~One Moon Time Skip~

“Let all cats old enough to hunt their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting!” Moonstar gazed down at his clan, feeling the importance of the day. It was time to name new apprentices, and he could feel the anticipation in the air as the cats below waited for the names to be called. It would do the clan some good to have the hope of new apprentices.

“Mistkit, Flamekit, Foxkit, Yellowkit, Firekit, Mudkit, Swiftkit, and Redkit, step forward.” The silver tabby smiled down at the young cats, remembering his own apprentice ceremony. The excitement that hung over the eight to-be apprentices was almost tangible as the clan shifted and waited around them.

"From this day forwards, until she has earned her warrior name, this apprentice will be known as Mistpaw. Gorsefang, your wit and humor are admirable traits, and I’m sure that you will teach all you know to your apprentice.”

"From this day forwards, until she has earned her warrior name, this apprentice will be named Flamepaw. Moonfur, despite your young age you have already shown yourself to be a capable warrior and a reliable cat. Use these traits as you train your apprentice.”

"From this day forwards, until he has earned her warrior name, this apprentice will be called Foxpaw. Darkleaf, you have proven yourself time and time again with your perseverance and kindness. I know that you will pass on all of this and more to your apprentice.”

"From this day forwards, until she has earned her warrior name, this apprentice will be known as Yellowpaw. Crowrush, you are a determined warrior, and I trust that you will teach your strength and more to your apprentice.”

"From this day forwards, until she has earned her warrior name, this apprentice will be called Firepaw. Mossheart, your bravery and courage are powerful attributes. May your apprentice benefit from your guidance.”

"From this day forwards, until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be known as Mudpaw. Ox, in the time you have been with us you have worked hard and helped your clanmates. See that you share your compassion with your apprentice in the coming moons.

"From this day forwards, until she has earned her warrior name, this apprentice will be named Swiftpaw. Snowberry, you are a responsible warrior with a deep understanding of the warrior code. May you teach your determination and skill to your apprentice.”

"From this day forwards, until he has earned her warrior name, this apprentice will be called Redpaw. Patchtail, your energy and enthusiasm has served your clan well through the moons. Watch over your apprentice as tirelessly as you have helped your clanmates in the past.”

Leaping down from the Highledge, Moonstar smiled as mentors and apprentices touched noses, chanting their names with the rest of the clan.

“Mistpaw! Flamepaw! Foxpaw! Yellowpaw! Firepaw! Mudpaw! Swiftpaw! Redpaw!”

Darkleaf barely registered Mistpaw and Foxpaw leaping about in excitement, still overjoyed that she had been picked to be Foxpaw's mentor. This is it! I can finally make the Clan proud!

The ginger tom ran towards her and nearly crushed his nose against hers. "Darkleaf! I can't believe you're my mentor! Can we have double training sessions with Gorsefang and Mistpaw?! We can beat them in fights!"

The black she-cat purred and meowed, "I'll work something out with Gorsefang. For now, I think I'll take you exploring on the border with WindClan. How does that sound?"

"Awesome!"

Mistpaw was just about to reach up to touch her nose to Gorsefang's when she overheard Darkleaf's plan. "Aw! That means we're stuck on ShadowClan's border, doesn't it Gorsefang?" She shrugged and added, "It's okay! I can take the smell! Maybe I'll put more scent markers than you will!" Her eyes challenged her new mentor.

Brightwhisker sat towards the front of the gathered cats, watching sadly, but proudly as one by one, her kits left her side. No longer kits any more- but apprentices. It was hard to face the fact that she would not be able to always keep an eye on them anymore, however was very happy to see how much they had each matured from kithood. StarClan, guide them all.

Suddenly, a small pang of sadness creeped into her mind, her smile faltering for only a moment. Sweetkit was supposed to be up there with them. Are you watching, my sweet girl? Will you watch over your siblings? The ginger she-cat let out a little sigh, replacing the smile as if nothing had happened. She cheered along with the other cats- not only for her children, but the other apprentices as well.

So many new apprentices! Even Ox got one!

“I don’t think so!” Gorsefang shot back, putting a mock sassy spin on his tone. Swishing his tail around as if to swat his new apprentice’s ears, the tom grinned, sending a wink in the direction of Darkleaf. Our first apprentices!

“Hey, Mistpaw, come here.” The tabby lowered his voice, beckoning for the she-cat to come closer so she could listen. “I bet... that you...”

“-CAN’T EVEN BEAT ME OUT OF CAMP!” With that, the tom turned around and booked it out of the tunnel, heading in the direction of the Shadowclan border.

--

“Congratulations, Mudpaw!” Ox mewed, touching noses with the young tom. “I’ll do everything I can to answer your questions. Is there a place you’d like to start training?”

Noticing Brightwhisker beside him, he swept his tail along her flank, pressing his cheek against hers. “Look at our kits,” He purred softly, watching their children with proud blue eyes. There was something bittersweet in them as his thoughts turned to Sweetkit.

“She’ll always be with us, Brightwhisker. I think she’s just as proud of her siblings as we are.”

~Another Moon Skip~

The sun was in the middle of the sky when Moonstar emerged from his den, gaze taking in the camp. Padding forward, he scaled the Highledge, yowling out for a clan meeting.

“We have four cats to welcome into the lives of warriors today,” He began, voice echoing through the camp. "Frostpaw, Elmpaw, Darkpaw, and Littlepaw, step forward.”

“I, Moonstar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Frostpaw, Elmpaw, Darkpaw, and Littlepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

The four apprentices stared up at him steadily, mewing in a chorus, “I do!”

“Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior names. Frostpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Frostear. Starclan honors your consideration and commitment, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan.”

“Elmpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Elmnose. Starclan honors your spirit and conviction, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan.”

“Darkpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Darkwhisker. Starclan honors your honesty and your quick-thinking, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan.”

“Littlepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Littlefoot. Starclan honors your resourcefulness and your graciousness and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan.”

Resting his head on each of the new warriors’ heads, the leader smiled at the four cats, dipping his head in congratulations. The clan around him picked up the chant, yowling the new warriors’ names in unison. "Congratulations!"

(( Congratulations, apprentices, warriors and mentors! Thunderclan is now caught up on the two moon timeskip. ))

"Come on, Foxpaw. Nursery duty."

"Again?!" Foxpaw whined with distaste. "There are too many kits in this Clan!"

Darkleaf lightly swatted his ear with her tail. "It's only Stormkit and Ashkit now. They don't even make as much mess anymore." Leading the way into the nursery, the black she-cat greeted Robinheart with a purr.

"Hello, Robinheart! Foxpaw's here to clear the nest."

She moved aside to let Foxpaw in. He was muttering, "Thank StarClan Mudpaw and his littermates became apprentices. Or else I'd be worse off."

"Foxpaw!" Darkleaf hissed at him, then glanced at Robinheart apologetically.

The ginger tom moved quickly, concentrating on the job at hand. "At least my mother and father taught me how to clean up in case you made me do grunt work like this, Darkleaf."

My mother...My father taught me...

Those words never ceased to make Darkleaf's heart ache a bit. She murmured half to herself, half to Robinheart, "He's lucky to have his parents...All I have are names and whatever stories the Clan tells me. Only their names...

"Rowantail and Kestrelbeak..."

Crowrush looked up in shock as he was named as mentor to Yellowpaw, he allowed himself a purr and trotted over to touch noses with his new apprentice, pride obvious in his stance, the normally grouchy tom was almost shivering with excitement, his first apprentice!

~Moon skip >:3~

((HONEY >:3))

Elmpaw quivered with excitement, it was finally time! After fifteen moons she was finally about to become a warrior! As her name was announced she almost cried out, her eyes shining she turned around to look for her siblings and parents proudly, grief stabbing her but unable to ruin her mood at Sparktail’s absence.

Crowrush watched the ceremonies as Elmnose, Frostear, Darkwhisker and Littlefoot were named. He felt a breeze stir his fur and parted his jaws slightly, a strange scent catching his attention, with a hiss he slid out of camp, crouching low, eyes narrowed near the entrance.

Honey padded along, her leg still throbbed a little but less so, it was slightly infected and her movement was hampered. Sweetpaw had stayed with her as she tried to heal her leg and eventually they had agreed to return to Sweetpaw’s home, which Honey could only assume she missed dearly. She could hear the meows and caught the scents of many cats as she padded, a little nervously towards the camp. A black shape leaped from the shadows and she screeched in surprise, leaping back furiously to try and free herself from the vicious assault, he was unrelenting, slashing at her face as he tried to drive her back. With a furious screech she leaped, scoring her claws across his face and drawing blood, he yowled in fury and slashed out in retaliation, her shoulder stung where his hit landed, she was sure the sounds of their fight were raising the spirits of dead cats with their sheer volume. The pretty she-cat lunged, rolling the black furred tom over until the two were wrestling furiously, claws and teeth flying, they pulled apart for a moment, glaring, the she-cat panting, the tom lean and dangerous wasn't even tired.

Some reception! Are these cats really, Sweetpaw’s friends?

Crowrush hissed, why must cats invade now? This was a time for celebration. Who was she? He lashed his tail furiously before he leaped again and the screeching started once more.

Wow!...Im a apprentice now! Firepaw thought as she went up to her new Mentor and touched her nose with hers and she heard a wisper in her ear "We are very proud of you" Firepaw looked up at the sky and wispered "Thank you mama and Papa".
(yay!~ <3 )

(Moon skip)

Firepaw looked up at the four newly named warriors as she joined along with the other cat chanting their new names.

Frostpaw sat amongst his clanmates, ears pricked and blue eyes glued to Moonstar.He enjoyed the ceremonies he'd seen in his life so far, and he was sure he'd love this one. The looks on the other cats faces when they became apprentices or warriors just made his fur tingle.

When the apprentices had their mentors, his voice was added to his clanmates as he cheered for them. It wouldn't be much longer before his warrior ceremony now, and he just couldn't wait.

__________________

Frostpaw had been training extra hard the past moon and it was all for this exact day. He was so excited that it took forever to give himself a proper grooming, but his fur was looking clean and healthy. He kneaded the ground impatiently as he watched Moonstar, so excited that he felt as if his whiskers might fall right off!

When his name was called he was instantly on his feet and started to race toward his leader like an excited kit before pausing, gazing back at his mentor and continuing on in a more dignified manner.

do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

His voice joined the other three apprentices as they all agreed, determination burning within his blue depths. If his clan needed his life, he would gladly give it.

He lifted his head and tail proudly before puffing out his chest, enjoying the sound of his clanmates cheering his new name.... no longer Frostpaw.... he was Frostear. Oh what a wonderful feeling!

The happy feeling didn't last long though as the sound of fighting cats drifted into the camp. Instantly the pointed tom's ears and head snapped up as all his fur bristled out, really... .now? He lashed his tail and pinned his ears back as he exited the camp, not exactly sure what he was seeing on the other side actually.... but it certainty smelt like an intruder.

Crowrush seemed to have this for the moment, so he lifted his head, parted his jaws and tasted the air for anymore cats that might be hiding nearby.

Sweetpaw let out a gasp as Crowrush attacked Honey. I’m sorry Crowrush, But I can’t let you hurt her!! She hissed and launched herself at the tom yelling “ STOP!!!!”

~~

Mossheart padded over to her apprentice, “ lets go do some training.” She mewed heading towards the camp entrance.

((Avoiding Crowrush and His attacking, lets go to the Ancient Oak!!))

Littlepaw trembled with excitement as he walked up to Moonstar. At last! After all his training, the day had finally come for him to receive his name! Purring non-stop the chocolate point tom dipped his head before his leader.

“Littlepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Littlefoot. Starclan honors your resourcefulness and your graciousness and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan.”

"Thank you, Moonstar," the new warrior said with a grin. Pressing his nose to his leader's shoulder, he then backed away to relish the rest of the clan calling his name. "Littlefoot. I like it!"

It was then that he heard the fighting. Whipping his head around, Littlefoot bolted in the direction Crowrush had gone and found the black warrior fighting with an intruder. He was just about to join in when Sweetpaw pounced on the two and begged them to stop.

"OYE! WHAT'S GOING ON?!" he yowled. "KNOCK IT OFF! MOONSTAR, THERE'S AN INTRUDER IN CAMP!"

(Ooc: lol I guess this might be a good way to keep the plot rolling? ;) I dunno.)

"Ok lets go!" Firepaw said excitedly she was always excited about training

Darkwhisker trotted away from his ceremony with a huge grin on his normally serious face. I'm finally a warrior! Darkwhisker thought to himself happily. Darkwhisker suddenly saw Crowrush attacking a cat that he didn't recognize. Darkwhisker ran over to the battle where sweetpaw was begging the cats to stop. "CUT IT OUT GUYS!" Darkwhisker yelled. He didn't want to launch himself into battle, for it would be completley useless and unnecessary.

________________________

Pinefoot lay in the elders den after the cerimonies, grooming herself. Pinefoot was startled when she heard Littlefoot yell that there was an intruder in the camp. Pinefoot instinctivley wanted to jump into battle, but she remembered she was old and couldn't fight very well anymore. Leave it to the warriors. Pinefoot thought to herself. She sat down in the opening of the elders den to watch Crowrush attack the stranger. If anything happened, Pinefoot would be ready.

The pointed tom let out a hiss as another form launched it's self into the fray and he was about to pounce when a wave of recognition washed over him.... Sweetpaw? His ears flicked back against his skull as he moved toward Crowrush and Sweetpaw, tail dancing behind him. However, he let his blue gaze travel toward the stranger, just to make sure she stayed back because, well... who knew if this could be a potential trick?

He tried to look more menacing then curious, but it was rather difficult. Hopefully Moonstar would arrive on the scene soon to sort out this whole mess... but in the mean time he spoke to the strange she-cat.

"Who are you?"

((In case anyone’s unsure this is just outside of camp, Honey and Sweetpaw didn’t get inside before Crowrush rudely assaulted them : P))

Crowrush heard the screech and broke away from the strange she-cat, whirling around to face his new attacker…Sweetpaw? He pulled himself up short, she was alive? Where had she been? His eyes narrowed and he turned back to the strange she-cat, waving his tail in acknowledgment of Littlefoot and Darkwhisker, All we need is Elmnose and we have all the new warriors butting in… He growled mentally, his fur bristled as he faced off against the ginger and white she-cat, her sides heaved and her claws remained unsheathed, both cats were bleeding though Crowrush noted with no small amount of satisfaction that he was clearly the better fighter.

Honey’s body ached and her mind was clouded by a state of panic, Sweetpaw had said that her Clan wouldn’t attack Honey, but this claim had been entirely falsified by this arrogant, nasty, black furred, fox-hearted, piece of carrion, her blue eyes narrowed angrily at him and flicked towards the other threats, a fluffy white and grey tom cat was speaking, there was a further two toms glaring at her also, Is Sweetpaw the only she-cat here? She wondered nervously, but fluffed out her fur, sat down, keeping a carefully eye on the black tom and replied.

“My name is Honey. I’m not here to take your territory or something so mousebrained as that, I just came here out of curiosity, Sweetpaw’s my friend.”

She snapped, her body was tense, she was prepared to spring if she must, she had a feeling the fighting wasn’t done with. The black tom sneered.

“Sweetpaw had no right to bring you here, get into camp, Sweetpaw, I expect Moonstar will want to know what you’ve been doing. You, loner, can get off of ThunderClan territory before we make you.”

He spat, the two cats bristled at each other aggressively.

Light Blue eyes that were usally so playful were now dead serious. “If you chase her out. Then I will go with her. She is Injured, And wasn’t Robbinheart injured when she came? And she was a loner.” Sweetpaw stood in between Crowrush and Honey, fur bristling.

“i belive you.”

Yellowpaw crept out from behind her mentor, having followed him to see where he was going. His attack angered her. “Sweetpaw, I know that Moonstar will understand.”

Robinheart lay in the nursery, trying her best to groom a squriming Stormkit. The kit groaned, rolling his eyes. "Mom, I can groom myself," he muttered, trying to pull away from her grasp. It was only when a rustling sound came from the entrance of the nursery when the queen was distracted long enough for Stormkit to escape.

The kit jumped up, looking at Foxpaw and Darkleaf as they entered the nursery. "Hello!" The tom mewed, smiling at them both before deciding to follow his former denmate as he worked, bombarding him with questions.

-

Robinheart purred softly as they entered the nursery, sitting up and shaking out her fur. "Hello you two." As Foxpaw began muttering to himself, the queen twitched her whiskers in amusement. "Don't worry, soon enough we will be out of here too."

However, when she turned back to look at Darkleaf, she saw a distant look in her eyes. Suddenly, she realised what had caused this. "Oh, it's okay! He didn't mean to say that! He-"

"Rowantail and Kestrelbeak..."


The queen felt her words catch in her throat, looking at the warrior with a stunned expression. Kestrelbeak? Did she just say.. Kestrelbeak? Her brows furrowed in confusion, looking at Darkleaf. ".. Those are your paren't names..?" Robinheart murmured curiously, ".. but that can't be right.."

"Stop this immediately!"

Moonstar had been about three steps away from the nursery when he had heard Littlefoot's growl. Now he stood outside of the camp beside the fighting group of cats, blue eyes flashing. "Stand back, Crowrush!" He ordered, staring the warrior down before turning his attention to Sweetpaw and the loner. The she-cat was injured, and as for Sweetpaw... the apprentice had been missing for moons...

"Crowrush, you speak out of turn. Return to the camp with Littlefoot, Darkwhisker, and Yellowpaw. We will follow you shortly." The silver tabby's tone was stern until he addressed the loner, softening his stare.

"Honey, was it? I can see that you are hurt." He was quiet for a moment, looking between the two she-cats. "It would seem that there is much to be explained, but perhaps here isn't the best place for it. As you already know the location of our camp, I assume showing you the interior of the medicine cat den would do no further harm- would you be comfortable with our medicine cat taking a look at your leg?"

(*hangs head in shame* I'm sorry Moony! :P)


Sweetpaw sighed in relief as Moonstar interscepted the two groups. She move next to Honey and dipped her head to Moonstar. “Thank you, Moonstar. Ummmmm...” She looked up, “Long time no see I guess?” She winced when she thought about how mad he must be. After all, she had been missing for a long time. Silvermist is going to claw my face off if she even noticed I was gone.....

Foxpaw grunted a greeting to Stormkit, all the while going on with his work. "You won't be so chipper when they make YOU work on this, Stormkit. I could be working on my climbing today..."

Darkleaf meowed warningly, "Hey, if you don't like the way I'm mentoring you, maybe Darkblossom wouldn't mind a second apprentice."

"Darkleaf, I'm kidding!"

She grinned triumphantly when Robinheart quietly meowed, "...Those are your parents' names...? But that can't be right..."

The younger she-cat frowned, confused, and answered, "Of course it's right. Rowantail was my mother. Kestrelbeak my father. She died when I was born and he died around a moon after I was born. Moonstar told me plenty about them, but I could never get a sense of them. He also told me that I look just like Rowantail did." Darkleaf stared at Robinheart, wondering why the names bothered her so much.

Meanwhile, Mistpaw was staring agape at the arrivals. "Sweetpaw?! Is that you?! I can't...Foxpaw and Flamepaw are never gonna believe this!"

Robinheart raised her eyebrows, trying to make sense of the thoughts buzzing through her mind. No! That's would mean..? Would that mean..? Could that mean..? The queen looked over Darkleaf for a moment, realising something that she hadn't before.

Okay, we're about the same age, look almost exactly alike, and share some aspects of our personality. Coinsidence?

I think not.

Swallowing nervously, Robinheart began figiting where she sat, looking at the she-cat that could possibly be... her sister. She quickly glanced at Foxpaw and Stormkit before she brought herself a bit closer to Darkleaf, her voice only a whisper.

"Darkleaf.. those were the names of my parents!"

She stopped breathing for a moment, feeling as though her heart had just dropped a few inches. "Wh...what...?"

How could Rowantail and Kestrelbeak be Robinheart's parents too? She was once a loner, for StarClan's sake!"

"No...what are you talking about? I was...the only kit born. Moonstar told me so himself!" Darkleaf stared at Robinheart, trying to decipher why she would say something like that.

Despite a few subtle differences, Robinheart did look like her. They had nearly the same build, except the queen looked more emaciated when she had arrived. Darkleaf would remain stockier than Robinheart. She also had that scar on her chest from the day she fought that badger with Gorsefang.

But the way their heads were shaped...Their eye color, their pelt color...It was a perfect match. And...they looked to be the same age.

Could it be...?

"Robinheart...how could my parents...be your parents?"

Robinheart stared at Darkleaf for a long moment, trying to untangle all of this new information. It seemed almost impossible for them to be related, all things considered, but there was just no denying that they both shared the same parents. She felt her throat go dry, unsure what to say.

"I-I don't know," she murmured, eyes focusing on her paws in thought, "I-I mean, I grew up alone! But.. But the only parental figures I had- two loners who raised me through kithood, told me something before they left. They said..."

---FLASHBACK---

Young Robin sat, facing two loners. The only parents she had even known. She felt they didn't exactly fit, though. They didn't feel right. They didn't act like her parents, and she didn't exactly treat them so. However, she still cared for them.

But do they do the same?

"I'm sorry, Robin," the she-cat mewed, looking down at her in pity. They only ever called her by her name. Nothing else. "We should have told you sooner, but you need to know anyway."

The tom beside her only lashed his tail, looking away is disgust, muttering, "Come on, we have to go.. now!"

The she-cat looked at him for a moment, narrowing her eyes, before turning her gaze back on Robin. There was an unreadable expression there as she looked her over. Robin shifted under her eyes. "What do I need to know?" The you she-cat murmured, her eyes fearful.

The loner sighed, looking away. "We're not your parents. We never were. We never will be. I'm sorry, but we have to leave you now. I made sure you were of age to care for yourself. You no longer need our care."

Robin froze, her eyes widening in shock. "But, momma..!"

"Don't call me that!" The she-cat snapped, jumping to her paws, "I'm not your mother!"

Robin cowered infront of them, her ears tilting backwards in fear. "I'm sorry," she whispered, ducking her eyes away. They had lashed out at her many times before, and she didn't want it to happen again.

However, as the loners were leaving, she managed to gather up enough courage to ask one more question.

"But.. who are my parents, then?"

The tom spun around, eyes flashing in anger. "You have no reason to know! It doesn't matter! They are dead now. Dead to you! You-" Although, his words dropped as the she-cat rested a tail on his shoulder, giving him a meaningful glance.

"Rowantail and Kestrelbeak," she murmured, letting silence fill the air before they both turned and blended into the undergrowth. Dissapeared from young Robin's life. Forever.

Rowantail and Kestrelbeak... Rowantail and Kestrelbeak...

---END FLASHBACK---

As she listened to Robinheart's tale, Darkleaf tried to remember what Moonstar and Darkblossom had told her about her parents.

"You look just like your mother..."

"Your father practically threw you at us! After that, he just stayed out of camp! Nearly missed the vigil too..."

But they had never mentioned ANOTHER kit. In every single variation of the tale, Darkleaf was the only one mentioned. It made Rowantail's death all the more tragic. All that blood lost for one kit.

"So...that means...we could be sisters..." Darkleaf pondered the words as she conjured up the stories told by her Clanmates.

"It's...That's not possible! Darkblossom...she might've been blind, but she would've noticed if there were two kits! But then how did your parents get their names?! I don't understand!"

"...So...Robinheart was ThunderClan all along...?"

She turned around to look at her apprentice, who was staring at them both as though they had grown wings. Foxpaw went on, "You know...you two really DO look alike! Maybe...once everything's calmed down out there, you could ask Moonstar and Darkblossom?"

Darkleaf took a deep breath and nodded at Foxpaw and Robinheart. "Yes...they were both there...They should know what happened...But why wouldn't they mention another kit? Unless they thought you were dead...but that wouldn't make sense either! You're alive, and you've always been healthy, no?"

She was rambling and she knew it. She wanted answers, for StarClan's sake.

Honey was nervous of Sweetpaw’s interference, what if this cat attacked her too? She was smaller than him and the ginger and white she-cat had felt those claws, she felt sure he could kill Sweetpaw if he tried, another smaller cat emerged from camp, My stars! How many of them are there? she wondered nervously, heart almost giving out as yet another cat emerged from camp, however she could tell this cat was different. His aura radiated a power she’d never sensed before and the black tom’s posture confirmed it, the moment he saw the silver tabby he had slipped sideways. His ears flattening and body sagging as he was reproached, this gave Honey a spiteful flash of satisfaction. She was promptly distracted by the tom’s softer address to her, what did that mean? Was she allowed to be there or was he going to kill her when she was inside? Narrowing her eyes cautiously she gave Sweetpaw a nervous smile and padded into the camp. A small she-cat gasped and spoke to Sweetpaw about cats Honey had never met, awkwardly she turned around to find the power-tom again.

“What’s a medicine cat?”

She asked nervously.


Crowrush felt ridiculous as Moonstar reprimanded him, why? There was a loner near camp and he was trying to get rid of it, wasn’t that a good thing? His fur bristling as the she-cat limped into camp he turned to Yellowpaw, claws still unsheathed, he wanted to take her out but had a strong feeling he'd be confined to camp for at least tonight, Moonstar had not been impressed by his fight with the blue eyed she-cat.

Sweetaw returened Honey’s smile, “ I will give you a tour after your all better!” She mewed to the departing she-cat.

"Sweetpaw?! Is that you?! I can't...Foxpaw and Flamepaw are never gonna believe this!"

“So, there have been sme ceramonys while I was gone I see!” Sweetpaw smiled at Mistpaw. She sat down next to the kit, “So what happened in WindClan?” She asked the kit.

~~

Yellowpaw stopped short when her mentor spun around to face her. She noticed that his claws were unsheathed and feared that he might use them on her. fesrfull, she shrunk closer to the ground closing her eyes in fear.


((Sweetpaw went missing before WC, so We can assume that everyone thought she died.))

“A medicine cat is the cranky blind cat who lives in the smelly den full of herbs.” Darkblossom appeared behind Honey, offering her a slight, ironic smile. Moonstar inclined his head in her direction, ear twitching. “That wasn’t exactly how I was going to put it, but there you have it. A more... general description would be that a medicine cat is the healer in our clan. When ever someone is injured or sick, they go to see Darkblossom-“ He gestured at the black and white she-cat, who gave a little wave with her tail- “and she will heal them with herbs.”

The medicine cat’s look turned sardonic. “Well. That’s the idea.”

Moonstar shot her a look that she promptly ignored, blind or not, before continuing, “If you will follow her, she’ll work on your leg. Sweetpaw and I will follow you so that you two can explain why you’re here and what’s happened since Sweetpaw disappeared.”

The black and white she-cat padded over the loner, nudging her in the direction of her den. “Come on, then,” She mewed not unkindly. “Let’s see what I can do for you- that infection must be painful.” There’s got to be some sort of herb I can scrounge up...

--

Gorsefang pranced into the nursery, clearly in high-spirits. “Hey, now! Who started the party without me?” He joked when he saw the number of cats inside, before catching sight of their faces. He had been looking for Mistpaw, but now he stopped, tone turning serious as he looked at his mate. “What’s wrong?”

Foxpaw turned to Gorsefang then back at his mentor and Robinheart. "Uh...Maybe Darkleaf should tell you...Come on, Stormkit. Let's go outside and find Ashkit and Mistpaw..."

Darkleaf watched Foxpaw quickly pad out of the nursery, and waited for Stormkit to do the same.

She glanced up at Gorsefang before going back to staring at her paws. "Robinheart...says that Rowantail and Kestrelbeak...were her parents too...

"So...she would be my sister."

"Sister...?" Gorsefang echoed, robin blue eyes confused. "But how is that possible...? Robinheart was a loner before she came to Thunderclan." He glanced uncertainly between the two she-cat's. To someone who didn't know the differences between the two, they could almost be identical. "Wouldn't Darkblossom and Moonstar know, though? I can't imagine they wouldn't have noticed. And what about the rest of the clan?"

Robinheart sat by as Gorsefang came in, feeling like she could flinch as Darkleaf told them what they had just discovered. Well, this is more than confusing. She sat quietly as he looked them both over, unsure what to think herself. "You're right. I have to go find Moonstar. We all kind of need an explanation."

Ducking her head, Robinheart made her way into camp, searching for the pelt of her mate. It wasn't long to spot him, standing by the entrance of camp, with a cat she had never seen before. Who is..? Oh, I'll ask later.

"Moonstar!" The black queen called, clearly looking troubled, "We kind of... Need your help!"

Mudpaw was looking at his reflection in a puddle, flicking his nicked ear with pride. I'm the youngest cat in the Clan with a scar!

He was re-arranging the warriors' nests, wondering if Ox was going to take him out today. It was then that the strangers appeared, along with a she-cat everyone else seemed to recognize.

"Sweetpaw?! Who's that?!"

Honey looked over at the dark furred she-cat in surprise; she was blind? Then how did she ‘heal’? In fact why was she here? Honey had met a blind cat once… her mother had driven her away and she had been forced to become a two-leg’s pet… But they allowed blind cats to stay here? Looking around in surprise the she-cat felt a warmth in her heart, they seemed like they were all very close, the black tom had attacked her to protect them… he must have. Didn’t mean she liked him any more though, still a fox hearted dog-face. She gave Darkblossom and Moonstar a polite nod.

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. She didn’t want to leave me after I was hurt. Thank you for this, it’s more than I expected.”

She said cheerfully, much less aggravated now that Crowrush was nowhere near her.


Crowrush looked down at Yellowpaw, narrowing his eyes. What was the mousebrain doing, cowering from him? He wouldn’t hurt her! Not ever, she was his apprentice and his Clanmate, why in StarClan’s name would he harm her?

“Get up, Yellowpaw. We’ll do some training, let’s work on your climbing today.”

He said, forcing his claws to sheath He gave her a tight smile, trying to encourage her a little, this whole ‘nurturing the young’ thing was harder than he’d thought it would be.

Moonstar looked up as Robinheart called his name, and one look at her face made it clear that she needed to speak to him. Glancing over at Darkblossom and Honey, he mewed apologetically, "Darkblossom, will you work on Honey's leg for a little while? Robinheart needs to speak with me. Once that's done and you've made sure Honey and Sweetpaw are well enough, we can talk." The blind she-cat flicked her tail in agknowledgement and the silver tabby smiled appreciatively before hurrying towards his mate. "What's wrong...?"

Darkblossom cocked an eyebrow at the loner's comment, a corner of her mouth quirking up into a half smile. "Did she, now? Well, that would explain why she was gone for so long. How did you get this nasty thing, anyways?"

"I'll tell you what's wrong," meowed Darkleaf, frowning as she padded towards Moonstar and Robinheart.

She stared straight at her mentor, wanting every answer she could get out of him. "In every story you told me about the day of my birth, you and Darkblossom neglected to mention that there was a second kit."

Darkleaf drew her tail up to point at the queen. "Robinheart's told me an interesting story. How the loners who raised her turned out to not be her birth parents. They had the names of two Clan cats who were. Rowantail and Kestrelbeak, my mother and father!

"Moonstar...tell me the truth. Is Robinheart my sister? If she is, did you know all this time?"

Moonstar stared at Darkleaf, unable to make sense of her words. "What...? A second kit? That's... that's not possible!" The silver tabby looked between the two she-cat's, gray-tinted blue eyes searching their faces.

"I wouldn't lie to you like that, Darkleaf," He mewed urgently before switching his gaze to his mate. "Or you, Robinheart! Krestlebeak and Rowantail had one kit, and that was Darkleaf. There was no other kit, Darkblossom was with Rowantail the entire tim-"

Darkblossom came outside to tell me and Krestlebeak about Rowantail's death.

Darkblossom wasn't inside the medicine cat den when Krestlebeak was, she was with me. Krestlebeak was alone with Darkleaf, so what if... what if...

Moonstar stared at the two sisters, voice tight with tension. "Robinheart, did those loners say anything... anything at all... that could give you more of a clue? Anything?"

How is this possible? What did that foxhearted warrior do?

Robinheart looked up at Moonstar as he spoke, her eyes practicially pleading him for an answer. She couldn't stand not to know- however, it seemed like he couldn't provide much either. Moonstar seemed just as surprised as they were. Robinheart let out a mental groan, unsure where to go from there.

"Robinheart, did those loners say anything... anything at all... that could give you more of a clue? Anything?"

The black queen thought for a moment, eyes focused ahead of her at the camp wall. Anything... Anything... However, she didn't have any more than what she had already told. That was the only thing she had known about her parents until this day.

"I'm sorry," Robinheart murmured, shoulders dropping slightly, "All I have are the names. That's all I was told."

"No, no, it's alright," He mewed, sweeping his tail along his mate's flank in an attempt at comfort. He hated how he couldn't remedy the plea for information in her eyes, gritting his teeth. "This just doesn't make any sense. There was only one kit before Rowantail died, and that was Darkleaf- I'm sure of it. Everything I've told you about your parents I thought was true, Darkleaf." He gazed at his apprentice evenly, as if daring her to contradict him, before continuing,

"There was a moment when Darkblossom wasn't with Rowantail in the nursery. She came to tell me and Krestlebeak that Rowantail had joined our ancestors, and... well... the cat who went in next was Krestlebeak. You remember, Darkleaf, what I told you about that. Afterwards, we had Blueflower nurse you, but... if there was a second kit that Darkblossom and I didn't know about, then it's possible that Krestlebeak had something to do with it..."

(( Still working on the Darkblossom hallucination, so I thought I'd post this so that the conversation could at least keep going. ^^ ))

"then it's possible that Krestlebeak had something to do with it..."

His hateful glare re-surfaced in her head after so many moons of keeping it tucked away. Blueflower had explained to her, as she lay shivering pitifully later that day, that it was because she looked like her mother.

"Of course, he must hate you for killing her. Oh, poor unfortunate kit. Haunted by a dead mother and hated by your father. It would've been kinder if Darkblossom had just drowned you."

The milk tasted bitter. She wondered why Blueflower's kits were not around, but knew better than to ask. One of those grown-up things she wasn't supposed to know.

"Kestrelbeak most likely wouldn't be stalking around like a badger and he can move on with his life without you as a constant reminder."

Darkleaf had weaned herself as quickly as possible and began eating mice, never again nestling next to Blueflower for warmth. How un*fortunate* that the old queen had to die of greencough when Darkleaf was four moons old.

It did not matter. She had the rest of the Clan, their love, sympathy, pity. She had Moonstar, Sunheart, and Darkblossom. Then there was that strange-smelling kit that shared the nursery with her. They'd called him Gorsekit.

She'd learned to live with the knowledge that Kestrelbeak hated her. Even though others told her she would dream of them, Darkleaf never did. She had faith, of course she did. She saw StarClan in the beauty of a newleaf day, and in Gorsefang's most loving stare. But her resentment of Kestrelbeak extended to her mother. Why did she have to die? Leave her here to be either hated or pitied?

Worst of all, now it wasn't just her the death had affected. If it was true, Robinheart was the more unfortunate victim.

"...If this is true...Think of it, you two. If it's true...then...what if Robinheart was the one who'd been born first? Darkblossom would've brought her out, and I would've been the one born of a dead mother.

"...Maybe...I would've returned, same as you did...The roles completely switched. I mated to Moonstar, you to Gorsefang..." She let out a short, hysterical laugh.

"Kestrelbeak...My father... Oh, StarClan, what a nightmare!" Darkleaf closed her eyes, as though that would wake her up. "Why...? Why did our lives have to be ripped away from us, along with our mother's life?"


((@_@ I just finished reading Out of Oz. Thank Maguire for all the sucky-childhoodness.))

Robinheart looked between Moonstar and Darkleaf, trying to take all of this information in. She had grown quiet, eyes on her paws, as a steady stream of questions penetrated her mind. So, not only might I have a sister- but I may be living in the same clan as my mother and father? To say this could have been avoided? Avoided the abuse I got from my "adopted parents", and pain Darkleaf felt from having our own father not like her? But- why didn't they know? How could they not have seen? What could have-

But this is where Robinheart stopped herself. She refused to feel any resentment towards Darkblossom or Moonstar- they didn't deserve it. They didn't know. But if it really were true, the one to blame was Kestrelbeak.

"But.. How can we be sure?" The queen murmured, looking between her mate and potential sister. "I mean, the only one that would know for sure is Kestrelbeak- and he's dead! Who else would know?"

((With Moony's permission. You're free to edit anytime!))

Leaving Honey in the medicine den, Darkblossom padded towards Moonstar and announced, "Our visitor's all comfortable. Gonna have to deal with Sweetpaw sometime soon, that little..."

She noticed the silence from her clanmates and meowed nervously, "...Something wrong?"

Moonstar quickly explained what Robinheart and Darkleaf had discovered, and Darkblossom could only reply with shocked silence.

"What...? No! No, I'm...Darkleaf, you were the only kit born! You were the only one I felt in Rowantail's womb!"

Darkleaf immediately answered, "Then how do you explain Robinheart knowing my parent's names? You and Moonstar were with me and Blueflower when Kestrelbeak went back to your den!"

The medicine cat could only shake her head, "Darkleaf...Look, it was a horrible day! I've tried so hard to keep it out of my memory--"

"Then remember it again!" demanded the black she-cat. "If Robinheart really IS my sister, I deserve to know!"

"...I..."

Darkblossom tried to block out the others' meows, and tried to concentrate on the sound of a drop of water landing in a puddle. StarClan, send me SOMETHING! Anything to help me figure this out...

In a few moments she began to see.

She saw in a way only StarClan would let her. Darkblossom stood in the same spot in the camp, but this time Darkleaf and Robinheart were absent.

She saw Moonstar and herself carrying Darkleaf to the nursery, where they began to speak to Blueflower.

'No...I need to go back to my den. That's where...where Kestrelbeak is.'

The medicine cat took long strides towards her den, still filled with the scent of blood. Rowantail's blood.

'Rowantail...Please, tell me. Did Kestrelbeak take your second kit...?'

When she reached the inside, she padded next to Kestrelbeak's shuddering form.

The tabby tom was staring at Rowantail's wasted body with painful anguish, and he meowed softly, "Please...PLEASE come back..."

Darkblossom almost felt sorry for him.

It was then that she heard it.

A soft mew.

Kestrelbeak nearly jumped in shock, and he slowly turned towards the source of the noise. Darkblossom followed his line of sight.

'No...It can't be...!'

"Not...Not another one..."

Curled beside Rowantail's foot, already out of her birth sac, was a small she-kit, identical to Darkleaf.

Darkblossom instantly recognized her. 'Robinheart...'

Kestrelbeak panted erratically and looked around him. "I can't...I won't...Not another one...Why...Why did they have to look like you...?!" His meows were broken and pained.

He immediately took the kit by the scruff, ignoring her protesting whines. Darkblossom felt herself grow sick as she watched Kestrelbeak sneak the infant Robinheart out of the camp, while everyone else was observing the as-of-yet unnamed Darkleaf.

She followed, running to catch up to the tom. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she thought that if she ran, she could catch up to Kestrelbeak and stop him from ruining Robinheart's life. 'Stop! Kestrelbeak, you foxheart!'

Deep in the forest, outside of Clan territory, Kestrelbeak stopped after hearing the kit's painful mewls.

"I...I'm sorry..." He hung his head as though ashamed. "...Your mother will never forgive me if I..."

Darkblossom's claws raked the ground as her heart summersaulted. 'Then...he changed his mind...?'

"I'll take you back...That fool, Moonstar...He should understand..."

The image began to fade as Moonstar anxiously called her back.

No! I have to see the whole thing!

She saw the two loners appear, their greedy eyes falling on the infant kit. Darkblossom could smell the milk-scent on the she-cat.

A tom snarled, "You stink of ThunderClan...You're that piece of foxdung, Kestrelbeak! Yeah, I've heard your name from your other mange-pelt friends after you ran us out of the territory. Maybe we'll go back and tell them you tried to kill that kit..."

"No! I wasn't..."

A she-cat cried, "Give her to me! It's obvious you don't want her!"

Kestrelbeak gave his kit a long, narrowed gaze before appearing to relent and meowed, "Rowantail...forgive me...But I can't even stand to think about the other one..."

The tom growled as Kestrelbeak turned away, "Hey! Was that your mate's name?!"

The ThunderClan tom nodded before disappearing.

Darkblossom's chest rose and fell with horror as Robinheart was taken away by the two loners.

"Darkblossom!"

She opened her eyes, shrouded in darkness once again. The she-cat took deep, calming breaths before grimly meowing, "It's true...Robinheart...she was born after Darkleaf, and I was...distracted by Rowantail's death to notice..." Darkblossom felt deep shame as she struggled to continue.

"Kestrelbeak took her to do who knows what with her...He was going to change his mind, but then the loners arrived and threatened to expose him. Kestrelbeak didn't want two reminders of Rowantail, so he left Robinheart with them.

"All these wasted moons...and we never knew...All because I wasn't careful..." Her gaze fell on the floor.

Darkleaf absorbed it all, hate, anger, and betrayal floating in her heart. "My...my sister..." She raised her green eyes to Robinheart's identical ones. "You really are my sister..."

((yeah, yeah...IT'S CRUD.))

Ashkit had padded out of the nursery to find her mother, wanting to ask where her brother was. "Mama, where's that mousebrain, Stormki..."

She listened quietly as Darkleaf said to Robinheart, "You really are my sister..."

What...? The black she-kit was confused. How could Darkleaf say that Robinheart was her sister? They'd never said anything to allude to that fact.

"Mama, Papa, what is she talking about? I didn't know Mama had a sister."