Oh, and I realized I haven't put in allegiances yet. They will be at the bottom of this chapter!

I also realize several characters are out of character. My bad.

Stripe-Outside of ShadowClan Territory

I watched as my kits skittered around the clearing on stubby legs after Zennia's kits, which were several moons older. I watched as Storm helped Puddle to her paws, and Eagle bumped into them, looking impatient. I stifled a purr as the older kits-Zennia's three-started a mock battle. Eagle, Storm, and Puddle attacked. Puddle was pinned down by a bigger ginger tom. Storm wrenched the other kit off his sister, and helped her to her paws as the pinned down the ginger kit. They made a good team. Ziggy brought them a mouse, and they began playing with it. I bit back a purr.

Bramble glanced at me. "They're cute kits, you know."

"Yeah," I purred.

"I always thought about having some," she admitted. "But I don't think I'd be a great mother. And then I wouldn't be allowed to hunt and fight. Besides, Ziggy doesn't want to have kits." She sounded exasperated.

"Hmm," I mewed, feeling sympathy towards the dark tabby she-cat. "Well, they're wonderful."

She shrugged. "Yeah."

I watched my kits play until it was time for them to come inside. The snow was making Storm sneeze, and Puddle started coughing. I was worried she had gotten Ruby's whitecough, but Izzy gave Puddle some herbs. They fell asleep instantly, sleeping next to me. I eventually fell asleep.

When I woke, Zennia offered to look after them. "You need to get out of the camp. You look like you're bored out of your mind."

I didn't want to admit it, but she was right. So I had to tell all my kits that I'd be back and went hunting with Dexter. We picked up squirrel scent and exchanged a glance. He angled his ears to the fluffy-tailed creature as it burrowed through the snow. I nodded and picked up my pace until I was chasing the squirrel. It took off, darting between trees. I brought a heavy paw on its head and sank my claws into it. My mouth watered, and I almost ate the squirrel then. Instead I picked it up in my mouth and turned around to see Dexter crouching in the shade of a tree. His green eyes were wide with alarm. He mouthed silently, Get out of there! I stared at him, puzzled, when three ThunderClan warriors emerged from the undergrowth. Dexter melted into the shadows, but I could barely see his eyes.

"A rogue," one growled. She was a silver and white tabby. She was very pretty, but her claws were out, and her teeth bared in a snarl.

"Yeah," one put in. "Stealing our prey?" That cat was a gray tabby tom.

"Bumblestripe, you're mouse-brained," the oldest cat snapped. He had reddish tabby fur, and his eyes were narrowed. "Of course she's stealing our prey. She's got a squirrel in her mouth and she crossed the border foxlengths back." I searched for Dexter, but his eyes were wide with fear.

"She smells like milk," the one called Bumblestripe put in. "She must have kits around here." I dug my claws into the earth.

The red tabby tom narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, she's got kits. Where are they? Where in the name of StarClan are they?" he snarled. I flinched.

"Easy, Foxleap," Bumblestripe hissed.

"Should we drive her out, or what?" Foxleap demanded. Now that my head was clearing from the panic, I recognized their names. The question was directed to the she-cat.

"We could teach her a lesson so that she never comes back," she snarled. Her eyes glinted with bloodlust. "I could kill her, easily. It would be as easy as killing Antpelt again, or that StarClan-forsaken she-cat from WindClan."

"Ivypool-"

"She started the fight!" Ivypool snarled. "It's not my fault that cats always try to kill me."

"Well, what do we do?" Bumblestripe demanded.

"I say we kill her here," Ivypool snarled, "so that her kits won't give us any trouble. They won't bother us then, Foxleap, will they?"

"But if she has kits," Bumblestripe ventured, "we could recruit them. Cinderheart still has milk, and after what happened with Rosepetal…" Foxleap flinched.

"I say we drive her out," Foxleap put in.

"You're being mouse-brained," Bumblestripe argued. "Just take her to Bramblestar. He'll decide."

"B-But my kits!" I gasped.

Foxleap curled his lip. "StarClan didn't take pity on my kits, did they? We won't take pity on yours."

I shot a last glance at Dexter. He looked at me helplessly before slipping away silently. Well, that was reassuring. Ivypool growled at me to go, and I could do nothing but follow Foxleap.