AN: Hey there everybody, Ouka-noir here with a new story for you all. Originally, this was going to be a new chapter to the Mist of Fate series, but it wound up developing into its own thing. So, this story is about Tigerheart and his new family. He still loves Dovewing, but since she chose Bumblestripe over him, he decided to try and move on. If you know who Olivenose is, I made her his mate because it seemed right somehow. This takes place about a year and a half after The Last Hope and the only characters I created can be seen in the allegiances. I kept to the story for the most part, but I'm excluding everything from the Novellas and the new Bramblestar special edition.

I hope you all like it, cause here goes!

"They're here, two toms and one she-kit!" Littlecloud announced with a calm mew.

The Clan let out soft mews and whispers as Tigerheart made a bee-line for the nursery entrance to look at the tiny medicine cat expectantly. "Are they alright? How is Olivenose? Can I see them?" His mew was frantic despite the calm glance Littlecloud gave him. "If you are so curious, why not go see them yourself?" Littlecloud waved his tail at the entrance.

Tigerheart gulped and carefully entered the nursery, his heart beating an unnatural throb in his chest. Warmth and milk-scent wafted over his thick pelt and soft whimpers lifted the fur around his ears. His heart sped even more so at the noise; his kits.

Olivenose was lying on her side with three bundles huddled close to her swollen belly, her tongue running over their pelts with loving care. Her eyes glowed with warmth as she looked to meet her mate's eyes. Tigerheart smiled and quickly went to her side, pressing his muzzle to hers. She purred and returned the gesture before turning back to her newborn kits.

"Aren't they beautiful?" she purred, gazing down at the bundles with love. Tigerheart could only nod; his words would not come through the knot in his throat. The three bundles of fur squirmed to get to their mother's milk, squeaking every so often. His heart swelled and he bent his muzzle to sniff them.

Olivenose ran her tongue over a small pale tortoiseshell kit's head, receiving a high pitched wail. "This little one is a fighter; she will be a great warrior someday," she commented, touching the same gray kit with her tail tip. Tigerheart nodded and looked to his sons. Both were thick furred, one with a dark tabby pelt like his father and the other with a mottled ginger much like his grandfather.

The brambles behind them rustled as three cats entered, all of whom Tigerheart recognized with ease; his family. "They are so cute! Congratulations, Tigerheart," Dawnpelt purred, pressing her muzzle lightly against her brother's. Tawnypelt and Rowanstar sat side by side by the entrance, their tails intertwined and their eyes shining with pride at the sight of their grandchildren.

Tigerheart smiled at them before turning back to his kits. "What should we name them?" Olivenose glanced to her mate encouragingly. Her eyes shimmered as she spoke, silently nudging him to speak.

Slowly, he bowed his head to the dark tabby tom and touched him lightly with his nose. "Stormkit." His mate nodded, watching the tom as he wiggled under his father's touch. The dark pelt reminded him of his grandfather, a storm of claws and fury. Olivenose rested her tail tip atop the ginger tom lightly before she spoke, her mew soft.

"I wanted to name one of the toms Flamekit, after your brother," she mewed, looking into his eyes sadly, "only if you want to, of course." His brother, Flametail. The name brought a dull ache to his heart, one that, he noticed, ached through his family and Littlecloud. His brother had died a horrible way; he had almost died again if not for Tigerstar's mercy.

Olivenose continued to stare into his amber eyes.

He stared into hers for a few, long heart beats before the image of a certain pale gray ThunderClan she-cat leapt into his mind. Dovewing was a mother now, with Bumblestripe as her mate; there was no place in their lives for him.

He now had no room in his new life for them either. "How about Featherkit for the she-kit?" Olivenose nodded before stroking the she-kit with her tail tip. He knew that she didn't realize the meaning behind the name; a feather from the wings of a dove had buried itself in his heart, tickling so it would ache every time he thought of the ThunderClan cat he had fallen in love with.

The tortoiseshell queen nodded and curled her tail around her newly named kits. Soon, soft snores filled the air and Tigerheart slowly padded away from his mate and kits. Dawnpelt and his family soon followed suite, carefully sliding through the bramble barrier and out to greet the Clan. Rowanstar paused to touch his tail to his son's shoulder before addressing the Clan of the kits' names.

Tigerheart didn't wait for the official announcement; instead he began his trek out of camp and slowly towards the border. He padded along it quietly, staring into the trees as if searching for signs of the memories that haunted this piece of territory; he saw none. He sighed as he reached the shoreline and gazed out at the lake. Overhead, the moon shined from its claw-arched ascendance. Silverpelt gleamed brightly, as if welcoming him to sit and stare up at them until sunrise.

He sat, curling his tail delicately over his paws and stared out over the lake. Here, memories played out before him. Memories of Flametail drowning and Jayfeather trying desperately to save him. The first notions of the blind medicine cat murdering his brother were put to the back of his mind; his brother had died a horrible death, he was lucky to escape a brutal second death by the cats of the Dark Forest.

Tigerheart shook his head angrily, washing the images from his mind. He peered into the lake and sighed again. Flametail and Dovewing, he had lost them both. "At least I now have three beautiful kits to call my own," he muttered to himself.

Littlecloud placed borage leaves beside a barley awake Olivenose, instructing her to eat it before leaving the nursery and heading back to his den. Flamekit, Featherkit and Stormkit were in good health, thank StarClan. They were the second litter of kits the Clan had had in the season, there was little chance they would have any new apprentices any time soon.

Settling himself down by his herb storage, he began to sort leaves from berries from roots and so on until he was lost in his own world. His paws moved almost without him realizing it, moving a leaf of catmint away from the burdock root noting that he was low. His mind wandered, recalling the time when his apprentice had helped him sort. Flametail had been a dedicated medicine cat apprentice until the bitter end. Littlecloud sighed sadly. He would miss his apprentice just as much as he did Runningnose.

Once all was sorted and accounted for, save for a few piles that were shockingly low, Littlecloud retired to his nest, curled himself into a ball and closed his eyes. He was always tired after a queen gave birth, even if he was only watching. He signed before he allowed sleep to take hold of him, leaving the world around him behind.

"Welcome, Littlecloud," a soft voice purred.

The small medicine cat's eyes shot open and he leapt to his feet, looking every which way to find the source of the voice. He soon found it. A dark ginger tom with starlit blue eyes stood before him, his pelt twinkling with bright stars. Littlecloud smiled and instantly relaxed, settling himself down on his haunches before greeting the ghostly cat. "Greeting, Flametail, I see you are well."

Flametail returned his former mentor's smile and nodded. He looked well; strong and glossy fur, his eyes bright with new life and his pelt warm. If you hadn't known, you would have thought he had never drowned. Littlecloud liked that about StarClan, you were always healthy and well. "I take it you have something to tell me?" Littlecloud muttered, looking at his former apprentice expectantly.

Flametail hesitated, seeming uncomfortable with the idea of speaking. His tail fidgeted before settling over his paws. "Yes, I do have something to tell you; I'm just not sure how."

Littlecloud watched the ghostly tom curiously; it wasn't like a StarClan warrior to be hesitant. Before Littlecloud could speak, Flametail opened his jaws and spoke in a deep tone:

"After the battle of darkness, a dark force shall rise from the depths of the forest only to be quelled by the feather of hope, which shall bring a new hope to the Clans with flame and storm aiding it."

Littlecloud blinked in surprise, unsure of the message. It was a prophecy, he was sure of that much, but the meaning eluded him. He opened his jaws to speak, but found himself alone.

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Ouka-noir