Disclaimer: I do not own warriors. All Warriors are (c) Erin Hunter. All characters of the warrior series are (c) Erin Hunter. All other characters are (c) BattleRocket, and may not be copied or recreated in any form whatsoever without permission from BattleRocket first.

Prologue

Snowflakes fell gently on a normal day in Leaf-bare. All was quiet in the Thunderclan camp, and things finally seemed peaceful, just as Starclan had predicted. No cat stirred, as dawn had not come yet, and the stars still twinkled gently overhead as the gentle snores of the sleeping warriors echoed around the rocky walls.

Some paw-lengths outside of the camp, though, an argument was taking place. A light brown she-cat huddled in a crudely made moss nest, obviously in great pain. Though she was in great pain, the she-cat knew that she wouldn't make a sound; she couldn't make a sound. All of her effort was put into not yowling out loud at the agonizing contractions through her swollen belly. A ginger she-cat stood beside her, holding out a dripping piece of moss and urging the she-cat to drink.

"Are you alright, Leafpool?" The ginger she-cat meowed soothingly. "Just one more and that's it. It'll all be over before you know it."

Leafpool let out a low moan. "I don't know how much more I can take, Squirrelflight." She meowed. "I never realized kitting would be such hard work!" She pushed with all her might, her belly clenching with the effort as the last kit slid out onto the moss.

Squirrelflight nipped the sack, and the golden tom squeaked as it huddled towards Leafpool, suckling eagerly along with the two other kits; one a black she-cat, and the other, a gray tom.

Leafpool purred, but she did not seem happy. "What will I do, Squirrelflight?" She asked. "I can't be a medicine cat after the clan finds out about these kits!"

Squirrelflight soothed her sister with a lick of her head. "I have an idea, Leafpool." She reassured her sister. "I'll pretend these kits are mine. After all, I have been expecting Brambleclaw's kits for some moons now."

Leafpool shook her head, her amber eyes wide with dismay. "You can't, Squirrelflight!" She meowed desperately. "Your belly is already swollen. The she-cats around camp have already started whispering about it for days now!" She shook her head. "Some cat will find out eventually."

Squirrelflight's green eyes flashed. "Then let them find out eventually." She meowed. "I will not let you throw away your role as a medicine cat because of this."

Leafpool looked ready to argue again, but hung her head in defeat. "Very well, Squirrelflight." She meowed with a sigh. "If you insist, I will go along with your plan.

Squirrelflight purred. "I'm doing this for your own good, Leafpool." She insisted, the continued. "The kits will be old enough to walk in a few days from now, and we'll go back to camp then. I'll tell them that I had my kits earlier than I thought, and you were there to help…"

The two sisters continued to converse through the night as the first rays of sunlight shone into Thunderclan camp.

A dark tabby tom poked his head through the warrior's den, parting his jaws in a yawn as he padded out into the clearing, ready to arrange the first patrols of the day. Before he could do so, though, a golden she-cat bounded towards him, stopping him in his tracks.

"Could I ask you something, Brambleclaw?" She she-cat asked, her eyes shadowed with worry.

Brambleclaw thought about it for a second. Though he didn't want to keep the other warriors waiting, the she-cat looked distressed about something. Flicking his tail, Brambleclaw nodded. "Of course, Sandstorm." He meowed. "Is there something worrying you?"

Sandstorm nodded. "It's Leafpool and Squirrelflight." She meowed. "They haven't been seen in days! I checked their nests this morning, and they were both cold, and the scents were stale."

Brambleclaw frowned, feeling guilty that he had not noticed his own mate missing. "I'll organize a patrol to try and find them." He reassured Sandstorm. "I'm sure they couldn't have gone far. Leafpool's probably just gone to gather herbs."

Sandstorm nodded, her face relieved. "Thank you Brambleclaw." She meowed, dipping her head to the deputy before padding off to join the senior warriors. Brambleclaw gave her a nod before going to meet the other warriors.

"Thornclaw, Dustpelt, Mousefur and Spiderpaw. Go out and see if you can find any signs of Leafpool and Squirrelflight." He ordered. "Check the territory thoroughly before going to other clans for help. I don't think that they would cross the other clans' territories by accident, but it was pretty dark when they left." He saw the other warrior's eyes light up with surprise, but they didn't question his orders as they bounded out of the thorn barrier.

Brambleclaw nodded to himself, and was about to go arrange the dawn patrol when a yowl sounded at the thorn barrier. Spiderpaw bounded over to Brambleclaw, out of breath.

"Squirrelflight and Leafpool are back!" He meowed, grinning happily. "Squirrelflight's had kits!"

Brambleclaw purred as he headed over to the entrance, his tail held high.

Once there, the tabby tom licked his mate fondly on the head. "Why didn't you tell me your kits were due so soon?" He asked her. His face was full of pride as he smiled at the three kits next to Squirrelflight.

Squirrelflight smiled, though she looked quite exhausted. "They came earlier than I expected them to." She meowed. "I was lucky that Leafpool was with me."

Leafpool fidgeted next to Squirrelflight. "That's right." She meowed. "We were collecting herbs when her kits came, so we had to wait a few days before they were fit to travel back. I apologize if we worried you."

Brambleclaw shook his head. "Not at all." He assured her. "I'm grateful for you helping Squirrelflight. Imagine what would have happened if you weren't there!"

Leafpool didn't say anything else, though she glanced around the circle, as if she were afraid of something. She cowered under her mother's gaze, and looked as if she were hiding something.

Squirrelflight gave her sister a sharp glare, but didn't say anything as she herded her kits along with her tail. "Come on." She meowed. "I'll take my kits to the nursery. They must be exhausted."

Leafpool caught her mother's stare, and cowered as she saw her mother narrowing her eyes at Squirrelflight. She shook her head, mustering up her courage. If her mother already suspected Squirrelflight of lying, it wouldn't be long before the clan was to find out as well. If she didn't tell the truth now, her sister would suffer along with her. And Leafpool would never forgive herself if that were to happen. She would rather suffer by herself if that were the case.

Stepping boldly past her sister, she stopped the ginger she-cat with her tail. "No!" She meowed, loud enough for the entire camp to hear. A hush immediately fell on the camp, so quiet that Leafpool could hear a mouse scuttling in the leaves. The she-cat gazed around at the startled warriors, her voice surprisingly level.

These are not Squirrelflight's kits!" She declared. A collective gasp rose from the warriors, and murmurings of disapproval arose from those listening.

"Leafpool!" Squirrelflight gasped, glaring at her sister, though her eyes betrayed her distress.

Leafpool gazed warmly at her sister. "I'm sorry, Squirrelflight." She meowed. "I'm ever so grateful for your help. No cat could ask for a better sister." She stood with her head held high, meeting each warrior's gaze before taking a deep breath. "These kits are not Squirrelflight's." She meowed again.

"They are mine."

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