Warriors: Sun and Moon - Blood and Water

Chapter 1

  Three moons had passed since she had become a warrior and life had gone on peacefully.  

Moonshade and Riverice shared a rabbit not far outside the warriors' den. They watched the nursery where Ravenswoop was playing with his red tabby son, Tigerkit, and calico daughter, Splashkit. Palerose and Slatefur were sharing tongues. Rowankit, Berrykit, and Dustkit were playing with their uncles, Lilacpaw and Silverpaw. Inside the nursery, Sunnyface was tending to his mate and their litter of six. Only Ashlight and Bluepaw knew which of the kits belonged to Dusttail and which were born of Snowdoe, but the parents refused to let anyone else in on the secret, especially since Snowdoe had died while kitting. They were raising them together, as one family unit.  

Sunnyface's kits were divided into three sons and three daughters, all of whom had some sort of white marking. The daughters were Sandkit--who had a cream tabby face and tail, Brightkit--who was a fawn calico tabby, and Snowkit--a pure white fluff-ball. The sons were Whitekit--also pure white, Brackenkit--a fawn tabby, and Thornkit--also fawn in color but with stripes like Dusttail.  

Moonshade saw Ravenswoop fall onto his back as his kits pummeled him with their soft little paws.

"No claws, no claws!" He cried out.

"Sowwy," Splashkit apologized sweetly, but continued to relentlessly batter her father.  

"You know," Riverice said after swallowing a bit, "that could be us in a few moons."

Moonshade's ears pricked and her green eyes widened in surprise, "Wh-what?"

He sighed and looked her in the eyes, "Wouldn't that be so nice?"

She gave a laugh, "You just want to be like Ravenswoop; we all know he's your idol!"

"Well, while that's true," Riverice argued, "I also think it would be fun and rewarding to be a father."

Moonshade blinked at him. What a sweet sentiment. But, she was not yet ready. "I'm sorry, love," she meowed with a sigh, 'But I'm not ready to be stuck in the nursery, confined between the camp walls."

"We can go out for an occasional walk," he suggested.

"Not enough," she said, "I don't want to give up my warrior duties."

He snorted, "You're being selfish!"

"How?" She raised her voice with slight upset.

"The clan survives and thrives off new warriors, warriors who are born as kits to our beautiful queens!"

"Our clan has enough incoming warriors," Moonshade spat, "the nursery is overflowing with the little balls of fur!"

"They're not just furballs," Riverice scolded her, "they're so much greater than that!"

"I was just poking at them," Moonshade argued, "I know they have dignity, but I don't want to be a mother!"

"You'd make a great mother!" He insisted.

"I don't want to be a mother!" She said making sure to enunciate each word.

He growled and got to his feet. As he began stalking through the camp, toward the entrance, she called out, "Where are you going? The sun is falling!"

But he didn't reply.

Instead, she realized the entire camp had been aware of their argument. The cats glanced around and murmured, only the younger kits were unaware.  

Oakpool was nearby, sitting with Barksong and Stonefrost. Moonshade heard her mother comment, "It seems only Cedarheart will provide me with grandchildren."