I have Ivypool's Heart!

Poor Whistlepaw. But I can't wait to meet the kits and hopefully everything turns out okay.

I wondered that too, but there aren't any skunks that fit that description (gray back, white stripe on side, black underside). Ivypool also described it as looking a lot like a badger (just with the build of a weasel), and imo skunks don't really look much like badgers beyond surface level coloring, like raccoons.

Makes sense! Idk why cats seeing these signs seems silly to me, but it’s believable

Also, I was imagining a smore for some reason, but that’s very American

Ivypool had spent the intervening day keeping a close eye on the twolegs and their routine. As the wildcats said, the twoleg opens the cages to feed them in the morning and checks on them at evening, but otherwise doesn't interact with them. Ivypool remarks to herself that the place stinks and he clearly doesn't clean them, noting how skinny the animals look. She feels pity for the strange beasts, most of which she's never seen before, and they're all clearly hungry and mistreated. The sight of them makes her feel bad, as she has no way of knowing how to free all of them. Ivypool hopes that after they help the wildcats escape, the twolegs will come to it's senses and does better for the other animals.

Whistlepaw raises on her hind paws and asks if the wildcats are ready. They say they are, but ask if Whistlepaw herself is. She says she isn't sure of anything, but she's as sure as she can be and thinks they deserve to be free. Ivypool mutters she hopes so. Ivypool pads over to Icewing, who is hunched over near the cage with the striped horse and chewing the rope next the ramshackle cage. The white she-cat murmurs she hopes everything goes according to plan. Rootspring and Dovewing are chewing the ropes on other cages, with the animals giving them hostile looks. Ivypool pads past what she thinks is the wolf, and it bares it's teeth at her. She shudders, but pushes forward. The first rays of sunlight emerge from the leaves and slant over the walls. Ivypool signals to her companions, and they all flee into hiding behind a pile of twoleg trash in the corner.

A long time goes by. Or so it feels. The trash reeks in Ivypool's nose. But finally, the sun floods the enclosure, and the twoleg shuffles out of the den with his dog trotting by his side. A pouch is slung over his shoulder while shaking a metal object, clanging loudly. As per her scouting, the twoleg stopped at the wildcat cage first, clicking open the metal gate to feed them. Ivypool gives the yowl, and the Clan cats rush out and start swiping at the dog. It whirls around and begins barking at the cats. Ivypool yowls for them to run, thereby turning the dog's attention to them. The twoleg noticing the commotion, orders the dog to come back, but the dog is too focused on chasing the cats to care, let alone seem to notice. Tumble Leap jumps out of the cage and lands his hulking body onto the twoleg's leg, sending him off-balance. The twoleg flails and screeches as Stalk Purr claws his other leg.

The twoleg screams for his dog again. It finally seems to realize it's owner is calling for it, and reluctantly gives up the chase. The Clan cats then split up to different animals cages; Ivypool to the big furry dog. It growls and snaps at her, looking rather angry. Ivypool can hear it's belly rumbling, clearly hungry. Ivypool hisses at it, leaping at it but not attacking. She wanted to make it angry enough. She then bolts to the twoleg, still on the ground from the wildcats, and takes a small piece of meat from his pouch. She drops the meat just outside the cage barrier. The gray dog growls even more furiousoly and lunges at the mesh, and with a ripping sound, it breaks out, leaping over the barrier and gulping the meat down. Rootspring had just done the same with the weasel-badger. The other animals had seen what was going on, and now trying to break out of their cages too. As they manage to do so, the twoleg gets up on his feet and shouts loudly, bandishing a metal object before accidentally smashing it into the snake cage. The snake hisses and slithers towards him. The twoleg shouts again and runs for his den, his dog behind him.

Ivypool yowls for the Clan cats to run. But then the twoleg comes back out again with a long stick made of some shiny stuff. The gray dog tries to attack him, but the twoleg stabs him with the object mid-leap, sending the dog to the ground. Ivypool wails he killed the dog, and that although it was scary, it was a magnificent animal. She says she got it killed, but Tumble Leap assures her it's not the case, as the twoleg does that if he needs to deal with the animals. He says it's the sleep stick, and the dog will wake up soon. Ivypool sees the dog's motionless body, and isn't sure if that's true. Icewing says they can't worry about that now. Ivypool shakes the guilt away, as Tumble and Stalk surely know more than she does. The cats race to the stone wall, leaping up. Tumble and Stalk are unsure, having never had to jump that high in a long time. Whistlepaw encourages them, as their ancestors believe in them.

To their amazement, the wildcats take a few steps back and make the leap, and gracefully jump up to the wall before landing on the ground. Stalk tells them to quit staring. Ivypool and the others jump down in succession and bolt in the direction of the sun-drown water, the yells of the twoleg and his sleep-stick growing distant. Ivypool takes one last glance at the twoleg den. She can't help but feel bad for the other animals, but hopes that the twoleg won't abuse them any more and they can be free like the wildcats. She tells herself it's not her problem now, as she needs to focus on the quest.

thinking that strange animal is a ferret-badger. seems to fit the bill to me

The Patagonian weasel fits. It looks kinda like a honey badger but with a slimmer “weasel” body.

It’s found in South America though. I’m also not sure if the authors would know about it. Honey badger is widely known.

id.pinterest.com/pin/394909461095124958/

Honey badgers have a stouter face than Eurasian badgers, have a longer neck, and a narrower body. In those aspects, it's more weasel-like

Honey badgers are actually more closely related to wolverines and martens than true badgers, so they do have a more weasel-y anatomy than European badgers (which I imagine is what clan cats are familiar with).

Ivypool can't see anything wrong. Rootspring yowls at them to get back, dragging Whistlepaw into the long grass. The other cats follow, and the familiar roar of a monster comes into Ivypool's ears. As it passes, Tumble says that was impressive to Rootspring, asking how he knew. Rootspring admits it's strange, but he can see the ghosts of the dead who have not yet passed to the afterlife. He gazes to something Ivypool can't see, and says he heard their warning, and they'll cross the thunderpath a different way. Whistlepaw mews the ghosts saved them, and to thank them for her. Rootspring nods to the empty air and issues a thanks.

Tumble says he's never heard of such a power. Rootspring explains he got it from his father, who was born into the Sisters and it's a power they have that can be inherited. Ivypool thinks about how Rootspring found out when he saw the ghost of Bramblestar when the usurper Ashfur took his body. Rootspring explains as much to the wildcats. Rootspring also says it happens more often than he'd like, but it's useful, so he shouldn't complain. Tumble asks why the spirits haven't spread and become one with the elements. Rootspring shrugs, saying he doesn't know why they haven't, but there's plenty of ghosts here now and they're warning them not to cross. The way the thunderpath curves and with how dense the woodlands are, it muffles the sounds of the monsters and the bend prevents the cats from seeing them. The ghosts know of a place further down the thunderpath, and one will guide them to it. Rootspring sets off, following the air. The other cats follow. Ivypool squints her eyes to try and see the ghost, but there's nothing.

They eventually find where the ghost is leading, and after waiting for some monsters to pass, they cross, aiming to find the trail again. Two days later, the cats trudge onward. Ivypool murmurs the place feels so wild, and notes she hears lots of prey hiding in the undergrowth. Icewing asks Whistlepaw if she thinks they're coming to an end to the journey. Whistlepaw nods, saying she thinks the other wildcats are near. Stalk adds she can just sense they're nearby. The daylight begins to fade, and Rootspring leads them through a wide swath of ferns, and they spot some twoleg kits with big, fat sticks with bright lights attached to them. As they watch the twolegs come and go, Ivypool admires the powerful movements of the wildcats. Though they're only a little bigger than Clan cats, they seemed stronger and faster. Stalk's belly had grown bigger, but she never complained once.

The sun dips behind the horizon when the cats emerge from the woods and find themselves at the top of a hill. In front of them, a sharp waterfall cascades down the opposite slope. Beside the river there are outcrops of rocks that would be good for shelter. Dovewing and Rootspring suggest spending the night there, as they should be plenty of prey. But then, a larger group of twoleg kits with the light sticks emerge, pointing their lights at the cats and breaking into loud exclamations. A tall male twoleg steps forward towards the cats, and Ivypool orders them to run. The cats bound down the hill, hearing the twolegs call after them, and even hearing a dog. Ivypool, not paying attention, crashes into a rock. Dazed, she notices it's a rock by the river and she was a few tail-lengths from falling in. Her other companions had made it as well, and the dog and twolegs are moving on. Ivypool breathes out that they're all safe. But as she says this, a gasp of pain comes from Stalk, and she collapses to her side, wailing in pain. She wails that her kits are coming.

Ivypool yowls for Whistlepaw, who is already bounding along to Stalk. Whistlepaw places her paw on Stalk's belly, and determines it's true. Tumble asks if they'll be okay, and Whistlepaw assures him they will be. Whistlepaw mews that they need a better place for the birth to happen, asking her companions to look around. Ivypool eventually finds a gap in some rocks, half-hidden by underbrush and fern but also spacious enough for Stalk and Whistlepaw. They all help Stalk to the rock, and Stalk thanks Ivypool, as it's an improvement over giving birth in the disgusting twoleg cage, but her sentence ends in a wail of pain.

Tumble frets that she'll lose this litter too, but Whistlepaw says she won't. Icewing mews she's had two litters herself, and kitting is a very hard and very painful process. Rootspring awkwardly says he clearly won't be of any use to the conversation and says he'll keep watch for the twolegs, or something like foxes. Whistlepaw turns to Ivypool, Dovewing, and Icewing, asking them to help. She's assisted Kestrelflight with birthings but never done it herself. Ivypool mews of course, but thinks to herself that Whistlepaw could probably do it with no problem, she just lacks confidence. Icewing declares she's going to get some wet moss so Stalk may have a drink, and leaves. Dovewing follows, saying she's going to get a stick for her to bite on.

Coming back, Dovewing remarks about giving birth to her kits in the twolegplace, but luckily Spiresight knew what he was doing and helped her just as well as any medicine cat could. Ivypool says she can't imagine doing that. Ivypool mews that she had Fernsong with her the whole time, and Jayfeather and Alderheart made sure everything went well. As she talks about her kits, a wave of sorrow crashes into Ivypool as she thinks of Bristlefrost. Dovewing blinks sympathetically, saying she was glad to give birth to her second litter within a Clan and how happy they were to meet Birchkit and Rowankit. Ivypool sees Dovewing is also thinking of the kit she lost. Ivypool gives her ear a comforting lick, and says Rowankit knew he was loved.

Icewing comes back with the moss, and Ivypool realizes that Icewing has lost kits herself. She thinks of Beetlewhisker, who like Bristlefrost, no longer exists and Icewing won't ever see him again. Ivypool asks Icewing if she's okay. Icewing sets her moss down, and says she does her best to live her life by honoring his memory, and no cat who was ever kitted who didn't have to deal with some sadness. Ivypool thinks Icewing is very wise, and Icewing seems to have the grieving process all figured out. There's some degree of comfort for Ivypool knowing that she's not the only mother who has lost kits.

Later on, Stalk Purr finally gives birth. First comes a tom, who has the traditional tabby fur of a wildcat. Tumble licks him, and calls him Hunt. Moments later, a she-kit arrives, much longer and skinnier than her brother. Tumble names her Stretch. A third kit comes, but it is motionless. Whistlepaw declares it's a tom, and when the tomkit still doesn't move, she gently clears some stuff from his jaws and licks his fur the wrong way to get the blood flowing. Icewing whispers that the kit can't die, as his name will be Pounce. Whistlepaw is struggling to get the kitten to breathe, and Stalk wails that there's something wrong with her as she's never been able to give birth to a full litter.

Whistlepaw disagrees. In a move that shocks everyone, she grabs the kit by his tail and begins shaking him about. Ivypool is about to reprimand Whistlepaw, but the kitten begins squeaking and flailing his paws. Stalk Purr begins licking him as Whistlepaw sets him down next to his littermates, and she says his name will be Pounce. Stalk looks at Whistlepaw and profusely thanks her.

Ivypool steps away, unable to stop thinking about the three kits reminding her of Bristlefrost. Dovewing comes with her, and confesses that it's making her think of Rowankit and how there wasn't anything they could do to stop him from succumbing to greencough. Ivypool presses comfortingly against Dovewing, and mews gently that it's good they have each other. Dovewing gives an assenting murmur, and Ivypool feels some gratitude that, for better or for worse, they can relate with losing a child and be there for each other.

Too old. She's at least Squirrelflight's age, probably older. She was listed as Reedtail and Skyheart's daughter in Missing Kits. Since the new team has canonized a lot of that project, including ReedxSky, she was likely born either right after the BloodClan battle or the beginning of TNP in one of their two litters.

Ivypool pads along the lakeshore, past the horseplace, toward the RiverClan border. She can just vaguely see another cat, and as she grows closer, she recognizes Icewing. Reaching the border stream, she's surprised that the scent markers are faint and stale. The stream itself is nothing more than a trickle, while clots of blood lodged in the stones of the riverbed. The waterside plants are drooping, their leaves splattered with dark red drops. Ivypool wonders where so much blood came from. Icewing and Ivypool cross the stream towards the RiverClan camp. Upon reaching it, Icewing stands in the middle of the camp, frozen in horror.

Ivypool spots the flayed body of Frostpaw at the edge of the riverbed. Half her body on the shore, half in the river, almost about to be swept away. As Icewing approaches, Frostpaw raises her head and screams "Too late!" before her head falls back and the light from her eyes die. Icewing wails "no!", and the screams echo around the whole camp.

Ivypool awakes with a jerk. Soon, the other cats stir around her. Rootspring sits up and shakes his pelt, remarking he had a bad dream. Ivypool asks what it was about. Rootspring recounts the dream, exactly as Ivypool herself experienced. Dovewing and Ivypool confirm they had the same one, though Ivypool says she didn't see Rootspring there. The four cats then try to find Icewing, who isn't in her nest. They see her sitting on a rock jutting out of the stream. As they approach, Icewing mews with sorrow and anger that her Clan is gone, and she shouldn't have come on the quest knowing they needed her. Rootspring tells her that it was just a dream, and it may not represent anything beyond that. Icewing turns her head, surprised he knows about her dream.

Whistlepaw explains what they all experienced, and Icewing sadly huffs that it must be true then, as it came from StarClan. Whistlepaw insists it may be their way of trying to tell them not to give up hope. Rootspring suggests it's what might happen if they don't repay the debt. Icewing seems to contemplate what they're saying, then meows huskily then it's time to find the other wildcats.

In the morning, the Clan cats do their best to push aside the horrors of the dream, and helping Stalk care for her kits is certainly helping. But at the same time, Ivypool can't help but think of Bristlefrost when seeing the three kits. And she's sure Dovewing and Icewing must feel the same about their lost kits. Icewing and Rootspring had gone off to hunt, and Stalk tells Ivypool that she understands why the Clan cats urged her and Tumble to escape, and thanks her again for helping. Tumble adds that they're thankful they talked to Galestar, and he can't wait to present their kits to the ancestral spirits to receive their full names. Whistlepaw asks him to elaborate, and Tumble explains that the kits only receive the first half of their names from the parents. When they're presented to the ancestors, and depending which ancestor they seem to be connected to, they get the second part of their name.

As time passes on, Ivypool grows antsy. Icewing, having returned from hunting, says they need to plan their next steps. She says the kits are beautiful, but they don't have enough time to wait for them to be fully weaned, apologizing to the parents if it seems harsh. Tumble says not at all, and he appreciates all the help they've being given. Tumble says he is worried about the kits' safety, and suggests sending two cats ahead to try and find the wildcats and modern descendants of StormClan; that way, the quest can continue without risking the health of Stalk or the kits. Ivypool immediately says it's a good idea, and offers to go. Icewing says she will too, to keep her mind off things. Dovewing says she'll stay with Whistlepaw, as she's raised two litters and Whistlepaw is needed to make sure they're all healthy. Rootspring says he'll protect the kits if anything happens to them. Ivypool takes Dovewing aside and asks if she's okay beind around the kits, as they might remind her of Rowankit. Dovewing insists not at all, and they don't look like him at all. She whispers that she feels fine taking care of the kits, and perhaps it means she's healing.

Tumble admits to Ivypool and Icewing that he's unsure about being a father, since the other chances have been taken from him. Ivypool assures he'll be fine since he clearly adores them and Dovewing will be around to help. Stalk wishes them luck, and prays to the ancestors to watch over them. Ivypool and Icewing set off on their own, and Icewing confides that she's very worried about Splashtail. She mews that she thought Splashtail was just a young cat with ambition. What young cat doesn't have ambition? But because of their desperation, they've handed power to the wrong cat and now it looks like the Clans will suffer for it.

Ivypool insists that Splashtail will get what's coming to him. Icewing mutters she hopes so. She wants to bring RiverClan back to what it was under Mistystar's leadership. She hopes that Sunbeam, Nightheart, and Frostpaw are able to keep Duskfur and Mothwing safe. Ivypool is surprised Icewing sounds so upset, as she's normally very stoic and resolved. Ivypool realizes that her own grief has blinded her from the suffering of others around her. Ivypool tells Icewing that if she needs to rant to a sympathetic ear, then Ivypool is there for her. Icewing thanks her, but right now, she wants to focus on finding the wildcats. Not just for Stalk and Tumble, but for RiverClan too.