Oh next chapter already! Mainly because I'm lining these up so that I can post a few of them all in one go!
It didn't take long for the Clan cat that Mimi saw to find us and order us to leave. We complied, as we were still a bit weak from smoke inhilation. They followed us to a certain point, and we were left alone. We waded through a river, though, and a few cats swam towards us. They began to spit threats, and moved like two angry fish. I got everyone across and we bolted, only slowing down when we felt pine nettles under our paws.
"Wouldn't it be funny if more cats told us to leave?" Luna joked, earning a few laughs. Not ours, though. A few more cats came from the shadows and growled.
"Well, I guess its a little funny." The bigger cat growled. "Now, hurry up. Don't make us chase you." His smile fell and he began stalking behind us menacingly. We sped up a bit, but Mimi was having issues. She kept complaining about her stomach, so once we crossed what the angry tomcat called the border, Rayn hurried off and brought back a mouse. She chewed on it for a bit before even more cats came out to greet us.
"Name and business, please." Well, that was a different approach. A few of us were stunned. Well, except for the former kitty-pet, who was on top of just about everything.
"We have many names, and our business is to find a new place to live. But it seems everywhere around here is taken." And there goes her smart-mouth. Ashes cuffed her ear just as Mimi's legs buckled. She let out a surprised whine and began breathing heavily. The strangers broke their calm facade when everyone figured out what was happening.
Mimi was kitting.
"Alright, hello everyone, my name is Coal, and you should listen to me." the black tom grumbled as he looked towards the groups. "You, Brownie, find a nice stick and make it quick." he told one of the warriors, who scurried off quickly. "Rayn, get Mimi's breathing under control." again, he delt out another demand. Before long, everyone was doing something. It didn't take long for the two kits to be born, but it did take some convincing for us to stay the night with these Clan cats.
"I can't tell you for sure, but Foxstar is usually a giving guy." the larger black tom, strangely reminiscent of my son, mewed before walking off. Coal dragged our things while I nabbed one of the kits. Mokey grabbed the other, and we were off to their camp. It didn't take all that long to get to their hollow, yet I wished it took longer. I didn't expect so many cats to stare us down, in all honesty. Two kits, a brown tabby and a silver tabby, bounded over to us almost immediately.
"Who are you? Who are they? Why are you here? Are you prisoners? Are those kits? Can we play with them?" the brown tabby bombarded me with questions, and as I was going to answer them, I saw a mottled she-cat wander over behind the kittens.
"Sorry, Tigerkit is just... very outgoing." she apologized, smiling kindly. "I believe Blackwhisker is waiting for you, though." Her tail flicked to the black tom, waiting near this large rock. I nodded to her and trotted towards him. He gave a short nod to me and lead me up a few dirt mounds, and into a cave.
"Foxstar, I brought their leader." the warrior called, taking his leave then.
"I wouldn't say I'm their leader..." I mumbled, tail lashing behind me. We were just... a group.
"Well, leader or not, I believe you pose a question for me." The red tabby tom took a step forward, out of the shadows of his den. He seemed strong, handsome even. The type of cat others would fear, in all honesty. But, I stood strong, and didn't let that fear control me. After all, this could mean life or death.
"Yes, I do." I started, voice strong. I even puffed my chest out a little. "I need to know if my friends and I can stay. Mimi just gave birth, quite literally right outside your camp, and needs rest. I'm willing to offer us all as warriors of your Clan, if need be." My words were well formed, so much so that the tom seemed startled. He stared for a few moments, before nodding.
"You'll have to be rid of your rogue names and ways, if you are to stay."
"I'm sure we're willing." I countered within a heart-beat. He smiled, briefly, before nodding.
"I'll call the Clan together once everyone is briefed on what will be happening." he promised, flicking his tail for me to leave. I gave a curt nod, said my thanks, and took my leave. When I made it outside, I noticed Coal and Storm, Storm shivering while Coal was staring Blackwhisker and a white she-cat down. I, confused, walked over, brushing my tail along my kits' backs.
"Sweethearts, is there something wrong?" I asked, my voice soft.
"Momma, these cats..." Storm started, instinctively pressing against me. Coal finished for her.
"These are our birth parents." He growled, hackles raised. A shiver went through me as I realized the resemblances between the four of them. How had I not noticed it before?
See, I found Storm and Coal a few moons ago, shivering in the leaf-bare snow. Storm was terribly sick, and both were horribly thin. Apparently, their parents left them to die after one of their siblings died. Of course, being the kind she-cat I was, I took them in, and raised them as my own. Hence why they call me 'Momma' instead of 'Cookie'. Also hence why I felt my fur ruffle a bit at the idea of my children being reunited with those who abandoned them.
"Well, its nice to meet you," I started, calm and civil. "But I must speak with my children and the rest of my group, so please, give us some space." the black tom obliged quickly, whereas the white she-cat faltered, growled, and followed in suit. Once I was sure they were out of earshot, I gave my children reassuring licks and spoke to everyone else.
"Foxstar is letting us stay here, as long as we change our names." I stated, a small smile on my face. The majority of the group seemed okay with it, while the rest were too consumed with their newborns to care for much. Just as I finished speaking, Foxstar left his den and called the Clan together.
"A group of loners have come to us for shelter, safety. I have accepted them into the Clan, as we could take all the warriors we could get in this day-and-age." he nodded to my group, and we slowly padded forward. "I will change their names, so that they adjust better. Cookie, you will become Thrushtail. Your friends will be Smokepelt, Nightfur, Patchnose, and Creamface." he nodded to Mokey, Luna, Rayn, and Mimi in turn.
"My- My children, I wish for them to be named Tadpolekit and Sweetkit." Creamface hummed, Patchnose pressing to her side. Foxstar only nodded, continuing on.
"Coal and Storm will become Coalpaw and Stormpaw. Stormpaw will be apprenticed to my deputy, Acornpelt." The deputy walked out, showing the small, fluffy grey she-cat how to demonstrate respect. "And Coalpaw, since you have a knack for herbs, I believe Dreamingsnow will take you as her apprentice." Just as he spoke, a white she-cat trotted out of her den, the scent of herbs thick on her pelt. The two repeated what Stormpaw and Acornpelt did moments before.
"And, finally, Ashes. You are much to old to join warrior ranks, so I assume you will be taking a spot in the elders den?" Foxstar asked. My father frowned before nodding.
"Yes, that is my wish. Don't make it sound like I can't fight, though." he warned, tail lashing.
"Well, from now on, you will be known as Ashtail. The elders will, hopefully, welcome a firey spirit like you." Foxstar continued after a short chuckle. The Clan then chanted their names in a long, list like format. Once everyone dispersed, the kit from before approached me.
"So you're staying?" Tigerkit, I believe, asked, hope filling her eyes. I nodded, watching as my group dispersed. Coalpaw was making a nest in his new den, whereas Patchnose, Creamface, and their new family settled in the nursery. Stormpaw, Acornpelt, and Ashtail all went to the elders den, and Nightfur was busy talking the ear off of some tom. Smokepelt was not to far off, prepared to pull a fight apart.
"Yep, for as long as we live, at least." I smiled softly, a purr rumbling in my throat.
"Silverkit, where's your sister?" I heard the child's mother call. Tigerkit squeaked, tail waving.
"Over here, Mom!" she called before she got into trouble. "I'm talking to Thrushtail!" the she-kit grinned. Her mother rolled her eyes and strolled over.
"I can see. Well, I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Spottedfur, and this is Silverkit. He's much more relaxed than his sister, trust me." she let out a good-natured laugh.
"Spottedfur!" a dark brown tabby tom called the mother, who only nodded back.
"Hey, do you mind watching them for a bit? They aren't a pawful, I promise. I just really need to stretch my legs, and Applewhisker isn't going to wait all day, and-"
"I get it, don't worry." I purred quietly. "Go have fun. You'll be back by sunhigh, possibly?" I asked, head tilted.
"And no later! Thank you, Thrushtail." And with that, the multicolored mother was off, with the tom I could only assume was her mate. The two kits and I then spent the next few hours of daylight wandering around the camp. They proceeded to show me each and every den, telling me the functions of each one. It was all fun, until the stench of blood reached my nose. I turned my gaze towards the camp's entrance, watching as the brown tabby from before brought the mangled body of the multicolored mother through the camp's entrance.
It didn't take long for the white medicine cat to stride past the kits and I, Coalpaw on her tail with some herbs. Despite having to heal us, I could feel shock radiating off of him. We just got here, after all, and we're already being thrust into Clan business. I watched as cats swarmed around to see what was going on, as Foxstar found himself busy fending everyone away, as a patrol left and Spottedfur's body was brought into the medicine den.
"Momma!" Tigerkit squealed as she tried to chase after the medicine cats, only to be stopped by my paw.
"Tigerkit, stay here. I'll figure it out for you, alright?" I promised. My gaze turned to Silverkit, who seemed frozen in shock. "Watch your sister, okay?" I asked him, tapping my tail on his shoulder. He vaguely nodded, brushing close to his sister. I saw Nightfur pad over, settling next to the kits and dipping her head to me. I nodded and slipped away.
I walked into the medicine den, the scent of herbs winding itself around me while I searched for the injured mother. I spotted Coalpaw not to far off and approached him, fur prickling. "What happened?" I asked, having a surprising amount of worry for a she-cat I just met.
"An enemy patrol attacked them." Coalpaw sighed, pressing his muzzle into my fur. He then began to walk off, looking over his shoulder. "I'll send Applewhisker out to you in just a moment. Take him and the kits away from the medicine den before they drive me up the wall." He ordered, stalking away. I held back an amused purr and nodded, taking my own leave. Soon enough, the worried father joined the anxious kits. I provided them a small meal, two mice, and waited beside them. Soon enough, the kits retired to the nursery, taking shelter with Creamface for the night, while Applewhisker reluctantly showed me where to make a nest.