Hello, friends. It has been far too long since I last uploaded, both on FF and AO3, and for that I apologize. I've been distracted by life. Friends. Other stories. Two in particular, though I'm unsure if they will be posted on AO3 or not. Perhaps in the future, when I have more material for both. I recently got back into reading the Warriors books, and with them came a desire to return to this abandoned story. I've improved so much since I've left, and I want to show that to you. I'm still not great, but I'm better than I was. And that's all that matters, that I have improved. In the future, who knows, I might just touch up some of my other stories. Not a complete redo like this, just...easier to read. To understand. Anyway, I've rambled long enough. I think it's time to get onto the story, don't you?

The sky was dark, filled with stormclouds and the rare glimpse of stars. Rain lashed the quarry that Thunderclan called their home. The forest – as well as the other territories – did not fare much better, as was expected. The wails of a birthing queen, muffled by a stick clenched in taught jaws, echoed through the camp. Most cats went about their business, though a few grumbled as they tried to sleep, but were kept awake by the wails and hard-falling rain.

In the leader's den, Jaystar lay in her nest. Unable to sleep, she instead stared out into the clearing, listening to the wails of Cloverfoot. Nobody knew who had fathered her coming kit, and she refused to say. Nobody had come forward, even when it had been announced at the previous gathering three days prior. There had been whispers, rumors, but for the time being that was all they remained.

Their medicine cat, Ivytail, had been with Cloverfoot for a while now. 'Surely the kit must be close by now?' she thought, ear flicking in worry. After a few moments she stood, her deputy, Brackenfur, stirring. There was little room in the warrior's den, and being the kind-hearted cat he was, he had volunteered his nest as space for the soon-to-be warrior, Echopaw. It was commendable, though she would never say it to his face. He was insufferable enough as it was, even if he only acted that way to get a rise out of her and was always careful not to go too far. It didn't help they were mates, which meant he knew exactly how to go about that.

"Where are you going?" he asked quietly, Jaystar glancing back at him.

"I'm going to make sure Cloverfoot is okay," she answered. "I'm worried."

"You have kits once, and suddenly you're an expert on how long kits take to come?" he playfully asked, Jaystar glaring at him. After a moment she sighed, sitting down.

"No," she said, looking down at the floor of the alcove. "But I'm still worried."

"She'll be fine," Brackenfur reassured her, standing and padding over. He nudged her with his head. "Your sister is strong. Just like you, Jay."

Jaystar rolled her eyes. "Starclan above, you know I hate it when you call me that," she muttered.

"I thought you liked it," Brackenfur replied, mock hurt in his voice. She looked over at him, unable to help the smile that touched her muzzle. Yes, he knew how to get a rise out of her, but he knew exactly how to make her feel better, too.

"Sometimes," she conceded, blinking warmly at him. He returned it, and in the same moment the wailing quieted. They both perked up, turning their heads and padding forward. They stuck their heads out, looking down towards the nursery, neither caring about the rain. A quick glance around revealed quite a few other heads poking from dens. After a few moments Ivytail stuck his head out of the den, but came no further.

"Cloverfoot is okay," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear him. Jaystar closed her eyes as relief swamped through her. With a flick of her tail telling Brackenfur to stay where he was, she bound down the path to her den and quickly made her way to the nursery. Ivytail stepped back inside as she appraoched.

As she stepped inside, she was relieved to see Cloverfoot breathing deeply, the stick she'd been clamping down on a kitstep away. Looking down at the now-suckling kit, she was surprised to see its fur was a very clear red. A black back and a striped tail held the same coloration.

"No clan cat I know has a pelt like that," she said, looking to her sister. Cloverfoot gave away nothing, looking up at Jaystar with a smile. She couldn't help but return it. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Thank you," her sister replied, looking down at her kit. "I think I'll call him Waspkit."

"A fitting name," Ivytail said, his eyes bright with adoration and relief. A frown very briefly touched Jaystar's muzzle, though it shifted back to a smile before either cat noticed. She wasn't surprised he'd never gotten over his crush on her sister back when they'd been apprentices. She was glad that he was able to ignore it and fulfill his duties, however.

She couldn't hold it against him. You could not help falling in love, or who you fell in love with. Starclan knew she understood that.

"Is there anything else you need to do, Ivytail?" she asked, the medicine cat looking at her with surprise in his eyes for a heartbeat.

"No, Jaystar," he answered. "I've done all I can."

"Good," she said, looking back down at her sister.

It took a moment for him to take the hint, though as soon as he did he let out a quiet, "Right," and walked out before running for his den. Alone, Jaystar lowered herself so that she was laying in front of her sister.

"Tell me the truth, Cloverfoot," she said. "Who is Waspkit's father?"

Cloverfoot didn't answer for a long moment, as if she hadn't heard the question. She simply stared down at her kit.

"Cloverfoot," Jaystar repeated. Her sister finally looked up at her. "Who fathered him?"

"I can't tell you," she said. Jaystar blinked, taken aback.

"Why not?" the she-cat asked, confused. "Is he threatening you? If he is I'll-"

"No, I'm not being threatened, and I'm not in danger," Cloverfoot reassured her. "But I promised I wouldn't tell, and so I won't."

Jaystar felt a flash of anger heat her fur. "Cloverfoot, tell me who Waspkit's father is," she ordered, her tone leaving no room for misinterpretation.

"No," the queen replied. "I'm sorry, Jaystar. You're my sister, and I love you, but I will not break my vow for you. You would do the same in my position."

"Yeah," Jaystar conceded. "I know. Just...I just need to know you're safe."

"I am," Cloverfoot replied. "You don't have to worry."

"I'll always worry," Jaystar said, leaning forward and licking the top of her sister's head. "That's my job as your leader and your sister."

Cloverfoot laughed. "Get back to your den," she said, smiling warmly. "You need some sleep."

"I'll come see you again in the morning," Jaystar said, Cloverfoot nodding in response. Jaystar turned and padded out, quicly making her way back to her den. Brackenfur was waiting in the nest, tail flicking idly.

"Hey there," he said, happy to see her return. "You're wet."

"That happens when it rains," she replied, laying down on the nest and closing her eyes. Now that Cloverfoot's kit had arrived safely, she found herself suddenly exhausted.

"Well, that won't do," Brackenfur said, and before she could tell him it was okay he was licking her dry. She couldn't find it in her heart to complain, but she surprised even herself when she started to purr. Brackenfur just kept licking, and before she knew it she was drifting off.

Ivytail sat in his den, sorting herbs and putting old, dry ones in a pile to be discarded. Herbs were plentiful this Greenleaf, so he could afford to be picky, but he would have to stop come Leaf-fall. 'Only two more moons,' he thought, sighing to himself. Oh, if only Greenleaf could last forever.

He shook his head, looking outside. A smile touched his muzzle when he saw Waspkit playing with Brownkit. It had been two moons since they had been born, only days apart. Both had quickly become close friends once they'd opened their eyes and started moving around, and he was relieved at how well the other cats treated Waspkit.

It was a matter of time before he started to question things, though. And Starclan help Cloverfoot having to explain why he didn't have a father like Brownkit did. Or anybody he asked.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by a small weight bumping into him, the tom looking down to find Waspkit standing up after seemingly being knocked away by Brownkit's playfighting. He looked around, tilting his head curiously, then looked up and locked gazes with Ivytail. He hunched down in reflex, eyes widening.

"I'm sorry!" he squeaked, turning so that he faced the larger tom and scurrying backwards. Ivytail couldn't help but mrow! with laughter.

"It's alright, Waspkit," he said. "What are you and Brownkit playing?"

Sensing he wasn't in trouble, the kit's eyes lit up with excitement. "We're pretending to be warriors!" he exclaimed as Brownkit trotted over. "We're fierce!"

"Yeah!" Brownkit said, lightly batting Waspkit's ear. The red-furred kit squeaked and leapt at him, bowling his friend over. Ivytail chuckled in amusement.

"Why don't you two go be warriors outside," he suggested, both kits pausing and looking at him. "I'm trying to count herbs."

"Oh, right. Sorry," Waspkit said, turning and scampering out. Brownkit echoed Waspkit's apology, then followed. Ivytail smiled as they left, amused by their energy.

"Starclan above, I can only hope to have that kind of energy," he said to himself, going back to sorting herbs. His ears were strained for their inevitable return. They were a curious pair, only made worse by their shared wonder about everything.

It was well past sun-high by the time he finished sorting his herbs, making a note to retreive more tomorrow, when he had more time. He proceeded to return the fresh herbs to their store. As he was putting a bundle of borage away, he heard a screech of pain. He dropped the leaves and whipped his head around, rushing out of his den.

Waspkit lay on the ground, writhing in pain. Brownkit stared in horror, looking up at Ivytail as he rushed over. Cloverfoot stuck her head out of the nursery, and as soon as she laid eyes on Waspkit her eyes widened and she ran over.

"What happened?" she asked, fear in her voice.

"I don't know," Ivytail said, staring down at Waspkit and trying to figure out what was causing it. "He doesn't look hurt."

"We...we were being warriors," Brownkit whimpered. "We were just playing, and then a wasp came out of nowhere and landed on him. He tried to bat it away and it stung his face."

Ivytail looked at Cloverfoot, nodding his head. "Bring him into my den," he said, turning and hurrying back to his den. Cloverfoot bent down and picked Waspkit up by the scruff, carrying him towards the crack in the cliff face as Brownkit followed her, worried for his friend.

"Will he be okay?" Brownkit asked as he followed Cloverfoot into the medicine cat den.

"He'll be fine," Ivytail said, retrieving blackberry leaves, dandelion, and marigold. He also snagged a bit of celandine, just in case, though he would only apply that if the eye had been stung or the area around it had been stung.

"Are you sure?" Cloverfoot asked worriedly, setting her kit down.

"Of course," Ivytail answered, blinking reassuringly. "Hold him still."

Cloverfoot held Waspkit down with a paw as Ivytail leaned his head down, investigating for where he had been stung. Unable to find anything, he looked at Brownkit.

"Where did you say he was stung?" he asked, the kit silent for a moment.

"I...I'm not sure," he said. "I couldn't tell, aside from it was on his face, next to his eye."

"Alright, we need to get a look at his eye," Ivytail said. "But we can't force it open. We'll have to wait until he opens it on his own. For now, we wait."

Ushering the two worried cats out, Ivytail sat down next to Waspkit and watched him, waiting for him to open his eyes.

The sun was starting to lower in the sky, and Ivytail had gone back to putting the remaining herbs away. He was finishing up when he heard a tiny, weak meow of confusion. He turned his head, noticing Wapkit raising his head.

"Where am I?" the kit asked, looking up as Ivytail peered down at him. "Ivytail?"

"It's alright," the tom said reassuringly, noticing only the kit's right eye was open. "Can you open your right eye?"

"It hurts," Waspkit whimpered, Ivytail smiling softly.

"I know," he said. "But I need to look at it, and I can't unless you open your eye."

"Oh, okay," Waspkit replied. He didn't do anything for a moment, then winced as he slowly opened his eye. The corner of it was pink, Ivytail frowning.

"It seems the wasp stung you in the eye," he said. "But, luckily for you, they don't leave behind stingers. You can still see?"

"Yeah," Waspkit answered.

"Good," he said. "I'll give you some herbs, then keep you in here for a day or two to keep watch, but from what I can tell you're not in any danger. But next time, try not to bat at a bee or wasp that's on your face."

"I won't," the kit said, laying his head back down. "I was really looking forward to playing with Brownkit."

"You'll have plenty of time to play with your friend when you're better," Ivytail said. "It's only a short while. It's not like neither of you will be here tomorrow."

"I know," Waspkit said. He was silent for a moment, Ivytail starting to chew up the herbs he'd pulled out to treat Waspkit with. "I have a question."

'Oh Starclan, don't do this to me,' he thought, closing his eyes. Spitting out the poultice, he approached Waspkit. "What's that?" he asked, carefully applying the poultice around his eye.

"All cats have fathers, right?" Waspkit asked. He froze, silent a moment.

"Uh, yeah," he hesitantly said, making sure he hadn't gotten the poultice into Waspkit's eye. Nodding to himself, he went about crushing the celandine.

"So, where's mine?" Waspkit asked, Ivytail pausing in his task and looking over at him. "And who is he?"

"I don't know, Waspkit," he said after a moment. "Wherever and whoever he is, though, I'm sure he loves you."

"What if he doesn't know I exist?" Waspkit asked, making the medicine cat falter.

"Uh, well, I'm sure he does," he answered. "It wouldn't be difficult to figure out."

Waspkit was silent a long moment, then raised his head. "I know medicine cats are forbidden, but..."

"No, Waspkit," Ivytail said. "If I were your father, I would have stopped being a medicine cat."

"Even without an apprentice?" Waspkit asked, as if surprised.

"Yes," he answered. "I was close to your mother, at one time, but we both moved on and accepted our duties. If I broke the code, I would admit to it. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Waspkit said. "It's not your fault."

"Knowing something isn't your fault doesn't help you feel any less guilty when you feel like it is," Ivytail replied. "Every cat learns that at some point."

"I understand," the red-furred kit said. They both fell silent, Ivytail going back to what he had been doing. When he was done he trickled the juice into Waspkit's eye, the young tom doing well at not flinching away from it, as well as keeping his eye open.

"You're a good patient," Ivytail said playfully. Sundown was approaching. "Let's hope I don't have to see you frequently."

"Yeah," Waspkit agreed. Ivytail smiled faintly, then flicked the kit with his tail.

"Don't hesitate to wake me if you feel there's something wrong," he said. "I'll go tell Cloverfoot I'm done. I'll bring you some fresh-kill on my way back."

"I like voles," Waspkit said. Ivytail mrowed with laughter, walking out of the den and padding to the nursery.

He rather liked Waspkit. He had a feeling the red-furred tom would make quite the warrior.