Thrushpelt yawned and realized dawn was here. "Your vigil is over." He informed the tabby.
   "Thank you for sitting out here with me, Thrushpelt." Tigerclaw dipped his head and grabbed a vole from the pile and went to rest.
   Thrushpelt groomed his matted fur and went to the apprentice den. His kits where sound asleep. He prodded Cinderpaw an Cracklepaw. They sat up.
   Cinderkit yawned. "Why are you at the nursery so early? GAHH! I mean apprentice den.." She flattened her ears, embarrassed.
   "It's fine, and you got to get used to waking up this early now." He shot a glance at the two.
  They both stretched and went to the fresh-kill pile. "Cracklepaw! Cinderpaw!" He called frantically.
   They turned around. "What now?" Cinderpaw snapped.
  "Kits and elders eat first. Once you've hunted you can eat."
   "No fair!" Cracklepaw finally chimed in. "We're hardly apprentices! We haven't even learned how to get into a hunting crouch!" She roared in frustration.
   Sunstar padded up to them, and Cracklepaw shut her mouth. "Your father is right. If you want to be a warrior you must listen to the Warriors. Kin or not." Sunstar stood, his fur on edge, and he lifted his chin nobly. The two dipped their heads and went to find their mentors.
  Thrushpelt padded to the medicine den. Oakpaw was already sorting herbs while Featherwhisker groomed himself. He looked up and stopped. "Oh hello."
   "Oakpaw has been an apprentice for not even one sunrise! Help him!"
   Oakpaw stood up. "I learned the herbs by the smell and look. I got this. Now stop being a nuisance and get out of here."
   Thrushpelt looked bewildered. "Now listen here kit!"
   "He's right! Beat it!" Robinwing padded in, her ugly attitude contagious. Thrushpelt growled.
   "Your just a fox heart Robinwing.. That's all you ever where! All she cats are good for are creating kits and toying with us toms feelings!" He had had enough, and pounced on the she cat. She yowled in rage as they wrestled out of the den. Robinwing pinned him down, and all cats, concerned, jumped out of dens to see the racket.
   Thrushpelt kicked at she black cats belly, and felt satisfied as warm, sticky blood filled under his claws. She yowled, jumping off, and examined her bleeding stomach. He went after her when she crouched down, accepting her fate.
   She screamed. "Don't kick me! Your hurting my kit! Our kit!" She panted.
   Thrushpelt flattened her ears. "No kit of yours is to know me! I never want kin created by us! Never!" He padded off, mad.
  

  Three moons have passed. Oakpaw was becoming a larger tom, more of a warrior than a medicine cat. Broad shoulders, huge muzzle, sharp fangs. Cracklepaw was quite elegant, and wasn't as much of a loud mouth as before. Her dark pelt faded into a more black color. Her spots faded to nothingness. She was skinny, but elegant.
   Then came Cinderpaw. She wasn't much different. Her pelt was slightly lighter. They all would be strong, independent cats. He couldn't be prouder. In about a moon Cracklepaw and Cinderpaw would be warriors. He couldn't help but purr in delight.
   Thrushpelt glanced at the nursery, Robinwing was glaring at him. He sighed, he didn't want to hold a grudge, but she couldn't let go of what he had said. Any kit would be good for the Clan, no matter it's kin. He padded to the nursery.
   Robinwing flattened her ears and hissed, and Thrushpelt sighed, curling up next to her. He began to groom her, a new feeling in his heart, and she sighed and let him lick her.
   "I'm sorry Robinwing. But you did go with another tom. It'd be weird not to be mad." Thrushpelt finally let out.
   Robinwing sighed and stared at something in the distance. "I lied. I wanted to see if you cared. You do.. But I thought you hated me so I played along.. I want to be your mate Thrushpelt!" She blurted out. Thrushpelt flattened his ears.
    "I don't know.. I love Bluefur.. Even though.."
    "Even though she's dead. She'd want you to be happy, you know. Not be a prisoner in your own body." Robinwing grumbled. Thrushpelt let out a low growl. She did have a point.
   "I love you." Robinwing whispered. "But you love Bluefur.. Not me." She flattened her ears and turned her head. Thrushpelt could feel doubt, but ignored it.
   "I love you too..." Thrushpelt licked her neck. He felt a purr build up in her throat.  Robinwing fell against Thrushpelt, falling asleep.
    Thrushpelt looked at the starlit sky. Bluefur? Are you mad at this choice? He fell asleep next to the black cat. There they layed. Restless against countless hidden lies and rumors. Rumors that had never been clear, rumors he couldn't yet see until now.