Chapter 9

Time passed slowly for Slatekit and Featherkit as they waited for the early dawn to approach them. They secretly prepared for whats to come though they didn't have much needing to do so. They knew how to hunt thanks to Whitedream teaching them they would have a Starclan cat guiding them so Slatekit felt it was fine.

That whole day their father even look them in the eyes and they had to guess he was bothered by the fact that Starclan was speaking to Slatekit but honestly the small gray tom didn't care it would change when they brought back someone from Stormclan. Wind was supportive to them but continued to tell them to enjoy being kits since neither of their parents got the chance to, that's what he got anyway but he was sure Wind didn't know the extent of Whitedream's past regardless of them being mates. They both came from different backgrounds so he thought it was funny that they loved each other but yet Whitedream didn't tell her about how his father had hurt many cats and that was why he left. Admittedly he didn't know everything but what Whitespots told him that was Whitedream's father but he assumed that was why his father was so adamant in staying away from his Clan.

Dawn came sooner than he thought and he woke up by gentle paws guiding him out of his dreamless sleep. He opened his eyes to see Whitespots standing there with a welcoming smile as she always had. She motioned him with her head that it was time and he nodded going to wake Featherkit who opened her eyes revealing sleepy bright blue eyes that looked around unsure what was going on for a second then she glanced over and saw Whitespots standing there giving her a smile as her eyes sparkled fully waking her.

She rolled over off her back and to her belly before rising to her paws, " Wow she's really beautiful.~" She said with a whisper though Whitespots silently shushed her before padding towards the little door.

" Are you two ready? We should get there by nightfall." She said going through the door as Featherkit looked at Slatekit.

" Ready?" She asked as her brother nodded and they headed out the door emerging outside as the she-cat was sitting up on the fence on the opposite side from where her parents would sit talking to Sweetpoppy and Kana, her tail drooping along the edge hanging there.

" There is a small opening to leave here but be careful you'll be welcomed by the Thunderpath so stay along the side until I tell you is a good time to cross." The Starclan warrior explained to them as the two kits nodded in full understandment before pushing through the small hole the sort of sharp edges of the wood brushing against their fur but it was good they weren't long furred like their siblings because they managed to get through without getting stuck or something. When Whitespots had said there would be a Thunderpath she wasn't kidding. They arrived in the front yard where they have played a couple times before but they continued sneaking away from their home. Featherkit bounced happily as they continued while Slatekit slouched as he walked with the white spotted she-cat took the lead.

" What's Starclan like?" Featherkit asked as Whitespots looked at her over her shoulder.

" It's a great place where i've gotten to reunite with the family I lost many moons ago and it's really peaceful one day you two will be joining us all there but that won't be for many, many moons to come so don't worry." She explained as she looked back ahead before looking at the road, " Ok it's time to cross I see no monsters so let's hurry." She said and before the two knew it she turned and crossed the street and they followed suit.

Slatekit's paws shook as he touched the black road and he knew he should hurry but he couldn't help but be afraid. He remembered that Whitedream warned them to never cross and told them the story of Brackenwish who had to retire early due to a broken leg that had been crushed by a monster.

" Hurry now young one." Whitespots said as he looked up to see both she-cats waiting for him as he hurried and crossed over as they continued straight on before they knew it they turned once they reached a corner and he noticed a nest that was similar to their's but it was higher than theirs.

" Now what do we have here?~" A voice called as a beautiful silver she-cat with the most stunning sparkling aqua eyes, a patch of white on her chest appeared up on the fence with a dark brown tom following after as they sat, " What are two young kitties like you doing out this way?"

Featherkit seemed confused because Whitespots was with them so Slatekit leaned over and whispered, " They can't see Whitespots like we can."

She seemed to understand as she looked back up at the other kittypets, " We're not that young and we're exploring from our home. My name is Featherkit and this is my little brother Slatekit." She introduced as Slatekit was about to say something about the 'little' part since they didn't need to know such unimportant information.

" Oh, you two are the young kits that Ebony and Ivory talk about.~" The she-cat purred, " My name is Silver and that's Lark we live here." She smiled.

The tom known as Lark leaned over tilting his head, " You two are 'exploring' far from your home it's too dangerous for two little kittypets like yourselves you might want to turn around and head back home." He suggested waving his paw off.

" We can't we have something important we need to do." Slatekit began noticing Whitespots looking impatiently as she was urging them to wrap this up, " Well, we need to go goodbye." He said dipping his head as he began to head off with the transparent she-cat following as well as his sister. The two kittypets watched them leave before looking at one another.

Once they got away from the Twolegplace they arrived in a small farmland with white fluffy creatures a house laid off in the distance going north while another laid south and they continued going dodging the creatures that were called sheeps as Whitespots said before going under fences with large openings underneathe. A few trees laid across the land with some of the sheeps laying underneathe the shade and he wondered if that was cold. There was still some snow on the ground but alot had now melted long since yesterday and he could feel his pads were gonna freeze off. Whitespots seemed fine since she was just a spirit but him and Featherkit were freezing. He was beginning to regret this would they die out here or what? He hoped Whitespots was leading them to safety.

Crunching of their paws from the snow undearneathe them was the only sound as they continued on. Slatekit was freezing and he had to admit sadly, that he wouldn't just admit out in the open to anyone, that it was because he was small. He stole a couple of glances and saw Featherkit was even freezing and he frowned. They had made it closer to the barn but they stayed their distance just in case, Whitespots alarmed them that there was a dog and what Clan cats knew that dogs were always trouble and an enemy of the wild cats so they decided to play it safe. Featherkit sniffled and he sneezed and he could see Whitespots glancing back at them worriedly and looking pretty guilty and scared herself.

She had no worries...

But they did.

She wasn't risking anything while they were...

She stopped and glanced down as they stopped, " Whitespots is everything ok?" Featherkit after she had bumped into Whitespots leg as she rubbed her nose.

" I...-" But before Whitespots could finish they heard their name.

" Featherkit! Slatekit!"

They turned to see Sweetpoppy heading their way with those two cats they met on their way here, Silver and Lark. The three came up to them managing the catch them as he could see Whitespots shocked expression as her ears drooped and she looked down before disappearing when Sweetpoppy fazed through her transparent form.

The small gray tom had to wonder how she knew they were this way but then again Silver and Lark must've told her but she couldn't have known they had came this was passing their home but he couldn't keep asking himself questions, " What in Starclan are you two doing out here this far from home!?" The dappled-and-tortoiseshell she-cat asked in an upset tone as she sighed, " How did you two get this far?! Why are you out this far!?" She asked bombarding them with questions, " Don't you know your parents are worried sick!" She continued as Silver placed her tail on Sweetpoppy's shoulder easing her.

" Now's not the time for that, let's take these kits home they must be freezing plus their parents will want to see them." Silver explained as she came over picking up Slatekit in her jaws as Lark picked Featherkit.

Sweetpoppy sighed and nodded, " Yes let's get you two home..." Sweetpoppy said taking the lead and it didn't take long for them to get there.

" Slatekit...?" Featherkit asked as he looked at her noticing her sad look, " Did...did we fail?" She whispered.

He looked down hanging his head low at the shame he breathed out, " Yes..."

Slatekit and Featherkit were silent along the way, he could only feel shame and he knew when they got home they would be scolded hard which he couldn't blame their parents. They left so early in the morning and were found this far away from home so he knew they would be very angry but he had to do this, he decided as they headed back, that he would take the blame for this all. That Featherkit followed him and he didn't know he would lie to protect her for believing him.

They crossed the Thunderpath and heading into the backyard by jumping over the fence and were welcomed by Whitedream and Wind who came running out and after the two kits were let go their parents ran to them hugging them and licking then, " Oh thank Starclan that you two are safe!" Whitedream cried as Wind hugged her two kits towards her.

" I'm so glad you two are safe!" She said before looking at Sweetpoppy, Lark and Silver, " Thank you for bringing them home and saving them we are forever in your debt!" She thanked as Whitedream dipped his head.

" Thank you sincerely for everything."

" It was no problem, we found Sweetpoppy looking for them and we lead her to them. We thought it was strange that they claimed they were exploring in the cold weather and we weren't just about to let them freeze." Silver explained as Lark nodded.

" We thank you two once again we will forever remember this." The white tom said dipping his head as the two smiled.

" We'll be going now, don't you two wander off again." Lark said as the two disappeared going over the fence. Slatekit hated that they were treating them like they were stupid. They didn't go into this idiotically they had Whitespots.

Him and Featherkit stayed silent not looking at any of them feeling they would just get stared down hard for their actions, " I'm glad they're safe you two, honestly they asked me yesterday about all this and I didn't think they would do something so idiotic and I wished I should've told you both after."

" We're just glad you were looking out for them Sweetpoppy it does mean alot." Whitedream said using his paws to motion for the two to say something, " Be respectful that she went out of her way to look for you two when you did this."

" Thank you Sweetpoppy..." The two kits said together as Sweetpoppy nodded.

" I shall take my leave as well it's freezing outside and they should go inside now." She said before heading off as Whitedream used his muzzle to urge them to head inside with Wind following.

" The other kits?" Whitedream asked suddenly as they looked up at them.

" They're sleeping in the other room so we're free to speak with these two." Wind explained as they stopped and turned towards them, " So where do we start?"

Whitedrea stepped forward eyes flaring, " I do why in the world were you out that far?! You were NOT just exploring as you two claim we want answers and I will know when your lying."

Slatekit stepped forward, " We were going to go to Stormclan to find someone you were close to...to bring back here to convince you to go back to Stormclan...I left and I didn't know Featherkit was following me until we were around the corner and I asked her to come with me." He explained as Featherkit looked at him.

" Slatekit no-" She began as he silenced her before continuing on.

" Starclan spoke to me to convince you and mom to leave the Kittypet life and go back to your Clan roots. Whitespots told me that something bad will happen if we don't leave and we need to listen...-" He continued was stopped when Whitedream stomped his paw onto the ground to silence him as his fur ruffled with anger.

" Enough Slatekit! Starclan only simply watch and observe, they guide when it is needed. Things are peaceful and we live a wonderful life! You have your life, not only your life but Featherkit's because of Starclan?! Risked upsetting your siblings when they found you and Featherkit gone early this morning for something bad to happen when it's been like this for many moons after...my father died...I have long figured out that nothing has happened with this bad thing or storms or whatever they did this because they simply were just bored. I tried to tell you all good stories of Starclan but maybe I was wrong to do that." He snarled, " They once told me they hated me for my genes because my father was an awful cat who killed for fun they told me I could end up like him and am I?!" He asked, " No i'm nothing like what my father was and they were wrong. They told me, an innocent cat, that I had to prove myself that I had a place in Starclan when i've done nothing wrong but one wrongdoing when I was first made an apprentice and I have long suffered for my actions." He ranted before stopping looking down, " I'm done with this Starclan stuff Slatekit and you are too I don't want to hear it anymore." He said as Slatekit stepped forward.

" So you've given up on Starclan the Clan that took you in and the family back in Stormclan who you grew up with and love? You're just a coward that has given up on the cats he's known and loved for all his life. The Clan that gave him a home since birth! Something bad could happen to them and you just walk away from them so easily! I don't even know them but i'm willing to go out and do whatever I can to help them! Same with Featherkit!" Slatekit snapped, " I understand you are angry and worried that we left but we are doing something you're too afraid to do Whitedream and i'm not about to apologize. If something bad does happen to them it's all on you for not doing anything but sitting here forgetting about them." He growled before storming off as Featherkit watched him and followed after him leaving her parents.

" I can't believe you just said all that." The gray molly said as he stopped and turned towards her, " Can't believe you defended me..."

" Well...you're my sister and you believed me when I felt no one else would...besides Stormclan is in trouble and dad doesn't seem to care about them since he left them behind. Whitespots told me before that his father; our grandfather did many things and he was haunted by the fact and so he wouldn't want to go back but they could be in danger or something and we don't know something bad could happen to us and we don't know but yet he wants to do nothing." Slatekit explained making sure he was heard he wasn't afraid but yet he was rambling because of how frustrated he was.

" Breath its ok Slatekit come on let's take a nap we probably need it hopefully we get some other answers...because after today i'm sure we're not gonna be let outside for some time and papa isn't willing to listen..." Slatekit didn't want to sleep but at this point his body was freezing and he was tired and he could sense the fatigue from his sister so he felt it was a good idea maybe he could apologize to Whitespots too for failing her. He sure felt like a failure even though he claimed that his father was one. He wasn't loyal to Stormclan while Slatekit was.

" Ok...let's sleep."

He would say he was well rested but no not especially when he found himself in Starclan where Autumntail waited for him instead of Whitespots. He looked around before looking back at him, " Where's Whitespots?" He asked.

" Er...well she's kind of getting chewed out right now because of your...little exploration to Stormclan...here just uh come with me we have must to discuss. We knew you would come your paws guide you here." He said before stepping off to the familar clearing and as the two got closer he could hear yelling and he knew the angry tone to belong to Icypaw.

" You are such an idiot to try and do what you did!? You were the one who taught me that Starclan simply just guides from afar not show the way. Back when you were my mentor!" She snarled and she looked over their way when they emerged into the scene and Icypaw took her anger towards Slatekit, " And you! You couldn't think of anything so you come here unannouced begging for help when you know it was your mission. Not only have you risked everything but you failed and we should've known better than to leave this to a small kit and now it's done, it's too late and we can't keep putting faith on failures!" Icypaw snarled claws unsheathing as she continued, " Not only did you fail, Whitedream failed too and we thought he was gonna keep trying to get into Starclan's Graces but he isn't."

" So you did tell him that he needed to prove himself to join Starclan even though he did nothing wrong? Oh sorry something he did when he was younger but has long suffered enough for his mistake? He didn't cause anymore problems since." Slatekit defended he wasn't about to let her do this.

Icypaw laughed, " Do you even know what he did? He killed someone and you wanna know how I know that? He killed me." She said as the small gray tom gasped, " That's right we both trained there but when I knew the truth and wished to become a Medicine Cat Dovestar ordered Whitedream to kill me in the Dark Forest and he did. Sure he felt bad and didn't go back to that forest and he forgot all about it and me. We were best friends and we had crushes one another but yet he killed me and now he's backing away from his Clan. It's too late now he...no you all will have to learn the hard way." She said stepping off.

Whitespots looked at him, " I'm sorry...I truly thought we could do something but...the time is nearing...the Prophecy of Storms is coming and the Lost Star needs to be found and the dream needs to become a reality. The bad thing will happen in your home and not in Stormclan that's all we can say it will make you all leave..." She said.

" I'm very sorry that change is about to happen you won't hear from us again for such a long time." Redstar said standing up, " Icypaw is just upset about it all she will calm down and be alright. I'm sorry she said those things and sorry for pushing such responsibility onto you." He said as they all disappeared.

When he woke up he looked around and sighed, he had failed them and now he waited for whatever it was to happen in their home that would be the cause of them leaving so in a sense they would be leaving whenever it happened.

Those next few days were rough as he continued to wait for the worse to come. Featherkit, at first, kept pushing for more but he had told her there was nothing more they could do and that the change would happen and so she backed off since he told her to do so. He and his father became estranged, he didn't want to be around him and Whitedream had no words to say to him. He hated it since he loved his father just not for these recent events. He could see his mother hated watching it but she was always a loss for words and lately she seemed to be quiet and he didn't know why.

Slatekit tiptoed around his father and tried to go back to being a young kit but he found himself that he couldn't and he became bothered by how he failed.

Whitedream had noticed it and he tried to give his kit some space he had began to realize that he was pushing his rational fears onto his family. His fear of ever going back to Stormclan to face everyone and he realized it was causing a rift between him and Slatekit that he didn't want. He loved his kits and he would never let something like this do anything to ruin their relationship he's already done that once because of his fear and he wasn't gonna do it anymore and he just knew he needed to speak to Slatekit.

He woke up and got out of his nest trying to not wake Wind as he bounded to the kit's bed as he lightly shook Slatekit awake. The kit woke up and noticed him earning a nervous look from him, " Can you come with me please, I want to speak with you." He said in a whispered tone as the small gray tom; who was alittle bigger now, but not as big as his other siblings; nodded and rose to his paws as he turned and headed outside which it was now Newleaf. The garden that their Twoleg took care of now flourished with plant life now that the Leafbare breeze was over. Even the trees were back to life with the leaves and he was happy. Leafbare always brought such sourness to everything especially back when he was in Stormclan.

" What did you want to speak about?"

" I wanted to say i've been thinking of alot and you are right about everything. I am a failure and a coward." He began as Slatekit flinched at his words, " I'm afraid to go back to Stormclan because I hurt my apprentice due to anxiety attack and I was afraid plus I did it again and killed a rogue who had happened to be my half brother because he and his sisters lead a group of cats to hurt Stormclan. Jadeeyes died when he tried to kill a dog which he did...but lost his life as well." He began but stopped his breath hitching, " I've done all these bad things and i've suffered for all the mistakes i've done." He told him as he looked around and leaned in closer to Slatekit, " There's another reason I have stopped believing what Whitespots and them have to say. They all were cats I knew and trusted when they were alive but now...I was warned by another who told me the Modern Starclan are planning something bad and that is why I wish for you to stop believing and listening to them." He whispered.

" Well you don't have to worry they won't be speaking to me anymore...they have told me i've failed...and that whatever it is, is coming and they can't push it back no further so the bad thing is gonna happen in our home." The kit said as Whitedream sighed turning to walk before turning back.

" Do you actually believe this will happen? Starclan could be lying to you so I could continue this Prophecy." He said sighing not wanting to believe it but he was willing to listen.

" I do believe something could happen I mean Starclan has shown that they are real and can interact with the living." He explained to him before realizing something, " Wait did you know you have a Prophecy about you?" He asked.

" Not much but that I left Stormclan because of my so called 'destiny' but I proved I make my own path and decided not to pursuit this. I hoped whatver this is that it would blow over and that Stormclan would be ok. Rainstar is a marvelous leader and he knows what he needs to do in a case emergency that's...also why i'm not worried he's my brother, your uncle and he has proved to be more resourceful than any other cat i've met so I try not to worry but from time to time I can't help but still worry and wish to go back there but my paws won't allow me to even try. I fear my anxiety will just take over." He sighed smiling sadly, " You want to know something I was about to leave the territory and I got to see my family plus my mentor one last time before I left and I felt that they would be better without me I know they are probably happy i'm no longer around to cause them trouble." He said and before Slatekit knew it his father choked out a sob, " I overheard my mother and Rainstar talking about how I still had my anxiety even after it had been many moons since D-Dovestar's death and they were just...they were just tired of it...a-and me so I left." He sobbed before falling apart and started to cry and Slatekit just stood there unsure of what to do but before he could do anything his father came too and calmed down before looking at him, " I learned from your mother to move on and not look at the bad times and I have long since moved on and wanted to create this new life and I'm glad you want to help them and all that would make wonderful traits of a warrior but...we live here now and they have to figure it out on their own." He added as Wind emerged from the little door quickly clearly upset, " What's wrong?!" He asked heading towards her.

" Our Twoleg collapsed and isn't moving! I-I think she's dead." Wind explained as they both looked at her.

They headed inside and saw their Twoleg on the floor in her room and she wasn't moving or even breathing and Whitedream knew she was gone. He prayed and dipped his head for her soul. Twolegs had to have something like a Starclan or something right? He looked away and went to the room where Wind was with the kits and she was in hysterics.

" A-another gone I can't keep doing this Whitedream going from nest to nest keep going back to the adoption center especially with the kits they're gonna separate them!" She sobbed keeping her kits close as he walked over to her and brought her close.

" I know...uhh...we need to get help though maybe another Twoleg because we can't just let her stay like that..." He said thinking of something.

" Oh maybe we can go to Sweetpoppy Papa...and maybe get her to lead her Twoleg here...but if they call for help they'll take us away..." Runningkit suggested.

" Hmmm...I think maybe we could take you all somewhere first and let you all stay there just until this mess is over it will keep you all safe for now and not taken. They will probably think we ran away when she died and be unable to find us." Whitedream said before it dawned on him, " I think I know of a place...it's where I was living shortly after I had left Stormclan its a barn where I came to after I had been hurt. I took shelter there before I went out and got caught by the Twolegs. They may be able to help us...i'll tell Sweetpoppy of this but tell her to wait until we have left to get her Twoleg to come." He explained, " I also want to say this has made me change my decision, but we arn't going to become clan cats but loners for the time being until we come up with something else. Wind does this sound good?" He asked as he looked at his distressed mate.

" Yes."

" Good now you guys this will be harsh to get there and I think i'll have you guys leave early if anything you all can head straight to Lark and Silver's and explain and see if they will let you stay there just until I join you. I want to make sure their Twolegs finds our's and helps her." The white tom spoke, " You all will listen to your mother and don't worry i'll be joining you soon, but if for some reason I don't. Continue on, go east and there will be a barn close to a Big Thunderpath and that's Rosa's Barn go inside and tell her you know me and she'll let you stay. I'll manage but i'm sure it won't get to that just for now head straight towards Silver's and Lark's and i'll do this before anything."