Shadekit ran out of the nursery after her brother, pausing as she saw him run out of the Windclan camp. She went to go follow him but was stopped by Barkclaw who placed a paw on her tail.
"Oh no you don't! I'm going to go after him, please go tell Rushstar so he can send a patrol to look as well." Barkclaw meowed, staring at Shadekit for a moment until she nodded. He then raced out of the camp, gone in almost an instant. Shadekit wondered if she would ever be able to run that fast. She did have Windclan blood in her after all. She turned and ran towards Rushstars den, poking her head inside.
"Rushstar!" she meowed, her blue eyes wide in fear for her brother. They were told many times not to leave the Windclan camp. There were so many dangers out there. Dogs, twolegs, and the thing they had to look out for most- hawks. Being on an open plain, it was extremely dangerous for a kit to be out. They were an easy meal for hawks. They even had to be careful in camp. There was always someone on guard inside the Windclan camp that watched the sky for hawks.
"Shadekit? What's the matter?" Rushstar meowed, jumping up from where he was laying with Leafdapple and running over to her.
"Thunderkit ran out of the camp! Barkclaw went to go find him but what if he gets hurt or lost!" Shadekit cried, her tiny body shaking a little.
"I'll send a patrol. Leafdapple! Take her to the nursery please." he meowed, running out of his den and calling a few warriors that were around the camp. Leafdapple got to her paws and walked over to Shadekit, resting her tail on her back.
"It's okay little one. If anyone can find your brother it's Rushstar." she meowed, lifting her in her mouth by the scruff and carrying her towards the nursery. Shadekit knew she was a little big to be carried, considering she was four moons old, but she didn't protest because she didn't think her legs would be able to carry her they were shaking so much. She couldn't go on without Thunderkit. He had to come back. It was her fault he ran off, she should have asked him how he was feeling instead of feeling sorry for Barkclaw. So much has happened in the past twenty minutes her head was spinning. Leafdapple sat her down in her nest where Coalkit and Pansykit were laying.
"What's going on? What's wrong Shadekit?" Coalkit asked, getting up and nosing his sister.
"Thunderkit ran out of camp he got so upset beca-" she cut off and looked at Leafdapple who was still looking down at them. "I'm okay now Leafdapple. Thank you. I promise I'll stay here with Coalkit and Pansykit. I don't want to cause more trouble." Shadekit meowed. Leafdapple nodded.
"I'll be outside little one if any of you need me. Soon I'll be in here with you!" she meowed, trying to distract them from the news about their brother. She then turned and padded out of the nursery.
"What do you mean he ran out of camp! Is he mouse-brained!?" Pansykit meowed, her tail flicking.
"He was upset, I don't think he was thinking clearly!" Shadekit meowed in defense of her brother.
"Everyone is just stressed out from what we found out today… but Snowkit was right earlier. It doesn't change who we are. I'm still Coalkit, just like you're still Shadekit, Pansykit is still Pansykit, and Thunderkit is still Thunderkit. I'm sure the warriors will find him quickly. They can run a lot faster then we can, and they are used to tracking scents on the moor. Thunderkit will come back." Coalkit meowed, his blue eyes serious. Shadekit wondered how he could always stay so calm all the time. Coalkit always acted so much older then his age.
"Come back from where?" Midnightkit meowed, creeping up to them slowly. Her blue eyes were wide, and her black fur was ruffled a bit. "Where is Thunderkit?" she asked. Shadekit knew that Midnightkit had feelings for her brother. She was always trailing after Thunderkit and trying to impress him, but Thunderkit always just looked the other way.
"He ran off after we heard what we did…. but Barkclaw, Rushstar, and some of the warriors are out looking for him now." Shadekit meowed.
"This is all my fault! I should have never suggested that we spied!" Midnightkit meowed, bowing her head. Snowkit walked up to his sister, he had heard what they were all saying.
"It's not your fault that Thunderkit had to overreact Midnightkit." Snowkit meowed, his white tail lashing back and forth. "When is your brother going to think of others instead of just himself!?" Snowkit asked.
Pansykit bristled, "He does think of others all the time! Just because he doesn't get all starry eyed over you sister doesn't me-"
"Enough! This does no good. Lets just wait and see when he comes back." Coalkit snapped, glaring at the other kits. Shadekit sighed, tensions were very high. She knew Snowkit was a good cat. He was always kind to everyone, but he did get a temper when it came to Thunderkit. She knew it was because he saw how much he affected his sister.
Shadekit padded over to the entrance of the nursery and looked out into the camp. There wasn't anyone left except for Leafdapple and Heatherfur, who had taken up the watch for the hawks. Just then Barkclaw came running over top of the clearing, down into the camp. His fur was ruffled and his amber eyes were wide with worry. Shadekit ran up to him.
"Did you find Thunderkit?!" she asked, her blue eyes wide.
"No I didn't. Rushstar made me come back to camp just incase anyone needed me." Barkclaw spat, his tail lashing. Shadekit had never seen him so mad. Barkclaw was always calm and collected, but right now he was anything but. She realized he was just as worried about Thunderkit as she was.
"Barkclaw… we overheard what Heatherfur said to you. Is it true, are you our father?" Shadekit asked, her voice quiet. She didn't blame Barkclaw like her brother did. What happened happened. She was just lucky to be alive.
Barkclaw's ear went down in sorrow. "He heard… that's why he ran? He must hate me…" he trailed off looking down at his paws. He bowed his head, turning his eyes back to his daughter. "Yes Shadekit, I am your father. I'm sorry you had to find out this way. But just know that I love you and your litter mates with all of my heart. I am this clans medicine cat, but I will always be the father you need me to be." he told her, resting his tail on her shoulder.
"It's okay Barkclaw. I'm not angry with you. Who was our mother?" Shadekit asked, her head tilting to the side. Barkclaw swallowed, his eyes looked very pained.
"Your mother… your mother was the Thunderclan medicine cat. Her name was Starrysky. You remind me so much of her Shadekit. She was beautiful, just like you. She was kind, and you have her blue eyes." he told her, touching her head with his nose. "We made a mistake. We fell in love even though it was forbidden, but I don't regret it. I got four amazing kits out of it." Barkclaw told her. Shadekit nodded. She couldn't blame Barkclaw for falling in love, could she? She had never personally been in love or felt it, but she's seen Rushstar and Leafdapple, and Heatherfur and Graywing. Surely it was normal and it happened to every cat. Even a medicine cat.
"Thank you for being honest with me. And thank you for bringing us here to Windclan and not leaving us." Shadekit told him. She rubbed against her fathers leg with a purr and then ran back towards the nursery. She wanted to tell Coalkit and Pansykit about their mother!