Chapter 24: Four Moons.
The moons of peace were halfway over. Whatever could happen when the time runs out? Breadclaw attacking? Bomb explosions? A plague? Toaststar shuttered at the thought of death being brought to his clanmates. The skinny tom stood over the entrance of the nursery, watching Heartburn's kits and his kits march out of the den. Pantherkit was the head of the line, and when they all gathered in the clearing, the black speckled she-kit stood proudly as she spoke. "Okay, Thunderclan! It is time to attack Lostclan! Warriors, assemble!"
As the presumed leader finished, her denmates squeaked in approval and started to march over to the elders den. Toaststar awkwardly stared at the kits, and then glanced over at the nursery. Why were these kits told about Lostclan so soon? As he was about to follow the kits, Scotchdrink walked up to the leader. The brown tabby tom glanced awkwardly at the she-cat, the two having not talked in ages. The ginger warrior's fur was a tangled mess, and her eyes looked tired, as she always did after the birth of her kits. Pregnancy had basically ruined the she-cat emotionally, as she didn't really talk much, and she always was tired. Toaststar wasn't even sure that Scotchdrink even talked to her kits anymore.
"Hey, Toaststar. I need you really quick." She said, dullness in her voice. The leader nodded and followed her out of camp, where they were greeted with Mapleshadow and Waffletooth. Silence filled the air. The former queen looked up at her companion, and lowered her ears. "I... I haven't told them yet..." She murmured. Toaststar's eyes widened and he nodded in understanding.
The dark brown tabby stared at the two warriors, curiosity in their gazes. He opened his mouth to speak.
"Um... I know this is sudden, but your mother wanted me to tell you something." The leader spoke calmly, but the conversation in his mind was a mess. Waffletooth blinked and narrowed his eyes. "... That you're our father..?" The older tom immediately jumped back as Scotchdrink hid her face behind her paws. "N-no! Nothing to do with me! But it is about your father!"
It was Mapleshadow's turn to ask questions. "You know who our father is? Do you? Mom never told us; not that she really told us anything." The she-cat glared at her mother. Scotchdrink lowered her head, and Toaststar stood in front of her to block the judgemental looks from the brother and sister.
"Yes, I do know. Now if you stop bothering your mother, I'll tell you!"
The two glared one more time, and looked away from the ginger warrior. Instead, they set their eyes on the Thunderclan leader. "Your father... He um... You weren't meant to be here..." When the two sibling's eyes widened with sadness, Toaststar immediately continued. "Not that you're bad or anything! In fact, you're the only good things that came out of this mess. You see... Your father is Breadclaw." A quiet sobbing sounded behind the tom as he finished, Scotchdrink started to run back to camp with a hurry.
Silence.
Mapleshadow was the first one to speak. "That doesn't give Mom the right to basically abandon us. We don't have a father, and she was never there for us! And now we figure out our father is a murderous psychopath who has killed tons of our clanmates! Great, just great!" She screamed, tears running down her face. Waffletooth just remained silent, looking at his pelt with what seemed to be disgust. Toaststar slowly backed away, not knowing how to handle this.
Days passed, and the situation with Scotchdrink and the kits seemed to cease. They still didn't talk at all, but at least they weren't yelling at each other. That's good, right? Toaststar sighed, and curled up into a small ball in his den. A conversation of whispers were heard nearby, and suddenly the tom felt two small weights on his back. Pantherkit's energetic voice echoed through the den. "Hey dad! We're going to sleep with you tonight! Mom can't, since she has to take care of Bootkit's fever." Whitekit sighed as he kneaded his father's pelt, and curled up on top of him, falling fast asleep. Pantherkit eventually went to sleep, but it took a few minutes of running around the den to do so. As the two kits lied asleep on top of his fur, Toaststar happily fell into his dreams.
Hey! It's been a bit! Sorry that this chapter is kinda messy, but I at least wanted a chapter out so I can get the story going again. Not gonna abandon this project like I do every other thing!
