"Um... mother?"

As a small, sweet voice flowed into my ears, I was slowly pulled into consciousness, sunlight already beginning to leak through my blinking lids.

"Mother?"

I then fully opened my eyes, my heart already soaring as I immediately met the beautiful hazel eyes of Wrenkit, the eyes that were glowing with both excitement but worry at the same time.

I let out a purr and gave my daughter a lick on the head. "Good morning, sweetheart."

I then was surprised to see Wrenkit take a step back, her eyes now wide. "I'm sorry! I really didn't want to wake you..."

I let out another purr, honestly amused that Wrenkit seemed to be acting like she had committed a crime. "That's okay, my love!" I meowed to her, flicking one of her small ears with my tail as I stood up. "Is something the matter?"

"No, not at all!" Wrenkit replied, shaking her head quickly. "Actually, I just wanted to ask if I could go over to the medicine den?"

With those words, I immediately felt my heart drop and my eyes widen. "The medicine den?" I pressed to my daughter, my voice rising with worry. "Why? Are you sick?" And she caught that she was sick before I did? What kind of mother am I?

"Oh, no! I feel just fine!" Wrenkit quickly reassured me, causing me to let out a huff of relief. "I actually wanted to go see Sandstorm!"

My heart dropped a second time. "Wait... Sandstorm is in the medicine den?" Apparently I can't tell what is wrong with my friends either!

"Yeah!" Wrenkit said in a surprisingly enthusiastic way. I then raised my eyebrows as I noticed she seemed to be holding back a squeal. "She had her kits!"

I then closed my eyes and let out a sigh. "Oh, well if..."

I then let out a gasp and took a step back as my daughter's words fully processed, and I suddenly felt as if I could leap to the top of the Highrock from the ground. "Oh my goodness, Sandstorm had her kits!?"

Wrenkit simply nodded back at me excitedly. "Yeah!"

Then, without wasting another moment, I let out a squeal and practically leaped out of our moss nest. "Then what are we waiting for?" I then exclaimed before picking up Wrenkit in my jaws and bursting out of the den. "Let's go see Sandstorm and her kits!"

Wrenkit was mrrowing with laughter and I then pelted across camp, feeling as if I was running on air with this exciting news that I'd just been told. Luckily, the camp was fairly empty with cats either still asleep or gone on patrol – which was good, considering my excitement was practically sending me forward without me thinking to look in either direction.

Sure, I had known that Sandstorm was expecting for a little while now, and I had been so excited to hear that one of my new closest friends in this Clan was going to be in the nursery with me. And our kits will be able to spend time together! I then realized as I ran across camp. It seriously is so nice to have these kinds of things I look forward to...

I then had to suppress a purr as I thought about Wrenkit, who was warming my heart as she continued to laugh in my jaws. And luckily for those new kits, any cat would feel honored to be friends with this little one, I thought as I was filled with gratitude and pride. She is already growing up to become so kind, thoughtful, witty, curious, and bright. A bit shy, but there's nothing wrong with that.

I genuinely always felt so thankful that I could fully enjoy raising her, and I couldn't help but wonder if where she was being raised, along with who wasn't helping me raise her had something to do with it, however, that wasn't worth thinking about. Wrenkit was the most amazing cat to me, and I was just glad that she was becoming the cat that she was.

And now, she'll have friends! I then thought excitedly. I wonder how many... and will they be toms or she-cats?

Hardly being able to stand the wait anymore, I practically skidded to a stop in front of the nursery, gently putting Wrenkit down as she continued to purr with amusement. "I'm glad I asked you to come with me!" she meowed with laughter in her voice. "We got here in double the time!"

"Well, what do you expect when you give me news like that?" I replied warmly to Wrenkit, exchanging a glance with her before gesturing my tail towards the medicine den entrance. "After you!"

That was all of the self-control I had managed to muster up; after my daughter trotted into the den, I was right on her tail as we both went through the bramble screen that would shield us from the outside.

As soon as I made my way into the den, I saw Wrenkit running eagerly deeper into the den, and heard her let out a gasp. "Oh my goodness, mother, look!"

I then gasped myself once my gaze followed Wrenkit's, where I immediately saw Sandstorm lying in a moss nest, with Firestar right at her side. As sweet as this was on its own, I wanted to melt into the ground below as I then noticed the two little bundles that were pressed into the she-cat's side – a dark ginger one and a light ginger tabby one.

And I was simply staring at them in awe once Sandstorm noticed the new visitors. "Hi, Mistpelt!" She then nodded to Wrenkit and flicked one of her ears with her tail. "And hello, little one. Welcome!"

I then found myself shaking my head in amazement. "Hey, you two! I hope it's alright that we're here." I then flicked my tail sheepishly towards my daughter. "Wrenkit told me the news..."

I then purred as Sandstorm seemed to exchange an amused glance with Firestar. "Of course it's alright that you're here!" she replied kindly to me, to my relief. "It's about time these two start to get acquainted with their Clanmates, and maybe..."

She then nodded her head towards the wide-eyed Wrenkit. "...future best friends?"

As Wrenkit then let out an excited squeal, I exchanged a warm glance with Sandstorm. "Aw, I have no doubt," I purred as affection welled up in my heart. I then took a few pawsteps forward so that I could get a closer look at ThunderClan's newest members. "Well, they're both beautiful. Both she-cats?"

Firestar gave me a nod, his green eyes gleaming. "Yes, they are. ThunderClan's leader is going to have to learn how to be a father to two she-cats!" He then glanced affectionately down at Sandstorm. "And if either of them are like this one, then it's going to be quite an experience."

As I let out a mrrow of laughter, Sandstorm gave a large roll of her emerald eyes. "You're hilarious," she then muttered. "If ThunderClan's leader can't handle raising two she-cats, then I'm not sure how he got chosen as ThunderClan's leader. Anyway..."

The light ginger she-cat then nodded to me, laughter in her voice as she then said, "Yes, Mistpelt, both she-cats."

I simply nodded to the she-cat in reply, for a moment, actually having to push down a bit of jealousy as I stared at my two Clanmates and their kits. And for a moment, I so desired this perfect picture that I was staring at – a happy couple with their kits, and a new mother that was likely certain that her mate was going to be there for her, and help her raise her kits to the best of his ability. That what I wanted, and what I wished to have since I first saw how amazing my parents were together, but...

I then tried my best to let the envy run its course, and then become absent in my mind completely. But having that mate does not determine my having a happy family. I don't need that, and clearly... I then stared lovingly down at Wrenkit, who was looking at Sandstorm's kits thoughtfully. I haven't needed that. This is all that I need.

I then raised my eyebrows with intrigue as Wrenkit began to speak. "Do they have names yet?" she asked kindly, her head tilted to the side.

Firestar let out a little purr as he nodded to Wrenkit. "As a matter of fact, they do!" he meowed as he then flicked his tail towards the dark ginger kit. "This one is Squirrelkit. See her long, fluffy tail?" He then gestured to the light ginger tabby as Wrenkit nodded eagerly. "And this one is Leafkit."

I found myself shaking my head in amazement once again. "Both amazing names, really," I purred to them as I started intently at the two kits. "They seem to suit them well!"

"I agree! I do have a question though..." Wrenkit then mewed, causing both Sandstorm and Firestar to raise their eyebrows with interest. "You said you named Squirrelkit for her fluffy tail, so why is Leafkit named Leafkit?"

Wrenkit then excitedly padded closer to Sandstorm as she exchanged a glance with Firestar and then leaned in closer to my daughter, her gaze sparkling. "Well, actually, she's named after the leader of the Clan we met on our journey!"

I then blinked in surprise as I recalled said journey that Firestar and Sandstorm had just arrived from half a moon ago. As crazy as it had sounded to me, Firestar had been given a mission to put together a long lost Clan that had been known as SkyClan – a Clan that had practically disappeared long before any cats alive now were born.

And when I say that the two ThunderClan cats literally built and rebuilt a Clan – that is exactly what they did, and they hadn't left until they were sure that this new SkyClan could hold their own.

The whole thing was incredible to me, and I could be certain that this new leader of SkyClan – who I knew to be named Leafstar – would have loved to know about this kit that was named after her. "Aw, I'm sure she would have been so honored to hear about that," I then said to my two Clanmates out loud. "Do you think you'll ever see her again and get to tell her that you named your daughter after her?"

Sandstorm immediately let out a snort. "Give me about six moons, and then I'll get back to you on that!"

"Maybe you can come with us the next time we go, Mistpelt," Firestar then purred. "I'm sure you miss getting on your paws every once in a while?"

I nodded to the ThunderClan leader as I gave a sigh and rolled my eyes. "Oh, you have no idea!" I replied to the flame-colored tom honestly, of course, having nothing but fond memories of that time in my life. But so far, that also applied to this amazing place, I then told myself. Which is why staying in one place is so easy this time around. "But at the same time, there really is no place I'd rather be!"

However, after thinking for another moment, I couldn't help but give a small shrug. "But I'm never opposed to a little journey!" I went on enthusiastically. "What was SkyClan like?"

"Oh, they truly are a wonderful, resilient group of cats," Firestar told me, his eyes glowing with awe as he shook his head slowly. "They all came from different places, but all seemed to come together so beautifully in that gorge."

"Oh, I agree!" Sandstorm then meowed, shifting a bit to better allow Squirrelkit and Leafkit to suckle. "I still am not even sure if any of the new members are descendants of the original Clan, and I guess we'll never know for sure."

I raised my eyebrows as I exchanged a fascinated glance with Wrenkit. "Well, goodness! Is there any way you'd even be able to tell?"

Firestar seemed to ponder the question for a moment before answering. "Well, from what I've been told, the original SkyClan was somewhat like ThunderClan – tree lovers and tree climbers, but they took it to another level," he then began to explain. "Climbing trees... climbing in general was almost instinctual to them – those long limbs they apparently had would make it easy."

For a moment, I couldn't even speak as I simply processed Firestar's words – his descriptions of these cats being oddly resonate. I mean, any cat can learn to climb or be good at it, but... I thought. I still can't help but wonder.

But despite my deep thoughts, I simply gave the leader a nod. "I see! Very neat," I purred.

I then simply watched as Wrenkit continued to stare at the kits, her beautiful hazel eyes wide with curiosity and awe. I could tell that she was over-the-moon excited, but she was trying her best to stay calm and quiet as to not alarm the kits. But she's still showing so much excitement and curiosity, I thought warmly, almost feeling overwhelmed by just how wonderful my daughter was, and how much of a joy she was. And why would there be any doubt that I need any other cat other than her?

I then flicked my ears, suddenly concerned and alarmed as I seemed to hear fast pawsteps coming from outside the den, and closer to where I knew the camp entrance was.

I then exchanged a worried glance with Wrenkit as I then recognized Cloudtail's voice ring through the clearing. "Firestar! Is Firestar in camp?"

I looked over my shoulders back at Firestar to see him flicking his own ears, his green ears flashing with concern. "Uh, oh," he murmured before then glancing at Sandstorm and touching his nose to her ear. "I'll be right back."

I then watched as he trotted past me, quickly heading towards the bramble screen and making his way through it. "Hopefully."

I then narrowed my eyes as I stared at the place that Firestar's ginger tail disappeared, and I immediately knew that there was no way that, in this instance, that I would be able to stay put. "Hm... interesting."

I then looked over my shoulder back at Sandstorm. "I'll also be right back..." I murmured before beginning to also pad out of the den. "Coming, Wrenkit!"

Behind me, I heard my sweet daughter let out a little squeal before then hearing her light pawsteps follow behind me. "Of course!"

As the two of us then walked through the bramble screen exit, I found that I was more than eager to know what the racket was all about. Luckily, I didn't have to wait long.

Almost immediately once Wrenkit and I got deeper into the clearing, I saw many worried ThunderClan cats gathering towards the camp entrance as Cloudtail, Dustpelt, Ashfur, and Thornclaw burst through – all looking very out of breath.

Firestar was already there to meet them. "What happened?" he asked, his voice impressively calm, as always. "Are you all okay?"

Dustpelt was the first to speak, letting out a huff first and giving a lash of his tail. "Well, I guess as good as a warrior can be after seeing a Twoleg on our territory."

Cloudtail then began to shift his paws back and forth. "...or three..."

Gasps spread throughout the camp, my daughter beside me included, as alarm suddenly washed over Firestar's face. "What? Three Twolegs on our territory?" he pressed, his voice rising slightly. "What were they doing?"

Ashfur then stepped forward after giving his fur a shake. "It was so weird," he began to explain to the leader. "They were just standing around and looking at the grass and trees as if they were the most fantastic things on earth."

The gray-speckled tom then paused for just a moment, narrowing his eyes as he seemed to try and recall something. "It was around Tallpines – luckily a bit far out from camp, but..." He then let out a huff. "Still..."

"I'd say that it doesn't matter where they were on our territory," Dustpelt then cut in. "They were still on our territory, and they were about to snatch up Thornclaw if we hadn't bolted away as quickly as we did!"

The camp was filled with gasps all over again with the light brown tom's words. Firestar just continued to look bewildered – clearly the Clan had never dealt with a problem like this. "What? How?"

"Well, he was peeking at them just like the rest of us were, but..." Dustpelt then narrowed his eyes, flashing the golden brown tabby tom a look. "I guess he was a little closer and a little curioser than the rest of us. So, he was the first cat that the furless idiots noticed when they looked our way, and they immediately tried to grab him."

Thornclaw, who I now noticed to be the most out of breath, began to shake his head as Dustpelt told the story. "I don't know what they would have done with me, and I don't want to know, but..." He then let out an exhausted sigh. "Thank StarClan I acted fast."

"Thank StarClan, indeed," Firestar breathed as he also shook his head. "I'm glad that you and the rest of the patrol are okay."

"For now," Cloudtail then nearly hissed. "What are we meant to do about this? We've never had this problem before, and I can't imagine it stops here."

Firestar sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. "Unfortunately, I agree," he then muttered, giving one worried glance towards the medicine den where his mate and new kits were. "Well, all we can do for now is stay cautious and keep an extra eye out on patrols. If they get deeper into our territory or seem to pose a threat, we'll figure out a plan from there."

Dustpelt simply snorted, brushing past the ThunderClan leader and padding away. "Wow, I feel so much better."

Firestar watched the tom go for a moment before shaking his head and facing the rest of his Clan once again. "I'll have Graystripe send out another patrol later today to check the territory around Tallpines." He then nodded to his deputy, his gaze sharp. "A bit of a bigger one, just in case they run into trouble, please."

Graystripe gave his friend and leader a sharp nod in return. "You got it!"

I then watched, briefly exchanging another nervous glance with Wrenkit as Graystripe then began to select who will be sent on this patrol – also praying to StarClan that this patrol would find a clear and safe ThunderClan territory.

I almost wished that I could be on this patrol to see what was going on, and to possibly figure out what these Twolegs were up to. I had to admit – I maybe knew a bit more about Twolegs than these Clan cats did, especially when they seemed to want to avoid them at all costs. Understandably... However, there was no way that I was going to try and leave camp right now, especially with how absent I had been when I first arrived here.

I then looked lovingly back down at Wrenkit. There are way more important things that I need to take care of.

While the thought of being here and doing things to more directly serve ThunderClan would mean a lot to me in the future, raising this wonderful she-cat was my only priority, and I couldn't wait for the moons to come. I also hoped with all of my heart that this Twoleg trouble was nothing, and that it wouldn't intrude on that in any way...