Disclaimer: I don't own the Warrior Cats series!

Title: Resilience (may change)

Summary: With a harsh Leaf-bare on the horizon, the Clans are in a bad way. Petalkit is growing up under the stern gaze of her father, Ravenfur, when suddenly everything changes. Stuck in RiverClan until WindClan can produce enough catmint- something no Clan has in these temperatures- she does what any kit would do. She adapts.

...

Allegiances!

WindClan:

Leader: Beetlestar- white and brown she-cat

Deputy: Ravenfur- all black tom

Medicine Cat: Birdleap- stone gray tom

Warriors:

Shadestorm- brown and black dappled she-cat

Maplewing- red and white tom

Stagclaw- black and white she-cat

Redeye- albino tom

Heathertuft- white and brown she-cat with white paws

Cloudear- black, white, and brown tom with snowy ears.

Foxpelt- ginger tom

Brackenheart- white tom

Queens:

Raintail- gray she-cat with white belly and paws. Mother to Stripekit (gray and black striped tom), Petalkit (black she-cat with white paws and belly), and Beekit (gray tom)

Lichenfang- brown and black she-cat.

Elders:

Silverstep- silver tabby she-cat

Firefoot- flame-point tom

Tinytooth- small lilac tom

RiverClan:

Leader: Graystar- gray long-furred she-cat

Deputy: Volespring- brown she-cat with small ears

Medicine Cat: Whitestripe- brown and white tabby she-cat

Warriors:

Carpjaw- speckled tom with distended jaw

Tallblaze- brown and white she-cat

Sandstream- yellow tom

Hawktail- gray and white tom

Dawnbelly- black and white tom with bright green eyes

Cherryfur- calico she-cat

Fluffywing- creamy yellow tom. Formerly a kittypet

Cloudwillow- long-legged mottled tom

Queens:

Littlepelt- lithe white she-cat. Mother to Sedgekit (brown and black tom) and Lionkit (white tom)

Blackstorm- gray and orange calico she-cat.

Elders:

Swiftmist- small brown she-cat

Stonebird- gray tabby tom.

ThunderClan:

Leader: Foxstar

Deputy: Unknown

ShadowClan:

Leader: Brightstar

Deputy: Unknown.

The breeze in camp was chilly but not cold, carrying with it various scents of prey. Petalkit fluffed out her small pelt and curled closer to Raintail, feeling Stripekit and Beekit stir. She'd heard their mother talking with Lichenfang about Leaf-fall, which was far away but still closing in. She didn't know what that meant, really, but it didn't sound happy. Is it the wind changing? 'Cause if it is, Leaf-fall can go away!

The steady thrum of voices kept her from falling back to sleep. Warriors were being assigned patrols, Raintail had told her. It wouldn't be long before the gray and white she-cat nudged them all to move, stretching her long legs and going for her morning walk across the territory.

I'm finally old enough to leave the nursery and see it for myself! She just barely stifled a purr. We'll get to meet everybody soon enough.

"Looks like I'm too early," a low voice murmured. It sounded surprised and a little bit embarrassed. "Fox-dung."

Petalkit's ear flicked. She slowly gathered the energy to sit up and turn, blinking big eyes. "Hello?"

The warrior jumped, then seemed ashamed of himself for being startled. He was all black, a bit like her, with claw marks across his muzzle and side. He looked fairly intimidating, to Petalkit, despite sticking half-in and half-out of the nursery.

"Awake already, are you?" He rumbled gruffly. "Good sign for a good warrior."

Raintail always says I just hate being left out of things. "Thank you?"

"My name is Ravenfur," Ravenfur meowed gently. "I'm your father."

"You are?" Petalkit's head tilted to the side, mildly disappointed. She'd never met this cat in her life- why hadn't he brought Raintail prey, or feathers? "You mean we're not Brackenheart's?" He always played with her. Petalkit rather liked him.

Ravenfur frowned. "No, darling."

"Okay."

Raintail stirred beside her with a yawn. "Hmm?"

"I'm just talking," she quickly explained. I didn't mean to wake her up! "No need to worry."

"Who are you chatting with this-" She paused. "Oh, Ravenfur. I wasn't expecting to see your muzzle around here."

"I got too excited to wait," he meowed sheepishly. He certainly didn't show any interest before now. "Aren't they lovely, Raintail? That one looks almost exactly like me."

Petalkit glanced down. She had white paws and a white belly and chin- Ravenfur had no white on him at all. Of course not, rabbit-brain. You get that from Raintail. "I'm Petalkit."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Petalkit," he answered politely.

Raintail flicked her dusty gray tail over Stripekit and Beekit's noses, making them sneeze. "Up and at 'em, kits. Your father is dying to meet you."

Stripekit bounced to his paws almost immediately. He always did wake up the easiest. "Hi! Did you bring any food? That's what Brackenheart does."

Ravenfur broke out into a purr. "You can get your mother all the fresh-kill she wants, now."

"It's not too cold, is it?" Beekit asked, begrudgingly slipping out of their nest. "I don't like the cold."

"You'll just have to get used to it, son. WindClan is a gusty place." The dark warrior backed out of the entrance. "Once your fur thickens, it'll get easier."

Raintail straightened a bit, gesturing to the kits in order with her tail. "This is Petalkit, as you know. The other two are Stripekit and Beekit."

"Good names for good kits," Ravenfur purred. "I can just see you all in front of Beetlestar, getting your warrior names."

Petalkit felt a bit uneasy as his words. Raintail never pressed them about the future like Ravenfur was. It made her uncomfortable.

Raintail nudged them forward. "Your father is deputy of the whole Clan, kits. He has... ambition."

"Deputy?" Beekit echoed. "Is that important?"

Ravenfur's eyes lit up. "One of the most important roles in the whole Clan!"

Stripekit bounced on his paws and ducked between Ravenfur's legs. Beekit followed at a much more hesitant pace, whiskers quivering. Petalkit glanced at Raintail for a final time, promising herself she'd bring the queen a rabbit later before slipping outside. The wind cut through her fur, making her shiver and press close to the ground.

"Come along," Ravenfur urged. "I'll introduce you to the Clan."

Aren't we supposed to explore by ourselves? Petalkit thought, feeling cheated. She'd looked forward to greeting her Clanmates, but it seemed her father planned on doing it for her. It was less special, that way. Beekit's ears flattened irritably, but he didn't say anything. Stripekit followed at a skip, eager as always. Petalkit envied him. I wish I could accept change as easily as he does.

First, Ravenfur led them to the medicine den, greeting Birdleap with a respectful nod. The gray tom looked a lot like Raintail, and Petalkit wondered if they were littermates, but was too overwhelmed to ask. The only warriors left in camp were Maplewing and Heathertuft, but their father made sure to thoroughly introduce them. Next came the elders, whom Ravenfur promised they would visit often.

"That's the apprentice den," he finished, nodding to a dusty-looking den. "It's empty, for now, but give it a few moons and it'll be yours."

"Isn't that a bad thing?" Petalkit meowed. If I act interested, maybe he'll move on to something less boring. "Having no apprentices, I mean."

Ravenfur set her an appreciative glance. "Technically, yes, but RiverClan is just as empty. We don't seem like an easy target if there's more than one Clan going through the lull."

"Cool!" Stripekit cried. His nose was buried in the apprentices' den. "It's so big!"

Ravenfur turned to her fully. He hardly even glanced at Beekit as the gray tom scrambled away. "Do you know the names of the Clan leaders?"

"Uh..." She hesitated. Why ask me? "Yes?"

"Recite them," he prompted.

Petalkit took a deep, steadying breath. "Beetlestar, Brightstar, Foxstar, and Graystar."

"Good," Ravenfur purred warmly. "Which Clan do they belong to?"

"I... don't know." She admitted, ears falling. "I'm sorry."

The deputy gave a small nod. "Beetlestar is WindClan, of course. Graystar is RiverClan. Brightstar and Foxstar are ShadowClan and ThunderClan, respectively. Think you can remember that? I don't want to push you."

"I'll try," she promised.

"Good. I'll ask you again sometime."

The intensity in his eyes was disconcerting. "Did I do something wrong?"

Ravenfur blinked, and he was another warrior again, not a teacher. "No, not at all, darling. I'm very proud of you."

For what? Knowing something every warrior knows?

Petalkit turned over in her nest, kicking out to get the feeling back in her leg. It just barely missed Beekit, who was already in a bad enough mood. I don't think he likes Ravenfur for all that much.

Raintail yawned and lifted her head. Her white fur glowed a bit in the darkness. "What's wrong, Petalkit? Bad piece of prey?"

Petalkit shook her head. She was always careful to avoid things she wasn't certain of the smell of. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Are you mad at Ravenfur?"

"For what?"

"He never came to visit you."

Raintail glanced back at Lichenfang. The brown and black she-cat was practically bursting, and was forced to sleep uncomfortable on her side. She snored worse than ever. "Oh, no. We were never like that."

"Like what?"

"Lichenfang and Brackenheart, dear," she put her head on her paws. "We weren't mates in that sense."

"You don't love each other?"

"Not really. We've always been decent friends, but never have we been in love with each other. Ravenfur wanted kits, so he came to me."

"Oh." For a cat who wanted us so badly, he hardly noticed us before now. "Did you want us?"

Raintail leveled a lick to her ear. "Of course I did, dear. I'm so happy you're in my life. You're all very special to me."

Petalkit buried her nose in her mother's gray fur. "I don't think Beekit likes him."

"Beekit doesn't have to like anyone if he doesn't want to. None of you do."

"He asked me about Clan leaders."

"Ravenfur is a very Clan-minded tom. He wants his kin to be the same way. He wants to teach you how to run a Clan and be what he believes is a loyal warrior. All that good stuff."

"He's kind of boring."

Raintail's eyes flickered shut. "He can be. Take my advice; don't let him get going about RiverClan."

"I won't."

"Good night, dear."

"Good night, Raintail." Petalkit squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't feel very tired. "Love you."

Author's Note: I know I'm best known for my gay kitties (and believe me, I love my gay kitties, and gay kitties will probably appear), but I felt like exploring how it must feel to be a kit in the Clans. Something other than them just being under-paw and playing plot-related kit games. It's not easy, being a kit in the Clans. Your dad hardly shows up, and when he does he's just excited because you'll make a good warrior, but who says you wanna be a warrior, anyway?

-Mandaree1