CHAPTER 7
I think the story will be ending in the next couple of chapters, so stay tuned! xD
Maplefall sped through the woods, despite the continuing aching coming from her belly. She was still in shock about the news she had just received, and didn't know if she should be happy or sad about it. Finally, groaning with pain, she reached the twoleg nest, and crept inside. Maybe I should have stayed Maplefall fretted. Cautiously, she peered through the gap, her heart beating as if she was running at top speed. It was all too familiar, the one place she never imagined herself going to again. Maplefall peered around, and what worried her more than meeting him again was that he wasn't to be seen. This was the last chance she would have and she would feel terrible if the kits were born without him knowing. But then a dark brown cat pushed through the flap in the doorway and sprung up to his perch on the gate. Falcon looked around at the vast forest around him, not noticing Maplefall crouching at the entrance. Then he looked down, and the shock on his face couldn't be described. "M-maplefall?" he stuttered, suddenly out of breath. Maplefall sighed and looked down at the ground when his eyes moved to her belly. "I've come to tell you the news that you've probably already guessed." He slowly nodded before Maplefall continued. "I'm expecting kits in a quarter moon. This is the last chance I get to see you before I'll be stuck in the nursery all day." Falcon eyes were sad and happy at the same time. "Kits," he repeated wistfully. "What are we going to do? Who are you going to say is the father?"
Maplefall hadn't even thought about this yet. What do I do? What do I do? "Well," Falcon began cautiously, "Maybe I could, well you know, join your clan?" He looked up, his blue eyes sparkling in the evening light. Could this be the way that Starclan wanted? Maybe Maplefall should bring him home. Her mind flew round and round, trying to decide. Eventually she gave up. "Alright, let's go." And with that she gave a smile, wondering if this was going to be the beginning of a new life, one that was much better. At first Maplefall could scamper along beside Falcon fine, but soon enough the pains in her stomach got worse, and she had to stop. "You should be more gentle on the kits," Falcon suggested lovingly, "We will go slower." So, for the rest of the way back they trotted along beside eachother, happy for new life and new love.
They reached the camp, and by now the air was putrid with Falcon's fear scent. "It's ok," Maplefall whispered in his ear, even though half the clan was staring at them with suspicion and curiosity. Hastily, she led Falcon to Firestar's den, and luckily she made the jump with little pain. "You may enter," Firestar called out sleepily, obviously having his evening nap. "Firestar, this is Falcon. He is a strong, kind and skilled cat that is from the the twoleg place but knew he never belonged there." Maplefall sighed. "He is also the father of my kits, and we both think he should be in Thunderclan." Firestar looked up at both of them and then scanned his eyes up and down Falcon. "I see," he said calmly, though you could see he had sympathy for Falcon because long ago he was born a kittypet also. Firestar had had a hard time earning his place in the clan but had gotten it deservingly. "You too look like you're in love," he said, his whiskers twitching in amusement. "If Falcon proves himself to be a loyal and skilled cat he will stay in our Clan with a well deserved place. Until that time comes, he can stay here if he likes, but every other cat has the right to be suspicious of you." Falcon nodded. "It's an honor to meet you, Firestar. Maplefall has told me a lot about you." Firestar laughed. "It looks like you'll be a fine warrior." Then they left, both relieved that Falcon was welcome.
By the end of the day, Falcon had his own nest in the warriors den and everyone in Thunderclan knew who he was and where he had come from. Mousefur, Duspelt and a couple others were still suspicious of him, but other than that most of Maplefall's clanmates had welcomed him easily. He still needed to officially prove himself, but at least cats had made him welcome. Maplefall moved to the nursery that night, where Fernwhisker lay, her belly round with kits. "When are yours due?" she asked, excited that she would be sharing parenthood with her own sister. "A quarter moon," Maplefall replied happily. She felt warm and joyous, something she hadn't felt since the days she spent with Falcon. "Oh, sooner than mine. Mine are due in a little less than a moon. Leafpool says I'll be having two kits. Did she tell you how many you were getting?" Gosh! Fernwhisker is a chatterbox! But Maplefall kind of enjoyed it, and for once she wasn't anoyed at her sister for being too innocent or too beautiful, she just loved her for the way she was. "Yes, I'm having four," Maplefall mewed at last, lost in thought. Fernwhisker nodded, groomed herself and slowly fell asleep. The gentle lapping of her tongue also put Maplefall asleep, peaceful and happy.
Suddenly, Maplefall was in a luscious green forest. The stars up above sparkled intensely, and then she realised she was in Starclan hunting grounds. This time it took her awhile to recognise it, because she hadn't been there in many moons. I'm back! Then Feathertail padded up to her, her pelt glowing so much Maplefall almost didn't recognise her. "Feathertail!" she cried. "You're back! Why didn't you talk to me? Don't you know how hard it was for me?" Feathertail nodded. "I do, but you pushed through it. That journey was one you needed to complete on your own. You needed to make your own choices, but always know that we didn't abandon you, we were watching over you the entire time." Maplefall nodded, still puzzled. "Then why did you come to me tonight?" Feathertail looked at her, blue eyes glowing with pride. "Because you made the right choice. Some cats of Starclan thought you would never make it through on your own, that you needed more help. But love and loyalty to your clan brought you to the right decision. That there was another way, to be loyal to your clan and have Falcon with you. Of course we gave you guidance, but we told you what we knew, what would help you. You learned a great lesson from this, Maplefall. You brought Falcon back, and found the other way, to take him to your clan, where both of your hearts belong."
Please review and sorry for the long chapter! :)
