Night was settling in, I could feel the breeze flow gently past my ears. Mother had just gone to make dirt and Bramblekit was asleep. I yawned tiredly but sat up when I heard a noise outside. I sniffed uncertainly. Who was it? A dark shape appeared in the entrance to the nursery.

"Bramblekit?" A voice asked quietly. I peered forwards curiously, but I still couldn't see who it was.

"He's asleep. Who is it?" I asked. The shape moved further into the den.

"Tawnykit? Its me Darkstripe." Sure enough I could see the dark tom standing in front of me. I could smell his excitement and my curiosity grew. Darkstripe hardly ever visited the nursery; in fact he had once ever been once!

"Would you like to meet your father? I can take you to see him if you like." he suggested. My eyes brightened and my ears pricked eagerly.

"Meet my father?" I asked. Suddenly we heard something from outside. It sounded like mother! Darkstripe tensed and he began speaking hurriedly to me.

"Okay perhaps not right now, but we'll arrange something soon, okay?" He meowed. Mother appeared behind Darkstripe and she stopped dead at the sight of him.

"Darkstripe, she said flatly. Darkstripe dipped his head courteously to mother.

"Goldenflower," he meowed politely but I caught a glint of fear in his eyes. I was confused. Why was Darkstripe scared of mother?

"I'd like to speak to you outside. Now," mother demanded. Both the cats turned and I began to follow them but mother turned around.

"Tawnykit, stay here with your brother," she told me firmly I sighed heavily and flopped down beside Bramblekit. He turned and let out a small snore. I ignored him and thought about what had happened.

Why was mother so cold to Darkstripe? And why didn't she talk about father? Or take us to see him? I strained my ears but I couldn't pick up any words from the conversation outside.

My paws tingled with excitement as I remembered Darkstripe's promise. We'll arrange something soon, he had said. My heart filled with longing to see my father and I fell asleep happily with one last thought. I'll see my father soon.


I open my eyes to a warm sunny day. I yawn and roll over, closing my eyes again because it's too bright. I take in a whiff of air and note that all the scents are the same. I relax but too soon. A sharp claw nudges me on the side and I reopen my eyes in annoyance.

Bramblekit is standing over me with his paw raised to do it again. I bat it away with a faint hiss of irritation. Bramblekit however takes no notice.

"Come on!" Bramblekit mews eagerly. "Let's go and play!" I wince at his loud tone.

"Shush." I warn him glancing around nervously to see if anyone has woken. No one stirs, least of all mother who is sleeping peacefully. "Okay. Lets go." I agree and Bramblekit follows me as I dash out of the den.

"Alright, I'm cat and you're mouse!" Bramblekit cries, racing towards me. I growl playfully as I dodge his thorn sharp claws.

"How come I'm always mouse?" I ask. Bramblekit runs towards me again. I groan inwardly. Surely he won't just keep running at me? I dodge him again but he had anticipated it. He leapt to the side and pinned me down as I accidentally leapt into him. Bramblekit grins.

"Cause you're not good at being the cat." He teases. He leaps off my chest lightly. I narrow my eyes and bowl into him as he releases me, pinning him down in turn.

"Or is it," I ask as I lean down to look into his eyes. "Because you're not clever enough to be mouse?" Bramblekit purrs good-naturedly as I get up. The sun is nice, warming us to the tips of our paws. Suddenly we hear a movement behind us, and we turn to see mother exit the nursery.

She yawns widely and stretches her legs as she walks over to us.

"I'm just going to make dirt and then I'll be back. Okay?" She asks. We nod obediently, tired after our previous scuffle. Mother slips behind the nursery; anxiously looking back to make sure we're safe. As she disappears I turn to Bramblekit hesitantly.

"Bramblekit." I ask him. He turns to face me, his amber eyes wide and curious. "Has mother ever told you about our father?" Bramblekit's expression changed to puzzlement.

"No, she hasn't. Why, who is he?" I shake my head.

"I don't know." I hear a rustling from behind the nursery and fell silent. Mother steps out to greet us again.

"Hello kits. Will you be good if I send Willowpelt out to watch while I take a nap?" We nod again and Bramblekit turns to me, a question held clearly in his eyes. I pause for a second and then give him a tiny shake of my head. Mother watches us in bewilderment but then she sighs and returns to the den for a nap.

Bramblekit turns to me in annoyance and regret lies in his words. " Why didn't you let me ask her?" He asked irritably.

"Don't be like that, you know she never answers about father." I replied my hackles rising. Bramblekit shrugged stubbornly and I could feel my temper increasing. I was glad when an interruption came.

I felt rather than saw Darkstripe approach. As we turned to him excitement pricked my paws. Darkstripe's eyes gleamed.

"Hello Tawnykit." He greeted me. "Hello Bramblekit." He meowed to my brother who seemed confused but the gray black warrior didn't give him a chance to ask questions.

"I think its time that you got to meet your father, don't you?" He said. I leapt up at once and watched, as Bramblekit's eyes grew wide and eager.

"Yes, yes!" Bramblekit replied at once, jumping to his paws. Darkstripe chuckled. "Come on then, let's go!" He turned and began to head towards the camp exit.


A teeny weeny bit of a cliffee. More action in the next chapter I promise! If you review. Thankyou very much to all of my reviewers so far! It'd be really helpful for later on if you could tell me who your favourite and least favourite ShadowClan cats are, and what I can improve on in my writing. Thanks!

Review!