How was everyone's holidays? I hope they went well! Happy New Years to you all, too! Sorry for not updating for so long and it's such a crappy chapter! My excuse? Um….family and food. Yup, best excuse ever.

Well, on with the story! Read and review!

Chapter 9

Larkblossom

-Timeskip-

Unsure of herself and what to do, Larkblossom shifted uncomfortably in her nest to face the window. Dusk had kindly taken her kits with her to go play with the Twolegs to give her some time alone. She lashed her tail and hissed as she realized she knew what she had to do. Despite her instinct telling her not to, she rose from the soft nest and padded up to the window and pushed it open and hopped outside onto the 'roof' as Dusk called it, and made her way down to the ground. Larkblossom then followed the same path she had several sunrises ago, but this time she was alone, and her belly had swollen double its size making the trip slightly difficult for her.

The brown queen slowly made her way past the other Twoleg nests and towards the fence that separated her from the large Thunderpath and the Clans. She jumped up and struggled her way up the fence but finally heaved herself up onto the top. She stayed there for a moment to catch her breath (and was amazed how easily tired she was) and surveyed the area with wary brown eyes. It had stopped snowing for a few sunrises, but it still was bitterly cold and the wind had begun to pick up though it appeared to Larkblossom that it was soon going to be sunhigh.

From where she sat, she noticed there was lots of ice on the Thunderpath, and it seemed that no monsters were barreling their way down the dark passage way as they normally did.

Deemed it was safe enough, she carefully picked her way down the fence and gingerly hopped onto the frozen ground. She waited for a moment with ears twitching to listen for any movement of unwanted company, then proceeded towards her destination. Uncertainty coursed through her mind as she approached the powerful scent of her prior home and halted.

You didn't put much thought into this…you don't even know if the right cats you want will even be on patrol! She mentally scolded herself as she peered into the forest. Familiar scents drifted towards her, and she recognized them immediately. To her luck, the forms of Redheart, Shallowpuddle, and Jayfrost appeared in the distance and were far away enough they hadn't noticed her yet. She dashed over into a bush and peered out from underneath it. She gazed intently at Redheart, wondering how she could attract the queen's attention without alarming the others. Then she saw Fawntail and Kindlestrike sprint after the patrol, eyes wide and fur fluffed up in excitement. She understood why as she saw Nightwhisper chasing after the pair. Larkblossom chuckled quietly as she realized how playful her friends were.

Shallowpuddle had stopped and turned to glare at Kindlestrike with annoyance. Her son smiled bashfully and slowed to a trot beside Fawntail. The pretty calico she-cat giggled and hopped away from the group and towards where Larkblossom was hiding. Larkblossom flattened her ears against her head knowing if Fawntail saw her, she wouldn't have time to explain to the warrior why she had fled the Clan without blowing her cover. Though it's only Shallowpool you don't want to be seen by, she thought in realization.

If only she could get the others alone!

Kindlestrike

A glob of partially melted snow hit his back as he raced away beside Fawntail. The calico giggled happily as she pranced away from Nightwhisper whom chased them with the threat of throwing snow on the pair. He laughed and smiled awkwardly as his mother Shallowpool stopped to glare at him. He knew what she was thinking. They slowed to a trot beside her while recovering their breath until Fawntail hopped away again and resumed their chase without him. He at his mother expectantly, tail twitching.

"You need to stop acting like a kit." He knew those were the words she was going to choose before they even came out of the blue-gray she-cat's mouth. He sighed and closed his eyes in annoyance.

"I know that, mother. You've only said so since I was actually a kit." He growled angrily as her green eyes narrowed at him. The rest of the patrol had fallen silent at the strong presence of such irritation crackling in the air. They gingerly stepped back from the mother and son and dispersed themselves away from them. Kindlestrike watched Nightwhisper and Jayfrost hover close by- they didn't want him to be completely isolated to her wrath. Redheart stood in the distance, not quite sure of what was going on.

"Do you think Thornstar would choose you as a deputy if he saw you acting like this?" She asked critically and looked Kindlestrike straight in the eyes. He only glared back as he watched her draw her lips into a snarl.

"You were no worth as a kit- too small, a weakling! Now you've finally outgrown that and you're acting like you have no sense! Your sister is a better warrior than you, and she's an apprentice!" That did it. He let out a ragged snarl and scared her to the ground.

"Don't you dare drag Smallpaw into my ways of living the way I do!" He hissed at her, uninhibited anger glowing in his eyes. "Owlflight is still alive, and I have not even received my first apprentice yet! It is you who doesn't have sense!" The group of cats stared on but no one made a move to stop him from talking. Shallowpool rolled away from him.

"Then you'll be nothing other than a weak mouseheart-"Shallowpool stopped and glanced past him and flattened her ears against her head. Kindlestrike looked back and saw Thornstar padding up to them.

"I think there is no more for you to say, Shallowpool. Your son has no desire to even think of leading the Clan, so stop pestering him. He is a fine warrior, excellent at hunting and fighting. Now follow me. The rest of you continue as you were." The brown tom meowed with authority. The she-cat only stalked behind him and disappeared within the trees.

Kindlestrike sighed but remained where he was as the rest of the group warily approached him. Fawntail padded up slowly and licked his cheek in an effort to comfort him; but it only seemed to irritate him. But a certain scent wafted through the forest air that made him inhale deeper. Redheart and Jayfrost followed suit and Redheart's fur stood on end. Fawntail sniffed the air nosily and let out an excited squeal. "Larkblossom!"

The calico's outburst sent a ripple of nervous excitement throughout the group. She raced away from them and approached a large fern bush where a form of a cat crouched. The form moved and was replaced with the face of their friend. She seemed worried but had a kind glint in her eyes. Kindlestrike smiled as the earlier tension melted away at the sight of her.

"Larkblossom! How are you?" He meowed in surprise. His friend's belly had swelled twice its size since Kindlestrike, but the worried look on her face seemed it would never go away. Her eyes flitted from cat to cat in the group and her paws shifted on the forest floor.

"I'm fine." She mewed simply and emerged further from her spot. Kindlestrike noticed her gait was slow and cautious. She approached them quietly and purred as Fawntail bounded up to her and nuzzled her happily.

"Where have you been? We've missed you so much!" The calico stared at her earnestly. Redheart purred softly and came beside Fawntail and licked Larkblossom on the shoulder. The brown queen flicked her ears and purred but the worried look remained on her face all the same. Something is definitely bothering her.

"I was with a friend…" Larkblossom mumbled and looked away from the group.

"You have been gone from the Clan for over a moon! Twigclaw has been worried sick, your friends had missed you, and you say you were with a friend?" Every cat looked up at the sharpness and looked at Jayfrost. Oh no.

The golden tom stalked up to Larkblossom angrily and flicked his tail in irritation. Larkblossom seemed confused and disoriented then shook her head.

"I didn't return to stay… but I need your help."