Chapter Eight

Sandshine groaned and tried to roll over, but the bulk of her swelled stomach weighed her down. Brooksong laughed. "I remember when my belly was that big." she stopped to lick Riverkit, Windkit, and Shadowkit

Sandshine smiled when she heard their names. They remided her of the day she and Cloverheart spent with the leaders from the old clans. Sandshine pricked her ears up as she heard hysterical laughter coming from the camp. She chuckled when she knew Sootsteps was having yet another laugh attack. Hoe could she have such a terrible thought in her head? It was illogical to even think about joining Birdclan. She couldn't leave her mate and friends. Besides, Birdclan would do just fine. Sandshine groaned yet again as one of her kits roughly kicked her in the ribs. "Don't worry, it will get better." Brooksong purred.

Sandshine smiled. Things would get better. Tonight, everything would change. After tonight, her kits would be born into a peaceful world. Tonight, it would all end.

Shade stuck his head into the nursery. "By Sandshine, I'm off to the Gathering."

"Try not to start any fights!" Sandshine joked.

"No promises!" Shade yelled as he left.

-LINE-

Cloverheart sat outside the nursery and watched the clan leave for the Gathering. Greyfur flashed her a smile of sympathy. Cloverheart had been to every Gathering since she was an apprentice. Ravenshadow ran up to her. "Will you be alright?" he asked.

"Yeah. I can still fight." Cloverheart purred.

"I dunno." Ravenshadow mewed seductively. "I think you need some protection."

Ravenshadow stepped forward and Cloverheart felt hhis warm breath brush against her cheek. "Maybe I do." she purred back, gazing into his calm, deep blue eyes.

"Ravenshadow, can you stop flirting long enough to drag you butt to the gathering?" Fennelfrost growled jokingly.

Cloverheart felt her ears get hot with embarrassment. "Bye." she whispered to Ravenshadow. "I love you."

"I love you too." Ravenshadow licked Cloverheart's muzzle before running to catch up with Sunsetspots's mate, Shadowstrike. Cloverheart sighed and peeked into the nursery at Sunsetspots and her two kits. "I'm going for a walk, are you alright?" she asked.

"Yep." Sunsetspots yawned.

Cloverheart totted out of the nursery and to the east border. "Sandshine?" she called softly.

A crimson tabby tom stepped out of the trees. "What do you want with Sandshine?" he hissed.

"I, uh... RUN!" Cloverheart turned and sprinted as fast as she could towards the clearing where Birdclan was. Cloverheart could have easily outran the tom, but her large stomach made her slower and he tackled her. "No! Stop! I'm pregnant!" I wailed.

"Good." the tom hissed. "That's less Pineclan filth I have to deal with."

"Help!" Cloverheart screamed, hoping Birdstar would hear her.

A flash of golden fur came out of the bushes. "Run Cloverheart!" Dawnpaw yelled as she pinned the tom.

"Dawnpaw, don't!" Cloverheart yelled.

Just as Cloverheart yelled, the rest of Birdclan surged out of the bushes and surrounded the tom. "Dawnpaw, get back." Lightflower called.

Birdstar approached the tom. "Leave." He spat.

The tom leapt up and fled. "Thank you, Dawnpaw." Cloverheart purred. "You're an excellent clan cat."

Dawnpaw smiled. "You all, come with me." Cloverheart said.

She led the cats down to the territories. Sandshine was still nowhere to be seen. Cloverheart called out again, but nothing. "I guess she can't come." Birdstar mewed.

"Get to know this forest, you'll be living in it." Cloverheart said as she led the clan onward.

They arrived at the Gathering during Fogstar's report. "Cloverheart, what are you doing?" he snarled.

"Stay here." Cloverheart whispered to Birdstar. She ran forward and jumped up onto the leader's log between Oakstar and Fogstar. "Clans. My name is Cloverheart. Mamber of Pineclan and soon to be deputy. I was brought up an the suspicion that Willowclan cats are evil liars who are cruel to poor Pineclan. I was taught to kill any Willowclan cat who dared step foot on out land. I was taught that Willowclan were the big bad mean warriors and we were the poor little kits. In reality, Willowclan are the gentle giant, and Pineclan provoked them to their breaking point. But, Willowclan aren't innocent. They've killed us too. They've raided our camp.

"I have met only a few of our ancestors, and they are disappointed in the way we have acted. I had received a message from Starclan telling me to build a clan to introduce to the forest. To bring back our peaceful days. To help us realize that we do not have to kill to be accepted as a member of our clan. We are all cats, aren't we? So tonight, I want all of you to sheath your claws and smile, because war is gone. All we ask in return for your kits' saftey, is a piece of your territory to welcome in, your saviour, Birdclan!"

Excited yowls of agreement came from below. If any cats were disagreeing, they were not heard. But one cat, wasn't going to stand for this. "Cloverheart, you have gone mad if you think I am going to get along with Willowclan, give up some of my territory, and let you live!" Fogstar yowled before tackling me to the cold, unforgiving ground.

"No!" someone yelled.

I saw Oakstar pull Fogstar off of me and sink his teeth into his neck, claiming his final life. "You didn't have to kill him." Cloverheart coughed standing up.

"He would have killed you."

"Oakstar, it wasn't necessary."

"It was, Cloverstar. You now have all the authority to give away as much land as you want."

Cloverheart smiled. She did. "Good. Come with me to set the new borders."

_LINE_

Cloverheart stood at Birdclan's new border. Birdstar stood at the other side. "So, you'll be alright settling in?" she asked

"Yep." Birdstar mewed proudly. "Shadowstar said that she'd help us out a bit."

Cloverheart smiled. "Good."

Birdstar laughed and winked. "See ya `round, Cloverstar."

Cloverheart smiled. Soon, She'd visit the Moontree and recieve her nine lives. Tonight, however, fate had something else in mind...

_LINE_

"Push Cloverheart!" Fennelfrost mewed.

Cloverheart screeched in pain as the second kit, a tom, slid in to the nest. "Is she okay?" Ravenshadow whimpered from the doorway.

"Out!" Shouted Fennelfrost angrily. "C'mon Cloverheart, one more."

Cloverheart gritted her teeth and pushed again. "It's okay." Ravenshadow called to her again.

"Sunsetspots, get him out!" roared Fennelfrost.

Finally, the third and final kit joined her siblings in the nest. Cloverheart set to work licking her as Fennelfrost licked her brother. "I want to call this one, Willowkit."

"How about Twistedkit for the tom?" Ravenshadow yelled, trying to fight past Sunsetspots.

"And, Dawnkit for the last one." Cloverheart finished, curling her tail around her three little balls of fur.

"Beautiful." Fennelfrost breathed.

Cloverheart smiled proudly. These were her kits, hers.

Sandshine didn't come to the Gathering because her kits were coming. Sandshine and Cloverstar never forgot about each other and told their kits stories of the times they had together. The two she cats always hoped to see each other again, but they never had time to talk. Sandshine had hoped to become a sucessful leader like Cloverstar, but never did. And Swirlkit? She lived a happy life as a Birdclan apprentice. She wanted to go live in Birdclan so she could tell the kits of the brave Cloverstar and Sandshine. Birdstar and Cloverstar became great friends and fighting, apart from border skirmashes, stopped.

This is the last chapter of Cloverheart's story, but a close is the beginning of a new start... expect a story about Cloverstar and Sandshine's kits, and an untimely death... please review :3