Sparrowflight was walking back to camp from a hunting patrol when came across the scents of Tigerlily and Badgerstep. He knew he hadn't sent them out on a patrol, so he told Sunpelt and Hareleap to go on ahead. He followed the trail of their fresh, mingling scents, going through the long grass at a brisk pace.
     Sparrowflight slowed to a halt when the scents grew fresher and he could make out Tigerlily's ginger pelt. He pricked his ears to listen to their conversation from the clump of heather he was hiding in. "Kits?" Badgerstep exclaimed, sounding shocked. So that's what this is about. Tigerlily nodding "Yes, kits." She replied, smiling. Badgerstep shook his head "N-no, you can't have kits. I-I never wanted kits." Tigerlily narrowed her eyes "Well I told you I did. Why else would you be my mate?" She asked with an edge to her voice. Badgerstep glanced away "Well, uh...." he trailed off "I never really wanted a relationship. I kinda just wanted, uh.." Tigerlily gasped "You used me! You heap of foxdung!" Badgerstep's eyes widened and he took a couple steps back "N-no Tigerlily..." He stammered, his voice barely audible. Tigerlily glared at him "You either help raise these kits or you leave! If you reject them, you're rejecting me too!" Sparrowflight flattened his ears. Poor Tigerlily. Badgerstep deserves what he's getting. Sparrowflight unknowingly unsheathed his claws. "W-Well I can't be a father Tigerlily. I have to train Falconpaw now." Tigerlily's gaze was ice cold "That's no excuse! I don't know what I ever saw in you!" Badgerstep's eyes suddenly narrowed to slits. "No," he growled "I don't know what I saw in you!" The tom took a step towards Tigerlily, unsheathing his claws. "Be careful what you say to me Tigerlily. I can make your life much worse." The ginger she cat cowered back a little, as Badgerstep had her cornered. No! You won't hurt Tigerlily! Sparrowflight leaped out of the heather and flung himself at Badgerstep. Badgerstep turned around in surprise and Sparrowflight tackled him to the ground. The two of them rolled around in the grass and Sparrowflight managed to land a hard blow on his ear before Badgerstep was able to scamper away. Sparrowflight stood up, panting. He watched where the striped tom left just to make sure he didn't come back. Sparrowflight then turned back to look at Sparrowflight and his face softened. Tigerlily was sitting in the grass and looking at her paws "Wh-what do I do Sparrowflight?" She asked "I...I can't raise them by myself." Sparrowflight lifted her chin with his tail and looked into her eyes. I could help her raise them Sparrowflight pushed the the thought away I have to raise Blissnose's kits. "You will raise these kits. I know you can. You're one of the strongest cats I know. If anyone could raise a litter of kits alone, it'd be you." Tigerlily flashed a small smile "Lilystem is already raising her kits alone." She pointed out. The golden she cat had recently given birth to a litter of kits, Goldenkit, who looked almost identical to her mother, Stonekit, who was a dark gray kit, and Bristlekit, who was a long haired, gray kit. The Clan had no idea who the father was, since their were no gray toms in the Clan. This made a couple of cats suspicious.
Sparrowflight smiled "But you'll do it better than her. You'll be a great mother Tigerlily." Tigerlily blinked at him warmly "Thanks Sparrowflight." She purred
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Later that night, Sparrowflight waited at the Shadowclan border. His ears pricked when he heard footsteps and small mews. Blissnose! And my kits! He straightened his posture and smiled when he saw them, although he knew Blissnose must have had trouble bringing them here. She carried three by the scruff and a fourth on her back. Sparrowflight trotted over "Let me help." He meowed, taking the kit off her back while she placed down the remaining three. Sparrowflight observed the kit he held. It looks just like me! He thought happily, but then the brown tabby kit batted at his nose, so Sparrowflight put it down with its litter mates. He looked down at his four kits with pride. There was the brown tabby, a ginger kit, a white kit, and a white tabby. "Do they have names?" He asked. Blissnose nodded "The brown tabby tom is Snakekit, the ginger tom is Acornkit, the white she cat is Icekit, and the white tabby tom is Blizzardkit." Sparrowflight smiled widely "They're amazing." Blissnose nodded and looked up at him with warm blue eyes, the kits helping them forget about their past quarrel. "Which ones should I take?" Sparrowflight asked her. Blissnose pointed to the brown tabby "Snakekit, he's the strongest one." She said, giving the kit a loving lick on the head before nudging him over to Sparrowflight. "You can pick the last one." She told him. Sparrowflight flattened his ears Do I have to choose? He looked over the other three kits, his gaze shifting to each one. Icekit looked the most like Blissnose, so he considered picking her. Acornkit was ginger, so he could blend in with Tigerlily's kits, but she hadn't given birth yet. The last kit, Blizzardkit, was a bit bigger than the other two, so he decided that he would be the best fit out of the three remaining kits for the journey back to Windclan. He gently picked up Blizzardkit by the scruff and placed him next to Snakekit. "Is that who you're choosing?" Blissnose asked. Sparrowflight nodded. Blissnose sighed "Be careful." She stood up and nuzzled Sparrowflight one last time before they both stepped back, each of them picking up the two kits they'd selected. "Goodbye." Sparrowflight whispered. Blissnose nodded "Goodbye." Sparrowflight turned and began the journey back to Windclan, knowing that this would be the last time he met with Blissnose.
     The weather was starting to warm up as green leaf approached, but tonight a cold breeze blew over the moor. Sparrowflight broke into a light jog, having to stop every now and then to lick the kits' fur to keep them warm. Sparrowflight knew that with how small the kits were, they couldn't handle the cold like adult cats. The wind only grew stronger and Sparrowflight had to pick up his pace in fear of his kits getting too cold. He stopped and put down the kits, quickly pressing his nose to their tiny little heads to feel how cold they were. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found that Snakekit was still warm. He then moved on to Blizzardkit and pressed his nose into his forehead. It was cold! Sparrowflight panicked and began licking Blizzardkit's fur in the opposite direction and rubbing him with his paws to try and warm him. He touched his nose to the forehead again. Not much warmer, but it'll have to do. Sparrowflight then scooped up both kits and broke out into a run against the cold breeze that blew in his face. The wind had grown so strong that he feared that if he dropped one of the kits, they'd blow away. Sparrowflight's legs carried him through the grass of the moor, although a place that usually brought him happiness was now bringing him fear as he continued to sprint. Faster... wind blew and ruffled his fur... Faster... the noise rang in his ears... Faster... the noise grew stronger, louder....louder....louder....louder... LOUDER!
Sparrowflight burst into camp, gasping for breath after his long run "Where's Sparkstorm?" He called loudly. He saw the medicine cat peek her head out of her den and he immediately dashed across the camp, still carrying his kits, ignoring the many confused looks he was getting from his Clanmates. He put the kits down in a nest and dove into his explanation "Sparkstorm, I found these kits in our territory without a mother. They need our help." Sparkstorm yawned, obviously tired from being woken up by Sparrowflight's yowling along with almost the entire Clan. "I'm no mother, Sparrowflight." Sparrowflight hissed in frustration "Just keep them warm please!" Sparkstorm rolled her eyes "Alright, alright, don't get your tail in a knot." She retorted, licking Snakekit first, quickly stroking his fur in the opposite direction, despite the small kits mewls of protest. "That one's all good." She muttered, before moving on to Blizzardkit. She began licking him the same way that she licked Snakekit, but she suddenly stopped and put an ear to the kits chest. Something isn't right... Sparkstorm turned to look at Sparrowflight "This one is dead." Sparrowflight's eyes widened "No! Blizzardkit!" He cried out, desperately touching his nose to the kit, before trying to lick him warm again, as if he could somehow come back. Please, no! My son! Sparkstorm glared at him "You named them? You rabbit-brain, now you'll get attached!" Sparrowflight snapped his head in her direction, returning her glare "That's all you can say when a kit just died?" He hissed angrily. Sparkstorm frowned "He's not a Clan kit, and neither is that one. You didn't give him a name too, did you?" Sparrowflight gulped and nodded "That one is Snakekit." Sparkstorm huffed in annoyance "Of course he is. Take him to Lilystem. She still has some milk left from her kits. I'll go and bury this one." Sparrowflight narrowed his eyes "So he can't even get a proper vigil?" He asked, his voice cracking with grief. "He's not a Clan kit!" Sparkstorm repeated. "Now do what I say! I'm your medicine cat!" Sparrowflight sighed "Fine." He growled "Just tell me where you bury him."