Lionblaze was laying in front of the warriors den, soaking up the weak rays of warmth from the leaf-bare sun. He pawed the sand unconsciously; it had become a habit for him. That's what happened when you're confined in the hollow for two moons, one would guess.

Oh right; that.

Lionblaze sighed heavily and rolled onto his side. After his little 'brawl' with Foxleap, His punishment rested on Foxleap's conditions. To put it bluntly, if Foxleap survived, Bramblestar would deiced Lionblaze's punishment. If he had died, Lionblaze would have been banished. Even now the golden tabby winced just thinking about it. But Jayfeather had made sure Foxleap pulled through, much to Lionblaze's relief. And keeping his promise, as soon as Foxleap was able to walk again, (nine sunrises after Lionblaze's attack,) Foxleap had a little 'talk' with Cinderheart.

Everyone in the clan heard their talk. It lasted from sunhigh to sunset, and at one point Cinderheart had run out to find Bramblestar and bring him into the conversation; apparently Foxleap didn't want her to have anything to do with the kits. Later, Foxleap had Jayfeather join the argument (to see if there were any herbs that they could give Brightheart to allow her to feed his kits). And lastly, Jayfeather had asked for help from Leafpool at one point (to clarify his awkward confusion). But by the end of the day, they had reached their discussion.

Foxleap had turned out to be the victor in the argument, and Cinderheart moved back into the warriors den. Foxleap had gained full custody over the kits- Cinderheart was to have nothing to do with them. She was not allowed to raise their kits, as a kind of punishment. Foxleap was very persistant, while Cinderheart relented without much of a fight. And with extra helpings of borage, Brightheart was able to feed Foxleap's kits since Dewkit, Amberkit, and Snowkit were starting to eat solid food now. Berrynose had been training Cherrypaw in Foxleap's absence, and life had gone on as normal.

But then there was Lionblaze's punishment.

Until Foxleap was well enough to walk, Lionblaze had to sleep outside of the warriors den, in the hollow. Bramblestar mentioned something about not wanting more of his warriors attacked in the middle of the night, Lionblaze recalled. And after it was clear Foxleap was going to survive, Bramblestar sentenced him to two moons of confinement in the hollow. It would have been more, But it was leaf-bare now, and Bramblestar needed warriors for hunting. Lionblaze also had to do all of the apprentices chores, and he wasn't even permitted to collect his own moss. He had to take moss from Jayfeather's den; which was now was only home to the blue tabby and Briarlight since Spiderleg dyed due to his infected wound.

But now, almost two moons later, Lionblaze waited anxiously for the sun to set and for it to rise the next day, because after the gathering tonight, he would be able to roam freely in the forest once more.

"Rawr! I'm gonna get you!"

"Eeep!"

Lionblaze looked up at the familiar mew. Icecloud was in the clearing, playing with Foxleap's kits.

"Ooh, you look like a tasty meal," With one paw, Icecloud held down the she-kit that looked exactly like her father, but for the amber eyes. Icecloud had named her Vixenkit.

"No! Help! Daddy!" The orange-red kit wailed

Foxleap sat outside the medicine cat's den as Jayfeather examined how his wounds were healing. He raised his head when he heard his kit calling for help.
"Sorry Vixenkit, I'm a bit held up. Basilkit, go help your sister!"

No sooner had he spoken then the small black and white kit leaped onto his aunt's tail.
"Let her go! It's ok Vixenkit, I'm saving you!"

Icecloud released the small she-kit trapped under her paw and spun around to face Foxleap's second kit, Basilkit. Foxleap had named him; after being in the medicine cat's den for a while, that was the only name he could think of. He had been awkward around his kit's at first, Lionblaze reflected, insisting that Icecloud help him name them.

"Run!" Basilkit squealed in terror at Icecloud as she began chasing him around the clearing. Vixenkit soon joined her brother, both of them screaming in mock terror.

Icecloud's movement were smooth and steady, her muscle rippling under her beautiful white pelt. Her eyes, deep blue like the lake, were lit up in joy and love. If only she was looking at Lionblaze with those eyes-
Wait, what?

Lionblaze shook his head. All this time in camp was getting to him. He stood up to stretch; his ray of sunlight had since vanished without him noticing. Just as he was shaking the sand out of his pelt, he heard a small yowl of surprise, and looked over at the nursery to see that Foxleap had tackled and pinned down his sister, allowing his kits to follow suite and dive at her with tiny claws unsheathed; which tickled her more than hurt her, from the sound of her cute laughter.
Wait, what did I just think?

"So I hear you're trying to eat my kits," Foxleap growled at Icecloud playfully.

Between fits of giggles, Icecloud managed to choke out, "N-no! I..I would n-ne-never..." another fit of laughter as Vixenkit jumped off of her stomach and onto her head, attacking her ears.
Icecloud lifted a paw and easily brushed the kit off, and Foxleap stepped back, allowing Icecloud to get up. Basilkit hung on tightly to Icecloud's side, squeaking in fear as he rose off the ground. Icecloud winced slightly.
"Ow. Your claws are getting sharper," Foxleap grabbed the kit's scruff and picked him off of the white she-cats side, setting him down next to his sister.

"Awwww, daddy! I wanna play some more!" Vixenkit whine was matched by her brother's.

"Later. Right now you two need to take a nap."

"But I don't want to miss Seedkit's and Lilykit's Ceremony!" Basilkit wailed as Foxleap began to herd them into the nursery.
"Me neither!" Lionblaze couldn't help but smile. Vixenkit never could be left out of an argument. Or a play fight. Or anything, really.

"I'll wake you up," Foxleap promised his kits.

"And I'll remind him to remind you guys!" Icecloud called to them before they disappeared into the brambles that surrounded the nursery.

Lionblaze blinked, suddenly worrying that someone had seen him watching the kits. He trotted closer to the entrance of the camp, following the rays of light and warmth on their journey across the camp. Sighing, he lay down again. He had already cleaned out the elders bedding that morning, as well as the apprentices bedding, and all the Warriors bedding; so he could spend the last few hours of the daylight relaxing.

Instead, he had spent it watching the kits that should have been his.


"Mousewhisker, you are ready to take on your own apprentice. You had received excellent training from Spiderleg, may we honor his memory, and you have shown yourself to be noble and brave. You will be the mentor of Seedpaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her."

Mousewhisker humbly walked up to a wide-eyed Seedpaw, and they touched noses.
"Seedpaw! Lilypaw! Seedpaw! Lilypaw!"

Icecloud called out their names as earnestly as any other of her clanmates, although she was a bit jealous that she had not been chosen to mentor one of them. Next time, She thought earnestly.

Seedpaw ran over to join her sister, newly named Lilypaw, with her mentor, Blossomfall.

"Seedpaw! Lilypaw! Seedpaw! Lilypaw!"
Vixenkit and Basilkit still crowed their old den mates names to the slowly-darkening sky, heedless to Foxleap's attempts to quiet them down.

Icecloud purred at her brother's misfortune. What she really wanted was to mentor one of his kits, but they were kin, so Icecloud doubted her chances. Although needless to say, Icecloud loved Vixenkit and Basilkit to pieces.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lionblaze get up and walk into the warriors den. Of course, he wouldn't be going to the gathering tonight. Icecloud wasn't going either, but that was her own choice. After the night she saved her brother, she has been too embarrassed to even slightly look at Lionblaze; even now, her pelt felt hot as he walked past her. Trying to distract herself from the handsome tom, Icecloud walked over to her brother. He always distracted her when she needed it.

"Icecloud!" Basilkit was the first one to spot her coming over. He ran over to her, tripping on his own paws in the proses, and tumbling head over tail in the dust.
"Hi Icecloud!" scrambling over her fallen brother, Vixenkit was the first to reach her side.
Foxleap shook his head.

"Could you get them to bed for me? I have to check up with Jayfeather," The orange-red tom waved his tail in the direction of the medicine cat's den idly.

Icecloud purred as Basilkit scrambled to his paws and pounced on his sister's tail in revenge. "Sure, and I'll make sure they eat too."

Foxleap dipped his head, relieved "Thanks, Ice."

As their father walked away, Basilkit asked "Are we gunna havta eat solid food again?"

Vixenkit match her brother's pout "I want milk!"

Icecloud stood up and began walking to the fresh-kill pile. "Sorry, you're 'gunna havta' eat a mouse."
The kits whined in union as they stood up to follow her.

"Sorry, but Brightheart is out of milk!" Not that she had much to begin with.
Icecloud picked a mouse out of the fresh-kill pile, and set it down for them to sniff. "Are you going to be able to chew it your self's?"

Vixenkit shook her head "uh-uhh."

Sighing, Icecloud laid down and took a bite of the kill, chewing it for the kits. When she thought it suffice, she set down the softened chunk of meat and gestured for the kits to eat it. After sniffing it thoroughly, they finally began to nibble off little pieces.
Icecloud took another bite of mouse, and when it was softened enough, put it next to the other piece which was already almost gone.

She continued this proses uninterrupted, until she felt herself being watched. Slowly tilting her head to the warriors den, where she saw Cinderheart's cold gaze boring into Icecloud's white pelt. Icecloud shivered.

"Moar!"

Icecloud looked back at the kits, who had already eaten most of the mouse.

"Try to chew the rest by your self's, I need to go do something." Leaving before they had a chance to complain, Icecloud trotted over to the warriors den.

Outside it, Cinderheart sat, her eyes never leaving Icecloud's pelt. Feeling slightly brave, Icecloud walked straight to her.

"Is something wrong, Cinderheart?" Icecloud asked it politely. No need to start a fight over nothing.

"Yes, something is wrong." Cinderheart snarled back.

Well then. Icecloud took a step back in surprise, and Cinderheart stood up, bristling.

"I don't mind leaving the nursery early, and I don't mind not raising those little balls of dirt- but I do mind you."

Icecloud took another step back. "Look, I don't want to start a fight-"

Cinderheart took a step forward, matching her. "You're always playing with my kits, feeding my kits, taking care of my kits- well if I can't raise them, you shouldn't either!"

Icecloud was shocked. "But you just said you- What do you mean, I shouldn't raise them? Their my kin!"

"Their my kits," Cinderheart hissed, leaning in closer to Icecloud's ear. "And I'm telling you to back off."

"That's enough." Lionblaze stepped forward, pushing Cinderheart back and standing in between the quarreling she-cats. Icecloud hadn't notice him come out.

Cinderheart turned her harsh gaze on Lionblaze, then after realizing it was him, let her ears fall back and her gaze soften dramatically.

"Lionblaze, love-"

"Shut up, Cinderheart. I've told you we're not mate's anymore-"

"But you were only joking!" Cinderheart's voice purred with laughter, making Icecloud want to hurl.

Lionblaze growled. "You really think that I would want to stay mates with you? After you lied to me and cheated on me? After you gave birth to kit's that weren't mine?"

Cinderheart looked up thoughtfully. "um- oh, right! That! You still remember that? Why would someone dwell on such a silly thing, that happened moons ago!"

"I heard you talking about it with Icecloud." A familiar hot feeling crept up her pelt as Lionblaze stepped back, allowing Cinderheart's and Icecloud's gaze's to meet again.

"We were only talking about how nicely the kit's were growing! Seriously, Lionblaze; why are you so suspicious? It's not like I'm cheating on you or anyth-" Cinderheart cut off her sentence, too late realizing her mistake. For a long while, Lionblaze just stared at her. Cinderheart looked back at him with wide, innocent-looking eyes laced with nervousness.

But in the end, Lionblaze stalked away, back into the Warriors den. Cinderheart looked absolutely crestfallen, and Icecloud couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her. Until Cinderheart looked back at her, her eye's once again alight in hate. She opened her mouth to say something, but Bramblestar's call interrupted her.

"Cats of Thunderclan! It is time to leave for the gathering!" The sun had finally finished it's journey across the sky, and Silverpelt was beginning to show.

"Don't think this is over," Cinderheart hissed as she stalked over to join her clanmates.

Soon, the cat's leaving for the gathering had all gone, and the hollow was quiet once more. And Icecloud could once again think.
What just happened? Cinderheart was talking as if she barely even cared about her kits- With a start, Icecloud realized that she had forgotten completely about Basilkit and Vixenkit.

Her heart sunk to her paws as she saw that the clearing by the fresh-kill pile where she had left them was now empty, with only the mouse bone's and fur to prove that they were ever there. She trotted over to the nursery, not wanting to cause a scene if they were safe.

Sticking her head inside, Icecloud sighed in relief when she spotted their sleeping forms snuggled against Brightheart's belly with Dewkit, Amberkit, and Snowkit. Icecloud made a note to thank Brightheart later. Icecloud quietly pulled out her head, not wanting to wake the queen and the kits.

"How are they?" Startled, Icecloud spun around to face Foxleap.

"Starclan! Don't sneak up on me like that!" Icecloud licked her chest, trying to flatten her ruffled fur. "They're fine," she paused raising her head to look into her brother's eyes. "More than fine. They're perfect. You're one lucky tom," Icecloud swatted her brother over the ears playfully.

Purring, Foxleap ducked his head in the nursery, just to be sure. After a couple heartbeats, he pulled his head back, eyes glowing with love.
"I wish they would be kits forever. They really are perfect."

Icecloud felt the need to remind him, "Kit's become Warriors. One day you will be battling alongside them,"

Foxleap's gaze lost it's soft glow, and Icecloud's words were met with silence. Then, he turned back so he was facing the nursery again, and almost too quiet for Icecloud to hear, whispered, "I will not let anything take away what's in front of me."

Icecloud rested her tail on her brother's shoulder, and lead him away, into the Warrior's den for sleep. Once they were inside, and settling down to sleep, Icecloud noticed something. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a small movement.

It was Lionblaze, shifting to try and get comfortable in his nest. He was still awake. With a slight hesitation, Icecloud walked over to his nest, stepping over Daisy and Toadstep's sleeping forms- they were the only other Warrior's not going to the gathering.

Reaching Lionblaze's nest, the golden tom raised his head, hearing her approach.
"Icecloud? Is that you?"

"Er- Yea, It's me." Suddenly Icecloud felt like a mouse-brain for walking over there. What was she going to say?

"Is something wrong?"

"Uh- no, nothing's wrong." She paused, feeling like the stupidest cat in the clan. Possibly around the whole lake. "I-uh, wanted to thank you. For getting Cinderheart off my tail- you know, metaphorically. As in, stopping her before she pounced on me." Smooth.

Luckily for Icecloud, Lionblaze was half-asleep, so he didn't hear half of what she said anyways. "Huh? Oh, It's no problem. Cinderheart just needs to calm down..." Then, Lionblaze lost all will to talked about his ex-mate and fell silent.

After a few heartbeats- the most embarrassing moments in Icecloud's entire life- Lionblaze spoke again.

"Ahem- Uh, yea. It was no problem."

Icecloud dipper her head. "Still, Thank you." She straightened up again, and before she could embarrass herself anymore, mewed a goodnight and walked back to her own nest. Foxleap, in a nest next to Icecloud's, raised an eyebrow as she came back. She kindly stuck her tongue out at him in return.

Curling up in her nest, the white she-cat couldn't help but smile as she drifted off to sleep.