A wave of pain rippled over Blackcloud, she bit down on the stout stick clenched in her jaws. "You're doing great," Heathertail meowed licking her daughter between the ears. Kestrelflight rested a paw on Blackcloud's flank and nodded silently.

"Here comes the first," he mewed. Pain, nearly unbearable, gripped Blackcloud as her first kit slid onto the moss. "Fantastic Blackcloud," the medicine cat meowed triumphantly, "You're finished" The cloud of pain slowly faded from Blackcloud's consciousness as her mother placed the small, wet bundle in the curve of her belly, "Lick it to help it breathe," Kestrelflight instructed.

Blackcloud lowered her head and rasped her tongue over the small kit, "It's a tom," she purred. Her son's pelt was golden tortoiseshell with pale brown patches, it was also long and soft. Warmth and love filled Blackcloud from nose to tail.

The den rustled making her look up, Oatwhisker padded to her side and looked down at his kit. "He's a tortoiseshell," he meowed darkly. She looked up at her mate, anger surging through her as she wrapped her tail protectively around her kit.

"So what," she snapped, "He is still our son," she hissed. Why couldn't Oatwhisker be happy?

Oatwhisker's gaze softened as he rubbed his muzzle along her cheek, "He will be a great warrior," he murmured, "Have you thought of names"

Blackcloud relaxed, "I was thinking Lionkit," she whispered blinking up at her mate. She wanted to name her son after her father, to her it would make him seem closer.

"Alright," Oatwhisker nodded and sniffed his son, "Lionkit it is"

The sun was shining brightly when Blackcloud slipped out of the nursery, Lionkit grasped firmly in her jaws. The small tom had opened his eyes the night before and was eager to explore the camp, "Blackcloud" Moorpaw meowed excitedly as he hurried over to her, "Is this Lionkit," he asked

Blackcloud set Lionkit down, "It sure is," she purred as Foxpaw joined them a smug expression on her face, the black and white queen wrapped her tail around Lionkit protectively. The apprentice was slowly becoming fox-hearted like her mentor.

"At least the mixed blood won't spread," she sneered licking a tuft of fur on her shoulder.

Moorpaw looked at his sister, "Why not," he asked with a flick of his tail.

"Tortoiseshell toms can't have kits," Foxpaw smirked.

"That isn't always true," Onestar meowed calmly. Foxpaw spun in surprise, "You know Sandstorm of Thunderclan?" both apprentices nodded, "Her father was Redtail and he was a tortoiseshell,"

"Great like we need more mixed blood around here," Foxpaw growled before storming off.

"Who are you," Lionkit asked blinking his blue eyes up Onestar and Moorpaw. Blackcloud noticed her apprentice looked uncomfortable, he was so different from his sister.

"This is Moorpaw, my apprentice" Blackcloud purred gesturing to the pale mottled brown tom.

"How is he your apprentice if you're a queen," Lionkit asked tilting his head.

"She was training me before you were born," Moorpaw meowed.

"This is Onestar, your leader and your great-grandfather," Blackcloud blinked warmly at her leader.

"The leader of our clan is my kin," Lionkit squeaked his eyes round.

Onestar's amber gaze glowed as he purred, "I sure am," he flicked his gaze to Blackcloud, "You should be proud of your mother and father,"

Blackcloud licked her chest fur self-consciously, "Where is Oatwhisker,"

"He's out hunting," Onestar mewed scratching his ear.

Lionkit squeaked excitedly, "Can Moorpaw show me around camp," her son was quivering with excitement.

Blackcloud shifted uncomfortably she didn't want to let her kit out of her sight, Onestar rested his tail tip on her shoulder, "I'm sure Lionkit will be perfectly safe with Moorpaw," he meowed understandingly.

"Stay in camp, no going out on the moors," she finally mewed. While she had a moment's peace she stretched out in the warm sunlight and dozed. She found herself on the Thunderclan border, the salty tang of blood surrounded her making her fur bristle. Blackcloud searched the undergrowth for the source and found it, at her paws was Lionkit, lifeless in a pool of blood, "No" she screeched lapping at their fur, trying to wake him. Breezepelt rose from the undergrowth, amber gaze glittering with malice. "This is what will happen if you do not become deputy," a voice rasped behind her. Spinning she saw the black and white pelt of Tallstar as well as Firestar's flame colored fur.

A soft thud next to her ear jerked Blackcloud from her doze, "Are you alright" it was Oatwhisker with a freshly caught rabbit.

The queen scrabbled to her paws, "I'm going to speak to Kestrelflight" she muttered as she quickly padded toward the medicine den. The mottled gray tom was sorting herbs when she entered.

"Blackcloud what is wrong," he asked hurrying to her side. Her fur was still bristling, "I've been having dreams with Firestar and Tallstar," she whispered. She launched into her story and by the end Kestrelflight's normally bright and calm gaze was dark and troubled.

"I haven't been shown any of this," he meowed, "I will speak to them tonight when I go to the Moonpool,"

"Shouldn't we tell Onestar," she asked

"No," the medicine cat replied sharply, "This might not pass until after Lionkit is apprenticed, so there would be no reason to influence Onestar's decision," he touched his nose to Blackcloud's shoulder, "If they come to you again, let me know" Blackcloud nodded and left the den. She couldn't help the worry knotting in her stomach. She slipped inside the nursery to find Lionkit back in his nest curled against Heathertail.

"He was tuckered out so I stayed with him until you returned," she whispered, gently getting to her paws. Blackcloud blinked her thanks as she curled around her son. I won't let anything happen to you Lionkit she silently vowed.