Chapter 4: Bringing New Life from Darkness

Felicity, Bluetail, and I all walked towards the clearing where Thunderclan was and Firestar saw me and glared from the meeting rock and he yowled, "It looks like Darkpelt has returned to the clan. Even though I never said he could return."

I looked at Firestar, "Firestar. My mate is close to term to have our kits, I have returned with her because of that reason."

Firestar glared at me again, "You and your kits are not accepted here. Unless she has she-kits any toms will be automatically exiled with you."

I yowled, "That is not fair to my kits to be exiled before their apprenticeship!"

Firestar jumped down and padded over, a lot of the other cats in the clan have came out and Sandstorm quickly dashed in front of Firestar and they seemed to bicker for a while and Sandstorm seemed to not be able to convince Firestar to stop and she simply moved out of the way and I noticed that Firestar's claws were unsheathed and I knew it meant he wanted to fight. He meowed as he neared me, "If you wish to defy me I will have to fight you."

I nodded and meowed, "On one condition. If I win, my kits aren't exiled from the clan on birth."

Firestar meowed, "Fine, and if you lose?"

I looked down, "Then you can kill me…"

Bluetail came up next to me and mewed, "What are you thinking?"

I looked at her then looked at Firestar, "Not in this clearing, we will fight in the forest."

Firestar meowed, "Fine, I will fight in YOUR territory." I tried my best

Not to grin too much and Bluetail licked my cheek and she winced.

"Head to the nursery, I will be there soon I hope." I rubbed my head on hers.

She purred, "Please be careful. I don't know what Firestar has planned."

I nodded and Firestar led me into the forest and we faced off our muscles ready as he hunched down. I calmly stood my ground as he jumped and I dashed out of the way and climbed up a tree with all I had. Firestar followed me and I used a skill I learned during training and started jumping across branch to branch. I knew he wasn't able to follow me and I jumped and tackled him and we both landed on the ground on our feet. Firestar smiled quite amused, "Odd tactic Darkpelt, but not enough to take me down."

I growled, "I know that. But I want to show you that I am not the warrior I was when I left."

Firestar grinned, "Oh I am quite aware of that but you can't defeat a clan leader."

I meowed, "Maybe not yet, but I have to try." Right after I said that Blackstar, my father, jumped out and tackled me from nowhere.

"Ha! Finally I got you with Firestar watching!" My father purred with amusement as he pinned me with his claws digging into my chest, "Now I kill you once and for all!"

Firestar was shaking his head and he walked back towards the clearing almost like he already declared our battle as a loss. I growled at my father, "You've made me lose my last chance to keep my kits safe!" I kicked hard into his stomach area and he yowled as he flew up and I rolled over and dashed out of where he would fall. My father was cunning and he ended up landing right on top of me knocking me to the ground.

Blackstar growled at me as he jumped off. I stood up shakily and meowed, "I am not stupid Darkpelt, and you cannot win."

I hissed at my father, "You… can't beat me. I am not a kit any more. I am a warrior of Thunderclan… and I will defeat you." I tried to take a step forwards but I fell down again.

Blackstar laughed as he stood on my side and dug his claws in and he meowed, "This should end it!" Suddenly my mother tackled Blackstar sending him tumbling to the ground my mother's fur was standing on end.

She meowed to me, "Darkpelt hurry and get back to the clan. Bluetail is having your kits."

I nodded and dashed back to the clearing and straight to the nursery and I mewed to the medicine cat, "Where is Bluetail." She pointed to Bluetail who was lying on her side with five little bundles of fur suckling on her she was breathing fine and she looked at me and smiled. I asked, "How many toms and she-kits?"

She meowed, "Ironically, no toms. They are all she-kits."

I sighed somewhat relieved and I was soon greeted by my mother and sisters who were now known as Starpaw and Icepaw. Icepaw smiled and asked, "Are those your kits big brother?"

I nodded and meowed, "Yes, I will name them, Cloudkit, Greykit, Bluekit, Firekit, and Darkkit."

Bluetail smiled and purred as she licked the closest kit, a Black she-kit like I was when I was smaller only female and she mewed, "This one would be Darkkit."

I smiled and Firestar came in behind me and he meowed, "I might have been wrong about you but you are still exiled from the clan until further notice."

I nodded and walked out of the territory and into the woods towards where Felicity was hiding in the brush, "Let's go Felicity."

She asked me curiously, "So how many kits, what are their names, and what are their genders?"

I purred, "Five kits, their names are Cloudkit, Greykit, Bluekit, Firekit, and Darkkit, and they are all ironically female."

Felicity blinked a couple times and meowed, "Wow that's a pretty big group of kits isn't it?"

I shook my head, "Nah, 7 or 8 kits is a full litter. At least to us cats who know any better."

Felicity rolled her eyes and smiled, "Whatever Darkpelt, so what is the plan now?"

"Well I am exiled until further notice," I replied, "So until I know, I guess I will continue my training. So that once I find my father again I will fight him and win."

"Fine, just don't expect Firestar to just come out and accept you back in after you do that." Felicity meowed.

I looked at her and nodded, "I am aware, so instead of me fighting him in the woods, I will lure him to follow me to the clan territory, and then fight him in front of all of Thunderclan."

"You seem quite confident you will win…" Felicity noted, "Are you sure you will be able to?"

I look down at my paws and stop, "I don't know, but I have to try."