Hey there! This story has been dead for over a year because I feel out of the Warriors fandom and I feel awful. Me and my best friend, SuperBailey, were videochatting tonight and we started talking about Stolen, and I got a sudden burst of motivation. SO!
I'm rebooting Stolen! The prologue will be up in a while and I am determined to finish it this time! I have a LOT of chapters planned and I hope everyone who once read this will enjoy the reboot.
I started this when I was 12 years old. I am going to be 16 this year. I've grown as a person. I've had a girlfriend. I've had a boyfriend. I'm still figuring out my gender identity.
Writing this helped me through a lot of stuff, so I'm gonna enjoy rewriting this! I have been informed by the lovely catspats31 of the rules regarding author note chapters, so in regards to that, I decided I would post the chapter I never finished. There's an old author note in the beginning of the chapter from way back last year before the story, but read on! (I answered some old reviews in it too)
A/N
First off, so so so sorry for not updating sooner! I had planned to update on Stolen's birthday (December 5th! Two years, woot woot!) but I forgot and lost my motivation.
Okay, so before I reply to reviews, I have something to address. I got a guest review that was quite offensive a while back. I deleted it for multiple reasons. But lemme just state something:
This story will contain cats varying on the gender spectrum, from boy to girl to neither to transgender, and everything in between. Cats in this will be straight, gay, bi, pan, ace, and everything in between. I understand some of you may not be comfortable with that. But that's the way it is. That's the way the world is. So I'm being diverse. (And yes I know they're just cats)
You can't avoid it. I'm not saying that if you don't like, don't read. No, do read it. Because people's gender and sexuality are fluid. And that's not something anyone can change.
Also, I understand this story is long. I didn't mean for it to be so involved. But it's still got a ways to go before being done. So, thanks to everyone that's still reading and sticking with me. It means a lot.
Now to answer reviews!
Havenspirit of MoonClan: Uh, I'm sorry? Heh, Mothleg and Liontail are jerks, aren't they? YAY I MADE SOMEONE FANGIRL OVER MY STORY. Owl is super cheeky. It makes Nightpaw flustered and she knows it.
LongLive234: I'm sure. I am the author after all. Sorry to all the JayHawk shippers. But don't stop shipping on my account! You can ship whoever, just no incest ships please! Also, don't be salty to HawkThorn and HawkPebble shippers!
RiverClanner: Let the NightOwl ship sail!
Flarewing: Owl is a girl, and let me just point out something to those against the new NightOwl ship. Has Nightpaw ever shown any interest in any toms? Ever? And no, Nutclaw doesn't count. He's her cousin and they are friends! I have no clue what Mortal Instruments is lol. At least ShadowClan and RiverClan can't start a war now! Yay! Dustsnow's going dowwwwwnnnnnn!
Guest(Sunflower567): HOLY FLUFF NUGGETS! A FAN. Ahem, hi there! Nightpaw's and Cas' relationship are more best friends/siblings. They aren't really planned to be a couple. Cas actually belongs to SuperBailey, so I'd need more insight on his personality and relationships with the cats around him in order to have a POV for him.
I can't reveal what he thinks of Snailpaw right now, but if you read on, you shall see ;). (PS: I think you got a little cut off there)
I'm not sure about Dragon, really. He's just a tyrant and doesn't care for his step-kits.
We will see more of Whitepaw since he's been an awkward no-show since the previous chapter. Ruse is a sweet lil gay and Nightpaw is feeling very confused right now with Owl's cheekiness. But, that's all about to change.
Anyways, welcome! You should make an account so you can publish your stories and we can PM! Glad you enjoy my stories and are inspiring! You have no idea how happy that makes me!
Anyways, story time!
Hawkpool sat beside Sandfern in the warm sunlight just outside the nursery. Finchkit and Newtkit were scuttling around camp, playing moss ball with Nightkit and Mistkit.
"I never thought I would have kits again," Sandfern sighed blissfully. "Or see another litter of grandkits." She gave Hawkpool a sly wink.
Hawkpool gave Sandfern a flustered nudge. "MOM!" Hawkpool squealed, covering her burning hot face. Sandfern chuckled raspily.
"I can feel New-leaf on its way," Sandfern meowed, changing the subject and stretching out her back. Hawkpool purred, rolling onto her back. Her soreness from her fight with Mothleg was wearing off somewhat.
She squeezing her eyes shut, basking in the heat of the faint sunlight with her mother. When she opened her eyes, she saw the upside down face of her mate.
"Uh, Hawkpool?" Pebbletail asked. She flipped upright, leaping to her paws. "Hawkpool, can we speak in private?"
"O-of course!" Hawkpool meowed. She still felt awkward about their argument.
Pebbletail quickly led her out of camp. She matched his pawsteps. Whenever one of them walked fast or paced, it meant they were stressed or trying to burn away thoughts or a past event. In this case, it was all three.
Pebbletail suddenly stopped by the Silver Tree, sitting down. Hawkpool opened her mouth to speak, but he beat her to it.
"I'm sorry," he blurted, lifting his head and locking eyes with her. "I was wrong to say what I said. You do belong here. Oakstar wouldn't have appointed you deputy if you didn't fit in."
"I'm sorry, too!" Hawkpool sighed, her eyes dampening instantly at the memory of their awful fight. "You're right; I shouldn't have gone out in the snow. I endangered myself and the kits."
"No, you were just being the selfless cat you are. I admire that," Pebbletail meowed, pressing their foreheads together. "Can you ever forgive me, Hawkpool?"
"On one condition," Hawkpool muttered. Pebbletail looked up, his amber eyes pleading.
"Anything, my love," Pebbletail whispered back, taking her paw in his.
"If you forgive me, too," Hawkpool meowed, managing a small smile. Pebbletail erupted in gleeful, rumbly purrs.
"I hated it when we fought," Pebbletail sighed as Hawkpool buried her face into his shoulder. Her reply was muffled by his fur, but it was clear she was agreeing.
"Can… can I see our kits?" Pebbletail asked when Hawkpool looked up at him.
"Of course! They are ours. Meaning both of our blood," Hawkpool purred as they started walking back to camp. "I-I named one Splashkit, just like you wanted."
Pebbletail's face cracked into a wide grin. He gave her a playful nudge. Hawkpool nudged him back. He suddenly tackled her, licking her cheek and making playful growls.
"Pebbletail!" Hawkpool squealed, giggling. "C'mon, someone might see us!"
"I won't let you go," Pebbletail growled teasingly, pretending to gnaw on her ear. Hawkpool squirmed and laughed.
"Get off you lump," Hawkpool chuckled, gently shoving him off. He purred at her, sticking out his tongue and racing off. She sprinting after him, the two zigzagging through the forest.
"Pebbletail, where'd you go?" Hawkpool called out as they neared camp. She saw his tail disappear through the barrier. She crouched down, preparing to pounce on him. She darted forward, but yelped as a cat stepped on her tail.
Hawkpool spun around, her blood running cold when she saw the face of Mothleg. The scratch on his cheek where she struck him was scabbing over.
"M-Mothleg!" Hawkpool gulped, feeling small despite them being around the same height. "Wh-what are you doing here?"
Mothleg stared at her sternly. "Why does Liontail favor you, you of all cats? You're nothing compared to me."
"Say that to my victory against you!" Hawkpool spat back, her voice snarky. Mothleg scrunched his nose and narrowed his eyes.
"The Dark Forest is very different than the waking world, dear Hawkpool," Mothleg growled. "But I see you are still injured from our fight." He jabbed her roughly in the space just behind her shoulder.
Hawkpool winced, inhaling sharply and scowling at him. She arched her back, rising above Mothleg. "I beat you fair and square, you little piece of dung."
Mothleg looked angered and taken aback. "I don't understand. I've been training with Liontail since Petalwish was born. Why would he choose you, a newbie?"
"I'm deputy, Mothleg," Hawkpool growled. "I am a superior. You will respect me."
"I'll do what I want, mousefodder," Mothleg shot back. "You are not deserving of my respect. Your own kits don't even respect you. You're a mouse-dung excuse for a mom." His amber eyes locked with hers dauntingly.
Liontail's words suddenly echoed in Hawkpool's mind. "You can bring us into the world of the living through the power of persuasion."
An idea struck her. She kept her gaze steady with Mothleg. You will do as I say, you will do as I say, you will do as I say! Hawkpool concentrated, now glaring at her clanmate.
"You will do as I say!" Hawkpool ordered, hissing loudly. Mothleg went silent for a moment, his eyes dulling and body going rigid. Then, he burst out in mocking laughter.
"As if!" Mothleg cackled. "You're even more pathetic than I thought." He said, lifting her chin with a claw and tossing her head up and stalking away.
Hawkpool frowned to herself as Mothleg walked away with his held high. Her shoulders slumped as she trudged through the camp barrier, not even looking up at Pebbletail as she dragged herself up to him.
Pebbletail easily noticed her gloominess, and by her side in an instant. "What happened?" He looked around, trying to gather what happened. He spotted Mothleg looking smug across the clearing.
"Did Mothleg do something cruel again?" Pebbletail asked softly. Hawkpool didn't reply. She was too absorbed in her head.
Why didn't it work? Did Liontail lie to me? Do I really have a power? Why am I even doing this?! I'm not an evil cat! Hawkpool ranted, panicking on the inside but she looked completely dead on the outside.
"Uh, Hawkpool?" Pebbletail turned her to look at him. She blinked slowly up at him.
"Sorry," she muttered, looking down. Pebbletail leaned down his head to make eye contact.
"What's up?" He asked, licking her cheek. She grinned faintly.
"Not me," Hawkpool admitted. "Mothleg and Whitepaw were right. I'm not special. I'm a bad mom. How did I expect to care for Leopardkit and Splashkit?"
"You'll learn. Parenting doesn't come easy. I, for one, think you are a perfect mother to all your kits. Now, let's go see our babies," Pebbletail purred, looping his tail in hers as they walked to the nursery.
Morningfeather's rump was blocking the entrance. "Hold on! You can do it!" Came the medicine cat's urgent cries. Hawkpool and Pebbletail exchanged worried looks. Briarfrost was chewing on her claws nervously, Leopardkit and Splashkit curled in her belly fur.
"What's going on in there?" Hawkpool asked, looking down at her friend. Briarfrost sharply bit the end of a claw off. She cursed loudly.
"Creeksplash's kitting is going bad. There was a lot of blood so Morningfeather and Breezepaw had everyone clear out," Briarfrost pulled Splashkit back as she tried to stumble away from her grasp. Her bright blue eyes were hazy with concern for her half sister.
"Briarfrost!" Breezepaw yelled out. The dark brown she cat sprinted towards the nursery. She wailed loudly.
"Creeksplash, talk to me!" Briarfrost cried. Creeksplash lifted a paw shakily, brushing away a tear from her sister's cheek.
"I… love you, Briar. Don't ever… forget it. Reedflight. I see him… care for… my kits, please," Creeksplash croaked. She noticed Hawkpool a few fox-lengths away. "Nurse… them, my… apprentice. I love you, too…"
Her eyes lost their shine, and her paw fell to the ground from Briarfrost's cheek. Briarfrost stood in horrified silence, her eyes wide and wet with tears.
Hawkpool was the first to break the silence with a mourning sob for her friend. Briarfrost's legs buckled and she buried her face into her dead sister's side, sobbing loudly.
Briarfrost looked up as Hawkpool joined her in mourning. Morningfeather tapped Hawkpool's shoulder with her paw. The deputy looked up at the peach-golden she cat.
Two newborn kits swung feebly in Morningfeather's jaws. "Her last words were to give them to you, Hawkpool. They're only a day younger than yours."
Hawkpool noticed Breezepaw lift the limp body of a tawny-brown speckled tom kit. "What about that one?" She asked as Breezepaw walked past her.
"Oatkit only lived for a few heartbeats," Morningfeather sighed. She placed the other two by Hawkpool's belly, and they quickly latched on. "Their names are up to you."
Briarfrost and Hawkpool looked down at Creeksplash's kits. They were mute for several long heartbeats. The two of them were frozen looking the newborns.
The first, was a dark brown tom with a thick, black tabby tail and a tawny-brown underbelly. His littermate, a she kit, was a pale silver tabby with black paws and dark brown ears.
"Uh, the tom can be Otterkit, I guess," Briarfrost mumbled, now stuck staring at Creeksplash as Morningfeather took her sister away to be mourned in the clearing by the rest of the clan.
"Then she's Frostkit," Hawkpool muttered. She pressed her nose to Briarfrost's cheek. "After you."
"Shouldn't she be Creekkit, after her mother?" Briarfrost asked, almost begging. Hawkpool shook her head.
"Then, we'll just pressure her to be like her mother. That's not what we should do," Hawkpool sighed heavily. "We're like their moms."
Briarfrost exhaled softly. "You're right. Frostkit it is. Frostkit and Otterkit…"
Pebbletail's scent bathed Hawkpool's senses. She turned around, seeing him padding over to her with Leopardkit and Splashkit. He placed them beside Otterkit and Frostkit and wrapped himself around her comfortingly.
"You'll see her again someday," Pebbletail whispered soothingly.
"It happened too fast, Pebbletail," Hawkpool croaked. "I've known her since I was an apprentice! She taught me the ways of RiverClan! She was like a second mentor!" I even crushed on her for a while! She just can't be gone!
"I know, Hawkpool," Pebbletail sighed, licking her ears. "Her time had come. There's nothing we could have done."
"But it's not fair!" Briarfrost blurted standing up and arching her back. "I have no family left!"
"These kits are your family, Briarfrost," Hawkpool pointed out. Briarfrost's eyes drooped.
"My sister was the only one who loved me. Now she's gone," Briarfrost whimpered, hunching over and coddling her sister's nest, where her scent was fresh.
"Ferretnose loves you," Pebbletail pointed out. "It's so obvious."
Briarfrost sighed. "I know, he does. But I was wrong. I'm not ready for a full relationship. I couldn't even train Birchpaw properly, Hawkpool!" She spun around, tears damp in her blue eyes. "I failed you, Birchpaw, Creeksplash, Ferretnose… everyone…"
"Why don't you come with Whitepaw and I?" Hawkpool suggested, rubbing her face clean of the dried tear stains. "Shadeleap invited me hunting with them to help him with his esteem issues."
Briarfrost looked up, her eyes wet. "Esteem issues? He has self esteem issues? But he always acts so high and mighty!"
Hawkpool flicked her tail for Briarfrost to stand. "It's false pride; I used to do it. You lie and act like you have confidence until you actually do."
"Whitepaw, you feel better now?" Hawkpool asked as the two of them approached the slender tom. He hesitated, then nodded.
"A-a little, yes," he admitted, standing as Shadeleap trotted over to them.
"What do you think we should do for this lesson, Whitepaw?" Shadeleap asked. Whitepaw went silent in surprise. His belly rumbled and his tail flew to his side, flustered.
"Maybe hunting?" Briarfrost managed a chuckle, her legs still weak looking. The young warrior looked nauseous. Whitepaw stared at his paws.
"I- um, oh, er, okay," he gulped, pulling himself up with what looked like some struggle like he hadn't eaten a real meal in days. His ribs were practically sticking out, his pelt sagging on him like an old moss rag.
Whitepaw panted as he struggled to keep up with them, having to walk a lot faster than his body would carry him.
Hawkpool paused, walking slowly beside her son. "Is something wrong? You look a little strained."
Whitepaw jerked his head up from staring at the ground. "No! I'm fine! Nothing's wrong!" He quickened his pace and his breath came in short gasps as he caught up to the others to prove it. "See?" He panted, narrowing his amber eyes.
Hawkpool raised an eyebrow and sped up to him. She rested her thin tail on his shoulders. "You don't have to prove anything to make me happy. I just want you to be happy, Whitepaw."
Whitepaw's body went rigid. "I-I am!" He protested, spinning around and turning his head up towards her. He was even thinner than Hawkpool was, and she had an exceptionally sleek build compared to other RiverClanners. Whitepaw had ThunderClan blood, shouldn't he look it? Or at the least, have her slim figure rather than the starving look he held?
Worry overwhelmed Hawkpool for her kit. Whitepaw's eyes looked Hawkpool up and down. "Why are you staring at me like that?" He asked slowly, taking a step back. His heart pounded against his chest and in his ears.
Hawkpool reached out a paw to embrace him, but he darted out of her radius and towards the river where his mentor and Briarfrost were waiting. The dark brown she cat was frozen gazing at the river, the precious moments she spent with Creeksplash clearly on her mind.
"Don't let your shadow fall on the water," Shadeleap warned Whitepaw sharply as he loomed over the river. His face was dull but focused.
Whitepaw suddenly threw his paws into the water, missing a minnow by a whisker. He groaned, then yelled out as the soft ground under his hind legs shifted and he fell into the cold water.
"Whitepaw!" Hawkpool cried out, hurrying forward and staring down into the dark, cold water of the river. Whitepaw's head suddenly popped out from the river, water droplets running down his face and a ginormous carp in his jaws.
His pelt hugged his bones, and his legs seemed to shake and shiver as he stood in the near ice water. "C-caught you this!" He gasped, panting from the chill.
"Oh, baby you didn't have to!" Hawkpool sighed, licking him dry and attempting to curl around him for warmth. Whitepaw sneezed, shivering.
"Do you like it?" Whitepaw asked, now nervous as he pulled back and searched his mother's face for approval.
"Oh, of course! I love everything about you," Hawkpool meowed between licks of his cold, wet pelt.
"Maybe we should get back to camp," Briarfrost suggested, her eyes still dull and her fur already looking unkempt. She was swaying slightly, whether to lull herself into serenity or from nausea wasn't clear.
"But we just got here!" Shadeleap growled. She swiveled to Whitepaw with a scowl on her face. "You!" She snapped, marching over to the apprentice. "You dawdle and waste your time getting into fights with other apprentices and pitying yourself over lost prey, you never actually learn anything!"
Whitepaw slipped from his mother's embrace, crawling backwards in an effort to get away from his mentor's hisses. Shadeleap noticed him slinking away. "Oh, no you don't!" She huffed, grabbing him by the scruff and dropping him in front of her.
"At this rate, Dewpaw, Fernpaw, Palepaw and Webpaw are going to become warrior before you, and they're moons younger than you!" Shadeleap exclaimed. "I train you nearly every day, from sunup to sundown yet there's barely any improvement, or even effort!"
"I'm sorry," Whitepaw squeaked, staring at his black paws. Shadeleap sighed in exasperation.
"No, you're not! Because if you were, you'd be at the same level as Hazelpaw. She's even ahead of you now, and she gave birth to kits!" Shadeleap was pacing now. Tears were swelling in her dark blue eyes. "I've had it to my wits end, Whitepaw." She was crying by now.
"The other mentors won't help me," she sniffled feebly. "I don't know what to do! I never had a firm mentor! I never had a firm anything! My mother left to become a kittypet and my father was a WindClan cat. My brother Greykit died of greencough and my other brother Hollypaw was killed in a border skirmish by our father, and then he was exiled for murder."
Shadeleap was crumpled on the ground now, curled into a small, black spotted ball of fur. Whitepaw stood there, frozen and his eyes swimming with unfallen tears. He blinked several times and then approached Shadeleap awkwardly.
He whispered something timidly in her ear and in an instant Shadeleap shot up and hugged him. "I'm sorry," she whispered, a few stray tears falling onto Whitepaw's fur as they hugged.
"We can go hunting if you want," Shadeleap sniffed, rubbing her face with a paw. Whitepaw shrugged.
"I guess so," he turned to Hawkpool. "I'll meet you back at camp, yeah?"
Hawkpool smiled sadly. "Yes, go on!" She urged. She hated to see him go, thinking she had her little kit back with her for at least a moment.
Briarfrost nudged Hawkpool meekly. "We should check on Otterkit and Frostkit." She fidgeted awkwardly. "I miss them already."
"Sure thing," Hawkpool meowed. She did miss Leopardkit and Splashkit as well. They had been trying to open their eyes for a while now, despite being only a few days old.
Hawkpool noticed the way Briarfrost walked, like there was a rock in her belly. Her paw steps were short and crossed inwards towards herself, and her tail stood stiff.
"Briarfrost," Hawkpool meowed cautiously. "I don't mean to pry, but you're walking oddly. Do you have a bellyache?"
Briarfrost sighed, letting her tail relax. "Am I that obvious?"
"Yes," Hawkpool confessed. "What's the matter?"
Briarfrost's dark blue eyes grew round, like she was relieved to finally talk about it. "I must've thrown up three times in the past day, but I'm not feverish and I'm a bit bloated. And even just walking from one side of camp to the other makes me winded and I fall asleep before the sun even goes down! I've gotten dozens of headaches and my back hurts and I'm craving only pigeon!"
Briarfrost sighed heavily. "I think I'm sick. Is this greencough?"
Hawkpool only laughed, a thick, warm purr radiating from her. "No, you're not sick." She met Briarfrost's dark eyes with amusement. "You're pregnant."
(POV change; Nightpaw)
Nightpaw groaned as she felt sunlight on her eyes. She yawned, opening her eyes open halfway. Memories of the night before flooded her, and she suddenly realized Owl was no longer sleeping beside her. Nightpaw pressed her nose to where Owl had been. Cold.
Nightpaw stretched, now curious as to where the strange she cat could've gone. Her mismatched eyes had mysteriously haunted Nightpaw's dreams.
Nightpaw stepped out of the den, squealing as a light snow shocked her paw pads with chill. Nightpaw scanned the clearing, observing all the cats.
Reedpaw was talking with Snailpaw. Nightpaw purred. It looked like they were having fun! That was, until Reedpaw picked up a pawful of blackberries and smashed them on the side of Snailpaw's face, leaving the dark purple-black splotch.
Snailpaw squealed in horror, trying to clean it off with a paw but to no avail, the berry juice only staining her perfect white paws further. Snailpaw screeched at Reedpaw in frustration, shoving his face into the snow with both paws, and sitting forcefully on top of him.
Dawn and Dusk, brother and sister twins, were purring as they sat beside Dusk's mate, Fawna, watching their son and daughter, Kaleo and Giselle teaching the kits hunting crouches.
Mary and Noir, two of the elders were telling stories to Keiko and Ignacio, Penny's kits, as Suede dozed in the fresh nest beside Mary.
Nightpaw opened her mouth to call out to Evie once she spotted her grey dappled pelt, but she stopped cold when she recognized the attractive white she cat she was so fondly chatting with. Owl.
Nightpaw put on the sassiest, most spiteful look she could muster, and with her head held high, she sashayed over to the two she cats.
"Oh, you know each other?" Nightpaw feigned surprise, purposely leaning on Evie's shoulder and laughing sourly. "Funny, Evie's my best friend!" Nightpaw exclaimed, trying to send a message to Evie with her facial expression, but Evie didn't read it.
"Evie is my best friend too!" Owl declared joyfully, and Nightpaw stiffened bitterly, her claws accidentally flexing into the snow.
"Oh, hahaha!" Nightpaw laughed so falsely it rang dully in her own ears and she was astonished neither Owl or Evie noticed it. "You look grisly." Nightpaw remarked under her breath, masking it with a cough.
"What?" Owl asked, unsure as to what she heard. Nightpaw smiled her fake smile.
"I said you look pretty!" Nightpaw meowed, lashing her tail back and forth, her body rigid with anger. Evie is my friend! My only friend!
"So," Nightpaw chirped, shoving Owl roughly to the side and into a slick pool of mud. "Wanna come hunting with me, Evie? I gotta stretch out my legs."
Owl shrieked, flicking mud off her now ruined white pelt. "You pushed me!" Owl exclaimed. Nightpaw gasped, drawing a paw to her mouth in fake shock and concern.
"Oh gosh, Owl! I am so sorry!" Nightpaw stepped out of the way to let Owl up. "Lemme help you." Nightpaw reached out a paw, but she stuck out her other foreleg. As Owl accepted Nightpaw's aid, she tripped over Nightpaw's sticking out leg, Nightpaw pulling back both her paws and letting Owl fall on her face.
"Oh my, you are a clutz, aren't you my dear?" Nightpaw sighed, shaking her head. "It is such a shame."
Owl shook her head, mud drops flying off. "This is strange, I'm never this clumsy."
"You know what they say, bad things happen to cats that steal another's best friend," Nightpaw meowed casually.
"Isn't it bad things happen to good cats?" Evie corrected, her voice suspicious. Nightpaw put a paw to her chin thoughtfully.
"Oh, I guess I was mistaken!" She shot a quick glare at Owl but she swiftly turned it into a polite flashing grin. "Maybe I was thinking off some other vindictive, backstabbing cat!"
"Anyways, see you never, Owl!" Nightpaw laughed cheerfully, flicking her tail in the air as she flounced away sassily.
"Nightpaw, hold up!" Evie called after her. Nightpaw continued walking, only stopping after Evie shouted her name a second time.
"You seemed pretty, how do I say this," Evie thought for a second. "Pretty, well, catty back there? What happened; you eat a bad mouse? Her light amber eyes were glowing with concern and undertones of confusion.
Nightpaw scoffed. "No," she rolled her eyes. "I just thought I was your best friend." She fluffed up her fur slightly.
"C'mon, Nightpaw!" Evie chuckled. "I can have two best friends."
"No, I know! I just… you're my first friend and I feel like I'm being replaced," Nightpaw admitted, sinking low to the ground. "And Owl and I bonded last night. We even slept together!"
Evie recoiled in shock. "You slept with Owl?!" Her eyes were widened in alarm.
Nightpaw waved her paws frantically. "Not like that! We just shared a nest! But now she's totally throwing away the moment we had."
"Just give her a chance, Nightpaw," Evie insisted. A slyness crept into Evie's amber eyes. "She's got a crush on you."
Nightpaw practically flew in the air, jumping so high her tail stood straight up with her legs stiff and eyes wide with shock. Evie rolled on her back in a fit of laughter.
"Oh my gosh, you totally like Owl!" Evie cackled, giving Nightpaw a playful nudge. Nightpaw flinched, scooting away and her face hot with blood rush.
"I do not!" Nightpaw protested a bit too loudly. "S-she cats are supposed to like toms and toms are supposed to like she cats."
Evie smacked Nightpaw upside the head. "That's total mouse-dung and you know it! Take Ruse and his former mate Jasper for example. Both toms and they had a healthy, happy son together."
"So," Nightpaw stared after Owl, who was grooming the mud out of her thick, frosty fur. "Hypothetically, it would be okay for me to like her like that?"
"Hypothetically, yes," Evie meowed confidently. "And hypothetically, if she liked you back, what you a hypothetical you do?"
"Kiss her," Nightpaw answered without thinking. Her eyes went round when she realized what she said and her face heated up like a rock on a green-leaf day.
"AAAHhhhhhhhhhhh!" Nightpaw groaned, burying her face into her fur in embarrassment. "I can't! I just… I can't…" Nightpaw sighed, her voice was low and soft now.
"You like her," Evie stated, wrapping her fluffy tail over her friend's shoulders. "You were just jealous. You can just apologize."
"That's not it," Nightpaw grumbled. "When I go back to ThunderClan, and become a warrior one day, they'll all expect me to take a tom as a mate. But I don't like toms like that!"
"So? That's perfectly normal," Evie purred. "Toms and she cats are both appealing to me, and it's totally normal. I also know some other cats who don't like just the opposite sex or like the same sex. Some cats don't like anyone, and others can like others regardless of gender! It's only a matter of preference, my dear." She spoke smoothly as if her words were as easy as breathing.
"But not to my clan!" Nightpaw cried out. "The she cats take a tom, have kits and make new warriors to keep the clan growing. That's crucial now in my clan because we're underpopulated."
Nightpaw lifted her head. "Maybe I'm just picky. O-or have too high standards!"
Evie stared at Nightpaw with sad eyes. "Would you ever take a tom as a mate?"
Nightpaw froze. She sunk her head down and let out a whine. "No," she admitted. She gazed at Owl. "She's so pretty… but I just… can't."
"At some point, you have to make a decision," Evie meowed, meeting Nightpaw's eyes steadily. "Boundaries don't keep others out. They trap you in. Life is messy. That's just how we're made."
"So, you can waste your life drawing lines," Evie flicked her tail and turned Nightpaw's head towards so they locked eyes. "Or you can live your life crossing them."
Nightpaw's chest tightened and she swallowed dryly, her vision still fixated upon her crush. "But there are some lines that are way to dangerous to cross," she murmured quietly, her body cold with nerves.
Evie stood and tapped Nightpaw's nose with her tail. "Those lines are the best lines to cross. They set you free." She smiled warmly and tenderly, like how Snowwing smiled at Cloudstar.
Evie stalked away, skipping through the snow and leaving dainty prints as she joined in with Cas and Nicky, along with a dark brown she cat with black dapples, a flame-red tom with white paws, ears and muzzle, and a light brown she cat with a cream underbelly and brown and black swirls. They looked oddly familiar to Nightpaw.
"Cats of the Liberty Tribe!" Lijep called, leaping swiftly onto the High Hill. "The time has come for us to fulfill our promise to the clan cats, and help them find this criminal."
"Wing, Fizz, Seagull, Evie, Cas, Nicky, Timber, Fox, Swirl, Kaleo, Basil, and Owl," Lijep turned to the cats she named, all gathering in a small group. "You have all agreed to aid these cats in the capture of their fugitive, correct?" They all nodded in agreement.
"Very well," Lijep meowed. "Take your travelling herbs from Ruse, and you may be on your way."
The cats parted, but both Sedgelight and Emberfang were frantic. "Lionpaw!" Sedgelight shrieked, pacing around the clearing. "Where are you?!"
"Can you hear her, Emberfang?" Sedgelight turned to the tom, but he shook his head meekly.
"There's… no, there's too much noise here!" Emberfang hissed. He rubbed his ears like he was in pain. "The monsters, and the Twolegs and the Thunderpaths and the horns, it's all too much noise."
"And my nose is overwhelmed by the awful stench of blood from our fight," Emberfang growled. "Where could she have gone?!"
"Who's missing?" A stocky, tall brown she cat littered with scars approached them, her voice gruff.
"One of our apprentices," Sedgelight whimpered. "Lionpaw. She said she was hunting before we went to sleep, but she never came to her nest."
"Hm," the she cat scoffed. "I'll handle it. You go. Lijep has made herself the leader of your patrol." Her yellow eyes darted towards the ragdoll she cat approaching them.
"Yes, and thank you again, Bear!" Lijep meowed as she padded towards them. "We should get going. Bear can find your apprentice while we're gone."
"But she could be in danger!" Emberfang hissed, but Lijep walked past him.
"Aren't your apprentices trained to fight danger?" Lijep swung around and raised an eyebrow. Emberfang nodded. "Good, then she should fair well," she stated firmly.
Ruse pattered outside, snorting in irritation as snow touched his paws. He bounded towards Lijep. "Find my Karamela," Ruse whispered, dropping bundled herbs at the she cat's feet.
"I will do my best, old friend," Lijep purred, scooping up the herbs. "I'm sure she is safe."
"We ready?" Lijep yowled, taking the lead confidently. Scattered mews of agreement floated through camp. "Good." She trotted away, leading them out of the camp.
"Hey, Nightpaw!" Nicky called, catching up to the black she cat. She nodded a greeting to him.
"Heya, Nicky," Nightpaw meowed blandly, like a stale wind.
"I wanna introduce you to-" he whirled around to the dark brown she cat with black dapples from before, "Timber."
"Oh, I remember you!" Timber exclaimed, a strange accent accompanied with her words. "You saved Fox and Swirl!" She motioned to the flame red tom and light brown she cat.
Nightpaw clicked her tongue. "That's why you looked familiar!" She purred. "It's nice to meet you!"
Timber smiled. "Same here!" She leaned in. "So, what did this criminal do exactly?"
Nightpaw scowled. "She killed my uncle, and handicapped my brother for life, not to mention she wants to wipe out my entire family." She growled to herself. "She blames my mother for the death of her parents."
"Are you talking about Birchpaw?" Snailpaw spoke up from behind them, butting in between them. "It's just awful what happened to him!"
"Not as awful as you!" Reedpaw retorted, giving her a shove and she tumbled into a bush. She staggered out with twigs and leaves sticking out on her fur.
"Dung-face!" Snailpaw bellowed, tackling him. "I'm gonna get you for that!"
"Yeah, right, fox-heart!" Reedpaw cackled, speeding away and darting his way around the other cats. "Too slow!" He teased, sticking out his tongue."
"Am not!" Snailpaw snapped back. She grumbled as she stumbled in mud. She dipped her paw in it and flung it at Reedpaw, the gunk sticking to his thick fur.
"Aw, this mud smells almost as bad as you!" Snailpaw laughed, splashing around in it. Snailpaw gasped as Reedpaw bowled into her, towering over her glamorously. Snailpaw felt her breath hitch in her throat.
"HA GOTCHA, FOXHEART!" Reedpaw cackled.
"Mind your language," Hickorynose snapped over at him.
"Fight back, you weasel!" Reedpaw meowed, his voice puzzled. "You know, if I was a Wrath cat, you'd be dead. They wouldn't let you go this like, no way."
Snailpaw stammered, scoffing. "Wh-whatever, loser," she laughed awkwardly. "Get off me."
"No, you get off me!" Reedpaw retorted, then pulled back. "Wait, never mind. Forget it." He grumbled, clearly trying to be silly. Snailpaw snickered to herself.
"I'll practice with you, m'lady!" A flame red tom with white paws, ears and muzzle meowed thickly. "Name's Fox."
"Well, it is very nice to meet you!" Snailpaw greeted. "Shall we start?"
"Sure thing, hot stuff," Fox teased. Snailpaw rolled her eyes. She'd heard of the flirtatious Fox, flirting with anything from other toms to a dead leaf.
Fox zigzagged towards Snailpaw with his long legs outstretched, but his paws sheathed.
"SNAILPAW STINKS!" Reedpaw suddenly yelled, throwing Snailpaw off balance, Fox cannoning into her with more force than intended. They rolled and scuffled into a small field of poppies and daisies.
"Good grief, Reedpaw!" Snailpaw hissed to him, pretending to be upset, but she was laughing on the inside. His eyes sparkled with amusement as well. Flower petals and grass were ruffled amongst her pelt.
A dove grey she cat with a lighter chin, ears and circles around her topaz eyes butted Nightpaw in the shoulder softly.
"Pardon me, lass?' She meowed quietly. "Reedpaw is your brother, yeah?" Nightpaw nodded, slightly confused. The she cat continued. "Could you get him to stop flirting with Snailpaw? Honestly, it's driving me and Fizz bloody mad, though you really can't tell with Fizz." She motioned towards a tall white she cat with light grey, and brown dapples.
"What, flirting?" Snailpaw laughed a bit too loudly.
"Yeah, like, if something was going to happen it would've already happened," Reedpaw pointed out, yanking her closer to him.
"You've got like the ugliest face I've ever laid eyes on," Snailpaw countered, dragging her tail across his spine with a tiny smirk.
"You're a total fox-heart, there is that," Reedpaw taunted, slowly leaning into her.
"Yeah, and everything you open your mouth, all you talk about is yourself," Snailpaw huffed, pulling Reedpaw down so he was standing over top of her.
"You do have an unhealthy crush on Cloudstar, so we'd never work out," Reedpaw whispered huskily, tilting his head closer to her muzzle. Snailpaw's eyes twinkled with yearning, her heart pounding in her chest, begging him to lean in closer. She bit her lip in anticipation.
"Yeah, I mean I guess you're cute," Snailpaw teased. "But you ain't that cute."
"Your breath smells like if crowfood and a sheep had a baby together, let's not forget that," Reedpaw breathed softly, his eyes round and his breath warm on her whiskers.
"Holy StarClan, shut up and kiss me, you piece of frog-dung," Snailpaw huffed, smashing her lips into his. Reedpaw's eyes shot open, but then, they slowly closed, relishing the moment.
"OH MY STARCLAN!" Evie screeched, laughing. She pushed Cas to the ground in triumph. "I knew it! I flipping knew it! GET IT GIRL!"
"You know," Fox meowed awkwardly. "I have a few tricks as well." He wiggled his eyebrows at Evie, but she just sighed and rolled her eyes, pushing him into the snow. He shook the frost from his whiskers and laughed.
"Fox-heart," Reedpaw stammered, letting out a sharp exhale.
Snailpaw pulled back, a soft pant escaping her lips. "D-dung-face," she exhaled, breath-taken.
"Mistake," Reedpaw whispered, a cocky grin on his face that looked ridiculous.
"Tree-hugger," Snailpaw spat, closing her eyes and sticking her tongue out.
"Beautiful," Reedpaw breathed, touching their foreheads together. Snailpaw gasped. In a moment of panic, she threw him off her.
"You remember!" Snailpaw exclaimed. Tears trickled down her lime green eyes. Reedpaw purred thickly and looked down.
Snailpaw raced forward, nuzzling his shoulder and up to his chin. Reedpaw laughed, licking her cheek. Snailpaw giggled, feigning disgust.
"That looks like flirting to me!" Nightpaw shouted out at them. The dove grey she cat beside her laughed.
"Good thing they got it out of their systems then," she purred, taking note as Reedpaw let his tail dance under her nose. Snailpaw sneezed. Reedpaw jumped in surprise and stalked away stubbornly, a sly smile on his face as Snailpaw chased after him.
"I'm Nightpaw, by the way," Nightpaw meowed, flicking her ear to the grey she cat.
"I'm Wing!" She nosed the tall white she cat beside her with grey and brown speckles, grey flecks and topaz eyes. "That nonchalant grump over there is my sister, Fizz."
"And the snappy one back there is Seagull, our brother," Fizz spoke up, twitching her tail towards a white tom with a grey streak down his back, and black and brown stripes down his sides. His dark green eyes were slanted and bored looking, although he wasn't an unattractive cat.
"Aw, come on!" Fox butted between them. "Seagull isn't all bad!" He leaned against the tom and batted his eyes. He bit his lip and tapped Seagull's nose with his paw.
Seagull flinched and groaned. Fox clicked his tongue twice cheekily and padded backwards away towards his sisters, Timber and Swirl.
Nightpaw spotted Cas walking alone, quickening her pace to catch up to him. The story Lijep told Jaytalon about finding them had been nagging in her mind.
"Hey, Cas?" Nightpaw asked, looking up into his cyanic eyes. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," he shrugged. He licked a paw and drew his over his ears.
"I overheard Lijep telling my dad something, about how she met you and your siblings, but I'm curious about something," Nightpaw began. Cas twitched his ears in interest.
"Go on," his mew was somewhat cautious now. Almost guarded.
"Who is Mist?"
Cas went still as stone, his paw freezing from behind his ear where he was grooming.
"Where did you hear that name?" A voice hissed from behind Nightpaw. She jumped, her fur spiking up and she yelped.
"E-Evie!" Nightpaw gasped. She rubbed her paws together nervously. Nicky was beside Evie, his head hung low and eyes blank.
"She was our mother," Nicky whispered to Nightpaw. Evie whirled around to him.
"She's not our mother! Lijep is our mother, not Mist!" Evie snarled, her voice low.
"Nightpaw's just curious!" Nicky snapped back, defending his friend.
"She used to hit you, Nicky! Hit you!" Evie shrieked, digging her claws into the hard earth beneath their paws.
"I-I'm sorry, I don't understand. Lijep isn't your real mother," Nightpaw meowed, tipping her head to the side.
"She's as good as," Cas retorted calmly, meeting Nightpaw's eyes.
"Mist was just a devil who left us for dead in the midst of the chaotic city here," Evie growled. "With nothing but mouse bones and a flimsy cardboard box."
"Oh," Nightpaw stared at her paws. A thought came to her that might make Evie feel better. "I lived in a cardboard box for a while. When I was a kit. In a different part of the city."
"That doesn't count! You had your parents! My mother traded in my father for the life of a prisoner to Dragon as his mating slave! My father was killed by a car!" Evie hissed, shoving her muzzle in Nightpaw's face. "So don't think for a second you have it worse."
Anger flared in Nightpaw's chest. "I don't even have a mother!" Nightpaw screeched, grinding her teeth together. "My father babies me like a newborn kit. You have a life, where no one tells you what to do and how to do it, fear you might wander off the side of a cliff!"
"You have a father that loves you! If he didn't, he wouldn't coddle you!" Evie retorted, her eyes like tiny, amber flames.
"Really?!" Nightpaw hissed, her voice heavy. "Cause smothering me so much to where I wasn't allowed out of the nursery until I was nearly six moons doesn't seem like love!"
"At least he's concerned for you! My mother could watch my guts spill and she would just laugh!" Evie snapped, her lips peeled back and teeth showing.
"You have Lijep!" Nightpaw shrieked at her, her hackles raised and her ears flat. "I have no one! My mother and I have only spoken once since we joined the clans. Once! So, don't you play the who has it worse game with me. You have two mothers, the least you could do is show them some respect!"
Evie screeched, unsheathing her claws and lashing them across Nightpaw's cheek blindly. Sound seemed to dissolve within them. Nicky and Cas both gasped and held their breath.
Nightpaw's eyes were round in surprise. She touched a paw to her cheek, staring at blood droplets, and then back at Evie.
Nightpaw's eyes glistened with hurt and betrayal. "Nightpaw, no, I didn't-" Evie began but Nightpaw whipped around, hurriedly stalking away.
"I'll talk to her," Cas whispered, cautiously padding up to Nightpaw who was now walking by herself slowly.
"Look, Nightpaw," Cas began. "Er- wait no, don't go!" He called out as Nightpaw sped up her pace. He took two large bounds and caught up to her. "Evie didn't mean it. Mist just wasn't a very good cat."
Nicky had joined them now, a sympathetic look in his eyes. Evie had clearly lashed out before. "Just try not to mention Mist to Evie," Nicky sighed. "Please Nightpaw, you don't want to see how she gets again."
Nightpaw grinded her teeth. "I- er-," she sighed heavily. "I'm jealous. You guys have two moms. I don't have one at all."
"Lijep could be your mom too!" Nicky tried cheerfully, but Nightpaw flinched away in surprise.
"What? How come?" Nightpaw asked in alarm.
Cas and Nicky exchanged puzzled looks. "Don't you know?" They asked in unison. Nightpaw shook her head slowly.
"Lijep and Jay are awfully close," Cas hinted with a wink. Nightpaw faked a gag as she caught on.
"Ugh, ew no! I don't wanna think about my father having the hots for your mom!" Nightpaw groaned, sticking out her tongue in disgust.
But just think!" Nicky exclaimed joyfully. He gave Nightpaw a teasing jab. "We'd be brother and sister!" Nicky smiled and Nightpaw couldn't help but roll her eyes and smile back. He was one of those cats with a contagious smile.
"Okay, that part wouldn't be so bad," Nightpaw snickered at Cas' and and Nicky's expression before they exploded into laughter.
"On second thought, we don't need another evil sister," Cas concluded, sounding completely serious but his eyes twinkling with amusement gave him away.
"What was that about me?" Evie asked, padding up to them. "I heard the word evil."
"AH!" Cas feigned surprise. "It has been summoned!"
Evie rolled her eyes, and then tilted her head at Nightpaw. Her amber eyes looked apologetic. "Nightpaw, I'm really sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"
"You are totally evil," Nightpaw laughed, bonking Evie's nose playfully. "And in this case, dumb, if you think I wouldn't forgive you."
Evie let out a scoff, but it came off more as a relieved sigh. "Oh, and someone wants to talk to you." She nodded her head over to Owl, who gave a nervous wave of her tail.
Nightpaw felt her face go hot and she looked away. "EVIE!" Nightpaw gasped. "I can't! You know I can't!"
"You can, and you will," Evie growled in frustration, pushing Nightpaw forcefully towards the snowy white she cat with a smug grin.
"H-hello!" Nightpaw exclaimed loudly and nervously once Evie had abandoned them.
Owl fidgeted. "Er, yes, hi," she cleared her throat. "I feel like we got off on the wrong paw."
Nightpaw shrugged. "Probably."
"So," Owl cleared her throat again. "Hello! I'm Owl."
Nightpaw smiled stupidly and felt her heart flutter. "Hi, I'm Nightpaw! I'm from ThunderClan!"
Owl giggled and Nightpaw felt her feet go tingly. "Tell me more about your… Clans," Owl asked shyly. The word clans felt foreign on her tongue, like catnip.
"O-of course!" Nightpaw replied. "Um, there's four clans. ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, and WindClan."
Owl nodded in understanding as Nightpaw recited the warrior code, and described the territories in which the numerous cats hunted. She told as the clans gathered under a full moon, talking as old friends. Owl's mismatched eyes were as round as a newborn kit's, and sparkling with such intensity, Nightpaw felt almost woozy if she too wasn't enjoying the fluttering in her chest.
Tiny voices drifted to her keen ears, and she trailed off whatever she was saying. Owl shot her a curious look.
"Do you hear that?" Nightpaw said quietly, whipping her head around to try and pinpoint it. Owl scowled at the dark she cat.
"Hooty hoo, very funny, Nightpaw," Owl laughed humorlessly. "You got me."
"No, no, I mean I hear kits. Do you see any?" Nightpaw shook her head, realizing her seemingly harsh statement. She'd forgotten Owl was half deaf.
Owl scanned the area, her mismatched eyes squinted and narrowed. She gazed over a rustling bush, then her gaze snapped back to the fern.
"There," Owl whispered, nudging Nightpaw's good eye to the fern. "Something's there."
The leaves quivered and tiny twigs snapped. Nightpaw could pick out four distinct and squeaky whispers from behind the bush. A dark brown, almost black she kit stumbled out from the bush, light green eyes wide and her legs wobbling. She twitched her severely scarred and nicked ears and stared up timidly at Owl and Nightpaw, a crooked tooth jutting out from her lip.
The kit noticed them after a moment, squealed, and darted back into the fern. Nightpaw and Owl peered behind the bush, seeing four kits huddled together, shivering and sneezing.
The kit that had fell through the fern was the largest, guarding a stick-skinny, black tom with damp amber eyes and long legs. Her fur was standing up and she looked at the two older she cats with a guarded growl and wariness.
A medium sized, golden tabby she cat stood beside the dark brown she kit with an equal protective look in her amber eyes. A small and fragile silver tabby she kit with messy fur cowered behind the golden tabby.
Blood and soil were matted in all their fur, but the dark brown she kit looked like she had taken most of the beatings. The four, feeble and starving kits looked no older than three or four moons, but the smallest two could've been only a moon judging by their size.
"Who are you?" The first kit asked, still standing defensively over the twig-thin tom. "I am Bat, defender of those who can't defend themselves." She puffed her chest, and her crooked tooth stood out more.
Owl snickered, and Night smiled gently. "I am Nightpaw, and this is Owl. Who are the others you're with?" The tiny tom and she kit shrunk behind the two larger kits.
"You don't have to be afraid," Owl whispered soothingly. "We're not going to hurt you."
"How do we know you won't?" The golden tabby raised and eyebrow and perked her ears upright.
"I guess you don't," Nightpaw shrugged. "You'll have to trust us for now."
The golden tabby pinched her lips together questioningly and shot her sister a look. Bat nodded to her sister.
"I'm Sap, the tom is Jump and that there is Feather," she nosed the silver tabby behind her, who gave a timid, shaky smile. Her sage green eyes were still terrified.
A sharp, piercing scream cut through the air and everyone snapped their heads towards the direction of the cry. Feather gasped and curled into a tiny ball. Jump shivered in fear, whilst Sap and Bat muttered comforting words to them.
"Come with us," Owl urged. "We can keep you safe. Trust us."
"Please," Nightpaw added.
Sap exchanged another silent look with Bat, and Bat nodded somewhat begrudgingly. "Fine, accepted," Bat grumbled. "But I'm only doing it for my brother and sisters."
"Very well then," Nightpaw nodded shortly, taking Sap and Feather up in her jaws gently.
Owl mumbled something back but Nightpaw couldn't make it out through the scruffs of Bat and Jump. "What?" Nightpaw exaggerated the word to be heard through the fur.
"I shaid dat we should go wit our goup," Owl sighed in defeat as Nightpaw only tipped her head in confusion. Owl set down the two kits and spat out the scraps of fur in her mouth.
"I said we should go with our group," Owl growled in frustration. "You did hear that screech didn't you?"
"O' course!" Nightpaw huffed through the scruffs of the two she kits. "Who wouldn't?"
"Then les' go," Owl said quickly as she scooped Bat and Jump back into her grip.
"Evie!" Nightpaw yowled to the she cat, waving her tail to get her attention.
The grey she cat whipped around, relief in her amber eyes to see them, then confusion when she saw the kits.
"Who are they?" Evie asked. She didn't have to crouch to meet their eye level from where they hung at Nightpaw and Owl's teeth. "Where are your mother and father?"
Bat wriggled from Owl's grasp and fell to the ground, landing on all fours and staring straight up at Evie boldly.
"We have no parents!" Bat declared bitterly, raising her head high and her eyes glinted with defiance. Behind her, her littermates' jaws dropped in shock at her statement.
"Bat!" The small, silver one- Feather- whispered hoarsely. "Don't say such things!" Her fearful eyes darted about nervously. "They could be listening."
"Nonsense!" Bat scoffed. She twitched her tail and tossed her nose up in the air. "They never listen to us."
"Unless they're looking for someone to get mad at," the tiny black tom- Jump- finally spoke up. Owl, Nightpaw and Evie were all equally concerned with just who was raising these kits.
"Where did you find them?" Nicky butted in politely. Cas stood tall next to him, but the vacant look in his shocking blue eyes showed he was only half listening to what was going on. Nightpaw bet he didn't even realize there were four random kits standing before them. When he was off in Cas Land, there was a slim chance of forcefully getting him out.
"Behind a bush," Owl replied, casting them a curious look and Nightpaw followed her gaze.
Nicky looked down at the kits. Something in his eyes seemed to show he recognized them, be it only vaguely. "Who did you say your parents were?"
"We didn't," Sap shot back, at the same time Jump said, "Dragon and Mist."
A shocked, awkward silence enveloped the young cats. Cas seemed to be paying attention now.
"Jump!" Bat squealed, shooting the tom a harsh look.
"What?" Jump asked innocently. "They asked!"
"And you didn't have to say!" Sap growled, sighing excessively when he muttered a soft, "oh".
"What did you say?" Evie meowed calmly. Or, she seemed calm to an outsider. To Nightpaw, she was over boiling with fury. Her teeth were gritted and her whiskers twitched warily.
"Dragon and Mist," Feather repeated quietly. "Those are our parents." Sudden fierceness sparked in her skittish eyes. "B-but we left them! They… they were meannies! They hurt other cats!"
"Damn straight they did!" Evie suddenly burst. Cas and Nicky didn't seem at all surprised at her growl, nor did Nightpaw now.
"Evie, maybe take a moment to set aside your hatred and think," Cas suggested logically. He nodded his heads to the kits. "If these are indeed Mist's children, then they are our siblings. Family, Evie. Our family."
Evie's eyebrows mushed together in anger, then his words seemed to reach her somewhere, and she looked tenderly down to the three moon old kits.
"B-but, they're Dragon's too!" Evie gasped, torn between anger and love.
"Do they really look like tiny killers?" Nicky reasoned, smiling down at the confused kits.
"You know Dragon?" Bat asked in a small voice.
"Unfortunately," Evie growled. It seemed she had decided how to take these kits. She brought Bat closer and began to groom the she kit's fur.
Bat began protesting, then quickly quieted down. "What are you doing?" She asked slowly. Evie raised an eyebrow.
"Grooming you, of course," Evie said between licks. "What else?"
"I…" Bat gulped. "I thought you were gonna hurt me like Mist or Dragon do when I'm bad."
Evie's eyes suddenly glazed over. "I would never." She cleared her throat and gave her own chest a quick lick. "And don't worry, little one, D-Dragon," she struggled on the name for a second, "and Mist can't hurt you anymore. I'll gut them and feed them to dogs if they try."
"Evie, oh my goodness," Nicky tittered. Cas put his head in his paws beside him.
They're half-siblings! Nightpaw realized with an audible gasp. Owl looked from her to the kits, bewildered.
Cas was suddenly grooming Jump, who mewled and squirmed in protest, but otherwise looked pleased. Jump pursed his lips but he couldn't help the purr that rumbled in his throat.
Jump and Cas's pelts were the same pure black, albeit Jump's was matted and scraggy and Cas's was perfectly neat.
Evie had Bat clean after several long moments, and Nightpaw felt her heart sink. The she kit's pelt was littered with fresh scabs and jagged, ugly scars. Her ears were practically shreds, there was a slight kink in her tail where a large scar resided, and there was one scar over her left eye, two on her muzzle, and three long ones across her chest. Bat's crooked tooth was a cause for concern as well.
Bat's fur was actually a mulchy brown shade. Evie winced when she noticed, causing Bat to scrunch up her face at her. "Do you wanna fight, bub!" she squeaked, puffing up her fur. She looked like a little pinecone when her fur stood up.
Nicky shook his head in exasperation. "She sounds just like her…" He slowly opened his eyes and looked down at the kits. Sap was grooming Feather and Jump was openly purring as Cas groomed him.
"What if I told you," Cas began. "That we were your siblings?"
Owl's eyes went wide. "Wait," she laughed nervously. "What the f-"
"-luffy clouds." Cas finished, glaring sternly at Owl.
Sap narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Cas, eying him up and down. "I'd say you're lyin'! Plus, we gots no parents to go to."
Feather shrunk back behind her sister, hiding her eyes with her tail. "Y-You're another one of D-Dragon's m-mate-te's k-kit's?" she squeaked.
Nicky shook his head. "No."
Jump scrambled away from Cas and towards Sap, soon being joined by Bat.
"I think what they're trying to say is you come from the same mother," Nightpaw explained, looking to Evie with uncertain eyes. The fluffy she cat nodded.
"Mist is your mom?" Sap exclaimed, eyes unbelievably wide.
Evie bit her lip and nodded. "Well, not anymore!" She suddenly smiled brightly and scooched closer to the kits. "We've got a new mom! Her name is Lijep and she's the best mom ever! She taught me how to fight as fiercely as a thunderstorm and how to be as graceful as a butterfly!"
Sap inched forward, curious. "Le-jep?" she tried.
Cas shook his head. "Lee-yep."
"I want Lijep to be our new mom!" Bat stated. Feather nodded meekly behind her.
"You're taking them to Lijep?" Owl questioned, cocking her head.
Cas looked nonplussed. "Well of course! They may be the crotch spawns of a tyrant and a female dog, but they're still innocent kits! Our siblings at that!"
Bat snuggled up into Evie's slightly curly fur and yawned. Jump looked shocked at the sudden turn of events.
"I want you to be my new mommy," Bat yawned. "Mist never groomed me. Ever!"
"You'll be my trainee! We can be evil together!" Evie purred.
Cas groaned. "As if we need another you." Evie stuck her tongue out at her brother and curled her tail around Bat, all traces of harshness gone from her face.
"What's going on here?"
Nightpaw looked over to see Wing waddling over. Her short little legs moved furiously to keep her going at a quick walking pace once she saw the kits. Her topaz eyes were wide. "Flurry-?"
Her face instantly fell when she saw the kits. "Oh," Wing snuffed. She sounded slightly disappointed, but bewilderment seemed to overrule it.
"We found them in a bush while walking," Nightpaw stated, pointing vaguely behind her with her tail. "Have you found Lionpaw?"
Fizz appeared from behind Wing, holding the same facial expression, but seemingly colder. "We caught her scent but it ran stale. Emberfang and Sedgelight are practically throwing a temper tantrum, like she's their own kit. It's quite ridiculous, actually. You clanners and your funny little minds."
Fizz shrugged nonchalantly, quietly grooming a paw. Wing shot Fizz a sharp look and then gave the clanners an apologetic look. "Sorry about her, she's just… worried." Wing huffed. She sounded exasperated.
Nightpaw let out a sharp cough and all eyes turned to her. "I think we're forgetting the real threat at paw here."
Evie and Owl both raised an eyebrow. Nightpaw rolled her eyes. "Dustsnow! The whole reason we clanners even came here in the first place. And ThunderClan has already lost Rabbitleg. We don't need Dustsnow murdering my whole family, do we?" She was flicking her tail in nerves and anticipation.
Owl's mismatched eyes skittered back and forth nervously. Evie ducked her head sheepishly with a nervous laugh. Cas straightened his back out and padded up to Nightpaw.
"Of course," Cas said quietly. "And we still have to take these four to Lijep."
Nicky nodded, scooping up Feather gently in his jaws. The tabby squeaked in terror as she was separated from Sap's warmth. Jump stayed silent and seemingly bored as Cas lifted him up.
Bat wriggled stubbornly as Evie moved to pick her up. "I can walk on my own! I'm a big kit!"
Evie snickered. "Sure, go on then."
Bat took a few steps, then stumbled. "Okay, I'm tired. Carry me now."
Sap swatted Nicky's tail. "Nyeh! Carry me, peasant! Please!" Sap added with a seemingly innocent smile.
"I love them already," Evie stated before scooping up Bat in her jaws.
The kit's stomach growled loudly, causing her to flatten her severely nicked ears against her head. "Don't be mad, please!" she squeaked, kicking her legs.
Evie tilted her head. "Why would I be mad? You just sound hungry to me." She tried to feign a lighter tone, but inside she was furious. Furious at Dragon. At Mist. At the Wrath Tribe. These were kits. Her siblings. And they didn't even get decent meals. It reminded her of her days as a stray in the city after her father passed.
Bat squirmed. "Dragon and Mist…" she trailed off. "They…"
Evie kept her slitted and cold eyes on the path ahead. "Well, I'll find you some food then. Stay here." She placed Bat down and stalked into the undergrowth.
A shrew was gnawing on a pile of shriveled acorns close by. She dropped into a hunter's crouch and stalked slowly forward.
"You're mine," Evie whispered under her breath, carefully watching she didn't give away her position by stepping on leaves or a twig.
Evie kept her tail stiff and low, swiftly moving forward like an owl's wings at night. With a silent leap, she rolled with the shrew in her paws and quickly bit its neck before it could make a sound.
"WOAH!" Bat squeaked "I WANNA BE JUST LIKE YOU!"
Evie dipped her head, smirking.
Cas stalked out of the nearby bushes, a gentle grin on his lips.
"GUYS THERE'S A DEAD BODY!"
Nightpaw dashed through the undergrowth, jaw falling limp when she saw Nicky checking over the frosted body of a greying she cat. Her amber eyes were glazed over, and mouth lolling open, dried blood spilling from her jaws.
"Oh no, Polly!" Wing exclaimed.
"She bled out from the lacerations on her stomach," Nicky remarked tenderly, running his paw over the corpse.
"Did the Wrath Tribe get her?" Owl asked. Her keen eyes were gazing the senior warrior. "Or did she just wander? She was old."
Nicky shrugged and sighed. "All I can tell is that her killer was sadistic about her death." He pointed his tail behind him. "There are tracks belonging to something with larger pads, but small enough for a cat. Her killer followed her here and watched her bleed out where she collapsed…"
Nightpaw shivered. "Polly was so sweet. I think she was Noir's mother, too. What monster would've done this?" Anger flashed in her gentle gaze.
"Who's tracks?" Lijep came from behind them, a grim expression in her sea-green eyes when she saw the murdered Liberty warrior. "Can you guess how big they were, Nicky?"
Nicky paused, parting his lips as he thought. "Big enough to match someone I know, but…" His eyes darkened and he plastered his ears to his head. "I can't be certain."
Lijep frowned, looking disappointed but she didn't let Nicky see. "Well, I guess we should bury her. Can you at least tell how long ago she was killed? Related or unrelated to the scream we heard?"
Nicky buried his nose in Polly's greying fur for a moment before taking a step back. His slender shoulders sagged sadly. "She died painfully in a freezing climate while her killer watched. The cold could have preserved her body, but I saw her just before the battle talking to Noir. So I'd say sometime during the battle to last night."
Lijep's stoic face softened. "No one noticed her?" She sent a cold look over her warriors quickly then back to Nicky. "I have reason to believe we have a traitor in our clan. The Liberty cats I chose to go on this mission are the ones I suspect. Minus you and your littermates, of course."
"I'm sorry, m-" Nicky caught himself and shuffled his paws timidly. "Erm, I think-"
Seagull suddenly shoved between Owl and Nightpaw. "Move! I can't see! What's with the hold-" he snapped, fluffing up his luscious fur. His face instantly became concerned when he saw Polly, quickly dropping into a grief-filled expression.
"Seagull," Wing looked over at her brother, concerned. "I know you were friends with her. Did you happen to see anyone… skulking about?" She twitched her thick tail. Nightpaw noticed that there was a small kink at the end.
Seagull said nothing. His nose twitched. "You think I would keep quiet if I saw who killed her?" His voice grew sharper at the end. "You think so lowly of me, sister."
Wing glanced away, and Fizz looked back at Seagull flatly. Her expression was unimpressed. "Such a vile attitude for a charmer such as yourself, brother dearest." Her voice was as dull as a stick.
Seagull opened his mouth to respond, but he clamped it shut. "I have better things to do than provoke your volatile need for arguments."
Fizz's mouth quirked into a fleeting smile and her head titled proudly, but her stoic mask instantly fell back into place. "So offending," she sighed. "Pardon me, I'm going to scout ahead."
Nicky watched as Fizz swiftly walked past her brother, head held high, and tail dragging across his nose. Seagull sneezed violently and shot a glare in Fizz's direction before huffing.
Wing bristled nearby. "She never cares! She bloody didn't when she gave away her- ugh, let's just find the Wrath Tribe," she spat, lashing her tail.
Nicky looked up at Lijep, who seemed to be studying all the Liberty cats she had called upon to join her. "What leads you to believe any of them are traitors?"
Lijep's eyes narrowed, but she didn't look towards Nicky. "Hm. I'll tell you." She focused on Owl first, and Nicky let out a gasp.
"Owl?" Nicky couldn't believe Lijep could suspect such a sweet she cat.
"She's not as innocent as you think, Nicky," Lijep said shortly. They both watched as Owl scuffed with the kits, playing some form of a game with Nightpaw and the kits to keep the distracted from Polly's dead body.
"Why not?" Nicky looked up at his foster mother. This time, Lijep looked back down.
"Has she ever told you how she came to live with us?" Lijep asked. Nicky shook his head.
Lijep frowned. "I thought as such." Lijep closed her eyes and sighed. "Owl lived with her mother, Snowflake and with her brother and sister, Jumbo and Queenie."
"Snowflake had left Jersey after they had a bad fight and she took her kits with her. They were raised apart from him, apart from times Jersey would find them and beg to see his kits. She refused him every single time but that didn't stop Owl and her siblings from seeking him out one day," Lijep's tone grew darker as she continued.
"What happened?" Nicky's voice had grown small. He cleared his throat.
"Owl, Jumbo and Queenie all went to find their father. Now, as nice as Owl's family was, they only tolerated her for her good eyesight. They thought she was a freak because of her eyes. Well, Snowflake found them trying to find Jersey, and Jumbo and Queenie blamed Owl," Lijep closed her eyes, and opened, staring at Owl playing with the kits with a cold look.
"Owl was punished by her mother, no meals for three days. It was a common thing Snowflake did. She saw Owl's green eye as an abomination, a reminder of Jersey. Jumbo and Queenie snuck into Owl's nest and told her they were going hunting, and they were going to help her catch something to eat," Lijep watched Nightpaw snatch Bat away from Owl to give her a check up. Sap and Jump were bouncing around Owl's paws and Feather was batting feebly at her tail.
"Jumbo and Queenie led Owl to the middle of nowhere," Lijep said with a sad voice. "It was spring and the rivers were still thawing. They shoved Owl in the water and laughed as they watched her drown. They left her there. If Jersey hadn't been following them, Owl would've died. After Jumbo and Queenie left, Jersey saved her. He tried to catch something for her, but Owl was long gone. She'd gone to find Jumbo and Queenie. And find them she did."
Nicky's eyes were locked onto Owl. He couldn't believe someone so gentle could've gone through something so horrible.
Lijep continued on, and Nicky was listening intently. "Owl pretended everything was fine. She pretended she wasn't furious to hell with her littermates, with their feeble apologies. She laughed coldly and then she slaughtered them in cold blood. Owl murdered Jumbo and Queenie and then moved on to her sleeping mother. She returned to Jersey and told us what happened. I have to say, I believe Jumbo and Queenie and Snowflake got what was coming to them."
"But, what bothers me, is Owl is unaffected by it. Not even a nightmare. In fact, she didn't even so much as shed a single tear. She told her story with the blankest of expressions I've ever seen. If Owl easily killed her mother and siblings when she was seven moons old, what's to say she can't kill others and betray us?" Lijep's eyes were stone cold.
Nicky looked petrified. "Are there any other suspects? Some other cats-" he glanced towards the direction where Fizz had padded off tom "-are scary too."
Lijep nodded once. "Everyone except you, Cas, and Evie are suspects. And the clanners of course. Take your pick."
Nicky swallowed. "Well, Lemon has been less bitter since she and Breezepaw started hanging out, and Swirl may have cut open a dog after killing it, but that was only to see if it had eaten one of the missing kits at the time. Azure…"
"Azure isn't the traitor," Lijep stated. "Before her and Thunder's mother died, she told me Azure was just sick. Azure is too mentally sick to have betrayed us. Ruse is watching her all the time, anyways."
Nicky looked somberly at his paws. "Fizz has done concerning things too. Just ask Wing…" He sighed and closed his sage green eyes. "Bear can be scary too….But in the way Ring was when he fought a fox to save Cas."
"I am familiar with their story," Lijep meowed. "Fizz seems to have a lack of skill for displaying her emotions, which could show she holds no guilt for her actions if she is the traitor. If I believe Bear to be a traitor, I would've asked her here."
"Take your pick, Nicky. Point out any cat and I can tell why I think they should be here," Lijep growled quietly.
Nicky shed a single tear. "They're my tribe mates! You can't really believe that Timber or her littermates- or Wing would- If I can't trust them, then what can I rely on to keep me safe from….her? Cas and Evie aren't invincible." He choked on his words.
Nicky cracked open his eyes. "I look so much like her. Evie has her pelt colors and mannerisms, but I have her build and her walk and- at least Evie has Ring's eyes and build. Cas doesn't look like her at all. Why couldn't I be guilty? Her blood runs through my veins."
Lijep twined her poofy tail with his and rested her head on top of his. He snuggled into her lush chest, squeezing his eyes shut and wishing the world away. "Because I know you and I knew Mist. You and your littermates don't have a shred of her in you where it counts. Her stubbornness and her rage in Evie's case, and her pride in Castiel's, but none of you are like her inside. She's rotten and you're too, well, you."
Nicky sighed wetly. "Thanks, mom."
Nicky pulled away from his foster mother but left their tails twined. He surveyed the other Liberty Cats. "What about Basil or Kaleo?" he asked softly.
Lijep shook her head. "They both have too much to lose for either of them to take that risk." She sighed and licked one of her paws. "I know that you want to see the good in everyone, but think. More cats could die if we don't act soon. This traitor scum has been living and sneaking right under our noses. So let's use that big brain of yours, eh?"
Nicky flicked his ear, his expression going dull in thought. "Lemon snuck out last night with Breezepaw, but that was probably to go be openly affectionate, I think. Lionpaw disappearing is suspicious, but she's a clanner. Fox is too busy checking out Evie's butt from a tree to be a threat."
"What about Jersey? He has bigger paws. The size of the pawprints narrows down our search by a hair." His eyes became dull slits.
Nicky's ears perked up and his eyes shot open wide. "Wait- when I buried my nose in Polly's fur I scented a more musky smell preserved by the frost. It smelled like a few of the toms do. The ones who sleep towards the back of the den where it's colder in order to look cool. Kaleo and Basil sleep there, and they both could have-" He shook his head. "No. It was only one cat who killed Polly."
"You're getting closer," Lijep nodded. "Kaleo and Basil have dark pasts, too, Nicky."
Nicky feigned looking uninterested. "Oh- really-?"
"They were former Wrath cats, before Dragon's time. Back when a cat called… Hickory, was their leader. In fact, the Wrath Tribe didn't used to be bad. They were called the SunWalkers, working alongside the NightWalkers to care for cats who couldn't care for themselves. But while the NightWalkers had one sole leader, the SunWalkers had two, either two mates or two siblings," Lijep began a new story.
"From the little I know, Hickory had a sister, Mouse, that he was to rule with. He killed her, and turned the SunWalkers into the Wrath Tribe, and Dragon was his deputy. Somehow, a she cat thawed Hickory's heart and he disbanded them, but Dragon reformed them in the absence of Hickory," Lijep was staring at Hickorynose, and Nicky made the connection. "I met Hickory when we were young and innocent. And that clanner is most definitely Hickory."
Lijep looked bitterly at the distance. "Basil and Kaleo were both loyal followers of Hickory for a long time," she continued.
Insert backstories here
Breezepaw suddenly shot through the undergrowth and towards Lijep and Nicky. Nicky yelped fell back in surprise but Lijep flicked her tail in acknowledgment to the clanner.
Breezpaw's icy blue eyes were wide with fear. "Me and Lemon were on a walk and then- Fizz- she found another body," he choked out, looking ill. "Gutted open from chin to her tail. I think Lemon is still throwing up."
Lijep and Nicky exchanged a look. "Looks like our killer has a newfound taste for blood," Lijep remarked, scowling ahead.
The body of a tortoiseshell and white she cat was splayed on her back beside a tree. Her entrails had been yanked out of her forcefully and scattered around the clearing.
"Looks like Ronda is gonda," Evie said with a dark glint in her eyes. Her expression was grim.
A grey and brown tortoiseshell tom was sobbing hysterically into Fizz's chest. Fizz looked somewhat horrified at the contact, if not perplexed. "Uh, there, there, Turtle," she said in a monotone voice that was growing more and more awkward. She hesitantly ran her tail over his shoulders.
"Alright, get off you bloody mouse," Fizz huffed, shoving Turtle off.
Nicky looked sick. "This complicates things a bit."
Lijep was glaring so fiercely at Fizz it looked like Fizz would be cut to ribbons if she moved. "Fizz, how exactly did you find the body?"
Fizz met her leader's gaze with an unaffected blank one. "I was scouting ahead and I scented blood."
"Well how would you know what blood smells like! You're a prime suspect!" Seagull exclaimed. He had had a crush on Ronda and was seen flirting with her at every given opportunity.
Everyone stared at Seagull, and he flattened his sharp ears against his head when he realized why. "It was the first thing that popped into my head!" he stated defensively. "Be-bloody-sides, poor Ronda…. look at what her killer did to her!" His face contorted with grief. "Who would do such a thing?"
"Said the cat who just accused his own littermate," Timber hissed, but her eyes were damp. Fox was sobbing into Swirl's fluffy chest beside her and Swirl was attempting to comfort her brother.
Lijep looked back over to Fizz, who remained as stoic as ever. "Whatever it is to your little minds," her face momentarily softened when she saw Wing looking at Ronda's body with unconcealed horror. "I didn't kill Ronda or Polly. Clearly, it was the same killer. Same sadistic attack, after all."
Nicky stepped forward, ignoring the way blood and flesh squelched under his paws. He cleared his throat. "Ronda was clearly killed by the generous wound on her stomach. Her killer wanted to make her suffer, so they pulled out her insides while she was still alive in a sadistic disembowelment."
Turtle was sobbing even harder and grosser nearby.
"She died suffering," Nicky ended in a hushed voice, eyes glazing over. He pressed his nose into Ronda's once pretty and now bloodsoaked fur. Nicky's eyes shot open when he breathed in her scent.
Nicky looked over to Lijep with fearful eyes. "Under the blood is the same musky scent that was on the other body." He checked her claws. "Her killer either picked the fur out of her claws or-" his eyes widened when he saw a tuft of grey fur in her hind claws. "-was foolish enough to plant someone else's in the wrong spot. They clearly attacked her from the front judging by the cut straight across her face, so if Ronda had slashed them, the fur would be in her front claws."
"The plot thickens," Evie whispered.
A/N
That's all I had written for this unfinished chapter! In the reboot, there will be a lot of similar things. But there's gonna be new things too, and plenty changes. I'm going to clean it up, tie of plot holes, slow down the plot so nothing is rushed anymore, and give Hawkpool more early on flaws. I hope you will go read, review, follow and favorite the reboot to keep updated. I'll do my best to finish it this time. Thank you for your patience.