(A Note From WolfStone116: The Clans books are all super editions of @WeirdoWifiWarrior's Sun and Night. These characters will appear in the third book in her series. These characters and their backstories, however, are purely my creation. I love creating the stories with her, sometimes there are things the other doesn't even know about. Just know that these aren't just random super editions to nothing. We've been working this series for a long time, hope you enjoy! (There are no spoilers to her series in these books)  

(This chapter is pretty much a long prologue and set in a different writing style than the rest of the book. You don't have to read it, but if you're very interested in the complete storyline of The Clans and weirdowifiwarrior's Sun and Night, there are a couple of minor facts in here. All these facts will be mentioned in the rest of the story though, in case you don't read it.)

The world had been a dark place. I knew not of light and colors, only warmth and smells which indicated different living creatures which I imagined were like myself. Some might feel for me in the sorry circumstances in which I awoke. For that ever-growing warmth had suddenly seeped to a great cold. My eyes had only just opened when I expected a new world of light, color, and life, I had received a dark and cloudy night. In a dark den with only a faint glow of orange from two circles on a dark mass that I knew used to give me warmth and milk to suckle. How I envy my brother Toad for is wonderful awakenings. To a meadow, bright sky, and a dark grey cat taking "a long nap" in the middle. He might recognize this "sleeping cat's" sent through the rosemary and mint but his nose was too simple then. Why not a meadow? Where were my welcome flowers? Why was a Nightingale's cry my wake-up call? Lucky Toad! He would not know. For it would be I who remembers the sight of darkness, the smell and sadness, and the feel of death.

Stone fell at the lump's side, he cuddled around all of us. He let out a sorrowful cry, waking me from my sleep. Mumbling words I didn't know yet. He said, "Oh NightingGale. May you lead our kits along the sky or where ever you may go. I'll take care of Stormkit."

I didn't know much but I knew their names, Stone my father, NightingGale my mother, and Stormkit, my sister. Was NightingGale going to take me outside? I staggered to my feet. I could see the huge cat's flank and back, then I fell. I got back up again letting may paws stable before turning to see his head. He was a darker brown with a complicated stripped pattern. His eyes were closed tight, and his mouth moved but no words came out.

I pawed at his shoulder, just passing NightingGale's ear. He didn't budge, just continued to bury his muzzle deeper into the dark grey cat's fur. I let out a dignified squeak, I'm ready to go outside! I thought. Stone let his eyes open and picked up his head. His copper eyes were ablaze in the darkness, he stared at me for a moment. His sad expression suddenly filled with joy.

"Quakekit!" he said excitedly, his ears perked up, "My son you're alive! He began washing his tongue on my head. It began to smooth my messy fur. I moved away from his wet tongue, and closer to NightingGale.

"Is she ready to go outside?" I asked pawing at NightingGale's back, "You said she'd lead us along that "sky" place. Is that where we live?" Stone looked at me in a way that I now know to be heartbroken. He pushed his head closer to mine until our noses touched.

"The sky is what's above us. It's a never-ending blue abyss. When cats pass on, they go up into the sky shine brightly to show us that they're watching over us. Not here, we are in RainClan," he said, looking down.

I didn't understand, "Pass on?"

"Pass on. It means to die. Cats live then something in the sky takes them away when you need them most,"

"Why did the sky take mama? Why isn't she here with us?" my heart clenched. I began to shrink down, bumping into Toadkit, who didn't seem to react. I thought NightingGale said the sky was a beautiful place. I thought, recalling the words my mother had whispered into my ears.

He moved his head away from mine, "I don't know," Stone shifted his paws looking uneasy, "It just takes cats when they want them"

"Why did they take her away from us? She's our mother! Can't it let us keep her? We need her with us, don't we?" I yelled my mind whirled with confusion and sadness. Then let I out a wail of distress.

"Shhhh," Stone silenced me, "We can't get her back. She's gone,"

"But she's righ...,"

"I know," Stone cut me off, "Her spirit went into the sky, not her body. But she's never coming back! That force won't give cats back!"

"I want to talk to her!" I demanded picking up my paw and slamming it on the moss of the nest.

"You will. When the force takes you, you can tell NightingGale about your adventures and whatever you think is important. But we still have a life to live," he said laying his head back on NightingGale's, "We still have lives to live." Stone whispered the last one as if trying to convince himself. Stone began to slowly sweep his tail across NightingGale's body and on to Toadkit's back. His eyes were closed and his look stern, but as he felt Toadkit's tiny body rise and fall a smile grew across his face.

Toadkit had not opened his eyes yet instead, his colors came the next day at a meadow where cats would sit vigil for NightingGale. Though it isn't allowed, Stone insisted Toadkit come out for the vigil. The sun was just about to come down and Stone wanted he and her kits to start the vigil early since they almost died with her.

"I want Toadkit here!" Stone demanded to Snowfall, one of RainClan's trusted medicine cats.

The fluffy, white tom looked at Stone in shock, "It's too dangerous Stone. Kits aren't allowed to sit vigil. He hasn't even opened his eyes yet! He can't see if he wanders off, or what if he stumbles, or..or.."

"Toadkit will be there to wish his mother a peaceful journey past life. Do you understand me Snowfall?" Stone spat.

"Toadkit doesn't know what life or death is, fuzzbrain! You have no right to order me around!" Snowfall retorted.

"Bring me, my son," I remember Stone's gaze was cold. Why is he so angry with the medicine cat? I still wonder that to this day, he and Snowfall avoid each other, even when Stone is injured.

Snowfall hesitantly paced into the nursery. He grabbed Toadkit by the scruff then walked carefully back out to where Stormkit and I had been standing. Snowfall and Stone glared at each other for a moment, Snowfall dropped Toadkit and he landed with a thud.

Stone's eyes widened with fury at the sight of the kit's poor treatment, "Where'd you learn to set down a kit like that? When watching mother throw me out the bush?"

"How dare you say such a thing," Snowfall unsheathed his claws and stood ready for an attack. Stone bit the air and as if they could read each other's minds Snowfall leaped, white fur flying in the breeze. Stone ran forward, and Snowfall went soaring over him, landing hard on his face. Snowfall got up and shook the grass out of his long, tangled fur. Stone half snarled half laughed, "Your treatment makes you weak."

"Reckless furball," Snowfall muttered before bounding back to the Medicine den. Stone glared at him until he disappeared into the shadows of the log. Then jumped over to Toadkit.

"Toadkit? Toadkit, please be okay!" he crouched down to look at the tiny heap's face. Stormkit and I ran over to him as well. I thought he was dead, his breathing stopped for just a second. Then his eyes popped open. A wonderful icy blue spread relief throughout the forest.

It was a nice moment, my brother got to his paws then tripped and fell over. He's doing the same thing I did. I remember thinking. He rolled over then flopped to the ground again, Stormkit and Stone helped him up.

"Welcome brother," Stormkit said gently, "I'm your sister Stormkit and that there is your brother Quakekit," she pointed her tail over to me. I smiled at him, he smiled back. But his joyful grin was interrupted by a large yawn.

I watched intently as he asked Stone about where he was, why NightingGale lay so still in the clearing, and about the evil force that takes cats to the sky. Maybe he'll say the same things as me.

"Who's that?" Toadkit pointed his tail toward the dark grey she-cat which lay lifeless in the grassy meadow.

"That is your mother NightingGale," Stone said seeming to carefully choose his words this time.

Toadkit looked at NightingGale confused, "What's she doing?"

"Her body is resting," he said. This time there was no worrying sadness in his eyes. Why is Stone lying to Toadkit? Another question I still wonder, "But her soul is waiting for night, to begin climbing into the sky. A place all cats go once they're done serving their clan."

Toadkit ran over to her and pawed at her shoulder. There was no reaction. I felt heartbroken watching him knowing she wouldn't move. Here it comes. Anger and worry, poor Toadkit. He was much smaller than me and Stormkit. I turned slightly, half watching. Toadkit pawed her again this time harder. She still didn't move. This time he put both his fore-paws on her back and began to shake her.

"Mom? Mom?" Toadkit squealed. Stone walked up behind him, "Why won't she answer?!?"

"She's not there. See her spirit is about to run up and become a star. But she'll watch over you every second of every day. Then one day when you go up to the sky, you can tell her of all the fun adventures you had!" Stone said almost echoing the last part of what he said last night. Toadkit took a few paces back and looked up longingly at the sky. Is he smiling? Why is he smiling? The stupid little ball of fluff acted like he had no feelings at all! Didn't he care that we'd never be able to meet our mother? My fur bristled and a trudged over to Stone, Stormkit, and Toadkit.

"What do we do now?" Stormkit asked.

"We will sit here quietly all night and think things we wish for NightingGale on her journey. There is no talking until dawn," Stone said trying to sound cheerful. Only now that I think back on the memory and my thoughts I can see the pain in Stone's gleaming eyes. How his fur was unkempt and his body sagged and quivered in the loss of his beloved mate. The sadness in his every movement during the vigil. Odd how a time for mourning the cats who have given their lives for our clan are always the most peaceful. After the fighting or sickness, all that's left is the silence. The pain has come and gone. I like it much better when it's gone.