So for anyone wondering "Where have you been in the past few weeks/months?!" here's my answer: I was here, in a way. Nothing I say will make anyone believe that it's a good enough reason, and I have been reading a little bit, but I haven't had the drive to write in a while (along with school getting 10x harder... that's another story altogether).

But I'm trying to get back into the loop, and in trying to do so have completed my fifth challenge for WillowClan. I do not own Warriors!

Challenge completed: 4/19/13 (Happy Day of Silence everyone!)

Lost in Love

Sandy yellow eyes flicked back and forth, watching the tiny kits playing with the moss in the hollow. A smile crossed the gray tomcat's face. The biggest of the kits, a dark gray tabby tomcat, leaped onto his smaller, tortoiseshell sister. As she let out a squeal, he jumped off and made sure that she was okay.

Graysand loved the kits with all of his heart and soul. They were his everything. He wanted to be closer to them, but was also worried to get close to them. He felt weird around kits, like they could break at any moment. All of the other cats told him that he wasn't going to 'break' his kits, but he wasn't so sure.

"Graysand!" The tiny tortoiseshell she cat squealed, darting over and tackling the gray tomcat. Graysand purred, falling to his side. The dark gray tabby kit joined in on the 'attack'.

"Oh no, you got me!" Graysand purred, flicking his tail and watching as the tiny she cat attacked it with her tiny claws. The tom stayed on Graysand's shoulders, batting at the tomcat's ears.

"Graysand, Graysand, will you take us hunting?" The she cat squeaked, her eyes widening. Oh, the look... He always had trouble saying no to the 'look'.

"I can't, it's against the warrior code," Graysand protested.

"Then... can you tell us a story?" The gray tabby kit asked.

"About what?" Graysand asked, thankful that the kits didn't continue to try to get him to take them out to see the territory. If they asked any more, he would probably have given in to their cuteness...

"Petalfrost," The two kits meowed at once, their eyes sparkling with innocence.

Graysand's heart broke. They wanted a story about... Petalfrost? He knew that he'd have to tell them about her sometime, but... He wasn't sure if he was ready. Casting a glance at the sky, Graysand let out a sigh. If he didn't tell them himself... they'd have to hear it from someone else... and they wouldn't get the correct picture of the situation.

"Of course," Graysand murmured. "This will be a long story, so let's head over to a nice, comfortable place."

The three cats padded over to a patch of ferns, making themselves comfortable.

"I met Petalfrost a few moons ago," Graysand began. "When I first met her, I never knew that anything would come from that..."

-x-

"Get off my territory!" Graysand hissed, swiping his paw at the tortoiseshell she cat in front of him. Stupid ShadowClan, Graysand thought. They just had to go and attack RiverClan's territory. Again.

"Never," The she cat spat, raking her claws down Graysand's flank. Growling, he rolled over and kicked at her, knocking her to the ground. Leaping, he pinned her down by the shoulders.

"Go on," The she cat hissed in his face. "Finish me off, then!"

"ShadowClan might do that," Graysand muttered, clawing her belly once before jumping backward. "But RiverClan has more honor than that. We don't kill others just to kill them. We follow the Warrior Code."

The tortoiseshell hissed, running off into the bushes. Graysand didn't know at that time that he'd see her again, and soon. There was something different about her, he had to admit. There was something about her, yes, which he was drawn to... But she was from another Clan. She could be his friend, ever.

-x-

"Hey there," Graysand greeted, seeing the tortoiseshell again. It was the night of a gathering, and he was glad that he was able to be there. It was a time of peace, so there wouldn't be any fighting. They could just talk... almost like friends.

"Oh, it's you," the she cat grumbled, giving him a little smile.

"Oh, it's you? That's all I get?" Graysand teased. "I see you're healing well."

"No thanks to you," The she cat meowed. "But I am glad that you decided not to kill me there. So... um, thanks."

"I wouldn't have killed you even if you were a rogue," Graysand meowed. "I have more honor than that."

"Oh, and I don't?" The she cat meowed.

"No!" Graysand meowed, embarrassed. "I mean..."

"I know what you meant," The she cat purred. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with mischief. Oh, that purr! It was so beautiful, just like she was... Graysand paused his thinking, not wanting to admit to himself what he was feeling.

"So, you're from RiverClan," The she cat stated. "That's cool. Do you guys swim all of the time?"

"Not all of the time," Graysand purred. "If we did, we'd have webbed feet."

"Some of you do," The she cat meowed. "Doesn't the water just weigh your fur down and make you feel... heavy?"

"Are you calling me fat?" Graysand purred in a teasing tone.

"No! I... you know what I was talking about!" The she cat snapped, licking at her chest in embaressment.

"Sometimes, yeah, the water does weigh us down. But because of the fish we eat, our pelts don't hold onto the water like the other Clans' pelts," Graysand explained. "If you were to fall into the water, when you get out you'd find that the water would stick to your pelt much more than it would stick to mine."

"Ah," The she cat meowed. She looked at him for a moment, tilting her head. "How rude of me! I haven't even told you my name yet. My name's Petalfrost, warrior of ShadowClan!"

"I'm Graysand, one of RiverClan's finest warriors," Graysand bragged, purring with laughter. He wasn't one to brag, and it was obviously just a joke, but he felt like he should be able to brag around her.

"One of the finest?" Petalfrost purred, amused. "Is that so? Then ShadowClan should definatly win the next battle, then."

"Don't count on it," Graysand growled. He shook his head before meowing, friendlier, "So, why was ShadowClan even trying to take our territory?"

Petalfrost looked away, her blue eyes focused on the ground. "Ever since the twolegs started showing up in our territory, prey has been harder and harder to find. My sister, Lilywhisker, just had kits a moon ago. Four healthy little kits, the cutest I've ever seen. Everyone's starving, trying to keep them fed, along with the other litter of two kits and our third queen, who's expecting kits very soon. We're running out of food, and so we were trying to get more territory..."

Graysand laid his tail on Petalfrost's shoulder, getting a shocked glance from her. "I understand. Kits are important to every Clan, and no one would want them to starve."

"I thought that I could help my sister," Petalfrost whispered. "But I went at it the wrong way. But... I don't have any other way of getting prey! RiverClan on one side, twolegplace on the other..."

Graysand wanted so badly to say that he would help her... that he would catch prey for her to give to her sister's kits... But he couldn't do that without breaking the Warrior Code! He wanted to help her with all his heart though, and he barely knew her!

"I have to go," Petalfrost meowed quietly, standing up and turning to walk away.

"Petalfrost, wait. I..." Graysand meowed, leaping to his feet. "Meet me here... tomorrow night, okay?"

Shock and confusion flashed through Petalfrost's eyes for a moment. Graysand waited for an answer, worried. What if she said no? What if she turned him in to his leader for trying to break the Warrior Code?

"Okay," Petalfrost meowed quietly. "Tomorrow it is, then."

And with those last words, she disappeared into the bushes after her Clan. Graysand closed his eyes, thinking of her. He made sure that he could remember every little detail of her... The bright blue of her eyes, the pale striped ginger that was right around her eyes. He could see the black and white spots on her face. Her left ear was black tipped with white, the other black tipped with ginger. She had white whiskers that wre dark around the base. Her muzzle was white, and there was a white spot on her nose.

Petalfrost... Somehow, he knew at that moment that there was going to be something between himself and her that would be more than friends, more than... warriors.

-x-

"She looks like me!" The tortiseshell she kit squeaked, her tail waving back and forth. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Yes, Rosekit, she does look a lot like you," Graysand meowed, licking at the young kit's forehead.

"And I look like you!" The dark gray tabby tomcat meowed loudly, puffing out his chest.

"Yes little Stormkit, you do." Graysand purred as he gave his son a lick on the forehead, proud of both of the kits. They hadn't even done anything with their lives yet - they were too young to do that - yet he was so proud of them!

"So what happened to Petalfrost? Did you meet her there?" Rosekit asked. She seemed really interested in the story. Her brother, who was sitting right next to her, also seemed interested. Usually the little tomcat couldn't sit still for very long, but hearing about Petalfrost... it made him sit still.

"I did," Graysand meowed. "I didn't think she'd show up, but sure enough... she showed up, just as she said that she would."

-x-

"You came!" Graysand meowed, his eyes widening when he spotted the tortiseshell pad out into the open clearing. She looked around, worried. She didn't look like she wanted to be there, or even felt comfortable there.

"Why'd you want me to come anyway?" Petalfrost asked, looking suspiciously around.

"There's no one else here," Graysand promised. "I... I want to help you, Petalfrost. I want to help you help your sister and her kits."

"...What?" Petalfrost asked, a confused look on her face. "Why would you want to do that? You're from RiverClan, and I'm from ShadowClan! Just us meeting here is against the rules of the Warrior Code! Are you mouse brained?"

"No," Graysand meowed. "Cats shouldn't deny a kit in need is part of the Warrior Code, no matter what Clan they're in. It would be against the code for me to help those kits... RiverClan's fine right now. We don't have many kits to care for - only three, and they're well fed - and we have more than we need. It wouldn't matter if I didn't bring back as much prey as I should be bringing back..."

Petalfrost shook her head. "I can't make you do that. Think of the trouble that we'd get in if anyone found out about it!"

"We? So you'd help me?" Graysand asked.

Petalfrost's eyes widened. She nodded, a detirmined look on her face. "I would do anything to help my sister and her kits. So if it means breaking the Warrior Code... StarClan will understand. It's to help kits, so what does it matter?"

"Exactly," Graysand meowed. "So, come with me. Let's go over to my border, and we can start this right away."

"R-right away?" Petalfrost asked, looking around once more. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. And don't worry - we don't do midnight patrols, so no one should find us here," Graysand informed. The two walked side by side - not close enough for their fur to touch - over towards the RiverClan/ShadowClan border.

At one point, their fur did brush, and both cats felt their faces grow warm with a blush that couldn't be seen due to their fur. There was definatly something there between them, Graysand knew it, but he wasn't sure if she felt the same towards him. Especially if she knew the real reasons for him wanting to help her... he wanted to get closer to her. Kits were important, yes, and played a big role in this, but he really wanted to get closer to her. She was different than the other she cats in his Clan - they didn't bring feelings like that to him. He was a little afraid that he... liked her.

-x-

Day after day, the two snuck away from their Clans. Graysand explained his lack of prey by not being as good of a hunter and having bad luck in the past few days. He said he was being too slow and careless, and he promised that he'd try harder.

In the days that they had met, Graysand and Petalfrost talked frequently about themselves, their lives, and their Clanmates. Petalfrost talked a lot of Lilywhisker and her four little kits - Shadekit, Pinekit, Blossomkit and Bushkit - and how they were doing a lot better now that the Clan had a little more prey. The Clan loved that Petalfrost was such a great hunter, and she had told Graysand that she had felt so guilty for taking all of the credit.

"Come on, take the fish!" Graysand laughed. "It's big enough to feed a couple of warriors!"

"If I take it, someone will know something's up!" Petalfrost protested. "And if someone knows that something's going on - or even if they think it - then we won't be able to continue meeting like this..."

Petalfrost looked over at Graysand, and he almost thought that he might've seen love in her eyes. Could someone fall in love in only half a moon? Petalfrost pressed against his shoulder, rubbing her cheek against his.

"I don't want to stop meeting you, Graysand," Petalfrost whispered. "I... I really like you. No one else..."

"Makes you feel this way?" Graysand offered. Petalfrost nodded. Graysand sighed, "The same with me. I wish... borders didn't matter. I wish you were in RiverClan."

"Or you were in ShadowClan," Petalfrost meowed.

"Why... why do we have to be in different Clans?" Graysand muttered, looking up at the darkened sky. The stars and moon were hidden - StarClan couldn't see what was going on.

"I don't want to stop meeting you, ever. Please, promise me," Graysand meowed, "That you'll always be here... if I need you. I love you, Petalfrost. I can't live without you."

"I love you too Graysand," Petalfrost whispered. "I promise I'll be here for you, as long as you're here for me."

"Always," Graysand promised. "Forever..."

-x-

"What do you mean you're expecting kits?" Graysand meowed, not bothering to hide the shock in his voice. It had been three moons since they had first starting meeting each other...

"I knew you'd be mad," Petalfrost meowed sadly, shaking her head and turning away.

"I'm not mad! I'm thrilled!" Graysand meowed, licking Petalfrost's shoulder. "This is great!"

"W-what?" Petalfrost meowed, turning around. "You're... happy?"

"Of course!" Graysand meowed. "These kits... they're a link between us. They'll swim like RiverClan and be able to move through the shadows, just like ShadowClan. They're going to be the greatest warriors in the forest! They'll have two parents who love them very, very much..."

"But they'll never be able to know that!" Petalfrost yowled, pain showing in her eyes. Tears sprung up in the corners of her beautiful blue eyes. "For their own safety, they'll have to be purely ShadowClan! I don't want them to be looked down upon for being half-Clan kits!"

"What?" Graysand asked, saddened. Would he never get to see his kits, never get to watch them grow up? Would he not get to be a part of their lives? "What are you talking about, Petalfrost? Will I not be able to see my kits?"

"Not as a father," Petalfrost meowed sadly. "For them, that's what's best."

"Not having a father is better than having a father from RiverClan? Where's the sense in that?" Graysand meowed. She couldn't keep him from his kits... could she?

"There isn't any!" Petalfrost cried. "But it'll keep them safe, Graysand!"

"I'll keep them safe," Graysand meowed. "I'll keep them safe, and I'll keep you safe. I promised you that, and I'll always be there for you... you just have to be there for me, too."

"I... I need time to think," Petalfrost murmured.

Graysand nodded, watching her turn and walk back over to her territory. It broke his heart to watch her go, because he wanted her to be able to come back to his Clan to be with him... Why couldn't she do that? Why'd she have to be from ShadowClan, anyway?

Follow your heart. That's what his mother had told him once upon a time, back when he had first become a warrior. He hadn't known what she had meant by that, but now he thought that he did. This is what he was meant to do... he could feel it.

-x-

"Graysand!" Petalfrost meowed, running across the border.

Graysand looked at her, a little confused. He was on a border patrol with a few of his Clanmates. Pebblefoot, a gray and white she cat, glanced over at him with a 'why does she want to talk with you' look.

"Petalfrost," Graysand greeted her, taking a few steps forward to meet her. In her ear he whispered, "They'll know, Petalfrost. I thought you didn't want to meet one another during the daytime..."

"I can't stay in ShadowClan anymore," Petalfrost whispered back. "I told my leader that I took a mate from RiverClan, and in anger he banished me." She didn't look happy about that at all, though. "I can't be a rogue... the kits are due in a couple of days, Graysand. They won't survive if I'm a rogue."

"RiverClan will take you in, I'm sure of it," Graysand murmured, licking her ear.

"Graysand, what's going on?" Wrenwing asked, his green eyes narrowed. "What's she doing on our territory? Can't ShadowClan stick to their own borders?"

"I'm not part of ShadowClan," Petalfrost meowed quickly and a little sharply. "Well, not anymore."

"So you're a rogue," Pebblefoot meowed, a growl in her voice.

"She's going to be part of RiverClan," Graysand meowed.

"What?" The other two RiverClan cats gasped. "No she's not!"

"She's my mate," Graysand growled, standing in front of Petalfrost protectivly. "And she's carrying my kits."

"They're due in a few days," Petalfrost added.

Pebblefoot sighed, shaking her head. Her brother's mate had just had her kits a half-moon ago, so she knew how small and fragile kits were when they were born.

"Come on, let's go back to camp," Pebblefoot muttered. "Wrenwing, check the rest of the border quickly and then head back to camp, okay?"

"Whatever," The younger warrior muttered as he stalked away.

Together, the three cats headed back towards RiverClan's camp. None spoke on the way, expect for a few words of comfort from Graysand. When they got back to camp, they were greeted by a group of cats who were all wondering why the patrol had 'captured a ShadowClan cat'.

"Graysand, Pebblefoot, what is the meaning of this? Why have you brought a ShadowClan cat - an expecting queen nonetheless - to our camp?" Wavestar asked as he raced over to meet them.

"I've come to RiverClan to ask for a place among you," Petalfrost meowed, bravely stepping forward to look the leader in the eye.

He held her gaze for a moment, not saying anything. Sighing, he asked, "And why would you do that?"

"She's expecting my kits," Graysand meowed, stepping forward to stand beside his mate.

A few of the Clan gasped before they whispered among themsevles. 'Traitor' and 'breaking the Warrior Code' were both brought up frequently in the whispers, Graysand noted.

Wavestar nodded. "I can't turn away an expecting she cat. It would endanger the kits." He looked around at all of the cats of his Clan. "I'm going to let..."

"Petalfrost," Petalfrost meowed quickly.

Wavestar nodded. "I'm going to let Petalfrost stay here for a while. If she can prove her loyalty to the Clan, then she may be able to stay and become one with RiverClan. But if she proves to be disloyal, she will be chased off... without her kits."

"But they'll be half-Clan!" One of the cats in the crowd called out.

"That's still half RiverClan," Wavestar pointed out.

"But-"

"The word of the leader is law," Wavestar reminded the warrior. "This is my decision." He turned to Graysand. "Show her to the nursery."

Graysand nodded, joy filling his entire being. She'd be able to stay! He quickly led Petalfrost over towards the nursery.

The small ginger queen who was in the nursery, Rippleflame, looked at the two with wide eyes as she wrapped her tail protectivly around her three little kits.

"It's okay Rippleflame," Graysand meowed. "We won't hurt you."

"Who's she?" Rippleflame asked, her gaze flicking between the she cat and the tomcat in front of her.

"I'm Petalfrost," The tortiseshell explained. "I'm... I was from ShadowClan."

"She's my mate, and her kits are due in a few days," Graysand finished.

Rippleflame nodded, visibly relaxing some. "So you're going to be my denmate now? Good, because it was getting lonely being in here all by myself."

Petalfrost grinned and settled down in some moss.

"I'll go get some prey," Graysand meowed, ducking out of the nursery. He hurried over towards the pile, grabbing a fish and a squirrel before returning to the den. "I've got prey," Graysand murmured around the bodies in his mouth. He dropped the fish next to Rippleflame, who thanked him. Then he turned to Petalfrost, giving her the squirrel.

"Why don't you leave us to get aquainted with one another?" Rippleflame meowed. By the tone in her voice, it wasn't a request - it was more of a 'command'.

Graysand nodded. "If you need anything..."

"I'll get you," Petalfrost promised, licking his ear. "Don't worry, Graysand. Everything's going to be fine."

Graysand nodded, leaving the nursery once more. A drop of rain fell down onto his nose. The gray tomcat looked up at the sky, seeing the brewing storm. Had he been a medicine cat, he would've seen the omen behind it - the warning hidden within the sign.

-x-

"So she's part of RiverClan now?" Stormkit asked. "So then where is she?"

Graysand shook his head. "Like I told you before, she's not with RiverClan anymore."

"Why would she go back to ShadowClan?" Rosekit asked.

Graysand loved her innocence. If only she was older, then she'd understand what he was trying to tell her. But he knew that if he waited until they were older, they'd never understand... and they'd grow up living a lie.

But it had been so recently that he wasn't sure if he'd be able to talk about it... Could he really finish the story? It only had a few days left... He looked over when he saw a pale gray she cat padding over to him.

"Are you telling them about...?" The she cat asked, her eyes filled with empathy.

Graysand nodded. "Kits, you both know my mother, Willowstripe."

"Of course we do! She visits us every day," Rosekit squeaked.

Willowstripe purred. "Are you enjoying Graysand's story?" Both kits nodded. She turned to her son. "Have you told them about the day they were born yet?"

"I was just about to get to that," Graysand murmured.

"Should I finish the story?" Willowstipe whispered.

Graysand shook his head. "I need to finish it."

His mother nodded. "I'm here for you, my son. If you need help... I'm here."

-x-

"Yellowsplash, come on! Get over here, the kits are coming!" Graysand yowled, standing right outside of the nursery. He watched the golden she cat come racing out of her den, a huge bundle of herbs in her mouth.

A small ginger and white tomcat was at her side, another bundle of leaves in his mouth too. The younger cat's eyes were wide with fear.

"What's wrong?" Graysand demanded when Yellowsplash placed the herbs next to a moaning Petalfrost.

Yellowsplash didn't answer, and instead started giving Petalfrost some herbs to chew on. "Firepaw, get some poppy seeds," Yellowsplash ordered. The small tomcat bolted out of the den.

"Graysand, it hurts," Petalfrost moaned, her face clentched in agony.

Graysand licked at his mate's head, murmuring, "Don't worry Petalfrost. It'll all be over soon. Just think of the beautiful kits we'll have. I hope they all look just like you."

Petalfrost yelped a little at the pain. "Only she cats could look like me," Petalfrost meowed quickly before she moaned again as the pain returned once more.

"Yellowsplash, isn't there anything that you can do to take away the pain?" Graysand asked, looking worriedly at his mate.

Rippleflame was curled up in the corner, keeping her three kits in her nest. She and Petalfrost had become good friends in the last few days. The ginger she cat looked frightened and smaller than normal, surounded by a wall of bright green moss.

"The pain means the kits are coming. It should tell us when she needs to push," Yellowsplash explained. She sniffed at the air, confusion flickering across her face.

"...What's wrong?" Graysand whispered, his eyes widening. He sniffed at the air, a sharp tang catching in his nose. Blood!

"I-I don't know," Yellowsplash meowed.

Petalfrost screeched in pain, twisting a little on the ground.

"The first kit's coming!" Yellowsplash meowed.

It wasn't long before there was a tiny, dark gray tabby striped bundle of fur was lying next to Petalfrost. But there was something wrong... there was a lot of blood.

"There's something very wrong here," Yellowsplash muttered. "Graysand... I don't think..."

Graysand shook his head. This wasn't happening, she wasn't going to die! Yellowsplash was wrong... Why was there so much blood? Graysand started licking at Petalfrost's head.

"Everything's going to be okay," Graysand murmured between licks.

"Graysand... take care... of the kit," Petalfrost meowed. She let out another screech of pain.

"There's still another kit," Yellowsplash meowed frantically.

Petalfrost was loosing the battle and quickly weakening before Graysand's eyes. A small tortiseshell rested at Petalfrost's side. More scarlet blood covered the ground, making the den have a rancid smell. Rippleflame had taken her kits out of the den when the blood had first started.

"It's okay, Petalfrost," Graysand murmured. "It's all over now, Yellowsplash will take care of you. I'm here, I won't leave your side. Everything's going to be fine, you'll see." He could feel the tears starting to build in his eyes. He didn't believe his own words.

"Graysand... Promise me... you'll take... care of our... kits," Petalfrost whispered. Her bright blue eyes were slowly fading, but they were clear of any pain. He hated seeing her in pain...

"I promise," Graysand choked out, licking at his mate's head. "But you don't have to make me promise! You'll be right here, raising them alongside me. Everything will be okay, Petalfrost."

"I... love you... so much," Petalfrost meowed.

"I love you too," Graysand meowed. "W-what should we name the kits?"

Petalfrost paused for a moment, looking like she was struggling to think of a name. "R-Rose... kit."

"Rosekit, it's a beautiful name," Graysand murmured. "She's just as beautiful as her mother."

"Your... turn," Petalfrost whispered.

"How about Stormkit?" Graysand could feel the tears spilling from his eyes.

"...Perfect," Petalfrost gasped. Her body jerked as she gasped for breath, making a choking sound. "See you... in... StarClan... my love."

"I love you," Graysand meowed.

He licked his mate's head one last time before her eyes closed, and her body stilled. Her listened as the breath left her for the last time. Her flank stilled, and Graysand knew that she was gone.

"Petalfrost..." Graysand cried, crouching at her side. "Don't... no..."

Yellowsplash hung her head. "I'm sorry, Graysand. There was nothing I could do to save her. She walks with StarClan now."

Graysand, feeling numb, nodded. He knew that when something like that happened, there was nothing that a medicine cat could do to save the cat. It had happened with a queen when he was just a little kit.

"Stormkit and Rosekit are still alive," Yellowsplash pointed out. "I'll ask Rippleflame if she can nurse the kits... I really am sorry, Graysand."

The gray tomcat nodded, his sandy eyes dull. The light of his life was gone. Right before his eyes, she disappeared. And there was nothing that he could do to help her, to save her, to keep her with him and never let her go. I promised to take care of her, Graysand thought bitterly. And I couldn't even do anything about it.

-x-

"She's with StarClan?" Rosekit asked. Graysand nodded. Rosekit's eyes narrowed. "She's joining too many Clans! She should've decided to stay here in RiverClan instead. We've got the best territory and the best prey, according to Gingerkit."

"I wish she stayed here too," Graysand murmured numbly. He felt his mother give his ear a comforting lick. "But, I promised her that I'd look after you two, so that's what I'm going to do."

"I'm glad you decided to stay," Stormkit meowed.

"She didn't decide to go. She just wasn't able to stay," Graysand clarified. "Petalfrost... she would've stayed if she could have... She'd always talk about you two, before you were born. She'd say how you'd both be the best hunters because you could stalk like a ShadowClan cat and catch fish like a RiverClan cat."

"I'm going to be the best warrior in the forest!" Stormkit yowled.

"Not if I beat you there," Rosekit growled playfully, leaping at her brother and knocking the tomcat to the ground. They played there for a moment before Stormkit chased Rosekit across the clearing.

"They remind me so much of her," Graysand murmured sadly.

"I'm glad that you were able to tell them what happened," Willowstripe meowed, putting her tail on her son's shoulders. "They deserve to know about their mother. I'm very proud of you, you know."

"For what? Telling them a story?" Graysand asked.

"For stepping up, for taking care of them, for having to bravery and strength of heart to do something that many cats would never be able to do," Willowstripe meowed. "I heard you talking to her, at that gathering all those moons ago. You helped save those kits, you know. ShadowClan would've lost them had it not been for you. You're a savior, Graysand."

"Y-you knew?" Graysand gasped.

"Of course I knew, I'm your mother," Willowstripe purred. "I'm proud of you for doing everything that you could for her. I thought of her as my daughter in those few days that she was with RiverClan - I could see how much you loved her."

Graysand nodded. "I will always love her."

"And I'm proud of you for keeping your promises," Willowstripe finished. She stood up. "I bet she's watching over you right now, with a smile on her face. I bet she's just as proud of you as I am."

"Thank you, Mother," Graysand murmured. He glanced over at his kits, and while he was watching them, he almost thought that he felt that soft, tortiseshell fur brush up against his side once more. "I'll always protect them, Petalfrost. Watch over us," Graysand whispered. "I love you."

And Graysand almomst thought that he heard someone reply back, "I love you too."