Sweetberry trudged along the marshy grass. Mud squished between her claws, and Rabbitkit gave a meow a complaint as he sank up to his chest in a particularly wet patch of mud. But at least Ripplestrike was their, nudging her forward, whispering words of encouragement. Sweetberry sighed. She couldn't believe it. She was exiled from WindClan. She should never have made the mistake of falling in love with Ripplestrike. The RiverClan tom. Harestar, why? Sweetberry thought as they approached RiverClan camp. I was your deputy! I served you for moons! But none of that mattered now. She was at the mercy of Driftstar. Would the RiverClan leader let her and her kits stay in his Clan? Would he even let Ripplestrike stay, after his betrayal, or would they all end up as rogues, forced out of the forest forever. What misfortune that Harestar had been leading a night patrol at the same time she was meeting with Ripplestrike to show him their kits. Lilykit was exhausted by now. The smallest and last-born of all the kits, Lilykit was usually shy and quiet. The only surviving she-kit of her litter. Sweetberry thought sadly of Specklekit, tiny and feeble, who had died at birth. Oh, StarClan, why did you take her? Sweetberry thought. By now Ripplestrike had taken Lilykit by the scruff. She checked to make sure the other two were right behind. Rabbitkit was dodging puddles, and Silverkit was trailing along behind him, his dark blue eyes, so much like Ripplestrike's, were tired but determined. By now the sun had risen into the sky. We must be almost there. Just then, a small patrol of cats stepped out of the reeds. Sweetberry recognized Iceslip and Windwhisper from Gatherings, but the gray tabby apprentice and the orange she-cat with white flecks were unfamiliar to her. "Ripplestrike? What is she doing with you. She smells of WindClan. And whose kits are those?" Windwhisper asked sharply. "Oh, Ripplestrike! You captured the WindClan deputy!" mewed the tabby apprentice eagerly. "Hush, Grasspaw," mewed Iceslip gently. "Say, Ripplestrike. That kit looks an awful lot like you," he hissed in a much harsher tone, gesturing to Silverkit. "Yes, yes," snarled Windwhisper dangerously. "One would even say. . . . . . they're your kits." The ginger she cat stepped in front of the group, her lean til lashing, her long claws gouging the peaty earth. "Your kits, Ripplestrike? And . . . who else's?" Ripplestrike snarled at her. "Shut up and let me explain, Duskshine," he growled. Duskshine blinked in shock, the ducked her head. "Explain, then." "As you may know, this is Sweetberry, WindClan's deputy," began Ripplestrike. "Well, we met one day, and soon we kept doing it. Sneaking away from our Clanmates. Meeting each other at night. I wouldn't have done it for any reason but this. But soon, Sweetberry realized she was expecting kits. Obviously, my kits as well as hers. When they were born, she planned to raise them WindClan. But when she sneaked away once more, bringing her kits so I could meet them, Harestar saw us. Sweetberry was banished. She wants to join RiverClan now." Sweetberry felt uncomfortable letting him speak for her. But she let him anyway. "Well, Driftstar will decide that," mewed Grasspaw, apparently trying to sound formal and dignified. "That's who we were going to talk to, Grasspaw," Ripplestrike replied curtly. The patrol escorted them to RiverClan camp. They attracted a couple of odd looks, but were sent straight to Driftstar's den. Sweetberry brushed past the thickly woven reeds. A huge silver tom sat in side, eating a piece of trout. At their approach, he looked up. Sweetberry met his clear blue gaze steadily. Driftstar flicked his tail. "What is it, Sweetberry? Did Harestar send you?" Sweetberry shook her head. "Driftstar, I was banished from WindClan. I fell in love with Ripplestrike, and soon had kits. One of them died and I've brought the other three here. Will you accept us?" Sweetberry burst out. For several heartbeats, Driftstar didn't reply. Then he dipped his head. "How many kits, Sweetberry?" he asked calmly. "Three, not counting . . ." Sweetberry choked out, trailing off at the end of her sentence. "They're just outside the den. Please, let them join! I'll understand if you won't take me, but my kits need your Clan! They'd grow up to be great warriors, I'm sure!" Ripplestrike nodded. "They're too young to live on their own, with only their mother to care for them. And they're strong. They would be a good addition to RiverClan," he mewed. Driftstar seemed to consider this. Finally, he meowed, "I won't reject helpless kits. And Sweetberry, you couldn't live as a loner or a rogue. You need to be with them. And if you could prove your loyalty to RiverClan, you would be accepted gladly." "So they can stay?" demanded Ripplestrike at once. Driftstar purred. "Yes, they can stay."
For Mistyiscute.
