Sparrowflight had already sent out patrols for the morning, giving himself time to lay on the moor. This was where Sparkstorm buried his son, Blizzardkit. Sparrowflight had come here almost every day during the quarter moon after his death. The warm days of green leaf had passed as the air grew colder with leaf fall air. No one bothered to ask him why he came out here and he didn't mind that. If anyone saw him, he would tell them he was hunting. No one would understand. Why mourn for a kit that isn't even part of your Clan? Sparrowflight sighed, knowing that no cat would know the pain he felt in his heart. I could've been faster. Sparrowflight rested his head on his paws, but pricked his ears at the sound of footsteps. It was his sister, Batfeather. "You're out here again?" She asked, tilting her head. She had spotted him here before and he hadn't bothered lying to his sister about what he was doing. He'd done that enough with Blissnose "Why do you come here?" She asked, her voice soft. "Why did you used to always go to the moor top?" Sparrowflight retorted. Batfeather flattened her ears "That was different!" She hissed "That was a Clanmate. Our mother! This is just a kit!" Sparrowflight narrowed his eyes "So you're saying the only death that matters is the deaths of Clan cats? Wow, aren't you noble." He replied sarcastically. "You know what I meant!" Batfeather replied sharply "You're mourning a kit you didn't even know longer than you mourned for Gingerpaw! Longer than you mourned for Stormheart! Even Dustbreeze!" Sparrowflight stood up, facing her, his neck fur bristling "Don't bring them into this!" He hissed. Batfeather went on "And you haven't even visited Snakekit! If you care so much about these abandoned kits, you'd pay attention to both of them!" Sparrowflight growled "He has Lilystem and Tigerlily. He doesn't need me." The real reason he hadn't visited Snakekit was because he didn't want to hurt him, like he hurt Blizzardkit. Besides, if he kept his distance, cats would be less likely to suspect things. "Why'd you come out here anyways? Just to lecture me?" Sparrowflight asked sharply. Batfeather shook her head. "I came out here to come and fetch you. Tigerlily's just given birth and she's asking for you." Sparrowflight immediately perked up at the mention of Tigerlily and his anger melted away. He bolted past his sister and back towards camp.
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Sparrowflight poked his head into the nursery to see Tigerlily laying in her nest with two kits. One was light brown and the other was gray. Tigerlily curled her tail over her kits "There names are Timberkit and Larkkit." She told him. "Those are beautiful names." He purred. Sparrowflight glanced over to look at his son, who was squirming away from Lilystem and her kits and towards Tigerlily. He joined Tigerlily's kits in snuggling into her ginger belly fur. "Snakekit has a fascination for Tigerlily." Lilystem meowed from the back of the nursery "I've had to nurse him until now, but Tigerlily's acted like his true mother." Snakekit was still old enough to drink milk, so now he joined Tigerlily's kits in nursing, despite him being older than them "Snakekit is adorable." Tigerlily meowed warmly, licking his head "He won't play with Lilystem's kits though. He's too feisty." Sparrowflight smiled. It seemed like his son was coming along well. He would visit him more now, along with Tigerlily. He couldn't isolate himself anymore, not from his family and friends. Sparrowflight looked at Tigerlily's kits more closely. He noticed something strange about Larkkit. This kit only has three legs! Tigerlily noticed him staring and waved her tail in front of his face. "Don't stare. It's rude." She scolded him, but had a teasing glint in her eyes "Sparkstorm said it was a birth defect, but he'll still be able to become a warrior if he trains hard enough." Sparrowflight nodded, but inwardly scolded himself. If Tigerlily had some sort of problem giving birth, he should have been there for her. He'd mourned for Blizzardkit enough. "How have you been in the nursery?" Sparrowflight asked her. Tigerlily flattened her ears "Lonely. Badgerstep never visits. Not that I want to see him right now." Lilystem flicked her tail over Tigerlily's ear "You still have me. And now you have your kits." Tigerlily smiled at her friend. "You're right. Timberkit, Larkkit, and Snakekit will keep me company." Sparrowflight tilted his head. Did Tigerlily consider Snakekit one of her kits?
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Sparrowflight was leading a patrol along the thunderpath when he smelled a scent. A scent he hadn't smelled in a long time, but one that he knew well. "It's the rogues." He murmured. Mudpool trotted over next to him and smelled the air "You're right. We should report to Blazestar." The senior warrior meowed. Sparrowflight nodded and noticed the gray on Mudpool's muzzle. She would probably follow Hareleap into the elders den, if Blazestar ever allowed them to join.
Once they made it back to camp, Sparrowflight walked towards Blazestar's den and waited outside. "Blazestar? May I come in?" He called into the den. He heard a grunt in response that sounded like a yes, so Sparrowflight stepped into the den. The leader was in his nest and lifted his head when he saw Sparrowflight. He nodded to him "Sparrowflight, what is it?" He asked. Sparrowflight took a seat and looked at his leader "Blazestar, on my patrol by the thunderpath, we scented the rogues. The same ones we fought at the end of last leaf bare." Blazestar sat up at hearing this "Are you sure it was the same rogues?" He asked. Sparrowflight nodded "Yes, I'm positive." Blazestar flicked an ear "Was it over the border?" Sparrowflight glanced away "It was on the edge of the thunderpath." Blazestar stayed silent for a few moments, in thought. Sparrowflight knew the leader was sometimes quick to go to battle, and he wouldn't be surprised if he did the same with the new discovery of the rogue scents. "We won't do anything about the rogues for now." Blazestar decided. Sparrowflight tilted his head, surprised "Really? Shouldn't we at least step up patrols or something? You know how dangerous those rogues are." Blazestar nodded "I'm keeping us away because I know how dangerous they are. You weren't the only one in that battle, Sparrowflight." Sparrowflight dipped his head "Forgive me, Blazestar. I wasn't trying to say I was the only one in that battle." Blazestar stood up "We will ignore the scents to keep the Clan safe." Sparrowflight tilted his head "You're going to let them trespass onto our territory?" He's being a coward! "If there were ever a right time to fight, it would be now, Blazestar." Blazestar narrowed his eyes "Are you questioning your leader? My word is law, Sparrowflight." Sparrowflight flattened his ears "That doesn't mean you ignore your deputy's opinions." Blazestar bared his teeth "Don't tell me how to run my Clan." He growled. Sparrowflight sighed, backing down from the argument and changing the subject "Tigerlily had her kits the other day. Have you seen them?" Blazestar nodded "I saw them. Snakekit looks like a strong kit. He will be a good warrior with the right training." Sparrowflight tilted his head. Is that all he ever thinks about? Blazestar went on "I've noticed that Lilystem's kits are gray. Unless Badgerstep is the father, then those kits might have a father outside the Clan. Something will have to be done about that." Sparrowflight swallowed. What would Blazestar do if he found out about Snakekit? "The kits cannot be blamed, Blazestar." Sparrowflight told him. Blazestar nodded "I know that. The mother, however, can be blamed." He said with a growl. Sparrowflight shuddered at his leader's words. What is Blazestar trying? "You are dismissed, Sparrowflight." Blazestar meowed, breaking him from his thoughts. Sparrowflight nodded and padded out of the den without a word. He saw Lilystem's kits playing outside the nursery. Sparrowflight narrowed his eyes. There was something familiar about the kits, something he'd seen before. The long, gray fur. The icy, blue eyes. Sparrowflight looked down at his paws and his eyes widened. His paws were covered in blood! The blood stained his paws, making them a dark red. He lifted his paw and saw no blood filled footprint. He brought the paw to his mouth and licked it. The only thing he tasted was dirt. He blinked and looked at his paws again and the blood was gone. Am I going mad? Sparrowflight shook his head. No, it has to mean something. Sparrowflight thought back to another time where he was near the thunderpath. He saw the same image of the blood on his paws that day, and he was horrified. The father of these kits was the rogue I nearly killed!