1 Moon after the Dark Forest Battle

Breezepelt stared at his sleeping mother, Nightcloud with great concern. Since his exile, he and Nightcloud had been on the run, catching very little prey while dodging patrolling warriors. They didn't know where to go, or what to do.

Currently they were resting just on the outskirts of Thunderclan territory, past the abandoned two-leg place. Due to the lack of prey, their slender frames were even leaner than usual. Breezepelt didn't mind too much, he thought the way his muscles were visible made him look intimidating. It looked like his short fur had been stretched to fit him, and if he got any more muscular his pelt would rip and his muscles would pour out on to the forest floor.

However Nightcloud wasn't coping as well as her young son. She had been a senior warrior for her Clan when she loyally followed his son in to his punishment. She wasn't strong fighting wise – but she was little, fiery tempered and smart. The lack of prey had been taking its toll on her, her ribs were painfully visible, Breezepelt stared, taking in how bad she looked.

"I can't let you keep living like this. I'll catch you some prey, I promise." He murmured softly. He got up, and slowly turned away, heading to the border between Windclan and Thunderclan: The River. He paused, scanning the area for any signs of prey or patrolling cats. He opened his jaws, and almost instantly he could detect the scent of a hare nearby, in a large, recently dug burrow just on the other side of the river.

"Perfect, hare is her favourite!"

He looked at the whirling water in front of him, tensed his muscles, and leapt across the river, landing on the other side with no problem. He smirked to himself as he turned his attention to the hare burrow. The opening was large, just big enough for him to squeeze in to and drag himself along. He heard scrabbling up ahead, the hare had obviously detected him and started to panic. Luckily the burrow opened wider the more he inched along, enabling him to move faster in the pursuit.

"Got you." He growled, darting forward, outstretching his claws and feeling the satisfying feeling of his long claws ripping through flesh, the blood spilling out on to his paws. The scent hit his nostrils, and he inhaled deeply, distracted by the smell. The hare panicked even more, and spun around, before Breezepelt could reel back, he saw a strong pair of legs kick out, smashing him painfully right in the face. It felt like his face had caught fire, as his blood splattered along the ground. He let out a yowl of pain, and backed up, before shaking his head angrily at the cornered hare.

"Right, now you've done it." He hissed, darting forward again. This time wiggling over the hares back. He grabbed the massive hare's neck between his jaws, and forced himself to bite down, ignoring the shooting pain that shot through his face as he did so. He felt the hare panic, trying to wriggle away for a moment. Before it finally went limp and collapsed. Satisfied, Breezepelt grabbed It by one of its large legs, and slowly began drag it out the burrow. He knew exiting was the most dangerous part, if he was spotted by either Thunderclan or Windclan, he probably wouldn't get out alive. Cautiously he backed up, trying to scent the air, only to be able to smell the hare and his own blood. Sighing he threw caution to the wind and dragged the hare out of the dirt burrow quickly and looked around. He was unable to see much through his left eye. But…

No patrols. Yet.

He dragged the hare to the edge of the river, and looked down at his reflection best he could. It looked like his left eye had been cut from the hares claws, and was starting to swell. His nose was bloody, but otherwise it looked aright, not broken at least. He'd gotten very lucky. A blow from a hares back legs could break the jaw off of an unlucky apprentice. He bowed his head, paying respect for his kill. Not to Starclan though. As far as Breezepelt was concerned, Starclan had abandoned him and his mother completely, since they hadn't stopped him from being exiled.

"I don't need Starclan, I never needed them. Nightcloud is all I need" He thought to himself, picking up his hare, making sure as he dragged it along so a blood trail showed the hare was going into Thunderclan territory. He leapt over in to Thunderclan, and carried the Hare off and dropped it in front of Nightcloud.

The older black cat opened her dark green eyes, and blinked at the hate, licking her lips eagerly.

"Oh, you wonderful son of mine." she purred, arching her back in a stretch, before sitting up and looking at her son. She let out a small gasp at the sight of his cut and swollen face.

"What happened?" She asked, getting up and roughly grooming the blood off his face.

"I cornered the hare, and he lashed out. I'm fine, really." Breezepelt mumbled, ducking his head away.

"Still, it's a mother's job to worry over her precious kit." Nightcloud retorted. "I'll go get you some marigold to put on those wounds, I don't want them getting infected."

"Really, I'll be fine mother." Breezepelt sighed, rolling his eyes. "Y'know what would make me feel better? Us eating this dumb hare, so I taste some revenge."

With that the two stood over his catch. Nightcloud tore off a hind leg, and started to wolf down her food, clearly half starved. Breezepelt tore off the other back leg and started to eat. Despite being a Windclan cat, Breezepelt didn't enjoy the taste of hare. It was always too tough and chewy and not nearly enough meat on it. However he didn't complain, he just kept eating because he knew his mother wouldn't eat if he didn't.

Once they finished their meal, the two sat in silence, grooming their pelts. Breezepelt stopped mid lick, remembering the argument Crowfeather and Nightcloud had before he was exiled.

"Nightcloud?" he mewed quietly. His mother looked up from cleaning her tail.

"Yes?" Nightcloud asked. Keeping a hold of her tail in her teeth.

"Did you love Crowfeather?" he asked, quickly looking away, not sure if he really wanted to know the answer. Silence stretched out for a while, when Breezepelt looked back at his mother, it looked like she was deep in thought, before she let out a tired sigh and answered.

"No. I honestly don't think I ever did. But there was one cat…"

Breezepelt tilted his head to the side, not sure how to reply, which his mother noticed, twitching her ear.

"I should explain. Shouldn't I?" she mewed.

"Only if you want to." Breezepelt replied. "You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want me to know."

"Well, if I didn't tell you everything, how could you trust a mother like me?" she purred, before settling down comfortably on the soft, springy grass.

"Many seasons ago, I was just an apprentice. But my best friend was a cat named Mudpaw. He was strong, fearless and above all else? Willing to die for his Clan." She began. Breezepelt looked into her eyes, and could see how deeply Nightcloud relished these memories.

"Soon after we became warriors, I realised something: I loved this cat. But he was so dedicated to his Clan, he always said to others he didn't have time for a mate. I tried not to mind, and I waited. Eventually, after Deadfoot died in the fight against Bloodclan, Mudclaw was announced as the deputy of Windclan." She broke off, looking like she was remembering a good dream.

"I was the one who cheered for him the loudest. Some cats didn't cheer. Worried that Mudclaw was not afraid to battle. Foolishness it was. Mudclaw never lost a battle he was in! But I knew the truth. I knew what a great leader he would be. I always did my best to support him. I knew he was grateful."

"I know a little bit about Mudclaw." Breezepelt mumbled quietly. "Onestar got appointed deputy before Tallstar died. I always heard Windclan elders talking about him, wondering if things would have been better under his leadership. Not Onestar's."

"It would have been better!" Nightcloud growled, unsheathing her claws. "When we finally made it here, to the lake. Mudclaw… He turned to me and he told me this. 'Nightcloud. I am thankful the loyalty you've always shown to me, when I become leader, you will be right by my side as my mate.' I was… Amazed. So, so full of hope. Finally my Clan would give me the respect that we both deserved. The most beautiful kits! But then… Then that foolish old tom ruined everything!" she screeched, dragging her claws along the ground, leaving large marks where her claws had been. "Onewhisker got made the new leader of Windclan. I remember how furious Mudclaw had been. Refusing to believe it. I and Weaselfur stood by him. With Hawkfrost's help, we tried to take over Windclan, we would make it strong again! But then… Mudclaw was crushed by a tree… I couldn't believe what had happened. I was the one who mourned him the most. I dragged him back to Windclan, and was the sole cat who sat vigil for him while Onestar went and received his lives. Weaselfur didn't dare to, that coward. Scared he'd anger Starclan." She sighed, and stared at the floor. Breezepelt got up and rubbed his face against his mother's lovingly.

"I'm sure Mudclaw has never forgotten your loyalty." Breezepelt mumbled loyally. Nightcloud licked her sons face.

"I hope not. But I realised something that night. With Mudclaw gone… I had no purpose. The other warriors didn't respect me, my family had died to greencough. My friends no longer trusted me. I was… So alone. So when Crowfeather came back to Windclan, tail tucked between his legs. I realised I could still have one things – kits. They wouldn't be Mudclaw's. But I knew… They could be just as wonderful as he was. So I hounded Crowfeather, sucking up to him, until that fool gave in, we tried to get on, and then I had my litter…"

Breezepelt stared, not sure if he had heard her correctly. He shook his head in confusion. "Wait. Litter? I thought… I was the only kit you had?" he mewed.

"Ah… No." she lowered herself to the ground, her head on her paws. Her green eyes cloudy with grief. "I should have told you sooner, but… It was a painful birth. Very painful. I had to be given catnip just to cope with the pain. Finally though, Barkface told me it was over. When I looked down, I saw five very small, skinny kits. All mewling and shuffling against me."

"Five?!" Breezepelt gasped in disbelief. "Cats can have that many?!"

"Five. Four little she-cats, and one wonderful little tom." She purred at Breezepelt, before her expression changed, looking serious and stormy, like her name. "Barkface called Crowfeather in. When he saw them… I thought for a moment that he was happy. He stared at you all with so much love in his eyes. But then his face changed. He looked terrified. Like it finally sank in we were mates. He quickly mewed they were beautiful, and that he'd go and get me some water… I waited. He didn't come back until night fell. With a small bundle of barely wet moss. " she shook her head disdainfully at the memory.

"I was furious, and forbade him from naming my kits. He pleaded, and told me he was just so afraid of messing up being a father. So I caved in, I am very forgiving after all, and told him I was scared too, and that he could name one of them whatever he wanted." She looked up at Breezepelt, her green eyes a blaze with fury. "So, he sniffed all of you, and gently nudged one of my kits, a little smoky gray and white kit, and said 'She is beautiful. I will name her Leafkit.' I was furious. I knew exactly why he had named her that. I screeched and clawed at him until he left. However she was already named Leafkit. I couldn't change that, Starclan would have already accepted the name. So I named the rest of you myself." She sat up again, looking more relaxed as the thought of her kits.

"The smallest she-kit. A small tortoiseshell, I called Mudkit. My other gray and white kit, I named Cloudkit for her fluffy white patches and face. My very dark brown kit with a pale chin was named Minkkit. And of course, then there was you." She gaze darkened again, and she swished her tail angrily.

"What… Happened to them?" Breezepelt whispered. Not sure if he really wanted to know.

"Five kits need a lot of milk. The Clan brought me the plumpest of prey, Barkface brought me borage… But in the end it just wasn't enough. A quarter moon later, Mudkit died first. Shortly after you all opened your eyes for the first time. They were such a bright amber, just like your own. Crowfeather didn't spend a lot of time with you all anyway, but her death seemed to drive him further away. Then, I caught Greencough, and because I had to feed you all, you all caught it too. You and Leafkit managed to fight it off after a couple of days, and went to stay in the Nursery with Whitetail. But Cloudkit and Mintkit, still weak from the lack of milk, quickly succumbed to the illness." She choked out. Shaking her head.

"I knew from that moment on, Starclan was punishing me for my loyalty to Mudclaw. When I finally returned to the nursery, I pulled you both close and went to sleep. I awoke to the screech of an owl… And the terrified, pained scream of a kit. I woke up, and saw only you curled in the nest. I raced outside, screaming to Starclan you can't take my last daughter. I bet she was looking for her father, who never showed his rotten face…" Nightcloud closed her eyes, and didn't speak for a long time. Finally she spoke back up, but her voice was shaking, raw with grief still after all this time. "I leapt up, and managed to claw the owl in the wing, ripping out a feather. However it continued its ascent in to the sky. I screamed in terror as the other warriors quickly leapt to their paws, and Crowfeather raced along after the owl in to the night …" she let out a low groan. Breezepelt shuddered. Realising that it could have easily been him, and not his sister who had crept out to go and find him.

"Crowfeather came back three sunrises later, his eyes raw with grief, and limping badly. He told us he had chased the owl beyond the Moonpool, and had fallen down the sheer drop side and sprained his paw. The whole clan mourned the death of Leafkit that night. None more so than me. I always kwpt that feather in my nest. To remind me that life is harsh for those who challenge it."

"I-I'm sorry Nightcloud." Breezepelt murmured turning his head away, unable to look at his mother's distraught expression. She didn't respond. Breezepelt quickly padded over to the remains of the hare. "I'm sorry I don't remember any of them."

Nightcloud didn't respond, she was clearly stuck in her painful memories.

"I'll just… Go bury this." He mumbled, excusing himself. Dragging the remains on to Thunderclan territory. He dragged it along the lake side, and dropped it just in sight of the Windclan border, twitching his whiskers with satisfaction.

"That'll spark an argument between those two mouse-brained clans." He thought, padding back to his mother. She seemed a bit better, and had gone back to grooming her tail. Breezepelt looked around, tasting the air. He could smell something faint… A rogue? He didn't say anything to Nightcloud, but followed the scent towards the edge of the clearing. It definitely smelt stronger here. He hesitated, swishing his tail, before pushing his way through the undergrowth, wincing as brambles jabbed through his short pelt, ignoring the concerned call of his mother.

He moved along, trying not to be detected, taking extra care not to stand on twigs. He saw a white she-cat, lay down, enjoying the sun that was shining through the leaves. He crouched down, low, and then sprang out at her, yowling. The she-cat tried to roll on to her paws to escape, however Breezepelt knocked her over and pinned her down.

Nightcloud came crashing through the undergrowth, hissing in fury, only to stare at the loner under her son. The loner was not panicking now, her large ears pointed in a relaxed state, and her large belly wriggled as Breezepelt looked at her. He noticed her claws were sheathed, and her snowy white fur was very, very short and unruffled.

"You aren't afraid?" Nightcloud asked, looking confused.

"Not really. I've been jumped on by you Thunderclan cat's at least seven times this past quarter moon I'm starting to get used to it." She replied, her voice was very soft, and quiet. Her calm, violet eyes were very unusual, with reddish pupils.

"Where are you from?" Breezepelt pressed, loosening his grip slightly.

"Me? I'm just a loner as you Clan cats call me. I'm a traveller. See, at first I was born in a gorge-"

"You don't live in Thunderclan then?" Nightcloud interrupted, unsheathing her claws. "Because if you, we can't let you go-"

"Thunderclan? Me? Do you have a bee buzzing in your ear?" She asked, swishing her tail in annoyance. "I just told you, I'm a loner!"

"Don't speak to my mother like that!" Breezepelt snarled, showing his sharp yellowing teeth. However the loner just yawned at him.

"I'd be more inclined to talk nicely if, oh I don't know… You got your bony paws off my stomach! I'm expecting kits ya' know?" she growled, not breaking eye contact with the black tom eyes. Slowly he got off her. The white she cat slowly sat up, and started pawing at her stomach, checking her kits.

"Thank you kindly. Now, I'm Maybelle. Just in case you cared." She mewed, satisfied her kits were all fine, she turned to look at both the cats, her gaze a lot friendlier. She looked strangely beautiful.

"Uh…" Breezepelt glanced at Nightcloud, they both had the same question brewing in their minds. "Do we tell her our names?"

"Oh you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want." Maybelle mewed, sounding amused. "You Clan cats are so mysterious."

"Oh we aren't Clan cats-" Nightcloud began, only to be cut off.

"Well, I figured you weren't Thunderclan. You threatened to hurt me if I was one of them… Plus you have no idea how to move through undergrowth." She mewed, twitching her whiskers. Nightcloud scowled, not used to being interrupted. "So I'm thinking you must be… Windclan?"

The two cats stiffened, and Maybelle just blinked at them. "Well, you are very skinny and prickly tongued."

"Uh… We aren't Windclan cats… Anymore." Breezepelt mewed. "Why are we still talking to this loner?" he thought, swishing his tail. He glanced at Nightcloud, seeing if she wanted to go. But the black she-cat was sat comfortably, eyeing Maybelle.

"Oh? You two loners like me then? I take it clan life was just too repetitive for you?" she asked curiously, looking in Nightcloud's direction. Breezepelt narrowed his eyes as he watched her. She was looking in Nightclouds direction, certainly. But it looked like she was staring just past her… "Is she blind?"

"Yes, that's right." Nightcloud mewed coolly, her expression giving nothing away. Maybelle didn't look like she suspected that they were lying to her.

"Well, at least you decided to travel. As I told that Thunderclan apprentice. Sure it's great you have a home. A family waiting for you… But travelling, and seeing animals you've never even dreamed of, and different prey? You can't find anything better." She heaved herself to her paws, her large swollen belly sticking out somewhat comically.

"Anyway, I should really head back to the Stables." She mewed, looking wistful. "Coriander is probably worried about me. Hah! That's a joke, she would rather I just drown-"

"Stables?" Breezepelt echoed, looking puzzled.

"Oh, sorry. You cats call it the Horseplace. Right?" she mewed kindly, blinking at him.

"You live… There? With horses?" Nightcloud asked in disbelief, coming off rather rude. Breezepelt wrinkled his nose, remembering the smell of the horses when he decided as an apprentice to try and impress Heatherpaw, by running up to a horse and ripping for a long tail hair. He remembered just barely dodging the horse's large hoof as it kicked out. His whiskers twitched with amusement. Nightcloud had been furious when he had told her. He tried to ignore the pang of regret when he thought Heathertail's beautiful face, and those deep blue eyes of hers. Her soft, kind smile… He pushed the thought down.

"Fear, mates and regrets are for the weak." Brokentail had always told him.

"I know, it's not ideal. But the place is always filled with dumb, fat mice. Even in leaf-bare. I'm only staying there until my kits are old enough to leave. Then I'm out of here." She mewed, looking pleased. Nightcloud's stomach let out a loud growl. Catching their attention. Maybelle let out an amused purr.

"Hungry?" she asked, her voice warm and friendly. Nightcloud hesitated. Breezepelt knew how proud she was, she wouldn't accept anyone else to hunt for her except himself.

"We'll be fine. We don't need help." Breezepelt quickly cut in, going to stand next to his mother. Maybelle blinked understandingly.

"Well okay. But if you need food, shelter and to be safe from Clan cats…" She paused, looking knowingly at them with her pale violet eyes. "You come pay me a visit. Ya' hear?" Nightcloud nodded, and Breezepelt forced himself to mew out a begrudging "Thanks."

Maybelle nodded, and passed by the cats, waving her tail in farewell and she pushed her way through the undergrowth. The two black cats looked at each other. Not sure what to do now.

"Uh…" the tom racked his brain for something to do. "Want to catch more Windclan prey and dump it on Thunderclan territory?" Breezepelt mewed, just wishing to sink his claws in to something. Nightcloud let out an impatient snort, surprising him.

"So that is what you've been doing? Causing petty border arguments?" she mewed, looking disgusted. Breezepelt hesitated.

"Yes..?"

"I expected my son to have a better plan than that." She growled. Breezepelt looked away, his tail drooping.

"What if any Windclan cats recognize your scent? Well? Do you really think, they'd let you get away?"

"I-I… I'm sorry…" Breezepelt mewed, lowering his head. His Clan scolding him? Didn't bother him. Crowfeather scolding him? It used to hurt, but not anymore… But Nightcloud? The cat who loved him unconditionally, was angry with him? It hurt. A lot.

"What would I do if I came across your dead corpse?! My last, most wonderful kit? Gone? It'd kill me! Do you want that!?" she choked out.

"No! No I don't" Breezepelt, mewed, trying to calm his mother down. "I'm so sorry Nightcloud! We'll come up with a better plan. But for now, we- we need a place to gather our strength. Then we will get revenge. I promise."

Nightcloud was breathing heavily, like she had just finished a fight. Maybe to Nightcloud, she was fighting. Breezepelt couldn't help but to stare at her. Her thin flanks were heaving, and he finally noticed the tinges of gray on her muzzle. Reality finally hit him – Nightcloud, was getting old. And if he wasn't able to help her soon…

"Mother. Please calm down. You are right. What am I going to do without you?" he mewed quietly, his voice shaking. That seemed to snap Nightcloud out of it, and she quickly rushed forward and nuzzled her son.

"Mother is here, precious kit. You only need one cat - your mother." She murmured, gently licking his head affectionately. Breezepelt let out a loud purr, and smelt her scent. It smelt like it usually had done. Like the fresh, crisp moorland grass, but underneath that he could have sworn he could smell something else… It smelt like a fever was on the way. He felt his blood turn cold.

"Nightcloud. I-I think we should go the uh… Horseplace for now." Nightcloud backed up, letting out a furious hiss. "No, please. You need to eat, we can't catch prey on these borders, and the prey animals are scared of the scent markers. We'll just stay at the Horseplace for… A half-moon at least. Once you're stronger, we'll work on taking out the Clans. I'm sure we can find other rogues who don't like them… Alright?" he mewed, Nightcloud was staring at him, thinking about what he had said. She narrowed her green eyes thoughtfully, before letting out a sigh.

"This is our best option… For now." She grumbled reluctantly, lashing her tail. "Fine, let's see if we can catch up to Cowbell."