Disclaimer: I own all the characters in this story, but Erin Hunter owns the clan names, traditions, all that stuff. :]
AN: Oooh, Mossface's kits are finally here! So excited, right? Hahah, I bet you aree! Lol. Just kidding… maybe. Anyway, I'm hoping to get some more reviews, so, please review! It makes me more motivated to write the chapters faster. :]
Mossface woke up to a small paw prodding her side. Mossface slowly opened up her eyes, seeing Rushkit's small little head in her face.
"Am I able to play with your kits now?" he asked. Mossface rolled her eyes. The kit asked her this everyday after they were born.
"No Rushkit," she meowed. "Leopardkit and Tanglekit are too young to play; they were only born two weeks ago!" Mossface chuckled. "Why don't you go play with Badgerkit, or Smokekit?" Rushkit shrugged, and then ran off to play with his littermates.
Both of Mossface's kits were she-cats. Tanglekit had a ginger pelt like Mossface. Mossface knew that her two kits would grow up and be very beautiful – they were already beautiful. But yet, that's only her opinion.
Leopardkit's fur is a very light gray, yet her paws are black like Mossface's. Both of the kit's eyes were still closed. Mossface lay on her side, the two kits suckling. She saw Rabbitleg coming towards her. He was very proud to have his own two daughters, even though he was an elder. He lay down by his mate, at the entrance of the nursery, which he seemed to be doing more and more often.
Rabbitleg gave his mate an affectionate lick on the ear. Ashtalon lay on the other side of the nursery entrance, and it seemed like he was staring, almost glaring, at Smokekit. He probably can't just accept his son's disabilities, she thought sorrowfully. The small tom was sleeping, curled up in a tight ball, while Badgerkit was watching Mossface's kits with great interest.
Mossface looked at her mate, with a purr. At the very back of the den, was Swifttalon's remaining kits. It was nearly their time to be apprentices, thank StarClan. It'd be less crowded in here, Mossface thought to herself.
"Hey, why don't you guys go have some fun out of the den?" Whitesnow suggested to them. Revengekit simply looked at her, his eyes dark, as if he was lonely. Rushkit bounced up towards them.
"Yeah, we should go play!" he said cheerfully, his tail high in the air. Deathkit looked at him from her sitting position, and shook her head.
"No." she meowed stiffly. Rushkit crinkled his nose, and padded away, out of the den and into the center of camp.
Mossface looked over to them. She then looked at Whitesnow. "Whitesnow, if they get hungry, can you feed them please?" she asked. Once the white she-cat nodded her agreement, Mossface stood up after the kits released her. Mossface walked past Rabbitleg, and saw Thornnose and Sparrowwing. The orange tabby she-cat gave her a smile, and Mossface returned it.
"Hey, have either of you seen Flowerstar?" Thornnose had a thoughtful look on his face before replying.
"I think she might be out hunting. Is it something urgent?"
"Not exactly."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mossface walked over the brambles and vines with ease, walking towards the Sky Oak. She could hear Flowerstar from here, with Greenpaw.
" – demand to know why you've been out of the camp so much!"
"Flowerstar, I've only been hunt-!"
"But not bringing any food! Greenpaw, you know that ThunderClan is having quite a hard time with trusting, and you think this is the perfect time to just go around out of the camp, and now you're trying to lie to me?!"
"I have nothing to do with Swifttalon! I'm innocent!"
"Yet, I don't quite think so!"
Mossface fled after that. She didn't want to hear any more of their fight. Mossface ran directly past the Sky Oak, heading towards the lake. She slowed down her pace as she came closer to the water, and soon she just stopped at the water's edge. Mossface took in the lake's scent, a calm feeling coming over her.
"Hello."
Mossface jumped at the sudden voice, her fur bristled. She turned sharply to the right, and soon her fur flattened once more. It was the voice of a tom, his fur bracken-coloured, and his pelt smooth and sleek.
"Oh, it's only you, Brackenthorn." She meowed, a calm feeling coming over her again. The tom smiled.
"Aren't you wondering why I'm here?" he asked. After a moment, Mossface realized he was right.
"Actually, yes. Why are you here? I think you'd better hurry back in case someone comes." Mossface meowed, taking a quick look around. Brackenthorn put a smile on his face.
"I came to see you. I actually wanted to tell you something." He meowed. Brackenthorn leaned in, closer to Mossface's face. She slightly recoiled at the large tom, her eyes wide. He pulled himself back, and chuckled quietly. Mossface waited, but he didn't say anything.
"Well, what is it?"
"Swifttalon is now looking for recruits in RiverClan." Mossface's jaw dropped in shock. Oh StarClan, she can't be! She thought worriedly, thoughts racing in her mind.
"Is she getting any? How many is there in her group? Is she threatening RiverClan?" Brackenthorn placed his tail on her lips, shushing her.
"No one from RiverClan has left yet. But there is murmuring about leaving RiverClan to join her." He meowed. Brackenthorn opened his mouth to continue, but Mossface could hear cats in the undergrowth nearby. Mossface looked urgently up to him.
"Cats coming." She growled quietly. "Go. NOW." Mossface gently shoved him. Brackenthorn took the signal, and sped off, into ShadowClan's pine trees. She turned her body to stare out at the lake, watching the ripples move very slowly.
Flowerstar came out of the bracken and ferns. "So, Swifttalon's gone to RiverClan too." She meowed. Mossface felt this pang of guilt hit her heart. She looked at her leader.
"Yes." She answered. "I guess you heard our whole conversation, huh?" Mossface asked. Flowerstar nodded, and padded towards her to sit beside her.
"And I know you heard mine with Greenpaw." She meowed. Flowerstar sighed, looking down at her paws. "You know, Mossface, I just get so suspicious so easily, it's hard to contain myself. I don't want to seem like a bad leader or anything - ."
"Bad leader? Flowerstar, what are you talking about? You're only thinking for the good of the clan." Mossface meowed. "That's all that matters." She added. Flowerstar looked up from her paws to Mossface.
"You really think so?"
"Of course."
Flowerstar gave a smile, with a small laugh. Mossface looked back to the white she-cat.
"Hey Flowerstar, I've been meaning to ask you something… about Swifttalon's kits." Mossface started. Flowerstar's head slightly tilted, and Mossface continued. "I think their names should be changed. I haven't spoken to them about anything yet, but I think their current names are slightly… holding that dark memory of their mother to them," she meowed. Flowerstar thought about it slightly, and nodded.
"I would have to talk to them," was pretty much all the she-cat said. Flowerstar stood herself up, and shook her pelt. "Good-bye." She meowed, and nodded her farewell, before she took off, disappearing into the undergrowth.
The only thing Mossface thought to do was to get back to camp. Leopardkit and Tanglekit were probably wondering where their mother was. After all, Whitesnow's long fur felt quite different from Mossface's short fur.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Leopardkit and Tanglekit were fast asleep beside Whitesnow, along with her three other kits. Rabbitleg had lain himself down where Mossface previously was. Deathkit, Revengekit, and Lifelesskit lay by themselves at the back of the den. Mossface poked her nose into the nursery, smiling at Rabbitleg.
"Hey," she whispered. Rabbitleg stood up, padding out of the nursery to let Mossface lie down where he was. He smiled back at her, still standing.
"Hi," he meowed. Mossface gently picked her kits up by the scruff, placing them beside her tummy. Rabbitleg now lay down, watching his kits with great interest. He had his nose quite close to the kits, sniffing them slightly. Mossface wanted to tell him to back away from the kits, but knew that he just wanted to see their kits.
Leopardkit squeaked a bit, twisting slightly so she could eat, Tanglekit following suit. Rabbitleg gave Tanglekit a small lick, purring gently. He looked up at Mossface, his smile brighter than Mossface had ever seen it before.
Mossface's sister came towards the nursery from the medicine cat den. Spottedfire smiled softly. "Time for their check-up," she announced cheerfully. Mossface nodded, and broke the bond she had with the kits. Spottedfire gently pulled Leopardkit closer to her, and soon began to gently press her paws along her ribs and spine. The look on Spottedfire's face told Mossface something was wrong…
Mossface's facial expression froze. "What is it, Spottedfire?" she meowed, demanding. "What is bothering you?" The calico sat herself down, and sighed.
"The kit has a slight abnormal bend in the spine." Spottedfire meowed softly. "However, it shouldn't keep her from being a warrior." Mossface could feel Whitesnow's jealous glare burning into her back. She put a smile on her face.
"Well, as long as it doesn't affect her future." Mossface commented. Spottedfire nodded to her sister.
"She just won't be able to sit or stand for a very long period of time, that's all." Mossface nodded slowly. The mother was afraid that something might be wrong with Tanglekit too. However, when Spottedfire was done checking her, she reported that nothing was wrong with Tanglekit. Mossface said thanks to the medicine cat, and lay herself down again to let the kits feed.
Rabbitleg still watched them. "Mossface…" he meowed softly to her, not looking up from the kits.
"What?"
"They're so..." Rabbitleg finally decided to look up, and gave her a smile. Mossface waited for him to finish. "They're so… perfect." His smile became brighter, and he nudged Tanglekit softly, taking a deep breath of her scent.
Mossface smiled as well. "I guess you can say that," she meowed. Her head rested on her paws, and she closed her eyes like she did so many times with Rabbitleg at her side in the warriors den. Mossface sighed slightly, relaxing a bit. He gave her a lick on the side of her muzzle.
"Have a good night," he told her, getting to his paws. However, Mossface was already asleep.
