Every cat gasped, from both clans. Everyone knew about Whirlpaw's unknown history, how he was left in the forest to die, along with his littermates. One day, a WindClan warrior found them, and took them back to the clan. Cherrymoon offered to take care of them, as her kits just became apprentices and she still had milk left. No one knew their parents, and no one had spoken of it.

But now...

"What?" Stormstar bristled, legs stiff. "Of course he's not my son!"

Scarletnose looked at Stormstar. She took a deep breath and glared at Vinestar. "Are you so desperate now for attention and power that you'll stoop so low as to lie?"
   
Vinestar's menacing smile returned. "Oh, Scarletnose. You know I'm now lying." He turned to face Stormstar, who's lips were curled. "Tell them about your son,"
   
Stormstar took a deep shaky breath to calm his anger. "For the last time, he is not my son!"
   
Scarletnose rested her tail on her mate's shoulder. "Maybe we should tell them." She whispered into his ear fur.
   
Stormstar nodded and sighed. "He is my son,"

Cats gasped and whispered to each other. Horsepaw's mouth was agape, but Whirlpaw's was even bigger.

"What?!" He snarled. He wasn't very happy. "We haven't you told me?!"

Scarletnose defended her mate. "We wanted to protect you!"

"How is that protecting me?" Whirlpaw cried back to his mother. He broke free of Mistdapple and stopped right in front of his parents.

"We didn't want anyone to know," Stormstar began sadly. "Because we didn't want you to have special treatment. Also, we didn't want you to get in the way of our duties. And we didn't want you to know that you were half-clan."

Whirlpaw snorted. "So you didn't want us after all?"

"No, that's not it!" Scarletnose answered desperately. "I will always love my kits. But I didn't want to go to the Nursery, and Stormstar didn't want you to take up all his time. And we were ashamed that you were half-clan."

"You're sure sounding like good parents right now. And I can't believe a half-clan leader would have kits who were half-clan, and leave them to die in the forest!" Whirlpaw rolled his eyes, and stalked out of RiverClan's camp.

Everyone was speechless.

Except Vinestar. "That went well" He laughed. "Maybe you should have told them earlier." His grin left his face. "Leave my camp, now,"

All the WindClan patrol returned back to their camp without having to be told twice.
   
Dustpaw trudged behind. He was also Stormstar's son, being Whirlpaw's brother. He wasn't taking it to well. He was muttering to himself, and shaking his head as if to dismiss a troublesome thought.
   
Horsepaw decided to talk to him. She fell backwards, behind the patrol and caught up with the apprentice.

"Hi," She mouthed to him.

Dustpaw was looking at the ground.

Horsepaw nudged his shoulder. "Hi," she tried again.

Dustpaw looked at her. "Oh, hello."

Horsepaw instantly felt embarrassed. "I-I just wanted to see if you were okay. You know with all the news and stuff." She saw he was looking at her dully. "I'll just g-go now." She hurried ahead with her head down, and she felt Dustpaw's eyes burning into her fur.
<•>
When the patrol got back, Whirlpaw was already there. He had already spread the news, so every cat was anxiously waiting for their arrival.

"How could you, Stormstar?"

"Half-clan kits?"

"What a shame,"

"Why?"

Stormstar sighed, and jumped on the Big Rock. He stood tall as he announced to the clan: "I am sorry Whirlpaw, Dustpaw, Rainpaw, And Cloverpaw. I would have never done such a thing if I wasn't leader. But I did do it." He hung his head in shame. "Please forgive me, my kits. And especially forgive me, my clan. Do I have my clan's support, even though I went against the warrior code?"
  
For a moment, no cat answered.
   
Then the clearing was lit with voices, good and bad.
  
"We forgive you, Stormstar!"
   
"I dunno..."
   
"You messed up bad,"
   
"I'll always follow you!"
   
Stormstar's head rose. A small smile formed on his lips. "Thank you," He mustered. He looked more regal, and powerful; his gray pelt rippling with muscles.
   
Whirlpaw was sitting down, near the outside of camp. His head was down, and he was shuffling his paws. He didn't speak. He didn't look very forgiving right now.
   
Horsepaw wondered if he ever would forgive his father.