I've already written a bit about this family before, but this is a background on the NightClan warrior Hailfrost, the son of Winterfrost and brother of Swampclaw. Enjoy :)
…
From the moment he was born, Hailkit believed his life was perfect. He had two doting parents, a brother he got along well with, and a clan that loved and nourished him. Those were the simpler days.
His mother, Winterfrost, would watch over him while he played with Swampkit. Their father, Tigerhawk, would often stop by for some father-son bonding time. Swampkit would joke about which she-cat liked Hailkit. In the afternoons Hailkit and Swampkit would pretend to be the leaders of their own clans. And at night, Hailkit would snuggle close to his mother and brother, dreaming of the day he would be a warrior of NightClan.
Appleclaw's kits were born early into Hailkit's kithood. That was when Hailkit met Frostkit. Her fur was as snowy-white as his, and though she was a bit younger and smaller than Hailkit, she made up for her small size in endurance and feistiness. Soon enough, Hailkit found himself playing with the she-cat more than he expected. He seemed to know already they'd be life-long friends. In fact, they were becoming so close that Hailkit failed to notice Swampkit's annoyance.
His brother had been acting different lately, though Hailkit was never too sure why. Things had always been perfect between them. It seemed strange that would change now.
Nevertheless, during a game of find the moss ball, Swampkit became infuriated to find the moss behind him.
"We're playing," Hailkit murmured. "Stop interrupting." There was a reason Hailkit didn't offer a spot in games to his brother much these days, and that was because Swampkit was becoming a stick in the mud.
Sorry!" Swampkit snapped. "I guess this is a no brother zone! I'll just leave you alone with your girlfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend!" Frostkit quickly denied. "We're just friends."
"Oh, so now your girlfriend's got it against me too?!" Swampkit yelled angrily. "I always knew Mom liked you more!"
Hailkit blinked in surprise, not sure where this outburst was even coming from. He was just playing with Frostkit. Just like he and Swampkit used to do...
"Swampkit!" Winterfrost gasped. "You know that's not true!" She reached her paw forward to comfort him, but Swampkit broke away.
"GET OFF OF ME!" he shouted. He tore from her grip and raced out of the den.
Hailkit watched his mother quickly follow. Frostkit shrunk back and gave Hailkit an apologetic smile.
"I think I should go back to my mother," she said before slinking away to Appleclaw on the other end of the nursery.
Hailkit's heart began to pound, wondering where his brother had run off to. He exited the den, running to the center of camp, but he could not go farther. He knew he would be scolded if he so much as stepped beyond the camp border. He'd been told before the forest was dangerous for kits. Then why had Swampkit gone there?
Hailkit's heart leapt as he saw his mother returning, but it sunk again when he realized Swampkit was not with her.
"Is Swampkit okay?" Hailkit asked as Winterfrost approached him.
"Everything will be fine," she promised. She motioned for him to come forward, and he pressed against her and purred.
"I didn't mean to-"
"I know, dear," Winterfrost told him, purring.
Hailkit felt comforted by those words. And thankfully, his mother told him that Tigerhawk had found Swampkit in the evening, and soon enough, Swampkit was resting soundly in the nursery after a quick trip to the medicine cat den. Hailkit was relieved to have his brother back. He had missed him in the short time had been gone.
But the next morning brought difficulty. After Hailkit woke up and told his mother how happy he was to have Swampkit back, she nuzzled against him and purred just as Swampkit woke.
Suddenly, Swampkit's eyes opened, and his eyes immediately filled with tears.
"See?" he murmured.
"Swampkit, what's wrong?" Winterfrost asked.
"You're always purring whenever Hailkit is with you, but never when I am! That's why I ran away in the first place!" he exclaimed.
"Swampkit, you know we came after you," Winterfrost told him.
"LIAR! Daddy was carrying me, not you!" Swampkit growled. "Daddy reached me first, which must have meant he came after me before you did. And you knew I was gone before he did!"
"Swampkit, that's not what-"
Swampkit's yelling had attracted Tigerhawk's attention, who snuck into the nursery.
"I don't care!" Swampkit said stubbornly.
Tigerhawk spoke suddenly. "Swampkit, we-"
"I DON'T CARE!" Swampkit shouted again. He tore out the den and back toward the forest.
Hailkit was not allowed to follow. Winterfrost kept him company while Tigerhawk went out and searched, but when night fell, Tigerhawk only entered the den and shook his head. Swampkit was nowhere to be found. Winterfrost cried all night, but Hailkit's sadness faded fast. Instead, he felt a deep anger rising inside him. How could his brother be so selfish to take off and leave his family in a state of mourning? From that day forward, Hailkit knew there could be no such thing as a perfect life.
...
Things were out of place a few days. Winterfrost wasn't doing well, and Hailkit could tell, especially when Tigerhawk took her aside and whispered things to her quietly. Once, he heard Tigerhawk tell Winterfrost that she needed to be there for Hailkit.
Don't you see what you've caused, Swampkit? Hailkit thought angrily.
Patrols had been sent out daily, but the days were passing by, and Swampkit had still not been found.
Frostkit and Ravenkit came up to Hailkit a few days after Swampkit's disappearance.
"Are you okay?" Frostkit asked Hailkit.
"Fine," Hailkit grumbled, though none seem to believe him.
"They'll find him," Frostkit promised Hailkit. "NightClan warriors are the best cats in the forest. They'll find him."
Hailkit appreciated her support, but judging his mother's tears and his father's solemn expression these days, he knew Swampkit would most likely never return.
Hailkit was thankful for his apprentice training. It got him away from his somber parents and gave him something new to focus on. He was now Hailpaw, and in six moons, he'd finally be a NightClan warrior. His heart sank at the fact Swampkit was not beside him, but that pain was suddenly replaced with anger once more. Swampkit's disappearance had ripped a hole in Hailpaw's heart that he was not sure he'd ever be able to fill again.
In the meantime, Hailpaw trained, and his time with Frostpaw only increased. He became very nervous around her, his voice caught in his throat, and he felt like it was the middle of greenleaf during leaf-bare. Was this the love his parents had spoken about when they had grown to know each other? It was easier to think of his love for Frostpaw than his resentment toward Swampkit. Alongside Frostpaw, Hailpaw didn't feel as much anger.
One day, there was a ruckus in the clan. Hailpaw peeked his head out of the apprentice den, blinking in disbelief at what he saw. His brother, Swampkit, in the middle of the camp, talking to Silverstar.
Hailpaw watched from afar at the moment, listening as his brother proudly declared himself Swamppaw, and a member of BirdClan, some clan he had never heard of. Both Frostpaw and Ravenpaw were already speaking to Swamppaw. Out of the corner of his eye, Hailpaw saw his mother.
Before she could step forward, Hailpaw suddenly felt a surge of confidence and strut forward. For moons he had imagined what he would say if he ever saw Swamppaw again, though none of it exited his mouth the way it should have.
"Oh, so now you decide to come back?! Do you know how much you've torn our family apart?!" Hailpaw hissed.
Swamppaw turned, facing his brother after moons apart.
"I DON'T CARE!" Swamppaw howled. "I'm obviously not respected here! When I lived here, I saw cats talking behind my back." He turned, and his eye briefly caught Winterfrost.
Then, Swamppaw took off, just as Winterfrost began to sob. Hailpaw quickly ran to his mother, beginning to comfort her.
"Mom, mom, remember what I said? Just forget him," Hailpaw repeated. It was something he had often repeated to her in the nursery, when he wanted her to stop crying. He was sick of seeing her in pain.
"You're a piece of mouse-dung," someone spat from behind him.
Hailpaw turned, seeing Frostpaw.
"For what? For yelling at him? Excuse me, but your family is normal. Your family hasn't had to deal with something like this! He's torn our family apart," Hailpaw growled at her. He had never fought with Frostpaw before, mostly because she had never touched this sensitive topic.
"You told your mother to forget him! What kind of brother are you? I would have been running to him. I would have been so happy to see him if that were my sibling," Frostpaw said.
Hailpaw strutted away from his mother as Frostpaw followed behind.
"You haven't felt betrayal like that. I've had to live with it for so long now," Hailpaw murmured to her.
"That Hailpaw was different from any other Hailpaw I've seen before," Frostpaw stated. "You've always been so kind and caring, but toward your brother..."
"Well, why did he have to go off and join a clan on his own, huh? Was our clan not good enough? Did he not want to become a warrior alongside me? Was I not good enough?" Hailpaw quickly shut his mouth and quickly walked to his nest. "Just leave me alone."
"Hailpaw," Frostpaw said, her tone becoming more concerned.
Hailpaw ignored her, and eventually, she left.
The next day was sunny, and Hailpaw was awoken by Frostpaw standing next to him.
"Hey, do you want to hunt?" she asked.
Hailpaw didn't know why, but he agreed, even if he was still angry with her and the events that had transpired the day before. Luckily, she seemed to have no intention of bringing it up. Instead, they raced toward the adder rocks and hunted. At one point, Frostpaw got herself stuck in a bramble thicket, and Hailpaw had to drag her out. Thankfully, she was uninjured, but her fur was stuck up in a million places.
"I probably look funny," Frostpaw told him.
"Not to me."
Both turned away in embarrassment. The moment was broken by Frostpaw throwing a mossball at him. A mossball fight later ensued. They were exhausted when they made it back to the den, and both thought a nap was necessary. Hailpaw collapsed beside Frostpaw. They slept against each other, and when Hailpaw awoke, he noticed Frostpaw was already awake.
"Your fur needs a little work," she teased. He must have messed it up while he napped. She licked it back in place, however, and he shut his eyes and savored the moment.
"Hailpaw I...I think I love you," she said.
Hailpaw's eyes widened, and suddenly she burst out of the den. Hailpaw quickly followed her, calling for her to stop.
"You mouse-brain. I love you, too," he told her. "Don't run off."
Frostpaw skidded to a halt. "You do?"
"Of course," he said. "For so long. And I'm sorry about yesterday. For acting the way I did to Swamppaw. You put me in my place."
"Those feelings of yours are valid too. I've just never seen you that angry," Frostpaw admitted. She walked up to him and nuzzled him. Hailpaw purred, and from that moment forward, everything happened so fast.
Hailpaw became Hailfrost, and he promised Frostpaw that as soon as she became a warrior, he'd ask her to be his mate. She happily obliged. The next to greet him was Winterfrost. She awkwardly made her way to her son and congratulated him.
"Hailfrost, I need to talk to you," she said.
"About what?"
Winterfrost led him away from the crowd, toward the back of a den.
"I'm pregnant," she said.
Hailfrost's eyes widened. He wasn't sure how to feel. Upset? Happy? Confused?
"Please say something," Winterfrost said. "I don't want you to think this litter is to replace my first. Or to make up for the perfect family I once had."
"It's...it's okay," Hailfrost told her. He was feeling a bit more cool these days, less inflamed than his angsty apprentice days. "I'm happy for you and Dad. I'm sure the kits will be lovely."
His mother licked his cheek and thanked him and then went on her way.
Soon, Frostpaw became Frostflight, and Hailfrost finally had a mate of his own. Both of them visited Winterfrost when she gave birth to her second litter. She had three kits this time: two toms and one she-cat. Their names were Shellkit, Arctickit, and Leafkit, respectively.
It was strange having such a large age gap. The kits felt more like Hailfrost's nieces and nephews than siblings. But the kits often ran outside to greet their brother and pulled on his tail. Hailfrost felt his life was in balance.
But of course, there were always external factors. A battle between many clans was approaching. The battle was long and hard, and Hailfrost was happy to know that BirdClan would be participating. He briefly saw his brother after the battle, but the conversation was short. It seemed Swampclaw had a mate of his own too and another life. Hailfrost was...happy for him.
Hailfrost did get a few bad wounds during the battle though, so while he was being patched up, he failed to learn that his mate had adopted an orphaned she-cat.
Frostflight had come to her mate with a white and orange speckled she-cat.
"Firelight found this kit in our territory," Frostflight explained. "I've agreed we'd raise her."
Hailfrost's eyes widened. He had a million questions. Why them? How was he going to be a father? What if this kit's family came back to claim her?
"I said we don't need to pretend to be her actual parents, but I agreed without asking. I'm sorry. Her name is Lemonkit."
"She's pretty cute," Hailfrost said as Frostflight set the sleeping kit down beside her. Hailfrost gave her a few licks, then tilted his head. "But...she would have to stay in the nursery, wouldn't she? We can't keep her in the warriors' den, and she needs milk."
Frostflight shuffled uncomfortably. "Well...funny thing. I'll be moving to the nursery soon, actually."
Hailfrost's eyes widened. "You don't mean-"
"You can practice being a father to this little one, but the real deal is coming soon. I'm pregnant," Frostflight told him.
He nuzzled her contently, feeling like things were picking up again. In the meantime, he helped raise Lemonkit with Frostflight. Though the little she-cat's origins were unknown, she acted a lot like her adopted mother. And as Frostflight's stomach began to swell, Hailfrost visited the nursery often to check in on his adopted daughter and his mate.
Finally, one day, Frostflight gave birth to four kits. There were two she-cats and two toms. A perfect balance, though maybe Lemonkit offset that some. Now Hailfrost had five kits to care for. They named the kits Pearkit, Desertkit, Troutkit, and Spotkit. They had even let Lemonkit name Spotkit. Hailfrost assured his adopted daughter again and again that she was a part of their family, even if she wasn't blood-related.
That night, Hailfrost went to sleep contently, thinking of his lovely mate and five kits. He realized now the sadness that Winterfrost had felt, and not the revenge. It would hurt, he thought, if one of his kits ran off, but he could never be angry with them. Not when he had personally felt the same pain deep down.
For the first time in a while, Hailfrost thought back to Swampclaw. He admitted he missed his brother these days. He wanted to ask him what if was like being a warrior in a different clan, if he was a father now too, if he felt as much loyalty to BirdClan as Hailfrost did to NightClan. He wanted to apologize for being so rude to Swampclaw that day he had returned.
Things had never gone as planned, Hailfrost thought, but he knew one day, he'd have the opportunity to see his brother again, even if it was in StarClan. And he couldn't wait to tell him all the great things that had happened in his life when he had gotten there. Maybe, they could play like kits again one day, like they were leaders of their own clans again, throwing moss balls around in the nursery.