• "H...How many?" Inquired a stammered nervous voice.

    The tom's bright green hues wide with wonder... His kits! They were his kits! He just couldn't believe it! Just the thought of it made him giddy, his paws tingled, his tail tingled... All of it tingled! He was a father! A father! He could feel his heart soar as the highest hawk could, he was a father! ...And he was acting just like a first... Which he was. However the litter provided a good bountiful litter... Though that had to be due to the fact that well... His mate was a kitty-pet. However he didn't care! He had freedom from those damn forest cat rules! You see, he was a rogue.

    "In due time my sweet... Perhaps your StarClan will tell me...?" Inquired the female. The rogue just chuffed and tossed his head. StarClan!? Why did he have to tell her kit stories! Now all she did was believe them!

    A soft chuckle slipped past the furry maw of a lovely long fur silver she-cat, her burning orange eyes stared lovingly upon her mate. She like so many kitty pets were well groomed, and beautiful... Though at a price... A very dear price which made, Angel ache so terribly... Her mate was so thrilled to have kits and yet... She couldn't bare telling him the truth... These kittens would not live with her forever... And he, would probably never see them. She had already heard her two-legged people say that they would be leaving once they were wined ...This was her second litter, her first mate had been a prize winning bred-to-a-tee male... A purebred as humans called them. But because of the fact that she had already lost her first litter to greedy two-legs.. She knew this litter would not be accepted... Her people had not yet found out that she was heavy with kits... But the visit to the vet the next day would prove through the typical annual that she was indeed with kits...

    The she cat's eyes hazed over and slowly turned to the night sky, it was beautiful that night and it only made her heart ache even more... Why? She had wondered that question many times... Why had she fallen in love with a wild cat? And why did she bare his kits? ...It was a simple yet hard answer... She loved him, dearly. "StarStriker..." She whispered, the voice coming forth softly.

    "Yes? What is it?" Inquired the pure black tom except for a strange thin line running from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail... It was almost as if stars had grazed his black fur.

    "...If... I asked you... Would you.. Take one with you?"

    "What? I... I don't understand what you're asking me my love... What do you mean? Take... One?"

    "...Nevermind..." The she-cat whispered.

    "You're so full of riddles, it makes me wonder about you... How can you be a kittypet?"

    "The same way.. You are a rogue... It was destined."

    "Hmph, ever since I told you about the StarClan, which I find a load of crock, you've been so obsessed with them."

    "Don't say that... They're not false! I... I can feel them... Each time I stare into the night sky I find myself lost within their beauty... And I wonder... You said that they are warriors... I wonder where us... Kitty-pets go..."

    "You are a warrior in your own way Angel." StarStriker quietly whispered.

    The silver she cat just sighed, somehow... She didn't believe this... her life was so very different from StarStriker's... He could go as he pleased, he could run with the wind... While she was pent up in a house eating two-leg mush... Granted, she didn't mind the food for the most part... But when StarStriker had brought her a tasty finch when he was courting her... It was divine... Why did she have to be born a kitty-pet! Angel's eyes narrowed to bare slits at such thoughts. What a cruel mistress fate was! She was always a 'wild heart' within her litter, always the feisty one ready to play outside while her sisters seemed far too interested in grooming and the glamor which her mother spoke of.

    Moments later the sound of the door opening to the house a distance away was heard. "Here kitty, kitty kitty!" It was one of the few phrases that Angel could understand from the human... Other than "go to vet", "her kittens", "cat show" and of course the most painful of them all, one she didn't quite understand but knew... The kittens would have to go.

    "StarStriker... I.. I must go... Please stay out of sight... If they see you they may do something I would regret them to do." The she-cat whispered and pressed her muzzle against the other's face, nuzzling against him... While he in turn drank in her scent... again he felt giddy... KITS! They were going to have kits!

    "Yes, do not worry my Angel..."

    "Goodbye StarStriker..." And with that, the long furred cat hurried off mewing as she did to alert her kitty-pet owners.

    StarStriker stood with a distant stare upon the two-leg nest that swallowed his love... She was so dainty and pretty and well- to him, she was a living angel. He on the other hand was a rough and gruff rogue... By his earlier actions one would believe that he was a lean and slender tom... No... This cat, was huge... A large black cat with black paws, his fur sable except the single strange star-struck stripe down his body. This creature was a massive tom, and it was clear as to how he could have survived by his mass alone. Though in all honesty, he was a big goofball, sweet natured and as kind as a kitty-pet... But if ever in danger the ferocity of the large puss-puss would turn into something akin to a tiger. With a flick of his tail the feline sighed and vanished into the shadows... He would have to wait again to see his love.

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    Gentle purring sounds and soft mewling noises rumbled at the she-cat's side... Her eyes glazed with exhaustion as she felt the tiny kits she and StarStriker had, were now kneading her no longer swollen belly. She had yet to tell her gentle tom that these kits would not belong to them... That the two-legs would no doubt get rid of them for a low price, and in turn... She would probably see the cutter on her behalf... Her people saw her as tainted by strays... She could not bare another litter in their eyes... The bloodline was ruined... But Angel relished the thought of these kits being her's and StarStriker's... Even if it would be painful for her to let them go...

    Eyes softened as she stared upon the kittens that nestled against her squealing and squeaking. A loving tongue ran against each of their heads. There were only three... Two toms and a little she-cat. The tiniest a little black ball of fur, was a male... A spitting image of his father, save the silver stripe... Instead a silver crescent was upon his chest.. His build would be like his mother's, his pelt like his father's... And no doubt the ferocity of them both... The little she-cat was quite different than both parents, no doubt something from StarStriker's lineage... A ginger feline with two black paws and two white paws, each alternating... Such a strange coloration her build was too... like her mother. As for the last male... He was large, very large compared to kitten standards. He was a silver tom, an exact opposite of his tiny brother, even the same marking was upon his chest... Except black, the tiny moon-shaped crescent upon his chest fur.

    To her, Angel believed that these kittens were gifts from StarClan! They had to be! With their striking colors, especially the two males with the crescent moons... The daughter had her own way, a bright shining sun. Still a gift from StarClan... It was rare for a kitty-pet to even know about StarClan let alone believe in them. But Angel was an odd cat, especially for a purebreed. Soon... She thought... She would have no choice but to tell StarStriker the truth... These kittens could not, and would not be their's...

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    "WHY didn't you tell me sooner!? How... How could you keep this from me!?" An agonized cry left the black tom, one would have thought that this was the she-cat crying... Not a tom.

    "I... I couldn't... It hurt me every time I tried to bring myself to tell you... I'm so sorry..." Angel whispered staring at the black tom that was near tears.

    "...Come... Come with me then! I'll... I'll keep the kits safe and you as well! Please.. Please come with me Angel..."

    The she-cat's gaze slowly shifted. "I cannot... As much as I love StarClan I know I cannot survive out there... I know a kitty-pet life... And I... I would want this for these kits... To go with you more than anything else but..."

    "But their not off of your milk yet." Finished StarStriker.

    "No." The she-cat agreed softly. "And by the time that they are... They will have taken them from me, and for me to just..."

    "Angel... Please come with me..." Begged StarStriker.

    "Oh my love... You can be so naive sometimes even for a rogue..."

    "What's that supposed to mean!?" Snarled the black tom, Angel did not recoil only stare coolly with bright orange eyes, the color of the setting sun. "It means... That you are a sweet father, a first time father... Full of naive wishes that can never be made true."

    The male paused and chuffed his ears flattening, she was so cryptic it was amazing that she was a kitty-pet to begin with.

    "The she-cat..." Angel began quietly. "I want her to go with you..."

    "Wh..what?? Why?"

    "Because I want her to know a life that I could not know." Answered Angel.

    "But why not one of the toms??"

    "Because Crescent is far too tiny and Moon is not one to be a rogue... He is... Different.... Sunshine is far more suited for it..." The she-cat stated... She had given them all names of the stars and the skies, however they were not warrior names, they could never be warrior names. They were the names given from a loving mother, describing her sweet kits.

    "Could... Could you bring them all sometime? I want to see them all Angel, not just Sunshine..."

    The shecat looked thoughtful for a long moment but her expression softened. "When they are old enough... Then I will bring them..." Angel whispered and gently licked the other's head affectionately.

    "I must go... My kittens will be waiting."

    "Yes of course..."

    "Goodbye my sweet tom." With that the feline vanished and StarStriker shuffled his paws. ...It was such a blow to him... But he could only have one kit, but why the daughter? Though the more he thought about it the more he realized... Angel would be closer to him more than ever.

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    "Mom! Mom! Do we really get to see Father now!?" Squealed the ginger-shecat, her yellow eyes glittering.

    "Hmhm, yes my precious Sunshine."

    "Did you hear that? Did you??"

    The tiny black tom hid closer to his mother's side, tightly closing his green hues, his body slightly trembling. "Haha! Crescent is afraid!"

    "I... I am not! Shut up Sunshine!" Squeaked the tiny male. The female kitten giggled and ran circles around both her mother and the little black kitten.

    "Moon..." Angel called out softly.

    Moon, as he was called, silently flicked a single ear toward his mother's direction but remained staring through the window at the stars and moon above. "Moon! I know you heard me!" The she-cat cried.

    "Yes Mother..." The large tom whispered and pushed slowly away from the window lumbering toward his mother and the other two kits. He was a solemn, typically quiet kitten while Sunshine was rambunctious and Crescent so skiddish. He was not one to play like the other two, even Crescent would play most of the time... While Moon spent most of his time staring out of the window at the stars beyond... His orange-red eyes staring upon his mother with knowledge beyond his years, or at least this was how he seemed. After all he was just a mere kit.

    "Don't you want to see your father?" Angel snapped a little.

    "Yes, yes I do... More than anything Mother... I was just... Captured by the moon... Its so beautiful..." The tom whispered.

    Sunshine chirped her annoyance and bit her brother's ear. "You're so weird! You never play with Crescent and I..."

    "I'm not weird, you're weird!" Moon cried and cuffed his sister's head with a gentle large paw. Sunshine squealed and rolled over purposely. "Hehehe... You're so weeeiiiirrrddd~" She drew out ignoring her brother's dark stare.

    "Come now... Come now... Lets go." The mother-cat whispered and took to picking up the tiny kit at her side, Crescent not seeming bothered by it just flicked his tail.

    Beyond the walls of the kittypet house... StarStriker sat, his tail neatly draped over his trembling paws... He would get to see all of his kits... And one of them were promised to him... Apparently it had already been talked over with the kittens. Crescent seemed more ready to remain with his mother while Sunshine was raring to go... She was going to go on an adventure with her father! Her father! ...In all truths he was so much like him it wasn't funny. While Moon remained indifferent. Abruptly his head lifted and eyes squinted the light of the house could be seen through the kitty-pet flap... He could see her... And... And his kits! He jumped for joy, he was going to see his kits~!

    Rushing out of the flap the ginger shecat squealed laughing, it had been their first time outdoors and all the scents and smells were amazing! "Don't run too far." Angel warned through a mouth full of scruff, following her daughter. Behind her... The large silver tom stepped forth... The moonlight bathing him like a StarClan cat... His bright eyes piercing the darkness. Immediately his eyes fell to the sky and a soft gasp left the kit. "Mother... I could fall into the sky!" He whispered... Angel paused and smiled. "So could I, lets go see your father."

    Moments later the small group came to the barrier between the property and the forested area beyond... Bursting past her mother, the ginger-shecat rushed to meet her father... Though skidded to a stop realizing how large he was! Eyes grew wide though she tentatively moved forward bumping her nose out toward the large male... His own eyes wide. This was the shecat? Oh my... She was going to be trouble... He immediately thought.

    "Are... You my Father?" The shecat whispered.

    "Yes... I am StarStriker." Whispered the tom in return, leaning down to nuzzle at the nose that pushed toward him. "Wowwww! You're so big! Moon's big too! Wait till you see him Father!"

    Moments later Angel pushed forth with her tiny package who squealed and writhed within her hold at seeing the large tom. Plopping him down the shecat's paw pushed forth and gently drew Crescent close. "This is your Father he has been waiting a long time for you... Do not be afraid my little Crescent moon..."

    Beside her, Moon stopped his ears pricking forward, he remained stationary and gave a nod toward his father rather than approaching. StarStriker's eyes grew wide as he saw the two toms... Gently padding forward he stopped before Angel... Crescent hiding closer to his mother. "They're beautiful Angel..." He whispered.

    "Yes they are... The one beside you my love," Angel began. "Is Sunshine... This is Crescent... And..." Eyes shifted to the large silver tom kit. "This is Moon."

    "Hello Crescent and Moon..." StarStriker said softly.

    "H-H-hello F-father...?" Crescent squeaked out, StarStriker laughed softly though turned toward his other son.

    "Father." Moon acknowledged and nodded his head a second time.

    "You're so very big, you're sure to grow as big as I am if not more!" StarStriker said with a soft laugh.

    "...Mother said that you're a rogue is that true!?" Sunshine exclaimed.

    "Yes it is..."

    "He doesn't believe in the Stars." Moon said after a moment.

    StarStriker paused and blinked. "I... Do not, do you Moon?"

    "I don't know..." Moon whispered distantly. "You are taking Sunshine tonight?" He asked suddenly.

    "If Sunshine will go." StarStriker admitted.

    "YES! Yes I will!" Sunshine cried. She had already been told that she would get to see her mother sometimes, so it was a great idea! She would get to live in the woods with her Father and see her Mother sometimes.

    The conversations continued, many questions coming from Sunshine and even a good handful from Crescent. Moon remained quiet, no questions leaving him... Only questions from his Father. The moon sailed gently across the skyline till the sound of the kitty-pet's owner was heard. Ears pricked and Angel shot her gaze toward StarStriker and her daughter.

    "You both must go.." She warned.

    "Say goodbye to your mother and your brothers... We will see her again." StarStriker said fondly.

    "Goodbye Mother, I will see you again... Crescent you will grow brave I know you will! Moon... Don't have your head stuck in the stars so much!" Sunshine cried nuzzling each one. ...The twoleg called again and ears flattened upon Angel's head.

    "Goodbye my warm Sunshine, don't grow too big for your fur." She whispered and butted her head against her daughter before leading the two toms away... Crescent waving his tail. "Goodbye Sunshine! Goodbye!"

    Moon's gaze softened. I shall never see her again... I wish... I could... Goodbye my sweet sister... Moon silently thought and gently licked his sister's shoulder before rushing off.

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    Nor would he ever see his brother Crescent again... Time passed, not too much time... Though he begun to realize that their tiny family was not going to remain the same... With Sunshine gone it was less jovial, but his brother was convinced he would see her again... But this sad truth came to Moon through another dream... Saying goodbye to his brother... Which happened a few days later... He said goodbye to his brother for the last time, his Mother distraught however kept herself strong... Despite knowing that she would be going to the cutter. Though days passed and each time a family would come to see him... They were uninterested for some reason... A reason he could not understand... To them, they did not want a big cat, a big cat meant more feeding and well big kittens weren't as cute!

    Because of this reason... Moon felt more on edge as the days passed, as did his mother... And then... That day came... The day when his mother would go to the vet... And he, would be tossed aside like garbage... After all who needed a mixbreed? Two different crates were used, one Moon was within... The other, Angel. His two-legged owners had not named him, had refused to... And now he was shoved in some damn box... But he remained silent, probably one of the reasons why he wasn't accepted into someone's house as a kittypet. His mother however was mewing and crying out, never enjoying such treatment. Soon the pair found themselves stopping... His mother carried off... Meowing for her son... Moon hissing and spitting by this time, what was going on!?

    "Mother! Don't cry! I... I will find you again! I will!!" His last words rang out as the two legged person walked off with his mother's crate while the second person remained in the monster that had consumed him and the two legs before it drove off once more... The drive was long and Moon was finding himself reflecting upon his short life so far... What was going on? ...Something had told him that there was something much greater in store for him than some two leg nest. None the less he was afraid like any kit would be... Where was he going? Some time after, much further than any place he had ever been before... He found the door of the car opening... And a hand reached in grabbing up the crate pulled him and the box out...

    Only to open the crate door and roughly dump him out. The two leg's foot kicked at him and the cat screeched eyes wide. What... What was going on!? His two leg never did that before! Seconds later a stone went flying and the kitten hissed... Rushing off into a bush... The crate, thrown back into the monster, the human followed suit and was gone... Moving back onto the Thunderpath... leaving him there. Slowly he stepped from the brambles and peered around... This world... It was not his world... And despite his size he was as lost and tiny as any kit thrown into such a vicious world. Beyond him lay a world he did not know, the lake-lands.