Post by Rainy on Nov 29, 2009 19:31:32 GMT -6
Leafpool sighed, flicking away the scraps of a mouse with her tail. She would take it out and bury it later, but right now she had to prepare a poultice. Mousefur's joints were aching again. Her stomach growled although she had just eaten. Besides, it was leafbare, she was lucky to have eaten at all! The rest of her Clanmates were getting thinner, their ribs beginning to show. But Leafpool remained round and sleek. It was a miracle they hadn't figured it out yet. But her secret wasn't safe yet. It would never be...
~~
Squirrelflight stepped out of the warriors' den into the cold, frosty air. White flakes were falling again, covering the already blanketed ground. The ginger she-cat looked up, and a snowflake came down and kissed her right on the nose. She hissed and shook her head, her fur fluffing up against the cold. It was shortly before dawn and she needed to go hunting. By the looks of it, she was the first cat up... no, the second. Pawsteps had appeared in the fresh snow, a path from the medicine cat's den to the gorse tunnel. Squirrelflight's pelt prickled with concern. The pawprints looked hurried, the spaces wide apart and snow flung about. Something was wrong with Leafpool. Squirrelflight fought through the snowdrifts and leaped over the mounds of snow, blundering her way through the clearing. She HAD to find her sister. What could it be? Was someone sick? Did Leafpool really expect to find any herbs underneath the snow? Her heart clenched. Was this about Crowfeather? Although noone talked about it, the secret of Leafpool's relationship with the WindClan warrior had seriously affected the Clan. They were all nice to her and respected her for her duty to StarClan and healing the Clan, but there was an awkwardness about it that was unspoken but felt by everyone. But that was the past. The Clan had to get past it and move on into the present. The secret was out, and that was the end of it.
By now Squirrelflight had reached the old twoleg nest, where the snowy pawprints had let to. She couldn't help a feeling of relief that Leafpool hadn't gone to WindClan. Her ears pricked, hearing a faint cry.
"Leafpool!" she yowled. and rushed forward, bursting into the doorway of the nest.
The tabby medicine cat was curled in the far right corner of the nest, her back to her sister. The small cries were louder here, and urgent. Something was wriggling, and there was a warm, new scent in the air.
Leafpool's head snapped around, hearing the crunch of pawsteps in the snow. "Squirrelflight!" she gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to find you. What's wrong? I saw the pawprints in the snow and smelled you scent." Besides that, Squirrelflight had felt her sibling's stress. The special connection between the two sisters was unique. If one cat's emotions wre strong enough, the other could feel it. And Squirrelflight had picked up a mingling of emotions that were not her own: pain, fear, and an unusual flicker of love...
The reflection of those emotions was in Leafpool's amber eyes. "I... I need your help," she whispered in a low voice. Squirrelflight crossed the large space of the nest, to stand beside her sister. Her pawsteps were heavy. She KNEW something big had happened, something that would alter Thunderclan history forever. And it was all Leafpool's fault. SHe stopped beside Leafpool, and looked down. Curled beside the tabby she-cat's belly were three kits.
"Where did you find them?" Squirrelflight asked, her voice unusually hard. Leafpool flinched and she felt a stab of guilt. But she prayed they weren't Leafpool's...
"They are mine, Squirrelflight... and Crowfeather's."
The ginger warrior gasped. Crowfeather's kits? Now Squirrelflight surged with a flood of emotions, nearly drowning Leafpool. "Oh Leafpool, how could you? What are we going to do now?"
Leafpool hissed, a wave of fury sweeping over her now. She had changed a lot since the moons of leaving Crowfeather and the death of her mentor, Cinderpelt. "Of course I didn't plan on it! It just happened! I haven't spoken to him since the badger attack!" She shook her head. "I'm sorry. But I'm not giving them up either. They are my kits, and their birth isn't their fault."
A thought was forming in Squirrelflight's mind. If Leafpool wouldn't give them up... Well she was right about one thing. ThunderClan couldn't give up three potential warriors. But could Squirrelflight pull off her part? She winced at the thought of being a mother. "Give them to me."
"What?" Leafpool stared at her, clearing confused and surprised. "What are you..." She stopped, the thought clicking.
"I will say they are mine and Brambleclaw's."
"Are you going to tell him?" The medicine cat mewed warily.
"No," Squirrelflight decided. "The less cats that know, the better. And hopefully he will never find out."
"But what if..."
"These kits will freeze to death," Squirrelflight interrupted. "Let's get back to camp so they can meet me new kits." Her voice sounded weak and feeble. She closed her eyes. She would have to convince the Clan.
"Squirrelflight, I can never thank you enough. For my sake, as well as my kits. Er, your kits."
"Just think of all the pain you are saving me. I didn't have to go through the birth."
Leafpool winced, rising to her paws. "You're telling me." She looked at her kits, two toms and a she-kit. Her amber eyes were warm with love.
"Are you going to be okay?" Squirrelfligh asked, touching her nose to her sister's shoulder.
Leafpool jerked, knocked back to the present. Her tone was brisk, "Oh yes, I'll feel better after a good night's..."
"No, not about that. Can you handle watching another she-cat raise your own kits?" Squirrelflight gazed into Leafpool's eyes, compassion in their green depths.
Leafpool looked away. "Squirrelflight, I know you better than anyone. You will be a fine mother, no matter what you think about yourself. Besides, I don't have a choice. Well, I do, but I'm too selfish. I love being a medicine cat too much to give it up to raise my kits."
"You're not selfish!" Squirrelflight hissed. "I mean, well, you're putting your Clan before your kin, but the Clan needs you! We would be doomed without you. And I promise, your kits will be well-cared for. And in a way, this is the best thing you could do for your kits. If the Clans knew they were a medicine cat's kits, no one would want them or trust them."
Leafpool's eyes widened with fear. Obviously she hadn't thought of that. The consequences were too great... but if they were careful, they could pull this off. Noone would ever know, not even the kits. The truth would remain hidden in the hearts of two sisters. "You're right. We can do this, Squirrelflight. I hate lying to everyone, but it's for the best."
She glanced once more at the kits, struggling not to feel for them. They weren't hers, they couldn't be. Who knew this could be so hard? StarClan was asking her again to forsaken love for her Clan... the love of her kits.
"I must return to camp. I will... I will say your kits came early. We weren't expecting them so soon, so we didn't move you into the nursery. This will be quite a shock to everyone, but... you wanted it to be a surprise. They are too small to move right now. Keep them warm, I will get Brambleclaw to make a nice nest for you. In a quarter moon or so, they should be a little stronger, enough to bring them home."
"A quarter moon?!" screeched Squirrelflight. "I have to stay out here in the snow and cold fo a quarter moon, with kits."
"Remember, you're a mother now," mewed Leafpool, forcing amusement into her tone. But the amusement barely veiled her grief, as she set off into the snow, broken and alone once more...
~~
A full moon had passed. Squirrelflight watched the three kits suckle, curled up against Ferncloud's belly. Since "her milk hadn't come", the two nursery queens Daisy and Ferncloud had happily agreed to take turns feeding the kin of Firestar's kin. Brambleclaw twined his taill with his mate's, his amber eyes glowing with pride. He had been so happy when Leafpool came back, snow-covered and exhausted, and announced Squirrelflight had given birth to three kits. It was rather sudden and he was a bit hurt she hadn't told him she was expecting, but he accepted the excuse of wanting it to be a surprise, and forgiven her. He came by the nursery everyday, bringing the queens fresh-kill to war, reassuring Squirrelflight she was still just as much of a great mother despite not being able to feed her own kits. He knew they would grow up into brave, strong kits, and be noble guardians of ThunderClan.
Leafpool came around almost as much as he did. She brought borage for the queens, and had been there for the naming of the kits. The day Squirrelflight returned to camp, three kits in tow, the Clan had been there to welcome her and the new Clanmates. Brambleclaw teasingly called his mate a mouse-brain for going hunting in so cold of weather and so close to giving birth. She ducked her head, embarassed, and said she didn't think there would be born so soon. The family settled into the nursery, the three kits sleeping in the crook of Squirrelflight's belly. She looked a bit awkward, but already her green eyes glowed with love.
"What about names?" Brambleclaw asked, sitting beside her, their pelts touching.
"What about Hollykit for the black she-kit?" mewed Squirrelflight after a moment of thought. Ferncloud's eyes glowed. Her own Hollykit had died many moons ago after a famine. It made her feel a little better to see one of Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw's kits named after her daughter.
"It's a beautiful name," murmered Brambleclaw. "Okay, and what about Lionkit for the golden tabby tom? He looks strong and tough already. I'll bet he's going to be a brilliant fighter. And after Lionheart, Goldenflower's brother."Squirrelflight nodded in approval. Hesitantly she turned to Leafpool, who had stood nearby watching the whole thing, still as a statue. "What do you think, Leafpool? Are they good names? Any suggestions for the gray tabby tom? He's so tiny!"
Leafpool thought fot a long moment and announced, "I think he should be Jaykit."
Squirrelflight nodded and looked down at Leafpool's, no... HER kits. Hers and Brambleclaw's. They were perfect. "Welcome to ThunderClan, Lionkit, Hollykit, and Jaykit."
Leafpool dipped her head. "I should go now." She turned away, forcing her paws to carry her across the clearing. She wanted to curl into a ball and be left alone. Her heart felt crumbled and stomped on. But it had to be this way. For the all of their sakes'. "StarClan, are you still with me?" she whispered, back in her den. "They must never find out. Or ThunderClan will be destroyed, and it will be all my fault!"
~~
Squirrelflight stepped out of the warriors' den into the cold, frosty air. White flakes were falling again, covering the already blanketed ground. The ginger she-cat looked up, and a snowflake came down and kissed her right on the nose. She hissed and shook her head, her fur fluffing up against the cold. It was shortly before dawn and she needed to go hunting. By the looks of it, she was the first cat up... no, the second. Pawsteps had appeared in the fresh snow, a path from the medicine cat's den to the gorse tunnel. Squirrelflight's pelt prickled with concern. The pawprints looked hurried, the spaces wide apart and snow flung about. Something was wrong with Leafpool. Squirrelflight fought through the snowdrifts and leaped over the mounds of snow, blundering her way through the clearing. She HAD to find her sister. What could it be? Was someone sick? Did Leafpool really expect to find any herbs underneath the snow? Her heart clenched. Was this about Crowfeather? Although noone talked about it, the secret of Leafpool's relationship with the WindClan warrior had seriously affected the Clan. They were all nice to her and respected her for her duty to StarClan and healing the Clan, but there was an awkwardness about it that was unspoken but felt by everyone. But that was the past. The Clan had to get past it and move on into the present. The secret was out, and that was the end of it.
By now Squirrelflight had reached the old twoleg nest, where the snowy pawprints had let to. She couldn't help a feeling of relief that Leafpool hadn't gone to WindClan. Her ears pricked, hearing a faint cry.
"Leafpool!" she yowled. and rushed forward, bursting into the doorway of the nest.
The tabby medicine cat was curled in the far right corner of the nest, her back to her sister. The small cries were louder here, and urgent. Something was wriggling, and there was a warm, new scent in the air.
Leafpool's head snapped around, hearing the crunch of pawsteps in the snow. "Squirrelflight!" she gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to find you. What's wrong? I saw the pawprints in the snow and smelled you scent." Besides that, Squirrelflight had felt her sibling's stress. The special connection between the two sisters was unique. If one cat's emotions wre strong enough, the other could feel it. And Squirrelflight had picked up a mingling of emotions that were not her own: pain, fear, and an unusual flicker of love...
The reflection of those emotions was in Leafpool's amber eyes. "I... I need your help," she whispered in a low voice. Squirrelflight crossed the large space of the nest, to stand beside her sister. Her pawsteps were heavy. She KNEW something big had happened, something that would alter Thunderclan history forever. And it was all Leafpool's fault. SHe stopped beside Leafpool, and looked down. Curled beside the tabby she-cat's belly were three kits.
"Where did you find them?" Squirrelflight asked, her voice unusually hard. Leafpool flinched and she felt a stab of guilt. But she prayed they weren't Leafpool's...
"They are mine, Squirrelflight... and Crowfeather's."
The ginger warrior gasped. Crowfeather's kits? Now Squirrelflight surged with a flood of emotions, nearly drowning Leafpool. "Oh Leafpool, how could you? What are we going to do now?"
Leafpool hissed, a wave of fury sweeping over her now. She had changed a lot since the moons of leaving Crowfeather and the death of her mentor, Cinderpelt. "Of course I didn't plan on it! It just happened! I haven't spoken to him since the badger attack!" She shook her head. "I'm sorry. But I'm not giving them up either. They are my kits, and their birth isn't their fault."
A thought was forming in Squirrelflight's mind. If Leafpool wouldn't give them up... Well she was right about one thing. ThunderClan couldn't give up three potential warriors. But could Squirrelflight pull off her part? She winced at the thought of being a mother. "Give them to me."
"What?" Leafpool stared at her, clearing confused and surprised. "What are you..." She stopped, the thought clicking.
"I will say they are mine and Brambleclaw's."
"Are you going to tell him?" The medicine cat mewed warily.
"No," Squirrelflight decided. "The less cats that know, the better. And hopefully he will never find out."
"But what if..."
"These kits will freeze to death," Squirrelflight interrupted. "Let's get back to camp so they can meet me new kits." Her voice sounded weak and feeble. She closed her eyes. She would have to convince the Clan.
"Squirrelflight, I can never thank you enough. For my sake, as well as my kits. Er, your kits."
"Just think of all the pain you are saving me. I didn't have to go through the birth."
Leafpool winced, rising to her paws. "You're telling me." She looked at her kits, two toms and a she-kit. Her amber eyes were warm with love.
"Are you going to be okay?" Squirrelfligh asked, touching her nose to her sister's shoulder.
Leafpool jerked, knocked back to the present. Her tone was brisk, "Oh yes, I'll feel better after a good night's..."
"No, not about that. Can you handle watching another she-cat raise your own kits?" Squirrelflight gazed into Leafpool's eyes, compassion in their green depths.
Leafpool looked away. "Squirrelflight, I know you better than anyone. You will be a fine mother, no matter what you think about yourself. Besides, I don't have a choice. Well, I do, but I'm too selfish. I love being a medicine cat too much to give it up to raise my kits."
"You're not selfish!" Squirrelflight hissed. "I mean, well, you're putting your Clan before your kin, but the Clan needs you! We would be doomed without you. And I promise, your kits will be well-cared for. And in a way, this is the best thing you could do for your kits. If the Clans knew they were a medicine cat's kits, no one would want them or trust them."
Leafpool's eyes widened with fear. Obviously she hadn't thought of that. The consequences were too great... but if they were careful, they could pull this off. Noone would ever know, not even the kits. The truth would remain hidden in the hearts of two sisters. "You're right. We can do this, Squirrelflight. I hate lying to everyone, but it's for the best."
She glanced once more at the kits, struggling not to feel for them. They weren't hers, they couldn't be. Who knew this could be so hard? StarClan was asking her again to forsaken love for her Clan... the love of her kits.
"I must return to camp. I will... I will say your kits came early. We weren't expecting them so soon, so we didn't move you into the nursery. This will be quite a shock to everyone, but... you wanted it to be a surprise. They are too small to move right now. Keep them warm, I will get Brambleclaw to make a nice nest for you. In a quarter moon or so, they should be a little stronger, enough to bring them home."
"A quarter moon?!" screeched Squirrelflight. "I have to stay out here in the snow and cold fo a quarter moon, with kits."
"Remember, you're a mother now," mewed Leafpool, forcing amusement into her tone. But the amusement barely veiled her grief, as she set off into the snow, broken and alone once more...
~~
A full moon had passed. Squirrelflight watched the three kits suckle, curled up against Ferncloud's belly. Since "her milk hadn't come", the two nursery queens Daisy and Ferncloud had happily agreed to take turns feeding the kin of Firestar's kin. Brambleclaw twined his taill with his mate's, his amber eyes glowing with pride. He had been so happy when Leafpool came back, snow-covered and exhausted, and announced Squirrelflight had given birth to three kits. It was rather sudden and he was a bit hurt she hadn't told him she was expecting, but he accepted the excuse of wanting it to be a surprise, and forgiven her. He came by the nursery everyday, bringing the queens fresh-kill to war, reassuring Squirrelflight she was still just as much of a great mother despite not being able to feed her own kits. He knew they would grow up into brave, strong kits, and be noble guardians of ThunderClan.
Leafpool came around almost as much as he did. She brought borage for the queens, and had been there for the naming of the kits. The day Squirrelflight returned to camp, three kits in tow, the Clan had been there to welcome her and the new Clanmates. Brambleclaw teasingly called his mate a mouse-brain for going hunting in so cold of weather and so close to giving birth. She ducked her head, embarassed, and said she didn't think there would be born so soon. The family settled into the nursery, the three kits sleeping in the crook of Squirrelflight's belly. She looked a bit awkward, but already her green eyes glowed with love.
"What about names?" Brambleclaw asked, sitting beside her, their pelts touching.
"What about Hollykit for the black she-kit?" mewed Squirrelflight after a moment of thought. Ferncloud's eyes glowed. Her own Hollykit had died many moons ago after a famine. It made her feel a little better to see one of Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw's kits named after her daughter.
"It's a beautiful name," murmered Brambleclaw. "Okay, and what about Lionkit for the golden tabby tom? He looks strong and tough already. I'll bet he's going to be a brilliant fighter. And after Lionheart, Goldenflower's brother."Squirrelflight nodded in approval. Hesitantly she turned to Leafpool, who had stood nearby watching the whole thing, still as a statue. "What do you think, Leafpool? Are they good names? Any suggestions for the gray tabby tom? He's so tiny!"
Leafpool thought fot a long moment and announced, "I think he should be Jaykit."
Squirrelflight nodded and looked down at Leafpool's, no... HER kits. Hers and Brambleclaw's. They were perfect. "Welcome to ThunderClan, Lionkit, Hollykit, and Jaykit."
Leafpool dipped her head. "I should go now." She turned away, forcing her paws to carry her across the clearing. She wanted to curl into a ball and be left alone. Her heart felt crumbled and stomped on. But it had to be this way. For the all of their sakes'. "StarClan, are you still with me?" she whispered, back in her den. "They must never find out. Or ThunderClan will be destroyed, and it will be all my fault!"
