CHAPTER 14

Stonesight was out on a border patrol with Flametail, Frigidsnow and Hawkshade; Stonesight's tail tip twitched his mother Brightstar's kits where due any day now. Stonesight hadn't gotten a chance to ask Tideripple about Applefang but planned to tonight, Stonesight padded right beside Frigidsnow. The silver point she-cat seemed to bounce with every step she took, her bright blue eyes shined with happiness. Stonesight smirked slightly at the happy she. Frigidsnow always seemed to be in a good mood, even now on this damp morning. Stonesight's fur fluffed up in an attempt to keep himself from getting damp, his bad leg ached from the damp morning air. Stonesight's bad leg had been aching a lot these past few days, when Stonesight had asked Leafpaw why it ached so much his brother had explained it was due to the weather. Stonesight sighed heavily even getting up had been painful as of late, "I don't want to bother Leafpaw with the pain, he's been stressed as it is." thought Stonesight with a sigh. His thoughts brought up the memory of the day before; Stonesight had gone to share prey with his brother when he had found Leafpaw his fur a mess and having eyebags. Swanhollow had taken Stonesight aside and had told him that Leafpaw had been stressing about Brightstar's second litter. Stonesight had then taken Leafpaw out to get some fresh air out of camp, Leafpaw had calmed down after that. Stonesight was brought back from his memories by Frigidsnow who nudged him playfully, "we are at the border mouse brain." informed Frigidsnow making Stonesight give a small nervous chuckle; "sorry…. I spaced off.." apologized Stonesight making Frigidsnow giggle slightly. "It's fine Stonesight…. No need to be so tense." jokes Frigidsnow as Flametail began to order the border patrol. "Alright… Hollyclan has been a bit more hostile as of late, so take extra care to not cross the border even by an inch." Flametail's orders made Stonesight's fur prickle. The patrol spread out to mark the borders, Stonesight began to mark his corner of the border, his thoughts wondering. "I hope Tideripple doesn't get angry at me for asking about Applefang…" Stonesight's fur prickled with nervousness; Tideripple tended to be a bit defensive when it came to her personal matters. Stonesight sighed heavily as he finished marking his part of the border, Stonesight limped back to the rest of the patrol wincing at the pain from the front limb. Stonesight sighed a hint of pain in the sigh, Stonesight reached the rest of the patrol who had finished their border marking. Flametail seemed on edge still "let's head back before any Hollyclan cat accuses us of stealing their prey." Flametail's meow sounded a bit harsh; making Stonesight's ears prick "but it's the middle of New-leaf they shouldn't be having any problems with lack of prey." thought Stonesight as the patrol began the walk home. Stonesight gave a sigh of relief as they reached camp, Stonesight hurried his way into camp; he could see the camp was mostly deserted since most of Blossomclan was out hunting or training. Stonesight noticed his sister Tideripple by the prey pile grabbing a large rabbit she had been eating a lot more as of late. Stonesight's paws itched to go to Tideripple and ask her about her and Applefang's relationship. But Stonesight wanted to ask her when the two of them were alone, Stonesight sighed, heading to where his mother Brightstar was laying, basking in the sun. Her belly rounded with her second litter, Stonesight laid beside his mother; Brightstar licked Stonesight's ear purring lovingly "how's my son today?" asked Brightstar sweetly. Stonesight blushed in slight embarrassment at his mother's affection, "I am doing alright, how are you?" Stonesight was worried for his mother. Brightstar chuckled at her son's clear worry; "me and your little siblings are alright Stonesight…" meowed Brightstar nuzzling her son's cheek fur. Stonesight gave a long sigh of relief and smiled "that's good mom!" purred Stonesight as the two of them began to groom one another. Making Brightstar smile fondly "you have grown so much… It seems just yesterday you were tumbling around the nursery with your litter-mates… And now you are a full warrior… I am so proud of you!" Brightstar's words touched Stonesight making him purr loudly. Stonesight smiled as Greystorm appeared right beside him with a grin; "she's right kid, you have grown so much." Greystorm sounded like he was only half teasing.

…

Stonesight took a deep nervous filled breath before going to Tideripple, the two of them finally had a moment alone. The two of them were outside of camp on a hunting patrol just the two of them, Stonesight had been waiting for the right moment to confront his sister. Now Stonesight thought it was the right moment, "so… About the gathering.." began Stonesight making Tideripple stop walking and turned around. Her dark blue eyes showed instant defensiveness; Stonesight managed to hold himself together under his sister's stern gaze. Stonesight took a deep calming breath, "I saw you and Applefang at the gathering." admitted Stonesight feeling guilty that he had kept this from Tideripple for so long; Tideripple's dark blue eyes burned with anger and defiance. Her fur began to rise "so what? We aren't doing anything wrong!" hissed Tideripple she seemed angry. Stonesight flinched, ears pinning but he kept going "you can't love him Tideripple…." Stonesight tried his best to keep his voice calm; Tideripple's claws came out and dug into the grass below her. "SO WHAT?! YOU LIKE SHADOW?!" snarled Tideripple, her anger growing by the second, Stonesight's fur spiked up at the mention of Shadow. Stonesight growled "Shadow's different!" Stonesight's voice raised as he spoke, Tideripple growled at her brother's words. "ARE YOU STUPID?! IT'S THE EXACT SAME THING!" Stonesight's fur fluffed up and he felt anger burn inside of his belly, rain began to fall and thunder boomed. Stonesight took a step forward "it is not! Applefang is a Hollyclan cat!" hissed Stonesight feeling like he wanted to slash at the grass below him in anger. Tideripple snarled making Stonesight flinch back; "so what?! Shadow is a loner! You can't be mates with her! SO don't YOU DARE act like you KNOW ANY BETTER THAN I DO!" As Tideripple finished she tackled Stonesight in anger, claws snagging into his shoulder fur. Stonesight's eyes widened as he was suddenly slammed down into the ground below him, rain pouring around the two siblings; Stonesight's eyes faced the clouded sky above him. Rain splashing into Stonesight's eyes, Tideripple put her head above Stonesight blocking the rain with her head; Stonesight could see the rain above her still falling and the clouds behind her making his heart more sad. Tideripple's dark blue eyes a flame of anger; Stonesight frowned tears beginning to prick the corner of his eyes. Tideripple's claws dug deeper into Stonesight's fur but not his flesh, "you are… So Stupid! Just leave me alone!" Tideripple let go of Stonesight running off into the rain. Stonesight scrambled to his paws as the rain picked up and he watched Tideripple go in sadness; "Tideripple…." Stonesight felt the tears run down his cheeks.

…..

Two days had passed and it hadn't stopped raining. If anything the rain had picked up becoming a full blown storm. Stonesight's heart felt heavy as he waited with his father Clearheart; Brightstar's kits had started to come this morning at dawn. Stonesight's fur clung to his sides from the rain, he and Tideripple had still not spoken since the argument when the rain had first started; Greystorm had tried but failed to cheer Stonesight up afterwards. Stonesight felt like the fight had been his fault "maybe if I hadn't…. Yelled at her things would have turned out better." Stonesight's thoughts were heavy and sad; a moment later Leafpaw and Swanhollow left the nursery, their eyes bright with happiness. Leafpaw's dark sage green eyes were filled with relief as Swanhollow nudged her brother playfully, "go meet your daughters." Swanhollow purred as she and Leafpaw walked off. Clearheart instantly entered the nursery with happiness in his dark blue eyes, Stonesight shifted on his paws, his emotions a mix of nervousness and excitement.
"Hopefully they'll like me…" mumbled Stonesight to himself as a moment later Clearheart poked his head out of the nursery's entrance, his eyes glowing with love and pride. "Come meet your little sisters Stonesight." purred Clearheart, Stonesight took a deep calming breath; Stonesight nosed his way into the nursery the sweet scent of kits washing over his muzzle calming his nerves. Stonesight's eyes widened and softened with love as he gazed down at his two new sisters; The one kit was a fluffy pearly white and light gray spotted she–cat with light amber eyes. While the other kit was a pale gray color with swirly white stripes and pale minty eyes. Both kits were nuzzled into their mother's belly feeding, Stonesight sat in front of his mother and little siblings. His purr so loud it could be heard through the whole nursery, Stonesight lowered his head to get a better look at the tiny kits. "What are their names?" asked Stonesight, his voice soft and quiet as to not disturb the kits, Clearheart purred lovingly gazing down at his new daughters. Brightstar smiled gently, nosing the white and gray spotted kit "this is Mosskit." Brightstar's voice was a soft murmur; Mosskit nosed farther into her mother's fur making Clearheart chuckle. Brightstar then nuzzled the gray and white striped she-kit "and this is Mintkit…" purred Brightstar; Stonesight smiled brightly, bending down he nuzzled both kits' forehead silently wishing the kits to grow big and strong.

….

Stonesight's eyes narrowed trying to see through the pouring rain; it had been two moons since Mintkit and Mosskit had been born. Since then the rain hadn't stopped, in fact it had been getting worse, now the wind howled like a wolf and the wind whipped up leaves and branches. Stonesight was reminded of the storm filled dream he had been having, the rain had been filling the camp and now the cats were evacuating because of how water filled the camp was becoming. Stonesight was in the center of camp helping to make sure everyone was getting out safely, the wind howled and whipped at Stonesight's face. Making him squint as the storm raged on and picked up, Stonesight's ears flattened to the power of the storm; He went and helped Leafpaw carry large bundles of herbs out of camp. Leafpaw was breathing hard at the labor of moving so many herbs "are you alright?" asked Stonesight worriedly; Leafpaw nodded in response as they made it out of camp to the spot where the clan was sheltering till the storm passed. Stonesight turned back around heading back to camp as he entered he heard his mother's panicked voice raise above the howling wind; "my kits are gone!" The words sent a sharp shiver down Stonesight's spine.