((Okay here's the next few chapters of Sins. -purrs- Enjoy them like I do.))
Chapter 19
"Hollyleaf, wake up." Lionblaze poked my side insistently. I let out a yawn before rolling over to look up at my brother. "What?" I asked partly annoyed. For the first time in moons I had a dreamless sleep where all I could see was that blackness. "Get up. You're going to come with me to visit Fernkit. She'll be excited to meet her aunt." Lionblaze purred. "Hmm...And she's how old again?" I asked. When kits were only a quarter of a moon old there wasn't much to be found. They crawled, drink milk, and mewed for their mother. From my stand point, there wasn't much Fernkit and I would learn from each other.
"Almost a half moon." Lionblaze mewed proudly. I rolled my eyes at him before closing my eyes again and tucked my tail across my nose. Maybe if I tried really hard I could get back to sleep. I felt him nudge my flank harder this time. "Hollybranch, come and meet her. She might give you some insight in your condition and what to expect." Lionblaze whispered persistently. I glared at my sibling before getting up. He shouldn't be talking so freely about what I held in my stomach otherwise Spiderleg would find out and other cats wouldn't think he was the father. I shook my head at the cruelty I was handing onto the prickly warrior. "Let's go see your daughter." I answered arching my back.
Lionblaze took me to the nursery in quick haste with a slight bounce in his step. He must really love his little girl... I purred in amusement before thinking about my own children. They were not here yet, but I felt light and airy whenever I thought about them despite all the trouble they were already causing. I entered the nursery behind the orange colored tom to see a round Poppyfrost sleeping quietly and Whitewing looking at her two kits plus an extra tiny bundle of fur. "Hello Whitewing." Lionblaze greeted the white she-cat.
The queen's green eyes looked up at the tom with a smile. "Good morning Lionblaze and Hollybranch. I take it you came to see Fernkit." She stated. "Yes, I wanted Hollybranch to see her." He mewed even though she hadn't asked. They talked for a while, but their words became distant as I looked at the tiny white and ginger tabby kitten kneading Whitewing's belly. Her paws shook as she sapped milk. She looked absolutely perfect in this light, but so breakable. How could the other kittens not trample her under their weight? Shouldn't Whitewing move her other kittens away from Fernkit, so there's no choice that she's harmed. I had heard that she was the runt of the litter yet here she was drinking up life.
Smiling at the girl, I suddenly felt nervous. Would my kittens be that small? So delicate and breakable when they were born. Breezefall was larger than most of his WindClan clanmates, but he still carried their blood, so would that make our children smaller than the average cat? I would hope not in case someone stepped on them. I growled at the thought. No, I would protect them from any sort of torture that my clan presented me with. Not one cat would harm them especially a WindClan warrior.
"She's beautiful, Lionblaze." I purred to him. I took a step toward the she-kit before I stepped before. I didn't want to come near her in case I accidentally stepped her. Who knew kittens could be so hazardous little beings right after birth. "You can touch her." I heard Whitewing's voice tell me. I shook my head at the mention. "I don't want to hurt her. She's so small..." I trailed off giving the queen a glance. "You won't hurt her, I promise. Kittens are tougher than you think even if they have soft features that say different." Whitewing coaxed me. I looked up at the queen saying nothing before stepping back. In two moons I would have my own children so I could wait to touch this perfection found in a kit. "No, I'm fine." I mewed.
"Whatever you say, Hollybranch." Lionblaze replied and walked right up to his little girl. He grabbed her by the scruff, away from Whitewing's belly, and took her to a more secluded area of the nursery. The white she-cat growled as he did so before she relaxed. Even though Whitewing wasn't the mother of Fernkit, she still felt a connection with the runt. Lionblaze began to bathe the ginger and white kit with steady and reassuring licks. His eyes softened as she let a squeak of protest. Smiling at the scene, I felt more lax than I had in the past few days considering the events that had unfolded.
"He loves to visit her even though she still doesn't have her eyes opened. I couldn't even get Ashfur to stay in here for more than a couple minutes after the first week, but here's Lionblaze visiting Fernkit every day during his free time. She's very lucky to have him for a father." Whitewing purred as she watched them. I nodded in agreement. "She'll never have to miss out on having her real mother with him coming around." Whitewing sighed. "Icefrost would have been a wonderful mom though..." The white queen trailed off in memory of her late apprentice.
As I stared after my brother's care for his only kit, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was hurting Breezefall of this chance to love someone that much. The way my brother looked at Fernkit was touching and every move that she made he was in complete aw at. The kitten sneezed loudly and before it had passed I heard him purr with delight. Maybe that was a bit too much. Although I couldn't see Breezefall acting like Lionblaze. My sibling was tender and kind to his family in general, but with this cub his eyes were light and fair. The father of my offspring was cold and irritable with all of his clanmates, but Dustpelt had been just the same. Before I could think any deeper into the subject, I heard the calling of Roseblossom.
"WindClan! They're here." The dark cream she-cat yelled at the top of her lungs. I gave my brother a look of uncertainty. His eyes hardened in unrecognized fury towards the words coming from Roseblossom's maw before I noticed that they were trained on me. Suddenly his amber pools turned to sympathy and I turned to walk out. Just because Breezefall was coming with them didn't mean I would break down in case he act rudely towards myself. I was home now though, that should be all the comfort that I needed, right?
I watched as the WindClan warriors entered the camp with prey in their jaws. Crowstar had agreed to let his clan come to ThunderClan's camp to prepare for the upcoming invasion and felt a little weak under their gazes. Crowstar dropped to the camp flooring a black bird in his jaws. My eyes widened not certain as to why he was here. Who was at the WindClan camp then? Because I had heard that Breezefall decided to come with Antpelt and Snowdrift. Crowstar wouldn't leave his clan without an official in there. I blinked in confusion as more WindClan warriors came pouring into the ranks of ThunderClan's camp each one carrying large pieces of prey. At least they had brought their own prey.
Without thinking I searched for Breezefall in the thick of WindClan. It right to look after him, but after what we shared I felt I should. My eyes found the black trooper padding up beside his father and dropped his rabbit down next to Crowstar's black bird. They said a few words to each other before Breezefall barked orders to the clan. I knew he was deputy material, but to see him actually completing his role made my heart swell. He would have everything that he ever wanted now that I wasn't there to interfere with his involvement in WindClan.
I stiffened at the thought. If I had stayed as Nightcloud suggested then none of that would have happened. Blinking away a tear I felt a cat come up to me. "Firestar will want to know they're here." Spiderleg mewed. "Yes." I agreed and stood up from my place near the nursery. Spiderleg walked beside me as I headed towards the Highledge that held our leader. Would he remember that plan that we had decided on or retain the clarity he has been holding onto for the last few days? Only time could time. I saw someone cross in my line of sight and looked up to face Crowstar followed by his son and deputy, Breezefall.
"Tell me where Firestar is so I may tell him of our arrival." Crowstar demanded his icy blue eyes glaring at me. I narrowed my gaze at his quick need for respect. ThunderClan wasn't like WindClan in any way possible, so the warriors could stand up for their rights without fear. "I will show you to his den." I mewed. It would be best not to make enemies with him now that he had accepted our deal in the invasion. In the future I could chew him out if I ever got the chance to. I felt Spiderleg's fur rise up as Crowstar and Breezefall followed us towards the Highledge. "Don't screw this up." I whispered into his ear. "I wasn't planning on it." He snapped back, but his whole tensed up as we continued.
"Firestar?" I called into the den. The moment of truth. Would he call back with acceptance or ask why a mere apprentice was coming to visit him? "Hollybranch, come in." I heard him call back. I smiled then turned back to the rest of the group. Smug in the fact that Firestar had his wits about him today. "Wait here for a moment." I told them, but then my eyes drifted to meet the WindClan deputy's burning orchard gaze. I paused and took in their cold front underlying with dis contempt as his eyes focused on Spiderleg then his hues looked directly at me. Now he was looking at me the same way he did with every other stranger, not the one he loved and could be himself around. I had treasured that during my time in WindClan...
Breezefall kept his gaze on me testing my limits. Tossing my head up, I walked right into Firestar's den without a second thought on my ex-lover. I had to remember that we only had a day to be mates, although we still cared for each other, but never enough to betray our morals. "Yes, Firestar?" I asked as I noticed his red fur. "WindClan is here I take it." The elder tom paused staring off into the darkness. "Send Crowstar and Breezefall in and you take a small patrol out to cover their scent. ShadowClan could pick up their moorland odor if there was a strong wind." Firestar ordered. I nodded, "Of course."
"He's ready to see you, Crowstar. Firestar wants Breezefall as well." I mewed coming out of the den. Crowstar charged into the ThunderClan leader's den while Breezefall walked slowly with his head high. When he passed me I felt his tail trail lightly along my back foot. In a snap I looked back to see him sink into the darkness of the den, his tail high in confidence. What had that meant? My eyes turned to Spiderleg who stood a taillength who easily could have seen the whole thing without straining his neck.
I growled inwardly. Breezefall has meant for Spiderleg to see as if to show...What? I was his to take? That was the exact purpose of only spending one day together, so we could have no attachments to either clan and so we wouldn't stray from our beliefs. Now he was being a jealous mousebrain. If he acted this way, it could ruin my plans to display my kits as Spiderleg's. For my kits and him I would have to stop his behavior. "Firestar wants me to make a patrol to cover up WindClan's scent, do you want to come?" I asked quickly. His yellow rings flickered from where the deputy touched my leg to my face before agreeing. "Sure." He mewed distantly and gave the dark hole one last look.
We walked in silence out of the camp and into the forest to cover up WindClan's odor that had drifted upwind. With any luck the scent hadn't carried over into ShadowClan's direction. Although the moorland fragrance was far off from any other border then the stream it was unlikely, but still every clan had some of its talents hidden. I rubbed myself against the trees along WindClan's path to our camp careful not to leave a strong enemy clan odor. "Hollyleaf, I am not one to question your loyalty to ThunderClan, but happened between you and Breezefall? He touched you." Spiderleg growled. I looked up at him. I wouldn't have to answer this question if he hadn't been such a foxdung tom.
"Breezefall attempted to claim me as his mate or at least a courtship." I lied. The dishonesty that would soon twist into more lies and deceit all to protect mine and Breezefall's kits from the cruel world. "He's deputy, but he doesn't understand that you're from ThunderClan and therefore you will only produce pure blood kittens?" Spiderleg gave me a bewildered look. "You know what Crowstar was like with Leafpool, so it makes sense his son would be attracted to the danger that could be accomplished from me." I tried again. He seemed to ease slightly, but there was an uncertain tint to his yellow orbs. Was I really such a bad liar even to a regular clanmate?
"As long as you never accepted his invitations outside of the camp, you should be fine." Spiderleg mewed and marked a fern brush before walking further down the path. "Of course, I didn't accompany him without another warrior. What type of she-cat do you think I am?" I growled at him almost insulted by his mindset. Although this was just a misconception, I still found his attitude unprofessional. He just gave me a glance before walking faster down the forest taking little time to rub his scent onto the greenery to cover the musky smell of our allies. "Well, what do you think?" I persisted. "I'm not going to fan on Breezefall when I'm completely loyal to ThunderClan." I explained. "Never in a million years will I make ThunderClan suffer the betrayal that would come from such a forbidden relationship." I mewed with the shake of the head. Perhaps I was better at acting than I had first thought because that seemed to have done the trick to unraveled the dark warrior. "I'm not going to be like Leafpool."
He walked up to me with soft eyes. "I'm glad to hear that at least one of the warriors won't go for an enemy warrior just for excitement." Spiderleg mewed solemnly. I stepped back while looking directly into his amber eyes unsure of what to say to him. In a way, Spiderleg reminded me of Breezefall right now with those amber eyes watching me so tenderly, but no one could match my lover's intense, searching gaze that I had grown to care for so dearly. The ThunderClan warrior noticed my step and turned around. "Come on." He mewed and didn't press me any further which I was grateful for.
After a few moments of silence I heard Spiderleg speak again. "Do you think WindClan will betray us? It would be safer for them to join with RiverClan and ShadowClan then to fight against them. They would be under the protection of those monster cats." I shook my head instantly partly insulted. WindClan were proud and dependable warriors, not back stabbing rogues. Although Spiderleg hadn't spent the last three moons with the speed demons, so he would not understand their being and reasons. "No, WindClan is full of dependable of cats. We would not become allies with the clans that had killed so many of their troopers." I reasoned. He did not look so trusting. "Well, if you were part of WindClan would you go to RiverClan begging to join them like a pathetic kitten or rise up against?" I growled in annoyance.
He took a minute to answer as we covered the reeds along the stream border. "I'm not a weakling, but I know when there's no chance of winning this war. WindClan doesn't have too many cats after so many deaths, plus some are still recovering." The black tom mewed. I was about to cross him when he ran over my words. "Heathershadow, for an example, she looked as if her wounds were still healing and that was three moons ago. She looks as though she was in a fresh fight. Plus, two of their warriors recently died, so their numbers are steadily going down." Spiderleg looked back at me for approval and I simply nodded. The brown tabby's wounds were fresh, but I couldn't tell my clanmate otherwise I would betray WindClan's secrets.
"A monster cat has the power of at least three cats each, so we will need our numbers in this battle. Yes, quality of a warrior is usually important, but we are dealing with them plus regular warriors. Although we are going in waves while we are going full force it will still be difficult." He took a pause. "Our mission is to kill the monsters, so it would be best to focus all of our energy on them. If possible warriors should be taking turns getting to swipe at them." Spiderleg mewed thoughtfully. "I understand that, but we have to have faith in our clanmates and allies to defeat these things. You might think that WindClan is weak now, but keep in mind they have always proven cats wrong with their tactful ways and quick feet." I mewed in support of the clan.
Although now WindClan should not be affecting me in the slightly I knew I had to offer them a few good words. They had become my friends, one of them even further than that, in earlier moons and this was the least I could do. But in truth it would never become my home.
"That sounds like something you would say. Always passing around the word of the Warrior Code that you love so dearly. 'Love your neighbor.'" He grinned at me. I grinned back stepped beside him sensing his jokingly manner to it. "We should start heading back or else it's going to be dark before we get back." I meowed and we started to head home to our clan. My home clan...
Chapter 20
I leapt to the floor of the camp with Spiderleg beside me. "Hollybranch!" My head snapped in the direction of the sound of my name to see a grey kitten coming towards me. Shroudedkit. I glanced at Spiderleg who was glaring at the hyperactive child. "I'm going to tell Firestar that we're back from masking their scent." My partner meowed moodily and bounded towards the Highledge. I let out a sigh then looked back to see the tom-kit pouncing on my tail, careless about his behavior in an enemy territory.
Inwardly I smiled at his actions then met his jade green eyes. They were so excited as my tail flicked back and forth and his concentration was adorable. Hopefully, my kits would grow up to be something like Shroudedkit, interested in the world around him. Although my cubs would never have to deal with a mother that denied them love and affection like him and his sister, Cloudedkit. I lashed my tail in irritation at Dewspots and her selfishness with her three dead kits.
"Hello Shroudedkit." I purred warmly. His jade eyes seemed to smile at me before one graced his lips so smoothly. "Mother said me and Cloudedkit weren't suppose to visit you in the camp, but I sneaked off. Cloudedkit didn't want to get into trouble so she stayed behind." Shroudedkit explained. Cloudedkit didn't care to see me even if she was allow to see me, but Shroudedkit could say what he wanted.
"I see and where is Dewspots now that she didn't see you walk off?" I asked. "She's with Kestrelwing like usual. Snowdrift was watching us and she's okay, but she's nothing compared to you. Plus she was too busy talking to Heathershadow." He mewed as he rolled his eyes. It figures that Dewspots would ditch her living kits as soon as she got here and told them to not visit me.
"Snowdrift is a wonderful warrior and she might be your mentor so respect her." I mewed without thinking clearly. I regretted the words as soon as I spoke them. "You know I want you as my mentor, not any one less or more." Shroudedkit mewed firmly. I blinked before changing the subject.
"So, how is Breezefall handling being deputy?" I mewed quickly. The grey and white tom looked happy to change topics to the deputy. "He's doing real good, but I'm not sure he's happy. I think he misses you because he's meaner than usual especially when he saw you after the gathering and today. I think that one cat you're hanging out with is getting to him, but I'm just a kit so I don't know anything." Shroudedkit reported. I nodded and looked around the camp to see Breezefall walking towards us in quick haste.
His amber eyes locked onto the cub beside me. I didn't say a thing to my little friend before Breezefall was within a taillength of us. "Shroudedkit, you know not to interact with her. Dewspots told you not to and as her kit you better follow her rule." The deputy mewed not giving me even a glance. Shroudedkit looked up at his deputy then back at me looking for support.
I couldn't resist his soft pleading eyes. "He just wanted to talk to me." I mewed offering help. "That may be so, but he shouldn't want to. You are not part of WindClan and therefore an enemy warrior. Although we might be allies at the moment that can change in a second's time." He growled and for a second I saw pain flicker in his eyes. "True...Shroudedkit needs to talk to someone since Dewspots is too busy grieving over her dead kittens to care for him and Cloudedkit." I snapped back.
"Dewspots is taking this as well as any other queen would. She's needs time to get back to being a loving mother." Breezefall this time met my eyes. "No, she needs to rise her kits." I insisted. "That will only reopen wounds that haven't been sewed up. A cat shouldn't have to face their loved one until they're ready and can maintain composure." Breezefall's bristled and his eyes focused on me. I nodded in understanding. We weren't talking about Dewspots and her kits any more. "I have to agree." I mewed softly. Breezefall or I didn't want to be in this position so quickly after our parting when the feelings were so fresh in our mind and body.
"Take him." I ordered and padded away. If I had looked back I would have had to snatch out Shroudedkit from Breezefall's jaws by the look of his jade colored eyes. They would have been filled with betrayal. I was a ThunderClan warrior, soon to be queen, so I could not handle WindClan kits and affairs so freely. They were out of my range of authority. "How could you?" I heard Shroudedkit scream towards me. My neck fur rise, but I continued forward only to find both clans staring at the scene happening between the three of us. Me walking away, Breezefall holding Shroudedkit, and him screaming at me for betraying his confidence. It had to be done.
"Shroudedkit..." I heard a she-kit coo softly. I felt the burn of brown eyes into my pelt as Cloudedkit sat beside Snowdrift. Her brother was hurt by me and for that I would finally understand her strong dislike towards myself. If anyone had walked away from my brothers, including Jayfeather even though we were just cousins, I would have reacted the same way. The grey and white she-kit trotted over to me ready to take out her anger. "What is your problem?" She snapped at me before ramming into my shoulder. I was close to being knocked over, but held my ground steady as Cloudedkit went to her brother. Shroudedkit was her only living relative now.
No, this had nothing to do with Shroudedkit or Cloudedkit. Breezefall had every right in telling me to back off when he took the tom kit. After all Breezefall was deputy of WindClan and me being outside of his clan I had no respect in their ranks to challenge the male. I took off to the nursery in hopes of seeing Lionblaze or maybe my niece. Everyone had seen what had conspired under the dusky sky and comforting words from the queens wouldn't hurt.
I entered to see Poppyfrost pacing around while muttering to herself. There was haunted, unprotected trance to her bright hues. "What have I done? StarClan-Oh, Hollyleaf, hello." The tortoiseshell finally noticed me. Her pupils widened seeing me enter so freely so she shuffled back to her nest and laid down, afraid of what I had to say. It was true I probably would have tracked her down and forced her to tell me what exactly happened, then make her give up her kittens to another queen, but not now. We were never truly friends and most of the time I had snapped at her because I felt she betrayed StarClan so deeply by being Jayfeather's mate. I was no different than the worried queen before me.
"What did you come here for? Whitewing decided to take Fernkit out for the first time, but she'll be back soon." Poppyfrost mewed not sure of what to make of my appearance. "Lionblaze is with them naturally." She added with shifty eyes. "I wanted to see her, but I guess I'll have to wait. In the meanwhile, let's talk." I suggested. In truth, I didn't want to go back into the camp and face of everyone due to the scene. I had had enough of acting for one day.
"W-what about?" She stammered and stood up again, ready to make a run for it. "Anything is fine. How is it being pregnant?" I asked. Some part of me wanted to know what I would expect from my own since none of the WindClan queen had been expecting during my time there. Plus, some cats would have suspected things if I started asking about being a queen. Poppyfrost tilted her head slightly confused by my words, but replied. "It's just fine. Always fine..." Distantance shown in her tone as she reflected on her past. Of what, I'm not sure. "Hmmm...Then what were you talking about before I came in?" I asked.
It was none of my business to be interfering with her thoughts and Jayfeather's affairs, but she looked thinner today than yesterday. Was it not true that queens were suppose to be gaining weight from the kits? There was not a big change, but if I noticed the weight loss than that wasn't good. "That was nothing." Poppyfrost mewed in monotone. I nodded and rolled my eyes. a complete lie. "Is there parentage bothering you?" I asked then. I might as well cut through the wire since clearly she wouldn't get to where I wanted to be in the conversation as of now. "No. Why would I?" She squeaked.
I padded towards her and sat down a half a taillength away wordlessly. My green hues matched her dazed look, but there was no sound. Poppyfrost was Jayfeather's mate, a medicine cat's mate, the most detested act in the Warrior Code along with carrying his kits. To say she wasn't bothered by the idea of deceiving the very thing she served every day must be eating her up. This warrior had picked a worse mate than I had. Breezefall was from a rival clan, but at least he could have a mate. I bit my tongue as my mind dived into thinking about Breezefall and a new she-cat. I had to pay attention to my cousin's mate now, not mine.
"I-I don't know h-how this could happen. We were mates for moons, but we never did s-something to have these...t-things." She shivered at her shakily words. She could not call her kits, kits, but things as if they were immoral. Anger flared in my soul as I heard her. Who called kits, her own kits, things? Although I never voiced my kits yet, I still thought of them as mine and Breezefall's love kits, never objects without a name. I could not fathom calling them anything less than what they were. "We were p-playing and then I was u-under him. I let him do whatever he wanted with me because I loved that feeling like we were finally mates in every meaning." She whispered and a smile on her lips. That wasn't something I especially wanted to hear, but now it didn't matter. What was done was done.
"Now we're having these things and I'm losing my mind. I followed the code almost every day expect one part and then the one day I slip up is the day I lost everything. My status in StarClan is gone. They will never accept the she-cat that bears the offspring of a medicine cat because she is a warrior who betrayed the code. A warrior herself and she broke the very name in the Warrior Code." She laughed lightly. Her bright eyes turned wilder as she spoke. They become darker and similar to unsentimental animal. I backed away instinctually for mine and my kits protection. She should not be acting this way even if she lost her way of the Code once. Even I, the one who was supposed to be obsessed with everything about the Warrior Code, didn't feel this way about my beautiful unborn kits. What had happened to make her go this far down?
Jayfeather should be helping her through this, but as medicine cat he can't give away his pride. I wanted to tell him to come in here and explain to her that these kits would be there connecting string. But with her distress and state of mind, I didn't want to risk the kits that were in her stomach. "You and Jayfeather love each other. Shouldn't these kits be a joyous thing for you two?" I asked. Poppyfrost shook her head. "These things were unintended. We were greedy in our love for each other and now I have to deal with the leftovers." She growled slightly.
Leftovers? Something flared inside of my core as she called the fruit of her love leftovers. Things to leftovers. A queen should be glad to be carrying her first litter, but she was bitter about everything. "Don't think of them like that. They are pureblood ThunderClan kits and deserve every respect in their name." I snapped. "Why should I listen to you? You're the one who jumps at every chance to pester warriors about the code." She counteracted. I couldn't tell her I was in the same position even if she was part of my family. "Kits are kits. They are innocent of their parents' lies and therefore should be treated like any other kitten." I mewed steadily.
"We're back." Purred the voice of Whitewing. I kept my eyes on Poppyfrost's defiant hues. They burned with discord and hatred towards me and even the ones she carried in her form. Jayfeather didn't know what was going on and risks he would have to take to protect his children from their mother. Those poor kits. "Fernkit had a great time. She can't see yet, but maybe in a week or two, we can see her eyes. I bet she'll have blue eyes just like Icefrost." Lionblaze purred proudly. I nodded at his words then looked in his direction. He was watching Fernkit yawn and nestle up to Whitewing's warm body. To be so fascinated by his daughter must have been a difficult for a warrior such as him, but he seemed to be real.
Something panged me when I saw him look so lovingly at her. Breezefall might have been similar to Lionblaze in the love of their kits if I had stayed. I shook my head. ThunderClan was my only home and WindClan had just been a temporary living quarters. It was just that simple. "She'll start out with dark blue eyes, but then they will change to whatever has been decided." Whitewing growled partly annoyed by Lionblaze. He must have been like kit to her, padding after his own darling.
"I know for a fact that Fernkit will have blue eyes. She'll be such a pretty little thing that enemy warriors won't know think she'll hurt them." He grinned slightly. "But, think about all the toms that will want to court her?" Whitewing teased. Lionblaze looked dumbfounded by her words then growled protectively. "They'll have to get through me first." He mumbled. Always the protector of me, once Icefrost, and now of Fernkit from those awful toms that would take our love away from him. "Don't be so silly, no could beat you in battle." I purred.
His amber eyes flickered my way, this time seriously. That was his power. A rage and burn for battle that could not be satisfied until he had murdered everyone in the area. "Just kidding." I mewed quickly. "Anyway, we should probably go eat. Come on, Lionblaze, you've spent enough time with Fernkit for one day. Good-bye Whitewing and Poppyfrost." I pushed my brother towards the hole and we left.
"Poppyfrost needs help." I said once we got out earshot. His amber eyes looked at me as if I was a talking rabbit. "What do you mean? She's happy." I shook my head. There was no way in the Dark Forest that that queen was happy to be carrying her kittens or as she called them things. "No, you should have seen the way she was talking in the nursery. She was calling her children a mistake and things. Poppyfrost is losing her mind; she even admitted it to me." I replied, irritated by my clueless brother. "Are you sure?" He questioned me. "Have I ever been wrong about something serious?" I growled. "We have to tell Jayfeather." I said and headed towards the medicine cat den.
Chapter 21
"Poppyfrost won't do anything to hurt the kits. Yes, she is distressed by the Warrior Code, but to say she is losing her mind is out of the question." Jayfeather whispered as the three of us padded towards the abandoned twoleg place. He was in denial about his mate. "Trust me, Jayfeather, she will kill those kits. They're the leftovers of your love. She said that." I explained. The medicine cat shivered in response and looked back at me. "Poppyfrost is too kind to do that. Once she sees the kits, she'll find her love for them, and everything will be fine." Jayfeather mewed, trying to convince himself.
"No. These are your kits; you cannot be taking that one percent chance that she won't murder them. Protect your kin even if it their mother you are guarding them from." I hissed. Lionblaze was particularly quiet as all of this went on. "She will accept the kits." Jayfeather persisted in telling me. "You were not there, so you would not know of her crazed mind. Her eyes were cold and lifeless like that of an unintelligent creature…" I mew trailing off. Yes, her orbs had been something feral. Perhaps even like that of the monster cats.
"Someone's coming this way." Lionblaze whispered and trotted towards the milieu. I followed my brother after giving Jayfeather one last glance. Jayfeather had the right to be near the nest to collect herbs, but we had to be hunting or patrolling the area. The grey tom disappeared under the dark twisted branches.
"Lionblaze, Hollybranch." A voice called out to the both of us. My eyes turned to the speaker and saw Ashfur there leading a patrol. Toadfoot and Roseblossom were with him looking playfully at each other. Those two siblings were tighter than most cats, even myself and Lionblaze. "Yes, Ashfur?" I asked. The speckled warrior would have been able to see us, so it was pointless in trying to hide ourselves. "What exactly are you two doing out here?" He demanded. Ashfur was a senior warrior, so he had the right to question our motives.
"We just wanted to get out of the camp. With all of WindClan there, they smell heinous." Lionblaze answered as he wrinkled his nose. I had hoped he had been lying, but Lionblaze was usually skittish when lying came about. How could he be saying things like that about our ally? Especially when they for me for three moons. I showed him my claws in denfense to the moorland warriors. He snorted and padded towards his old mentor. Ashfur chuckled in response and let out a purr of amusement and agreement. "I can't say I disagree with you." The leader of the patrol meowed.
"That's way I wanted to join this patrol. Roseblossom just came ago to be with me." Toadfoot grinned at us. His dark creamy colored sister glared at him in disapproval. "No, I didn't. It's just no one else is interesting enough." She mewed half embarrassed by her brother. If her cheeks had been furless you could have seen her blushing. "I didn't mean that." Roseblossom mewed quickly. I blinked in confusion. Yes, they were far tighter than me and Lionblaze.
"I don't know why I allowed for them to be on the same patrol. They're always messing up something." Ashfur mewed giving the two aside way glance. "Anyway, you two can join our patrol if you don't want to go back just yet." Ashfur offered. "I'll go with you." I mewed. I didn't really want to face Breezefall or any WindClan that I had a relationship with. "I think I'll head back to camp. I want to see Fernkit even if it means going through WindClan's rank." Lionblaze mewed and walked away from the rest of us. Maybe he was trying to show how siblings could part for each other. That would be good for Spiderleg's children to learn.
"He never does change." Ashfur mewed absentmindedly. I pondered on his words wondering what they had meant. Lionblaze changed every single day. He always kept on getting stronger and stronger to protect his clan to the best of his abilities and never falter in his tasks. "What do you mean?" I asked as I padded along beside the older trooper. Roseblossom and Toadfoot were talking in hushed whispers a foxlength behind us.
"Lionblaze always checks up on that kit of his as if it's going to die if he's not there. He should just leave her alone for a time or else she'll want to escape him when she gets older." He answered directly. "You were away for a long time and no one knew how you were. Lionblaze often checked the stream border to look for signs of your return. He cares very strongly for his family. It is a good trait to have in a warrior, but someday it will kill him." Ashfur mewed. I nodded slightly at the warrior's words. He checked the border often? That was kind of him, but I was perfectly safe in WindClan with Breezefall.
"Are you ready for the battle tomorrow?" Ashfur asked, changing the subject. He was not the touchy feely sort of tom. The battle that Spiderleg would die in. The one that I had planned would play out tomorrow and hopefully the monster cats would be destroyed. Spiderleg's only kits would be Roseblossom and Toadfoot and from the looks of it they would not have kittens of their own. Tomorrow would really be the day Spiderleg's bloodline would die out.
"Yes, I am ready for those monsters to die." But not Spiderleg.
((Sunrise spoilers:
Kind of sad, but Hollyleaf and Breezepelt are siblings…-shifty eyes- But I still support them, so go inkcest.-dances-))