The nursery was in a tall, stone building. Inside, the walls were gray and the ground was soft and a dark blue. The windows were sealed for the safety of the kits, and the door was cracked and nearly closed--yet easy to push open. In the den were five nests, one of them in use, and the other four filled with old, unchanged moss.

To the side on one wall, a large box held many strange object left by the Twolegs. Small, wide, hard on the outside, yet fragile--like leaves on the insides. In the center of the nursery, mossballs and fun looking Twoleg objects lay for kits to play with from generation to generation.

It was nearly sunhigh. A dark gray tom with tabby stripes pushed the door open with his muzzle, padding in. Behind him came Kestrelsong, and behind her, a wobbling Halfkit.

"Sunstar was expecting you last night," The elder grunted. "He got sore when you weren't here at sundown yesterday." He flicked his tail to a large nest. "I suppose you can use that one, I'll tell Fallowpaw to get the moss and all,"

Kestrelsong nodded and padded over to the miscellaneous pile of Twoleg objects. "What in the name of StarClan are these?" She questioned, pawing at a bright and shining ring.

"I don't know," The tom replied.

"It's shiny--never seen one before,"

"Hm," The elder thought, sitting on his haunches. "Tell you what--some rogue came to us once, said she was going to have three kits. She gave birth, and left after a moon or so to raise them as Sewer Cats. That was from her nest." He explained. "I don't know...kits like to toss it around like a mossball."

Halfkit sneezed and toppled over. He watched Kestrelsong with an open mouth. When the queen seemed satisfied with the response, she placed Halfkit in their assigned nest. Her stomach growled.

The elder chuckled lightly. "I guess Sunstar will come up in a moment." He informed, then quietly added, "He's a bit impatient. Under the highrock, in the warrior and apprentice building, he tried to call a meeting, just to ask where you and your kit were! And he sure does give little Fallow a tough time."

"Little Fallow?" Kestrelsong asked.

"Sure. Fallowpaw's the only apprentice in EmpireClan right now. Both his siblings died at birth...along with his mother."

She stayed quiet for a moment. "The only apprentice, huh?"

"Yes indeed--he's a nice apprentice, though. He's a little shy, but does what he's told. Clawscar gives him a hard time, especially during battle training. Fallowpaw doesn't care too much, though. He plays around with the Twolegs things he collects in the apprentice nest."

"Oh...how...how is Sunstar?" Kestrelsong asked. "And have you seen Driftmask around lately?"

"Sunstar--he's one of the best leaders. And I should know...I'm the second oldest cat in the clan." He admitted.

Halfkit picked the old moss out of the nest, it was itchy and bugged him. When he yawned, another cat padded into the nursery. The tom was strong looking and had gray splotches in contrast to his ginger fur.

"Sunstar," The elder dipped his head in respect.

Sunstar chuckled. "No need, Smoketail," He turned to face Kestrelsong and Halfkit. "Ah, apologies. Your name?" He asked.

"Kestrelsong,"

The leader walked over and looked down. "How about you?" He purred.

"Ha...Halfkit!" He squeaked.

"Well, you remember the deal we made, right, Kestrelsong?" He said and turned to face Smoketail and the queen. "You're allowed to stay in EmpireClan, as long as you work hard to prove your loyalty."

Kestrelsong nodded slowly. "I swear to StarClan," She meowed.

"Right. And how many moons is Halfkit?" He asked.

"Nearly six,"

Sunstar nodded thoughtfully. "Well, I'll just check on his behavior now and then. He can't be wandering out of camp, though." He meowed. "Smoketail will bring him around camp...show him his new home in the clan. Then, you can meet up with Driftmask--he's on a hunting patrol right now. I'll tell Embersplash that you'll join his border patrol. They'll leave soon."

Sunstar padded out of the den, beckoning for Kestralsong to follow.

"You be good, my little warrior," Kestrelsong meowed, licking the top of Halfkit's head.

"I won't forget, mama!" He purred and stumbled towards Smoketail.

"Try not to let him talk too much," The queen advised the elder. "He'll ask too many questions."

Smoketail nodded. "Don't worry, Kestrelsong. Spottedfur and I will watch him like a hawk."

"Did someone call?" A voice asked.

An old looking she-cat padded in. She'd obviously seen better days. As Kestrelsong looked at her, she could almost tell that her pale brown pelt was once dotted with darker brown spots, but her age and graying fur made it hard to see. Her eyes were clouded with multiple seasons, and a giveaway to her failing sight. One could barely believe that those eyes were a rich blue.

"Spottedfur, were you listening this whole time? Sunstar told you to stay in the elder's den, didn't he?" Smoketail frowned.

"Excitement gets the old heart going, and two newcomers are exciting enough. When the excitement's gone, I'll be gone too," She chuckled.

"Well, come along, Halfkit." Smoketail meowed--he and Spottedfur lead the kit out, leaving Kestralsong to catch up with Sunstar.

* * *

"We'll leave right after Emberglow decides to show up," Blossomthorn grumbled.

A gray tom with ember flecks padded up the stairs to the landing where the border patrol was. "What'd you say?" He growled.

"Nothing, Emberglow," She sighed and padded into an empty room. The window was open and she stepped up. "The...HarborClan border?" She asked.

Driftmask nodded and sat down next to Kestrelsong, wrapping his tail around her. "Don't be afraid to jump, now." He said calmly.

Kestrelsong drew a deep breath in as Emberglow and Blossomthorn leapt from the windowsill. She ran to the window, just in time to see their perfect landing.

Driftmask purred as he climbed up to the sill himself. "Come on, now." He encouraged.

Kestrelsong reluctantly climbed up and was frightened by the height.

"Hey, hurry up back there!" Emberglow snapped from the other building. "We don't have all day!"

Driftmask bent his strong legs. "Just copy me here," He told Kestrelsong. "You leap up. Just jump as far as you can, it's soft on the other side."

Kestrelsong nodded. She had leapt from different floors in the IvoryClan museum, but never high up across a Thunderpath--where she could plummet to her death.

"Ready?" He asked.

Kestrelsong nodded. She breathed in, and bent her legs. With a force, she leapt up, crying out as she flew in mid-air. She fell into the window with a loud thud, earning snickers from Emberglow and even Blossomthorn. Driftmask gracefully leapt in, frowning.

"You'll surely get used to it with time,"

Kestrelsong nodded as the two toms took the lead, climbing down the steps and walking to the HarborClan border.

Blossomthorn piped up, trying to make conversation. "You know, Emberglow can surely be a mouse-brain. Sunstar is his father, and, well, he's the deputy. I couldn't imagine him leading EmpireClan."

"What does he do?" Kestrelsong asked.

"He keeps his mate in the nursery all the time--and she isn't expecting or anything. He loves to pick fights with the warriors, too."

"His mate? The nursery? I didn't see her there when I arrived."

"She must have snuck out again," Blossomthorn sighed. "She's always making trouble--a real fox-hearted she-cat."

"I'll...I'll just have to tell Halfkit about him," She meowed thoughtfully. "Halfkit wouldn't want to cause any trouble, now."

"Your kit? Halfkit, hmm?"

The queen nodded. "Indeed. Halfkit...he's a little slow right now, but he'll catch up."

Blossomthorn nodded. "Well, you tell him to stay away from Emberglow and Raincloud. You want nothing to do with either of them,"

* * *

Halfkit followed Smoketail and Spottedfur around, and they reached the warriors den.

"Look out!" Smoketail hissed to Spottedfur. He took Halfkit and dove behind a large pot which held a dead plant. Spottedfur bit her lip and followed quickly.

They watched as a blue she-cat with white splotches quietly and delicately padded into the warriors den. "Hello, Shallowspirit, Duskfall, Breezespots," She purred. "I'm looking for Emberglow--any cat seen him?"

Breezespots--a black tom with white spots frowned. "He isn't in here. He's leading a border patrol right now," He explained.

"Oh! I see," She meowed and turned away. "Well, sometimes he's in here, but thanks,"

Halfkit stared at Smoketail. "What was that about?" He squeaked.

"She's a lot of trouble," The elder explained. "Now, you best stay away from that queen--or you might get into some trouble,"

"And I don't want any trouble!" Halfkit purred.

"No, of course you don't," Spottedfur smiled.

Duskfall sighed. "Are you two elders in here again?" He asked.

The three cats stepped out. "Yes," Spottedfur beamed. "I sure do miss being a warrior," She chuckled.

Halfkit bounced. "Hello!"

"Nice to meet you, little kit. I'm Duskfall," He purred.

"My...my name is Halfkit!" He smiled happily, holding the shiny ring object.

Blossomthorn entered the den, seeing the other cats. "Kestrelsong just went to eat something sma--"

"You seen Raincloud around here?" Emberglow demanded, cutting the warrior off.

"Just a little while ago," Shallowspirit said coldly.

"Well, what was she doing? She's supposed to be in the nursery?"

Kestrelsong soon entered, seeming surprised at the deputy. Emberglow stared at her. "How about you? She isn't in the nursery like she should be!" He growled. "Which way did she go?"

"I...I don't know, I wasn't here," She meowed shakily.

Emberglow scowled at her, and hurriedly ran out of the warriors den.

"Told you," Blossomthorn scoffed. "You never want to mess with him."