AN: So here's the last chapter of this story. Next book will come out tomorrow or the day after depending on how much time I have. Thanks everyone for your reviews, especially to Foxbracken - Phoenix Everren, who has reviewed every chapter in the story. As a special reward you get to name one of Leafheart's kits (there will be a total of three kits). Anyways, enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 24

Excitement coursed through Leafheart as she followed Branchtail through the undergrowth. Even though she had forgiven Riverspirit, she was still meeting with the ShadowClan tom.

Branchtail was different. He wasn't like the other toms from ThunderClan - not stuck up or acting like she-cats were nothing but kit-making queens. He accepted her for who she was, not for what she could produce.

Tonight was no different as Leafheart was about to find out. Branchtail was showing her around his territory, and she actually enjoyed the tour.

"And this is the marsh we sometimes hunt in," Branchtail meowed when mud covered Leafheart's leg.

"You actually hunt in this stuff?" she asked. Her nose wrinkled in disgust at the thought. In the distance she heard a frog croaking, and nearly leaped out of fur.

"Frogs are tasty, and so are newts," Branchtail replied. "Though I prefer voles and mice over them any day."

"I don't think I could eat those," Leafheart murmured in agreement.

She didn't like the idea of eating something that was slimy and gross to touch. From what she had heard frogs were just that. Though she had never seen a frog she knew from instinct that they didn't sound appetizing.

"I should get going," Leafheart suddenly announced when she saw how late it was getting.

The Clan would notice that she was missing. It was better to return early than late, especially with leaffall around the corner.

"Will you meet me here tomorrow night?" Branchtail looked at her curiously, and Leafheart brushed her nose against his.

"I promised Emberlight that we would go hunting tomorrow night," she replied. "We don't see each other much since..." Leafheart didn't want to say since they started meeting, even though it was true.

Branchtail dropped his gaze when he realized that she was right. She had a feeling he didn't see much of his Clanmates either since they started meeting.

He dipped his head and meowed goodbye before disappearing into the undergrowth. Leafheart watched him sadly before doing the same, returning to her side of the territory. They were better off meeting at night than during the day.

At least this way we won't get caught as easily, she thought.

She bounded through the undergrowth until she reached the gorse tunnel. Sootpelt and Flamestrike were on guard duty, but they seemed uninterested in her return as she slipped past them. She was about to make her way to the warrior's den when someone blocked her.

Leafheart was about to push past Cedarclaw when she realized he was looking right at her. A chill swept down her spine when she saw how piercing his green eyes were.

"I need to speak with you in my den," he meowed.

Fear wormed it's way into Leafheart's belly as she wondered what he wanted. Surely he didn't know about her nightly meetings?

She followed him into the den, ears flattened when he whirled around to face her. Almost at once his eyes clouded over, and a look of shock spread across his face. Leafheart's whiskers twitched with worry as an uneasy silence followed.

"You're... expecting kits," he rasped.

"What?" Leafheart's mew was filled with surprise when she looked at him.

"You're expecting kits," Cedarclaw murmured. "They'll be due in a few moons."

Leafheart closed her eyes when she realized just how grave the news was. The Clan would know. Stormstar, her own mentor, would know that she was meeting with Branchtail. Unless...

"They're Flamestrike's kits," she suddenly piped up.

"Flamestrike? How in the world could he be a father?" Cedarclaw's voice was filled with disbelief.

"I've been spending some time with him... and he's a great cat," she lied. "I'll tell him right now."

Flamestrike was Cedarclaw's brother. Leafheart suddenly understood why Cedarclaw was so shocked. It seemed a bit sudden, but it was a lie that would work. She padded up to Flamestrike, and the dark ginger tom looked at her coolly.

"I'm expecting your kits," she announced.

The dark ginger tom's eyes widened in shock. Sootpelt simply smirked in response and nudged him.

"How soon will they be coming?" Flamestrike leaned forward, eyes dark with interest now that he had recovered. Leafheart restrained a sigh of relief before answering.

"In about four moons," she meowed.

"That's great!" Flamestrike's purr caught Leafheart by surprise. She looked down at her paws fearfully when she realized how big of a mistake she had made. "I'm going to be a father!"

Leafheart bowed her head after he nearly woke up the whole Clan. Stormstar peered out of her den, than shook her head in annoyance when she realized what the noise was all about. Leafheart stayed in the back of the crowd as she stalked towards the warrior's den.

How was she going to tell Branchtail? He might not want anything to do with her kits if he knew the truth. The fear that wormed it's way into her belly would never go away after this. Sooner or later the Clan was going to find out about her mistake. And that was when the world would turn upside down.