#speckleback

Hazelstreak had been very persuasive. This forest also used to be her home- but also a home to many cats. The orange-furred cat gestured a paw to the roots of the tree Finch had used as her home, eyes glinting.

"You," Hazelstreak had said, glee in her aging blue eyes, "have taken residence in what was once the Leader's den." Her look got a bit far away at that point, and a laugh that sounded more sad than anything came out of her. "I was only an apprentice before things fell apart."

Finch had asked what she meant. Hazelstreak didn't answer.

But the thought of the Clans, of being together, having a collective group to care for each other... She was already doing that with Lichen. Lichen, a small cat with light brown fur and a darker brown stripe going down her back, was following behind her, eyes glancing around the new pathway the two had never taken before. Finch made sure to be a little slow for her- and Lichen was happy about it.

Finch had happened upon Lichen, alone in a tree trunk, and had cared for her ever since. 

If that could happen on a wide scale? Caring for each other? Having something to be their own, instead of fighting over small little things? Finch would like that. And she wasn't one to back down from a challenge.

Finch pushed through the last of the bushes, dark brown fur brushing against leaves as she finally made her way to the meeting place that Hazelstreak described. Lichen followed closely behind, only for her eyes to widen as she spotted... other cats.

In the center of a large pool, across a series of rocks, was Hazelstreak... and three other cats. Two of them seemed about as old as Hazelstreak, while the last of the quartet seemed about as old as Finch, except... he seemed to struggle to walk at times. There were old wounds wrapping around his legs.

Around the pool sat multiple small groups. 

Finch did remember what she was told- to gather the cats open to the idea. Seems like she wasn't the only one told that.

One of her group bumped into Lichen- Lightning, almost fully grown, but not quite done growing. Orange fur with dark orange stripes at the side of his face and tail, highlighted by dark blue eyes. One of the others laughed at this, and Lightning turned back to roll his eyes.

The group of cats closest to Finch's group was led by a cat Finch had seen more than the others- one who often ran across the plains that were the closest to the forest. Her eyes were mismatched- blue and yellow staring back at Finch.

"You, as well?" She asked, voice low. She glanced to the cats in the center of the pool, then to Finch. Next to her, similar to Lichen's own position, was a small brown cat with a few darker brown tabby spots lining their body. 

"I suppose so." Finch's eyes glanced over across the pools. It was clear which cats were called by the cats in the center and which cats were simply following those cats- One cat was mostly white with gray ears, and another was a truly battle-scarred tom which she had never seen before, who was mostly white with black patches coming down from his ears to cover his eyes. 

The youngest of the quartet in the center stood up straight. "Loners and rogues, thank you for believing in our chosen four!" He yowled, which immediately drew Finch's attention. His plain light brown coat reminded Finch of Lichen. "If you're here today, I am sure it is because you're curious about what Clans mean for you!"

"... Some of you..." One of the other cats, mostly white with brown tabby patches, opened her eyes. They were barely seeing. "May have had strange dreams. Or a gift with herbs."

Finch sensed one of her own, Speckle, a tom with black speckled fur, tense up. 

"A Clan is not complete... without one who can care for those injured." A smile. "I was... once... one of them."

Hazelstreak nodded, orange tail flicking. "Our Clans fell due to fighting, spreading to the winds. We are their last survivors." A pause, and she slammed her paw down. Finch even saw the wince. "Today, we are not reviving their clans. Today, we are making new ones." Hazelstreak lifted her head up. "Today! You will become something new! A start of a new generation! Fighting for a group is truly an experience you will not want to miss out on!"

"From a group of loners, a group of clans rises. Friendship and fighting, but nothing quite so life and death like the lives you may have been living before." The last of the quartet spoke, his voice soft but still reaching. He was mostly gray, with a speckled gray tail. It wrapped over his paws. "Our lives are ending soon."

Finch felt her eyes going to the youngest of the quartet. Judging by how said cat lifted his head up, so did the other cats.

"Even me, yes." The light brown cat said. "It is... a miracle of Starclan I got this far."

Confused stares.

"You all can determine for yourselves what your clan names are. But whatever it is, it must represent your clan in some way." The quiet one spoke.

"But not Starclan." The barely seeing cat closed her eyes again. "Starclan... are your guides. Your dead companions, littering the sky at night." A laugh, choked. "I will soon meet with my family again."

Hazelstreak nodded. She pat the rocks she and the others were sitting on. "This place, we have determined for a meeting place. Every full moon, the leader and a group of selected cats go to the gathering to discuss clan going ons. It's peaceful, or else..."

The other cats shivered.

"Speaking of leaders..." The light brown cat glanced towards the battle-scarred tom. He blinked back. "Will the four who have gathered the grouped cats today please step forward? Alone."

Finch glanced to Lichen. Lichen nodded her head forward. Finch stepped forward. As she expected, the cats she noticed leading each group stepped forward with her. Hazelstreak's smile grew bigger.

"Starclan works in mystical ways." They all said, at the same time, and the overlapping voices held so much more power in it than Finch thought. Finch shot a glance to the gray and black swirl cat next to her, who gave a worried glance back. Hazelstreak approached, and instead of the dark blue eyes she was used to, they were filled with stars.

"These cats are your leaders, the one who will continue to guide you." Again, a chorus. Again, an echo. Finch couldn't look away from the starry eyes staring back at her.

Hazelstreak touched noses with her, and-

---

"...Finch... Finch!"

Finch's eyes opened blearily, to a worried Lichen over her. Petunia, with his dark gray coat, was a comforting sight.

Barely next to her, Finch saw the gray and black swirl cat lift up her head to a few other cats gathered around her.

Finch pulled herself to her paws.

She understood a whole lot more, now. Her limbs felt like they could've run a hundred more miles, and that they already had. Her head pounded. 

"... You know, I never really understood why Hazelstreak had two parts to her name." Finch said, shaking out her pelt. Lichen looked relieved. "But... While I don't have everything... I now am confident in saying that it's related to being a clan." Finch glanced down at Lichen, who was staring up curiously at her.

Her and Lichen. Mentor and Apprentice.

"Related to being a clan?" Petunia questioned, ears perking. "So... we'll have names like that?"

"... I had those dreams, before you joined me." He mumbled. "But- ancestors interacting with our every move? I don't know if I like that." Speckle glanced up to Finchstar, and his fur caught the sun for a moment. "But I do have... some knowledge of herbs." Speckle frowned, once again out of the light. "Not sure if I quite have enough, though..."

"You'll learn." Finchstar said, brushing past a bush. With that, they were near her den- and near the camp. Finchstar could see why this was once used in the past, even with some of the dens no longer being there. She smiled, hopping up the tree that made up her den. "Alright, clan cats! Come and gather!"

Daisy, the cream she-cat with a single darker stripe down her back, who had taken the kits from Finchstar when informed of what their parents had done, pulled the kits along with her. The black and white kit with mismatched eyes, Riverkit, cuddled up to Daisy, and the speckled pale tom with copper eyes, Currentkit, stared up at where Finchstar was.

There was a sparkly presence at her side. Finchstar focused in front of her, ignoring it. "We are gathered here, in our future Clan's camp. Thank you for sticking with me through... all of that." A few laughs from the small crowd. "Today, we become a part of a whole. Today... I'm granting you your new names."

"Shouldn't we name the clan?" Lightning said, loudly. Lichen's tail stuck straight up.

"Maybe. But what I want to do is to name ourselves first, then name our clan, making our first step as a clan as our new selves. Yeah?" Finchstar nodded. "Yeah. So... first off... our kits."

Daisy used her tail to nudge the kits forward a little. "Their mothers should be ashamed of themselves." She spat. "Leaving River and Current behind?"

"They will be Riverkit and Currentkit. Our young will have those names." Finchstar nodded to Lichen next. "Those of..."

A whisper. Six moons.

"Six moons and older, and training under another are our Apprentices. Apprentices..." Finchstar met eyes with Lichen. "Have the second part of their names be paw. Lichen, you are Lichenpaw, and you will still be training under me."

Lichenpaw nodded, smiling.

Finchstar glanced at the other two cats who were young, but not kit age young. Lightning, the orange cat with a striped tail, and Holly, a pale gray dappled tom who stared up with amber eyes.

"Lightning, you are now Lightningpaw. You will train under..." Her eyes met with Whisker, the white and gray spotted tom. "Whisker.

Lightningpaw blinked, then padded over to Whisker. The two of them stared for a bit, before Whisker touched noses with him. Whisker purred. "A pleasure, Finchstar."

"Holly. You are Hollypaw." Hollypaw stood to attention. "You will train under Daisy."

She seemed reliable and caring. Hollypaw, taking from Lightningpaw's lead, stumbled over to Daisy and touched noses with her. He then moved to sit beside the kits. 

"Now, our fighters." Finchstar lashed her tail. "You will be more complicated." She stood up. "After all, I just met some of you last moon!" She laughed. Whisker and Petunia both laughed as well. Daisy just tilted her head. Speckle sighed. "But I will try my best to name all of you."

"Petunia. You will be Petuniaclaw." Finchstar hopped down from one branch. "Whisker, you will be Whiskershadow. Daisy, Daisyshadow."

"Why are we sharing names." Daisyshadow said, curt.

"Both of you surprised me when we met." Finchstar said, and Whiskershadow snorted. Daisyshadow rolled her eyes. "Besides, it's only a part of your name. The whole is different." Another hop down a branch. "Speckle... You will be Speckleback."

Speckleback glanced at his back. Then back to Finchstar. "Clever...?"

"I know, I am." Finchstar responded, back down on even ground with the others. "Everyone can rest for today. Tomorrow, we wake up a new clan... and we can think of what we're named."

It was still. Not even his usual raspy breathing was coming from it. Speckleback stared down at the unbreathing body, his tail curled up against him. Wasn't fair. He did all he could, he was told that by everyone and everything possible, but that didn't change what had happened.

Whiskershadow was dead. A cough, all-consuming, taking and taking until all that was left was a husk, conversing without his heart in it. They both knew it. But Speckleback wanted him there.

Finchstar wandered by, tail curling around him. Speckleback jumped, turning to glare, but Finchstar's own saddened expression made the words that were climbing to his teeth slip away unsaid. Finchstar managed a smile.

"I have to appoint my next deputy." Finchstar meowed. "Already. I'm... sorry to ask you this, but..."

"I'll put him back into the den." Hidden away. Not like the smell of death wasn't hitting the air. He needed to gather more rosemary. "And then we'll bury him." It was a demand, and not a request. 

Finchstar smiled at him, and then grabbed Whiskershadow's body by the scruff. Speckleback helped pull the body towards and into the den, laying him back onto the corner nest. If Speckleback closed his ears, he could even pretend that Whiskershadow was just sleeping.

"You have an apprentice to train soon." Finchstar reminded, once the body was laid back on the nest. "I promise I'll help you bury him."

"I would too, if my bite was gone." Daisyshadow offered, irritation in her voice at the still festering snake bite. It was a wonder she was still kicking.

Speckleback huffed. "It's fine. I promised. You do not have to keep reminding me-"

"That we're here for you, like clanmates are?" Finchstar meowed, loud. "Like we're supposed to be? We were there for Lichentooth, and now we're here for you."

Speckleback didn't say anything else. He just pulled himself out of the den again. Daisyshadow shuffled over to the entrance, and Batpaw stumbled over her trying to reach the entrance, too.

Finchstar wandered over to the roots that made up her den, hopped up, and then hopped up to her announcement branch. She cleared her throat. "All cats of Needleclan, gather for a clan meeting!"

The kits burst out of the nursery, and they had obviously been looking forward to this. Boughkit even looked directly at Speckleback, who was more a part of the center of the camp this time. The warriors and the apprentices came out next, and the sight of them made Finchstar inhale. Riverflight was looking rather distant from Currentdash, but she was still glancing up at Finchstar, waiting. Currentdash glanced to Speckleback, then glanced away. Hollyspike looked as if he was growling. Lichentooth was attentive, but deliberately trying to stick to the edges of the crowd. Bogpaw and Goldpaw were sticking together, while the other apprentices, Graypaw, Larkpaw, and Buzzardpaw went around them.

So many apprentices. So little warriors to apprentice them to.

"Yesterday, Whiskershadow faded away from his greencough." Finchstar announced, as if everybody didn't already know. Speckleback despised the glances he got, and also the ones he didn't. "Life... has to go on. I will appoint a new deputy."

Riverflight, Currentdash, Lichentooth, Hollyspike.

Daisyshadow's snake bite still wasn't healing, so not her. Only the former apprentices, the ones that had been around since the start of the clan.

She knew her choice. Was it the right one?

"Riverflight."

Gasps. Riverflight blinked.

"You will be our new deputy. Your level head will mean great guidance as our deputy."

After a few moments of shocked silence, Currentdash shoved himself into her, purring. "You did it! You're deputy!"

The others cheered. Bogpaw laughed, nudging herself into Goldpaw and chattering about something Finchstar couldn't pick up on. The kits bounced on their paws.

"That's not the only thing I had to announce!" Finchstar's voice boomed, and everyone went quiet. Finchstar grinned. "We have some kits to promote to apprentices. Why don't you three step up?"

Tricklekit was the first, followed by Rindlekit and Boughkit. Speckleback took that as a cue to step up as well, and everyone's eyes followed his dappled pelt.

"First... I will let Speckleback speak for me."

Speckleback nodded. "I have-" Oh, his voice was shaking. Not great for his appearance. "Boughkit will become my apprentice. Instead of fighting out there for the clan, Boughpaw will be at my side, helping to harvest and heal."

"And talk with Starclan!" Boughpaw said, walking forward. She carefully stepped around and to Speckleback's side. "So... yeah. I'll be another healer."

Finchstar laughed. "Thank you, Boughpaw. Now, Tricklekit. You are now Tricklepaw."

The black and red apprentice nodded her head, gaze fierce.

So few warriors to go around.

"You will be apprenticed to Hollyspike."

Tricklepaw padded over, paws harsh on the ground, to Hollyspike. She reached her muzzle up to touch his, and the fire in her eyes seemed to blaze. After that, she sat to Hollyspike's side.

"Rindlekit, you are now Rindlepaw. You'll be apprenticed to Currentdash."

Rindlepaw touched muzzles with Currentdash, and then sat to his side. The pale apprentice and the pale warrior.

Leaving Riverflight more free for her deputy duties. This would be good. 

Riverflight stepped forward, paws hesitant at first but growing more determined as she sat on the other side of the leader's den. It had been a while since a deputy was well enough to do so.

"With that, clan dismissed!" Finchstar hopped down from the branch to the top root of her den. "Riverflight, you and I can discuss in my den."

Events Referenced: Whiskershadow dies of greencough. Speckleback doesn't take this well. He relies on his clanmates for comfort and company. Riverflight becomes the new deputy. Finchstar still isn't sure if she's making the right decisions, but life must go on. Tricklekit becomes Tricklepaw and swears to starclan she'll do her best for the clan as she touches Hollyspike's nose. (in her head.) Rindlekit's headache went away, and she becomes Rindlepaw, apprenticed to Currentdash. Boughkit becomes Boughpaw, the medicine cat apprentice.

"What, because they happened to explore a little bit?" Daisyshadow rolled her eyes. Her kits watched from the entrance of the nursery, glancing between each other. 

"You can't keep being defensive over them forever, you know! They'll grow, they'll have time later to explore- but right now, it's a danger. And they sparred!" Speckleback threw a paw out towards Graykit and Larkkit, who pulled back a bit once they were spotted.

Daisyshadow hissed, before glancing back to her kits and inhaling deeply. Speckleback met her gaze.

"I'll allow you to inspect them... only if you can find something in the territory." Daisyshadow grinned, and Speckleback's ears bent down on his head. Always about his own failures. How was he on the losing side of the argument here?

"Fine." Speckleback spat, getting up. "I have plenty, but I will grab some more."

"Go, then." 

Daisyshadow padded back towards her kits, and Speckleback turned to head out into the forest.

Jokes on her, he knew where some herbs were. And it was only a short jog away from camp! 

He brushed past some trees, watching as a mouse skittered away. Someone would find it, he was sure. Hollypaw was out on his own right now- he would. Speckleback walked by the small spot for their dead cats, only sparing it a glance- no rosemary there. He would have to go out further.

Fine. A bit further than he expected. He padded out past a clump of trees with moss on them, and further and further...

"Hey..."

Someone whispering. It felt like it was right in his ears. Speckleback's fur raised, and he spun around. Nobody was that close to him.

What. 

He felt something leave his back, and an urge to walk in the direction it left to. He followed it, eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out-

He stepped down a ledge, looking around and Oh.

Hidden under the natural ledge was a cat. He... knew this cat once. She had been at the first two gatherings. Spruceshadow? She got exiled. Her body was lying cold on the ground, not moving. Three small shapes pressed against her belly, trying to feed from a body that would never move again.

That feeling again. "Tricklekit." His eyes, directed at the red and black kit. "Boughkit." The light brown kit with white patches. "Rindlekit." The pale kit with a white lower body.

The presence suddenly faded, and Speckleback let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. 

Some rosemary was growing nearby. He plucked it and laid it out on top of Spruceshadow's body. He would come back with some warriors later to bury her body.

Right now... he had to take these kits back. He leaned down and grouped them together, pulling them away from the cold body. Tricklekit let out a small meow, paws swiping the air.

Maybe it was a lucky thing Daisyshadow was still nursing her kits. These three would be able to be nursed by her, too.

He made the trek back, jaws growing a bit more tired the more Tricklekit and Boughkit shook around. Even Rindlekit let out a weak meow. How did Daisyshadow do it so much? Over a few branches, past the graves...

"Oh, you're... b...ack." Daisyshadow paused. "What is that."

Speckleback placed the kits at his paws. They tumbled over, mewing. Speckleback's eyes remained on the three kits. "...Do you remember Spruceshadow?"

"Did you mate with her?"

Speckleback glanced up to Daisyshadow. "What? Absolutely not. Her body was found in the territory. Already dead." He glanced down to the kits, pushing them forward. "...These kits were with her. She gave birth alone, and was not as lucky as you."

Daisyshadow's expression changed, though Speckleback didn't see it. She padded forward, lowering her nose to the three kits. "... I see. I'll care for them, then." She pointed a dark cream tail towards the leader's den. "Finchstar just got back from hunting. Tell her about them."

With that, Daisyshadow pulled the kits toward the nursery, and Speckleback approached the tree that made up Finchstar's home.

Events Referenced: Speckleback and Daisyshadow argue over kits. Speckleback collected some Rosemary (between moons). While Speckleback is out in the territory, he hears whispers on the wind. Following them, he comes across the body of a dead queen and her three kits, who are still alive. Tricklekit, Boughkit, and Rindlekit.

"Finally." Hollyspike meowed, heading for the entrance. His pawsteps slowed at the entrance, and he turned back to face towards Whiskershadow's side of the den. After a few moments, he turned around and left.

Speckleback pretended not to notice. Right when he turned to organize his herbs-

"All cats of Needleclan, gather for a Clan Meeting!"

Ah. Speckleback turned back towards the entrance of the den, padding forward and sitting himself down. He heard Whiskershadow shift in the den behind him.

The gaggle of kits all moved out of the nursery, followed by Daisyshadow pushing them along. Goldkit glanced to Bogkit, and Bogkit giggled, pushing Goldkit forward.

Lichentooth sat beside Currentpaw, and Riverpaw sat by herself. Hollyspike sat close to her.

"Today, we promote one new warrior!" Finchstar cheered. "Currentpaw, you are now named Currentdash! Your judgement is just as sound as Lichentooth's. I know she's trained you well."

Lichentooth blinked, before allowing herself to hold her head up. Currentdash stepped forward, smile on his face. Riverpaw was silent for a few moments, eyes glancing towards the gaggle of kits.

"Just Currentdash?" Speckleback mumbled.

"Riverpaw snuck Bogkit out of camp." Whiskershadow provided. Speckleback's ears turned towards him before Speckleback did, himself.

"What are you doing out of your nest? Do not strain yourself."

"I will be fine." Whiskershadow coughed after his words, earning him a glare from Speckleback. 

They turned their heads back when Finchstar started to speak again.

"Our recent kit arrivals are now the first to become apprentices!" Finchstar stood tall. "Goldkit, Batkit. You're apprentices now, named Goldpaw and Batpaw. Goldpaw, you are apprenticed to Daisyshadow."

Goldpaw stood up, then glanced to Daisyshadow next to him. Daisyshadow bent down and pressed noses with him. Goldpaw pressed noses back.

"Batpaw, you are apprenticed to Lichentooth."

Lichentooth froze up at the new attention, and with Batpaw ramming into her side. The warrior stumbled, but managed to stay upright. She copied Daisyshadow, and Batpaw copied Goldpaw, before settling by Lichentooth's side.

"Again?" Lichentooth mumbled.

Finchstar jumped down from her tree branch, landing on the roots that made up her den. "I did mean it when I said you did excellent with Currentdash." Her eyes glanced over to Riverpaw. "...Riverpaw, I promise you will be next. I just do not want our kits endangered."

Riverpaw rolled her eyes. "...okay. I get it."

"I know you do. Clan dismissed."

Hollyspike butted heads against Currentdash, and Currentdash stumbled before butting heads back. "Finally got out of the den in time, huh? Won't be stuck with your former mentor!"

"Daisyshadow's gonna be in there, you know."

"She's busy with the kits! Come on." Hollyspike padded towards the warriors den. "Gotta get you a good nest!"

Currentdash rolled his eyes, and he looked back to Riverpaw. "See you soon."

Speckleback pushed against Whiskershadow. "Come. Back to bed."

"Alright, alright."

Daisyshadow's snide comment from earlier that day settled under his pelt, making it feel like he was burning. He cared for the kits! He cared for Currentpaw and Riverpaw as little kits, and they were turning out fine.

He opened his mouth, only for some new scent to hit it. 

He whirled towards the new scent, towards the break in the new wall they were building. There was a cat with a strange and unfamiliar scent, a mixture of different environments that Speckleback probably couldn't imagine. When the cat noticed that she was noticed, she shifted to the side and pushed two small forms forward-

They were almost apprentice aged. They shared her speckled coat, though they were different in color. The brown speckled kit huddled into the silver speckled kit's side, and the silver speckled kit stared up at their mother.

"I can't... I can't care for them." The rogue muttered. She pushed them forward again, and the brown speckled kit fell forward. The silver one pushed himself beneath the brown one and lifted him up. "Brown one is Gold, gray one is Bat. I heard about you all from a friend." She turned around. "Care for them, for me."

She started to leave.

There was a whirlwind of a form, and Hollyspike was out of his nest.

Speckleback hissed at Hollyspike, but one of the kits walked up to him and pressed against his side. Speckleback, distracted, glanced down to Gold.

Gold sighed, golden eyes staring at his mother as she turned back to talk to Hollyspike. "... Why do we have to leave her...?"

"She's stupid." Bat replied, walking up to Gold's side. "That's why."

Speckleback stared at the little forms, still ignoring whatever conversation Hollyspike and the rogue were having. He leaned down. "Hey. We care for others here, no matter what. I'll care for you, as it's my job as the healer."

"A healer?" Bat glanced up. "You can be that?"

"Or fight. Most of us fight here." Speckleback shrugged. "I used to fight, but I know my herbs better than anyone else."

Finally, the rogue left, and Hollyspike limped back towards the medicine den. Speckleback turned towards Hollyspike, hissing, "Stop moving, you'll aggravate your wound!"

"I do what I want," Hollyspike grumbled, pushing back into the medicine cat den. Speckleback heard the faint voice of Daisyshadow as she started to move out of the den, as well.

Speckleback sighed. "Just stick to me if you need anything, Goldkit and Batkit."

"Oooo, new names! Thank you!" Batkit meowed, hopping in place. "Now, can we go?"

"No, you have to go to the nursery." Speckleback meowed. "At least, until you're old enough to start training." Batkit started to complain, but Goldkit shook his head. 

Daisyshadow sat down in front of him. "... What is with you and kits?" Daisyshadow meowed, tilting her head. Goldkit hid behind Speckleback's leg. "They look older, though."

Bogkit bounded towards Speckleback, and Speckleback watched as Bogkit shimmied next to Goldkit beneath him. Goldkit stared at Bogkit, nodding along as she asked him some questions- about if he liked food or not.

Speckleback glanced back to Daisyshadow. "My kits now. They latched onto me."

"Probably because you were the first clan cat they saw." Daisyshadow rolled her eyes. "But... fine. Yours."

"You're free to patrol again, by the way."

"Oh." Daisyshadow's ears rose up on her head, and she looked down at Bogkit. Goldkit was smiling a little bit at her, and Bogkit giggled, holding up a small leaf that she had somehow obtained. Daisyshadow smiled. "... Okay. Thank you."

"You are very welcome." Speckleback sighed. "Took long enough."

"I say thank you enough!" Daisyshadow walked towards Batkit and Goldkit, and lowered her head to meet their eyes. "Hello there."

"You look identical." Batkit meowed, head looking to Bogkit then back to Daisyshadow. "Same stripe, same color..."

Bogkit nodded. "Yep! Me and my brothers all have a stripe!" She stretched out. "Mom likes that!"

Goldkit licked at his pelt. "... I wonder if mom liked us resembling her."

Daisyshadow's expression twisted. She inhaled, exhaled. "Probably. But you have to make choices, and she made hers to leave you behind. Who cares what she thinks?"

"Daisyshadow's correct. If she left you here, it isn't worth thinking about anymore."

Goldkit glanced to Bogkit, who glanced to him. Bogkit shuffled her tail between her paws. Goldkit glanced back up to Speckleback. "... If... if you're sure."

"Of course!" Batkit pushed Goldkit forward. "Now, where are your siblings?"

"This way!"

With that, Bogkit bounded towards the nursery. She turned back to face the slightly older kits. "We also have some cats like you, who had nobody before we got them! Now, come on!"

Daisyshadow chuckled, then got up to follow after Bogkit, Goldkit, and Batkit.

Speckleback was once again going to be the one to break the news to Finchstar, huh. Couldn't be Daisyshadow for once.