So... I woke up yesterday morning to fifty emails about reviews for Power of Three. By the evening, it turned into two hundred, and right now, my inbox probably has 300+ emails from FFN. It turned out someone was posting the same review to harass me once every two to five minutes - I assume they were running a bot for this purpose. I am deleting my original version of The Sight and re-uploading it, as there is no way to block this and staff have been unresponsive. It's sad to get rid of all of the reviews from those of you who have enjoyed and reviewed the story, but there was simply no way to get rid of this person.
Two cats padded side-by-side across the moorland, the moonlight lighting their way. One was heavy with kits, and she was panting heavily as she tried to keep up with the tom's pace.
The molly stopped for a moment to catch her breath. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this," she growled, through gritted teeth.
The tom paused. His tail flicked irritably. "Nightcloud," he growled. "Barkface has said our kits are dying inside you. Would you rather raise no kits instead of mine?"
"These are your kits!" Nightcloud spat, with a furious lash of her tail. "I've let you manipulate me for so long. You just used me so you wouldn't be caught in your affair with… her."
The tom didn't try to defend himself. He flattened his ears. "Leafpool will be waiting," he said, sharply. "Do you want her kits to die because you gave up on them? Would you like the blame of their deaths on your conscience?"
"Shut up," Nightcloud hissed, clenching her eyes shut with pain. "Be quiet, Crowfeather. I've already agreed. I won't let more kits suffer because of your treachery."
"Our kits aren't suffering because of Leafpool," Crowfeather retorted. "They just weren't meant to live. Her kits will be yours. You will still get to raise kits." He looked back ahead with a flick of his ear. "Come on. We're wasting time."
Nightcloud forced herself to continue. Her stomach twisted with pain. Crowfeather was right—her unborn kits were dying or dead, and they had been making her ill. Her Clan would not find it odd that she had left camp to give birth. It was common with those who knew they would miscarry. They'll be surprised when I return with her kits. Perfectly healthy. She hardly cared if someone accused her of bringing an outsider's kits. She had no need to defend Leafpool's honor.
They eventually reached the old badger's set near the ThunderClan border. Crowfeather had gone out scouting the territory for places for the queens to give birth, and he had settled on this spot. Apparently, the old set was spacious, with a tunnel that extended far beyond the den itself. No one will know what happened except us.
Nightcloud could smell the other queen's scent the moment they arrived. She curled her lip at the ThunderClan scent. "She's already here."
"Hello?" A soft voice came from within the hole.
Nightcloud didn't reply as she followed the tunnel down into the set. Leafpool was laying on her side inside, breathing heavily. A ginger molly was seated beside her—Squirrelflight, by the looks of it. Is she already kitting?No—Leafpool pushed herself to her paws as the pair entered the den. But the queen was skinny, save for her kit-heavy belly.
Crowfeather nodded to her. "Leafpool," he meowed. Nightcloud nearly hissed at how soft his voice was. He spoke to her like that, once, but no longer. "You look… is ThunderClan starving?"
Leafpool shook her head slowly. "No, it's just… it was the only way to try and hide it. I've been filling my den with lavender to mask my scent, but there's nothing to be done about my weight. My Clanmates were starting to look at me oddly."
Squirrelflight kneaded her paws anxiously. "I've tried to keep her as healthy as I can," she fretted.
Nightcloud scoffed and laid down. She curled up in a tight ball as another wave of pain went through her body. She knew she would lose her kits soon, and being in the same space as the healthy medicine cat made it all the more painful.
Crowfeather twitched his whiskers. "I'll try to find something to catch. If not, I'll bring you something in the morning. I'll just tell my Clanmates Nightcloud is still waiting for the kits to come until… well, until you're both done."
Squirrelflight flicked her tail. "I'll watch over them," she murmured.
He quickly turned away and left. It was quiet, painfully so, and Nightcloud refused to look at Leafpool.
"...I'm so sorry," Leafpool murmured, after a few quiet minutes had passed.
"What?" Nightcloud lifted her head.
"About your kits," she mewed. "Crowfeather told me. I wondered how you'd raise both our litters… I'm sorry that this is happening to you. I'm so grateful that you're going to raise mine, but… it should've been me."
"Don't say that," Squirrelflight quickly replied.
Nightcloud nearly told her that yes, it should be Leafpool being ripped apart by the slow deaths of her own kits before they'd left the womb, but she didn't have it in her. She only laid her head on her paws and sighed. After a moment, she replied, "Thanks. I guess."
That night, Nightcloud kitted. It was all she could do not to cry out in pain and grief as one after the other, a dead kit was expelled from her. When the fourth and last had left her body, she let her head fall to the ground as she let out a quiet sob. The queen could not bear to turn to look at her dead kittens. Crowfeather wasn't even there to watch in silence, as she was sure he would have, and as Squirrelflight was hunting, her only company was the medicine cat she so desperately wanted to hate.
Leafpool moved closer to pull the dead kits away, but she paused, and Nightcloud let out a hiss. "Just get on with it," she said. "I can't bear to be close to them. Get rid of them!" She clenched her eyes shut. "Get rid of them!"
"Wait," Leafpool breathed. "One is breathing. Nightcloud, look. You have a son." The tabby queen picked up the tiny newborn and gingerly brought him closer to Nightcloud's face. She sat between Nightcloud and the stillborns, blocking her view of the ones who had not lived. "Look at him."
Nightcloud opened her eyes. She's lying. She just wants to hurt me. But Leafpool was true to her word—the little scrap she'd laid in front of her was pawing aimlessly, already trying to find milk. "He's alive," she whispered. Tenderly, she reached out with a paw, pulled him close, and rasped her tongue over him. After a moment, she moved him closer to her belly, and he began to nurse. "I do have a son." She trembled, overwhelmed by both grief and joy. One kit will be mine.
A day passed, and Leafpool gave birth. As though another cruel twist of fate for Nightcloud, Leafpool's kitting was quick, and Crowfeather had arrived with a young rabbit in time to sit by her side and whisper to her softly as she labored. Nightcloud had refused to let him touch her son, who she named Breezekit in his absence, furious that he hadn't deigned to care when she kitted.
Squirrelflight had returned in time to see the last kit born. She and Crowfeather hovered over Leafpool, awed by the newborns. Nightcloud hated every moment of it.
"I want to name the molly Hollykit," Leafpool murmured. "This tom, though… he doesn't look like Crowfeather or Nightcloud at all."
"I'll take him," Squirrelflight replied immediately. "We already anticipated this. Brambleflower is ready to raise any kit I bring home."
"You name him, then," Leafpool said. There was a note of pain to her voice, which Nightcloud nearly scoffed at.
"Lionkit," Squirrelflight decided. "I've always loved the name."
There was a break of silence. Nightcloud heard Leafpool shift in her nest. "Nightcloud," Leafpool softly called. "Would you like to name the last tom?"
Nightcloud glanced towards them. Leafpool nosed a little dark gray kit. "This one," she whispered.
Nightcloud blinked. She was surprised by the offer. "Are… are you sure?"
Leafpool nodded. "Yes."
"Jaykit, then," Nightcloud murmured. "It would have been a name for one of mine."
Leafpool winced as she stood. "He is yours," she said, firmly. "So is Hollykit." She picked up Jaykit in her jaws and brought him to Nightcloud's side.
Already? the queen wondered, but she shifted silently to make room beside Breezekit. Hollykit was brought by Crowfeather, and in just a few moments all three of the kits were settled as though it were where they were meant to be.
"We should go," Squirrelflight told Leafpool. "We've been away too long as it is."
"Yes," Leafpool agreed. Her eyes were clouded with sadness. She smiled softly at Nightcloud. "I can't thank you enough," she said. "Please know I'm forever grateful for giving my kits a chance at a normal life."
"Just go," Nightcloud muttered. She was uncomfortable with the gratitude, and the two kits felt wrong at her side. This won't work, she thought, grimly. They're not mine. Breezekit is mine.
Crowfeather stood with them. "I'll walk you to the border," he offered. His tender voice made Nightcloud want to vomit. Without looking at Nightcloud, he added, "I'll be back for you after."
And just like that, they were gone, and Nightcloud was alone in the den with her kits. She looked down at them, studying them closely for the first time.
I suppose they… don't look all that unlike us, she thought, begrudgingly. Hollykit… even sort of looks like me. Nightcloud curled her tail around the kits. Jaykit paused in suckling to make a tiny, silent yawn.
A sudden, fierce feeling of protectiveness came over her. It was an unexpected feeling—she was sure she would hate the kits—but the longer she watched them nurse, the more anger faded away. Nightcloud leaned towards her belly to give Hollykit a good lick. Maybe things will be alright, she thought. Maybe…
Nightcloud could see the first rays of morning through the opening of the den. She was gripped with resolve as she looked at her kits again. I will raise them as my own, she decided. They will know me as their mother. They will be loved.
Nightcloud cared little for Leafpool. She nearly hated the queen. But these kits… they were hers now, and she would raise them as she would Breezekit. A part of her actually pitied Leafpool. They're going to be perfect warriors, Nightcloud promised. My perfect warriors.
Allegiances
WindClan
Leader: Onestar—old brown tabby tom
Deputy: Ashfoot—old gray molly (Tunneler)
Apprentice, Leafpaw
Medicine Cat: Barkface—short-tailed brown tom
Apprentice, Kestrelpaw
Moor Runners (Warriors who hunt and patrol above ground):
Tornear—wiry gray tabby tom
Apprentice, Harepaw
Runningbrook—light gray tabby molly
Dewspots—spotted gray tabby molly
Crowfeather—dark gray tom
Apprentice, Heatherpaw
Whitetail—small white molly
Tunnelers (Warriors who hunt and maintain tunnels underground):
Webfoot—dark tabby tom
Tawnyfur—brown molly
Apprentice, Antpaw
Willowclaw—large gray molly
Weaselfur—ginger tom
Apprentice, Emberpaw
Owlwhisker—light brown tabby tom
Apprentices:
Emberpaw—russet tom
Leafpaw—dark brown tabby tom
Antpaw—dark brown tom
Harepaw—brown-and-white tom
Kestrelpaw—mottled brown tom
Heatherpaw—pale brown tabby molly
Queens: Nightcloud—black molly (Mother of Breezekit, Hollykit, and Jaykit.) (Tunneler)
Gorsetail—gray-and-white molly (Mother of Sedgekit, Swallowkit, and Thistlekit.) (Moor runner)
Elders:
Morningflower—tortoiseshell molly
Darkfoot—very dark gray tom
ThunderClan
Leader: Firestar—bright ginger tom
Deputy: Brambleflower—dark brown tabby tom
Apprentice, Berrypaw
Medicine Cat: Leafpool—light brown tabby molly
Warriors:
Dustpelt—dark brown tabby tom
Apprentice, Hazelpaw
Sandstorm—pale ginger molly
Apprentice, Honeypaw
Brackenfur—golden-brown tabby tom
Cloudtail—long-haired white tom
Apprentice, Cinderpaw
Thornclaw—golden-brown tabby tom
Apprentice, Poppypaw
Brightheart—white she-cat with ginger tabby patches
Ashfur—gray spotted tabby tom
Sorreltail—calico molly
Rainwhisker—dark gray tom
Spiderleg—dark brown tabby tom
Apprentice, Mousepaw
Brook—brown tabby molly
Stormfur—dark gray tom
Whitewing—white molly
Birchfall—light brown tabby tom
Apprentices:
Berrypaw—cream tom
Hazelpaw—pale tortoiseshell molly
Mousepaw—gray tom
Cinderpaw—gray molly
Poppypaw—tortoiseshell molly
Honeypaw—golden brown molly
Queens:
Ferncloud—pale gray spotted tabby (Mother of Foxkit and Icekit.)
Daisy—cream molly
Squirrelflight—dark ginger molly (Mother of Lionkit.)
Elders:
Longtail—blind pale tabby tom
Mousefur—dusky brown molly
ShadowClan
Leader: Blackstar—massive white tom with black paws
Deputy: Russetfur—dark ginger molly
Apprentice, Toadpaw
Medicine Cat: Littlecloud—very small brown tabby tom
Warriors:
Wetfoot—gray tabby tom
Apprentice, Redpaw
Oakfur—brown tabby tom
Snaketail—brown tabby tom
Apprentice, Crowpaw
Cedarheart—dark gray tom
Rowanclaw—ginger tabby tom
Apprentice, Ivypaw
Smokefoot—black tom
Apprentice, Owlpaw
Snowbird—white molly
Ratscar—battle-scarred brown tom
Kinkfur—dark gray molly with a thick, messy pelt
Apprentices:
Toadpaw—brown tabby tom
Applepaw—mottled brown molly
Crowpaw—black-and-white tom
Ivypaw—gray-and-white tabby molly
Owlpaw—brown tabby tom
Redpaw—tortoiseshell tom
Queens:
Whitewater—white molly, blind in one eye (Mother of Scorchkit, Olivekit, and Shrewkit.)
Tawnypelt—tortoiseshell molly
Elders:
Tallpoppy—tortoiseshell molly
RiverClan
Leader: Leopardstar—spotted tabby golden molly
Deputy: Mistyfoot—gray molly with blue eyes
Apprentice, Dapplepaw
Medicine Cat: Mothwing—dappled golden molly
Apprentice, Willowpaw
Warriors:
Voletooth—brown tabby tom
Mosspelt—tortoiseshell molly
Reedwhisker—black tom
Apprentice, Pikepaw
Beechfur—brown tom
Duskfur—brown molly
Otterheart—dark brown molly
Pinefur—light brown tabby molly
Rippletail—dark gray tabby tom
Rainstorm—blue-gray tom
Stonestream—gray tom
Apprentice, Mintpaw
Graymist—pale gray tabby molly
Duskpaw—dark brown molly
Apprentices:
Willowpaw—sleek, long-furred dark gray tabby molly
Dapplepaw—mottled gray molly
Pikepaw—ginger-and-white tom
Mintpaw—light gray tabby tom
Queens:
Dawnflower—pale gray molly (Mother of Pebblekit and Minnowkit.)
Icewing—white molly
Elders:
Heavystep—stocky brown tom
Major story changes:
-Crowfeather knew from the beginning that Leafpool was pregnant. Upon learning this, he told her that he would work things out for them both. He pursued Nightcloud, who had feelings for him, and once she revealed she was expecting his kits, told her the truth about Leafpool and manipulated her into taking in any kits that looked too much like him to remain in ThunderClan.
-Brambleclaw is named Brambleflower, after his mother. It never made sense to me why Firestar would name Brambleclaw after his father, and it seems a lot more people have been adopting Brambleflower as a name for him. I love the idea, so I decided to implement it here too!
-Squirrelflight keeps Lionkit, as he resembles her greatly. Brambleflower is aware that he is Leafpool's kit, but still agreed to raise him as his son.
-WindClan never got rid of their tunneling practice. Thus, some warriors train to be regular warriors, called moor runners, and others train to navigate, hunt, and dig in the tunnels under their territory.
-A LOT of canon family tree has been done away with, specifically for ThunderClan. Pretty much anything before living cats of the first series can be assumed to be unknown, and good number of canon families have been altered to break up the overwhelming amount of incest in the series. For example, Sandstorm's parents were Runningwind and Redtail (who is/was trans), rather than Brindleface, which gives her/her family less cats to be related to. If you have any questions about families, feel free to ask! I have the family tree for this story drawn up and I'm happy to share it.
-There will be LGBT cats throughout the series. Surrogates are often used and are considered a normal part of Clan life.
-Rainwhisker is still alive, because his death was pretty stupid.