The she-cat cat turned towards her friends who were sitting under a tree about 2 tail-lengths away. Its leaves were drooping, as if someone had made the tree cry. Everyone called it the Weeping Tree. She sat down, her tail automatically curling around her paws.
"Shadowheat, Springwing, why are you here?" The ginger she-cat asked the two pale cats across from her. They nodded back in greeting.
"We have not forgotten, we have forgiven. Quietpaw told us you were here. We don't know, we are lost in space-or at least Gardenstar told me that. I don't know what he told Springwing though..." The pale gray she-cat looked over at Springwing, who was cleaning her paws. She looked up at them.
"I'm sorry, we haven't forgotten, I haven't forgiven, I simply made my choice. Appletide, you are going to have two kits. You need to name them for who they are; I can not split the deal, I made the choice, and you are willing to take it. I know you are, believe me and listen." Springwing stared at Appletide for a few seconds, her gaze unreadable, but strong.
Appletide nodded, getting up to her paws. "You're just a mousebrain," She stated, glaring at Springwing. Her littermate had always taken the lead. "I don't even have a mate; Dusky is just a special friend. I love him with all my heart, but I would never have his kits. And why should I believe you, anyways?" She spat, her eyes narrowing as Shadowheat and Springwing remained calm.
"I already told you that you are willing to take it. As for Dusky...well, he's not the father of your kits. Just make sure your kits are safe. We can't risk having them be in danger. They are very special, you know." Appletide's eyes hardened. Nobody else knew about her long-lost relationship with 'him'.
"You're going crazy. You might as well just join your relatives in the Dark Forest now." Appletide retorted, her gaze burning with fury. "I will not have these kits, and if you think I will, then you're just plain old wrong. Stop it with all the mousedung and start becoming a better littermate. Maybe then I would like you more!" The she-cat raced off, her paws thrumming against the ground like the sound of a heartbeat. She knew Springwing was right; she was going to have her kits, and she was going to take care of them. But not in a Clan.
Appletide skidded to a stop as she reached the end of SpringClan borders. She had a choice to make. She could either make the choice of stepping over the border and be welcomed into Twolegplace, or she could stay within SpringClan borders and find a home among everything and everyone she despised and loved. It was easy.
Ginger pelt flying, Appletide crossed the border and ran around a corner, dodging Twolegs and strays as she raced past. Stones and rocks bit into her paws as she ran across the pavement. She halted as she saw another pelt, a smaller yet lighter pelt. She cautiously padded through the bush to meet with two cats. One was a cream and white tom and the other was black as night.
              "Oh, hello Appletide." The white tom mewed, his eyes trailing along her body.
             She hissed and unsheathed her claws, stepping back. "Leave me alone!" She cried, drawing his eyes back up to meet hers. "It's your fault that I'm like this! It's your fault I'm going to have kits that I never wanted!" Her eyes welled up with tears at the thought of taking care of kits by herself.
             "You don't have to be alone," the tom said, stepping closer. Appletide moved closer to him, tears sliding down her face. She didn't want to give in, but her kits wouldn't survive unless she had help. "Don't worry," He spoke again. "I won't hurt you." She took a few more hesitant steps toward him and sighed. She just wanted everything to be over with.
              "Fine," She said, letting a smile fall onto her face, even though it was forced. "I'll stay with out guys. But if anything happens to these kits-" She glared at him and hissed. "You will pay."