Thunder sat up and yawned. He was in the elders' den of ShadowClan. Nearby slept the tribe cat, Sun Shadow and in the corner was Fern and her sister, Beech. He wished he had been there with them during the whole rescue. Especially, since nothing much had been happening in ThunderClan lately that required their attention.

Snowkit was getting better everyday and Fire Heart was good at acting like a leader.

Skystar and his uncles had stayed in ShadowClan since Quiet Rain and Sun Shadow arrived and once he'd heard about it, he'd come to ShadowClan too. Air Leap, Ash Blaze and Ivy Breeze had come as well.

After all, Quiet Rain was their grandmother.

But while his sisters left back to SkyClan after talking a bit with Quiet Rain, Thunder and Air Leap had stayed behind to get to know her more.

When he crept out of the elders' den, he spotted his father and Gray Wing curled up in their makeshift nests outside the medicine den as if they couldn't bear to leave their mother. Of course, they couldn't actually sleep inside because then the den would be crowded and Runningnose would get annoyed.

Jagged Peak was in the warriors den though as a warrior of ShadowClan. Thunder thought he might just be afraid to think about his mother's condition.

She was getting more sick

Across the clearing, Russetfur was organizing patrols. "Okay, Darkflower, you're leading a hunting patrol. Take Tangleburr, Littlecloud, Quietpaw, and–"

"I can hunt with you," Sun Shadow interrupted as he squeezed past Thunder out of the den. The young tom must have just woken moments after Thunder. He looked well rested and healthy now. "I'd like to practice hunting in the pine forest."

Darkflower smiled kindly. "The more the better." Quietpaw bounced over from the apprentices' den to her mentor, Littlecloud's side and the five cats turned and left the camp.

While Thunder wondered if he should offer to help around somehow, snow crunched outside the camp and Pebble Heart emerged a moment later. He held some herbs in his jaws. Air Leap was behind him, carrying another bundle. Ah, that's where Air Leap's been. Thunder had thought for a moment that he had left back to SkyClan.

"I'm not sure it's enough to help Quiet Rain," Pebble Heart meowed to Runningnose, who had emerged from the medicine den.

Gray Wing instantly awoke. "Is she getting worse?"

Pebble Heart glanced at his father. "She's old. The journey took a lot of her strength, and the infection is too deep for our poultices to reach. I'm hoping these old nettle stalks will help her fight it from the inside."

"Are there any herbs left near the WindClan border?" Shadowstar asked, padding over to join them.

"There might be," Pebble Heart mewed.

"We can get them while we patrol," Flintfang offered as he walked past a border patrol on his heels.

"Good," Shadowstar said. "But try to only get the ones on our side. No need to cause drama with WindClan."

Flintfang nodded and soon his patrol disappeared too.

"You seem tired, Pebble Heart," Runningnose told his fellow medicine cat. "Maybe you should rest. I'll go looking for other herbs."

Thunder noticed too, how exhausted his cousin looked. Pebble Heart must have been up all night caring for Quiet Rain.

"I can take those to Quiet Rain," Thunder offered. "All she has to do is chew them, right?"

Pebble Heart nodded. "It might be harder than you think, though. She's a stubborn patient."

"I'll handle it."

He took the stems from Pebble Heart as Runningnose left and Pebble Heart flopped down beside his father. Air Leap followed with his own herbs. They ducked into the medicine den and crossed to where Quiet Rain lay in her mossbed, feathers tucked under her. She was facing away from them, curled up. Thunder could feel the heat pulsing off her body and exchanged a worried look with his half-brother.

She lifted her head and Thunder jumped a bit. He thought she had been asleep.

"Er...Pebble Heart wants you to chew these. They'll help your body fight the infection," Air Leap explained.

Quiet Rain turned away. "Those look half rotten."

"Please?" Thunder meowed. "I know they look gross, but it's good for you."

Quiet Rain looked up at him. "Fine. I'll eat one...if you two eat one, too."

"But I'm not sick," Thunder argued.

"And I rather not eat herbs for fun," Air Leap licked his lips, wrinkling his nose as if carrying them had left a bad taste.

"I meant what I said and I said what I meant."

"What…does that even mean?" The brown tabby muttered as Thunder sighed in frustration.

"Fine." The ginger tom took one and chewed it, trying not to gag.

Quiet Rain laughed. "Not so tasty, huh?" She turned to Air Leap. "Let's see you try and be a brave little warrior."

Air Leap hesitantly licked one up and openly gagged. Quiet Rain laughed again. "Aha!" She said as if she had made a point.

Which she had. Herbs tasted gross.

"It's your turn." Thunder pushed some to her. "Unless you're scared of a little nettle."

Spirit flashed through the old she-cat's gaze. She took them all in her mouth. Chewing, she winced, but didn't break eye contact with them, then swallowed. "Are herbs considered a delicacy here?"

The two toms chuckled. "No, it's just to heal you." Thunder explained.

Air Leap nodded at the rest. "You might as well finish them off."

The two brothers exchanged satisfied smiles as she finished them up.

"See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" Air Leap meowed kindly.

"It really was," she grunted. She closed her eyes for a moment, then took a breath and opened them. "But I hope it works." She looked at the two of them. "I can't believe it. Two different cats. Both my grandsons. But I can see his spirit in both of you."

"And don't forget the jump," Air Leap meowed.

"Oh, yes. We definitely have his super jump," Thunder agreed and their grandma chuckled.

"Ah, he was always an adventurer too."

"Is that why he left the mountains?" Thunder asked curiously.

"I'm sure of it," Quiet Rain said. "Jagged Peak was the same. Both of them would sneak out of the cave, trying to prove they were strong and brave. Gray Wing was never like that. He's always been the sensible one. I suppose it's because he's the oldest." She frowned. "I never wanted them to leave the mountains and Gray Wing wanted to stay, but I sent him away."

"Why?" Thunder asked.

"Jagged Peak left without permission. I was scared he wouldn't be able to catch up on his own, so I sent Gray Wing to watch over him. I made him take Fluttering Bird too because I knew she could never be separated from her brother. And I knew she'd have a better life here." She stared far into the distance.

"And you knew they wouldn't return," Air Leap murmured. "You must have been worried."

She shook her head. "Gray Wing is smart and strong. I knew he'd find Jagged Peak and make it out of the mountains. And I knew Jagged Peak wouldn't want to go back to the cave, even if he could. That kit was stubborn."

Thunder huffed in amusement. "I know that. But why did you stay behind?"

"The mountains are my home," Quiet Rain said. "I was born there, and I wanted to die there. I'm getting old, and I know I don't have a lot of time left. I wanted to see my sons one last time, but I didn't realize the journey would be so hard. Now that I'm here, I wish I'd never come. This place may be rich and bountiful, but it's troublesome. It caused my sons so much grief. It killed many of them."

"Yeah. They worked so hard to fight for their Clan," Thunder meowed and Air Leap nodded in agreement.

Quiet Rain looked at them. "You both love your father very much."

"Of course."

"More than anything."

Quiet Rain had curled up again and closed her eyes, dozing off again. Thunder touched his nose to her flank and Air Leap did the same before they both exited the den.

"My kits are missing!" They heard Holly suddenly wail, making them jump. Nearby, Skystar jerked awake.

Skystar was the first one to reach Holly's side. "When did you last see them?"

"This morning. They were playing. Usually I have Snowbird watch them, but she was nursing her own kits! I thought they'd be fine on their own for a little!"

"I saw them earlier too," Jagged Peak said, his blue eyes wide. "They couldn't have gone far."

"We need to find them," Skystar meowed sharply. "Before something else does."

Thunder and Gray Wing stopped beside Jagged Peak. Cloud Tail appeared too. "Where should we look?"

Shadowstar ran over. "Their scent trail is already gone if they left camp. And there's no tracks. Only the ones left by the patrols."

Thunder's eyes lit up. "Maybe they tried to follow them!"

Shadowstar nodded. "They were heading for the WindClan border. Both patrols."

"I'll follow the tracks," Jagged peak said, starting for the entrance.

"I'll come with you," Holly said, catching up.

"I'll check near Twolegplace," Thunder said.

"Let me come," Cloud Tail mewed. "I wanna help and I'm good at tracking."

Thunder looked at Gray Wing.

"That he is," Gray Wing agreed with a nod.

"Okay."

"I'll check the Thunderpath. Though I doubt they made it that far," Dawncloud meowed, bounding up as the commotion attracted more cats.

"Where should we look?" Gray Wing asked, flicking his tail between himself and Skystar.

"Search the swamp," Shadowstar meowed.

At that moment, Fern and Beech appeared from the elder's den, looking better than they had yesterday.

"What's going on?" Fern asked.

"Holly's kits are missing," Gray Wing said.

Fern's eyes widened. "They're missing?"

"Jagged Peak and Holly are heading for the moor," Gray Wing meowed. "Skystar and I are heading for the swampland area."

"I want to come," Fern meowed. "I want to help."

"Well we're leaving now," Skystar meowed, getting more impatient. Who knew what could have happened to the kits by now.

"I'm ready." Fern nodded, then rushed for the camp entrance. The brothers raced after her. They had a lot of ground to cover. But Dew Nose, Storm Pelt, and Eagle Feather were only three moons.

The trio scanned the ground, eyes narrowed. Skystar noticed a few small dents that sunk into the marshy ground. Had the kits gone this way? He picked up the pace, leading the way along the little trail.

"Dew Nose!" He called through the trees. "Storm Pelt! Eagle Feather!" Gray Wing and Fern shoved their noses into bushes and ferns, and looked around trees.

A small squeak sounded above them.

He looked up and noticed three furry heads, peering down the tree at them.

He sighed in relief and quickly climbed up to them. "Here, get on my back," he meowed.

"Okay!" Dew Nose squeaked and she and her brothers clung on. Skystar ignored the prick of their tiny claws and climbed down the tree as the kits squealed excitedly.

"This is the best badger ride ever!" Eagle Feather meowed. Fern and Gray Wing waited at the base of the tree ready to help.

"Yeah, you're the best uncle ever," Storm Pelt whispered, ever the quietest of Jagged Peak's kits.

Skystar smiled, knowing he'd do anything for his family.

After the whole missing kits incident, Gray Wing sat with Quiet Rain that night. Pebble Heart was sound asleep in his nest while Runningnose snored and sniffled.

"It seems those kits take after their father." Quiet Rain croaked, breaking the silence.

Gray Wing chuckled. "I suppose so."

Quiet Rain smiled up at him. "You always were the gentlest of my kits. Skystar would always try to play with you, but you just liked to sit and watch the waterfall. You've always been so kind and thoughtful." She struggled to sit up, wincing in pain. "I knew you'd find Jagged Peak."

"But I didn't keep him safe, did I?" Gray Wing murmured. "He's a cripple."

"And that's a part of life," Quiet Rain murmured.

Gray Wing thought for a long moment. "Yes. That's true." Especially Clan life. Every warrior knew the dangers. And they faced them without hesitation.

"Don't pity him," Quiet Rain rasped. "He has a mate and kits. He has food and shelter."

Gray Wing smiled. Was Quiet Rain finally accepting that their new life wasn't so bad?

"I've met Pebble Heart," she continued. "But what about the other two? And someone told me that fluffy white apprentice is your foster son?"

"Yes, he's Fire Heart, my former apprentice's nephew but Turtle Tail and I raised him alongside Pebble Heart and his siblings."

"Owl Eyes and Sparrow Fur."

Gray Wing smiled. "Yes. They live with Skystar and I in SkyClan. In the forest."

"You must be a good father too. Cloud Tail talked about you as if you were his own father, but he knows your not, right?"

"Yes."

"You must be an amazing father. Pebble Heart loves you very much too."

Gray Wing nodded. "I've done my best to raise them alone and now they've grown."

"Then you shouldn't spend the rest of your life mourning."

Gray Wing raised his head. "I never said I would."

Quiet Rain was still smiling. "You should find a new mate. Turtle Tail won't be hurt, but if l you find someone else to love…Go for it." She rested her head on her paws. "Now, I'm going to sleep."

Gray Wing watched her for a moment, worried about her rattling breath. He hoped Pebble Heart's herbs worked.