Chapter 2
"Butterflypaw, Beachpaw, Dovepaw, Birchpaw guess what!" Sunpaw exclaimed as she ran into the apprentices' den, water still clinging to her paws.
"What?" They asked excitedly.
"Hawkfrost and Leopardstar had a litter of kits seven moons ago!" Sunpaw mewled with excitement making her whiskers twitch.
"That's how old you are, Sunpaw," Butterflypaw mewed back.
"Yeah, plus you kinda look like Hawkfrost and Leopardstar," Birchpaw commented.
"Really?" Sunpaw asked and looked at herself in a puddle of water just outside the den. Her golden coat with pale ginger stripes, muscular hind legs and shoulders, and piercing blue eyes shone in the sun. "Then why am I here if I am their kit? They're RiverClan cats," Sunpaw replied.
"Dunno," Birchpaw replied as Firestar called everyone to Highledge.
"Today is a special day. Ashfur and I agreed that Birchpaw is ready for his warrior ceremony. Birchpaw you have shown strength, courage, and understanding beyond your years. This is because of the hardships you have lived through," Firestar began. Sunpaw zoned out. She was thinking about Leopardstar and Hawkfrost. She was only awoken by her clanmates shouting 'Birchlimb! Birchlimb!'
--
Later
--
"Sunpaw, go get some sleep," Brambleclaw meowed as he trotted over to the apprentice with a piece of freshkill in his mouth.
"But, Brambleclaw, it's only sunhigh!" Sunpaw protested.
"Yes, I know, but you are going to your first gathering tonight," Brambleclaw replied and dropped the sparrow in front Sunpaw.
"Really?!" Sunpaw squeaked with the excitedment of a kit out of the nursery for the first time.
"Yes, now eat and rest. I'll come wake you when we leave," Brambleclaw murrowed and walked off to join Squirrelflight for a nap in the sun.
"Like I'm going to be able to sleep," Sunpaw muttered and chowed down on the sparrow. She licked her muzzle clean and curled up in ball. When she awoke it was dark and Brambleclaw was prodding her with his nose.
"Up, we're leaving, Sleepypaw," He snorted jokingly and Sunpaw got up. She bounded over to Streampaw who was with Leafpool.
"Excited?"
Streampaw asked.
"Very! You?" Sunpaw mewed.
"Same," Streampaw answered and dug her claws into the ground with anticipation.
"Come," Firestar beckoned and they were on their way. Sunpaw's heart leapt with anticipation, but also with nerves. What if Hawkfrost was there? What if they had rejected her on purpose? What if…?
"Sunpaw! Will you hurry up and cross the treebridge already?!" Mousefur grumbled irritably. Sunpaw crossed the bridge, slipping and sliding as she went, and ran off into the throng of cats.
"Oops! Sorry!" She said when she bumped into a strange cat. It was Leopardstar and her new deputy, Hawkfrost.
"You're so familiar," Hawkfrost said. Sunpaw shrunk back and remembered the rumor that Hawkfrost was her father. She mumbled another apology and skittered off.
"Sunpaw! Over here," A ginger tabby she-cat with yellow eyes howled at her.
"Huntresspaw!" Sunpaw exclaimed and bounded over to the apprentice.
"How's
ThunderClan?"
"Birchlimb is holding vigil tonight. Ferncloud,
Brightheart, and Squirrelflight are close to kitting, but poor
Squirrelflight is so nervous. This is her first litter and I think
the problem is that no one seems to know if Ashfur or Brambleclaw
fathered her kits," Sunpaw replied.
"That could be a problem, right?" Huntresspaw commented.
"Maybe, but I don't think there will be a war. How's RiverClan?"
"It's alright. Hawkfrost and Leopardstar are still upset about my dead sister. Their only other kit," Huntresspaw said. 'No wonder Huntresspaw and I are so close! We might be sisters!' Sunpaw thought.
"Hey, come meet Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt! They live outside RiverClan and they're related to Hawkfrost," Sunpaw suggested.
"Cool! Let's go!" Huntresspaw replied and bounded off with Sunpaw. Sunpaw found Brambleclaw talking with Tawnypelt, Crowfeather, and Squirrelflight.
"But Crowfeather you know it isn't her fault!" Tawnypelt was mewing softly.
"She could've left," Crowfeather mumbled.
"Yes, and she would have left ThunderClan without a medicine cat. She would never do that," Squirrelflight added and Crowfeather's tail drooped.
"Brambleclaw! Tawnypelt!" Sunpaw exclaimed.
"Hello, Sunpaw," Tawnypelt mewed affectionately.
"Everyone meet my friend, Huntresspaw, Leopardstar and Hawkfrost's kit," Sunpaw mewed and all the warriors exchanged glances.
"I'm Brambleclaw, this is Tawnypelt. We are half siblings to Hawkfrost and Mothwing," Brambleclaw told Huntresspaw and she smiled.
"You already know who I am! But Leopardstar doesn't think I fit in my clan. I hunt better in the open, fishing is terribly hard."
"Then maybe you should join WindClan," Squirrelflight told Huntresspaw.
"I would, but Hawkfrost won't let me go. He keeps saying he doesn't want to lose another kit," Huntresspaw said forlornly.
"I understand," Brambleclaw mewed and placed his tail on his niece's shoulder.
"Huntresspaw! Where are you?!" Leopardstar called out frantically.
"Over here, Leopardstar!" Huntresspaw mewed back.
"Oh good. You're with Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt. Well, it's time for the gathering to begin. Go join RiverClan," Leopardstar instructed Huntresspaw before jumping up onto the tree limb. Huntresspaw obeyed and Sunpaw stayed where she was.
"Welcome all," Blackstar started with a sneer, "As you know greenleaf is nearing and the twolegs will be here soon. If it wanders into your territory it becomes your problem."
"ThunderClan is happy to report we have three queens, a new warrior, Birchlimb who is holding vigil tonight. Also, we have a new apprentice. Sunpaw, come forward please," Firestar mewed. Sunpaw crept forward till she was under the leaders' limb. Leopardstar looked shocked as did everyone else. "Sunpaw was left on our medicine cat's front stoop. We have since taken her in and raised her as a ThunderClan cat. If anyone knows who her family is, please, do not hesitate to tell me," Firestar finished.
Onestar was about to begin when Leopardstar spoke, "Sunpaw! Sunpaw is my missing kit!" A rippled passed through the gathered cats.
"But Smallkit died, Leopardstar!" Hawkfrost howled.
"Yes, but look at her! Can you not see her resemblance to Tigerstar?" Leopardstar mewed and everyone took a step back as if they had seen Tigerstar's ghost.
"Sunpaw… my sister?" Huntresspaw said coming out of her father's shadow.
"Sunpaw, it seems you now must make a choice. ThunderClan, the clan that took you in and cared for you or your family in RiverClan," Firestar howled over the noise and Sunpaw sat, eyes wide in shock.