[ti]Private[/ti]Right or Wrong, I can Hardly Tell.

[Mama]

His kits- She had his kits. And where were they? News spread quickly, and he could smell her scent, and a mix of both, on the border. But he'd never laid eyes on a single one, never got to name them.. never said goodbye.

The tom had been relentlessly standing at the Mistclan border, determined to speak to Sablestar about this. He'd understand, right? He was a father, and one with kits in different clans. He'd let the kits go back to Rootclan, be raised with their father, the only cat who'd understand their struggles and how out of place they were... right?

His tail twitched nervously behind him, a serious look on his expression while his nose twitched for any signs of a patrol, or even just Sablestar, incoming. Eventually, he started to move around, paws going numb as they fell asleep from standing in a spot for far too long.

He just wanted his family, his kits. Starclan, please, let there be enough mercy for them to join Rootclan. Where they belonged. Where no cat, absolutely no cat, would hurt them for something that they hadn't done.

[mewmehh]

It hadn’t been long before Mistclan patrols picked up the familiar scent of Halfshade at the border with Rootclan. After all, one couldn’t possibly forget the scent of a clanmate, former or not. And it wasn’t surprising since all in Mistclan were now aware of Petaldawn’s kitting and passing, and it was easy enough to assume the hybrid tom had likely been the father. Thus, when word returned to Sablestar’s ears that said warrior had been spotted just outside Mistclan’s territory, the ruddy leader huffed and shook his head with a knowing look. He absolutely knew what the tom had come for. And Sablestar also knew what his decision would be.

With Saltweed at his flank and a few more warriors following behind, the tabby leader bounded off across the territory towards the Rootclan side. His paws twitched in slight anticipation, but otherwise Sablestar looked firm. His amber eyes were stern and fixed, deadset in their decision and enforced by his newly-returning strength. Prey seemed to have started running again now with the nuts all dropping, and like the sunlight reflecting on the colorful leaves of Leaf Fall, Sablestar shown as brilliantly and red as the night he earn his nine lives. His vigor was back!

As the Mistclanners approached the hybrid warrior, Sablestar raised his cream tail. He wanted to at least respect the young tom’s privacy. These were family matters, after all. Proceeding as Saltweed and the rest stilled their steps, the ruddy warrior cat padded over to meet Halfshade. Stopping a couple of tail lengths away, he flicked his tail and greeted the warrior, head still high, ”Halfshade, you’re encroaching on Mistclan territory. Were you aware?”

[Mama]

The scent of a patrol soon started to drift thought the air, and Halfshade's heart was pounding with excitement and anticipation. Would any of the kits, perhaps, look like him? He doubted that, but they'd likely be around the same size as him! Did any have Petaldawn's blazing pelt? Or, perhaps, they got mixed up and came out all sorts of colors? Oh, he hoped he could at least see them, even if he couldn't name them. That's all he wished for, was to be able to hold them close, tell them how much they meant to him...

He had to keep a serious face. It was so hard to do so, even if he was used to it, and Halfshade felt as if he'd be ready to get down and beg just to be with them. There seemed to be a patrol, and with Sablestar at the head of it, he knew that the news must have passed already. The tom did have enough respect to pause the patrol a distance away, granting them privacy. Even if he wasn't a fan of Mistclan, they were still much more polite then he'd seen the other clans behave. If things ended up differently, then maybe he wouldn't be here, asking about his own kits which were in another clan. He'd be with them already.

"Fully. I'm certain you know why I'm here already, though." Halfshade stated with a nod, making sure he was about a taillength from the border when he sat, so there would be no conflict over that. His intention wasn't to fight or cause war over this. He'd just like to keep the situation.. as civil as he could. And by sitting down, he also was a lot shorter, and more at the other's eye level.

"First, may I ask.. are they all alright? I'm aware of what happened to... Petaldawn. But the kits, are they at least okay?" His voice lowered to a whisper, clearly trembling with the statement as he tried to keep the tone without emotion slipping in. But it was too hard to not. He was too worried about them, and just needed to know that they were fine.

[mewmehh]

Sablestar sighed as he listened to Halfshade’s fragile words, watching as the taller warrior sat to meet eye levels. It was more difficult than Sablestar anticipated, taking note of every wobbly vocalization and tone shift. I knew that if the positions were switched, he would have done the same. No, instead, he actually had the power to reclaim his kin. He had the means to make up for his mistakes- not that he’d ever call any of his dear daughters mistakes. No, rather the mistakes were Mistclan blood with others. He kept his kits close so they remained safe from any unjust persecution. But as clan leader, that responsibility was extended to everyone else too. These kits would live safely and soundly.

Leveling his gaze, Sablestar curtly replied, ”They are well, Halfshade. Our queens are caring for them as diligently as their very own. You need not worry.” Screwing up his face, he squinted a bit at the spotted tom and his amber eyes flashed. ”What did you think you’d accomplish by coming here? If you wish to meet them, I can at least grant that.” The golden scrutiny of the Mistclan deputy’s gaze was scalding hot.

”Let’s not act rashly, yes?”

[Mama]

There was a sigh of relief from the hybrid. They were fine. They were... alright. For now. The words weren't enough to fully relieve his worry, however, it did help numb the sting slightly.

"I'd like to meet the kits. However, I'd like even more for them to return to Rootclan with me." Halfshade stated, sending a glance towards the deputy, and then back to the leader. This wasn't his conversation, this was simply his and Sablestar's. But, these kits weren't simply Rootclan kits, and had half Mistclan roots. Bringing them all into Rootclan wouldn't be fair whatsoever, considering the mother was from Mistclan. The mother, poor, beautiful Petaldawn.

He never.. intended to break the code. But he wouldn't dare call the kits mistakes. They didn't deserve that, even if Petaldawn saw her previous litter as that, he'd always know that those kits belonged. But they also deserved to know him, meet their father, and not be raised parent-less.

"However... I understand that's unlikely. Petaldawn is of Mistclan, and it would be unfair to rip the kits away from Mistclan." The tom started, giving a pause. Rootclan had Mothclan to worry about.. would the kits be safe with him, truely?

"I'd like to make a deal. Twice a moon, I can see the kits, until they're 12 moons of age. I will not eat or catch any of the Mistclan prey, and if you wish to, you may have a cat escort me to keep an eye. I won't dare hurt them, or try and take them away." Halfshade stated, his tail curling around his flank. The deal seemed fair to him. He'd get to see, and help raise the kits, and Mistclan would receive fine warriors. Rootclan wasn't safe right now, but they were sure to see future warriors. Even... even if they weren't of his bloodline.

[mewmehh]

Sablestar squared his shoulders as he waited for Halfshade’s yammering to cease, a frown forming on his face. With a small huff, his frown deepened and brows knitted closely together. ”You’re in no place to bargain, son.” From beneath his scowl, amber eyes glowed fiercely. ”A warrior never bargains with his kits’ lives. Bargaining belongs to the rogues.” Sweeping his tail around, Sablestar sat with a thud; he wasn’t afraid of having to look up to the Rootclan warrior.

”If you had any intention of being in these kits’ lives, you would sit up, shut up, and accept what their leader offers you. The Warrior Code mentions ‘The word of the Clan leader is the warrior code.’ I don’t specify which leader or Clan. I’d expect the same respect you’d show Screechstar. I am the leader of your kits.”

”I will allow you two visits to Mistclan camp- first, this moon. To meet them, learn their names. Second, you may return to congratulate them on earning their warrior names. That is what I offer you.” He paused for a response, but quickly gave a hearty oh? and added warmly, ”Oh, and any Gathering where you cross paths is fine. Starclan knows that’s the only time I ever get to see my girls.”

Standing back up, he dipped his head a little in beckoning. ”Now then. What will you choose? Don’t you wish to meet your kits?”

[Mama]

Halfshade's throat tightened up as the leader spoke again. He.... he wouldn't get to raise them. The family he always wished for. He wouldn't be a part in their life, and they wouldn't know him at all. Would Murkdusk and his kits hurt them? Would Mistclan even accept them in? He wasn't even sure if his own former siblings wanted anything to do with the kits, and if so, would it be a good, or bad thing?

But.. it was better then nothing.

"A-alright." He stated after a moment, before taking a shaky inhale. "That's... that's fair."

Even though he knew it wasn't. It would never be. Sablestar had his own kits, Mistclan had their kits. Why couldn't he even see his own more often? He wanted to cry, let the tears run down his cheeks and his claws dig into the ground or shred apart a tree. But he remained still. Trying to keep his calm.

"Can I at least name them?"

[mewmehh]

”Smart lad,” the leader meowed as he slowly turned back to his patrol, his thick cream tail beckoning. Sablestar half wondered if he had expected Halfshade to put up more of a fight, but then again, he, too, melted at the mention of his own kits. He simply wished to give the young tom a little more credit than before.

As he reached Saltweed’s side, he announced curtly, ”Halfshade will be accompanying us back to camp to meet Petaldawn’s kits. He will be escorted back by two warriors at sunset. Relay that back to Dogear, would you?” Glancing back to the tom, the spotted cat’s question registered in his head after a moment. He cocked a little smirk and mused, ”Well, that’s up to the queens. After all, you never know if something already sticks.”

The concept of his most mild-mannered daughter arguing with Halfshade over naming rights had Sablestar wanting to roll in laughter. Even as docile as she was in adulthood, she still had the same fiery spirit as the reach of his daughters. It seemed to be the curse of Sablestar’s line for all the she-cats to be unruly and stubborn zealots. He wished for his own sake that those born of the hybrid’s blood were more manageable.