Is the sun coming? (Spottedstar, Dirtfur, Open)

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Shadow sat in camp, her kits playing infront of the nursery. She didn't know what to do! She could never be a Warrior! Never! Her kits maybe. But no, her kits would be taught to be Shadow's kits, not ShadowClan kits, not ShadowClan Warriors. Would she stay in ShadowClan? no. Would her kits?, she thought not.

Her kits were already settling in too much, but when would they leave? She hoped they could stay until New-leaf, but would Spottedstar want her there that long? No! Of coarse not! She could tell the cats were getting anxious about her, staying like this... But does SHE still want to stay that long? Do her KITS want to stay that long if they will never be Warriors? No. no....

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Spottedstar watched the queen and kits from across the camp clearing. Her amber eyes were narrowed in thought. She knew that the kits could grow to be strong warriors if they remained. After all, they had lived in ShadowClan for a good while now and had begun to adjust. Even though they were outsiders, the she-cat couldn't deny that the Clan required more warriors.

She rose from her place and padded over to the nursery. She mewed a greeting before sitting down near the kits and their mother. "Greetings Shadow. I believe its time to discuss your place in the Clan." Her mew was calm, but her amber eyes were serious.

---

Shattered had been playing with his siblings when Spottedstar came over. He looked up at her warilly, and slightly confussed. He didn't know why she would be here. He put on a brave face, though, and looked the leader in the eyes without flinching.

[Deleted]

"I was just thinking the same thing Spottedstar." she said. "It is all so confusing." she shook her head, "This clan will never see me as a true Warrior, ever. I can't live my life with every cat looking over their shoulder thinking I'm a traitor. I don't think I should cause trouble anymore, not after the Moonshine incident. I could never live with the fact that I ruined the good name of ShadowClan."

[Tanglekit]

Leafheart heard Shadow talking of leaving and she ran to her, almost bowling her over. She was shaking violently, when she thought of life with out Shadow. "N-no Shadow y-you can't l-leave me! Y-you are my best f-friend...What about Tig-gerf-fang?", she began to worry at the thought of losing her best friend again.

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Shadow could not answer her friend. She looked away from her sobbering friend, a tear falling down her sleek, black face.

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Spottedstar grimaced as the queen started to cry, as if she was proving that warrior life was not for her. "Perhaps Clan life isn't in your future, but only if you don't want it to be. Shadow, you've lived with us, eaten fresh-kill and made friends. You could still try to be a warrior. No cat blames you for what happened, and no cat thinks of you as a traitor." Maybe not, but I'm sure they don't see a Clan cat in her. "And, if you allow it, your kits could see if they like our way of life. They could become apprentices."

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Shadow nodded, "I... I just...." she shook her head. "They could... But who would mentor loner kits?" she asked. "Are there six cats that would mentor them as if they were clan born?" she asked.

[Deleted]

"If I give the word, any cat in the Clan would mentor your kits." Hopefully. "Besides, I know that Dirtfur, Leafheart and I would take one on." She looked over to the other she-cat. "That's three right there."

[Tanglekit]

Leafheart froze. No one knew that she was pregnant with Tigerfang's kits. "Umm I can't mentor anyone, anytime soon. Spottedstar I was going to talk to you about that..... err I am pregnant.", she squeaked. Even though she didn't look it she knew something was growing inside her. She feared that the word of her pregnancy would spread and she didn't want anyone to know whp the father of her kits was.

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Shadow nodded, "I guess..." she couldn't make a decision now. It would change Shadow's futre forever, not to mention her kit's. She looked at Leafheart and smiled weakly and then back to Spottedstar.

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Spottedstar flicked her ear in surprise. "Really? Well, then, congradulations. But if you're not fit to mentor, I'm sure Wolfheart wants you retiring to the nursery soon." The ginger and white she-cat looked back to Shadow. "I know this is a big decision, but I'll need an answer soon. I'll give you five suns to make up your mind. If you haven't by then, the you may leave but the kits must stay." Her amber eyes flickered as she spoke. She knew queens were awfully protective since her encounters with Runningpath, but this would work in two ways; Shadow would focus more on deciding her place, or ShadowClan would get the kits if she failed to decide.

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Shadow was stunned, she nodded and sighed, "Very well Spottedstar..." she dipped her head and padded over to the nursery, waving her tail to signal her kits to come in.

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Shattered stared up at the leader with wide eyes. What was going on? He didn't understand these deals and bargains. Wasn't his family going to stay here? There was plenty of food and warm nests, so why leave? He had grown adjusted to the milky scent of the nursery and the pine needles on the forest floor. He looked from Spottedstar to his mother, then followed her in slowly.

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Heart padded slowly, looking at her mother in confusion.

---

Fang started to run, she hopped over Shattered's head and jumped into the den.

---

Shadow gathered her kits into a huddle in the den. "Kits, listen. If I was to leave ShadowClan, would you want to come with me? Or would you stay here and become ShadowClan apprentice's?" She asked slowly, she didn't want to do this, but this was her kits future and she wanted them to have a say.

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Shattered's eyes widened. "What? But Mama where are you going?" His normally brave voice broke as he spoke, horrible feelings rising his his throat. So this was the big choice Spottedstar had mentioned. His mind blurred. The tom didn't want to be separated from his mother. But, at the same time, he had loved watching the apprentices train and practice their fighting moves. He still wanted to show Carepaw a thing or two since the day he had arrived in ShadowClan. As he thought about all this, he couldn't answer. His shoulders haunched and his ears folded back.