"What are we going to do today?"
Nightclaw whipped around and saw his new apprentice, Honeypaw, standing in front of him, obviously trying not to laugh.
"Well? Don't be such a scaredy cat." She meowed playfully. Nightclaw chuckled and surprised himself at the sound. He hadn't laughed since Froghop had died a moon ago.
"How about I go hunting with Cinderstream and Grasspaw and you go visit your kits. They are nearly three moons old now remember?" Honeypaw reminded her mentor. Nightclaw nodded distractedly, staring at something no other cat could see.
"Mourning over Wrenstripe doesn't help." Honeypaw grumbled. "Dawnkit and Willowkit have never even met you. Be grateful for what you have."
"You have spoken wisely, young one." Applestar meowed proudly, padding over from the fresh-kill pile. "Nightclaw, today I will organize all the patrols and you can spend time with your kits."
"But I-" Nightclaw protested.
"Hush." Applestar replied, covering Nightclaw's mouth with his tail. "That is an order."
Nightclaw shrugged and slowly dragged his feet all the way to the nursery.
"You don't have to act like they're such a burden." Nightsong hissed. Nightclaw stared at her uneasily. She wasn't one of the nicest cats and he was worried that she would influence his kits badly.
"They aren't even mine and I have to take care of them. I hardly wanted one kit and now I'm stuck with three." The dark gray she-cat continued bitterly.
"I'll take them off of your paws for today." Nightclaw meowed coldly. Nightsong bared her teeth angrily at his tone of voice and brought out Dawnkit and Willowkit.
"Who are you?" Dawnkit asked curiously, sniffing the air. "I recognize your scent, but not you."
"I don't recognize your scent at all." Willowkit chimed. "Are you Brownkit's father?"
Nightclaw swallowed loudly and cleared his throat uncomfortably. "No, I'm your father."
Dawnkit and Willowkit both looked up questioningly at Nightsong.
"Yes." The queen nodded. "He's your father and he finally wants to spend time with you. You will be taken care of by him all day today."
"Really?" Willowkit squealed happily. "I've always wanted a father!"
"I don't care." Dawnkit grumbled.
"Well, have you two eaten yet today?" Nightclaw asked, not really knowing how to talk to them.
"Nope." Willowkit mewed happily. "What are we going to have?"
"I was thinking some frog." Nightclaw suggested.
"I want lizard." Dawnkit meowed disagreeably.
"You can have whatever you want."
Dawnkit nodded stiffly and the three padded over to get their food.
Nightclaw had a frog and so did Willowkit, but Dawnkit had a lizard like she wanted.
"We've never gotten to choose our own food." Willowkit announced. Nightclaw chuckled. He was glad that Applestar had ordered him to meet his kits.
"All done." Dawnkit meowed loudly, smacking her lips.
"Me too." Willowkit meowed a little bit quieter.
"Do you want me to groom you two now?" Nightclaw asked and his kits immediately brightened.
"We love to be groomed." Willowkit explained. "Nightsong never grooms us, only Brownkit."
"I'll groom you as often as I can." Nightclaw promised. For the rest of the day they spoke about Wrenstripe and Nightclaw told stories about his entire life. By the end of the day it was like they were always this close.
BTW please check out my new story Taking Chances. I'm not sure if it's that good, but a couple of reviews would definitely help me out. Thanks and keep reading! Also, sorry it's been taking so long for me to update my stuff. Sometimes I get sort of brain dead and I can't think of anything good. Finals are also not too great either!