A/N: Once again, I got tons of reviews! Thank you so much to all of you who have followed this story since day one! And a special thanks to all of you who have reviewed each chapter! Now, I'll answer the reviews:
Willowdream of ForestClan: I love your name! And awesome! :)
Pebblethorn: Thanks, I love your name!
Guest: Wow! I think your review was the longest review I've ever received! But what you said was exactly what I was trying to portray! Lightheart was forced to believe that Badgerstrike was a menace and a disgrace to the Clan, but in the end, with both of his parents dead, he realizes that this is his chance to think for himself. And on the cliff, he has an reality check and attempts to save his sister.
Guest: I should have called it a tragedy, when I think about it. It is a very unfortunate story for the main character, but in the end, she's the hero that saved WillowClan. She lives with that title, she has Timberwish for the time being, and her kits. She lives as a legend and that's why she's telling Foxkit her story in the beginning.
TheGhost129: Thanks! I'm really glad you like it!
BrightSun03: Yes, she does have kits! I'm glad you liked all my characters and my story!
Goddess of Dark: No! I don't hate anyone! Haha and here's your update!
Mallowfeather of EarthClan: Sorry! I had to! :(
WritingGirl8642: I know, everyone is freaking out! Haha here's the update!
skyfall83: Maybe! You never know!
Born Of True Destiny: Awesome! I'm glad you liked it!
Talon of soaring Eagle: I was laughing too! I can't believe I deliberately made her injure her shoulder so many times in previous chapters, that I just made it a permanent injury! Haha
That's it! Also, everyone should go check out WritingGirl8642's stories! That are so amazing and wonderful! They're worth the time!
On with chapter twenty!
Chapter Twenty
The morning sky was painted with rich colors of pink and orange. Wind blew through the camp clearing, causing the willow tree branches to sway in the wind. It had been several moons after the battle with the badger's and Badgerstrike's wounds healed marvelously. She flashed her amber eyes at her single injury that would never heal. The bare skin that showed through her thick black fur was scarred and ridged.
She looked into the morning sky to see the fading moon and stars. Happiness flared in her belly when she remembered Lightheart being named deputy after her. Even though their lives were lived separate, during the past few moons, Lightheart acted more like the littermate she once knew.
Nests began to rustle as cats began to flood out of the burrows. Badgerstrike saw her former apprentice sitting in the center of the clearing alone. He had been sitting the night of his vigil without his sister, Lillypaw, who had joined StarClan during the great battle. Alderpaw was given his warrior name the night before, and he was now known as Alderbranch. He was a loyal and brave cat, and Badgerstrike was thrilled for him.
She saw the flash of a familiar snowy white pelt. Timberwish was coming to greet her this morning, and she was more than ready for it. When he got close enough, she saw worry flaring from his large blue eyes. "What are you doing out here? You'll catch a chill! Or worse, green cough! Our kits need their mother strong!" He panicked as he paced in front of her.
Badgerstrike stood and blocked his path, "I assure you that I will be fine. And so will our kits."
Timberwish managed a loud purr the erupted from his vocal chords. He nuzzled Badgerstrike's extremely swollen belly, "They're going to be perfect."
Badgerstike saw a flash of pride and happiness in Timberwish eyes. He gently nudged her closer to the nursery, "Go on! Our kits are due any day now!"
Badgerstrike growled playfully at him as she squeezed through the entrance to the nursery. She found her nest, which was were Gentlebreeze kept hers when Badgerstrike and Lightheart were just kits. Lightfoot was the only she-cat that stayed in the nursery with her four-moon-old kits.
Once Badgerstrike settled down with effort and pain welding in her shoulder, four rambunctious kits poured out if Littlefoots nest. "Hi, Badgerstrike!" One grey she-cat with yellow eyes meowed happily!
"Hello, Eaglekit!" Badgerstrike meowed back happily.
"When will the other kits come?" A large brown tom asked as he probed Badgerstrike's swollen belly.
"Soon, Bearkit," Badgerstrike murmured as she rubbed her belly with her paw.
"Oh, I just can't wait to play with our new den mates!" A light brown she-cat with green eyes squeaked.
Badgerstrike purred happily, "They'll be too small to play qith for a while, Fawnkit."
Badgerstrike gazed around the nursery and realized that the fourth kit was missing. She looked around the den again, but didn't see the fourth and smallest grey she-cat named Quailkit. A rustling sound echoed in the nursery and Littlefoot gasped. "Quailkit! Get down from there!" She growled fiercely.
Badgerstrike looked directly above her and realized that the small kit climbed high into the roots of the Willow tree. Badgerstrike eyed the smaller she-cat as she tried to climb down, but a root snapped and sent the little grey kit tumbling down the roots. Badgerstrike tried to move out of the way, but Quialkit landed right on her hind quarters, sending a rippling pain up her spine and belly. Badgerstrike gasped for air as the pain rippled again. "Oh no!" Littlefoot gasped as she grabbed her kit off Badgerstrike and threw her back into her nest. "All of you, stay in the nest! If I hear that one of you even moved a whisker, I'll cuff your ears!" Littlefoot ordered as she scampered up the burrow and into the camp clearing.
Badgerstrike tried to move to get comfortable, but the pain in her shoulder and belly ordered her not to move a mouse-length. Soon, Littlefoot came back with Vineclaw and a very nervous Timberwish. "Oh StarClan! What do I do, Vineclaw, what do I do?!" He gasped as he began to pace the nursery.
"You can stop pacing like a lost kittypet and get me my kitting herbs I showed you the other day!" Vineclaw snapped at his snowy white brother.
Timberwish nodded and stayed longer. "Well? Are you waiting for the return of Eagleflight's spirit? Hurry!" Vineclaw snapped again.
Pain whirled in Badgerstike's mind as the toms bickered back and forth, "Would you both stop acting like a mating pair and get these kits out of me?"
Vineclaw stared at her with amusement flickering in his blue gaze. She watched as Timberwish rushed out and soon returned with a beech leaf fully of herbs. "Here, eat this honey, it'll give you energy," Vineclaw ordered as he pushed a leaf toward her full of thick golden liquid that smelled sweet.
Badgerstrike quickly lapped at the honey, but another surge bursted through her. But this time, it was worse than the others. Timberwish laid down next to her and began to groom her head. "Timberwish, I can't do this! I can't!" Badgerstrike gasped between gulps of air.
Timberwish nuzzled her gently as another pulse surged though her, piercing every nerve in her body. "Yes you can, Badgerstrike. I'm here to help," Timberwish whispered.
A sudden chilly air blasted through the nursery, chilling Badgerstrike to the bone as the contractions became worse and closer together. "My daughter, you can do this. All of StarClan stands by you," the familiar, soothing voice of her mother sounded.
Badgerstrike snapped her eyes open to see Gentlebreeze looking at her with warmth blazing in her eyes. "I'm sorry for treating you like a piece of crowfood. I wish I had apologized before I joined the ranks if StarClan, but seeing Lightheart push our mistreatment aside and try to save you, I realized that me and Whalefin were wrong all along. I'm sorry, Badgerstrike," Gentlebreeze meowed with genuine sorrow screaming in her voice.
Badgerstrike tried to speak, but another, closer contraction surged through her. Gentlebreeze disappeared shortly after with the coolness disappearing.
Suddenly, the contractions became unbearable. Badgerstrike shrieked in pain and Vineclaws voice finally came, "Okay, I need you to push now!"
Badgerstrike felts her muscles bunch together as the pain flared in her belly. She snapped her jaws tight together and hissed with irritation. Timberwish held her tightly as she pushed with all her might, and suddenly, a tiny kit slid out onto her nest. The kit had snowy white fur, just like Timberwish. The gasp erupted from Timberwish and then a purr sounded from him. Badgerstrike tried to look at their first new-born, but another contraction shook her, making her squirm with pain.
She clenched her teeth hard together as another contraction came. Badgerstrike braced herself for another push as Vineclaw growled, "Now!"
Suddenly, a second kit appeared next to her first. This kit was black with a single grey ear. "You have one more, Badgerstrike. Hold on!" Vineclaw stated as he pressed his paws on her belly again.
Badgerstrike felt another excruciating contraction surge down her spine. Badgerstrike pushed harder than ever, and soon, a third kit landed in the nest. The third, and final kit was a long-haired grey she-cat. "Three kits! Two she-cats and a tom, Badgerstrike," Vineclaw purred as he placed the final kit by its littermates.
Timberwish stared down at their kits in awe, "They're perfect, Badgerstrike!"
Badgerstrike felt thrilled and exhaustion flare from her. She looked up into Timberwish's eyes and saw true happiness, and she knew that she felt it too. She looked down at her three kits and purred, "Let's name them."
Timberwish nodded in agreement as Littlefoot's kits came over to look at the new born kits. "They all look like you!" Quailkit squeaked to Timberwish and Badgerstrike.
"That's the point," Timberwish purred to the young kit then looked at his three.
Badgerstrike pointed at the black tom with her paw and purred, "Lets name him Hawkkit."
Timberwish nodded then pointed at the white she-cat, "And her name can be Skykit."
Badgerstrike purred heavily then look at the final grey kit. The she-cat let out a large meow and snapped open her eyes to reveal beautiful blue orbs. "Her eyes are so blue!" Badgerstrike gasped.
Timberwish nodded in agreement, "I agree, can we call her Rainkit?"
Badgerstrike meowed with a flick of her ears, "Yes! Three perfect names for three perfect kits!"
Timberwish purred heavily and nuzzled each kit, "I never want to give this up."
Sudden horror struck Badgerstrike's heart when she remembered Nightspirit's omen. Soon, she would have to let Timberwish go, and she was far from ready.
A/N: Dwawww! So cute! The final chapter is the next one, you guys! And then there will be an epilogue! When will Badgerstrike have to let Timberwish go? Can she raise these three cute kits all by herself? Only one way to find out! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!
Question: Should I write a short-story based off of Lightheart during Badgerkit's absence?
Let's get me to 200-205 reviews before I post the next chapter! Thanks!
-Nightspirit