A/N
Sorry for being gone so long. I didn't really feel motivated but here i am anyways.
"Going back?" Acorn echoed, his voice defensive. "He tried to kill you, Heather!"
Heather glanced at Jay. "I'm not going back with him; and he's not going with me." Heather growled softly.
Jay's eyes widened, as if she'd clawed him. "W-what? I'd go to RiverClan with you…" He paused. "No, I get it… I understand what I did… Our love is gone, isn't it?"
Heather was quiet. "Mostly. Yes. You could've just trusted me."
Jay flattened his ears. "But you're the one who's leaving!"
"And you're the one not stopping me!" Heather screamed, snatched up her kittens and stalking towards the loft of the barn.
Acorn glared at Jay, closing his eyes and shaking his head and walking away.
Jay slammed his head on the ground repeatedly, clawing at the rye and straw like floor. "Such a stupid idiot!" He growled to himself.
Nights and days passed quickly, Heather awake just at dawn, with her kittens stumbling around blindly. "C-careful, Nightkit! No, Hazelkit! Straw isn't food!" Heather scrambled around, rounding her kits.
With a squeal, Reedkit pounced on Acorn's tail, slobbering on him. Acorn jumped upward, startled by the sudden dampness on his thick fur. He snorted playfully to himself when he realized Reedkit was simply chewing on his tail. It wasn't long before Merry kitted as well; A she-kit she named Shadow and two toms named Bat and Stark.
Whitekit was the first open his eyes, a bright blue like most newborns was what Heather expected, but not what she got. His eyes were a reddish, almost like a crimson-amber color. Heather pitied the small tomkit; a front paw of his was already bent a little too far to the left and with his burning amber like eyes she feared that he would be ridiculed. (Though him and Bat got along pretty swell)
Even before Whitekit spoke his first words he was mewling incoherent orders to his younger littermates, already a confident leader. Heather hoped he'd be great one day, glad he was caring for his smaller siblings.
Nightkit had tripped over an uplifted piece of wood and Whitekit was squealing at her instantly, circling around the dark she-kit with worry. Heather was at first, clingy to Nightkit when she discovered why the black and white kitten was so clumsy. One blue-green eye of hers was clouded over and paler than her other eye; completely blind. (She and Shadow preferred each other's company rather than their siblings)
Heather suspected that it was the result of having Jay as her father, blindness running in his line, like she saw in Breeze; however, she was not as worried as before now, as she saw how Whitekit guarded her.
Nightkit was agile, quick as she played reckless games in the barn, mostly consisting of chasing Acorn around aimlessly until he was chased up the loft. She seemed much more soft spoken than Whitekit, her words often voiced by her brother instead. Nightkit occasionally didn't participate in their chasing or role playing, preferring to observe with Darwin.
Hazelkit was unique as well, most outgoing from all her littermates. As much as Whitekit was their leader, she was the boldest and somewhat reckless, but enjoyable company nevertheless. She hardly took no for an answer unless it came from Nightkit, (but occasionally Whitekit too) the shy little she kit her sister was. Hazelkit's ice blue eyes each were a slightly different shade, one darker than the other, but only noticeable if you looked closely. (Stark seemed intensely interested in the different shades)
Birchkit was much like his uncle, Pinewhisker. He was brave, but gentle-hearted, but much more antisocial than Pinewhisker. He had a bit of a mean streak, acting emotionless but he was quite clever, that much very unlike Pinewhisker (the emotionless part). He seemed secretive, acting closed off whenever his littermates came near.
Reedkit was the runt of his litter, but definitely the most selfless for anyone. Even in the role of playing an evil cat, he'd slip up, much to the frustration of his littermates, but he mostly got along best with all of them, being the only one able to sway Whitekit from a headstrong and rash decision, like climbing up the loft of the barn.
A moon and a half had passed since she'd kitted and Jay had returned, with Heather and Jay still acting quite bitter with each other, but their kits didn't seem to notice.
"Mamaaaaa!" Birchkit yowled, sitting down on his rump and lifting his chin high. Heather stroked his back with her thin, soft tail with a motherly smile.
"Birchkit, something the matter?" She meowed, wanting to hug the poor tomkit, but he clearly was upset. "Did Whitekit do something again?"
The mottled tabby kit shook his head, frowning. "You never play with us anymoooooore!"
Heather sighed, glad that it was something simple, but obviously a problem. Shaking straw from her thickening pelt, she stretched her aching legs. Being a queen wasn't all it was cracked up to be, and Heather desperately wanted to run and chase prey again or fish patiently by her familiar river.
Heather sat in the front of a somewhat lopsided circle with Whitekit, Birchkit, Hazelkit, and Shadow, Merry's only she kit, Bat and Stark having gone off to chasing around their uncle Acorn.
They sat in awkward silence for a moment before Heather leapt to her paws, remembering her favorite game she used to play when she was a kit herself.
"Fox attack!" Heather mock growled, swinging a sheathed paw gently at Whitekit. "You can't beat me!"
Hazelkit leapt to the side, lips drawn back excitedly. She dove under her mother's paws, swiping her hind legs out from under her as Whitekit swatted at Heather's pink nose.
"Ahhhh, no!" Heather sank to her paws, collapsing in fake pain. "You've defeated the great and mighty fox… Whatever shall you do to me?"
Whitekit purred throatily, almost sounding like a growl. "Teach you a lesson to not come in my camp, and not hurt my cats anymore." He mewed proudly, until Birchkit realized his brother's words.
"Your camp? Your cats?" Birchkit snorted, wrapping his tail around his paws and raising an eyebrow in mild interest.
Whitekit's tail fur ruffled in embarrassment but he puffed his chest out in pride. "Er, yeah! When we go home, I'm gonna be the bestest leader there ever was!"
Birchkit mumbled something under his breath and stalked away with Shadow, who had decided not to participate in their little skirmishing game.
Acorn padded up to Heather, wrapping his tail across her back as she lied back down on her soft feather lined nest she shared with her kits.
"Heather, about your clans… I was wondering- well, we- if we could come with you…?" Acorn asked, his sister- Merry- and her mate, Hickory, standing behind the tomcat.
Heather stood up abruptly. "Y-you want to come with me to RiverClan?"
Acorn stepped back a bit, letting his sister speak. "We were raised on the tales of the noble clans. We're aware of the danger, but also, being alone is depressing, especially since Shadow'll have no one to play with." Merry voiced, her dark violet eyes piercing Heather's red ones.
"Living as a rogue isn't living, it's merely surviving…" Heather muttered, not noticing that the others heard her.
"Exactly! We always thought the clans were just stories made up by our father, but now…" Merry trailed off, casting a glance at her mate. "And we know about the name changing. Hickory's agreed too."
Heather smiled awkwardly. "As glad as I would be to accept you, I've lost my way… With kits, who knows how long it'll take."
Acorn licked Heather's cheek- Merry smirking suggestively at her brother- Acorn grinned. "The wait will be worth it."
That next day, the group set off, consisting of Heather, Jay, Acorn, Merry, Hickory, Shadow, Bat, Stark, Whitekit, Nightkit, Birchkit, Hazelkit and Reedkit. As the said their goodbyes to Darwin, content as a barn cat, they headed off following Heather and Acorn's lead.
"Can we pass by a certain den? I'd like to show an old friend my kits." Heather asked as she felt a warming in her heart when they approached a brown-creamish colored Two-leg den.
The queen sprinted to the den at the sight of a pale ginger tabby sunning by the fence. "Starlight!" Heather called, leaping onto the white picket.
Starlight's head popped up, her eyes suddenly shining. "Heather! Wow, you're lithe, and-" She gasped, cooing at the five little kits, eight if you counted Shadow and her brothers. "Are they yours?!"
Heather jumped down next to Starlight on the grass. "All except those three. They're Merry's." Heather observed the tabby more carefully. "Now that I'm looking at you… You're plumping, is Green-Eyes overfeeding you or… Is it what I think?"
Starlight got up, her round belly swaying slightly. "It is, it is! I'm expecting kits!" Just as the words left her mouth, a long legged black and white mottled tom slid out the cat door.
"What's this about our kits?" He purred deeply, nuzzling Starlight's cheek. He cast his yellow eyes at the group of cats. "You must be Heather, and your kits too."
"He comes from a clan! Just like you!" Starlight blurted, her smile stretching widely. Her mate rolled his eyes.
"Er, yes. I was born in a clan called StreamClan, but we were destroyed just a moon after I was born. Our leader is missing, so my father has taken on the task of rebuilding our noble home." He said softly, but strongly.
"Starlight told me of your clans, though I have not heard of them. I suspect nor have you of mine." He meowed. "I've refused my warrior name until we have constructed a proper camp, so please, just call me Swiftpaw, despite being three Leaf-bares old."
Heather found Swiftpaw's speech a little odd, but thrilled for the young kittypet that she found love rather than fawning hopelessly at passing rogue toms from outside the cat door or window.
'Swiftpaw," A dark ginger tom with white splotches panted, "the Two-leg keeps trying to give me a bath!" From the voice, he sounded older, most likely Swiftpaw's father.
"Oh!" The ginger tom gasped as she slithered outside. "Guests! Hi there! I'm Redwhisker, this is-"
"Father, they already know. Everything." Swiftpaw said blandly, blinking slowly.
"O-oh!" Redwhisker looked shocked. "Well…" He laughed to himself.
"Won't you stay, Heather?" Starlight pleaded as the group began to depart the next dawn. "I'm so lonely, no she cats here." She mock frowned.
Heather tipped her head and furrowed her eyebrows. "I'm truly sorry, but we've really got to get going. I'll come visit one day!" She promised, but knew she never could.
"I-I…" Starlight stammered, lost. "My first two kits!" She blurted, eyes wide. "My first two kits, when born, will come with you to the clans. I promise!"
Swiftpaw looked a little shocked, but he smiled warmly. "Farewell, travelers! May StarClan light your path and guide your hearts home."
It seemed to take forever for them to find a place to rest, their shelter ending up to be a damp, dark and cold alley way behind a pair of dumpsters.
"Er, looks like this is home…" Acorn coughed awkwardly, flicking his tail as a show of his mutual discomfort.
Jay sniffed uncomfortably. "Well isn't this lovely!" He scoffed haughtily, lifting his chin high. Whitekit copied him, looking a little confused though.
Hickory had found an old cardboard box for the kits to sleep in, with the exception of Heather to keep them warm. Jay, Merry, Acorn and Hickory were all to sleep in a crevice warmed by a furnace in the house on the other side.
"Mama, where are we going? What about the barn?" Reedkit whispered once all the others had fallen asleep. Heather held the tiny kitten close, trying to comfort him.
"Home, dear. We're going home."
(POV change; Antpaw)
"ANTPAW!"
The voice of Antpaw's mentor snapped both Ivypaw and Antpaw back to the reality of battle training. Badgerfoot looked exasperated, a little overwhelmed at his very first apprentice since Doestripe.
"Stop your staring at Splashspirit and pay attention for once!" Badgerfoot meowed through gritted teeth, almost snarling at the ginger tom cat. Antpaw twitched his whiskers in embarrassment and rolled his eyes as if displeased.
Splashspirit had offered to demonstrate the leap-and-hold, quite an effective move for battling larger enemies.
"Now, watch as I jump onto Badgerfoot's back and flatten him under my own weight. In battle, you'd want to use claws, but not here. Also, watch out for the counter move, the drop-and-roll, so move before you get squashed." She advised, nimbly leaping onto the black and white tom and pinning him expertly.
Antpaw pounced for his mentor brazenly, but was thrown off and landed with a hefty thud. The tom growled as Ivypaw cackled at his headstrong force, but was quiet when he glared coldly at Ivypaw.
Ivypaw had managed the move within five tries, unlike Antpaw who practically took until the sun set and the both of them were completely worn out, but still sharp tongued as ever, even as the night had begun.
"Let's get back to camp now, you've worked hard, both of you." Badgerfoot panted, sides heaving same as Antpaw.
"Too hard, I must say!" Antpaw scoffed, lashing his tail. "Why did we even train this late?!"
"Because, little slow-learner you, took all day to get the move right!" Juniperfur huffed as Ivypaw leaned sleepily against her shoulder.
Antpaw growled to himself, veering away from his sister and the other warriors and running off. Splashspirit and Badgerfoot and started to follow him, but Ivypaw stopped them. "Let him be. He's been… distracted since Poppywish passed away."
The three warriors were quiet for a moment before Juniperfur dipped her head. "I understand how hard it is to lose a littermate. I lost my sister when I was barely an apprentice." The grey tabby then added, "but he best be back before moonhigh or he'll be in danger."
Run, run, run, run! Antpaw's thoughts screamed at him, his slender legs carrying him farther and farther, until the ground suddenly vanished beneath his paws and he tumbled painfully into the Mossy Hollow. "Yow!" he cried out as he landed on his back, coughing in pain, he stood.
Wincing, Antpaw sat upright, staring up at the stars that had begun to shine in the darkness.
"Where are you… Which one are you? Talk to me… Poppywish, I wish I could be your brother by your side again!" He yowled, letting himself break. It's not easy, hating everyone when they don't know; anger is a shield for sadness…
Unknowing to Antpaw, his not-so-little crush had circled around camp to follow the apprentice. Splashspirit watched heart-tuggingly at his sobbing. I never would've guessed he really is just breaking inside and to hide it, is bitter on the outside…
"Antpaw, I know you feel." Splashspirit announced, emerging from the cattails she was sneaking behind.
The ginger tom looked almost furious, but his facade faltered and fell, the tom curling up in a shivering heap of hot tears. "I miss her so much… Poppywish shouldn't have died! She was so gentle and thoughtful, always taking double the hate for Ivypaw and I, because of being half clan, and we leaned on each other. I made sure she was happy, and she did the same!"
Splashspirit curled around Antpaw, despite him being surprisingly larger than her. "I know how you feel. I lost my sister when I was a little kit, barely two moons. She protected Jayheart and I from a fox raid. Ripplekit shouldn't have died either, in fact, I was the sickliest kit in my litter. But now I get new siblings. But you can't have that chance again, unless Flowerpelt manages love. So, I guess what I'm saying is…" Splashspirit paused, quiet for a moment.
"I can relate to you. No, it's not the same hurt. But we can talk to each other about it, and swap advice. Although I'm a warrior, you're almost one. And I may… maybe, might have a teeny, tiny…. baby crush on you…" She managed, swallowing roughly and smiling genuinely.
"I really like you, too, Splashspirit." Antpaw smiled warmly, the two curling into each other for comfort. "And I hope we can be together when I'm a warrior."
When the two returned back at camp just before moonhigh, pained yells were echoing from the nursery. Mistsong's kits were on their way. Trouttail kneaded the ground nervously, like every new father, while Pebbletail tried to urge him it'd be just fine.
As her kitting progressed, her groans became softened and by the time the moon had begun to give way for the sun, three healthy kits suckled by her beautiful blue-grey tabby fur.
The first kits, a grey tom with paler ears and underbelly, was named after Mistsong's father, Ashthroat. The second, a pale silver tabby she cat was named by Trouttail, Blizzardkit. The third one, the largest of the others, was a perfect shade of silver with splotches of white all over and was decided by the both them to be Icekit.
Tigerkit was overjoyed to have new kits in the nursery, glad to have an excuse to get away from his show offy sister, Silverkit. Sandfern had moved in a moon earlier, a little shocked herself.
"I still can't believe I get to have kits again! Two of my firsts are dead, the other in another clan, and my fourth is lost!" Sandfern exclaimed to Puddlewhisker, who had nodded her head excitedly.
"I know you feel, and I see now that I'm not as young as I was when I had Splashspirit and Jayheart. Poor Spidertail was so nervous all those seasons ago! Remember when he burst in with Oakstar all worked up in a cold sweat? The poor thing!" Puddlewhisker joked, earning a soft laugh from the older queen.
"Oh, Hawkpool was barely an apprentice! She showed up with Pinewhisker some sunrises after, and he was so uncomfortable! Put off he didn't fit in with us 'fish-faces'!" Sandfern laughed with Puddlewhisker, sighing wistfully.
"Thank you, Puddlewhisker. It's very pleasant to have you here; I've hardly giggled since Pinewhisker's death and Hawkpool's disappearance. It'll be nice to have a good time and a fresh start… Not that I don't love my first litter! Oh, with all my heart I cherish them, even Clo- er, Melody, but it's hard not to have any with me." Sandfern breathed a gentle sigh, resting her head on her paws, her silvering whiskers twitching as she acknowledged she was not asleep.
"Hey, ma." A black tom with grey paws, tail and one ear ear nosed his way into the crowded nursery. "Splashspirit and I were wondering if wanted to go for a walk. It seems a little stuffy in here with all the kits."
Puddlewhisker glanced at Sandfern, who nodded with a smile. "Spend some time with your kits. I'm fine here for now."
"Sure thing, Jayheart! I'll be just along." Puddlewhisker stood up, stretching as her round belly swayed.
"Oh, and ma? C-could we maybe go with Petalwish too?" Jayheart stuttered, shuffling his grey paws.
Puddlewhisker's jaw dropped a tad as she smirked. "Aw! Does my baby boy have a baby crush?" She cooed, smothering Jayheart affectionately. He twitched his whiskers in embarrassment, teeth gritted.
"M-maybe!" Jayheart gulped, raising his tail high as he stalked out of the nursery. "I'll go get her…" Early morning light glistened on his black fur as he approached Petalwish, who's tired eyes instantly lit up when she saw him.
The four cats soon set out, trotting along the river. Petalwish looked distracted, her eyes still somewhat dull. Jayheart tried to interest her in other things, like the fluffy cattails by the river, a patch of daisies, or even a heart shaped stone he'd found half wet by the shore.
"Petalwish, you maybe wanna talk somewhere? You seem off today…" Jayheart nudged her cheek with his grey nose, his amber eyes wide with worry. The golden spotted she cat nodded tiredly.
Puddlewhisker and Splashspirit exchanged a sneaky, snickering look as the two trotted off, Petalwish leaning on Jayheart's side.
"Ma, can I ask you something?" Splashspirit turned to her mother.
"Sure thing, dear!" Puddlewhisker exclaimed, sitting down and grooming a paw.
"Why did you decide to have more kits? I mean, after what happened with Ripplekit and all…" Splashspirit's voice trailed off in a whisper, not finishing her sentence.
Puddlewhisker smiled sadly, sighing. "I know losing your sister- and my daughter- was hard, but I feel that after our destructive battle that a new generation should be born away from all that feuding."
Splashspirit tipped her head to the side and grinned. "Yeah, I agree. I can't wait to meet my new siblings!"
(POV change; Heather)
That morning, Stark and Whitekit had caught a cold, along with Hickory.
"Can we go back home now, ma?" Whitekit meowed stuffily, coughing weakly.
"Where we're going is home, dear. I came from the place we're headed, and there's other kits for you to play with, and we have my own parents there." Heather coaxed, picking up Whitekit in her jaws.
"We've already been through here!" Jay hissed, his fur spiked up at Acorn. "We've been going in circles since dawn!"
"Well, it's not my fault that some mangy backstabber keeps distracting me!" Acorn retorted, shoving past Jay.
"And it's not mine that some scruffy rogue dung keeps holding us up!" Jay grimaced, knocking into Acorn, taking the lead.
Acorn growled, baring his fangs, which were sharper than Jay's. "I'd watch your tongue, or your kits might just find themselves without a father…"
"Heather?!" The voice wasn't from their group, but rather behind a fence, coming from a dark grey she kit with black bubble like spots and blind blue eyes. "It's you!"
"Oh, Breeze! I'm sorry we left you! But I had my kits, and and we couldn't travel, but now, you can join us!" Heather exclaimed, embracing the she kit.
Breeze smiled. "It'll be nice to have a home after Dice… Well, you know…" Acorn frowned at the she kit.
"What about my brother? What happened to him?" Acorn demanded, glaring at Breeze.
"Oh, you must be father's brother. He told me about you. I'm one of many of Dice's kits. He's dead, however." Breeze meowed bluntly, wrapping her tail over her tiny paws.
Acorn looked heartbroken. "My brother is…. dead?" He slumped to the ground before the rest of what his niece said to him sunk in. "Wait, one of many? My brother has more kits?"
Breeze chuckled. "Much more. In fact, you're traveling with one. Jay is my half-brother."
Acorn raised an eyebrow at Jay, almost in distaint. "He's one of my nephews?" Acorn glanced at Heather's group of kits and his eyes grew large. "I'm…. I'm a great-uncle?!"
"A great-uncle twice over. Dice was just over a year when he hooked up with Silverfoot, and then Joy Fawn had-" Breeze was cut off when a dark grey tom with white paws and a black chest approached Breeze with a black and white she cat by his side.
"Breeze what've Kylee and I told you about talking to loners?" The tom said, growling at Acorn's group of cats.
"But Dime, they're not loners! They're the cats I told that promised to take me to the clans! Kylee believes me!" Breeze protested, pointing her nose in the direction of the plump black and white she cat.
"I-I…" Kylee stammered, "Er, yes. Our sister said that two cats- a tom and a queen- saved her from our father. If the queen has red eyes like Breeze said, than that's her. And she's had her kits. With some friends." Kylee deducted, sitting down in triumph.
Dime looked speechless, but he cleared his throat. "Breeze, do you really wish to go to the clans?" Breeze nodded to her other half-brother. "We still have my mate to go back too…"
"Then your sister and I shall go with you." He declared, but Kylee stopped him. "Soon as we find Sugar…"
"Brother, I think Breeze wants to go alone. I think she's taken a liking to the red-eyed queen, and stale fish still reek in her black pelt, so I suspect she's from RiverClan. Perhaps you and I would be better suited for ThunderClan, where the blue-eyed tom's fur has fading maple and pine smell to him." Kylee said efficiently. "Oh, and Sugar too."
"Although…" Kylee circled around Jay, her round belly rubbing against him. "I think… but… it can't be!"
"J-Jaykit?!" Kylee scrambled and embraced Jay tightly, almost crying. "I-I-I-I thought I lost you forever!" She wailed, the tears flowing on his white fur. "My… brother…"
Jay was quiet for several moments, as if memories were flooding back to him. "A… Aspenkit?!"
Heather was lost for a while, looking at Jay expectantly, almost as if there was no rift between them. "Jay, you never mentioned a sister. Or any littermates." Heather commented, butting in between the two.
Jay sighed, almost wistfully. "It was before you were born. I was barely a moon or two, when something attacked the camp, I can't remember if it was rogues or foxes or anything, but when everything was over, my sister was gone. Silverfoot presumed she was either killed or stolen. I barely remember her."
Kylee nuzzled Jay. "It was rogues. Dice was there. He recognized Silverfoot and pieced together we were his kits. Aiming to grab both of us, he was tackled and only managed me. But I'd recognize your scent anywhere." Kylee's blueish green eyes drifted to Heather's kits. "So, these are my nieces and nephews?"
Jay nodded. "Whitekit, Hazelkit, Reedkit, Birchkit, and Nightkit."
Merry leaned down to Breeze. "What were you saying about Joy Fawn?"
Breeze opened her mouth to reply, but Dime stepped in. "Joy Fawn is my mother. She was only nine moons when she had me, however. Dice probably has many other kits all over. Though Jay and Kylee are the oldest we know of. I have a mate, Sugar, who's at our makeshift camp with our two kits."
Their whole group nodded, slightly overwhelmed that they'd be taking on new travelers. "The more the… merrier?" Merry tried to say in a sing-songy voice, but sickening, hacking coughs and sneezes from Shadow, Hickory and Whitekit made her cringe.
"You know the NightWalkers camp?" Dime inquired, staring up at Acorn, who suddenly seemed much taller and muscled than Dime, who looked like a skinny tree trunk.
"'Course. Jay and I do at least." Heather jumped in." What for?"
"Meet Breeze and Kylee and I there when we come back with my mate." Dime glanced over at sickly Stark and Whitekit. "I bet Sugar could heal those nasty colds. She knows a bit or two about healing. In fact, that's how we met. You see, I was-" Kylee swatted his cheek.
"No one wants to hear about your lovey-dovey mushiness. It's gross." Kylee growled bitterly, not meeting her brother's eyes.
As the three parted ways, the main group followed Jay and Heather towards the NightWalker camp, and were reluctantly welcomed in, mostly persuaded by Joy Fawn who was ecstatic to learn her son was coming soon, and with a mate.
As Heather's chin rested on her paws and she closed her eyes, she suddenly found herself sitting in the middle of a thickly treed forest with grassy undergrowth, fog around the edges of her vision.
This isn't the ThunderClan forest… Where in the Dark Forest am I? Heather cursed, her eyes darting around in alarm.
A dark grey she cat with a fluffy coat sat in the middle of a small clearing in front of Heather, her eyes closed. Heather turned left, then right, a dark grey tabby tom and a large golden tabby on either side of her.
"We are the Three." They meowed in unison, pushing Heather's mild fear and confusion further.
Suddenly, Heather felt her paws shoving her forward, towards the grey she cat, the green forest blurring by as she stared up at the yellow eyes of the stranger cat, feeling like she was a short as a kit.
"I am Dovewing." Her voice echoed. "Three must fight for freedom. Listen to sounds far away. Become the first to lead them."
Heather suddenly swerved to the right, staring up at the golden tabby. "I am Lionblaze." He stated, pride in his thick, rich voice. "Fight so hard and never die. Become the second to lead them."
Feeling incredibly dizzy and somewhat ill, Heather spun around to the left, standing much smaller than the grey tabby tom before her, his milky blue eyes staring straight over her.
"I am Jayfeather." He said, a hint of slight annoyance in his tone. "Walk in the dreams of others. Become the key to freedom."
Pulling backwards, Heather was back in the unfamiliar forest, the Three on her left, right, and in front of her.
"You are now the new Three." They spoke in perfect unison, but Heather realized they might not be speaking to her, as none of them really looked at her. "Use your new powers for the good of your clans and never for your own benefit."
"Um, yes!" Heather heard distantly three kits voices mixed together, figuring out the 'Three' gave these supposed powers to a kit each.
The dream faded distantly, the last words she heard being a mere whisper, but audible. "It is your mission to come together and find the Fourth, for they are necessary to save the clans."
Heather woke with a fearful gasp, instantly hating the feeling she got, as if she'd fallen suddenly onto the nest she was laying on.
Immediately, Heather felt her stomach twist in warp into the most uncomfortable series of knots. Somehow, I don't think the clans are exactly peaceful just yet…
A/N
Pix: Wow, I feel like I abandoned everybody for like, five months!
Heather & the group: THAT'S BECAUSE YOU KINDA DID!
Pix: *coughs awkwardly* no promises sorry, guys. I'm super busy with a lot going on in school, and my crush who says he's 'MAYBE' dating me but there is no maybe it's yes or no and it's all just overwhelming and confusing so thanks for sticking with me.
A/N
I realize (thanks to haven1elizabeth) that we are in need of another Allegiance page. SO, YAY
RiverClan
Leader: Oakstar: a muscular black tom with pale ginger paws and a white muzzle
Deputy: Reedflight: a tawny-brown tom with black paws
Medicine cat: Honeysnow: beautiful golden she cat with white flecks
Apprentice: Morningpaw
Warriors
Runningclaw: blue-grey and white tom with dark green eyes
Gorseheart: light brown tabby tom
Apprentice: Treepaw
Weaselclaw: brown tom with darker stripes
Pebbletail: a grey tom with darker stripes and amber eyes
Snowfall: a white tom with very faint stripes and icy blue eyes
Creeksplash: a pretty silver tabby she cat
Greywillow: a silvery grey she cat
Badgerfoot: a black and white tom
Apprentice: Antpaw
Spidertail: an almost black tom with a short tail
Duskflower: a dark grey she cat
Flowerpelt: pretty tortoiseshell she cat with a brown petal-shaped mark on her forehead
Mothleg: a brown mottled tom with short legs
Rowanstorm: dark brown tabby tom
Shadeleap: an almost black she cat with silver ear tips
Ferretnose: dark brown tom with paler paws
Juniperfur: dark grey tabby she cat
Apprentice: Ivypaw
Splashspirit: soft black she cat with very faint spots
Jayheart: black tom with a single grey ear, paws and tail
Doestripe: brown she cat with a black paw and white muzzle
Briarfrost: dark brown she cat with grey paws
Trouttail: dark silver tabby tom
Petalwish: pale grey she cat with golden spots
Marigoldfur: a pretty golden she cat with dark brown flecks
Apprentices
Treepaw: a dark brown tabby tom with light brown paws
Morningpaw: pretty golden she cat with peach-gold markings
Antpaw: dark ginger tom with a pale ginger tail
Ivypaw: brown-ginger she cat with white stripes
Queens
Mistsong: blue-grey tabby she cat (expecting Trouttail's)
Puddlewhisker: a grey she cat with white stripes (expecting Spidertail's)
Willowleap: a silvery she cat with dark green eyes (expecting Gorseheart's)
Wrenshadow: a silver tabby she cat with a white tail tip (mother to Tigerkit and Silverkit)
Sandfern: pale ginger she cat with black stripes (expecting Oakstar's)
Elders
Bramblewhisker: brown tabby tom, deaf in one ear (completely torn)
Yellowlily: a still young yellow-gold she cat (retired early due to failed hearing)
Kits
Tigerkit: dark brown tomkit with tabby legs and lime green eyes
Silverkit: a light silver tabby she kit with white paws
ThunderClan
Leader: Cloudstar: a white tom with a large scar between neck and shoulder
Apprentice: Blizzardpaw
Deputy: Rainstorm: a blue grey tabby mottled tom with a scarred eye
Medicine cat: Redbreeze: a ginger she cat with faint swirl like marks and a greying muzzle
Apprentice: Mintflower: lithe grey she cat with pale brown paws
Warriors
Flamefoot: a bright ginger tom with very faint markings
Mouseclaw: pale brown tom with yellow eyes
Apprentice: Lionpaw
Leaftail: brown tabby tom
Shyleaf: a grey and silver tabby she cat
Apprentice: Huntpaw
Heatherblossom: tortoiseshell she cat with white paws and chest
Moonwing: black she cat with white paws, chest and a half moon on her muzzle
Brackenfang: a tortoiseshell tom
Snowwing: a fluffy white she cat with blue grey eyes
Blackpelt: a senior black tom with green eyes and a greying muzzle
Apprentice: Mousepaw
Apprentices
Blizzardpaw: a very pale grey tom with white flecks
Lionpaw: a golden tabby tom
Mousepaw: a brown tabby she cat with white paws
Queens
Nightbreeze: a thin black she cat with yellow eyes (mother to Specklekit, Streamkit, Nutkit, and Stonekit)
Lightfeather: a cream she cat with grey paws (mother to Dovekit, Rabbitkit, and Squirrelkit)
Cardinalheart: a reddish ginger she cat with pale blue eyes (expecting Flamefoot's)
Elders
Mallowtail: a black and brown tom with tangled fur
Tulipwood: a cream and black she cat with impossibly blue eyes
Kits
Specklekit: an almost black she kit with dappled flecks
Streamkit: a white she kit with grey stripes
Nutkit: light brown tom with pale silver stripes
Stonekit: dark grey tom with light grey flecks
Dovekit: a blue grey tabby she kit with almost red eyes
Rabbitkit: a brown-cream tom with a pale underbelly
Squirrelkit: a dark ginger tom with a puffy tail
ShadowClan
Leader: Fallenstar: a black she cat with pale grey flecks a twisted front paw
Deputy: Stagstrike: a dusky brown tom with silver ear tips
Medicine cat: Thymetail: brown tabby she cat with a single silver paw
Warriors
Crowblaze: a young black tom with a long tail
Darkflame: dark grey she cat with ginger stripes
Spiderheart: a creamy tom with long legs
Dapplefur: brown tabby she cat
Swiftfang: broad faced cream tom
Forestclaw: grey tabby tom
Queens
Daisystripe: dark cream she cat with black stripes (mother to Firekit)
Flowerbreeze: a dark cream she cat with light cream stripes (mother to Shadekit, Olivekit and Dustkit)
Thornyflower: light brown mottled she cat with a missing ear (expecting Crowblaze's)
Kits
Firekit: a dark ginger she kit with one grey paw
Shadekit: a grey tom with dark grey stripes; mute
Olivekit: dark brown she kit with light brown markings
Dustkit: dusky brown she kit with almost black splotches
WindClan
Leader: Flamestar: dark ginger tom with a paler tail and facial stripes
Deputy: Fernbreeze: a pale grey and brown tabby she cat
Medicine cat: Blueberry: a light blue grey she cat with very faint markings
Apprentice: Mintleaf: a white and grey she cat with dark green eyes
Warriors
Mosspetal: a grey mottled she cat
Apprentice: Emberpaw
Stonefoot: a senior speckled grey tom
Apprentice: Sedgepaw
Brightcloud: a white she cat with ginger splotches
Apprentice: Stormpaw
Lilypelt: a white and silver she cat
Whitefur: a long haired white tom
Deersong: a dark brown she cat with light stripes and ears
Pebblefrost: a dark silver tom with a white muzzle
Birchfoot: a tan and brown tabby tom
Apprentice: Falconpaw
Owlnose: a brown and white tom
Frostberry: silver she cat with cream stripes
Dustfang: a pale dusty brown tom with black stripes
Barkflower: dusty brown she cat with white stripes
Apprentices
Emberpaw: dark ginger tom with light underbelly, paws, and ringed tail
Stormpaw: a silver she cat with a black tail
Sedgepaw: a silver and white tabby she cat with light brown flecks
Falconpaw: dark brown tom with grey stockings
Queens
Silverflight: silver tabby she cat with green eyes (mother to Starlingkit, Pearkit and Tansykit)
Brindleleaf: a golden brown she cat with dark blue eyes (mother to Pinekit, Lionkit, Skykit and Foxkit)
Elders
Half-face: a greyish tom with a scarred face
Kits
Starlingkit: a grey and ginger tomkit
Pearkit: a dark grey and white she kit
Tansykit: a light grey she kit with a ginger tail
Pinekit: a slick brown tabby mottled tomkit with a golden tinge
Lionkit: a dark brownish golden she kit with dark green eyes
Skykit: a pale brown tabby she kit with bright blue eyes
Foxkit: a dark golden-ginger tomkit with darker stripes and pale green eyes
Rogues and Others
Heather: silky black she cat with a fluffy white chest and heather red eyes (mother to Reedkit, Hazelkit, Birchkit, Whitekit and Nightkit)
Jay: thick furred white tom with a smooth black chest and strange blue eyes
Acorn: handsome light brown tabby tom with swirl-like markings
Darwin: pale brown tabby she cat with white paws and a dark brown overcoat
Merry: a dark grey she cat (expecting Hickory's kits)
Hickory: a grey-brown tom with flecked fur
Breeze: a dark grey she kit with black bubble-like spots and blind blue eyes
Ringtail: a grey she cat with brown paws and a ringed tail (mother to Marble and Yarrow)
Spark: a light ginger tom with violet eyes
Redwhisker: dark ginger tom with white splotches and pinkish whiskers (father to Swiftkit)
Kylee: a black and white she cat
Monty: a dark cream tom with a dark brown blaze
Dime: a dark grey tom with white paws and a black chest
Reedkit: a chocolate tom with white stripes and a hazel-brown chest
Hazelkit: a brownish grey with hazel-brown tail and blaze
Birchkit: a brown tabby mottled tom
Whitekit: thick furred white tom with half a black tail, ear tips, chest and paws
Nightkit: silky black she kit with half a white tail, ear tips, chest and paws
Marble: light grey tom with black stripes and blind blue eyes
Yarrow: dark grey she kit with cream markings
Swiftkit: a handsome white tom with black splotches