Where the Cardinal met the Fern

by Veilrony

Firestar dies from Starclan and is resurrected into Cardinalkit. When he's an apprentice, He meets Fernpaw, a tortoiseshell one moon older than Cardinalkit. Funny. Spottedleaf died a moon before Firestar did... Yes, I know that this doesn't happen for Bramblestar's Storm. I started writing before I even got the book. So, this sorta branches off. :) Think of it as an AU, I guess?

"Firestar. Firestar!" A voice rang from behind him, raspy and serious.

"Yes, Mousefur?" He replied quickly, twisting his muzzle to get a look of the cat.

"Windclan's being attacked By the Dark Forest. We're readying everyone as we speak." The StarClan cat gasped, and he noticed the wound running down the newly rejuvenated cat's neck.

"Fifth time this moon. I'm on my way." He jumped down from the rock, bright orange pelt scarless, like his days of youth. His green eyes saw the portal to the Clans' territories, as he'd grown accustomed to running through over the past three months. He bounded through the eternal greenleaf of this place, taking it so he had enough speed to make it through safely.

He jumped, and showed right outside of the Clan's camp. His eyes saw a ginger and white cat, Mapleshade, going in for the nursery. He ran through, ready to stop her. His starry pelt bristled in anger as he jumped in and saw the cat with a litter in her jaws, the last of WindClan's kits.

He unsheathed his needle sharp claws, "Drop. The. Kits." They were mewling piteosly at the orange cat to save them, blue eyes shining in fear.

"Fine." She bit down on the kits, and a sickening snap was heard. She dropped the kits, lifless from her powerful jaws.

Firestar jumped at her in a fit of anger and rage, only using his battle training to try and kill her. This cat, worse than Tigerstar, worse than Brokenstar, could only die this time. There'd be no running away now. His teeth caught her ear, his claws scraping her neck.

Mapleshade dodged and turned, countering every move Firestar had with a blow more fierce, more terrifying. Firestar whipped around, dodging a leap from the huge cat that could kill him alone. He snapped his claws out and sent the ginger and white cat flying. She screeched and lay on the ground. "You, You are a cat not fit for life, not even after death." He lowered his jaws,wishing to end this one slowly.

Mapleshade smiled and Firestar stopped. "You poor, poor cat." She jumped and barrelled him over. "This will be the last you see." She bit down, and the last thing Firestar saw was Mapleshade's flaming green eyes.

Jayfeather looked mournfully at Berrynose. "It's Poppyfrost. She isn't going to live."

Berrynose shook his cream colored head. "N-No. It can't be. Did she have any kits?"

Jayfeather nodded. "Only one. The other three died. Say good bye to her before she walks StarClan's forests." He dipped his head. "Follow me." Jayfeather padded into the Nursery den where the only cat in there was Poppyfrost.

She was laying down in pain and Berrynose immediately walked up to her. "Oh, Poppyfrost. Oh Poppyfrost, I'm sorry this happened."

Poppyfrost purred. "It's okay, Berrynose. He'll be strong.." Her eyes dimmed and Berrynose stared at her. "No.. No.."

"She's gone, Berrynose." The blind cat looked down. He could smell the rotting scent of death before her eyes even dimmed. Jayfeather looked down with a blind gaze to the squirming kit, mewling for his mother. "What are you going to name him, Berrynose?"

The cat had no sound but Jayfeather sensed the cat's mind whirring like a monster. "He's bright red, the color of a cardinal. I'll name him Cardinalkit."

"Cardinalkit it is then. Go and tell Bramblestar about Cardinalkit and Poppyfrost."