Woo hoo! Two chapters today! Enjoy this chapter.
Chapter Nineteen
Jayfeather was mixing marigold and dock for a scratch on Seedfall's leg when Lionblaze burst into his den. Jayfeather scowled and began to rearrange the herbs that his brother had disturbed.
"Thanks Lionblaze, I just finished fixing these after Fernkit and Shadekit thought it would be fun to go exploring in my den." He scolded. He could tell his brother didn't care and he could feel excitement sparking off his pelt.
"Never mind that!" Lionblaze exclaimed, proving his point. "I found a loner!" he waited as if he expected Jayfeather to actually care.
"So? I hope you chased them off." Lionblaze paced around the clearing, his swishing tail knocking over stacks of herbs. Jayfeather growled and scooped a pile of comfrey to safety.
"Not just any loner!" he cried. Jayfeather rolled his eyes.
"What, then?" he snapped. "A loner who was part of our prophecy? Or a loner who could fly?" he mewed sarcastically.
"Yes!" Lionblaze meowed eagerly. Jayfeather rolled his eyes.
"Am I really supposed to believe that you met a loner who could fly?" he huffed. Lionblaze sighed.
"No! No, not a loner that could fly! A loner that's part of our prophecy!" Jayfeather froze, then he sat down with his tail curled neatly over his paws.
"I'm listening." He mewed. Lionblaze sat down across from him
"I met a loner named Thunder, and she's expecting kits." Jayfeather's breath caught in his throat.
"The four kits of thunder will save the forest." He recited under his breath. "I want to meet this loner." He demanded. Lionblaze leapt back to his paws.
"Good. She's in the clearing, let's go." Jayfeather hurtled into the clearing. Bramblestar was talking to a she-cat in the center of the camp.
"What are you doing on our property?" Bramblestar asked.
"I'm sorry. I'm just passing through." Jayfeather leaned forward as Bramblestar continued.
"Very well. I expect you to be out of our territory by night-" before he could finish, Jayfeather broke in.
"Feel free to stay until your kits are born." He blurted. He could feel the Clan's gazes boring into his pelt, and murmuring broke out among the cats.
"You may now make yourself comfortable in the nursery." Bramblestar's voice was sharp with surprise and disapproval. As Thunder padded towards the nursery with Daisy, Bramblestar faced him.
"Jayfeather, I would like to see you in my den please."
Lionblaze pushed his way into the nursery. He licked Cinderheart's head. She glanced up, clearly pleased to see him. She wrapped her tail protectively around their kits. Lionblaze licked the tom.
"Aren't they cute?" he purred. Cinderheart nuzzled his head with her muzzle.
"I think they're perfect." She responded. As Lionblaze turned to leave, Thunder spoke up.
"So you're the father?" she asked. Lionblaze nodded.
"This is my mate, Cinderheart, and our kits, Goldenkit, Thistlekit, Dreamkit, Honeykit, and Hollykit." Thunder leaned over to get a better look at the kits.
"They're beautiful." She commented. Cinderheart purred.
"We think so too." Thunder's whiskers twitched in amusement.
"Are names very important to your Clan?" Lionblaze nodded immediately. Cinderheart mewed in agreement.
"What we do," she told her. "Is give each kit a name that ends with kit, but we can choose the beginning. Then, when they become apprentices, the end of their name will change to 'paw', and when they're made warriors, Bramblestar, our leader, will choose the end of their name to something that describes what they are like." Thunder nodded slowly.
"I know it's a lot to comprehend all at once." He tried to assure her. "But if you decide to stay with your kits, they'll have names like this." Thunder looked a little worried.
"Will I have to change my name as well?" Lionblaze shook his head empathetically.
"Not necessarily. We have cats here, like Daisy and Millie who kept their own names, but have kits with Clan names. This is Millie's second litter, and Daisy's expecting her third, all of them have Clan names." Lionblaze thought Thunder looked a bit relieved.
Dovewing pretended to be resting in the nursery, when really, she was looking at any toms who came in the nursery. Lionblaze had come in, but he had hardly looked at Daisy, plus he was in camp when she heard Daisy and her mate talking. Bramblestar had come in that morning, but Daisy had been eating in the clearing when he came in, so he wasn't meeting her. Cinderheart must've noticed that she wasn't actually sleeping, because she glanced up at Dovewing occasionally.
"Looking for anycat in particular?" she finally mewed. Dovewing shrugged, trying to stay nonchalant.
"Not really." She replied. Cinderheart's expression softened.
"Come on Dovewing, we're going for a walk." She looked over at Daisy and Squirrelflight.
"Could you two watch my kits? I'm going to stretch my legs." Thunder looked up interestedly.
"Could I help?" Cinderheart purred.
"Of course. I'll be back soon." As soon as the gray queen stood up, her kits stirred in their sleep. Cinderheart tucked some extra moss around them and pushed her way out of the nursery. Dovewing trailed after her as they exited camp. They walked for a while until they reached a comfortable spot under the shade of an oak tree. Cinderheart settled comfortably on the mossy ground and looked expectantly at Dovewing. She shifted awkwardly. Cinderheart shot her a sympathetic look.
"Dovewing, we're friends. You can tell me anything, and I'll keep your secret." Dovewing shook her head.
"I can't tell you this. What if- what if you told somebody?" she realized it was the wrong thing to say as hurt sparked in Cinderheart's blue gaze.
"I get it." She murmured sadly. "I guess we're not the friends I thought we were." She got to her paws and began to pad away. Dovewing leapt to her paws.
"Cinderheart! Wait!" but it was too late, her friend was already gone.
Aw. :'( that's so sad. R&R please!