CHAPTER 9

Solstroke watched the white tom drag his tail in the dust and she felt a twinge of pity. Ever since Smokepaw left Whitepaw had been not his usual self, he looked like Brightpelt moping around all day. Solstroke was getting sick of the depressed cats, she watched Ashstorm and Silentsong mope, she watched Whitepaw and Brightpelt mope and she was sick of the depressing feeling that lingered in the air. Solstroke had tried to reason with them; even Brackenstar seemed a little depressed lately. It was as if they were taking the Clan name seriously, RainClan was gloomy all the time. The only cat Solstroke noticed was a little on the cheery side was Rosethorn, who bounced up to Solstroke just then.
"Hey Solstroke!" she mewed cheerfully. Solstroke gave her an odd look and then happened to glance down. Rosethorn's belly was growing!
"Rosethorn, have you been eating too much?" Solstroke asked. Rosethorn's cheerful mood disappeared instantly.
"No!" she hissed but calmed down.
"Actually, I've got some exciting news!" she mewed happily. Solstroke couldn't even guess so she shrugged her shoulder. Rosethorn looked crestfallen.
"You are very oblivious," she told Solstroke and Solstroke rolled her eyes.
"I'm expecting kits!" she cried, forgetting to be upset Solstroke didn't notice. Solstroke purred and gave Rosethorn's ear a lick.
"Good for you, who is the father?" she asked. Rosethorn shuffled her paws.
"Brackenstar," she whispered.

Solstroke wasn't surprised at all but she wondered how Brackenstar felt.
"What did he say when you told him?" Solstroke asked but Rosethorn avoided her question.
"Smallfern says I'm going to have four! The nursery is going to be really crowded I can't believe I'm having so many kits!" Solstroke wondered why Rosethorn wasn't answering her and decided to ask her again.
"How did Brackenstar react?" Solstroke mewed for the second time and Rosethorn looked down at her paws.
"Well at first he wasn't very happy because he didn't want a distraction from his leadership," Rosethorn was whispering.
"But after he got used to the idea he is fine with it now," she assured Solstroke who wondered how much of the truth Rosethorn was really telling her. Solstroke padded up to her friend and gave her ear a lick.
"I'm sure they'll be beautiful kits," she purred and turned around to see Whitepaw behind her. Startled, Solstroke took a step back.
"Whitepaw! Didn't see you there," Solstroke said to the little tom.
"Solstroke, can I ask you a favor?" Whitepaw asked. Solstroke shrugged.
"Sure, what is it?"
"I need to speak to Smokepaw," Whitepaw said.
"Whitepaw, you have to wait until the gathering," Solstroke mewed to him slightly confused.
"No," Whitepaw simply said. Solstroke narrowed her eyes at the white cat. Whitepaw opened his mouth to say something when Birchpaw padded up to him, oblivious to the fact Whitepaw was about to speak.
"Hey, Whitepaw want to go hunting?" Birchpaw mewed and gave his white chest a lick. Solstroke watched the white tom carefully and waited for his answer.
"Actually, Birchpaw Solstroke was going to take me hunting," Whitepaw mewed carefully. Solstroke dug her claws into the mud; she had said no such thing!
"Cool, can I come, Solstroke?" Birchpaw asked and turned to the ginger tabby. Solstroke opened her mouth when she saw Whitepaw shake his head franticly.
"Sure, Birchpaw and bring your brother and sister," Solstroke purred and she spotted Whitepaw bare his teeth.

As Birchpaw turned around to find his siblings Whitepaw turned away from Solstroke and she could hear him muttering words under his breath. Solstroke spotted Brightpelt limping slightly towards the medicine cats den, as he approached Smallfern rushed out to look at his paw. Her worried eyes soon cleared and she gazed at him with an amorous gaze. Brightpelt was oblivious to her sudden warmth and lifted his paw forward and she pulled a small thorn out with her teeth. The look in her eyes sent shivers down Solstroke's spine and she felt sick to her stomach. She remembered how she had exchanged an amorous glance with Rainstorm as he lay moribund. But this was different, the deep feeling in her eyes and the body language she sent off was so strong is make the prey Solstroke had recently eaten attempt to crawl back up her throat. When Birchpaw returned with Rabbitpaw and Beetlepaw behind him Whitepaw finally turned back around to face Solstroke and whispered in her ear.
"You're not help," he censured her. Solstroke padded out of the camp into the wet marsh and Rabbitpaw caught up with Solstroke. As the cats started to find and hunt prey, the voluble she-cat wouldn't let Solstroke get a word in edgewise. Rabbitpaw kept talking about everything, gatherings, hunting, battle moves and Solstroke was starting to get annoyed.

As Solstroke landed on the small mouse she turned and buried it in the earth.
"Do you know the battle move where you swipe the front paw?" Rabbitpaw asked Beetlepaw who had just fallen into a crouch, only to sit up and give a goading glare as the bird flew away.
"Where's Whitepaw?" Birchpaw mewed as he padded back to the other cats. Shame flooded over Solstroke as she realized where he must have gone.
"Come," she mewed in a soothing voice. Solstroke led the cats to the river, and sure enough Whitepaw's scent was fresh and strong. Solstroke plunged into the wet water and the apprentices followed. When the cats reached the other side of the river Solstroke went straight for the SunClan border without bothering to scent for Whitepaw. She lifted her muzzle in the air once she reached it.
"He crossed the border!" Beetlepaw exclaimed as Solstroke caught his scent wafting from the tall grass of SunClan. Birchpaw pushed past his brother and dipped his head as he scented the air.
"Why did Smokepaw and Whitepaw leave for SunClan?" Rabbitpaw asked quietly. Solstroke realized they didn't know their kin's origin.
"They are half SunClan," Solstroke whispered.
"Silentsong?" Beetlepaw asked with no hint of surprise in his voice. Solstroke bowed her head without saying a word.
"We have to go tell Ashstorm," Birchpaw mewed, his voice was strong but his eyes were filled with sorrow. The cats turned and headed for camp, once they got there Solstroke found Ashstorm in the warriors den.
"Whitepaw did WHAT?" Ashstorm yowled as Solstroke told him Whitepaw had gone to be with Smokepaw. Silentsong came out of the warriors den and her eyes shimmered with grief. She threw her head back and let out a long and heartbreaking wail that made cats look at her.
"Why didn't you stop him?" Ashstorm hissed at Solstroke who bit back a retort of anger. Birchpaw pushed past Solstroke and faced his kin.
"Whitepaw made his own choice you can't blame Solstroke for his choices!" Birchpaw yowled and Solstroke's jaw dropped. Ashstorm looked taken aback by the little tom and his gaze softened.
"Sorry. Solstroke," he whispered but Ashstorm was still looking at Birchpaw. That made Solstroke angry.

Solstroke took a small magpie and carried it to the medicine cat's den. As she approached she heard mewing inside. She paused and listened.
"Brightpelt, I know Leafwhisper loved you but now she won't stand in our way anymore," She heard Smallfern mewing. Solstroke dropped her magpie.
"I loved Leafwhisper, and I'm not sure I love you," Brightpelt mewed, his voice was quiet.
"I know you love me, and I love you. Can you give me a chance?"
"But it's against the warrior code!"
"I'm willing to risk it."
"No," she heard Brightpelt mew coldly. Smallfern let out a quiet painful mew.
"Why don't you love me?" she asked him desperately.
"I love Leafwhisper and my kits," Brightpelt answered.
"Your kits are old enough they can take care of themselves now, I want kits with you," Smallfern whispered. Solstroke was gagging. She heard only silence from Brightpelt who was breathing heavily.
"I – I don't know…" his mewed was cautious.
"Please," Smallfern's voice was high and pitiful. Solstroke quickly picked up the magpie as she heard Brightpelt stand up and started padding towards the medicine cat's den, as she approached Brightpelt rushed past her she felt floods of anger coming off him. She dropped the magpie at Smallfern's paws.
"This is for you," she said. Smallfern didn't reply and ignored Solstroke.