“hailpaw, from now on you will be known as hailsnap, may you use your courage and intelligence well.” Ashstar touched Hailsnap’s head with her nose. “Downgleam, Minkchirp, Hailsnap i welcome you as full warriors of WindClan, may you live long and prosper lives.” 

Hailsnap looked at Ashstar and then Larchsong, who had mentored him so well during all those moons. Minkchirp jumped next to them and Downgleam had for once a smile on pris face. “We finally have our warrior names!” Minkchirp gleefully exclaimed. “Downpaw, Hailpaw, oh sorry, Downgleam, Hailsnap, we’re finally warriors now!” Mink kept bouncing around all evening, never tiring. WindClan was celebrating their newest warriors. The three siblings were enjoying the feast with all their clanmates, preparing for their warrior vigil that night. 

During their vigil the three cats watched silently. Thrushwing was also keeping vigil and ze heard a faint wail. Ze was curious and started heading towards the sounds as the desperate wails continued to happen. 

Hailsnap saw this happen and flinched, attracting the attention of their littermates. He ran after thrushwing and found the origin of those sounds before Thrush did. They froze as they recognised what he saw. the flecked black and white molly, Harlequin, he had met some moons ago, followed by four kits, one speckled gray, one ginger and white, one gray and ginger tortie and another dark gray. 

When she recognised Hailsnap her face brightened up. “Hailpaw, there you are, I finally found you. You were going to abandon me and our kits, please don’t do it, please.” Hailspaw took one step back, but was stopped by Minkchirp, Downgleam and Thrushwing who were staring at Harlequin. 

“Hail, who is this, and what do they mean by ‘abandoning me and our kits’?” Mink looked at Harlequin with big, questioning eyes. 

“Oh, you know Hailpaw? Can you please tell them to not leave me and the kits to fend for ourselves in the wild?” She looked at all the cats surrounding Hailsnap, eyes glittering in the moonlight. She pulled the dark gray kit closer to her.  

“What do you mean, these aren’t my kits, we haven’t seen each other in moons.” Hailsnap yelled at Harlequin, scaring the four kits that were now huddled inside her long and fluffy tail. They started to turn around, trying to escape the situation but Ashstar herself blocked his way. "Oh, foxdung,” he muttered. 

“Can you mousebrains explain why you are yelling at moonhigh and nobody is guarding th- Are these kits? Why do they resemble Hailsnap so much? and who are you?” Ashstar squinted her eyes looking at Harlequin and the kits. 

“M- My name is Harlequin, and these are my and Hailp- snap’s kits. I am here to ask him if they could take them in his clan, because I can't take care of them on my own and I want them to be with their father.” She moved her tail to make the kits more visible

“I already told you these aren’t my kits, and I never told you that I was going to abandon you, what are you talking about?” Hailsnap dug his claws in the dirt and pulled them back out multiple times. “I cannot be the father, you somehow got this all wrong. You can’t just join WindClan like this, no!”

“Look Hailsnap, even if these aren’t your kits, I won't meddle in this problem, I will let them join WindClan. You do remember the code, right? No warrior can neglect a kit in pain or danger, even if the kit is from a different Clan.” 

“But they’re not even Clan kits,” Hailsnap exclaimed, Making the kits even more scared than they were before

Ashstar looked sternly at Hailsnap, “If they are yours they’re halfClan, so it still counts.”

“but-”

“No,” Ashstar stopped Hailsnap, shaking her head in exhaustion, “Now Downgleam, Minkchirp, Thrushwing help me take the kits back to camp. Harlequin, you can come too if you want.” She invited the molly, but Harlequin shook her head. 

“No, I prefer not being in a Clan,” she said. Hailsnap snorted. “and I trust you with the kits.” She nuzzled every kit one by one and let the Clancats pick the kits up and watched the group starting to walk towards the camp. She lifted her tail, saying a last goodbye to her kits before starting to pad away herself. 

When she left Hailsnap let out a sigh and followed their clanmates back to camp. Minkchirp, who was carrying the ginger and gray kit, slowed down and waited for them. “Fwat was shis all abfouf Hail?” Hailsnap started to trot away from his brother, “HEY vou can’f djust leave me like i’m cwowfood” 

Back at camp everyone was awake and muttering to each other. Everyone wanted to know why Ashstar had to leave camp and who was yelling. When Ashstar entere camp, carrying a dark gray kitten and being followed by Downgleam, Thrushwing and Minkchirp, all carrying a kit, Weaselfur went to Ashstar. Ashstar placed the kitten on the ground and started arguing with Weaselfur. She stood protectively over the small kitten. “Why did you bring these kittens into the clan?” Weaselfur growled. 

“Calm yourself Weaselfur, I don’t have to explain myself. These kits are now a part of WindClan and you can’t object to this choice.” Ashstar picked the kit and signaled the other cats to follow her in the nursery. Hailsnap followed from a distance, and avoided Weaselfur’s harsh gaze. When he entered the nursery he saw Ashstar curled around her two kits, Hopkit and Comfreykit. They looked curiously at the four new kittens that were placed in their nest. 

“Momma, who are these kits?” Hopkit smelled the dark gray kit curiously and touched them with its paw. The young kitten mewed from surprise and hunger. 

“Hopkit, these are your new littermates, be friendly, they are still young.” she touched Hopkit’s head with her muzzle. “Can you two make a little place for them next to my belly, they need to drink.” 

“Oki mom!” Hopkit and Comfreykit shuffled away from her belly and Thrushwing, Downgleam and Minkchirp placed the kits they were carrying next to the dark gray kit. Once they were all fast asleep after drinking Ashstar looked up at Hailsnap who was still standing next to her. Downgleam, Minkchirp and Thrushwing were just going to leave the nursery when she started speaking: “We should probably name these kits. What do you think, Hailsnap? these are your kits after all.” 

Hailsnap flinched: “Ashstar these aren’t my kits,” he looked at the four little bundles soundly asleep against Ashstar’s belly and straightened his back, “and even if they were, I won't be taking care of them.” Everyone was staring at Hailsnap. He didn’t back down. “I am not responsible for them. I won’t spend my time taking care of kits I never had. You can name them yourself, I'm leaving, I need to continue my vigil.” Downgleam grabbed Hailsnap by their tail and stopped them from going anywhere.

“You think you can abandon these kits like they’re crowfood. They are your responsibility! Stop acting like a standoffish jerk and do something nice for once.” Downgleam spoke for the first time in a long while. Hail stared at prim, and felt a cold shiver go down their spine. The kits were awakened by Downgleam and started to wail. Ashstar gently lulled them back to sleep and looked at the arguing siblings. 

Morningflower was the one to speak: “Hailsnap I can understand that having kits is difficult, but you can’t punish these kits for being born,” she stopped shortly and looked at the kits before continuing, “you need to at least be in their lives. They deserve to know their father.” She sat next to Ashstar and touched her sister's nose with hers. “We can name the kits tomorrow, when the dust has settled, for now it’s better if you return to your vigil and let the kits and Ashstar sleep.” 

Hailsnap nodded and briskly walked out of the nursery. They took place on an isolated rock and watched the moon follow its course in the sky. Thrushwing padded to him. “Hailsnap, don’t make decisions you will regret later. Losing kin hurts-”

“Do you think I don't know that? I lost my mother, I know how it feels.” They lashed out and jumped from the rock, leaving Thrushwing to stand there alone. 

He kept walking around until the sun started rising and they felt its warmth on his fur. Only after the sun had chased the last stars from the sky did they return to camp. Carrying a rabbit they caught on the way back. They knew their clanmates were watching him, but he kept walking and dropped the rabbit on the fresh-kill pile. 

Morningflower padded to them. “Nice catch Hailsnap, can you bring it to the nursery, Ashstar wants to talk to you.” Hailsnap grunted and grabbed the rabbit back. He dragged the rabbit to the nursery. When he entered the nursery they dropped the rabbit in front of Ashstar’s paws. Downgleam and Minkchirp were already sitting next to each other.

Ashstar looked at them and smiled: “Seems like you finally came back. How do you feel, Hailsnap?”

“None of your business,” he grumbled. He didn’t look at the kits. 

“It is your kits business though.” she retorted. “Look, I’ll be nursing them but I cannot take care of them on my own, and I won't just let you ignore your kits.” She flicked her tail and liked the fluffy ginger and white kit’s fur. Downgleam muttered something to Minkchirp. 

“Ashstar, Downgleam and I were thinking, if Hailsnap doesn’t want to take care of the kits, we could do it instead, they are also our kin.” Minkchirp suggested. Downgleam looked curiously at Ashstar. 

“This sounds good.” Ashstar affirmed. She looked at Hailsnap. “What do you think, Hailsnap, can Downgleam and Minkchirp take care of your kits?” She asked it in a tone that meant This Is The Way It’s Going To Be. 

Hailsnap slowly nodded: “seems like the best solution, I don’t want to bother with these kits.” He started to leave. “Now that it’s set, I'll report myself to Weaselfur for the patrols.” 

“No, wait,” Ashstar interjected. “Name one of the kits at least.” She moved her tail to make the kits more visible. They were awake and looking at him with curious eyes. Hailsnap doubted. Ashstar nodded towards Minkchirp: “You can start.”

Minkchirp beamed and approached the tortoiseshell kit, who was trying to wobble out of Ashstar’s nest towards Hopkit and Comfreykit who were with Morningflower. Xe stopped the kit and pushed them back in the nest. “ Ploverkit is a fun name for this energetic little bean.” She licked the kitten’s head multiple times and placed them back next to Ashstar’s belly. They turned to Downgleam. “What do you want to name the last kitten?” ze leaped back to Downgleam and listened to what pri said. Minkchirp nodded and announced: “Campionkit! Pri wants to name the kit Campionkit”

Ashstar smiled and nodded. “Campionkit and Ploverkit it is then,” she looked at the tiny dark gray kitten, “What about Driftkit for this one?” she nuzzled the gray shape and it grabbed her muzzle with its tiny paws.  

“What a great name, Ashstar.” Minkchirp responded. they looked at their littermate “Hail, it's your turn now.”

hailsnap let out a sigh and approached the kits. they touched the flecked gray kit. “Hazekit” they breathed out. The newly named Hazekit let out a happy squeak. 

Hailsnap felt weird. It was like being in frozen water, but still feeling the tiniest glimpse of warmth. They shook their head. “Do you still need me now,” he asked quickly, “Weaslfur would probably prefer it if I was assisting in the patrols now.” 

Ashstar had a flash of disappointment in her eyes before dismissing them with a flick of her tail