Hey everyone. Wow, a fast update. This is a first. Well, I figured I might as well get this chapter written. I've almost forgotten the plot lines until I found them on my computer. Right now, it looks like this story will be longer then the first. Maybe. I'm not entirely sure.

Shiningspirit: Read on my friend, read on. Trust me, you'll find out soon enough

Icethroat21: It's alright, I know what it's like to leave reviews. Sometimes it doesn't seem like the writer doesn't appreciate them...but, it's often the fact that they're too busy writing to notice that I have reviewed :) Hope that helped.

Chapter 6

Darkness began to creep around Mistsong as she led Flamepaw to a secluded area of the forest. Here, there were thick trees everywhere, and the undergrowth concealed them well. It was close enough to the ravine that she could return to camp quickly if needed. But right now, Mistsong needed to speak to Flamepaw, alone.

Her apprentice sat down in front of her. His face held no secrets. He just looked at her in confusion as he waited for her to explain what had happened.

Taking a deep breath, Mistsong sat down and tried to think of what she should say to him.

"Has Leopardheart told you stories of the Eclipse?" she asked warily.

Flamepaw nodded. A grim look had crossed his gaze. "She told me what had happened to Grayfeather, and Eclipse," he replied.

Mistsong gritted her teeth at the painful memories. Grayfeather had fled while she was away, back into EclipseClan. Now her mother could be dead, or worse, working for Eclipse. She tried not to think about it, but all too often, cats would bring their names up, and the pain never seemed to end.

Suddenly, Flamepaw's eyes widened with realization. He must have remembered that Mistsong was born during the night of the Eclipse as well.

"You mean you have...powers too?" he asked. It sounded as though he was trying to get past the fact that she did.

"Yes," Mistsong murmured. Already she felt her body melting into the mist that surrounded her. Flamepaw stared at her in utter shock, but as quickly as it started, it stopped. "It comes to me in unexpected ways," she explained when she saw his shock.

Flamepaw shook his head, suddenly looking frustrated. "But if you have these powers, why don't you use them to help the Clan?" he demanded.

"It would be unfair," she explained. It was hard not to swipe her claws across his face. Flamepaw was as arrogant as his mother. Perhaps even worse. She was already beginning to lose her patience with him. Yet, Mistsong felt that it was important to have Flamepaw on her side. After all, he was her apprentice.

The sun had finally set. It was dark out, and Mistsong could barely see ahead of her. She wondered if it was a good thing, or a bad thing. An enemy could easily sneak up on them with all of this undergrowth.

She shivered from the cold. Leafbare was still around, but newleaf would arrive soon. Brackenspots had told her that warm air was on its way.

"Come on, lets get back," she meowed.

Flamepaw didn't argue. Her body still felt battered after taking on Bearclaw and Highjump. She knew she should have seen Waterdream before talking to Flamepaw. But this had been too important to let go so lightly.

Suddenly the strong tang of WindClan hit her lungs. Mistsong's eyes widened when she realized that the scent of milk also stayed within the WindClan scent.

Even though it felt like moons ago, she recognized Roseleaf's scent instantly. The tortoiseshell-and-white queen who had trespassed on ThunderClan's territory.

She had seen the horror in Roseleaf's eyes when she spoke of WindClan. Mistsong wondered if something was going on to make the queen act that way. She had pushed the thought away before, but now, the thought returned.

Her apprentice was already ducking into the gorse tunnel, and Mistsong did the same.

They were soon in the clearing, and Mistsong saw that half of the Clan was in a tight circle. She spotted Lightningstar among her senior warriors, and the ThunderClan leader glanced at her in surprise.

The scent of WindClan was stronger now. Mistsong glanced around and peered through a gap among the tight circle.

She let out a gasp when she saw what they were hiding.

Roseleaf was crouched, trying to hide two tiny kits who barely looked two moons old. But it wasn't the kits that startled Mistsong. It was Roseleaf's weight. She looked as thin as a twig. Her pelt clutched to bones that were hard and jagged looking.

"I am relieved you are back." Mistsong turned when Lightningstar approached her. "This WindClan queen was caught in the middle of our territory, trying to get her kits into shelter."

"Why did she leave?" Mistsong asked. She would have thought that Roseleaf had it better in WindClan because she was the Clans' only queen.

"Apparently Foxstar doesn't take kindly to kits," Lightningstar growled. "He wanted nothing to do with Roseleaf in the first place, even though he is their father."

Mistsong stared at Lightningstar in shock and dismay. Their father? The word remained twisted in her mind. She couldn't imagine Foxstar with kits. He was nothing but a cunning, devious leader. In a way, he reminded her of Speckledface.

"That is why we are discussing the issue," Lightningstar meowed. Her yellow eyes were wary as she glanced at Roseleaf's tiny frame. The she-cat looked even smaller compared to Swiftclaw.

"What if Foxstar wants her back?" Mistsong mewed.

"No cat deserves to starve like this." Ashstorm had quickly joined them, seeing that Lightningstar was sharing the news with Mistsong. "We will fight for her right to stay, if that is what she wishes."

And what if she wants to join WindClan once Foxstar is dead? Mistsong wondered. She knew ThunderClan would fight for Roseleaf. We need kits as much as WindClan does, she told herself grimly.

Suddenly Lightningstar broke apart and headed for the Highrock. She leaped forward and landed squarely on the top of the smooth rock. "Cats of ThunderClan, we have come to a decision," she meowed loudly. The murmuring stopped, and the Clan was looking at her now with interest. Mistsong sat beside Lightsnow and Cinderfoot, who had emerged from the nursery. "Roseleaf and her kits will stay."

There were a few mutters of outrage from Russetflame and Jaggedfur. Mistsong glared at them. How could they treat a starving queen and her kits like this? Roseleaf deserved better then what she had in WindClan.

Her kits might become a great prospect to the Clan. One day, she hoped that they would make strong apprentices.

The meeting quickly broke apart. Cinderfoot, though sluggish thanks to her heavy burden, padded forward to help Roseleaf. Mistsong and Berrytail joined her.

Berrytail's mate, Fallstripe, watched from the elders' den. Once again, a twinge of guilt surged through her belly.

Fallstripe's injured leg would have never happened had Eclipse not been born. She constantly blamed herself for the fact that he would never become ThunderClan's next leader. One day, she hoped to make it up to him.

"Hungry!" one of Roseleaf's kits squealed. It was a ginger tom with white paws and green eyes. He had the same face as Foxstar, but he had his mother's eyes. The other kit was a tortoiseshell she-kit with amber eyes.

"Hush, little one," Roseleaf murmured. Her own eyes were dull with hunger, and she leaned heavily on Mistsong's side as the pale gray warrior led her to the nursery.

Cinderfoot and Berrytail helped carry the two kits after them.

By now most of the Clan had disappeared into their own dens. It was close to moonhigh, and Mistsong felt like she was about to pass out. Her wounds from the border skirmish were forgotten as she watched Roseleaf find a nest.

Now, Mistsong just wanted to sleep. She padded over to the warriors' den, where she had slept in Cinderfoot's nest. Lightsnow was already curled up, and soon, Mistsong found herself fast asleep. For now, the Clan's troubles could wait until tomorrow.

Yay a long chapter! I tried to make the description as realistic as possible. From Roseleaf's fear, determination, and hunger, to her kits own fear and hunger. I hope you enjoyed it, I certainly liked writing and creating Roseleaf's character.