#branchkit

"Gentle, Mulberry." he chided all the same.

"Yurph my preph." Mulberrykit mumbled around his tail fluff.

"It's rude to use your teeth on other cats." Almondfern said sternly, and his tail was released.

"Sorry." Mulberrykit said, hanging his head.

"Just don't do it again, alright? Your mother and the other medicine cats don't need to see cats with kit bites." Almondfern said, purring to let the kit know he wasn't mad.

Hazelkit's paw slipped and went in his ear at that moment, but he just gently shifted the kit to the side. He could have played with the kits all day, to be honest, and he let them practice their pouncing and battle moves on him, the older kits no longer interested in him since they were so close to being apprentices. Unfortunately, it didn't last. After sun-high, the kits were getting cranky, in need of a nap, and Skypelt called him to patrol with Quietback, Aphidrise, Laurelbright, and Furledseed, the older warrior taking the lead.

They covered themselves in protection and Almondfern wanted to huff, because as much as he liked serving his clan, he had to put on many times more protection than the rest, and it took forever to come out of his fur.

But he followed the patrol all the same, not about to disobey, and they headed out far from camp. Border, at the moment, but they were planning to hunt on the way back. They headed toward the border of the unclaimed lands Foggyclan was up against as well, and Almondfern had to admit, he didn't mind patrolling with two of his sisters. He was rather quite fond of it, actually, even if the last patrol, Tulipscratch had fallen in the river. That had been an accident, after all, and you could never predict an accident.

There was a chill to the air today, but new-leaf, as warped as it was likely to be, was starting to peak through in the weather. Not in the growth, though. The rainfalls had taken care of that.

They patrolled the territory, but they were lucky. Few foxes and badgers settled on their territory, dogs were not common, and it had been some time since threatening rogues had been around. Weedclan still caused their usual trouble, but Foggyclan had always been respectful of them.

They patrolled thoroughly and Almondfern flicked his tail across Laurelbright's shoulder, nudging Furledseed, glad for their company. Furledseed rolled her eyes, but Laurelbright purred, and they continued on their way. They were not traveling all the way to the border, as a patrol to do that would have required setting out earlier in the day, but they were going a good distance toward it.

So far, everything was clear. Nothing of concern, and they would likely find prey on the way back.

As they walked, Almondfern found himself wanting to talk to Quietback, ask the older tom for advice on kits and mates, and if the clan would really be worried if he liked a cat for another clan, if he wanted a mate from another clan... But he wasn't sure how to bring it up. And maybe it was better to discuss with Goldstar.

He shook his head and held his tongue for now, and Quietback ordered them to spread out and scent the area at one point.

They obeyed, staying within yowling distance of each other, and Almondfern found a thick clump of growth worthy of green-leaf, wet with raindrops, obviously from a rainfall that had come and gone not too long ago.

He was about to go around it, not wanting to get his protection wet if he didn't have to, when he heard a faint sound. Stopping, he pricked his ears, and waited. He waited so long that, for a moment, he thought he had imagined it. Then he heard it again.

A pitiful mewling sound, like he had heard kits make when they were hungry or distressed, and his heart lurched.

He plunged into the ferns, searching carefully, and, in a hollow formed from the tangled roots of a bush, he found a kit.

No nest, no scent of another cat, just a tiny, shivering kit with a silvery, white-dappled pelt, its eyes and ears firmly shut. It let out that faint, pitiful sound, so faint Almondfern couldn't believe he had heard it, its tiny body shuddering with each breath.

"QUIETBACK! APHIDRISE! LAURELBRIGHT! FURLEDSEED!" he yowled, sliding into the cramped hollow.

The kit didn't make noise now, but they flailed at his presence, struggling to crawl to the warmth of his body. The others came running and found him, and Almondfern looked up.

"Abandoned. No nest, no scent..." he said quickly, his heart breaking.

"Go. Take it to camp, now!" Quietback ordered, and Almondfern didn't need to be told twice.

He picked up the little scrap of fur, as light as feather, and he ran as fast as he dared with his delicate passenger.

He had only run like this when they had been bringing fire to the Burning Caves, he thought, and he didn't let that slow him. The kit squeaked occasionally in his jaws and he ran and ran, right past Wiggity Wack, who was sitting guard outside the camp. He didn't stop until he reached the medicine cat den, nearly slamming into Jackdawnudge.

He skidded to a halt and placed the kit gently between his paws, his chest heaving.

"Jackdaw- the- kit- need-" he panted, struggling to breathe, struggling to speak.

Jackdawnudge didn't need him to explain, though. He picked up the tiny kit after ordering Lester to find Stoneleaf, and began to vigorously groom the little thing. Almonfern collapsed on the ground, catching his breath, and watched as Jackdawnudge groomed and rubbed the kit for all his was worth. Stoneleaf came into the den, sitting nearby, but she didn't move as Jackdawnudge worked.

Between licks and rubs, it soon became apparent that Jackdawnudge was speaking.

"Come on, you little scrap. Come on." he was saying, occasionally saying something else.

Lester took a turn when Jackdawnudge tired, and it seemed to take an eternity, but the kit was soon warmed up and squealing weakly.

"There you go, little one. There you go. Stoneleaf is goin' to feed you, don't you worry." Lester purred as Almondfern let out a sigh of relief.

He hovered as Stoneleaf settled in one of the empty patient nests, Morbius watching through half-closed eyes; the medicine cat kept her on low doses of poppy in hopes of keeping her calm and still enough for her spine to heal.

Stoneleaf nuzzled the kit to her swollen teats and it took several tries, but the kit soon latched and began to nurse.

"He's very weak." Stoneleaf said softly.

Almondfern swallowed hard.

"I want to keep him." he blurted out, and Jackdawnudge glanced at him.

"Don't go gettin' too attached, Almondfern. He might... He's not outta the woods yet." Lester warned gently.

"I want him." Almondfern repeated stubbornly.

He would nurse this kit back to health, he would protect them... Maybe it was because he and his sisters had been found and taken in by the clan, but he wanted to do what his mother had done for them. And it wasn't fair, for him to die just because he had been abandoned. It wasn't fair.

"Go wash up, and when you're dry, you can help me with him. Maybe come up with a name?" Stoneleaf said kindly, and Almondfern did just that.

He cleaned the protection from his fur and by this time, word of the kit had spread around the camp. Gillfeather came and helped him dry himself off, grooming his pelt just as she had when he had been a kit. When he was dry, he went back to the medicine cat den, finding Stoneleaf curled around the little kit.

She shifted in the roomy nest until there was room for both of them and they curled up with the kit together, Almondfern gently rasping his tongue over the kit. His whole body seemed to shudder with his breathing and when he flipped him over, Almondfern could see his heartbeat jumping through his tiny chest. He snuggled closer, knowing his fur held warmth; his sisters always crawled into his nest on cold nights.

"Do... Do you think he has a chance?" Almondfern asked Stoneleaf fearfully.

"I think he does. Amberleaf was a sickly little kit, and he pulled through. Starclan might not be ready for this little one just yet." Stoneleaf said soothingly.

They lay together, keeping the kit warm, and Almondfern pondered names for a while. Tried a few out and discarded them.

"Mistkit." he said eventually, drawing the kit to his belly.

"That's a lovely name. His fur is a misty gray, too." Stoneleaf said, purring.

Mistkit squeaked and lifted his head, snuffling blindly, and Almondfern nuzzled him gently until the squeaking calmed.

He sent a prayer to Starclan, hoping they would have mercy, hoping they would give him a miracle. Kits didn't deserve to die. He would do everything in his power to make sure Mistkit didn't. He hoped it would be enough, and he hoped Starclan was looking out for them.

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His next few days revolved around the medicine cat den. Stoneleaf had the other kits to look after, of course, but Yellowlily moved into the nursery to keep an eye on them when she came and looked after Mistkit with him. The warriors brought Stoneleaf the best prey, though that wasn't new. She had been nursing kits almost non-stop for moons, and they wanted to make sure she had enough to eat, and enough milk.

Stoneleaf showed him how to care for Mistkit, how to clean him and groom him, and Almondfern found himself wishing he could produce milk. It would be much more convenient, honestly, and he felt bad whenever Mistkit tried to suckle from him. He was a hungry little thing, but he also had trouble suckling for long, Almondfern noticed. He just wasn't strong enough. He licked and rubbed the kit vigorously, stimulating him, keeping him warm and getting his blood flowing, keeping him tucked against his belly with his tail draped over him.

Almondfern knew he shouldn't have gotten attached, should have been cautious... But he fell in love with Mistkit from the first day. He talked to him even though his ears were sealed, telling him about the clan, and about the other kits there were for him to play with once he was strong enough.

Morbius watched from her nest, her eyes always poppy-glazed, but she asked Almondfern questions, and there was always at least one medicine cat present. On the morning of the fifth day after finding Mistkit, Almondfern woke shortly after dawn and shifted, yawning and then turning his attention to Mistkit. He leaned down to lick him and paused, realizing there was no little snuffling breaths, no squeaking, no fidgeting as his tongue rasped over the silky fur.

"Mistkit?" he said, his voice a whisper.

Stoneleaf stirred beside him and Almondfern nuzzled the kit, but he was still and cold.

"Mistkit?" His voice was louder now, thick with fear, and Almondfern didn't want to believe, he didn't...

His yowl pierced the silence of medicine cats' den and Stoneleaf shot up, the medicine cats shooting from their nests, Confetti, who had been sleeping with Morbius, leaping into the air and hissing.

"No, no, no... Please, Starclan, you can't... Grandpa! Grandpa!" Almondfern cried frantically, Jackdawnudge bounding over.

But there was nothing to be done. Mistkit had slipped away in his sleep, too weak, left too long by the time Almondfern had found him. His sobs chased Stoneleaf and Confetti away, and Plumsong tried to say something to him, but Almondfern ignored him. He curled around Mistkit's still body, his own shaking, his muzzle wet with tears.

Skypelt came and tried to take Mistkit from him, but Almondfern smacked his claws across her muzzle. He shocked himself, but Skypelt left, and Almondfern realized with a start that Amberleaf had been sitting nearby for some time.

He stared at Amberleaf for a long moment and Amberleaf stared back, saying nothing, just watching and waiting.

Eventually, Jackdawnudge came and settled down beside the nest.

"Almondfern, I know you loved that little kit. You took good care of him. But you need to let him go." he said gently and Almondfern shook his head.

"Why is Starclan so cruel?" he whispered, staring at his grandfather.

"This wasn't Starclan, Almond. We'll never know the truth, but you found no nest, no scent, and he was only a day or two old when you discovered him. This is the fault of the cat who left him to die. There was nothing you could have done other than what you did. You loved him and cared for him. That was more than he got from the cat who left him." Jackdawnudge said and Almondfern sniffed.

"I don't want to burn him." he croaked.

"You have to. You know that. Better than letting an Unseen get him." Jackdawnudge said.

He leaned forward and pressed his muzzle to Almondfern's cheek.

"Starclan will take care of him. It's just his body now. His spirit isn't there." he said and Almondfern swallowed.

He looked at the tiny, delicate body between his paws and his vision blurred.

"I'll take him." Amberleaf offered from where he was sitting.

"No. No, I... I'll do it." Almondfern whispered, because he had to.

He needed to. And he knew Jackdawnudge was right, and that he had to let him go. He did not have the luxury to sit here and mourn, especially when it was a few-day journey to the Burning Caves.

He forced himself to leave Mistkit's body and Gillfeather helped him coat himself in protection, licking his tear-soaked fur comfortingly.

"I'm so sorry, honey. I'm so sorry." she murmured, nuzzling him.

She offered to go with him, but Almondfern shook his head. In the end, it was Amberleaf who went with him, and Almondfern slid on an herb-sling, Mistkit's body tucked into it. Lester added the herbs that had once been used, and coiled around him comfortingly.

Then they set off slightly together, and Almondfern had never been close to Amberleaf, but he was grateful for the other cat's company. He wasn't sure if he woud have been able to complete the journey on his own.

He had taken his turn as a firewatcher and enjoyed the work, but he had never taken a body himself. He had the sudden terrible thought that one day he would have to do this for Jackdawnudge, for his mother and her siblings, maybe even for his siblings... His chest tightened and he swallowed hard at the thought.

Amberleaf said nothing and did not touch him, just gave him a reassuring nod, and that was better than words. Almondfern was glad he was not alone, and he was glad it was not a member of his family with him. Because he would need their comfort when he got home, and it wouldn't be the same if they were here. And it was only because of Amberleaf that he ate. The younger tom hunted for them both, dropping prey in front of Almondfern, and he ate it because Amberleaf would watch him. He also knew better than to waste prey or his clanmate's efforts.

It took several long, quiet days to get here, and part of Almondfern wanted to ask if this was what it had been like when Amberleaf had helped take Flintfur, but he did not. It was rude and invasive, and if Amberleaf wanted to talk about it, he would have said something.

Almondfern kept the sling close, not wanting to lose Mistkit, and they kept watch for Unseen. They encountered two rainfalls on the journey, but no Unseen, and it was... Peaceful. He didn't know what else to call it. But, eventually, they got to their destination, and Almondfern's heart was twisting.

They were greeted by cats from the other clans- Civetbeak and Quailpaw were here as firewatchers right now, the apprentice having begged to go, but they must have been further in the caves. First, there was confusion about where the body was. Then a sense of sadness spread through the cats; the death of a kit was something all the clans could mourn with a better understanding together.

They were lead into the caves and Almondfern was surprised to see Softflight here, but he did have to admit, he was grateful for her company. He didn't know the rest of these cats well. They were allowed to rest and Almondfern left Mistkit's body wrapped in the sling, trying to delay things, but he couldn't. He had to give Mistkit's body to the fire, and not delay it.

Amberleaf came back with a bundle of flowers in his jaws, daisies that were cheerful and white, and Almondfern thanked him. They all gathered on the edge of the fire pit, the heat incredible, and Almondfern wanted to say something. He really did. But he couldn't think of anything.

"Starclan, take care of him." he said, eventually, a prayer, a demand, an order.

He gently eased Mistkit from the sling and took a deep breath, gently nuzzling the little, cold body.

"I loved you, little kit. I love you. I'm sorry you didn't get a chance to live. But you are loved. You are precious to me." he whispered, tears slipping down his muzzle.

Then he gave Mistkit to the flames, and he and Amberleaf scattered the daisies in after.

Almondfern didn't mean to, but he turned and buried his head in Amberleaf's shoulder, sobbing, and he felt Amberleaf flinch. He backed off immediately, backed away from the scorching heat of the flames and curled up, crying again. Softflight curled up with him, and the others quietly went further into the caves.

Softflight said nothing, just curled against him and groomed his ears gently, comfortingly. Almondfern curled into her and swallowed, mourning again, wishing that Mistkit had a least had a chance. Wishing that he had not been abandoned for whatever reason, or that he had found him sooner or...

Eventually, Softflight and Civetbeak got him up. They took him to the nests where the firewatchers slept, and he curled up, his heart no lighter than before.

Amberleaf settled in the nest nearest him, and, eventually, Almondfern spoke.

"Amber?" he said softly, his voice hoarse.

"Yeah?" Amberleaf said.

"Thank you for coming with me. I couldn't... I don't think I would have made it here without you." he said, swallowing.

"You're welcome." Amberleaf said, and said nothing else.

They would spend the night, and, in the morning, they would head back. Right now, all Almondfern wanted to do was stay in the nest. And when Softflight curled up with him for the night, he pressed close to her, resting his chin on her shoulder, eventually drifting off to sleep.

5/4/2026-5/9/2026

Flowers used:

Daisy- Innocence, often used to represent children and at funerals for them.

Bonus: Mistkit