Prologue:
A cool breeze ruffled the fur of a black tom with green eyes. He was sitting down, ears pricked as he listened to his surroundings. Birds were chirping, and cats were murmuring quietly in the background.
However, the tom didn't notice these things as his gaze was fixed on one den in RiverClan. It looked simple, but it was tough to penetrate if you didn't know where the entrance was. The den was woven out of reeds and ferns with a slight hint of brambles intertwined within it.
It was a nice den, but not worth staring at. Though, the tom didn't seem to care as he got to his paws and began to pace. He was beginning to get worried. The yowls he had heard earlier had stopped and there had been no word from the medicine cat.
The tom flicked his tail irritably and paused to sit down every few pawsteps, always facing the nursery with wide eyes. Then after a while, he will get up and continue to pace again. This process was repeated many times and he ignored the cats that came up to reassure him, shrugging them off with a slight growl.
Finally, there was a yowl. The tom paused in his tracks and glanced at the nursery with pricked ears, his eyes green pools of relief.
A ginger head popped out and nodded to him briskly. "Sootpelt, you can come in and visit Birdflight now."
Sootpelt let out a small sigh of relief and headed immediately over to the nursery entrance. "Thanks, Willowflame," he murmured as he passed the medicine cat, glancing at her gratefully. He stepped inside and paused, letting his eyes adjust to the dimness of the nursery. He couldn't help but let out a small gasp at the scene in front of him.
In front of him was a ginger and white tabby queen who was curled around a single calico she-kit. Sootpelt smiled, his gaze filling with warmth as he approached his mate and daughter. "Birdflight…" he began, his voice choked with emotion, "she's beautiful."
The ginger and white tabby queen lifted her head, amber eyes filled with exhaustion and reproach. "Yes," she murmured, "it's all over."
Sootpelt tilted his head slightly as he went over to curl himself around him. Birdflight suddenly let out a warning hiss and sat up abruptly, aiming at swipe at Sootpelt. Sootpelt ducked away, the claws barely touching his nose as his eyes widened in surprise. He didn't think Birdflight had the strength to move or protest but apparently, he was wrong. He sat back awkwardly and gazed at Birdflight as she sat up to face him, a sudden determination in her gaze. "What did you do that for?"
"What do you think?" Birdflight responded with a hiss. "I've never wanted kits and now I have one. As soon as I'm able, I'm leaving the nursery to continue my warrior duties."
Sootpelt gazed at the kit and bent down to lick his daughter's fur. He lifted his head and gazed at his mate. "If you wish, but please stay here until our daughter can do without your milk." His mew cracked slightly as Birdflight shifted away from both him and the kit. "I never knew that you could be this heartless."
Birdflight flattened her ears slightly. "I'm not heartless," she responded quietly. "I love you, but I've never wanted kits. I've always wanted to be leader, and this sets me back. I have to be the next deputy. I have to." Her eyes narrowed slightly and she gazed down at her daughter. "As long as she finds a tom and gives me grandkits in the future, then I'll consider this a worthy waste of my time."
Sootpelt merely watched as Birdflight smiled wryly. "After all, what's the use of becoming leader if you don't have a succession to follow you?"
Sootpelt let out a sigh and turned his gaze up to the roof of the den. He was thankful that the other resident queens and their kits were moved to the elders' den once Birdflight started her kitting. They wouldn't have approved of this at all. The black tom watched as Birdflight laid down and curled herself around their daughter. "What should we name her?" he ventured wearily.
"After me of course," Birdflight scoffed. "Her name will be Robinkit and she'll be the most obedient kit ever."
Sootpelt let out a small sigh, not willing to argue with his mate. "Robinkit it is, then." He gazed down at his daughter solemnly, and silently vowed to help her see the other side of life. A life that he was sure that Birdflight couldn't control.
He bent his head down to inhale the scent of his daughter before getting to his paws and turning towards the entrance of the nursery. Robinkit, your mother may not love you as much as she loves herself, but I'll be the best father I can be for you. A mother's love may be foreign to you, but I'll make sure that a father's love isn't.
Chapter One