Fallowtail pushed Birdsong out of the way and gathered her kits close to her belly. “I am loyal!” Fallowtail’s eyes sparked with grief. “I haven’t seen Reedfeather in moons. I love my kits more than my own life and I planned to bring them up as true RiverClan warriors.” She stared at Reedfeather. “How can you even suggest taking them away from me?”
The WindClan warrior returned her gaze. “They are as much mine as yours.”
Willowkit stared up at her mother. “He can’t be our father,” she whimpered. “He doesn’t smell like us.”
Hailstar padded across the clearing and stopped beside the queen. “Is this true?”
Fallowtail stared at the ground, pulling her kits closer with her tail.
Shellheart sighed. “These kits have a right to be with their father.”
Crookedpaw watched, his heart twisting.
Shimmerpelt crossed the clearing and pressed against Fallowtail. “You can’t make her give up her kits.”
Piketooth lashed his tail. “Kits should be with their mother!”
“We can’t give them up!”
“They were born in RiverClan!”
“How can we let strangers raise them?”
A snarl cut dead the Clan’s murmuring. “How can we trust them, knowing they are half WindClan?” Rippleclaw’s eyes shone.
Tanglewhisker shook his head. “He’s right,” the elder murmured. “We’ll never truly know where their loyalties lie.”
Graykit squirmed free of her mother. “We’re RiverClan!” she cried. “We’ll always be RiverClan.”
“You’re WindClan, too.” Reedfeather spoke up. “They will be well cared for,” he promised. “We have plenty of prey.” He scanned the clearing, his gaze lingering on the dens crowding the fallen tree. “You have enough mouths to feed. What if there’s another flood? Or the river freezes? It’s happened before.” His gaze returned to the kits. “They’ll grow stronger on WindClan prey.”
“No.” Hailstar padded between Reedfeather and Fallowtail.
Reedfeather’s gaze hardened. “If it comes to war, WindClan will fight for them.”
Hailstar unsheathed his claws. “RiverClan isn’t scared by threats!”
“You should be,” Reedfeather meowed. “Don’t think the other Clans haven’t seen how you gave up Sunningrocks without a fight. RiverClan is weak. My Clanmates will join me to take back what is mine. You should fear us, old cat.”
Tension spiked the air. Then Fallowtail’s mew broke the silence. “I’ve caused enough trouble,” she whispered. “I don’t want bloodshed. Nothing is worth that.”
Crookedpaw felt sick.
“Fallowtail?” Willowkit blinked at her mother.
Graykit spun around. “What’s happening?”
Hailstar stared at the queen. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Reedfeather is right. Our kits will fare better in WindClan. And we cannot risk war over my… my mistake.”
Graykit scrambled after her mother, but Hailstar nudged the kit away with his muzzle. “You’re going to live in your father’s Clan,” he meowed softly.
Willowkit stiffened. “How can he be our father? I’ve never seen him before!”
“He smells horrid!” Graykit flinched away as Reedfeather sniffed each kit gently.
“You’ll be well taken care of,” he told them. “WindClan is looking forward to meeting you.”
Willowkit searched desperately for her mother’s gaze but Fallowtail stared at the ground. Crookedpaw wanted to race from where his paws were rooted and beg the queen not to let them go. But, like his Clanmates, he sat in silence as Hailstar nudged the kits toward their father.
“No!” Graykit yelped in terror as Reedfeather scooped her up. “Fallowtail!”
He padded toward the camp entrance.
Willowkit stared wildly around the Clan. “Aren’t you going to stop him?”
“Willowkit!” Graykit struggled. “Don’t leave me!”
Stumbling, Willowkit followed. “I’m coming, Graykit! I’m coming!”
As they disappeared through the tunnel, Hailstar padded slowly to his den.
Birdsong pressed against Fallowtail. “They won’t forget you.”
Shimmerpelt rubbed her muzzle against the queen’s cheek. “You’ll see them again. They’ll always be your kits.”
Fallowtail tore away from her Clanmates and staggered toward the nursery.
Rippleclaw snorted. “What does she want to go
Ottersplash spun around and hissed at the silver warrior. “Shut up! Just shut up!”
Crookedpaw darted after the grief-stricken queen and squeezed into the nursery after her. He searched for words to comfort her as she collapsed into her nest.
How could anyone let a queen be separated from her kits? His heart ached for Willowkit and Graykit. They’d be terrified without their mother. He crouched down beside Fallowtail and pressed against her trembling flank. “I wouldn’t have let him take them,” he whispered. “If
He straightened up and blinked at his mentor. “What am I doing wrong?”
