I know, I know, I shouldn't be starting a new story when I still have another one to finish, but I couldn't wait any longer. Anyway, this story is for my AU in which Firepaw/heart/star is Bluestar's kit, although he's born in a second litter she has with Thrushpelt. I'll post the AU info on my profile soon.

As always, I don't own Warriors.

"You're almost there, Bluestar! Just one more push should do it," Featherwhisker meowed encouragingly. His apprentice, Spottedleaf, watched with nervous anticipation as Bluestar clenched her teeth and gave one final heave as ordered. A small, wet ginger bundle tumbled into the nest, and the tortoiseshell medicine cat quickly began licking it.

"It's a tomcat!" Featherwhisker declared, placing the tiny kit beside the ThunderClan leader's belly. In an instant, he snuggled up beside his mother and began to suckle.

"How many more?" Spottedleaf asked, ready to move if she was called to duty again.

Featherwhisker felt along Bluestar's flank with his paw. "That's it," he declared. "Congratulations, Bluestar. You have one strong, healthy tom."

If Bluestar heard anything Spottedleaf's mentor had said, however, she gave no indication. The blue-furred ThunderClan leader-turned-queen was gazing down at her newborn son with an expression of utmost love and admiration in her eyes. Behind the warmth, however, there was a fierce protectiveness as well, and Spottedleaf wondered if Bluestar was thinking about the three kits she had lost to a badger so many moons ago. She sent a silent prayer to StarClan that her leader's son would be safe this time; Bluestar didn't deserve to go through the same heartbreak again.

"Are they here yet? How's Bluestar doing?" Spottedleaf's thoughts were cut off as Bluestar's mate, Thrushpelt, pushed his way into the nursery. The gray tom's eyes lit up when he saw his son. "He's beautiful!"

"What do you think of Firekit for his name?" Bluestar asked, still not removing her eyes from her kit. It was almost as if she was worried that he would disappear if she looked away for even a fraction of a heartbeat.

"It's perfect," Thrushpelt purred, bending his head forward to lick his mate between the ears.

"Firekit it is, then," Bluestar meowed softly, finally tearing her gaze away from the small kitten suckling at her belly and looking Thrushpelt in the eye.

A few nests away, Graykit wriggled himself free from Willowpelt's grasp and stumbled over to see his new denmate. The gray tabby had been born only a few days before and had just opened his eyes the previous morning. Spottedleaf watched as he blundered up to Bluestar's nest, staring at Firekit with a look of awe and curiosity in his eyes.

"When will he be ready to play?" Graykit mewed, reaching out to prod Firekit with his paw. Spottedleaf moved him away before he could, however, and Bluestar shot her a grateful look.

"He won't be ready until he opens his eyes," the tortoiseshell medicine cat apprentice informed him, biting back a purr of amusement at the crestfallen look on his face. "Don't worry, Graykit, he'll be out and about before you know it. Kits usually open their eyes fairly quickly."

Featherwhisker purred in agreement. "Yes, I remember the day Bluestar first opened her eyes. She and Snowfur–Snowkit–decided to explore the camp as soon as she was awake, and the first thing your Clan leader did was get attacked by fresh-kill."

Bluestar huffed in embarrassment as Spottedleaf, Graykit, and Willowpelt all let out a chuckle at the story. "Honestly, Featherwhisker, are you still not going to let that go? It happened almost a lifetime ago!"

The silver-furred tom gave Bluestar a playful smirk. "Sorry to say Bluestar, but that story will never get old."

"And I will never stop wondering why," Bluestar deadpanned.

Featherwhisker opened his mouth to respond, only to be interrupted as two of the older kits, Sandkit and Dustkit, came barreling into the nursery followed closely behind by their mothers, Robinwing and Brindleface. The two kittens screeched to a halt at the sight of Firekit, staring at their new denmate with a mixture of awe and fascination. Sandkit went to prod Firekit with her paw, but a warning look from Brindleface stopped her.

"Who's that?" Dustkit mewed curiously.

"His name is Firekit," Bluestar answered.

"He's going to be your new denmate until you and Sandkit become apprentices," Robinwing added before turning around and scanning the nursery. "Now, has anyone seen Ravenkit anywhere?"

"Probably hiding in the nest again," Dustkit meowed scornfully. "Ravenkit's no fun. He never wants to play with anyone."

"Dustkit!" Robinwing scolded. "That's your brother you're talking about here. Don't be so rude."

"Sorry," the small tabby kitten mewed. Privately, however, Spottedleaf thought Dustkit had a bit of a point. Of course, she didn't believe it was necessary for him to insult his littermate, but there was no denying that Ravenkit was incredibly timid and shy. She hadn't seen any sign of the little black tom since the start of Bluestar's kitting, which meant he was probably hiding away in the corner of the nursery as usual. Although he was nearly two moons old, Robinwing still hadn't been able to convince him to go outside.

Hopefully, he'll receive a mentor who can teach him to be more confident, Spottedleaf thought to herself.

"Why is Firekit so small?" Sandkit asked, staring at the tiny ginger kitten.

"He was only born today," Brindleface explained to her daughter. "He'll grow though, don't worry. And once he's opened his eyes, you can get to know him better."

Sandkit looked a little put out about having to wait to become friends with her new denmate, but being a kit, was able to shrug it off fairly quickly. "Guess what Thistleclaw taught us today?" the pale ginger she-kit meowed excitedly. "He showed Dustkit and me how to do the front-paw swipe!"

"Very good, dear," Brindleface purred approvingly. "You'll be a strong warrior, just like your father."

Spottedleaf, however, couldn't help but notice the look of apprehension on Bluestar's face at the mention of Thistleclaw's name, as well as the way she curled herself protectively around Firekit. She was a bit surprised; was Thistleclaw that awful? It was common knowledge that the mate of Bluestar's deceased sister, Snowfur, and the Clan leader had shared a mutual dislike of each other ever since they were young, an animosity which had seemed to reach its peak when Sunstar chose Bluestar to be his deputy over Thistleclaw. However, Bluestar's behavior almost suggested that she was afraid of her sister's mate attempting to harm her son. Spottedleaf could see where her fear came from, but surely even Thistleclaw wouldn't dare hurt his Clan leader's kit?

Don't worry about that now, Spottedleaf reminded herself. Even if Thistleclaw doesn't like Bluestar, he's not stupid enough to do anything to get himself exiled, right? Besides, he had a son of his own, so he should understand how much Firekit means to Bluestar. Surely he doesn't hate her enough to take that away. Stop worrying so much about what Thistleclaw might do and just appreciate the fact that, in a few moons, the Clan will have a strong, healthy warrior.