"Oh, my little kits!" A voice cried softly. Whirlkit's mother drug him in with her tail, along with his three littermates. "I will miss you so much. But it's for your own good and–," she stopped, ears pricked. She sniffed, and straightened, her blue eyes wide with fear. Even the kits knew the severity of the situation as they shut their tiny, pink mouths.

"Let's go, my angels," she hissed, ushering her kits out from underneath the log. "They're coming." She picked up one of Whirlkit's sisters, Rainkit, the weakest kit. She wouldn't be able to run and keep up like the other kits would. Whirlkit swallowed nervously, and took deep breaths, trying to calm his little pounding heart. Even at the beginning of his life he knew fear like it was his littermate.

Their mother whisked them out of the area quickly, taking turns picking them up by their scruffs and carrying them while Rainkit sat on her back, and the other two kits ran alongside until it was their turn to be held. Whirlkit ran with Dustkit, his brother, as Cloverkit and Rainkit were being hauled along by their mother.

"Just a little farther!" She encouraged them with puffing breaths. Whirlkit knew that his mother wanted to run faster by the twitch of her tail, but she was too loyal to leave her kits behind for the dogs to shred.

Whirlkit jumped, hearing the snarls and barks of a dog approaching. He flinched, trying to dismiss the thought of him or his family being ripped apart by their cruel fangs.

"Run, my little ones!" Their mother shrieked, taking time to throw Whirlkit on her back with Rainkit, who was cowering in between her mother's shoulder blades. There was no doubt that she was also part of the reason why their mother couldn't run faster. She also could barely breathe because of Cloverkit and Dustkit in her mouth. She was slowly picking up speed, so Whirlkit had to dig his tiny, needle-sharp claws into her fur to stay on as the wind rushed by his face. WindClan cats were faster than every other clan, so it was natural when she left the dogs in the dust.

Soon, they made it into an area full of trees. The sound of yapping dogs died down until they were gone. Whirlkit's mother sighed, and collapsed, dropping the kits from her mouth. Whirlkit and Rainkit fell off of her back, and landed with the breath knocked out of their tiny frames.

When their mother had caught her breath, she stood up. "Stay here, my babies. I'll be right back." Then she licked them on the ears and ran away out of the forest.

"Mom?" Squeaked Cloverkit.
"Why did you leave us!?" Rainkit squealed. "Mother?" Whimpered Dustkit. "Come back," Whispered Whirlkit.

"What are little kits doing out here in the middle of no where?"

"Mother!" The kits cheered excitedly. But they stopped as they realized that it was not there mother who had found them.

The she-cat was orange, and she walked with a limp. Her blue eyes were filled with wonder and sympathy as she gazed at the kits. "Where's your parents?"

Whirlkit gulped. Should they tell this newcomer?

"Our father's dead." Rainkit chirped. "But our mom said she's coming back soon!"

Whirlkit glared at her, angry at her for giving away too much information. The orange she-cat frowned. "Oh. Well, we'll wait for her." She sat down on her haunches, and drew the kits in close. Whirlkit was hesitant, so he hung back. When it was getting to be dark, only then did he consider her consolation. He gave in, and soon fell into a drowsy daze.

"Oh, little kits," The she-cat whispered, her breath stirring Whirlkit's ear fur. "You're mother isn't coming back."

Whirlkit was too exhausted to retort indignantly, so he let his thoughts argue with her.

The she-cat stood up, knocking off Rainkit and Cloverkit. Dustkit was asleep, so his little paws fumbled with protest as she arose.

"Let's go to my home, okay?" She asked quietly. It wasn't really a question, it was more like an order, but she said it softly like it was a suggestion. Whirlkit nodded drowsily.

The she-cat put all four kits into her back, and she began to tumble around like a badger. The kits laughed, remembering the times they had did it with their mother. But they didn't know that they'd never do it again with their parents.

The she-cat took them through the tall grass and over the hills. Every time they went up on the top of a hill, Whirlkit felt like he was flying. This was where he was meant to be.

Soon they entered a gorge. Whirlkit gasped as he saw what looked like hundreds or thousands of cats! Cats of every shape, color, gender, age, and everything! It was awesome! Rainkit looked scared, but Dustkit and Cloverkit gazed in wonder with Whirlkit.

The orange cat took the kits off of her back. She lined them up side-by-side on the ground. Rainkit crouched down in fear as a big, strong tom started their way. Whirlkit stood up straighter, not wanting to look like as scared as he felt.

"Cherrymoon," The tom said, looking at the orange she-cat, "they will be your responsibility. Do you want them?"

Cherrymoon, their savior, nodded. "Yes, Stormstar," She looked at the kits and smiled her warm, soft smile. "I'll be your mother now." She motioned to the camp with her tail. "Welcome to WindClan, my kits,"