A/N: Hey, sorry I haven't been uploading as much as I used to. This story is going to be wrapping up soon, but in the meantime, I've got a question: is it worth it to upload fanfiction for a rarepair from a show that ended years ago and whose fandom is now completely dead? Because I've got like a metric tonne of Hiro/Ando fluff sitting on my computer that I don't know what to do with. Anyways uhhh enjoy the cats

The full moon shone brightly overhead, illuminating the cluster of cats making their way to the island. Frost covered the log bridge and the stepping stones that the other Clans used to cross the water; they'd probably slip off if they tried to use them. It was a good thing that Watersplash and her Clanmates were used to just wading across anyway, but she shivered nonetheless from the iciness of the lake. Especially after the lift snowfall they'd had the other day, there was no denying it: leaf-bare was here.

Watersplash was glad that Miststar had picked her to go to the Gathering; he'd made her stay home for the past three moons since she'd "lost" her kits and needed time to recover. She was even gladder that Oakleaf wasn't among the cats who were going. She did her best to steer clear of the auburn tom, but it was impossible to completely avoid a Clanmate for moons on end. Tonight she wouldn't have to worry about his hazel gaze burning into her pelt, and she could catch up with her friends from WindClan without having to worry about him seeing.

RiverClan was the first Clan to arrive at the Gathering that night, although as her Clanmates began to idly mill about the clearing, Watersplash was alerted to the fact that they were not the first cats. A rustle came from the bushes next to where she sat down at the edge of the clearing, followed shortly by a greenish-gray paw reaching out to tap her on the flank, getting her attention.

More exasperated than surprised to have him be there at this point, she glanced back to see that no cat was watching before ducking into the undergrowth to talk to Grasstail.

"Couldn't you have waited ten minutes for the rest of your Clan to get here?' she whispered, whiskers twitching in a mixture of amusement and frustration.

Grasstail's eyes glittered as he replied, "I couldn't wait another second to see the cat I love."

As flattering as it was, Watersplash wasn't so easily distracted by Grasstail's romantic statements as she'd been as an apprentice. "I love you, too, Grasstail," she sighed, "but I need to know why you're here early."

"Well, aren't you the romantic?" Grasstail purred. When Watersplash began to twitch her tail, he got the hint and explained himself. "I didn't come alone," he whispered. Before Watersplash could ask what he meant, he looked behind him and beckoned with his tail. "Okay, you can come out now."

After a bit of scuffling accentuated by a squeal of "hey, you stepped on my tail!", three fluffy kits appeared next to Grasstail. Watersplash gasped as soon as she saw them, recognizing them instantly. They were their kits!

Looking at the three of them sent a wave of overwhelming motherly love washing over Watersplash. They had all gotten so much bigger! She'd been worried that Featherkit, being so small, wouldn't survive for long, but he was standing proudly next to his littermates, almost matching them in size. Ripplekit already looked very mature for three moons, and carried herself in what could only be described a regal manner. And Sprucekit… he reminded Watersplash so much of how Grasstail had looked when she'd first met him. The only difference was how much thicker his pelt was. She took a step toward her kits, unable to put her feelings into words. This was the happiest day of her life!

She bent down to nuzzle her kits, but they drew back. Sprucekit's pelt bristled, and Featherkit ducked behind Ripplekit, who was eyeing Watersplash warily. A jolt of realization caused Watersplash's elation to crumble away in an instant- these kits were biologically hers and Grasstail's, but to them Grasstail was an uncle, not a father. Worse, they didn't even know Watersplash… and she didn't know them, either. She could only assume Grasstail had explained the situation, seeing as he'd brought them here to meet her, but…

"Hey, what are you doing?" Grasstail murmured to the kits, nudging them forward. "This is Watersplash- your mother."

Wide-eyed, Ripplekit shook her head vehemently. "Nuh-uh," she cried, wrinkling her nose. "Appleshine and Barkstripe are our mothers, not her!"

"She's not even WindClan," Sprucekit added, narrowing his dark green eyes. "She can't be our mother!"

Watersplash was distraught. She stared at Grasstail, searching for answers in his distressed gaze. Looking back at her, he shook his head at the kits huddled around him apprehensively.

"Kits, we've already been over this!" he meowed. "Remember what I told you? My sister and her mate are raising you as their kits, but you didn't come from them. You came from me," he told them, locking eyes with Watersplash, "And Watersplash."

The kits still seemed sceptical, but Featherkit slowly stepped out from behind his sister. He padded up to Watersplash and sniffed at her curiously. Every fibre of Watersplash's being screamed for her to pull him in close to her, but she remained still as he cautiously walked in a circle around her.

"…You look like Sprucekit," he said at last.

"Yeah, you kind of do," Ripplekit agreed, looking her brother up and down and then looking at Watersplash.

Sprucekit let out an indignant squeak. "No way do I look like her!"

However, Featherkit was already standing up on his hind legs to touch his muzzle to Watersplash's. Ripplekit followed him shortly after, and Sprucekit ran up after her trying to stop her, but then he locked eyes with Watersplash and, after drawing in a sharp breath, buried his face in her fur. A tremendous purr rumbling through her body, Watersplash curled her tail around all three of her kits. Grasstail stood beside them, and Watersplash entwined her tail with his affectionately as their kits cuddled up to her.

Even if it was only for a moment, they were a family.

The Gathering itself was fairly unremarkable. RiverClan had four new warriors, though, one of which Grasstail remembered had been Watersplash's apprentice before her pregnancy. He made sure to chant the new warriors' names along with the rest of the crowd.

"Smokecloud! Coalpelt! Snakestripe! Emberstorm!"

Among the numerous chanters, he could distinctly make out Watersplash's voice as well from across the clearing. He'd wanted to stand beside her, but he didn't want to let any other cats on to the fact that they were close. Their kits were hiding in the undergrowth, being watched over by Seedpelt. Grasstail knew his friend wouldn't let anything happen to the kits, but his pelt pricked with worry nonetheless whenever he thought of them. Because of this, he couldn't have been happier when the Gathering finally came to a close and it was time to leave.

While every cat was saying their goodbyes to their friends from other Clans, Grasstail headed over to Seedpelt to pick up his kits. He crouched in the undergrowth until most of the cats had left before running out to join his Clanmates. It was dark enough that he hoped they wouldn't notice the kits, but he planned on hanging back quite a bit just to make sure.

Before he left, he said goodbye to Watersplash.

"Thank you so much for bringing our kits," she purred, licking his ears affectionately. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

"I have some idea," Grasstail replied. "They're my kits too, remember?"

Watersplash gave him a playful headbutt. "Let's meet by the old halfbridge tomorrow night," she meowed. "You don't have to bring the kits this time if you don't want; it can be just the two of us."

"Oh, I like that idea," Grasstail purred. His body already tingled at the prospect of getting a night alone with Watersplash. "I'll be there."

Just then, an incredulous voice protruded into what they'd thought was a private exchange. "Watersplash? What in StarClan's name is going on here?!"

Pelts bristling, Grasstail spun around to see a middle-aged RiverClan she-cat staring them down. She had a dazzling silver pelt that looked strange on a face to similar to Watersplash's.

"Minnowleap!" Watersplash gasped, shrinking back in terror. Her eyes darted to the kits, who were hiding behind Grasstail but still completely visible. She gulped.

Suddenly Grasstail remembered who this was. "Minnowleap… you're Watersplash's mother!" he breathed.

Minnowleap's blue eyes were ice cold as she stared her daughter down. "Watersplash, what is the meaning on this?" she hissed. "What is this WindClan filth doing here? And what," she demanded, wrinkling her nose in disgust as he glared down at the trembling kits, "Are those miserable little furballs?!"

Watersplash didn't even make an attempt to answer. Grasstail couldn't blame her; he was equally terrified. He'd never met Watersplash's mother in person before, but he'd never imagined she could be so frightening. He curled his tail around their kits protectively as she sneered distastefully at them.

Sprucekit hissed at Minnowleap. It didn't even take her a second to take a swipe at the kit, who flinched as her claws whizzed by his head. Ripplekit let out a terrified shriek, wrapping her front paws around Featherkit. Grasstail snarled. How dare this cat try to harm his kit?!

"Mother," Watersplash hissed, "You have no reason to hurt these kits! Just let them and Grasstail go home!"

"And why should you care about that, hmm?" Minnowleap inquired, narrowing her eyes. When Watersplash didn't answer, she pulled her lips back into a snarl. "Answer me!"

Watersplash flinched as Minnowleap raised her paw, and Grasstail realized with a shudder that he had seen Watersplash with unexplained scratches on her face on a few occasions. He'd always assumed she'd got them from battles, but the Clans had been living in peace for so long… had she gotten those scratches from her mother?!

Hissing, Minnowleap confirmed Grasstail's horrifying suspicions by taking a swipe at Watersplash. Unable to stand by any longer, Grasstail leaped at Minnowleap and tackled her to the ground. "Get away from us!" he snarled.

Minnowleap spat at Grasstail. Hissing, he recoiled and wiped off his face, but in that time, Minnowleap grabbed him and flipped him around so that she was on top. She dug her claws into Grasstail's neck, drawing up pinpricks of blood where her claws were slowly sinking in deeper. He fought against her, but she was overpowering him. He screeched in pain as Minnowleap's claws slid further in toward his throat.

Watersplash yowled in protest. She tackled her mother and pushed her off of Grasstail, who wasted no time in getting up and scrambling away. Blood dripped from his neck onto the frosty shore of the lake as Watersplash and Minnowleap fought. The kits needed to get to safety, but Grasstail wasn't about to abandon the cat he loved. Watersplash was an excellent fighter, but she couldn't fight Minnowleap. The mere presence of her mother made her too afraid to fend for herself.

"Stop!" Grasstail yowled.

Minnowleap froze with her teeth a whisker-length away from Watersplash's shoulder. She let her daughter go; Watersplash scrambled to Grasstail's side and glared defiantly at her mother.

Grasstail wished there was another way, but the only way he could think of to get Minnowleap to leave Watersplash alone was to give her what she was after: the truth. "Those are our kits," he admitted. "Watersplash's litter wasn't stillborn; that was a lie Mossnose made up to keep her secret safe." He gazed sadly at Watersplash, who was staring at him incredulously. "I'm sorry."

Before either Watersplash or Minnowleap could react, he gathered up his kits and ran away without looking back.

Watersplash didn't dare look at Minnowleap as they walked back to camp. She wanted to run away, but she knew better than to try something like that. Neither of them said a word to each other for the rest of the night. Watersplash had a hard time getting to sleep, and when she did, she had another nightmare about falling into water. She woke up, pelt drenched in sweat despite the freezing temperatures outside, before the sun had risen.

Outside, they were organizing the dawn patrol. Watersplash wanted to join them so she wouldn't have to be around for when Minnowleap woke up, but she changed her mind very fast when she saw that Oakleaf was going to be part of it. Choosing between Minnowleap and Oakleaf was like choosing between having to fight a fox or a badger, but at least Minnowleap was kin, and Watersplash knew that she loved her no matter what.

And, sure enough, that was the first thing Minnowleap said when she tracked Watersplash down a few minutes later.

"I love you, you know," she meowed with gentle sternness. "You are my special little cat- the future saviour of the Clans, isn't that right?"

Watersplash was unsure how to answer that, but luckily, she didn't have to, as Minnowleap went on:

"But then again, maybe you're not so special after all… in fact, you've never done anything special in your life." She narrowed her eyes. "I'm starting to think that stupid prophecy Mossnose talked about is never going to come true at all!"

"B-but you still love me, right?" Watersplash asked nervously. It was fish-brained for her to be so nervous. Of course Minnowleap still loved her; they were mother and daughter!

To her relief, Minnowleap blinked at her kindly. "Of course I do, my little water droplet," she purred. She licked the top of Watersplash's head, but although Watersplash should have felt warmth spread throughout her body, she shuddered instead. "After all, even without a prophecy, it looks like you've got something special that you were hiding from me," Minnowleap went on. "Now, naturally I'm not very pleased by you associating with that pathetic WindClan tom- you know they're all beneath us, Watersplash- but to be the mother of secret half-Clan kits? That's something very special."

Something about the way she spoke was deeply unsettling. Watersplash glanced around, wishing she could run away, but there was nowhere she could go. Running away from her mother would raise too much suspicion, and besides, Minnowleap could follow her wherever she went.

"Oh yes indeed; StarClan's got something special in store for you yet," Minnowleap continued. "And besides, there's still time yet for that prophecy to come true…"

Fortunately, she didn't say any more to Watersplash. However, after selecting a trout from the fresh-kill pile, she sat down to eat a bit too nearby for Watersplash's comfort. When Emberstorm called her over to show her the last leaf on one of the trees at the edge of camp, Watersplash couldn't have been more grateful to get away.

Maybe having kits with Grasstail really did make her special. However, Watersplash wished that it didn't. If only Grasstail had been in RiverClan, everything in Watersplash's life would have been so much better.