Redtails POVishness!
Starclan was with the deputy as he crossed Windclans moor. He didn't want to have to explain why he was alone coming home when he was accompanied by two others going up. As he reached his own territory, Redtail thought of how he was going to fake Fireheart's and Spottedleaf's deaths. Maybe if he rolled in mud he could pretend he fought Shadowclan with them and...no, that wouldn't work. He heard the steady sounds of the river flowing and this gave him an idea.
"Redtail! There you are! But...where are Fireheart and Spottedleaf?" Bluestar meowed when the soaked tortoiseshell walked into camp, gasping for breath.
"We ran into another Shadowclan patrol. It was as you feared Bluestar, they had split up. There were two many, so we retreated. But they wouldn't let us leave...Fireheart and Spottedleaf are dead. I saw them be murdered and then thrown into the gorge. I couldn't save them Bluestar...I would have died as well, and then no one would have known how bravely those two fought." It was a great lie, every cat listening believed him. Wails erupted from the crowd, and some furious growls.
"Shadowclan will pay!"
"Send a counter attack!"
Bluestar leapt on top of the Highrock, addressing her clan in a grave tone. "Enough! I will not invade Shadowclan's territory tonight. Especially when we should be holding vigil for our lost clanmates. Rest now, we hold vigil at sundown. I would like to talk to my senior warriors before they sleep though!" She led the way into her den, sitting on her mossy nest. Redtail sat beside her, watching Lionheart come in with Tigerclaw, Whitestorm, Runningwind, Darkstripe, and Mousefur following closely behind. "As you all know, they are not dead. Redtail succeeded in taking Spottedleaf and Fireheart to the loner, Barley's farm near the Moonstone. For how long...I have not decided yet..."
Whitestorm, being the wise cat he was, spoke first. "I think that they should stay until the prophecy comes into play."
"You're right, they aren't safe until it is over. Keep them out of Brokenstars claws until it's too late!" Mousefur meowed. There were similar murmurs around the circle.
"Then it is agreed! When Fireheart and Spottedleaf are needed, we will fetch them. But only then. If someone in our own clan, Starclan forbid, were to betray their clanmates and tell Brokenstar, there would be heavy consequences for them and the cat who told them."
Longtail sat unnoticed beside Bluestars den, listening to the whole conversation. When the group of cats left, he backed away. So Spottedleaf and Fireheart were alone far away...he growled at that thought.
Fireheart's POVishness!
"Alright, eat these herbs and try to get some sleep. I'll be right back." Fireheart murmured. He left Spottedleaf in her nest with her three newborn kits. He was exhausted from helping her all day and now he had to find Barley. When Spottedleaf had woken them both up with her screeches, Fireheart had sent Barley outside. He would have gone too, but then Spottedleaf would have been on her own. So, he ended up helping her through her kitting. When he stepped outside, he felt a wave of sadness pass because he hadn't seen the sun in over a day. It was pitch black, but that didn't stop him from finding Barley asleep on a rock.
"Barley! Barley!" Fireheart yowled, pawing at his friend. "Barley wake up, the kits are here."
"What? Really? Has she named them yet?" The loner asked while he stretched.
Fireheart shook his head. "She's sleeping now. I guess she'll think of names tomorrow." They walked back into the barn to find Spottedleaf awake but distressed.
"S-She never woke up...I tried everything..." The queen whispered, nudged the dead she kit one last time before turning away.
"I'll...bury her." Barley muttered awkwardly. Fireheart watched as he grabbed the little sandy colored kit and carried her outside.
"She didn't even have a chance to feel pain. Don't worry. You have two beautiful kits to take care of. Have you thought of names?" Fireheart meowed.
"Yes, this one is Larkkit," Spottedleaf purred. She pointed with her nose to the one that looked exactly like her. "and this one is Ivykit." She pointed to the last one who looked like Longtail.
"Larkkit and Ivykit." Fireheart repeated, laying down beside her.
Spottedleaf gazed at him for a few minutes before laying her head on her paws. "That was sweet of you, how you helped me. I couldn't have a better friend than you." Her breathing slowed and pretty soon Fireheart could hear soft snores. He tried to sleep too, but ended up waiting for Barley to return.
Weeks passed with no danger. Fireheart woke, hunted for himself and Spottedleaf, then shared stories with Barley while she slept. When Spottedleaf woke up, the two would spend their time talking and making up stories about what their clanmates were doing. It was noticeable that they were getting closer and closer with each day. All of them watched Ivykit and Larkkit grow at an amazing rate, and everyone felt the pride swell when they took their first steps. Soon, Ivykit and Larkkit were faster than a speeding rabbit; chasing mice around the barn and pouncing on one of the unsuspecting cats tails.
"Fireheart! You promised you'd take us outside today!" Larkkit whined, climbing over the fiery warriors back.
"Yeah Fireheart, you promised! Get uppp!" Ivykit squealed. She was playing with his tail again. Although he was dragged away from his hunting dream, Fireheart couldn't help but purr. He loved the two sister just as much as he loved their mother. He slowly got up, careful not to hurt the tiny kits.
"Is that alright with you Spottedleaf? I'll take great care of them." Fireheart asked.
"Sure, go ahead!" Spottedleaf replied. She watched as he took her kits out of the barn for the first time. Ivykit raced through the Barn door and rolled head first into a bush.
"Ivykit!" Fireheart yowled, running after her. He pulled her out of the bush and shook her. "You can't run off like that! What kind of apprentice will you be if you don't listen?"
"Whats an apprentice?" Larkkit asked, coming up behind them. Fireheart had forgotten they didn't know anything about the Clans.
He decided to tell the young sisters, and the best way to do that was to show them. "Come with me." Fireheart ordered walking along the top of the hill and sitting on the edge of a cliff. Ivykit and Larkkit sat down next to him and waited for his explanation. "There are cats, wild cats, that live in clans right down there." He pointed with his tail to the forest below them. "There's Windclan, small and quick. Shadowclan, who are fierce and strong. Riverclan,the clan that swims and eats fish. And lastly, Thunderclan, who are loyal and smart. Every clan is built upon its warriors and its apprentices, and most important of all, it leader. Do you know which clan you belong to?"
"Thunderclan!" Larkkit purred.
Ivykit thought for a moment before answering quite wrongly, "Riverclan."
Fireheart didn't know whether to worry or not. She hadn't heard of the clans till now, wouldn't she pick the wrong one? "No Ivykit, your sister is right. Your mother, you two, and I all belong to Thunderclan. We hunt in the great forest and live in a ravine. Our leader's name is Bluestar, our deputy is Redtail, and our medicine cat is Ravenwing. Your father, Longtail, is a warrior like myself. Our job is to protect the clan, which includes the elders and the queens, and train the future warriors."
"Apprentices!" Larkkit exclaimed, bouncing up and down.
"Exactly." Fireheart purred. He went on, "When a cat in the clan has served for a great many years, they have the choice of retiring to the Elders Den. When a she cat is expecting kits, she must move into the Nursery. Sick cats sleep in the Medicine Den with Ravenwing so he can cure them and then they get to go back to their duties."
"Does every clan work this way?" Ivykit asked innocently.
"Yes, every clan runs like this. We all follow the Warrior Code." Fireheart answered.
Larkkit gasped as if what he had said was the most amazing thing ever. "What's the Warrior Code?"
"It is a code that defines the way a clan lives. Rules, laws, a way of life. You must memorize it before you become a warrior, and then follow it afterwards." Fireheart explained.
"Will you be my warrior trainer Fireheart?" Larkkit mewed.
Fireheart purred loudly. The little she kit was energetic and would be fun to train. "It's Bluestars decision, but I will try. She chooses mentors for the new apprentices."
"Fireheart, if we are a part of Thunderclan...why aren't we there now?" It was the question he had been hoping to avoid as long as possible, but considering they had just learned they were something different, it was a logical question.
"Well Ivykit, it's not safe for us to be home at the moment, but when it is, we'll get to go back and you can see what it's like to be in a clan!" He shifted his paws awkwardly against her questioning gaze. "Now, I think I've kept you away from your mother for too long. Go on back to the barn and get some sleep." Fireheart watched as they scampered back up the hill and into the barn, squealing to Spottedleaf about all they had learned.
"Don't worry. You told them all they need to know. When they're older, you can share the rest of the story with them." Barley meowed behind him in a gruff voice. Fireheart didn't move, he had smelled Barley even before the old loner had sat beside him.
"I know...but I can't help but feel that Ivykit isn't as enthusiastic as Larkkit..." Fireheart murmured, looking out at the moor.
Barley chuckled lightly. "Of course she isn't! Larkkit is the most enthusiastic kitten I've ever seen!" He got up and shook the grass off of his fur. "Come on, Spottedleaf will want company while those little tornadoes sleep. Plus, I've had enough outside air to last me a lifetime!" The old cat bustled up the hill and into the barn just like Larkkit and Ivykit had. Whatever Barley said, Fireheart still felt Ivykit was a foreboding presence in their lives.
"Mother! Fireheart is going to be my mentor when I get older!" He heard Larkkit reporting. Spottedleaf looked at him with wide eyes, not expecting for her to know about the clan life yet.
"Sorry Spottedleaf, I should have asked you before telling them." Fireheart apologized.
"No no no, it's fine!" She shook her head and nudged her kits closer.
The next morning, Spottedleaf woke up early and gently left her nest so she wouldn't bother her kits. Barley would take care of them, she had to talk to Fireheart. The flame colored tom was curled in his own nest a couple of fox lengths away. She poked him with her paw, afraid to make a sound. It took a few punches, but he finally jerked into wakefulness.
"Shh, follow me!" She whispered, leading the way outside and away from the barn. Fireheart followed confusedly, waiting for her to speak. They traveled into the fields, slowly putting paw in front of paw. "So...you really want to mentor Larkkit?"
"Absolutely! I promised didn't I? I think we'll be a great pair. Is that why we're here, because you know I would never lie."
"No, I know you wouldn't lie, Fireheart. I trust you with Larkkit and Ivykit!"
"Good, because you are my best friend." Fireheart purred. He gathered his surroundings and noticed they were too far from the barn. The tom steered her back towards their temporary him while waiting for a reply.
Spottedleaf took a deep breath to steady herself. "Well...maybe I think of you as more than that..." When Fireheart looked confused, she went on. "Not a brother, but as a...alright, I can't do this. Fireheart, I've fallen in love with you! You used to be just an apprentice to me, but now I see how you care for me, and my kits, and you are such a good friend to Barley, and even the little things like how you seem to glow whenever your near Larkkit and Ivykit. Or how your voice gets that tinge of pride and belonging whenever you talk about Thunderclan, as if you watched it grow and thrive from the beginning! Those things, those wonderful things, are amazing to me." She finished flopping onto the ground and rolling onto her back to watch him. Fireheart had paused, a difficult expression crossing his handsome features.
"But...what about you and Longtail? He's their father..." He glanced at the red den ahead of them where his favorite kits were sleeping.
"Longtail will understand, he's a good friend. Fireheart, I'm positive now that we're supposed to be together! If you don't hate me for not seeing this before..." Spottedleaf replied.
"Of course not! I could never hate you! I love you too Spottedleaf, and I want nothing more than for you to be happy." Fireheart purred louder than he ever had. He flicked Spottedleafs ear with his tail, pressing against her.
Longtail's POVishness!
The tom peered through the bushes, judging if it was safe to go find Spottedleaf. Just as he was about to pop out and storm into the two leg barn, Longtail saw his mate and Fireheart walk out of a large crack in the wood. Thinking better of his plan, he ducked farther into the bushes as they passed then quietly followed, listening intently to their conversation. Luckily, he was down wind, so it was easy to follow them.
When they reached a field and started turning back, Longtail hid in a copse of trees. But, he had no need because they had stopped. Curious, he prowled closer in the tall grass.
"...Alright, I can't do this. Fireheart, I've fallen in love with you! You used to be just an apprentice to me..." Longtail heard Spottedleaf meow. She loved Fireheart? But what about him? They had kits! Longtail was too angry to stay and confront her. He knew what he had to do. Not bothering to be quiet, Longtail raced down the hill and across more fields, ending up at the edge of the Thunderpath. He waited, then took off again, running across the Windclan moor only pausing when he reached Thunderclan territory. Longtail had to be sure that he wouldn't run into his clanmates before he got to Shadowclan territory. When all was clear, he trotted under his familiar trees. The quickest way across the Thunderpath was the underground tunnel which every cat in both Thunderclan and Shadowclan knew about. Longtail decided he would try that to shave off a couple of minutes from his time.
Now all he had to do was find their camp...