Chapter 2

A few days had passed since Squirreltail announced that she was expecting Brambleclaw's kits. Stormsong had spent most of those days training Larchpaw while organizing patrols. Brambleclaw had taken over Birchpaw's training while Squirreltail was in the nursery. Her belly was swollen with kits, and it wouldn't be long before the Clan heard the pawsteps of more kits in the nursery.

Excitement coursed through Stormsong as she led a patrol across sunningrocks. The day was bright and warm as she studied the borders that stretched into RiverClan territory. Voles streaked across the cracks while she heard the squeaks of mice. Beside her were Brightheart, Snowpaw and Longtail. All three cats looked eager to get back at camp.

"You guys go on back to camp, I'm going to see if there's any prey that can be caught," Stormsong meowed when she caught a familiar scent.

"Are you sure you don't want some back up?" Longtail growled. His amber eyes were narrowed into tiny slits as he gazed at her warily.

When Stormsong shook her head Longtail bounded after the patrol.

She was thankful that they didn't press her further. Her ears swiveled back when she heard the sound of pawsteps splashing into the river. She whipped around to see Stormfur, Hawkfrost and Heavystep standing near the river's edge. All three toms were taking drinks from the river, but Heavystep kept watch.

"What are you doing so close to the border?" he demanded when she stared at him. Stormfur's yellow eyes narrowed when he glared at her.

"Actually... I came to let Stormfur and Feathertail know what happened to Graystripe," she explained half sheepishly and guiltily. She knew that the news would shock both young cats. Heavystep narrowed his eyes again, but nodded just the same. "Graystripe was killed in a battle near ThunderClan's camp. Firestar wanted me to let you know what happened to him. He died bravely, defending Firestar from losing another life."

Stormfur looked like he was ready to burst with outrage. She held his gaze until he lowered his head.

"My father died," he murmured.

"I'm sorry," Heavystep growled. "But Graystripe was a ThunderClan cat. Your future lies in RiverClan." He glared at Stormsong before herding Stormfur away from the river. She stared after them and shook her head in embarrassment.

I've only made Stormfur feel worse, she thought.

"This was more than just about Graystripe wasn't it?" Hawkfrost asked once they were alone.

Just a few days ago they had decided to stop meeting. But Stormsong couldn't stay away. Sunningrocks had called her here for a reason, and she knew that she had to tell Hawkfrost what had happened.

"I'm the new deputy of ThunderClan," she whispered.

Hawkfrost just stared at her as if she had grown wings. Her paws shuffled against the cold rocks when he remained silent. Eventually she had to cough to get his attention, and he blinked in response.

"Deputy of ThunderClan!" he exclaimed. "Aren't you too young?"

"That's what I keep telling Firestar," she replied. "But he insisted that I stay as his deputy. He thinks I'm a good choice."

The dark brown tom suddenly stepped forward and pressed his nose against her shoulder. Though he was taller than her in size he tried to make himself look less dangerous. She was thankful for that, and she couldn't help but purr affectionately.

"I should get going, my Clan will miss me," Hawkfrost meowed when he stepped back.

"I will see you at the Gathering," she murmured when he began to leave.

Hawkfrost nodded in agreement and bounded away, sending pebbles flying across the ground. Stormsong watched him disappear until she decided it was time to go back.

She managed to catch a shrew and a mouse before returning, to make her excuse valid. Dusk settled around the forest by the time Stormsong returned. Cats were gathered outside the nursery while Brambleclaw paced around.

Sandstorm's paws were scraping against the ground. Firestar's ears pricked forward in alarm when a wail sounded from outside the nursery. Shock coursed through Stormsong when she realized that Squirreltail must be giving birth.

The silver, black and gray she-cat rushed forward and peered between the ferns. Leafpelt was standing beside Squirreltail. Sorreltail had gathered her kits outside the nursery. They were trying to get inside to see what was happening.

"She's had two healthy kits," Leafpelt announced when Brambleclaw padded near the nursery's entrance. "You can see her now."

Her eyes focused on Stormsong, but she felt too anxious to speak. She looked away in embarrassment before padding after Sandstorm and Firestar.

Stormsong's eyes widened when she stared down at Squirreltail's newest kits. Though she now knew that they weren't kin, she couldn't help but feel pride for her best friend. Squirreltail deserved to be the mother of these two kits.

"They're beautiful Squirreltail," Brambleclaw purred. His purr was loud enough to make the nursery tremble.

"I've thought of names for them already," Squirreltail mewed in a tired voice. "The dark ginger one is going to be called Emberkit, and the ginger-brown one will be called Shalekit."

Shalekit is an odd name, Stormsong thought with a flick of her ears. She had never heard of the name Shalekit before.

"Those are wonderful names," Sandstorm purred.

"They will make ThunderClan proud," Firestar added.

With those final words they left the nursery. Sorreltail had returned with her kits. Flamekit's eyes narrowed curiously while Aspenkit, Cedarkit and Honeykit watched the newcomers fearfully. They didn't know what other kits looked like.

"Is there any blood?" Cedarkit asked.

Stormsong stared at Cedarkit in surprise. Why would any kit ask such a question? Sorreltail had noticed the shock and wrapped her tail around Cedarkit's body, pushing him towards her.

"No," she whispered in response.

She shook her head and tried not to think about the fear that threatened to overwhelm her. Blood. There was so much blood around her vision. Her claws unsheathed before she stalked out of the nursery. By the time she left the blood had faded.

"Stormsong, can I talk with you?" Leafpelt's voice made Stormsong jump in surprise.

The deputy tried her hardest to get away, but she found no excuse. With a simple shrug she padded after Leafpelt into the light brown tabby's den. Leafpelt suddenly whipped around and faced Stormsong with burning amber eyes.

"I knew it," the medicine cat mewed when she placed a paw against Stormsong's belly. Once again she jumped at the sudden movement. Leafpelt's eyes narrowed into tiny slits before she gave a nod. "You're expecting kits, though I'm not sure how long into the pregnancy you're in," she explained.

Confusion swept over Stormsong when she gazed at Leafpelt. Then her words sank in. Stormsong gaped at Leafpelt in disbelief.

StarClan can't let this happen! she thought desperately.

"So are you going to tell who the father is?" Leafpelt asked. "Or am I supposed to keep this a secret?"

"If you tell the Clan Firestar will have to choose someone else as his deputy... maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea," she suddenly admitted.

"No, this is your destiny," Leafpelt meowed. "You were always meant to become the deputy, and eventually leader. I was told in a dream once when I was an apprentice."

Stormsong's mouth continued opening and closing in disbelief. Eventually she shook her head and tried to push away the shock and fear that began to overwhelm her.

"What do I do?" she asked.

"It's too late to take parsley, that would've stopped the kits from developing," Leafpelt explained. "If you wish to keep your position as deputy, than you will have to give up your unborn kits to another queen."

Stormsong's stomach felt hollow. She couldn't let some other queen raise her unborn kits. What sort of mousebrain would do that? Then she thought of the destiny that Leafpelt had foretold. She shook her head in confusion and realized that this was a decision she couldn't make with Leafpelt's help.

"I need to think about it," she murmured.

With those final words she backed out of Leaftail's den and didn't say anything else. Her thoughts churned with anxiety as she wondered what to do. Only time would tell whether or not she would make the right decision.