Milk wanted to fight against the truth, but let out a loud wince. She swiftly retreated inside the makeshift Medicine Den. Robin picked the bundle back up, following her swiftly. She flopped onto her side. The first one began to slide out. Robin pushed a stick into her jaws. She seized, letting out a muffled scream. Her whole body shook. “This first kit. It’s a tom!” He licked the kit dry. Milk panted and looked at the kit. It was a white tom with light yellow stripes, and brown points. Her eyes watched in horror as the second one slid out, a small, pale light gray tabby she-cat. She squirmed as more kits came out. “Two more.” Robin meowed. Why… She wanted to cry out. She shook. Soon, two kits slipped out. A siamese tom and a white she-cat with brown paws and ears came out in a matter of hours. “Congratulations!” Robin exclaimed. “Twig will be so proud!” “I-” Milk winced, looking down at the cats. Her heart filled with love. Suddenly, the large tom walked in.

“A-Are these mine?” Twig chuckled. Robin nodded. “Two toms and two she-cats.” He licked them. “They’re perfect.” His eyes brightened with joy as he glanced at Milk. “Names?” “Plank…” Milk looked around, nervously almost. “Plant…” She looked at Robin. “Can you name one?” “Erm- How about… Porcupine for the Siamese tom?” Goldenbreeze poked her head into the den. “And Phil for the other tom!” Ice blinked in his cave. ‘Phil?’ He thought. “Phil?” Twig had thought out loud. “Is that a toad? A herb?” “It’s a Kittypet name.” Whispered Milk as she groomed Phil. “I like it.” Goldenbreeze sniffed the first tom. “I’m surprised that they don’t look like Twig much.” “Um-” Milk chuckled. “Well. Perhaps they all skipped a gene… Or something alike?” The gold she-cat nodded. “Sure, sure.” Twig glared at her. “They’re my kits.” He blindly said out of love. “They will look like me as they grow.”

She shrugged. “Whatever.” Goldenbreeze turned to the Deputy. “Don’t you think it’s weird how Milk’s kits don’t look like Twig?” She whispered. Bearflinch nodded. “Reminds me of the slimeballs.” She growled. “Any in particular?” “The first one…” “Hmm… I think that-” She was cut off as Shadowleg padded into the cave. Shadowleg carried a small vole in his mouth.mm She twitched her stub-tail. “You smell funny.” “I ran into some cats.” He turned, showing fresh scars. Nightpelt/claw, recently joining Rogueclan, looked up. “Clan cats?” “I don’t know… Just two random freaks.” The black she-cat got up and sniffed his pelt. “I recognize those scents…” She swiftly ran outside. “What?” Hissed Shadowleg, following behind her. “They’re from Shadowclan- The Clan I joined Darkthorn in. They’re-” She was caught off as she turned around a tree, colliding with a gray tom with dark blue eyes and a gray, white, and brown she-cat with green eyes.

Shadowleg hissed, and swiftly striked the stranger. “Hey!” The she-cat yowled, as both Nightpelt/claw and the tom fell over. Shadowleg helped Nightpelt/claw up, and glared at the strangers. “Explain.” He simply stated. “I’m Maplefeather, and this is Mousetail.” “Why are you here?” “We’re looking for Darkthorn.” “Why?” “We heard he was in the area. We wanted to see him again.” “Oh! We’ve missed his beauty.” Mousetail meowed sarcastically. “Uh… Should I get the boss?” Cringed Shadowleg. “No.” Nightpelt/claw said. “We don’t need to bring Ice out here. Let’s just bring them into the cave.” “Fine.” Shadowleg kept walking towards, leading them to Darkthorn. The old brown tom was chewing on a cold rabbit leg. Shadowleg sighed. “You have visitors sir.” Darkthorn looked up. “Who?” “Us.” Maplefeather walked into his view. “Mousetail! Maplefeather! What are you two doing here? I thought you lived in Shadowclan.” “Well. We just explored out here.” She shrugged.

Nightpelt/claw blinked. “So you’re not staying?” “Why would we?” “Well… Because Darkthorn is here, and we used to be Clanmates.” “We’re still loyal to our Clans.” She huffed. “I thought that Thunderclan wasn’t even a Clan anymore… It fell apart, remember?” “We’re building it back up!... Well… Trying to.” She murmured. “But you two are loyal to Shadowclan- That’s where you were born!” “Our Clans aren’t doing the best without Thunderclan.” She bitterly admitted. Darkthorn stood up. “Shadowclan can thrive without Thunderclan. I proved that when I was Shadowclan’s leader. Thunderclan was weak, and that’s why they didn’t last.” “But you left!” Blurted out Mapleleaf. “You left before you could see the disaster you left behind!” “I left because I didn’t want to be hunted by the other Clans after they found out what I did.” The big brown tom said. “Well… Half of them are awful now. I wouldn’t blame them.” Ice walked out of his den. “What is the meaning of-” He looked at the two cats.

Maplefeather turned and hissed. “Hello.” “Have we met?” “Maybe.” “Where?” Ice asked. “Where you were younger.” “Shadowclan?” “Yes.” She croaked. “Then why are you here?” “To see your father. Now beat it.” “Beat it? Are you saying to get out of my cave?” Maplefeather nodded. “Or at least to another tunnel.” “What makes you think that you can come onto my territory and tell me what to do?” “Because I’m not here in the long run. I can also beat you.” She chuckled. “She-cats, she-cats, no need to get your tails in a bunch.” Goldenbreeze said. “Who are you?” “Goldenbreeze.”

“Huh. Never heard of you.” Maplefeather shook her head. “Why do you have a Warrior name?” She shrugged. “I don’t know. Bearflinch has one too.” “It was just given to me.” Bearflinch shrugged. Robin padded in. “Who are they?” “I think that’s for Darkthorn to explain.” Bearflinch turned sharply to the old tom. The tom explained that they were from Shadowclan, the Clan he was in before he left. “So?- Are they staying here for a short while?” “They said they’re going to leave.” “Yes. Our Clan will get worried.” Mapefeather chuckled. Nightpelt/claw looked at her, then at Mousetail. “So you’re leaving now? Don’t you miss us?” “Yes… But, we have our own cats to attend to.” The black she-cat perked her ears. “Like kits? Or just your Clanmates.” “Clanmates. We’re too old for kits!” She laughed. “No you’re not! We’re the same age, and I’m not nowhere near too old for kits.” “In my soul I am too busy.” She giggled.

“Come on.” Moustail said. “Let’s get going back.” Nightpelt/claw stopped them. “You’ll visit, won’t you?” “Maybe. Why don’t you visit us? Or better yet, join us?” Nightpelt/claw stopped. “There’s no way that the Clans could forgive my father.” “You're not your father though.” “But I could have stood up for Thunderclan. And I didn’t.” “You were young.” She glanced back at Darkthorn, then at Ice. “Fine. But I need a night to think about it.” “We’ll be back later.” Maplefeather nodded. The black she-cat watched as the two cats padded into the undergrowth.

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Chapter 17: