Warrior Cats: The Everlasting Winter

~Chapter 2~

Redkit followed Snowkit to the stone pile he saw the Darkclan cat hadn't left yet. He padded next to Emberkit who was lost in thought. "Hey Emberkit why does Hiddenstar want us at the stone pile? Does it have to do with the Darkclan deputy?" Redkit asked snapping his brother out of his thoughts. "Yeah." He gave a vague explanation gears trying to process something in his head. Seeing his brother was not in the mood for explaining anymore he left it alone and trotted up to the stone pile seeing his mother, Quickfall, Hiddenstar and the Darkclan deputy gathered at the foot of the loose stones. Their mother motioned them with her tail for the to come and sit down. He sat down in front of Hiddenstar and the Darkclan cat with his mother and his litter mates next to him. "Kits let me introduce you to Amberfire Darkclan's deputy." His mother explained plainly. A delighted purr rumbled in the large cats throat. Why is this cat so happy? "He is your father." She added. Shock pulsed through Redkit, he could not believe what he was hearing this cat his father. "B-but I thought Tinderpelt was our-" He was shortly cut off by Stormkit's mew. "What?! You're telling me we're all half clan!" Stormkit sounded furious. "Yes Stormkit all of are half Stoneclan and half Darkclan." Sliverheart's mew was barely a whisper. "I'm so delighted to meet all of you!" His father broke the tension seemingly oblivious to Stormkit's rage. "Umm...? Why are you here?" Snowkit tilted her head to the side. "To meets my wonderful kits of course!" He went to nuzzle Emberkit as he did Emberkit looked at his mother and leader the nodded in approval before he nuzzled him back. "And to take you to your rightful clan." He added after nuzzling each one of his kits. "Hang on now Amberfire, you aren't taking them anywhere." Quickfall growled. "They belong in Darkclan!" Amberfire hissed raising his hackles. "Stormkit maybe you should take your littermates to the apprentice's den a learn a move or two from Petalpaw and Honeypaw. I heard their mentors Rabbittail and Thorntooth taught them some new moves." Hiddenstar suggested. With that the littermates scampered off to the apprentice's den in the other side of the cave. "Honeypaw." Redkit nuzzled his way through the vines at the entrance of the den. "She's out hunting with Rabbittail." Sootpaw a black tom cat with hazel eyes responded. "What about Petalpaw?" Snowkit asked. "Out hunting with Thorntooth. Why?" Sootpaw asked. "We wanted to ask her if she'd help us with our battle moves." Snowkit explained. "I'd offer to help but I have to go train for my warrior assessment." He apologized. "Sootpaw time to go." Whiteclaw a senior warrior called to his apprentice. "Sorry kits maybe some other time." Sootpaw replied before dashing after his mentor. "I'm going to go see Frostfur." Stormkit proclaimed and scampered off. "Redkit let's go see what Amberfire and Hiddenstar decide." Emberkit suggested. "But they sent us away for a reason. It doesn't sound like a good idea to me." Redkit said against getting in trouble with the leader. "What you aren't the slightest bit curious about what's going to happen to us?" Emberkit asked. "We are going to be fine. Hiddenstar is going to tell him we belong here." He responded. Emberkit shrugged and headed for the stone pile keeping hidden. Redkit sighed followed his brother to the pile. As they approach the pile he overheard Amberfire let out an annoyed hiss. "Darkclan is prepared to fight for those kits, and we will if you make us." He growled at Quickfall who was glaring at him. "And we will defend them. They we're born here in Stoneclan. We will never let you take them away from us." Hiddenstar declared. "This is your last chance Hiddenstar. After this I'm reporting to Cottonstar that you've declared war." He warned. "So be it. Say goodbye your kits and then leave." She ordered. He let out a hiss of contempt and headed to say goodbye to his kits. Redkit and Emberkit scrambled back to the apprentice den hoping no one had noticed them sneaking around. "Ah Snowkit where are you're brothers?" He asked his daughter nuzzling her head. Well Stonekit headed off somewhere and Emberkit and Redkit were here a minute ago." She purred at the affection. "We're here." Redkit trotted up to them. "Ah good. Listen I have to go for now, but I will see you again. Be good okay?" He licked Redkit over his ear like the over protective parent he was. "No promises." Emberkit joked. His father purred in amusement and playfully nudged his devious kit. "Alright would you tell Stormkit I said goodbye?" He asked them. They nodded their heads in agreement. "Amberfire we're here to escort you to the border." Snakefang said walking up with Tinderpelt. "I know the way." Amberfire said cooly. "I insist it's no trouble at all." Tinderpelt said smoothly. All the cats knew the only reason that they're accompanying Amberfire to the border because they didn't trust him, but no cat said anything. "Well kits I'm off, see you soon." He headed out with the other two toms. Redkit headed towards the medicine cat den which was branches woven together to form a den in the corner of camp. Redkit poked his head in and looked around. He was greeted by the friendly white furred medicine cat. "Hi Redkit I assumed you're looking for Stormkit." Frostfur mused. "Yeah, where is he?" Redkit asked. "You just missed him I think he went to get a drink in the tunnel that leads to the underground stream, try looking for him there." The young cat suggested. Besides being a full medicine cat on his own Frostfur was still pretty young. Redkit remembered the previous medicine cat Bushfur had died of whitecough last leafbare from what Sliverheart had told him. Redkit thanked the medicine cat and headed off towards the tunnel that would lead him to the stream. Suddenly something crash into him pinning him. "I got you again, you got to keep your guard up." He recognized his brother Emberkit's voice. He threw off his brother and whipped around to face him. "I'll get you for that one." Redkit growled playfully. "Sure you will. Hey, what did you think of that thing with our father and the leader? Do you really think we're going to have live in Darkclan?" Emberkit asked curiously. "I don't know. But for now we have to find Stormkit. Frostfur said he was headed toward the stream, want to come?" Redkit asked his brother. "Sure let's go get him." Emberkit padded down the tunnel with his brother. When approaching the stream they spotted Stormkit lapping at the water with his paws neatly tucked under him. "Hey Stormkit." Emberkit called to him. Stormkit jumped and lost his footing and fell in the shallows of the stream. "Emberkit! You scared me out of my pelt!" Stormkit hissed. "You also got soaked." Redkit chuckled. "Funny huh?" He strode out of the shallows in annoyance. "Pretty funny yeah." Emberkit snickered. "You know what's even funnier?" Stormkit asked smugly. "What?" The two dry littermates asked rolling their eyes expecting some sarcastic insult. Stormkit reared up on his hind legs pushed them in the stream as he came down on them with his forepaws. "Now that's funny." Stormkit smirked. "Hey!" Emberkit complained. Redkit bunched his muscles and flung himself into Stormkit paws outstretched. He made sure to keep his claws sheathed. He tumbled back into the water giggling. Emberkit had joined in to pinning Stormkit. "Give up Seaclan warrior!" He growled playfully pretending his brother was a Seaclan warrior. "Never! I'm going going to take over all the clans." Stormkit laughed evilly. "I'm Graystar here to take over your clan!" Redkit proclaimed to be Seaclan's leader. Redkit launched himself high into the air and landed on Emberkit knocking him off Stormekit. "Stormkit, Emberkit, Redkit! Where are you?" The kits heard their mothers worried voice echo through the tunnel. They all crawled out of the stream and headed towards the voice. When they got there Sliverheart was there looking for them. "How'd you all get soaked?" She asked very sternly. The kits explained to there mother what had happened, she tried her best to keep a stern face with them but she couldn't help but chuckle at their drowned rat appearance. "Alright go to see Frostfur right away before you get sick." She told them. On the way they noticed that Honeypaw and Petalpaw had returned to camp with fresh kill hanging from their jaws. Redkit felt his fur heat up in embarrassment as the apprentices laughed and drop their kill at the sight of him and his brothers. He quickly rushed into the medicine cat's den, not wanting anyone else to laugh at him. "Well I see you went for a swim while at the stream." Frostfur's whiskers quivered in amusement. Stormkit flicked his tail unamused by the comment while his brothers sat there quietly. "Stormkit do you remember how to get a cat warm when he's fallen in the water?" Frostfur asked. "Lick their fur the opposite way the fur naturally runs. That way you can get there fur dry quicker." Stormkit answered. "Very good you'll make a fine apprentice." He praised. Stormkit let out a satisfactory purr for the praise and then began grooming himself the way he had described. Redkit and Emberkit started to do the same while Frostfur went further in the den to start sorting herbs. "Stormkit I could use an extra set of paws if you want to help me sort some herbs." Frostfur asked. "Alright, could you two tell Silverheart I'm helping Frostfur when you go back?" Stormkit asked. They both nodded and push their way out of the medicine cat's den. They went to go to the apprentice's den Silverheart stop them. "Oh no I want you two to go rest for the rest of the day. And where is Stormkit?" Silverheart nudged them back to the nursery. "Helping Frostfur." Redkit responded. "Well as long as Frostfur can keep an eye on him it's okay." She muttered to herself. Redkit had entered the nursery and settled down in his nest next to his brother. Redkit wasn't tired yet but he did his best to fall asleep. It took awhile but he was finally able to fall asleep.