Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up, I was trying to decide how to progress the plot and I was waiting for the reviews to stop so i could have an accurate result.
Bramblestar got 1 vote
Reedwhisker received 4 votes
Choice "C" received 4 votes.
In order to find out if you were right read on, and keep reviewing.
Chapter Three
Reedwhisker fell back as Mothwing, Leafpool and himself left the Thunderclan camp, Mothwing pulled ahead, "How is Rosepaw," he finally mewed after they had traveled in silence. The black tom glanced sideways at the tabby and white she-cat, who kept a calm façade.
"She is fine, worried about her sister, of course and they were just apprenticed today," Leafpool answered as the neared the Tree Bridge, Reedwhisker stopped.
"Mothwing," he called, the gold tabby stopped and glanced back at her deputy, "Why don't you go on ahead and let Mistystar know that Leafpool is returning with us," the Riverclan medicine cat nodded and sped up to an easy trot. Reedwhisker waited until she was out of site then turned to Leafpool.
"What are you going to tell Tigerpaw, and my leader," he finally mewed. "Mistystar is already suspicious because of how concerned I was about the fact that Tigerpaw might not make it through the night," he mewed in a whisper, not unkindly but with worry. "Your clan already distrusts you because of Crowfeather, I don't want you to go through that again," he rubbed his head against Leafpool's cheek.
The tabby and white she-cat thought about her answer, "Mistystar is half-Thunderclan, she won't deny or be upset, and she won't take it out on Tigerpaw and Rosepaw either," she finally said "Besides she knows that if Bluestar hadn't mated with Oakheart she and her brother would never have been born, and neither would you. I think she'll be happy that you fell in love with a Thunderclan queen instead of a Shadowclan or Windclan," she gave her mate a swift lick. "Now come on, Mothwing is probably wondering what is taking us so long," she mewed and began bounding past the Tree-Bridge.
Reedwhisker sighed, he really wished that Leafpool would have helped him plan what to say to his leader who also happened to be his mother, he caught up with Leafpool and rested his tail tip on her shoulder to calm her, "Follow me," he whispered and led her to Willowshine's den, "Willowshine, I've brought Leafpool," he was cut off by his leader
"Why did you do that," she questioned, her ice-blue gaze questioning.
Reedwhisker felt his pelt grow hot, Stupid fish-brain, he told himself, "She requested to be brought along, so she could comfort her kit, she says that Tigerpaw has just left the Nursery," he replied making sure to show no emotion.
Mistystar sat and listened to her son, "Tigerpaw is sleeping now, if you and Leafpool wouldn't mind coming and talking to me a moment," she said pushing herself to her paws, and padding from the den.
"But, Mistystar Leafpool just got here," Reedwhisker protested only to realize his mistake after he had spoken.
Mistystar looked back at the two young cats, something flashed across her gaze, "Leafpool will have time to check on her kit after we talk," she mewed more firmly. Leafpool gazed at Reedwhisker worry lighting her amber gaze. He nudged her forward and she followed the young leader of Riverclan, out of camp and to a quiet area near the Riverclan border with Windclan, "Okay you two, spill I know that something is going on between you two," she mewed coolly, her gaze resting on Reedwhisker, the black tom just looked at his paws, "You Reedwhisker, have had that same look about you that Silverstream had when she was meeting with Graystripe," she said and then turned her gaze to Leafpool, "I have noticed you two sneaking off together during gatherings." Mistystar stopped looking at the two young cats, she sighed "Reedwhisker," the black tom looked up, "Tigerpaw is your daughter isn't she," she finally mewed
Reedwhisker nodded, "Yes, her and Rosepaw," he confessed, "Please don't punish Leafpool," he said his green gaze blazing, "You yourself know that exceptionally strong and noble warriors can come from mixed blood, like yourself for example," he mewed resting his tail on Leafpool's shoulder. The tabby and white she-cat didn't move.
The moonlight turned Mistystar's pelt to silver, Leafpool watched as her muscles rippled beneath her sleek pelt, the longer the silence lasted the more Leafpool's blood chilled, "Tigerpaw doesn't know yet, neither does Rosepaw," she whispered, "I think it should stay that way, Thunderclan and Riverclan have both received bad reputations in the past because we mix blood so often," Leafpool could feel her heart breaking with every word, she knew that Tigerpaw longed for a father, "Unless, Mistystar you believe otherwise," the young leader looked up her ice-blue gaze soft.
Dear Leafpool, don't you remember what had happened last time you kept the identity of your kit's father a secret, Leafpool heard someone whisper, she smelled the scent of Spottedleaf.
"I think Tigerpaw and Rosepaw have a right to know who their father is, I remember the confusion I felt as a young warrior when Graypool had looked nothing like me, and I had always wondered why I had a strange taste for squirrel," Mistystar finally mewed she turned her gaze on her son, "Reedwhisker, what do you think?" she asked
The black tom sat silent, looking like a shadow in the moonlight, "I agree with both of you, so Mistystar I ask your permission to leave Riverclan, and join Thunderclan, so my kits may have a father and my birth clan will not receive any more bad reputation," he finally mewed
Mistystar and Leafpool froze, "Do you realize what you are requesting," the Riverclan leader hissed quietly, her ice-blue gaze a flaming blue. Reedwhisker didn't flinch, but just nodded. Mistystar sighed "I understand, and if Bramblestar does not accept you, you will still have a home here, but you will lose your position as deputy," she mewed sternly, "Is there a specific cat you would like to take your place," she mewed. Reedwhisker thought it over, and finally nodded.
"Mintfur, she is kind yet smart and strict," he mewed "She will do a good job," Mistystar nodded in agreement.
"Very well," she mewed, "Go and see your kit," she said nudging them both back towards the Medicine Den.
"Thank you, Mistystar. Oakheart and Bluestar would be very proud of you," Leafpool murmured touching her nose to the Riverclan leader's ear in respect before padding after her mate.
Tigerpaw opened her eyes, she sat up, her muscles feeling much better, "How are you my little one," she whipped her head around.
"Leafpool," she squeaked, and bounded over to her mother, rubbing up against her purring with delight, "What are you doing here," she asked taking in her mother's scent.
"I'm here to take you home, do you feel well enough to travel," she asked Tigerpaw nodded, "Is she," Leafpool asked looking at Willowshine. The gray tabby nodded.
"Okay, then we'll leave immediately," she mewed "Rosepaw is worried sick about you, so is Bramblestar," she said glancing sideways at her daughter, "Thank you so much, Willowshine, Mothwing must be proud," she mewed over her shoulder.
Reedwhisker sat waiting at the entrance to the Riverclan camp, he had already said good-bye to his mother, she was sad but glad that he would be happy with his mate and kits. He stood up when he saw Leafpool and Tigerpaw padding towards him, "Ready Leafpool," he mewed, the tabby and white she-cat nodded, "Ready Tigerpaw," he mewed the small apprentice nodded.
Tigerpaw padded along the lake shore, her mother by her side, Reedwhisker on the other which confused her as they crossed the Riverclan border, she stopped but the two older cats kept walking. "Hey wait a minute," she mewed, Leafpool and Reedwhisker stopped, they turned and looked toward their kit.
"What is it Tigerpaw," Leafpool mewed glancing at Reedwhisker.
"Why is still coming with us," Tigerpaw mewed in confusion, she sat down as Leafpool and Reedwhisker padded back to her.
"Tigerpaw," Leafpool mewed, "You have a right to know, I made the mistake of lying to my kits once before, and I'm not going to make it again," she continued, "Reedwhisker is your father as well as Rosepaw's" the she-cat stopped looking at her daughter's blue gaze looking for anger or betrayal, but there was none, what she found there was happiness.
"Is this true," she asked looking at Reedwhisker, the black tom nodded, "So I am a clan cat," she mewed rubbing up against Reedwhisker, purring. "I am so glad that I have a father, but why are you still coming with us," she asked again tipping her head.
Reedwhisker looked at his daughter, "Because I am going to ask Bramblestar if I may join your clan, so I can be with you and Rosepaw," he answered giving Tigerpaw a swift lick, "Now come on I'm pretty sure you want to be back before night fall," he said nudging her forward. Tigerpaw jumped in the air and bounded through her forest, her home. Leafpool and Reedwhisker bounded beside her, both glad that they were a family again.
"I'm home," Tigerpaw yowled as she burst into camp, several of the cats that were dozing lifted their heads.
Rosepaw was sharing a mouse with Sunpaw, she turned her gaze to the Thorn Tunnel when she heard her sister's yowl, "Tigerpaw," she squeaked abandoning the mouse, running to her sister. Rosepaw knock her over, "I thought you would never come back, you smell like fish," she mewed wrinkling her nose, she looked over her sister's shoulder to see a black tom with blue eyes follow their mother into camp. "Whose that," she asked pointing at the tom with her tail.
"That's Reedwhisker," her sister answered
"Leafpool, why is the Riverclan Deputy with you," came a challenging yowl, Rosepaw turned her head to see Bramblestar standing on the High Ledge, by this point the whole clan had gathered around the three cats. Bramblestar padded through the crowd.
"I've come to ask your permission to join Thunderclan," Reedwhisker answered looking Bramblestar square in the eye, Graystripe padded to the front of the crowd, and sat down next to Millie.
"Why do you ask to do that," Bramblestar mewed coolly
"Because I want to be with my mate and her kits," he replied loudly enough for the whole of Thunderclan to hear. There were several gasps from the clan. Rosepaw looked at her sister, She must know something she isn't telling me, she thought
Bramblestar looked at Leafpool, "Is this true, Reedwhisker is the father of Tigerpaw and Rosepaw," he asked
Leafpool nodded, "It is, and may I remind you that he has a right by blood to ask permission to join this clan, because he is the son of Mistystar, and the grandson of our own Bluestar," she mewed loudly
Rosepaw looked around to see several of her clan mates nodding in agreement, "But how can Reedwhisker be our father," she blurted out, "He is the Riverclan deputy," Tigerpaw flicked her tail across her sister's mouth.
"Very well then, Reedwhisker may stay, I will not deny a father his right to be with his kits, but he must prove his loyalty," the Thunderclan leader yowled and ended the meeting. Rosepaw couldn't believe it Bramblestar just let a cat from another clan join their clan just because he was Tigerpaw and her father. Rosepaw shook her head and bounded from the hollow.
"No, he can't be, he just can't be my father," she muttered she let her paws guide her, not caring where they took her.
The father's identity has been revealed, leave a review on what you think, and stay tuned to see how the choice of Leafpool and Reedwhisker shape the destinies of their daughters, and how young Tigerpaw and Rosepaw feel about knowing they are half-clan.