"If anybody's kidnapped our kits I'll shred them myself," growled Orchidblood. "And I fought in the war. They won't want to meet me if I'm mad."
She turned to Hailkit and Firekit. "Guys--I hate to cut this short but you should get back to camp. Grandma and splotchy might be worried by now and there are loners around."
He was circling wider and wider, though once back near Orchidblood he touched a tailtip gently to her shoulder. "And you did admirably there." He praised gently. "But let's hope no more wars are necessary." He nodded to the other two young cats. "Go back with Shinepaw and Troubledkit." Firefight encouraged Firekit and Hailkit.
There was a tiny scrap of fur near Rosemary - cream with a tiny hint of grey in a few strands.
"But I want to help," Firekit complained. "And it's sAfer with y'all."
"Go on please. We'll let you no what happens once we've found the kits." Fireflight insisted, politely but firmly to Firekit.
"Just go back, now that's two warriors giving you orders, please listen," said Orchidblood, putting more sternness into her voice. They needed to listen, especially as it was potentially a very dangerous situation.
Scarredstar perked his ears up, they were talking about him already? "Hello."
Troubledkit heard the padding of paws behind her, and turned her head warily, fearful of kidnapping loners or murderous rogues. But then out of the corner of her eye she saw the familiar red fur, and slowed to let Shinepaw fall into step with her. "Okay, I'll check the nursery and the elder's den, and you check everywhere else, and then we'll meet at the leader's den when we're done, okay?"
"Grandma...Scarredstar!" Orchidblood ran to him, full of emergency information ready to give to him. "Loners have kidnapped two kits! And Troublekit says a third one's missing."
Waterskipper's head spun slightly. "Oh, my goodness...When did they go missing?"
"Today, just before!" cried the black she-cat. "They were right out here earlier playing with Hail and Fire."
Troubledkit glanced back just before entering camp and saw the leader and Waterskipper conversing with a frantic Orchidblood. At least she wouldn't have to notify Scarredstar of her siblings' recent disappearances. Looking forward once again, the kit hurried over to the nursery, hoping that she had just overlooked her sister and that Ginsengkit had been there all along.
"Troublekit Wait!" Orchidblood sighed--she was too late maybe, the kit had already run off.
Returning from the marshes with his cousins, Scorchingpaw padded down towards the river where he saw his family. He promised he would come back, and same with Waterskipper. Seeing Waterskipper, Scorchingpaw quickened his pace towards the stream. Upon seeing the tension, Scorchingpaw looked up to see Scarredstar and Orchidblood in a troubled mood. Bowing slightly to the leader, Scorchingpaw searched for answers. "Is something wrong?! I can help.." Scorchingpaw said polite as ever. He wasn't going to let his family rip anymore. Now that he was an apprentice, he could make a difference...hopefully.
"Three kits are missing, yes," said Orchidblood. "Ginsengkit and two others."
Scorchingpaw stared with horror to his aunt. "What?! I'll help.. We can pull a search patrol together.." Scorchingpaw said now determined to bring back the three kits.
Firekit obeyed and skipped on back to camp.
Scarredstar closed his eyes and swore under his breath. Three kits missing...were these in addition to the one they had failed to retrieve? "Does anybody know anything else about it?"
OOC: Devin's cat took one kit, and the player doesn't want the kit returned...so is that the same? I can't say it's fair to have kits disappear and Scarredstar can't do a thing about it. x3
ooc: No it's not fair. There has to be a logical reason why the kit couldn't be recovered. Spiriting them away to somewhere remote could do it though. Cats are not dogs--they cannot track by scent alone nearly as effectively as canines can.
ic: "Only that they were here, now they're gone, they're--Shinepaw brought them out here earlier and they were here fine, then we smelt loner and they were already gone. I was watching the other two," said Orchidblood, meaning her cousins.
Rosemary lowered her head. "Guys, I think I've found something!" Rosemary yowled, spying the few strands of fur. she couldn't tell whether it was Windclan scent or not. Her sense of smell wasn't that great.
Scorchingpaw kneaded the ground with his paws. He was never a cat to get angry, but this? How could someone stoop so low? Scorchngpaw glared at the ground. He will bring back those kits, and the thieves will pay. "Well? The sooner we search the fresher the scent..." Scorchingpaw said looking up towards his grandma and aunt. Since Scarredstar was here we did not have to waste time tracking him down for permission. Come to think of it, why was Scarredstar here? Well, whatever the reason, Scorchingpaw did not have time to ponder.
Hearing Rosemary, Scorchngpaw padded overto her. He was still learning scents but he could track pretty well.
Orchidblood and Waterskipper walked quickly over to Rosemary. Both looked. Waterskipper gave a gasp.
"That's got to be one of their...their fur," said Orchidblood. "Oh Starclan.."
((OOC| Er. Devin didn't have one of these kits guys - they're all being roleplayed. Froggie, Cindey and Celegra have the missing three. Deadleap, their father, came and carried them to Barley's Barn.))
Shinepaw rushed back behind Scarredstar. "What did you find?" He looked horrified when he saw the strands of hair, even though it was only a few. Cream and grey. "Ginsengkit - she's that colour."
Fireflight was still trying to follow the scent. He paced along angrily. "The kit's scent has disappeared!" He groaned, closing his golden eyes painfully. His pacing carried him closer to the border then he suddenly pressed his nose to the grass, parting his jaws. "Wonderkit! There's just a patch of his scent here, it doesn't lead anywhere - they have to have been being carried. Whoever these loners are, they took them against their will."