Chapter 32

"Bright Rays of Questions."

4/20/17 - 4/21/17

No Violetbloom in sight, as usual. Brightkit and her sister were seeing less and less of their mother lately, and Hawkflight isn't happy seeing them neglected.

"Why would you leave the kits alone where the eagles could get them?!"

"They're obviously okay, I don't know what the big deal is."

"Obviously! And why do you smell like another tom?!"

"None of your business."

"For crying out loud, Violetbloom! I thought you were better than your mother, but you're worse!"

Now, in late October, Hawkflight grooms Brightkit's silver tabby fur while Echokit smirks at her discomfort.

"Dad! My fur isn't dirty!" Brightkit cries.

"Not anymore it isn't." Hawkflight retorts, dropping her. "Next."

Hawkflight quickly grabs Echokit before she could run and starts to groom her fur, despite her protests. Brightkit is pleased to have the attention off of her.

Grassclaw pads to Cheetahspots and nudges her awake. "Your vigil is over."

Cheetahspots wakes up and yawns, stretching her legs and leaving for the den. Grassclaw pads to Brackenstar, Frogskip and Spiderdusk.

"So when do we get my kits back?" Grassclaw asks Brackenstar.

"Heatherstar isn't changing her mind about the kits." Brackenstar says. "Splashpelt gave birth in ShadowClan, therefore they have to remain there."

"Splashpelt is dead! My kits have no other kin in ShadowClan except here, with me!"

"Except Owlflight, their brother." Spiderdusk put in slyly. Grassclaw glares at the young warrior.

"Grassclaw." Frogskip spoke up. "I understand your concern for your sons and daughter, but don't you think they prefer ShadowClan over WindClan?"

Grassclaw lashed his tail. "You may have been too cowardly to fight for your own kits, but I'm not backing down until I get my kits!"

"Grassclaw." Brackenstar warns his deputy. However, Spiderdusk has reached his limits with the short tempered tom.

"What about what those kits want?"

"They're kits, what do they know?"

Spiderdusk glares him down. "They know what home is! Just knowing that their father is from WindClan probably shook them, and taking them away from the only home they know is just selfish!"

Grassclaw curls his lip. "Why should I heed the words of a cat with a ThunderClan father? Even he didn't want you in his Clan!"

"Grassclaw-!"

Spiderdusk snorts and stands up. "If you go through with it, those kits will hate you for the rest of your life. In a way, I'm glad that Pricklefrost never took the chance!"

Brightkit watches Spiderdusk pad away from the older toms in a huff.

"Half-Clan cats are so dramatic." Cheetahspots whispers to Brightkit. "Although I must agree. The last thing WindClan needs is more mixed blood."

Brightkit wakes up prematurely to an empty nest. She could have sworn that Violetbloom returned before sunset and put Brightkit and Echokit to sleep. Now midnight, Brightkit steps outside without waking up Goldentail and her sons.

She smells a familiar scent leaving camp.

Violetbloom!

Brightkit follows her mother's scent to a thick forest not near the stream. She pauses when she hears giggling and purring behind bushes. Brightkit quietly pads around and recognizes Violetbloom's voice.

"Come on, why are you so tense?"

"I'm not sure we should be doing this. What if Falconwing or Cheetahspots-?"

"They won't find out! StarClan, just relax!"

Brightkit turns the corner and sees Violetbloom resting her chin on Sleetfrost's shoulder, giving him dream filled eyes she's never seen her give to Hawkflight.

"Mommy? What's going on?"

Violetbloom and Sleetfrost look at the silver tabby kit like spooked pigeons. Sleetfrost looks very, very uncomfortable and stands up. "I gotta go."

He runs away leaving Violetbloom calling after him. The silver she-cat glares at Brightkit. "Why did you have to ruin this?! Why aren't you sleeping?!"

"I-I was worried about… Why are you with Sleetfrost? What about Hawkflight?"

"Hawkflight?" Violetbloom chuckles. "Oh, please. You're old enough to know that we never mates."

Brightkit's tiny heart breaks. "But then why are we-?"

Violetbloom whips her tail. "Look, let's make this short. I never wanted kits and it was supposed to be a one-time thing with Hawkflight until you and your sister came along. Now if you don't mind!"

Violetbloom races off to camp following Sleetfrost's trail. Brightkit shakes her head and turns in the opposite direction.

Why would she say that? I thought they were trying to work things out!

Brightkit slows her pace, and finds herself in the unfamiliar forest. She hyperventilates. Her ears twitch to the unfamiliar voices.

"I smell something near the ferns."

"For crying out loud, Shard. I'm tired!"

Brightkit feels a paw grab her mouth and pull her into a barrier of brambles. She looks back in fright and sees two green eyes staring at her with intensity. Spiderdusk scoots further back.

Big paws came within Brightkit's view.

"Shard, I'm not playing around with you. Wherever that prey is, it's gone!"

"Don't be a dog, Loki, I know what I smelled and it was a cat!"

Brightkit caught her breath, Spiderdusk wills her to stay silent as he waits for the two wolves to leave.

"Fine. If you're entirely convinced, then report it to Beta or Alpha when you come back. Me? I'm going to sleep."

Loki turns around and leaves Shard. The she-wolf growls and stalks after Loki. Spiderdusk grabs Brightkit's scruff and carries her back to camp.

Spiderdusk places Brightkit down in front of the nursery.

"Were those wolves?" She asks breathlessly. Spiderdusk nods quietly.

"Brightkit. Don't breath a word about this. I'll have to tell Brackenstar about this in the morning so it won't cause too much panic. Understand?"

Brightkit nods. Spiderdusk leaves for the warriors den and Brightkit enters the nursery and is met with a hind paw to her face.

"Mom!" She squeaks. Violetbloom glares at her daughter from the darkness without waking Echokit.

"Stay out."

"But I'm cold!"

"Tough!"

Violetbloom kicks her hind paw again to push Brightkit out. The silver tabby was at a loss. She only pads to where she saw Spiderdusk go inside a fox burrow. She looks at the warriors sleeping and finds a familiar dark ginger shape on the left corner.

"Dad?"

Hawkflight raises his head and blinks in confusion.

"Brightkit, why aren't you in the nursery?"

"... Violetbloom, she…"

Hawkflight frowns as his yellow eyes narrow.

She kicked out her own kit, didn't she? He growls at the thought. Hawkflight removes his belly to make room in his nest.

"Here. You can sleep in my nest tonight."

Brightkit smiles gratefully as she pads inside the den and lies down next to her father. Hawkflight waits for Brightkit to finally fall asleep before growling.

He wasn't going to let Violetbloom get away with this.

Poor Brightkit. Someone needs a hug. Hawkflight, don't you dare let Violetbloom get away with it! ~ Kyubi