THUNDERCLAN CAMP
Bravepaw gently laid the small, mewling kit with its littermates where they stood together in a small circle by parents; Sharp-Eye and Briarnut. The nursery was one of the dens that had been partially repaired from after the strong wind, so Elmfur told them to stay in there. Briarnut wrapped her tail protectively around her kits as she licked them with slow, calm strokes to calm them down as they nuzzled in closely for some milk.
It seemed so peaceful as they watched the kits as Briarnut nursed them, almost as if Riverclan had never attacked.
"Have you named them yet?" Bravepaw asked.
Sharp-Eye looked fondly at the small wiggling bodies of his and Briarnut's kits. "Yes, we talked about names even before they were born. Although I've got to admit; we weren't expecting to have five kittens." Sharp-eye pointed to a light brown tom-cat with a short tail. "That one is named Scratchkit. Beside him the darker brown she- kit's name is Amberkit."
Sharp-Eye gently nudged one of the mewling kits closer to Briarnut. "This one is called Shadekit, "He said, pointing to a black tom-kit with the grey markings.
Briarnut licked a grey tom-kit. He was smaller than all the rest and seemed to have a very pitiful meow as he struggled to try to scoot forward on the nursery floor. "Elmfur is worried about Beekit being so small…" Sharp-Eye continued, "We'll have to keep an eye on him."
The last kit was the one Bravepaw had carried from Sunning-Rocks. Briarnut looked over at the she-kit as she meowed softly, "We decided to name her Dewkit, in memory of Dewdrop."
"She'd have liked that," Bravepaw meowed, his throat suddenly turning dry as he tried to speak. "I better go now." He managed to say, then he left the den.
The warriors were all in the clearing, licking their wounds as they waited for Elmfur, who was making her rounds, bandaging and of the injured warriors and giving some poppy-seeds to numb the pain.
Bravepaw spotted Redpaw sitting next to Ashnose and Grayleaf and padded over to join them, waiting for Elmfur to check his wounds. He glanced over at Redpaw, trying to see if he had any serious wounds. "Are you hurt anywhere bad?"
Redpaw scooted over, leaving more room for Bravepaw. "Ha! Not as bad as you from the looks of it." He said, trying to joke.
Bravepaw gave a weak smile. He could tell that Redpaw was probably in more pain than he was showing. Redpaw didn't look as if he received too many scratches, but his paw looked more twisted than before and he noticed that he moved it with special care.
Bravepaw could see that although parts of his own pelt were covered in blood, they were mostly from scratches and bite marks that weren't very deep.
Elmfur finished with Hazelfur's wounds then turned towards Bravepaw. As she started licking around his fur, checking his scratches, she said, "This bite by your shoulder looks the worst, it's pretty deep." She put some herbs on his shoulder bite that Bravepaw didn't recognize. He winced as the herbs stung his wound.
"It'll only stings for a little bit." Elmfur meowed, "I've got to check on the other warriors, let me know if you need any poppy-seeds for the pain.
Elmfur has so much to do, Bravepaw thought, I hope she can find an apprentice soon.
Velvetfoot was Elmfur's next patient, "Anywhere particular that hurts worse than the others?" Elmfur asked, looking Velvetfoot over. But Velvetfoot didn't seem to be even paying attention to the medicine cat. She had her eyes fixed, looking straight ahead at the tom-cat Bravepaw had seen earlier in the fight with Riverclan, the one who had pushed the attacking cat off of him.
I wonder who he is… I've never seen him before.
The burly tom was attending his own wounds, although he looked like he had received the least scratches out of all the cats in the clearing.
Bravepaw and every other cat in the clearing glanced over at Sunblaze as he walked up to the strange tom. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" He asked the tom.
Every cat watched as the tom merely lifted his head, looking completely at ease with the situation.
He had a deep, clear meow that rolled across the clearing. "My name is Steel."
"Steel?" Sparrowpaw asked to no cat particular, "What kind of a name is that?"
The tom looked completely unfazed by the apprentice's rude question. He stood up so that everyone could see him. His pelt was the color of tree-bark with black marking in various places. He was of sturdy build and had several scars. One of his eyes was brown while the other was a light blue. "Steel," He meowed calmly, "Is a hard substance that is similar to rock, but stronger and smooth. The two-legs use it a lot because it's hard and powerful."
Bladestar rose and padded wearily to the High-Rock, looking worn and battered, as if the battle had taken more from him than just one of his lives. "That may explain your name, but not the second question. What are you doing here?"
Steel looked respectfully back at the leader, "I heard the screams coming from the fight. When I saw that there were kits in the battle and how you all were receiving the worst of it. I couldn't stand by and see innocent kits and mothers harmed… Or any cat for that matter. So I jumped in and helped the best I could. I remember saving one certain young cat by pushing off his attacker. I think…" He scanned the crowd of cats, "I think it was that young cat right there." He pointed toward Bravepaw, who took a large gulp as all eyes turned towards him.
"Is that true?" Bladestar calmly asked the apprentice.
Bravepaw lifted his head meekly. "Yes it is," he meowed. He was rather ashamed that he had to be rescued by an outsider of all cats when he should have been able to fight on his own.
Some of the cats in the clearing exclaimed shocked murmurs and looked in confusion at one another. The hadn't heard of a rouge who was willing to risk his live to defend any cat but his self.
Vevetfoot stepped up confidently to Bladestar. "I saw him too. I was too busy fighting myself to get to Bravepaw but I was able to see Steel save him. He fought valiantly against Riverclan. Who knows if Bravepaw would be here now if he hadn't intervened?"
Once again, murmurs rippled through the surrounding cats.
Bladestar let out a deep sigh. "Thank you, Steel. Thunderclan is in your debt. If there is anything you need, just let us know."
Steel licked his chest fur embarrassedly, "Well, er… actually, I was hoping to join your Clan if that's not asking too much. I'm tired of being alone. I would like to not only take care of myself but other cats as well. I would be an asset if you decide to let me join."
Bladestar's eyes widened. "Hmm… I don't know, Steel. That's quite a big step for you to take. We don't all just live and hunt together to be a part of the clan. We live by a code, the Warrior Code."
"I'm willing to learn." Steel bowed his head submissively.
"Hmm… I will have to consult with my deputy and medicine cat first to see what they think." Bladestar meowed.
Steel nodded slowly. "Of course. I understand."
Bladestar jumped down from the rock and motioned to Velvetfoot and Elmfur. "Would you two please join me in my den?"
The two cats nodded and followed him silently.
After they disappeared from there view, the remaining cats all sat down, too exhausted from the battle to even stand.
Bravepaw was about to try to fall asleep when Willowpaw padded urgently up to him, her eyes darting from him to Redpaw. "We need to talk, now."
Bravepaw prodded Redpaw awake and the three apprentices ventured quickly from the clearing and the all stood quietly under one of the fallen trees, just out of camp. They hoped that every cat was too tired to notice they were gone.
"That's him!" Willowpaw exclaimed then quickly lowered her voice so that she wouldn't be heard by any cat that happened to be passing. "That's the tom I saw in the forest with Velvetfoot!"
Bravepaw and Redpaw both gasped, shock displayed bluntly on their faces.
"What! How can that be?" Redpaw asked.
Bravepaw eye's gleamed with understanding. "That must be why I saw Velvetfoot staring at him earlier!"
"But then why didn't she say anything?" Redpaw asked.
Bravepaw shook his head. "I don't know!"
The three then looked at each other, not sure of what to do next.
"I guess we'll see what happens after Bladestar, Velvetfoot, and Elmfur have discussed things." Bravepaw concluded.
He did help me during the fight… Bravepaw admitted to his self, I just wonder why he didn't mention anything about him and Vevetfoot.
Author note/ Well here are the kit's names! I'd like to give a shout-out to Kuroimori, for the name Dewkit! WildxPaws, for the name Amberkit! One-Eye, for the name Scratch-kit! And Atliersky for the names Beekit and Shade-kit!:) Thank you guys so much for the names suggestions and for everyone who has favorited, followed, reviewed, or read this story!:)