Chapter 1

Poppy

Stars glimmered, filling the wide expanse of sky high above the older tom. His amber eyes blinking slowly, he had this dream for the past five moons every half-moon night. The reeds hissed and clattered as the leaf-fall forest was seeming to shudder in the cold breeze. The scent of decaying leaves filled his nose, bathing over his tongue when he parted his lips. Poppy slowly rose to his paws, taking a few tentative steps towards the direction he was facing. The silence of the forest unsettled him as always as he tried. Some things looked familiar in the waking world, the only difference was the blazing half-moon above him and it's swath of stars that glistened and shone high above. Three stars shone the brightest, it was strange and odd. However, even he knew it was a dream. A strange one that had no meaning he could think of. Nothing special ever happened, the undergrowth would rustle, but nothing ever appeared. It was as though he was all alone in the forest among his dreams, but surrounded by the fragment that took him in during the Blood Gathering.

He closed his eyes, memories filling him from nose to tail and making his eyes prick with sorrow. Flashes of the cream and white tom he was with having run off, screeching for him to survive. Twolegs were everywhere with long sticks in their strange paws with hoops of vines. The Giant Garden they all lived in was under attack. Many cats were fighting for their lives, fragments, council, shards, shard-mothers. No one was safe from the Twolegs as they put cats in strange dens that were much like a cave with a shiny mesh that was too strong for a cat to push through. Their yowls still filled his mind, making him shudder in the horrific thoughts. He shook himself free just as the rustling grew louder. Something was approaching, making him back a step, his fur fluffing out already. If it was a threat, he would face it head on like the brave council-cat he was. He unsheathed his claws, flexing them into the earth as he lashed his tail.

"Who's there?" He demanded in a challenging tone. "Show yourself!"

The rustling had stopped for a heartbeat before a dark gray she-cat stepped out. Frost appeared to glitter in her fur while her copper eyes seemed to glow like twin moons. Her paws gently carrying her towards him while her gaze flicked over his pelt and general appearance. Almost as though she was seeing if he was the cat she was looking for. He took a step back, his fur beginning to spike with fear. The cat smelled of reeds, river-stones, and fish. Their eyes locked onto his was a soft purr of amusement rumbled to life from deep inside of her chest. His tail tip twitched uncertainly as his ears flattened outward in distrust and caution. Their tail was up in a friendly manner, but he was not sure if they were even friendly at all.

"My name is Shadepelt." The frosted-cat answered his earlier question. "I only wished to meet you to see if you are the kind of cat we can depend on."

"We?" Poppy asked, going on the defensive with his body. "Whose we?"

"My friends, of course." She replied as though it were as simple as catching a mouse. "There are few warriors of the sky, but we are looking for a particular cat."

"But why?"

"Some cats are born with a special gift to nurture and become their true selves. Others are born to make others suffer. We wish to guide those to become the best cat they can be." Shadepelt explained, her copper eyes seeming to flash with arrogance. "Why, even the great Clans of old were started by rogues, loners, and wanderers. Why can't we create out own Clan all over again?"

"Clan-cats are why BloodClan splintered." Poppy hissed, lashing his tail. "Cats who were leaders at heart began to splinter away from Fury, creating conflict all over Twoleg Place to prove who is the better leader! Snake and Ice tried, but as the stories go, they were too lazy to be competent leaders. Thus, we created our own system to live in peace in the Twoleg Place, or at least in enough peace to not be bothered by each other. I am in one of those fragments that were created, so there is no need for those horrid Clans."

"Scourge's greed for the forest is what caused his downfall, correct?" The strange she-cat asked.

"Well, I suppose that could have had something to do with it." He muttered, leaning away as he prepared to run from the strange cat.

She went on, her copper eyes glinting with knowledge. "And it was Fury's need for revenge that caused her downfall as well?"

"I wouldn't know for certain, the details on that story are-"

The she-cat interrupted him, her gaze growing colder and harder. "Last of all, it was the laziness of those two who caused things to change for competent leaders to be brought forth, correct?"

"What are you getting at?" He snapped.

"BloodClan has been riddled with the vain and selfish for leaders." Shadepelt meowed, "What does your leader require of you?"

"To have kits..."

"And why is that? For war? What war if the conflict should be gone?"

"Our bloodlines need to survive." He tried to explain, before growing more and more hushed.

Shadepelt blinked sorrowfully to him. "What may work for trying times no longer works now. You are a smart tom, if you wish to hear more, think of me before you sleep. Until then, please do assess the situation you are in. I do not come to say your way of life is the worst, I simply wish to give you a better chance of living the life you truly would feel more free with, even a little bit more."

The words were on the tip of his tongue, yearning to be brought to the surface. Yet, he deflated, his fur smoothing as he realized, once more, that he could not bring up the dreaded words. How could it be so difficult to speak up about what he truly wanted? The Council were a group of cats who shared their opinion and wisdom without second thoughts, so how could he be a Council-cat and be unable to voice his own opinion, wants, and needs? Darkness slowly enveloped the clearing he was in, those copper eyes glinting sadly with a hopeful blink. Perhaps, what she says is true and it would allow him to live without having to tell anyone his dreadful secret. A secret that could remove him from the River Fragment and life itself forever should he ever speak of it.

.

That morning under the willow tree, Poppy was reflecting his dream, lost in thought as he idly glanced around. Every cat seemed happy to be here, in this group; while he felt like an outsider every paw-step of the way. They could find mates, move on with their lives after the Twoleg Attack and the Blood Gathering that they had to go through. Yet, while many found new and old family, there was those like him and his adopted kits. Without their love of their life by their side, without their parents or siblings. He was supposed to be a Council-cat, but he couldn't yet leave the only things he had left: his kits, Leaf and Mint. They needed guidance and a chance to grow into fine young she-cats. Rising to his paws, he padded over to where the Shards were kept, he knew that Dapple was keeping a good eye on them, but he liked to hunt and provide and even watch the kits for the Shard-Mother. It was the least he can do since she had worked hard all night with them while he had his first night sleeping with the other Council-cats as an initiation.

Slowly, he made his way over, ignoring the other cats who were going to get training for impressing mates to keep their numbers up. Although, as he searched the clearing, he became aware that the strange aloof tawny tom was nowhere to be seen. He decided to ignore it, perhaps the tom was off on his own like usually tried to. They were both considered odd from the rest of the River-Fragment, but it was to be expected. With so many cats in one place, it was a matter of time before they began to branch out to become their own fragments from the one they were currently in. His amber eyes glancing around to the farthest reaches of the camp, spotting the creamy brown she-cat with white forepaws. Heather. The cat whom Fawn had been pushing him towards for moons. He was not sure why, but it made his pelt feel like it itched with ants at the thought. His stomach twisted sickly at the thought of being with the temperamental she-cat. Her and her mother, Fawn, never got along since she had became a Fragment. He never tried to ask what was wrong or what caused it. It was none of his business and he was afraid of getting his eats raked for even sticking his nose into it.

Parting his jaws carefully, he could scent where the Shards were pestering the aging mother, Dapple. His heart soared as he pushed his way through the reeds and found the moss covered floor of the den. Dapple was flicking and twitching her tail for Morning and Leaf to play while she talked to Mint to advise her about teaching the kits. She was at the age where she was spending her last four moons learning to be patient so she could be an excellent huntress. He twitched his ears, a sour feeling in his belly as he realized that, while they were in the River-Fragment, all Fawn saw were not huntresses, but kit-mothers out of the she-cats. He hated the thought of it, they would be far too young to have their own kits so soon. They didn't have a choice since the aging leader would pair cats into mates by their twenty-fourth moon of life. Which ever cat that they have chosen at the time would be theirs and only theirs to mate with. Bound by the strict need of more cats to defend their group from invaders.

However, even Poppy knew that there was a few exceptions. Pigeon and Ginger were still unmated as the tom was rather shy when it came to love. Then there was Ginger who was a strong and independent she-cat who was oblivious to his signals of wanting to ask her to be his mate despite being coupled the day Fawn took them in. The other exception was the aloof tom, Bush, and his unwanted romance with Cedar. Fawn and Light had chosen them to be the perfect pair to lead the River-Fragment in the future, but Poppy wasn't so sure. Bush never seemed interested in her, ever since they had moved into the river territory, the tom had grown even colder towards the brown-gray she-cat and even became disrespectful of their leader. Whatever the problem was, he was not sure if it would ever end well. Just as he began to leave his musings to focus on being the father of Mint and Leaf, the pale tortoiseshell she-kit pounced on his tail in greeting.

"Poppy!" She squeaked in excitement. "I thought you weren't going to visit at all!"

A warm purr rumbled in his chest, love seeming to squeeze his heart until it hurt. "You have no need to worry, I would always come to see my two favorite kits."

"But I'm not a kit anymore." Mint pointed out, catching his attention. "I'm bigger than she is!"

"Only because your older and until your a Fragment, you are a Shard; not to mention even when your all grown up with kits of your own, you will always be my kits." He reminded her gently with affection.

"That's right." Dapple purred, looking to Morning. "See how big he's gotten since he was kitted? He is still small, but one day he will be as big as you or even bigger. A parents love for their kit only grows the bigger their kit becomes. The pride you feel for them is a powerful feeling, Mint. Poppy will always be a great father to you. No matter how old you become, he will always be ready to lend an ear or a comforting touch of his tail should you ever need it."

Mint seemed to deflate, her tail tip flicking before nodding slowly. "Even if I'm pushing two hundred moons?"

"Even if you were the oldest cat by the river." Poppy meowed affectionately, nuzzling Leaf to give her attention. "I promised to take care of you both when we met, remember? So, I will keep that promise by always being available as long as I am alive. Never forget that. I will let you both grow up, but I will always be ready to comfort or give advice should you ever need it."

Warmth spread through those beautiful blue eyes, making his heart soar with affection. Mint was in her rebellious moons, but she still saw him as the father he was for her. A father who stepped in to help her when her family was stolen by Twolegs from her. He wanted to be as overbearing as possible, to lavish her with love and comfort, but he knew that she needed room to grow. It was always a painful lesson he had to go through himself. The kits he adopted in his old fragment, the one that truly accepted him before they were destroyed. The Twolegs took everything from him, a perfect life full of love and kits. Sure he had two kits now, but he felt like a single father. Without his lost-mate he knew he could never move on. The love he had still burned bright in his chest for his lost-mate, making it hard to sleep or breathe. Knowing his lost-mate was still possibly out there was more then he could bear. Fawn had promised to send a search party, but she never had. He stopped pushing when he realized she just didn't care about his aching heart.

No matter how hard he tried to pay attention to Leaf and give her all the love of two parents, the ache only had grown stronger. His lost-mate would love her and would have loved to teach Mint how to hunt while letting Poppy, himself, play with Leaf. Morning soon joined in their games and he didn't mind. Dapple was a wonderful Shard-Mother, but it was not the same with her. Nothing was the same without the lost-mate and knowing it hurt even more then before. Soon, the reeds rustled behind him as he gently batted with soft paws at the kits. He twisted his head, paw raised to strike as he saw the creamy brown she-cat standing before him. Her honey-colored eyes dark with pain as she slipped in beside him. Fawn had been pressing them to become a pairing, even Poppy was certain that Heather didn't even bother to try and fight her mother anymore.

"Playing with the kits again?" She criticized, her gaze looking over them as they stopped their play. "Shouldn't you be advising some toms to go after she-cats?"

Poppy looked to her, seeing the disgust and anger in her gaze. "There is enough toms in the council to do that without me." He replied back evenly. "Besides, I'm a Kit-Watcher first and I brought them into this group, it's only fair that I father them too."

"You're not even their real father." She growled. "Why look after kits that aren't even yours?"

"There is no one else to play father and I promised them to look after them." He tried to keep his temper, but it was his weak spot. He never could keep it for long, no matter how calm he tried to be in any argument. Not when it came to his kits.

"What makes you so sure that they even need you?" She thrusted her muzzle into his face, her teeth snapping shut just a whisker away.

"Leaf is only a few moons old." He reminded her, his tail lashing. "Mint is going to be a Fragment and it's not like Dapple can train her and keep an eye on the younger kits all on her own."

"Everyone knows it's a she-cats job to be a Kit-Watcher, not a toms!" Heather hissed.

Poppy stood his ground, his mew becoming hushed, but just as venomous as a snakes fangs. "I don't know what your so angry about, but do not take it out on my kits and my life. If you want to play with kits you can, nobody is stopping you. Now, get your tail out of here before I make you."

She narrowed her eyes, lashing her tail. "Just because your a tom doesn't mean you can order me around."

"I'm not ordering you as a tom, I'm threatening you as a father of these kits." He growled lowly.

Heather scoffed, turning away with a grumble. "Fawn only wants us together because your good with kits."

Poppy had half the mind to question her and rake her muzzle, but instead he turned his attention back to Leaf and Morning who were cowering from the aggression that was displayed. "It's alright." He meowed more gently. "You know I have a short temper, especially when it comes to being here to help out Mama Dapple."

"But you looked so scary." Leaf mewed softly.

"And she looked ready to swipe you." Morning squeaked, his eyes sparkling. "What would you do if you did? Strike her back?"

"Only because it shouldn't matter whether your a tom or a she-cat or whatever. If you can watch and care for kits, you should be able to do it." He told Leaf, before turning his gaze onto Morning. "And for your information, I doubt your mother would even let me strike anyone in this den."

Dapple snorted. "Last time he tried, you were barely a quarter-moon old Morning. He would visit often since Talon was having trouble seeing for the first time to hunt for us well. He had almost struck Fawn, but I told him to go sit in the back of the den while I spoke to her. He is a tough tom, but a gentle meow and he will listen to reason in the end."

"Is it because of your lost-mate?" Morning asked, looking up at Poppy.

"My lost-mate was very a very kind and gentle cat. Still had fight in them, but I always felt more at ease because of it. I suppose you can say that my lost-mate had conditioned me to listen to orders in a calm meow." He admitted, his heart aching again.

If his lost-mate was with him, would Fawn even continue to push him and Heather together? Or would it be worse, would they not have been permitted to stay at all? Poppy felt troubled by the thought, but he ignored it in favor of distracting the kits with "battle" moves. They were simplified, but it would keep them busy while Dapple finished her training exercises for Mint. The dream long forgotten, he felt more and more at ease with the kits. His mind no longer focused on the pain in his heart and the curiosity of the cat in his dreams. Within the waking world, all he had to do was play with the kits and then take Mint hunting to put what she had learned into good use to pass it onto the kits. Life was as normal as it could be, despite threatening to overflow with emotions running high from grief, loss, and confusion. The peace of the River-Fragment was thin as a leaf, giving no hint to the tears it already was having ever since the Blood Gathering.

Author's Note:

Well, the time has come for the prequel story of Shrouded Destiny to rear it's head. I will make the chapters as long as I possibly can to add in as much story as possible! I want this one to be leaps and bounds shorter chapter wise, so we will see if it works out that way. Stories do tend to suddenly gain a life of their own when I write them since I write by the seat of my pants, but I find it more fun that way since I can plan what conflicts can happen and I just let the world and characters guide me there no matter how long it takes.

Apologies for taking so long to actually update this properly, life hasn't been too kind towards the end of Pandemic Part 2, so let's up Pandemic has a better patch next year. I will be doing two updates, one now and one later on in the christmas spirit! And then I will make one update as a welcome to the new year on the first day of the year. So be prepared for those drops!

Thank you for reading, have a wonderful morning/day/evening/night! - NightSky