :) It is not because of Breezepelt. ]

- What if you were a cat? Which clan will you join?

[ I will join ThunderClan. ShadowClan territory has a lot of mud, which I do not like. I do not like running or swimming too. Perhaps I do like swimming... ]

Scroll down to read the allegiances. I promise it will not be long or boring. I did not list out all the cats though.

R&R!

- Stuffed Watermelon.

SkyClan

Leader: Brightstar (White tom with ginger patches and a black left ear)

Deputy: Poolheart (Blue-gray tom with amber eyes and white paws)

Medicine Cat: Littlefern (Silver and white she-cat with green eyes and a torn ear)

Warriors:

-Breezefur (Cream coloured she-cat with amber eyes and a white tail-tip)

Apprentice: Sootpaw

-Darkpelt (Dark ginger tom with green eyes and cream-coloured paws)

-Gingercloud (Ginger she-cat with green eyes and white chest)

-Turtletail (Tortoiseshell and white she-cat with dark green eyes)

-Hollyblaze (Pure black tom with amber eyes)

-Treewhisker (Striped tom with dark blue eyes)

Apprentice: Whiskerpaw

-Spottedclaw (Spotted tom with fiery amber eyes)

Apprentice: Weaselpaw

-Grassclaw (Mottled brown tom with piercing green eyes)

-Cloudheart (Silver and white she-cat with amber eyes)

-Longclaw (Ginger tom with unusually long claws)

-Flamebreeze (Flame-coloured tom with amber eyes and white paws)

-Nutblaze (Brown tabby tom with a white chest and gray paws)

-Frostheart (Pure white tom with icy blue eyes and a torn ear)

-Dewfrost (Tortoiseshell and brown she-cat with icy blue eyes)

-Deerstep (Spotted brown she-cat with green eyes and long ears)

Queens:

-Stonestream (Gray tabby she-cat with creamy stripes and amber eyes)

[Mother to Graykit (Thick-furred gray tabby tom with amber eyes), Willowkit (Gray she-kit with white paws) and Snowkit (Pure white she-kit with icy blue eyes)]

-Wingflower (Brown tabby she-cat with white paws) Mate: Longclaw

[Expecting Longclaw's kits]

Apprentices:

-Sootpaw (Black tom with green eyes and white paws)

-Whiskerpaw (Ginger tom with long whiskers and white chest)

-Weaselpaw (Golden brown she-cat with brown paws and amber eyes)

Elders:

-Yarrowtail (Yellowish she-cat with emerald green eyes)

-Brownfoot (White tom with brown paws and icy blue eyes)

There, done! Scroll down and you can see a box there. Click it and type in some words. That is how to leave a review! Constructive criticism welcomed.

R&R!

- Stuffed Watermelon

More information about Stonestream past will be revealed next chapter.