Chapter 26: Band of Leaders

Spottedleaf slept peacefully next to her mate. When dawn approached she didn't even stir when Firestar left her side. It wasn't until she was awakened by her daughter Leafkit, checking up on her mother. "Leafkit, leave your mother alone. She has to get some rest if you want her wounds to be healed. Come now my dear, Sandstorm is waiting to start your training." Spottedleaf watches her daughter trotted with Cinderpelt out of her den. A moment later and Cinderpelt returns to go back to Spottedleaf.

Cinderpelt meows softly. She looks back at Spottedleaf, "Sorry I tried to keep her away."

"No, it's fine. I need to be awake. There is much to do before we go to war." Spottedleaf meows. She starts to get up but soon became light headed and fell back in the nest.

"Easy, Spottedleaf, easy." Cinderpelt came to her side. "You have lost some blood, and your body needs to recover some."

"I'll be fine." Spottedleaf meows, "What needs to be done."

"Mudfur has left go to WindClan to get some cobwebs, and I have to go to the cave to get that ointment that you showed me. Other than those things, I should be ready." Cinderpelt meows.

"I should help you." Spottedleaf tries to get up again. This time Cinderpelt places her down.

"You have already helped me, Spottedleaf. You trained me well. Your strength will come back to you by the sun sets. In the mean time, stay in my den, and get rest. I will need your strength when we go to battle." Cinderpelt meows. "I will be back before the sun sets. I got lots of preparation to do for Fernpaw."

Spottedleaf looks at her, "I need to do something, Cinderpelt. I can just lay here. I will teach her the basics and look after Runningnose, while you go to the cave." Cinderpelt gave her a worry look. And Spottedleaf put in, "I will go easy on myself, and stay inside the camp. I need to do something to get my strength back."

Cinderpelt huffs, "There is no point in getting into an argument. You are just like Yellowfang sometimes. Stubborn and won't take no for an answer. Alright fine. Just don't do anything crazy to get yourself into more harm, or worse getting you killed. I will be back soon."

"Thanks Cinderpelt." Spottedleaf slowly gets up and gingerly walks out of her nest.

"Don't thank me. Medicine cats make the worst patients." Cinderpelt helps guide Spottedleaf.

"So I was told." Spottedleaf smiles.

Cinderpelt smiles to her. Then Spottedleaf looks at her, "Why did you let Firestar spend the night with me, in here."

Cinderpelt moves away from Spottedleaf's side once she can manage to stand on her own. She eyes her with a glimmer in her eyes, "Like you, he wouldn't take no for an answer. Besides, he is my leader now." Then her tone changed, "I knew you both needed support and security from one another, which is why I allowed it. And who am I to be the wedge that stands between true love. I know real love when I see it, and the love you two have for one another, is the strongest thing that binds your strengths." The gray cat eyes her former mentor, then sighs, "I got to go, before it gets to late. And Spottedleaf, please stay out of trouble." Cinderpelt then disappears into the back and a moment later she heads out of the fern tunnel.

Spottedleaf sighs as she watches her former apprentice leaves. There was a faint mumble that made Spottedleaf turn her ears. Runningnose was struggling to get out of the nest. Spottedleaf came over to him half limping herself. "Lay back down Runningnose. You still do not have the strength to move about yet."

Runningnose looks at her, "I may be hurt, but I still have strength in me."

"Just barely." Spottedleaf reminds him. She monitors him a bit, "How are you feeling."

"Better than me hiding in the StarClan forsaking rock. Firestar was kind to let us stay." Runningnose meows. "He is a good and compassionate leader. "

"yes he is." Spottedleaf replies back.

Runningnose looks at her. Then in a low tone he softly meows to her, "I'm sorry for being such a fool."

Spottedleaf eyes him. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. I shouldn't have appointed Tigerstar as leader. I should have listened to you, instead of being such a fool. I didn't want to believe you. Cinderpelt told me the truth of why he was banished from ThunderClan. You were right what you said about him a few Gatherings back. I was just blinded by my desperations and grief, and ShadowClan needed a leader. I thought he seemed worthy, and now….Now he has destroyed my Clan, after I tried so hard to restore it after the sickness. I lost everything, my family, my friends, since he became leader. Now I can never go back as long as he is alive." Runningnose sadly meows.

Spottedleaf looks to him, "Tigerstar is dead Runningnose."

"What?!" Runningnose looks at her with shocked eyes. "How? Did Firestar killed him."

Spottedleaf shook her head, "No, but I wished he did. Scourge the leader of BloodClan, the Clan that is treating all of us to take the forest and making us leave, killed Tigerstar, with one blow. I watched Tigerstar die over and over, and watched all nine lives bleed out of him." Spottedleaf's ears flatted on her head as she still remembers his desperate screams. She then looks to him, "There was a moment of innocence in his eyes, begging me to end his pain. The same innocence that I have, or I tried to kindle and make him a good warrior, was trying to plead with me. I went to him, and then his innocence disappeared and his hatred shown through." Spottedleaf looks at him. "I fear for what might happened to my mate, Firestar in three days. If Scourge killed Tigerstar with one blow, and took all of his lives away, he can easily do that to Firestar."

Runningnose looks at her and raises his weak paw to place on her forepaw, "No he won't, Spottedleaf."

"How can you be certain? I just watched, my sister's kin suffer and took all nine lives from him in a blink of an eye. What makes you think that Scourge won't try to do the same with Firestar?" Spottedleaf looks at him.

"Because your mate and leader honors and respects the code, and believes whole hardly with his heart for StarClan's will, when Tigerstar on the other hand doesn't. " Runningnose took in several breaths before continuing on. "Tigerstar believes he is above all others, even the mighty StarClan. That is when he cast me out of the Clan, because I tried to protest against his believes. I told him I would rather live in exile than to be with a cat who would glorify himself and thinks he is more mighty than StarClan.. That's difference between Firestar and Tigerstar." Runningnose looks to her, "So have faith my sister. We are going to get through this. All of us."

Spottedleaf looks at her old friend, "thanks. Sorry you had to walk in exile."

"I'm not." Runningnose gave a faint smile. "And StarClan will honor my choice." Runningnose then begins to cough. It took him a few minutes to recover as he begins to pant and tries to catch his breath.

Spottedleaf helps ease him to lie on his back so he can get better air flow to his lungs. She then gently spoke to him, "You get some rest. You need to regain your strength so you can go back to your Clan after the battle. ShadowClan still needs to have their healer when all of this is over."

Runningnose slowly took in deep breaths. "I am working on it Spottedleaf. With StarClan's help, I will be strong again. Thank you and may StarClan bless you all for your hospitality. I am truly thankful."

Spottedleaf nods to him, "Just get well, my dear friend. We still need you around. I will be back in a while to monitor you. Get some rest."

Runningnose let out a soft chuckle, "I see you still have the need for helping others, even when you left the faith to start a family."

Spottedleaf looks at him and he had an acceptance in his eyes. Spottedleaf places her paw to his to say thank you, then she lets him sleep. Spottedleaf heads out of the medicine cat den to check up on her kits. By now she is feeling stronger than she has when she woke up this morning. As Spottedleaf emerges from the entrance she saw Ravenpaw and the loner cat leaving the territory. Firestar bounded across the clearing to meet with her.

"You should be resting." Firestar meows to her. "I need you when we go into battle."

"I am fine my love. Cinderpelt said my strength should be back by tonight if not, defiantly by tomorrow before sunhigh. It is Runningnose who needs all the rest he could get. He is in worst shape than I am." Spottedleaf meows to her mate.

Firestar looks at her, "How is he doing?"

"Getting better. Still has a long process of healing. Mudfur will keep monitoring him, as Cinderpelt and I prep for the battle." Spottedleaf meows to him. She looks over to where the nursery is. "Where is our kits?"

"Sandstorm took them to the training hollow. Willowpelt is there to help with the training. They left just before Ravenpaw and Barley came. I'm heading over their now." Firestar meows to her.

Spottedleaf gave him a worry glance, and Firestar moves to comfort her. "Don't be too worried for them, my love. Sandstorm is a good warrior and will give them the best training."

"That is not why I am worried, Firestar." Spottedleaf meows to him.

"I know honey. I fear for their safety as well. I don't want them to see battle, but we have to prepare everyone in case something goes wrong." Firestar read her thoughts. He then puts his head to hers.

"I just don't want to lose them. They are all I have of you." Spottedleaf meows.

Firestar kisses her lightly. He pulls back and looks deep into her amber gaze, "Let's just pray that, BloodClan doesn't make it this far, so our kits will be safe, and we don't have to fear for their safety al right. I got to go see how things are going, then going to see my sister. You want to come?" Firestar asks.

Spottedleaf gave a smile to him, " would love to…"

"But.." Firestar looks to her, sensing a down side.

"I have to stay in camp. Your words remember." Spottedleaf pointed out.

"Yes, that is only for when you are alone. You will be with me." Firestar meows.

Spottedleaf presses to him, "Thanks for the offer, but I was told with Cinderpelt to take it easy today. I think I should listen to her. Besides I got to teach Fernpaw, while Cinderpelt is at the…." Spottedleaf pauses for a moment. "the cave, to collect the remaining medicines for the big day."

Firestar looks at her when she mentions the cave. He then gave a smile to her, "You know, when all of this is over, I wouldn't mind going back there."

Spottedleaf shook her head, "Not this time Firestar. You are not supposed to know of it."

"Oh but I do." Firestar smiles. He then looks back to her and then to the tunnel. "I got to go. I love you."

"I love you too." Spottedleaf replies back with a small kiss to his lips. Then she watches him disappear as Fernpaw came over to her. "I am ready."

For the remaining part of the day Spottedleaf trained and worked with Fernpaw. When evening camp Cinderpelt came to take over the lessons as Spottedleaf went to visited her kits. Emberkit and Squirrelkit was telling her how they got to practice battling moves along with Willowpelt's kits. Squirrelkit asks her mother if Sandstorm would be her mentor. Leafkit was the only one that was not into battling and Spottedleaf could sense it. She came to her other daughter, "What is wrong, honey?"

Leafkit looks into her mother's eyes, "I dun't wanna battle. I want to heal. Can I be a healer like yu for the battle?"

Spottedleaf looks at her kit. She then cradles her daughter in her paws, "You can be a healer when the time comes. But you can't come to the battle with your father or me. None of you can."

"Why not?" Emberkit asks. "We're tough."

"A battle zone is no place for young kits like you. And what we are going up against is very powerful and very dangerous. Please promise me you will stay here on that day." Spottedleaf meows to her kits.

Emberkit looks at his mother, "We peromise." She nods to him. She embraces them and holds onto her beloved kits. Praying that they will be spared. If it is StarClan's will, they will die with honor and be in StarClan.

Spottedleaf leads her kits in for the night. She tucks them in as Willowpelt did the same for her kits. Spottedleaf looks out at Silverpelt as she felt her sister joining her. Willowpelt eyes her sister, "Spottedleaf, are we mad? Training our kits to fight when they haven't reach the appropriate moon yet. What are we becoming?"

Willowpelt's concern echoes in her own mind. Spottedleaf looks at her kits and then back at her sister. "We have to Willowpelt it is for their own good. I don't like it any more than you do, but what choice do we have."

"We could not fight." Willowpelt suggested.

"How can you say that?" Spottedleaf looks at her sister.

Willowpelt looks down at her paws, "They are giving us the choice to flee, Spottedleaf. Why not take the offer?"

"And give them our homeland? No! You know the warrior in you will hate that. We are not scared whippy kits. We make a stand." Spottedleaf meows.

"Speckles, cats are going to die. I don't want my kits to die, when all of this could be avoided. And I know you feel the same. Its like we are giving them their own death sentence." Willowpelt meows.

"We are not. Not if we have the strong hold at the frontlines." Spottedleaf meows.

"how can you be so sure? Graystripe told me what these cats can do, and I am terrified, Spottedleaf." Willowpelt confesses.

"To be honest I am not, but I have to believe in something. It keeps me from going insane, and fearing for my life, and for my families. I have to keep that hope alive, for us to see this through." Spottedleaf stated. "I could have died yesterday, but I didn't. I choose to believe in life, and not death. We are strong."

Willowpelt looks to her, "You sound like Firestar." There was a moment of silence. Then Willowpelt spoke, "I will try and keep that hope. I have to get some sleep big day tomorrow."

Spottedleaf turns to follow her in, "Yeah. StarClan willing we will make it through."

….

The following morning Spottedleaf got up as Sandstorm came to take the kits to training one final time. She looks at Spottedleaf, "Hey Spottedleaf is Firestar with you?"

"No he isn't." Spottedleaf meows back to her.

"He is not in his den, and he didn't came in last night. Do you know where he is?" Whitestorm meows to her as he stands next to Sandstorm.

"No, I was with my kits last night." Spottedleaf replies. She looks at her brother in law, "Don't stress about it too much Whitestorm, he is probably safe and seeking council with StarClan."

Sandstorm looks at Spottedleaf then spoke to Whitestorm, "Spottedleaf is probably right Whitestorm." She moves past Spottedleaf as she calls out to Willowpelt. A moment later Willowpelt and her kits came out along with Spottedleaf and Firestar's kits.

Willowpelt looks to her sister, "We will be back by midday."

Whitestorm looks to Sandstorm, "Sandstorm, take a scout with you to look for Firestar, and take my son, Graystripe too. Willowpelt can mange training the kits today."

Sandstorm nods to him as she padded off to look for Graystripe. Spottedleaf looks to Whitestorm, "He is fine Whitestorm."

"I know he probably is, but with the battle with BloodClan tomorrow, I don't want to take any risks." Whitestorm meows to her, "I will keep guard and keep everyone on their task, in Firestar's absence."

Spottedleaf nods to him as she watches him walk away from her. With her kits off training, she had free time to go about her own duties. Spottedleaf found herself walking to Tallpines. And making her way to Firestar's sister. She hasn't fully introduce herself to her all that well, and something in her heart led her there. Princess was talking with another cat in the garden. Princess then spotted Spottedleaf as she said goodbye to her kittypet friend, and made her way to her.

"Wow, another forest cat in a second day." Princess meows.

Spottedleaf looks at her, "I'm guessing your son and Firestar came to see you."

"Yes they told me I was in great danger, and warn me to stay away." Princess meows. "I was telling my friend to stay in her Twoleg nest for awhile. She likes to come out and play in these woods." Princess looks at her, and just then a pale gray she-cat came bounding to Princess as Spottedleaf's' fur started to bristled.

Princess looks at her reaction, and turns her head, "Ruby get back into our garden it's not safe. There is danger in the forest."

The pale gray she-cat looks to Princess, "What danger?"

Spottedleaf cast a glance at Firestar's sister, "Is she with you?"

Princess looks back at her brother's mate, "Yeah. She is visiting my Twoleg nest for a bit. My owners found her wondering the streets a few moons back, and took her in. Now I have a roommate."

Ruby looks at Princess and then to Spottedleaf, "Princess who is she? She is a wild cat."

Princess looks at her, "Relax, she is my bother's mate. Remember what I told you about my brother leaving the life of Twoleg ways, and going living in the forest. She is a member of the forest Clan, ThunderClan. She is good."

Ruby looks at Spottedleaf with uncertain, "Yes. But how can you trust them, they don't care about kithood blood. How do you know they don't chase you out."

Spottedleaf eyes her, "We don't. Unless you threaten the ways of our Clan laws, laid down by StarClan."

Ruby eyes her, "I know all about Clan life." Her tone was cold. "I was chased off by my own flesh and blood, as he made him leader of his Clan."

Princess eyes her roommate, "What Clan?"

Ruby looks to her new friend, "BloodClan." Then she growls at Spottedleaf, "If she is part of his Clan, I want her gone."

Spottedleaf looks at her with widen eyes, "You're Scourge's sister aren't you."

Ruby looks to her, "So?"

Spottedleaf came to her, "BloodClan is threatening all of us. He is going to try and take the forest tomorrow at dawn. And possibly come here. I seen what he can do. And my Clan is nothing like his."

Ruby's hostile faded from her eyes as Spottedleaf spoke, "How do you know my brother, if you were never part of his Clan?"

Spottedleaf looks to her, "Because two days ago, he came to the forest with my nephew Tigerstar. Tigerstar wanted to control all of us, and when Scourge deceived him, my nephew, took matters into his own paws, and tried to beat him. Scourge killed him with one blow of his paw. And now he is threating to take over our home, as his, and expect us to leave. If we refused to leave, then we will go to war."

Princess looks at Spottedleaf, "That is awful."

Spottedleaf looks to Ruby, "what can you tell me about your brother, and how to stop him?"

Ruby eyes her, "I don't know if you can stop him. I tried joining his Clan, my little brother, Socks and I. We came to him for compassion, and he threw us out. That was the last time I've seen him." She eyes her roommates forest friend, "My advice, get out while you still can. Your Clan doesn't stand a chance with him, and you all be fools if you stand and fight."

"If we don't do something, you can be sure they will come after you too." Spottedleaf pointed out.

Ruby gave a half chuckle, "Sweetheart, my brother, won't even try to enter Twolegs gardens." Then Ruby turns to Princess, "I'm sorry about your brother and your son. I wish them the greatest luck to fight off my brother and his Clan. I will meet you back at the nest." Ruby then bounded up the fence and disappears back to the Twoleg world.

Princess looks back at Spottedleaf, "I'm sorry she wasn't much help." Princess eyes her, "Spottedleaf, I know there is a good chance that my son, Cloudtail, and my brother, may die, but please look after them for me."

Spottedleaf nods to her, "I will."

Princess nods, "I know we hadn't had much time to truly meet one another, and Firestar told me that he took you as his mate. Which makes you and I family." Princess smiles. "Take care of him, Spottedleaf."

Spottedleaf looks to her and did something she thought she never would do. Spottedleaf goes to embrace her new sister in-law, and gave her a comforting lick. Then she gently spoke to her, "Have faith in him, Princess. Even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise to bring a new life, and a new day."

Princess breaths in Spottedleaf's scent and her words of hope helped her to ease her worries some. Princess stares into Spottedleaf's eyes as she smiles to her, "Firestar made the right choice to marry you. At least that is what my housefolk calls it. But still, he made the right choice to have you be his lifelong mate. You are the perfect cat for him. Thank you for coming into his life." Princess looks back into the forest, "You better get back to him. Take care Spottedleaf, all of you. I will keep you in my prayers tonight." Princess turns from her as she heads back to her own garden. Spottedleaf said goodbye to her new sister in-law as she makes her way back to camp.

…..

As sundown came around the Clan ate together for the last time before the war. Spottedleaf sat with her mate, Firestar as he eats with her. And plays with his kits. Spottedleaf didn't want them to be parted. She wishes she can hang onto this moment. She watches as Willowpelt and Whitestorm are doing the same. Spending time with one another, because they never know it could be their last moment as a family.

"Come plaay wih us muumy?" Squirrelkit squeaks.

Firestar caught her look, "Come on Speckles. Let this be a moment of good instead of worry what holds tomorrow."

Spottedleaf goes to her mate and her kits as she plays with them. For the time being they played and laugh together forgetting that there was danger. They played until the sun went down and darkness filled the clearing.

Spottedleaf watches as Willowpelt kisses Whitestorm goodnight and held him close. Whitestorm then turns from his mate and kisses each and everyone of his three kits goodnight. In that moment he let his tears fall from his yellow eyes as he watches them go into the nursery.

Firestar then said goodnight to his own kits, as he too, felt the same heartache and pain in his eyes. "Goodnieht daddy?" Leafkit meows.

"We luv you." Squirrelkit and Emberkit said together.

Spottedleaf held back her own tears. As Firestar came to her, "This is the hardest thing I don't want to do."

"I know." Spottedleaf meows.

He then looks to her and his kits, "Come with me in my den. All of you."

"Firestar you need to sleep." Spottedleaf meows.

"I won't be able to sleep without my family." Firestar gently spoke to her. "You, Emberkit, Squirrelkit, and Leafkit, mean the world to me. I want to spend my last night with them and you."

He then goes into the nursery and calls for his kits, "Leafkit, Emberkit, and Squirrelkit, you are not sleeping in there tonight."

The three kits looks to him in confusion. Squirrelkit then spoke out, "We're not?"

"Whare arrr we going to sleep?" Emberkit meows.

Firestar looks at his son, "With me and your mother in my den. Come."

Willowpelt heard that and she nudges Spottedleaf, "He is one devoted father, Speckles. Go. You need all the time together as a family."

Spottedleaf smiles as she kisses her sister goodnight, and follows Firestar to his den. All three kits laid in his nest, and soon fell asleep. Spottedleaf nuzzles each of her kits as she lays beside them, and Firestar came and presses his body next to his mates. Then he softly spoke to her, "I want to share every last second with them and you. I love you so much. I'm so scared Spottedleaf, so scarred."

Spottedleaf nuzzles him, "I love you too." Then in a low whisper she meows her fears to him too, "I'm scared too, Firestar."

Firestar gave her a long smooth kiss as he loves her with all of his heart. After awhile, he puts his face to her flank to hear her heartbeat and his tail encircled around his children. He softly spoke to her, "Just hold me for the night, my love." Spottedleaf places licks his face and snuggles her head on his forepaws. For the last night he lays with his family as he surrounds himself by the ones he loves most in his Clan, before fighting tomorrow to win back the forest from evil.