Their return to the Stone Hollow was a pleasant surprise to their Clanmates and a relief on their part. Guiding three hyperactive kits through the cold freezing snow back to their camp was quite a feat. Lionkit and Hollykit liked to play and Jaykit was so small to move in the snow so he had to be carried.
Watching her Clanmates swamped around the new editions to ThunderClan, Leafpool was unaware of Daisy who approached her and laid her plump tail on her shoulder.
"You must be exhausted." The cream colored queen meowed with concern. Her kits were nowhere in sight. "I don't know much about Clan's rules but Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight would be great parents for the kits." The queen soothed her flank with her plump tail.
Letting out a small sigh of relieve and sadness, Leafpool gently shook of the cream colored tail. "Thanks Daisy." She meowed quietly before staggering toward the cluster of cats in the middle of the clearing.
"Enough chattering for today!" She meowed briskly as she pushed through her Clanmates. "Let Squirrelflight and the kits rest." With a twitch of her tail, she watched with satisfaction as cats congratulated her sister before heading back to whatever they were doing before the arrival of the kits.
Squirrelflight caught her eyes with a small nod before she herded the kits toward the nursery where Daisy was waiting with Ferncloud. Both were bright-eyed and kneading the ground impatiently.
A purr rumbled in Leafpool's throat as she heard the kits questioned Squirrelflight about the 'strange cats' they had met. It seemed like there was still a small sliver of hope for her kits.
Her neck fur bristled as a tail landed on her shoulder. With wide amber eyes, she met the concern face of a dark brown tabby. "You should get some rest." Brambleclaw advised. "You look tired."
Shaking his tail off, gently, she nosed him toward the nursery. "You should get some rest too." She insisted as he began to protest. Her voice lowered as she neared the nursery. "Take care of them. My sister and the kits…"
With an understanding nod, Brambleclaw slid inside the nursery.
Sighing, Leafpool turned and stalked toward the medicine den with a cloud hanging on her head. Things were finally fine but why did she had such a bad feeling?
As Leafpool settled in her comfortable nest, she couldn't help but toss and turn, not being able to drift off. Everything went so smoothly that she had to wonder if it was just a calm before a terrible storm. A small part of her, the optimistic part, noted that they had gone through a great change, moving from the forest to the lake and the losses of so many lives, and the completion of the prophecy StarClan gave her. They deserved this era of peace. It said.
A rustle at the front of her cave woke her from her thoughts. She sat up only to find a slender ginger tom entering her den. He held himself proudly but there was a small glimmer of worry in his leaf green eyes.
"Firestar…" She slid out of her nest and greeted the tom with a respectful dip of her head, to which, he replied with a dip of his own.
There was a moment of silence with Leafpool shifting anxiously on her paws and Firestar lashing his tail softly against the ground until the ginger tom broke the silence.
"I haven't had the time to talk with you since you returned to ThunderClan." He murmured meaningfully and Leafpool ducked her head in shame because she knew he was talking about the time when she ran away with Crowfeather, not her newest journey.
Shifting on her paws, she replied softly. "There were so many things to do. The wounds and such… Those are more important than a heart-to-heart between a parent and their kit." Against her will, her tail dropped with sadness.
"If I could, I would give away my leadership to ensure your sister and you have happy lives." Firestar muttered as he placed his muzzle on top of her head. His ginger tail snaked around her in a comforting place.
Breathing in his familiar scent, Leafpool let out a small sigh. She knew Firestar loved them, her sister and her, so much. Hearing him said that only made her guiltier of the lies, the things he would never know. Or at least, that was what she hoped.
"I know." She meowed at least before pushing herself away from him. Steeling herself, she met his green gaze. "Believe me, I know. But you need to get out and let me get some rest." She meowed with more tiredness than ferocity.
Firestar let out a dry mrrw of laughter as he nuzzled his brown tabby daughter. "Rest well, Leafpool." With that, he turned and left silently while Leafpool climbed back into her nest and drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Brambleclaw would love to stay with his mate and their kits but Dustpelt, who had stepped in as deputy while he was away, had marched into the nursery and hauled him away, saying he had duties to do.
Squirrelflight had snickered with laughter and their kits looked at him with wide eyes while he was being herded away by the senior warrior. Daisy and Ferncloud had been no help at all as Daisy flicked her tail and a funny look crossed her face as they passed and Ferncloud said with the most serious look on her face before she broke down in laughter. "Don't you worry… They will be taken care of."
And so, he had been stuck organizing patrols when he should have been with his mate and their kits. It wasn't like he didn't enjoy his job as deputy but he was worried. Questions floated in his head. Were the kits comfortable? Why were Ferncloud and Daisy shooting them funny looks?
"Hey, we still have things to do here." Thornclaw's voice grounded him again. Oh, right, he was in a middle of organizing another hunting patrol. Thornclaw looked at him unimpressed as he drew a paw over his ear. "Well, who should I take with me?" He asked impatiently.
Scanning the camp quickly, Brambleclaw sighed in relief as he saw Rainwhisker emerging from the warriors' den. "Rainwhisker, and maybe…" Again, he scanned the camp for another cat. "Ashfur if he wants." He meowed when he saw Ashfur sharing tongue with Cloudtail near the elders' den.
Thornclaw rolled his eyes as he turned to fetch cats for his patrol. A few steps away, he called over his shoulder. "You know, it's not like Squirrelflight is the first cat to ever have kits." With a flick of his tail, he padded toward Rainwhisker.
Brambleclaw was once again lost in his thoughts as the patrol disappeared into the thorn tunnel. However, he didn't miss the impassive glance Ashfur shot him. A shiver ran down his spine as he remembered those blue eyes. He needed to be careful around the gray warrior in the future. He didn't want their relationship to be unfixable.
"Having trouble?" He jumped when the voice of his ex-mentor sounded and chided himself for being so unaware of his surroundings as he faced the ginger tom. Firestar had a glimmer of amusement in his green eyes as he settled down next to Brambleclaw.
Ears flattened in embarrassment, the brown tabby meowed quietly. "I don't think I am cut out to be deputy." His amber eyes hesitantly glanced toward the nursery. "I just keep thinking about Squirrelflight and our kits." He admitted in a soft whisper.
Surprised flashed inside him when Firestar softly rested his muzzle on his head, despite being a little bit smaller than the brown tabby. "I felt the same way when Squirrelflight and Leafpool were kitted. And I am certain that every father feels overwhelmed when their kits are born."
Raising his head, his doubtful amber eyes met Firestar's green ones. "Do you think…" He hesitated for a moment but Firestar waited patiently for him to continue. "My father… Do you think… When Tawnypelt and I were kitted…"
Understanding and warmth were in Firestar's eyes as he gently replied. "He visited you quite a few times, you know." He meowed, clearly choosing his words. The ginger tom paused for a moment before continuing. "If Tigerstar hadn't done what he did but instead being a loyal warrior, I have no doubt he would love you and your sister very much."
A touch of longing in his heart, Brambleclaw envisioned the life they could have had, if Tigerstar hadn't been so ambitious and ruthless in his quest for power. It hurt so much, picturing the life they could have, together, in ThunderClan, his parents and his sister… "I see…" He murmured softly.
Touching his ex-apprentice reassuringly with his tail, Firestar meowed. "Your life has always been hard and I have no doubt you will face more hardships but your life is far from over. Goldenflower is still looking over you from StarClan and you have a mate and kits and your Clan." Eyes warmed with emotions, the ginger leader pressed against his loyal deputy.
A small purr of gratitude rumbled in his throat. "Thank you, Firestar." He mumbled. "For having faith in me."
Squirrelflight stretched in her nest, watching the three bundles of fur sleeping at her stomach. She couldn't give them milk but Ferncloud was kind enough to share some of hers. The dappled gray she-cat and Daisy had been so helpful, giving her tips about how to deal with kits, especially when they were being whinny.
"They are so small." Sandstorm murmured as she peered inside the nest. Her green eyes sparkled with happiness as they met Squirrelflight's. "Just like you and Leafpool when you were young."
"I hope they don't sneak away to go on some adventures like me then." Squirrelflight murmured tiredly at the thought of these little kits, on an adventure somewhere without their parents. And honestly, it scared her. She knew it was just an act, to cover for Leafpool, but the love for these kits was real.
Eyes glinting with amusement, Sandstorm gave her a comforting lick like she used to when Squirrelflight was still a kit, playing moss-ball with her sister. "I used to hope you wouldn't turn out like your father, always rushing off to save the day." She whispered wistfully.
"I guess I take after you." Squirrelflight teased with a flick of her ginger tail. Her green eyes glanced back at the kits to make sure they were still sleeping before the playful banter continued.