Thunder watched from the other side of the clearing while Shattered Ice tried to calm Gorse Fur. They suddenly went silent as another agonized wail ripped through the air. Wind Runner had moved into the nursery after the battle a few days ago and now she was kitting.
Rainswept Flower shuffled her paws anxiously. "It's too soon!"
Thunder's chest tightened with anxiety. He had heard about Bright Stream, Air Leap's mother, from Gray Wing once and how her birth hadn't gone well.
"Any news?" Turtle Tail padded over, closely followed by Owl Eyes, Pebble Heart, Sparrow Fur, and Cloud Tail. Petal watched Birch and Alder tumble about nearby. They had kept the kits out of the nursery all day though that hadn't stopped Pebble Heart from trying to peek in from time-to-time, interest in his eyes.
"Well…" Thunder began. "Dappled Pelt is getting herbs. Wind Runner is kitting too early and Pebble Heart is being nosy."
"Hey!" The kit whined. "I just wanna know how it goes."
"Why?" Cloud Tail asked.
"It could be useful."
His littermates stared at him blankly.
Turtle Tail was frowning with worry and headed into the nursery where Cloud Spots and Yellowfang were helping the brown she-cat.
Thorn and Dew crouched nearby with Falling Feather and Leaf, looking excited at the prospect of new kits.
Pebble Heart raced to the nursery but was pushed back out by his mother.
Another wail sounded.
Thunder shivered.
Gray Wing settled beside his nephew and Air Leap joined them a little later. Thunder looked around for his sisters.
Ash Blaze was wrestling with Acorn Fur while Lightning Tail watched. Ivy Breeze sat by Cinder Flower, Fire Heart and Raven Hope. Hawk Swoop sat with them, too, but was quiet as she watched the nursery anxiously.
"This is a bad time for kits," Gray Wing suddenly murmured.
"New kits bring hope and joy," Thunder argued, fearing the despair and darkness in his uncle's tone.
Air Leap flattened his ears and glanced between his brother and uncle before he looked to the nursery.
Gray Wing had not replied to Thunder's words.
Swiftclaw entered camp with his patrol following. The newly named Brackenfur trotted by his side, eyes shining. He had passed his final assessment easily and had earned his name.
Thornpaw had been even more jealous and was determined to do whatever it took to be a warrior. Brightpaw was as calm as ever and had been happy for her brother.
Swiftclaw guessed they hadn't passed their assessments because Brightpaw was still nervous to fight with claws and Thornpaw had gotten too overconfident that he forgot the other stuff. Like using his brain.
Mistyfoot and Runningwind followed the two younger warriors in. Swiftclaw immediately caught sight of Jackdaw's Cry, sitting between the medicine den and elders den as usual.
He was surprised to see Fernkit and Snowkit talking to him too. Well, just Fernkit anyway. Snowkit seemed to not know how to talk yet.
"Swiftclaw," Longtail meowed as he padded up. "Thistlestar wants to see us." The black-and-white warrior nodded and followed his former mentor.
Inside, he wasn't at all surprised to see Graystripe, Dustpelt, Darkstripe and Tigerclaw already there.
"We're about to commence part three of my revenge," Thistlestar announced as soon as they were all settled.
"What were the other parts?" Darkstripe asked stupidly. Tigerclaw rolled his eyes.
"Catching us a SkyClan prisoner and spreading the ShadowClan spy rumor," Thistlestar replied easily. "Now…we're gonna take more from them."
He grinned devilishly and Swiftclaw refrained from shivering.
Pebble Heart touched his nose to Turtle Tail's and skipped away to Gray Wing finally leaving Wind Runner and the medicine cats at peace. She'd made Thunder fetch a stick and pushed back in to hand it over.
She was surprised to see three wet bundles already squirming at her belly.
"Push, Wind Runner!" Yellowfang ordered. "Just one more."
Soon she added a tiny brown-and-white tabby tom to the other kits. "Four healthy kits," Yellowfang purred, looking happy, which was a rare sight.
"Congratulations," Cloud Spots purred, touching his nose to Wind Runner's head.
Turtle Tail backed out so that Gorse Fur could meet his kits and the medicine cats followed. Dappled Pelt entered to give her herbs though.
"It was hard, but her kits are all healthy and she's just fine," Turtle Tail purred happily to her clanmates.
Skystar was talking with Gorse Fur who had poked his head out of the nursery. Turtle Tail could guess he was congratulating him.
Turtle Tail looked around and realized her kits were nowhere in sight. She also noticed Gray Wing was missing. Worried, she hurried over to Thunder and Lightning Tail.
"Have you seen Gray Wing and the kits?"
"I…I dunno," Thunder meowed worriedly while sitting up.
"I saw them run out of camp," Jagged Peak walked over. "Gray Wing went after them."
Turtle Tail would have relaxed, but who knew how far the kits went. Gray Wing could have a breathing attack any moment. They were all in danger.
"Come with me," she mewed to Jagged Peak. "Just to check if they're okay."
She led the gray tabby out of camp, her worry rising, but she shook it away. They would be safe with Gray Wing.
She was sure.
Swiftclaw raced after Darkstripe, Longtail and Dustpelt. Each of them carried a kit. He had a fluffy white one, Darkstripe held a tortoiseshell, Dustpelt a gray one with big eyes and Longtail had a gray tabby.
"Where. Are. We. Going?!" The tortoiseshell she-kit yowled for the millionth time. She'd asked nonstop but at least none of them were screaming for help.
Clearly they weren't taught to not trust everyone.
"Wheee! Speed up!" The big-eyed gray tom yowled excitedly.
"No! Slow down, I feel dizzy! I feel like I'm gonna hurl!" The fluffy kit in Swiftclaw's jaws yelped. The black-and-white tom almost dropped him.
Just as they were near the Thunderpath they heard a yowl behind them and turned to see a raging tortoiseshell queen charge towards them so fast, Swiftclaw was almost startled.
"Angry mother on our tail!" Dustpelt yowled around his kit's scruff to Darkstripe in the lead.
"I see her! Follow me!" The dark tabby yowled.
Swiftclaw didn't think much of it and followed his clanmate.
Thunder saw Gray Wing staggering into camp, leaning on Jagged Peak, who was limping. It always happened when he walked long distances.
Both brothers had worry in their eyes.
Everyone crowded around.
"What happened?" Skystar demanded pushing forth.
Gray Wing was breathing too hard to answer so Jagged Peak did.
"ThunderClan! They stole Turtle Tail's kits! Gray Wing tried to find them, but his breathing got to him, so Turtle Tail made me bring him back."
"And where's Turtle Tail?" Skystar asked urgently.
"She went ahead!" Jagged Peak exclaimed, blue eyes wide with worry.
"We'll go after her!" Thunder pushed through with Lightning Tail behind him.
Skystar hesitated a moment before he nodded. "Air Leap can go with you." He nodded to his oldest son, who looked anxious for his little cousins.
Before they left, Skystar stopped them and whispered, "please. Bring all of them back. I don't want Gray Wing to suffer any loss. It isn't good for his breathing." His eyes swam with emotions and Thunder guessed he was thinking about his mates.
But he was stronger and had pushed through.
"Okay." Thunder nodded and chased after Air Leap and Lightning Tail as the two speedy toms ran ahead.
Turtle Tail charged the four toms, holding her kits and they raced towards the Thunderpath panicked.
Suddenly a ShadowClan patrol appeared and halted, watching with wide eyes as the four ThunderClan toms skidded onto the Thunderpath.
A rumbling vibrated the hard gray path as Turtle Tail sped onto it.
"Watch out!" A ShadowClan warrior cried.
Darkstripe, Longtail and Dustpelt were already scrambling away, so Turtle Tail lunged for Swiftclaw, who was closest.
She was fast.
But so was he.
He scampered away with Cloud Tail, the kit squeaking in confusion and fear as to why his mother was angry and why he was being taken away from her.
She tried to stop.
But it was too late.
Graystripe looked up as Darkstripe and the others burst through the entrance with the kits. Their sudden entrance had some cats jumping, fur puffed.
"You got them!" Cricketpaw gasped, looking worried.
Thistlestar stalked forward, glaring down at the kits, all who shrunk away except the tortoiseshell she-kit.
The queens had appeared to see the commotion and stared with horror at the SkyClan kits.
"Isn't this…like Brokenstar?" Stonefur asked hesitantly.
Thistlestar turned on him. "No, because we're not throwing them into battle." He smirked at Jackdaw's Cry, who looked horrified. "We're keeping them hostage as well."
"Jackdaw's Cry!" Cloud Tail suddenly squeaked and raced over to the black tom.
"Get. Back. Here!" Darkstripe spat and yanked the white kit by the tail away from his clanmate.
"Don't touch them, foxheart!" The prisoner snarled.
Thistlestar snorted and said, "Put them in the nursery until their mommy comes crying to us. Then maybe I'll consider letting them go."
"So the whole point is to humiliate SkyClan?" Brackenfur asked bravely.
"Duh, what else?" Thistlestar snapped.
"I thought we were gonna fight them!" Thornpaw growled.
"We will soon. But for now…we're playing them." Thistlestar smirked. "We absolutely have control over them."
Thunder followed his brother and Lightning Tail where they edged along the Twolegplace fence to avoid trouble. Even if they would eventually have to go into the heart of ThunderClan territory. "See anything?" Thunder asked them.
Lightning Tail was silent as he sniffed around, but Air Leap perked his ears and meowed, "I smell a rogue. A she-cat."
"Maybe she's seen them!" Lightning Tail exclaimed, hopefully.
They all looked around, but couldn't see any cat. "She's gone now," Thunder sighed.
"You sure about that, kit?"
Simultaneously, the three SkyClan toms looked up to see an orange tabby in a tree of one of the Twoleg gardens.
"What're you doing in there? You're not a kittypet," Lightning Tail meowed, bluntly.
The she-cat rolled her eyes, but had a smile on her face. "I'm Swift. What's up with you guys?" She asked, jumping down in front of them.
"I'm Thunder and these are Air Leap and Lightning Tail. Have you seen a tortoiseshell? She has green eyes and a short tail," Thunder asked.
"No."
"What about four kits with four toms?" Air Leap asked. "The kits are fluffy white, tortoiseshell and two gray ones, one has tabby stripes."
"No…" Swift meowed, frowning. "I can help you find them."
"Really? Why would you get involved in Clan business?" Lightning Tail asked.
"Because I've heard so many stories from BloodClan. And Slash's group," she meowed and then sniffed. "They're both idiots."
"Okay, who the hell is BloodClan? There are only five Clans. Not six," Thunder meowed.
Swift shrugged and meowed, "Maybe they're a knock-off."
The three toms stared at her blankly.
"You don't know what that means, do you?" She sighed then shook her head. "Whatever. We should hurry and find the mother and these kits of hers. Everyone with a brain cell knows how bad ThunderClan is."
"True that," Air Leap sighed and they continued edging along Twolegplace, hoping the kits and Turtle Tail would suddenly bound out towards them.
"Who's Slash?" Lightning Tail suddenly asked after a few minutes of walking in silence. "You mentioned that name."
"He's just the leader of some rogues that live somewhere in Twolegplace. I heard they live with BloodClan now, but still run their groups separately."
"Are they…good or bad?" Air Leap asked.
"I'm not sure." Swift shrugged. "But any group who names themselves 'blood' sounds like bad news."
"That's true. Although I for one think ThunderClan should have BloodClan as their name. They can't be as bad as Thistlestar's Clan."
As the other three talked, Thunder kept a lookout for Cloud Tail's fluffy white pelt which would probably be the most distinctive. Wherever Fire Heart's nephew was he was sure his littermates would be with him.
We'll find them all and bring them home soon. Gray Wing has nothing to worry about.
Graystripe hovered in the nursery entrance, watching as Darkstripe dropped Sparrow Fur~as she had claimed her name was~down.
Her brothers, Owl Eyes and Cloud Tail~who looked nothing like his siblings~looked around the nursery with wide eyes.
Pebble Heart just sat there calmly. "Why are we in ThunderClan?" He suddenly asked. He seemed to be smarter than most kits.
"Goldenflower can't take care of them," Tigerclaw, who had followed them to the nursery growled. The kits shrank away from him. "She has to take care of our kits."
"We don't need anyone to take care of us!" Sparrow Fur spat and swat at Darkstripe's muzzle. Graystripe purred. She was definitely Turtle Tail's daughter.
"Well, then all you have to do is wait for her to arrive," Tigerclaw meowed silkily.
"Okay," Owl Eyes exclaimed. He jumped on Cloud Tail.
"I'll watch them," Brindleface muttered from her nest. Her eyes were close to a glare as she stared at Darkstripe and Tigerclaw. She swept her tail over Turtle Tail's kits and pulled them closer to her own. They seemed the same age as Ashkit and Fernkit.
"Who are you?" Ashkit asked Cloud Tail.
"I'm Cloud Tail."
"Can we talk to Jackdaw's Cry?" Owl Eyes suddenly asked. Brindleface tensed as Tigerclaw growled, "no." Before he left.
Owl Eyes sagged in disappointment.
"It's okay." Brindleface forced a purr. "Your mother will be here soon."
Speckletail nearby was curled around Snowkit, eyeing the SkyClan kits worriedly.
Graystripe backed out of the nursery. They would be fine. And once Turtle Tail came to fetch them they'd feel even better.
As they neared the Owl Tree, Thunder realized something was off. There wasn't a single patrol in sight.
He shook it off. At least they could search in peace.
"Wouldn't they have taken them to their camp?" Air Leap asked.
"I suppose. But I'd rather they left them somewhere in the woods to make Turtle Tail panic," Thunder growled in disgust.
"Then we'll keep searching, no biggie," Swift meowed, starting up the Owl Tree.
"I wouldn't go up there. I heard an owl lives there!" Lightning Tail called.
Swift squeaked in alarm and jumped down.
"Hello, all!"
The four cats jumped and turned to see River Ripple.
"Oh, it's you! Thank StarClan!" Air Leap gasped.
"We've been expecting ThunderClan all day," Thunder explained.
River Ripple frowned. "If ThunderClan hasn't been seen all day, that means they're up to no good."
The three SkyClan cats exchanged worried looks.
"What happened?" The silver tom asked.
"ThunderClan stole Turtle Tail's kits and she went after them! We're trying to catch up before something bad happens!" Lightning Tail blurted out.
"Let's hurry then." River Ripple took off from the Owl Tree and the other four followed.
The trail of Turtle Tail led all the way to the Thunderpath.
"I think she's close by!" Thunder exclaimed, heart lifting. They all burst out from the bush rows onto the verge of the path…
And were greeted with a terrible sight.
Four ShadowClan cats stood over a mound of dappled fur in the middle of the Thunderpath.
"No!" Air Leap yowled and burst forth. The ShadowClan warriors backed away.
"What did you do?" Lightning Tail cried, hurrying forward and burying his fur in Turtle Tail's.
Thunder padded forward to join them, feeling numb while River Ripple and Swift stayed back, staring in shock.
"No," Wetfoot shook his head, blue eyes wide with terror. "It wasn't us."
"It was ThunderClan!" Newtspeck spat, eyes burning.
"They killed her?" Thunder whispered.
The ShadowClan cats exchanged a look. "They ran out onto the Thunderpath to get rid of her…she was too late in moving," Nutwhisker explained.
Thunder finally moved forward and pressed his nose to her pelt and breathed in her scent one last time. She had been like another mother after Hawk Swoop to all the kits.
Lightning Tail sobbed.
Thunder closed his eyes but all he saw was Storm's dead body as he was ripped away from her. And he saw Misty staring with a face of rage as she tried so hard to protect her kits.
And now he was seeing it again.
A mother doing anything to get her kits back. And now she was dead trying.
ThunderClan…why?
But he had to think logically. There was no way they all agreed with Thistlestar. They were just…scared.
"C'mon," he mewed, blinking away tears. "We need to bury her."
"You can bury her in our territory," Tallpoppy, the fourth cat on the ShadowClan patrol, suggested kindly.
"But she has to be buried on our land," Air Leap argued.
"Do you want her kits to see? Will they want to come back if they know she's dead?" Nutwhisker asked.
He was right.
"Okay, let's go."
The patrol situated the tortoiseshell on their backs and headed into their pine forest. Thunder and his friends followed along with River Ripple and Swift.
Soon, they came across a peaceful area under a tree that grew pink flowers, some of which were fallen or still falling.
"Wow, this is a beautiful place," Swift commented, yet she looked nervous of the pine forest in general.
"She deserves it," Thunder meowed, voice breaking. Nutwhisker brushed his tail over his back. It was as if they were all one Clan instead of two and a couple of rogues.
They dug a hole and gently shifted Turtle Tail inside before recovering it.
Lightning Tail sniffled.
"We…we have to get going. We have to get her kits back," Air Leap finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"Thank you," Thunder added.
"Of course," Newtspeck murmured.
"And…give Gray Wing our condolences," Nutwhisker added.
After the said quiet farewells, Thunder and his companions headed back to the Thunderpath.
"I should get back," Swift murmured.
"Thanks for your help," Thunder said and she nodded before she disappeared across the path into the woods, heading to Twolegplace.
Thunder turned to River Ripple. "Do you wanna leave too?"
River Ripple shook his head. "I'm seeing to it that you and the kits make it back to SkyClan."
Thunder nodded.
Lightning Tail was still looking downcast, so Thunder let his brother take the lead and dropped back to comfort his friend.
How much more tragedy do we have to face before we find a way to defeat Thistlestar once and for all?
Gray Wing awoke with a start. When had he fallen asleep? He jumped to his paws and rushed out of the warrior's den.
The camp was quiet and empty.
Rainswept Flower nodded to him in greeting as she headed for the nursery. "Gray Wing!" Jagged Peak called, running towards him. "You're awake."
"Is Turtle Tail back yet?" He asked. Jagged Peak had gone with her but she had told him to help Gray Wing back to camp.
He felt so useless.
He noticed Acorn Fur sitting by the entrance with Ash Blaze, Ivy Breeze and Cinder Flower. Were they waiting for the others to return?
Cloud Spots entered with his jaws full of herbs.
"How's Wind Runner?" Gray Wing asked.
"Fine," Jagged Peak said. "Her kits are small, but strong."
Gray Wing smiled. "Sparrow Fur will want to meet them," he said. "It's about time she had other kits around to play with. Owl Eyes and Cloud Tail only like to wrestle and plan sneak-outs nowadays and Pebble Heart is more interested in the medicine den." He noticed Jagged Peak glance away. "Is something wrong?"
"Well…" Jagged Peak shuffled his paws. "They're not back yet."
Gray Wing's eyes widened. Had the kits really wandered so far away? "Is Turtle Tail alone?"
Jagged Peak shook his head. "Thunder, Lightning Tail and Air Leap should have caught up by now."
Gray Wing felt the ground lurch beneath him. What kind of sick cats would steal kits from their own mother? Brokenstar! Why was ThunderClan acting like that tyrant! He moved toward the entrance. "I need to go after them. I should have gone earlier."
How could he have let Skystar and the medicine cats talk him into resting? Who cared about the meeting when his family was in danger?
"Wait!" Tall Shadow called. She'd been sitting on the Flat Boulder. "Thunder, Air Leap, and Lightning Tail are with her. They've probably found the kits and are on their way home right now. You need to save your strength for the meeting. Skystar needs you."
Gray Wing nodded. Her words made sense. He was deputy and his brother needed his support to be strong. This meeting with Thistlestar could decide whether they could actually come to a truce and have peace between each other at long last.
"Get something to eat," Tall Shadow advised. "You must be hungry."
Gray Wing really wasn't, but he didn't want the others to see how much distress he was in. He walked towards the fresh-kill pile and picked up a blackbird.
Shattered Ice crouched a length away with Fire Heart, surprisingly and Raven Hope. The three toms were sharing a thrush. "There's some pigeon near the bottom if you search for it."
Gray Wing nodded. He enjoyed the sweeter meat of pigeon and nosed through the pile for it. Then he settled beside the other three toms to eat.
"We followed the trail all the way into ThunderClan territory and past," Fire Heart said. "Me and Hawk Swoop, I mean. It seemed like Darkstripe and his friends went towards the Thunderpath with the kits before we lost the trail, then Turtle Tail, Thunder, Air Leap and Lightning Tail followed. I'm sure they'll be back before sunset."
Gray Wing could imagine the kits boasting to Birch and Alder about the adventure of that day. He spotted the younger kits frisking around in the tall grass around the edges of camp. "And at least it'll be something to keep them entertained for a few days."
Tall Shadow walked over to join them. "I'm curious to see how the meeting will go."
Shattered Ice grunted. "I hope Skystar threatens to kill his Clan if they move borders again."
Fire Heart gasped. "That's rude!" He hissed. "They're not all bad!"
"And yet," Shattered Ice began loftily. "They almost killed you."
"Yes, but have you forgotten Raven Hope is formerly of ThunderClan? And Cinder Flower?" The ginger tom hissed.
"So? They're SkyClan now."
"Raven Hope has siblings there. They both have families."
"Enough," Tall Shadow snapped. "It doesn't matter because as long as the meeting goes fine, there won't be fighting."
"I dunno…" Raven Hope muttered and trailed off as Skystar appeared.
"So…what're you gonna say at the meeting?" Fire Heart asked.
"Well, we need to know the reason he hates us so much," Skystar muttered and glanced at Raven Hope for explanation.
"He doesn't have a true reason," the black tom said. "He just wants power, so he bullies the weakest Clans."
"He thinks we're weak!" Shattered Ice spat. "Do we look weak?" The gray-and-white tom was snarling, fur bristling.
Raven Hope shrunk away. "No…but maybe he thinks you'll take that away from him."
"Well, we just have to convince him we're no threat, that's all," Skystar meowed.
Gray Wing tuned them out as they made a plan, wondering when Turtle Tail would be back.
I'll see them all soon.
Thunder burst into the ThunderClan camp, grief swelling up in him once more. Lightning Tail beside him had perked up, looking around for Jackdaw's Cry, probably, but the black tom was nowhere in sight.
ThunderClan were hiding him.
"Where're the kits?" He demanded.
River Ripple and Air Leap stood by the entrance, claws unsheathed.
"Yeah, murderers!" Lightning Tail added. Some cats looked bamboozled.
"Murder?" Brackenpaw asked from near the warrior's den. Thunder assumed he had gotten his full name recently.
The ThunderClan cats stared at them, but no one said anything until Thistlestar appeared. He smirked at them.
"Oh, look who it is. I expected Turtle Tail to come for them."
"Turtle Tail is dead!" Air Leap yowled. "Because of them!" He flicked his tail at Darkstripe, Dustpelt, Longtail and Swiftclaw.
The other three toms at least looked decently shocked and guilty, similar to their clanmates as someone gasped sharply. But Darkstripe just snorted and rolled his eyes.
Spottedleaf was peering out of her den, eyes full of sorrow and regret. Thunder knew it wasn't her fault yet she looked like she blamed herself.
She was one of the only decent cats to me…to anyone in general. How did someone so sweet as her end up as a Clan like this one's medicine cat?
"Turtle Tail's dead?" Thunder heard a cat whisper. Others muttered nervously. Thunder realized it hadn't been part of the plan to get her killed.
"We had to get her off our tail, but I didn't know she was too slow to avoid a monster," Darkstripe hissed.
"We never said a monster killed her…" Air Leap growled.
"Oh well," Thistlestar interrupted with a shrug. "Take your SkyClan kitties and go!"
Thunder continued to glare at him while Lightning Tail went to round up the kits. "C'mon!"
Thunder started towards Thistlestar but Air Leap held him back.
"You wanna try and fight me?" Thistlestar mocked. "Go ahead!"
"Come on, we don't have time for this," Air Leap hissed. Thunder backed off and followed his friends without a backwards glance.
"I can't wait to tell mama and papa about our adventure!" Sparrow Fur squeaked.
They'll never see her again…
Gray Wing stared at the entrance. It was dark by now.
The others were still awake as well, even as the moon started to dip towards the horizon. Tall Shadow was pacing in front of the Flat Boulder while Skystar and Jagged Peak sat with Gray Wing.
Shattered Ice stepped out of the warrior's den. He'd gone to his nest a while ago, but couldn't seem to sleep. He came to sit beside Cloud Spots and Dappled pelt.
Yellowfang and Fire Heart sat side-by-side anxiously and Frost padded over to join them.
"Thunder and the others will be back soon," Cloud Spots said. "I'm sure of it."
"What's taking so long?" Acorn Fur whined.
Gray Wing stood. "I could go look for them."
"No, Gray Wing," Skystar said. "You must wait."
"They must have gone all the way into ThunderClan camp by now," Gray Wing fretted.
"If they don't come back can we launch an attack on ThunderClan?" Thorn asked eagerly. "We could free Jackdaw's Cry too."
"No, and besides they'd probably hide him from us," Skystar sighed.
"What if they're hurt?" Ivy Breeze asked worriedly, only making Gray Wing feel worse. Ash Blaze noticed and shot her sister a glare to which the gray tabby she-cat flinched at.
Cinder Flower leaned over and whispered something to her, making Ivy Breeze relax a bit.
Jagged Peak glanced at him. "Do you really think Turtle Tail would let anything bad happen? Or Thunder, for that matter."
Suddenly, the entrance rustled.
"Mama! Papa!" Owl Eyes was the first one to reach camp.
Gray Wing dashed out to meet them. Thunder and Lightning Tail flanked the four kits while Air Leap brought up the rear. "You're back!" Joy flooded through him.
"Dad!" Sparrow Fur raced to him and bumped into his flank followed by Pebble Heart. He purred and licked them, relief filling his chest. Cloud Tail and Owl Eyes joined them.
"You'll never believe what happened!" Pebble Heart looked up at him, yellow eyes shining.
"We went to ThunderClan. They weren't as mean and they had other kits we could play with." Owl Eyes purred.
"Where's Mama?" Sparrow Fur stepped back. "Mama?" She looked around. "Is she still out looking for us?"
Gray Wing's Heart lurched and he stared at Thunder and Air Leap. Why did they look so miserable? "Where is she?" Had they not met up to search for the kits?
"She's dead, Gray Wing."
Gray Wing didn't blink. "That's not funny, Thunder," he growled. "Don't joke about things like that." He started to push past. "I'll go find her.
Lightning Tail shook his head and stepped in front of him. "We found her body on the Thunderpath. She'd been trampled by a monster. We buried her in ShadowClan."
"ShadowClan?" Gray Wing was struggling through a haze of disbelief. Skystar beside him looked horrified, eyes blazing with sad memories. Hawk Swoop squeezed her eyes shut tight and Fire Heart raced to comfort his friend.
"Killed?" Owl Eyes' gasp made him turn. The gray kit was staring with wide, horrified eyes.
Sparrow Fur blinked. "She isn't coming home?"
Pebble Heart moved closer to his sister. His voice cracked as he spoke. "She'll never come home again."
"Where'd she go?" Cloud Tail sniffled, blue eyes brimming with tears.
"StarClan, I hope," Dappled Pelt murmured sadly.
"You have me," he said softly and pulled them all close again, tears threatening to spill. "It's okay," he whispered as they cried into his fur. "I'm here." He let the tears flow. "I'll look after you," he murmured. "I'm so glad to have you home." His heart felt like it had splintered, pulsing nothing but misery through him.
"I'm so sorry." Tall Shadow's voice was gentle from behind him. But Gray Wing didn't separate from his family. He was faintly aware of the others stepping closer.
"I'm sorry," Hawk Swoop sniffled.
"She was so full of love," Acorn Fur added, brushing against her mother. Lightning Tail stood by them with Thunder, both toms silent with grief.
As the others stepped away, only his brothers remained.
"Turtle Tail loved you very much," Skystar whispered. "She'll watch over you all in StarClan."
"I wish I'd been there for her," Gray Wing murmured.
"It's not your fault," Jagged Peak whispered, nosing his shoulder. "You're a good father and these kits are lucky to have you."
The kits had cried themselves to sleep against him. He moved to crouch down on the ground and closed his eyes as they nestled by his side.
His mind whirled with memories and the image of Turtle Tail's face. Her soft voice. She'd always been there to banish his dark thoughts, to encourage the rest of the tribe and then Clan in the hardest of times. She'd always been so cheerful and bubbly and nice.
But now she is gone.
Gray Wing felt empty inside, like his heart had been ripped out.
He curled his tail tighter around his kits. They were all that was left of her. He'd raise them alone, and protect them with his life.
He looked up when he saw a shimmer and looked into Turtle Tail's eyes, who smiled kindly at him.
He turned away, closing his eyes and the ghost disappeared.
Bye, bye Turtle Tail. One of my favorite DOTC characters.