Lives Taken and Paths Changed

[. s p o r e l e t t ♪]

Two of the promised four kits had been given to ShadowClan, and a further two remained to be given either to RiverClan or ThunderClan. In addition to that, two more kits had to be given to the remaining leader as a form of placating gift. There had to be a reason to split the eight kits up even more than in the way that had been agreed by their parents and Clans, and the only way to explain it was to send them to the four Clans of their heritage.

If he could have gotten away with it, Ravenstar would have only given ShadowClan's other two kits to RiverClan, thus keeping four in his own Clan and still having another powerful Clan's assistance when it came to facing Specklestar's anger. But the masses would never astand for such an obvious ploy for power; no, there had to be an understandable reason for what he did, otherwise cats would talk about how Ravenstar went behind a queen's back for the sake of power.

And in the end, cats would talk anyway. They would speculate and they would accuse despite the reasons that had been given, and all that would be accomplished was the loss of two future apprentices for his Clan to mentor. Was it worth keeping up the appearance of being a kind, caring leader? He was tired of trying to mask his intentions behind a smiling face and smooth words. Would WindClan still be in the state that it was in now if he had been more straightforward with his actions from the beginning?

As the small, black tom led his patrol wordlessly back towards camp, he turned his thoughts over and over in his mind. Now was not the time to make any decisions about how he should govern his Clan in the future; he still had urgent matters to attend that required his utmost concentration. Reaching the edge of camp and pushing his way through the gorse, Ravenstar padded into the clearing and looked back, waiting for Willowstar and her patrol to follow him in. Now that Specklestar had her two kits, there was still the matter of Willowstar's part of the deal to be discussed.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

The way back to WindClan's camp seemed shorter than the first time they came. The she-cat was already getting used to traveling on the open moors, remembering keep an eye out above for any predatory birds and to keep up with the speedier WindClan cats. She also kept an eye on her own cats. She figured they'd want to get back to their own territory soon and stop all of the running across WindClan land. She wouldn't have complained at that too, but one more thing remained. As soon as they received the kits they'd been promised, Willowstar would take her cats straight home.

They entered camp and Willowstar saw that things were much the same as they were before. Cats were either in dens, lounging around camp or eating. The day was starting to heat up, as it usually did in greenleaf, and she knew this day was going to be very similar to the past several. In terms of weather, at least. This day was far from normal. Willowstar followed Ravenstar into camp, taking a glance around to search for the kits. She wondered which kits in the litter would be most suited for RiverClan, which ones would be the bravest and resist the least when they had to leave. She looked to Ravenstar, willing for him to speak first. He knew the kits better and would able to recommend the best, she assumed.

Heathertail looked up from where she was sunning when she noticed some more cats entering camp. Sure enough it was Ravenstar and the patrol with the RiverClan cats. After a quick glance over the group she saw that the kits weren't with them. Whether that was good or bad, she still wasn't sure. But it meant that ShadowClan recieved the kits, and from the looks of the patrol they hadn't put up a fight. The brown tabby got to her paws and padded over to her friend, seeing it to be relatively safe since Willowstar was going off with Ravenstar.

"Did it go well?" Heathertail asked Gingertail and Dustfur. "How did ShadowClan take it?" Dustfur just nodded and looked to Gingertail to explain more.

[Amber]

Shadowkit sat just outside the nursery, and sighed. She kept wishing Swiftkit and Sandkit would come back into camp, saying it was a joke. But the more she looked around camp, the more she realized that two of her siblings would no longer be there. There was six of them left, and if things had gone like with Swiftkit and Sandkit, there was no way of telling who would be next. The next thing she knew, another one of her siblings would probably be snatched away without her being able to say goodbye, or even to give a lick of reassurance. Not that she needed to be reassured, everything was falling apart and that was a fact. Her whole family was leaving, and it was her father's fault! Why did he have to come and see them, and then take two of her siblings away? How could she be brave now that two of the only cats she would talk with were gone? There was no way she could trust anyone easily, not anytime soon. Not after what had been done. Her mother was partly to blame also, she should not have let them leave.

The little black kit sat just outside the nursery, staring at nothing in particular. She was in a trance, a trance of disbelief. This was all surreal, it had to be. She would wake up in a few moments, and everything would be back to normal. She would be arguing with Swiftkit over something or another, and it would be like her father never existed again. Her light blue eyes closed as she thought of this, maybe if she shut them hard enough that when she opened them again, Swiftkit and Sandkit would be back. Opening her eyes once more, the disbelief began to set in again as her eyes traveled to the ground. It was worth a shot....

And then Ravenstar came back with the patrol, without Sandkit and Swiftkit. Could this day get any worse? Oh yes it could. She spotted the strangers back in camp and her fur stood on its end. Shadowkit wished she was brave enough to go up to Ravenstar and demand her brother and sister back, but no that was too scary. The little kit quickly made her way into the nursery, to get away from any wandering eyes. But that didn't mean she wasn't going to peek out and see what was going on, why was there still funny smelling cats in the Clan?

[. s p o r e l e t t ♪]

Streamkit was sitting outside with Shadowkit when the patrol arrived. She noticed her sister's fur standing on end when the strange RiverClan cats returned with them and their two siblings did not, and felt her own stomach sink to her toes at the sight. Sandkit and Swiftkit were really gone. They had disappeared, gone to ShadowClan... and the little kits would never see them again. Streamkit couldn't believe such a thing could possibly be true, but yet here was the evidence, sitting right before her own eyes. The small grey kit couldn't bear the sight of her leader's patrol any longer, so she got to her paws and followed her sister inside. She didn't like the feeling the cats gave her now, as if she was being watched.

Ravenstar's eyes slid over to Shadowkit as the small, she she-cat slid into the nursery, shortly followed by her lighter, slightly bolder sister. He had already thought about which six kits he would part with, assuming Rivermist left the decision up to him, and he knew exactly which kits he was going to choose to go to the respective Clans. Shadowkit, with her timidness, would turn out a poor warrior, at best simply being a permanent queen. He would send her to RiverClan along with the sister that was always close to her side.

As for ThunderClan... he had plans for them. They posed no threat to him, and as it was now, with them holding such a lush territory and posessing so few warriors, they were the perfect distraction for ShadowClan, so that the forest-dwelling Clan would feel the hunger of their ambition instead of his own. He intended to keep it that way, so the noble forest cats would receive no young she-cats from him. Let their numbers remain small for a while longer.

"Accompany me to the nursery, and I will introduce you to your future Clanmates," he invited Willowstar. "It would be best if your warriors stayed outside, however. The kits and queens will be upset enough as it is." Beckoning with his tail, the slender tom padded across camp and followed the two female kits into their sanctuary, sitting next to the entrance and waiting for Willowstar to enter as well. "Streamkit, Shadowkit, this is Willowstar, the leader of RiverClan. Her Clan is going to take care of you from now on."

Streamkit was surprised when Ravenstar followed her and her sister inside of the nursery, accompanied by the big, fluffy cat. She hadn't expected him to bring her inside, and she was curious as to why he would be bringing her to see the nursery. She was the one who had accompanied him when he took their siblings away... were they friends, then? Looking up at the two adult cats with confusion, she blinked when her name was called. Streamkit glanced at Shadowkit and pressed closer to her, suddenly feeling nervous about her leader's presence. Were they in trouble? Was something going to happen to them too?

A hundred possibilities tumbled about in her mind for a split second before the stone dropped, and then it was blank for a moment in utter confusion. The leader of RiverClan was going to take care of them? Was she going to live here in the nursery? But then the horrible truth sunk in. It was just like what had happened to Swiftkit and Sandkit; they were being given away to another Clan. "B-but," she stuttered, for once at a loss for words. "But why?" Streamkit could only gape at the two adult cats as they calmly discussed the future of her and her sister.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Upon scanning her gaze around WindClan's camp, Willowstar saw two kits she remembered from earlier when they had left with the other two. Probably more of Rivermist's kits, though she wondered where the others were, since there were still supposed to be six of them. That didn't matter though, because soon she was following Ravenstar toward the den the two kits had disappeared into, presumably the nursery. "Watch them," she called back to her deputy, glancing over her cats. "I'll be back soon."

Inside was dark and warm, and the smell of kits and milk grew stronger. She averted her eyes from the other queens, not wishing to upset any of them. She only had eyes for these two half-Clan kits. She saw the two kits and looked them over briefly. They were probably upset that two of their siblings were already gone, so they likely weren't feeling like their usual selves. Maybe they would make good RiverClan cats, but she couldn't tell just from meeting them for the first time. She would have to see how they adjusted themselves to life in RiverClan in time.

"This is Ravenstar's decision; I'm merely taking him up on his offer." She explained. "You two will make fine RiverClan cats, I can see." That was as much as she would say for now. She waited to see their reactions.

[nightstorm]

Rivermist's gaze had shifted from where she had been staring off at nothing, not having moved since the first two of her kits had left. She dully watched as Ravenstar and his patrol returned, but her gaze sharpened as she spotted Willowstar as well. No..no...Great StarClan no...I can't do this... she thought miserably. The silver queen stood, and listlessly made her way over to the nursery.

She slipped in, feeling cramped in the now-crowded nursery. Her eyes widened as she heard Ravenstar's decision. No....not Shadowkit...she needs me... she thought, her gaze stricken. Suddenly feeling as though she needed to protect them, Rivermist pushed past Willowstar and Ravenstar, until she was able to see her kits. She quickly moved closer to them, standing over them protectively. She curled her tail around Streamkit and Shadowkit, wanting to feel their fur against hers, knowing it would be one of the last times. Rivermist gazed at the two leaders, anguish and grief in her eyes. "Please....take care of them..." she whispered, directing her words to Willowstar. "Make them proud warriors..." Her throat tightened, and she glanced away, unable to say more. Another scent floated past her nose

It was Silverkit. The tiny she-kit poked her head into the nursery, and almost backed out, her fur bristling. "No...you can't take them," she squeaked pleadingly. "They're my sisters...you can't have them! They aren't RiverClan! They're WindClan!" She flashed a hate-filled glare towards Willowstar and her mother, then a pleading look towards Ravenstar. "You can't let them take my sisters away," she said smally. "Please....It's not fair!" Silverkit shivered from fear and sorrow. "Why are you doing this? I want Swiftkit and Sandkit...I want them back...I want this all to stop...Please." Her voice trembled as she begged. "I just want my family back...

[hedgie]

i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx67/Sporelett/Patchclaw.png

[/img]
Patchclaw followed Willowstar, her leader's calico-colored shadow. The small she-cat kept close, eying the WindClan cats once again, fiercely disloyal. These strangers were not her friends, and she wasn't here to make any. Her eyes, a tad too large for her head, swiveled around as she slowly sat. Their new kits, the hopefuls, would be in their paws soon. Oh, they were so close to success, close to getting home. She wanted out of this unfamiliar territory soon, as fast as she could get out. Ravenstar spoke, and Willowstar followed, giving her deputy orders.

Patchclaw perked up instantly, for she had been slumping over, shoulders slightly above her head. "Watch them? Yes. Of course." With a devilish grin, she twisted around. Forget being careful. She was going to be straight-out and up-front. These cats needed to know that any...frivolous action would be dealt with..and if they were her own cats, it would be handled rather severely, if Willowstar let her take care of things.

She had hoped to see which kits they were getting, but that wasn't to be the case..sadly. Still smiling, she wrapped her tail around her paws. "Now, now, Dears. Do behave. I'm not in the mood for any....oh, how do I put this? Trouble." She grew silent, glancing quickly back towards the nursery.

Yes. They were almost there!

((GAWD! She is just so delightfully creepy.))

[Kitty]

Gingertail had padded across WindCLan's territory - sticking with the WindClan cats, which probably earned her a few glances from the RiverClan cats - following Dustfur like a ginger shadow. Her green eyes were hollow and sad. An evil cat. That was what she was. An evil cat that tore kit families apart when they were still young. Those kits had to hate her for what she helped do. She'd never be able to make it up to them. Not even if she tried all her life or even if she had the nine lives of a leader...never.

She entered the WindClan camp and stopped when her tabby companion stopped, sticking by his side like a tick. She stared down at her paws until she heard the familiar voice of a she-cat, friendly and curious. The ginger she-cat waited for Dustfur to explain what happened, but when he didn't she sighed and lifted her hollow green gaze. "ShadowClan cats are scary when they're angry," she meowed, voice as empty, recalling the furious white warrior that came over to she and Dustfur to pick up a kit. That was all she was going to say about it, and she returned to silence to let the tabby tom continue.

Stonekit lingered by his mother's side, crestfallen at the loss of his siblings. Sandkit and Swiftkit were gone now. They weren't WindClan cats anymore. They were ShadowClan now. He would get to see them for moons. Moons. The next time they might possibly see eachother was when they were six moons old at a Gathering, and there were no guarentees that they would be allowed to go to that one.

The little tom was still sitting beside Rivermist when the patrol of warriors came back, headed by Ravenstar. Stonekit turned a tired, griefstricken gaze towards the cats, and what little hope he'd hung on to that Sandkit and Swiftkit would be back with the patrol vanished when he saw that they were not accompanying them. A pang shot through the gray kit when he noticed that there was the RiverClan patrol.

That meant that more of his siblings were going to be going away. A pang shot through him as Ravenstar and the fluffy gray she-cat peeled off from the group and headed towards the nursery. Stonekit scrambled to his paws a bit clumsily and bounded over to follow the two cats into the nursery. He'd noticed Ravenstar talking to this she-cat when they'd first come to the camp. Perhaps they were friends and he was just showing her the camp?

But that idea didn't last long when the black leader introduced the gray she-cat as Willowstar. Another Clan leader! RiverClan's leader! he thought, trembling a bit. And then he realized what else his leader had said, and a pang shot through him, making his belly drop like there was a stone in it. His mother pushed past him, and he just stoof there in the entrance, frozen in shock.

Shadowkit and Streamkit had to leave? Already? But...he couldn't lose four of his siblings in one day. "Shadowkit? Streamkit? They;ve got to...leave?" he mewed in a hollow voice. Oh, how his wished he was defiant and brave enough to go up to those two leaders and swipe both of them across the faces, claws unsheathed. That would show them for taking away his siblings, his family.

But he wasn't like that. He was just Stonekit, a simple little WindClan tom who was losing all his family members to the other Clans. And Stonekit didn't see any way to avoid that.

The long trek that the RiverClan cats had had to make was a bit tiring, but Cindertail wasn't going to let it bring ehr down. Or more down than she was already feeling.

She didn't exactly like the idea of spreading kits apart like they were, but she couldn't see a way around it. ANd yeah, she had to admit that Ravenstar's idea was clever. WindClan cats might be a bunch of rabbit-chasers, but they were pretty smart. So Cindertail kept an indifferent mask in place as they entered the WindClan camp. Willowstar went straight to Ravenstar, wasting no time in getting to the point, and the two leaders headed off towards what Cindertail could only guess was the nursery, Willowstar shooting off an order to Patchclaw on her way.

The senior warrior sat down neatly, sitting as tall as her small stature would let her and still appearing rather tiny. Her light gray tail curled around her tails as she prepared to wait for the two kits that would accompany them back to RiverClan with them, pitying Rivermist when she noticed the queen going off to the same den as the leaders, a couple kits already there.

"Well, this is interesting," she murmured to Leopardfang, just trying to break the silence that made her feel a bit uncomfortable.

[Amber]

Now what was going on? The leader had decided to come in with them? He better not be trying to explain what had happened, Shadowkit would not hear it. He had done enough, taking her brother and sister away. Nothing could or would replace the sinking feeling she continued to have as just the thought of not seeing Sandkit or Swiftkit's pelt anymore. Why couldn't everything go back to normal? Why couldn't this be some big joke that everyone was pulling on her, knowing she was scared of everything? It had to be, right? Swiftkit and Sandkit couldn't be gone, could they?

The only good thing about this, is she had her sister with her. Streamkit had not left her side, and that was something the black kit was thankful for. What if it had been Streamkit that had been sent away? No, she would not dwell on that, not with this big huge tom standing so close. She felt herself shrink and press herself close to Streamkit for support. Shadowkit was just now to the point of not being scared of everyone in the nursery, but that didn't include warriors, much less the leader. But then the tom had spoken, and Shadowkit didn't fully understand. "What do you mean our new leader?" she queried, what exactly was Ravenstar meaning by this? Even when her sister had spoke, the little black kit was still confused. Her sister understood, she could tell, but why did Streamkit look so upset?

And then the other cat had spoken. What was her name...Willowstar? It didn't matter to Shadowkit, what was Ravenstar doing trying to find her a new friend? Or possibly a new mother? Maybe he realized that Rivermist was being mean and they were getting someone new. She didn't want a new mother, even though she was still upset with her own, Rivermist was still her mother. And then when the she-cat had mentioned RiverClan, the little kit let out a gasp. She finally understood what was being meant by all of this madness.

To make matters even worse Rivermist had come toward them. And at this moment, Shadowkit had forgotten that she was mad with Rivermist, she just wanted her mother near her. The fear coursing throughout her small body was subsided for a short while when she felt the comfort of her mother's tail. But she was letting them go? Shadowkit's blue eyes stared at her mother. "Mommy why are you doing this? Do you not love us anymore?" she asked softly. "I don't wanna leave Silverkit mommy. Please don't make me go. Streamkit and Silverkit are the only sisters I have left, I don't want to lose them both." her voice was barely above a whisper, as she looked toward Silverkit. And when Stonekit had spoke, her eyes turned to him. She didn't want to leave her brother either. Shadowkit had spoken the most she ever had in her life, and here she was being taken away from her family, the only cats she ever spoke to. Life sucked.

[Yoko]

Stormkit was sitting in the nursery glaring at his mother. Distantly, he could hear Creamkit saying soothing words and trying to comfort him in his time of need. Her voice carried a soft sweet air to it. Something that touched the icy hatred he was feeling for the entire Clan, but it did not stir him enough to wake him from his hateful trance. Part of him told him to enjoy his time with the rest of his siblings. He turned numbly as Streamkit and Shadowkit entered and was surprised to see they were not alone.

His eyes widened, stretched until they bulged almost out of his head, as Ravenstar spoke. The gray in them seemed to swirl. The storm was brewing. He joined Streamkit in bristling and hissing, but bounded in front of Shadowkit, snarling at his leader's face.

"Don't ask our mother why!" he hissed. "He's the one! He's doing this!"

He gazed fiercely at Ravenstar. Behind him he heard Creamkit squeak in shock, probably afraid of what the leader might do to him, if he did anything. What threat could a kit be to him. Still, he would not go down without a fight. No one else would fight for them! He lashed out with thorn-like claws at Willowstar's leg, then fell back in front of Shadowkit.

ooc: I had too. D'= He would go insane if he sat there and did nothing.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Dustfur was surprised to hear little more than a mumble from Gingertail. He had thought she was usually talkative and that she wouldn't have minded explaining the whole thing. She had been quiet most of the way there but he had credited that to wanting to be respectful and not chatting in front of two leaders. He gave her a concerned look but didn't ask, instead looking to Heathertail to do the explaining.

"They weren't happy when we got there. They took the kits but, Specklestar looked furious." he said. "At least there wasn't a fight. She only had two warriors with her."

Heathertail gave a curious glance to her friend as well, noticing how unusual she was acting. Had something happened? Had something gone wrong at the meeting? From the way Dustfur explained it wasn't too bad, unless they were keeping something from her. "The poor kits, I feel sorry for them." she sighed briefly, carefully keeping her gaze away from the nursery where Ravenstar and Willowstar had disappeared into. "It isn't their fault, but... even though I thought Foxfur should get to see his kits, I didn't think it would turn out like this."

Willowstar stepped aside a bit as Rivermist entered the nursery, keeping her face level and unaffected as the queen curled around her kits in what would be her last goodbyes. While she wasn't unable to feel sympathy, Willowstar knew that this could have been avoided if she had turned down Foxfur's request for the kits, or if she hadn't had half-Clan kits in the first place. She nodded civilly to Rivermist. "I will, you can count on that."

Soon a few more kits blundered into the nursery and the den became more alive with protests and questioning little voices. She could see that this would affect not only the kits being moved but their siblings as well. But the decision was already made and she wouldn't go back on her word. One of the kits, a tom, moved forward in front of his sisters and seemed even more furious than the other kits combined. He lashed out a paw at her, and Willowstar drew back, ears pinned back and her lips drawing up in the beginnings of a snarl. But then she seemed to regain herself, and closed her eyes and took in a breath. Kits had no business swiping at a Clan leader, but she had to remember this was changing his life, and he would barely see any of his siblings again. And it wouldn't do any good to step over her boundaries when Ravenstar was making such a generous offer. When she opened her eyes again she only looked at Shadowkit and Streamkit.

"You will come to RiverClan and become warriors your mother would be proud of. And you will have each other. This must be difficult, I know, but you can either go along reluctantly or be brave and make your Clan proud."

[. s p o r e l e t t ♪]

Streamkit continued to stare at the two leaders, horrified. She had known that ShadowClan wanted them, but she hadn't suspected that RiverClan wanted them as well! When Rivermist curled around them, all the small grey kit could do was press against her sister and mother. "But Rivermist," she protested, "I can be a proud warrior in WindClan! Wouldn't you like that better?" Her little voice broke with sadness; didn't her mother want her? But she could not move, not to run or to fight, even if she had thought of it. Streamkit was paralyzed with shock.

Rivermist's kits were making this harder than it needed to be. The small tom supposed that mere kits couldn't be counted upon to realize the effect of their actions, but in the end their protests changed nothing, and only made the situation more anxious. Had they been in any state to think reasonably, they would have realized that it their time would have been better-spent wishing their siblings goodye, so that their last memories of them could be happy ones. But he could hardly expect three moon old kits to think of such things; they were prone to tantrums, as young Stormkit had just proven. Attacking the RiverClan leader was both foolish and disrespectful, but it was up to his mother to reprimand him.

"Your mother made a choice to mate with a ShadowClan tom and bear his kits. She made a choice to allow half of her kits to be taken from her and united with their father. I made a choice to split the eight of you further and send six of you to live with your kin in other Clans. I accept my responsibility for this, as Rivermist must accept hers. But there is nothing that can be changed about it now." Ravenstar spoke to all four kits his voice ringing with finality. Turning to Shadowkit and Streamkit once again, he spoke only to them. "Rivermist's father lives in RiverClan, and you will both be able to see him there once you arrive. Please remember that you aren't being cast out because WindClan doesn't want you, but rather adopted by another Clan because someone there wants to meet their kin."

Swallowing painfully, Streamkit forced down the wail that wanted to escape from her throat and tried to look brave. She did want to make her Clan proud. She didn't want her to say goodbye to her mother with sadness. "I... I'll go if Shadowkit's going. If we'll be together." Turning, Streamkit reached up and pressed her nose into her mother's neck fur, inhaling her sweet scent one last time before she would leave the nursery forever. She had to be brave, like Fluffystar said. She wanted Rivermist to be proud. "Goodbye," she whispered, then pulled away and took a long look at her siblings.

She would be leaving them too, but she didn't know how to part with them. Her only consolation would be that Shadowkit was coming with her. Getting shakily to her paws, the young she-cat brushed past Stormkit and stood before the big, furry she-cat that was to be her new leader. She intended to say something strong and brave, but nothing would come out when she looked up at the leader's face. She could only stare with wide blue eyes and wonder what she had agreed to.

[Amber]

Figures that something like this could happen. Just when she thought she was at the lowest point possible, when nothing worse could happen..it happened. Without a say in the matter she was about to be whisked away to another Clan, with only Streamkit by her side. Who knows when she would see her other siblings again. And it was all because of her mother and father. Why did they have to be stupid and mate like that? She wished she could be some normal cat, without all the bad blood that filled her body. Shadowkit was ready to just give up, to lie down and do whatever, but Stormkit had jumped in front of her, protecting her. What would she do without her brother? She had heard Willowstar, but the kit was reluctant to move. How could she adjust to a whole new life? And how would she know what difficult was? Was she being taken away from her family? No. "Don't try to compare yourself to us or our situation." the little black kit hissed. And for once she wasn't afraid to give her opinion, not if it meant she could stay with her family.

Shadowkit's glare then turned to Ravenstar. "So you are making us leave because of what our parents did? We didn't even know our father for the longest time, and that didn't bother me, but now that we know who he is, we have to leave because our parents made a choice?" her fur bristled in anger. Anger was overpowering whatever timidness she usually had. Nothing else that the tom said, did Shadowkit hear. She could care less. And then, Streamkit had spoken, saying she would go. No....this wasn't happening. Streamkit was giving up the fight? "S-streamkit?"

It was then Shadowkit felt alone. Her sister had given up, and Shadowkit didn't have the strength to fight by herself. She followed her sister's lead, not looking back at her mother, only pressing herself into Stormkit's fur. "They may be taken away, but you will always be my brother." she murmered to her Stormkit. She went to Silverkit and Stonekit, not wanting to leave without saying goodbye to her siblings and soon was by Streamkit. "Streamkit...I'm scared." she mewed. And once again, the little kit trembled with fear, staring up at Willowstar.

[nightstorm]

Rivermist's eyes were dull with pain, as more of her kits appeared in the nursery. Stonekit looked so broken, so resigned...it made her want to just hiss at the world and shut it out, just to be alone with what was left of her family.

"Stormkit," she said softly, as he lashed out at Willowstar. "Be brave, like the warrior you are. Do not take your anger out on a leader." Her eyes flashed protectively, as Willowstar began to snarl at him, and her own lips began to form a snarl, before she remembered herself, and dropped her gaze. Instead, she turned to Shadowkit and Streamkit, their confusion and pain so overwhelming...too overwhelming. How much more could she take? And she still had two more kits to lose...

The silver queen rasped her tongue over Streamkit's and Shadowkit's ears. "My darling daughters," she said, affection heavy in her voice. "I love you more than life itself. If I could see any way out of this, believe me, I would choose it. I do not regret falling for Foxfur, for if I hadn't, I wouldn't have had you. I don't want you to go...I want you to stay. I want you to be WindClan warriors, always by my side. But things don't always turn out as planned...I'm sorry...this was never supposed to happen...never supposed to end like this..."

Rivermist nuzzled Streamkit one last time, then looked to see where Shadowkit was. But to her great sorrow, her most timid daughter was already turned away, and as ready as she would ever be. "I'm so proud of you all," she said, her voice strong. "I will always be here for you, always waiting across the border. And know that every night, when I lay down to sleep, I will plead to StarClan to watch over you. I love you, my kits...goodbye..."

Silverkit watched with horrified eyes, as her world crumbled before her. Stormkit lashed out at the RiverClan leader, and her fur bristled as the older she-cat snarled. "Don't touch him," she spat, racing over to stand beside her brother. "You don't belong here. How dare you come in, and start taking away my sisters! You...you...I hate you all!" Her last words were directed towards the two leaders and her mother. The she-kit pressed her fur into Stormkit's, her anger making her tremble.

Then, the unthinkable happened. Streamkit gave up the fight. Silverkit watched, shocked, as Streamkit went to Rivermist, and nuzzled her one last time, before turning towards the RiverClan leader. Shadowkit seemed to be at a loss as well, and Silverkit saw the courage that her sister had portrayed beginning to fade. Finally, Shadowkit admitted defeat as well, and approached her. "Shadowkit...you can't go...don't give up now..." Silverkit whispered, her eyes wide with disbelief. "No...please...I won't have any more sisters!" Her voice rose to a wail, and once again, she turned enraged eyes on Rivermist.

"You are no mother of mine..." she hissed angrily. Rivermist flinched, hurt flickering in her eyes, but Silverkit kept going. "How dare you tell us how much you love us, and how proud you are, all the while allowing these two," she flicked her tail towards Willowstar and Ravenstar, "to conspire and tear us apart?! You don't love us! You don't care! You're letting them take away my sisters! I hate you!" Silverkit let out another wail, and backed away from the older cats in front of her, her ears flat against her head, and fur bristling.

"Get out....get out!" she spat at Willowstar, ignoring her mother's shocked gasp. "You don't belong here, RiverClan filth. I don't care if StarClan themselves strike me dead. I don't want you here...we don't want you here..." Willowstar was sure to be angry with her, and Silverkit didn't care. "Go ahead. Attack me. I'll fight you with every drop of blood in my body. You're tearing us apart, and I shall never forget that." The she-kit's eyes were narrowed, and her claws kneaded the floor.

(Why do I have such fun stressing my kitties out? Rivermist is on the verge of a mental breakdown, Silverkit has a temper....what next? Russetfang falling in love? xD)

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Willowstar was honestly surprised when another kit, the black she-cat that would be coming with her, protested rather harshly. Instead of the helpless whines pleading to stay, she spoke up in rather meaningful and wise words. Despite slight annoyance, she was impressed. Shadowkit seemed to be able to stand up for herself, even if she was speaking against another Clan leader. The kit's bravery was short-lived because as soon as she saw her sister had given up protesting, Shadowkit quieted down as well. They must be close, or else the two of them wouldn't have been chosen to leave together.

The two sisters began to say their goodbyes to the rest of their siblings and their mother. It was a slow and sad process, and when they were finally in front of her again looking up at her expectantly, she wanted nothing more than to get back to RiverClan and start getting them introduced to their new lives. Her first impression of these kits was good; she hoped that they would continue to live up to them in time.

She was turning to leave when another outburst caught her ears. One of the she-kits, a silver color like her mother, was starting what looked like a temper tantrum. Any sensible leader wouldn't let herself be angered by the imprudent words of a kit, but still Willowstar had to dig her claws into the ground and keep herself from hissing at the kit. "You should consider teaching your kit some tact." she gave a glare in Rivermist's direction, then turned her cold stare to Silverkit. "It's rude to speak to a leader like that. Control yourself. I don't hurt kits but be lucky you don't live in my Clan." She was glad she wasn't taking that kit. Let Ravenstar or Ashstar deal with her. The RiverClan leader was satisfied with her two kits so far so she wouldn't linger any longer. "Come on Streamkit, Shadowkit, we're leaving." Without another word or a glance at the others in the den, Willowstar pushed her way out and into the clearing, expecting the kits to follow.

She emerged from the nursery and headed straight for where her cats and a few WindClan warriors were still gathered, tail lashing. "Let's go."