New story time! Yay! It's even in a different section of ! yay! Anyway… enjoy!
"What on earth is this?" Leafpool mewed softly one chilly newleaf morning. There was a small bundle covered by ferns and leaves on top of a bed of moss. Leafpool nosed and pawed at the ferns to clear them away. She was shocked to find a small scrap of pale ginger fur with stripes of darker red fur and piercing blue eyes that stared right through her.
"Oh, StarClan!" Leafpool exclaimed and immediately picked the small kit off the cold, damp ground. She ran to the nursery.
"Sorreltail, wake up, Sorreltail!" Leafpool called urgently.
"What is it, Leafpool?" Sorreltail mewed back sleepily.
"I found a kit, no more than a moon old, outside my den this morning!" Leafpool mewled. Soon, she heard rustling coming from within the den and Sorreltail emerged.
"Poor kit. Hurry, let's get it out of the cold," Sorreltail answered and held open the nursery entry for Leafpool with her tail.
"You lick the kit to keep her warm. I'll get it some strengthening herbs," Leafpool replied and Sorreltail flicked her tail in response. Sorreltail had already begun licking the kit when Leafpool left. When Leafpool returned with the herbs, Butterflykit was wide awake and sniffing the ball of fluff in between her mother's paws.
"What is that? Is it alive?" Butterflykit asked quietly so not to wake the kit.
"A very young, sick kit and yes but it won't be for long if you say in my way," Leafpool mewed back to the kit gently. Butterflykit backed away meekly, falling over her own paws in the process.
"Poor scrap. Being abandoned in the coldest part of newleaf," Sorreltail purred out as she continued to lick the kit.
"Yes, I agree, but, how did it get into camp?" Leafpool mewed back.
"Worry about that later. Right now, that little kit needs us," Sorreltail mewed in a final manner and Leafpool nodded her head at Sorreltail's wisdom.
--
Later
--
"It's so beautiful," Squirrelflight said as she licked the kit, which, since arriving, had been dubbed Sunkit.
"Yes," Brambleclaw mewed, almost a whisper. Leafpool's pelt rippled at the emotions she picked up from her sister.
"Did anyone summon Firestar?" Ashfur asked.
"Yes, they did. I am here," Firestar's deep rumbling mew came from behind and all the cats turned. He pushed his way through the crowd of cats to get to Sunkit, Sorreltail, and Leafpool.
"I found the kit outside my den this morning," Leafpool mewed, giving her report to the leader of ThunderClan. He flicked his tail in acknowledgement of her words and continued to sniff the kit.
"She is definitely not kittypet, no twoleg scent. Nor is she a rogue, but I cannot figure out what she is," Sandstorm added.
"Firestar?" Leafpool ventured to speak. He looked at her and said, "Yes, Leafpool."
"I would like to take complete responsibility for the kit." A few whispers were shared between the clanmates and pelts rippled.
"Silence!" Firestar howled and the whispers stopped, "Are you certain this is what you wish?"
"Yes. It says I must not fall in love, but nothing says I am not allowed to adopt a kit," Leafpool replied.
"Very well."
:
"That was six moons ago and to this day I regret not a word I said," Leafpool told the same kit, now a warrior apprentice.
"I'm sorry I didn't follow in your steps, Leafpool," Sunpaw replied and pawed at the ground with her forepaws.
"There is nothing to be sorry for Sunpaw. Streampaw is a wonderful apprentice and will make a great medicine cat. Her parents are very proud of her," Leafpool replied and licked the apprentice's ear affectionately.
"Thank you, Leafpool. I have to go. Squirrelflight is looking for me. Butterflypaw and I are to go to the Training Hollow with her and Brambleclaw," Sunpaw replied.
"Later, I think Goldenflower has some ticks she would be glad to be rid of," Leafpool mewed after the apprentice who was scampering off.
"All right! Bye, Leafpool!" Sunpaw mewed and ran off through the bramble tunnel to meet her mentor.
--
Later
--
"Goldenflower, do you remember the day I came to the clan?" asked Sunpaw as she sifted through the elder's fur.
"Of course. Yes, I do. You were quite a shock to us all. We weren't sure where you came from or what had happened that night. Oh, do be careful that one bit me deep. Anyway, you were especially shocked when Leafpool took you in. She never said why, she just did and Firestar consented," Goldenflower told Sunpaw.
"What happened then?" Sunpaw asked after killing a tick that had jumped from Goldenflower's pelt.
"We found out at the next gathering that Leopardstar had a litter of kits. Unfortunately, one died. They never held a vigil because it was buried immediately," Goldenflower replied.
"Who was the
father?"
"Hawkfrost."
