This is Part 3 of the Chesnuttail short story series, and the last part. There might be some characters in this who get their own little short stories though in the future

Hollypaw sat in camp, her heart broken. She felt betrayed. Cloverpelt had ended their agreement to care for her own kits, and now her own kits wanted nothing to do with her.

They'll have to come to me eventually. Cloverpelt's kits will be born soon, she thought.

But it seemed like no use. For the few sunrises that had passed since the announcement, Rosekit and Nightkit notoriously ignored her. She was more alone than ever before.

It was mid-morning when Hollypaw's daughter came running to her. Hollypaw glanced around in confusion. Rosekit had seemed to want nothing to do with her, so why was she here now?

"Rosekit? What's the matter?" Hollypaw asked. It looked like her daughter had been crying.

"It's Nightkit! He's missing!" she exclaimed.

"Did Cloverpelt-"

"Cloverpelt isn't strong enough to leave the nursery," Rosekit explained. "I thought-"

Hollypaw reached a paw out toward her daughter, but Rosekit backed away.

"I think Nightkit needs help," she said.

"Let's head into the forest to look for him," Hollypaw suggested. Her heart dropped. Where was her son? She couldn't stand it if something had happened to him. She felt angered that Cloverpelt wasn't watching them. More now than ever she wanted her kits to love her and for her to look over them. But it seemed she would never really be their main guardian.

She and Rosekit looked around the whole forest, getting whiffs of Nightkit's scent here and there. They traced it up to the two-leg homes.

"He must have gone in the twoleg neighborhood," Rosekit stated.

Hollypaw glanced up in confusion. "Hm..."

"Aren't we going to go after him?"

"We should send some other cats in," Hollypaw told her.

"You don't care enough to go after him! But he's my brother, and one of the only family members I have!" Rosekit hissed.

Hollypaw narrowed her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm here for you and Nightkit! But you two don't want anything to do with me!"

"Maybe it's because you don't even want to go after him," Rosekit grumbled.

Hollypaw sighed. "No. We need to tell Sunstar about this," she decided.

Rosekit unhappily followed her mother back to camp. The next day and a half was spent searching for Nightkit, but patrols had found no sign of the tom.

While Rosekit spent her time with Cloverpelt in the nursery, still angered with her mother, Hollypaw would go around in the forest from time to time. Rosekit's words had stuck with her. She wanted to show her daughter that she did care about her son.

One afternoon, Hollypaw was wandering around the woods again, desperate for the scent of Nightkit, when she heard a cry. She spun around to find a fatigued black kit running to her.

"Mommy!" he croaked.

Hollypaw had never heard him call her that before. "Nightkit!" she exclaimed.

Following behind him was a white kit.

"Nightkit, what happened?" Hollypaw asked. He appeared to have minor injuries, but other than that, he was fine.

"Some two-legs took me," he said.

Hollypaw turned and glanced at the white kit. She had a collar around her neck.

"Was it her?" Hollypaw asked, unsheathing her claws.

"No, stop! She saved me. Her name is Rose," Nightkit said. "She wants to join the clan with her sister."

"What?"

"It's a long story," Nightkit told her.

"I'm glad you're safe. Rosekit was worried about you. I-I was too."

"I'm okay," Nightkit told her. Hollypaw desperately wanted to tell her son she loved him right then, but it seemed inappropriate. He would never love her like a son loved his mother.

Nightkit was brought back to camp where Rosekit celebrated his return. There was not a word spoken to Hollypaw again by either of them for the time being. As Nightkit said, Rose and her sister joined FoxClan, and Rose took on the name of Lavenderkit and became a constant companion of Nightkit.

As the days passed, Hollypaw was awoken one night by Cloverpelt going into labor. Hollypaw stepped outside the apprentice den, though she didn't dare go close to the nursery.

As soon as Cloverpelt had given birth, Hollypaw crept by and glanced inside. Cloverpelt was introducing her kits-three of them-to Rosekit and Nightkit.

"The gray-brown she-cat is Willowkit," she said. "And the orange tom is Redkit. And the dusty brown tom is Chesnutkit."

Hollypaw's heart lurched on the last kit's name. It was wrong to feel jealous, but also, it wasn't fair. Why had Chesnuttail given all his love to Cloverpelt and not her?

In StarClan, Chesnuttail watched his family grow. He had never felt so much love for his five kits, but at the same time, he was still conflicted. Was it right that he had left Hollypaw, considering she was pregnant? But then, he didn't know...

Chesnuttail sighed. It seemed like he had so much left to accomplish in FoxClan, and yet here he was in StarClan now.

Out of the corner of his eye, a whirling blue light began to appear. Chesnuttail glanced at it curiously, never seeing such an odd light before.

"What could this be?" he asked, before approaching it more.

Hollypaw grew closer to her warrior ceremony, and she watched her kits continue to grow from afar. Cloverpelt no longer constantly watched over them, but they appeared to enjoy living life on their own rather than having a parent dictate them.

Hollypaw's brother, Ravenpaw, would oftentimes try to lend a little support, but what was the use? Ravenpaw was happily in love with another she-cat, Starpaw.

It was mid-afternoon one day when there was a bit of commotion in the clan. Hollypaw heard a lot of chatter, and she stepped outside the den.

"What's going on?" Hollypaw asked, trying to move through the crowd. As soon as she got forward, she nearly collapsed at the sight she saw. It was Chesnuttail, alive and well.

They locked eyes for a moment, and Hollypaw began to stammer.

"B-but...how?"

Chesnuttail's gaze from her disappeared as Cloverpelt rushed forward.

"Oh, Chesnuttail! You're alive!" she gasped. "How though? Oh, you have to come see our kits!"

"Chesnuttail, what is the reason behind this?" Sunstar asked.

"I went through a portal in StarClan," he explained.

"A portal?" Sunstar wondered.

Chesnuttail nodded. "It's a very rare phenomenon and only happens to a few cats. But StarClan felt I had more to do. They granted me the gift of life, and I was able to come back here and care for my kits."

"It is rather odd. It's something I've never heard of, but we are happy to welcome you back," Sunstar told him.

Cloverpelt began to lead him away to see his kits, but Rosekit and Nightkit stepped forward.

"Oh, these are your...other kits," Cloverpelt told him.

The two looked nervous to meet their father, but he talked to them gently. Hollypaw wondered what it would have been like if they had all been a happy family.

As Cloverpelt led him away, Hollypaw strutted past her kits toward the nursery, desperate to see the tom she was still desperately in love with. She heard Cloverpelt introducing them to him. Hollypaw sat outside several minutes, trying to keep it together.

She stole a quick glance, watching Chesnuttail nuzzle Cloverpelt. So they were still mates. Nothing had changed.

Hollypaw let out a cry and headed back to the nursery. Even her own kits threw her glances.

It was late at night when she heard little whispers. Hollypaw opened her eyes. Was it Chesnuttail?

She spun around, finding her two kits staring at her instead.

"Rosekit, Nightkit? What are you doing here? You should be with your father," she told them.

"He's too busy with his other kits," Rosekit murmured.

"What?"

"Cloverpelt is keeping him busy," Nightkit explained.

"Are you and Daddy not going to be mates?" Rosekit asked.

Hollypaw shook her head. "I don't think so. Chesnuttail loves Cloverpelt."

"But...he had to love you at some point. We're here," Nightkit pointed out.

Hollypaw grinned weakly. "Yes. Maybe at one point. But I don't think again. You two should go see him. Don't let Cloverpelt stop you."

The two shrugged and stayed put.

"You aren't going?"

"We're still upset, but..." Rosekit's voice trailed off. She took a few steps closer to her mother and curled down beside her. Nightkit did the same. Hollypaw's breath paused for a moment.

"But..."

She didn't want to break the silence. The two were pressed warm against her. Tears gathered in Hollypaw's eyes. She placed her head down beside them and listened to their breaths go in and out. It was what she had always wanted, to have her kits close to her.

"Hollypaw," came a whisper.

She glanced up, noticing Chesnuttail peeking into the den. Those feelings of affection earlier had vanished. She slowly moved away from her kits. They squirmed slightly, but other than that, they remained asleep.

She met him outside the den and just stared at him.

"What?" she asked.

"I didn't get to see you," he told her, acting as if nothing was wrong.

"Too busy with Cloverpelt and her kits?" she asked.

"I-I thought everything would be better when I came back," he admitted.

"How? You still ran right to Cloverpelt when you returned. Nothing has changed."

"Hollypaw, I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell me you were expecting?" he asked.

"I was about to," Hollypaw whispered. "But then...you know..."

"Yeah, the battle," Chesnuttail remembered. "I'm sorry. I'm just as confused as you."

"So you don't care for Cloverpelt?" Her heart leapt a little.

"I do. I-I don't know. But you're still important to me," he assured her.

Hollypaw sighed. "Look. I don't care what I am to you right now. I'm upset, and I'm sorry, but it's going to be that way for a while. I don't want you to pity me though. Just look at the kits. Our kits, not Cloverpelt's. They need a father too. They barely accept me as their mother, but maybe it could be different for you."

"I wasn't trying to favor any of them if that's what you were suggesting," Chesnuttail told her.

"Either way, Cloverpelt seems to want you near her and the kits most of the time. But Rosekit and Nightkit need you too. I know they'll be apprentices soon, but they'd like to have you there," Hollypaw told him.

"I'll try then," Chesnuttail promised.

"Fine."

"Hollypaw...I'm sorry," he said with so much misery that she almost believed him.

"It's fine," she lied, going back into the den to rejoin her kits.

"HOLLYBREEZE! RAVENCLAW!" the clan cried. The she-cat was finally a warrior, and her kits were made apprentices soon after. Soon enough, Cloverpelt's kits joined them, and the nursery was less full.

Hollybreeze's kits did not pay as much attention to her as they had done that night. Chesnuttail had kept his promise and gave attention to both. It seemed Nightpaw and Rosepaw enjoyed being with him, and for that, Hollybreeze was grateful.

Chesnuttail continued being mates with Cloverpelt though, though even she could see the gray she-cat was more enthusiastic about their relationship than him.

Chesnuttail found her later in the day.

"Can we meet up tonight?" he asked.

"Why?" Hollybreeze wondered. They had talked little since his first initial return to FoxClan.

"Please, Hollybreeze. Just give me a chance."

"Fine," she agreed.

That night, they met in the forest under the moonlight.

"So what is all this about?" Hollybreeze wondered.

"We can still be friends, you know," Chesnuttail told her.

Hollybreeze ignored him and sat down beside him, the trees blowing in the breeze alongside them.

"Remember when we came here as apprentices?" Chesnuttail asked.

Hollybreeze felt the slightest traces of a grin appear. "Yes, I remember."

"Things were a lot less complicated then."

"Yeah," Hollybreeze replied.

"Are-are you glad I'm back? Or would it have been better if I had died in the battle permanently?" Chesnuttail wondered.

"Why would you think that?" Hollybreeze asked. "Of course I'm glad you're back."

"You're upset with me. I love my kits, but I feel like I'm not in their lives as much as I should be. I feel like I've caused so much trouble," Chesnuttail admitted.

Hollybreeze sighed, not sure how to reply.

"What about Cloverpelt?" she asked at last.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you happy with her?" she asked.

Chesnuttail squirmed a bit. "I-I don't know. I think when we were mates before, it was impulse. We were young and in love but now..."

Hollybreeze glanced at him in hope and desperation.

"I can't think about it right now," Chesnuttail said. "But I want to be friends, if that's okay with you."

Hollybreeze glanced at him. She so desperately wished for a time that they would be in love again. She had never stopped loving again, but it seemed he had stopped loving her. Still, she didn't want a life without him, so she nodded her head.

"Yes," she said.

Chesnuttail grinned. "Your kits...sorry our kits, are beautiful, by the way. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I-I wish you could have been the mother you wanted to."

Hollybreeze sighed. "Me too."

She and Chesnuttail were on friendlier terms after that. There was always some hope in her heart that he would turn to her, but she decided to focus on her warrior duties for now. She watched her kits from afar. They did not show hate toward her anymore, but they were not always running to her side. They'd say 'hi' when they passed each other, but that was the end of it.

And then one night Chesnuttail brought Hollybreeze to the forest again. He wouldn't tell her why, and he seemed nervous as they found a quiet meadow to sit in.

"Why did you bring me out here?" Hollybreeze wondered.

"I broke it off with Cloverpelt."

"You what?!" Hollybreeze gasped. "She must've freaked."

Chesnuttail nodded.

"Why did you do it?" Hollybreeze wondered.

"It's like I said before. It wasn't the same. I might have been in love with her before I died, but it doesn't feel like that anymore. She's...clingy, and it's like she never stopped being head over heels for me. I didn't want that anymore."

"But the kits..."

"I'll still be there for them," he told her. "But Cloverpelt won't talk to me anymore. I don't blame her. But she's always been quick to anger."

Hollybreeze nodded, remaining quiet.

"Hollybreeze..."

She glanced up at him, her heart beating rapidly.

"I-I want to be mates with you...if you'll let me, of course," he said.

She remained silent, not sure how to reply.

"I've always loved you since I was younger, and I'm sorry for all I've done to you. It wasn't right...what I did. And I think that's why StarClan sent me back-to make up for that. I know we get along better. I know now that I love you more and could love you forever. I love our kits, and I love you," he told her. "I wouldn't blame you if you rejected me, but I want to make it up to you."

Hollybreeze finally found the courage to speak. "I don't want you to become mates with me just because I'm your second option."

"You're not," Chesnuttail assured her.

"And I don't want you to become mates with me because you're pitying me. Only if you truly love me."

"I do," he said, inching closer toward her.

"I want the kits to come before anything else."

"Of course."

"Then...yes," she agreed, tears coming to eyes. "Yes, yes, yes..."

Chesnuttail began to cry too and nuzzled her. It was the happy ending she had always wanted.

As expected, Cloverpelt kept her distance from them out of rage. She did nothing to cause harm to any of them, but she certainly steered clear of them.

All the kits grew. Chesnuttail and Hollybreeze cheered them on. Rosecloud, Nigthclaw, Chesnutfang, Redfur, and Willowfoot. Hollybreeze's children took on mates of their own. She couldn't have been happier for them.

But then, the twolegs broke into the forest. FoxClan was destroyed by bulldozers and scary machines. In the act, Nightclaw was killed, and Hollybreeze was distraught.

The clan managed to rebuild a moon later, with smaller territory and fewer cats, of course. Cloverpelt became leader, adding a whole other level of awkwardness, but she did her best to treat all of the cats with respect.

It was at this time that Rosecloud became pregnant with kits. She spoke to her mother more, asking questions. Hollybreeze did her best to answer, and she felt at least a bit on friendlier terms with her daughter.

Rosecloud gave birth to three kits-one she-cat and two toms.

Hollybreeze went to visit her after she gave birth, and the calico she-cat broke into tears.

"I'm so sorry for the way I've treated you," Rosecloud told her.

"What are you talking about?" Hollybreeze asked, gently resting her tail on her daughter.

"Having these kits near me...It must have been so agonizing to have them stripped away from you, and then when you got them back, Nightclaw and I were so cruel to you..."

Hollybreeze sighed, letting her daughter cry into her shoulder.

"I love you. I hope you and Nightclaw knew that."

"We did. We did," Rosecloud assured her.

"Nightclaw spoke of you, you know," Lavenderwhisker, Nightclaw's widow, said. She had just given birth to two kits of her own.

"He did?" Hollybreeze asked.

Lavenderwhisker nodded. "He was proud of you. I hope you know that."

Hollybreeze smiled and grinned, tears coming to her eyes. She and Chesnuttail had, at one time, considered having another litter, but she already had such perfect kits that she wanted no more.

The joy was soon brought to an end when MoonClan returned. The clan that had taken her mate away at one time was now brought back by Hazelstar, Chesnuttail's sister.

Hollybreeze and her family was kidnapped by Hazelstar and forced to live in MoonClan. Hazelstar had requested that all Chesnuttail's family be taken. Rosecloud, her mate and kits, and even Lavenderwhisker and her kits joined them. Chesnutfang, the only surviving one of Chesnuttail's other litter at the time, had been taken too.

Those days were bleak. Hollybreeze was pushed physically and mentally to no end. Hazelstar had demanded they fight for MoonClan. Hollybreeze had never seen the reality that Chesnuttail had been brought up in, but she had never thought it was this bad.

When the day of the battle did came, the two agreed that they would fight for MoonClan. The second battle commenced, and Hollybreeze feared for her life more than ever.

The two were deep in battle and becoming fatigued when a cat launched at Chesnuttail and struck deep in the throat. It was as if Hollybreeze was living over the first battle all over again.

Chesnuttail collapsed, blood spurting from his throat. She knew already there was nothing she could do.

"I...love you, Hollybreeze," he whispered.

"No, don't die," she said, tears coming to her eyes.

The tom was using every strength to get out his last words. "Tell..tell Cloverstar I'm sorry for what happened. Take-take care of the kits." It was at this moment he hung his head down and died.

Kits? He meant Chesnutfang as well. Hollybreeze spun around, finding Rosecloud sobbing over the collapsed body of her mate, Treestep.

She didn't want to go on another day without Chesnuttail. She was getting older. She'd be an elder in no time. Chesnutfang had a mate. Rosecloud had kits to care for. They could handle themselves.

"Are you okay?" Chesnutfang called out, hearing Hollybreeze screech.

She shook her head and with her claw, slit her own throat.

When she awoke in StarClan, Chesnuttail seemed unhappy to see her.

"I-I wanted to be with you," she told him, tears flooding to her eyes.

Chesnuttail's frown was wiped off his face. Tears came to his eyes and he nodded. She ran to him and nuzzled him. No matter where he went, she wanted to follow him, even if that meant in death, for he was the one she truly loved first and foremost.

Note: The portal is a concept created by me. Before you all start telling me how stupid of a concept it is, I promise I've only used this convenient deus ex machina TWICE (in Chesnuttail's case, and in The Cat and the Fox.) It happened to one other cat who may be mentioned in a story at some point, but this other cat was a really minor RP character for me. So please, I promise I'm not just using it because it's convenient. Of the 100+ cats I RP'd, I only ever used it these two times.