Guys i figured it out
Dappletail, in the original arc was stated to have a deaf kitten in her first litter. But we never see these litters, as well as in Spottedleaf’s Heart it is inferred she is infertile. We see on the family tree and the wiki, she had two kits. Featherkit, a deaf white kitten with blue eyes, and Cricketkit, a blue-gray kit. But Runningwind is said to be the father of these kittens.
In the same line that references infertility, it states that her and Stormtail are close, as also shown by every book during that time period.
Now what if, Stormtail broke the warrior code, much like Bluestar, and had his kittens brought to him. But also like Bluestar and Snowfur, he doesn’t want anything to do with fatherhood. He brings the kittens to Dappletail, claiming it was a surprise early pregnancy, but just leaves them with her. This would explain Cricketkit’s blue-gray coat. Now, like Thrushpelt did, Runningwind steps in to take care of Dappletail’s new kittens for as long as they last. This could make sense for the inference of this being her “first litter”.
Dappletail and Runningwind were adoptive parents, taking in kittens when they didn’t have any family alive or in attendance.
