Nightfang

"Why were you in Thunderclan territory last night Nightfang?" Lemonpaw said, her tone full of emotion, "I got stuck in the snow storm, Thunderclan has deep tree cover and I was able to find shelter. I got out without any cat noticing me and I covered my tracks, I wouldn't be concerned." He said, brushing her off like she was asking me about a piece of prey I caught.

I began to walk past her but she blocked my path, "But you told me to hurry back to camp before the snow got too deep, why didn't you follow me?!" I gave her a stern look, I needed to be calm or she will never believe me again. "I had to bring back a piece of prey I buried earlier, we cant afford to waste anything this time of year." Her gaze lightened a little but she didn't move, "Why are you out here so early? I doubt the camp entrance has been dug out yet so how did you get under that bush?" this time I gave her an accusing look,

"I didn't feel right leaving you out here alone, so I waited for you in case you needed help." I flinched, she had stayed out here all night for me? "You mouse brain! You could have gotten sick or died out here! What were you thinking?" I scolded digging my nose into her fur, feeling for a high temperature or signs of chills, she shook me off. "Im fine! What about you? you could have done the same?"

I raised an eyebrow at her, "You actually think I would die so easily?" she turned her face away embarrassed, "Lets hurry and get back to camp and help dig out the entrance." I said giving her a playful cuff, with a burst of speed I dove into the snow, which came up to my chin my fur protecting me from the soft crystals. Lemonpaw was close behind me and with a challenging look back at her I urged myself faster, "Think you can beat me?" her eyes narrowed and that fire I saw in her every time we made a bet told me my lie had worked.

I felt bad lying to my apprentice but I couldn't let any cat find out about Morningdew and the kits.

Our camp was covered with a thick pelt of snow, we found Crowfeather and Hawkwing digging from the front. "There you are Nightfang, don't tell me you are making poor Lemonpaw tag along for your morning marathons." Hawkwing said, his tabby fur dusted with snow. "Yeah well, I cant have her getting as lazy as you." I joked back at him and motioned for Lemonpaw to join him in the digging. I winked at her, hoping she understood that my returning from Thunderclan should stay between us.

If it didn't, I think my excuse would get me out of any trouble. I dug in next to Crowfeather, who acknowledged me with a curt nod and we worked until the sun was high in the sky, the clouds were still too thick to let much light through so the snow barely melted. Heathertail and Weaseltail and Gorsetail met us from the inside and luckily the entrance was cleared with most of the day still left. "Lets see what hunting we can get done." I said to Emberfoot and Nightcloud, both who hunted well in extreme weather. "Hawkwing, take Breezepelt, Larkwing, and Grayrock with you on a patrol. im not expecting any trouble after this storm but we cant be too careful." He nodded at me and went to collect the warriors, "What about me? What can I do?" Lemonpaw asked, gasping from the mornings workout but still bright with energy. "I think you should get some rest, you stayed up all night in the cold remember?" I whispered, my gaze daring her to argue, and of course she did:

"Im not tired, I want to go on patrol too! You can teach me how to hunt in the snow!" she countered, her gaze threatening, I didn't want to give into her pushiness but I didn't want to get her fur ruffled after what happened. "Fine, but pay attention and keep quite. Noise is muffled during snow fall but when its covering the ground it is amplified, understand?" she nodded, and pranced past me, her tail grazing my cheek tauntingly.

That she cat twisted my whiskers more than summer fleas. I shook off the irritation and followed her to where Nightcloud and Emberfoot were waiting. "We should try over by the edge of the border in the north, we haven't hunted there since the middle of summer so I bet we can find a vole or two." I suggested, "Good idea, the grass is thinner over there but there are lots of bushes, we may even find a rabbit." Nightcloud said hopefully.

I took the lead with Lemonpaw close to my side, "I have never hunted in snow before, how do you find prey through the snow?" she whispered lightly in my ear,

"Remember I said noise is amplified in the snow? This is because the bright, thin sheet of ice causes sound to bounce, underneath the snow you have prey digging around and it can be easy to hear. However they can also hear us approach more easily so you have to watch where you put your paws, stopping and listening is the key." I whispered back, showing her the weight of my steps so she could see where to position her limbs when creeping up on a target.

With a understanding nod she copied my movements and her eyes brightened when she noticed the difference, "Oh wow, this is so cool! Why isn't every warrior doing this?" her tone rose with excitement, getting a stern hiss from Nightcloud who was listening a few tail lengths away. "Not every cat is built the same, even though Windclan is thinner and quicker than the other clans, even we have trouble in extreme weather. So some warriors are more adept than others for this." Emberfoot whispered and I nodded in agreement, all of us where thin and lean, making us lighter on our paws.

We all spread apart to look and listen for any signs of movement. I closed my eyes and focused my senses, my ears darted in each direction and I inhaled deeply. The icy winter air filled pricked uncomfortably at my lungs but I heard a rustling in a nearby holly bush. It was a vole, picking at the branches and instinctively I went into a hunting crouch. "Hey I see a vole!" Lemonpaw said, her voice carrying over the snowy hills, the vole quickly darted back under the bush and I dashed to try and grab it before it disappeared in its hole. My claws slid just out of reach and I bit back a curse as I glared at my apprentice, I wanted to yell but I knew it would only scare any other prey in the area. Lemonpaw shrunk low to the ground, with an apologetic look her pink nose wiggling nervously. I let out a deep sigh, I could never stay mad at her she was only an apprentice after all.

Morningdew

"Well, it looks like they all have the sniffles." Leafpool said sniffing the kits, "Any idea how that happened?" she gave me a questioning look, I shrugged in mock ignorance, "No idea, we haven't left the nursery." I looked at the kits who all gave Leafpool pathetic looks in return and her eyes softened, "Well, it doesn't seem too serious. Ill bring them a little something to help with fever but they just need warmth, food and rest." Ducking from the den I moved to kits and gave them loving licks, "Great job loves. How are you feeling?"

"I feel great! Lets go back and see papa again tonight!" Silverkit whispered excitedly, his voice a bit muffled by his sniffles. "Yeah, I bet we can make it all the way to the Windclan border this time!" Ravenkit said with a small sneeze, "I want to practice my pounces so he can see how much better I got!" Wishkit said, her nose running like a waterfall.

"Um, well kits its not safe to go back out there with the snow. Your too young and thank Starclan you only got the sniffles." I breathed, admiring their strength. I was so happy that the first meeting with Nightfang went well, the snow didn't seem to interfere. I looked over to Lilyheart who was keeping Mudkit and Sweetkit close, "Sorry dear, I just don't want them to get sick you understand right?" she said apologetically, "Of course, a nursery of sick kits is a bad omen for the winter." I agreed, "But I wanna play!" Sweetkit whined, "Yeah, we are big enough now to play with them mama." Mudkit pushed but Lilyheart hushed them with licks and nudges, encouraging them to eat.

I curled up with the kits who were now yawning and sneezing, the exhaustion finally taking them over. I had to admit, these last weeks of odd hours has messed with my body and I wasn't as adept at staying up all night anymore. My lids were heavy and my paws ached from the cold, regardless I was full of relief that the meeting went well and no cat suspected that I had taken the kits out. Starclan must surely be blessing my choice,

I thought back to Bluestar and her little white and black kit who died in its youth. She must have been devastated. I sent another silent prayer thanking her for her guidance and as I wondered how far would her blessing get us, I was pulled into a dark and deep sleep.

"Morningdew, Morningdew?" a quiet prodding voice cleared my vision as I slowly blinked awake, my surrounding were a moonlit forest that seemed to be shrouded in starlight. Starclan, I was in Starclan! I began to panic but a starry paw touched my shoulder and I turned to see a beautiful pale gray tabby she cat, her blue eyes dotted with stars.

"Hello Moriningdew, I am Feathertail." Her voice was like a breezy summer rain, "Oh, I have heard of you! You helped Squirrelflight find our new home.", she smiled brightly, "Yes, I did. I have also followed many other cats and their journeys from Starclan including yours."

My ears stuck close to my head, "Oh, so you must know about my relationship with Nightfang?" she nodded but the warmth never left her face, "Yes, your journey is followed by many here and it the reason I have come to you this night."

"Really? Whats wrong, will my kits be alright?"

"Of course, your kits have a destinies of their own to fill but Nightfangs and yours have not yet been fulfilled."

I grew confused, "What do you mean? What else were we meant to do?"

"I cant say, but there are some cats who want to meet you and share their wisdom." She said and began to fade, her bright smile the last thing to disappear and where she had been another shape, a dark gray she cat with sleek starlit fur and blue eyes.

"Hello young one, I am Cloudberry of Riverclan from many moons before you were born." She said her voice clear and delicate.

I dipped my head to her, "I am honored."

"I wanted to share with you my story so that it may guide you in the future. I and my mate Ryewhisker were the reason the first rule of the warrior code was created. At the time our clan were not as hostile towards out of clan relationships as they are now and Ryewhisker and I were happy about our first litter. Sadly he died before they could be born in a battle and it was declared that cats will only be loyal to their own clan, that included all types of relationships. Medicine cats are the only exception to this rule as you know." She said, her gaze fixed on me but it was distant as if lost in memory.

"I didn't know about that, were the kits excepted even though they were considered half clan?" I asked.

"Of course, but since Ryewhisker was dead there was nothing keeping them tied to Windclan except by blood. I am telling you this because you and Nightfang are determined to raise your kits together despite the code. I envy your strength and had circumstances been the same for me, I would have done the same. However there are many who do not agree with this as you know and your position in Thunderclan is being questioned. I want to remind you to stay strong and loyal to you heart, because not even the warrior code can control that." she finished and rested her muzzle on the top of my head and suddenly I felt much lighter.

Another shape took her place, this time a bright white tom with amber eyes. "I am Winterstar, I was leader of Skyclan long before it left the forest." I dipped my head again and he went on, his voice strong and full of authority.

"After I was made leader of Skyclan I had a mate who bore me many healthy kits. We tended to fight over political views and before long I took notice of another she cat from Shadowclan named Shadownose. We met in secret because of my status and she was soon expecting kits. I took full responsibility of course because I loved my kits and both of my mates but Shadowclans leader Feircestar did not agree with the birth of half clan kits, especially not by a leader." His voice grew sad and his eye dark with anger,

"So he killed them and banished Shadownose from the forest. I offered her a place in my clan but no cat was willing to have her, my mate Redberry disowned my kits and left the clan on her own because of my betrayal. I am telling you my story because I ruined the lives of those she cats and the lives of my kits, I stayed leader but my reputation was tarnished and Skyclan suffered for it. If your secret is brought to light then it isn't just your future that is impacted, it is all the cats in each clan is it worth it?" he began to fade as he muttered the last sentence and I barely herd him.

Feathertail reappeared by my side and slid her busy tail over my shoulders, "It is a hard position you are in isn't it?" I nodded weakly my head full of different thoughts and fears. "As I said, there are many here who think we need to intervene before this brings on another war. I on the other paw think that the outcome of this will be better for the whole forest."

"Outcome? What do you mean? Do you already know what will happen?" I asked confused again. She looked at me her eyes glowed with an inner light that I knew wasn't from the stars but from the passion she had when she was a warrior, "I cant say more but I think you know what you want to happen and from what I can gather, you make your visions come through despite what any cat thinks."

I felt the weight of her words pull me into the depths of the dream world and before I could respond to her I jolted awake. Gasping for air I looked around, I was still in the nursery, the kits dead asleep at my side and the nursery was shrouded in darkness. "we must have slept all day." I yawned, still feeling the prick of sleep pulling my head down. I snuggled my kits closer and listened to their tiny snores and smiled, they were so precious to me and no matter what Winterstar and Cloudberry say I will never let any cat hurt them or Nightfang. Our love was not wrong and my kits were not born from sin but from passion and devotion between mates, if the warrior code forbade that then I would just have to change it myself.