School started 2. We found a starving cat 3. My computer crashed. And that is why I'm in a foul mood. A mood for killing off cats….

The following morning Gloryheart awoke to the sound of twittering birds. Mallowleaf was still asleep. He didn't want to wake her so he just curled his tail more tightly around her and lay still. Around him was the faint snoring of his kits, Plumclaw, Streamflower and Beestripe. He raised his head. And stared deep into the eyes of Ivykit.

Ivykit stared back. Well, more like glared back. She didn't say anything for a while and then quietly she coughed and turned her back on him. Gloryheart looked at her in confusion. And then saw Beestripe stir.

"Gloryheart, is it dawn?" she asked with a yawn.

"Yes."

"Good. Am I in a border or hunting patrol?"

"The sleep patrol. I can't let you patrol, remember?"

"Right. Then will you come hunting with me?"

Gloryheart wanted to refuse. She was going to have kits and it might look like he was taking over as the father. But her eyes had a gleam in them. The old look she had, before Bittenstar came into power.

"Okay. But I don't want to wake Mallowleaf so we'll wait until she wakes up."

"You don't want to wake?" she said mischievously," you won't have to."

Then she cleared her throat and at the top of her lungs screamed "Good morning ThunderClan!"

Gloryheart gaped as Mallowleaf opened her eyes. "Are we under attack?"

Beestripe mouthed at Gloryheart 'run' anfdf shot out of the nursery.

"Later, my sweet." He said licking her ear fondly and walked out, ignoring Ivykit's penetrating glare.

"That was brilliant!" Gloryheart purred happily.

"I know, and then Mallowleaf was all like 'are we under attack?' and then I raced out of camp! I wish I could've seen her face once she realised it was a joke!"

Gloryheart smiled too, forgetting that this was his mate they were talking about. "I miss you Beestripe."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's not the same since," he carefully avoided saying 'Bittenstar came into power, "Crashstar died." He finished.

"I miss her. She was a good friend of my mother."

"Fleeingwaters used to tell me about how she fought off the fox single-pawed that killed my brother."

"Do you remember him?"

"No. I had just opened my eyes so I never really knew him well."

"What was his name?"

"Burnkit. We never talk about him."

"I understand how that must feel. Hey, do you realise something?"

"What?"

"We're sort of kin know. Mallowleaf being my sister."

"That means that I'm distant kin to Rattletail."

"And distant-er kin to Weatherstorm!"

Gloryheart froze. He was actual not so distantly related to Rattletail. He was the uncle of his first daughter. Which also meant that he had killed his daughter's uncle, Meowingheart.

"Gloryheart? You okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You can tell me you know."

"There's nothing to tell."

"You're upset because you um, sacrificed Meowingheart?"

Gloryheart struggled not to laugh. I sacrificed him, sure.

"You know, you weren't even related by blood. You're just really distant."

"No, Beestripe, not that distant."
"What does that mean?"

"He was blood related to Ivykit."

"Oh, come on! She's not your kit! She's Streamflower's kit."

Gloryheart nodded. Beestripe was right: Ivykit was Streamflower's, not his.

His kits were Bigkit, Spottykit and Rainkit. Even if Bigkit was mean, he would always be his son.

And that was when he heard the yowl.

He looked at Beestripe in terror. It was the cry of a kit.

He dashed back through the forest and screamed as Bittenstar sank his teeth into Spottykit's scruff. When he saw Gloryheart he stopped.

"Good, you came at last. My new call for my deputy worked. Now down to business-"

"Why didn't you just send someone to find me? He's only a kit. Spottykit never did anything."

"Actually he did. We caught him helping Jasminescent, we all know it's a she-cat's job. She has had her punishment, I was merely using his to my advantage."

Gloryheart pricked his ears. Mallowleaf was already with Spottykit but suddenly he wasn't the most important thing. Jasminescent!

"Jasminescent!" he would never be able to forgive himself if he had killed her, never would he be able to look anoher cat in the eye.

"I'm here."

He physically jolted in relief.

"What did he do to you?"

"I'm a bit scathed, that's all. And Spottykit?"

"He's with Mallowleaf. He seems to be alright."

Jasminescent leaned on him for support as she hobbled outside with some herbs clamped firmly in her mouth.

Spottykit was brought to them by Mallowleaf, Rainkit at her heels.

Jasminescent gently dabbed at the wound with herbs.

"Gloryheart!" Bittenstar barked. "I needed to tell you that we are moving the she-cats in the abandoned nest today."

"What?"

"You heard me correctly. The medicine cats will stay. Your sons are weaned so they will stay too. In the apprentices den I think."

"I…"

"No!" Rainkit squeaked. "I'm not leaving my brother!"

Bittenstar looked as if he were about to strike her but instead he coolly walked past her and pushed past Jasminescent and Mallowleaf. There was an ear splitting crunch that anyone who heard it would forever remember it.

Bitttenstar brought the lifeless body of Spottykit to Rainkit. He dropped it at her paws. "You may take him with you."

Rainkit screamed and Mallowkit rapped her tail around her kit, but her eyes were hollow and she gaped stupidly at Spottykit's body, like she didn't believe this was real. Bittenstar stood up.

"Would all cats gather for a clan meeting."

Gloryheart couldn't move. He felt Jasminescent press herself against him. His kit was dead. And he was powerless to avenge him.

"Today, all she-cats will be moved to the old twoleg nest. Weatherstorm will go with in case of medical emergencies with tom kits. Kits over three or four moons of age will be brought here to be apprenticed. A guard will be placed outside the twoleg den."

Bigkit stood up. "I want to do it."

Bittenstar and some of the toms purred in amusement. "One day you shall. For now, Mousepelt will guard it. All she—cats in training and their mentors will live in the nursery. Queens are also moving to the den. Gloryheart, please make sure that the nursery is appropriate for them she-cats staying there."

Gloryheart didn't understand what he meant but he went to wait outside it. Bigkit started coming towards him. "One day, I want to be like you."

"Really?" Gloryheart was surprised. But then again, who didn't want to be deputy?

"I'm going to be big and strong and powerful. I will get to the top like you and Bittenstar. And you know what? Like you I'm also going to kill the cats that get in my way!"

Bigkit's got a pretty bad impression of his father. And poor Spottykit!