"Robin? Who's this?" Firepaw asked. She tilted her flame colored head with a nervous look.

Robin shifted uncomfortably. "This is Winter. He's uh... One of my friends. He saw us meeting yesterday and.. Uh, wanted to meet you."

"Oh." Playfulness glittered in her eyes. "You're Cloud's mate, yes?"

Winter shot Robin a sharp look. "How much have you told her?"

"Lots." Firepaw purred. "It's nice to meet you. You look just like Shadeclaw... Er, Bloodshed?" She laughed when Winter flattened his ears. "You must get that a lot. Sorry."

Winter curled his tail around his paws. "How did you end up with Robin?" He asked.

"We met while he was staying in MudClan, when Cloud was injured." Firepaw explained awkwardly.

Winter nodded slowly. "Okay. Well.. You aren't terrible."

"Thanks?" She narrowed her eyes. "So your name is Winter, right? What does that name mean?"

Winter rolled his eyes. Robin guessed he got asked that a lot, too. "It's the kittypet word for Leaf-bare."

"Why would you name your kit Leaf-bare?"

Winter laughed. "Dunno. Ask my mother." Then he looked sad for a moment. "But don't actually. She'll kill you."

Firepaw blinked at him. "That sucks."

"It's fine. My entire family is murderous... It's not unusual." He laughed, but it was fake. Robin realised that must be a sad topic for him. Poor Winter.

*

"So, Owlflight." Winter asked one day as they were eating, preparing to go to bed. "What was your mate's name again?"

Owlflight looked confused. "It was Firepelt, why?"

"She was their mother?" He flicked his tail towards Owlflight's kits, who were eating nearby.

"Yes." The brown and white tom blinked slowly. "Why..?"

"And she was MudClan, not GreenClan?"

"Correct."

"And her apprentice name was FIREpaw?"

Owlflight nodded. "What is it, Winter? Why are you asking me this?"

"Well, it's just, Robin's 'friend' has the same name, and I think that's funny.." Winter glanced at Robin, but the gray tom hadn't heard.

"What 'friend?' What's going on?"

"Robin's got a mate in GreenClan!" He blurted, loud enough for Robin to hear. Winter saw him look up with a look of horror on his face.

"In GreenClan?" Owlflight looked angry. "What are you talking about?"

"I met her. Her name is Firepaw!" Winter hissed. He felt that he needed to reveal Robin's secret before he got too attached to Firepaw. He knew he was being a terrible friend, especially after promising he wouldn't tell, but it had to be done. Robin was sneaking out more and more, and the others were starting to notice. They were suspicious.

"Oh, yeah?" Robin growled suddenly. Winter turned his gaze towards the tiny cat, feeling a pang of guilt.

"Winter and Cloud are having kits!" Robin announced. Winter's heart sank. We are?

"How do you know that?" Cloud hissed, jumping into the argument. "I never told you! Were you spying on me?"

Owlflight shook his head. "Stop, stop. All of you stop... Calm down." He muttered. "It's okay, Robin." Owlflight nudged his son, who was practically frozen in fear. "I don't care."

Winter was almost disappointed, but he was happy to see Robin's relief. He wanted Robin to be happy, but he also knew that if Firepaw's clan were to find out, she'd most certainly be exiled. It would never work out; a loner couldn't date a clan cat.

But Owlflight just seemed happy. He turned to Cloud, "Is it true? You're pregnant?"

Cloud looked down at her paws. "Yes." Winter was shocked, but he pretended that he already knew. It would be easier that way. He didn't want to be a father when he was so young, and it seemed that Cloud felt the same way.

Owlflight looked thoughtful. He didn't say anything for a while as he shared tongues with Robin. Then, finally, he spoke. "You will make great parents, I believe." He muttered. He didn't say anything after that.

Winter hoped that was true. How could I ever have kits, if I've never really had parents of my own? As he curled up with Cloud, a horrific thought took over his mind. What if I end up like Bloodshed?