Stonefall listened to Fernstar intently, a mix of shame at his self-doubt and pride in his leader welling up in his heart. Her comforting tail-touch on his flank went farther than he would have anticipated – the fact that his Clan’s brilliant, calm, fiery leader believed in him. Fernstar believed in him.

And she needed him to believe in himself too.

Before he could answer, though, before he could apologize for letting her down Fernstar stood to meet the rogues and Stonefall’s mind snapped into protective mode. He stood and followed her, opting to stay standing on all fours while the other cats sat. He stood next to Fernstar, tail puffed oh so slightly, reminding these rogues that while they were in this camp and talking to Fernstar, they wouldn’t so much as try to lay a claw on her without facing retribution from him. Every sense of self-doubt and concern melted away leaving Stonefall at his strongest, light blue eyes glinting like ice as he stared down first one, then the second and then the third cat, one by one.

They explained their stories, each individually, and Stonefall didn’t move one inch. He listened, stock-still, emanating strength and power without even realizing that’s what he was doing. The wounds seemed real enough, and Stonefall knew they had some herbs to spare and at the very least these rogues weren’t trying to join their Clan.

Before either he or Fernstar could speak, Frogkit bounced up, and Stonefall wanted to curse Blackpelt for letting the young kit approach these unknown cats. Of course the medicine cat must have had his reasons, but Stonefall’s instincts were to keep the young safe above all else – not to have them confront the potentially dangerous loners right up in their faces.

“Frogkit,” he meowed softly, his normally calm and steady tone edging into frustration. “Thank you. Now return to the Medicine Cat Den,” he finished, with no room for argument in his voice.

He turned his head just slightly to glance at Fernstar, trying to gauge what she was thinking, not wanting to give away how uncomfortable all of this made him to the loners themselves. But he wanted them gone. Leaf-bare was already stripping them of precious resources and while it seemed that Blackpelt deemed them to have enough herbs to share, Stonefall knew they wouldn’t be able to sustain it. They’d just gotten Fernstar her nine lives and were just starting to feel stronger as a Clan – they didn’t need more drama than they could handle. Let these cats go make their own camp.

“I am sorry you’ve been through such hardship,” he meowed, choosing his words carefully, body language still just on this edge of hostile. “Take these herbs with you to your new camp as a gesture of our goodwill.”

A couple of sunrises?! They should leave as soon as the sun is high again. Stonefall couldn’t help but think to himself in dismay. He would never go against Fernstar’s judgment call, but he couldn’t help but be scared at the thought of having the loners here for more than one sunrise. Logically, he had no reason to be – all signs pointed to them simply being loners who had suffered hardship and needed a bit of help. But his naturally protective nature led him to feeling antsy in such a situation where his Clan was in potential danger from an unknown threat.

Then again…weren’t you a loner in need of a home, too? And Fernstar took you in…why can’t you show the same kindness to these loners? What are you truly afraid of? That thought was unsettling, too unsettling for Stonefall to let himself sink into as he dipped his head in farewell to the loners and followed Fernstar and Frogkit towards the leader’s nest. He forced his body language to relax as he trotted over, big body moving gracefully and silently across the camp. He listened to Fernstar attentively, feeling a little dismissed for his concerns but knowing that wasn’t her intent – she was just trying to get him to relax.

”Of course, Fernstar,” he meowed softly, dipping his head in acknowledgment. He couldn’t help the butterflies that swarmed his stomach at her mention of Spidernose, not thinking that his growing affections for the other she-cat had been so obvious, and yet apparently even his leader had noticed. ”I’ll keep watch until the hunting patrol returns,” he answered slightly evasively, light eyes darting towards the entrance briefly. He gave one last nod to Fernstar before turning and trotting over to the camp entrance, sitting with his long tail curled around his paws to wait for the hunting patrol to return, trying to remember that he wasn’t just waiting for Spidernose, wondering if she was okay, wondering what she was doing…




Honeypaw knew that she should be staying put in the Warrior’s Den. After all, Spidernose had told her to follow orders and Stonefall wanted her to stay there while the situation with the loners. But Moosepaw had left and it was So. Incredibly. Boring. There was no one here to talk to and it was way too early to try and sleep. She’d already rearranged the nests and tried to see if she could stack them up as high as she could, and then put them back where they belonged, and she was bored. So she peeked her head out of the den just to see if the loners had left, or gone back to the Nursery, her eyes bright with curiosity.

And what she saw infuriated her. She felt jealousy spike through her body in a rush, a feeling she’d never experienced before, as she watched Fernstar – her Fernstar, the she-cat who had practically raised her – lick Frogkit’s ear and usher the little kit towards her nest. She watched her nudge the little she-cat up into the owl’s nest, watched her take the spot that had been Honeypaw’s home until just a sunrise ago. Honeypaw’s hackles instinctively rose and before she knew what she was doing, the little she-cat was stalking across the camp to the leader’s nest, ears flat against her head as she approached Fernstar and Frogkit.

How could she already replace me? I thought…I thought I was special. It’s not even been a moon….

Ostentatiously, she turned her back on the entrance to the owl’s nest and sat tall, not looking Fernstar in the eye, hackles still slightly raised.

”If you want, I can watch over Frogkit while you’re busy,” Honeypaw mewed, voice only trembling slightly, tail lashing a little behind her. A hint of insecurity crept into her voice and she chanced a small glance at her leader, not maintaining eye contact before turning her gaze back towards the camp, trying to assume a “guarding” position, her small stature at odds with her outsized frustration and jealousy. And that will give me a chance to set Frogkit straight on who really belongs to Fernstar, she thought mulishly.

Spidernose turned her head back to face Stormheart as the tom mewed something about heading to his nest to get some rest, the other warrior twitching her whiskers in amusement as she nodded and called after him. “Don’t worry, Stormheart, I’ll be joining you shortly! My paws are half frozen over already!” Spidernose knew she really had to keep that promise and go and rest, soon, she wouldn’t be any good to anyone in the Clan if she caught a cold and couldn’t hunt or fight for a moon or more. But first…she really wanted to see Stonefall again, to make sure he was still doing okay. And, maybe…maybe tonight would be the night she was finally brave enough to ask him if she could move her nest next to his. After all, with the strange cats in camp it provided the perfect cover excuse, didn’t it?

It just so happened that at that moment Fernstar slid out of the nursery, where the loners had last been left, with…oh dear StarClan, was that Frogkit?! Why was she hanging around in range of these cats! That kit was going to get herself into trouble one of these days, their mother would have Spidernose’s tail if she ever found out-

But she was quickly distracted from such thoughts, after all, Frogkit seemed to be listening to Fernstar quite intently and the Clan leader seemed to have her antics under control, as Stonefall soon followed the other two Clan members out of the den. Spidernose’s blue eyes brightened immediately as they settled on the deputy and she let out a quiet little purr as she grabbed one of the mice from the fresh-kill pile and trotted over to where Stonefall sat, placing it at the tom’s paws, she mewed. “Hey there! Want to share? I’m…sorry, if Frogkit’s been giving you guys trouble. I told her to stay with the apprentices in the warrior’s den. She never listens.” Spidernose heaved a long-suffering sigh at her sister’s stubbornness as she settled herself down next to Stonefall, fur fluffed out against the cold chill that settled over the camp.



Frogkit squeaked in alarm and obediently skittered back, allowing the older she-cat to draw her close with her paws, she perched herself on Fernstar’s forepaws, ducking her head in apology. ”Oopsie! Sorry, Fernstar, yeah! They must be pretty tired and scared, being in such a strange place.” the kit apologised, well…at least she had the sense and manners not to sass the Clan leader, even if she’d been a little argumentative with Stonefall, honestly that was probably because she had seen him hanging around with her older sister Spidernose, and therefore Frogkit felt as if she could get away with being a bit more snippy to the deputy. But she’d never dream of trying the same game with the Clan leader.

She let her mind wander a little, only half paying attention to what Fernstar and Stonefall said to the loners, something about “sorry for your troubles” and “have to hunt for yourselves”. Well, good! But what?! They got to sleep in the nursery?! Where was she supposed to sleep then?! Just as Frogkit let out a protesting squeak and shifted her weight so she could tilt her little head back and look up at Fernstar to ask, the older she-cat answered the question before she could ask it. Fernstar’s den? Wow! Frogkit had never been up there before, she hadn’t been with the Clan longer than about half a moon and she’d always wondered what it looked like.

So, as Fernstar ushered her out of the nursery and up to the owl’s nest, Frogkit went along with her surprisingly easily, her tail and ears up and swivelling with excitement as she shakily climbed the small distance to the den, stopping outside to strike a triumphant pose as she managed to use her developing leg and shoulder muscles to haul herself up over the edge without any help from any of the bigger cats. “Aha!” she crowed triumphantly, then skipped into Fernstar’s den to settle down. A few moments later, Frogkit heard voices and scuttled back to the entryway, poking her head out to look for the owner of the voices. “Fernstar…? Oh! Heya, Honeypaw!” she chirped happily in greeting, apparently none the wiser to the apprentice’s bad mood and just keen to make another friend. “How’re you doin’? This is kinda exciting isn’t it! The new cats seem cool! D’you think Fernstar will let them stay? I bet they have uh-may-zing stories to tell!”

Stonefall couldn’t help the low rumble of a purr he let out as Spidernose approached, her sleek frame fluffed out a bit to combat the chill as she settled next to him. He lowered himself down into a relaxed position, pressing his side closer into Spidernose’s to try and provide some extra warmth for her slender build with his bulkier one. (And, well, just to feel her pressed against him). He gave a little amused mrrrp as Spidernose talked about her sister, opting to let Spidernose eat from the mouse first as he wasn’t feeling particularly hungry. ”She was bringing over some herbs for our…guests,” he mewed in response. ”It wasn’t any trouble. She’s bold, she’s stubborn, and she’s passionate. Wonder where she gets it from,” he teased, uncharacteristically light and comfortable when it was just him and Spidernose. Relaxing into the moment, he turned and gave Spidernose’s neck a few gentle licks, smoothing out her fur and purring as he did so. ”Did you have a good hunting patrol? Anything interesting happen?” he asked, feeling a little nervous about how open he had been with his affection. He didn’t have a sibling like Spidernose or felt as comfortable with many of his Clanmates as Maplestream or Duskwing seemed to. Often he felt lonely even when surrounded by his Clanmates. But this, right here, with Spidernose? He felt like he was home.




It was hard to stay cranky when every part of Honeypaw’s heart eased at Fernstar’s closeness. She felt her fur start to settle at Fernstar’s words, her body language easing up from its anxious, tense manner. The small apprentice leaned a little into Fernstar’s words and comfort, giving a little mrrp of pleasure when the leader gave her a teasing lick on her ear. ”I can’t wait to be a Warrior and help protect our camp,” Honeypaw mewed. ”I’ll take good care of Frogkit,” she added, tail lashing a little agitatedly. ”After all, this was my nest so I know it well, and she’s only staying a few nights……right?” her tone had started accusatory, laced with jealousy, but by the time she got to asking for confirmation she had slipped into a place of vulnerability she didn’t know how to cope with.

The little black and orange she-cat scooted a little closer to Fernstar but right then the enemy in question popped her head out of Fernstar’s den. Honeypaw held back a protective hiss, proud of herself for such semblance of self-control in front of her newfound enemy. ”Oh hi, Frogkit,” she meowed, trying to act like she wasn’t as affected as she was. ”Wait, how do you know the new cats seem cool? Did you get to talk to them?!” Honeypaw felt her breath coming quicker in agitation. She’d had to hide all by herself and Frogkit got to talk to them!? A yawning cavern of hurt was building inside the little she-cat, jealousy and insecurity and vulnerability – she just desperately hoped no one else noticed it. Don’t worry, they won’t notice. They’re already forgetting about you now that Frogkit’s here, her young mind supplied. Fernstar’s replaced you, and this is Spidernose’s sister so you know she’s always going to take priority over you…

Spidernose seemed just as content to press up against Stonefall’s side, if anything welcoming the extra warmth from the tom’s bulky frame, and she echoed his purr with one of her own, which only seemed to grow ever louder still as he began sharing tongues with her. She made no effort whatsoever to squirm away or indicate the contact was unwelcome, in fact it would seem quite the opposite. When the deputy still hadn’t quite eaten, Spidernose hesitantly ducked her head to take a small bite from the fresh-kill, relieved to finally have food in her belly again once she’d swallowed.

The she-cat’s ear flicked back slightly as Stonefall recounted the latest story of her sister’s antics, chuckling deep in her chest as she rolled her eyes, then shot the deputy a scandalised, but still playful look as she actually caught on to what he was implying. “He-eeeyyy!” she smirked, her whiskers twitching in amusement. “It’s not from me, I’d contest that, Stonefall. I’m not quite so reckless.”

Though undoubtedly what she was about to tell him about the hunting party’s escapades would only disprove her claim. The cream she-cat coughed softly as Stonefall began to eat with her, letting out a nervous laugh of her own. “Oh, it went pretty well actually! We caught quite a few things, enough to feed everyone for the night, I think. Sunfur…uh, Sunfur had me jumping out of trees to catch birds.” Spidernose grinned across at the tom, knowing he would be worried to hear of such dangerous hunting techniques…but he had asked if anything interesting happened and it certainly was something interesting. “I’m fine, though, I didn’t fall! And it actually worked! We got a bird, this mouse and one other one, and a squirrel. Sunfur’s doing another loop on his way back to see if he can grab a couple more pieces, too.”



At Honeypaw’s question, Frogkit’s eyes scrunched up into more of a frown and the kit let out a tiny, sulky huff of breath, her tail flicking abruptly from side to side as she strutted out to join Honeypaw and Fernstar just outside of the den. “Well…no, not really. Fernstar and Stonefall wouldn’t let me talk to ‘em proper.” she pouted, her ears drooping in disappointment. “But I wanted to! They just look like they’d tell cool stories. And I did get to help Blackpelt make the herbs for them, so that was cool!” she announced, sounding quite proud of that fact, and the kit did seem to puff her chest out as if she were trying to show off how helpful she was. She hoped Blackpelt thought that too. Herbs were really, really cool and fun to learn about and Frogkit desperately wanted the medicine cat to teach her more about them.

Blackpelt watches the loners from the darkness, his smaller frame making him seem almost apprentice or even kit sized. His tail lashes in stress and anxiety, his exsuasted mindset giving him too many thoughts to deal with at once. Why are they here? They're something off about them, but I can't put my claw on it. They seem dangerous, but I don't know why. He licks his paw, rubbing his face to try and get his fur to lay flat again, but he's too on edge. He slips out before they see him, and he heads to Fernstars den.

Once he gets there, his tail gently taps Honeypaw. "You aren't fighting, are you? Your pelt spiked for a moment. Everything ok?" He looks them both over, then gently gives Honeypaw a lick on the head. "You're too stressed. Whatever happens, the clan will protect you." He settles down. "So. What's gotten you so upset Honeypaw?" His eyes study her, intense, but not accusing.

Despite the older cats in camp being quite uneasy over the presence of the strange Loners, Frogkit was still vibrating with excitement and this only seemed to increase further as Heather hopped up to join then and initiate a conversation. Being young and naive and not knowing any better, Frogkit disregarded Blackpelt and Spidernose's earlier warnings about not talking to strangers and the kit's tortoiseshell ears and tail perked right up as Heather asked her a question. Even if she smelled kind of strange, the molly seemed nice, so Frogkit really didn't understand why the grownups were so suspicious and upset! 

"Hiya! I'm Frogkit! And this is Honeypaw!" she chirped, flicking her tail to indicate the apprentice beside her as she spoke of Honeypaw. "What's your name?" she asked the older she-cat, though was quickly distracted from asking any further questions as Heather began to inquire whether Frogkit was interested in being a medicine cat one day. The kit's eyes shone with excitement and she nodded so vigorously that she lost her balance for a split second and almost fell clean off the branch she was perched on, but managed to dig her claws in with a small squeak and steady herself again.

Frogkit then looked back up at Heather, purring in excitement as she answered. "Oh, yes! Yes I would really love that! I've been trying to learn all the herbs and what they look like and smell like so I can impress Blackpelt!" she announced, though the kit's shoulders did sag a little in disappointment as she remembered how the grumpy tom had snapped at her when he found her in his den earlier. Still, despite the medicine cat's…prickly, nature, Frogkit seemed determined to win him over in the end and make him want to take her on as his apprentice. "But I don't think he likes me much…he's always yelling at me and telling me to stay outta the medicine den. He's kinda mean."

He jumps down from the ledge, and lands next to the loner and Frogkit. He pulls her into his paws, and growls at them, eyes slits. "Frogkit. I told you to stay put." He picks her up by her scruff again, and stalks away, heading to Leafstar, ears pulled back, tail lashing in anger. He puts Frogkit down next to Leafstar. "I don't know what those cats want, but I want them gone. They creep me out, and they approached a lone kit. Make them leave." His pelt is spiked in fear and rage, eyes burning.

His breathing is harsh, and his fur is ragged, like he hasn't been taking care of himself. He's not acting like his normal grumpy self. He's terrified and furious with the loners for daring to approach a kit. "The longer they're here, the more danger we're in."

He looks down at Frogkit. "If you want me to teach you what I know, listen to me when I tell you something. I told you to stay away from them."

"Hey!! Put me down!!" Frogkit shrieked in protest as without warning and completely uninvited the medicine cat interrupted her conversation with the Loner and carried her away. "I'm not a baby anymore!! Stop carrying me around like one! I was talkin' over there!" she hissed, flailing around in Blackpelt's grasp and refusing to stay still. How DARE he! As he set her down in front of Fernstar and began to chastise her, Frogkit's tail bushed up as far as it could go, her fur fluffed and the kit very clearly annoyed beyond measure. "You're not my ma, you can't tell me what to do!" Frogkit spat back at him petulantly, her back arching and teeth flashing. "Maybe if you want me to listen to ya, you should stop bein' such a meanie! I was only talkin' to 'em, they weren't doin' anything bad! The warrior code says we should help other cats in need, they're hurt and scared and they need our help!" she pointed out, in her young mind believing everything that had been told to her about the strange cats in WillowClan's camp at face value and assuming they were telling the truth. Because why would they lie? Huffing in annoyance, Frogkit plunked down onto her bottom, her fur still puffy, and craned her head back towards their leader, pouting as if hoping Fernstar would take her side and tell Blackpelt off. "Tell him, Fernstar! Tell him he's being a meanie!"

He looks down at his paws, eyes closed, and he lets out a deep breath. "I'm sorry Fernstar. I know I shouldn't have acted so rashly, nor spoken to you like that....." His shoulders slump, and his tail wraps around his paws in shame. His eyes are bloodshot and fur still matted. He sighs, and goes to his den before he does anything else to get himself in trouble. He sorts though some herbs to keep himself distracted, looking up at seemingly every sound, real or imaginary. He whispers and mutters to himself, and his ears pull back and lay flat on his head in shame.

He huffs and puts the rest of the herbs away, then lays down on his bed, staring at the entrance to his den. His tail coils around him as he curls up into a small ball, tired and upset. He falls asleep without realising it. His sleep is restless, upseting, and his dreams is full of scorn and disapproval over how he acted. He quietly mutters the Warrior code to himself, and reflects on his actions over the past few days. Ever since the loners showed up, he's been anxious and paranoid, and full of doubt.

He shivers, still feeling trapped in his dream-turned-nightmare. He looks up finaly, only to see black trees, not a star in sight. He curls around himself, and his pelt spikes when he hears laughter. Please go away, please go away, please go away.....

He slowly opens one eye, and slowly stands up, deep in the Dark Forest.
Why do I keep ending up here......what am I doing wrong? He walks forward aimlessly, waiting for someone to show up and 'educate' him. He fights his way though brambles and thorns, uncaring of the cuts and scrapes all over his pelt and paws. He looks around every now and again, but sees only darkness filled woods.

He unsheaths his claws, and tears at the brambles tangled in his pelt, walking out of them, dripping with blood from uncountable tiny wounds. In the waking world, anyone close enough to him would see tiny drops of blood appear on his claws and lightly mixed into his fur.

Though the kit seemed very disgruntled and annoyed, she didn't appear to be hurt, though her fur was spiked out in annoyance. "Mm-mm. I'm okayyy!" she promised, sitting surprisingly still (for Frogkit, at least) while the leader checked her over - at least she was being gentle, and Frogkit seemed much more willing to do what she was told when spoken to patiently and handled gently and with respect. At the mention of her being out of Fernstar's den and being scolded as such, however, she did pout and huff crossly in protest. "I was at the den like you said, with Honeypaw, till Blackpelt came stompin' in and just…just picked me up and started yelling at me!" Frogkit whined, though this time didn't protest and did hop her way back into Fernstar’s den and plop down with an annoyed groan as she looked across at Honeypaw. "Ughhhhhh! Why're the grownups so weird!" she complained.

By the time Fernstar joined them, Frogkit at least had the sense to stop whining about how much she didn't understand the grownups' "weird" behaviour about the strangers. Surely talking to them if they were nice wasn't so bad?? She was quickly distracted by the fresh-kill that was pushed towards her, however, squeaking out a "Thank you!" before she dipped her head to take a few small, delicate mouthfuls of the bird, plucking out a few of the feathers to play with later, which she tucked against her chest, then purring warmly and nudging it back towards Fernstar and Honeypaw so they could eat, too.

After finishing the vole, he began thinking about what other kinds of prey may be around. He began to wish he knew how to scale trees to catch birds, but he didn't want to take that risk. He decided they would just head back to the camp and rest for the rest of the night. He could take Heather out hunting later in the day.