--Gathering Darkness--

[Tigerfur]

Tigerfur: Just so everybody knows, I AM NOT the author of this story, the original author is Sunsetfur from TSF (The Silverpelt Forums), and I asked permission from her if I could post the story on the site. Can somebody tell me if we're aloud to post links, because Sunsetfur wanted me to post the link to the story, but she said if i'm not aloud to, she doesn't mind. Well without further ado here is the story, well at least the Allegiances, i'll post the Prologue tomorrow, or maybe later on tonight if you guys are lucky. And if you don't read this story, then you are a fool! Just kidding, but seriously though, PLEASE READ AND COMMENT! She worked really hard on this story for a long time, and it was a big hit for TSF, well here you go.

Sunsetfur: Hey all...this is a story I've been writing for several months, and I oneday hope to get an account on FanFiction, but for now, I'm postin' here. The first chaps need a ton of fixing up, so don't expect frequent updates for a while. ~Sunny

P.S. - I am not Erin Hunter, and every name here (except for the ones I made up) belong to her. So do the Clans and Warriors. I am not her (duh).

P.P.S. - Yes, Splash gave me permission to use her name.

ALLEGIANCES[/u]


RIVERCLAN[/u]

LEADER:[/u]
Mistystar—gray she-cat with blue eyes, has eight lives

DEPUTY:[/u]
Swallowtail—dark brown tabby she-cat
Apprentice, Streampaw

MEDICINE CAT:[/u]
Mothwing—dappled golden she-cat
Apprentice, Willowleaf—pale gray she-cat

WARRIORS:[/u]
Mosspelt—tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes
Apprentice, Scarletpaw
Reedwhisker—long-legged black tom, green eyes
Apprentice, Flowerpaw
Voletooth—golden brown tom
Stonestream—light gray tabby tom
Tumblepelt—light brown tabby tom
Nightshadow—black tom with blue eyes
Cloudfeather—white she-cat with a black dash on her chest and black paws
Silverpool—sleek silver-gray tabby she-cat, green eyes
Flamingfur—ginger tabby tom
Lionpelt—golden tabby tom, blue eyes
Blackcloud—dark smoky black tom, green eyes
Shadeleaf—light gray tabby she-cat
Ripplefur—silver tabby she-cat, amber eyes

APPRENTICES:[/u]
Streampaw—black and white tabby she-cat, blue eyes
Scarletpaw—dark ginger she-cat
Flowerpaw—sleek ginger she-cat

QUEENS:[/u]
Dawnflower—pale gray she-cat, mother of Stonestream’s kits
Splashstream—blue-gray she-cat, mother of Voletooth’s kits

KITS:[/u]
Larchkit—very dark gray, almost black, tom (Mother-Dawnflower)
Shadowkit—pale gray tom (Mother-Dawnflower)
Barkkit—golden brown tom (Mother-Splashstream)
Morningkit—white and gray tabby she-kit (Mother-Splashstream)

ELDERS:[/u]
Blackclaw—smoky black tom
Heavystep—thickest tabby tom


THUNDERCLAN[/u]

LEADER:[/u]
Firestar—ginger tom with a flame-colored pelt, has five lives

DEPUTY:[/u]
Graystripe—long-haired gray tom

MEDICINE CAT:[/u]
Leafpool—light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes

WARRIORS:[/u]
Dustpelt—dark brown tabby tom
Sandstorm—pale ginger she-cat
Cloudtail—long haired white tom
Apprentice, Speckledpaw
Brackenfur—golden brown tabby tom
Brightheart—white she-cat with ginger patches
Brambleclaw—dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Apprentice, Snowpaw
Ashfur—pale gray (with darker flecks) tom, dark blue eyes
Daisypelt—creamy brown she-cat, formerly a loner
Rainwhisker—dark gray tom with blue eyes
Ferncloud—pale gray (with darker flecks) she-cat, green eyes
Spiderleg—long-limbed black tom with a brown underbelly
Ravenwing—black tom with amber eyes, former loner
Birchclaw—pale gray and white tabby tom
Berryleaf—gray and white tabby tom
Hazelfur—creamy brown she-cat
Mousepelt—gray and white tabby tom

QUEENS:[/u]
Sorreltail—tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes, mother of Brackenfur’s kits
Squirrelflight—dark ginger she-cat, mother of Brambleclaw’s kits
Whiteflower—small white she-cat, green eyes, to-be mother of Ashfur’s kits

ELDERS:[/u]
Goldenflower—pale ginger she-cat, the oldest cat in ThunderClan
Longtail—pale tabby tom with dark black stripes, failing sight


WINDCLAN[/u]

LEADER:[/u]
Onestar—brown tabby tom, has seven lives

DEPUTY:[/u]
Ashfoot—elderly gray she-cat

MEDICINE CAT:[/u]
Brightfire—golden tabby she-cat with ginger patches

WARRIORS:[/u]
Webfoot—dark gray tabby tom
Crowfeather—dark smoky gray, almost black, tom, blue eyes
Apprentice, Frostpaw
Whitetail—small white she-cat
Runningbrook—pale gray she-cat
Gorsetail—brown and ginger tabby tom, green eyes
Apprentice, Breezepaw
Robinwing—light brown tabby she-cat
Hawkwing—golden-brown tom
Emberfur—dark russet-colored she-cat with ginger flecks
Owlfeather—dark brown tom, amber eyes
Weaselfur—light brown tabby tom
Goldenlight—pretty pale ginger she-cat, blue eyes
Thistlefur—gray tabby tom

QUEENS:[/u]
Sparkletail—unusually spotted gold she-cat, mother of Owlfeather’s kits

ELDERS:[/u]
Morningflower—tortoiseshell she-cat
Oatwhisker—creamy brown tom
Rushtail—light brown tom
Barkface—short-tailed brown tom, formerly the medicine cat


SHADOWCLAN[/u]

LEADER:[/u]
Blackstar—large white tom with huge jet-black paws, has five lives

DEPUTY:[/u]
Russetfur—dark ginger she-cat

MEDICINE CAT:[/u]
Littlecloud—very small tabby tom
Apprentice, Amberleaf—pale gingery-red tabby she-cat, blue eyes

WARRIORS:[/u]
Cedarheart—dark gray tom
Apprentice, Featherpaw
Rowanclaw—ginger tom with blue eyes
Tallpoppy—long-legged light brown tabby she-cat
Marshfur—light brown tabby tom
Toadpelt—pale brown tom with darker brown flecks
Bluestream—blue-gray she-cat, amber eyes
Graycloud—light gray tabby tom, blue eyes
Rabbitfur—small ginger and brown tabby she-cat
Apprentice, Juniperpaw
Brackenclaw—dark brown tom, green eyes
Duskshadow—black tom with amber eyes
Smokyash—mottled gray tom
Lightstream—ginger and white tabby she-cat

QUEENS:[/u]
Tawnypelt—tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes, mother of Cedarheart’s kits
Appleleaf—dark reddish-ginger she-cat with green eyes, to-be mother of Birchclaw’s kits (went against the warrior code)

ELDERS:[/u]
Runningnose—small gray and white tom, formerly the medicine cat
Oakfur—small brown tom


CATS OUTSIDE CLANS[/u]

Smoky—muscular gray and white tom who lives in a barn near Horseplace
Floss—small gray and white she-cat who lives with Smoky
Barley—black and white tom who lives in the abandoned Twoleg nest in ThunderClan territory

That's all I can post for now. PLEASE refrain from making dumb comments, like "cool" or "nice". I'd like real comments and suggestions. I already have most of the story written, but I'm still open to suggestions! Thanks all!

(I fixed the gender mixup, your welcome Sunny ~Moony)

[Foxclaw]

im sorry if you consider this a dumb comment. Is this the same Barley from the first forest or a different cat? Also why is there only the kits' names for Riverclan? Anyway, I can't wait to ;D read the story! ;D

[Tigerfur]

Tigerfur: Well I guess you guys didn't get lucky last night, lol XD! To answer your question about Barely Foxclaw, yes that is the Barely from the old forest. To answer your second question, I really don't know why there are only RiverClan kits, only Sunsetfur knows. Well here is the story, enjoy! ;D

Sunsetfur: Prologue
Light of the Dying Sun[/u]

If you were to ask Willowleaf what her idea of a perfect world would be, she would immediately respond, “A world where there is no anger and sadness.” Until now, I would have agreed with her, but after all that has happened to me, I would say, “A world where there is no treachery.” These are both, of course, impossible, as there is always death in any forest, and nothing can prevent treachery, as there will always be villains in the world. But I am not an optomist like Hawkwing or, like Cloudfeather told me, my mother. But I can hope, and without that, there would be no thoughts of a perfect world at all.

As an apprentice, I would listen to the elders’ stories about the time of the old forest, back when Tigerstar had terrorized the forest and Firestar of ThunderClan became the greatest hero of the time. Blackclaw spoke of Fourtrees, the place where the Clans had once gathered to share news, and the Moonstone, the diamond-bright crystal deep beneath the ground where medicine cats would communicate with StarClan.

The stories that most intrigued me were those of the ancient Clans—LionClan, the Clan of great golden cats with manes like the rays of the sun; TigerClan, the Clan of the golden-and-black striped cats of the night; and LeopardClan, the Clan of the lithe golden cats with black drops scattered along their pelts. The elders told me of their great deeds, and how there is a little bit of their spirit in every cat.

Cloudfeather says that I have the spirit and stealth of a tiger. When I was an apprentice, and she was my mentor, she told me that I was the best fighter that she had ever seen. I was a quick learner and remembered techniques and maneuvers easilly, sometimes inventing several fighting moves of my own and surprising her with them. Her eyes would shine with delight whenever I had pinned her to thr ground, paws on her throat.

I guess you could say that I was a bit too ambitious and arrogant as an apprentice—and I still am. But I feel that it wearing off as I have grown.

Before I get too emersed in memories, I should tell the story behind my pelt. I was the single daughter of Bluefrost, a young queen that had come to RiverClan shortly after Hawkfrost’s betrayal and the two moons of turmoil that had followed. Bluefrost was a loner, calling herself Shadow, refusing to tell where she had come from, and who her mate was. She had been under the care of ShadowClan until she came to us to stay for good. It was there I had been born. From what I remember, she had a short dark gray pelt tinged with lighter patches of silver-blue. I was born at sunset, beneath the light of the dying sun.

I have always remembered hating the color of my fur. It is a long, sleek silver-gray that seems to glimmer in the light. My leaf-green eyes always have a sparkle of excitement in them. Willowleaf once joked that every she-cat in the forest would kill to have a pelt like mine—every she-cat in the forest except me. From the day I became an apprentice I hated being called a “pretty little she-cat” by my fellow apprentices, who were Willowleaf, her brother Tumblepelt, Flamingfur, and his brother Lionpelt. The three toms were the ones who always challenged me to fights to prove my claims on “not being some little kittypet”.

There was one other flaw in my apprentice life: I never learned to let go and move on. After the death of my mother, I was in pain for moons afterward. Everyone has their share of sadness in life, and Bluefrost’s death was just the beginning of mine. There would be many losses in my life…but I have found that despair is like the cold season of leaf-bare. Its peak will freeze your heart, but it eventually fades into newleaf every time.

There's the prologue! It's main purpose is to fill you in a bit on Silverpool's personality and background. Most of the chaps are longer, don't expect Chapter 1: Pondering to be up for another week maximum. I don't have a lot of time, but do have a ton of homework.

Thanks to Beautypelt for noting that little flaw - I'll have to get a member to fix it. I may have Squirrely have a few more litters of kits, but she's not an important character as the story takes place in RiverClan. ~Sunny

P.S. - This story takes place 18 moons (year and a half) after Twilight; Sunset didn't happen.

[Foxclaw]

Thanks for answering my questions! ;D
I LOVE it so far. can't wait for u to post more

[Tigerfur]

Tigerfur: Your welcome for answering questions, and thanks for the comment, though keep in mind, this is not my story, well here is chapter 1, enjoy! ;D

Sunsetfur: Thanks to Beautypelt, Firelover, Moony, Tigerfur, and Needlepatch for commenting. Here's chap 1 - btw, everything is written in 1st person format in Silverpool's POV. I am still going to post on this story regardless of Haccer's stupid "only one 'the' per post rule".

Chapter 1
Pondering[/u]

The first time I saw Hawkwing was my first Gathering as an apprentice—he was Hawkpaw then, an ambitious WindClan apprentice with a great sense of humor. The warrior Crowfeather had been his mentor, and as Crowfeather was good friends with my mentor, Cloudfeather, I was often compared to the WindClan apprentice during out training sessions. We grew to be friends at the Gatherings, and he became Hawkwing the day before I became Silverpool. I remember him once telling me that my name should have been Silverglow—as my pelt always seemed to reflect the moonlight.

“Hey, Silverpool,” Swallowtail meowed from across the clearing, beconing to me with her tail. The RiverClan deputy looked particularly irritated by something this morning, so I hastened over to see her.

“What?” I asked, following her distracted gaze to where Voletooth was playfully swatting his mate, Splashstream. The blue-gray she-cat’s two kits, Barkkit and Morningkit, were mewing from the nursery. They had been born four sunsets ago, and were already demanding much of Splashstream’t time.

“You’ll never get him, Swallowtail,” I mewed mischeviously. “He’s loved Splashstream there ever since they were apprentices.”

“I know,” Swallowtail snapped, averting her gaze to me. “I want you, Cloudfeather, and Nightshadow to go hunting. You’ll be the first patrol of the day since the dawn patrol, so keep your eyes open for anything out of the ordinary.”

“No problem,” I replied, turning to scan the clearing for the two cats. I spotted Cloudfeather’s white pelt and black paws beside the darker pelt of Nightshadow sitting beside each other outside the warriors’ den, sharing a rabbit. “Mind if we take Streampaw as well?”

“Sure,” the dark brown deputy meowed absentmindedly. She was now watching Lionpelt.

“He’s too young for you,” I muttered as I padded off. Swallowtail’s ears twitched in annoyance, but I thought I glimpsed a smile on her face as she turned to speak to Mistystar.

Grinning, I called to Cloudfeather and Nightshadow, “Hunting patrol! Could you get Streampaw?”

“Sure,” Nightshadow meowed back, standing up and slipping over to where Streampaw was batting her fellow apprentice, Scarletpaw, playfully as the golden-red she-cat pounced onto Streampaw’s back.

We set out together, Nightshadow and Cloudfeather walking side by side, pelts brushing, with Streampaw padding along behind them. The black-and-white apprentice was the only surviving kit of Nightshadow and Cloudfeather, a heritage similar to my own.

“Why don’t we split up?” I asked Cloudfeather. We had entered the marshy area of RiverClan territory, close to the WindClan border and not far off from the island. The sun was still climbing over our heads, and periodically dissapeared behind swaths of white clouds.

“Sure,” the she-cat replied. “Streampaw and I can go this way, back into the forest a little ways. Nightshadow, you can start here are work towards the island, and Silverpool can go to the meadow areas near the WindClan border. Watch out for patrols.” Cloudfeather added this last bit with a half-playful hint in her voice, and I felt heat creeping through my fur.

“Cloudfeather, you know I didn’t mean to run headlong into that ShadowClan cat—oh, what was his name, Marshfur?”

“Of course,” the white she-cat mewed, chuckling as she followed her daughter off into the trees. “If you do run into a WindClan cat, make sure it’s not Frostpaw. He’s the feistiest apprentice I’ve ever met, and I can imagine him clawing your ears off without thinking twice.”

“Bet he takes after his mentor,” I retorted. “And if any apprentice were to attack me he’d regret the day he was born.”

Cloudfeather chuckled before turning away with her daughter. I left the clearing as well, following an unseen path towards the moorland WindClan cats called home. The scent of rabbit washed over me, and I instinctively crouched down, straining my senses to pinpoint the creature. In moments I spotted a small brown shape scuffling about beneath a tree. Quickly and stealthily, I began creeping towards it.

Crack!

I felt a twig snap beneath my paw, and cursed inwardly as the rabbit’s head shot up. With a grunt of annoyance, I sprang at it. The brown creature sped off, directly for the border. Growling in frustration, I launched myself after it, tumbling over the scent markers blindly. My vision was blurred as my head hit the ground. Dazed, I staggered to my paws, shaking my head in confusion. Golden-green grass swayed around my paws, and the rabbit had dissapeared. As I blinked and shook the dust from my fur, a yowl split the air from my left and a knot of brown fur slammed into me.

I tumbled over once more as my attacker, hissing and snarling, pinned me to the earth with his paws. “What are you doing here?”

I looked up, petrified, and recognized the bright emerald-green eyes identical to my own and the short golden-brown fur. “Hawkwing! It’s me, Silverpool.”

The WindClan cat stared at me for a moment, then with a tiny mew of realization, he stepped off of me, looking slightly embarressed. I myself felt heat creeping under my fur and a slight, strange sensation went through me. What was it?

“Sorry,” I meowed. “Chasing a rabbit—one from my side of the border—and fell."

“Ah.” Hawkwing looked thoughtful. “Didn’t you mention doing something like this at the last Gathering? Something about a ShadowClan tom—”

“Don’t remind me,” I cut in, more embarressed than ever. “Um…so…how are you?”

“Fine,” Hawkwing replied, gazing all around him as if worried that more WindClan cats would spot us. “Emberfur joined the queens the other day. She’s having Owlfeather’s kits.”
I looked down at my paws, not knowing what to say. That sensation was back. “Is there any she-cat in your Clan that…that…you know…”

“No,” Hawkwing mewed instantly. “Not yet…anyway.”

I wondered if the weird emotion I was experiancing was happening in him, too.

“Well,” I meowed slowly, looking up into his startlingly green eyes. I could see something reflected there… “I’d better go. See you—and tell Crowfeather that Cloudfeather says hi.”

“Sure,” the golden-brown tom meowed, turning away. I began to walk away, my fur prickling. I had just ducked under a overhanging fern when I heard his voice call back to me. “Silverpool!”

I peered around. Hawkwing had stopped, staring into my eyes from where he stood on the moor. “Meet me here tonight, Silverpool. I’ll be waiting.”

And he was off, bounding across the moor.

I pondered slightly what he wanted. But somehow I knew. My heart began beating wildly in my chest, and I knew that I would be back by the border tonight if I had to fight the whole of StarClan to get there. That sensation was overpowering.

Don't expect chap. 2 for at least a week, maybe less if I'm lucky. I have tomorrow (Fri. Nov. 10) off, so MAYBE I'll get it up then. It needs editing, too. Lemme know whatcha think! ~Sunny

[Lightningstrike]

you mean Sept. 10 ^.^ just trying to help.

[Tigerfur]

Tigerfur: I forgot to mention this story was written and posted a long time ago, lets try to say November of last year, well here is the next chapter, enjoy! ;D

Sunsetfur: Congratz Beautypelt! ;D ;D ;D And thanks to everyone who read chap. 1.

Chapter 2
Stares[/u]

I met Hawkwing that night, by the border, that feeling welling up inside me. It was that night that we recognized our love for each other. He told me stories of what happened in his Clan, and I told him the stories the elders had told me of the Great Clans, of the old forest, and of my mother. Hawkwing called me the moon, and he was my sun. I would never guessed that our apprentice friendship could have come to this.

“Hey, Willowleaf?” I meowed quietly. I stood inside the warriors’ den, peering at my friend through the bushes. It was approximately one moon after my first meeting with Hawkwing, and the warriors’ den was empty, as it was sunhigh and most warriors were out hunting, patrolling, training apprentices, or sharing tongues in the greenleaf sunlight. “Can I talk to you? Now?”

A rustle, and then a pale gray shape moved through the entrance to the den. Willowleaf, apprentice to Mothwing, was the best friend I had. She was a moon my senior, born in the old forest but did not remember anything about the journey. Her pale aqua-colored eyes were kind and her touch was magical, calming even the tiniest kit and crankiest elder. I had known her ever since we were apprentices, and showed no comtempt for her when she received her warrior name a moon before I did.

“What?” Willowleaf asked.

“I…I, well, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about,” I responded dully. “It’s this—”

“Hi Silverpool.” A voice from the den entrance interrupted me, and I turned slowly, knowing who was there.

Reedwhisker was six seasons older than Willowleaf and me, a lean, black, muscular tom with pale green eyes like the new leaves on the trees in newleaf. He was a calm warrior, with a laid-back personality and a talent for pursuasion. If given the chance, he could pursuade ShadowClan to leave the forest, convincing them it was for the greater good. Most everyone in the Clan liked him, even the high-strung Swallowtail. Even Willowleaf liked him a bit, though she would never admit it to me.

I hated every hair on the tom’s pelt.

Reedwhisker followed me everywhere I went, trying his best to flatter me and to earn my friendship. But I was not decieved. I once heard him joking with his friends at a Gathering that any tom that “got me” would be lucky to get past my claws and to my pelt. He loved me for my looks, not for my personality.

“Am I interrupting anything important?” Reedwhisker inquired, gazing directly at me.

I longed to snarl, “Yes, you great mouse-brained heap of fox dung.”

Willowleaf beat me to it—“You are, Reedwhisker. Do you mind giving me and Silverpool some privacy?”

“Okay,” Reedwhisker meowed. I could see the dissapointment in his eyes. Disgusted, I turned back to Willowleaf and Reedwhisker moved away.

“I hate him,” I hissed.

“I know you do,” Willowleaf mewed calmly, settling down in an unusued cluster of moss. “But you could give him a chance, Silverpool. He’s really nice—and he’s in love with you. Can’t you see that?”

I sat down beside her, dropping my head onto my paws and staring at the trunk of the oak tree that made up the back wall of the den. Of all the places in the camp, this den was my favorite place to be—it was situated in a dip in the ground in front of a huge, ancient oak tree on the side of the camp. A bracken tangle grew over the hollowed space, leaving a patch of open ground beneath a thorny roof. Ferns grew around the tree, blocking out the rain and keeping the den well-hidden from intruders.

“What’s wrong, Silverpool? I know there’s something you aren’t telling me.”

I smiled. “I could never keep anything secret from you,” I mused. “It’s someone I met a few moons ago.” And suddenly I was telling Willowleaf everything that had happened to me, from the start of my friendship with Hawkwing to that fateful meeting one night when I had confessed my love for him. She watched me closely, never asking any questions. When I trailed off at last, Willowleaf stared at me thoughtfully with her green-blue eyes. I could almost see her mind working furiously.

“And now I have no idea what to do, or what to think,” I meowed in despiration. When my friend didn’t respond, but continued to peer into my fur, I added, “Any advice?”

Willowleaf still didn’t say a word. She didn’t even appear to be listening to me anymore.

“What is it?” I asked sharply, trying to make eye contact with the pale gray she-cat. Her eyes had suddenly gone wide, and she looked fearful.

“Oh no…”

“What?”

“It can’t be…” Willowleaf took a deep breath, then looked straight into my eyes. “Turn over, Silverpool. Let me get a look at your belly.”

My heart thudded in my chest. Obediantly, I flipped over, exposing my gray belly fur for Willowleaf to examine. Carefully, she prodded me ever-so-gently with her paw, and I felt a twinge of pain.

Willowleaf turned to face me slowly, beconing with her tail for me to stand. “Well, I think you know what this means, my friend,” she meowed.

“I’m having kits?” I mewed quietly, half-hopeful, half-stunned.

She nodded.

We were silent for several moments, before Willowleaf spoke. “You’re gonna have to tell Mistystar.”

“I know,” I sighed, looking out of the den. I could see the black shape of Reedwhisker chatting to his former apprentice, Ripplefur.

“And once you tell her, word will get out and everyone will want to know who the father is.”

I knew what she was thinking. “All right, all right,” I meowed, standing up. “Step one: warm up to Reedwhisker. Step two: tell him I’m having his kits. Step three: hope the kits look nothing like Hawkwing.”

“Pretty much.”

“Better start now.” I sighed again, and got to my paws. “Do you think that I can take this, Willowleaf?”

“Hopefully,” Willowleaf replied, standing up beside me and placing her tail on my flank. “Remember when we were apprentices, and you used to say that you would take on every cat in every Clan if StarClan decreed it so?”

Smiling, I nodded and padded out of the den. Reedwhisker looked up expectantly, and I struggled to keep the fur on my shoulders flat. I padded directly over him and plopped myself down beside him. He looked stunned, and Ripplefur, who I knew secretly loved the black tom, looked downright furious as Reedwhisker let out a tiny purr.

“How are you, Silverpool?”

“Fine,” I replied, keeping my voice light. “Want to go hunting, you two?”

“Er…” Ripplefur’s blue eyes flared. “I’ve already said I’d go with Mistystar, Tumblepelt and Blackcloud.”

“I’ll go with you,” Reedwhisker meowed happily, standing up and flicking his tail back and forth. We exited the camp together through the bracken-and-reed tunnel; I could feel the burning stares of Ripplefur and the rest of the cats in the clearing on my back.

Straightening my shoulders, I walked beside Reedwhisker as we headed for the river. If it were for Hawkwing, I would do anything.

Wow...I got that up sooner than expected. Once again, please give me ideas for kits, particularly Whiteflower's and Tawnypelt's. Next chap coming sometime next week.

Oh yeah, if any members find spelling errors, feel free to edit. ~Sunny

[Lightningstrike]

great story so far!Im lovin it!Keep going!

[ghostfeather]

great! tell Sunsetfur we love her story!

[Tigerfur]

Tigerfur: ok, I will, and just to let you guys know, it's going to get better! Here is the next chapter, enjoy! ;D

Sunsetfur: Dedicated to Moony, Needle, and Beauty ;D ;D ;D ;D

Chapter 3
Storm[/u]

The next few days were testing for me, both physically and emotionally. I remember feeling terrible, thinking to myself that I was betraying Hawkwing as I pretended to grow to love Reedwhisker. I was tired of asking the black tom to spend time alone with me, tired of the delighted look in his eyes, tired of living a lie. Willowleaf tried to comfort me, saying that as long as I knew in my heart that I loved Hawkwing, all would be well. I wished I could believe her.

It was an unusually long greenleaf season. Willowleaf told me that Mothwing had been muttering for days that a lengthy greenleaf leads to a brief leaf-fall and a long leaf-bare. I tried my best to ignore the golden-pelted medicine cat’s discontented warnings and predictions, as greenleaf was the time I felt most alive and energetic. I had been born on a sweltering day, such as the one we experienced earlier, and the sunset came as a relief to all, even me.

Quickly and quietly, I slipped out of the camp and bounded across the few fox-lengths of partched grass to the riverbank. The murmuring, swishing waters reflected the golden-amber sky. I gazed over at the lake in the distance, looking like a pool of molten sunlight, and at the pine forests that made up ShadowClan’s territory. My vision wandered to the stream that separated ThunderClan from ShadowClan, and across the green woods bathed in the colors of the fading sunset.

I wondered how my ThunderClan friend, Hazelfur, was faring. Like many of my friends in other Clans, she was recently told by her medicine cat the she would be expecting kits. This was a great achievement for her, as her mother had been a kittypet that had come to ThunderClan and many cats resented her for that. Hazelfur would never admit to me who the father was—but I had a sneaking suspision that it was Spiderleg, one of her first friends and her mentor.

And then I noticed the clouds.

Standing in a manacing line along the western horizonline, over the moors of WindClan, they boiled with rage, waiting to unleash their power that had been kept at bay over the long greenleaf. Mothwing had gloomily warned that a storm of this magnitude at the end of greenleaf brought misfortune to all.

Shaking my head slightly, I turned my head back towards the sheltered thicket that held the camp as the sound of rustling reached my ears. Reedwhisker had found me.

“Hey,” he mewed, padding over to me and settling down beside me. “Lovely evening, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” I replied reluctantly, hoisting a smile onto my face. I felt my stomach twinge, and knew it was time to break the news to Reedwhisker. Mustering all the courage I could, I mewed softly, “Something wonderful has happened.”

The black tom looked at me, puzzled. “I know you caught a fish the size of a badger today, but that can’t be it,” he meowed slowly.

Of course not! I thought impatiently, looking down into the river. If I had said the same words to Hawkwing, he would have picked up on what I was trying to tell him at once.

I looked up, my face set. “I’ll be joining the queens soon.”
Reedwhisker stared at me blankly for a heartbeat, as if his brain were trying to process what I had said. Suddenly his expression changed, and his face broke in a smile.

“Congradulations, Silverpool!” He meowed, standing up and touching his nose to mine. His green eyes were sparkling as he whispered, “And the lucky father is…?”

I playfully swatted him with a paw. “Of course it’s you, mouse-brain!” Trying my best not to flinch as Reedwhisker settled down beside me, so close that I felt his fur brush my flank, I added, “The down side is that I’ll be stuck in a den for several moons with grumpy she-cats and annoying kits.”

The black tom gave a little mrrow of laughter. “You told anyone else yet?”

“Just you,” I replied. “Plus Mothwing and Willoeleaf. I was planning to tell Mistystar soon.”

“Go now,” Reedwhisker urged, flicking his tail at the camp entrance. “While everyone’s eating.”

For once I took his advice. I rose to my paws, shaking my fur out a little. I was surprised to see that Reedwhisker wasn’t staring at my swishing silver fur, but instead his gaze was focused on the slowly dissaspearing sun. I swept around and squeezed myself into the camp.

Mistystar was tucking into a sleek gray fish beside Swallowtail, Voletooth, and Mothwing. The blue-gray she-cat looked up as I approached her, and Swallowtail abruptly cut off her argument with Voletooth about the best place to hunt rabbits.

“Yes, Silverpool?” Mistystar asked. Swallowtail and Voletooth were staring at me, as were the three apprentices Scarletpaw, Streampaw, and Flowerpaw. Mothwing, who had been told by Willowleaf about my kits, looked uninterested.

“I think I’ll be needing to join the queens soon,” I meowed, trying to look proud and excited. “Mothwing and Willowleaf told me that I’m expecting kits.”

Mistystar smiled. “That’s great news, Silverpool!” The gray leader stood, ruffling her fur and blinking her blue eyes. “Here—I’ll go tell Splashstream and Dawnflower.”

I followed Mistystar over to where the queens were eating with their kits. Splashstream’s kits were too young to handle fresh-kill, and were suckling from their mother as the blue-gray queen chatted to Dawnflower, who was sharing a rabbit with her two kits. The queens looked up as Mistystar and I stopped before them.

“How are your kits?” Mistystar asked the two. Her eyes were resting on Dawnflower’s litter, Larchkit and Shadowkit. The little tomcats were chasing each other, concentrating more on the other’s tail rather than the scraps of rabbit Dawnflower kept pushing them.

“Coming along,” Splashstream meowed affectionatly, brushing a white and gray kit with her tail as the tiny she-cat squeaked. The blue-gray queen looked up at me, sitting nervously beside Mistystar. “Let me guess—Silverpool will be joining us tonight?”

“Knew it,” Dawnflower cut in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’ll bet you the rest of this rabbit that Reedwhisker’s the fa—”

“Be nice,” Splashstream hissed playfully, reaching over with one paw to swat the older queen on the ear. Purring softly, Splashstream looked back to me. “Welcome, Silverpool, to many days of lazing around waiting for the kits to come.”

I laughed. “There isn’t anything I’d rather do,” I meowed sarcastically, settling down beside Splashstream as questioning eyes peered at me from all around.

.....

It was evening. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and stormy-gray clouds the color of my pelt prowled the sky. The temperature dropped drastically as the winds picked up. Darkness was coming in fast, and the threat of a torrential rainstorm caused Mistystar and Swallowtail to call off the evening patrols. Dawnflower and Splashstream ushered their kits into the nursery, and I quickly ducked inside after them.

The nursery was much like the warriors’ den—a dip in the ground coated with moss lining, situated under a dense thorn bush growing up against one of the oak trees surrounding the camp. Reeds grew all around. It was the closest den to the river, and the comforting murmuring soothed me as the thought of the coming storm drowned over everything else.

Dawnflower, Larchkit, and Shadowkit curled up together on the far left side of the den after the gray queen had deposited Barkkit, the younger of Splashstream’s litter, beside his mother who had settled herself on the right side of the den entrance. Her other kit, Morningkit, was mewing and squirming in my jaws. I carefully placed her beside her brother, who had already dozed off under Splashstream’s front leg.

“They’re so very sweet,” I commented affectionately, dropping down on an unoccupied patch of moss that was parallel to Splashstream. She smiled in thanks.

“Night,” Dawnflower murmured, closing her eyes and tucking her head between her paws. Splashstream was nodding off already as well, but I curled myself and lay there awake and restless. I opened my eyes a fraction of an inch as a rustle sounded from near Dawnflower. Shadowkit had lifted his head: the dark-pelted kit swept his gaze around the nursery and, assuming that I was asleep, beckoned to his brother with his tail and began to creep toward the nursery entrance.

“Go back to sleep, both of you,” I meowed sharply, amusement rising in my voice with each word. Both kits leaped around, their fur standing on end, then slunk back to their mother’s side in disappointment. I smiled and watched the two kits until a slow purr rumbled from each of their throats.

Feeling suddenly drowsy, I closed my eyes. I would see Hawkwing tomorrow, I thought, as I heard the first drops of the rainstorm splattering against the leaves of the nursery thorn bush and into the river, endlessly whispering outside the camp.



Next chap is already written, and should be appearing Thursday or Friday. Hazelfur's kits have been named already - don't ask what they are. If you read, maybe I'll tell you...or if anyone can help with the astronaut thing on Weffriddles 32!!! AHHH!

Keep watch for Chapter 4: Glow

~Sunny

[ghostfeather]

dun dun DUN! will one of Silverpool's kits look like Hawkwing? no one knows...... ;D
continue!!!

[Tigerfur]

Tigerfur: No one know, unless you read! Which you must do, ha ha ha! Here's the next chapter, enjoy! ;D

Sunsetfur: Yes! I can't wait to start it. I'm writing the finishing chapters of Gathering Darkness right now, and book 2 is tentatively titled Gray Skies, Black Dawn. It concerns Silverpool and her kits...

Meanwhile, here's chap 4!

Chapter 4
Glow[/u]

Life went on. I spent my days playing with Splashstream and Dawnflower’s kits, watching my belly grow larger with each passing moon. I managed to slip out of camp every few nights, to see my beloved. My days became peaceful and lazy, only punctuated by Willowleaf bringing news from each Gathering she attended. It was never much—Whiteflower of ThunderClan giving birth to kits, a few ShadowClan apprentices becoming warriors, a fox being chased from WindClan territory…after four moons of being a queen, I started to get pains in my belly more often. I anticipated the kits’ arrival.

Willowleaf had told me that I would kit soon. I didn’t need her to tell me—my belly was so huge it looked like I had done nothing but eat constantly for the past four moons. As the full moon approached, I was surprised to see Swallowtail poke her head into the nursery on the evening of the day of the Gathering.

“Hi, Swallowtail,” Splashstream greeted the dark brown she-cat, pausing from grooming her kits. Morningkit and Barkkit were flattening themselves against the ground, squealing and trying to evade their mother’s tongue. The two had grown considerably over the past few moons. Larchkit and Shadowkit had become even bigger troublemakers than before. For now, they were watching Splashstream’s litter with amusement as Dawnflower dozed nearby.

“Hey, you two. Mistystar decided that you and Silverpool need to get out of the camp for a while, so she’s asking if either of you want to go to the gathering.” She flicked her tail at Dawnflower. “She went last time.”

“Sure,” Splashstream replied. Swallowtail glanced at me, waiting for a response.

“Okay,” I meowed quickly. “Is Reedwhisker coming?” I had made a point of trying to seem like I was interested in what Reedwhisker was doing, even though I couldn’t have cared less.

“No. Mistystar wants him to stay here to help Nightshadow and Cloudfeather to guard the camp,” the dark brown she-cat replied. Swallowtail eyed me closely. “Would you rather stay here with him?” The deputy asked mischievously.

“Of course not, mouse-brain!” I spat. I hated pretending that I loved Reedwhisker. With each passing day I felt fore contempt and hatred for the black tom. I had heard him talking to Blackclaw and Stonestream about how much he looked forward to seeing his kits—and that they hopefully took after me in terms of pelt color. The two-faced scrap of mouse dung.

“Okay. We’re gathering at the camp entrance. Better wake up Dawn-flower and ask her to watch your kits, Splashstream.” Swallowtail withdrew her head from the thorn-and-reed nursery.

“Finally!” Splashstream commented, resuming her attack with her tongue on Morningkit and Barkkit. “Well…I just hope those two,”—she pointed with her tail at Dawnflower’s kits—“are easy on Morningkit and Barkkit. They’re nearly six moons and Mistystar told Dawnflower yesterday that she’d be making them apprentices after she makes Flowerpaw, Scarletpaw, and Streampaw warriors.”

I chuckled softly and stretched, eager to attend my first Gathering in moons. I sprang to my paws as I heard Mistystar’s summoning yowl from the camp clearing.

“We’ll tell you what happened when we come back,” Splashstream promised Dawnflower, who was very disgruntled that she was being left behind.

Mistystar was at the head of a small group of cats gathered by the camp entrance. Swallowtail was beside the gray leader, with Mothwing, Willowleaf, Mosspelt, Voletooth, Flamingfur, Reedwhisker, Tumblepelt, Streampaw, Scarletpaw, Blackclaw, and Heavystep. Seemed Reedwhisker would be there after all. Shooting Swallowtail an annoyed glance, I went to meet Willowleaf immediately.

“So,” she meowed knowingly. “Looking forward to the Gathering?”

“I guess,” I replied, keeping my voice level. “Not really expecting anything exciting, though.”

“Oh.” Willowleaf glanced around, then muttered, “When have you been seeing him?”

“At night,” I whispered.

I looked up as Mistystar padded out of the camp, followed by Swallowtail and her apprentice, Streampaw. The rest of the patrol came after in silence, and the only sound was the occasional rustle of fur and the padding off paws on the greenleaf-scorched dry grass. My belly ached and I was glad that the island wasn’t far off from the RiverClan camp. Splashstream shot me sympathetic glances and helped me along as I stumbled down the familiar path to the island. As an apprentice, Splashstream had been one of the original cats to come from the old forest and was still not used to the island.

“I still cans see Fourtrees,” she’d reminisce sadly. “It was in the center of the four Clan territories, made up of four great oaks with the Great Rock in the center.” I had always nodded in sympathy for the blue-gray she-cat, as she was a senior warrior whose heart still was set in the old territory beyond the mountains. But I had been born many moons after the great migration.

“Oh, look!” I heard Scarletpaw meow excitedly. “We’re there!”

I looked up to see that the apprentice was right—looming ahead of us was the glittering lake, and the lithe, dark shapes moving towards it were coming from WindClan territory. I opened my mouth to scent them, before I recognized Onestar, the WindClan leader, and Firestar, the ThunderClan leader. The flame-colored tom was the oldest leader among the four, ever since Leopardstar had lost her final life from greencough.

“Come on, Silverpool,” Splashstream meowed impatiently. “I want to have some time to speak to some cats before the Gathering is over!”

The RiverClan she-cat leapt up onto the fallen tree that had killed Mudclaw of WindClan moons ago. I carefully made my way up after her, digging my claws into the bark of the tree to keep my balance. Pain shot through my swollen belly, but I managed to clamber to safety of the opposite bank.

Gazing all around the clearing, I carefully combed my way through the throng of cats to find Hawkwing. I finally spotted the golden-brown WindClan tom speaking to Squirrelflight of ThunderClan and Marshfur of ShadowClan. As Squirrelflight meowed something to Marshfur, Hawkwing glanced at me out of the corner of his eye and quickly shook his head a fraction of an inch from side to side.

So I settled for finding Willowleaf instead. Just as I spotted the pale gray she-cat chatting with Goldenlight of WindClan, moonlight flooded the clearing and a powerful pain corased through me. I gasped as the moon emerged from its wreath of thin, wispy clouds that were scattered across the night sky.

“Now is your time, Silverpool,” a voice whispered. Feathertail!

I yowled in pain as a ripple passed over my belly. Collapsing to the ground, I choked out, “Willowleaf!”

The gray she-cat glanced up casually and I saw a look of horror slide onto her face. “Oh, StarClan,” she cried, whirling about. “Mothwing! Mistystar! It’s Silverpool’s kits!”

In a moment both RiverClan medicine cats were at my side. The clearing filled with cats had suddenly grown silent as Leafpool of Thunder-Clan bounded over. Littlecloud, the ShadowClan medicine cat, and his apprentice, Amberleaf, rushed over at my second cry of pain.

“Can we help?” The WindClan medicine cat, Brightfire, had also appeared.

“Yes!” Mothwing replied quickly. “Do we have any poppy seeds? She won’t need them now, but afterwards, they’d be good to have.”

“I’ll go back and fetch some,” Willowleaf volunteered at once.

“No, Willowleaf,” Mothwing contradicted. “You’re needed here. This will be a new experience for you, and I want you here.”

“I can’t go,” Leafpool mewed in distress. “Our camp’s too far off.”

“I’ll go!” Cried Brightfire exasperatedly. I had known the she-cat to be ill-tempered and quarrelsome, but now she looked determined and slightly frightened. The WindClan she-cat turned tail and raced for the fallen tree. Another ripple went over my belly as my vision dimmed.

“Help…me…” I croaked. The glow of the moon was seeping into me, and Feathertail’s voice was echoing ever so quietly in my mind.

Feathertail was whispering in my ears, calling to me, murmuring softly of the moon and its light on the river.

“Don’t worry, Silverpool,” Littlecloud assured me, watching Brightfire dissapear on the other side of the fallen tree. “You’re going to be fine.”


Well? *holds out big box of Reedwhisker plushies*

~Sunny

[Too lazy to long in Slash]

OMG! This fanfic is awesome!!! Great job. ;)

[ghostfeather]

dun dun DUN! again.. hehe
the kits are here! YAY!!!! *happy dances* ;D lol

if there were warrior plushies, I'd be first in line to buy them! lol
continue

[Tigerfur]

Tigerfur: I know, this story is AWESOME, but it's not mine. But I will tell Sunsetfur what you said, now for the next chapter, enjoy! ;D

Sunsetfur: Thanks to everybody to complimented!

Chapter 5
Shame[/u]

I remember my terror as I lay there, surrounded by Leafpool, Littlecloud, Amberleaf, Mothwing, and Willowleaf. Each medicine cat was staring down at me anxiously, helpless. My welfare rested on Brightfire. I pictured the young WindClan medicine cat racing across the moors, and wondered how she would react if she found out the father was one of her own Clanmates. The cats who were there were all staring at me as if I were a fox with rabbit’s ears. How I longed for thr privacy of the RiverClan camp, where I could give birth alone, without all the staring eyes and curious murmuring.

I suddenly felt another ripple race over my belly, causing me to gasp in pain and fear. Mothwing’s eyes widened as the first kit slid into the world. I gazed desperately around, trying to see my firstborn, but then Willowleaf gently lifted it off the ground gently to place it on her flank and began to lick it. Even though its fur was plastered to its tiny body, I could clearly see the dark brown pelt streaked with gold. I was suddenly fearful. He doesn’t look like Reedwhisker.

I felt the second kit working its way out of me and exhaled sharply as Amberleaf pulled this one towards her. The ShadowClan medicine cat apprentice settled down beside Willowleaf and began grooming its fur—its sleek silver-gray fur.

Emotion flooded my heart as quickly as lightning can strike the ground. I barely noticed the third and final kit land gently onto the ground beside me. This time Leafpool took it, leaving Mothwing and Littlecloud to gaze in distress over the moors.

“May...may I see them?” I croaked, hauling myself up to a sitting position. Every muscle in my body ached.

“Of course,” Leafpool replied gently. The ThunderClan medicine cat placed the third kit by my side—another gray one. I moaned softly as Amberleaf and Willowleaf placed my other two kits beside me. Cats began to slowly gather around me, and I saw Reedwhisker pushing his way through the crowd to see me.

Anger swelled in my still-aching stomach as the black tom drew closer. That excited and happy face, his bristling fur…

“Silverpool!” He breathed, shouldering Leafpool and Amberleaf aside. The ShadowClan medicine cat apprentice hissed in annoyance, but Leafpool flicked her ears at her angrily.

“He’s the father,” Leafpool muttered gently. I was about to yowl out “No, he’s not!”, but stopped myself just in time. I saw Cloudfeather looking at me excitedly, Streampaw peering around her mother’s legs to get a better look. Off in the distance, I spotted Hawkwing, trying to hard to keep his face straight. I gave him a tiny nod before returning my gaze to the cat who was now fighting her way through the crowd.

“Out of the way!” The ginger-and-gold tabby spat at Reedwhisker, dropping her bundle of herbs at Mothwing’s paws. “How are you, Silverpool?”

“Fine,” I told Brightfire shakily. “I’m just—tired.”

“Here,” the WindClan she-cat meowed, leaning in closer to me. “You can have this—there’s some ragwort in it, with a few juniper berries and some water mint as well. Oh you poor thing—having kits at a Gathering in front of all these cats watching you like it’s nothing personal….Should I give her some chamomile, too?” She glanced at the other medicine cats.

“Go ahead,” Littlecloud mewed.

Brightfire pushed the poultice towards me, muttering angrily as the Clan cats all around whispered and muttered as the kits began to give tiny squeals and squirmed forward to suckle. As I swallowed the herb mixture, the WindClan medicine cat leaned in very close to me and whispered, “They’re beautiful. And don’t worry—I know about you and Hawkwing.”

I stared up at the WindClan she-cat, blinking in surprise. She turned away from me and called to the leaders, “You can start the Gathering now. Silverpool and her kits are fine.” Brightfire looked at me. “Do you want to stay?”

“Yes,” I replied immediately. “I haven’t been to a Gathering in moons.”

“And will you all stop staring at her?” I was surprised to see Leafpool spit the whispering cats gathered around me. The usually-gentle ThunderClan medicine cat looked furious. “It’s bad enough that she happened to have her kits here, but you can all at least give her some privacy.”

“Thanks, Leafpool.” I flicked my tail at the brown tabby she-cat, and she padded over to her sister Squirrelflight, fur bristling and muttering angrily as Brightfire had done a few moments before.

Mothwing padded forward, Willowleaf beside her. “We’ll stay with you,” the golden tabby mewed. Willowleaf settled down beside me, licking at my matted fur.

“You did great,” my friend murmured. “I told Hawkwing what the kits look like. He told me that he’d meet you tonight at the border to discuss names. I’ll look after the kits.”

I blinked in gratitude. “Thank you,” I meowed.

The leaders’ yowl caused silence to fall over the crowd of cats. Firestar was perched on the lowest limb of the oak tree in the center of the island clearing. Mistystar was on his left, with Blackstar next to her. One-star was clambering up next to Firestar on his other side.

“I’ll go first,” the ThunderClan leader declared. “Squirrelflight’s kits, Brownkit and Shimmerkit, have recently been apprenticed to Ravenwing and Spiderleg.”

He nodded to Onestar, and the dark brown tom waved his tail as he began to speak. I wasn’t listening. While every other cat was staring avidly at the four leaders, telling random news about Clan life, Hawkwing was still watching me, disguised pride glowing in his eyes.



“It’s still hurting,” I complained to Mothwing as Mistystar lead the RiverClan patrol back to the camp. Mothwing walked on my left, anxiously following me in case I showed signs of weakness or exhaustion from kitting. Willowleaf, Splashstream, and Streampaw each carried a kit, and were forced to walk slowly in case one of the kits would hit the ground.

“You mean your stomach? That’s no surprise. But if you want, you can come stay with Willowleaf and me tonight. She’s be glad to have some company,” Mothwing meowed. We had finally reached the camp, so when I slid through the thorny tunnel and entered the quiet hollow, I immediately headed for the medicine cat clearing. The golden tabby medicine cat settled me in a sheltered spot below an oak tree, concealed by ferns and reeds, and Streampaw, Splashstream, and Willowleaf placed the kits carefully next to me.

“Thank you,” I mewed softly, nudging the gold-and-brown kit closer to me with my nose. Willowleaf looked up at Mothwing.

“Why’s she staying here?” Willowleaf asked in concern. “Is something wrong?”

“Just a bellyache,” I murmured. Mothwing nodded and disappeared into the medicine cat’s den, situated in a small thorny tangle with hollowed-out spaces for the two medicine cats to settle down at night and to store healing herbs. She reappeared a moment later with a few leaves in her mouth.

“Juniper berries,” Mothwing told me in response to my questioning glance. “And just a bit of ragwort to give you some strength.”

I nodded in gratitude and swallowed the berries. The ragwort was bitter, but I chewed it quickly and lapped up a bit of water from the tiny stream that came from the nearby river.

“Okay then,” Mothwing meowed, straightening. “Let’s leave Silverpool in peace, Willowleaf. Ah, here comes Reedwhisker—they’ll want to be alone.”

The medicine cat padded away into the thorn tangle, beckoning Willowleaf with her tail to follow. The pale gray she-cat mewed very quietly, “Good luck—wake me up when you want to leave and I’ll watch the kits.”

“Thanks,” I whispered as she padded away. The black form of Reedwhisker slipped into the clearing and gazed down at my kits.

“Silverpool...” he meowed in a choked voice. “They’re...they’re great. I wish you well.” Reedwhisker faltered, pain flooding his eyes. “I was watching you last night,” he mewed, dropping his voice to a whisper. “They’re not mine, right?”

I stared at him, horror-struck. “Yes they—”

“You and I both know that they’re not mine—they’re that WindClan cat’s, Hawkwing or whatever his name was.” Reedwhisker breathed.

“Oh, Reedwhisker,” I choked. “I…I meant to tell you, but—”

“That’s all right, Silverpool,” Reedwhisker murmured, his eyes fixed on the brown kit. “Who else knows?”

“Just me, Hawkwing, Willowleaf, and the WindClan medicine cat, Brightfire,” I replied quietly. “And you now, of course.”

“So, how are you two going to decide on names?”

“I’m meeting him tonight. I don’t really have a bellyache, I just told Mothwing that so I could sneak out and Willowleaf could watch my kits while I’m gone.” I stared up at his distraught face, and a huge swoop of shame engulfed me. He had truly loved me…he was not the arrogant cat I thought he was...

“I’ll watch them,” Reedwhisker meowed. “Let Willowleaf sleep. It won’t look suspicious to any cat because I’m the fa—well, the father the Clan thinks.”

“Thank you, Reedwhisker,” I mewed, standing up as he slid himself carefully into my place. The kits squeaked softly before settling into his fur. “I...I really am sorry.”

“That’s okay, Silverpool.” The black tom pressed his nose to my flank gently. “You let your heart lead you, which is braver than anything I can ever hope to do.”




Say it with me now: AWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Chapter 6: Sunlight should be appearing soon. It's already written. DON'T give me suggestions for kit names - I've already got them. And don't ask what they are either.

My favorite charries are Willowleaf, Reedwhisker, Hawkwing, and the brown-and-gold she-kit.

Remember: members are free to edit spelling mistakes if they find any.