This is my piece for  WarriorCatMoon335's competition. Thank you very much for letting me join and the (rather long) extension. I hope you enjoy!

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MarshClan

Leader: Tanglestar-- very fluffy golden tabby tom

Deputy: Kestrelfeather-- light brown tom with a white belly

Medicine Cat: Berrybounce-- very old tan she-cat

Apprentice: Stormpaw-- fluffy dark gray tom

Warriors:

Leafstep-- gray tom with white splotches and glowing amber eyes

Pearwhisker-- light gray she-cat with green eyes

Badgertail-- black tom with white stripes and a fluffy tail

Apprentice: Brookpaw-- dark brown she-cat

Silverbelly-- dark gray she-cat with a silver belly

Apprentice: Swanpaw-- small fluffy white and black Siamese she-cat

Petalspots-- beautiful calico she-cat

Robinflight-- brown tom

Apprentice: Mudpaw-- brown tom

Darkwing-- dark brown tom with gray stripes

Poppyspots-- light brown she-cat with gray flecks

Thistledawn-- gray and white she-cat

Apprentice: Icepaw-- almost white she-cat

Mistbreeze-- light gray tabby she-cat

Creampuddle-- fluffy white and black Siamese she-cat

Blossomfrost-- calico she-cat with frosty blue eyes

Cherryblaze-- faint ginger she-cat

Apprentice: Mothpaw-- tan tabby she-cat

Shadetail-- dark gray tabby tom with a black tail

Emberfreckle-- tan tom with ginger specks on his face

Iceface-- light gray she-cat with a slightly lighter face

Maplefall-- light brown and tan, almost gold, she-cat

Vinesnap-- gray tabby tom with short patience

Apprentice: Dustpaw-- light brown tabby tom

Queens:

Splashstep- light brown she-cat with gray feet (mother to Shadowkit, black and gray tom; Mudkit, brown and light brown she-cat)

Willowleap-- Silver tabby she-cat (mother to Patchkit, black and white tom)

Elders:

Froghop-- gray and black tom

Minnowswim-- light gray she-cat

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Willowleap

Being a single mother is hard, especially when your only kit looks exactly like his late father. Everyday is a battle, wondering how your kit's life will be effected with his father gone, or wondering if you possibly could've saved his father. I want the reassuring whispers that our kit will grow up strong, I want the late night love, I want the licks on my face, I want the reason to live.

The night I gave birth to Patchkit was, for sure, the worst night of my life. It was the night of the Gathering, the moon was full, as always. Sharp pains greeted my belly, but I shook them off and tried to wait for Berrybounce, or at least Stormpaw. My kits couldn't wait though, and the pains began to shake my body and ripple my fur. Splashstep soon realized what was happening and helped me give birth, with little herbs because of our small knowledge. Pain blazed my stomach, my head, my life as the first kit slid out. A black and white tom, almost exactly resembling someone... Patchleg. Tears welled in my eyes and forced themselves out, like the next kit. But also like the tears, the kit wouldn't last forever. She was a gray and white mix, with a small frame, but absolutely beautiful. After being licked warm, both kits seemed okay as they suckled at my belly. Though I soon realized something wasn't exactly right with the she-cat. She latched off and heaved for breath, than collapsed. I shrieked, I wailed, I yowled, I died inside. Splashstep, well, the same. I forced my head near her tiny heart and felt no heartbeat. My only she-cat kit had died, and I was forced to watch.

I decided quickly the name the kits, afraid if I didn't name the she-cat soon she'd go into StarClan nameless. I think quickly, and agree with myself on Echokit. I've always thought echos are beautiful happenings of nature, and she with forever echo through my life. The name Patchkit for the tom is probably pretty obvious, after Patchleg, one of the most amazing cats I'd ever meet.

When the cats all came back, Berrybounce and Stormpaw felt awful, but it wasn't their fault. I'm sure Echokit's destiny was to go to StarClan and grow up with her father. I just wish "her growing up with her father" didn't have to be in StarClan, so far away. I couldn't be mad with the wise, starry cats above though, they gave Patchkit life. They can't shape the future, only know it. I know they'll accept Echokit, where she can grow up in joy with her father.

But enough about the past; I need to focus on the future. Patchkit is almost two moons and he's already a rambunctious little tom. He's here, he's there. In the leader's den, in the elders' den, in every den but the nursery! I've been assigned the, seemingly, impossible task of being a single mother by StarClan but sometimes... It's too much. I almost feel ashamed of the kit for being so unruly, but everyone knows he means well.

Tonight, sensing my frustration, Splashstep offers to watch Patchkit, and insisting I go take a walk and maybe lay in a the soothing puddle; which is something frustrated and stressed cats do to feel relieved. Taking a deep breath and whispering good-bye to the other queen and the three kits, I stumble out of the den, feeling the peacefulness of the clan in the night for the first time in moons. Around the corner, Leafstep is grooming himself, sending me a wink as I slink out of the bramble "cave" entrance. Silly tom...

Patchkit

Today my mommy is leaving camp without me, for the first time. 'Ya' know, being a "One-kit" is really sad. I has no one to play with, except Shadowkit and Mudkit, but they is older than me and think I am too small to play with 'em. That's when I go exploring the big... er... dens! I'm still learning words, don't be mean. I get in trouble though, and that makes mommy sad. I try not to but I get so bored! Sometimes I feel like I let her down, but I is trying my best, and that's my best I can do.

It's weird, sleeping with Splashy. She just doesn't feel like mommy. It's weird sharing a nest with other kits, weird not sleeping in our nest, weird not being with mommy. But I know everything will be alright, I love mommy, and so does Echokit and daddy and all of her family in StarClan.

Willowleap

Being so tight and so stressed, thinking of luxurious resting and calm things, I daydream to an extent where I don't even know where I am for a minute. Tripping on a rock that I swear wasn't there, I stumble into a warm puddle and sink in, warmness enveloping my silver fur, but not escaping injury. I clumsily hit my head on a rock. It feels so nice and cozy, I haven't done this since... Since Patchleg... Left.

Scraping, growling, a nauseating odor, fill my ears and my nose straight to the top as I turn my head with caution, greeting a badger face-to-face. I try and stay still, trying to play dead, but it's not as dumb as I hoped. With a swing of a giant paw, claws rip my face, creating the way for blood to drip into the water, sickening my stomach each second I look at it. I screech my heart out, hoping some lousy MarshClan warrior can hear me, before I take on this nasty brute.

Leafstep

 Willowleap walked by, and I managed to wink. She's so beautiful, I wasn't surprised when Patchleg was in love with her too. I bet I was for longer though. The way she walks, talks, breathes, lives! All with such elegance and beauty. The way she takes care of little Patchkit. It's all too much. I may sound creepy, but I am going to follow Willowleap, and figure out what she thinks, about... us.

But it all took a turn for the worst when I hear her screech. I know that voice, it's coated in fear. Thankfully not far, I run as fast as my legs will take me to her, facing a... badger.

Willowleap

Leafstep? Not really the help I wanted, I know he's in love with me, but he was too scared to tell me how he really felt. I don't, didn't, deserve that. Before I yell at him to help me, I smell one more creature that I wish wouldn't exist, and the worst thing that could appear right now, a dog.

"MOVE!" Leafstep shouts, glaring at me with shimmering eyes. I roll over, escaping but the dog, a long-haired one with black and white fur, nudges me even further, then resulting to something I never would have guessed, it licked me. It dragged its huge, wet, slobbery tongue on my cut. I had to have been hallucinating, I mean, a dog licking me and attempting to heal me? Leafstep has enough of the dog and leaps on his back, dragging his claws down its flank.

"Leafstep!" I meow carefully "Don't hurt it too much, I think... I think it was trying to help." He cocks his head and looks at me, but he obediently drops, forcing the dog away back to its twoleg. Leafstep leads be back to the clan, sneaking glances at me the entire time. When will he ever say something? Maybe I like him back. I'm still not sure.

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Thank you guys so much for reading, and Moon for bringing me into the final round! The word count without MarshClan is 1,274 words but with it, it's 1,513 words. I hope everyone enjoyed!