Meadowclaw looked to Stormblaze, surprised at his admittance. Her yellow eyes blinked.

"There was never a doubt in my mind," she said softly, turning to Jayflower without a second word.

Stormblaze, pushed aside by Meadowclaw, offered her a smile. He wondered if the she-cat remembered him. They'd only had a few encounters, nonetheless, he still admired her. Awkward as he was, he knew she was only teasing. The grey and white tom, not knowing much of boundaries and only believing in family. Pulled Meadowclaw into a makeshift hug. "Stormrose is amazing and I will take good care of her. I hope you approve." He smiled.

Hiddenstrike stayed put, knowing that the nursery was no place for him. He may be a father, but Tidebreaker needed to have this moment. Alone with his kits. He remembered the first time he laid eyes on his three girls. From that day on, he knew he was a goner. His girls.

Willowkit tried to flea the scene, but Mapletail got a hold of her before she could run, "Mom!" She squealed, struggled in her death grip. "dad help meeee." She reached out to her father, but Hiddenstrike shot his daughter an evil grin and shook his head. "Traiter." She pouted.

Hiddenstrike did something so out of character, it shocked willowkit to the bone. "Imma join you." He scooped Inkkit and Hyzenthlay into their family huddle and snuggled together.

Ripplestream and Fadewhisker left the nursery to join up with Blacknose and Blizzardkit while Tidebreaker stayed behind and curled himself around his new family. Ocean eyes wide with amazement and love. "They're beautiful. And you, my love, did amazing." He licked her cheek before he looked down at his children. "All bengals, just like their mother." It warmed his heart.

The black and white tom almost passed out, his breath taken from him by her words. He was just about to freak out when he realized something. This was ocelotstride. His rock and now she needed him. Tidebreaker couldn't imagine how painful giving birth would be, but he was determined to sit it out with her, by her side. He needed to make sure that he was her crutch like she had been for him. A determined fire lit up his blue eyes. "I apologize Jayflower, but Ocelotstride and I have to remove ourselves from this meeting." He stated to his leader, hoping she'd understand the importance of the situation. He turned away, catching his sister's and mother's gaze. A silent message passed between the cats and they were off, helping the Bengal queen to the nursery.

Ripplestream curled herself up beside Ocelotstride's face, blue eyes gleaming with pride. "You are strong Ocelotstride and before you know it, you'll have beautiful bundles of joy beside you. Tidebreaker, I need you you to grab fresh moss, Fadewhisker water and possibly anyone else out there willing to lend a helping paw." And with that they were off."

Tidebreaker was back in a flash, knowing he shouldn't be too far away from his mate.

Marshmumble padded into the MoonClan camp, relieving the queen who had nursed her litter in her absence. She stood over the small lifeforms- Hollykit, Cinnamonkit, Amarylliskit, Mistletoekit, Redkit, Pinekit, Evergreenkit. They were just starting out. It saddened the starcat greatly that they would only know her affections fleetingly.

"I love you all so much," she whispered, giving them all a comforting lick. "May the sun always be to your back to warm your pelt, may your endeavors always succeed, and I hope- pray- that the day we meet again is many seasons away."

She leaned back, a sniffle in her gaze, and closed her eyes, shifting back to StarClan, where the dead belonged.

InkKit laid down next to her two chatty sisters, Hyzenthlay and WillowKit. Although the three received constant attention from family members and clanmates, they all had a particularly close bond. InkKit was by far the quietest, but had similar fascinations to the other two. WillowKit and Hyzenthlay were commenting on their clanmates as she thumped her fluffy tail on the ground rhythmically.

Crimsonfox raised his brows, wondering what had been so funny, but then a cool grin flashed onto his muzzle when his yellow eyes flashed toward his sister. "Wow, you know, somehow I expected that eventually," he meowed with a small purr as the fellow found his way to Stormrose.

Singingjay smiled and took a step back from the molly to watch her bound off onto the High Rock.

"No-no I'm...er.. j-just joking..." Ocelotstride's voice grew sarcastic and she flashed Tidebreaker the 'are you kidding me?' look that any molly could give when she was obviously serious. She felt as though she wanted to curl up into a ball and never be seen. Discomfort crawled onto her pretty face, her ears flattening as another couple of strong contractions came upon her. "I can't believe....Ugh-Fadew-whisker...felt-t this....N-never again will I-I." The molly groan quietly, her tail beginning to lash.

Milfoilcloud sobbed onto her sister's shoulder as the cat passed away, the dull scent of death filling the nursery and settling into her own pelt as she allowed her grief to poor out. The kits; mewling broke her from this state.

"You will need someone to look after you now..." She miserably meowed, sniffing as she looked down at them. StarClan, light our paths, she thought, and searched for the strength to get up. She could grieve when the others had been cared for and the kits desperately needed a nursing queen.

Meadowclaw looked to Crimsonfox, surprised at his common sense. "O-oh," she said, before laughing.

"Let's go find our family then- Valleystorm- there's Stormrose. Hey! Who's she leaning on!" Meadowclaw's smile widened and she chuckled. The first of her children to have a mate!

A lifetime of training led her to this moment.

The queen walked up and promptly wedged herself between the two cats, calling over her shoulder. "Crimsonfox, Valleystorm, over here!" she said, giving Stormrose a knowing grin. "Leave room for StarClan," she whispered in her ear. Mapletail's heart skipped a beat at the proclomation. She'd never felt like a part of the mega-litter she was born into- Ripplestream's confirmation comforted her very soul.

"Th-thank you," she said wondrously, as her ear twitched at Jayflower's announcement. She turned, "Sh-should we?" she pondered aloud, wondering if anything could be more important than the scene she took part in.

Hyzenthlay agreed with Willowkit, watching the three cats. "She's twitterpated."

Hiddenstrike let a smile appear, leaning into her side. The warmth radiating from her seemed to calm him.

“Thanks.” Willowkit mewed, stepping a side to huddle beside her sister. “I’ve never seen mom show that much affection before. I thought she hated pda.” She whispered, glancing between her parents.

Ripplestream beamed at them- Hiddenstrike now knowing where Stormblaze gets his personality from. “I’m so happy for you both. My love stretches to you too, Mapletail. You’re apart of the family.” The silver tabby confirmed.

Stormblaze sat beside Stormrose, gazing up at Jayflower expectantly. He would need to get used to displaying his affection but for now, he brushed his own pelt against hers.

Blacknose motioned for Tidebreaker and Fadewhisker to follow him, Blizzardkit on their heels. Tidebreaker hung back to sit beside Ocelotstride and her family. Ocean blue eyes widened, glancing between his mate’s face and her belly. “Are you serious?” Oh starclan, help this poor boy.

Stormrose watched as Stormblaze ran all over the camp sharing the news. She laughed, one of the reasons she loved him so much was because of his kit-like behavior on occasions. While she was a tad embarrassed, her happiness took over and made her forget about all that. She leaned her head against Stormblaze, taking in a breath of cold air to relax herself from all of the excitement. She wished she could stay like this forever.

Moonstar and Emberstar settled side-by-side among the living MoonClanners before the high rock, whispering back and forth a moment before falling silent.

Jayflower nodded and walked her mentor disappear with the stars. She looked at Singingjay. "Thank you so much for your help." She spoke kindly and stood and jumped up to the High Rock and smiled down at her clan. "May all cats old enough to caught their own pray gather at the High Rock for a Clan meeting." She spoke a strong voice. She stood strong with her head high. She waited for her clan to make their way to the High Rock.

"But when they ask, I'll have to just tell them the truth: that you couldn't see," Milfoilcloud meowed, trying to sound like she was making a joke, but her voice broke into a sob half way through. "Sandbreeze, we were supposed to grow old together!"

"Ripplestream, sorry if I made things awkward. I just wanted to meet you and these little bundles of joy." She purred, gazing down at Willowkit with a smile. She was so proud of her kits, all of them. "And you my dear, are beautiful, just like your mother. Strong too I bet." She poked the little she-cat's side, receiving a giggle in return.

Hiddenstrike, a little awkward by the situation, focused his yellow gaze on his mate. Sorry. He mouthed to her, hoping he hadn't made her too uncomfortable.

Stormblaze turned his attention toward camp and yowled with excitment. He raced over to Fadewhisker, Tidebreaker and Blacknose to tell them the good nose and then stopped by his mother and Hiddenstrike to also let them know. He returned to Stormrose moments after, signature toothy grin on his face.

Blossomstar tipped his head at Jayflower. "You'll be a fine leader." He said, before turning away and walking until he disappeared back to starclan.

At first, he thought she was kidding. He hadn't expected to find anyone who could deal with his kit-like nature- actually, he'd never expected to find anyone at all. Stormblaze had never thought about love. The kind of love you feel for someone who isn't blood related or a friend. As realization dawned on him, he couldn't helped but pull her close and nuzzle her cheek with his nose. "I'm so glad! I was scared you wouldn't feel the same! I didn't wanna ruin our friendship." He beamed.

Stormrose followed Stormblaze to a quiet part of the camp, sensing that something important was about to happen. However, she wasn't nervous, she felt safe and calm, like nothing could ever go wrong. She watched him as he began his rambling, and tried to hide a small laugh, finding the nervous habit kind of cute. As she listened to him describing his feelings, she realized that, what he was describing, was almost exactly how she was feeling too. And when he blurted out his last words, she couldn't help but gasp. A smile quickly spread across her face as she stepped forward to touch his nose with her own. "I-I feel the same way." she managed to say, "I love you too"

The bubbly tom-cat was thrilled when she agreed and dipped his head to her companion in order to be polite before he dragged her away. Since He'd started hanging out with Stormrose, Fadewhisker and Tidebreaker had been dropping hints here and there about blossoming romance. All of which, of course, went straight over the oblivious tom-cat's head. His ocean blue eyes met her gaze, cheeks warming slightly at the sight of her. Stormblaze was still confused and entirely new to these types of feelings, but he felt at home with her. Like nothing could go wrong. His smile Faltered slightly at the prospect of actually telling her how he felt. He wanted her to know, but he also didn't want to ruin what they had. "Stormrose I.... well you see. I was talking to fadewhisker and tidebreaker and asking them about it. I was confused and I wanted help figuring it out and..." He rambled on, shifting his eyes to the ground. He started to draw little designs in the dirt. A nervous habit. "I kinda have these feelings, ya know when you feel like your falling and you can't breath, but it's not a bad feeling. It's warm and..." Oh boy, this poor confused boy. "I... your.... amazing and I love you." He rushed out.

Jayflower nodded and smiled. "As for my new deputy. How do I pick?" She looked at her paws and thought about Milfoilcloud. "Should I follow what my heart says or what my brain says? You see I have someone in mind, but how do I know she is right for the job?"

Hiddenstrike finally felt at home. Mapletail had managed to fill the whole in his heart and helped him out of his darkness, but having his family back made it special. He wanted to introduce her to his mother and integrate her into the family dynamic. Ocelotstride was already like a sister to him, even if hadn't been her to witness Their relationship blossom.

"Do you all mind if I steal her for a moment?" He inquired, glancing around at his siblings. A silent agreement passed through each of them and with that, Ripplestream followed after her son.

"Mapletail, sorry to intrude, but there's someone I'd like you to meet." Never before had he shown so much excitement. It was like he was a new cat.

The silver tabby she-cat who looked almost identical to Fadewhisker save for some terrible scarring on her shoulder and face, smiled at Hiddenstrike's mate. "Mapletail, I'm so glad to finally meet you! The cat who conquered this grumpy cat's heart." She teased, Hiddenstrike flattening his ears in embarrassment.

Willowkit had been playfully wrestling with Blizzardkit when her father approached and standing beside him was a glowing cat. She'd never seen anything like it and pushed her cousin away in favor of staring at the cat in awe. "You look like a star." she breathed out.

Sandbreeze smiled, her mind running with Sandbreeze's words as the kittens suckled from their dam. She lowered her head, smelling the newness. Though Milfoilcloud hadn't said it outright, she was somehow right- they did smell like new-leaf.

"Remember when we were apprentices and we went to ancient oak grove for the first time and our mentor told us that the clouds on the horizon were a storm, but then it flew over us and covered us in starling poop, and then they told us the way to get it off was to go roll in dandelions? Oh, I was so mad- I could've throttled that old coot of a mentor. To this day, I can't eat starling," she laughed dryly, the memory humorous and tainted similarly. Coming into MoonClan camp covered in bird droppings and dandelion fluff had been a humbling experience for the prideful molly.

Rattlesong heard Juniperspring's announcement and smiled up at Grousethorn, "Sounds promising,"Hey, want to get out for a bit? I'm sure my uncle will calm down- pretty sure its a family trait to get mad at the small stuff," the young cat said, though she was still troubled that he'd blown up at her. She was barely older than an apprentice- she had a long way to come. The chance to clear her mind and conscience during a hunt with the dead . . . "You could explain how all this StarClan stuff works."

Mapletail did a double-take- still unbelieving in how long she'd been gone. She smiled and answered the tom's query, "Yeah- Yeah, I did have kits," she said, "And I do plan on staying- I think its time. I think it's time to settle, you know? I've had my fun. It almost killed me," she said with a sigh, looking as Hyzenthlay ran off- she went straight up to some StarClan cats. Mapletail's teeth set on edge.

"I know you probably don't want to hear it, but Hiddenstrike's the one who brought me back- he pulled me from a dark place. Wait- I still haven't even told you- gosh. I'm Meadowclaw's sister, Mapletail. Part of that lot. These kittens are your cousins-" Mapletail shook her head, realizing her rambling as she watched Hiddenstrike converse effortlessly with his family. It made her jealous, to see such a family. It made Mapletail feel rotten. But the kittens beneath her feet cemented her love for him, her connection to them. Kits made the lines.

"What's a warrior!?" Hyzenthlay said when the StarClan cat spoke, her yellow eyes focused solely on the object of her attraction; Fadedspot's tail as it flicked back and forth. She vowed, then and there, that such a dastardly object did not deserve to live in her perfect universe. She would catch the tail, and chew it off from the cat to whom it belonged, lest it destroy her family and everyone she loved.

She pounced, missed.

Dumb tail.

Blossomstar sat down beside the High Rock, nostalgia filling his gaze before Jayflower approached. He smiled at Moonclan's new leader. "I know you're ready Jayflower, You're an amazing and noble warrior. Moonclan is lucky to have you." He said, golden eyes flashing with pride. "You'll have to make an announcement and chose your deputy. If you have and fears or questions, please don't be afraid to ask."

'Do I know you?' Questioned the red tom's mind as Mapletail called out his kit name. He shifted himself away from Meadowclaw, somewhat feeling uncomfortable with all the starry cats, and his gaze met the older molly. The tall, but young warrior walked over to the queen, confusion settling into his yellow eyes again as she began to speak to him. "I'm a warrior now...My name's Crimsonfox, but yeah, it's been a very long time," he meowed with a hushed voice, his head tilting slightly with a small flick of his tail. A small grin fell onto his face when he noticed the kits close to her and trying to avoid the awkwardness any farther, the tom let out a light meow. "You have kits now? They're really adorable..Are you planning on staying?"

Fadedspots's light green gaze turned with surprise towards the little kit pressing her paw to a spot on her glistening flank. 'The newest generation,' the long-legged mother thought with a small laugh escaping her lovely voice. "Well, little one, you certainly will grow to be a strong Warrior, won't you?" The StarClan cat meowed with a soothing purr as she flicked her tail playfully at Hyzenthlay's ear. Fadedspots could only imagine what it was like to be a kit now, her death having been a memory of many many moons ago.

Ocelotstride padded through the entrance, her blue-green gaze watching over her former mentor closely, noticing the starry cat's hesitance. "I've learned a lot from you, Juniperspring, whether it seems like it or not...This clan is still your home even if it doesn't feel that way now." The Bengal meowed with such confidence radiating from her smooth voice, giving the molly a soft nudge with her nose before making her way towards the little family. Her gaze fell towards her stomach, although it wasn't much larger than her normal, lithe self, she could feel every now and then small bundles of contractions.

THe glowing Blossomstar spotted Jayflower amongst his clan-mates and approached her with a small smile. "Jayflower! I think we should talk about you being leader now." He said, motioning for the cat to follow him.

Ripplestream couldn't help the smile that stretched across her face, blue eyes glowing with pride. Her kits... They were all so big and strong, some worse for wear but she could see that each other them had found their happiness. "My goodness! You three and Hiddenstrike, kits of your own I see?" She grinned at her moody son, licking his cheek as he went in for a hug. Fadewhisker and Stormblaze sat back to watch the exchange, both of them knowing their brother needed this more than they did.

They separated and formed a little circle by the nursery so they could converse and talk together. "Stormblaze my little fire ball, it was not your fault. Please stop blaming yourself." She said, tilting her head at her eldest.

Stormblaze released the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, nodded. He knew she was right, Fadewhisker and Tidebreaker had been on his tail about it since Ripplestream had joined Starclan.

Blacknose found his place in-between his youngest son and Ripplestream, gazing at his children. He never thought he'd get to see them all at the same time. Usually Stormblaze or Hiddenstrike would come visit him, but he knew Fadewhisker and Tidebreaker weren't a big fan of him being from Earthclan. They seem to have forgotten about their dislike in favor of this family reunion.

"Mom while you're here, you have to meet Blizzardkit and Hiddenstrike's girls. They are adorable and everything Hiddenstrike isn't." Fadewhisker laughed out, recieving a glared from her brother.

"You'll probably be able to see Ocelotstride give birth too." Tidebreaker beemed, puffing out his chest.

Then all heads turned toward Stormblaze. The kit-like tom glanced around at everyone, confusion clouding his blue eyes. "What? Why're you all looking at me like that?"

"Everyone else has given us gran-kits. I'm just wondering when you will." Ripplestream smiled.

The grey and white tom-cat shook his head furiously, cheeks heating up at the prospect. He'd never even thought about kits let alone taking a mate. Although, he did harbor some feelings for Stormrose.. but kits!? He wasn't sure if he was ready for that.

Blacknose could see the distress and while everyone else was laughing, the earthclanner shook his head at the silliness of the situation. "Don't worry son, no need to think about it right now."

Fadewhisker leaned into Stormblaze's side. "You're practically a kit yourself." She said, bring a smile to Stormblaze's lips.

"We'll come up with them together," Milfoilcloud told Sandbreeze, her smile tinged with sadness as she looked up at Sandbreeze. Death was written as clear as ice across her sister; when cats began to smell as she did, even StarClan could do nothing to save them. The only question was how long she might have. "We should give them hopeful names, things they can wear with pride. Things that remind us of new-leaf."

"We can touch other cats, so I imagine we can," Grousethorn shrugged, stepping forward as if to follow Cedarclaw before stopping, knowing that his friend just needed a bit of time to brood in peace-- which he was unlikely to get in the camp that was swimming with dozens of relatives. He'll figure that out on his own.

Mapletail noticed Crimsonfox off to the side, looking just as lost as herself. Hyzenthlay, Ink-kit, Willowkit, and Blizzardkit were still contained beneath her belly. The siamese turned her half-moon face and called out to him, unwilling to approach the intimidating amount of family she had nearby.

"Crimson-kit!" she called him by the only name she knew, as she'd left when he was young. By the looks of the cats crowded around Meadowclaw, him and Stormpaw had been the only ones to survive the battle that they were all returning from. Thankfully, Mapletail had been able to be filled in by a passerby- she was forced into believing them all by the truth of sight in front of her. Ghosts were walking. This was amazing.

"You have grown so much! Oh, you were tiny when I left! How's apprenticeship? Do you like your mentor?" she asked, trying so hard to integrate herself but feeling how forced it was.

Hyzenthlay crept out and began to stalk towards Fadedspots and co. The gray tuxedo kitten's yellow eyes were pointed as she focused on a single spot on the cat's flank, and expertly, she pounced, but gave away her position at the last moment with a mighty, heaving yell.

"Got your flank!" she cried, laughing to the stranger.

Sandbreeze delighted in the news of her kits, though she was able to read between the gently laid down lines of Milfoilcloud's response. She knew there had been three. The pressure near her belly lightened- Sandbreeze stayed silent for a moment, not knowing that it was her father's ghost who picked up the corpse of the kit to remove it. He nodded to Milfoilcloud and the kit's spirit apparrated to lay across his grandfather's shoulders. The roleplayer of the dead cats was having a grand time.

"No, I haven't," Sandbreeze said calmly, though behind her blind eyes, tears formed. She tried to imagine the kittens in her head, but she'd never spent much time around them in her days of sight and she wanted to wail for her immense loss. "C-can you help me, sister? I've been alone- for too long, and I'm afraid I won't be around much longer, even though I want to be. I didn't even choose kits, though I'm so glad- glad they're healthy." she shook her head as her heart began to pain her, but it passed.

"I-I think if you ever end up being asked to raise them, you ought to like the names," she said simply.

Softlullaby leaned in and whispered hidden words in Valleystorm's ear, separate from Meadowclaw and the rest of the family. Meadowclaw raised an eyebrow and yearned to hear, but was ultimately unable- if it was important, she'd find out.

Softlullaby stepped back and lowered her head, looking up to Valleystorm hopefully.

Rattlesong rolled her eyes, "Who says I'm not proud?" she said quietly to herself as Cedarclaw walked away, a frown on her round face. The comment dug deep, even if it seemed only surface-level, even a delayed reaction. She looked to Grousethorn, "Can we even hunt like this?" she asked with a cock of her head. She was a simple-minded cat.

Crimsonfox walked through the camp's entrance just in time to watch Rattlesong start with Grousethorn and Cedarclaw, both were glistening with silver, like stars in the sky, but he found himself alone aside from his aunt. The red color-point looked at Softlullaby for a moment, his sunlit gaze of yellow wondering where she fit in their family, before calmly turning back to watch his mother. He didn't realize just how large their family really was and how small the fellow felt within it too.

Fadedspots watched the families gather as she sat, dear mate of Mambaflurry, long forgotten as generations past. Still, however, her cream pelt with small spots that had faded along her back were still aligned with the silver glow of stars.

Singingjay, mate of Fallowbuck, sat with her daughter, Chickadeesong and spoke. They missed this place, but from the skies Singingjay watched over the clan, her electric blue eyes blazing.

Valleystorm listened as Meadowclaw began to speak, and sat down next to her sister. When she heard another voice, it took her a moment to recognize it was Softlullaby. She stood up and turned around, a sad smile spreading across her face, because while she was overjoyed to see her again, she knew that she would be gone again by the next day. "I'm doing great. Its, really nice to see you" she said, still smiling, picking up on how the nickname Valleyshine probably referred to Ivyshine, her mother's friend when they were kits.

Rattlesong raised an eyebrow at Cedarclaw and ignored Grousethorn's sense. The she-cat had been joking, but her paws still itched for a fight.

"You feeling froggy?" she hissed, scratching her claws in the dirt, "JUMP."

The spirit moved a fern frond out of the way of the covered entrance and smiled when Milfoilcloud finally got the message. He mouthed a gentle farewell before he walked away, his job finished. Sandbreeze would join him soon enough.

At the strange emotion that suddenly quelled within Sandbreeze's chest, the blind cat stirred in her fresh nest and her eyes opened. Her irises were glazed over with cataracts, a completely different monster than the cancer that squeezed her heart and lungs and made it hurt to exist. The she-cat sniffed the air frantically before she recognized the scent- it had been so long. Her heart leapt and she smiled.

"Millie!' she said, her voice changed by her solitude. The trials she'd faced in the loner territories had been like nothing she'd ever known- like a wild animal had ripped into her and laid her bare. Scars clung to her coat like burrs to a badger, and that was even without looking at the tumor that clung to the cat's neck.

"I-I'm so glad to see you," she said.

The spirit flickered, stronger with recognition, and smiled as he shook his head. Once again, he pointed towards the nursery, only this time he brushed up against his daughter's coat with force and began to walk towards it. The game of charades continued.

Meadowclaw let out an exhale, looking across the last living of her litter. The rest had joined her in the afterlife, and after Valleystorm, there would be no more. Thus came Meadowclaw's decision. "I've lived my life and left it," she began once the two were a suitable distance away to speak, "and with my death, I decree the way our mother did with me- Valleystorm, you will be the-"

A calm, shallow voice came from behind Meadowclaw, and the she-cat whipped around to see Softlullaby form from dust and energy. Meadowclaw could've rolled her eyes, but was overjoyed to finally see her mother.

"I think I'll take over from here, Meadow."

"I knew you'd find a way to make an entrance," she chirped, touching noses in turn. Softlullaby grinned, but her eyes were focused simply on Valleystorm.

"How are you, Valleyshine?" she said, calling the cat by the nickname of her kithood.

Mapletail's eyes widened and she gave Stormpaw a jubulant lick of affection. "I'm your aunt! Her sister! My stars, you were the size of a starling when I left! It's- it's so good to- to meet you," she said before she was pulled away by the site of the dead cats entering. She padded towards her kittens protectively, roping Hyzenthlay, Ink-kit, and Willowkit protectively under her belly. On instinct, she also reached for Blizzardkit, unsure and tentative to trust the paranormal shapes.

Hyzenthlay leaned over to Blizzardkit, "Let's go," she said, not at all phased by the StarClan cats. She'd once eaten toadstools and had seen worse in the dreams that followed.

Meadowclaw entered beside Blossomstar, Blazingvalley, Crimsonfox, Valleystorm, and Rattlesong, the bodies buried on the way back. Was a vigil worth it when you could spend the time talking with their spirit instead? She smiled at the home- nothing bad had happened while she was out.

There was so much stimulus- and Meadowclaw would reach all that needed attending to in turn. But in the prying moment, she knew that priority had to be paramount. She looked up at the stars- Softlullaby hadn't made her appearance yet. But Meadowclaw had a feeling she was just waiting for the most dramatic moment to make her entrance.

Meadowclaw loped and turned to find Valleystorm, "Hey," she spoke softly, "May I speak with you for a moment?"

Rattlesong's energy was boundless as she began to roll in the dirt of camp, unable to shake the need to soak it all in while she could. But she relaxed and sighed once she looked across at her uncle. Tentatively, she approached.

"Hey! Good call, going to battle. Very smart," she said to Cedarclaw, only a hint of malice.

Behind Milfoilcloud, a starry shape of a cat much faded tapped Milfoilcloud on the shoulder- a great tom with soft-looking fur and the creamy coat of Milfoilcloud and Sandbreeze, though his relation would be up to the interpreter, as he could not speak, his voice taken by time and failing memory of his descendants. His sea-foam eyes pointed towards the nursery, his expression mournful and expectant, like a priest in front of the coffin, ready to console.

Jayflower knew what she needed to do. She needed to check with everyone in the Clan to make sure they were ok. It may not have been needed but she cared. She smiled and the passing cats and made her way to the leader's den to look for BlossomStar, for she hadn't seen him since they headed out on the battle patrol.

Fadewhisker stopped walking, glancing backward at Mapletail and giving her a warm smile. "I'll make sure the nest is ready for you." But before the queen could continue on her journey toward the nursery, commotion at the entrance of camp caught her attention. It seemed the battle patrol was returning, but some of the cats who entered weren't ones she recognized. Then, a familiar face emerged from the group, a face she thought she wouldn't get to see unless she joined Starclan.

"Hiddenstrike." She breathed out his name, nudging the tom so that he was looking in the same direction.

The large tom-cat drew away from Mapletail, scowling at Fadewhisker before he spotted the she-cat standing at Moonclan's entrance. Ripplestream stood in between Tidebreaker and Blacknose. An odd sight to behold, a glowing silver tabby in between two black and white cats.

"Hey Maple? Could you watch the kits for a second?" He glanced at his mate, an apprehensive look flickered across his face.

Stormblaze stood beside his younger siblings, the happiest smile currently capturing his features. "I'll be right back Stormpaw!" He called over his shoulder and dashed off to meet his mother and father. Fadewhisker close behind him.

Blizzardkit watched in confusion as his mother once again raced off, but he was almost an apprentice now and decided he could take care of himself early on. He shifted his attention back on the newcomers, smiling at them. "Well, Willowkit, Hyzen... I'm gonna call ya tiny and Inkkit, I can show ya the nursery. If Mapletail agrees."

Blossomstar padded into camp beside Meadowclaw and her litter, golden eyes absorbing his home. He wanted to memorize it before they had to go back. A thought occured to him that he would need to say goodbye to Cottontail and his own brother. While everyone filed into camp, the large Maine Coon made it his mission to find Jayflower. She would need to get her lives and then name someone as deputy.

Stormpaw turned suddenly hearing Mapletail's voice, "I- um, yes" she said, a little startled by the sudden question. She looked around the camp for her mother, realizing that she hadn't seen her for a while. "Have you seen her?"

Mapletail watched the she-cat pad away with a mix of jealousy as she invited her in, finding her envy of the pretty she-cat unable to be quelled by anything but her attraction to Hiddenstrike. They had, indeed, come a long way. The she-cat became distracted, though, as she looked towards the calico Stormpaw. Her half-black face was drawn into a quizzical, open-mouthed stare before it clicked just who this she-cat was- her niece.

The she-cat looked away quickly at the realization and smiled politely at Blizzardkit's introduction. "I'm Mapletail," she said with a nod of her small head, "Since Hiddenstrike wasn't going to introduce me."

"I'm, um, fine for now," Mapletail said to Fadewhisker, reluctant to leave Hiddenstrike's side after so long spent together, travelling. Now that they were in the presence of other cats, Mapletail felt like a fish out of water- like being in MoonClan wasn't what she wanted after all. She had been afraid to tell Hiddenstrike of her emotions- but she would be forced to, as the fern fronds of the nursery entrance were beginning to look a lot like prison bars to Mapletail.

She blinked, and the image left, and Mapletail turned and smiled, looking back to Stormpaw. She couldn't take it any longer and approached the two cats.

"Are you Meadowclaw's daughter?" she said quickly to the she-cat.

Stormpaw smiled as Stormblaze introduced her "It's nice to meet you all" she said politely dipping her head. She laughed quietly watching the kits, and it reminded her of when she met Stormblaze when she was just a kit. She shook her head at his apology, letting him know that she didn't mind at all, that was nice to meet some new cats once in a while, before nodding in agreement, "Sure!" she said with a smile on her face.

Stormpaw laughed as Stormblaze flicked her shoulder, and reluctantly stood up to follow him. Seeing him so happy made her smile, though she did feel slightly awkward just standing on the sidelines watching the wholesome moment.

Mapletail regarded Fadewhisker coolly, knowing she was in no place to make arguments or likewise say anything to her. She wanted nothing more than for Hiddenstrike's family to welcome him back with open arms- she accepted that it would take a lot longer for them to warm up to the more alien idea of her. She was the warrior who caused so much trouble as an apprentice. And Softlullaby didn't have the reputation of producing quiet children. Mapletail's anxiety over where her own family was exhausted her- she'd decided a long while ago that she was leaving her sister's cult, but now that she was here, she was unsure.

She smiled but realized with a start as Hiddenstrike moved that Ink-kit was affixed to his back, and that was a long way to fall for such a small baby. She whined in anxiousness and gripped her daughter, bringing Ink-kit safely back to earth and making sure the black-as-night kitten was alright with a few motherly sniffs.

"Be careful!" she warned Hiddenstrike, scolding him wholesomely with a cuff around the ear, "Kits are fragile, don't you know?"

Hyzenthlay watched in disappointment as her prize disappeared, but her eyes alighted when she spotted Fadewhisker's kitten. Her yellow eyes narrowed and she approached, her gray coat puffing up against a breeze.

"Hi!" she chirped, "My name's Hyze- hy- daddy, how do you say it again?" she said, turning to Hiddenstrike.

"Mom!" Willowkit squealed, struggling against Mapletail's death grip. She hated getting bathes, but due to her thick pelt something was more often then not stuck in it.

Hiddenstrike swatted halfheartedly at his daughters attempts at snagging his tail. As much as he complained, he loved his girls with every fiber of his being. "Hyzenthlay, quite it." He said, pushing the kitten over with little force. He chuckled at the hurt look on her face. The large tom then turned his gaze on Inkkit, the quietest of his daughters. Smiling to himself, the new father grabbed the kit by her scruff and then hauled her onto his back. "Can't very well see from back there. How's the view now?" While his daughter sat on his back, he scanned the clearing for three familiar faces. He spotted Stormblaze right of the bat with none other than Stormpaw. He moved his gaze toward the nursery, smiling at the sight of his sister grooming the fur of a rather large kit.

"Fadewhisker!" He called for his sister, who immediately snapped her gaze to look up at Hiddenstrike.

He almost forgot about his terrifying appearance, but the look of shock on his sister's face said it all. He faltered in his steps only to regret ever walking into camp when Fadewhisker's shock turned into an angry frown. "Oh Starclan, Mapletail!" He called for his mate, knowing well that the she-cat wouldn't be able to help much.

"Hiddenstrike!" The silver tabby queen hissed, not knowing whether to be happy or enraged by Hiddenstrike's appearance. She had been devastated to learn of his disappearance and somehow blamed herself, but seeing him now- surrounded by kits nonetheless- made her feel warm. "I don't know whether to scold you or hug you." She murmured, glancing at Mapletail with a tight-lipped smile.

"I vote for hug." Hiddenstrike grinned.

"Mother! Wait for me!" A large Maine coon mix kitten raced after his mother, skidding to a stop by her feet. He gazed up at the new comers and then let his yellow gaze wash over the three new kittens.

Stormblaze flicked Stormpaw's shoulder playful, glad to hear that she was okay. "I'm good, seeing Fadewhisker happy has given me knew life." He said, ocean blue eyes sparkling. His ears perked at the sound of two very familiar voices. He jerked his head to look at the commotion and his jaw nearly hit the floor at what he saw. He stood to go to them, but hesitated before looking back at his friend. "Come on slow poke!" He laughed, before hurrying away to greet his brother. "I can't believe it! You leave by yourself and come back with a family." Stormblaze nearly exclaimed, grinning ear to ear at the sight of the kits. "Who knew big, bad Hiddenstrike could be a father." He teased, easing the tension between his siblings.

Inkkit followed behind her parents quietly, she most likely being the most quiet of the litter. There were three she-kits, her being a fluffy, dark cat with a white splotch on her chest, the splotch identical to her sibling's. All conversations she had already had were short, as she trailed off quickly. The small kit was wide awake, despite walking so much. She stayed with her siblings, listening to them go on about all sorts of things as they arrived at camp.

Mapletail giggled at the scene- Hyzenthlay was sneaking up on her dad's tail, one careful pawstep at a time, silent as a mouse. She pounced and Mapletail had to silence her guffaw.

"What can I say? I thought it'd be fun!" she said, scooping Willowkit to her chest and beginning to groom down the she-cat's long fur. She looked around camp.

"Well, what do you think?" she asked the molly while Hyzenthlay ripped up daddy's tail-mouse, her blue eyes pointing to the camp of MoonClan. The kits had only heard stories.

In the nursery of MoonClan's camp, a new resident had moved in while the clan was out. Or- more than one. Quite a few, actually. Sandbreeze made herself tentatively at home in the semi-abandoned camp, finding it rather easy to prove herself harmless to the few guards. She was blind by circumstance, her coat haggard and wasted, and a tumor the size of a grape hung off her neck like a pendant, the only sign to the sickness that was slowly taking over her insides. Suckling at her belly, a hard birth had seen new life and new death, though the stillborns had already been buried by leaves, the best the blind cat could manage.

She had found her way home only by the will of her heart and the guided notion that forgiveness was possible. Sandbreeze was a lesson in karma. The cat lay dying, slowly, of a curse that could not be cured. And nothing would stop it but death.

"When is everyone gonna come back?" Mistletoekit asked, her stomach rumbling. She sat down and ran her tongue over her shoulder in a nervous habit, "Mama's been gone so long!"

Mistletoekit tottered around the nursery. No one had given her a straight answer about what had happened and it seemed like her Mom had been gone too long for just the dirt place... still, she couldn't figure out what might be happening and couldn't conjure up any idea of a battle, so was consigned to plain boredom.

Meadowclaw let out a sigh, leaning back onto her haunches, "We'll hunt close. Crimsonpaw, yowl if something happens," The she-cat addressed before ducking out into the territory of MoonClan's old-growth oaks.

Valleystorm turned, hearing Meadowclaw call her name. She stood up and walked the few steps to her sister, nodding her head in greeting, "Hello, do you need something?" she asked with a small smile. She gazed into her electric yellow eyes, glad that she had come over. Any other day she might have been annoyed if anyone tried to talk to her or order her around, but with her sister it was a different story. They did not have much in common, but Valleystorm was grateful for any time that could spend together.

Meadowclaw had finished cleaning up the main clearing of fresh-kill feathers and moss scraps. With EarthClan moving in, it was hard to get most housekeeping done in the camp- there were simply too many cats sleeping or in the way to get everything, even with twice the population. Meadowclaw's stipulations that EarthClan cats were lazy gossips proved mostly correct- though they had run off to battle in an instant.

But now, with her own clan and EarthClan off to battle, the camp was quieter than it had been since the flood. Meadowclaw paced anxiously, wondering what to do with her clan gone. A small amount of shame bundled within her heart, along with imagining her family looking at her with fragile opinions of her actions in front of the entire clan.

She stopped her pacing and looked down at her one muscular paw, a feather clamped underneath it. Removing her paw, it flitted up with a gust of humid wind and landed near the depleted fresh-kill pile- only a few frogs lay in the green-leaf ferns.

"EarthClanners . . ." Meadowclaw said as she looked closer at it. It's emptiness disturbed her- with nothing else to do in the camp and a catastrophically small chance that SunClan and EclipseClan would break through the barrier of MoonClan and EarthClan, Meadowclaw's yellow eyes scanned the clearing for someone to send on a hunting expedition.

"Valleystorm!" Meadowclaw said, trotting over to her neglected sister- the only one left, it seemed. The two were as different as night and day and Meadowclaw realized with a start how Valleystorm's seal-point coat was unmarred with scars and how brightly her blue eyes still shone.

"They'll be okay for one night," Marshmumble said with stupid amounts of assumptive bravery, "MoonClan has Fadewhisker and Dewbird. We've got Cottontail who's still nursing- they're going to look after them. I'm the deputy, too, Heatherpaw. You know that," she said, giving her taller son a headbutt of affection. She looked around at the gathered cats.

The she-cat, named for her soft speech and saline warmness in the gray shades of EclipseClan's dingy camp, raised her voice, "You all know what you're risking by coming!" she said, "And I'd like to thank each and every one of you for taking that risk. For every fight we win tonight, that is one more chance that our sons and daughters will survive, free of SunClan and EclipseClan's tyranny. Win or lose, this war will end. Let us depart," she said, finding her mate's dark pelt among the mosaic of fur and battle-ready wariness. She found Honeypaw, picked up her own satchel of herbs that she carried for the medicine cat, and pulled Heatherpaw to her with her tail. She didn't want her son far away from her during the battle, same as Fallenpaw, wherever he was. Flamepaw's death . . . had scarred the she-cat. So had the birth. But Jupiter's influence over her would not be all-controlling, and the deputy felt extra protected as Meadowclaw's family stayed behind to protect the camp.

Rattlepaw looked to Marshmumble as she gave the battle cry, angry that it had not been Blossomstar, before turning back to Crimsonpaw. His speech broke her heart, but she knew that her brother's heart would survive a mere day of separation. "I'm a good fighter," she said arrogantly, "But if it makes you feel better, I'll only challenge cats my own size and I'll run home at the first sign of danger, just like mom wants," she said, a bite to her words before their own harshness made her frown. The patrol began to pull away, and she was already apologizing.

"I'm sorry- I love you. Let mom know, I love her too. And our aunts and uncles and sisters. I'll be safe- I promise," the she-cat's gray head dipped in conclusion until she was swept away to the danger.

Milfoilcloud watched Soulswift and Stagpaw, astounded that the pair could find any excuse for such levity in the given situation.

"StarClan," Cedarclaw swore under his breath, his thoughts mirroring Milfoilcloud's.

Stagpaw crouched then pounced. Leaping through the air and playfully biting at Swiftsoul's neck. "Grrrr!" He growled and pawed at Swiftsoul's face. He had to stand on his hind legs to even reach the other tom's neck. He silently struggled to deal with the other tom's height.

SoulSwift followed the brown tabby to a small clearing in the forest. The spot was close to camp, and the two hadn't walked far. He smiles back at the apprentice, "Yep." Soul stretches casually, ready to begin.