During the next half moon after Firekit was born, from an outsider's perspective, it would have looked as though Redtail were the leader of ThunderClan instead of Bluestar. The tiny ginger kitten had become the center of his mother's world, and even after he opened his eyes and started playing with the other kits, she refused to be even more than a few fox-tails from him at any time. She still gave out orders on occasion but spent most of her time taking care of her son.
Admittedly, Bluestar did feel guilty at times about neglecting her Clan, but she reassured herself that her warriors were in safe paws. Redtail was more than capable of taking care of ThunderClan while she was busy nursing Firekit. Besides, she reasoned, it wouldn't be forever. As soon as Firekit was old enough to become an apprentice, she would resume her duties as Clan leader again.
"Bluestar, look at me!" Firekit squealed gleefully, pouncing on a leaf and scattering several more about himself.
"Very good," Bluestar purred, giving him a gentle lick atop his head.
As she watched her son play without a single thought or care in the world, the ThunderClan leader couldn't help but think about the last time she had watched her older children, Mistyfoot, Stonefur, and Mosskit do the same. That was back when she was a regular warrior when there was still uncertainty over whether the cat to take Tawnyspots' place as deputy would be herself or Thistleclaw. Goosefeather, the medicine cat before Featherwhisker, had told her that she needed to save her Clan from the bloodthirsty warrior who had been her sister's mate. Despite knowing how much it would destroy her, Bluestar had decided to sneak her kits over to their father, Oakheart, in RiverClan. But Mosskit hadn't survived the journey, and now Mistyfoot and Stonefur no longer remembered her.
Mosskit, my sweet, are you watching over him? You have a little brother now, Bluestar thought, watching as Firekit rolled about amongst a pile of grass.
Her only comfort now was knowing that there would never be a need to give Firekit up. The Clan was safe from Thistleclaw; even if she and Thrushpelt decided to have another litter, Redtail would protect her warriors. Not that she had any plans to have more kits, of course, since she was getting much too old to have any more. Besides, getting the chance to raise Firekit was enough for her.
"He's going to be quite the little warrior," Rosetail, Bluestar's best friend, remarked as she padded up beside her Clan leader from the elders' den.
"He certainly is," Bluestar agreed fondly, then tensed as Firekit accidentally tumbled into the nursery. There was a small scuffling noise from inside, and a few heartbeats later, Willowpelt came marching out with the tiny flame-colored kitten held firmly in her jaws and an annoyed expression on her face.
"Do you mind?" the queen asked irritably, setting Firekit down on the ground. "Some of us are trying to sleep, and we don't need you in there making such a racket!"
"Sorry," Firekit muttered, his tone of voice suggesting the exact opposite. Bluestar let out a sigh and walked over to her son.
"Now, Firekit, what have I told you about showing respect?" she scolded her son gently. For a moment, it looked as though Firekit would protest, but a warning glance from his mother stopped him. Sighing in defeat, he turned to face Willowpelt again.
"I'm sorry, Willowpelt. I didn't mean to," he mewed, his voice now contrite. Willowpelt's expression softened, and she nuzzled the small kit gently.
"You're forgiven, dear. Now, go play before your mother makes you take a nap with the rest of us," she teased, and Firekit's eyes widened in horror.
"She wouldn't!" he cried, looking around at Bluestar for reassurance. "Right? I'm not tired! I don't need to take a nap."
However, Bluestar couldn't resist teasing her kit a little. "Well, I don't know, Firekit. You have been out here an awfully long time, haven't you? Maybe a nap would be a good idea right about–"
"NO!" Firekit squeaked, taking off as fast as his tiny legs would carry him. "YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE, MOTHER!"
Bluestar purred in amusement, then froze in horror as her son, not watching where he was going, barrelled straight into Thistleclaw as he was emerging from the warriors' den. The gray and white warrior let out a snarl of surprise, swiping at Firekit with his claws sheathed. Squealing in terror, Firekit raced away from Thistleclaw and back towards his mother, hiding behind her legs. Rosetail bent down and murmured a few words of comfort into the flame-pelted kit's ear, and his fur slowly began to lie flat.
Her pelt bristling with fury, Bluestar stalked over to where her rival was washing as if nothing had happened. "You good-for-nothing piece of crowfood!" she hissed, causing Thistleclaw to pause in his grooming and look up at her. "Just who do you think you are, attacking my kit?"
"I didn't attack him," Thistleclaw retorted coolly. "If I had, you can be assured that he would be on his way to StarClan right now. Besides, he should be more careful about where he's going."
"That doesn't give you the right to scare him like that!" Bluestar spat, trying to hide the way her fur prickled in fear at his first statement. What did he mean, Firekit would be on his way to StarClan? Did he hate her enough that he would consider killing her son? "It was a mistake. He didn't run into you on purpose!"
"Then teach him to stay away from the warriors' den."
Bluestar bared her teeth in a snarl and stalked over to her longtime rival until she was right in his face. "My sister might have seen something good in you, but I never have and I never will," she growled, and for a moment, Thistleclaw almost looked frightened of her. "I don't care how good of a warrior you are, Thistleclaw. I've seen the way you behave. You're a monster, and if you so much as look at my son ever again, I'll see to it that you regret it for the rest of your life."