Swallowheart snuck another glance at the pale grey she-cat beside him as they traipsed through the WindClan moors. The unfortunate Fallenstar had taken ill on his last life and succumbed to greencough, leaving the inexperienced deputy to lead ThunderClan. The medicine cat, Russettail, had died of the same disease, and the cat with the most knowledge of herbs turned out to be his longtime crush. Sweetpaw had accepted the position and would get her name on the same night that he got his. Thank StarClan that he didn't know that. He would find out when they reached StarClan, and he couldn't do anything to stop her there.
"Swallowheart? What are you doing on our territory? And why is an apprentice with you instead of your medicine cat?" Rabbitfoot, the deputy of WindClan, intercepted them with a patrol of two other warriors, one of who sneered at the younger apprentice.
"Greetings. Rabbitfoot. I regret to inform you that Fallenstar and Russettail have both succumbed to greencough. Sweetpaw will be witness to my ceremony."
"That…" Rabbitfoot seemed to be at a loss for words. "I wish you well on your journey, then. Send my condolences to your Clan." With those words, she led her patrol away. The two cats trekked on.
"Swallowheart, your old name and life are no more. Welcome, Swallowstar."
"Cats of StarClan, we welcome Sweetfur among the ranks of the medicine cats!"
"You wretched she-cat!" The blue and white tom snarled. "You said that you loved me! You said we could be together!"
"I'm tired, Swallowstar. All the training in the world didn't prepare me for that battle. I couldn't do it!"
"You said it would only take a few more moons to find your apprentice!"
"I knew you would freak out like this! I'm sorry Swallowstar, but I'm a medicine cat now. I dedicated my life to StarClan's will. There's no changing that."
"StarClan won't accept you when I'm through with you." The new leader snarled.
"You monster!" Tansypaw hissed. Swallowstar glared at the yellow medicine cat apprentice.
"Leave us," He ordered the dark-eyed, golden she-cat beside him. Nightclaw, named for her eyes, scoffed but left them to their argument.
"What happened?"
"You know exactly what happened you fox-dung filth!" Tansypaw hissed lowly.
"And Sweetfur?"
"Is having her kits you good-for-nothing mouse-brain!"
"What?!" He yelped. "She was never meant to have kits!" He snarled.
"This is StarClan's answer to your actions, Swallowstar. You will care for whatever kits she has because it's your fault she has them in the first place!"
"Push, Sweetfur! You can do it." Tansypaw urged her mentor. The pale grey she-cat heaved breaths as she gave birth to hopefully what would be her only kit.
"Talonkit," She murmured. "May she be as strong as I could not."
They entered the camp to hateful yowls and outrage. Swallowstar had obviously not told them the whole truth, but she didn't care. She was too tired and his was the last face she wanted to see… he visited her anyway.
"Can I see it?" He asked softly. Sweetfur was sleeping so that was one obstacle down. If he could just get past the apprentice then he could see what his only kit looked like. He didn't regret Sweetfur at all, but he probably should have asked.
"No." Tansypaw growled. "You don't deserve it. Go back to Nightclaw, Swallowstar. You're no longer welcome here."