Shellkit watched from a distance as Cricketkit and Newtkit rolled around. His tail twitched boredly. He glanced up from his spot curled next to Sadiesong, who was speaking to a very subdued Whisperingspirit.

"I always said it, honey. That tom's bad news for ya." His mother said lowly, before snorting incredulously. "Ya ask me, he's nothing but a pretty face and pelt. Better off without 'im, in my opinion." Sadiesong added kindly as Whisperingspirit smiled.

"Yeah, I guess so. You got lucky with Speckledstar, hm?" The gray she-cat chuckled, tucking her paws neatly under her chest. Sadiesong returned the warm laugh.

"Oh, absolutely! He's incredible. Loyal, funny, smart- whole package. Great with the kits. A bit busy sometimes but he still makes time for them. Admirable."

"Sometimes I wonder if there's any good toms left in the clan." Whisperingspirit joked, reaching out a paw to unhook Sunkit from where he'd gotten his pinprick claws stuck climbing the den wall. "Careful, Sunshine." Sunkit squirmed out of her grip, racing back to his game with Ashkit and Snailkit of 'who can climb the furthest'.

"Well, maybe toms ain't all it, doll. I've seen ya spend plenty o' time with a certain queen lately. I mean, my ex's other she-cat certainly wouldn't be my choice, but good for you." The patch furred she-cat said with a laugh as Whisperingspirit swiftly changed the subject, grinning awkwardly as heat radiated from her pelt.

"Well, I- I dunno. Nice to talk about how much of a foxheart Nectarnose is with someone who really gets it. I mean, she's still with him, but I doubt it'll last. Did you see how he reacted when Cloverkit died?" The other she-cat hissed. "Harmonyleaf looked furious. I would be as well. No doubt she just hasn't broken up with him yet because she's still grieving."

"Not to mention Cardinalkit being sick too. Speaking of, how're ya feelin' about Smokekit-" Sadiesong seemed to remember that Shellkit was curled up, listening quietly. "Oh, come on, Shelly, go outside, it's a lovely day."

"It's cold." He complained.

"It's a light breeze, now scooch so I can talk with my friend. Your brother and sister are playing. Join 'em!" Sadiesong nudged him forwards with her muzzle. "I'll join ya later, sweetheart, okay?"

The mostly brown tom reluctantly got to his paws, scrambling outside.

Cricketkit and Newtkit had stopped rolling around, crouched in front of the rocks arguing about something or other.

Shellkit's sister brightened as he walked over. "See, Shelly can settle it for us! Shellkit, do you think butterflies have clans?" He blinked confusedly.

"Huh?" Shellkit's gaze drifted to the orange and black speckled butterfly perched on a fern frond behind the rocks. "I mean, I guess it isn't impossible?"

"Thank you! Newtkit-" She shot an accusatory glare at her brother, who rolled his eyes. "-thinks they're too dumb to have clans, but I don't think so!" Cricketkit spun around, glancing at the butterfly. "I think she's the leader. Her name's Prettystar. Cause she's pretty."

"Can I at least find a butterfly to make the deputy?" Newtkit chirped, brightening considerably now their squabble was over. Cricketkit nodded sagely, taking her seat next to the newly dubbed Prettystar. The tabby tom-kit scrambled away to look for a butterfly, leaving Shellkit stood awkwardly, glancing between his sister and the butterfly.

"Do you think butterflies would even have leaders have the last name star? I mean we do because of StarClan, but do butterflies have StarClan?" The flecked tom asked, crouching down to study Prettystar as her wing twitched lazily. This was a very relaxed butterfly, it seemed.

The white and brown she-kit paused, puzzled. "Hmmm. Maybe not. Uhhh- maybe it's wing. Prettywing! Her name's Prettywing." Cricketkit amended swiftly.

"Who's Prettywing?" An amused voice sounded from behind them. Both spun around.

It was their father, Speckledstar. A stocky cream tom with multiple light brown markings and speckles, rings of frostbite scarring dappling his tail and a few new scratches from the rogue attack moons earlier. His warm hazel eyes flicked to the butterfly they were watching.

"This is Prettywing! She's the leader of the butterfly clan." Cricketkit said proudly. "I named her. Newtie's gone to find the deputy. Dad, can my warrior name be Cricketbutterfly?"

Speckledstar chuckled. "We'll see. I'm not so sure you'll be as keen on that name by the time your warrior ceremony rolls around." He said, sitting down next to them.

"Shelly can be Shellsmart because he knows a lotta stuff." Do I? Shellkit tried not to look proud at his sister's compliment. "Newtie can be, uhhhh- Newt...fight. Cause he always wins in fights." That much was true. Newtkit had been complimented many times for his 'skill in battle' (which seemed to consist of yelling 'Look! It's-' followed by whatever Cricketkit's favourite insect of the week was. Cricketkit would look away and get tackled).

"Cricketbutterfly, Shellsmart and Newtfight. Lovely names." Speckledstar glanced over at where Newtkit was chasing a blue butterfly flying circles around his head. "You think your brother needs some help?"

"Maybe a little." Cricketkit glanced warily back at Prettywing. "What if she leaves while we're helping?"

"I'll keep watch." Her father assured her. She nodded, nudging Shellkit as she scrambled towards Newtkit, Shellkit close behind.

"She keeps running away from me!" Newtkit wailed as the butterfly landed on a rock above him.

"I don't think chasing her helps." Shellkit mused. "Watch from a distance." The white flecked tom added.

Newtkit frowned. "But then I can't look at her properly!" The tabby tom squinted up at the bitterly, who was still perched on the rock.

"We should call her Doesntlikenewtie." Cricketkit said thoughtfully."

"Cricket!"

"It is true." Shellkit mused. "Doesntlikenewtie, deputy of ButterflyClan." He opened his mouth to speak again then got distracted at a flash of black fur. Webpaw. "Sorry, gotta go."

He scrambled away, much to the protests of his littermates, bounding up to the medicine cat apprentice.

Webpaw nodded in greeting, mouth occupied by a bundle of herbs. He set them down. "Hey, Shellkit."

"How was gathering?" Shellkit asked curiously. The brown tom had no interest in becoming a medicine cat himself, but he was still curious as to know what it was like, hence why he'd started padding around after Webpaw in the first place.

The black tom sighed. "Melodicpaw pushed me into brambles."

A squawked, muffled by herbs protest of 'Iidnod!" came from Melodicpaw behind them as the ginger flecked black tom stumbled forwards. He set the herbs down next to Webpaw's. "It was an accident! I was excited! It's the first time Lilytail's let us go gathering on our own. I tripped!"

"Sure."

"See what I have to put up with?" He protested, glancing at Shellkit, who laughed. "At least Duckpaw didn't blame me when he fell into nettles." Webpaw winced.

"Yeah, that's gonna need some treatment." He glanced up as the gray tom in question trudged past them into the medicine den, tail twitching. "Let's hope Lilytail picks up some extra herbs on her trip with Embereye."

"Yeah, let's. Anyways, moving on." Melodicpaw said hastily as Webpaw sat down to start picking thorns out of his fur. "How've you been, Shellkit?"

"Mmm. Okay." The kit mused. "Cricketkit and Newtkit are playing with butterflies. My mama's talking to Whisperingspirit about Nectarnose and Harmonyleaf." Webpaw paused in his grooming, exchanging and awkward glance with Melodicpaw.

"What exactly did they say?" Melodicpaw asked slowly.

"I dunno. Whisperingspirit called Nectarnose a foxheart." The two apprentices nodded in agreement as Webpaw grimaced.

"I mean, yeah, he barely even batted an eyelid when Cloverkit d-" Melodicpaw was silenced by a sharp glance from Webpaw.

"Well, I don't think any of that concerns you, Shellkit." The black tom said slowly. "How about you-" He was interrupted by squeaky coughing from the medicine den. Webpaw paused to sort through his pile of herbs for one that Shellkit didn't recognise before rushing inside. Melodicpaw stared after him, shifting as if considering helping before glancing back at Shellkit.

"You should probably go back to your littermates now, Shellkit." His gaze flicked to where Sadiesong had emerged from the nursery. "Look, there's your mommy! Go on." He nudged Shellkit forward before following Webpaw into the medicine den. Shellkit reluctantly trotted back over to his mother.

Sadiesong smiled. "Did ya have fun playin' with ya brother and sister, sweetheart?" She asked as her son sat next to her, tail curled around his paws.

"I guess." Cricketkit and Newtkit were still bouncing around at the foot of the rock, watching Doesntlikenewtie, who was still lazily perched on the rock. Speckledstar had remained true to his word, watching his kits in amusement as he sat next to Prettywing. "Cricketkit thinks butterflies have clans."

Sadiesong chucked. "Ah, she's a creative one, our Cricket. I remember when she decided wasps came from the dark forest."

Shellkit shuddered. "I don't like wasps. They're mean." The white and tabby she-cat next to him sighed.

"Well, it's leaf-fall now, baby, so the insects should be going away soon. Sadly that includes the butterflies, but they'll be back for newleaf." His mother mused as Cricketkit tripped nose first into the rock. Speckledstar straightened, frowning, but relaxed as his daughter swiftly got back to her feet and resumed plotting with Newtkit on how to get Doesntlikenewtie to fly down to them.

"Hmmm. What's snow like?"

"Hm. Wet. Cold. But it's fun. Wait till ya getcha first snowball fight, Shelly, it's great." Sadiesong reassured him. "You'll be an apprentice then, so I'm sure your mentor won't mind you playing as long as you pay attention to your training."

"Why can't we have snow in greenleaf?"

"Too hot."

"Boring."

"Boring." Sadiesong agreed, her gaze returning to her other kits.

Woooo oneshot of kitty cats. Probably won't update this regularly or in timeline order but I love Shellkit he's just a little guy. Writing Cricketkit was fun, as was giving Sadiesong an accent that I'm sure will be annoying to write for anyone else who writes her >:)

Cricketkit lives up to her name to me. Fascinated by bugs