Shadeheart's POV:

As the cats grew quiet once again, Shadeheart stood up and prepared to leave, expecting the meeting to be over, but NoName called him back. "Shadeheart. Stay put, I have one last announcement."

Curious, Shadeheart sat back down again. Murmurs rose around the gathered cats, as they were curious as well.

His mother's gaze was fixed on him as she spoke. "I'd like to welcome a new Enforcer to my circle." The red she cat grinned at her son. "Shadeheart. You've been promoted to Enforcer. Congratulations."

Shocked, Shadeheart could only stare at her, his body frozen. A loud cheer came from Blossomfur, which soon spread around the entire camp. Enforcer?! The black tom gaped at NoName. What have I possibly done to deserve this?!

Without another word, NoName disappeared, leaping and bounding through the crowd and back into her den. The others quickly dispersed, leaving Shadeheart still sitting shocked in the meeting clearing.

It was Blossomfur's voice that brought him out of his trance. "I'm so proud of you, Shadeheart." She purred, rubbing her cheek against him. "I love you."

Shadeheart stuttered. "I love you too.." He finally gained control over his limbs again and rose to his paws. "This was just.. Such a shock."

"It's good though." Blossomfur meowed. "And think about it, you hold so much more power now. I do too." She smiled. "An Enforcer's mate. What a title. Maybe one day it'll be the Leader's mate."

Shadeheart scoffed. "I don't think NoName will be gone anytime soon..." He started walking, feeling uncomfortable with the conversation subject.

Blossomfur let it drop. "The kits will be so excited to hear about your promotion!" She giggled, quickening the pace and leading the way back to the nursery where the den residents were all gathered outside the entrance.

"I'm sure they will." Shadeheart murmured. "I'm sure they will.."

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Silvershy's POV:

"That's impossible." The brown rogue muttered, but his voice was unsure. "You can't be our mother."

"How can you know for sure? You don't know what she looked like!" Silvershy broke away from Spectrum's grip to rise to the brown tom's level, her muzzle a mouse-length from his. "There were three of you. I left you in the paws of a kittypet in twolegplace.. Her name.." She frowned. "Her name was Lemon."

"No." The black she cat padded to her brother's side. "Our foster mother was called Lemon.. This must be a coincidence.."

Silvershy looked at the black she cat. "Your brother. What does he look like?"

"He's silver.." The brown tom's eyes narrowed. "Kinda like you.. except he has brown patches."

The image returned to Silvershy, and this time she caught it in time. The image presented itself to her, clear as day this time. She lay in the shelter of some bushes in a twoleg's garden. Around her stood Nutwhisker and Lemon. At her belly lay her newborn kits, a black she cat, a pale brown tom and a silver and brown tom.

Silvershy looked up at the two rogues. They were her kits. They had survived, and they had somehow found her. Tears pricked her eyes. "My babies.. You made it."

The brown tom frowned at her. "You have no proof that you are our mother."

"Take me to your camp." Silvershy breathed. "Let me see all three of you together."

The brown tom and the black she cat exchanged glances. "We can always kill them if it's a trick." The black she cat shrugged.

With a low sigh, the brown tom nodded his head. "Alright, you two are coming with us. Follow." Then he turned away and began trotting into the undergrowth.

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Blossomfur's POV:

"Mamma! Watch this!" Shadowkit grinned, her tail lashing wildly as she crept up on a leaf. "I'm a deadly hunter!" She small black she kit squeaked in joy. "I'll catch our food for today!"

Blossomfur purred. "You're going to be an amazing hunter when you grow up, Shadowkit." She watched as her kit landed on the leaf successfully, and it crunched loudly under her weight. Her pounce surprisingly accurate. She's a natural! The queen smiled proudly at Shadowkit as she brought her 'kill' back to her mother to present it before her.  "Aw, thank you. That was a perfect catch."

Shadowkit beamed with pride and turned around to find her littermates. Flintkit was playing with the other kits near the centre of the main clearing, creating little hills out of the sand and dirt. Cinderkit lay calmly at the edge of the gathered queens, her gaze hovering over the empty medicine cat den.

Blossomfur's ears flattened. She needs to stop fantasizing about the medicine cats and play with her denmates. She was tempted to go over to her kit and question her about it, but with Shadeheart hanging around them, he would probably end up defending his daughter. It breaks my heart to see him like this. She glanced at her mate; he was chatting with the other queens while laying stretched out in the sunlight. He's drifting away from me. He thinks I hate him. The cream furred she cat sank her claws into the ground. I won't lose him.

He is mine.

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