Chapter Thirteen

It's me again. Sick of me yet? Anyway this chapter might have some more action in it but I'm not sure. I don't actually plan this out. Yeah. Anyway, I am super happy with how it's turned out so far so, stay tuned!

RavenflightxStoneshade: Oh well. Thanks.

Guest: Well, oops.

Jackthe4th: I DIDN'T!

Nobah9: Huh. That would've been interesting.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Do I really have to say it at this point?

Rushingwater: Yeah.

Me: Ugh. Fine. I don't own it.

"Mama!" A little voice woke Rushingwater up from her dreams. She half opened her eyes to see a little brown shape with wide golden eyes.

"What is it, Mousekit?" Rushingwater sighed. Raising five kits proved to be a hard task. Except Peachkit had not opened her eyes yet.

"Dreamkit and Waterkit are planning to go outside, even though Peachkit hasn't opened her eyes yet!" Rushingwater heaved herself up. Careful of Peachkit who meowed in disapproval, she walked over to where her two kits were talking quietly.

"What are you doing?" The two kits looked up at her innocently. "Nothing, Mama!" Rushingwater looked at them,

"Really? Because Mousekit told me you two are planning to go outside." Dreamkit looked crossly in his brother's direction,

"Mousekit is a tattletale!" He complained. Rushingwater rolled her eyes.

"It doesn't matter. I am your mother and you will follow my rules." Rushingwater went back over to Peachkit. To her surprise, Peachkit blinked up at her with bright blue eyes.

"Peachkit! Your eyes are open!" Peachkit looked around. "Hi." Cloudkit rushed over quickly followed by his brothers.

"Hey! Peachkit's eyes are open! We can go outside! Come on Peachkit!" While Peachkit scrambled up, the toms ran out. Rolling her eyes Rushingwater followed. The minute she got out, she heard a bunch of coos and voices. She recognized Sweetcloud's meow,

"Aren't they adorable? You must be proud Rushingwater." Rushingwater nodded.

"Wow! There's so many colors!" Peachkit exclaimed. Waterkit looked confused.

"No there isn't."

"Yes there is!" Rushingwater frowned.

"Honey, what color am I?" Waterkit looked at her and blinked.

"You're grey and white."

"What about my eyes?"

"They're grey." Rushingwater started to get worried. "Come on sweetie." She said using her tail to usher him to the medicine cat den.

"ASHHEART!" Ashheart came out looking irritated as usual.

"What?"

"There's something wrong with Waterkit! He can't see colors!" Ashheart sighed.

"Bring him here." As Rushingwater swept Waterkit towards the medicine cat Ashheart got several different color leaves.

"Okay. What color is this leaf?" She asked pawing at a purplish one. Waterkit cocked his head,

"Grey."

"This one?" Ashheart said pointing to a green one.

"Grey." Ashheart turned to an anxious Rushingwater.

"He's color blind." Waterkit blinked.

"What?" Rushingwater asked.

"He can't see colors."

"My poor kit!" Rushingwater fretted licking Waterkit. Waterkit squirmed away.

"I'll be fine! It won't stop me from becoming a warrior!" Rushingwater looked at him, hurt.

"I just worry. You are my first litter." Waterkit briefly looked back.

"I know." Before running off to join his siblings. Rushingwater sighed. Ashheart put her tail on her shoulders.

"He'll be fine." Suddenly commotion rang outside.

"Maplestar!" Startled, Rushingwater ran outside to see that Redwater's patrol had a new cat with them.

Scratch!

Desperate not to show any reaction, Rushingwater hurried to her gets and swept them close.

"Stay close to me." She murmured. She could feel their trembling bodies against hers. Maplestar came out of her den. "Yes?"

Redwater stepped forward.

"We found this rouge at the clearing near the Twoleg place." Maplestar looked down.

"Really?"

"He wouldn't tell us what he was doing there. He seemed to be looking for somebody." Smokeclaw suddenly stepped forward, narrowing his eyes and looking between Cloudkit and Scratch.

"Now wait…" He continued looking between the kit and rouge. Other cats seemed to notice this and Rushingwater drew her kits closer. "That kit looks a lot like him…"

Scratch spotted Rushingwater and widened his eyes at the kits. Rushingwater closed her eyes, wishing this was a dream.

"Rushingwater? Care to explain this?" Maplestar asked looking at them. Rushingwater looked around.

"You are not going to hurt my kits." Smokeclaw stepped forward, bristling.

"They are half-clan. They deserve it." Rushingwater shoved her kits behind her and stood in front of them.

"I'll fight all of you!" She said wildly, unsheathing her claws. Then, a new voice spoke up,

"I'll join." Everyone turned to see that Scratch had stepped forward. "If it means saving the kits, I'll join your clan."

"What do you mean?" Questioned Maplestar who had decided to quote Justin Bieber.

"If-if it means not driving Rushingwater and the kits out, I'll join."

"You aren't really going to accept this, Maplestar." Smokeclaw called out. Maplestar looked thoughtful,

"Kits do need both parents." She muttered. The clan looked at her in disbelief.

"Fine. But," She narrowed her eyes, "One wrong slip up, you. Are. Out." She growled. Rushingwater let out a sigh of relief. Scratch walked over.

"You had kits?"

"Um. Maybe." Scratch looked at her.

"I wouldn't have gotten mad. Can I see them?" Reluctantly, Rushingwater released her kits from her hold. For a while, no one moved until Dreamkit walked forward,

"Who are you?"

"I'm your father." Again, no one moved. Until Cloudkit piped up,

"Is that why you look like me?" Scratch looked at him,

"Yes. And I'll be here for you, now." Peachkit, the shyest of her kits, asked,

"Can you give us a badger ride?" Her brothers chimed in agreeing. Scratch looked at her, she shrugged. He sand to the ground letting the kits get on him.

"Here we go," He said, stomping around, while the kits shrieked happily. Rushingwater noticed the other cats looking on with disgust. Namely, Smokeclaw.

A few nights later (night of the gathering)

Rushingwater watched, sulky, as the cats got ready to go to the gathering. Every cat, was heading out. Only the elders and kits stayed. Sighing, Rushingwater curled up with her kits and tried to get to sleep.

Rushingwater was awaken by the brambles rustling. Coldsnow and her kits weren't in their nest. Sighing, Rushingwater put her head back down. Again the brambles rustled and Rushingwater looked up to see too amber eyes looking at her,

Clawstrike.

Did you think I'd really just forget all about Clawstrike? Anyway, Smokeclaw is kind of the resident Thornclaw of the clan. So yeah. And I put some father/kit fluff in here. It's adorable. Anyway. I need ideas. Badly. Anyway check out the poll on my profile!

Peace out!