The Bearer Of Bad News {Open}

Danwpaw froze as she heard the commotion outside. Stepping out of the apprentices den, she rushed up to her mother. "What? S-smokeface is gone...?!" Her expression was one of sorrow mixed with shock. She ignored her mother saying it was her fault. It couldn't have been.
Besides, no matter what happened, she would support her mother to the very end. Glancing around her, she saw siblings (or so she assumed, since they were calling Morningfog their mother) and gave a quizzical look. She'd never met these siblings - they didn't look like Smokeface. Were they from.... another tom? Why had she never been introduced to them?
"Morningfog? Who...?" she looked at the kits with a curious expression before glancing back at her mother. She couldn't believe her father was gone. He couldn't have gone, right? He'd be back, wouldn't he?

Morningfog looked at Dawnpaw, hopelessness filling her even more. She wanted to say, to explain fully why she had driven off the father of her first two litters and where the third arrived from. "I-I... I can't say, Dawnpaw. I'm sorry..." her voice broke. She laid with Yellowkit and the others, holding him between her soft paws and grooming his fur. "I wish I could, dear. I just... can't." looking at the large litter that now had no father and the adopted kits she had instantly taken in without hesitation, she grew panicked. How would she raise them all by herself?

Dawnpaw frowned, but said nothing. She pressed closer to her mother, nuzzling her side. She didn't press her mother to tell her because it was clear Morningfog didn't want to - or as she said, couldn't. Though it was a disappointing answer, Dawnpaw lay down beside her and looked into her eyes. "If you ever feel like telling me.... please do." She insisted, then looked down at the kits snuggled up at her mothers side. "Do you need help looking after them?" she asked, wanting to do all she could to help. Of course, she couldn't give milk or anything like that, but she could do whatever else her mother needed help with.

"That would be great, Dawnpaw.. Thank you so much." she smiled at her daughter. Morningfog's whiskers twitched as a slight hint of a smile broke her muzzle. Palekit, Yellowkit, Applekit, and Bouncekit would be welcomed at least by Shellwater's kits and Dawnpaw. There was hope.

"The others are sleeping but, Yellowkit's still awake." she meowed, looking down at the tom-kit. "Hopefully he and his siblings won't be too much trouble for the clan." she purred deeply.