(a/n: Raven Pelt's a transgirl)
(...) (...)
Ever since Skystar's death, Honey Pelt had been straying from SkyClan's camp. He knew it was an impossible request, but he was really looking for a camp without any active parents.
In RiverClan, Dawn Mist and Moss Tail had a second litter in Emberpaw and Beepaw. Drizzle had her own in Willowkit, Graykit and Dewkit. Then again, Honey Pelt told himself, he never had been very close with his brother.
In WindClan, Honey Pelt's blood grandfather, Gorse Fur, had become leader. Swift Minnow and Reed Tail had a fully-grown son named Runningfall, who had earned his name from falling into the gorge during his assessment. Runningfall and Dust Muzzle were getting awfully close and his mother had told him they'd probably have more kits any day now. Holly and Jagged Peak had had a second litter with one kitten named Hawkkit. Honey Pelt couldn't be with his mother anyway, and figured all the parenthood was a sign.
In ThunderClan, Milkweed and Leaf had managed to have a third litter. Their names were Thistlepaw, Whitepaw, Vinepaw and Dapplepaw. Whitepaw was sickly, even in the greencough-free time of greenleaf. Honey Pelt easily loved Blue Whisker the most, but the thought of an apprentice being always on the edge of death hurt to see. Besides, Blue Whisker was growing close to Shivering Rose, and chances were they'd have themselves a family any day now, too.
That left Honey Pelt in ShadowClan, with Bubbling Stream. It wasn't ideal, SkyClan and ShadowClan were practically on opposite corners of the world, but there were no newborn kittens or fresh apprentices.
He'd spent a few moons in the forest, completely unaccustomed to the marshy ground and overall not doing a very good job. Sunstar was trying to be kind to him, but Dangling Leaf and Dusk Nose's laughter at Honey Pelt's reluctance to eat another frog spoke the loudest.
So, one day, he started to wander again. He followed that foul-smelling scent that the wind blew through the pines on the cloudy days where the sun was the coldest.
Down a hill, between ShadowClan territory and the wrong side of Highstones, sat a dark brown yard full of dead monsters. He heard a deep dog bark and looked down the hill to see if he could enter. Instead he saw a cat's body.
The kittypet was beautiful. Her back was striped tortoiseshell and the rest of her body was white, with delicate paws too soft for the harshness of the wild. Her eyes were half-closed and green and her collar, where a single curved tag hung, was striped with red and white.
Rushing down the hill, Honey Pelt crouched down, prodding her shoulder. The she-cat whimpered and groaned, so weak his single tap pulled her body up, revealing a dark red wound that was once pressed to the grass.
Honey Pelt whimpered to himself, trying his hardest to lift the kittypet onto his back before heading back to ShadowClan.
"...what's this?" asked Juniper Branch, bluntly. Honey Pelt sat the kittypet in the center of camp, letting Pebble Heart get right to work- that and he didn't know where his den was.
"It's a kittypet," Raven Pelt mewed, looping her tail around her mate's haunches.
"How'd she get the wound?" Bubbling Stream asked, sitting beside Honey Pelt as he watched Pebble Heart intently.
"There was a dog," he said quietly.
"A dog?" Sunstar repeated, stepping down from the Clanrock, "Where?"
"All the way to the edge of the territory, on a mountainy part of Highstones, not near the entrance. It's full of… monster carrion. A Carrionplace."
"Carrionplace," Mud Paws mewed quietly, "That was here when Mouse Ears, Holly and I were rogues. It's full of disgusting rats."
"There are quite a few bites on her," Pebble Heart mewed, "I wonder if the rats carry something to infect so quickly…" He sighed, pressing harder on a bit of cobweb. The kittypet whimpered.
Half a moon later the kittypet could walk again. It was wobbly and not very good, but chances were she'd never walk correctly again.
Her name was Peppermint and she didn't leave Honey Pelt's side. Honey Pelt didn't mind, not whatsoever. Her fur was soft and warm to lay in.
Raven Pelt and Juniper Branch had a second litter and Honey Pelt was ready to return home again.
"Can I come with?" Peppermint asked.
Honey Pelt blinked. "Why?"
"You saved my life!" she laughed, then a few seconds later went on, "And I thought that… maybe… after we get settled down… we could start a family ourselves."
Honey Pelt felt his heart catch in his throat. For several heartbeats he didn't respond. Until, finally, he nodded.
(...)
Honey Pelt has brought a kittypet into the clan. It was the middle of leafbare, but Honey Pelt had argued that more warriors were good.
Sparrowstar coughed and sniffed, whitecough again wracking her body.
"We cannot afford any weak cats in this trying time," she wheezed, "Rainsplash."
The young tom perked his ears, surprised to be called on.
"Beat this cat in battle. Claws sheathed."
Rainsplash hadn't expected his sister's mentor to be so brutal, but didn't have to have to think about it before a white head had tumbled into his side. Out of breath for a few solid heartbeats, Rainsplash reached a leg up and dragged her head down, springing back up. The kittypet kicked, again knocking Rainsplash's air out. Both thoroughly winded, Sparrowstar called an end to the fight.
She gave a through wheeze before commanding anything.
"Honey Pelt," she mewed, sniffling, dragging her sickness-ridden body off the Highbranch "Teach her to hunt. And don't get up to anything."